CHAPTER 7

Over the next few days Seven continued to gain strength. She could now manage the stairs safely by herself and began to enjoy spending time sitting in the kitchen and talking with Gretchen. Kathryn and Phoebe had reconciled themselves to Gretchen telling Seven every embarassing episode from their childhoods and were not disappointed. It became commonplace for them to enter the kitchen to find Gretchen grinning from ear to ear and Seven laughing her quiet laugh at one of Gretchen’s stories about her girls.

Once Admirals Paris and Patterson announced her appointment to oversee Voyager’s refit, hails and comm signals for Kathryn flooded the farmhouse. Voyager had been state of the art when commissioned seven years earlier, but the Dominion War had forced Starfleet to develop advanced weapons, shielding, sensor, transporter and tactical technology in the intervening years. Since the time-travelling Admiral Janeway brought Voyager stolen and future armaments and shielding, those items had to be removed from the ship. Voyager was now woefully antiquated without them. It was a measure of the admiration in which the ship and her crew were held that the refit was scheduled so quickly. Engineering and construction crews assembled quickly at Utopia Planetia eager to begin. Janeway scheduled two days at the shipyards to get her office and new staff under control and organized though she was technically still on leave. She made a point of talking with Seven alone the night before she left for Mars.

“I’ll be back mid-morning in three days. It shouldn’t take me longer than that to get the teams organized. After that, if I bring a large PADD back with me I can deal with most of the requests from home until I’m scheduled to report. I’ll get back here as quickly as I can.”

Seven smiled her small smile. “Kathryn, I will be fine for a few days without you. Your mother and sister will take good care of me in your absence.”

Janeway flushed faintly. “I know that. I’m just -, I mean…it was such a close call, I don’t want….” Shaking her head, she floundered for the right words.

“I will miss you too, Kathryn,” Seven said softly. Faint amusement was evident in her twinkling eyes.

Janeway grinned at her and poked her with an elbow. “I was pretty pathetic, wasn’t I? I’ll call you each night, I promise.”

“Thank you, Kathryn. That will be nice.”

“Now don’t let Phoebe give you a hard time. She loves to do that. And if you have any problems with the portable regeneration unit you’ve got B’Elanna’s ID. She can be here in under an hour if she needs to. I checked with her this afternoon and she and Tom don’t have anything special planned for the rest of the week so she’ll be around if you need her.”

“Kathryn, we will be fine. Just go and take care of what you need to. We will be here when you return.”

Janeway looked deeply into the blue eyes facing her. “I know I’m being silly. I shouldn’t worry, but I just…”

Seven silenced her with a gentle finger on her lips. “I know. Go and do your duty then come back to us. Come back to me.”

Lost in those azure depths Janeway could make only one response.

“I will.”

* * *

When she stepped off the pad at the Transport Center early the next morning she faced a newly minted ensign standing at rigid attention.

“Captain Janeway, sir, I am Ensign Radcliffe, your aide. I have a shuttle waiting for you, sir.”

The memory of an equally green Harry Kim flashed across her mind and Janeway fought to keep a smile off her face.

“At ease, Ensign, before you sprain something. Starfleet tradition notwithstanding, I dislike being called ‘sir’. I prefer ‘Captain’ – ‘ma’am’ in a crunch. But I’ll tell you when it’s crunch time.”

“Yes, Captain!” Radcliffe took possession of her carryall and indicated the direction of their shuttle bay. “If you’ll come with me, Captain?”

In the first few minutes of the half-hour shuttle ride to Mars, Radcliffe explained that he was billeted in the BOQ of the Starfleet base adjacent to the shipyards, that this was his first posting and that he was overjoyed to be assigned as Janeway’s adjunct.

“What did you study at the Academy, Ensign?”

“I majored in Exobiology and Alien Physiology, si – er, Captain.”

“Well then, this will be an educational experience for you, won’t it? I don’t know why I’m surprised that Starfleet would assign you to a position for which you are not remotely qualified, but then again, I’ve been away for a while. Don’t worry, we’ll muddle through somehow.”

Janeway signed in at the shipyard reception area and received the entry codes to her new office and her guest quarters assignment. She and Radcliffe found the office suite with little difficulty and proceeded to settle in as best they could. Word of her arrival spread quickly and suddenly the anteroom was awash in people eager to meet their new commanding officer. Janeway, however, was immersed in the first crisis of her command. The replicator in her office refused to function. There was no coffee.

“Radcliffe, get in here!”

Janeway glimpsed the crowd in her outer office when her aide slipped through the door in answer to her hail.

“Yes, Captain?”

“Radcliffe, I never wanted an aide. But Starfleet has assigned you to me and we’re stuck with each other. If we’re going to work together, you need to know one thing. It will be the single most important factor in our working relationship. Do you understand the importance of what I am about to tell you?”

“Yes, Captain!”

“Ensign, I do not function without COFFEE. Hot. Black. Unsweetened. COFFEE. And I have just discovered that the replicator in this office is not functioning. Now how exactly is it that I am supposed to get COFFEE without a working replicator?”

In response, Radcliffe slapped his COMM badge.

“Ensign Radcliffe to shipyard Commissary!”

“Commissary here, Ensign. Ethan, is that you?”

“Yeah, Max, it’s me. Listen, my C.O., Captain Janeway, needs a two-liter stasis flask of black coffee and cups on the double. We’re in office suite Beta-one-seven and our replicator’s not working. Can you help me out?”

