Acknowledgements, Disclaimers, and Warnings please see chapter 1.
"My name is Kathryn Janeway. I'm a Starfleet ensign and a member of the United Federation of Planets."
Camet leaned back in his chair enjoying the memory of the young frightened girl that had tried to posture with him. She'd still had dried blood all down the side of her face as well as in her hair from the head injury she'd received during the seizure of her vessel. The old admiral had tried to escape, but it had been in vain. Camet had monitored her removal from the shuttle. They'd assessed that the head injury wouldn't kill her, and he'd directed she be placed in the box until she regained consciousness. He'd only seen a few humans come through his facility with most of those being male, but this female intrigued him. It took her only a few moments to realize he wasn't as kind as he seemed, and she began spouting the same party line that he would expect from any military trainee. But there was something in her eyes. He'd truly enjoyed the blue color of them. He mused that when the time came he'd keep one of them.
But that time hadn't come. His lip curled in disgust. She'd escaped. Camet turned his thoughts away from that unpleasant memory and instead focused on the more recent memory of the lashing he'd just watched her endure. It had warmed his heart when she'd cried out. He hadn't felt true joy in such a long time that he almost hadn't recognized the sensation. Her face twisted in agony. The sound of the whip as it cut into her skin. And that heavenly aroma of her blood tainting the air around them. He smiled again.
The majority of his planning prior to this point had concerned how he was going to apprehend her, and his fantasies had revolved around what he would do to her once she was within his grasp. Now he realized he would have to curtail most of his fantasies. He doubted she'd survive a single hour if he didn't reign himself in at least slightly.
Camet regretted not having any of the devices with which he could implant her and cause excruciating pain at the touch of a button, but when he had been forced into exile the government had not seen fit that he take any of his belongings with him. Oh how he would have enjoyed inflicting that level of suffering on her now. There were other methods of course, but that really had been the cleanest and most direct tool in his arsenal. He would have enjoyed reducing the smug admiral she had become into a writhing mass of pain lying at his feet with just the flick of a button.
"You will tell me anything I ask, you will betray your mother, your father, your friends, and beg to betray others if I will just stop hurting you."
She had blanched at that. Camet smiled to himself thinking of how she'd desperately tried to hide her reactions, but he'd seen it of course. The slight discoloration of her skin as she no doubt tried to imagine the true horrors of torture and whether or not she could endure them. The quick intake of her breath. The tightening of her facial muscles. Oh yes, Camet had been able to read her quite easily. But over the years she had become much better at controlling her emotions. She hadn't even flinched when Turk had unfurled the whip in front of her. She'd betrayed nothing, at least not until the whip bit into her skin. The blue eyes he'd so easily recalled were now icy and almost grey when they stared into his. He'd been impressed with how long she'd managed to hold his gaze. Despite her physical pain and the eventual screams he'd enjoyed, he knew she had not given up.
"Power. Control. The satisfaction of completely breaking the will of another being."
Easily remembering the explanation he had given her all those years ago for torturing someone, he realized it still rang true for him today. He wanted to break her. And he knew he could. He would take a little bit at a time, but eventually she would fall.
The door to the cell clanked open and Camet strode in to see the two women getting to their feet to face him. He smiled genially at them. The young Klingon that simply called himself Turk entered, followed closely by the Romulan. Despite not really wanting to work with a Romulan, Toreth had been instrumental in the capture of Janeway. He was the reason they'd known which shuttle would be ferrying the Admiral. Camet didn't know or care really how he had come by the information, he was just satisfied it had been accurate. Toreth had a dark nature that Camet admired in one so young and he had plans to encourage Toreth's ruthlessness.
Camet casually stepped forward placing himself nearer B'Elanna. "I apologize child, it has come to my attention that I have been ignoring you and that is quite possibly the rudest behavior I could exhibit."
