Disclaimer: The characters are not mine, except for Finnegan.
*I would also like to address the whole matter of Seven acting out of character. That's
kind of the point. Finnegan is supposed to be bringing out the humanity in her.
Seven had held them back from sickbay to the turbo life, from the turbo life to
cargo bay 2. When the door shut behind her, she had to sit down and let the tears flow.
She felt physically ill. There was a pain in her stomach and in her chest.
What Finnegan had said had made sense. She knew that. She was surprised that
he had figured her out, had she been so obvious? She knew that answer to that. She
hadn't been, he had just known. He had been able to read her like a PADD. That
realization sent a chill down her spine. How had a man she had known for only 5 weeks
gotten to know her so well? After she thought about it for a few minutes, a realization
came to her; she knew Finnegan just as well. She could tell when he was lying; she could
almost sense what he was going to say next, it was uncanny.
"This means nothing," she said to herself.
"What means nothing?" a little voice asked from behind her. Apparently she
hadn't really said it to herself.
Seven turned to see Naomi Wildman holding a toy of some kind.
"Naomi Wildman, you should not be in my quarters without my permission,"
Seven said, not really angry, but with clear exhaustion.
"I'm sorry, I left my toy in here and I wanted to come and get it so you wouldn't
be mad at me for leaving it," she said.
Though there was a clear age difference, Seven still felt she had a strong
connection to the youngest member of the Voyager crew. They were both learning about
humanity at the same time. To a passer-by, it must have seemed silly to see the tall and
shapely ex-borg standing next to the young and playful child, but Seven had always
enjoyed her company, and found her innocent opinions insightful. Seven had also noticed
that Naomi had taken an almost instant liking to Finnegan.
"It is alright, just make sure that the next time you want to enter my room, make
sure I am here when you do," she said.
"What means nothing?" she asked again, smiling at Seven.
" It is not important," Seven said.
"Seven, "Naomi said, moving in front of her, " were you crying? You look like
you were crying," she said.
"I was not crying, my cortical node was simply malfunctioning, but I have…
corrected it," she said.
"Oh, ok," Naomi, said. Yet instead of leaving, like Seven believed she would do,
Naomi stood there and continued to look at her.
"Is there something else that I can help you with?" Seven asked.
" Well, actually, yeah. Is it true that you beat up Mr.Finnegan?" she asked.
Seven raised an eyebrow and felt the corners of her mouth begin to tug into a
smile, " That is an interesting rumor, it is untrue however, where did you here that?"
Seven asked, looking down at the wide eyed youth.
"Well I heard that he got beat up, and I knew that you were going with him to the
diner, so I guess that I kinda made the connection," she said.
Seven knelt down to Samantha's level, "You have a very active imagination
Naomi," she said.
" Well how was it then?" she asked excitedly.
" How was what?" Seven asked.
" You're date silly. Did you have a good time?" she asked.
" The date was sufficient in satisfying my enjoyment needs," she said, turning
colder at the mention of the subject.
"Did you dance?" the little girl asked.
"Yes, we did dance," she said.
" Is he a good dancer?" she asked.
"Yes, he danced with great skill and grace," she said.
"Wow, so when are you going out again?" she asked.
"We are not continuing the relationship, I have decided to terminate it," she said,
starting to do some work on a PADD she had picked up off one of the tables in the room.
"But why?" she asked, he tiny head trying to figure it out.
"I have decided that a relationship would interfere with my duties to the crew and
would be inefficient," she said.
" Oh, but I don't get it," she said.
"Elaborate," Seven commanded.
" If you like him, and he likes you, and the Captain is ok with it, why wouldn't
you go out with him again," she asked, scratching her head.
" It is beyond your understanding, if you will excuse me, I need to start my shift
in Astrometrics now, good day," she said, pointing walking to the door.
"Ok, have a good day Seven," she said skipping down the hallway.
Seven shook her head; the attraction between her and Finnegan was obvious to a
child. "Maybe I made an error," Seven thought to herself. She shook it off. It was too late
now anyway, the damage had been done. She would just have to forget about her feeling
for Dempsey Finnegan and go on with her life.
"Great job Captain," Finnegan said, trying to sound encouraging after she
executed a right hook onto the holographic image. He failed, if it had been someone other
then the Captain, he might have been able to fool him or her, but not the Captain, she
could read him to well.
