A/N: Sorry this took so long, I really lost my Voyager mojo… I think I have it back, so, hopefully, the next chapter will come faster.
Chapter 14
"Kathryn, are you feeling well?"
"I'm fine, Seven, just a little sleepy," Kathryn answered.
"You seem to be holding your body in an unusual manner." The women were cuddled in Kathryn's bed, Seven on her back and Kathryn mostly on her side against Seven's body.
"My lower back is a bit sore, probably from fracturing that bone," she admitted.
"Will you allow me to make you feel better?"
"What does that mean?"
"It was making love with me that made your back sore so allow me to help you feel better, please."
"Okay, Seven," Kathryn smiled.
With the other woman's agreement, Seven sat up and instructed Kathryn to lay down on her stomach. Kathryn then felt Seven straddle her waist and begin massaging her back. The powerful hands started with her shoulders, massaging out all the tightness, then slowly moved down her back working on each muscle group. Though it was arousing to feel her naked lover straddling her, it was just a gentle tingle. It was much more soothing to know that Seven was taking care of her.
By the time Seven got to Kathryn's lower back and relaxed the muscles around her injury she could hear the even breathing of her lover that indicated sleep. Feeling content, Seven laid on her side where she could look at Kathryn's sleeping form. The older woman was on her stomach, arms wrapped around and under a pillow and head turned to the left. The sheet was covering only her lower body and her back was bare. Detecting the goosebumps rising on Kathryn's exposed skin, Seven pulled the sheet up over them both and snuggled into her love's side to sleep.
A few short hours later, Kathryn felt Seven waking her gently.
"It can't be 0700 already," Kathryn murmured.
"It is not," Seven agreed.
The older woman knew by the tone of Seven's voice that something was wrong and quickly looked at her lover.
"What is it, Seven?"
"I believe I need to regenerate, Kathryn. My nanoprobes are not working at their usual level of efficiency."
She sounds a little scared. Maybe she's just tired, she's not used to sleeping. "Lights, one half," Kathryn called out. When the lights came up and she could see Seven's face, Kathryn gasped at the look of Seven's skin. "Does it hurt?"
"Pain is irrelevant. I must regenerate," Seven sounded cold and Borg-like.
"Of course, let's get dressed and get you to your alcove," Kathryn kissed Seven's lips briefly before climbing out of bed. When she looked back, though, Seven hadn't moved yet. "Seven?"
"It is curious, Kathryn. I believed that you, when faced with the mechanical, Borg parts of me, would pull back emotionally. I believed you would distance yourself. Instead, you kissed me."
"I love you," Kathryn reminded her as she sat next to her on the bed for a moment. "It's that simple and that complicated. My feelings for you have always been stronger, been more than everything else. Now that I can share them with you, I don't plan on holding them back."
"That is good, Kathryn. I love you, too."
After a moment of looking at one another, they kissed briefly and stood up to begin dressing.
They left the Captain's quarters and headed to Cargo bay two through the empty corridors of Voyager hand in hand. I can do this. I love her and she needs my support right now. She held my hand whenever I wanted her to while she was invisible because I needed it. I can't let her go now that she needs me. I should be shouting from the rooftops that someone so young and beautiful wants to be with a crotchety, old captain like me.
"Kathryn, I wish we had more time together. I enjoy sleeping next to you," Seven said once she was in her alcove.
"How does this sound? As soon as the situation the Srivani left us with is cleared up and we're on our way to the Alpha quadrant again you and I take a few days off together. We can spend them in the holodeck or in my quarters or wherever you want." Kathryn finished inputting the regeneration code and stepped in front of her young lover.
"That is agreeable. Perhaps if there is time for shore leave on Sara'Keva we can spend some time together there, also."
"Mmm, of course. When your cycle ends in six hours, we'll be getting ready to go over to the Saravai ship so you can just come find me or contact me and I'll meet you here. Now, I'm going to kiss you goodnight so we both get some rest. I love you, Seven of Nine," Kathryn stood on her tiptoes and was about to press her lips to Seven's.