B'Elanna regarded him warily having just heard from Janeway the history that had passed between her and Camet. They'd mutually agreed that if Camet didn't know about B'Elanna's relation to Owen Paris, it was for the best.
"Lieutenant Commander B'Elanna Torres. Former Chief Engineer of the starship Voyager. Former Maquis. Your human father was in Starfleet and your mother was Klingon." Camet continued to circle her as he spouted off her details. "And as impressive as that resume sounds, that's not what I found to be most interesting about you. Can you guess what particular aspect about you intrigued me the most?"
B'Elanna ran her tongue along the back of her teeth. She assumed this meant he had already found out about Tom, but she wasn't about to give him anything. Feigning ignorance and a confidence she didn't really feel, B'Elanna shook her head. "I have no idea."
"Well, I imagine that for brevity's sake, most people simply address you as Commander Torres, but I do prefer to be as accurate as possible. Your full name is B'Elanna Torres-Paris. Or should I say your married name." He smiled, coming to a stop in front of her. "You are married to Thomas Eugene Paris. Son of Admiral Owen Paris. The other human I have unfinished business with. Remarkable really that after all this time I could be so fortunate as to catch you in the same net as Janeway."
B'Elanna remained quiet against this statement causing Camet to raise an eyebrow in her direction. "What? No witty quip? No insult against my lineage? No threats to commit some harm to my body that only a Klingon could inflict?"
"What do you want me to say? You're obviously well informed. Should I try to deny what you've said?"
Janeway bit her lip, inwardly thanking the heavens for B'Elanna's hard won self restraint.
"You are a fiery one aren't you?" Camet commented. "I can see why Owen likes you. It will be heartwarming to deprive him of you."
B'Elanna gave a short laugh. "You just made your first mistake. Well, actually your second. Your first mistake was kidnapping Admiral Janeway."
Camet almost looked amused while the younger Cardassian appeared worried. "I don't suppose you'd care to enlighten me?"
"You're an idiot if you think you'll be upsetting Owen Paris by getting rid of me. I dare say you'd be doing him a favor. I'm a former Maquis that shacked up with his convict son," B'Elanna scoffed. "I am hardly the kind of relative that Owen Paris wants tarnishing his illustrious career."
Janeway frowned. She knew B'Elanna was just making it all up, but she still cringed to think there was even a trace of belief in what she said. How many times had Janeway heard Owen during the debriefings declare that he could care less about his career so long as every single crew member of Voyager got the recognition they deserved. He'd even fought hard for the Equinox Five. Not to mention the immediate love he'd shown for baby Miral.
"Partek, the PADD." Camet smiled and snapped his fingers at his protégé. The young Cardassian immediately gave him a PADD with an image on it. Camet turned it around so B'Elanna could see the image that had been taken at the homecoming celebration. She inwardly sighed as she looked at the picture of Owen cradling Miral in one arm with his other arm thrown around B'Elanna's shoulders. He was beaming proudly and showing off baby Miral.
"Owen Paris shows off the two newest additions to his family. He was heard to say that the new mother and granddaughter had just been added to his list of most important women in his life." Camet read the caption under the image. He sneered at B'Elanna knowingly. "It seems to me as though he might care for you just a little."
Camet handed the PADD back to Partek. The young Cardassian hurried outside the door returning quickly with two metal chairs. Camet indicated one and gestured to Janeway. "Admiral, if you would take a seat please. It's time you and I had a long overdue conversation. Turk, see to the half breed."
Janeway tensed. She'd been expecting this. The last time she'd had a conversation with Camet he'd questioned her about the Federation's interests, but she'd known little outside of their current mission. Despite her years in the Delta Quadrant, she was an admiral now, and she'd ensured she was up to speed on current affairs and operations. She had a lot more information today that needed protecting than she did all those years ago when she'd wished she didn't know about the intelligence gathering operation.
