"Seven's Secret" Part 2/2

:::The time is 0700 hours:::

Harry opened his eyes.  He realized that he was still in the Ktarian
simulation, only now it was morning.  He looked around for Seven, but she was
no where to be found. 

"Computer, location of Seven of Nine?"

:::Seven of Nine is in her regeneration alcove:::

"How long has she been there?"

:::two hours and seventeen minutes:::

He'd have to wait to talk to her then. 

Rubbing his eyes he said aloud, "Computer time?"

:::The time is 0702 hours:::

Stretching, he realized that he had slept there all night.  Not only that but
he'd enjoyed almost ten hours of uninterrupted sleep.  He felt good.  He felt
rested.  He felt hungry.  Well, he had plenty of time to head back to his
quarters to clean up, change clothes and then have breakfast.

**********
Harry entered the Messhall.  He helped himself to some of Neelix's hot cereal,
a lavender muffin, a piece of fruit and a beverage.  He noticed that some of
the crew present were moving from table to table, appearing to impart
information of great importance.  He spotted Tom and B'Elanna at a table and
moved to join them.  As he walked by a table with several members of Security,
he could have sworn he heard clapping.

Placing his tray down, he motioned over to the other table.  "What's going
on?" he asked.

"You tell us," Tom said, grinning.

"What?" Harry asked.

"Come on buddy," Tom cajoled.  "Don't play innocent with us.  The whole ship
is buzzing because you spent the night with Seven in the Holodeck."

"With the privacy locks engaged," B'Elanna added salaciously.

"What!"

"Don't act so surprised, everyone knows you like her." B'Elanna said. 

"How did the 'whole' ship find out I was even in the holodeck?"

Motioning to the table of security officers, Tom said, "Evidently, Seven
contacted Lieutenant Carlyle from beta shift, she and an unknown security
officer had it reserved after her.  Seven made some kind of deal involving
replicator rations and holodeck time to keep the program running.  She told
them you needed your sleep.  Word has it, she was seen leaving the holodeck
looking, well, rather disheveled."

"That was because of the hammock." Harry said lamely.

"So, you admit you slept with her."

"Yeah, but it's not what you think."

"Give it up Tom," B'Elanna added, "I told you he'd deny it."  Tom wasn't about
to let it go.

"Harry, are you trying to tell me you spent almost eight hours alone with
Seven in the holodeck, running my 'Ktarian moonrise' program, and nothing
happened?"

"That's exactly what I'm trying to tell you."

Contrary to her own advice, B'Elanna couldn't stay quiet.  "Come on Starfleet,
look at it from our perspective."  She held her hand out counting on her
fingers.  "One, Seven borrows the most romantic 'Ktarian moonrise' program
from Tom'.... Two, a member of security confirms the program ran all night'... Three,
Seven is seen leaving the holodeck with her hair messed up' Now, you walk in
here grinning like the Cheshire cat, and were supposed to believe nothing
happened?  Harry, we're not asking for all the details, just stop denying you
slept with her."

"Speak for yourself, I'd like to hear all the details." Tom said.  B'Elanna
glared at him.

"That's because-"

"Yeah, yeah, I know, I'm a pig."

Clearly amused by their exchange, Harry said, "Look, I hate to disap--"

Just then the mess hall doors opened and Seven walked in.  The breakfast
conversations and clattering of china throughout the room suddenly stopped,
and all eyes were on her as she waded through the tables.  She arrived at
their table and stood, towering over them.

"Good morning Seven." Harry said not making eye contact.

"Good morning Ensign." She said, then looked at Tom and B’Elanna,
"Lieutenants."

"Seven." They said in unison.  Harry stood and pulled the chair out next to
him.

"Why don't you have a seat and join us."

"I prefer to stand.  As a result of being supine for 7.2 hours last night, I'm
experiencing stiffness I'm not accustomed to."  Harry sat back down.  "Ensign,
I trust you slept well?"

"Yes, very well, thank you."

Knowing he had the attention of the entire room, Tom had to ask, "And how did
you sleep Seven?"  B'Elanna's response to Tom's question was an elbow to his
ribs.

