#Tuvok: (in the most 'give it up' tone possible) ...Come with Me doctor =_=

[bumblingbabooshka]

The Doctor turning into women and having romantic dalliances with men is every kind of queer...to me.

[voyagerafod]

Star Trek Voyager: A Fire of Devotion: Part 1 of 4: Louder Than Sirens: Chapter Four

Chapter Four

"I think it's safe to say that the new astrometrics lab is huge success," Harry Kim said, holding up a glass as he spoke. "A whole week without any bugs or problems whatsoever."

"If I were inclined to superstition," Seven of Nine said, "I would say you are tempting fate with that remark. Also, please do not hold that beverage so close to the console."

Harry shrugged, and gulped down all the liquid in the glass in one go.

“How are your PTSD treatments going?" Seven said. “We have not had the chance to speak since the incident with the Mari.”

"Well, the medication the Doctor has me taking daily makes me feel dehydrated, but the stress relief holodeck program he gave me is helping a little. I don't find myself randomly crying in the middle of the mess hall anymore."

"It's only been a few weeks Ensign Kim, give it time."

"Oh how would you know?" Harry snapped. "Like the Borg ever have to deal with post-traumatic stress."

Seven allowed her concern for her crewmate to show on her face, instead of trying to maintain a neutral expression like she did most of the time. The fact was, while she wasn't attracted to Harry the way he had been to her before, she did find that she respected him. In fact she might even one day go so far as to call him a friend.

"You are correct. While I did witness combat as a member of the Collective, I have never experienced anything quite like what you've been through."

Harry sighed.

"I'm sorry I snapped at you Seven."

"No apologies necessary. Such behavior is a common symptom of your condition based on what I’ve read. If you would prefer to continue the routine diagnostics of this lab on your own, I will not be offended."

Before Harry could reply, the door to astrometrics opened. Captain Janeway and Chakotay entered. Harry looked for somewhere to hide his glass, but failed to before it was noticed.

"Ensign Kim, are you drinking on duty?" Chakotay said. Harry opened his mouth to reply, but Seven decided to intervene.

"I can vouch that the beverage in question was non-alcoholic Commander," she said. "The medication that the Doctor has him on currently leaves him feeling dehydrated."

Chakotay didn't look like he believed her, but after sharing a look with Janeway, he abandoned the point.

"We just came by to see how the new and improved astrometrics lab was doing," Janeway said. "We haven't had much of a chance to look at it when we're not in the middle of some kind of crisis."

Seven's eyebrow raised at that. "Captain, there have been approximately three days within the past week where you could've come down here to observe its status."

Janeway nodded. "True, true. And it is entirely my own fault for not taking advantage of those opportunities. I can’t put all of it on me trying to help B’Elanna last week."

“That was a pressing issue at the time,” Seven said. “And I do not see a way in which an astrometrics lab would’ve been useful in that situation. It is also worth noting that the day we first activated the upgraded lab was the day that-” Seven stopped abruptly.

“That the whole thing with me showing up a year older and battle fatigued happened?” Harry said. “You don’t need to walk on eggshells around me Seven. I’m damaged but I’m not broken.”     “So,” Chakotay said in an obvious attempt to get the conversation back on its original track. “The new lab. Let’s see it in action.”

---

"While I'm flattered that you feel I can help with this issue, Ensign Wildman," the Doctor said, "I am a medical doctor, not a counselor. Psychological issues are not my area of expertise, and when it comes to romance, my experience is limited to one Vidiian doctor and one hologram, so I’m not sure how much help I could be there."

"I'm well aware of all of that, Doctor," Samantha said. "In fact you often like to remind everyone how you are a Doctor not a whatever. But in case you forgot, we do not have a proper counselor on board. I probably could've talked to Kes about this if she were here, but she's not. My daughter is too young, and while he's certainly gotten better about it over the years, Neelix still has issues with letting things slip, and I’d rather not have the whole crew know about this."

