DISCLAIMER: The Star Trek characters
are the property of Paramount Studios, Inc and Viacom. The story contents are the
creation and property of Djinn and are copyright (c) 2024 by Djinn. This story
is Rated R.
Command Teams (Part 3)
by Djinn
13.
Seven
was in her ready room with the door open to the bridge so people could come in
and use the replicator, when she heard Sidney suddenly say loudly,
"Captain on the bridge."
Which
fucking captain?
She
got up and walked to the door and saw Worf moving toward her. "Captain
Seven of Nine." He inclined his head but there was little that was
friendly in his manner.
Then
again he was a Klingon. He had as big a resting bitch face as she did.
"Captain
Worf. Please." She gestured for him to come up.
"Raffi
is on break?"
"No,
she unexpectedly got into a seminar she really wanted to take. She'll be gone
overnight. She didn't tell you that? Her new suitor and all?"
"So
she did tell you I am pursuing her?"
"She
has honor." She walked around to her desk, sat and left him standing.
"Why are you on my ship? Surely not just to visit her?"
"It
is you I wish to speak to." He gestured to a chair at the table. "May
I sit?"
"Are
you going to be here that long?" She let her eyebrow rise and her head
tilt in the combination that used to totally piss Liam off.
"If
you wish to dispense with formalities, we shall. I know you have deep roots
with our future CINC. I do not wish to find myself suddenly transferred to a
moon on the other side of the quadrant."
"It
wouldn't be this quadrant." She smiled as falsely as she could.
"Of
course. So I thought I should ensure that you do not play your hand that
high."
What
was with the poker metaphors and the Picard people? She lifted her eyebrow
again, hopefully he'd figure out she wanted him to just get to the point.
"I
have been in a mood to reminisce about those moments aboard the ship, before we
boarded the shuttle to the Enterprise-D."
She
had no idea where he was going with this but did not like his tone. So self
assured. "And...?"
"You
were not unaffected by the call of the Borg."
"Yes,
but since I'm also a big damn hero, I fought it off."
"Did
you? Or was it perhaps that another queen already held dominion?"
She
went very still.
"Admiral
Picard was very helpful on why he thought you were able to fight it off, being
so recently reassimilated by the Jurati Queen. I checked your file. Your ties
to the Jurati are not noted."
She
scoffed. "So you think I'm her spy? Also, they're Federation
members."
"Associate
members."
"For
now." Clearly he didn't know about the tech, which was fine with her.
"So this is your big plan? Run me off for undisclosed links with the
Jurati?"
He
walked to the viewscreen. "Do you know what else is not noted in the logs
for that day?"
"Many
things, I assume. It was a rather hectic day."
"That
Commodore Shaw died."
"He
was wounded. That's on his medical report."
"I
heard him fall. Picard told us all the hit was fatal."
"Admiral
Picard is many things but doctor isn't one of them."
"Indeed."
He turned to look at her. "There were no guards or drones on the
maintenance level but there were surveillance cameras. And while someone did an
excellent job editing out anything after Shaw fell, I was able to retrieve the
missing footage. As well as footage missing later from sickbay, during the time
he was...recuperating."
She
forgot how to breathe.
"Yet
another member of the Jurati collective—one who clearly owes them his life? And
a doctor who falsified records. It won't just be you going down, Captain."
She
swallowed too visibly and was pissed when he clearly noted it. "A friend
of mine would call this the nuclear option."
"I
know the reference. And yes, it is."
"What
if I just tell Raffi you did this? Threatened all of us?"
"She
would be angry with me. But do you think she might not also find it romantic.
It is, after all, something I am only using to prevent you from playing
dishonorably."
"No,
I don't think she would find you blowing up three people's lives romantic. And
I have plenty of honor."
"Is
that so? How many times did you kill a person simply because you wanted them
dead? I am not a fan of the Rangers."
"Klingon
justice being so much more palatable. What was the name of the woman you
killed? The one you thought was a changeling?"
He
froze. "I did not think Raffaela would tell you about that."
"She
didn't. Riker has a big mouth."
He
seemed to exhale with relief. "Do not seek to escalate this matter to
Admiral Janeway and we will never have to find out how Raffaela feels about
this. Or perhaps tell her and see if the idea of saving you three doesn't help
her make her mind up all the more quickly—in my favor."
That
was actually a distinct possibility. Raffi could feel both noble and treasured.
"Get
the fuck off my ship, Captain. And don't come back without official orders
without clearing it with me first."
"Even
if your first officer invites me aboard?"
"Even
if."
"You
realize I can create official orders."
"You
realize I will log those orders."
"Logs
can, as we've seen, be changed."
"How
are you with Borg encryption?"
His
smile was grudgingly impressed. "Touché, Captain. I will leave you in
peace."
"Right.
Real peaceful."
She
watched him to make sure he got onto the lift, then said, "Computer,
location of Captain Worf from now until he is off the ship."
"Affirmative."
It began droning locations as Worf got off on the transporter room deck and
then beamed away.
"Seven
to transporter room."
"Transporter
room here."
"Where
did Captain Worf just beam to?"
"Monterrey."
"Of
course he did. Thank you. Seven out." She took a deep breath and then another.
Once she felt sufficiently calm, she sat at her terminal and looked up the
registrar's office, hitting the link to contact.
"Oh,
Captain Seven of Nine." The young lieutenant on the line was clearly a
fan. "How can I help you?"
"You
look young enough to have been..." She made the face she'd learned worked
with all the young officers who'd been so briefly assimilated, and he nodded.
"How are you doing?"
"Thank
you for asking, ma'am. And I'm fine. Other than..." He looked around.
"The
nightmares?"
He
nodded. "Do they ever go away?"
"Not
right away. But eventually." They'd probably be replaced with new things
to have nightmares about because life was an unmerciful bastard, but she'd
resist telling him that.
"That's
good to know." He leaned in. "What can I do for you?"
"Well,
actually, I just wanted to thank you for getting my first officer into the
Leadership Seminar in Monterrey. She was so sad she was only waitlisted. But
then at literally the last minute she got in."
"We
had a surprise cancellation. But that's how those intel types are. You sort of
book them in with a note to have back-up names."
"Well,
hopefully they'll get in on the next one."
"They'll
probably prefer that. Who wants to come when your boss is the keynote speaker
at dinner? How to not relax, right?"
She
groaned and nodded. "So the keynote speaker must leave though, right? The
attendees still have the night to kick back and relax."
"Oh,
no, the keynote holds a fireside chat thing after dinner. Then they stay the
night."
"Of
course they do. Coming back late would be..." She wanted to punch the
screen.
"So
inconvenient."
"Just
the word I was thinking, Lieutenant...?"
"Badgley."
"Lieutenant
Badgley. Well, again, thank you. I'm sure this means the world to her."
"It
was an honor to talk to you ma'am."
She
cut the connection and forced herself to sit very still until she didn't want
to break things. Then closed down her terminal, gave Mura the conn, and left
out the back way. "Computer, location of Commodore Shaw."
"Commodore
Shaw is in his office."
"Alone?"
"Affirmative."
She
could have the transporter room send her right there, but he'd fucking kill her
for being reckless. She took the time to have them send her to the main Command
hub and hurried to his office, hoping he hadn't left for a meeting.
He
hadn't. "Hey. To what do I owe this pleasure?"
"Worf."
"Ewww."
She
laughed at his expression. "Can I lock the door and make out with
you?"
"Hard
yes to that. In fact, Computer, lock door."
"Door
locked."
He
walked to her and pulled her into his arms. They kissed for a long time but
then he eased away and asked, "What's going on?"
"Can
I do a sleepover tonight?"
"At
my place?"
She
nodded.
"Just
you?"
"Oh,
Raffi's at the Leadership seminar at Monterrey. They had a late cancellation
and she was free. The person who cancelled was intel. Guess who the keynote
speaker is for this running?"
"Fuck
me." There was grudging respect in his eyes. But also a bit of anger too.
She
decided telling him the rest of it would have to wait. One of them should have
a good day at work.
"So
this is tit for tat? Do we think they're hooking up?"
"I
have no idea. And I'm relatively certain that she doesn't know he's the
speaker. Well she does now because she's seen the syllabus but didn't before
she left. So the way I figure it, if she calls to tell us he's there, we'll
tell her we're at your place if she needs us. If she doesn't, then why bother
her with our current location."
He
frowned. "You're telling the truth about Worf being there, but you're
lying about something else."
"What?
No." Fuck. How did he always know? "I'll tell you later. I need to
handle something first."
His
eyes narrowed. "Am I going to like this."
"Actually
I think you will." If she managed to fix things. She pulled him back to
her and kissed him some more. "I love you. Have a good day. Call me when
you're home."
"If
we can play tonight, why don't we? There's a band I like. Local guys, just at a
bar."
"Sounds
good."
"Can
you wear a lot of leather?"
She
laughed and nodded. "Let me out."
"Computer,
unlock door."
"Door
is unlocked."
And
she was off, heading for the elevator that would take her to the back end of
the executive suite Kathryn was in. The back end because she wanted Kathryn's
exec, the king of all things rumored and hidden.
And
the man who had taught her the historical meaning of mutually assured
destruction. Mostly by making her watch James Bond movies.
She
walked right past the back receptionist the way she always did—the guy was
terrified of her—and headed for Tom's office.
"Hey
you," he said when she knocked on the frame of his open door. "Come
in."
"I
need your help. I know Kathryn wouldn't have appointed Worf to head of intel
without vetting him. But I also know she would have tasked you to check with
your various sources. I need something on him."
"I
can't give you that."
"Mutually
assured destruction. Or the belief that we have that. That's what I need. Just
give me a few words that will let him know I have something that equals what he
has on me. They can be meaningless to me. Just not to him."
He
shook his head.
"Do
you want to explain to B'Elanna why Liam is being drummed out?"
"Fuck
no. But what did he do."
"Nothing,
except get Neelixed."
"Ohhhh.
I heard he was killed but then he was walking around so..."
"Heard
from who?"
He
laughed at her. "I never divulge my sources—you know that. Thank you for
doing that. He's a great guy."
"I
know."
"Why
would Worf have it out for him?" He started to laugh. "Oh wait, is this
about the thing Chakotay was talking about to Kathryn that I wasn't supposed to
hear?"
She
gave him the eyebrow.
"Seven
of Nine, you little minx you. All right. Celestine ladders. I guarantee
whatever he's got on you will pale in comparison."
"That
means nothing."
"To
you. Which is what you asked for and what I can give. Now get out of here. I
have a meeting in a few."
"Thank
you, Tom."
"Thank
me by making Liam happy." He started to laugh. "Although I'm not sure
he deserves this embarrassment of riches. You think you three need a fourth and
fifth for bridge or nude croquet or something?"
"No."
And she turned and left, stalking out and not stopping until she was back on
the ship. She sat in the chair, closed her eyes for a moment until she could
feel her ship, and took a moment to commune. Then she walked into her ready
room and hit her combadge once the doors closed. "Seven to Worf."
"Worf
here."
"How's
Monterrey?"
His
laughter was quickly cut off but real. "It is lovely. Shall I say hello to
Raffaela when I see her?"
She
ignored the dig. "I assume you're somewhere safe to talk?"
"I
am. As much as one can on an open comm line."
"Are
you familiar with the concept of mutually assured destruction?"
There
was a long pause and then, "I am."
"Celestine
ladders."
The
silence was so complete she thought the connection had dropped. Then he coughed
slightly and said, "Yes. That does...change things."
