Chapter 8

After things calmed down (one could not expect she would actually obey the Captain's orders, as she wouldn't be able to sleep right away, thank you very much), Hermione was almost immediately ordered to confine herself to her new quarters for the next twelve hours, two doors away from our residential sociopath, followed by another twelve hours of rest and dolce fare niente (Doctor Grumpy's orders and exact words). She would have to pay the Betazoid a visit, when she could. He'd most likely explain exactly what he would be doing with an airponics lab. Floriculture wasn't her forte, at all.

She would love nothing better than to resume her work beside B'Elanna, but that also implied working close to Vorik. Hermione cringed at her badly timed joke on Vorik's appearance – The Hanon IV' look doesn't agree with you (really?! You sounded like Ronald Weasley, when did your emotional range decrease to the size of a teaspoon?!) – not to mention the following declarations. You sounded like a fucking lovesick puppy, you blithering idiot! Merlin!

What must he think of me?, she asked herself, sighing dejectedly, lying down on her bed, covering herself and turning down the lights. Catch up on your sleep, Hermione Granger. Then you'll think of what to do.

Ten hours of constantly disturbed sleep. She kept dreaming with the Kazon, and then of the war back home. How much actual sleep did she get? She sighed dejectedly. Maybe four or five hours. Hardly enough.

Doctor Grumpy is not going to like it, she mumbled to herself, fingering her new cortical monitor. She hated those things.

"Doctor to Voyager.", she rolled her eyes and tapped her badge.

"Yes, Doctor. I know, I know, sorry about not sleeping but I've been having nightmares."

"It is understandable, Miss Voyager."

"I was thinking about leaving my quarters, maybe relax a bit outside. I'm craving some dessert, and I hardly saw Neelix ever since… well…"

"I've already requested Mr. Neelix to deliver you a meal. I thought you might appreciate a bit of quiet company."

"I love Neelix, Doctor, and you know he is everything but quiet.", she smiled fondly.

"Actually, Mr. Neelix is not going to be the one delivering your meal."

"Who, then?"

"Oh, just a crewmember who happened to be finishing his meal there. Doctor out."

What the?, she thought and frowned slightly at the door chime. "Come in.", her jaw dropped.

"Vorik! I mean, Ensign Vorik. You shouldn't have bothered.", she fidgeted. "I apologize, I just got up… Umm… Thank you."

Damn it, Doc! My hair must be a mess and I'm in my pijamas. Great. Just great.

The Vulcan cleared his throat.

"It is fine, Miss Voyager. I had just finished my meal, and I hadn't seen you in a while."

"I just needed rest. I was quite busy while the Kazon were on board."

"B'Elanna told me what you did. Very impressive."

"Thank you.", she paused and smiled shyly at him. "It's strange."

"What is?"

"Our first conversation without a PADD. Now I can pick your brain to my heart's delight about all sorts of things. Especially about engineering.", she sighed. "If I become too nosy, tell me to shut up."

"Miss Voyager, I do not mind answering your questions. All the ones you have posed 'till this day were all relevant and revealed intelligence.", she blushed. "I wonder if you have regained any of your memories, along with your voice.", Hermione turned her back on him.

"Yes.", she whispered. "They are not all pleasant. Ensign…"

"You may call me Vorik."

"There are things, I want… I want to confide in you, but I'm afraid.", he raised his eyebrow. "Afraid you won't understand, or that you'll treat me differently."

"I will wait for as long as you need."

"Oh. Thank you.", she swallowed hard. "Well, is that soup? And pie?"

"Yes, I believe you shall enjoy it."

Hermione sat down and began her meal. She felt a little self-conscious eating in front of him, and she finished quickly enough.

"You had quite an appetite."

"I hadn't eaten in a day. I couldn't bring myself to. I…"

"Yes?"

"Call me Hermione."

"That is your true name?"

"Yes."

"And your last name?"

"I'd rather not tell. Vorik…", he nodded. "I… could you… perhaps… if it's not too much trouble."

Vorik was as amused as a Vulcan could be. It was interesting to observe how many shades of red the little human female's face could display. This shade of red spread from her face to her neck and down below her nightgown, in a complementing periwinkle satin, long and flowing, enhancing her forms. Not that he would notice such things. He was above that.

He did not expect she would ask him to read to her 'till she fell asleep. He took her PADD, looking at the text, and pulled a comfortable arm chair closer as she settled, laying in her bed, her eyes turning to his.

"Jane Eyre, by Charlotte Brontë. Chapter One."

"Would you begin in Chapter Two instead? It's one of my favorites.", he nodded in compliance.

"I resisted all the way: a new thing for me, and a circumstance which greatly strengthened the bad opinion Bessie and Miss Abbot were disposed to entertain of me. The fact is, I was a trifle beside myself; or rather OUT of myself, as the French would say: I was conscious that a moment's mutiny had already rendered me liable to strange penalties, and, like any other rebel slave, I felt resolved, in my desperation, to go all lengths." (AN – Beginning of Chapter 2, Jane Eyre).

Vorik read on, and noticed she fell asleep before he had even finished the chapter, her breathing even and deep, her body, her face relaxed and looking at peace, framed by her curly hair, a few strands escaping her ponytail and falling into her face. He stared at Hermione, placed the PADD on her nightstand, and put those strands away from her face. He froze, she breathed in harder, and then breathed out.

She kept sleeping and he stood, watching her for another minute before he left.