The Doctor titled his head and looked up slightly. "He has gotten better about that hasn't he?" he said. "In more ways than one in fact. I remember how he used to-"

"Doctor," Samantha said, her arms crossed and face stern like it was whenever she needed to chastise her daughter. "My issue, please."

       The Doctor rolled his eyes.

"Coming to me for relationship advice," he said. "That should end well. You want my thoughts on the matter? Very well.” He turned to face Samantha Wildman directly, his arms crossed now as well. “Having thought about it over the past few days since you told me, I have come to the conclusion that if you didn't want to start a relationship with Seven of Nine, you wouldn't be talking to me in the first place. You simply wish to use me to assuage your guilt over your husband, who I remind you, almost certainly believes you are dead. You would hardly be the first person with a partner or partners back home who has started a relationship on board, and unless we were to somehow stumble across a wormhole that would take us back to the Alpha Quadrant before 0100 hours tomorrow you wouldn't be the last either."

Samantha sighed, mouthed an expletive, then turned around and left sickbay.

"You're welcome," the Doctor said behind her before returning to his reports.

---

    The next day, Harry Kim and Seven of Nine were both in the astrometrics lab again, making some additional improvements to the consoles. They worked silently for the most part, only talking about the work, until Harry suddenly stopped working.

"Look, Seven, about yesterday, you didn't have to cover for me," he said. "It was synthohol in my glass. I'd still be in trouble, sure, but it's not like I'd be drunk or hungover on duty."

"Hopefully it is not something that I will need to do again," Seven said. "I don't have any particular moral objection to lying, I just find it far more pragmatic not to. I made an exception in your case out of concern."

"Concern? For me?"

"Ensign Kim, I tell you this in the strictest confidence. You are one of the very few people on this ship that I would consider not just a shipmate, but a friend. Friendship is a new concept to me, but on a ship of individuals I believe it to have its benefits. You were among the first people on this ship to treat me as more than just a drone. I have not forgotten that, and I do appreciate it."

Harry seemed shocked at what he just heard.

"Wow," he said. "I'm not sure what to say except, thank you. I-" Harry stopped when he heard the door to astrometrics open. He turned to see Samantha Wildman standing in the doorway, as if she was unsure whether or not to actually enter. Harry looked at Seven and winked, much to Seven’s confusion.

"I'll leave you two alone," he said as he headed for the door. That was the moment she realized what Harry meant by his wink, and was suddenly nervous.

"Ensign Wildman, how can I help you?" Seven said.

"Your name, before you were assimilated? It was Annika, right? Annika Hansen?"

"That is correct."

"It's a pretty name."

"I've been told that by more than one crewmember. What is the purpose of this line of questioning?" It was only once she'd finished that question that Seven noticed that Samantha was slowly getting closer, like she wanted to stand right next to her or in front of her, but was reluctant for some unknown reason.

Samantha took a deep breath.

"Seven of Nine, before I continue I need you to answer my next question as honestly as you possibly can. It's important, so I need you think long and hard about it before you answer. I don't want whatever just pops into your head, understand?"

"That should not be difficult," Seven said, her tone still level even though her heart rate had quickened considerably. Samantha had stepped closer know. Seven could tell from her Borg enhanced hearing that her heart was beating faster as well.

A metaphorical voice in the back of Seven's mind that she had heard before, a voice Tuvok had referred to as “an inner monologue,” was screaming at her now. This is it! This is what you've wanted. She wants you as much as you want her.

"What is your question," Seven said, slowly, not wanting to betray her unusual excitement.

"I've been thinking about that night, weeks ago when you touched my hand during dinner. And before that, when you were, um, looking at me when I walked away. What I want... no. What I need to know, is this purely sexual attraction, or do you have romantic feelings for me?"

Seven of Nine found herself speechless; a feeling she did not often have. Another voice in her mind started speaking now, this one much more cynical. She doesn't love you, even if she thinks she does. You're more machine than human. You're still a Borg no matter what you look like now, and she probably knew people who died at Wolf 359. Just let this go. Why do you want a relationship anyway? What does that get you? If she likes you at all it's for your breasts, or your behind, same as everyone else on this ship.