She sat in the chair indicated and was not surprised to see the Romulan approach her with cuffs. In a few quick moves, she was restrained to the chair with her hands behind her and her legs trapped against the legs of the chair. Toreth's hands had lingered on her shoulders before pulling her roughly against the back of the chair. The still tender flesh of her back throbbed at the contact, and she knew he'd done it on purpose. She heard B'Elanna grunt once from somewhere behind her and was dismayed but not surprised that Camet had arranged it so she couldn't actually see her officer.
The heavy booted footsteps of the Klingon sounded behind her, and she could hear a humming noise. Camet sat down across from her in the other chair. "Do you know what that sound is, Admiral?"
"No. Should I?"
"Well, you may not know it now but I'm sure over the next few hours you will come to recognize it quite well." He gestured and Turk walked into her line of vision. He was holding a Klingon painstik. The humming sound was coming from it, and Janeway had the distinct impression this was not your average painstik.
She glanced up at the Klingon and raised an eyebrow. "Only one?"
Turk's lip curled up in a sneer, but Camet laughed. "Yes, Admiral we only need one. You see we've modified it to fit our needs. Turk, show her the lowest level."
Janeway heard a low growl from the Klingon as the humming noise decreased when he twisted the handle. His eyes flashed dangerously just before he jabbed the painstik into her side. The intense energy shock made Janeway's teeth click together, and her body jolted against the restraints holding her to the chair. Turk removed the stik and Janeway breathed harshly as a burning sensation spread out across her rib cage. Clenching her fists against the pain, she heard the humming increase and felt the energy vibrations hovering near her ear.
Camet spoke quietly, "Listen carefully, Admiral. I'm going to ask you questions. You're going to answer them. If you so much as hesitate, Turk is going to make very good use of that painstik. Do you understand?"
"Yes."
"Good." Camet sat back in his chair and waved Turk off. He watched as Janeway centered herself and then met his gaze. She had no way of knowing the eyes she focused on him now were not the color of the sky, but the grey of the ocean. He speculated that this must be the color she reserved for her enemies. Camet smiled wondering what color her eyes became in the throes of passion. He contented himself knowing he'd find out eventually, for now though there were other things he wanted to know.
He would've liked for the questioning to start out in a more relaxed setting, but Janeway was far too dangerous to allow his guard down for even a moment. He reasoned she knew enough about interrogations to see through that ploy anyway. Even as an ensign she'd inherently sensed his motives were darker than what he claimed. But still, there was a tried and true method for interrogating and he would follow it. Even the most recalcitrant suspect eventually slipped.
Janeway already knew from their first meeting that Camet was skilled in interrogations. He was conversational and disarming. Utterly reasonable sounding. But she was still doing all the answering and him the questioning. After an hour they had covered nothing that could not be found in her service record. Date of birth. Place of birth. Familial connections. Ranks held. Ships she had served on.
During the second hour, Camet questioned her about her officers and her crew. He systematically moved through each of her senior officers asking nothing that hadn't already been made front page news for months on end. Which Maquis ship did Chakotay captain? What position did Tuvok hold on Voyager? What was his date of birth? How many medical procedures was the EMH programmed with? What was the top warp speed of Voyager? What was her crew complement? Did Lieutenant Paris actually build the Delta Flyer? What was Seven of Nine's job while in the Collective? Why did she choose Ensign Kim? What was B'Elanna's job while in the Maquis?
Janeway's mind was going as numb as her arms. She knew that was the point, but by the third hour her earlier loss of blood was really beginning to affect her stamina. She almost missed the question she'd been waiting for. A question that Camet actually wanted to know the answer to.
"What is your current assignment, Admiral?"
"To attend a conference and give two lectures on Voyager's travels through the Delta Quadrant."
"What is your current ongoing assignment, Admiral?"
"Teaching at Starfleet academy."
"What subjects will you be teaching?"
"How to conduct first contacts and improvisational tactics."
"What is your current mission outside of the academy?"
