When Seven only responded with silence and a tightening of her jaw Janeway added, "Seven, I can’t live like this. It isn’t in me to be helpless. If there is a chance that this will work, even a slight one, I have to take it. Can you understand that?"

It appeared for a moment that Seven wouldn’t respond. When she finally did, it was in a way that Kathryn never would have expected. Pushing away from the door, the young woman approached and sat on the rim of the tub. At first she simply looked into Janeway’s face as though seeking answers to unimaginable questions.

"I understand that you are stubborn," Seven said shortly eliciting a surprised chuckle from Janeway, which she responded to with her own uniquely slight smile. "But I also understand that you must do this. Being captain is part of who you are. I also know, that it is that part of you that I first began to love."

Reaching out slowly, afraid of possible rejection, Seven lightly caressed a heated cheek. "It wasn’t until much later that I realized that I also loved Kathryn."

"Seven, please," Kathryn said pulling away. It was too soon. She wasn’t ready for this. She had only just begun to entertain the notion that Seven had feelings of this nature. What if she was just responding with sympathy to Kathryn’s injury and had mistaken her feelings? Seven was new to emotions, it would be easy to misread them. "You don’t know what you’re saying."

"You think I do not understand my emotions, but you are wrong. I may be new to these feelings, but that does not mean I am ignorant of what they are. I have loved you for a very long time."

If she had hoped for a mutual declaration from the captain, she was due to be disappointed. As much as Kathryn wanted to reciprocate she just couldn’t. If she said the words she would be committed and she knew it would mean she had also committed Seven; whether the other woman knew it or not. Circumstances being what they were, that was something she just couldn’t do. It wasn’t fair to Seven. If something went wrong and she died, it would be as though she had snatched a prize away from her at the last moment. It wasn’t right.

On the other side of that argument, there had been so much wasted time already. Both of them cared deeply for each other and there was only a short amount of it left before the surgery. Could she truly ignore what they felt because she was afraid of trying something new? With no clear answer, she decided to compromise.

Lifting a dripping hand out of the hot water, she grasped Seven’s and held it gently. "It will be a few days before the doctor is ready to try the procedure. Would you mind spending that time with me?"

Staring deeply into blue-gray eyes Seven responded, "I can think of no place I would rather be."

A long slow smile curled Kathryn’s lips. She didn’t know what the next few days would bring, but she did know that she would spend them next to the person that meant everything to her, even if she could never tell her as much.

Contacting Chakotay briefly over the com-system, Kathryn apprised him that Seven would be caring for her until the surgery. Since Janeway rarely accepted help from anyone and hadn’t needed caring for since the accident, the excuse hardly made sense. But to his credit he didn’t question her and happily informed her that he would log Seven of Nine unavailable except during a ship-wide emergency until after the procedure. Kathryn had no way of knowing that their mutual affection had been clear to anyone who bothered to look for a very long time. She also had no way of knowing that she had played into his hands by getting Seven out of harm’s way.

Commander Tuvok had discovered some residual energy signatures in the cargo bay during his investigation of the accident. It was fortunate that he had checked the cavernous bay when he had since the readings were beginning to fade. Just a half hour more and he would have found nothing. 

Chakotay was still angry that the Vulcan hadn’t informed him at the time of the discovery, but Tuvok said he had wanted to keep the information quiet until he was sure concern was warranted. When Voyager’s current leader asked exactly what concern the security officer was speaking of, he was more than a little shocked by the use of the words attempted murder. Now he was just plain angry. Someone had deliberately tried to kill Kathryn Janeway.

After everything this crew had been through together in the Delta Quadrant he had thought they had become a family. He was disappointed and frightened to see that apparently he was wrong. If there was an assassin on board, who knew how many other disgruntled crewmen were running around? That being the case, would the ship ever be truly safe? First Seska then Michael Jonas and now they were facing another traitor. Would it never end?

Reaching up to tap his combadge, he hailed Tuvok to receive an update. He had told Chakotay that he had detected similar energy signatures in various locations on the lower decks and believed that he could narrow down the list of suspects. That was an hour ago and during a crisis Chakotay wasn’t known for his patience. Fortunately Tuvok was very good at his job and had information that would pacify the man for now.

"Commander, I have narrowed the list of suspects to four."

"How’d you do that so fast?" Chakotay asked in amazement. He could almost see the raised brow over the com-signal

"Logically, of course. I began by discounting all crewmen on duty and at their posts. All personnel engaged in recreational programs were also recorded by the computer and discounted. Needless to say, through various methods others were eliminated until only four remained."

Nodding in understanding Chakotay urged impatiently, "Okay, I get the picture. Who are the four?"