"I am not 100% certain," Seven said, slowly, deliberately choosing each word. "I have attempted... relations, on the holodeck with women from a program the Doctor suggested to me, but I was, um," Seven took a deep breath. "I was unable to perform." Seven stopped and looked down, feeling embarrassed. “I don’t know” was almost certainly not what Samantha was hoping to hear.

"Seven?" Samantha said, concern obvious in her voice. "What are trying to say? About the holograms I mean."

"They weren't you," Seven said. "I do not know where this attraction came from, I barely know you any better than anyone else on this ship, but, but..." Seven couldn't find the right words to finish her answer, so she elected to take a desperate action. She took a large step forward, put her arms around Samantha's waist, and pulled her in close.

"I apologize in advance for this very inappropriate behavior," she said quietly before closing her eyes and pressing her lips to Samantha's. Samantha Wildman seemed to resist for approximately one-half of one second, before she started to kiss back, moving her own hands to Seven's back. After nearly a full minute, Samantha finally pulled away.

"Apology accepted," she said before she started to laugh, putting one hand on the side Seven's face.

"My inner monologue is an idiot," Seven said, smiling for what she was pretty sure was the first time since she'd been a child, before she was assimilated.

Samantha's face scrunched up in confusion. "You're gonna have to explain that one to me, Annika."

"Later," Seven said. "But, for the record, I'll only let you call me that."

"Fair enough," Samantha said, as the two of them held hands and looked into each other’s eyes.

"I suppose now's as good a time as any to address the issue of how public we are with this," Seven said. "I'm not sure I'm ready for all the questions I'll inevitably get from the rest of the crew just yet, though the Doctor already knows about my attraction to you, as does Harry Kim."

Samantha's head tilted at that.

"Why would you tell Harry-"

"I didn't. Apparently in the alternate timeline, during the so-called Year of Hell, you and I began a relationship after the Krenim attacks began. According to him, I died calling out your name."

"Ah, I see. That's rather sad actually. Did he tell you what happened to me and Naomi during that year, by any chance? I’ve been meaning to ask him, but I’m just never sure how. Plus I don’t want to trigger him." Before Seven could answer, Samantha winced slightly. "Right, Naomi. I wonder what she'll think of this. Us, I mean."

Seven thought about it for a moment. "The two likely outcomes that spring immediately to mind are that she'll feel like you stole her friend from her, or she'll be excited at the prospect of me spending more time in your quarters."

"Hell, maybe it could be both. Obviously I'll have to tell her, I don't like keeping secrets from my daughter. Do you want to be there for-"

The ship suddenly shuddered. The red alert klaxons began going off, and Samantha let out a frustrated groan.     “Oh you have got to be kidding,” Samantha said. “Don’t we usually get at least a week between crises?”     “I believe that is the average for this ship, yes. One would think you’d be used to this by now,” Seven said with a smirk.     Samantha laughed briefly, then looked contemplative.     “You do have a cute smile. Just don’t ever feel like you have to do it on my account. I’d rather earn it than ask for it.” Samantha started to head for the exit, but stopped. “Oh, um, Annika, next time we meet, we need to have a talk about this little thing called ‘oversharing.’”     Seven thought about that statement for a moment.     “Are you referring to me telling you about the holodeck program, or your death in the alternate timeline?”     “Yes,” Samantha said. “I don’t really like thinking about my own mortality, you know?”     “Understandable,” Seven said. “I’ll see you later then?”     “Of course.”

---  

By the time Seven of Nine learned what had happened, the damage had already been done. The ship had been attacked by pirates, whose ships were equipped with high power transporters. A number of piece of technology had been stolen from Voyager as result, most importantly the main computer processor.