“I’ve got a fresh pot brewing now. I’ll run it up there in a few minutes, Ethan. You need anything else?” Radcliffe looked at Janeway questioningly. She shook her head.

“Nope, Max. That’ll do for now. Thanks, buddy! Radcliffe out.”

“Resourceful, Ensign. I like that in an officer.”

“Yes, Captain. If that will suffice for the moment, I’ll have a permanent solution by this afternoon and have your replicator repaired ASAP. Now, what do you want me to do with all the people in the outer office who are just dying to meet you?”

Janeway chuckled and replied “Somehow I don’t think they’ll be all that eager to be around me once we get started on the refit. More likely they’ll be hiding from me. But for the time being, why don’t we schedule a staff meeting at 1000 hours in the conference room?”

“Very well, Captain. I’ll inform them to meet then. Is there anything else?”

“No…Ethan, was it? Just get that coffee in here as quickly as you can.”

“Aye, Captain.”

Five minutes later he rang for entry and walked in carrying a tray with a stasis flask and four cups.

“Here you go, Captain. I’m working on a permanent fix for your coffee problem and maintenance will be in to work on your replicator by 1700 hours. They apologize for the delay but don’t think they can free up anyone until then.”

“That’s okay, Ensign. We can go to the Officer’s Club for lunch. Just so I’ve got coffee, I’ll be fine.”

“Yes, Captain. And your staff will be waiting for you at 1000 hours in the conference room as requested.”

Janeway grinned at the retreating back as Radcliffe walked out of her office. She had never liked the idea of having an aide and had scrupulously avoided it before taking command of Voyager, but now it looked like Radcliffe just might work out.

* * *

Her first staff meeting went well; each of her section heads was experienced and all appeared eager to begin work. As the discussions continued, however, Janeway realized that she would need an expert in Borg technology on her team as well. It wasn’t until she had to listen to the inventories and project tasks of the teams that it dawned on her just how much Borg technology Seven of Nine and B’Elanna had installed on Voyager. She made a note to contact her former Chief Engineer and ask if she’d be interested in supervising that aspect of the refit.

When she and Radcliffe returned to the office at the conclusion of the staff meeting, a medium-sized plastic crate addressed to Ethan was sitting in the anteroom.

“Dare I ask, Ensign?” Janeway inquired, indicating the container with a quick nod.

“I believe, Captain,” he replied picking up the crate with a grin and heading for his office, “that this is the ‘permanent solution to your coffee problem’ I referred to earlier.”

“And what exactly would that be, Ensign?”

Radcliffe began to unpack the crate on the work table in his office. He removed a large stasis pak, an appliance with empty bins near its top and bottom and a largish, complicated-looking machine with various spouts, warming plates, and filters. “There you go, Captain. Problem solved!”

“I still don’t have a clue, Ensign. Care to enlighten me?”

“Captain, to earn a few extra spending credits while I was at the Academy, I used to work weekends at one of the local coffee shops. I spent three years working part-time at The Brew Moon Café. This is ten kilos of their best Jamaican Blue Mountain coffee beans, a precision coffee grinder, and the best Espresso/Coffee Machine available. With this, I can make you the best, freshest coffee you’ve ever tasted. And I can do it any time you want it.” His green eyes twinkled in merriment. “Under one condition.”

Her slate-blue eyes twinkled right back. “And what condition would that be, Ensign?”

“That you let me drink it too. I’m just as addicted to the stuff as you are.”

Janeway extended her hand and they shook on it. She couldn’t help but think that as aides and COs go, theirs was a match made in heaven.

The afternoon passed quickly, bouyed on the aroma, taste and caffeine content of Jamaican Blue Mountain prepared by her new barista. By the time she had cleared her desk at the end of the day and was ready to locate her guest quarters Radcliffe had not only kept her in coffee but arranged her schedule for the next day, returned the messages on her call sheet, made her reservations at the Officer’s Club for dinner, and directed the traffic in and out of her office precisely on schedule. He was proving remarkably efficient for an adjunct. She couldn’t help thinking that Seven would approve of the young man.

“Ethan,” she called out standing and gathering PADDS to read that evening, “let’s call it a day. I’ll see you at 0700 hours tomorrow.”

Radcliffe stuck his head in the doorway. “Don’t forget those last reports from Logistics and Supply. I put them on the right side of your desk, Captain. You’ll need them first thing in the morning.”

Janeway found the PADDs in question and added them to her briefcase. Grabbing the handle of her carryall, she bid her aide good night and headed for the guest suites in the Administrative wing. Her suite was spacious and elegantly decorated in shades of deep blue and silver-gray. She thought wryly of the first quarters she’d occupied on Mars, just before taking the Science officer’s billet on the USS Al-Batani. She had one room and a shared bath with the ensign housed next door. It contained a standard-issue desk, chair, bed, nightstand and closet with built-in drawers. If some of the taller officers on the bloc held a stylus in each hand they could write on the two longer walls at the same time. This was quite a vertical leap upwards from those days.

Janeway quickly unpacked and once settled, got a Jameson’s on the rocks from her replicator. The smokey taste of the whiskey relaxed her as she perused the latest Logistics and Supply reports on the Voyager refit. There appeared to be glitches in the supply chain already and they hadn’t even started tearing out bulkheads. She would need to address some issues in the meeting the following morning.

A muted chirp from the suite’s chronometer reminded her of her dinner reservations and she headed for the Officers’ Club with the last of the supply reports in hand. Her dinner was excellent and she was pleasantly surprised when several acquaintances stopped by her table to welcome her back and congratulate her on Voyager’s safe return. They adjourned to the bar and spent a couple of hours catching up.