An internal warning bell went off and Janeway knew they were finally getting to the meat. The interrogation, which up until this point had been more like a grueling interview, was about to become a lot more intense. Even with the hairs rising on the back of her neck, Janeway didn't hesitate in her answer.
"I don't have a current mission. I'm on extended leave."
Camet's questioning paused for the first time, and he looked up at her. She knew for a fact that he'd been closely watching every move she made while appearing as bored with the questioning as she'd been. But now he openly studied her. "I don't believe you."
Janeway tensed hearing the thrum of the painstik increase, and seeing Camet give a small nod to Turk she braced herself. There was a sizzling sound and B'Elanna grunted in pain. It took Janeway a moment to realize what had just happened.
B'Elanna, somewhere behind her, had just been hit with the painstik. Janeway cursed in realization and glared at Camet who smiled at her comprehension
"Now you understand, Admiral. Anytime you hesitate to answer your friend," he sneered the word. "will suffer for your refusal."
"This is between you and me, Camet. Leave her out of it."
At her words there was the distinct sound of flesh hitting flesh behind her and another grunt from B'Elanna.
"She is kin to Paris," Camet explained. "If her blood runs, so be it."
"She means nothing to Owen."
Another smack followed Janeway's words and the sounds of chains clinking.
"By all means, keep talking Admiral. Every protest you make..." he trailed off as the thrum of the painstik could be heard powering up.
Janeway clenched her teeth but said nothing earning another grin from Camet.
"Now that you know the consequences of your actions, perhaps it would be best for you to witness your handiwork." Camet commented, standing from his chair. He motioned with his hand and Partek moved forward turning Janeway's chair around so that she was now facing Turk and B'Elanna.
B'Elanna had taken Janeway's place on the hook. Her jacket had been discarded and her arms were chained together and raised above her head. The engineer was breathing hard, but she was still on her feet. Her lip was split and there was a small brown circle visible on her gray turtleneck near her ribcage. Janeway assumed that it was a result of the painstik. B'Elanna gave her a small, quick nod and Janeway could easily see the defiance alive and well in her eyes. She silently worried how long that fire would continue to burn.
Camet circled them both walking at a relaxed pace. "Admiral, what was Voyager's true mission all those years ago?"
"We were sent to the badlands to apprehend the Maquis and recover a Starfleet officer."
Turk struck with the painstik causing B'Elanna and Janeway both to jump in reaction. Camet spoke before Janeway could voice her outrage. "Do not lie to me, Admiral. It may not be common knowledge, but I am aware that the Federation and Maquis were in fact working together."
He stopped in front of her and placed his hands on her shoulders leaning his face close in to hers, "Please, my dear, don't posture with me."
Janeway's blood ran cold at the phrase that had terrified her so many years ago. Cardassians had photographic memories, and she knew Camet was choosing his words specifically. But she was no longer the young inexperienced ensign that had sat across from him and she chose her words just as carefully. "Forgive me Camet, but your assertion that the Federation was working with the Maquis has a touch of paranoia to it."
His smile faltered, and he leaned back from her. "Do you remember what else we spoke about that day?"
Janeway easily recalled his comments on the use of torture as an ineffective way to get information, but more of just a way to break someone. She steeled herself for the pain B'Elanna was going to be put through because she knew that no answer she gave would be good enough.
"I remember Camet. I also remember our last meeting not working out in your favor." She caught a small grin from B'Elanna and knew that she understood. "I can assure you, this time around you will fare no better."
The painstik made contact with B'Elanna's midriff sending her to one knee the chains on her wrists reaching their full length. Janeway forced herself not to flinch.
"That may be so," Camet spoke and settled himself back in his chair. "But why don't we let fate run its course and see who comes out the victor this time. Shall we begin again?"
