Tegan Chronicles STV Style 4:
Canis Major 7
Tegan walked into the mess hall where she was supposed to meet Tuvok that morning and despite the bustle of day shift trying to get breakfast before reporting for duty she actually made it through the doors and over to the galley where she and Neelix exchanged greetings.
"He isn't going to eat you Neelix." She held Maverick's leash loosely in her hand as he stood at her side.
"I'm just not used to dogs, but he is very pretty."
"I'm surprised to see you here." Kathryn put her hand on Tegan's lower back briefly announcing her presence.
"I'm meeting Tuvok here."
"Eating first?" Kathryn smiled at Maverick who was looking up at her and wagging his tail. "Good morning to you too boy."
"No." Tegan nodded to him that it was alright and he trotted the scant distance between her and Kathryn to get his ears scratched.
Kathryn squatted down to give him and attentive ear rub. "I missed you last night."
"Sorry I fell asleep."
"I know."
"Thanks for dropping him off."
"I didn't." Kathryn put her hands on her knees and stood back up. "He refused to leave once he had gotten comfortable in his bed. Do you want to try again tonight?"
"You've got your weekly thing with Chakotay tonight." She made a face as Maverick dropped his rump on top of her foot. Under her breath she whispered, "Shadow?"
Kathryn barely heard the whisper and gave Tegan an interested look which only earned her a very brief shake of her head.
Tegan left Maverick with Kathryn promising to stop in again around 2130 when she was sure dinner would be over and Chakotay would hopefully be long gone; then she headed to the mess hall as requested by Tuvok. Not knowing that he was testing a theory about Maverick's presence allowing her to roam the ship more freely. She walked in feeling no apprehension. Neelix threw up a hand holding a silver metal spatula in greeting. Tom tossed his boyish smile her way as he made his way over to where Harry was sitting at a table made for two. She only made it a few steps inside before she was overwhelmed by everything she felt.
She felt irritated as someone deliberately bumped into her and she saw Seven turn to face her. Her lips were moving but she couldn't make out what she was saying over the roar of blood rushing through her head. She wondered what it would be like to actually be able to read minds, to have all those voices in her head at once. It was an unconscious thought.
She currently had no control over anything. Her vision started to blur and go gray. She knew she should breathe, but she couldn't seem to make her lungs expand as the dark bubbles started to fill her vision.
"I asked you a question."
She felt the firm grip on both of her shoulders, the cool of the corridor wall against her back. She blinked and looked into the piercing blue gaze. The irritation she had felt rise above everything else in the mess hall remained and she wondered briefly how she made it into the hallway. It became apparent that Seven had inadvertently assisted her.
"Why is it you are allowed out of your quarters while B'Elanna is confined to hers?"
Tegan took a deep breath. "You should ask B'Elanna or Captain Janeway."
"I am asking you."
"Seven?" It was Tuvok's even tone. He had been in the mess hall and was ready to assist Tegan out of the area when he witnessed the interaction.
"This is between Dr. Kiser and myself." Her grasp tightened on Tegan's shoulders forgetting about her enhanced Borg strength and that despite her own added hardware that Tegan was one-hundred percent human. "Dr. Kiser is receiving preferential treatment because of her relationship with the captain."
"Is that really what you think?" Tegan asked and felt the answer well up in her chest. "Of course it is."
"Do you believe I would give Dr. Kiser special dispensation because of her relationship with Captain Janeway?" Tuvok inquired.
"No, I do not."
"I was the one who approved and signed off on the punishments."
Seven let go of Tegan's shoulders and made half a turn to face him. "Explain why she got off so easy?"
"I cannot. You may ask Lieutenant Torres when she is no longer confined to her quarters." A flicker of dismay sparked in Tuvok for a fraction of a second before he could reign it in as he watched Tegan retreat down the hall. "Dr. Kiser."
"I'm going to sickbay." She had felt his consternation and under other circumstances she would have called him on it. As was she barely had time to think, Vulcans have no feelings. HA!
