A/n: I'm so happy about the reviews! I was so worried I would get bad reviews, but I'm more confident now. Here's a new chapter as a reward inspired by "Natural Law".
Seven stood in the briefing room beside the Captain, awaiting her fate as the senior officers, excluding Lieutenant Paris who was already on a mission, filed into the room. Was it really necessary for the Captain to order someone to accompany her to the warp mechanics conference on Ledosia? She knew it was against ship rules to go alone on an off world mission, but she had realised in recent months that no one liked be "assigned" to her as the Captain so patronisingly phrased it.
Chakotay couldn't help but notice Seven's slightly defeated posture as he entered the room, he had always without truly acknowledging it to himself liked to watch the subtle changes in her demeanour, how she reacted to events, but unsettlingly he had noticed her become more withdrawn than ever in recent weeks. Unbidden the image of her face when he had rebuked her weeks ago entered his mind but he ignored it.
The Captain broke the silence. "Now, I've called you here to inform you that Seven has been asked to attend a four day warp mechanics conference on Ledosia, so I've decided to give all the crew some shore leave, but someone needs to accompany Seven, any volunteers?"
God Kathryn, you really know how to make someone feel popular thought Chakotay sarcastically, as he looked round at the reluctant faces. Something Seven had said years before occurred to him. "The Captain ordered me to volunteer." How right she was.
Seven feel her shoulders fall slightly as she looked around. Understandably no one wished to give up their shore leave to spend four days with her. Deciding to voice her concerns she spoke up. "Captain I do not wish to disrupt anyone's plans.."
The Captain interrupted her with an irritated hand movement and said "None of them have any plans Seven."
She's making it sound like a punishment, thought Chakotay somewhat angrily. If Seven's withdrawn it's the Captain's fault, I would be too if I was being patronised and condescended upon like that. This train of thought led him to an impulsive decision. "I'll take her!" he announced suddenly and louder than he'd expected.
To say that Seven was stunned was an understatement and she had to work her hardest to hide her shock. Exhilaration which she immediately suppressed and anxiety which she actively encouraged came over her.
"Good." Said the Captain in a self satisfied tone. Everyone else excepting Chakotay, Seven and the Captain hurriedly retreated in relief at having escaped, throwing Chakotay shocked looks as they left.
Fighting the urge to flee, Seven approached Chakotay unable to look him full in the face as she struggled to maintain her composure. "Commander I require two hours to prepare. Is that sufficient for you?"
"Yes." Said Chakotay the implications of what he had volunteered to do beginning to sink in. Seven nodded silently in reply, turned sharply on her heel and left, leaving himself and the Captain alone.
"That was very chivalrous of you Chakotay." Said the Captain with a slight smirk on her face.
He decided not to deem that remark with a reply. Obviously it wasn't only Seven the Captain liked to patronise, but he had known that for years hadn't he? He expressed his frustration by staring daggers into her back as she departed.
An hour and a half later Seven was sitting in sickbay being examined before she left.
"So…."said the Doctor, unable to hold back his curiosity any longer, "..you're going with Commander Chakotay?"
"Yes." Stated Seven, she had been expecting an interrogation of this sort.
"Did you ask him?" said the Doctor gleefully, unable to resist pressing for more.
"No!" she snapped beginning to lose her temper. When she saw his expression she knew an explanation would be required, even though she didn't think he deserved one. Through gritted teeth she said "I did not ask him."
"Your anxiety is perfectly understandable Seven." He said in a gentler, more fatherly tone. He let a sigh escape his lips. "It would be a lot easier for you if you let me operate on your cortical node."
Instantly bristling at this blatant jab, she icily retorted "I will decide what is easier for me. Are you finished? The Commander expects to leave at 1300 hours."
"Does he now?" said the Doctor taking an unseemly pleasure at her discomfiture. Maybe this will get her to finally stop being so stubborn! He thought. "All done."
Seven jumped off the biobed and made eagerly towards the door.
"Be careful!" The Doctor shouted after her. As the doors closed he muttered "In more ways than one."
Chakotay stood at the doors to Shuttle Bay 2 with a canvas bag at his feet waiting for Seven to arrive and trying to still his nervously churning stomach. He wasn't sure why he was so nervous, it wasn't as if she was still a drone. That's precisely why you're nervous, said a little voice in his head, because she's not a drone. Quiet, he said to the voice as she hurriedly rounded the corner.
"You're early." She said.
"Not really, I was only waiting a couple of minutes."
An uneasy silence settled on them and neither moved. Seven decided to break it.
"Commander, I wish to..thank you for agreeing to come with me. I know this is disrupting your shore leave."
"Don't worry about it Seven. I plan to make the most of my leave, it's supposed to be a beautiful world."
Once again a break in the flow of conversation paralysed both of them.
"Shall we go?" he asked her somewhat uneasily.
"Yes."
The tension wouldn't leave them alone as they stepped into the shuttle. It's going to be a long four days, they both thought simultaneously.
3 days later
Seven stood back in the familiarity of Cargo Bay 2, trying to stifle her emotions with work, but thoughts of what would happen if the Ventu were no longer protected by the barrier ate at her. She glanced up at the sound of the doors opening to see the Commander enter and approach her.
"That's a beautiful blanket." He commented gesturing towards the blanket folded on top of a nearby container.
Looking down, she replied quietly "You can have it if you'd like, I have no use for it."
He stepped closer, sensing something behind the words. "If the environmental systems ever go down, you might get cold." He murmured gently.
She nodded silently in assent, but he saw a shimmering in her blue eyes which twisted something inside him.
"There's something else bothering you?" he said it more as a statement than a question.
She swallowed hard before shakily replying. "It's the Ventu. I am afraid for their wellbeing."
"They can look after themselves." He said, unsure of where this was going.
"That's not what I mean." She said in a hollow tone. "The Ledosian expedition had time to study my deflector modifications. In time they may learn how to remove the barrier themselves."
He met her gaze, unable to deny her point but wanting to for her sake. "It's possible."
"If I had never made those modifications…"
Chakotay took her arm determined to stop the obvious waves of guilt emanating from her. "We would still be stuck there." He finished her sentence forcefully. "I don't know about you but I'm glad to be back on Voyager."
He watched as resignation replaced guilt on her features. "As am I." she replied softly.
He fought the sudden urge to hug her, he had never felt so honoured by someone confiding in him.
He let her be, leaving immediately after and she began to allow herself to take true comfort from his words as her hand unconsciously settled on the blanket.
Chakotay had only left her minutes before when a snap decision made him stop in his tracks and turn around.
Seven was surprised when he entered again, she could think of no logical reason for him to return. He came up to her again with a question.
"Seven, when the last time you had something to eat?" What was that supposed to mean?
"Several hours ago." She couldn't help but add a question of her own. "Why?"
"Come to the mess hall with me."
"I'm sure you have many friends who would like to spend time with you after your absence Commander."
"I'm not asking them, I'm asking you."
"If that is what you want Commander."
"Yes, it is what I want and you can call me Chakotay when we're off duty."
"As you wish."
"Are you ready?"
"Yes."
A/n: To be continued, of course. Thanks for reading.