"I found sleeping with Ensign Kim, interesting.  I, however, found the
reclining apparatus hammock.. for two, uncomfortable.  It's design limits
free movement, and it's lumbar support is inadequate.  Should the Ensign and I
decide to recline again in a common apparatus, it will not be in a hammock."
Whispers circled the room.  Seven wasn't sure why the other crewmen in the
room were so interested in their conversation.  For now, she chose to ignore
them.

"But did you enjoy it?" Tom pressed.

"Tom!" Harry exclaimed.

"Lieutenant Paris, if you are inquiring if Ensign Kim and I enjoyed your
 program, I would have to  answer, the program served it's purpose.  It
 provided the Ensign with what he needed most, and I also found it most
 stimulating.  That is why I am here.  I wish to discuss with Ensign Kim the
 emotions I experienced last night." 

That was all the crew needed to hear.  The mess hall was no longer quiet.
The rumors that had been spreading all morning were confirmed.  Aware of 
what was going on, Harry wanted nothing more than to set the record
straight but knew now wasn't the time.  He had to get to the bridge.

"I'll be glad to talk with you about that Seven, but it will have to wait
until my
shift on the bridge is over.  And Id better get going before I'm late." 

Harry got up and motioned Tom to follow.

"Yeah, I've got to get going myself." He kissed B'Elanna, "See you tonight."
They picked up their trays and left.  Watching them leave, B'Elanna turned
to Seven, "I need to get to engineering Seven, excuse me."

"May I accompany you Lieutenant?"

"Sure." She responded apprehensively.

On route to engineering'

"Lieutenant Torres, why would it be of interest to the crew that Ensign Kim
and I slept together?"

"People are just curious, I guess.  Tom and I experienced the same thing. 
Now that it's out, it'll settle down I'm guessing, but that must have been
your first time, If you don't mind my asking, what did you think of it?"

"For an unproductive activity, it was not entirely unpleasant.  The experience
initiated an emotional response I was not prepared for.  I was about to ask
Ensign Kim for an explanation, when I noticed he had fallen asleep."

"That's typical." B'Elanna shook her head, disgusted.

"Typical of what Lieutenant.  Explain."

"That's just like a man.  He gets what he wants and with no regard for your 
feelings, he just goes to sleep."

"I do not understand."

"I'm just surprised at Harry.  I thought he was different."

"He was tired.  He told me he's had trouble sleeping lately."

"That's not the point.  No matter how tired he was, he should have found a
way to stay awake.  Seven, it's no secret Harry's had feelings for you from
the beginning.  He's wanted nothing more than to have you return those
feelings.  Let's face it, Harry doesn't get the opportunity for sex every day.
Given that opportunity, I would've thought he'd have stayed awake longer,
that's all."

"Ensign Kim and I did not copulate Lieutenant."  They stopped walking and
faced each other.

"What?  I just, I thought that's what we were talking about."

"I had an emotional response to the music.  I was about to ask Ensign Kim
to explain, when I saw he had fallen asleep."

"He was telling the truth after all." She said more to herself.  "I'm sorry
Seven, I misunderstood. Under the circumstances, surely you can see how
everyone thought'" starting to laugh, her voice trailed off.  They resumed
walking.

"Ensign Kim was selected as my secret friend.  The holodeck program was
part of his gift.  It was not my intention to share the reclining apparatus,
nor
was it my intention to fall asleep with him.  The combination of the program, 
music and lying next to the Ensign, I feel asleep.  When I awoke I contacted
Lieutenant Carlyle to make arrangements to keep the holodeck program
running.  I knew he had not been sleeping well and thought the gift of
uninterrupted sleep appropriate."  They arrived at the turbolift.

"I guess I let the cat out of the bag, huh?"

"If you are referring to your informing me of the Ensigns feelings for me, you
are correct.  I was not aware he had such strong feelings for me."

"I thought you knew.  It's so obvious.  Look, Seven, maybe you should talk 
with him about it. I mean, if you don't feel the same way he does, he should 
know.  I'm sorry you had to hear it from me first.  I have to go."  B'Elanna 
entered the lift and was gone, leaving Seven alone in the corridor.

