The PADD lay on her desk. Kathryn Janeway, Captain of the starship Voyager, glared at it from time to time as if the force of her gaze would make it disappear. While she packed tee shirts, pants, and other personal articles in a Starfleet-issue duffel bag, Janeway directed angry thoughts at the message screen. I don't need this. . . . As if I didn't have enough on my mind. . . . Why'd you have to decide this now? She dropped down, looking around the side of the couch for her boots. They weren't there, but something else was just beyond her sight in the shadow cast by the side table in the low illumination of her quarters.

"Seven of Nine to Janeway" split the air, drawing a startled huff from the captain. Seven was certainly anxious to have an answer. She knew that if she told Seven she would not allow it, Seven would honor her decision. But for Janeway, denying Seven's request would only confirm that Seven had been right all along. The captain could not take that chance. Seven had to understand that there were boundaries that she as captain could not cross, particularly not with members of her crew. And she couldn't think of any other reason to deny Seven's request; after all, she had given the crew, including herself, shore leave.

"Janeway here."

"Captain, have you considered my request?"

"Yes, Seven, I have and I will . . . I will allow it. You can make the journey with Emissary Bray to Nelonius Prime," Kathryn stated hesitantly, not really quite believing that she was going to allow Seven to go on shore leave--for a whole week--with the entrancing Emissary.

"Thank you, Captain. I will be meeting Bray at 1300 hours on the north-central continent in the city of Nessam. Seven out."

"Damn, Katie, you are one hell of a fool. You're practically throwing Seven at that woman." Kathryn thought with a frown that creased her strong, elegant brow as she resumed packing. "Just two days ago, Seven was claiming that she loved me and now she is going off with someone else to spend a romantic week. Okay, so it's just a little R & R," Janeway admitted to herself, "but the environment will be beautiful and the company is appealing. And since when does Seven take R & R?"

"Enough of feeling sorry for yourself. You had your opportunity," the captain rebuked herself aloud, with a toss of her auburn head.

But Janeway couldn't help recalling the scene that took place two days earlier. The young Borg had come to her quarters at 2300 hours. Kathryn had been curled up on the couch reading a tattered copy of Leaves of Grass. She loved the eternalness of Whitman.

Normally, the Captain would have considered this kind of late-night interruption insubordination, but she wasn't disturbed as Seven came often at this hour to hold "philosophical" discussions with her captain and mentor. In truth, Kathryn enjoyed these nighttime rendezvous. They gave her long, uninterrupted moments to watch Seven's face.

"Such a beautiful face," thought Kathryn. "Luminous blue eyes and the palest, creamiest skin just touched with the flush of crimson. And those soft, full lips." Kathryn could stare unabashedly at Seven's lips simply under the pretense of listening intently to her companion. Those were indulgent and satisfying moments for Kathryn, even though they did cause the most unbearable ache in her when they were over.

But this time, Janeway was caught completely unaware. . . .

"Captain, I wish to discuss a matter with you," Seven stated succinctly, hands crossed behind her back.

"All right, Seven. I was preparing for bed, but I would be happy to talk with you for awhile. I was just going to have a cup of chamomile tea. Would you like to join me?" the Captain questioned, running her fingers through her hair.

"No thank you, Captain. I've already had a night cap and I am not in need of any liquid refreshment at this time." Seven stated judiciously.

With a shrug of her shoulders, Janeway cut short her acrimonious thoughts about this nightcap. "All right, then proceed. What would you like to discuss?" Janeway said surveying Seven for any sign of what might be the night's topic.

Seven responded with a short nod of her flaxen head. "Thank you, Captain. As you may know I have been spending time with Emissary Bray. She has been assisting me in becoming more familiar with the details of social interactions. Specifically, the intricacies of . . . of romantic associations."

Seven inhaled slowly and continued. "She has helped me realize that I have feelings for a member of this crew."

Janeway held her breath and started to feel queasy. She always knew this moment would come--the moment when Seven would reveal that she had fallen in love with someone on Voyager--it was inevitable, but Kathryn still wasn't prepared to hear it.

"Seven, what do you mean by feelings?"

"I mean that when I am in the presence of this person I feel love," Seven said fastening her eyes on the Captain.

"Are you sure, Seven?" Kathryn held Seven's eyes and then glanced away abruptly, retrieving her cup of tea from the replicator. "Love is a complex and confusing emotion. Are you sure you aren't just experiencing infatuation?"

"While I will admit that what I am feeling does involve elements of infatuation, I believe that love more fully describes the resonance of the sentiment I am experiencing." As if for emphasis, Seven's hand clenched reflexively around the tiny item she held in her palm.

Janeway let go a deep, rattling breath. "Well, then, who is the lucky person?"

Seven's words lit the air. "You are, Captain."

*******

Kathryn slowly lowered her cup from her lips to the saucer, but not slowly enough to offset the shaking in her limbs, which caused the loud clank of cup against saucer.

After a moment of steeling her nerves, she brought her eyes up from her cup and looked at Seven. "Seven, I'm sure you must be mistaken. You are young and--"

"No, Captain. I am in love with you, and I believe, you love me as well."

