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) 2023 by Djinn. This
story is Rated R.
There Was No Pain
by Djinn
There
was no pain. No fear, no doubt, till they pulled me out, of Heaven. So that's
my refrain, I live in hell, 'cause I've been expelled, from Heaven. I think I
was in Heaven.
- "Give Me Something to Sing About" BTVS
You
grew up religious. Irish-catholic from Chicago, what choice did you have?
You've shed some of that over the years but like the old saying goes:
"There's no atheists in foxholes" or in a cargo bay with newly turned
Borg shooting at you.
You
won't lie. You were praying at the end there: being a big damn hero isn't your
strong suit.
It
isn't even your okay suit. You suck at it. And that's been fine with you. You
followed the rules and the regs and the protocols and even the unofficial
workarounds that every specialist knows whether the lowest grease monkey or the
captain.
You
did your thing, you kept everyone safe.
You
gave Hansen the ship. You called her by the name she preferred. It felt right.
If
felt...over.
And
there was the tunnel, and the bright light, and your mom standing at the end of
it.
And
she hugged you and told you everything was fine now. You'd done it. You'd kept
them all safe and now you could rest.
And
you did, for a moment—however long a moment was in that place.
Until
you were ripped out.
By
her.
With
fucking Borg nanoprobes.
You
were done. You were at rest. At peace.
You
were fucking dead. And of course Hansen had to break the rules of God and man
and bring you back.
As
soon as you could walk out of Starfleet Medical on your own power, you retired
and disappeared into the Sierra Nevadas.
You
left your personal communicator on the bedside table. You have a burner
communicator now in case the home where your Dad lives needs to contact you.
You use a private network to keep up with the world but most of the time you
just...exist.
Subject:
Refit FUBAR
ScottyWasRight23:
So much for the most advanced ship in the Fleet. The new Enterprise is a flop.
Anyone see the vids of the non-launch? LMAO.
DontOverTighten:
Wouldn't have happened with Shaw at the helm. Or in the engine room, where he
probably would rather be. Anyone seen him? He hasn't been on the boards since
the Borg thing
LeftLooseRightTight:
He is totally off the grid last I heard. Died or something? Weird shit going
around about him and that Borg who's captain now.
DipshitChiTown:
What kind of weird shit?
LeftLooseRightTight:
They were tight, if you know what I mean.
DontOverTighten:
You're off your rocks. No way Ten of Ten is going to bang a Borg after Wolf359.
DipshitChiTown:
Amen.
OurLadyOfTheMountains
Sunday Cast:
I
want to talk about new beginnings. About forgiving yourself and others. I know
a lot of us here came to start over. I know it's why we don't meet in person,
ever. I know it's why I've never seen your faces or gripped your hand in mine.
But, friends, I can feel your pain and your presence. The power we all have to
make a difference—if only to each other.
It's
time to come out of the shadows. It's time to put the congregate back into
congregation. Corello Park, the picnic tables by the baseball field, Monday at
noon. I'll be there with a bagged lunch. Will you?
7of9:
Did you really think you could hide using DipshitChiTown as a name?
DipshitChiTown:
Do I know you?
7of9:
Nice try. I'm here when you're ready to talk
DipshitChiTown:
Sorry, don't know you
7of9:
Fuck you, too, Shaw
You
know it's stupid to go to the church social if you're trying to lay low, but
it's not like you're a criminal, for Christ's sake. If you want to go actually
lay eyes on the priest, you can.
You
don't expect to see Hansen sitting on the bleachers of the baseball field. You
should have, probably, after that DM on the engineering board, but you didn't.
And
there's nobody at the fucking picnic tables.
She
doesn't get up. She doesn't stand. So you walk over with your stupid bagged
lunch and stop on the dirt looking up at her. "Is there even an Our Lady
of the Mountains?"
"There
is. But Raffi might have subbed in one message for another on their last
broadcast when you downloaded it. The first paragraph was actual sermon, the
second, not so much."
"Fuck
you, Hansen."
You
walk away and you hear her light steps down the stairs. The weight of being a
captain seems to ride light on her shoulders. It never did you.
"I
need you, Shaw. The ship's not right and you know it best."
You
turn, walking backwards, trying not to think how good she looks with those dark
glasses and tight jeans on. "I'm dead. Not employable."
"You're
not dead because I said so. That pisses you off, I get it. But your ship
needs you."
"As
what? My ship is gone. Just like me." But you stop and you wait for her to
catch up.
