Part 4

Harry Kim entered, almost reluctantly. He had been told that Seven’s appearance would be shocking. He had not been certain he wanted to see her but finally decided he should visit. Ketaria could sense his discomfort.

"Ensign Kim. She will be glad to see you. I must warn you, today’s was a very long treatment, and she is exhausted. She may not be awake much longer."

"That’s fine. I just wanted to tell her hello."

"Come. I will facilitate the conversation with you. If that is acceptable?"

"Please." He followed Ketaria to Seven’s bedside.

"Hello, Seven." His voice broke as he spoke. The sight of her was more upsetting than he thought it would be. He tried to recover, embarrassed.

Seven’s eyes were surprised, and she held his intently.

Ketaria spoke, "She says you should not be upset, Harry."

Harry looked sharply at Ketaria, "What did she say exactly?"

"She said, ‘Harry, do not be upset.’"

He looked at Seven, "You have never called me Harry before."

"She says it seemed an appropriate thing to do just now."

"Thank you. I think I like that. How are you doing today?"

"She is well. She is tired right now, but is feeling better every day."

"I would like to tell you that you are looking great, but I have to admit that I have seen you look better." He smiled at her.

Her eyes danced with delight. Ketaria laughed and relayed the message, "Seven thanks you for the joke and for your honesty. She imagines she looks a little horrid right now."

"No, Seven," Harry said quickly, "even trussed up like you are right now, you are still the most beautiful person I have ever seen." As soon as he realized what he said, his eyes went wide and he blushed deeply.

Seven’s eyes went to Ketaria, and she nodded, "Seven thanks you for trying to make her feel better. She says you are a good friend."

Harry nodded, uncomfortable after his outburst. Seven saw the look on his face and sent a message to Ketaria.

"Seven would like for you to tell her what is going on in Astrometrics. She is missing her work."

Harry brightened, "Of course. I’ll be glad to."

Before he could start, Ketaria said, "If it is okay with you, Ensign Kim, I will take Kathryn B’Elanna and go for a walk. If you need me, simply call me." She looked down at Seven, "Will that be okay with you?"

Seven blinked once, and Ketaria patted her arm and left to go get Kathryn B’Elanna. Seven looked back to Harry, and he could tell she was waiting for him to start.

He started talking, telling her everything he could think of that had or was happening in the Astrometrics Lab. He could tell she was enjoying hearing about the work he was doing. He liked how intently she watched his face. Without realizing, he reached out to take her hand. He sat, holding it, continuing his one-sided conversation. Every once in a while, he would ask her a question with a simple yes or no answer that she could respond to, but for the most part, he simply talked. Soon, he noticed her eyes were closed, and he realized she was sleeping. Then, he noticed he was still holding her hand. He lifted it and held it with both of his and looked at her face, his tinged in sorrow.

"Seven?" He waited to see if she would open her eyes, but she didn’t. He lifted her hand carefully to his lips and kissed it. Nothing. Then, he stood and kissed her softly on the forehead and sat back down. "I love you, Seven. I have from the beginning, and I suspect I always will. But I am happy for you. I am glad you found someone you could love." He paused, his eyes tearing, "I just wish it could have been me."

He sat back, watching her sleep. In a little while, Ketaria came back with Kathryn B’Elanna. Harry stood immediately, "I need to report for duty."

"I know Seven appreciated your visit. And I thank you for sitting with her so I could take a little walk."

"My pleasure." He looked back at Seven, "I’ll go now." He lingered for a moment, then left.

Ketaria lifted Kathryn B’Elanna from the stroller and put her on her mother, whose eyes opened. She started communicating with Ketaria immediately.

Ketaria hesitated, shielding her thoughts from Seven but then decided to ask her question.

She could hear all of Seven’s thoughts but waited for Seven to respond to her.

Seven looked at the baby on her chest and then looked back to Ketaria.

Seven nodded her head slightly, her eyes sad. She looked at Ketaria.

Ketaria laughed and reached to brush a stray strand of hair back from Seven’s face. "You are absolutely right about that."

* * *

"Well, we have had a wonderful day in engineering," B’Elanna was carrying a very sleepy Kathryn B’Elanna. "I think she is ready for a long nap. I will just put her in her crib." She walked into the bedroom.