Seven couldn't help thinking about what B'Elanna told her about Harry.  She
knew she felt something as well, but couldn't define exactly what those
feelings meant.  She decided she would seek the counsel of Captain Janeway.

Tom bounced on the balls of his feet.  He kept looking at Harry as they rode 
up to the bridge together.

"I can't stand it.  Come on Harry, I'm your best friend." He was almost
whining like a kid that wanted something.

"Tom, I told you in the mess hall, I told you in the corridor, and now I’m
telling you in here. Nothing happened!"

"Computer, halt lift." He turned to Harry, "You really mean to tell me that
you 
met probably one of the most drop dead gorgeous women on this ship in the
holodeck, ran my program and nothing happened?"

"Yes," Harry nodded, "Nothing happened.  We fell asleep, at least I did. 
don't know if she did or not.  Look Tom, I love her.  I'm not going to take
advantage of her in a situation like that."  The look of total sincerity on 
Harry's face finally convinced Tom.  "Now, do you believe me?"

"Yes, I believe you.  Honestly Harry, sometimes I wonder about you."

"Why?  Because I don't believe in jumping every woman on this ship?"

"No, that's not it at all.  I just know how you feel about Seven, and I just
thought that-"

"You thought that I'd take advantage of the situation?  In a holodeck?  I
don't 
think so Tom. Look, if you really want, we can talk about this later.  Now,
will 
you please get this thing going again. We're definitely gonna be late now."

"Computer, resume lift.  All right Harry, I'll let it ride for now."  Anything
else
he had to say was cut off as the door to the lift opened.

"Gentlemen, glad you could join us." The Captain said sarcastically.

"Sorry Captain, it won't happen again." Harry said.

"See that it doesn't."  Tom and Harry took their posts.  The Captain and 
Chakotay continued with ships business.  Things got quiet for a while.  Harry 
actually forgot the little scene in the in the mess hall. Then the lift hissed
open and Seven walked onto the bridge.  The Captain turned to see who 
came on the bridge.

"Seven, what can I do for you?"  Seven took a deep breath.  She glanced at 
Harry.

"Captain, may I speak with you?"  She said.  Then quickly added, "In 
private."  The look on Seven's face concerned her.

"Commander, you have the bridge.  I'll be in my ready room.  Seven, come
with me."  She got up and walked to her ready room, with Seven in tow.  The
first thing the Captain did was walk over to the replicator to get herself a
cup 
of coffee.  She asked Seven if there was anything she could get for her. 
Seven's answer was no, as usual.  The Captain took her cup and went to 
the couch. 

"Seven, why don't you come over here and sit."  And to her surprise, she did. 
After they were both settled, the Captain said, "Now, this may be a wild 
guess on my part but does this have anything to do with Harry and what 
happened in the holodeck last night?"

"You know?"

"Of course I do.  You of all people should know that when security is 
involved in anything on this ship, I get a report on it.  Tell me, what 
happened?"

"It's not what happened, it's what did not happen.  Captain, how does one 
feel when they love someone?"

Janeway whistled softly.  "That's a loaded question.  Do you think you're in
love with someone?"  She didn't come right out and say Harry, she wanted her
to tell her that herself. 

"I do not know.  That's why I asked you the question."

Janeway put her coffee down and turned to face the young woman next to
her.  Seven watched her closely.

"Well let me take a stab at this.  First of all, I think I know who this
person is, 
but I want to hear it from you."

"It is Ensign Kim"

"Ok, now that we have that out of the way, you asked how you feel when
you're in love.  All I can tell you is my experience.  When you're with him,
you feel complete.  When you're away from him, you think about him
constantly.  You're always trying to think of ways to help him, and little
things to do for him.  Is this helping at all?"

"Yes Captain.  When I'm away from him, I find it hard to concentrate.  And
when he touches me'" her voice trailed off.  She thought for a moment.  "I
know I have feelings for him, I just don't know how to interpret or express
them.  Captain, I'm not sure what his feeling are.  It has been brought to my
attention recently that he loves me.  Others have told me his feelings for me
are obvious.  I have recognized his attempts at friendship, but I was not
aware it was anything more."  Janeway chuckled, and put her hand on
Seven's.