Because
you can't not. You dream about her perfume, the light and spicy scent of her,
every night. You sat next to her for years. Until you didn't.
She
slows and stops well out of reach of you. "I need you, then."
"Do
you know what this place is like?"
She
looks confused. "This place? This park or this town or—"
"The
fucking world. Life itself. I was done."
"I
couldn't have that."
"It
wasn't your call. I was..." You stop because you're not ready to give her
that. Where she yanked you out of.
"I
don't understand. Neelix didn't have this kind of problem with being brought
back to life. He was..."
"Grateful?
Fuck you, Hansen." And you turn and run, dropping your stupid ass lunch in
a trash can as you go.
You
run all the time, at altitude, and it's almost all you do these days. You run
so you can do this—get the hell away from her as fast as you can.
Subject:
Refit FUBAR Redux
ScottyWasRight23:
OMG, they made it worse.
DontOverTighten:
This is what happens when you kill off the fucking old timers. Goddamn Borg.
LeftLooseRightTight:
I'd go help out. Have you seen the captain? Ooh la la
DipshitChiTown:
JFC, can we talk about our peers without sexualizing them?
OutOfRespect:
What DipshitChiTown said
LeftLooseRightTight:
Fuck you both
DontOverTighten:
She is hot, but smart too from what I've heard and a good captain
DipshitChiTown:
Amen.
7of9:
You think I'm hot?
DipshitChiTown:
Get off my board
7of9:
Free planet, last I checked. Is that why you're so pissed off? You wanted to die
a legend? Sorry, but you would have been just one of the many who fell.
DipshitChiTown:
Fuck you, Hansen
7of9:
Fuck you, too, Shaw
You've
never wanted to be a fucking legend. Where does she get off saying that? You
were perfectly happy, once you realized how much you hated being captain, to be
the safest captain, not the coolest.
To
keep your people safe was everything.
You
thought you taught her that. And then she went and threw it all away by working
with a legend instead of you.
She
was right to do it, as it turns out. She'd no doubt be dead or reassimilated by
now if she hadn't helped Picard and his band of merry old men and women.
But
still. She could have brought you into it. She could have asked you rather than
gone behind your back. You thought you'd built that much.
But
you hadn't. And she did.
And
then she did it again when she raised you from the dead like fucking Lazarus
only with a way worse attitude.
Fuck
her.
OurLadyOfTheMountains
Sunday Cast:
I
want to talk about forgiveness. About the mercy we show ourselves by letting
go, by forgiving yourself and others. There are things that live in the past
and should stay there. There are things, though, that we bring with us from the
past, and we allow them to haunt us. They become our future because we can't
let go of them. We throw away the future we could have because we're so fond of
our baggage.
Let
it go, brothers and sisters. Let it go.
DipshitChiTown:
Was that really the priest, or Raffi again?
7of9:
No idea what you're talking about
DipshitChiTown:
Fuck you, Hansen
7of9:
Fuck you, too, Shaw
Subject:
Refit FUBAR — the shit never ends
ScottyWasRight23:
OMG, they made it worse—again
DontOverTighten:
Rumor is Mogh Consulting is looking for someone who can help. Be an independent
contractor on the Enterprise-G.
LeftLooseRightTight:
Sweet deal. If I weren't on my dream assignment and three years short of full
retirement, I might go for it.
DipshitChiTown:
Mogh Consulting? Has anyone here even heard of that place?
OutOfRespect:
I have. Great outfit. Looking for the perfect retiree. I know the boss if you
want a referral?
LeftLooseRightTight:
Do you know the hiring person at NG? I've been trying to get them to look at my
resume forever and it goes nowhere
OutOfRespect:
I don't. Sorry.
DontOverTighten:
I want to actually retire when I'm retired. 212 days to go!
DipshitChiTown:
Amen.
You
stare at the job description Hansen sent you via the message board. Fuck her
for taking every one of your goddamn skills and specialities and crafting this
vacancy notice for you and only you.
You
want to send it back to her with "Fuck you" written in big red font,
but...
It's
the Titan. Even if they've renamed it, it's still the ship you love so
fucking much.
And
you'd be a consultant. You could tell Hansen to shove it at any point. You
could be massively disrespectful as many times as you want because the CEO of
the company may cut your head off but you think he's probably piss-poor at
actually disciplining anyone from this far away. Especially someone who knows
the company is bullshit, made because Raffi asked him to, and named after his
father.