While Voyager had been relentlessly finding its way back home, Starfleet and the Federation had been locked in a battle to survive in the Dominion War. Starfleet Headquarters had been destroyed in an attack on Earth and to the current day, very few civilians realized how close the Federation had come to being defeated. Only a thin line of Starfleet ships, which bent but refused to break, kept Earth from being overrun by the Jem’Hadar. Starfleet’s losses in the conflict were horrendous; nearly three years later the bulk of their small vessels were still captained by youngsters who ordinarily would be just receiving their promotions to Lieutenant, Senior Grade. Kathryn was stunned to learn how many of her peers had been lost in the war. While she’d seen the monument at the rebuilt Starfleet Headquarters she had not been able to take the time to read the names inscribed there. The shipyards at Utopia Planetia still ran 24/7 attempting to replace all the tactical ships Starfleet had lost.

“It’s no wonder they want to refit Voyager right away,” commented a lieutenant commander from the TPG, “With minimal upgrades to weapons, shields and propulsion they’ve got another fast attack ship ready to go. The time savings in that is significant.”

“Yes, but don’t forget, there’s a lot of cobbled-together and Borg technology we brought back with us too. A lot of that will need to be removed before any systems can be upgraded. I don’t think this refit is going to be a quick as some people believe,” replied Janeway.

“What can you tell us about that, Kathryn?” Taking a sip from her drink, another old friend from the design group tried to pump Janeway for details. “All we’ve heard was some fantastic tale about how you destroyed some huge Borg complex and flew back to the Alpha Quadrant inside a Borg cube. What really happened?”

Janeway hesitated. Most of how Voyager had returned home was classified and likely to remain so. She was under orders not to discuss the role of her time-travelling self and the stolen technology in Voyager’s return with anyone.

“That’s pretty much how it happened. We knew that there was no way that we could access their Transwarp Hub without bringing the entire Borg armada with us into the Alpha Quadrant, so we flew into one conduit and blew it apart behind us with torpedoes. That began the chain reaction which destroyed the entire hub and we rode the detonation wave away from the explosions. A Borg sphere pursued us into the conduit and when it became clear we couldn’t outrun them, we let them tractor us inside. Before the sphere emerged from the conduit in the Alpha Quadrant we destroyed it with a full spread of torpedoes and rode that blast wave through the conduit and right into the midst of the Starfleet battle group that had been sent there,” Janeway leaned back in her chair and crossed her legs with a grin. “They were expecting a Borg sphere; they got Voyager instead. There were a few surprised Admirals, I can tell you.”

Their laughter was sincere, but they knew they weren’t hearing everything. They’d been in Starfleet long enough to understand that sometimes the whole story couldn’t be told, and instinctively they all knew that this was one of those times.

A lieutenant from the metallurgy labs piped up. “So will the rest of us benefit from this Borg technology you brought back with you? I heard that Voyager had an Astrometrics lab like nothing our engineers have ever seen.”

“Weeeeeell, I don’t want to brag, but…yeah, we did. And as soon as our engineers and scientists figure out how the astrometrics sensor arrays work, I’m sure it will be standard on all Starfleet vessels.”

“But didn’t you bring a drone back with you? Just have it work with Starfleet to build the new arrays.”

Janeway had heard the word ‘drone’ one too many times in the past month. She leapt to her feet and exploded. “I didn’t bring back any drones! I brought back a Federation citizen named Annika Hansen who had been assimilated and raised by the Borg from the age of six. We managed to save her life after we severed her connection to the hive mind. She still requires several implants for survival, but this young woman has the most dazzling intellect and the gentlest soul of any human being I’ve ever met. Nobody calls her a drone, is that clear, Lieutenant! Nobody!”

The uncomfortable silence from the surrounding tables was broken by a quiet, “We understand, Kathryn,” from the propulsion engineer.

Janeway sank back into her chair and shook her head. “I’m sorry, everyone. It’s just that Seven saved us so many times. We’d most likely be dead or at least still floundering around out in the Delta Quadrant if not for her.  Since we got back Starfleet has treated her with nothing but hatred and distrust and she deserves so much more from us… Lieutenant, I apologize for my outburst.”

The group broke up shortly afterwards and Janeway returned to her suite to finish reading the reports for tomorrow. When she finished, she sat at her COMM unit and called Indiana.

* * *

After Kathryn left for her trip to Utopia Planetia, the rest of the Janeway clan and Seven of Nine finished their breakfasts and cleaned up the kitchen. Phoebe announced plans to run into town for an hour or so to run some errands and Gretchen had a report from the town council that she needed to review. Seven took her tea and the book she had been reading and settled on the couch across the room from Gretchen. After what seemed like only minutes Phoebe returned laden with parcels and shopping bags.

“Here you go, Seven. It’s about time you had something practical to wear. Your clothes are good for San Francisco, but they won’t last long here in the country. I bought you some things in town.”

Seven rose and helped her carry the bags and parcels up to her room and the two women spent half an hour unwrapping everything. There were several pairs of jeans, sturdy hiking boots with pairs of heavy socks and various heavy sweaters and cotton shirts.

Seven dressed in her new jeans and a navy sweater and went back downstairs.

“You look like you were born on the farm, Seven!” exclaimed Gretchen when she came back into the living room. “How do your new things feel?”

“It is an unfamiliar feeling, Gretchen. But I will adapt. I believe that once the stiffness is worn out of these pants they will become very comfortable.”

