Disclaimer: I am not making any money of this fic, nor do I own Star Trek: Voyager, Deep Space Nine, The Next Generation or the original series, or anything else I make references to. If you saw the character on any show, then it is not mine. The same goes for ships, planets, cultures, et cetera. This story will depict a loving relationship between two women and there are no apologies to be made over this. Chapter 5 title is from "Freak on a Leash" by KoRn.

Genre: Action-Adventure, Drama
Rating: M
Codes: K/7, T/7
Feedback: Please, reviews are the food of the muse…

Home, Chapter 5
Every time I start to believe...

Present...

Voyager finally escaped Mekrell space, just glad to be alive. Ensign Anna Spacey, who had replaced Tom Paris at helm, had proven her worth at that station again and again over the last few months since she had taken over. Though she didn't take as many risks as Paris had, her original thinking had saved their lives over a dozen times while they traveled through the hostile space. Dubbed 'Ensign Spaz' by her peers in Engineering, Spacey's talents had gone unused by Voyager because of the unlikelihood that the woman, who could not find her own quarters half the time, could navigate a starship through space.

B'Elanna had discovered her when going over the crew reports and noticed that she had received amazing marks in Astronavigation at the Academy, but her love of engines had put her in Engineering, where she constantly made clumsy mistakes and overreacted. It was a waste to have her in Engineering when her true talent lay in flying the ship. Though it had pained her deeply to suggest Spacey for her ex-lover's former position, B'Elanna had done so in the interests of the ship.

Kathryn Janeway noted all this in her captain's log, and then shut down the recording. She picked up the security report in front of her and scanned through, looking to see what scrap B'Elanna had gotten herself into this time and was surprised to not find any mention of the ill-tempered woman in the report. However, Seven of Nine was mentioned more than once and Janeway set the report down to rub her temples.

'If it's not one of them, it's the other,' she thought, referring to the two women that she had set aside as personal projects from the moment they stepped on board Voyager and displayed their talents to her. She had been delighted to see that they had finally resolved their differences and not one report had been made about an altercation between them in the past three weeks, but they both still seemed unable to stay out of trouble.

She reread what the altercations were about and with whom and though she might have let a few of them slide, there were too many for her not to get involved. She began preparing her speech and called for Seven of Nine to come to her ready room.
…

Seven seethed as she left Janeway's office, cursing the various crewmen that she had upset. It wasn't her fault that they were inefficient, yet she was expected to ignore them in this and allow them to make mistakes. She admitted that a few mistakes were necessary for learning, but repeating the same mistake until it became obvious that they were incapable of learning seemed cause enough for them to be relieved of that duty.

She mulled over the words the captain had reprimanded her with as she walked to Engineering, but as soon as she walked through the doors and saw B'Elanna standing there, backlit by the warp care and magnificent in her obvious happiness, all her dark thoughts vanished. B'Elanna was laughing as she ran a diagnostic of the engines and talked to Lt. Carey.

"Go on, Joe. Get that damn coil aligned." Carey laughed and obeyed, disappearing around the corner. Seven watched as B'Elanna went back to work, smiling and felt a pang of worry. 'Could Lieutenants Torres and Carey be considering dating?' They spent enough time together in Engineering and it was common amongst humanoid cultures to become romantically involved with the people they worked the closest with. She decided to watch Lt. Carey and make sure he didn't get too close with B'Elanna, surprising herself with the sense of possessiveness she felt over the half-Klingon.

"Seven!" B'Elanna called, waving the ex-Borg over to her. Seven walked to B'Elanna, hands behind her back and holding a padd.

B'Elanna was almost beaming as she greeted Seven, honestly glad to see her. Though Carey had been entertaining her with tales from the lower engineering decks, she felt the need for company. Specifically, Seven of Nine. The two had become best friends in the past few months and she barely remembered that they had once avoided each other like the plague. Now she only anticipated their time together as time well spent.

"Hello, Lieu—B'Elanna. You seem well."

"Yeah, how are you?"

"I am in good health. However, I have just come from the captain's ready room." Seven offered B'Elanna the report from behind her back.