Janeway could feel blood from her wrists trickling down into her palms. The questioning had gone on and on. No answer she gave was good enough, and B'Elanna was no longer on her feet. She hung limply from the chains only semi-conscious, but this had not stopped her continued mistreatment. Despite her best intentions, Janeway had begun pulling at her restraints, and the metal had finally cut into her skin.
"How long was the Federation aware of the presence of an Obsidian Order member within their ranks?" Camet asked tirelessly.
"I've already told you, we had no prior intelligence on the Cardassian we knew as Seska."
Another strike hit B'Elanna. Consciously Janeway knew that it was playing into Camet's hand to show any concern, but she couldn't help herself. She exploded. "What the hell do you want, Camet? The Obsidian Order doesn't even exist anymore. There's hardly a pebble left of Cardassia Prime. Do you really think that even if I had this information, it would somehow gain back your notoriety?"
Camet's response was cut off by a litany of Klingon. Camet turned to look at Turk, but Turk was staring at B'Elanna. Janeway was shocked to see B'Elanna reach up and grab the chains attached to her wrists and slowly pull herself back to standing. She looked up through a curtain of hair wet with sweat, and Janeway was astounded she was even conscious much less talking.
B'Elanna's nose was clearly broken with blood covering the entire lower portion of her face. Her right eye was completely swollen shut with bruising starting at her forehead and reaching her chin. But this was not the angry uncontrolled young woman Janeway had met all those years ago, nor was it the mother of a child so recently born. This was a Klingon warrior in full on battle mode.
B'Elanna sneered in Turk's direction showing blood stained teeth, "Say nothing, Captain. This bIHnuchhits like a child!"
Turk growled, pulling a daqtagh out of its sheath and brandishing it towards B'Elanna. "What did you call me half-breed?"
Janeway dared a glance at Camet and saw that he was just as alarmed as she was. B'Elanna had obviously just insulted Turk, but she had no idea what had been said.
B'Elanna spit blood towards Turk's boots and laughed. "I called you a coward, you pathetic peta'Q."
Turk roared, raising the Klingon dagger high above his head to deliver a fatal strike to B'Elanna. B'Elanna growled back holding onto the chains that bound her and delivering a double kick to Turk's sternum. The Klingon stumbled backwards before resuming his lunge. Camet had regained his senses and stepped between the two forcing Turk's arm upward. Toreth and Partek joined the fray struggling with Turk from behind. The last thing Janeway saw before the chair she was strapped to toppled over in the melee was Turk still striding forward.
Janeway hit the floor hard and felt her wrist snap as it struck the floor at an awkward angle trapped by the chair. She heard the door open and more booted feet joined the fray. Toreth grunted as he fell over Janeway's fallen chair. The hatred she saw in his eyes as he hit the floor next to her chilled her to the bone, but she felt like laughing at the absurdity of the situation. Her mirth was quickly forgotten as she heard B'Elanna cry out.
B'Elanna's cry of pain was followed by a slashing noise and the sound of a body hitting the floor. All Janeway could hear for moments after that was the sound of heavy breathing from several people. She closed her eyes knowing the fight was over but unsure who survived.
She felt a lurching sensation as Daveek righted her, setting the legs of the chair on the floor. B'Elanna was hanging from the chains, and there was blood dripping onto the floor. Janeway's heart clenched tight in her chest. Turk lay on the floor with unseeing eyes staring up at the ceiling. The daqtagh was embedded in his chest all the way to the hilt.
"Get him out of here!" Camet snarled, wiping blood away from his mouth. It was unclear to Janeway whose blood it was, but when he turned to look at her she felt sure it was not his. His black eyes met hers, and she knew he was infuriated with what just happened. Realizing the emotion he was betraying, she watched as he pulled himself together and ran a hand through his white hair. He glanced at Daveek. "See to them."
Daveek nodded and Camet swept out of the room. Toreth and Partek began dragging Turk's body towards the door. B'Elanna had still not moved, but the small pool of blood at her feet was growing larger. Daveek chuckled and crossed to the metal box where they'd originally woken. "You know I never did like that Klingon."
