Chapter 17: Forgotten Date Night

The Captain entered the Bridge that morning with an enormous smile on her face, something that didn't go unnoticed by any of the crew. It had been a while since they'd had the pleasure to see it.

"You look happy." the Commander commented.

The Captain nodded as she slowly made her way down towards her chair.

"First Minister Telveki has offered to extend our invitation for R&R on the planet once the trading agreements are finished." she explained.

A small wave of cheers washed over the Bridge crew. Lt. Paris was no exception but since he didn't have anybody nearby to cheer with, his instead hit his console with his clenched fist.

"Careful, Tom." Chakotay ordered with a smile, "If you get any happier, we may need Mr. Hudersona to get us a new helm."

"Sorry, Commander." he apologised before turning to the part of the console he had hit and stoking it, "And I'm sorry, console."

The Captain raised her eyebrow pointedly as she sat down in her chair.

"In your own time, Lieutenant." she reminded him.

He briefly spun back and met her eye. "Aye, Captain."

Laughing lightly, the Commander turned towards his chair and soon spotted a PADD on the arm. He silently winced – he'd meant to have it sent down earlier.

Sighing briefly, he picked it up before looking up at Harry Kim.

"Ensign?" he soon captured the young man's attention, "Take this down to Seven in Cargo Bay Two. She'll need it when she goes down to the planet later."

He was already leaving his station and being replaced as the Commander finished speaking. In no time, he leant over the banister in order to receive the PADD.

"Aye, Commander."

The walk to the Cargo Bay didn't take long and upon entering, Ensign Kim found himself smiling. The current predicament Seven of Nine found herself in looked comical. For some reason which he couldn't fathom, she was burying herself in a large container almost half of her height. It looked as though she was trying to reach for something she clearly couldn't.

"Need some help?"

Seven immediately pulled herself from the container and stood up straight, partially startled at the sound of his voice.

"Ensign."

He reached the side of the container and released a soft sigh.

"Harry." he reminded her.

She nodded briefly, the majority of her attention still on the container.

"Of course." she acknowledged, "How can I help you?"

Harry shook his head before holding out the PADD to her.

"Commander Chakotay said you'd need this." he explained as she accepted the device.

Seven accepted the device gratefully before quickly scanning through the data. He was correct – the data would be helpful for her final trade which she and Commander Tuvok were due to undertake in less than half an hour.

"Thank-you." she expressed politely before placing it down on the console and again looking down in the container.

Frowning ever so slightly, Harry smiled softly. His curiosity was definitely getting the better of him. He had to know what was going on.

"Have you lost something?"

Seven sighed. She wasn't sure she really wanted to admit the truth – it was rather embarrassing. However, she found she had always felt comfortable around Harry. His easily predictable nature had been a great source of comfort to her since she'd been on-board. She knew him – he was as close a friend as she knew how to have.

"My tricorder." she told him, "I was scanning the container and dropped it inside. I can't reach it."

Harry laughed a little, something Seven soon half copied by smiling.

"I'll be happy to help." he offered.

It made sense, he was a little taller than her. Perhaps that would be enough for him to be able to reach the device stuck at the bottom.

"Why didn't you just get another one?" he had to ask just as he located the tricorder.

"I prefer that one." she explained simply.

A moment later, he emerged from the container and handed her the device. "There you go."

Seven took the instrument and smiled. "Thank you, Ensign." she stated, noticing he still had something else to say, "Is there something else?"

Harry quickly sighed to himself. "We… the crew, I mean… we have some extra R&R scheduled to start tonight after the trading's been completed." he told her, "I was wondering if you would join me for dinner on the planet later?"

Seven frowned slightly, a little unsure what he was implying. However, she recognised the tactic from observing other members of the crew. It was enough to make her soft smile grow.

"Ensign, are you asking me on a 'date'?" she clarified.

He nodded so slightly that Seven didn't even notice.

"Yes…" he replied quietly. He couldn't actually believe he'd said it.