"I love you, Kathryn Janeway," Seven answered before they shared a sweet kiss goodnight.
Once the alcove began the regeneration cycle, Kathryn left. Instead of heading to her quarters, however, she went to sickbay. The doctor saw her coming in and stepped out of his office to greet her.
"Captain Janeway, are you okay?"
"It's Seven, doctor. She's getting worse. The skin around her implants looks infected and she's willingly regenerating right now. I know that doesn't sound important but she woke up from a sound sleep because her nanoprobes are not functioning properly and said she needed to regenerate."
"Seven was sleeping? Where? She doesn't have a bed in the cargo bay," the doctor looked confused.
Janeway's cheeks flushed before she answered, "I, uh, Seven was in my quarters. Anyway, where she was sleeping is not important. What is important is that she's getting worse. Please go check on her. I'll meet you there," Kathryn said.
A few minutes later the two of them were standing in front of Seven's alcove looking at a tricorder.
"The alcove is stopping the organic regression and slowly clearing up the infection but if she isn't cured soon, she's going to be stuck in her alcove forever," the doctor said.
"Okay. I can work with that. We'll just have to ask Keir to fix Seven's DNA first thing in the morning, before we leave for Sara'Keva. If Keir can do that and no one else is showing signs DNA tampering then we should be fine to get to their planet and remove any other tags there." Kathryn looked at the doctor to see what he thought about that plan. When he nodded, Kathryn asked for one more thing, "Doctor, I know you have a patient in sickbay tonight but I would really appreciate it if you could monitor Seven. I need to know if anything changes in her condition."
"Of course, Captain, I can monitor Seven from sickbay. You need to get a little sleep, too."
"I will, Doctor," Kathryn agreed and watched him disappear. She kissed Seven goodnight again and headed back to her quarters to worry herself to sleep.
0930 hours found the captain, B'Elanna and the rest of the available senior staff in the conference room deciding whether or not anyone else should allow the Saravai to scan them to check for DNA tags. The captain did not want her crew to be scanned in case any of the tags did immediate, irreparable damage. She was imploring them to come up with another solution when the doors slid open to admit Seven of Nine, looking not much better than she had six and a half hours ago.
"Seven," the captain breathed when she saw the puffy, pink skin edging Seven's ocular and starburst implants.
"Captain," B'Elanna interrupted the debate, "I think the doctor and I should go to the Saravai ship with Seven now."
"Yes, I agree, let's go," Janeway agreed, "I just need to hail them. We will continue this debate later, in the meantime, no one will be scanned until Seven is better."
The Captain stepped onto the bridge and called for a channel to be opened to the other ship. She quickly explained Seven's deteriorating condition and Jem told the four of them to beam over right away. She asked the doctor and Seven to make sure they brought any equipment that was typically used on her implants.
After arriving, Keir showed them into the small medical room and explained what they would be doing to Seven's DNA. She showed the doctor how to monitor Seven's condition and watch her nanoprobes in their DNA scanner.
"Seven of Nine, please remove your biosuit and lay down here on this bed," Keir asked, "I will wait outside while you get prepared."
B'Elanna followed Keir toward the door, "I'll wait outside, too, Borg-girl. See you later." B'Elanna would have come off as detached to most people but Kathryn and Seven heard the worry in her gruff voice.
"Kathryn," Seven whispered, "I do not think I will be able to remove my biosuit without assistance. My nanoprobes are attacking my organic systems. I feel weak."
"Okay, love, just relax. I'll help you," Kathryn placed a kiss on Seven's cheek and started removing the biosuit. "I'm going to wait here, as close to you as I can be, while Keir and the doctor work on your DNA. I love you, Seven of Nine. I'll be right here, darling, the whole time." Kathryn brushed the backs of her fingers along Seven's cheek and hair, leaning over her as the other woman reclined slowly on the bed.