“Ensign Kim,” she said as he spotted him leaving the conference room. “I heard about what happened. I believe I can provide assistance in tracking the pirates responsible.”     “You read my mind,” Harry said. “I was just going to head down to astrometrics. You were going to suggest extending the ship's sensors using the deep space imaging system?”     “Correct,” Seven said. “I must apologize, it had not occurred to me you would come to that conclusion on your own. I underestimated your intelligence.”     “It happens. Let’s get to work.”     “Very well. We’ll need to decompile databanks 59-17 in order to isolate an algorithmic feedback that is interfering with the resolution.”     “Started already. Good call. The sooner we can find these people the sooner we can get back everything they stole from us.”     “Is it true that they got the Doctor’s mobile emitter as well?” Seven asked.     “Yeah,” Harry said. “He’s not too happy about that.”     “Knowing the Doctor as I do I’m certain that’s an understatement, but hopefully the Captain considers retrieving that as high a priority as the computer core.”     “If she does she didn’t say anything about it in the briefing. Why do you say that?”     “I would think it obvious. That emitter was built using 29th century technology. If that level of technology were to fall into the ‘wrong hands’ as I believe the saying goes-”     “Damn, you’re right.,” Harry said, quickening his pace. “We better hurry then.”

---

    Samantha Wildman listened as Seven of Nine filled her in on the situation, though she was already aware of the pirate attack and subsequent thefts.     “I imagine the Captain took a whole security detail down there to get our stuff back,” she said.     “An incorrect assumption,” Seven said, contemplating the drawing that Naomi had made for both of them before going to bed for the night. “She took Lieutenant Commander Tuvok, Lieutenant Paris, and Mr. Neelix with her, though I believe they are going to separate locations. The planet seems to be a trading hub for this sector. I believe the intent is to pose as traders to locate our technology.”     “Well that’s good,” Samantha said as she sat down next to Seven, putting an arm around her shoulder. “So, what do you think?”     “Of the mission, or of the drawing”     “The drawing.”     “It is, colorful,” Seven said. “I find that I am more pleased by the effort put into the drawing than the actual result.”     Samantha smiled as she gave Seven a quick kiss on the cheek.     “And to think I was afraid you’d say you didn’t like it.”     “That would be inappropriate. Naomi is a child. If art is something she decides to continue to pursue as she ages, she will doubtless get better with practice. Any negative comments I make would only discourage her.”     Samantha’s mouth hung partially open in shock. “Wow. Annika, I’m not sure how you’ll take this, but you already seem to be thinking like a parent. That is amazing.”

    Seven leaned to the side, resting her head on Samantha’s shoulder.     “I take it as a compliment,” she said, closing her eyes and sighing contentedly. “Shall I leave it here? I can’t think of any place in cargo bay 2 where I could put it.”     “No problem. I can put it with her other drawings. I’ve been saving all of them of course.”     Samantha looked over at the door to her daughter’s room.     “Do you think she’s asleep by now?” she whispered.     Seven glanced in the same direction.     “I can hear her reading,” Seven said. “I think she’s trying to pronounce some of the longer words in the text.”     “Enhanced hearing?” Samantha said.     “Yes.”

    “You don’t use that to eavesdrop, do you?”     “Never intentionally, but I can’t exactly turn my audio implants off. At least not currently. I would be willing to talk to the Doctor about adding that as a feature. It would certainly come in handy. There are a number of things I have learned since coming aboard that I feel I would’ve been better off not knowing.”     Samantha snorted out a laugh.     “I can believe that,” she said as she started gently stroking Seven’s hair.     “With regards to your question about Naomi, I do think it’s likely that if we attempt what we were planning tonight, she would likely hear us.”     “Yeah, you’re probably right.”     “Perhaps it is for the best. I believe it is customary in many human cultures to wait until the third date, and we may not agree on if this counts as our second or not.”     “What do you mean?”     “Our dinner, the night I accidentally revealed my affections for you, just after we survived our encounter with the Srivani.”     “Oh, that,” Samantha said, regretting how she’d handled things when Seven had touched her hand that night. “Well, that wasn’t a date per se, but at the same time we could probably count it as being one in hindsight.”