It's
not that you're bored here in the mountains. It's that you found out the cabin
you've leased used to belong to James fucking Kirk.
God
damn it, can you never escape these fucking legends?
Subject:
Refit FUBAR — Shaw to the Rescue!
ScottyWasRight23:
OMG, they made it better. Shaw, my brother, where are you?
LShaw:
Sorry, was out of touch. Yeah, on the case now.
DipshitChiTown:
Mogh Consulting? My how the mighty have fallen. The stories I've heard recently
about that place.
WSoM:
Take care how you speak of that company.
DipshitChiTown:
Fuck you. Are you even an engineer?
Moderator5:
Kids, let's keep it cordial.
WSoM:
I demand an apology about Mogh Consulting
DipshitChiTown:
Yeah, right.
Moderator5:
WSoM has been banned. Damn bots.
OutOfRespect:
I'm not sure DipshitChiTown is capable of keeping it cordial
DipshitChiTown:
Oh, I can keep it cordial.
OutOfRespect:
If you say so
LShaw:
Well this place has gone to shit since I've been gone
Moderator5:
We need more mods, if you're volunteering?
LShaw:
So not.
OutOfRespect:
Too afraid to get your hands dirty?
LShaw:
I wrote the book on getting my hands dirty, grasshopper. Are you saying you
want to get your hands dirty?
OutOfRespect:
So not.
LeftLooseRightTight:
Wait, what are you guys even talking about?
DontOverTighten:
Glad to see you back, Shaw. Place has been getting a little dull without you.
DipshitChiTown:
True that
OutOfRespect:
Suck up
DipshitChiTown:
Hey, he's a legend, right?
LShaw:
Only as long as you're lumping me in with Scotty, LaForge, and Torres. Leave
the captains out of it, I'm sure as shit going to.
OutOfRespect:
You don't like your new captain? The hot Borg one, right?
LShaw:
Your words, not mine
DontOverTighten:
Totally hot
LeftLooseRightTight:
But still Borg. Who needs that drama?
DipshitChiTown:
Amen
You
sit in the chapel, listening to the chaplain talk about forgiveness and
atonement and final resting places being worth the effort.
You
mutter, "Yeah if they let you stay there," and see the people in
front of you flinch.
Fucking
A. Everyone here knows you're resurrected. The second coming of Liam Shaw. Some
like Sidney were happy to see you and squealed too loudly and hugged way too
tightly—especially after months of you being alone in the fucking woods.
Others
like T'Veen's sister, who is somehow sitting in her seat, look at you like
maybe you could have done a teensy bit more to keep their sister from getting
blown to vapor.
And
then there's Hansen. Who keeps showing up after shift to Engineering to help
out.
Fuck
her.
"Scoot
over," someone says and you do it before you realize it's Hansen.
"Seriously?"
You glare at her. "You even know what that's for?" You point at the
kneeler.
"Shhh,"
the people ahead of you say without turning around.
Hansen
turns red and you...well, you feel like crap. This is some people's refuge.
Fortunately,
pews have exits on both sides, and no one else is in your row, so you get up
and leave, only to hear her steps behind you.
You
wait till you're in a corridor that is empty and well clear of the chapel to
turn to her. "What?"
"How
long are you going to not talk to me for?"
"Forever."
"Why?"
"Because
I wasn't dead as in nothing remained, I was dead as in dearly departed. In a
good place. With my mom, who I haven't seen for twenty years. Happy—I was
happy, Hansen. It was heaven, and I don't mean that as hyperbole. Because it
was actual fucking heaven." You realize you're tearing up and say,
"God damn it," and hurry away.
She
doesn't follow you.
OurLadyOfTheMountains
Sunday Cast:
I
had a request last week for a sermon on second chances. This person has wronged
someone and wants to know what God thinks of that. I think God made it super
clear when he sacrificed his son to give us all a second chance. If you're a
Christian, then you forgive.
But
does that mean we have to let those who've wronged us back into our lives,
because I think that's what this person wants. And the answer is no. Forgive so
you can go on with your life and they can make peace with what they did. But
not everyone can be trusted going forward. Not everyone can say they're sorry
and mean it. Not everyone can be with us and not hurt us over and over again.
Forgive yes, but forget—that's way more complicated.
You
haven't seen Hansen in days. She no longer comes down to engineering.
It's
a fucking relief.
Until
you hear she's been hurt on a mission.
Badly.