Seven and Ketaria exchanged knowing looks, and Ketaria nodded. Seven breathed deeply, working to center herself as Tuvok had been teaching her.

Finally, B’Elanna came out of the bedroom, "She is changed and sound asleep." She laughed, "She is going to make a great Chief Engineer one day." She clasped her hands together, self-conscious, "Well, I have a lot of work to do, so I had better get going." She moved toward the door, "I’ll see you later."

Ketaria called to her, "B’Elanna, Seven would like for you to visit a minute."

B’Elanna stopped, her back to them, but her hesitation obvious. She slowly turned, a forced smile on her face, "I’d like to visit, too, but I really do have a lot of work to do. Maybe later. Okay?"

Ketaria moved to the foot of the biobed, "Seven knows you are busy but she would really appreciate your taking a few minutes for her."

B’Elanna lowered her head, thinking. Finally, she looked up, "I guess I can manage a few minutes." She walked slowly to the bed, her eyes looking everywhere but at Seven. "So, how are you doing?"

"Seven says she is doing well. She wants to know how you are doing."

"Me? I’m doing great. Why would she ask about me?"

"Because she is concerned about you."

B’Elanna crossed her arms in front of her, "Now why would she be worried about me?"

"Why don’t you ask her that yourself?"

B’Elanna just looked at Ketaria and then cut her eyes away from the biobed. She lifted her head quickly and took a deep breath, "Look, I really do need to get back to work. I’ll come back for a visit later."

Ketaria reached for her arm, but B’Elanna pulled away. Ketaria said, "B’Elanna, please. Seven wants you to look at her. She needs for you to know she is all right."

B’Elanna backed away, her head down and away from Seven, "I’m sorry. I can’t." B’Elanna’s voice started to crack, "I cannot look at her like that. I cannot stand to see her like that." She was backing toward the door, "Seven, I’m sorry. But I can’t." She almost ran out of the doors.

Ketaria moved back to Seven’s side and placed her hands on her shoulder, concentrating to calm her. "I am sorry, Seven."

Seven was quiet and lay with her eyes closed. Then she opened them and looked up at Ketaria.

In the short time since Ketaria had been working with her, Seven had learned much about respecting the private thought of others. She did not want to ask more of Ketaria than she could share.

Seven fell silent again. Ketaria gave her the privacy of her own thoughts.

I miss her. She was silent again, then she continued. We were not friends when I came on Voyager. We are still very much like oil and water.

Or fire and ice?

Yes. Seven laughed mentally. We are opposite ends of the spectrum. But she has become someone special to me. I would not be alive today if it were not for B’Elanna. And she loves Kathryn B’Elanna almost as much as I do. If something happens to me, I take great comfort in knowing that she will be there for Kathryn B’Elanna.

Ketaria reached for Seven’s hand and held it tightly.

* * *

The Doctor was sitting next to her. It was late, and Kahkar and Ketaria were sleeping in the bedroom. Both were exhausted. Seven’s therapy was reaching a level that required a lot of work from both of them, but Kahkar felt they had finally reached a mid-point in the therapy and was pleased with their success. The Doctor was holding her hand.

"I miss you."

Seven blinked once.

"I want you to know that this has only made me love you more. I would never have thought that possible, but it is true."

Seven blinked, one long blink.

He chuckled. "Tuvok tells me you are getting quite good at your telepathy."

She blinked.

He rubbed her hand and looked down at the bed, "I wish it were possible for us to communicate like that."

She watched him.

"One of the disadvantages of having a hologram for a husband, I guess." He laughed, but she knew he did not think it was funny. He paused before continuing, "Do you ever think about that, Seven? Do you ever think that I am nothing but a computer program and photonic particles and force fields? That I am not even a real person?" He looked at his wife, "Does that ever bother you, Seven?"

She did not know what to do. His questions required more than just a blink of her eyes. Did she think about it? Yes, of course she did. It was their reality. Did she wish he were real? Yes, she had wished that. The same way she wished she were not Borg. But it was because he was a hologram and she was a Borg that they were together. However much she wished different lives for both of them, she was grateful for what brought them together. She did the only thing she knew to do. She tightened her grip on his hand and, as much as she could, pulled him to her.