"This
contest is on, and I accept that. But if you ever threaten me or mine again
that way, you'll find out what an ex-Borg, ex-Ranger, ex-cage fighter trained
by a Hirogen can do when she calls you out. Are we clear?"
"We
are. How did you...find that information."
"I
used to find lots of things in the armpits of the quadrant as the ranger you so
dislike. Finding something on you here was child's play. Enjoy your evening. Oh
and treat her well or I'll kill you for the fun of it. Seven out."
And
she cut the line.
She
got back up, walked out to her chair, and leaned back, smiling in the way Liam
used to call dangerously self satisfied.
But
she was. That had felt so fucking good.
14.
Raffi
was headed for the elevator, looking to decompress before dinner—and not deal
with Worf, except he came around a corner, saw her, and rushed the doors.
She
bit back a sigh as he forced them open.
"Raffaela,
this is a—"
"If
you say 'surprise' to me, I will knee you in the groin so hard you will cry big
baby tears." She hit the door close button before her classmates could
join them. "What the hell, Worf? You engineered this and don't say you
didn't."
"You
mentioned that you were interested in the class."
They
had talked about a lot of things that night walking around after dinner. She
may have. "Okay but the person who dropped—were they one of yours?"
"They
did not want to go in the first place and were very grateful to be given an
out."
"So
we're back to this—you might as well be faceless words on a screen." The
door opened to her floor and she stormed off. Then she turned and shoved her
hand against his chest since he was following right behind her. "You are
not coming in. God damn it, Worf. You puppet-mastered me all through the whole
Red Lady bullshit and that was okay because it was an op. But I am not an
op."
He
had the grace to look repentant. Sort of.
"I
will see you at dinner. And for your fireside thingie. Stupid ass name. There
isn't even a fire going."
"I
will ask for one if you want it."
"You
are really not listening."
"I
am. What other direction should I have gone from you noting the lack of a
fire?" He had the look Jae had often worn—the "I can't win"
look.
Seven
would have understood. Ironically she thought Liam would have too. So this was
not due to the 'dick makes me stupid' factor it was the 'just generally
clueless' factor. "Go away. Maybe, if I feel so inclined, after dinner, we
can go for a walk. Maybe. Now, I'm going to go call my girlfriend and tell her
you're here so she doesn't think I'm sneaking around on her and my new
boyfriend."
His
face did something weird.
"What
was that? What expression was that exactly?"
"Seven
of Nine knows I am here."
She
had to stand very still so she didn't hit him. "I see. And why does she
know?"
"Because
I decided to launch an opening salvo. A quick, surprise attack."
"I'm
guessing that didn't go well?" She rolled her eyes in what was probably a
pretty good imitation of Seven.
"She
was a more...formidable opponent than I had anticipated."
"No
shit. She survived for years doing crap we'd get killed at."
"I
doubt the veracity of that claim."
"You
know what you can do with that doubt?"
"Take
it and leave until later when perhaps you will walk with me if you feel so
inclined?"
"Oh,
you were listening. Good." She turned and headed down to her room and this
time he didn't follow her.
Fuck.
Seven was going to be so mad. She commed her on the hotel terminal so she had a
big screen and smiled at what she was wearing. "Oooh, sexy."
"Hey.
Is it a good seminar?" Seven's happiness at seeing her was unmistakable
and Raffi felt the tension of the day slide off.
Until
she thought about Worf. Fuck.
"It's
a great class. But Worf's here—as guest speaker, not an attendee. I swear I
didn't know."
"I
know. He and I had a bit of an interaction today."
"He
may have indicated that." She was distracted by Seven's cleavage as she
shifted, so she studied her outfit. "Not that I mind but why are the girls
so prominent and all this leather is happening?"
"Liam
wants to go listen to a band. He asked me to wear leather. I feel like I'm
trying too hard."
"Back
up." She assessed. Black leather jacket, black leather tight pants, black
leather boots, black low cut top. "I know I love your ranger get up, but
that much leather for going out, not a good look. Also you look like you're in
mourning."
Seven
started to laugh. "Fashion is confusing."
"Keep
the jacket and the boots. Grab my denim skirt and the button-up white shirt.
Unbutton it some, but a little less boob than what you've got going on
now."
"For
real?"
"Yeah.
That black top's just for me."
Seven
laughed but slipped off the jacket and boots and pulled the top over her head,
then began to dig through Raffi's side of the closet. "Since when?"
"Since
now. He coming back with you?"
"He'll
be here soon to get me but we're doing a sleepover at his place." She
pulled on Raffi's favorite white shirt and the jean skirt and then pulled the
jacket and boots back on. "Better?"
"You
look so hot."
"I
was definitely trying too hard before."
"You
looked good in the black, mostly leather thing too. But it's a different
message you were sending. More sexy assassin, less fun girlfriend." She
laughed. "Wear red lipstick. That one I have that doesn't come off no
matter how much you kiss."
"And
I have put that to the test." She was staring into the screen, not looking
away, but then she swallowed more visibly than normal. "I need to tell you
that I was really mad at Worf. And at you because of Worf. Going to Liam's
instead of staying here was my idea and—" She sighed. "I think it was
payback."
"But
you're telling me about it. So pretty inefficient payback."
"Because
you called. If you hadn't—if you'd just been with him and left it not knowing
if I was in the dark or not..." She shook her head as her eyes started to tear
up—she always got pissed when she cried during a discussion.
Raffi
reached out and touched the screen. "Babe."
Seven
shook her head again. "Fuck." She did the looking up at the ceiling thing
she did to try to stop tears. "And the way he just waltzed onto the
ship."
"Oh,
shit, no. I thought he meant he did it at Command. Big mistake. So big."
She started to laugh. "Whatever he did, he seriously underestimated
you."
"Oh,
it was an epic flop, Raff. And I was so pissed off. I told him if he didn't
treat you well, I'd kill him for fun."
"If
he doesn't treat me well, I'll kill him for fun. But...nothing's going
to happen tonight."
"You
don't know that."
"I
do actually. This is a class that I want and need. These are my cohort. I don't
need him horning in and making googly eyes while I should be networking. I want
to be respected, not having people think I'm sleeping with the keynote speaker.
And let me just say that being 'managed' sucks. Why didn't you tell me?"
Seven
laughed. "Yeah. How did I never mention that?"
"If
I tell you that I like this—that it's bothering you that he's here,
interested—don't get mad, okay?"
"Of
course it bothers me. I love you. I don't want to lose you. Having Liam in the
mix doesn't change that. I'm sorry that I let you feel like I wouldn't
care."
"You
didn't exactly but...things can get kind of hands off."
"Like
with Elnor?"
She
nodded.
Seven
was quiet for a long beat. "We're being honest so I'll tell you that he
and I are never going to be mother and son because the first relationship we
forged was friendship. And we are that. I talk to him quite a bit."
Raffi
knew she was beaming. "For real?"
"Yeah
for real. I mean, he was on the cube with me before you took him on. I love
him. He's earnest and curious and brave and his heart had to heal from being
abandoned. I resonate with him the same way I do with Jack."
Raffi
leaned back. "Here I wanted you to be a parent and you've been busy
being...a big sister."
"Does
it have to be a relative? My parents weren't exactly role models."
"Sister
works though—it's not like you had shitty siblings, after all. Unless you count
every single drone..."
"Let's
not."
She
laughed at Seven's expression. "Go put the lipstick on. I want to see the
final product. And a little mascara. And just a hint of blush."
"Fine.
Hold on." She disappeared into the bathroom. "Can you still hear
me?"
"Yep."
"We
need to work on our encryption."
"Excuse
me?"
"Trust
me, we do. We'll put our heads together when you get back. I'm thinking a
B-hacker hybrid."
When
did they start calling all things Borg "B"? "That's so not
regulation."
"Yeah,
well, regulation isn't getting the job done." She came back out.
"So?"
She'd
done her blush just right, her waves were sexy as hell, her eyes sparkled, and
her lips...
"You
are so beautiful. You know that, right? And the implants are working for you.
So hot."
Seven
touched the one over her eye. "It seems like a long time ago that I didn't
have them." She smiled tenderly. "Long ago and far away."
The
chime sounded and Seven said, "Come."
Liam
walked in, looking scrumptious in jeans and a black leather jacket, saw the
terminal, and hurried over, saying, "Raffi, how is our student?" He
glanced at Seven, then looked at her again. "Oh my God you look good.
People are going to be so jealous of me." He sat down in front of the
screen. "Next time, we'll all go and I'll have two beautiful women on my
arm."
"Or
we'll have you on ours." Seven never missed a beat with him. Their
repartee was almost a work of art.
"That
works. Good class?"
"Yeah.
Except Worf's here."
"Thought
you liked him." He looked like he really hoped she didn't anymore.
"Didn't
need him horning in on my learning time. I mean he was scheduled as a speaker
for months—I checked when I got here. But still, my getting in was his
doing."
"Well,
the next running is after the ship is due to leave. So enjoy the machinations.
But don't reward them."
It
was actually really good advice, but she was in the mood for some repartee too.
"You just don't want me to fuck him."
"Neither
of us do," Seven said, leaning in. "Enjoy your night. However you
want."
"Not
however you want. Don't listen to her." He pouted so prettily.
"It
was your idea that she be allowed to fuck him."
"It
wasn't my idea. I was just pointing out that if she didn't, she might wonder.
And we need wonder-free Raffi. Not, free of wonders, because you're full of
those, but you know, sure of us." He leaned in and kissed the screen.
"Come back to us free of Worf cooties. We miss you."
"I
miss you too. I have just enough time to decompress before dinner. I hope Worf
is a good speaker."
"Yeah,
I don't." Liam laughed as Seven pulled him away.
"Good
night, Raff. We love you." With a last grin, she cut the connection.
"I
love you too," she said as she moved to the bed, set her padd alarm for a
quick nap, and fell asleep thinking about how gorgeous they'd looked—and what
she would wear the next time they went out.
##
The
bar was packed and Liam was leaning against a pillar with Seven pulled up
against him, her back to his front. They weren't drinking—not anything they'd
talked about. Logistically it was just a pain without a table and would make it
difficult to hold on to each other the way they were.
Or
for her to grind against him the way she was.
Holy
shit, this woman. Both of them, really. Seven had told him Raffi had picked the
outfit and makeup.
Raffi
had outdone herself. He knew they looked good together because people were
doing double takes as they'd pass by. The fact that his hands were under her
jacket and clasped beneath her breasts probably only added to the picture they
were making.
He
loved this band anyway, but listening to them with her was so much better. Or
maybe it was just how hard she was making him by the way she was moving her ass
against him. Fortunately the band was occasionally very loud and he could groan
in her ear and make her laugh without disrupting anyone else's experience.
It
took all his willpower to keep his hands where they were and not go lower or
higher, crowd be damned. Although it was so jammed when people were trying to
get to the bar that he thought he might be able to get away with it if he timed
it right.
She
leaned her head back and turned for a kiss, and not a short one. He heard
several people around them groan and laughed into her mouth because fuck yeah,
he'd be turned on—and super jealous—too if he were them. She was grinning as
she eased away from him and went back to grinding gently.
He
imagined Raffi in his place, holding her, him watching them from the bar, eyes
never leaving theirs. Then he put Raffi in Seven's place and tried to imagine
Seven at the bar but could only come up with sort of a conga line of grinding
and let out a laugh.
"What?"
she said, turning to look at him.
