Home Chapter 8: Now you know, a startrek: voyager fanfic

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 6 title is from "Now You Know" by Full Devil Jacket.

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

Home, Chapter 6
Now you know...

2373...

Jessica sneezed. Kathryn looked at her, slightly worried. That had been the sixth time in the past few minutes. The girl rubbed her nose and wheezed slightly, then rubbed her watering eyes.

"Are you okay?" Janeway asked.

"Allergies." Jessica replied, sniffing.

"What are you allergic to?" Tom asked.

"Ragweed, eucalyptus, blooming Vulcan cacti, Betazoid seafood, Norcadian dogs and Benzites," Jessica answered.

"Benzites?" Kathryn asked.

"Yeah, something about the respirator they use. But I think I'm reacting to a Norcadian dog, if I'm smelling what I think I am."

"Norcadian. Is that a species from the Delta Quadrant?" Chakotay asked. Jessica nodded.

"Yeah, about eleven years from here at warp nine, in the direction of the Alpha Quadrant."

"So we might be encountering them," Kathryn said quietly. "Hope they're friendly."

"They're not really violent." Jessica said, then sneezed again. Letraya walked up to her with a hypospray in her hand.

"This should stem those allergies for you," she said in her deep voice. She reached one purple hand towards Jessica's neck and Jessica stopped her.

"It won't make me drowsy will it?" The Moayan woman laughed and shook her head. Then she applied the hypo and a hiss told them that the medicine had been administered. They walked in silence for a few minutes when Janeway suddenly saw a dark blur headed for B'Elanna. Jessica saw it too, obviously, because she was moving faster than Kathryn could even react.

There was a thud as the two bodies collided and B'Elanna hit the wall, propelled out of the way by the quick-moving form of Jessica. The two blurs suddenly stood still, taking shape. Kathryn looked at the animal attacking them and had to repress a shudder.

It stood on four legs, its ugly snout suggestive of a canine. Its mottled brown skin was wrinkled and bunched loosely around its body, covered in a thick, warty hide. Its dirty yellow eyes flashed as it opened its slavering maw, revealing jagged, white teeth. It sniffed from the slits above its mouth and lowered its earless head to the ground. 'Thhk' Chakotay shot the beast with a bolt from his dart gun and it roared a horrific, trumpeting roar, swinging its brutish head around to look at him.

Jessica answered the roar with a growl as she stood in a defensive posture. The bass growl reverberated in Kathryn's bones and she wondered how anyone that small could produce a growl that loud. The creature turned back to her and they stood frozen in combative postures, staring each other down.

…

WHAM! The beast slammed its bulk into Jessica, who received him with waiting knife. The dog swiped her blade away with a huge, clawed paw and butted her with its heavy head. Jessica kicked at it, knocking it backwards and it jumped on her. She wrestled with it a moment, its jaws snapping in her face, then she got her legs between their bodies and kicked it away from her.

It hit the ground with a high-pitched yelp and turned to face her again. She stood and faced off against it, kicking off her boots to reveal the Shashan toeclaws that Kathryn had noticed on the boy earlier. Janeway stared at the large, sharp, hooked claw on Jessica's big toe. The beast reared up to stand on its hind legs, revealing that it was capable of bipedal motion.

It flung itself at Jessica and she let it, falling onto her back, knees drawn up against her chest. Its stomach rested on her feet and she kicked, pulling the torso of the beast closer and ripping up the creature's abdomen. It screamed a deep scream and bit her shoulder, making her cry out and release it. It moved away from her and examined its wounds. A dark, viscous fluid oozed out of the gashes on its lower body, seeping onto the floor.

Janeway covered her nose and mouth when the smell hit her. She saw Paris gagging out of the corner of her eyes and even Tuvok covered his nose, his eyes watering. The beast roared so loudly this time that Kathryn had to transfer her hand from her mouth to join the other hand in covering her ears. Jessica responded with a roar that sounded much like a lion's.

The beast ran at her, but feigned one direction before attacking her from behind. Jessica was knocked onto her stomach and immediately, she curled up, her hands going to protect the back of her neck in the classic position to avoid serious injury in a dog attack. The animal ripped her shirt open in back and Kathryn was amazed to see a series of spinal ridges raise up on her back, pulling the skin taut. The animal attacked these and Jessica screamed horribly.

Suddenly, a jolt of electricity traveled from Jessica's body into the dog and it was flung back in the throws of electrocution, roaring and seizing. Jessica panted a moment, then sat up and looked at the creature, which had gone still. Blood ran down the girl's back and jagged wounds gaped open, strips of flesh hanging off. Painfully, Jessica crawled towards the dog and it sat up.

