Disclaimer: Only the story is mine. Everything else belongs to Paramount. As much as I'd like to say Seven and B'Elanna are mine, 'twould be a falsehood. (sigh) This story contains femslash (yup, women love women here, get used to it) so if that offends you, then read something else. Although if you've read Ghosts, the story before this one, then you're probably not offended by it if you're still reading. And if you haven't read Ghosts—go read it!

Author Notes: Sequel to Ghosts.

Code: T7
Rating: R
Genre: Romance/Drama
Original post date: Feb, 2001
PLEASE REVIEW!


Family, Chapter 5


"Well, it's fairly plain to me," the EMH told Seven and the captain, "That she's malnourished and exhausted. Apparently, she's been working nonstop for the past two weeks, without even breaking for food or sleep. I've given her a hypo of nutritional supplement and proteins, as well as worked to raise her blood-sugar level. But there's only so much I can do. She needs food, sleep and a warm bath."

"Bath?" Seven asked.

"Certainly you noticed that she hasn't stopped to shower, either?" The doctor tried to look delicate about it. Seven frowned. She hadn't noticed any offensive odor, but she did admit, at least to herself, that B'Elanna did smell stronger than usual. She just did not find it unpleasant.

"I'll see to it." Seven promised. The doctor looked at her with surprise, then brightened into a smile.

"Why thank you, Seven. I've noticed that your social skills have improved immensely, but I must admit to being surprised, in a pleasant way," he quickly added. "That you'd show such care for a fellow cremate."

"She is more than a 'fellow crewmate,' Doctor. She is my friend." The doctor looked as if he would go beyond the physical human limit of smiling with that comment. Seven raised her eyebrow, then walked from the doctor's office to the recovery area. She slowly approached B'Elanna, hands clasped behind her back, and watched as the half-Klingon beauty turned her head toward Seven.

"Hi," B'Elanna whispered. Seven felt anger burn up inside of her for what she had done to the person she loved. B'Elanna looked frail and unhealthy. Seven wanted nothing more than to go to the cargo bay and sleep.

"You could have killed yourself." Seven hadn't meant to be so blunt, but her anger prevented her from the niceties she had worked so hard at. B'Elanna glared at her, showing that her anger was just as potent, no matter how weak her body may be.

"I don't need a lecture." B'Elanna rolled her head away from Seven, refusing to look at her.

"I have volunteered to take care of you." Seven announced. B'Elanna still didn't look at her. Seven leaned in, putting one hand on B'Elanna's shoulder. "I am sorry. It was inconsiderate of me to end our relationship without telling you why I..." Seven trailed off. B'Elanna slowly returned to looking at Seven. "I was... afraid."

"Afraid? Afraid of what?" B'Elanna asked, frowning.

"I do not wish to discuss it so... publicly. May we talk about it in your quarters?"

"I don't know that I want you taking care of me." B'Elanna hissed. Seven stood, but before she could run away, B'Elanna allowed her face to soften. "You hurt me."

"Ahem." Both women turned to the doctor as he entered. "Is there a problem, ladies?" B'Elanna sat up and slowly swung her legs off the side of the bed.

"Just leaving." B'Elanna said, throwing her weight onto Seven, who caught her, easily. Seven let B'Elanna lean on her as the exited Sickbay, but as soon as they were past the doors, B'Elanna jerked away. She staggered for a moment, but stood her ground. "You hurt me."

"Yes," Seven agreed, lowering her gaze to the deck, unable to meet B'Elanna's eyes. "If it is any consolation. I am not unaffected."

"Unaffected? Seven, I don't know what happened that night, why you ran out on me and it's killing me trying to figure out what I did wrong! Why I suddenly wasn't good enough for you—"

"You? It is that I am not good enough for you. I could not continue to pretend that I was."

"Didn't we already have this talk?"

"I am not good enough because I cannot give as much to you as you give to me."

"What do you mean?" B'Elanna asked, leaning against the wall.

"May we please have this conversation in private?" B'Elanna was about to argue when she realized how rarely she had heard Seven say 'please.'

"Alright." They walked in silence all the way to the turbolift and said nothing on the ride up to deck three. Once the turbolift stopped and opened, they glanced at each other and B'Elanna stepped out, taking angry strides to her quarters. She stood just inside her door and waited for Seven to enter. Seven walked in like a child walking into a punishment. "Tell me." B'Elanna commanded.

So Seven did. Every thought that went through her mind, every doubt and fear. B'Elanna softened with every word, until she was holding Seven in her arms, trying to soothe the shaking blonde.

"Stop holding it in, Seven." B'Elanna said and Seven let go. With every shake of Seven's shoulders, with every sob, B'Elanna felt as if her heart was breaking. But she held on, rocking Seven in her arms, letting her spill out her fears and insecurities for the first time. She held Seven long after she had stopped crying and just rocked her, soothing her. Seven fell asleep like that and B'Elanna marveled at how beautiful it made her, how peaceful she looked.

Seven didn't sleep long. Just as B'Elanna began to doze, Seven stirred restlessly. "Hello, sleeping beauty." B'Elanna greeted. Seven looked at B'Elanna, then around at the quarters and checked her internal chronometer, to make sure that she had not slept the entire night. Once she realized that she had only been asleep for seventeen minutes, she stood, bringing B'Elanna to her feet.

"The doctor recommended that you take a bath. I intend to see to it that you follow all of his recommendations until you are healthy again."

"And how are you going to make sure that I do that?" B'Elanna teased. Seven raised an eyebrow.

"I shall supervise." B'Elanna decided that this could be fun and shot Seven a challenging look. Seven cocked her head slightly in acknowledgement of the challenge, then walked into B'Elanna's bathroom. She glared at the sonic shower and turned around, marching out of B'Elanna's quarters. "Stay here," she called behind her just before the doors shut.

B'Elanna watched Seven's retreating figure, desperately curious as to what she had in mind. She sat on her couch and began falling asleep just before Seven reentered the quarters. Seven walked purposefully to B'Elanna, who watched with curiosity under half-closed eyes. So it came as a shock when Seven scooped her up into her arms and she mock-struggled for a moment, before pretending to be overwhelmed. She sighed melodramatically, then snuggled into Seven's chest.

To be continued...