“Nothing feels as good as a well-worn pair of jeans,” declared Phoebe.

“So what do you say to us breaking those new jeans in a little bit, Seven? I though we might work in the garden for a while this morning. I need to mulch the beds and get them ready for winter. Would you like to help?”

“I would like that very much, Gretchen.”

Soon the three women were in the yard busily working. Phoebe and Gretchen kept a close eye on Seven and at the first sign of fatigue made her sit in a lawn chair in the shade and drink some iced tea. After a while, Seven felt stronger and worked for a while longer. They continued in this fashion for all of the morning. When they broke for lunch there wasn’t too much more to be done and they made quick work of it in the afternoon.

When they had finished and put all the tools away, Seven headed back toward her room intending to nap for a while before helping prepare dinner.

“Why don’t you nap on the couch, Seven? You can relax there while Phoebe and I talk. It’s very comfortable; I’ve been known to stretch out and take a catnap on it many afternoons,” suggested Gretchen as she settled in her favorite chair by the fireplace. Phoebe curled up like a cat on the opposite sofa with a cup of coffee.

The three women talked desultorily for a few minutes and Seven felt herself beginning to drowse. But she came wide awake when she heard Kathryn’s name.

“Yes, but Mom, you have to admit it, Mark Johnson was a dud. He had to be the most boring man I’ve ever met. Philosophy? He always reminded me of Professor Adams from the Art Institute. His lectures were so boring we used to say that he’d died years ago and that they just propped him up and played a tape of his lectures they’d recorded years earlier. Mark always sounded the same. He’d drone on and on about things that didn’t mean squat to anybody but him and never caught the subtle signs that he was boring everyone else in the room to death. Hell, I even saw Kathryn nod off on him a couple of times.”

“No, Mark wasn’t a very exciting person, but he was good for Kathryn. She didn’t need excitement when she took up with him. She needed stability, and he provided that for her. It was that stability that helped her get her feet back under her and move back into the command track she was in before the accident.”

“What accident Gretchen?” asked Seven.

“Hasn’t Kathryn told you about the accident?” Gretchen glanced questioningly at Phoebe and received a shrug in reply. “I’ll tell you the story, Seven, but it might be a good idea for you not to let on to Kathryn that you know about it. It’s a sensitive subject for her and she’ll tell you in her own time. What do you know about Kathryn’s father?”

“I know he was an Admiral in Starfleet and that he was killed in the crash of an experimental craft,” replied Seven.

“Both true. But what most people don’t know is that Kathryn and her fiance, Justin Tighe were on that test flight with Edward. When the ship crashed it broke in half and Kathryn was thrown clear of the aft section and landed on the edge of a lake. The forward section landed in the lake, trapping Edward and Justin in the cockpit.” The effort it took to relate these details impassively was evident on Gretchen’s face.

“Kathryn had multiple fractures, lacerations and head injuries, but she still dragged herself to the wreckage and attempted to reroute emergency power to the transporter to get them out. But the cockpit sank into the lake before she got the power couplings completed and she couldn’t beam them out. They both died.” Her voice cracked slightly as she spoke. “Kathryn has never talked about the crash since. When we brought her home from the hospital she stayed in her bed for six months in the darkest shroud of depression I’ve ever seen. She blames herself for losing Edward and Justin. She seems to think that if she’d been able to decide which one to save that she could have gotten at least one of them out of the cockpit before it sank.”

Seven thought of how Janeway had locked herself away while they traversed the Void, blaming herself for stranding Voyager and her crew in the Delta quadrant. Janeway’s pain and remorse had been crippling to not only the captain, but to the rest of Voyager’s crew. Gretchen’s next words caused Seven to look up sharply.

“I read the official reports countless times. Starfleet analyzed all the sensor data and log entries and there was no way that Kathryn could have saved either of them. But no one could tell her that. She was convinced that she should have been able to choose between her father and her fiance. No one could make a choice like that! Finally, Phoebe came home and threw a bucket of ice cold water on her and demanded she get out of bed and Kathryn was so furious that she did. It was the beginning of her healing.” Gretchen paused a moment to collect herself before continuing.

“A couple of months later she ran into Mark when he came back to visit his folks and they started seeing each other. We were just so happy that she was out in the world again that none of us commented on the fact that he bored us to tears. He was solid and stable and quiet and didn’t offer her any surprises and that’s exactly what she needed at the time. I was surprised when she accepted his proposal, but when the engagement just kept going on and on without any date for a wedding, I realized that they were both just going through the motions. I think they were both comfortable with no demands from the other and they were used to the routine.”

Seven thought back to when the captain had received her letter from their brief connection to the Alpha quadrant. Could that be the reason that the captain had never appeared to be hurt by the news in that letter? That her relationship have become routine? Her attention returned to Gretchen.

“Kathryn went back into space and after a couple of years was given command of Voyager. They took off for a short mission to the Badlands to catch a Maquis ship and you know the rest. But there is no arguing with the fact that Mark Johnson was a staid and boring man.”

Seven considered the story, filling in for the other women parts that she understood. “I had only been on Voyager six months when we utilized the Hirogen array to contact Starfleet and we received the first of the letters from Earth. I knew that the Captain had received a letter from the man she was to marry and that he terminated their relationship and married another. I knew from my research that such an occurrence would cause sorrow, but if the loss caused the Captain pain none of the crew knew it. She kept it to herself.”