"Uh-oh," B'Elanna said, taking the padd. "Are you in trouble?"

"Not much, though I have been ordered to apologize to four different crewmen." Seven watched B'Elanna's brown eyes scanning the report. B'Elanna laughed.

"I can't count how many apologies I've given the past seven years. More than I have at any other time in my life, no doubt. Except maybe grade school. This is great, Seven. I think you just shaved at least a year off our journey with this. I'll get to recalibrating the drive immediately." She looked up into Seven's eyes, causing the slightest smile from the blonde.

"Why are you in such a good mood, B'Elanna?" Seven asked, her curiosity finally getting the better of her.

"I don't know. I've just been having good dreams, I guess." B'Elanna flashed on one of those dreams—pale skin in silk sheets, blue eyes and full lips—and she almost blushed. Seven raised her ocular implant. "Come on," B'Elanna said, touching Seven's arm unconsciously and walking to their destination.

2373...

Jessica assured them that the infirmary was only around two more bends. Janeway hoped so, because her shoulder was throbbing horribly. She was noting that Chakotay's limp was getting worse when suddenly, the door to the right of Jessica suddenly flew open and out. There was a blur and Kathryn lifted her retrieved weapon to point at the dark form, but waited to fire until she knew if it was a threat.

The form slammed Jessica into the wall and both held their hands ready to strike and froze. Janeway had to take her finger off the trigger before she fired when she saw that the alien was a Klingon boy. His long hair flew about his rounded face, unkempt and wavy. Jessica threw her arms around him and they murmured to each other, too quiet to be heard over the music. The boy held Jessica at arm's length and looked at her with love.

"I was so worried, Jess." She smoothed his hair away from his face. Kathryn was no expert at judging Klingon ages, but she guessed he was about Jessica's age.

"I'm fine, Alex. Don't worry, love." Alex and Jessica kissed, obviously happy to see each other. When they pulled away, Alex's hand moved from Jessica's neck to her back and she winced. He noticed and immediately his hand tightened and he pulled her to him, looking at the wounds on her back by pulling her shirt away from the skin. He went still and Jessica leaned back against the wall, her eyes closed. She hugged herself and Alex leaned in, his forehead pressed against hers.

He slammed his hand into the wall next to Jessica, making her jump.

"chay'?" Alex asked quietly. Jessica glared up at him, mixed emotions playing across her face.

"yItamchoH! naDev qaS wanI' ramqu'. yaj'a'?"

"bIlughbe'. DuwI'vam luq bech jay'!" Jessica grabbed Alex and slammed him into the wall. Kathryn wondered why her universal translator wasn't working.

"ghobe!" Jessica said and Alex began to interrupt. "jISahbe' Da SoH! Please." Alex slumped and hung his head. Finally, he admitted defeat with a nod of his head. Janeway just wished that she knew what the hell they had just said to each other. "Good, then let's go. The infirmary is right here. We can all get cleaned up." Alex looked around at the group. "Oh," Jessica said, realizing that she hadn't made introductions. "That's Captain Kathryn Janeway of the Federation Starship Voyager. Captain, this is my husband, Alexander Rozhenko."

"Pleased to meet you," Kathryn said, shaking the hand the boy offered, remembering absently that it wasn't the name of the baby's father, but reserving that question for later. "Rozhenko... Why is that name familiar?"

"It's a Starfleet name. Sergey Rozhenko ring a bell?" Kathryn shook her head at Jessica's question. "Then how about Worf Rozhenko?" Kathryn's eyes widened.

"The first Klingon in Starfleet." Alexander looked uncomfortable and walked a slight ways away, but nodded to her.

"My father," he answered.

"We met on the Enterprise when we were kids, after I came back from the Academy and my accelerated schedule of classes. When the Enterprise-D exploded, Alexander chose to come and marry with me rather than live with his grandparents on Earth. But that's enough history for now. We'll talk in the infirmary." Jessica took three steps in the direction she had been pointing and stopped. She reached out a hand and a forcefield buzzed blue against it. She cursed.