    Seven seemed to think about that for a few moments, before shrugging. “I’m not an expert on human relationships in general, let alone romantic ones. I’ll defer to your judgement.”

    “The three dates thing isn’t really a hard and fast rule,” Samantha said. “but if that’s how you want to do this you don’t have to worry about me pressuring you.”

    “Admittedly it does seem rather arbitrary. That said, the concern about Naomi walking in on us is perfectly valid. And there is the possibility that I may be called upon to aid in acquiring our stolen technology.” Seven sighed, sounding disappointed.     “Perhaps I could use the extra time to read up on more techniques,” Seven added.

    Samantha patted Seven on the head, smiling.     “There’s only so much you can learn about sex from books babe, trust me,” she said.

    “Well I would ask any crewmembers who I know to have experience with sexual activity, but I believe that would be considered impolite,” Seven said.

    “Depends on who you ask, but that’s probably a good idea. I wouldn’t worry though. As long as we communicate with each other properly I see no reason why it won’t go well. If at any point I do anything that makes you uncomfortable let me know, and we can do something else.”     “I can’t imagine anything you’d do to me would cause discomfort,” Seven said, smiling.     Samantha chuckled. “Unless you’re into that sort of thing.”     “What?”

    “I’ll explain some other time.”

---

    “I really wish you would keep up with your appointments more often Seven,” the Doctor said. “Your ocular interface is out of alignment. Again.”     “I hadn’t noticed,” Seven said. “My vision has not been impaired today at any point.”     “Regardless, you are supposed to come in for your examinations once a week.” The Doctor continued his scans with his tricorder before putting it down to pick up the piece of equipment he’d need to adjust Seven’s non-organic eye.     “It’s a good thing you did come in today, since I can’t go to you at the moment.”     “The Captain and Lieutenant Tuvok should have our stolen technology recovered in a short time. You will no doubt have your mobile emitter back by tomorrow at the latest.”     “I’m sure the Captain appreciates your confidence in her abilities,” the Doctor said. “So,” he added while he continued his work. “Have I missed anything interesting on board lately?”     “Nothing of import,” Seven said. “Have you completed the necessary adjustments?”

    “Oh, yes certainly. It wasn’t a serious misalignment. If it were, you wouldn’t need me to tell you.” The Doctor smiled and put down his instrument. “As for there not being anything of import, I heard there was something of a fuss in the mess hall today.”     Seven sighed. “Lieutenant Torres and I had a disagreement, but it is no longer a matter for concern.”   

    “Just a disagreement? I heard there was shouting involved.”     “None of this is relevant to either the status of my implants, or to the Captain's efforts to reclaim the computer core and your mobile emitter. Why are you so invested in such trivialities?”     “Isn’t it obvious?” The Doctor said, not trying to hide his annoyance. “Without my mobile emitter, I’m stuck in sickbay. Again. I have no means to move about the ship and hear about what’s going on unless someone tells me, but people don’t stop in sickbay just to chat, except for Kes when she was still here. And Naomi sometimes. But that’s beside the point. I feel like I’m in a prison.”     “One that you will be able to leave once we have retrieved the mobile emitter,” Seven said. “You must be patient. And before you say anything, I am aware of the irony of that statement coming from me considering my own behavior. Pointing it out to me would be redundant.”

    The Doctor sighed.     “Yes, yes, you’re right of course. Forgive my outburst.”     Seven sighed as well. “If you must know, Torres and I were working on some astrometric data. There was a disagreement, and she chose to become hostile rather than counter my argument. She called me an ‘automaton,’ and uttered a string of profane Klingon insults.”     “Interesting,” the Doctor said. “So, who was right? About the data I mean.”     “I was. May I go now?”     “Wait, wait, I want more details. Maybe you could translate B’Elanna’s-”     “Tuvok to Seven of Nine. Please report to the astrometrics lab.”     Seven tapped her comm badge to reply. “I’ll be right there,” she said. The Doctor nodded.     “Very well,” he said. “Perhaps we can continue this conversation later, assuming you don’t mind discussing such ‘trivialities.’”     Seven of Nine started to leave sickbay, but paused at the door.     “Doctor, perhaps I may have something for you more interesting than a minor spat with Lieutenant Torres if you are truly that starved for information. I will require the permission of the other party involved however, so I make no promises.”     The Doctor actually felt giddy at the prospect. “Thank you Seven. Thank you very much. Anything to make my internment more bearable.”