"Katie, you're in way over your head here. Better end this before it gets out of hand." Kathryn's pesky, little voice resounded in her head even as her heart leapt at the admission and the truth in Seven's words.

Janeway's voice came low and even. "Ah, I see," Janeway stated, slipping back into captain mode, "and I believe you are misguided and coming to false conclusions."

Anxiety rose up inside Seven, but she had to proceed, hoping that confronting Janeway with logic, would prove persuasive. "You are incorrect, Captain. Since I entered your quarters ten point six minutes ago, your respiration has increased by ten point two percent, your pupils have dilated three times, and your body temperature has risen by point three degrees. I believe these are signs of arousal."

The captain walked to the couch and sat cross-legged. Thereby giving herself time to recover her composure and keep the mortification from seeping into her line of reasoning. "Seven, I don't know what the Emissary has been telling you, but sexual arousal is not necessarily indicative of love," Janeway said, trying to neutralize Seven's argument.

Seven's face and shoulders fell in compliment with her submerged hope. She'd never considered that Janeway might find her attractive but wholly unsuitable as a mate. In order to judge Janeway's reaction more clearly, Seven moved closer to the couch. "You are saying that you are attracted to me, but that you do not love me?"

"Yes . . . No. No. I am not saying that at all." Janeway squeezed her eyes shut and pinched the ridge between them. "Seven, increased respiration, pupil dilation, and body temperature fluctuations are just physiological reactions. They can be signs of many things. For example, stress--have you considered that I might find this conversation stressful?"

"Yes, Captain, however, you have displayed these signs of stress in sixty percent of our interactions. This statistically significant percentage makes it unlikely that you are on all accounts simply exhibiting signs of stress." Seven stated adamantly, realizing that she only had one move left to make.

The Captain opened her mouth to circumnavigate Seven's claim, but abruptly closed it when no words came to her. The sight of Seven nearing her position on the couch put a sudden end to any coherent thoughts. Seven slowly bent down, taking the cup and saucer from the captain's hands, and placing them on the table in front of the Captain. The Captain just watched mesmerized by the stubborn audacity and beauty of the younger woman. Janeway knew what was coming. She had sparred with Seven enough to know what the ex-Borg's next move would be--logic dictated it, but somehow she felt helpless to prevent it.

Seven relaxed her fist and gripped the arm of the couch, wedging one bent knee in between the captain's lap and the side of the couch. For a instant, she seemed to hover over Janeway. In another instant, Seven's free hand flitted across the captain's smooth cheek, cupping it as she brought their lips together. Kathryn's heart battled her self-control at the touch of their lips. It only lasted a moment, though. A brief meeting of shared awareness, and then Seven moved off the couch.

Janeway sat still transfixed, thinking of all the long-established phrases, such as "responsibility of command," "edicts and protocol," and "code of conduct," she should be saying to help Seven understand why a romantic relationship between them wasn't possible. But her lips still tingled and she couldn't form the words.

With no response from the Captain and resolve in place, Seven remained unrepentant "Captain, it is obvious that you will continue to deny your feelings. I anticipated this deceptive behavior, but still I was unwilling to believe that you would be weak-minded." With that said, Seven strode out of the Captain's quarters, leaving the resistant captain with her mouth agape.

*******

Chakotay's sonorous tones bent the air, "Chakotay to Janeway."

"Janeway here," she stated coming out of her reverie.

"Captain, if you're ready, your carriage awaits. I'll meet you at Transporter One," Chakotay said with good humor.

"Acknowledged," Janeway responded, shrugging her duffel bag onto her shoulder and heading out of her quarters.

Janeway made her way down the corridor and into the turbo lift, still trying to wipe the memory of her last conversation with Seven. She tried to refocus her thoughts, "I'm finally getting some time for myself. Going on shore leave with Chakotay is just what the doctor ordered. Relaxation. No uncomfortable thoughts or predicaments. Simple. Simple. Simple. . . ."

When she exited, she came face-to-face with Emissary Devon Bray.

"Captain Janeway, it's a pleasure to see you," said Bray smiling, "I was hoping I would run into you before I left for Nessam. I wanted to thank you for your kindness. The tritanium will greatly benefit my people."

"You are welcome, Emissary Bray," Janeway stated flatly, staring at the entrancing emerald color of the other woman's eyes. "Seven is going to find it very difficult to resist those eyes, if she even wants to," Kathryn's thoughts tumbled.

"I also have enjoyed meeting members of your crew, particularly Seven of Nine," she said with a wink.
The Captain didn't appreciate the insinuative gesture. "Yes, Seven is special, and now if you don't mind, I must get to Transporter One."

"Of course, Captain, I understand it is your intention to visit the ruins at Galla during your shore leave. If you should need a guide, please let me know. I can arrange for Seven and me to meet you and your first officer," the Emissary said, knowing full well that her attempts at gallantry were having the desired negative effect on the attractive captain.

"Thank you, but that won't be necessary," said Janeway, passing by Bray.

End of Part I