"Why is there a forcefield?" Janeway asked.

"Probably to keep the cretins out of the pharmaceuticals." Jessica growled.

"How do we turn it off?" Tom asked. Jessica pointed through the forcefield at the touchpad on the other side.

"Only way."

"So we came this far for nothing?" Chakotay asked, angrily. Jessica looked at him and shook her head.

"Fuck you, Chakotay," Jessica hissed. Alexander looked up at the name and glared at the Native American man for a moment. Chakotay looked back, but said nothing. Alexander wasn't the first to look away. Janeway was getting sick and tired of all the mysteries and of being confused, but forced herself to be calm and accept that answers would come in time. Jessica turned back to the forcefield and stepped back.

"No!" Alexander yelled at the same time B'Elanna rushed towards Jessica, but it was too late. Jessica charged the forcefield, hitting it full on and pushed one hand through. Kathryn could almost swear that she saw scales cover the areas of skin that touched the field. Jessica kept pushing, beyond all human tolerance until she was halfway through and Kathryn flashed on the one time she had seen a field activate when someone was halfway through. They had screamed and writhed for only a few seconds before passing out from the pain.

Jessica collapsed in a heap on the other side, barely breathing. She tried to get up and fell. She repeated the process several times, dragging herself closer to the touchpad that would shut off the forcefield. After almost a minute of this, she made it and slapped the panel, then passed out. The field flickered and died. Alexander was by Jessica's side in a second, lifting her up. The motley group filed into the infirmary for some much needed doctoring.
…

Kathryn couldn't believe how sophisticated the Shashan medical technology was. Within an hour, she, Chakotay, Alexander and B'Elanna were healed and healthy. Fifteen minutes later, Tom had his hand back and half an hour later, Jessica was coming around. Letraya had to inject her with several different compounds to stabilize her, but finally Jessica woke up. She looked around, disoriented at first, then she sat up.

"How long was I out?"

"Less than two hours," Letraya answered. Jessica nodded and hopped off the bed. Her legs immediately folded. Letraya looked down at her and said coolly, "There may be some nerve damage from your little stunt." Jessica took a deep breath and stood. Her legs were a little shaky, but other than that, she seemed fine.

"You look like hell," B'Elanna told her. Jessica looked over at the half-Klingon and grinned toothily.

"Look in a mirror, why don't you?" Jessica ran a hand through her short hair and then rubbed her nose. She sneezed. She glared around at the surroundings and began muttering something about 'dogs' that Kathryn didn't quite catch.

"You're lucky to be alive," Janeway growled at the girl. She saw Alexander smile at her from the corner of her eye. Jessica waved it away with a 'pfff' sound.

"You'd do no less for Voyager." Janeway had to stop herself from arguing. She had a feeling that the girl was right. "Besides that, I knew the infirmary was right here and that everything would work out in the end."

"We're nowhere near the end." Jessica looked at the captain and this time, she didn't have a quick smile. Her eyes even looked a little haunted.

"You can wait here if you like. I can take the ship from here. The Bridge is right above us. We just go down this corridor, go up and double back and it's there. You won't have to get into any more fights. When I'm done, I can send you back to your ship. You've done all I asked and helped me immensely. There's no reason for you to go any further."

There was a moment of silence as everyone considered their options. Kathryn was about to accept Jessica's offer when Tom Paris spoke up.

"In for a penny, in for a pound."

"I'm with you all the way," B'Elanna said.

"I do not sit back while my allies fight when I have two good arms and two good legs." Letraya spread her magnificent wings in emphasis. Chakotay just nodded.

"Where you go, so goes my world," Alexander said, poetically. Kathryn looked at Tuvok and realized that he was with her, no matter which way she went. Janeway decided that if her officers were willing to fight, then so was she.

"I didn't come all this way to stop before the biggest job of all." The captain looked around her. "But I will miss the peace and quiet." From the moment the doors shut on the infirmary, Kathryn's head had been given a rest by the soundproof walls. She braced herself to be bombarded by the sound once again.