---

    “Wait, so you want to tell the Doctor about us?” Samantha said as she stood next to Seven of Nine in the astrometrics lab. Seven had called her there shortly after Tuvok had left to return to the bridge with the data Seven had gathered from the maps obtained from the Da Vinci hologram.     “If you are concerned about him telling the rest of the crew,” Seven said. “I can convince that that would be against his best interests.”     “I get that it must be frustrating for him. Having had the freedom to leave sickbay at any time for over a year only to have it sntached away like that. But I don’t know if what you’re suggesting will make him feel any better.”     “I will simply leave out key details. He will doubtless ask me to fill those in the way he wanted to more about my argument with Lieutenant Torres. When I refuse to give him that information, he will likely attempt to piece it together himself. It will keep him distracted until the Captain has recovered our technology, he’ll get the emitter back and if we are fortunate he will be too enamored his regained freedom to be bothered with such matters as our relationship.”

    Samantha thought about it for a moment.     “I don’t know,” she said. “It seems a bit convoluted. I wish you’d talked to me first.”     “I believe I did.”     “No, I mean before you suggested you might have some juicy piece of gossip for him.”     “Ah. I see. Perhaps that in itself will serve as adequate distraction for him, trying to determine what it was I may or may not have told him.”     Samantha nodded. “Yeah, yeah, that could work.” She sighed and leaned back against the console. “And that’s all setting aside the fact that we don’t even really know what kind of relationship we have yet. We really haven’t had that much time to talk about it. This whole thing with the stolen computer core has kept us pretty busy. And when we do get time together, Naomi’s there too which kind of limits our exploratory options.”     Seven made a noise that Samantha has not heard coming from her before.     “Why Annika, are you giggling?”     “I believe I am. I am amused at your choice of euphemism.”     “What do you mean?”     “‘Exploratory options?’ We’re alone currently, there is no need for such obfuscation. You are referring to both sexual activity and adult conversation, correct?”     “Well, yes.”     Seven shifted a little closer to Samantha, and put her hand that didn’t still have Borg tech it on Samantha’s back.     “Once we have the computer core back, I believe it would be possible to arrange some time on the holodeck. I have a list of programs that the Doctor gave me last month that-”

    “Hold it,” Samantha said, putting an index finger over Seven’s lips. “Annika, why exactly did the Doctor give you those programs?”

Seven proceed to tell Samantha about what she had done after their unofficial first date; not being aware what blushing was, going to the Doctor about her concerns, everything.     “So he already knows you are attracted to me,” Samantha said.     “Yes.”     Samantha then let a laugh loud enough that it visibly startled Seven.     “Why was that amusing to you?”     “Because it makes the conversation I had with the Doctor the day I decided to take a chance on us kind of hilarious in hindsight.”     Seven opened her mouth to say something, closed it, then sighed.     “So you’re saying that it’s likely he already knows about us,” she said.     “If he didn’t before today,” Samantha said. “he probably figured it out after your little tease about new information.”     “It would seem I have a lot to learn about keeping secrets then,” Seven said.     “On this ship? Good luck with that, honey.”

“In hindsight, perhaps it would be considered cruel to keep the Doctor waiting. Hanging by a thread is the correct expression?”     “That would be a yes on both counts. You go ahead and stay here in case Tuvok needs you for anything else, I’ll go talk to him.”     Samantha gently patted Seven on the butt before leaving, saying “And send me that list of holodeck programs!” she said as she exited the lab.