"Seven, no. It’s all right. I understand what you are trying to tell me."

She continued to pull, working her fingers up his sleeve, trying to pull him closer to her.

"Seven, no."

She blinked once.

He shook his head at her.

She blinked once again.

"You need to lie still."

She started to struggle, grasping his arm.

"Seven, stop."

She blinked twice.

He could see the determination in her eyes. "Okay, Seven. Please stop. I know what you are telling me, and I understand what you want. I don’t think it is a good idea."

She blinked.

He sighed. He knew she would not rest until he did what she wanted him to do. "You win. Now, you do not move. Let me handle this."

As carefully as he could, he moved the tubes and connections out of the way and gingerly sat on the side of the bed. Then, he slowly stretched himself out to lie beside her. He arranged her arms across her stomach, then lifted her head so he could put his arm underneath. Then, he pulled her to him. He felt her sigh deeply.

"Is this what you wanted?"

She blinked.

"I love you."

She blinked.

"And you love me."

She squeezed her eyes tightly then opened them to look into his.

He never felt more real.

* * *

The Captain entered the living quarters, "Look at you!"

Seven smiled at her. The breathing apparatus was gone as were most of the tubes connecting her to the machines. The metal platform was still over her legs and would stay there until they were completely finished with her therapy. She was sitting, holding Kathryn B’Elanna. The Doctor was close by since he knew Seven was very weak and would not be able to hold the baby for long.

"You look wonderful." The Captain was smiling from ear to ear. "It is so good to see you like this."

"It is good to be like this," Seven spoke in a barely audible whisper.

The Doctor stepped forward, "Her throat is irritated from the feeding tube. It will take a couple of days for her to get her voice back." He smiled at his wife, "But even a whisper is beautiful to me. Captain, do you have a few minutes?"

"Yes, actually, I do."

"Could I ask you to stay with Seven? I need to take care of a few things in Sickbay."

"Of course. I would love to."

He kissed Seven on the cheek, "I won’t be long." He walked toward the doors, "Oh, Captain, no matter what she tries to tell you, she is not to hold Kathryn B’Elanna for more than five more minutes."

"Yes, Doctor," the Captain replied, laughing. Seven gave her a sly look. The Captain pointed her finger at her, "No, Seven, resistance is futile!" She pulled a chair up to sit next to the biobed. "As much better as you look, I know you are looking forward to getting out of that bed." Seven nodded. "I don’t know how you managed almost a month of this therapy."

"It has not been easy." She spoke so softly that the Captain had to strain to hear her. "But I preferred this to being away from my family."

Kathryn Janeway’s eyes narrowed. That was the first time she had heard Seven refer to the Doctor and Kathryn B’Elanna in that manner. My family. She thought those were beautiful words. "Tell me, how do you feel?"

"I feel good. I am weak, but I really feel good."

"When will you try the alcove?"

Seven frowned, "Sometime within the week. Kahkar says we will make that decision from day to day."

"Are you worried about regenerating?"

She closed her eyes and nodded her head, "Yes, Captain. We will not know for certain if the therapy worked until I am able to successfully regenerate. These," she indicated the tubes still connecting her to the machines, "are sustaining me now, but I will have to be able to regenerate. I am Borg. My life depends on it." She fell silent and the Captain could tell she was exhausted.

"Here, I think it is time I take Kathryn B’Elanna." She rose and took the baby from Seven’s arms. She noticed that Seven did not offer any resistance. "I think this baby has seen more of Voyager lately than I have. From what I hear, she has been all over the ship."

Seven leaned her head back on the pillow and smiled, listening to the Captain’s voice. "Tom thinks she will be a wonderful pilot. Tuvok is convinced she will be a security officer. Chakotay thinks she has a great spiritual center. Harry says she will follow in your footsteps in Astrometrics, and B’Elanna swears she will train her to take over as Chief Engineer. Personally, I think she will be a starship captain one-day. The one thing they all agree on is that she is a special child."

Seven looked at the Captain and blinked once.

* * *

She was on the biobed, and they were rolling her through the corridors of Voyager. Kahkar had decided it was time to try the Borg alcove. The Doctor was walking beside her, gripping her hand. He knew she was frightened. Ketaria was walking on the other side, working hard to keep her calm. It was not an easy task.