"Tell
you later." He rubbed her nose with his and loved how her look changed from
sensual to surprised and delighted. She wasn't used to him being whimsical and
he kind of hated that. But on the other hand, imagine how many times he could
give her a happy just by not being a huge dick.
When
the band wrapped up, she turned in his arms and asked, "What was so
funny?"
"I
was imagining how we would have arranged ourselves if we'd had three instead of
two. First I went with her where I was and I'd be over at the bar, watching you
two like a giant pervert."
She
laughed.
"But
then I put Raffi in your place and tried to imagine you at the bar, but all I
could see was you getting in front of her and we'd have this conga line thing
with you grinding on her and her grinding on me." He grinned stupidly.
"I think it was funnier in my head."
"No,
it's good. I like that you think about all of us. Not just the woman taking
such pains to make you crazy." She mock glared at him then pulled him down
and kissed him, so much tongue, so much moaning—he was just fucking lost.
"Excuse
me," a super sexy voice said in his ear. "Do you guys need a
third?"
They
both stopped kissing and looked at the really, really stunning guy staring back
at them.
"You're
very pretty," Seven said with a soft smile. "But we already have a
third. And we love her."
"Can
you I give you my number anyway?"
"Yes,"
Shaw said in the subvocal way they'd worked out during their time as a command
team.
She
laughed and pulled out her padd to write the number down on. She winked at Shaw
as she stuffed the padd back in her jacket pocket then told the guy very
sweetly to go away.
"Just
in case?" she asked once he was gone.
"Well,
we may need to interview folks for adventurous times if we lose Raffi. I'm not
saying I want him for a permanent fixture."
"But
you do Raffi?"
"But
I do Raffi." He touched her lips. "She pick out the lipstick?"
"Yeah,
it's hers. So are half the clothes. She basically dresses me."
"God
damn it, why is that sexy?"
She
pressed a little harder against him. "Because I've made you crazy. I could
talk about warp coils and you'd think it was sexy."
"Well,
that is sexy. Straight up, no lie." He pulled her back in for a kiss.
"You want a drink?"
"No,
I want to go back to your place and make love to you."
"I
was really hoping for cheap beer and stale pretzels instead." He laughed
at her expression. "Give me a grind-free minute and we can go. Although
you really have me worked up."
"I
know. But you have amazing willpower."
"I
do, don't I? I am a god of that." He laughed. "Hey, tell me why you
were so pissed off today. That oughta cool things right down."
"Worf
was afraid I'd ruin the game by running to Kathryn and having him transferred
far, far away."
"Valid
concern. I mean you wouldn't do that, so that part wasn't valid. But if you
did, Kathryn has all that guilt about Chuckles and abandoning you to the Ranger
life. I bet she'd send him on a solo mission to inventory comets or
something."
She
laughed, but then her expression changed. To one that was serious in the way
he'd always taken serious as her captain. "He threatened us. You, Ohk, and
me. He found the missing footage."
"Oh,
fuck. But why me?"
"Undisclosed
ties to the Jurati. Same with me only I'm, per him, a member of her
collective."
"Are
you?"
"I'm
not sure. I think she did save me when the queen was trying to assimilate me
with all the younger crew. But Agnes has never asked anything of me. I've never
felt her inside my head the way I used to the queen when I was a drone. If I am
hers, it's a pretty mellow assimilation."
"But
I'm not B, right?"
"I
really don't think you are. But he could make the argument that since the N's
were used, and they were Agnes boosted, that you're Jurati adjacent if not
outright affiliated."
"So
we have to worry about this? Do we need to tell Ohk?"
"No.
I found something that was just as bad on him."
"Do
tell."
"I
can't. I mean I would if I knew what it was. Tom would only give me some words
that would mean something to Worf. And they did." She began to laugh.
"I owned him so fucking hard, Liam. I really was James 'T is for Take
That' Kirk."
"Of
course you were. And God love Tom Paris."
"Yes.
He volunteered him and B'Elanna for nude croquet if we need more members."
"Good
to know since you may have started a collective."
Her
laugh was the cackle that popped out without her control. It probably lowered
the 'so sexy I'm on fire' quotient for her a bit with any observers, but he
fucking loved it. "Can we go now, Liam?"
"Yes.
Yes we can."
##
Raffi
walked with Worf after the fireside chat thing ended and she'd had time to
network in the bar. The glory of tonic water with lime—no one could tell if it
was a drink or not.
She'd
thought he'd sit and glower but he'd been such an entertaining speaker both for
the keynote and the more informal Q&A by the nonexistent fire, that he had
a whole group clustered around him, peppering him with questions.
She
turned back to the group she was with and just enjoyed being part of command
track, having "arrived" after such a damned weird journey. The cadet
she'd been would never have believed the turns her life would take.
As
the evening began to break up, she met Worf's eyes and smiled, rising to go to
the door that looked out on the beach.
A
moment later he joined her. "A walk?"
"A
walk."
They
were quiet until they were out of earshot of the hotel, then she said, "I
didn't realize you were such a good public speaker."
"It
is something I have worked at."
"You'd
never know. You seem like a natural." They hit a place where they could
walk along the road or down on the beach. "You like beaches?"
"I
am agnostic, but anyplace with you would be a superior experience."
"Ooh,
Worf." She grinned and slipped off her sandals so she could walk barefoot
in the sand. "That was downright romantic." She glanced at him, saw a
shy little smile.
It
was adorable.
"I
was once humbled—even shamed—by a public speaking incident."
"You?"
"I
was invited by the Celestines to speak of my experience as the first Klingon in
Starfleet. I was arrogant back then and believed I could deliver an interesting
speech without researching the audience, what they would expect."
"Oh,
Worf. They're brutal if they hate you. They hated you?"
He
nodded.
"Enough
to throw things?"
"Yes."
"Rotten
fruit?"
"Oh,
no. For they, unlike myself, did take the time to research what a Klingon might
most dislike having thrown at him."
"You
mean...?"
"Tribbles.
So. Many. Tribbles." He took a deep breath. "It was unexpected and
they overwhelmed me. I looked at the crowd and saw only open mouths and
uplifted hands, all holding those horrible beasts. To my side also. So, I
decided to escape via the catwalk. Using their ladders."
"They
have hollow bones like birds. Did their ladders even hold—"
"No,
they did not. I broke three before I found one that seemed to be strong enough
for my bulk. I was halfway to the top when it broke and I was dumped back to
the stage, falling into a pile of tribbles. I could not move without touching
one. I...I believe I disassociated for a moment. Then someone came and helped
me off the stage." He met her eyes. "But not without a great many
Celestines capturing this on video. I have spent my life rooting out copies and
destroying them. But someone has one. My greatest shame and it is known
still."
She
was trying to look sympathetic but she just started to laugh.
"It
is why I now do my research before a speech. Practice for all
eventualities."
"Like
tribbles?" She started laughing harder. "I'm so sorry."
He
began to laugh too. "There have not been any tribbles since."
"Now
I understand your reaction on Daystrom Station to the attack tribbles."
"Truly
a nightmare." He put his arm around her in a very smooth movement. "I
share this moment with you, Raffaela, knowing you will not share it
further."
"I
won't. It's a very funny visual. Unless I think of how disoriented you might
have been—I've been there. Looking like a fool on some drug and people think
you're just reacting but there's a lot more going on inside you than just a
little reaction."
"Precisely.
I was not expecting to be a failure, but one cannot please every audience even
with appropriate research. But to have such a creature thrown in such
numbers."
"And
then to have slapstick humor be the next part."
"They
were laughing very hard at me. Some of the videos are quite shaky and you can
hear the howls of amusement."
She
started to laugh again. "Wow, this must have haunted you. This was years
ago?"
"Decades
at this point. I was...recently reminded of this shame."
"Ah
that video that still exists?"
"I
will find it. And I will destroy it as I have all the others."
"My
money's on you."
They
walked to the waters edge, sat in the sand just beyond where the waves crept
up.
"Did
you talk to Seven of Nine?" he asked.
"I
did. It was a really good talk. She...she told me something she's been holding
back, only I don't know why she held it back. I guess she thought it might
upset me but knowing it only made me really happy." She reached down and
took his hand. "I don't think she would have told me if you weren't
here—if I weren't here with you. So you're making things better just by being a
perceived threat."
"I
do not like the addition of perceived. I hope I am a threat. Are you here with
me, Raffaela?" He turned to her, searching her eyes. Then he leaned in and
kissed her.
She
let him, as much because the moment was sweet and gentle as that she wanted to know
what kissing a Klingon was like. It was a gentle kiss, nothing rough—she
imagined it was the first step in some complicated Klingon wooing ritual that
would end with her needing a regenerator and having bite marks.
If
they got that far.
She
wasn't ruling it out based on this kiss, but she did ease away as she felt him
reach for her. "Not tonight. I don't want to go back in there with sand
all over me. These are my peers."
"I
understand." He looked out to sea for a long time. "Although—was the
kiss displeasing? Is that why you want to stop?"
"Didn't
say that." She bumped her shoulder against his. "You're still in the
running."
"I
am relieved to hear that."
"Thought
you might be." She played with the sand, grabbing a handful and letting it
slide out in a steady stream.
"I
can see why Captain Seven is someone you would want. Her attractiveness and
charisma are undeniable. And her intelligence. But I must admit that I do not
understand your attraction to Liam Shaw. I was not impressed."
"Why?
Because he left himself open and got shot?"
"Well,
partially."
She
laughed. "He's funny. And he's kind. Kids adore him. Evie adores
him."
"That
is an unfair advantage."
"Well,
you could babysit with me. If she reacts like a tribble would, though, you are
so screwed."
"That
is my fear."
"I
think she'd like you."
"Is
he romantic? Gifts of flowers and chocolates."
"No,"
she said with a laugh. No one could call that mortal combat meets an orgy
bouquet he sent romantic. Hilarious, yes. Perfect for the moment, yes. But
romantic, no. "Seven isn't really either though. I think you might be more
sentimental even if you hide it in bluster."
"I
do not bluster. I glower convincingly and intimidate with my words."
"Like
I said."
"Is
he skilled in bed?"
She
knew her smile was way too wide. "I wish I could tell you no but yeah. He
really is."
He
let out an aggrieved-sounding sigh.
"Worf,
whatever happens, you enhance my life. You have a part in it. You're my friend.
I know you want to be more. And maybe you will be. Or maybe not, but whatever
happens, I do not want to lose you."
"I
do not want to lose you either. Even if you go with the lesser option and
choose them."
"There
he is." She laughed again and rested her head on his shoulder. "How
did the Celestines find that many tribbles?"
"I
have never known. And never inquired. I just wanted the memory to go
away."
"Totally
understandable, big guy."
##
Seven
followed Liam into his apartment and pushed him up against the wall, kissing
him the way she'd wanted to in the bar. She helped him shrug out of his jacket,
then realized he wanted to turn her and let him.
As
he pulled off her jacket, he murmured, "Can I show you what I wanted to be
doing to you when you were grinding on me?"
"You
can."
"There
were several options."
"I'm
game."
"Okay,
so the most tame was this one. Grind like you were."
She
began to move and could feel him coming to life as she did. He began to kiss
her neck and she moaned because she loved this. Then he began to roam with his
hands, but kept them over the shirt.
"People
would be watching us, Seven. And they'd think, 'My God, that's a beautiful
woman.' And then they'd wonder how I got so lucky but we'll skip right over
that part."
She
laughed. "You looked really hot tonight. That guy who gave us his number
was looking more at you than me."