"Kathryn," Seven said seriously.
"Yes," the shorter woman answered just as seriously.
"I love you, as well. If anything happens during this procedure-"
"Nothing's going to happen, Seven. Keir'oir knows what she's doing and you will be perfectly fine when this is over," Kathryn said, her voice powerful with her conviction.
"Yes, Kathryn, but if anything happens during this procedure that requires an imminent decision to be made, I trust you to make it. You will do what is right for me. I love you," Seven finished.
Kathryn leaned down again and kissed her lover. She was scared to walk away, scared that they wouldn't be able to help Seven. With one last kiss, Kathryn stepped away and opened the door to allow the medical personnel in.
"Captain Janeway, please don't be offended but we don't have time to explain the details of the necessary procedure to you before we begin. The tissue samples we've seen of Seven are deteriorating rather rapidly, no doubt made worse by that anomaly," Keir said rapidly as she set the room up with everything she would need.
The doctor stood at a large screen across the room waiting for Keir to begin. "The viewing screen is ready, Keir. I've brought up her cortical node. Let me know when you want me to sedate her."
"Seven of Nine, we are going to sedate you and then utilize your nanoprobes to remove the tagging from your DNA. If your nanoprobes will not cooperate then I will utilize our technology. Both situations will be successful. If your nanoprobes will do the work for us it will be much quicker. Do you understand?"
"Yes," Seven sounded gravelly.
"We will begin now," Keir said kindly and then promptly nodded to the doctor to sedate Seven.
As Keir put on a pair of unique goggles that would allow her to enlarge the view before her using her eye muscles, she spoke to Kathryn, "Captain, you are welcome to stay in the room if you sit in that chair in the corner or you may step outside and wait with B'Elanna. If you wish to wait outside, please go now as the doors will not open once the procedure starts."
"I'll sit right here." And she did. For the next five hours.
There were times of complete inactivity and times of bustling motion and through it all Kathryn waited. She watched. She prayed. She cried without realizing it.
"Kathryn, we have finished the procedure. We are going to leave her sedated until she wakes up naturally. When she does, she will need to regenerate for an extended period. We should begin the trip to Sara'Keva while Seven regenerates."
Nodding, Kathryn stood and stretched before heading over to Seven's side. "She'll be okay, though? Did you fix it?"
"We did. It was mostly her nanoprobes; we just had to keep reprogramming them to attack the tags."
"I can never thank you enough for saving her."
Keir placed her hand gently on Kathryn's shoulder in a gesture of support and understanding. "You don't have to thank me, I am truly pleased to have helped her. She has such a good soul. She loves so deeply and cares so thoroughly. Honestly, Kathryn," Keir said quietly, "watching Seven for the past few weeks has made all four of us love our partners better. Every single thing she does is based in her love for you and her desire to help and protect the crew. She is a remarkable individual."
"That she is," Kathryn whispered, leaning down to kiss Seven. The captain waited by Seven's side, only peripherally aware of what was going on around her.
"Um, Captain?"
"Yes, Lieutenant Torres?"
"I was wondering if you wanted me to set up Seven's portable regeneration unit anywhere?"
Kathryn continued to sit quietly for a moment, brushing her fingers through Seven's golden hair.
"I want to say 'yes' B'Elanna, but I don't want to be presumptuous. What if she wakes up and just wants some space?"
B'Elanna looked at the doctor, who nodded and transported himself back to Voyager.
"Captain, permission to speak freely?"
"Lanna, in situations like this, after what we've been through, I trust you to know whether or not you can speak freely. You do not have to ask," Kathryn said firmly.
"Thanks," B'Elanna smiled, "Kathryn, I can guarantee you that if Seven had to option to regenerate in your quarters instead of the cargo bay, she would love it. She just wants to be near you. You know that," B'Elanna spoke as if they were old friends.
"You're right. I do know that," Kathryn gave her half-Klingon friend a quick, one-armed hug.
