Tegan Chronicles STV Style 3:

What's Left of the Flag 18

At some point the doctor managed to kick her out of the infirmary. Katie you must have really been tired to let him get away with that one, she thought as she woke up a few hours after climbing into bed. She pulled on her robe and went over to the replicator. "Coffee black."

She brought the mug up to her lips and took a long drag from it allowing the warm liquid to swirl over her tongue before she swallowed. She moved to her small desk and sat the mug down on its glass surface before she grabbed a PADD and started to compose a memo to her crew commending them on their bravery and how they pulled together to pull one another through the latest of Voyager's trials in the Delta quadrant. After she gave a brief update on Tegan's condition and let them know that she and Tuvok would be returning to work that very morning, she ended it on a more personal note than she normally would.

"As you know Voyager is not a typical Starfleet Vessel, and we are not a typical Starfleet crew. Out of respect for you all I wanted to let you all know that I am dating Dr. Kiser. I realize it is not normal for a Starfleet Captain to date someone under their command—" Really Katie? She thought to herself, That is the understatement of the decade. "—but Voyager's current situation is far from normal. I hope that what happened recently is proof that I will not put anything before my duties as your Captain, the wellbeing of Voyager as a whole and our goal of returning home. All command decisions regarding Lieutenant Kiser will be approved by Commanders Chakotay and Tuvok before being implemented. If anyone has any questions or concerns you may set up an appointment to speak with me directly."

"Tuvok." The doctor turned to see him stepping through the doors. "Can I help you?"

"I came to see Dr. Kiser." He inclined his head toward the patient.

"I'm afraid she isn't very good company." He lifted a brow and scrunched his lips to one side of his face.

"She is still comatose?"

"Yes." He watched Tuvok step up to the side of the primary biobed and look down at her. "How did your day go?"

"It went fine. I am back to myself." He turned his head slightly and lifted a brow as he thought about the truth of the statement. He really needed to spend some time in his quarters meditating.

"Teal'c," She smiled broadly when she saw her old friend walking across the field toward her.

"Major Kiser." He bowed his head to her.

"It's Tegan." She laughed lightly at him.

"Indeed." He lifted a customary eyebrow. "I would ask how you are, but you are not well if you are here."

She watched him look around. "I don't know, I feel pretty good right now."

"You are avoiding your life."

"Is that what I'm doing?" She stepped closer to him. "I thought I was dying."

"Is that what you want?" He studied her intently.

"Is this what death is like?"

"Not exactly." He shifted his weight.

"You can't tell me can you?"

"It is different for everyone."

"Oh." She decided to change the subject; she knew at least one of them would be more forthcoming. "Have you seen my grandmother? Cassie?"

"They will be here soon."

"I think she's just fucking Janeway for the privileges." Crewman Robertson stood across from his friend who was leaning against the wall next to the replicator like they owned the place. "You know, nicer quarters more replicator rations."

"I've heard she doesn't even use her replicator rations." Crewman McMann sighed. "Still I'd like to know what Janeway has that I don't because I'd give my left nut to fuck her."

"A vagina and breasts," He laughed.

Seven paraded up to them and glared at Crewman McMann. "Repeat what you said Crewman."

"Excuse me?"

"I requested that you repeat your last statement."

"Don't do it Richard." Crewman Robertson warned. "You know how the captain feels about her pet Borg."

"She's probably fucking her too." Richard let his eyes traverse Seven's body pausing at her breasts before lifting back to meet her steady gaze. "I bet I could make you moan."

Seven brought her arm up with Borg precision, grabbed him in the groin and squeezed tightly eliciting a load groan just as the doors to the mess hall opened.

"Seven." Janeway's voice was an octave too high before it dipped down into an irritated growl. "Release him."

"I can explain Captain." She calmly turned her head to Janeway before letting her captive free.

"Oh you'd better." She cautioned. "My ready room, now." She looked at Crewman McMann then glanced at Crewman Robertson. "Report to sickbay, make sure he makes it there."

"Yes ma'am." Crewman Robertson breathed out on a shaky breath.

She had only meant to step into the mess hall to check on things before heading to sickbay to see how Tegan was doing. She didn't need to deal with disciplinary action over Seven assaulting another member of the crew. Seven had promised she could explain and she supposed it was possible there was a perfectly reasonable explanation for it. She speculated there was probably a far more practical justification than if B'Elanna had been the one behind the attack. Still she had other things she would much rather be dealing with. She sighed as she stepped into the turbolift. "Bridge."

She walked into her ready room to find Seven standing in front of her desk, erect with her hands clasped behind her back facing the entrance. She stared at her for a long minute before uttering a single word. "Explain."

It hadn't even been twelve hours since she had sent off the crew memo and already she was seeing the fallout. Maybe you should have kept it to yourself Katie?

No, it was right to share it with the crew. It's a matter of trust.

She stepped into the sensor area opening the doors to sickbay and began speaking as soon as she started to march through the door. "Both of you." She nodded to the two crewmen with her angry blue gray eyes. "As soon as the doctor is finished with you, you are both to report to Commander Chakotay."

She paced up to the bed Richard was sitting on and lowered her voice despite the doctor and the still unconscious Tegan being the only other people in the room. "I have only one thing to say to you about what occurred in the mess hall; I am very disappointed in you both. Especially you Crewman McMann."

Richard lowered his eyes to her boots. "Sorry Captain."

She turned to the EMH and stepped away. "Doctor?"

"Gentlemen you are free to go." He gave them a curious look but didn't dare inquire. He turned to Janeway as the doors closed behind the two crewmen. "There's been no change."

"None?" Her shoulders dropped.

"No." He turned to the console panel and pressed a few buttons. "All of her systems appear to be functioning normally, right now it's just a waiting game."