Seven felt her stomach flutter in a way it never had before. It was strange yet glorious at the same time. She had to gulp to suppress the slightly air-constricting feeling in her throat before sighing softly.

"I accept."

Harry felt himself physically light up. "You do?" he asked, almost in disbelief.

Noticeably laughing, Seven raised her eyebrow. It was strange, she had never felt quite the way she did before – not that she was complaining.

"Are you trying to talk me out of it?" she teased unknowingly.

Harry automatically shook his head. "No." he replied, "I'll… I'll meet you here at… 1700 hours."

She nodded. "Understood."

"Tuvok to Seven of Nine. Report to Transporter Room 2."

Tapping her combadge, her eyes not leaving Harry as she reached for the PADD on the console, a smiling Seven replied.

"Aye, Commander." she tapped her combadge and began to leave, "I'll see you later, Ensign."

=/\=

The corridors on Deck 2 were mildly busy – it appeared as though Ensign Kim had left the Mess Hall just in enough time to miss the lunchtime rush. He hadn't eaten much, barely more than a spoonful of Neelix's latest casserole. He was saving himself for later that night, a meal he was looking forward to more than most.

"Harry!"

He recognised the voice immediately – Tom. They hadn't spoken much on the Bridge that morning. Not long after returning from Cargo Bay 2, he'd been working with the Mission Ops officers to complete the latest analysis of ship wide operations. It hadn't really left time to chat.

The said man caught up with him and slowed to a steady walk at his side.

"What's been up with you today?"

Harry frowned, the smile on his face showing no sign of fading. He had tried to tone it down but he couldn't help it. She'd said yes – Seven was going to dinner with him.

"I have no idea what you're on about." he played it as cool as possible.

"Oh!" scoffed Tom, "Don't play that game with me. You haven't stopped glowing for the last three hours!"

Ensign Kim felt his eyes roll. "I'm in a good mood." he argued lightly.

It was then Lt. Paris' turn to roll his eyes. Harry Kim had always been one lousy liar. Perhaps it would just be best to change the subject – he clearly wasn't going to get anywhere.

"A few of us going down to a beach party on the Eastern coast later tonight." he stopped and turned to Harry, the young Ensign mirroring his movements, "You're welcome to join us."

Harry was curious. "Us?"

Tom sighed softly. "Me, B'Elanna, few of the Engineers and Conn. Officers, the Delaney sisters…" he listed off, "What do you say?"

Harry simply shrugged his shoulders and shook his head.

"I'd love to but I can't tonight." he said, looking away from Tom and beginning to continue down the corridor, "I'm busy."

Tom found himself scoffing before having to break into a small run to catch up with his friend.

"Harry, its shore leave!" he cried, "You're not supposed to take extra shifts!"

Harry rolled his eyes, laughing at his friend's tone. Of course, that's what he would assume. Obviously, it was unheard of for squeaky clean Ensign Kim to have a social life of any kind.

"I haven't taken extra shifts. I'm going out."

Without even seeing Tom's face, Harry knew that by the way he had fallen quiet and the air had changed that he was a little shocked. Knowing Tom, he probably had his jaw dropped and eyes widened.

"With who?"

"A friend." Harry replied.

He would have been hurt if he hadn't been intrigued. If it had simply been an outing with a friend, Harry would have mentioned about bringing them along to the beach party. In actual fact, if it had simply been an outing with a friend, he'd have mentioned it, full stop.

"Ooh." smirked Tom, suddenly beginning to share the expression of a very excited child, "Anyone I know?"

Harry rolled his eyes. Here we go.

He nodded momentarily. "Actually, yes."

Now Tom was smiling as though he were a child on Christmas morning and Christmas had come early. It certainly had for him.

"Will you tell me?" he asked as the pair continued down the corridor.

The young Ensign in gold smirked. "Nope."

"How about if I guess correctly?" Tom questioned.

"You won't." Harry promised.

Tom just continued to grin. Challenge accepted.