"Crewmen Marla Gilmore and Michael Lessing, and Ensign Chell, who were absent from their post at the time of the attack, and Lieutenant Andrea Kinsie who was off duty. The first three were moving from deck to deck carrying out various duties during the time the computer sensors went off-line."

"What about Kinsie? Where was Kinsie at the time?"

"Lieutenant Kinsie stated she was in her quarters. She got off duty and returned to her quarters to sleep. Computer records indicate that she was in her quarters before and again after the attack."

Thinking quickly Chakotay realized that information meant absolutely nothing. Kinsie could have left her combadge in her quarters to fool the computer. Any of the other three crewmen could have detoured in their assigned tasks and made a stop by the cargo bay on the way to other destinations. With the sensors off-line it would be impossible to know. 

The unique energy signatures that had shown up in various places were their only concrete evidence. Who would have the engineering abilities to create a device that could not only mask life signs, but also create the appearance of anomalous readings to lure the captain into the cargo bay? It would also have to be someone with a background in psychology to be able to predict the captain’s reaction. Unless the true target hadn’t been the captain.

He hated to entertain that notion. If the target hadn’t been the captain, then who? No, it was easier to hope that the would-be assassin was simply a poor marksman and had missed in their attempt on the captain.

Chakotay was the expert on crew personnel since part of his duties were determining who would work best together. To do that he had to know individual backgrounds including educational specialties and personal profiles. Marla Gilmore and Janeway had a history of antagonism created by Gilmore’s involvement with exploiting a Delta Quadrant species while being assigned to Captain Ransom’s crew. They had been aboard another Starfleet vessel that was stranded in the Delta Quadrant, but they were using the species as fuel to shave years off their journey. 

Crewmen Lessing had also been a member of that crew and had even more of a reason to dislike Janeway. She had threatened to let the aliens have him if he didn’t give her the information she needed. It would be a logical assumption that either of them would want to get even with the captain.

As for Chell, he was discarded almost immediately. The Bolian had the opportunity, but he had no motive. More importantly, he lacked the ambition or skills to pull off such a plan. The last suspect, Andrea Kinsie was an enigma.

Kinsie had no personal antagonistic history with Janeway. To Chakotay’s knowledge they had never even interacted. But Kinsie was a graduate of the Daystrom Institute before attending Starfleet Academy. She had double majors in Psychology and Quantum Theory. Ready to pound his head against the wall, Chakotay had to face the fact that she just had no motive.

Coming to a disturbing conclusion, the burly man asked, "Tuvok, do you believe that it could be more than one assassin? Could a small group of people have conspired to do this?"

"It is always a possibility, Commander. However I find it very unlikely. More than one perpetrator would create more of a risk for leaking information. Additionally, I took the liberty of verifying with other crewmen that each of these individuals was where the computer indicated. Only one of them was unaccounted for."

"Who was it, Tuvok?" No matter what the Commander answered, Chakotay knew he wouldn’t like it.

Hesitating only briefly to consider the question, the Vulcan responded, "I believe it would be prudent if we met to discuss this in person."

"Right. Meet me in the ready room."

_____

Crawling lithely on her belly Andrea Kinsie wormed along the vent under the Jeffries tube floor. That damn Vulcan had been snooping around deck fifteen everywhere from storage bays to anti-matter storage pods. She wasn’t ignorant enough to believe that she hadn’t left some evidence of her doings there. Even if she had only left a miniscule hair or fiber it would be enough to condemn her. It wasn’t like a lot of crewmen had business in such an obscure location. Now she was reduced to crawling along in this filth so that the computer wouldn’t detect her. 

Since there were no sensors in the floor grate, security would be unable to locate her. If they ran a check for human life signs, they would find her but she was willing to bet they hadn’t progressed to that point yet. Her combadge had been left in her quarters should anyone check her location. She could still accomplish her mission. Once Janeway was gone Chakotay could be persuaded to head for the alpha quadrant with no more delays.

Stopping for a moment to catch her breath, Kinsie took a moment to strengthen her resolve. Janeway deserved more than death for stranding them in this hellacious quadrant. The crew had been subjected to one hostile alien attack after another and the captain had never retaliated with the technologies at their disposal. 

Voyager was more than a match for any alien in the sector and they could have been a force to be reckoned with. Instead they were seen as helpless prey because they were led by a gutless captain. Chakotay was gutless too, but at least his crew could influence him. He would bend to a superior force. Janeway was too pig-headed to do so, and even crippled she would be an obstacle. Andrea had been ambivalent at first about her decision, wondering if she were teetering on the brink of insanity. She finally decided that she was obsessed with Janeway’s death, but it was a necessary evil. It was better this way.

Sighing heavily, she began moving again. The dust was thick in the vents and threatened to make her sneeze, but she fought the urge convinced that it would give her away if anyone happened to be working in the area. She was nearing the section where the captain’s quarters were located and would soon have to leave the vents for the Jeffries tubes to make the four deck climb. It would be more dangerous then, but she could do it.