Janeway craned her head around to watch him place several things on the top of the box and then he turned and walked back towards her. She turned back to B'Elanna but felt him standing behind her. He hovered for a minute before she felt his hands on her arms. She stiffened at his touch and he laughed again.
"I'm not the one you have to worry about, Admiral. You aren't my type." He grasped her swollen wrist eliciting a sharp gasp of pain from her. Placing a key between her fingers, he twisted her wrist until the key was inside the lock on the manacle holding her to the chair. He kept her wrist pinned, causing her to grind her teeth at the pain washing over her. "Listen closely, Admiral. You can free yourself from this chair with this key, but if you move a single muscle before that door closes with me on the other side of it, I'll know. And then I'll come back in here and throw you in that box. You'll be able to listen as your friend slowly bleeds to death. Do you understand me?"
"Yes," she grit out.
"Good." He released her wrist and stood up, circling in front of her. "There's a couple of small regenerators over there. They probably have enough power to save her life."
Sweat had broken out on Janeway's forehead as she struggled to keep the key placed in the lock. Daveek stood in front of her for another moment enjoying her obvious discomfort before finally giving her a small nod and walking towards the door. As it closed behind him, Janeway let out a small whimper as she was finally able to turn the key and release her wrist from the painful position.
"B'Elanna!" She cried out as she finally managed to get her hand free. She began working on the other one feeling for the lock with numb fingers. "Torres? Can you hear me?"
She heard a slight groan. "Is he…gone?"
The relief that washed over Janeway in that moment was guarded at best, but the response was more than she could've hoped for. "Are you all right?"
She felt it was a dumb question, but it had come out of her mouth before she was able to articulate anything else. Her other hand was loose now and she winced at the pain knifing through her back and shoulders as she leaned down over her knees. She glanced up when B'Elanna didn't respond. The engineer's head was hanging down with no sign of movement.
Cradling her injured wrist to her chest, Janeway worked at the locks on her ankles. Anger and confrontation usually worked best on B'Elanna. "Damn it, Torres! What the hell were you thinking?"
Janeway heard a slight growl and couldn't help but grin as she worked her feet free. "You were completely out of line, Commander. You could've gotten us both killed!"
At the same time Janeway was finally able to stand away from the chair, B'Elanna managed to raise her head. She glared with the one eye that wasn't swollen shut. "He's dead….isn't he?"
"Was that your plan all along then?" Janeway asked, covering her astonishment that B'Elanna was still alive much less conscious. She was losing blood from a gash that started at her shoulder and ran down the length of her back all the way to her waist. The daqtagh didn't completely miss its mark when Turk had lunged. B'Elanna was damn lucky Camet had intervened, and at that sentiment Janeway had to shake her head.
"Sorry…Admiral." B'Elanna managed to rasp out not sounding the least bit sorry. "I just….couldn't take him…asking a single….more question."
Kathryn grasped B'Elanna's face between her hands. "I couldn't agree with you more, but for right now let's get you down from there."
Confusion clouded B'Elanna's features, "But…you said."
"Later, Commander," Janeway said, and braced B'Elanna's body against hers as she reached up with the key to the manacles on her wrists. She undid one lock and felt both arms come down with one trailing the manacle set. She stumbled with B'Elanna's weight settling against her, but she managed to gently lower her friend to the floor.
B'Elanna's grey turtleneck was essentially in one piece, but it was blackened in multiple spots from the painstik as well as the bloodied tear along her back. Janeway could only imagine what injuries the cloth hid from view. She retrieved the two regenerators and began working to stop B'Elanna's bleeding. The osteoregenerator was small, but she hoped it would at least heal one or two bones.
"Just hold on, B'Elanna." She tore the engineer's shirt open further on her back and began using the dermal regenerator on the long gash. "Are you still with me?"