=/\=

Needless to say, Lt. Paris failed his challenge. All day he'd been trying to work it out and all day it hadn't happened. It was for this reason he now was sneaking around the corridors with a fed up B'Elanna on his tail. She was fed up of following him like a lost sheep. She just wanted to go to the party.

She sighed loudly. "Where are we going?" she asked for the fifth time.

Ultimately following Tom a little further down the corridor, B'Elanna could feel herself getting very frustrated. Part of her sure he'd had his tongue cut out – it would explain why he hadn't answered her yet.

"Tom!"

He glanced towards her. "To see who Harry's date is." he finally replied.

B'Elanna's eyes widened. She was sure she'd heard that wrong.

"Harry?" she asked, sure she was going mad, "As in Harry Kim? He's got a date?"

Tom couldn't help but smirk at her tone. "I know… I couldn't believe it either."

The pair had come to a stop at the final junction before Harry's quarters, both peering around the corner at his door. They weren't waiting long before they saw him leave, walking away with complete obliviousness to their presence. Dressed in casually smart attire and carrying a bunch of red roses, the young Ensign had a noticeable spring in his step. However, it wasn't that which had caught B'Elanna's eye – it was the flowers.

Her face dropped. "Real original." she muttered unenthusiastically, earning a chuckle from Tom.

Tom couldn't help but chuckle at her sarcasm but he didn't allow himself to become distracted for too long. He was more than eager to find out his best friend's lucky lady for the evening.

B'Elanna found herself rolling her eyes before they continued to follow in Harry's wake, Tom going into his very so-called stealth mode. He was enjoying it far too much and although she was sharing his curiosity, she was a little annoyed it was encroaching on her party time. She'd been looking forward to the fresh sea air and sandy beach all day.

As Harry took the next turn, Tom stopped momentarily and found himself sporting a deep frown.

"Where's he going?" he said aloud.

B'Elanna looked around to see what section they were in. She too then frowned. There were no crew quarters in the direction they were heading. The only obvious thing was Cargo Bay Two.

She gasped suddenly as it hit her. Surely not…

"It can't be…" the 'o' shape of her lips was soon lost by a dangerous smile. She couldn't quite believe it.

"What?" Tom queried.

The half-Klingon met Tom's eye, doing her best not to laugh. It turns out that Harry's crush wasn't purely a one-way attraction.

"Seven." B'Elanna whispered.

It was then Tom's turn to feel his shock rise.

Upon arriving in the Cargo Bay, Harry couldn't help but smile when he saw Seven stood ready by her alcove. Dressed in a simple purple dress, her hair pulled back into a loose, scraggy ponytail, she smiled softly when she met his eye. Any apprehension she'd had of someone seeing her dressed the way she was disappeared the moment he came in.

"Wow." he whispered, slowly making his way over to her, "You look beautiful."

"Thank you." she expressed, accepting the flowers off of him.

Taking time to smell the roses, literally, Seven allowed her smile to grow before putting them down on the console. Her plan was to sort them out later when she got back to the ship.

"Shall we?"

She lifted her head and saw him extending out his arm to her, something she gladly accepted. It was the only response he needed.

=/\=

Seven wasn't much of an eater but she had enjoyed that evening's dinner, mostly as it was a chance to talk with Harry alone without having to worry about maintaining any kind of protocol. It was strange how much she'd enjoyed simply being in his company.

They later took a walk along the beach and before settling down on the copper sand when they'd had enough. Seven took a moment to observe the way the planet's two suns were setting on the sparkling purple ocean. As a Borg, she'd have considered it irrelevant. Now it was simply beautiful.

"Ensign?" she asked after a few minutes of watching the sparkle of the water, "May I ask a personal question?"

Harry nodded. "Of course." he answered with a smile.

Turning her head to look around properly at him, Seven met his eyes.

"Are you…"

She suddenly stopped. An instant, sharp pain had appeared in her upper back and she found it was rather breath-taking – and not in a good way. Harry immediately frowned and although she could see his lips moving, no noise was entering her ears. It was as if she'd gone deaf.