They sat eye to eye for only a second, and then the animal opened its mouth to bite her. Instantly, Jessica's cheeks swelled and she hissed a spray into the canine's face. The dog screamed and began convulsing once again. Jessica stood and walked, unsteadily, to the sword that had been ripped off her shoulder in the fight. She walked back to the animal and raised the blade. With one stroke, the animal's suffering ceased.

Everything was quiet for a few moments. Then Jessica sneezed.

"You look like a dragon," Tom said. Jessica looked at him, her inhuman eyes glowing brown.

"That's a compliment." Jessica said, then glanced at her back. She hissed in pain and closed her eyes. Kathryn watched in amazement as what looked like blue electrical current flashed across the bloody wound. Letraya walked forward, medical kit in hand and began working on the wound, which was already closing, visibly. The spinal ridges seemed to begin at Jessica's neck and followed a straight line, growing larger, then smaller, to her coccyx, where they ended. Within minutes, Letraya had closed the wound and was cleaning up Jessica by pouring the last of the water from her canteen over the pale back.

After, Jessica approached Alexander and presented him with her back. He ran his hand down it, laying the spines flat.

"You can stick them up, but you can't lay them flat?" Tom teased. Jessica smiled weakly at him.

"Embarrassing, isn't it?' she admitted. "I get teased about it a lot."

"Sorry," Tom said, smiling back. Alexander glared at him and took off the black tunic he was wearing over black pants. He gave it to Jessica, who donned it and laughed when it fell to her knees. She grabbed a strip of her blue shirt and used it as a belt. Then she replaced the shoulder holster for her sword and retrieved her dagger. "How did you do that trick with the spray?" Tom asked her, ignoring Alexander's warning glances.

Jessica opened her mouth and bared her teeth. Her canines extended into the fangs that Kathryn had noticed earlier and then one of them dripped. Jessica turned away and quickly spat it out.

"Venom," the girl said simply. "Then I hissed and it sprayed."

"Didn't know you were a poisonous dragon," Tom flirted. Alexander pushed himself away from the wall and growled at the group.

"Let's get moving." He put a possessive arm around Jessica, who snuggled happily into it and walked away from the group. Everyone else gathered their bearings and followed.

Present...

"What?" The Doctor asked the almost babbling ex-drone. "Slow down, Seven."

"I asked, is it possible for one woman to be attracted to another?"

"Of course it is. Why would you think otherwise?"

"It is illogical. Physical attraction exists to bring two individuals together as mates. Mating exists to produce offspring. Two females cannot produce offspring on their own." Seven looked almost frenzied and the Doctor wondered what had happened.

"Love is not logical, Seven. Besides, many couples come together with no intentions of ever producing children. Those couples consist, within human standards, of course, of men with women, women with women, and men with men. And there's no reason that those couples, should they decide they want children, not have them, either through one of many artificial insemination procedures or adoption. Not since the early twenty-first century has humankind been any different. And then, the couples still existed, just not without social stigma."

"What changed?"

"Humans realized that love comes in all forms and to deny it is to deny one of the most beautiful parts of being human."

"You never mentioned any of this in our lessons on romance," Seven said, in an accusatory tone.

"It never occurred to me." The doctor walked around Seven and put a hand on her shoulder. She looked at it as though she didn't really see it. "Seven, what's happened. Has a female crewmember come on to you?"

"No." Seven looked at the EMH. "I believe I am infatuated with Lieutenant Torres." The doctor froze.

"Is that what the incident with Lt. Carey was about?"

"Yes, though I was not aware of it at the time."

"Look, Seven. I can't tell you how to proceed with this, I can only give you advice."

"Thank you, but I will not be needing that advice. I do not wish to pursue this." The doctor looked Seven in the eyes, concerned.

"Are you sure? If you put this off, you may regret it."

"We are not a compatible match," Seven stated, matter-of-factly.

"How do you know if you don't try?" The doctor asked her, making her second guess herself.

"Thank you for your advice, Doctor." Seven said and hurried out of the Sickbay, her thoughts muddled and confused.

…

B'Elanna frowned at the blonde sitting across the conference room table from her. Seven had canceled their hoverball game, stopped eating lunch with her and had sent Engineering several crewman with data padds or experience to assist B'Elanna rather than coming herself. All in all, B'Elanna was getting the impression that Seven was avoiding her. She wanted to know why, but now was neither the time nor place to ask.