"Did I damage you?" Seven started to follow her but was drawn up short as Tuvok spoke.
"Let her go."
"But if I have damaged her."
"I don't believe you have."
An hour later Seven walked into sickbay. The doctor laid down the hypospray he had been cleaning and turned to her with a small smile. "Seven, what can I do for you?"
"I came to inquire about Dr. Kiser."
"What about her?" His lips straightened into an inquisitive line.
"She said she was reporting to sickbay and I want to know why."
"I'm afraid I can't just give out that information Seven. There's this thing called patient-doctor confidentiality."
"You often tell Captain Janeway of my medical conditions without my prior consent or knowledge." She stated in her matter of fact tone, then added, "Do you not?"
"I have in the past." He gave a single nod. "But there are certain things I am obligated to discuss with the captain. I have never discussed your health with Ensign Kim, or Chakotay, or anyone else for that matter."
She nodded accepting his reasoning even if she did not fully agree with it. "I was afraid I had damaged her."
"You were afraid you had damaged her?"
"Dr. Kiser, when I grabbed her in the mess hall and escorted her out to discuss why she was receiving preferential treatment from the captain, I am afraid I may have damaged her."
"She didn't come to see me because of an injury." He shook his head refocusing his thoughts. "Why is she receiving preferential treatment from the captain?"
"Tuvok ensures me that she is not and that I should discuss the matter with B'Elanna when she is no longer confined to quarters."
"Ah, I see."
"I do not see." She almost grumbled.
"You are upset because B'Elanna is confined to her quarters for fighting with Tegan, yet Tegan is not."
"Yes. Is that not what I just said?" She didn't know why he had to be so dense sometimes. "It does not make sense to me that they both did not receive the same punishment. As far as I can tell Dr. Kiser has not been punished in anyway."
"Oh trust me she isn't getting off scot-free either."
"'Scot-free'?" Her ocular implant lifted. "Explain."
"It's an old earth saying meaning to get away without paying, or without punishment." He expounded on the term. "I believe you should follow Tuvok's advice and talk to B'Elanna when she has finished serving her time."
"Was she hurt badly?" Seven's posture didn't change but her tone and eyes showed her concern for the woman she loved.
"You haven't seen her?"
Seven spoke as the doors to sick bay opened. "Not since just before they went into the holodeck."
"You knew they were going to fight?" Janeway's voice was low as Seven turned to face her.
"Yes." Seven didn't falter under Janeway's glare like some of the crew did. It didn't mean she didn't feel some trepidation when the other woman's wrath was directed toward her, but she kept it hidden.
"And you didn't think I should be told?" Maverick trotted into the sickbay office.
"I did."
"Seven," she growled. She hated having to pull every detail out. "Why didn't you come to me as soon as you knew?"
"B'Elanna asked me not to." Seven realized it was more of a command with a threatening tone than and actual request but she didn't feel details were necessary.
The doctor looked down as Maverick dropped his slobbery tennis ball on the floor at his feet. He nudged the neon yellow ball with his toe. "Ugh."
"In the future I would prefer to be made aware of any such situations as soon as possible is that understood?"
"Yes Captain." Seven looked down at Janeway's shoes for a second but only to give the other woman time to collect herself.
Janeway turned her attention to the EMH. "I was told Tegan stopped in."
"I'm afraid I can't discuss it Captain." He refused to wither under her glare. Unlike Seven he didn't fear Captain Janeway. Although if he had taken a moment to realize that he was now expendable he may have, but any doctor worth his salt would stand up to the Commander in Charge when it came to patient confidentiality.
"Is she fit for duty?"
"She is."
Janeway nodded and looked down at Maverick as she patted her thigh. "Let's go boy."
