B'Elanna had just sat down with Janeway at the small table in the aft compartment when Seven materialized and joined them.
"Have a seat, Seven," Janeway directed.
"Yes, Captain," she responded and seated herself primly on the opposite side of the table from B'Elanna.
"How'd you get away from Miranda?" the engineer asked, surprised that Seven could get free so early.
"Miranda Priestly is attending a school function for her offspring tonight. She left early to have dinner with them as well," Seven replied.
"Captain, did you notice anything unusual when you were talking to Miranda today?" B'Elanna asked.
"Unusual how, B'Elanna?" Janeway wanted to know.
"I don't know to be honest. I just got a strange feeling from Andy Sachs. Something isn't right there. I don't know quite what it is though. I know that's vague, but I'm not sure how else to describe it." B'Elanna threw up her hands, frustrated that she couldn't be more precise.
Janeway nodded and rubbed the back of her neck. "Seven, you said that Miranda seemed anxious for Andy to return to the office last week? How did she act earlier today?"
"Her heart rate and respiration had returned to normal ranges. She did not exhibit the same signs of physical nervousness that she had previously. Yet, she did not interact with Six as I expected her to. It seemed sufficient that Six had returned to Runway."
Janeway leaned back her in chair and seemed to think for a moment. "During our conversation, Miranda paused once and seemed to be fixated on the three of you in the outer office. Well, on you and Andy, Seven, though I couldn't be sure which of you she was watching. "
"Miranda Priestly does look at me frequently, Captain. I did not notice her doing the same to Six today."
B'Elanna noticed that Janeway frowned at this piece of information. It clearly was not to her liking.
"Andy was friendly with me, a bit cooler towards Seven, but that would make sense if she thinks Seven is a threat to her job," B'Elanna observed.
"Yet, she did not seem concerned with the idea of being fired," Seven interjected.
"No, she didn't," B'Elanna agreed. "And when Miranda told her that she'd be working with us the next few days, Andy became really cold towards her. She was outwardly polite, but you could see the chill in her eyes."
"Yes, I noticed that, too," Janeway commented.
"I'm not sure it matters, but I think Andy is gay. Is it possible that Miranda made a pass at her at some time, and that's why she's so cold toward her?" B'Elanna wondered. "Tom said that this time frame had big concerns with sexual harassment on the job."
"It's possible," Janeway admitted. "Though Miranda doesn't strike me as the type to make unwanted overtures to her staff. It's also possible there is or was a consensual relationship between them, and Andy sees Seven as a threat to that in some way."
Seven frowned at that, attracting B'Elanna's attention.
"What's up, Seven?" she asked, since it was clear that the Borg found something disquieting about the conversation.
"It is possible for two women to have a romantic relationship?" Seven asked, exposing her naiveté to B'Elanna for the first time.
"Well, yes," B'Elanna answered, surprised at the question. "In fact, I have a sort of date with Andy for drinks later tonight."
Seven tilted her head and studied B'Elanna in that way she had which always left the Klingon feeling vaguely like a bug under a microscope. "I was aware you were no longer involved with Tom Paris, but I did not know you dated women as well, B'Elanna Torres."
"I did before I ended up on Voyager. I just haven't met a woman among the crew who's interested me that way," B'Elanna confessed.
"Intriguing," Seven responded, and it was clear she found it so, which served to draw another frown from Janeway.
Deciding that retreat was definitely the better part of valor in this situation, B'Elanna slapped her hands lightly on the table top. "Well, if I'm going to be on time meeting Andy, I better get ready. Captain, is there anything else?"
"What?" Janeway who had appeared deep in thought, started at the interruption. "No, that's it for right now. Try to find out from Andy what is going on between her and Miranda if you can. "
Relieved, B'Elanna headed to the fore compartment to replicate an outfit for her "date," leaving the other two women alone.
Janeway waited until the door panel slid shut behind B'Elanna before speaking."Seven, has Miranda said or done anything that has made you think she's interested in you in a romantic way?"
"No, Captain. She has not."
"You said she looks at you," Janeway prodded.
"Miranda Priestly looks at everyone, Captain. She evaluates their clothing. It is what she does," Seven stated, clearly unconcerned about the attention. "I have experienced the type of looks you are asking about, and that is not what Miranda Priestly is doing."
"You have?" Janeway asked startled, not at all pleased that someone had been giving Seven the eye.
"Yes, Captain. Both on Voyager and numerous times while walking in New York, as well as at Runway. I was not, however, aware that the women who did so had the same intentions as the men. I will need to re-evaluate based on that knowledge," Seven answered her.
"No one has made you uncomfortable, have they?" Janeway had to ask, knowing she was likely to punch anyone who had, even if it was her umpteenth great-grandmother.
"No. I have become used to it. It is of no consequence as I do not return the interest."
Janeway nodded, refusing to admit to herself how relieved she was to hear that Seven wasn't interested in any of the people who had been ogling her, though she still wasn't thrilled with the ogling itself. That was something else she didn't want to look too hard at.
"You should get back to Runway, Seven. I'll speak to you later this evening or in the morning."
Once she was left alone with her thoughts, Janeway found it hard not to return to examining the feelings she held for Seven. It was a useless effort as far as she was concerned because Seven would never return her feelings. Her Borg had as much as said no one on Voyager interested her, which obviously included Janeway. Frustrated with her train of thought, she reached for one of the padds that held the journals. She knew one was missing, but couldn't recall the content or who had written it. Nor it seemed, could Seven. Janeway could only theorize that the alteration to the timeline's effects on Seven had included minute changes in her cortical node just sufficient to eliminate that knowledge. It wasn't a perfect theory but the only one she had, and they might never know exactly why Seven couldn't remember the contents of the journal any better than Janeway could.
