I sincerely apologize for the wait. I can make no promises about when the next update will happen but I will TRY to do it soon.
Chapter 21
"Captain! Will you join our team? We need a little help here," Ensign Ashmore called as he saw Seven and Janeway approach the volleyball game.
"That's what happens when you engineering riff-raff pick on the lower deckers," someone called back, laughing.
Harry Kim stood up from the sand and headed over to Kathryn and Seven to explain. He had been watching the volleyball court for a while and hadn't laughed so hard in months.
"Let me explain, Captain. A bunch of people wanted to play beach volleyball but couldn't decide how to make the teams. Then someone from engineering said that they were already a team and you can't split up engineers so, naturally, everyone allowed them to stay together. This is the third game and engineering is about to lose...again."
"Of course, they will lose again. They never learn from their mistakes," Seven said dryly, "how many times does the warp core have to almost breach before they realize they have to stabilize it?" The blonde smirked a little at the indignant calls coming up from half the volleyball court and the cheering coming up from the other.
"Ya' know, Seven," Ashmore continued, "you spend a lot of time in engineering. You're picking on yourself!"
"Very well, Ensign Ashmore, I will join your team," Seven walked over to the court and stepped out of her shoes before she turned and said loudly to Kathryn, "Do not worry for your crew, Captain. I shall refrain from hitting the ball too hard."
The cheering and jeering switched sides then – engineering was finally going to win a game! They couldn't lose to hydroponics, security (a three person team) and lower decks.
Kathryn simply laughed again and followed Harry to a seat. This is more fun than I thought it could be. I can't believe she volunteered to play a game with everyone. I wonder if all this talk of community with the Saravai has affected her as much as it has affected me…or all of us.
Back on the ship, Tuvok made his way to the brig and saw B'Elanna waiting with a PADD in her hand.
"Is there a problem, Lieutenant Torres?"
"I'm not sure, Tuvok. His vitals seem to fluctuate a lot but they never actually leave the normal zone."
"May I look, please?" He asked, reaching for the PADD B'Elanna was holding.
She nodded absently, handing it over. B'Elanna was wracking her brain trying to think of a reason someone who was sitting alone, in a cell, under a light sedative would have fluctuating pulse, blood pressure and respiration rate.
"Ah, Lieutenant, I believe I have an answer."
"Seriously? After thirty seconds with a PADD you know what's going on in there?"
"Yes. Notice here that Commander Chakotay's temperature has been slightly elevated for four hours. Three hours ago his vital signs began to fluctuate. Those are all good signs, Lieutenant. I believe Commander Chakotay is attempting to embark on a vision quest."
B'Elanna quickly scanned back through the information on the PADD to see what Tuvok was saying and was happy to find that he was probably correct.
"Tuvok, that's great! If he's really attempting a vision quest, that means he wants to get better. It's been days of him just lying about sedated. A vision quest could help him so much."
Nodding, Tuvok spoke again, "I believe that to be true, as well. However, he will require uninterrupted time in the holodeck to go on as true a vision quest as he can on board the ship. How we will help him do that, I am unsure. After we begin our journey tomorrow, I suggest we discuss this with Captain Janeway."
"Sounds like a plan! I'm gonna head back down to the party. Someone should be up for the next shift in an hour!" B'Elanna said with a smile as she started to walk toward the turbo lift.
"I shall stay on board for the remainder of the night, B'Elanna, the next shift need not rush. Will Tom be accompanying you back to the party? I was planning on utilizing the holodeck for an extended meditation." Tuvok walked with B'Elanna, he needed to take the lift to the deck for his quarters.
Damn, I should probably go get him. "I'm just going to swing by there and pick him up on my way back," B'Elanna told him with fake cheeriness. She waved a one-handed goodbye to her crewmate and headed off the lift and to the holodeck.
"Computer, mask my entrance to the holodeck to fit in the program," B'Elanna ordered.