Until
you find yourself heading to sickbay before you can stop yourself. Until you
see Raffi coming out of sickbay and stopping, arms crossed over her chest, her
expression angry.
"Is
she...?"
"She's
hurt. She'll recover. Do not go in there if you're just going to be a
dick."
You
don't know why you're here. Is it to be a dick?
You
can't promise it's not.
You
turn and go back to your quarters.
DipshitChiTown:
Are you okay?
7of9:
I'm sorry, since when do you care?
DipshitChiTown:
I heard it was a bad injury.
7of9:
Again, you care about this? About me?
DipshitChiTown:
Did you ask for the sermon on second chances?
7of9:
I did. Wanted to know if I should give you a second chance to not be a dick.
Turns out I shouldn't.
DipshitChiTown:
Fuck you, Hansen
7of9:
Fuck you, too, Shaw
You're
running from station to station, trying to keep the engines from blowing up as
the ship takes hit after hit. Fucking modifications that weren't needed.
"Shields
at forty percent," you hear Mura call out from the bridge and that can't
be right.
You
hurry over, see that the panel is fine but a circuit is fried.
You
get the circuit replaced just as the ship takes another hit.
"Forgive
me, Father, for I have sinned. It has been one death since my last
confession."
Someone
laughs and you shake your head.
No
atheists in foxholes.
Subject:
Refit FUBAR — Shaw: the man, the legend
ScottyWasRight23:
Shaw, word is you're a rockstar still in engineering. Kept that baby running
during the shitshow that was the Triglion mission.
LShaw:
It was a team effort
DontOverTighten:
Mogh Consulting better be paying you well.
LeftLooseRightTight:
I told my cousin about them but he could not figure out how to apply
DipshitChiTown:
Did I not say no one has even heard of that place?
OutOfRespect:
Again, I can vouch for them. But they are at capacity. LeftLooseRightTight - I
did find a person at NG for you to contact. Sending it via DM
LeftLooseRightTight:
You are my hero, whoever you are
OutOfRespect:
Tell that to DipshitChiTown. I'm sure he thinks I'm a villain.
DontOverTighten:
You two need to get a room or a boxing ring—whichever works!
DipshitChiTown:
Amen to the boxing ring, ixnay on the oomray.
You're
in the gym when she shows up, clearly pissed off and walks to you and pushes
you off the bike you claimed before the place got packed.
People
scatter.
"You
want to do this? Fine." She climbs into the ring.
"You
were just injured."
"I'm
fully healed. I'm not an idiot." She pulls on the headgear and gloves and
says, "Come on then. Let's go."
Oh,
fuck her.
You
turn and get the hell out of the gym. One more place you're not safe from her.
But then she can reach into the fucking afterlife to harass you so this isn't
really a surprise.
7of9:
I saw your evaluation of me. You were so nice. Why can't you be that Liam Shaw?
DipshitChiTown:
That Liam Shaw died. Should have let him stay dead. Since he didn't want to
come back, he sent me
7of9:
I would do it again. Starfleet needs you. I need you.
DipshitChiTown:
Fuck you, Hansen
7of9:
Fuck you, too, Shaw
You're
drunk as fuck, stumbling back to the transporter site on Castella when someone
hits you over the head with something hard and spiky.
You
fall as your head explodes with pain and blood drips into your eyes. More than
one person rifles through your pockets, looking for God knows what because you
only have credits, not actual latinum or any other kind of money.
A
kick in the ribs is your reward for giving nothing to the poor, then another kick
and another and you realize you could actually die again this way.
And
that pisses you off.
You
kick out, bring the person kicking you to the ground and hear Hansen yelling,
"Hey!"
And
then she's fighting your battle and that pisses you off too.
"Stay
down. You're hurt."
"Fuck
you." But you're unsteady as shit as you stand.
She
moves until she's supporting you, her back to yours. "At least let me help
you?"
"Yeah,
that's fine."
And
then before you can hit anyone, Raffi's entered the fray, grabbed the spiky
club thing from one of the attackers, and is hitting home runs with it.
"I
didn't even get a fucking punch in," you say as you collapse into Hansen's
arms.
"Seven,
you okay?"
"Yep."
"I've
got this. Get him to sickbay."
"Seven
to Enterprise, two to beam directly to sickbay."
You're
losing consciousness as the transporter takes you. You wake up in sickbay.
Alone.
DipshitChiTown:
I guess I should say thank you?
7of9:
Only if you mean it.