She soon lost herself in the stories of the past. The one journal that had always intrigued her most, and now was the most concerning due to the change in tone didn't have a clear author. Since it described events often spaced out over years, it was difficult to pinpoint to one specific person. It was only clear that it had been written in the latter half of Miranda Priestly's life, though the actual writer could have been anyone within the family. Janeway didn't think it was Miranda herself as she was referred to by name and not by the first person pronoun most would use when writing of their own lives. Maybe with what she had learned today, re-reading it would bring her closer to identifying the author. She couldn't shake the thought that, whoever it was, he or she was the cause of all the symptoms she and her crewmen were experiencing.
B'Elanna walked through the bar, resplendent in form-fitting black leather pants and matching medium-heeled, knee-high boots. Her black silk blouse molded her frame lovingly, unbuttoned just far enough to reveal a hint of cleavage. She looked good and knew it, which was reflected in the way she moved.
She scanned the after-work crowd looking for Andy and found her standing at the bar towards the back of the room. B'Elanna swallowed around a sudden tightness in her throat as she scanned the curvaceous body clad in skinny jeans, heels, and a tight red sweater. Andy Sachs was built way too much like Seven for B'Elanna's own good. Unfortunately, unlike with Seven, B'Elanna couldn't notice in a non-romantic way. Miranda Priestly might not want this woman, but B'Elanna Torres was going to have a hard time keeping her hands to herself. Steeling her resolve, she walked up to Andy and smiled.
"Hey, hope I didn't keep you waiting long."
"Not at all," Andy grinned with a mega-watt smile that rocked B'Elanna back on her heels. "I just got here myself. Can I get you a drink?"
"What's that you're having?" B'Elanna asked, gesturing to the glass in Andy's hand.
"Dirty Martini. Ever had one?"
B'Elanna shook her head in the negative and watched as Andy got the bartender's attention and by raising her glass and holding up two fingers. Draining the drink she held, Andy set it on the bar and accepted the new drinks after dropping a few bills on the bar. She turned back and handed one to B'Elanna who sipped cautiously. The drink was a bit salty but didn't carry anywhere near the kick of blood wine so she took a healthy swallow.
"It's good," she smiled and looked around for a table. Seeing one open up near them, she led Andy over to it, and they sat making small talk through that drink and another. They fell silent as the next round was delivered by the server.
"How long have you worked for Kathryn?" Andy asked, breaking the silence.
"A little over seven years, though sometimes it seems much longer," B'Elanna laughed, glad that at least in this she could tell the truth.
"I take it she's a tough boss," Andy grinned.
"Tough? Yes, but fair, and she looks out for her people. If things are going to get unpleasant, she's at the front of the line ready to charge in, not the back. You have to respect that," B'Elanna explained.
"Must be nice," Andy sighed. "Miranda tends to look out for Miranda first and foremost. In some ways, she doesn't have a choice. Anyone who has the kind of power she does pretty much has a target on her back, especially a woman. She's worked hard to get where she is. I suppose it's only natural she'd fight to keep it."
B'Elanna gave a lopsided grin. "Makes sense. I guess the problem comes with what you're willing to do as part of that fight."
"Yeah, that is a problem," Andy agreed with a grimace. "If I didn't know for a fact she adores her girls, I'd swear she's the type to eat her young to win."
A bark of laughter was B'Elanna's response. "I'll be honest. The woman scares me. I think she'd even scare my mother, though you'd have to know my mother to realize what a huge thing that is."
Andy giggled. "Miranda scares most people. I've seen grown men cry when she tears into them. About the only person who's safe is Nigel, and even he hasn't always been." She sobered and looked away, her face hardening. "Truthfully, none of us are safe. Trusting Miranda is a mistake. Do yourself a favor and don't make that one."
B'Elanna nodded in understanding. "Okay, I'll keep that in mind. So you're really going to leave her when your year is up?"
"I'd go sooner, but I'm determined to see this through. I can get a job anywhere with a recommendation from Miranda. It takes one year to earn it. I'm too close to give up now," Andy said and compressed her lips into a determined line.
"You'll make it," B'Elanna reached out impulsively and rested her hand over Andy's.
Andy bit her lip and gazed at B'Elanna through thick, dark lashes. "You're really nice. Why can't I fall for someone like you?" Her lips twisted ruefully before she gave a bitter laugh. "Damn, I'm drunk. Why aren't you?"
"High genetic tolerance," B'Elanna shrugged negligently. Keeping her interactions with Andy casual was proving harder by the minute. She had to actually restrain herself from taking the other woman in her arms to comfort her.
"I should probably get home, if I'm going to meet you guys in the morning," Andy smiled and started to rise only to grab the edge of the table. "Whoa. Okay, I definitely should have eaten first."
B'Elanna rose and took her arm. "I think it would be a good idea if I see you home. Wouldn't want anything to happen to you."
Andy laughed softly. "Normally, I'd argue and be all…'I can take care of myself,' but to be honest, I'm not quite sure I can, so lead on."
They quickly found a cab once they reached the street, and Andy provided her address to the driver. It wasn't long before B'Elanna found herself standing outside Andy's front door as Andy turned back in the open doorway.
"You really are sweet," Andy said with a gentle smile. "I had a good time this evening, but next time, we eat first."
B'Elanna's eyes widened at the thought there might be a next time and widened more when Andy leaned forward to give her a hug and a soft kiss on the cheek.
"I'll see you tomorrow. Good night," Andy whispered near B'Elanna's ear. She stepped back and closed the door, leaving the Klingon standing in the hallway.
A huge grin split B'Elanna's face as she stepped around a corner and out of sight. A quick entry in her hand-held had her beaming to the Flyer.