Janeway was sitting in her chaise reading. She had waited for Tegan to drop in to pick up Maverick or better yet stay the night, but she never showed. At 2230 hours she and Maverick entered Tegan's quarters only to find her sleeping on the bed. Again Janeway noticed her prosthetic was on and she was in her uniform. She debated waking her and helping her change but in the end decided against it. Maverick had curled up in his bed on the floor at the foot of Tegan's bed and refused to move much as he had the night before.
She laid her book on her lap when she heard the door chime, it was midnight and she knew Tegan would just let herself in. She sighed steeling herself. "Come in Seven."
Even though she had whispered it, Seven's Borg enhanced hearing picked up her name. "You knew it was me Captain?"
"I had a feeling." She tilted her head to the side to look at her. "What can I help you with?"
She stood with her feet shoulder width apart and her hands clasped behind her back. "I do not understand why B'Elanna is being punished yet Dr. Kiser is not."
"It really isn't your place to question my decisions." One eye brow dipped shrewdly nonetheless her tone remained neutral. "But I do understand your concern that I am giving Tegan special treatment, I assure you that I am not."
She continued by explaining that initially they had both been confined to quarters but that B'Elanna had explained what had actually transpired on the holodeck and requested that she reconsider. As a result Tegan was to work with Tuvok and B'Elanna's punishment remained unchanged.
"I see. Thank you Captain." She turned and walked out without so much as a goodbye.
"Anytime Seven, anytime." She spoke to the air around her. Out of curiosity she raised her voice to the ceiling, "Computer locate Tegan Kiser."
"Dr. Kiser is in the mess hall."
Her brow furrowed as she sat her book aside and headed out of her quarters.
Maverick turned his head when the doors to the mess hall opened but Tegan didn't need to look to know who was there. "Hey."
"I thought you were sleeping?" Kathryn stood there watching her look out the viewport at the stars as they continued their journey through the Delta Quadrant.
Tegan shook her head. "I was earlier for about an hour."
"Do you want to talk about it?"
"No." Tegan glanced over as Kathryn moved toward her. How could she tell B'Elanna that she would keep her secrets and then tell another crew member's hidden struggles? "I can't, sorry."
Kathryn put her hand on her lower back. "Come to bed with me."
She debated telling her she wasn't tired. It was the truth. But underneath that strong exterior Tegan could sense a quiver of fear. She could at least hold her while she slept.
"Did you sleep at all?" Kathryn woke to see green eyes resting gently on her face.
Tegan shrugged.
"You don't know if you slept?" She pinned her with her gaze.
She sat up knowing this would lead to a full blown argument if she responded, not that it wasn't heading that way anyway.
"You slept with your prosthetic on?" You must have been really tired not to have noticed. "And you're not wearing your protective sleeve."
Tegan looked at the arm in question. It was beginning to hurt which seemed odd to her. She didn't think it had hurt at all since she had received the 'gifts'. She was really starting to hate that word. Another shrug.
"Can you talk this morning?"
She grinned slightly. "I think so. I need to get ready for my shift so I can take him for his run before I drop him off with Tuvok."
"You need to eat." She looked at Tegan's skinny thighs as she got out of bed and how her underwear just wasn't fitting as nicely as it once had. "I don't need the doctor to tell me you're losing weight."
"I'll replicate a bagel or something after I take care of Maverick's needs." She looked at him. "Let's go eat."
She was trying to get into the routine of feeding him and taking a sonic shower, dressing and brushing her teeth while he ate, then they would go to his relief area for him to use the bathroom and next it was a trip to the holodeck where he had a standing thirty minute reservation every morning for his exercise time. If there was time in the evening she would take him back to the holodeck to play and run. He was uninterested in chasing after anything holorelated no matter how real it looked, so they often ran over different holo-terrains together.
"Good morning." The doctor greeted as she walked into the sickbay.
"You're in a good mood this morning doc."
He shrugged. "You're twenty minutes early."
"I promised Janeway I'd eat so I figured I replicate something and inhale it in the office."
"Take your time, there's nothing on the schedule this morning."