"You're all idiots," Jessica growled. Then her expression softened. "But you're also welcome friends, when I need them." She squeezed B'Elanna's hand with her own and Alexander's in her other. "Thank you."

Present...

"Seven," Captain Janeway looked up at the woman standing across from her. "Why did you break Lieutenant Carey's nose?"

"I... do not know, Captain."

"You don't know?"

"He..." Seven looked away from the captain and tried to come up with a better excuse than 'he seemed to be flirting with B'Elanna.' She still did not understand her actions. She felt horrible already, having found out that Carey had a wife and two kids, which he had never been unfaithful to. She couldn't bring herself to admit to having attacked him over something he hadn't even done. "I was... mistaken, Captain, and I am sorry." It was the closest she could come to a confession, and luckily, enough for Janeway.

"I don't understand it, Seven, but if you say you're sorry, then I believe you. But I'm not the one you should be apologizing to. If you were an officer, you would be in the brig right now. But you're not, so I'm going to go easy on you, if you promise me that this will never happen again." Seven nodded and turned to leave. "Seven." She froze at the captain's voice and turned around. "I need your word."

"You have it, captain. I shall never assault another crewmember again without just cause."

"Alright. I want you to understand that if he files formal charges against you, I shall take formal disciplinary action. Until then though, I will attempt to find a suitable punishment. When I have thought of it, I'll inform you. Dismissed." Seven nodded, relieved that this was over and left the ready room.

After Seven left, Kathryn leaned back in her chair and laughed, feeling bad for Lt. Carey. She recalled the day, seven years ago, when she visited him in Sickbay for the exact same injury. Only then, it had been B'Elanna's hand that had done the damage. She couldn't imagine what he could have done to warrant that kind of reaction from the usually calm ex-drone, but she could imagine his surprise when it happened.

Seven walked quickly into the turbolift. "Deck five." A few moments later, the lift opened up to the corridor outside Sickbay and Seven entered. Lt. Carey sat with the doctor standing over him, finishing repairing the damage Seven had done.

"There you go, Lieutenant, good as new." The doctor gave Seven a quizzical glance. "May I help you, Seven?"

"I need to speak with Lieutenant Carey."

"In a civil manner, I hope?'

"Yes, Doctor."

"Then I'll leave you two alone." Seven watched the EMH retreat to his office, and then she looked at Lt. Carey, who looked ready to run.

"I have come to apologize. My actions were inexcusable."

"You got that right." Carey growled, on the defensive. "I'm going to press charges, you know." He watched her, afraid of her reaction.

"That is within your legal rights." Seven turned to leave, refusing to say another word.

"Aren't you going to at least explain to me why you hit me?" Seven paused and turned to him.

"Would it affect your decision to press charges?"

"It might."

"I believed, incorrectly, that you were making romantic overtures towards Lieutenant Torres."

"You're right about being incorrect. I'm a married man!"

"I was unaware of that fact until very recently."

"Why would you hit me for flirting with Lt. Torres, anyway?"

"I do not know," Seven replied, honestly. She felt a warmth rush to her cheeks, but remained unaware that she was blushing. It wasn't lost on Carey, though, who recognized what the ex-drone herself hadn't.

"Shit, Seven. Look, you have to sort this out before she gets a real boyfriend and you go and kill him."

"That is unlikely."

"Yeah, well, you never know." Carey stood and walked up to Seven. He was about to put his hand on her shoulder when he decided that perhaps she wouldn't appreciate it. "Only you can tell yourself why you hit me. I think you might already know, or at least have your suspicions. I can't tell you, it's not my place. Jut think about it, okay?"

"I will consider what you have told me, Lieutenant."

"That's all I ask. And don't worry, Seven. I won't press charges or even tell anyone why you hit me. I'll just tell them to mind their own business, but you will probably have to explain it to B'Elanna. And I don't envy you there." With that, he walked out of Sickbay, leaving Seven more confused than ever.

…

"It is of a personal nature."

"Well, no shit it was personal. I mean, you don't just hit someone for no reason and I am pretty sure that you weren't hired or coerced into doing it. But why can't you tell me?"