B'Elanna's breathing was labored and Janeway could tell she had broken ribs among her countless other injuries. B'Elanna spoke into the floor when she finally answered, "That…depends."
"Depends on what?" Janeway asked her attention focused on the slowly healing injury.
"Next time….you want to….lecture…you take Tuvok."
Camet paced his quarters. He was furious at what that mangy Klingon had almost managed to do. If he hadn't been killed, Camet would've had him begging for death by now for his idiocy. Klingons and their ridiculous honor seemed to be the one constant in the universe. If Turk had killed the Paris woman, it would have ruined Camet's entire endgame. He was thankful the young Klingon hadn't been raised properly on Qo'noS or Camet doubted he would've been able to stop him. It was a shame to lose hired muscle like that, but considering the alternative he could not lament the loss.
He sat down at his desk and read the report his protégé had handed him moments earlier. The Federation had begun a search for its missing officers. They had only another day at best before they would have to leave. He wished he could spend more time breaking Janeway, and he once again considered the possibility of taking her with him when he moved on, but that was too much of a risk. He had plenty of time left to accomplish his goals.
B'Elanna knew she wasn't lying on her bed at home; her mattress wasn't this hard. The pillow her head rested on didn't feel right either, and she opened her eyes. She saw legs and black regulation boots. She frowned and started to get up but felt a firm hand on her shoulder.
"Relax, B'Elanna, you passed out."
The sound of Janeway's voice from slightly above and behind her made B'Elanna realize she was using her captain's thigh as a pillow, and the hard mattress she was curled up on was actually the stone floor where they were being held. She groaned feeling tight skin on her back stretched over extremely sore muscles.
"I managed to close the gash on your back and reduce the swelling around your eye before the dermal regenerator gave out," Janeway said. "I was also able to heal your nose and a few of your ribs. The osteo-regenerator wasn't very powerful so I doubt you're fully healed, but they should at least be set for now."
"Thanks." B'Elanna managed. She'd never felt this tired in all her life. Keeping her eyes open seemed like an impossible task. Forget trying to sit up. "You okay?"
"I'm fine." B'Elanna let out a low growl at the Admiral's answer. She could hear Janeway exhale and then relent. "I think my wrist is broken, but that's all."
B'Elanna wished Janeway had used the osteo-regenerator on herself. She had an idea that this grudge match was far from over.
"I'm sorry you got caught in the middle of all this, B'Elanna. I want you to know how proud I am of how you composed yourself today." Janeway spoke quietly as though she were imparting a secret. "You know I would've taken your place. I wish it had been me."
"Tell you what," B'Elanna closed her eyes. "The next time we get kidnapped by a vengeful psychotic bastard, I'll go first and you can have the painstik."
"Deal," Janeway chuckled, recognizing B'Elanna's attempts to ease the tension. "Can I ask you something?"
"Sure," B'Elanna said, trying to ignore the way her muscles were twitching. "No secrets here."
"Did you really believe all that stuff you said about Owen? That he'd be happier if you were gone."
B'Elanna thought for a moment before she answered. "I used to think that, when we were still out in the Delta Quadrant. I couldn't relate the idea of this prim and proper admiral ever wanting to have anything to do with a half Klingon ex-terrorist."
"The Maquis weren't terrorists," Janeway interrupted.
"Then why were you sent to arrest us?" B'Elanna smiled at the protectiveness in Kathryn's voice. "Freedom fighter. Terrorist. It all depends on who you ask, but that's neither here nor there."
"B'Elanna," Kathryn started.
"My answer to your question is no, I don't think that anymore. Since the moment Owen beamed onto Voyager he's been nothing but supportive and caring. And he absolutely spoils Miral rotten." B'Elanna sighed. "But I do wish that Camet had believed me when I said all that. It would have felt good to deceive him about it."
"I think he still would've used you to get to me though."
"Probably," B'Elanna agreed. "My turn to ask a question."
Janeway tensed. "Go ahead."
