Over the last eight hours the Doctor had run every scan and every test he could think of. He knew what damage was being done but he couldn't determine the cause of the damage or a way to halt its progress.
He doubted the virus or whatever it was had been contracted on Pestis IV, or if it had, then they too would now be suffering much as Voyager's crew were. It seemed indiscriminate in its choice of victims with even the cells of the plants in the botanics lab gradually decaying.
It would take them the better part of three days to return and the Captain had been hesitant to send Voyager back where there was the potential for combat with the majority of her crew incapacitated.
He felt helpless to treat his patients having had to confine every crewmember to their quarters. While initially hesitant to treat them all without further understanding the nature of the virus, he had had to revert to treating the symptoms empirically. After administering painkillers and a mild relaxant to help them sleep, he had asked the computer to monitor all life signs and inform him of any changes.
Fifteen minutes ago he had transported himself to the bridge after the computer signalled an alarm. Lt. Commander Tuvok lay slumped in the command chair. Obviously determined to remain at his post he had passed out on the bridge.
The Captain was in and out of consciousness every hour or so despite her repeated attempts at leaving sickbay. He dreaded having to inform her that every member of her crew had become a victim of this plague- even Seven of Nine, although she reported experiencing only minor discomfort. Her nano-probes continued to fight the invader and the Doctor hoped he may be able to gain some clue as to its treatment by analysing the battle currently being fought within the former Borg drone.
Several possibilities had presented themselves, all without success, yet he continued to try. Seven remained with him in sickbay, standing vigil over the Captain should she wake. The holographic man looked up from his experiments to look at the two women.
Seven was standing at the Captain's head, looking down at the small woman who seemed so frail as she slept. The young woman's lips were moving although even the Doctor's keen hearing couldn't pick up what she was saying. He was surprised to see her reach out and brush a strand of the Captain auburn hair off her face, the tenderness in that action so unlike the Seven he knew. She smiled then and the Doctor realized that the Captain had woken again. Sighing, he left the confines of his office.
***
"How are things progressing, Doctor?" the Captain asked as soon as she noticed the return of her EMH.
"I am continuing with my research. I believe I have found an avenue worth investigating," the lack of optimism evident in his voice. "Commander Tuvok has been relieved of duty," he continued hesitantly.
"I have to get to the bridge," the Captain said, realising that no one was in command of her ship. She sat up once again, this time Seven attempted to restrain her, encouraging her to lie down.
"There's nothing you can do, Captain. You need to rest, reserve your strength."
Janeway had led her crew through Borg space and Kazon militia, they had battled some of the most powerful races in Starfleet history, encountered space-time distortions that had threatened to tear the ship apart, and they had survived. Janeway refused to give up now because of some overgrown head cold.
"I have a responsibility to this ship and her crew, Doctor," she put every ounce of her will into mustering the command voice she knew could bring ensigns to their knees.
The Doctor merely rolled his eyes and stepped away from the bed, motioning with his arm that she was free to leave.
If he was right and they did indeed have less than a day before this virus destroyed all the living tissue in their bodies, she refused to spend her remaining hours flat on her back in sickbay.
"I will accompany you," Seven informed her.
The Captain shot a look of victory towards the Doctor. "Is there anything you can give me to slow the degradation or perhaps help to clear my head?" she questioned.
"Not without complications. I could administer 20ccs of an iprovelene-hyronalen serum but I am unsure of the long term side effects," he spoke slowly, accessing his systems for possible paths of action.
"Long term side effects!" the Captain drawled. "What long term effects, Doctor? Your best estimates have me dead by this time tomorrow!" Kathryn regretted both her tone and her words as soon as they left her mouth. She was tired; her body spasmed, her head ached, and her crew were dying, but being rude never solved anyone's problems.
"You're right, Captain," he admitted, preparing the hypospray.
"I'm sorry, Doctor," she started to speak only to have the Doctor shake his head.
"I understand." His expression was one of compassion. "I may need to run further tests, on both you and Seven. If you could remain together I will come to the bridge if I need you."
"Understood, Doctor," she waited while he administered the hypo. Seven moved to stand at her side, assisting her to stand. She felt considerably better as the drugs spread through her system, but she allowed the hand to remain on her arm.
"Contact me if you make any progress, Doctor."
"Of course, Captain," he replied, but the two women were already halfway out the door.
***
The bridge was eerily quiet as they stepped off the turbolift and it reminded Seven of the weeks she had spent alone on Voyager while the rest of the crew was in stasis. She had never in her life felt so alone, so disconnected, and she was afraid that the Captain was going to leave her alone once again.
Seeing the woman whom she had considered all but invincible, weakened so dreadfully by this virus seemed to shatter her beliefs. While she knew that the Captain was only human, she so often seemed much more than that. Seven wondered if all the crew felt that way or if her own feelings for the Captain clouded her judgement.
She could feel more strength in the Captain's steps now, yet she was hesitant to remove the hand she had wrapped protectively around the smaller woman's upper arm. The physical contact seemed too important to lose. Moving as one onto the bridge, they both focused on the viewscreen. The stars were still as Voyager sat motionless, halted in her path home.