"I worry about her so much. She keeps so much inside. I wish she had someone that she could share with. Someone who understands what it's like for her. There were so many times with Edward that I realized not everyone could love a Starfleet officer. There are sacrifices that have to be made when you love them and pressures they are under that few outside the 'Fleet can understand. I still hope that maybe someday she'll find someone who's her equal to love."

Phoebe stretched and sipped her coffee. “What about you, Seven? Now that Chakotay is out of the picture, is there anyone you’d like to start dating?” The twinkle in Phoebe’s eyes was a clear indicator of her serious interest in the answer.

“I had…At one point I maintained an interest in another member of Voyager’s crew, but I was led to believe that person could never return my feelings. Eventually I put those feelings aside and began to research romance and eventually settled on Commander Chakotay.”

“So who’s this mystery person? Are they still available? Maybe you ought to contact them now that you’re all back on Earth! You never know, they might be interested now that you’re not all stranded thousands of light years from home.”

Seven hesitated, not knowing how either woman would react to the true identity of her love. Finally she decided that she had to take the risk if she was ever to have a chance with Kathryn. It would be most efficient to determine now if Kathryn’s family would approve or not. If she waited until deeper feelings surfaced and they did not approve of her, she did not think she could survive that loss again.

“I always felt that my deepest connection to anyone on Voyager was to - Kathryn. But she was the captain and captains don’t get involved with their crew.”

“But, dear, she’s not your captain now,” said Gretchen innocently, “Why don’t you tell her about your feelings? Surely after what’s happened you know she cares deeply about you.”

The earnest longing on Seven’s face nearly broke Gretchen’s heart. “Are you certain, Gretchen? I could not bear it if Kathryn did not care for me in the same way. It is less painful to keep those feelings buried and simply be her friend.”

“God hates a coward, Seven,” chimed in Phoebe. “Besides, don’t you think we know Kathryn pretty well after all this time? Believe me, the woman is completely in love with you.”

“Kathryn loves me?” Seven sat up abruptly at this revelation. “You are certain of this?”

“Seven,” Gretchen said gently, “She walked out of a Board of Inquiry, held an Admiral at phaser-point, stole a ship, and fought Section 31 to rescue you. How much more certainty do you need? I assure you, she wouldn’t do that for just anybody.”

“But she would, Gretchen, that is the point. She would do the same thing for any of her officers.”

“She might move heaven and earth to rescue them, that’s true. But Seven, she wouldn’t bring them here. She wouldn’t sit by their sides day after day while they regenerated telling them how worried she was about them. And Seven, she never would have given them Boswell. Seven, until Kathryn brought you here, she had never brought any of her shipmates home except Justin. That should tell you something.”

“Trust us on this girl, Katie’s head over heels in love with you.” Phoebe assessed with certitude.

“But she - ”

“Is a complete ass about her personal life. Yeah, we know. So take some advice. If you plan on having any kind of relationship with my sister, you’re the one that’s going to have to make the first move. Katie moves with all the speed of a retreating glacier in matters of love.” The disgusted snort that accompanied this last statement said everything about Phoebe’s attitude regarding her sister’s reticence.

“I should make the first move? What should I do? I am not very experienced in these matters. My relationship with Commander Chakotay was still very new when we returned to Earth and he was, well, somewhat…boring.”

“Sweetheart, you be yourself. You just need to push yourself into Kathryn’s space a little bit. Smile at her a lot and sit close to her and touch her. Believe me, she’ll either throw herself on you or implode from the stress.” Phoebe seemed sure of her facts.

“And neither of you would object if I attempted to…pursue…Kathryn in a romantic manner?”

“Object?” laughed Gretchen, “Dear, we’ll be cheering you on. We want Kathryn to be happy and it’s obvious to everybody but Kathryn that you’re the one she’s been waiting for her whole life. She just needs a little nudge to get her moving in the right direction.”

“I am still not certain what to do. But I will try. I want to assure you that my feelings are…honorable? Is that the correct word? I do not take my feelings for Kathryn lightly. She is of the utmost importance to me.”

“Seven, it’s just as obvious that you love her. Well, to everyone but Kathryn. Only my sister could be that blind. Don’t worry, we’ll help you out in any way we can. For starters, when she calls home tonight, let her know that you miss her. That’s always a good place to start.”

All of a sudden Seven was too nervous to nap.

When the COMM unit chimed later that night, Gretchen answered with a light heart. That afternoon’s conversation with Seven went far better than she had hoped it would and she was convinced that the young woman would finally manage to get past her daughter’s reserve. Seven had already won Kathryn’s heart, Kathryn just needed to realize that fact; and Gretchen and Phoebe were determined to help her do precisely that.

“Hello, dear. How was your first day at the shipyards? Have you got the place reorganized to your liking?”

“I wouldn’t say that I’ve reorganized the place, but at least I’ve got a functional office. Starfleet assigned me an aide. He’s so fresh out of the Academy that I think the tags are still on his uniform. His name’s Ethan Radcliffe and he’s so stiff he squeaks.”

“That will be a change for you, won’t it? You’ve never had an aide before have you?”

“No, I’ve always managed to avoid having one. It’s not necessary on board ship. But I guess planetside it’s required. He seems like a nice kid. He just needs a little seasoning.”

“Well, I’m sure you’ll turn him into a fine officer.”

 “At least he likes coffee. I think we’ll work it out. How are you all doing without me?”

“Phoebe got Seven some work clothes this morning. We spent the morning working in the garden getting it ready for winter.”