"Seven, that young man out there is head over heels in love with you."

"If he loves me, then why did he not copulate with me last night?  Why did
he fall asleep?"

Any other time, Janeway would have laughed at the fact that Harry fell
asleep, and she thought to herself, *Isn't that just like a man?*, but Seven
in
her own way was upset and confused, all she wanted to do was hug her.

"Seven, sex doesn't always equal love.  Sometimes, people have a more
meaningful relationship without always involving sex.  Some people even
wait till after they marry to have sex for the first time.  Now, I think I
know
Harry pretty well.  He's a very sincere, caring and sensitive man.  I don't
think he has sex with someone at the drop of a hat.  And as for falling
asleep, you know yourself, we had a pretty tough day on the bridge 
yesterday.  He was probably just plain exhausted.  I wouldn't worry about it.
Just spend some time together.  Better yet, set up a specific time to talk
with him.  Find out exactly how he feels."

"Thank you Captain, your advice has been very helpful.  I will keep what you
have said in mind."

Back on the bridge, Harry was sweating it out.  He sent Tom a message.

"What do you think she's talking about?  Why is it taking so long?"

"Harry, it's only been about five minutes, relax."

"I can't relax.  God only knows what she's telling the Captain."

The ready room door opened and the Captain walked out, Seven right
behind her.  The Captain went to her command chair.  Seven headed
directly for Harry.

"Ensign, your duty shift on the bridge comes to an end at 1700 hours, does it
not?"

"Yes"

"Good, I will be at your quarters at precisely 1800 hours.  I have sufficient 
replicator rations to provide us with sustenance.  Is this acceptable?"

"Yeah, that's fine."  Harry said a bit intimidated.  With that, Seven turned
and 
quickly exited the bridge.  Harry wondered what she was up to.  Dinner tonight
would be interesting if nothing else. Looking over the bridge, he saw that he
was the focus of everyones' attention.  So much for resolving this situation
in private. 

************************** 
Seven walked back to her alcove.  She sighed and looked around. 
Sometimes she felt so isolated down in the bowels of the ship and this was 
one of them.  She had no idea what she was going to say to Harry and she
was beginning to regret  her impulsiveness on the bridge.  What if Harry
didn't feel the way she did. Oh she knew what the Captain had said and
although she wanted to believe her  she still doubted very much that Harry
loved her. 

"How could he fall in love with a Borg?"  She said angrily to herself.
And then it dawned on her that she needed to come up with a final gift for 
him.  What could she possibly come up with that would out-do last night. 
She stomped up to her alcove and plunked herself in to regenerate till her
*date*.

Meanwhile, back on the bridge the Captain went back into her ready 
room.   Tom glanced over his shoulder at Harry and shook his head with a 
little chuckle.  Harry was just about to breath a sigh of  relief when,
*Ensign Kim, would you come into the ready room please. I want to talk with
you.*

"On my way Captain."  He swallowed and headed down to the ready room. He
pushed the button and the door opened.

"Come in Ensign."  She looked up at him and saw the nervous look on his face.
Her heart went out to him.  She smiled.  "Sit down Harry."  He 
came over and sat down across from her, looking for all the world like a 
brand new cadet.  She sat back in her chair and took a sip of her coffee. 
"Relax Harry, I'm not going to bite."

"Captain, I want to apologize-"

"Apologize?  Harry, there's nothing to apologize for.  What do you 
think Seven said to me in here?"

"I don't know Captain, I just  .  .  .  .  "  His voice trailed off.

"Harry, how do you feel about Seven?  Do you love her?"  Harry sighed and
rubbed his forehead.

"Captain, I've been in love with her since the first time I worked 
with her.  I don't know what it was that made me feel this way, but it's 
just gotten stronger and stronger.  I'm sure you heard all about the other
night."

"Yes I did.  But Seven told me about it too.  A double hammock huh? 
She borrowed Tom's program didn't she?"  Harry had been staring at his
hands till she said that.

"What exactly did she say Captain?"