"Thank you Mr. Finnegan, but you don't need to humor me," she said, breathing
heavily from the work out.
"Sorry Captain, it's not you, you've got a right hook that could knock out
Muhammad Ali, I'm just a little distracted, that's all," he said. That was an
understatement. He had started working shifts today, and luckily he was only scheduled
for a shift in sickbay. He knew, however, that tomorrow he was going to be in
Astrometrics for two shifts, and he was less then thrilled.
"I've noticed," the Captain knew why he was so distracted as well. Ever since he
had arrived she had noticed Seven of Nine acting out of character. The idea of her having
an actual relationship with him was almost laughable, but when she had seen them at the
party, when she had seen them dancing and seen the smile on Seven of Nine's face, she
knew that a relationship was very possible.
"I'm assuming this has something to do with Seven," she said, wiping the sweat
from her brow.
"Good guess," he said.
"What's the problem, you seemed to having a great time at the party, till you were
interrupted," she said.
"Yeah, that's what I thought," he said.
"Hmm, she ended it?" Janeway asked.
"Yeah, she said that she had to end it because she couldn't be with someone who
would do such a foolish and prideful thing. But I knew that wasn't the real reason. I told
her that she just didn't want to put herself out there, she didn't want to risk getting hurt.
Captain, I know that she is new to all this, but she is making a big mistake, we could be
so happy, but… she…" he trailed off.
"Well whatever is going on between you two, you have about a month to resolve
it," she said.
"Why is that?" he asked inquisitively.
"The planet where the X-Dylythium is located is behind an asteroid belt, we have
to travel to it at impulse speed, it will take a month. You, Seven, and a couple other
members of the crew are going to the planet to excavate it," she said.
"Oh," Finnegan said, his voice empty.
"Finnegan, Seven still has a lot to learn, maybe you were rushing it a little. There
is still time to work this out. Just because Seven says it's over doesn't necessarily mean
that it actually is," Janeway said, trying to comfort the man.
"I know Captain, I just have to convince Seven of that," he said, "now how about
some coffee ice cream," he said, a smile spreading his face. Janeway took his arm and
they exited the holo-deck for the mess hall.
The next month went by awkwardly for Seven and Finnegan. They managed to
grin and bare it, but not without a good share of awkward moments. By the time of the
mission, they had resumed the relationship that they had before the date. In fact it was
even worse then before.
"What are you doing?" Seven asked Finnegan as he programmed some
information into the computer in astrometrics. They had five days until their mission to
the surface of the M-Class planet that had their quick ticket home. Finnegan brought forth
a topographical map of the surface. On it was red streaks that represented the precious X-
Dylithium.
"I'm reviewing the surface of the planet so I can think of the best way to excavate
the X ( as they had come to call it)," he said, not taking his eyes of the screen. He had
become used to Seven's constant need to question what he was doing. He understood that
she had worked almost by herself in the Astrometrics for almost 4 years, but that still
didn't make it any less annoying.
"I have already assessed the most efficient way of mining the X, there is no need
for you to go over that data," she said, she began to type in the command to remove the
image from the screen. It disappeared.
"I know that, but I want to look at the information as well since we are both
equally in charge of the mission, I just want to see if there is something that you haven't
seen," he said, putting the image back on the screen," he said, the agitation rising in his
voice.
"I highly doubt that I have missed something," she said, glaring at him as she
again removed the image from the wide-screen.
Finnegan rolled his eyes, " I know that you highly doubt that you have missed
something, I don't think that you doubt anything you've done, well most of the things
that you have done," Finnegan paused, hoping she would detect his sarcasm, he noted
that she did when she raised her eyebrow. Finnegan looked away, it still got to him. "But
I just want to double check so if you would please stop being such a control freak and let
me examine the schematic I would appreciate it," he said, almost slamming the computer
commands to bring the image up for a third time.
"Fine, if you feel the need to review my work the go ahead, it is an inefficient use
of your time," she said, turning her back to him and working on a PADD.
"Fine, if you feel the need to review wa wa wa na," Finnegan said in a mocking
manner to himself.
"I can hear you, my Borg technology increases my hearing senses," she said,
"Idiot," she muttered under her breath.
"I can hear you too, genetic enhancements!" he said. He couldn't wait for this
week to be over.