“You didn’t wear her out, did you? You know she won’t admit to it but she’s still very weak and she shouldn’t - ”

“Kathryn, relax!” Gretchen interrupted. “She’s just fine. We made her take breaks and sit in a lawn chair every so often. She had a good lunch and dinner, and she’s been relaxing all afternoon and evening. She’s fine. She’s been anxious to talk with you. Let me get her.”

When Seven’s face appeared on the COMM screen, Janeway felt a familiar jolt in her belly. The smile on Seven’s face glowed enough to warm Janeway across the vacuum of space separating them.

“Hello, Kathryn. How was your first day at Utopia Planetia?”

“Just fine. They issued me an aide. His name’s Ethan Radcliffe and he’s a brand-new ensign, right out of the Academy. He reminds me of Harry when he first reported aboard Voyager. Eager, naïve, and so stiff I’m afraid he’ll break if he moves the wrong way.”

“I am sure you will…loosen him up? Is that the correct phrase? You certainly turned Ensign Kim into a good officer.”

Chuckling, Janeway replied “Yes it is. I’m not so sure if that was me or the fact that he hangs around Tom Paris too much. But you’re right, Harry turned into a fine officer and a fine man.” Kathryn changed the subject to something far more pleasant than her new aide. “I hear Mom and Phoebe tried to turn you into a farm girl today. That you worked in the garden?”

“Yes I did. We had to prepare the beds for winter and mulch them. It was certainly more labor-intensive than working in the hydroponics bays on Voyager, but I believe that your mother’s flower beds are more beautiful than our hydroponics bays. They are certainly more extensive.”

“You didn’t tire yourself out, did you? You know the Doctor will by seriously unhappy if you push yourself too much. He worked too hard getting all your implants to regenerate to be happy if you messed up your recovery now. And you’ve got to know that he’ll blame me if you do.”

“I did not, Kathryn. Your mother and sister insisted I take frequent breaks to rest. I assure you, I am feeling fine. I am gaining strength every day.”

“That’s good. And I hear you acquired some new clothes this morning?”

“Yes, Phoebe brought me some jeans and cotton shirts and sweaters. I also have a new pair of hiking boots so when you return you can show me the whole farm.”

“I will. There’s a place down by the pond that was always a favorite of mine when I was growing up. I’ll take you there when I get home.”

“I will look forward to that. From what I have seen, your family farm is quite beautiful.”

“I’ve always thought so. Before I forget, do you have plans to talk to B’Elanna soon?”

“I had not planned on contacting her until later in the week. Why? Do you require me to?”

“No, no. Don’t bother. I was just thinking that if she hasn’t taken another position in the ‘Fleet yet that I could use her expertise on Voyager’s refit. There’s nobody except you who knows the ship’s systems like she does and we’ll need that kind of expertise to clear out a lot of the technology we added to them. I don’t suppose you’d be interested in a job working for me when you feel better?”

“I do not think that Starfleet is the best place for me, Kathryn, even if it is for you. I have written to MIT-Daystrom, The Vulcan Science Academy, The Science Ministry of Bajor, and the Theoretical Propulsion Group asking for their application procedures. So far, I have heard back from all but the Theoretical Propulsion Group. They all seem agreeable to the idea of my applying to work at their facilities.”

“I’m sure word of the things you did for us on Voyager has leaked out even if Starfleet wants it kept under wraps. I had two separate groups of engineers contact me today asking about your sensor and deflector array enhancements. I’ll bet those engineers and scientists have talked about your work to their colleagues in the private sector. I wouldn’t be surprised if you started to receive job offers fairly soon now that you’ve contacted the labs on your own and they realize that you’re available.”

“Do you really think so, Kathryn? I have no formal education and therefore no credentials to work at research facilities like those.”

“Seven, unless the IQs of the people running those facilities have dropped suddenly while we were away, it won’t take very long for them to grant you the formal degrees and credentials you need to work at those labs. Believe me, all they need to do is talk to you for ten minutes and they’ll realize the asset you’ll be to their staffs. They’ll be lined up to recruit you. So what do my mother and Phoebe have planned for you tomorrow?”

“I believe we are going to the Farmer’s Market in the morning. Your mother inquired if I was interested in learning to cook. I told her that I am. So I believe that tomorrow afternoon I am having cooking lessons. I promise I will not ‘overdo’ and tire myself.” Seven’s soft smile made Janeway’s insides flutter. She wondered if she was reading more into the expression that was warranted.

Janeway chuckled and said, “How did you know that was what I was just about to say?”

“I know you, Kathryn. And I miss you. When will you be coming home?” The fluttering in Janeway’s stomach graduated to a bona fide flip-flop at the loving tone of those words.

“We’re supposed to take the preliminary survey of Voyager tomorrow and I think that will take most of the day. I’ll stop back in the office early the day after for an hour or so to set up the communications flow we’ll need and then catch a mid-morning shuttle. I should be home around lunch time the day after tomorrow.”

“It will be good to have you home again. The house seems strangely – empty – without you. Although Phoebe does tend to take up a considerable amount of room.” The smile on Seven’s face widened slightly and dazzled Janeway even further. “I know your mother misses you also. She was complaining this morning after you left that she was just getting used to you being home again and you ‘up and go to Mars’.”

"I'll try to stay home as much as possible. Once I go back to work regularly, I'll be able to commute and be home every night. That ought to make her happy." It'll make me happy too, being able to see you every night, Janeway thought. Crazy as it sounded, Janeway was beginning to believe that she and Seven felt the same way about each other.