After a moments silence, Seven felt the Captain move. She had bought her hand up to touch Seven's, loosening the grip. She reluctantly let go only to have the Captain entwine their fingers together. Seven realized suddenly that they were holding hands. That small act seeming so significant to the former drone.
Janeway led them both across the deck as she took her place in the Captain's chair, dragging Seven into the seat beside her.
"You know, when I was first given command of Voyager, I came up here one night and just sat by myself, getting accustomed to the feel of the ship," Kathryn started. Seven remained silent, waiting for her to continue.
"She's a good ship with the finest crew I have ever had the honour of commanding."
Seven watched the emotions play across her face. She wished desperately for something to say to reassure this woman who had come to mean everything to her. But nothing in her limited experience could comprehend what she was going through.
"I refuse to let them die like this," Janeway finished and, after a breath, she turned from the viewscreen and leant her head back in her chair angling her body so that she was facing her companion.
"I am sorry, Seven," she whispered.
"Sorry for what, Captain?"
"For breaking your link with the Collective, for exposing you to this virus, for robbing you of your life," as she spoke, the grip on her hand tightened as if by holding on she could somehow stop her from slipping away.
"You gave me my life, Captain. If it were not for you I would never have had this chance to experience humanity. Do not be sorry for something that I am thankful for every time I look at you."
Kathryn seemed to take a deep breath as she turned away from Seven, pressing the back of her head into the chair and closing her eyes.
"I have faith in the Doctor's ability to find a cure. You must not abandon hope." Seven spoke with determination, despite the fact that she was aware her own nanoprobes were being slowly overwhelmed by the microscopic threat.
They remained together on the bridge, their entwined hands resting on the Captain's lap, for quite some time. They spoke of Kathryn's childhood in Indiana and Seven's progress adapting to life on Voyager. On two separate occasions, Seven had made the Captain laugh: a deep, throaty laugh that seemed to echo in Seven's stomach, making the Borg feel almost light-headed. Seven committed that sound to memory.
The Doctor visited them once to obtain more of Seven's nano-probes and if he thought it odd that his Captain and Voyager's astrometrics officer should be holding hands, he didn't comment.
Apparently, the Bolian Yeoman Tse'al had taken a critical turn and the Doctor was monitoring his condition closely. His sudden deterioration though had given the Doctor an idea and he was somewhat more hopeful of finding a treatment.
As soon as the turbolift doors closed behind the Doctor, Seven turned back to her Captain.
"Then there is still hope," she said with a small smile.
***
He doubted the virus or whatever it was had been contracted on Pestis IV, or if it had, then they too would now be suffering much as Voyager's crew were. It seemed indiscriminate in its choice of victims with even the cells of the plants in the botanics lab gradually decaying.
It would take them the better part of three days to return and the Captain had been hesitant to send Voyager back where there was the potential for combat with the majority of her crew incapacitated.
He felt helpless to treat his patients having had to confine every crewmember to their quarters. While initially hesitant to treat them all without further understanding the nature of the virus, he had had to revert to treating the symptoms empirically. After administering painkillers and a mild relaxant to help them sleep, he had asked the computer to monitor all life signs and inform him of any changes.
Fifteen minutes ago he had transported himself to the bridge after the computer signalled an alarm. Lt. Commander Tuvok lay slumped in the command chair. Obviously determined to remain at his post he had passed out on the bridge.
The Captain was in and out of consciousness every hour or so despite her repeated attempts at leaving sickbay. He dreaded having to inform her that every member of her crew had become a victim of this plague- even Seven of Nine, although she reported experiencing only minor discomfort. Her nano-probes continued to fight the invader and the Doctor hoped he may be able to gain some clue as to its treatment by analysing the battle currently being fought within the former Borg drone.
Several possibilities had presented themselves, all without success, yet he continued to try. Seven remained with him in sickbay, standing vigil over the Captain should she wake. The holographic man looked up from his experiments to look at the two women.
Seven was standing at the Captain's head, looking down at the small woman who seemed so frail as she slept. The young woman's lips were moving although even the Doctor's keen hearing couldn't pick up what she was saying. He was surprised to see her reach out and brush a strand of the Captain auburn hair off her face, the tenderness in that action so unlike the Seven he knew. She smiled then and the Doctor realized that the Captain had woken again. Sighing, he left the confines of his office.
***
"How are things progressing, Doctor?" the Captain asked as soon as she noticed the return of her EMH.
"I am continuing with my research. I believe I have found an avenue worth investigating," the lack of optimism evident in his voice. "Commander Tuvok has been relieved of duty," he continued hesitantly.
"I have to get to the bridge," the Captain said, realising that no one was in command of her ship. She sat up once again, this time Seven attempted to restrain her, encouraging her to lie down.
"There's nothing you can do, Captain. You need to rest, reserve your strength."