The doors to the Cargo Bay opened, and she could see her alcove. She was concentrating on the alcove so hard she failed to see the figure at the computer console. They rolled the biobed close to the alcove and she lay there, staring at it. She did not notice the figure move from behind the console.

"Hello, Seven."

She quickly turned her head and broke into a big smile, "B’Elanna. Thank you for being here."

"Do you think I am going to let anyone work the computer console but me today?"

"I would not want anyone but you doing it."

"Well, I am here to protect Kathryn B’Elanna’s interests."

Kahkar stepped forward, "Seven, are you ready?"

She closed her eyes, then opened them and looked at each person around her, finally looking at Kahkar and nodding her head. The Doctor stepped forward and pulled her blanket off, slipped one arm under her knees and put the other under her arm and behind her back. She wrapped her arms around his neck, and he lifted her from the biobed and carried her to her alcove. B’Elanna was there when he put her down, and she grabbed Seven’s arm to help stabilize her. Kahkar and Ketaria stayed back. Once B’Elanna was certain Seven was stable, she left her with the Doctor and went to the computer console. She looked at the Doctor who tilted his head toward Seven so she looked to Seven.

Seven took a deep breath and squeezed the Doctor’s hands. She turned her head to him, lifting it. He leaned forward, and they kissed. Then, Seven looked back at B’Elanna and nodded her head.

B’Elanna looked down at the console and initiated the commands. The alcove powered up, and Seven closed her eyes, her body straightening. The Doctor held her hand until he felt her stabilize. He continued to stand beside her for a long moment, almost afraid to look in B’Elanna’s direction. He was still staring at her when he heard B’Elanna speak.

"Scans indicate the implants are accepting the regeneration."

He suddenly understood what it meant to go weak with relief. He glanced back at Kahkar who was grinning broadly. He noticed that Ketaria had tears running down her face. It was the first time he realized how frightened they had been.

Kahkar walked over to stand next to B’Elanna so he could watch the scans himself. He crossed his arms and stood silent. "Very good. It is looking very good." He looked up at the Doctor, "We will let her regenerate for no more than four hours." He watched another few minutes, "B’Elanna, would like for me to take over?"

"No, thank you, Kahkar. I want to do this."

He nodded and moved back to stand next his wife. She looked at him with pride in her eyes and embraced him. The Doctor continued to stand next to Seven, not taking his eyes off of her and B’Elanna concentrated on the computer console in front of her.

Seven stood in her alcove, her eyes closed and regenerated.

* * *

They were back in their living quarters with Seven resting on the biobed. She had wanted to sit on the sofa and sleep in her own bed, but she had lost the argument. Kahkar had hooked her up to the monitors and had reattached a few of the intravenous lines. When she had tried to protest, he had silenced her with a look.

There had been a steady stream of people in the living quarters ever since the word had gotten out that she had successfully regenerated. At one point, the crowd had actually spilled out into the hall. On her lap was the scrapbook the crew had made for her of Kathryn B’Elanna. She had looked at the book many times already and knew she would look through it many more times. It was a wonderful gift.

"I love this picture of the Captain and Kathryn B’Elanna on the bridge."

The Doctor looked at it, "Personally, I like the one of Tuvok pushing her in the stroller. Very un-Vulcan like, don’t you think?"

She laughed softly, "They are all wonderful pictures." She fell silent when she saw the one of Harry with Kathryn B’Elanna on his chest, both sleeping on the sofa. She lingered over it, then turned the page.

Kahkar came over to her, "Seven, I think it is time for you to go to sleep. It has been a long day, and I do not want you to over do. You are still in a critical phase of your recovery."

She nodded her head and handed the scrapbook to the Doctor. He looked at Kahkar, "I will sleep on the couch tonight. You and Ketaria should go ahead and sleep in the bedroom." He looked over at Seven, "I am going to bring the crib out here. I think the three of us should be together tonight."

Kahkar nodded his head in agreement. Then, he and the Doctor moved the crib close to Seven. Ketaria brought the baby over and laid her in her crib. Then, they said their goodnights and went into the bedroom, closing the door behind them.