When the computer responded that her entrance was masked, B'Elanna took a deep breath and walked back into Tom's Risa program. I probably shouldn't be surprised that the program's still running but it really bothers me that he put the crew in here, B'Elanna thought as she looked around for Tom. It's creepy that they're all walking around flirting – okay, woah, more than flirting – with each other and they aren't real people. B'Elanna looked away as she saw more than a few crewmembers engaged in various forms of copulation. Damn, I didn't know Bajoran women were so flexible. Getting agitated with Tom all over again, B'Elanna quietly followed the sounds she thought were being made by him. They sounded familiar and caused her cheeks to flush as she realized that they were recognizable from having been intimate with Tom. What is he thinking?
As she was about to peek around a corner to see what he was doing, she stopped herself. I came into his program unannounced. I have no right to spy on him. Being in a relationship does not erase personal boundaries and expectations of privacy, it just changes them. That's what Seven just said to me yesterday.
"Tom?" She called out instead, warning him that she was there. "Tom?" She called louder.
He fell silent. After a few moments, she heard him speak, "Computer, freeze program." When the people and environment around them went still, he called out, "B'Elanna, is that you?"
"Uh, yeah. Our hour is up and Tuvok's on board. Um, I'm going to go back down to the party."
"Wait! Wait, B'Elanna! Where are you? Can you come over here?"
She took a deep breath before answering affirmatively and another before she stepped forward and looked around the corner at the helmsman. She was surprised at what she saw.
"Listen, B'Elanna, I'm really sorry about before. We should probably sit down and have a talk about it soon but, while we have it here, why don't you lay down next to me and have a massage? You can ask the computer to do it however you like. It's actually really nice. The Risian massage program has settings for all different bodies and preferences," Tom said from a comfortable perch on a massage table.
"Thanks but Tuvok was planning on using the holodeck for an extended meditation session so we should probably head out. Thanks, too, for apologizing; you're right, though, we do need to discuss what happened. Tonight's not the night for that, though, so how about we just go to the party and have fun with the crew before we're all back to the daily grind of fighting our way through the Delta quadrant," she answered with a friendly half-smile.
"Computer, end program," Tom said loudly – promptly falling flat on the floor.
B'Elanna laughed loudly but managed to complement Tom on at least having a real towel to wrap around himself. She waited for him in the corridor while he changed in the locker room and they headed back to the transporter room together.
Planet-side, the second set of the volleyball game was ending with both teams in their own huddles.
"I apologize for my lack of skill," Seven told her team quietly. She was unused to being so unskilled.
"It's okay, Seven, you helped us win that one!"
"Thank you, Ensign Ashmore. Do you wish for me to continue playing for the last round?"
"Seven, are you kidding?" Carey asked. "We don't stand a chance without you!"
"Alright, the plan is to have Seven spend as much time in front of the net as possible to dissuade them from trying to spike on us and hope our serving stands up for one more go at them," Ensign Ashmore spoke quietly but intensely. The team broke up and as they headed to their positions, the ensign put his hand briefly on Seven's shoulder, "Hey, Seven, you can call me Ash; everybody does."
She smiled at him in response and then glanced surreptitiously at her lover, offering a small, happy grin in the other woman's direction.
The third set began with engineering quickly grabbing the first six points before the lower deckers even got a serve. With Seven in front of the net though, engineering quickly got the ball back in their possession. With a ten to zero score, the lower deck team called for a quick timeout before they began their next serve. Captain Janeway surreptitiously joined the edges of the engineering huddle and heard Ashmore pepping up the team. "Okay, we've got them totally against the ropes. Seven, awesome work at the net, keep blocking everything they put up. They'll be smarter now to serve away from you so be ready to move on their second hits. If somebody sends you the ball, spike it to an empty spot on their side."
Seven stood up straight and blinked at Ash. Before she could speak, though, Janeway cut in, "I don't think that's such a great idea, Ashmore. Seven could really hurt someone. Do you realize how strong she is? Are you trying to win the game or maim them?"
Seven's chin went up sharply and she looked at Kathryn with shock on her face.
"Captain Janeway, are you spying on us for the lower deckers?" Carey asked teasingly, trying to lighten the tension that suddenly enveloped their team.