She tried to move but a numbing feeling expanding from the area where the pain had sparked was travelling up her back and was soon taking over the rest of her body.

"Seven?" Harry asked once again, deeply concerned.

When her eyes rolled back into her head and she collapsed onto the sand below, he knew it was an emergency. Frantic, he hit his combadge. However, before he managed to say anything, a sharp pain appeared in his back and quickly engulfed his body. He didn't have time to panic since within seconds, everything went black.

Seven wasn't sure how long it had taken for her to become aware of her body again. She still couldn't move since it felt as though she was falling and spinning all at once. However, she was becoming aware that she could feel again, and it felt as though her entire body was made of lead. It wasn't pleasant.

With a harsh breath, she allowed her eyes to flicker open slowly. Instantly, Seven moaned as the light from two suns above her head burning through her eyes. It was far too bright. It took a moment before she tried to lift her hand to reach for her combadge. However, she found she was unable to even make her fingers twitch. Her body just felt as though it were completely drained of energy. Even breathing was a strenuous exercise she was having to concentrate on.

In the passing few moments, her mind didn't make a connection between anything. She hadn't even realised what the two suns above her head meant. Had she forgotten that barely five minutes from her point of view she'd been watching the suns set?

It took a while before her heavy body began to respond to some of her wishes. However, once some of the dreadfully feeling had faded, she attempted to sit up. She cried out when a deeply tender pain in her stomach prevented her from doing so. She couldn't do it.

With a sigh, she ended up rolling her head to try and see where she was. It was then she spotted Ensign Kim laying a couple of metres away from her.

"Ensign?" she barely whispered, her voice groggy before she finally managed to shout, "Harry, wake up!"

Her voice crashed through the silence drowning him and it startled him enough to make his eyes shoot open. It took a few seconds in which Seven struggled to suppress the pain she felt before she felt Harry sit up. Instantly, she was aware he'd move over to her side.

"Seven? What happened?"

She barely managed to shake her head. "I don't know." she confessed softly.

He frowned deeply when he saw her wince. Was she hurt?

"What's wrong?" he questioned.

She shook her head more noticeably that time. "Nothing… I just, I need to regenerate." she lied convincingly, "It's been a while."

Harry understood and slowly assisted her off her back. She winced silently, her head turned away from him. She was no doctor but she was sure how she was feeling wasn't right, nor was it a normal part of her human physiology.

"Right, let's get back to the ship."

Going to hit his combadge, Harry moaned loudly upon finding it wasn't there when all that happened was that he hit his chest.

"What the hell…?"

Seven soon noticed and looked down to her own combadge, only to see hers too was also missing. Great. Exactly what were they supposed to do? They were on an isolated beach, likely miles away from the transporter co-ordinates, with no contact with ship.

"Harry?!"

The voice whom had shouted from across the beach was familiar and one he quickly recognised.

Turning swiftly, Harry was glad yet confused as to why he could see Tom Paris, Commander Tuvok and wo other security officers approaching their position.

It didn't take them long to reach the slightly disorientated pair.

"Tom?" Harry asked, his frown evident, "What are you doing here?"

"The Captain got worried when you didn't report in this morning."

"This morning?" Harry asked, "What time is it?"

"1300 hours. You were supposed to report in at 0900 this morning." Tom stated, "What happened?"

He could only shake his head. "I… I don't know." he replied, looking around at Seven who seemed rather pale, "Seven?"

The other crew members turned to face her at Harry's word. It was clear something wasn't right with the former drone and it seemed to be more than sharing Harry's confusion.

"Are you alright, Seven?" Tom queried, soon moving to her free side and giving her some support she was silently in great need of.

Seven nodded. "Yes." she answered softly.

Tom didn't believe her, neither did Tuvok. Without a second though, he looked towards the said Vulcan.

"Let's get them back to the ship."

Tuvok nodded once. "Agreed."