"You know when you got hurt the other day?"
Kathryn nodded, wondering at the non-sequiter.
"The moment Seven heard you were injured, even though she was suddenly dealing with her own serious issue, she went directly to your side. She was the first one in sickbay to check on you." B'Elanna paused to let her friend absorb that. "She's going to be weak when she wakes up and you and I both know she hates to be performing at less than optimal efficiency. She's going to need your help and it would, I think, be better for her emotionally if she knew she could go home with you."
After a few moments, Kathryn smiled and looked at B'Elanna, her head tilted. "Isn't it interesting how quickly Seven can win you over if you just give her half a chance?"
B'Elanna laughed along with Kathryn.
"Okay, Lanna, thank you for bringing this up. Can you set it up in my quarters?"
"Consider it done," B'Elanna smiled and left, happy to do something to help her captain and her new friend.
"Captain Janeway?" A voice said from the doorway a few moments later.
"Yes, Jem'oir?"
"I wanted to inform you that the DNA we extracted from Lieutenants Torres and Tuvok has been checked. They both have evidence of tagging. I'm so sorry."
"It is not your fault. I am so grateful for your help. Thank you for saving my crew when I couldn't."
"We would not have the opportunity to save them if you and Tuvok hadn't discovered us. Your trusting us after that is what allowed your crew to be saved. You are far greater than you realize, Kathryn. You may just be journeying through the Delta Quadrant but it is changing in your wake. For the better. You are helping us all to work together."
Janeway, never one to accept a compliment, merely nodded and continued to ask about the DNA tagging on her crew.
"We cannot decipher exactly what they will do," Jem explained, "I can, however, begin removing them as soon as we arrive at Sara'Keva."
At that moment, Kathryn felt a flutter in the fingers resting beneath her own. She gasped, and looked at Seven's face. There was still irritation around her implants but it wasn't getting any worse. Blue eyes blinked slowly open.
"Kathryn?"
"Yes, darling, I'm right here," she stood up and leaned over Seven so the woman could see her without moving.
Seven smiled, linked her fingers through the other woman's and closed her eyes again.
Keir came hurrying into the room, "Seven woke up?"
"She did. She just said my name and then closed her eyes again."
Keir looked to Jem, curious.
"She called for her contu, when Kathryn answered, Seven smiled and fell asleep," Jem explained.
"Oh," Keir relaxed visibly, "I am glad to hear that."
"Why?"
"Seven should have remained sedated for a few more hours before waking up but if all she did was make sure you are near then her body will continue to heal itself. We all need to know our contu are with us to heal quickly."
I'm not sure I believe in all this emotional healing nonsense but if Seven wants me near her, I'm not going to argue.
Janeway just smiled and nodded. "I'll wait here for her to wake up and then she can regenerate in my quarters."
The rest of the day went quickly, the Saravai bringing Kathryn food and PADDs from Voyager so she could keep working while she waited. None of them thought it was odd for her to remain at Seven's bedside.
When Seven did, finally, awaken she was feeling better then she had in weeks and the placement of her portable regeneration unit only made her happier. After Seven and Kathryn both thanked the Saravai crew over and over they looked at one another.
"Shall we go, then, Seven?"
"I am ready."
The couple transported back to their own ship and made their way to Kathryn's quarters. Once inside, however, they both felt the awkwardness return.
Taking a deep breath, Kathryn spoke, "I think, Seven, that we're feeling awkward because we don't live together. We're both adjusting to being around another person so much. As long as we are honest and open with one another, this awkward feeling will go away."
"That is logical, Kathryn."
"This way, love," Kathryn smiled and headed into her bedroom to set up the unit so Seven could lay in bed to regenerate.
As they got the ex-Borg all set up, Kathryn noticed Seven's face looked a bit tense.
"What's wrong?" Kathryn sat on the bed next to Seven's prone form.