“It will make me happy as well, Kathryn. I find that having you close is becoming necessary for my well-being. I function more efficiently if you are around.”

“I believe I function more efficiently when I’m around you too, Seven.” Janeway couldn’t believe those words came out of her mouth. There had been no conscious thought attached to them.

“Then hurry home and we will both function more optimally.”

“I’ll do that. Now I need to finish one more set of reports for tomorrow and then I’m going to try and get some sleep. After your morning in the garden, you should too.”

“I will, Kathryn. Do not worry about me. I will take care of myself until you return. Good night and have…sweet dreams.”

“You, too.  Sleep well. I’ll be home before you know it. Good night.”

“Good night, Kathryn.” Seven broke the COMM link after giving Janeway another glowing smile. The Captain sat for a moment before she realized that she was touching the screen where the image of the beautiful woman had been.

Oh, Katie girl, you've got it bad, giggled that annoying little voice inside her. For once, she didn't argue. 

* * *

Morning came too soon for Janeway after a somewhat restless night. Her dreams had been filled with visions of Seven and some of them were distinctly erotic in nature. It had been a long time since she’d had dreams like that and while the dreams themselves were wonderful, they didn’t do much for making her feel rested the next morning.

When she arrived at her office, Ethan had another surprise for her. There on her desk, filled to the brim with freshly brewed Jamaican Blue Mountain blend, was the coffee service from her Ready Room on Voyager. Even her favorite stainless steel mug! She spun back toward the door in amazement to find her new aide grinning at her.

“Ensign!  How the hell did you find this? All the ship’s stores were supposed to be stripped and recycled immediately when Voyager stood down, and yet you find my coffee set like magic! I can’t believe…I don’t know…thank you, Ethan.”

“You’re welcome, Captain. I assumed that particular mug was your favorite; it had the most dings in it. There was nothing magical about it, I assure you. I knew somebody who knew somebody who knew somebody. When I finally tracked it down and discovered that it hadn’t been recycled yet I made a deal to get it back. Simple as that.”

Janeway’s laughter was genuine and hearty as she took a sip from the oh, so familiar mug. “Ensign, do you have some Ferengi blood?”

“Not that I know of, Captain. But when I met with instructors who had served on starships, I noticed that they always had some memento of their ships displayed in their offices. The coffee set just seemed like something you would have used every day. It was just luck that I tracked it down before it was recycled.”

“Well however you did it, I’m grateful. Now, how soon before the Logistics and Supply people are supposed to be here?”

“About ten minutes, Captain.” The young man hesitated briefly then spoke up again. “Permission to speak freely?”

“Granted.” Janeway cocked an eyebrow in surprise at his formal tone.

“Captain, be careful around Commander Nixon. I’ve never met him personally, but scuttlebutt says he’s a very political animal. A career bureaucrat. His priorities may not be the same as a line officer and he knows every dirty trick in the book. Word is to watch your back, Captain.”

“Noted, Ensign. Thank you.” Radcliffe nodded and returned to his office.

When the party from Logistics arrived, Radcliffe beeped Janeway and showed them into the conference room. When Janeway walked in carrying her refilled mug he was offering the visitors coffee. Janeway was hard-pressed not to laugh when Radcliffe never even glanced at their ‘private stock’ but moved directly to the replicator to get them coffee. “As you were,” she said when they started to rise.

“Captain Janeway, it is a pleasure to finally meet you. I’m Commander Nixon. Everyone here was very excited when we learned that you would be commanding Voyager’s refit.” Nixon’s smile was so flawless it had to be practiced and his palm was damp when Janeway shook hands.

“I was glad to get the assignment, Commander. Voyager kept us alive for seven years in a very hostile quadrant. It means a lot to me and I want to see her refit properly. Please introduce me to your team.”

“The only member of my team you need to know is my second in command, Lieutenant DiCampo. He’ll be your liason with Logistics.”

“Lieutenant,” Janeway nodded in greeting at the adjunct officer. Ethan’s earlier warning had certainly been on the mark. Janeway disliked Nixon on sight. And his second, DiCampo, seemed cut from the same cloth.

Best way to get around an obstacle is to go right through it, thought Janeway. “Let’s get down to it then. As I see it, the first priority of the refit will be to isolate and remove all of the ancillary technology...”

As Janeway described her preliminary requirements she noticed that most of the young L&S team were not actively participating. One slightly older lieutenant in particular seemed focused on her PADD and not the discussion taking place around the table which was dominated by Nixon and DiCampo. Janeway couldn’t shake the feeling that Radcliffe had been right and Nixon would be trouble. She made a snap decision to bring the Logistics and Supply team along on the preliminary ship survey slated for later that morning. Maybe she could get a better feel for him and his team while they evaluated the necessary tasks in refitting Voyager for ‘Fleet duty.

Janeway, her team leaders, and the L&S team beamed up to Voyager at 0930 hours. The survey began in Voyager’s Astrometrics Lab with Janeway indicating the Borg data node interfaces Seven had included. The survey team visited Deflector Control, Engineering, Weapons Control and ended in Cargo Bay two. As the survey progressed Janeway noticed several things. First, that Nixon and the bulk of his team were not at home on a starship. Each time the survey team was required to transit a Jeffries tube, the L&S team hesitated or stumbled. All except the lieutenant who had been so focused on her PADD. She moved through the Jeffries tubes with the ease of long familiarity.