*I would also like to address the whole matter of Seven acting out of character. That's
kind of the point. Finnegan is supposed to be bringing out the humanity in her.
Seven had held them back from sickbay to the turbo life, from the turbo life to
cargo bay 2. When the door shut behind her, she had to sit down and let the tears flow.
She felt physically ill. There was a pain in her stomach and in her chest.
What Finnegan had said had made sense. She knew that. She was surprised that
he had figured her out, had she been so obvious? She knew that answer to that. She
hadn't been, he had just known. He had been able to read her like a PADD. That
realization sent a chill down her spine. How had a man she had known for only 5 weeks
gotten to know her so well? After she thought about it for a few minutes, a realization
came to her; she knew Finnegan just as well. She could tell when he was lying; she could
almost sense what he was going to say next, it was uncanny.
"This means nothing," she said to herself.
"What means nothing?" a little voice asked from behind her. Apparently she
hadn't really said it to herself.
Seven turned to see Naomi Wildman holding a toy of some kind.
"Naomi Wildman, you should not be in my quarters without my permission,"
Seven said, not really angry, but with clear exhaustion.
"I'm sorry, I left my toy in here and I wanted to come and get it so you wouldn't
be mad at me for leaving it," she said.
Though there was a clear age difference, Seven still felt she had a strong
connection to the youngest member of the Voyager crew. They were both learning about
humanity at the same time. To a passer-by, it must have seemed silly to see the tall and
shapely ex-borg standing next to the young and playful child, but Seven had always
enjoyed her company, and found her innocent opinions insightful. Seven had also noticed
that Naomi had taken an almost instant liking to Finnegan.
"It is alright, just make sure that the next time you want to enter my room, make
sure I am here when you do," she said.
"What means nothing?" she asked again, smiling at Seven.
" It is not important," Seven said.
"Seven, "Naomi said, moving in front of her, " were you crying? You look like
you were crying," she said.
"I was not crying, my cortical node was simply malfunctioning, but I have…
corrected it," she said.
"Oh, ok," Naomi, said. Yet instead of leaving, like Seven believed she would do,
Naomi stood there and continued to look at her.
"Is there something else that I can help you with?" Seven asked.
" Well, actually, yeah. Is it true that you beat up Mr.Finnegan?" she asked.
Seven raised an eyebrow and felt the corners of her mouth begin to tug into a
smile, " That is an interesting rumor, it is untrue however, where did you here that?"
Seven asked, looking down at the wide eyed youth.
"Well I heard that he got beat up, and I knew that you were going with him to the
diner, so I guess that I kinda made the connection," she said.
Seven knelt down to Samantha's level, "You have a very active imagination
Naomi," she said.
" Well how was it then?" she asked excitedly.
" How was what?" Seven asked.
" You're date silly. Did you have a good time?" she asked.
" The date was sufficient in satisfying my enjoyment needs," she said, turning
colder at the mention of the subject.
"Did you dance?" the little girl asked.
"Yes, we did dance," she said.
" Is he a good dancer?" she asked.
"Yes, he danced with great skill and grace," she said.
"Wow, so when are you going out again?" she asked.
"We are not continuing the relationship, I have decided to terminate it," she said,
starting to do some work on a PADD she had picked up off one of the tables in the room.
"But why?" she asked, he tiny head trying to figure it out.
"I have decided that a relationship would interfere with my duties to the crew and
would be inefficient," she said.
" Oh, but I don't get it," she said.
"Elaborate," Seven commanded.
" If you like him, and he likes you, and the Captain is ok with it, why wouldn't
you go out with him again," she asked, scratching her head.
" It is beyond your understanding, if you will excuse me, I need to start my shift
in Astrometrics now, good day," she said, pointing walking to the door.
"Ok, have a good day Seven," she said skipping down the hallway.
Seven shook her head; the attraction between her and Finnegan was obvious to a
child. "Maybe I made an error," Seven thought to herself. She shook it off. It was too late
now anyway, the damage had been done. She would just have to forget about her feeling
for Dempsey Finnegan and go on with her life.
"Great job Captain," Finnegan said, trying to sound encouraging after she
executed a right hook onto the holographic image. He failed, if it had been someone other
then the Captain, he might have been able to fool him or her, but not the Captain, she
could read him to well.