"I
know. It was awesome."
"I
always assumed you didn't go both ways."
"Well,
I don't. But if Raffi leaves us and we want to play, I'd do it for you."
"Would
you kiss him? Touch him? Or just watch him touch me?"
"I
don't know honestly. I can surprise myself. And he was very good looking."
"Yeah
he was. But let's just try to keep Raffi."
"Oh
agreed. Okay, you ready for fantasy number two?"
"I
am."
He
jerked her back, was getting a little rough with the shirt so she said,
"This is Raffi's favorite shirt. No ripping."
"Fine."
He began to pull up the skirt—also really roughly.
"And
her skirt."
"Is
anything on you yours?" He was laughing.
"The
underwear, the jacket and the boots."
"Thank
you." He eased the skirt up, then yanked her underwear aside and slid his
fingers up into her, forcing her to bend into him. "Everyone would see me
do this to you."
She
was breathing hard as he moved his hand so he was brushing against her just
right, but then, just as she was getting close, he eased away.
"Fantasy
three?" he asked.
"Fuck
you, Liam."
He
laughed. "Keeping you on the edge is fun." He began to undo the skirt
and pushed it off her. "Step out of it and imagine everyone is watching
you as you do it."
She
tried to put herself back in the bar as she felt his lips on her neck again,
his hands playing around her clit but not close enough to let her come. She
tried to shift so he'd hit it but he just laughed and moved to the shirt,
unbuttoning it and helping her out of it. "I love this shirt. Gonna take
it off her next hopefully."
"It
looks really good on her."
"Being
devoid of it looks really good on you." He was pulling her back, undoing
the bra and playing with her breasts, then pushing the panties off. "Step
out of them and be totally mine."
She
did what he said and he pulled her back against him, playing around her clit again,
every now and then going in to build her up just to hold her there.
"God
damn it, Liam."
"Hansen,
hold it together." He started pushing her toward the kitchen. "I'd
move you this way, to one of the tables, and I'd nicely ask the people sitting
there to get the fuck away and they would. They'd move so they could see me do
this though."
He
bent her over the kitchen table, undid his pants and was inside her. "I'm
going to fuck you a little. Then maybe, if you're very good, I'll let you come.
Does that sound good?"
"Yes."
She pushed back, trying to get off on her own, and he eased out.
"Liam."
"Bad
girl."
"Please?"
"Sweet
girl." He pulled her up and kissed her neck. Then leaned her over the
table again and adjusted her to his liking, then pushed in.
He
was moving slowly, and she knew it was because he didn't want to come, and he
had his hand buried in her hair and with the other he held her in place.
Until
he finally slipped it around and began to play in earnest. She was so far gone
it took no time for her to just about go but then he pulled away again.
"No."
"Oh,
yeah. I'm a patient man, as you well know, Seven. And you're not a patient
woman. And someday I'll tie you down and I'll do this until you're ready to
burst. But I think tonight is not that night." And then he let her go all
the way, not stopping touching her as she bucked and cried out more loudly than
usual.
She
collapsed on the table panting as he finished inside her, then lay over her,
kissing her, asking, "Are you okay, Sev?"
"I
am." She realized she was trembling. "Holy shit, Liam."
"Yeah,
well you were the one who started it. Grinding on me that way. Did you really
think you wouldn't be just a little bit punished." He drew away and eased
her up, pulling her in for a hug. "Seriously are you okay?"
"I
am. I love you." She pulled him to her, kissed him as he kept her standing
because her legs had started to shake. "Would you really tie me up and do
that? Longer than you just did?"
"If
you want me to."
"Not
right now obviously. But yes. I do." Her breathing and heart rate were
leveling out and she hugged him hard. So hard he said, "Babe, too
much."
"Sorry."
She laughed. "Although not. Do we have a regenerator here?"
"What
do you think?"
She
laughed. Captain Safety not having a regenerator seemed unlikely. "I
withdraw the question. It was ridiculous."
"Yes
it was."
"You
have all your clothes on and I don't."
"You
want me to re-dress you?"
"No,
I want to go to bed and snuggle." She pulled him back as he started to
back away. "Is it bad to tell you that I used to fantasize about you
taking me over your—now my—desk that way?"
"Me
too. I'd have you give me the morning report as I fucked you." He laughed
and kissed her in a little nip of a kiss. "Nice to know we were on the
same page."
"What
if we'd told each other?"
"I
don't think we ever would have. We were so busy fighting. Possibly because we
wanted to fuck so bad and didn't know it would have been a pretty appealing
alternative."
"Well
we know it now. I don't want to fight with you. I just want to love you."
"I
just want to love you too."
15
Shaw
lay on the bed in Seven's quarters, sweat drying on his forehead, Raffi curled
up seemingly boneless half on him, half on Seven. It felt really good to have
her home.
They
had gone out of their way to show her that.
"Welcome
back to me," she said with a laugh. "I'm going to go to training
every week."
"Eventually,
it would get old." He shifted her a little since her elbow was digging
into him.
"Pffff."
She patted him and slid a little more off him, so she was using the bed as bed,
rather than them. "So there was a big announcement today on the shuttle
back. CINC Janeway."
"Worf's
worst nightmare," Seven said with a wicked smirk.
"Not
if he finds a certain video. I take it you have it?" She frowned when
Seven looked at her with clear confusion. "No video?" She turned to
him. "You?"
"I
have no clue what you're talking about."
Raffi
frowned. "You used something against him, Sev."
"I
used two words. That meant a lot to him."
"What
were they?" Raffi sounded like maybe she knew, and Liam gave Seven the
look that said to play it carefully.
"I
don't think I should say. Should keep it between Worf and me."
Raffi
turned quickly to glare at Liam. "Do you know?"
"I
know she said something to him. I do not know what it was."
"Janeway
to Seven" came from the combadge that he was pretty sure was buried under
all their clothes, hastily discarded near the bed.
"Shit.
Be very quiet, guys." She got up and pulled on his sweatshirt as she
searched for the combadge.
"It's
audio only, hon'."
She
glared at Raffi and he had to bury his face in her arm to hide his laughter.
Then he whispered in her ear, "Someone's nervous around our new CINC.
Don't know why."
Raffi
mouthed back, "She's so weird sometimes."
"Yes,"
he mouthed back.
"Stop
it. I'm answering." She found her combadge and hit it. "Seven
here."
"I
need to talk to you. My office—the new one. Five minutes?"
"Ten
would be better."
"That's
unlike you, Seven. How many people are listening in?"
"People?
What people? I'll be there in five."
"Excellent.
But just because you're one of mine, I'll give you ten after all. Please no bed
hair." With a laugh she said, "Janeway out."
Seven
ran into the bathroom and then yelled, "Where is my hair clip?"
"That's
my hair clip and it's in the second drawer. They're all in there." She
rolled her eyes at Liam. "They're always in there. They have not
moved."
He
laughed softly and checked the clock. Eight thirty. "The new CINC works
late. I guess that means Tom does too. Sucks to be him."
"Like
a captain keeps regular hours?"
"Yeah
but it was my ship. I was the one doing the annoying paging."
Seven
hurried out and pulled on her uniform, her hair nicely twisted up, the
old-school regulation—he hoped Janeway wasn't bringing that back. He liked the
freer look. And long hair wasn't that much of a hazard since everyone with it
wore a hair tie around their wrist or stuffed one in their pocket in case of a
need to put it back.
She
sat on the bed and pulled her boots on. "How do I look?"
"Excellent,"
he said with a wink.
"I
don't know what this is about. Don't stop, you two. I mean if you have anything
left." She grinned at them both then skedaddled.
Raffi
moved over so he could get away from the edge. "When are you going to
requisition us a bigger bed?"
"When
you make up your mind."
"Nice
incentive. Way to carrot the situation."
He
laughed and rolled to his stomach. "My back is itching so bad."
She
rolled so she was on her side and began to scratch. Seven never did it hard
enough but Raffi's technique was perfection.
"So
you and Worf...?"
"Kissed.
Once."
"That's
it? For real?"
"I
was at a class I really wanted to be at, with people I really wanted to get to
know. That was not the time for him, you know?"
"I
do." He patted his neck. "Do the hair thing."
She
ran her fingers from the nape of his neck up through where his hair was still
thick—God he loved that feeling. "Worf gets why I want to be with Seven,
but my attraction to you perplexes him. He wanted to know if you were good in
bed."
"Am
I?"
"Yeah.
You are." She whapped the side of his head gently. "And you know
it."
He
laughed. "Haven't you ever been with someone who thought they were but
really weren't?"
"Oh,
that's so sad. Does anyone ever tell them?"
"Seven
probably does." He looked over at her. "I bet Worf's like that. All
talk, no action. Do you plan to find out?"
"Don't
know yet."
He
channeled his inner Seven and rolled his eyes.
Raffi
just laughed. "So did you two have fun last night?"
"The
band was great."
"Wasn't
really talking about the band."
He
turned so he was facing her. "I didn't realize how responsive she is to
edging."
"Yeah,
she loves it."
"Do
you?"
"Maybe
for a bit but then..." She looked away.
"You
can tell me anything. I won't judge." He gently scratched her back the way
she liked.
"Edging
is nice for a little bit but do it for too long and it feels like chasing a
high. I've worked too hard to not chase one to get that urge during sex."
"I
hadn't thought of it that way."
"Do
you like it?"
"Not
really."
She
seemed to be waiting for more.
"Oh,
there's not trauma or anything. I just get kind of frustrated if I think we're
doing a thing and then we're not and then we are and then we're not."
She
laughed. "Note to self."
"But
Seven ground on me all night at the bar—there were no seats left and I was
leaning against a column and she was leaning against me—and that I liked. Not
for every day but..."
"That
makes sense. That was the thing you two were doing. It wasn't like she'd gone
down on you in the bathroom then didn't finish and teased you the rest of the
evening."
"Exactly."
He switched to making silly patterns on her arm. "Have you ever been to those
cabins in Sausalito?"
"The
BDSM ones? With the little pictographs on how each piece of furniture or device
works? You just plug in your genitalia layout and it tells you how to use
them."
He
laughed because those pictographs had delighted him. "You have been
there."
She
laughed and nodded.
"With
Seven?"
"No."
She practically sneered the answer at him. "Seven? For real? That doesn't
seem like her."
"Last
night I may have mentioned I'd like to tie her up and really edge her right and
she was up for it. I thought of those cabins. Might be fun for all of us?"
Her
whole expression changed.
"Or
not." He gently stroked her cheek. "I figured you for a dom."
"Yeah,
if I play, that's the role I like. But...I think those kind of games require a
lot of trust."
"And
you don't trust me?"
"It's
not you. I had a girlfriend before Seven. We were even more on and off because
I was a fucking mess. And so was she. We went to that place and at first it was
fun because some of the devices are pretty much user controlled, right? Those
were fun and we could use them in tandem. But the ones that were for bondage—I
couldn't...give her what she needed. I didn't trust myself to get her there. I
didn't trust her to let me. It broke us up."
"So
that's a no to BDSM."
"If
you want to do it with her, you can. Or I'd do it with you if I do choose you
guys. Because if I choose you, then I'm all in. God help me."
"Which
of us are you afraid of?"
"Her?
Me? Her and me together. Her and you together? All of us together? None of the
above."
"That
was very helpful, thank you. Although wait, was I on the list? Just me."
"No.
I can see why she trusts you. You only scare me because of how much she loves
you. Of how you two are already talking about restraints and I didn't even know
she'd be into them."