"…and we have yet to be able to contact any of their crew. Our objective is to ascertain what has happened to the crew of the Lanari science vessel, the Crochak."

"Perhaps ignorance is bliss," B'Elanna heard Seven mutter under her breath. Everyone looked at the uncharacteristically sullen ex-drone.

"What was that, Seven?" Janeway asked.

"Nothing," Seven responded. Kathryn looked at her, concerned, but when Seven offered nothing more, she concluded the meeting.

"You have your assignments, dismissed." Everyone stood to leave and Kathryn glanced at Seven. "Seven, I want to speak with you." B'Elanna watched as Seven hung back from the group exiting the briefing room. B'Elanna started to stay behind, too, but one glance from Janeway and she got the idea that she wasn't invited.

Once the doors hissed closed behind her, B'Elanna stood against the wall, waiting for Seven. She felt that they needed to talk about why Seven was avoiding her and hopefully, work it out. She waited around for about five minutes until Seven finally emerged from the room, not really looking where she was going.

"Hey, Seven," B'Elanna said, catching up to walk next to her. "What's going on?"

"With what?' Seven asked, not meeting B'Elanna's eyes.

"Why did Janeway hold you back?"

"She wished to discuss living arrangements with me." Seven and B'Elanna stood outside the turbolift doors and waited for the next car to arrive.

"What, are you two moving in together?" B'Elanna teased with a laugh. To her surprise, Seven spun and looked startled.

"I am not engaging in a romantic relationship with the captain," she said, defensively.

"I never said you were. I was just teasing, Seven. What's wrong?"

"Nothing." Seven stepped into the lift as it arrived and B'Elanna followed. "Deck four."

"What about living arrangements, then?" B'Elanna decided not to press Seven. She thought that they had become friends, but now she was wondering if she had been mistaken.

"The captain believes I should be assigned my own quarters."

"You don't agree?"

"I am content with Cargo Bay Two."

"So you're not moving?"

"On the contrary. The captain thinks it will improve my mood if I have a change of scenery. As such, I am 'humoring' her and accepting the reassignment. As soon as an alcove is installed, I shall be moving into crew quarters on the same deck."

"Not Tom's old quarters."

"No. But nearby." The lift doors opened and B'Elanna chased Seven out onto deck four. "Why are you following me, Lieutenant?" 'So now we're back to "Lieutenant," ' B'Elanna thought, sadly.

"I wanted to talk."

"About what?"

"About why you've been avoiding me."

"I have not—"

"Bull. I want an answer, Seven." B'Elanna stuck out her arm, blocking Seven's path. Seven stopped.

"I have simply been busy."

"With what? Being moody and reclusive? No, don't interrupt me. Seven, I thought we were friends, I'm sorry if I was wrong. But friends or not, the truth of the matter still remains, that you are avoiding me. You can't deny it, because that would be a lie. I just want to know why. Did I do something to upset you? What?"

"I have not felt very sociable lately. I have no need for friends. I am sorry if I have injured your feelings, I just prefer to spend my time alone right now." Seven resumed walking to Cargo Bay Two. She heard B'Elanna's fist hit the wall and her curse. She quickly ducked into the cargo bay, never letting B'Elanna see the tear falling down her cheek as she gave into her fear.

…

Kathryn threw the security report across her ready room, giving into her own anger. Though no physical altercations had occurred, several crewmen had reported the fights beginning between B'Elanna Torres and Seven of Nine, once again. Not only that, but theirs were the only two on the report that day.

Damaging equipment.

Fighting with each other.

Fighting with their crewmates.

And a little note at the bottom from Tuvok, expressing his concern that Seven had become reclusive and withdrawn. She did not appear in public anymore and only ate the nutritional supplements that Neelix delivered to her in Cargo Bay Two. She worked and then returned to that damn cargo bay. Kathryn had engineering teams working around the clock to put a regeneration unit in Seven's new quarters, but she knew that it would take more than a change of scenery to raise Seven's spirits once again.

She just wanted to know what would. She had a feeling that it had to do with B'Elanna. The two had become best friends over the past months and then suddenly, they weren't speaking. To anyone. Sam Wildman had filed a report because of her concern over Seven. Naomi had come home in tears because Seven wouldn't explain to her why she had canceled all their future appointments to play games together. Harry Kim had filed a report because he was worried about B'Elanna.