"Lt. Carey and I made an agreement not to disclose that information."

"Fine." B'Elanna growled and stole the ball from Seven. She danced it between her feet down the field, pushing them to run at a speed where speech was impossible. The ball floated above the holographic grass, never touching and B'Elanna controlled it with skill, dodging Seven's holographic teammates. Seven admired the fluidity with which B'Elanna maneuvered down the field in the bright, simulated sunlight. Harry burst from among the holograms to steal the ball from B'Elanna and passed it to Seven.

"I have to admit," he panted as he caught up to Seven. "I'm curious... too." Seven passed the ball back to him and he elbowed it down towards the ground and evaded one hologram to be knocked down by B'Elanna as she aggressively recovered the ball.

"Way too slow, Starfleet," she called and he climbed to his feet, running after her. Seven was about to ambush her when one of B'Elanna's holographic teammates smashed into her. Her strategy ruined, she tried to just take the ball from the fiery Klingon, but B'Elanna was just too fast. She scored the point, tying up the scores. The ball reappeared in the middle of the field as they resumed starting positions.

Seven and B'Elanna both attacked it at once, succeeding in only tangling in each other's limbs and falling to the ground. B'Elanna laughed, much to Seven's surprise. Seven found herself happy to be lying under B'Elanna, but she did not see the humor in the situation. B'Elanna tried to stand and only succeeded in tripping back onto Seven, who grunted softly as the wind was knocked out of her.

"Are you all right?" B'Elanna asked, catching her breath. Seven nodded, though she wasn't sure that she was. Her heart was racing so fast it felt as though it would damage itself against her ribcage and she felt light-headed.

"Are you two gonna roll around in the grass for the rest of our off time or are you going to finish this game?" Harry teased and B'Elanna shot a toothy grin at him.

"Oh, you're gonna die, Starfleet." B'Elanna managed to stand this time and Seven followed. The game resumed and Seven and Harry's team won, the final point being scored by Ensign Kim. They exited the holodeck amidst loud conversation between Harry and B'Elanna with Seven adding her ever-calm voice to the boisterous banter every now and then.

"So, Seven, how was your first hoverball game?" Harry asked, grinning ear to ear.

"I... enjoyed it."

"See? And wasn't that more fun than us just beating each other?" Harry asked B'Elanna.

"Yeah, it was great. But next time, she's on my team." Seven felt her heart speed up again and she felt exuberant in the middle of her two best friends. Both were hyper and bouncing off each other and her, hanging on and laughing until they injured themselves. Seven remained quiet, but had a smile on her face the entire walk to the Mess Hall, where they all shared dinner.

As Seven looked up at B'Elanna over Neelix's Anobi vegetable loaf, she considered what Lt. Carey had spoken to her about. His words echoed in the back of her mind as she watched B'Elanna laughing and joking with Harry.

"It's better than edible this time, I think I like it!" Harry declared, causing B'Elanna to wrinkle her nose. Seven smiled at the cute gesture. B'Elanna had a plate of Andorian pasta in front of her, having preferred to use her replicator rations rather than try the offensive looking hot meal prepared by Neelix.

"I'll have to take your word for it. It looks scary to me."

"I find it palatable." Seven said, adding her compliment to Harry's. A hand suddenly appeared on her shoulder and Seven looked into the beaming face of their Talaxian chef.

"Glad to hear you like it, Seven!" Neelix said joyfully, then walked away to talk to other members of the crew. When Seven looked back, B'Elanna was grinning at her.

"Well, if you say it's good, Seven, then maybe I should have tried some." Seven was overcome by an urge to offer B'Elanna some of the food off her fork and so she did so. B'Elanna looked surprised, but smiled and leaned in to take the proffered sample. She chewed thoughtfully for a moment then smiled. "Not bad." Seven smiled back until she was hit with a realization.

She stood, grinding her chair backwards and dropping her fork She excused herself and walked towards the exit to the Mess Hall, leaving behind two very confused senior officers.

To be continued…