"I
don't think she was hiding that fact. I'm not sure she ever considered
restraints other than using them as a Ranger—I assume she did, right? I pretty
much fantasize that she did." He laughed at her expression. "I can go
either way. I prefer dom but given the right incentive..."
"Like
brown leather worn by her?"
"Oh,
God yeah. Anyway, given what I was doing to her last night, it may have just
sounded nice."
She
nodded and suddenly turned and faced away from him. But then she said,
"Spoon me."
He
did and waited, because it seemed like she had something to say. Finally she
whispered, "Worf is the safer option."
"Pretty
amazing thing to say about a Klingon. But maybe that's because you love him
like a friend and there's chemistry enough to fuck him, but you're not in love
with him." He tightened his hold. "Just for the record. I want you to
be in love with me." He nuzzled her neck. "Dizzingly, happily in
love. Nothing safe about it."
"If
you say live a little, I'll elbow you hard." She sighed. "A person
like me. I live too much. I need safety."
"And
I get that. I get that so damn much. But in love—in love I want to be just the
slightest bit crazy, Raff. Or what's the point? I'm too old to settle for safe.
I'd rather be on my own—that's the safest thing of all."
"I
was on my own for so long. So was Seven. I mean truly alone."
"I
know. Which is why you made sense maybe?"
"There's
another reason." She pressed back against him and he wrapped his leg
around hers. "I'd spent so long knowing I was right about the Romulans but
labeled crazy. And then it was out. I wasn't clean and sober, but I was fucking
right. And she'd been chasing Bjayzl—do you know who that is?"
"Yeah."
"And
finally killed her. I remember serving with someone who could never do anything
fun because they were going to grad school in their off hours. When they
finally graduated, they were so depressed. Even though they'd longed to get
done and have their life back. That's where we were, I think. We'd been chasing
these things and suddenly, the things were caught. Over. And that left us with
ourselves to deal with. Better to turn to each other. Even if I wasn't even
honest with her about my addiction at first."
He
kissed the back of her neck but didn't say anything, not wanting to break her
train of thought.
"It's
easier to be sober with Worf, Liam." The words hung between them and he
didn't know what to do, but she grabbed his hand, holding on tightly.
"Please don't tell her I said that. Ever. I can't tell her that because
she'll think she'll lose. I can't tell Worf that because he'll think he'll win.
But you understand. Sometimes people like us have to live in the middle ground.
Where it's hard to be okay every single day. Where we don't even talk about
that it's not okay, just push through to the next day, when maybe it will
be."
"Yes.
I am well acquainted with that middle ground." He exhaled, was dismayed to
hear how ragged the sound was.
He
tried to turn away but she rolled over quickly, grabbed him, holding his hands.
"Your left hand is trembling."
"I
know." His voice broke oddly. "It does that from time to time."
"It
did it when you died."
"I
remember. Raffi, am I making this worse for you? Am I making it harder to push
through?"
She
wrapped her leg over his hip, pulled him to her and kissed him, a sweet but
thorough kiss, loving and strong—at odds with the story she was telling about
herself.
He
admired the fuck out of her. He wished she understood just how much.
She
eased away and smiled. "It's nice having a kindred spirit around. Someone
who understands. People like Seven—they've been through hell but they come
through the flames. Every single time. They never walk around them, no matter
how many times they've been burned." She reached down, began to play in a
way he really loved. "You and I are broken."
"I
don't feel broken right this moment." He moved her so he could enter her,
and they didn't look away from each other as he moved, as she matched his
movements, their breath in sync, slow and even, then faster, then going.
She
buried her head against him, breathing hard as she came down, as he did too,
still inside her. "I don't feel broken right now either," she
murmured as he eased out of her and pulled her half on top of him. "I feel
safe."
She
checked his left hand, which was no longer trembling. "And so do
you."
"Yeah.
For the first time in a really long time, I do. And you're part of that."
"Maybe
you are a little bit romantic."
"Who
the fuck said I wasn't? Big turd liar."
She
laughed, her belly moving against him, and he giggled, pleased that he'd
cracked her up, which only made her laugh harder.
"I'm
super romantic, Raff. Stick around and find out."
##
Seven
found herself a little agog at the luxury that was the CINCs waiting room. So
much fancy wood and fabrics.
Tom
was leaving as she found a seat, and he sat with her for a moment. "The
highest of highs for our Kathryn, Seven. And not bad for you, just a few years
in. I never had a ship."
She
shot him a grateful smile. "You hitched your star to her."
"Yeah,
well, I'd still be in Starfleet prison if I hadn't so..."
"Do
you know what she wants?"
"It's
about the Jurati."
Fucking
Worf with his fucking threats. "Is there a video to go with those two
words you gave me?"
"Yes,
but I saw it years ago. He'll think there's a new copy out, but really he's
hunted them all down. And there were a lot."
"That's
actually impressive."
"Well,
you want that from your head of intel." He winked at her and stood. "Bey's
waiting for me."
"I'll
be fine." Unless Kathryn was going to take the ship away because she was
Borg again. God damn it.
"Captain
Seven? You can go in." The lieutenant commander working the desk smiled at
her.
She
didn't have to ask where. Kathryn stood holding double doors open with a look
of unrepentant glee. "Can you believe they put me here, Seven?" She
frowned and said, "Commander Peterson, you do not have to stay late to
impress me."
"It's
my husband's poker night," he said with a laugh. "Please let me
stay."
"By
all means. You have my condolences." She shook her head. "What is it
with this place and poker?"
Seven
lifted an eyebrow. "I'm glad it's not just me who finds that
confusing."
"Chakotay
used to get a game up on the Delta Flyer." She grinned. "We
can talk about him without it being a problem, right?"
"We
can."
"Are
you and your two solid? He wants me to invite you to dinner but I know how
these things can be when they're new. And Musiker and I have history."
"Best
wait."
"I
will." She indicated Seven should take a chair at the immense conference
table and sat across from her. "So, the Jurati."
"I
don't know what you've heard."
Kathryn
frowned.
"But
it's not that bad. Whatever Worf might have said—"
"Seven,
what does Worf have to do with any of this. Did you have to take antitox before
you came? Is that why you needed more time?"
"No.
I'm sorry. What about the Jurati?"
"I
need to know what they're like."
"And
you're asking me because...?"
"I
hope you do better at being captain than you're doing at this. Because you were
there when she was created." She leaned back. "Given that the Jurati
held our border during the real Borg attack, that they are giving us tech that
will make an amazing difference, the Federation is moving up their transition
to full membership. I have a role in that. But I need to understand them—how
they differ from the regular Borg."
"Uh,
I don't know. Other than what I witnessed on the Stargazer."
"You
didn't visit her ship?"
"No."
She looked down.
"What
aren't you telling me?"
"There
are multitudes of things I am not telling you. How many years were we apart?
How many things might I have to tell you? You're going to have to be more
specific."
"Wow."
Seven
got up and walked to the floor-to-ceiling windows. The view was staggeringly
beautiful even at night. "I didn't want to see her ship. Not after
she..."
"So
it's true. And Worf didn't tell me. Jean-Luc did. But he was a little light on
the details. I did go to him first for information but he's hopeless on touchy
feely shit. All he could tell me was Agnes still called him 'Mister.' He
suggested you would know her and her collective better and told me why."
She walked over. "I do understand why that information isn't in your file.
Why you wouldn't want it to be. From what he said, you were fully human for a
time."
"Yes."
"Did
you enjoy it?"
"Yes."
The word came out almost as a sob, but she was in no danger of crying.
"Picard
might also have indicated some surprise when I mentioned Shaw was working on
the tech transfer project. Apparently, he thought he was dead."
"Shaw
was wounded."
"Yes,
I read the report."
She
refused to look at Kathryn.
"Normally
I'd expect nanoprobes that dated back to our time in the Delta Quadrant to be
of little use in a Lazarus project. But given you had a refresh only a few
years ago..."
Seven
stared resolutely out.
"I'm
not angry, Seven. Why won't you talk to me? I assume this is why you're now
experimenting with multiples when before it was just your first officer."
"Just
taking after you. With the first officer part."
"If
I had with him, I might have saved all of us a world of pain." She sighed.
Then she walked to her desk, grabbed a padd, and walked back as Seven watched
her reflected in the windows. "The Jurati Queen specifically requested
that you and Musiker be at the ceremony. B'Elanna wants Shaw there. I'll have
good seats for you. Tell them to behave."
Seven
bit back a smile.
"And
then there's this. Do I want to know?" She handed the padd to Seven.
There
were lines of code—an amalgamation of Borg and what she thought was Agnes's
work. A note that said only "To keep him out." And then a link to a
video.
She
hit play before she realized what it was. She and Kathryn watched it, leaning
against each other as they laughed so hard they cried.
"What
the hell was that?" Kathryn asked, wiping her eyes.
"Terrorism
by tribble. Those are Celestines." And the ladders. The video Worf thought
she had, which she now did, courtesy of Agnes.
"And
the code?"
"Encryption.
How much should I be concerned that Starfleet Intelligence has unusually high
access to our logs and surveillance data? I worry that they are going through a
back door others could exploit."
Kathryn
tapped the padd. "So you want to give the Jurati a key to the front door
instead?"
"I'm
pretty sure they already have that." She frowned. "We're taking their
tech. Any of which could be loaded with malicious code."
"True."
She shrugged. "Run it by Musiker. She's paranoid as shit and a skilled
hacker. If she likes it, then go for it." Her look changed to mischievous.
"Now, play that again, would you?"
It
was even funnier on rewatch.
Seven
took the padd back and hovered her hand over the erase button. "What's
more important, Kathryn? Leverage or honor?"
"Leverage."
"Agreed."
She pulled her finger away and sent the file to a folder she kept in a weird
place, behind her own version of Borg encryption. A place Raffi had once tried
to get into and failed.
Then
she erased it off the padd. Raffi didn't need to see her boyfriend—or whatever
he was—making a fool of himself.
"You
want to grab a drink at the O Club, Seven? I go down there alone and people
will glom on and suck up. They've been doing it for weeks."
"Sure."
Kathryn
took her arm and they walked out to the reception area. "Peterson, I'll be
in the O Club if you need me. Then I'm heading home."
"Yes,
Admiral."
"Have
a good night," Seven said with a smile.
Kathryn
didn't let go of her as they walked down the corridors that would take them to
the O Club on the opposite side of the building, but just as high up, with a
lovely view as well.
She
marched them in but at a very slow pace, as if she wanted everyone to see them.
A server met them halfway to the bar. "Your usual, Admiral Janeway?"
"Yes,
thank you. And a bourbon for my friend. The good stuff. Neat." She looked
around the room, seemed to be assessing tables and then murmured, "That's
Commander Lessing at the table by the window, the one who's suddenly sweating a
lot. He was a lieutenant commander in the CINC's office at the time we came
back. Thought he was some kind of Borg expert. He was one of the main ones who
argued against your admittance. Funny how he stalled out at commander once I
got fleet ops."
"Kathryn..."
"Now
the fun starts." She walked directly to the table and before they even got
close, Lessing and his companion, another commander were up and saying.
"Admiral Janeway, please."
"Gentleman,
you are too kind. Lessing, you remember Seven of Nine, don't you? My protege,
the new captain of the Enterprise. Why, she outranks you now. What a
world we live in."
"Yes,
ma'am." He couldn't meet either of their eyes.
"Well,
thank you for the table."
"We
were just leaving."
"Good."