"I am feeling anxious about having to regenerate for such a long period and taking up your space."
"You're not taking up my space. You're sharing it. There's a big difference there."
"Semantics."
"Seven, I want to share my space with you," Kathryn stood and walked around to her side of the bed. She sat down and removed her boots and tunic while talking, "I love having you here. Even when we're sleeping, being with you makes me happy. Tonight, when I come back here from whatever ship's business I have to take care of, I'll be excited to be able to get into bed next to you. I know you'll be regenerating already but you'll be here and that will make all the difference." By the time she finished speaking, Kathryn was laying on her side, her head on Seven's shoulder and one arm draped across the other woman's waist. "I love you."
"I love you, as well, Kathryn. If you kiss me goodnight, I shall input my code," Seven smiled as she spoke.
"Mmm, of course, darling."
After Seven's body went into regeneration mode, Kathryn stayed with her for a short time. She still had to meet with Chakotay and the doctor to decide how limited the First Officer's duty was going to be for a while but it was so hard to walk away from her quarters when Seven was in them.
Walking into sickbay, Kathryn saw Chakotay and the doctor sitting in the office talking. She knocked on the door frame, smiling at the doctor. "Doctor, I just want to thank you again for taking such good care of Seven. We're all lucky to have you here for us."
"Anytime, Captain Janeway. I was just happy to be able to help the Saravai fix the issue," the doctor said humbly, though the pride on his face was clear from a mile away.
"So, Seven's all right, then?" Chakotay asked the captain.
"She will be. She's regenerating right now and she will be for the next forty-eight hours but after that she'll be fine."
Chakotay just nodded at that information, which made Kathryn a bit uncomfortable. He still isn't over the issue he had with Seven.
"Doctor, is Chakotay physically healed?"
"Yes, Captain."
"And psychologically?"
"I believe so, Captain."
"Thank you, Doctor. Would you mind if we used your office privately for a meeting, then?"
"No, that's fine. I'll just end my program. Wake me when you're done," the doctor grinned and instructed the computer to turn him off.
Kathryn sat behind the doctor's desk and looked at Chakotay.
"Well, you heard the doctor, I'm cleared for duty. I'm not sure what's left to discuss," he grinned in what he thought was a charming way.
"The doctor isn't the only one who needs to clear you for duty, Chakotay. I'm the captain, remember."
"Yes, but what's the problem? It was the Srivani DNA tagging that changed my behavior. That's been fixed, so the problem is solved."
"No, Chakotay. The scheme you hatched to take credit for Seven's ideas happened long before the Srivani tags were activated. Perhaps your inappropriate conduct with me and your unacceptable comments about Seven were exacerbated by the tagging, but your initial behavior was yours and yours alone. The worst part about that is that you used your influence as a commanding officer to coerce another crewmember into joining in. That's what concerns me about reinstating you as First Officer. How am I supposed to trust that you won't do something similar to Seven again?"
"We don't know that the DNA tags were inactive then. It's not my fault."
"Chakotay, I'm sorry but I'm just not convinced that you're ready to be a commanding officer right now. I'm going to have to ask Tuvok to be Acting First Officer until we can figure out how to find a way for you to work appropriately as a member of this crew."
"You have no right!"
Standing, Captain Janeway did not raise her voice in response to Chakotay's shout, "I will not tolerate you shouting at me. I am the captain of Voyager. She is my ship and this is my crew. I know that some of them are from your Maquis cell, but they have been a part of this community for years. I have the final say and I say you're not ready. Spend some time centering yourself, Chakotay. Go on a vision quest. Meet with your spirit guide. Find a way to work through this and then we can talk again."
Chakotay lunged around the desk and grabbed Janeway by the throat. He pinned her small body against the office window and kept his huge hand around her neck. Just as her vision dimmed, she saw Tom enter sickbay. Before she lost consciousness, she kicked out at the doctor's desk and attracted Tom's attention. Janeway passed out before anyone could help her.