"Uh, Seven, I didn't mean –"
"Do not worry, Ash. I would never hurt anyone on this crew that way. I was, of course, going to use only my human strength and not my borg-enhanced arm to spike the ball. I assume you were only asking that I spike it because I am, clearly, the tallest person on our side?"
"Yes," Ash answered, "I didn't mean to imply that I wanted you to injure them."
"You did not imply that," Seven said imperiously.
"Okay, engineering, we're ready," someone from the other team called out.
As the engineers went back to their positions on the court, Kathryn tried to catch Seven's eye but the younger woman was avoiding her attention. As the game continued, Kathryn grew more and more upset with herself for embarrassing Seven in front of the engineering crew. She knew Seven better than anyone and should have never questioned her like that in front of other people. It could have set Seven back in their eyes and it certainly set her back in Seven's. Of course Seven wouldn't spike the ball hard enough to really hurt someone, she was much more careful with her "Voyager Collective" than that.
The final set was exciting, the score going back and forth as the opposing team tried hard to keep the ball away from Seven. They couldn't keep that up indefinitely and the match ended when Ash set Seven up for a spike and she, in turn, reset it for Carey who laid it just inside the line for game point.
"Great move, Seven! You're a natural!" Carey slapped her on the back.
"It was an excellent hit, Lieutenant Carey," Seven returned the praise.
The two teams lined up to shake hands and word spread quickly that everyone was headed back to the bonfire for some beer.
"Seven!" B'Elanna called from somewhere in the direction of the bonfire, "Hey, Seven, I hear if this were a bar I'd have to buy you beer all night for saving engineering from embarrassment!"
Her loud call was met with good natured cheers and groans from everyone who had been at the games.
"Quite true, Torres," Janeway called back as she caught up with Seven, "but since she doesn't drink beer you can get one for me!"
The surrounding crew laughed again, enjoying the captain's antics and willingness to join the fray of teasing.
"Seven," the captain said much quieter, "darling, please wait here with me for one minute."
The tall blonde acquiesced and stood silently next to her lover as the others made their way boisterously toward the bon fire. Once alone, Seven, hands locked together behind her back, turned toward Kathryn.
"Seven, I'm sorry I hurt your feelings. I know you would never be so careless as to hurt your fellow crewmembers playing a volleyball game. My questioning of Ensign Ashmore in front of everyone was inappropriate and I hope you'll accept my apology."
"You are correct, you did hurt my feelings. You are also correct in your other statements; I would not hurt my collective playing volleyball and Ensign Ashmore would never have overlooked my strength if that were a possibility."
"Darling," Janeway said again, moving closer and reaching out for Seven, "I truly am sorry. Would you please accept my apology and come back to the bonfire with me?"
Seven looked intently at Kathryn, tilting her head slightly. She was thinking deeply about something important, the shorter woman could tell. Though it was not in Kathryn's nature to remain quiet, she knew she must give Seven the time she needed to contemplate all the angles of whatever was before her; instead of speaking, Kathryn looked back at her lover with as much openness as she could offer.
"I believe forgiveness is possible, Kathryn," Seven said seriously.
"Only possible?" Kathryn trembled inside, worried that Seven was going to withhold her pardoning of Kathryn's earlier insensitivity.
"Yes. Possible. I may require further convincing," Seven allowed a slight smirk to slip through.
"Hmm, convincing you say?" Kathryn, relieved, stepped into Sevens body before she continued, "I wonder what I might do to convince you that I really am sorry and that I love you."
"One might advise a kiss as a good place to begin," Seven offered, leaning in to meet Kathryn's lips with her own.
Relieved, Kathryn kissed Seven, bringing her hands up to cup the smooth cheeks before her. Humming into the kiss for a moment, the shorter woman again apologized before wrapping her arms around Seven's shoulders to hug her. "Let's go to the bonfire for a little while, darling before we set up a tent for the night."
"A new friend has already helped me set up a tent, Kathryn. It is not of Starfleet design; will that be a problem?"
"As long as it's a tent, I don't see why it would be a problem. I must say, I'm intrigued. I didn't know you had done that, Seven. When did you find the time?"