"Oh Harry, that's between us ladies.  But I think it's safe to say she
feels the same way.  She was just .  .  .  .  confused about a few things."
She leaned forward again on the desk.  "Look, Harry, I don't want to butt 
in, what happens between you and Seven is your business.  I just don't want
either of you to get hurt.  OK?"

"Thank you Captain.  Believe me, the last thing I want to do is hurt 
Seven."

"I know Harry, I know."  She got up and walked him to the door.  A 
hand on his shoulder.  Sometimes she reminded him so much of his mother.  "If
I can help in any way, please don't hesitate to come to me.  Either of you.
Understood?"

"Yes Captain.  Oh and Captain, thanks."

"Any time Harry."  He walked back out onto the bridge.  The door 
swished shut.  Janeway went back and sat down at her desk with a smile on her
face.  She had a feeling that another couple was forming on Voyager.

When Harry got to his quarters, he took a quick shower, pulled on 
some well worn jeans and an old Star Fleet sweat shirt.  He realized he 
looked like he should be down in the cargo bay with Tom working on his 
Camaro.  But if Seven loved him she was going to have to take him, neat 
or a mess.  He pulled on an old pair of tennis shoes, that didn't look much
better then the jeans or the sweat shirt.

"If the Captain saw me she'd freak."  He muttered to himself.  He 
loved these clothes but he never wore them anywhere but his quarters or
when he was working with Tom.    He checked the time.  He had about ten
minutes before Seven showed up.  And knowing Seven, she would be there
'exactly'  at 1800 hours. He sat down on the couch and turning on his computer
he started to watch  "Hello Voyager"  Neelix's afternoon version of his
morning show.  It wasn't much, but it was a distraction. 

A few minutes later, right on time, his door chirped.  He got up and 
answered it.  Seven stood there waiting.

"Come on in Seven."  Harry stood back and she walked in.  But once she got
through the door, she started to give him the once over.  "Would you 
like something to drink?"  He said as she stared.

"Ah,  no .  .  .  thank you Ensign."  She was still staring.  Harry 
was having a hard time keeping a straight face.  She looked so perplexed. 
He took her by the hand and walked over to the couch. They sat down
together but she was ramrod straight. Harry decided to open the conversation.

"I was wondering what you and Captain Janeway talked about this after-noon."

"I .  .  .  we, talked about what happened last night.  I had some 
questions and B 'Elanna  suggested I talk to the Captain."   *Thanks Bea. I
owe you one.*  Harry thought.

"Look Seven, I'm not sure what you expected the other night, but-"

"I expected nothing Ensign.  I was only trying to give you a gift." 
She sighed.  There was a troubled look on her face. "I'm sorry Ensign, this
was a mistake.  I should never have come here.  I will leave."  For a 
second Harry sat in shock. Seven was up off the couch and on her way toward
the door.

"No, Seven, don't go .  .  .  .  please.  This isn't what I wanted to
happen."  he was up off the couch and at her side.  He took her by the 
shoulders and turned her toward him.  They stared at each other for a long
moment.   Harry had a hundred things he wanted to say to her, but he forgot
every single one of them as he gazed into the blue eyes. Then he kissed
her.  It was the last thing he'd planned to do.  Suddenly he felt his arms 
circling her and his lips on hers.  She stiffened for a split second, but 
after that he felt her arms go around his neck.  Finally the kiss ended. 
Harry stood back from her a bit.

"Seven, I'm sorry.  I didn't mean to -"

"Harry."  He stopped talking.  She had called him by his name.  "I . .
love you."  Harry took her by the hands and led her back to the couch again.
This time when she sat down she was much more relaxed. Harry had his arms
around her and she rested her head against his shoulder.  He never felt so
happy.   Then he heard a small sniff, then another.  He looked down and saw a
tear slide down her cheek. 

"Hey, hey what's wrong?  Why are you crying?" He took his hand and 
tipped her chin up so she was looking at him."

"I have not been able to think of a final gift for you." 

Harry leaned down and kissed her again.  Then he held her a little 
closer yet and sighing, said,  "Seven, . . . tonight, . . .you've given me the
best gift I could ever have."

The End. 

**********

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