Wow! I wasn't expecting FB… Seriously I wasn't but I'm really, really grateful. Thank you guys. Here's the next part and I'll post the fourth too cause this one's a little short. Again thank you.

~Gimpy~

Part 3

Neelix watched, overjoyed at the turn out to his quickly slapped together party. After the repairs had been completed, he'd sensed the cloud of depression that had settled itself over Voyager and her crew. He'd observed his friends as they ate, noted the lack of luster in their eyes. The cause was well known, the cure a little more complicated but with the Captain's approval he'd orchestrated the get-together of the century. The dress was informal, the food extravagant and the company a little less then enthusiastic. At first no one showed but with a little probing from the commanding officer, the small Mess Hall was bustling with activity, even spilling out into the corridors.

The doors slid open once more and Neelix turned his attention to his new guest. "Commander!" he called out over the crowd and rounded the counter to greet Chakotay. "Glad you could make it."

Chakotay smiled warmly at the smaller man, "I don't think I had a choice but I'm glad I decided to come. Looks like quite the turnout."

Neelix chuckled, "You should have seen it an hour ago."

"That bad?"

"Sadly, but as you can see, I've more then filled my quota," he beamed. Reaching out he gently grasped the Commander's arm and pulled him further inside. "Here," he offered a Champaign glass to the man. "The senior staff is over in the corner."

Chakotay took the offered drink. "Thanks. Don't stay behind the counter all night, Neelix," he teased as he walked in the direction of the senior staff.

Shaking his head, Neelix chuckled silently to himself and set about preparing more food for the ever growing crowd.

****

Staring around the small table of higher ups, Tom silently thanked who ever allowed them to be here. Attack after attack this crew always seems to rise up. It was starting to become a joke amongst the lower ranks, something they bet on. Which species was gonna attack next? Which crewmember was gonna get captured? How long 'til we get into another mess? He had to admit to himself that he to was involved in the pools. He paused his train of thought long enough to listen to B'Elanna speaking next to him.

"Even with the holodecks repaired I'm pretty positive that no one's gonna be visiting them anytime soon."

The Captain nodded her head, "I'm surprised we even got the decks repaired as fast as we did."

"I'm not," B'Elanna countered. "I had Seven on my side."

"Speaking of our former Borg," Chakotay mused, turning to watch as Seven herself entered the room.

With her arms behind her back she calmly made her way to the table. Stopping at the end near Tom, she nodded in the Captain's Direction. "I am here." The disapproval at being forced to participate in this gathering was evident in her tone.

"I see that," Kathryn tried her best not to respond to the tone. "Have a seat, get something to eat," she offered.

Seven quickly declined, "I prefer to stand." In truth she didn't intend to stay for long. Though she longed for the noise and distraction she was sure to encounter, she also didn't want to be around all these people.

"Oh come on Seven," Tom stood up and grabbed a free chair from a side table. "Have a seat with us, we don't bite. Unless provoked." His tart attempt a humor earned him a jab in the side from B'Elanna.

Seven pretended to consider the offer before once again declining. "Thank you Mr. Paris but I must decline." She caught the look on Kathryn's face that told her the woman was about to protest. Quickly she formed a lie, "I have a prior engagement."

Kathryn and B'Elanna saw through the lie but neither voiced their suspicions. The two watched as Seven excused herself and made her way towards the other side of the room. She never lost sight of the door, weaving her way through the crowd. The sea of people seemed never-ending. They entrapped her, encircled her. Each time she weaved away from bodily contact with one, she ran into another. Her vision started to narrow and her heart beat rose. The room seemed to close in on her like a trap.

What she could only describe as claustrophobia descended upon her. Like an animal caught in a cage, she moved faster towards the exit, forcing her way through. Suddenly the crowd parted and her destination, her salvation came fully into view. All that stood between her and the door was the vast expanse of air. A slight pressure on her arm, a tug, hands restricting her. She acted instantaneously and without thought, ramming her foot down and connecting with flesh. The moment the hold loosened she acted, slamming her arm back. Her fist connected solidly with a nose. The hand dropped, a cry rang out and Seven swirled around to face her attacker.

Her eyes widened and her breathing became harsher. Neelix stood before her cradling his face. Blood slipped from between his fingers and dripped down his arm.

"Oh my god! Neelix are you alright?" Harry rushed to Neelix's side.

With wide and fearful eyes, Seven surveyed the room. All other eyes were trained on her, an array of emotion within them: fear, shock, uncertainty.

"Seven, why the hell did you do that?" Kathryn's angered voice barely resonated in Seven's mind.

"I..." she fumbled, taking a step back. "I... didn't... I didn't know... I apologize..." With each word she took another step until she was close enough to the door to make her escape. She dashed out the door and down the corridor. Her vision blurred, the walls becoming flashes of nothing. She ran as fast and far as she could.

When the momentum became too much for her tired legs and her lungs could no longer take the strain, Seven finally stopped and turned into the nearest door. Unable to stop herself, she fell to her knees and crouched down close to the floor. Her throat constricted as soft sobs tried to make themselves known. She couldn't let them, couldn't allow herself to do something so utterly human. She forced the need back along with the tears. In a crumpled heap, she clutched at her sides and tried desperately to calm her hyperactive senses.

TBC

~Gimpy~