Another
server ran over and cleaned the table off before they sat.
"Mmmm,
they say power corrupts, Seven." Kathryn's voice was nearly a purr.
"I say it makes things right." She took her wine from the first server
and once Seven had her glass, held it out. "To us."
"To
us."
16.
Raffi
woke curled into Liam. She reached back for Seven but she wasn't there. She
opened her eyes and saw Seven curled up on the couch with a throw over her.
"God damn it," she murmured, not wanting to wake Seven up.
Then
she put her hand over Liam's mouth and elbowed him—not entirely gently—awake.
"What
the fuck?" could barely be heard from underneath her hand. She moved his
head so he was looking at Seven. "Oh, shit."
She
let him go and said as quietly as she could but with as much menace as she
could put in, "Requisition us a bigger bed."
"When
you make up your fucking mind, Musiker." He seemed to be studying Seven.
"Do we think she's really asleep?"
"She
doesn't generally drool when she's awake."
He
looked again and smiled. "She's fucking adorable."
"Yes,
she is."
He
rolled to face her, his voice getting even lower as he said, "Okay, before
she wakes up, I was thinking about what you said before I fell asleep. The
broken part. And I have a postulation."
"Just
what I live for. Liam postulations before I've had my coffee."
"No,
hear me out. Because I think at the crux of this might be the idea that a
threesome isn't something you were ever really considering, right?"
She
nodded.
"Well,
me neither. Except of course when I fantasized about a Hansen/Musiker sandwich of
which I was temporarily a part. But a permanent fixture? That seemed a pretty
weird option for someone who—and I know this will shock you—is not all that
good at a relationship with one person."
She
laughed softly. "You?"
"I
know." He leaned in to kiss her. "It's just a crime I can't make it
work. But I have to say, this thing you and Seven and I have. It's easier for
me than most of my attempts at coupling up. And that's confusing."
"It
really is."
"Ergo
my postulation. You ready for it?"
"No.
But I don't think I can stop you." She rose up to make sure Seven was
still drooling. She was and had added softly snoring to the mix. "Okay,
go."
"You
said we were broken. And I think you're right. We're maybe less than a whole
person so when we try to couple up, it's a mess. Because there's not enough of
us."
She
really couldn't argue with that so she motioned for him to go on.
"So
I came up with this analogy. You're like the software of our little engine, the
operating system, but you're wonky as fuck. I'm like the hardware—" He had
to stop because she'd reached down. "Partial hardware."
She
laughed and let go. "I want the blood to stay in your brain so we'll keep
it partial."
His
grin was very silly. "Thanks. Because I want to finish my thought. I'm the
boring parts of the engine, the parts that keep things grounded and working but
I'm not all there either. But pair you and me, and somehow the parts of you
that are wonky and the parts of me that are not all there don't matter. We
mesh. But we lack something."
He
pointed back to Seven. "Our power source. Who is currently in sleep mode
and in danger of short circuiting from drool, but still, we go nowhere without
her. Even if we mesh, we're not really an engine without that burst to get us
going."
"But
get all three parts synced up and..."
He
leaned in and whispered in her ear, "Who knows what the fuck we could
be?" He leaned back and studied her. "I know it's an imperfect
analogy, but I wanted you to have something to counter your 'search for safety'
option."
"Thank
you. I will think about that. I actually sort of love the idea." She
reached out and stroked his cheek, then traced his lips until she worked down to
his chin. With a grip that she tightened and he said, "Uh...?"
"We
are not waiting until I make up our mind for a new bed because our captain is
sleeping on her goddamn couch because she is too soft hearted to wake us and
we're in the middle of a bed that is too fucking small. This is not going to
happen again, Liam. Get us a fucking bigger bed or you're exiled from us."
She let him go.
She
expected an argument. Or at least a little bitching. Instead he pulled her back
and kissed her, then said, "See, you really are the operating system. I'll
get right on it, ma'am." He grabbed her hand and pulled it down.
"Also, no more partial."
"Me
manhandling you turned you on?"
"I'm
a complicated man."
She
slid her hand into his boxers. "I don't want to wake her up because she
only snores when she's really tired. So if you make too much noise, I'm leaving
you with blue balls. Got it, Shaw?"
He
nodded.
She
had to put her hand over his mouth at the end, and then he returned the favor
for her when he fingered her into bliss, but they did not wake Seven up.
##
Seven
woke to find she was in the bed and someone was in the shower. Raffi was at the
desk so it must be Liam.
Raffi
looked over from the terminal and smiled, "Good morning, sleepy head. You
want coffee?"
"Yes,
please." As Raffi went to the replicator, she asked, "How did I end
up in bed?"
"Liam
moved you. Very romance novel cover other than that it was him bitching at me
and you were drooling."
She
laughed. "Next time, I'll wake you guys up. But I got in really late and
you looked so sweet."
"There
won't be a next time," she said with such threat, Seven was alarmed.
"Whoa, I don't mean I've chosen—or thrown him out of our sex club—I mean
he's going to get us a bigger bed right damn now."
She
smiled. She loved this Raffi. "Thanks." She sat up and took the
coffee from her. "I had the best time with Kathryn last night at the O
Club. We caught up and for the first time I felt like we were friends again.
And she kept introducing me to people." Some of them people who like
Lessing, hadn't been fans. Others clearly friends of hers that she wanted Seven
to know too.
Raffi
grinned. "I know you've missed her."
"I
really have. She was so many things to me—all wrapped up in one body."
"I
know."
The
shower stopped and she heard Liam puttering around. Then he said, "Hey,
they got my billet officially changed to the ship. I'm no longer
trespassing."
"What
room do you want?"
He
came out with just a towel on. "I was thinking about that. I don't want to
fuck up your ability to host large delegations all together, so most of the
guest quarters are out. But given the rank, some visitors might expect more
from me than standard quarters."
"Agreed.
I was thinking of having the quartermaster redo Latella's room. Outfit it like
this only since it's bigger, put a conference table in for you to work at. I
know how you like your data tables."
"Yeah,
that's where I landed too. And I have to go down to see Quartermaster Stratford
anyway to get us a big ass bed or Raffi won't let me back in to play."
"Way
to snitch, Shaw."
He
stuck his tongue out at her and she rolled her eyes.
Seven
laughed, loving the playful way they were being around each other. "Oh,
they're upping the timetable for Jurati full membership. Raffi, Agnes wants you
and I there. And B'Elanna wants you there, Liam. Kathryn is giving us good
seats together. She said you two have to behave."
"Us?"
Raffi scoffed. "Like we wouldn't."
"Yeah."
Liam came over and leaned down to kiss Seven. "Sorry we stole the
bed."
"If
I'd really wanted the bed, do you think I'm above pulling you out so you land
on the floor and taking your place?"
"Actually
no. Next time just crawl on top of me. That'll get it done in a much softer
way."
"I
was in the mood for sleep, not sex."
"Priorities,
darling." He glanced at the clock. "Shit, I have a meeting this
morning so I can't stay on the ship to work. I'm gonna hit up Stratford before
I beam down."
"Thank
you." She closed her eyes and enjoyed the coffee to the sound of Raffi
keying something in and him working on his hair. Or so she surmised by the
frequent sounds of hair product being sprayed and blow dryer.
Jesus,
he spent more time in there than they did together. At one point, Raffi
muttered, "What is he doing exactly?"
"No
idea. Men are weird about their hair when it starts going."
"Yes.
Yes, they are. He'd be just as sexy if he shaved the top."
"Are
you saying that because you've always had a teensy crush on Picard?"
"And
Benjamin Sisko." Raffi laughed. "But also I think he would look hot
that way. As long as he keeps the beard."
"Oh
yeah, we break up with him if he shaves that off."
"For
sure."
Shaw
came out, looking like he always did. Seven exchanged a look with Raffi who
grinned.
"What?"
He looked from one to the other of them.
"You're
a sexy beast, Liam." Raffi turned back to her screen.
"Yes.
We were discussing you."
He
sort of puffed up. "Well, I don't mind that. Okay this is me braving the
quartermaster for you two."
"For
us three," Raffi said, and Seven smiled, wondering if Raffi knew how happy
it made her to hear her say that so easily. She knew nothing was decided, but
this felt pretty damn cozy for her to really be someone who might not want to
stay.
She
had a feeling Liam had worked some of the magic he had when he dropped his
asshole shields and really just let someone in. She was never going to ask
either of them what they talked about when they were alone, because that was
between them. But whatever it was, it was definitely improving things for all
of them.
##
Shaw
cruised down the corridor to the Quartermaster's area. As usual someone had
rolled down a broken chair and left it outside the door. "Fuck me,"
he said as he rolled it in with him. "Fucking losers."
"Amen,"
Kimmi said as she got up and kicked-rolled the thing to join a bunch of others.
"You know, these really are well made. I don't get what people do to break
them."
"Me
either."
She
turned and pulled him into a firm hug. "Damn, it's good to see you."
"Well,
you're going to be seeing more of me. I'm being assigned here as part of an
engineering project. I don't want to take one of Seven's guest rooms." He
saw Kimmi take in the way he referred to her—God knew she'd listened to him
rant about Hansen enough times. Good for her to hear him be not such a little
bitch.
"You
want me to reconfigure Latella's, don't you?"
"Yes.
With one of the data tables you got me for the ready room." He put his
hands together and closed his eyes like a good supplicant. "Please?"
"Fine."
"And
uh, there's one more thing. Captain Seven needs a bigger bed."
"Oh
really? Why is that?" She was laughing at him and he wasn't sure why.
He
was about to say it was a Borg thing but then everyone who'd been assimilated
could get an oversized bed. "Well—"
"Liam,
do not lie to me."
He
studied her, unsure where to go.
"Who
turned me on to the band Dragonslayer?"
"I
did." Fuck.
"And
who just played at Caruso's?"
Fuck.
Fuck. Fuck. "Dragonslayer?"
"Oh,
like you don't know. I was there, Liam. As were you and the captain. And I'm
pretty sure she's with our first officer. And not the type to cheat. Yet you
two were together."
He
closed his eyes.
"So
my guess is you three know everyone is doing God knows what to everyone else.
And please don't tell me." She was definitely laughing at him. "I
guess we won't be playing video games for a while if you're going to be on the
ship with them—and this very big bed you think I'm going to get for you."
"Kimmi,
pleeeeeeease?"
She
motioned for him to follow her and they cruised the stacks of property turn in and
spare equipment. A very tall, very wide mattress was leaned up against the
wall, wrapped in the kind of covering that meant it had been cleaned and
disinfected for new use. "It's a shame that we can't patent things we make
for Starfleet, because it was my idea to have the extra tall mattresses for
beings like Latella also be wider on the sides so if, say, a bunch of Deltans
came on board, you'd just have to do a quarter turn and bingo, you have an
extra wide bed that's the right length."
"You
are a goddess."
"Don't
I know it. You want it installed now? We're going to have to modify the
existing frame but it's a fast fix."
"Let
me check." He walked down the aisle to get a little privacy and hit his
combadge. "Shaw to Musiker."
"Raffi
here."
"They
can do it now. Can one of you go down and get everything off the bed and the
shelves?" Not that Seven kept as many things on her shelf as he had. But
still, the covers and all.
"Yep.
I'm on it. You work fast, Liam."
"Which
in most situations is a good." He waited for her laugh, was not
disappointed. "Don't tell Sev. It can be a surprise for her? I'll be back
up after lunch to bring my stuff up to guest quarters until they finish
reconfiguring Latella's." Thank God he travelled light when he was
deployed off Earth and hadn't had time to get his massive collection of
"everything he'd ever loved" out of storage.