Janeway had led her crew through Borg space and Kazon militia, they had battled some of the most powerful races in Starfleet history, encountered space-time distortions that had threatened to tear the ship apart, and they had survived. Janeway refused to give up now because of some overgrown head cold.
"I have a responsibility to this ship and her crew, Doctor," she put every ounce of her will into mustering the command voice she knew could bring ensigns to their knees.
The Doctor merely rolled his eyes and stepped away from the bed, motioning with his arm that she was free to leave.
If he was right and they did indeed have less than a day before this virus destroyed all the living tissue in their bodies, she refused to spend her remaining hours flat on her back in sickbay.
"I will accompany you," Seven informed her.
The Captain shot a look of victory towards the Doctor. "Is there anything you can give me to slow the degradation or perhaps help to clear my head?" she questioned.
"Not without complications. I could administer 20ccs of an iprovelene-hyronalen serum but I am unsure of the long term side effects," he spoke slowly, accessing his systems for possible paths of action.
"Long term side effects!" the Captain drawled. "What long term effects, Doctor? Your best estimates have me dead by this time tomorrow!" Kathryn regretted both her tone and her words as soon as they left her mouth. She was tired; her body spasmed, her head ached, and her crew were dying, but being rude never solved anyone's problems.
"You're right, Captain," he admitted, preparing the hypospray.
"I'm sorry, Doctor," she started to speak only to have the Doctor shake his head.
"I understand." His expression was one of compassion. "I may need to run further tests, on both you and Seven. If you could remain together I will come to the bridge if I need you."
"Understood, Doctor," she waited while he administered the hypo. Seven moved to stand at her side, assisting her to stand. She felt considerably better as the drugs spread through her system, but she allowed the hand to remain on her arm.
"Contact me if you make any progress, Doctor."
"Of course, Captain," he replied, but the two women were already halfway out the door.
***
The bridge was eerily quiet as they stepped off the turbolift and it reminded Seven of the weeks she had spent alone on Voyager while the rest of the crew was in stasis. She had never in her life felt so alone, so disconnected, and she was afraid that the Captain was going to leave her alone once again.
Seeing the woman whom she had considered all but invincible, weakened so dreadfully by this virus seemed to shatter her beliefs. While she knew that the Captain was only human, she so often seemed much more than that. Seven wondered if all the crew felt that way or if her own feelings for the Captain clouded her judgement.
She could feel more strength in the Captain's steps now, yet she was hesitant to remove the hand she had wrapped protectively around the smaller woman's upper arm. The physical contact seemed too important to lose. Moving as one onto the bridge, they both focused on the viewscreen. The stars were still as Voyager sat motionless, halted in her path home.
After a moments silence, Seven felt the Captain move. She had bought her hand up to touch Seven's, loosening the grip. She reluctantly let go only to have the Captain entwine their fingers together. Seven realized suddenly that they were holding hands. That small act seeming so significant to the former drone.
Janeway led them both across the deck as she took her place in the Captain's chair, dragging Seven into the seat beside her.
"You know, when I was first given command of Voyager, I came up here one night and just sat by myself, getting accustomed to the feel of the ship," Kathryn started. Seven remained silent, waiting for her to continue.
"She's a good ship with the finest crew I have ever had the honour of commanding."
Seven watched the emotions play across her face. She wished desperately for something to say to reassure this woman who had come to mean everything to her. But nothing in her limited experience could comprehend what she was going through.
"I refuse to let them die like this," Janeway finished and, after a breath, she turned from the viewscreen and leant her head back in her chair angling her body so that she was facing her companion.
"I am sorry, Seven," she whispered.
"Sorry for what, Captain?"
"For breaking your link with the Collective, for exposing you to this virus, for robbing you of your life," as she spoke, the grip on her hand tightened as if by holding on she could somehow stop her from slipping away.
"You gave me my life, Captain. If it were not for you I would never have had this chance to experience humanity. Do not be sorry for something that I am thankful for every time I look at you."
Kathryn seemed to take a deep breath as she turned away from Seven, pressing the back of her head into the chair and closing her eyes.
"I have faith in the Doctor's ability to find a cure. You must not abandon hope." Seven spoke with determination, despite the fact that she was aware her own nanoprobes were being slowly overwhelmed by the microscopic threat.
They remained together on the bridge, their entwined hands resting on the Captain's lap, for quite some time. They spoke of Kathryn's childhood in Indiana and Seven's progress adapting to life on Voyager. On two separate occasions, Seven had made the Captain laugh: a deep, throaty laugh that seemed to echo in Seven's stomach, making the Borg feel almost light-headed. Seven committed that sound to memory.
The Doctor visited them once to obtain more of Seven's nano-probes and if he thought it odd that his Captain and Voyager's astrometrics officer should be holding hands, he didn't comment.
Apparently, the Bolian Yeoman Tse'al had taken a critical turn and the Doctor was monitoring his condition closely. His sudden deterioration though had given the Doctor an idea and he was somewhat more hopeful of finding a treatment.
As soon as the turbolift doors closed behind the Doctor, Seven turned back to her Captain.
"Then there is still hope," she said with a small smile.
***