"Earlier today, Diem'Kara, the lead astronomer here, offered us the use of his favorite type of habitat. The astronomy sector here uses them frequently so another astronomer, Tira'Su, helped me set it up."
"That's interesting, I look forward to it," Kathryn told her lover with a smile. She stepped back from Seven after another short kiss and slid one arm around Seven's waist. The two women walked slowly toward the rest of the raucous group.
"Hey, Captain's here!" Someone shouted and the group cheered. A bottle of Sara'Kevan ale was pulled from a cooler and passed around the circle to Janeway who took it, smiling.
"To crew!" She shouted as a toast. The large circle shouted it back.
"To ship!" She called and they repeated.
"To family!" Was her final acknowledgement and they shared in the sentiment with gusto, smiles for all and arms around one another.
The bonfire was healthy and warm and the crew enjoyed themselves for a good while. Slowly, they broke away, mostly in pairs to bunk down for the night. When the rest of the senior staff had gone, Janeway turned to Seven and raised her eyebrows.
"Are you ready to go, Kathryn?"
"I am, Seven. Lead on."
Rising from the sand they had been sitting in, Seven reached her hand down to her lover and pulled the smaller woman up. "Do we not need to say good night before we go?"
"No, that's the beauty of a bonfire, no one has to make a commitment to be here or there for the night. We can all come and go as we please," Kathryn told her.
Seven stepped toward the water, tugging Kathryn gently behind her. "Let's walk along the water. We are a short distance away."
"Whatever you say, love. This is my last night of freedom before the ship demands me again. I don't want to make any decisions again until I have to."
Seven didn't respond. She held Kathryn's hand in her own and mulled the last statement over in her mind. After a few minutes, she quietly spoke again. "Kathryn? Can we discuss that statement at another time? I find it curious but do not wish to begin a philosophical discussion with you this evening."
"Of course." Kathryn smiled. "What is it you wish to do?"
"Be with you. I wish simply to be with you."
The pair arrived at their tent which seemed like every other tent Kathryn had even seen. Perhaps it was structurally different but too similar to matter. Upon entry, however, Kathryn could see the beach all around them.
"Won't we be seen?"
"We will not. It is temperature regulated and has one-way viewing to allow us to see the sky during all seasons. Come lay down with me, I wish to hold you."
"Wait, Seven, let's undress first. I don't want to sleep with the sand in our bed."
"Very well. The far corner has a sonic shower if you'd like to clean off that way. I know you dislike the sonic setting on board but a hydro-shower would have been impractical."
The two women efficiently took care of their nightly ablutions before lying beside one another in the middle of the tent.
"Darling, what are we laying on?"
"A field mattress."
"A what?"
Seven explained that the Saravai scientists who studied the planet had developed these travel mattresses to be more comfortable. They had determined that when one slept more restfully, one could work more happily. Seven, being such an innocent and well-meaning woman, had made so many friends among the Saravai that they had willingly lent her everything they thought she would need for a relaxing night on the beach. She would not find out until the next morning that they were going to give her everything to take with her when Voyager left.
"It's so different to see the stars from here," Kathryn sighed, "I remember looking at them as a child. All I wanted was to fly among them, like my father. Now, all I want is to be back in Indiana, looking at them from the Earth, with my mother."
"You will do that, Kathryn. I promise. I will get you home to Indiana to be with your mother."
"And you, Seven," Kathryn amended as she rolled toward the other woman, "I want to be looking at them from Earth with my mother and you."
Seven kissed her, "thank you." Then, the taller woman reached down and untucked Kathryn's shirt so she could feel the skin of her partner.
"Mmm, Seven, your hands feel so good on my body."
"I agree, Kathryn. If I believed in such things, I would say we were fated to be with one another."
"We were, my love. We were," Kathryn murmured as she rolled once more to be on top of her lover.
Their lips met then, over and over, as they undressed one another. Carefully, Seven held Kathryn close and sat up before laying atop the smaller woman.
"Look up, Kathryn. I want you to be able to see the stars while we make love."
"I always do," the redhead whispered.
A/N: Let me know what you think, please!