"Thank you Mr. Finnegan, but you don't need to humor me," she said, breathing
heavily from the work out.
"Sorry Captain, it's not you, you've got a right hook that could knock out
Muhammad Ali, I'm just a little distracted, that's all," he said. That was an
understatement. He had started working shifts today, and luckily he was only scheduled
for a shift in sickbay. He knew, however, that tomorrow he was going to be in
Astrometrics for two shifts, and he was less then thrilled.
"I've noticed," the Captain knew why he was so distracted as well. Ever since he
had arrived she had noticed Seven of Nine acting out of character. The idea of her having
an actual relationship with him was almost laughable, but when she had seen them at the
party, when she had seen them dancing and seen the smile on Seven of Nine's face, she
knew that a relationship was very possible.
"I'm assuming this has something to do with Seven," she said, wiping the sweat
from her brow.
"Good guess," he said.
"What's the problem, you seemed to having a great time at the party, till you were
interrupted," she said.
"Yeah, that's what I thought," he said.
"Hmm, she ended it?" Janeway asked.
"Yeah, she said that she had to end it because she couldn't be with someone who
would do such a foolish and prideful thing. But I knew that wasn't the real reason. I told
her that she just didn't want to put herself out there, she didn't want to risk getting hurt.
Captain, I know that she is new to all this, but she is making a big mistake, we could be
so happy, but… she…" he trailed off.
"Well whatever is going on between you two, you have about a month to resolve
it," she said.
"Why is that?" he asked inquisitively.
"The planet where the X-Dylythium is located is behind an asteroid belt, we have
to travel to it at impulse speed, it will take a month. You, Seven, and a couple other
members of the crew are going to the planet to excavate it," she said.
"Oh," Finnegan said, his voice empty.
"Finnegan, Seven still has a lot to learn, maybe you were rushing it a little. There
is still time to work this out. Just because Seven says it's over doesn't necessarily mean
that it actually is," Janeway said, trying to comfort the man.
"I know Captain, I just have to convince Seven of that," he said, "now how about
some coffee ice cream," he said, a smile spreading his face. Janeway took his arm and
they exited the holo-deck for the mess hall.
The next month went by awkwardly for Seven and Finnegan. They managed to
grin and bare it, but not without a good share of awkward moments. By the time of the
mission, they had resumed the relationship that they had before the date. In fact it was
even worse then before.
"What are you doing?" Seven asked Finnegan as he programmed some
information into the computer in astrometrics. They had five days until their mission to
the surface of the M-Class planet that had their quick ticket home. Finnegan brought forth
a topographical map of the surface. On it was red streaks that represented the precious X-
Dylithium.
"I'm reviewing the surface of the planet so I can think of the best way to excavate
the X ( as they had come to call it)," he said, not taking his eyes of the screen. He had
become used to Seven's constant need to question what he was doing. He understood that
she had worked almost by herself in the Astrometrics for almost 4 years, but that still
didn't make it any less annoying.
"I have already assessed the most efficient way of mining the X, there is no need
for you to go over that data," she said, she began to type in the command to remove the
image from the screen. It disappeared.
"I know that, but I want to look at the information as well since we are both
equally in charge of the mission, I just want to see if there is something that you haven't
seen," he said, putting the image back on the screen," he said, the agitation rising in his
voice.
"I highly doubt that I have missed something," she said, glaring at him as she
again removed the image from the wide-screen.
Finnegan rolled his eyes, " I know that you highly doubt that you have missed
something, I don't think that you doubt anything you've done, well most of the things
that you have done," Finnegan paused, hoping she would detect his sarcasm, he noted
that she did when she raised her eyebrow. Finnegan looked away, it still got to him. "But
I just want to double check so if you would please stop being such a control freak and let
me examine the schematic I would appreciate it," he said, almost slamming the computer
commands to bring the image up for a third time.
"Fine, if you feel the need to review my work the go ahead, it is an inefficient use
of your time," she said, turning her back to him and working on a PADD.
"Fine, if you feel the need to review wa wa wa na," Finnegan said in a mocking
manner to himself.
"I can hear you, my Borg technology increases my hearing senses," she said,
"Idiot," she muttered under her breath.
"I can hear you too, genetic enhancements!" he said. He couldn't wait for this
week to be over.