"It'll
be a great surprise. Tell the quartermaster to give me twenty minutes."
"Will
do. Shaw out." He walked back to Kimmi. "Twenty minutes and you can
go."
"Got
it." She stopped him as he turned. "I heard you were hurt really bad
during that Frontier Day shit."
"I
was. It was touch and go." If by that you mean't dead as a dormouse.
"But I'm fine now."
"Good.
Because I'd hate this world if you weren't in it."
"How
did you handle it?"
She
got a weird smile. "We figured out pretty quickly that anyone who wasn't
young was okay. So we just stunned the hell out of the ones who turned, put
them in the stasis chamber we use for dangerous cargo, slapped up one of the
fields people use to hide life signs, and waited it out."
"Stunned
them with what exactly?" Some posts required the individual to be issued a
phaser. Supply was not one of them.
"Put
your hackles down, Commodore. Keeping current model phasers would be a breach
of regulations. Clearly those are stored in the armory."
"What
aren't you saying?"
She
laughed. "Incoming goes two different places. But property turn in is all
here, baby."
"Whoa.
You mean...?"
"They
recently upgraded a lot of the weaponry. So the old stuff got turned in. It was
due to go out with the next PTI pick up. And obviously it's in special
containers so not just anyone could get in and help themselves. But I know the
codes."
"This
is why we're friends."
"I
think it's more that we tried to date and realized we sucked together but loved
all the same things. Also I'm better at most games than you."
"Heresy
I say!" He boomed that at her and she cracked up.
"Listen,
Mister Threesome. You better behave yourself. I know your secrets."
"You're
keeping the threesome part under your hat, right? I don't care about my other
secrets. But that one could hurt two other people."
"Oh,
my God. Liam Shaw, are you in love? For real?" She looked so touched he
didn't debate it with her. "I love that for you."
His
padd chimed, the warning that he had ten minutes until a meeting was to begin.
"I have to go. Thank you, Kimmi."
"It'll
be great having you on the ship again. I may even have some unused bedding for
you."
Shit.
He hadn't even thought about how their old stuff wouldn't fit. "There are
no sufficient superlatives for you, Stratford. See you 'round the Titan."
"Enterprise."
"Whatever."
##
Raffi
was reading material for a virtual course when Seven strode past her to the
lift. She glanced over and said, "I just need to get something from our
quarters."
God,
she loved how open Seven was being about it being their quarters, not just
hers. But no, the bed was supposed to be a surprise.
"Mura,
you have the conn." Raffi joined Seven in the lift just before the doors
closed. "I'll get it."
Seven
gave her the look that meant she was being weird and/or annoying. Or possibly
both. "I've got it."
"No,
really, I've got it." She smiled in a way she hoped was not crazy because
she really didn't want Seven to see the new bed until Liam got back.
"You're
being so weird. Deck five."
The
lift doors opened and Raffi got in front of her. "Let's find whatever it
is in my quarters."
"Why
are you being so weird?"
"Because
I made a promise. What do you need?"
"To
be honest, a bathroom."
"Well,
then definitely use my quarters. Why stink up the communal ones?" In fact
that was a great use for their personal ones if they weren't going to use them
much. Every now and then a person just wanted some privacy.
"What
promise..." Her look changed. "Ohhhh."
"I
said nothing. Nothing!"
Seven
pushed her into her quarters and had her up against the wall once the door
closed. "You said nothing." Then she kissed her and Raffi put her arms
around her and held on for dear life because as kisses went, this was a great
one.
When
they finally eased away from each other, she said, "What was that for,
Sev?"
"For
protecting your promise." She was staring intently. "I love you so
much."
"I
haven't made up my mind yet, Sev." But even to her that sounded a little
weak.
"I
know. I still love you." Her expression changed. "But I really
need—"
"Leaving."
##
Seven
was in her ready room at shift change when she heard the chime to the back door
go off and said, "Come."
Liam
entered, his smile so happy she knew he had to have been moving his stuff in.
"I'm in guest quarters ten until Latella's is ready. But I can move if you
need me to."
"How
about to the bunkbeds you gave Riker and Picard?"
He
cracked up and she cackled. "Liam, I honestly don't think we're going to
be overrun with guests while in spacedock."
"Good
point."
"So
I tried to get in our quarters but Raffi diverted me. Any idea why?"
He
shrugged and seemed to be trying to look super innocent.
She
heard footsteps coming up the stairs and Raffi said, "Ready to go?"
"Where
exactly?" She turned to look at her. "I thought I might just work
late."
"No,"
Raffi said and Liam echoed her.
"Have
you seen it yet?" Seven asked Liam.
"Have
I seen what yet?" Completely straight faced and no sign of a lie in his
voice. Damn he was good.
She
rolled her eyes and closed down her terminal. "Why do I think you both
want us to go to our quarters?"
"Because
you're super smart," Raffi said, taking her arm and hurrying her along to
the back lift.
She
stood between them in the lift, enjoying how that felt, how much affection
aside from anything sexual she had for them. They got to the quarters and Raffi
palmed them open.
"Holy
shit," Seven said. The bed was enormous and while the bedding was
regulation, she wasn't sure all the throw pillows were.
"Good
job with the quartermaster, Liam." Raffi gave him a kiss on the cheek.
"Good
job with the bedding. Where'd you get the pillows?"
"Stratford
thought we might need them. She's really cute."
"Very
straight, though," Seven said and they both looked at her. "What? I
may have made some initial overtures when I first reported to the ship."
"You
couldn't tell she was straight?" Raffi just rolled her eyes.
Liam
laughed. "She and I dated a long, long time ago. Decided being friends was
the much better option. I may disappear from time to time to go play video
games with her." He looked over at Raffi. "Can I run things right
now?"
Seven
glared at him. "Why are you asking her?"
"Because
I'm more macho than you are." She turned to Liam and nodded.
He
began to undress them, kissing them every so often until they were both naked.
Then he pulled the desk chair to where he'd have a great view of the bed and
sat. "For a while, I just want to watch you two go. In our very big, very
awesome bed."
"That
you procured for us," she said with a smile as she took Raffi's hand and
pulled her onto the bed. "Oh my God, it's so much more comfortable than
the old one."
"It
really, really is."
"Do
I want to know how you got this for us?"
"Nope.
Enough bed appreciation. Kiss."
She
rolled her eyes, which made Raffi crack up, then she pulled her close, kissing
her gently at first, then more deeply.
Liam
moaned.
"Sit
up," she whispered to Raffi, and got behind her, kissing her neck.
"Spread your legs for him."
Raffi
had her head thrown back as Seven reached around, playing carefully, her eyes
locked with Liam's. "She's so beautiful."
"God,
yes."
"And
so responsive." She murmured to Raffi, "Love you so much," but
kept going, kept her climbing.
Liam
looked like he was going to come out of his skin but he sat, mouth open
slightly, eyes dilated as he looked from her to Raffi and back again.
And
then Raffi was going, calling out and Seven held out her hand to him and said,
"Enough watching. Strip and get over here." Then she touched Raffi
where she was most sensitive and made her moan. "Now who's more macho,
huh?"
"You
are. You're the most macho." Raffi laughed as Seven was pulled away from
her by Liam.
"This
bed is bigger than it looked when it was leaning on the wall." He arranged
her so she was facing Raffi, on her hands and knees and entered her slowly as
Raffi watched, her smile gorgeous and sensual. "This is our woman,
Raffi." He pulled Seven up so he could kiss her neck, could play with her
breasts. "So fucking lovely."
Raffi
crawled over, began to lick her clit as he slowly moved in and out of her.
"Hold her still," she said, and Liam put one arm under her breasts as
Raffi increased the attack, as Liam slowed even more.
She
came violently for them, milking Liam as she did it and he groaned loudly as he
came inside her. "I love this bed so much," she said as Raffi moved
aside so he could lower her down, ease out and collapse beside her.
"I
am a provider," he said with a laugh. "Da man."
"You're
a man, that's for sure." Raffi's smile for him was so cute, so full of
sass and ease.
Seven
closed her eyes and just drank in what she had before they put the bed to more
use. Liam and Raffi were arguing about whether they should eat in bed or not so
she said, "Nothing with crumbs or greasy or sticky. Anything else
yes."
"That
leaves nothing," Liam said.
"Maybe
jerky." Raffi laughed as she reached over Seven to pull Liam to her for a
kiss.
"Or
Swiss cheese," Liam said.
"The
meal of champions. Thanks, Sev."
"You
two are fussier than I am. We've never eaten in bed. Quit trying to make me the
enemy." She stretched out on the bed and began to run her hands down her
body. "Besides does anyone really want to eat right this minute?"
"See,
this is why she's the captain." Liam kissed her gently.
"This
is the book I'm writing, Liam. How is it so far."
"Fucking
great."
17.
Shaw
lay on his side, laughing when he realized he was in no danger of falling off
their ginormous bed. Damn, he'd done good.
But
he was super hungry. They'd been busy breaking it in, but the night was young
and he was in the mood to do something. "Let's go out. Starfleet food is
all we'll get for long stretches once we leave spacedock. Let's eat someplace
fun."
"Only
if we shower," Seven said, sounding grumpy that she was going to have to
leave the bed and the lovely soft covers.
Her
ability to nest was sort of a revelation. But should it be? She'd been a drone
in the collective. That was the ultimate nest, right?
"Come
on, babe. I want food."
"I'm
game." Raffi was already out of the bed and into the bathroom, getting the
shower going so he pushed Seven to get her moving until she got out of bed.
They
took turns in the shower because showering together had so far turned into
something other than a mission to get clean. He went first because he spent the
most time getting ready. He knew they thought that was funny.
He
gave zero fucks. Actually he was just grateful they were low maintenance enough
that he could have all the time he wanted.
As
they were pulling on clothes, Raffi's padd went off. She grabbed it and
grinned. "Gabe."
"Hey,
Mom. I hate to ask this, but Pel is working, and I've just been called
in."
"You
know you're eventually going to have to get another emergency babysitter,
right?"
He
laughed. "Right. But Evie wants her Gammy. And also Unca-Lee if he's
available." He whispered the last part.
"I
don't think he is."
"I
am," Shaw murmured. He glanced at Seven and she shrugged.
"But
I might have another friend she'll like."
He
could practically see Seven deflate as she went back into the bathroom and shut
the door. He understood. Things had been so nice. And God love her she tended
to take things at face value sometimes.
Raffi
loved them. They loved Raffi. The idea that Raffi would leave them anyway—it
was just hard to wrap your head around if you weren't also broken. And
terrified of being hurt. Which Seven wasn't. She really did walk through the
fire every time, never around it.
Raffi
cut the connection and met his eyes. "I need to do this before I'm in too
deep."
"I
hope getting along with Evie is a go/no go for you."
She
made an almost forlorn face. "Liam, I have to do this." She gestured
to the bathroom. "I know she's upset. She loves to slide into the moment
as if the moment is all there is. But it's not. I'm sorry I can't just let it
breathe."
"Call
Worf. I'll be quiet while you do. But if he can't go, then take us."
"Is
that fair to Evie? Keep bringing her Unca-Lee when maybe he won't be in the
picture. That's confusing."
"And
showing up with a fucking Klingon isn't?"
Rather
than arguing with him the way Seven would have, she walked away from him and
punched in a code.
"Raffaela.