Seven watched her baby sleep, then looked up at the Doctor and slid over in the biobed.

"Seven, I will be okay on the couch."

‘But I will not be okay here alone."

"I don’t think that will be comfortable with two us on it."

"Comfort is irrelevant."

He started to laugh, "There just is no arguing with you, is there?"

She shook her head.

He raised his head, "Computer, pajamas." His uniform was transformed into pajamas, and he crawled onto the biobed with Seven. He pulled her head onto his shoulder, and she settled herself closely to him. It was only a minute before she was asleep. He laid there, not wanting to sleep, not wanting to give up the feel of her in his arms.

* * *

Ketaria was on her side, her head on her hand, looking at her husband. "Did you tell them?"

"I said something to the Captain."

"What did she say?"

"She said she would be glad to have us traveling with Voyager for a while."

"What else did you tell her?"

"Just that we would be traveling to study a nebula between here and the Alpha Quadrant."

"So you didn’t really tell her."

"No, I did not."

"Are you going to say anything to the Doctor?"

"No. I don’t think so. Not right now, anyway."

"Don’t you think you should?"

He rolled over and looked at her, "Ketaria, there is nothing to tell. All I have is a nagging doubt. I have nothing to base anything on. I can be right, but I can also be wrong. I hope I am wrong. I probably am wrong. My fear is most likely driven by the guilt I feel over what happened to Seven."

"Kahkar, what happened to Seven was not your fault. It could not have happened just as easily as it happened."

He looked at her, a smile crossing his lips. "I know that, Ketaria. But I still feel a certain amount of responsibility. If it had not been for my skills and knowledge, she would not have gotten pregnant to begin with."

"And because of your skills and knowledge, she is on the road to recovery. You have balanced the bad with the good. And they have a beautiful baby because of you."

He laughed and lay down, pulling her close to him, "You always know what to say to make me feel better."

"That is my job as your wife." She sighed, "We will enjoy the next few months of our ship traveling with Voyager. We will learn from each other." She pushed up on her elbow and looked at her husband, "And nothing bad is going to happen to anyone."

"Well, we are going to make certain of that, aren’t we?"

"Yes, my dear husband, that we are."

* * *

She was walking down the corridors of Voyager. This was her first real outing, and she was enjoying the freedom. She approached the doors and hesitated a moment before moving close enough to cause them to open. She took a deep breath and moved forward. The doors opened for her, and she entered. She saw his back. He turned to see who had entered.

"Seven!"

"Hello, Harry."

"It is good to see you. You are looking great." He blushed. "I mean, you look well."

"Thank you. I am feeling well." She walked over and sat on the edge of the platform in front of the Astrometrics screen, looking around her. "It is good to be back in here. This used to be home to me."

"Before you moved into your new home."

She looked at him, "Yes."

He fiddled with the controls on the computer console. She could tell he wanted to ask her a question so she sat, quiet and waiting.

"I, um, I heard you were able to talk with Tuvok telepathically."

It wasn’t really a question, but it was.

"Yes. I was."

His concentration on the computer increased. "Were you able to communicate like that with anyone else?"

"I was able to communicate with Ketaria."

"Of course. I remember. You talked to me through her when I visited."

"I know."

"Yes, of course you do." He was getting more nervous.

"Ensign Kim," her voice rang like her old voice, and he looked up at her immediately. She caught herself, "Harry, you want to know if I was able to know your thoughts when you visited me."

"Are you reading my mind, Seven?" He was trying to make light of the situation to cover up his nervousness.

"No, I am not reading your mind." She smiled at him, then took a deep breath. "But I was able to when you visited me."

He closed his eyes in distress and put his hand to his forehead, partly to hide his face from her.

"I owe you an apology. I was learning to use my newfound skill, but I was not able to control it. I was not able to turn off the ability to know another’s thoughts. You might be interested to know that my ability to communicate telepathically is diminishing as I improve physically. Tuvok says I might be able to retain some ability if I worked at it, but I am not certain I wish to." She looked at Harry Kim, "Knowing another’s thoughts can be painful."

Harry nodded, but he would not look at her. She felt his unease. She stood and went to him, "Harry, look at me."

He shook his head, lowering it as he did.