Janeway’s second observation was that most of the survey team seemed almost afraid of the Borg technology. Their reactions to the visible parts in most of the ship had been hesitant. When they reached Cargo Bay two, the Borg alcoves, even though deactivated, seemed to frighten the bulk of the survey team. Again, the only member who seemed unafraid and even a little curious was the lieutenant from L&S who had seemed comfortable in the Jeffries tubes.

Janeway strolled over to the lead refit officer from the shipyards. “None of these alcoves are to be disassembled or recycled. One of them will be needed immediately and the others will be held in storage in case they’re needed in the future. I don’t want to have to keep reminding people of this fact. Make sure everyone who sets foot in Cargo Bay two is aware of this. I don’t want any mistakes where the alcoves are concerned. Is that clear?”

He snapped to attention so sharply that it was nearly audible in the cavernous bay. “Of course, Captain! But, if I may, none of my team is familiar with Borg technology. Will any of your more experienced officers be available to consult with my team?”

“Yes, I hope to bring my Chief of Engineering on board to serve as the resident expert in Borg technology.”

His relief was palpable. “Thank you, Captain.”

Janeway’s final observation of the survey was that none of the L&S team appeared to have anything at all to do with the lieutenant who had been engrossed in her PADD during their meeting. Even though Nixon had only introduced her to his second, the rest of the team grouped together around them, while the lieutenant seemed almost an outsider and worked on her own. Nixon was obviously not the best command officer in the ‘Fleet, and how he chose to run his department should be none of her concern. So long as they did their jobs and didn’t interfere with hers, Janeway was prepared to deal with the Borg Queen herself to get Voyager refit and back into space.

The survey team broke up and headed back to their respective departments shortly before 1200 hours. Janeway and Radcliffe went to the Commisary for lunch where Janeway was introduced to her coffee savior Max. She and Radcliffe spent the afternoon blocking out a sketchy timetable for the refit. Final plans from each of the refit teams were due in three days. Once they were in, the permanent timetable could be assembled and solidified.

When Janeway left her office that evening she went directly to the Officers’ Club for dinner and then back to her quarters. She worked for two hours laying out communication and team interface plans. She took a short break to call B’Elanna and offer her the second in command job on the refit. B’Elanna was thrilled at the prospect but asked for two days to talk things over with Tom and check on arrangements for Miral’s care when she would be on Mars. Torres agreed to contact Janeway back at the farm with her decision.

Her call home left Janeway with a vaguely unsettled feeling. Never before had the tug of her home affected her this strongly. She supposed that the length of time she’d been away had something to do with it, but in her heart she knew it was Seven of Nine’s presence there. She was anxious to return home not because she missed her mother and sister or the ancestral farmstead, but because she wanted to be with Seven. The fact that their nightly calls felt more than merely cordial only added fuel to the fire.

She arrived at her offices early the next morning, carryall packed and in tow. Radcliffe was just finishing his morning ritual and the smell of fresh-brewed coffee permeated the area around their office suite.

“Ensign, as good as that smells it’s a wonder we don’t have half the shipyards staff loitering around the door trying to bum a cup.”

He handed her the treasured mug full of his rich brew. “What makes you think we don’t? I’ve had to run off most of your team leaders every morning since we got moved in here.”

“Well, until I get back here full time, don’t let them get used to drinking it. I was kind of hoping to hold that treat in reserve until we got into problems with the refit, and then let them have access to your magical elixir to keep morale up.”

“Not to worry, Captain. The secret stays in this office. And I’ve made arrangements for a shipment of fresh beans every two weeks. You will never run out of coffee again, ma’am.”

She sat at her desk and quickly completed the few remaining tasks she had. When she was finished, she hailed her aide.

“Mr. Radcliffe, please come into my office and bring fresh coffee for both of us.”

Ensign Radcliffe appeared moments later carrying a PADD, his mug and a fresh pot of coffee. Once both mugs were refilled he sat opposite Janeway with an expectant look on his face.

“Ensign, you’ve shown yourself to be resourceful and you think fast on your feet. Those are two traits I prize highly in my staff. You may not have the academic qualifications for this job, but you have everything else you need and you can learn the engineering as you go. I think you’re going to be a major asset to this project and a fine officer, Ethan. I have no doubts that you can keep this project on track until I assume command of it officially.”

“Thank you, Captain. I’ll do my best.”

“I’m headed back to Indiana in few minutes. Here are the project points I need you to follow up on. Here are the ID parameters for my home COMM unit and PADD. It may be a few weeks before I’m back here full time, so don’t hesitate to hail me if you need to talk. I’m going to assume that Lieutenant Torres will accept the second in command slot on the project. You’ll need to see to it that one of the other offices in the suite is readied for her. That’s Torres, B’Elanna. And while you’re at it, have another office made ready for another officer. Well, not exactly an officer. I’d like to bring Seven of Nine here to help out if she’s willing.”

“Seven of Nine? The woman who was a Borg drone for eighteen years? She’ll be working with us?” The awe was evident in his voice. 

"Yes, Ethan," Janeway chuckled. "Since she was responsible for installing all the Borg technology on Voyager it would make sense for her to be involved in removing it, don't you think? See to an office for her, won't you?" Inwardly, Janeway was laughing at the reaction of her aide to news of her Astrometrics Officer. I think I’ve just met the first non-Voyager member of the Seven of Nine Fan Club. In fact, I think young Ethan’s got a little crush on her. I shouldn’t be surprised; I’ve got a crush on her too. Well, it’s a little more than a crush seeing as how I love her with every fiber of my being, but I can understand how the young man feels.