I have missed you." Worf's satisfaction at seeing her oozed out of the
padd, and Liam wanted to grab it and throw it down the recycler.
"I
have to babysit. I want you to come if you're free. Are you free?"
"I
will make myself free."
Damn.
That was the way you said it too. Maximum courtliness points.
Fuck,
fuck, fuck.
"Where
are you?" she asked.
"In
my office. I have civilian clothes here, however."
No
doubt a whole bunch of them for undercover "I'm so cool because I'm the
spymaster of Starfleet" ops. Fuck him. That was impressing nobody.
"I'll
meet you at the main entrance in ten?"
"I
will be there."
She
stashed the padd and turned to him. "Take Seven somewhere fun."
"I
think what I choose to do with her is pretty much my business. And hers. You're
busy." He knew his voice was beyond pissy. But Jesus.
"Don't
be that way. You get me."
"I
do. But that doesn't mean this feels great. Or even moderately not sucky. But
sure. Go take a Klingon babysitting. I can guarantee it's not going to be a
rousing success."
"Family's
important." Her voice actually broke and he turned and studied her.
"It's crucial." She got closer. "It's not like Seven was warm
and fuzzy with Evie before you came along."
"I
think we've established you may not be fully catching how Seven does or does
not interact with your children."
"Elnor,
yes. The others? Give me a break, Liam. Evie just wants you because you're the new
guy. I'm going to see what she thinks of a different new one. Maybe bright and
shiny and goddamned novel is all she wants because she's a kid. Fuck you."
And she turned on her heel, grabbed her jacket, and left.
A
moment later, Seven came out. "So we lose because I wasn't all over
Evie?"
"Don't
focus on that part. I made her mad and she was striking out."
"Yeah
at me, not you."
"Hurting
you is a shot at me." He pulled her in. "I know this is
counterintuitive, but if she's panicking, if she's reaching out for Worf, that
might mean she's really, really loving what she has with us and—"
"Yeah,
that's so comforting."
"Let
me finish. And it scares the shit out of her." He tilted her chin up so
she had to look at him. "It really scares the shit out of her. We're fine.
She'll stay or she won't, but she would not have had me get a bed if she wasn't
into this way more than she'd ever admit. At this point, Sev, it's up to
her." He started to laugh, a little evilly. "And maybe Evie."
"I'm
still mad at her. Which I know is stupid because I understand she's made no
choice yet. It just...it just felt so good and I don't understand why she's
running." She held up her hand as he started to say something. "No,
no more words. Let's eat. In fact, I think, you need to take me to that
Brazilian steakhouse that just opened. She's been wanting to go."
"You
don't want to wait till she's back?"
"No.
I want to be petty. It'll help me not be later, when she comes home."
"Sadly
I understood that. And that place looks amazing. Let's go."
##
Raffi
paced at the main entrance to Starfleet, just outside the security check-in.
God
damn it—why did she feel so horrible? She had the right to figure out what she
wanted. A big bed and feeling safe with Seven and Liam didn't translate to a
decision.
"Raffaela."
Worf was holding a stuffed animal. It appeared to be a rhino. "These are
impressive animals. It is my hope Evie will like it."
Evie
was more into big cats but she decided not to tell Worf that. Instead she
grinned and said, "That's so sweet. Ready?"
"I
am." He said it as if he was going into battle, and she laughed as they
walked to the main transporter station—the one personnel used for coming from
and going to home and other unofficial travel—and they were quickly in Gabe's
neighborhood with a quick walk to his house.
Gabe
opened the door with a grin but then seemed to take in that there was a Klingon
in front of him and gulped. "Uh, Mom?"
"This
is Worf. He's my friend."
"Unca-Lee!"
Evie came catapulting out of the living room but stopped short when she saw
Worf. "Gammy, Unca-Lee!"
"Not
right now."
"No.
Unca-Lee." Evie walked over to Worf, put her hands on her hips, and glared
up at him.
"I
regret I am unfamiliar with that command. If you could tell me what you want
with further clarity."
Gabe
laughed. "I'll let you explain to him. I'm going to be late if I
stay." He gave her a quick kiss and whispered, "What the hell are you
doing? I thought you were with Seven and maybe Liam?"
"Goodbye."
She ushered Worf in and closed the door.
"Un.
Ca. Lee." Evie was over glaring apparently. Now she was absolutely stone
faced.
Raffi
knelt down. "Unca-Lee is off world." Not technically a lie providing
he was still on the ship. "Tonight Gammy's good friend Worf is here."
"I
have brought you a gift." He crouched down and handed her the toy.
"Are you familiar with Rhinoceros?"
Evie
nodded. "You look like one. Or a turtle."
"Evie."
"It
is all right, Raffaela. She is not mistaken. I am a Klingon, Evie. Although I
grew up on Earth so I am used to it here too."
Evie
studied the rhino. "Soft."
"Yes,
it is suitable for a Human child."
She
reached over and knocked on his forehead. "Not soft."
"Evie!"
But
he laughed and leaned in. "For protection. When bullies hit me, I can
withstand their blows."
Evie
made a noise that sounded impressed.
"You
want to go down to the Wharf, baby? Have fish and chips with Gammy and
Worf?"
She
thought about it. It was what Raffi loved about her granddaughter—every choice
was considered. "Yes."
She
got her coat out of the closet and had to argue over whether Evie needed it—she
would be so glad when this phase was over—and then Worf picked her up.
Evie
began to touch other parts of his head and neck. She was about to tell her to
stop when Worf said softly, "It is all right. I am new and strange and at
least she is honest in her curiosity."
She
decided if he was fine with it, she was too.
They
ate at a family friendly place with a playground inside. Evie made friends with
a little boy who liked her rhino and ran off to play.
"I
am honored you asked me to accompany you on this."
"Yes,
very significant duty." She grinned at him.
"I
believe it is. If she had squealed like a tribble..."
"Fortunately
for you she didn't."
"Was
I perhaps missing the true significance of Unca-Lee? Was she referring to
Commodore Shaw?"
"Yep."
"I
see."
She
did not want to travel this road so she turned back to watch Evie and said,
"For whatever it's worth, that video you said you were going to hunt down,
I don't think my team has it."
"Your
team?"
"My
other team. My command team, Worf. Come on."
He
shifted in a way that seemed the opposite of his usual zen. "Commodore
Shaw is not on your command team. I saw the announcement in the personnel news.
That he has been assigned to the ship."
"Special
project."
"Yes,
I'm sure that is how Seven of Nine refers to you three."
She
fixed him with her stare of annoyance. Which usually worked on him but not this
time. "It's for real a special project."
"If
you say so."
"This."
She waved her hand between them in a circular pattern. "This is not
attractive."
"They
have an advantage now by proximity."
"Boo
hoo." She folded her arms over her chest. "And I left them on the
ship and invited you instead. So much for proximity. Take the win, you big
baby."
He
grumbled and watched Evie for a while, but then said, "You were referring
to the video."
"Seven
doesn't have it."
"I
find that dubious."
"Are
you calling me a liar?"
He
sighed super loudly. "I am calling her one. I imagine she does have the
video and that there is no special project. I can, of course, do some
digging."
She
studied him. Thought about the padd Seven had given her, filled with Jurati
code that would for sure keep anyone out of the system if they didn't know how
it worked. Agnes had given it to them but Seven had hedged as to why. And even
though Worf was clearly digging around in the system, Raffi wasn't sure
deploying something the rest of the fleet couldn't break was a good idea.
What
if in an emergency it was important that they be able to hack the ship? She
could imagine a lot of scenarios where that might be the case.
"Is
this the silent treatment?"
"No,
I'm thinking about something else. But fine, let's get back to what you said.
Is digging around in our logs and system in your jurisdiction, Worf? If Seven
were to lodge a formal complaint, would it come to anything?"
"Yes,
because the CINC is her friend."
"Pretend
she wasn't. Pretend it was just your actions versus her complaint."
"That
is not the case and I am not good at pretending."
She
laughed. "So that's a yes, it would come to something. Moreover, you
wouldn't be digging around if this thing with us wasn't happening."
He
conceded with a nod.
"You
need to stop."
"I
will stop when I think it is appropriate."
"Worf,
Seven doesn't need this shit."
"Then
she should surrender the field."
"Wow."
She was about to say more when Evie ran up holding a stuffed lion. Not the
cleanest one either. "What have you got?"
"I
traded." She turned and waved at her playmate, who was being jacketed up
with equal success—or lack thereof—as she'd had with Evie. He was holding the
rhinoceros.
"Evie,
no." She started to get up as Evie ran back to the playground, but Worf
pulled her down. "It is fine. Alexander never liked my gifts either when
he was a child."
She
looked at him in confusion. "Alexander...?"
"My
son."
"You
have a son?"
"Yes.
I rarely see him. Our relationship is a challenging one."
"Well,
I know how that goes. Where is he?"
"I
do not know."
"Excuse
me?" Even at her worst, she'd known where Gabe was. Seven had been in the
back of beyond and still in touch with Icheb. Liam was babysitting cousins.
"Is family not important?"
"Family
is very important. It's just that Alexander has rarely wanted me to be part of
his inner circle. As I said, we are challenged to get along. But I am proud of
him."
"Yeah?
What's he doing right now that makes you proud?"
"He
is on an exploratory vessel. Mixed crew. It is affiliated with the D'alama
Foundation. I do not know their current location though. It has been some time
since his last missive." His voice was a mixture of pride and regret.
"Oh,
so it's not that you don't know where he is in theory, just precisely. And
D'alama does good work."
"Yes.
He is very altruistic. His mother was that way also." He met her eyes.
"I do keep track of him. But my role is best fulfilled at a
distance."
"I'm
sorry."
"It
is how it is. This many years in, it will not change."
She
touched his hand. "People can change right up to the moment they die. If
they want to."
"I
do not think either of us want to." He smiled tightly. "May we speak
of more pleasant things."
She
nodded.
"Is
Evie half Vulcan?"
"Romulan."
She saw his surprise. "I think she's beautiful."
"She
is a lovely child." He could have been speaking of a piece of art. So
distant. But then his expression warmed. "She has your eyes."
"She
does." She put her arm around his shoulders. "Do you want to go? Get
ice cream maybe?"
"Whatever
you like." His voice was off.
"What?"
"There
is a distance between us that was not there the other day. I feel as if should
I attempt to kiss you now, it would be most unwelcome."
"Well,
yeah, because my granddaughter's here."
"I
do not think that is the reason." He sighed. "You being in love with
Seven of Nine was a given. But now I wonder if you are not also in love with
Shaw."
"I'm
not not in love with him."
He
sighed. "Do not use humor to deflect. Or try to confuse me."
"I'm
sorry." She leaned her head against his shoulder. "You're my very,
very, very good friend Worf."
"Those
words stab."
"I'm
always here for you."
"If
this is about Alexander, I can reach out to him. Introduce you."
"It's
not about Alexander. Your relationship with him is your own to manage."
She took his hand and squeezed. "If I'm honest, and I think I should be,
I'm at the point with Seven and Liam that if I had to be on the ship and not be
with them..."
It
would kill her. It would goddamn kill her.
And
that thought made her feel so stinkin' warm inside. Because she finally knew
what she wanted. "I'm sorry, Worf. But the competition is over. I choose
them."
"I
can get Evie a lion next time."
"That's
not the problem, I just—" She had to stop because Evie was running back,
straight to Worf and she said, "Can you help get her down?" She
pointed at a girl sitting on the top of a slide frozen in what looked like
fear.