Abruptly the tube ended. The light in the grates was so dim that Kinsie didn’t see it and struck her head against the inner bulkhead. Her mind was in such a haze that she was motionless for a moment before she realized that she had run out of space. Confident that she was alone in the section of the ship; she pushed the heavy grate up with difficulty and climbed out into the Jeffries tube. The horizontal shaft ran straight up to an access tube on deck three. She could use the tricorder she carried in her pocket to determine if anyone was in the corridor before she exited there and ran to the captain’s quarters. 

Janeway would be dead before anyone even knew she had left her room. She was sure the captain would be alone in her quarters. Everyone knew she hadn’t left her rooms since the accident, even taking her meals there.

Andrea knelt next to the inner hatch of the access tube and placed her ear against the tritanium hull. There were no sounds to indicate anyone in the corridor so she gently eased the door open. Still hearing and seeing nothing, she ran a quick tricorder reading and was gratified to find herself alone. The captain’s quarters were just at the end of the corridor. She would move quickly and override the entrance code. Once Janeway was dead, Andrea would have to quickly leave Voyager. She already had an escape plan, but if she didn’t implement it immediately Tuvok’s security team would catch her and she would spend the rest of her life in the brig.

____

Seven was surprised that Kathryn allowed her to assist her in the bath, but she wasn’t about to question it. There was only a moment of hesitation on the older woman’s part when the blonde slipped her arms around her to lift her from the bath. Their eyes met and Seven waited in anticipation for Janeway to pull away.

Looking into ice-blue eyes, she almost did back away. But the hurt lingering just beyond the horizon stopped her. She had already made the decision to give the next few days to exploring this possibility. It wasn’t going to work if she started putting up walls right away. Shrugging her shoulders with a wry grin, she gave in by twining her arms around Seven’s neck.

Seven felt a thrill of excitement course through her veins as she lifted the slight woman. The wet, naked flesh pressed sweetly against her and soaked through her bio-suit. She sat Kathryn in the anti-grav chair only long enough to dry her with a towel. Then hefting her into her arms again, carried her into the bedroom.

Kathryn watched in amusement as Seven gently dried her off. She was fully capable of carrying out such an action herself, but had to admit that she enjoyed relinquishing control for once. But when the other woman carried her into the bedroom, things suddenly took on a whole new meaning.

"Uh, Seven? What are you doing?" she asked as Seven sat her gently on the edge of the bed.

Confused, the younger woman responded, "I am preparing to dress you."

"Ah." Maybe it was just wishful thinking on her part Kathryn decided. She wanted Seven to think what she was thinking. But evidently the other woman was too naïve for that. Still, she had said that she was in love with her. Maybe it was time to capitalize on that. She might not have the use of her legs and this was definitely a new experience for her, but that didn’t mean she couldn’t heat things up a little.

Planning her next move, Kathryn waited patiently propped up on her hands as she waited for Seven to retrieve her nightgown from the corner chair. Seven gathered the material in her hands and pulled it over Kathryn’s head. Intent on dressing the captain before she could catch a chill, Seven was caught off guard when she felt an elegant hand placed over the ribs on her right side. Her breath caught in her throat, but she tried to ignore the electric surge. 

Kathryn was just trying to steady herself. Feeling awful for taking pleasure in such a simple action, she tried to focus on her task. She should be content just being allowed this time with the woman she loved.

Then the hand began to move, gently caressing her side through the material of her outfit and sliding down to outline the metal bands adorning her abdomen. "Kathryn," she asked breathlessly, "what are you doing?"

"Exploring…possibilities," was the equally breathless response. "Seven…"

"Yes?"

"Lose the nightgown."

Kathryn actually heard Seven gulp in sudden nervousness and smiled at the very human response. Reaching up, she took the garment from nerveless fingers and tossed it carelessly aside.

"You said you loved me," she reminded the blonde. "I assume that means you want to be with me. In every way?"

Unable to speak Seven could only nod. But she was saved having to speak when Kathryn took both of her hands into her own.

"Well, I don’t mind guiding you in this. Actually," she admitted in a smoky tone that sent shivers down the former Borg’s spine. "I’m rather looking forward to it. But I am going to have to ask for your help."

"How…" Seven licked her dry lips before she could finish the question. "How would you have me proceed?"

"Well, you could start by turning back the covers."

If the moment hadn’t been so intense Kathryn would have laughed at the speed with which the young woman moved. Not wanting to lose the mood, she diligently bit her lip but could do nothing to keep the amusement out of her eyes. Seven didn’t seem to notice when she turned back and lifted Kathryn again. Then she placed the smaller woman gently against the pillows and stood waiting for further instructions.