An idea finally occurred to Janeway, but she didn't know what she could do with it. If she had still possessed the padd, she would throw it again. She couldn't interfere in the personal lives of her crew when it wasn't adversely affecting the performance of their duties. If anything, both women had become more efficient. She could talk to them about their fighting, but that was it.

Kathryn rubbed her temples as her head began to pound. She sipped at her now cold coffee and tried to figure out what to do. She had released Seven from punishment when Carey had not filed charges, because she couldn't think of anything that she could do to discipline the ex-drone that wasn't cruel or unusual punishment.

…

"Talk to me, Seven."

"I cannot." Seven looked around at her new quarters. Neelix was helping her move in, though it really felt to her as though he was attempting to counsel her. "I do not require—"

"Seven, you never need anything. Except maybe a tool to repair something. Why is that?" Seven looked at him. He met her gaze, concern etched into his furry face.

"I... do not know."

"What's bothering you, Seven?"

"It is of little consequence."

"That's not true!" Neelix put down the crate he was carrying and sat on her couch, patting the seat next to him. She looked up and sighed, then complied with his unspoken request. "If it's bothering you, then it matters, Seven."

"I..." Seven looked at Neelix and realized that she truly wanted to talk. In fact, she needed to talk. For the first time, it became clear how much she had enjoyed the conversations she had shared with Lt. Torres before terminating their friendship. "It is... personal."

"You can trust me."

"I know."

"Then tell me." Neelix covered her hand with his and patted it lightly. His eyes coaxed the problem from her lips.

"I have developed an infatuation with a member of the crew."

"Well, Seven, that's not something that you should be depressed over."

"It is a female member of the crew."

"Yes, so?" Seven searched his face.

"I fear that she may not return my feelings, so I have not told her."

"Is it B'Elanna?" Neelix asked, leaning in.

"How did you know?"

"It's fairly obvious. You two were spending quite a lot of time together, then suddenly, you were avoiding her, and then you were fighting again."

"I did not know what to do. I was afraid that she would no longer wish to be friends with me—"

"So you decided to end the friendship first, before you got hurt."

"Yes."

"It didn't work, now did it?"

"No. I am... hurt. As is Lieutenant Torres."

"Why don't you try talking to her? I'm sure that she misses you, too. I don't know if she shares your feelings or not, but I do know that she wants to be your friend."

"Even after what I said?"

"What did you say?"

"I told her that I don't want any friends and that I would rather be alone." Neelix scrunched up his face and bared his teeth in a look of 'ouch.'

"Ooh! No wonder she's mad. But it's not like you said that you just didn't want to be her friend. Surely, she'll forgive you."

"Are you certain?"

"Nothing's certain, Seven. But with time, all wounds heal. Even the ones inside."

"Thank you, Mr. Neelix."

"You're welcome, Seven." Neelix gave her a reassuring smile, and then left her to unpack.

…

B'Elanna swore at the circuit relay in front of her. She had been trying to bypass it for twenty minutes, to no avail. A simple job was being complicated by a stubborn relay. She heard the footstep behind her and assumed the shadow falling over her was that of Vorik, who had been calling her for the last fifteen minutes to check on her progress.

"I told you, I'll have it done in a few minutes, Vorik." B'Elanna growled, the spun around. "Seven?"

"I have come to apologize, Lieuten—B'Elanna." B'Elanna looked up at the tall blonde, confused and angry.

"About what?"

"I wish to resume our friendship." Seven was barely forcing herself to stand there. Everything inside her was screaming at her to bolt.

"You hurt me, Seven. I just wanted to be your friend and you wouldn't even give me a reason as to why you were ending our friendship. Besides, I thought you didn't want friends. You wanted to be alone. Well, looks like you got your wish." It was more than Seven could take, she spun and walked quickly out of Engineering without another word. B'Elanna turned back to her job.

She lifted the sonic spanner, her hand trembling, and pointed it at its task, but when she tried to press the switch to activate it; she only succeeded in dropping it. She tried to pick it up, but couldn't see past the tears forming in her eyes. She covered her face with her hands to catch the tears before they fell to the deck.

Vorik was approaching her when her shoulders shook with a silent sob. He froze, not knowing what he should do. She was so unpredictable that he was uncertain whether or not to ask her what was wrong. He concluded that there were three ways she would react: either yell at him to mind his own business, pretend that nothing was wrong, or cry on his shoulder. He did not desire either emotional outcome and he knew that for her, to deny her feelings would make her ill. He finally decided to just let her cry, hoping that it would make her feel better.

B'Elanna didn't feel better when she stopped crying. She broke the sonic spanner in half.

To be continued…