"You were a good friend to me when I came on board Voyager. I did not appreciate how kind you were. I did not know what it was to be human, to feel or to love. Had I been capable of those feelings, things might have been different between us. You are a good person, Harry Kim. I am honored to be loved by you. You should know, I feel something for you, also."

He looked up at her, an ironic smile on his face, "But what you feel for me is not love."

"It is not the same love I feel for the Doctor, but I think what I feel for you is a kind of love. Kathryn B’Elanna has helped me understand that there is more love than that which I share with the Doctor." She sighed softly, "Love is an overwhelming feeling, and I am not always able to sort it out or explain it."

"Don’t worry about that, Seven. You are only being human when that happens."

She laughed. Then, she reached her hand up to his face, pulling it to her so she could kiss his cheek.

"I must go. The Doctor is waiting on me."

"Well, you don’t want to keep your husband waiting."

"No, I do not." She started to walk out of the Astrometrics Lab. Then, she stopped and turned, "I will look forward to returning to work here with you soon."

"Me too, Seven."

She left. He watched her walk out, and the doors close behind her. He sighed heavily, putting his hand to his cheek to touch the place where she had kissed him.

* * *

Seven stood over the crib, watching Kathryn B’Elanna sleep.

"Are you going to stand there and watch her all night?"

"I think I could." She turned her head to him, smiling.

"Yes. I think you probably could." He chuckled softly, then patted the pillow beside him, "But I think it is time for you to come to bed."

She lingered for a second more, then turned from her baby and moved to the bed. The Doctor pulled back the covers for her, and she stretched herself beside him. He reached up and activated the headboard and a soft hum filled the room. She looked at him, surprised.

"Kahkar’s orders," he explained. "It was the only way he agreed to allow you out of the biobed tonight."

"I did not know that."

"Yes. He was pretty specific. The headboard must be functioning."

"Any other orders I should know about?"

"Let’s see. Headboard. A good night’s rest. I get up with Kathryn B’Elanna." The Doctor was counting off the orders on his fingers. "I think that about covers it."

"Are you certain that is all?"

He raised his head, a knowing look on his face, "I think what you are asking comes under the heading of a good night’s rest." He wrapped his arms around her and kissed her, then hugged her tightly. "Now, you rest."

"Are you going to sleep?"

"Not right away."

"You are going to monitor me for a while."

"Yes, Seven, I am."

She lay there, feeling the warmth coming from him. The practical part of her mind knew he had adjusted his program to project the warmth for her comfort. She knew he was monitoring her heartbeat, her pulse, her respiration. She knew he was an emergency medical hologram; a computer program projecting photonic particles to appear human and using force fields to feel solid. But none of that mattered to her right now.

She lifted herself up so she could look at him. "Doctor."

"What, Seven?" He was immediately concerned.

"You asked me if I ever thought about the fact that you are a computer program and not even a real person. You asked me if that ever bothered me."

He looked at her, and she could see the fear starting to appear in his eyes. "Yes, I did."

"I cannot lie to you. I have thought about that. It is our truth. We cannot escape it. We were brought together by that truth. But it does not bother me, Doctor. I think it bothered me in the beginning, before we were together, but it is not anything I even think about now. You are a real person to me. You are my husband, and I am proud to stand beside you as your wife. I love you. That is what is important."

He looked into her face, his thoughts almost overwhelmed by relief and by his love for her. He took her face in his hands and pulled her to him, kissing her lips, then her face and then her lips again in a long, lingering kiss. He pulled her back down beside him and held her tightly. He did not say anything. He did not think he could.

"Are we still going to follow all of Kahkar’s orders tonight?"

"Yes, Seven, we are." His voice was emphatic. He gave a short laugh, "I don’t want to, but we are going to."

She nestled in his arms, "Yes, Doctor." He heard humor in her voice. Then, he heard her sigh, "I love you."

He kissed the top of her head, "I love you very much, Seven."

"I know you do."

It took only a couple of breaths for her to be asleep. He listened to her breathing and felt the steady beat of her heart. He concentrated and heard Kathryn B’Elanna’s breathing. He let his senses monitor both of them, making certain that all was normal.

She was right. This was their truth.

"Truth is good," he thought.