"What is going on with you and Chakotay?"
"This really isn't the time or the place, B'Elanna."
"Humor me," she said. "I probably won't remember anyway."
Kathryn remained silent.
"I know he broke up with Seven," B'Elanna wheedled. "You showed up together at my house last weekend. Come on, if you can't tell me, who can you tell?"
"Fine," Janeway hesitated before continuing. "We're together."
B'Elanna couldn't help the smile that spread across her face, but when Kathryn didn't say anything more she frowned. "And?"
"And what?" Janeway asked, but capitulated when B'Elanna started to push herself up. "All right all right, just stay still and I'll tell you."
B'Elanna waited. And waited. Then she pinched her captain's leg.
Kathryn blew air out between her lips. "What do you want to know?"
"Well, are the two of you just together or are you together?"
"I don't kiss and tell, B'Elanna."
"So you are together!"
"I didn't say that."
"Kathryn."
She sighed, "No, we haven't yet."
B'Elanna was exasperated. "Why the hell not?"
"There was Seven to think about."
B'Elanna snorted.
"And then we had all those debriefings that went on for weeks."
"Yes, but then he broke up with Seven after those and that was two months ago."
"I wasn't about to just jump into bed with him, Lanna. I didn't want to be his rebound girl."
"If anybody was a rebound girl, it was Seven. He only went after her because he couldn't have you." B'Elanna laughed.
"I don't know about that," Janeway said. "Towards the end I don't think Chakotay and I were really even friends anymore. We had to get that back before we tried anything further."
"And have you?"
"What?"
"Rekindled the spark," B'Elanna said, smiling. The way the two of them acted together at her house, she already knew they'd definitely reconnected.
Kathryn cleared her throat. "Yes, I think so."
"You think so? I thought my couch was going to burst into flames last weekend from the two of you." B'Elanna laughed. "What are you waiting for?"
"Actually," Kathryn said wistfully. "We had a weekend getaway planned for as soon as I got back from this trip. Looks like we're going to have to reschedule."
B'Elanna closed her eyes in frustration for her two friends. One more reason for her to hate Camet. She didn't want Janeway to dwell on that thought, but she couldn't force herself to lie and say they were going to make it out of this either. She smiled as she thought of something to distract her captain. "Do you remember that alien that Kes defeated in engineering? The one that messed around with our heads and made us see things?"
"Yes," she answered warily.
B'Elanna cleared her throat. "My fantasy involved Chakotay."
Janeway remained quiet at this admission, so B'Elanna forged ahead despite the embarrassment she was about to cause herself. "Yeah, he uh, came down to engineering and told me we had to escape together. And then he….kissed me."
B'Elanna thought that if Janeway got any quieter she'd be catatonic. She didn't even think the Captain was breathing anymore. She rushed on. "And we ended up in my quarters on the bed…"
"I get the picture, Commander."
Commander. B'Elanna smiled at Kathryn's reaction. "Well ever since then, I've always wondered…"
Kathryn waited anxiously for B'Elanna to finish her sentence. When B'Elanna didn't and she couldn't wait any longer she asked, "Wondered what?"
"Is he a good kisser, Kathryn?"
"I think the blood loss has gone to your head, Torres," Janeway said, hitting the engineer lightly on the shoulder. "And I think we've shared enough for one day. We should both probably get some rest while we can."
B'Elanna couldn't stop smiling. It was a ridiculous situation they found themselves in. They were both being tortured with probably more to face and yet here they sat talking about boys. Oh what Tom wouldn't give to have been listening in on this conversation.
Unfortunately, Kathryn was right. B'Elanna felt like she could sleep away the rest of her six month leave with ease not to mention her back was throbbing like there was no tomorrow. She stretched her legs out testing her muscles and then settled back against Kathryn's thigh once more. She was almost asleep when she heard Kathryn quietly answer her question.
"The man definitely knows how to kiss."