DipshitChiTown:
I'm not sure I do
7of9:
I couldn't let you die. Not this time. Not last time.
DipshitChiTown:
Fuck you, Seven
7of9:
Fuck you, too, Shaw
7of9:
Wait, did you just make a mistake? A typo? On my name?
DipshitChiTown:
Do I strike you as a guy who makes a mistake like that?
7of9:
No.
DipshitChiTown:
Okay then. Fuck you, Seven
7of9:
Fuck you, too, Liam
OurLadyOfTheMountains
Sunday Cast:
I
got another anonymous request. This time about near death experiences and how
to go on when you felt like you were done. I'm not sure who precisely needs to
hear about this, but I have a feeling it's not just one person. So here goes.
If
you're here, it wasn't your time.
Harsh?
Perhaps. I've read the accounts—heard them by people who've experienced the
light and grace of what comes after but were for whatever reason pulled back to
life. I know it can be jarring, depressing even.
But
you're clearly needed here. That's truly how I think you need to look at it. You
are needed. And Heaven's not going anywhere. It'll be waiting for you when your
work is finally done.
You're
sitting in the mess when she comes up with a tray. There is a helplessness in
her look you can't resist so you slide a chair out so she can sit.
You
eat in silence until she very softly asks, "What was heaven like?"
"It
was quiet. And my mom was there. And it was warm. And safe. Like...already and
always safe. I didn't have to do anything to make it that way. I didn't have to
do anything at all."
"It
sounds like Unimatrix Zero."
"I
don't know what that is."
"A
Borg dream-state place. It's gone now. I can't get there anymore."
Fuck.
Maybe she does understand?
"Did
you request the sermon this week?" she asks gently.
You
nod. You're shocked she's listening to that cast still.
"You
are needed, Liam." Your name on her lips, rather than just on a screen,
throws you. So much you can't get out a smart-ass answer.
"Seven..."
She
smiles and keeps eating.
You
get up to refill your coffee and take her mug too. You long ago learned how she
likes her coffee.
"Thank
you," she says as you put it down and you think she's thanking you for
more than just the coffee.
"I
wanted to stay there, Seven."
"I
know. I'm sorry."
Subject:
Refit FUBAR — Position open
ScottyWasRight23:
OMG, chief engineer is open on the Enterprise. Shaw, why is this not you taking
this?
LShaw:
Retired, man. Civilian now.
DontOverTighten:
Starfleet would take you back in a hot minute if you just gave the word
LShaw:
the word is not given
DipshitChiTown:
What was it like being dead?
LShaw:
There was something there. I don't know if it's the same for everyone. But
there was something there. Just in case anyone was worried
LeftLooseRightTight:
That's just the brain shutting down man. Electrons firing for the last time.
OutOfRespect:
I heard you were dead long enough for all brain activity to cease? So this
thing you saw—it's real
DipshitChiTown:
I heard the same thing
DontOverTighten:
So was it heaven or hell? LOL
ScottyWasRight23:
And didn't the harps and trumpets get old?
LShaw:
It was quiet. And...nice. No harps. Just a sense of being in the right place at
the right time.
OutOfRespect:
Until it wasn't? Until you were brought back.
LShaw:
Yeah, I wish I'd had a say in that.
DipshitChiTown:
Amen.
Your
door chime rings and you say, "Don't come," but it keeps going, the
way only Seven does. "Fine, open."
She's
not in uniform and comes in and sits on the bed.
"Make
yourself at home, Captain."
"Do
you want to be chief engineer?"
"Are
you serious?" You can't tell if she is or not.
"Would
you want that? Because if you would, I'd move heaven and earth to get it for
you. And yes, I realize how stupid what I just said sounds given where you
believe you were."
"Where
I believe I was?"
"Answer
my question? Your work here is almost done as a civilian. We both know that the
company you work for has a staff of one—you. Do you want to be free or do you
want to be here?"
"With
you?"
"Yes."
"As
your chief engineer?"
She
isn't looking away. "Yes."
"And
what else?"
"Nothing
for now. Just that. For now."
You
don't know what you're going to do with your life if you leave the ship. And
you love these engines like they're your own children. "Yeah, I want
it."
"Okay
then."
7of9:
You'll be reinstated as of tomorrow at your old rank.
DipshitChiTown:
So I guess heaven and Earth move quickly
7of9:
When I want something, yes
DipshitChiTown:
And I'm what you want?
7of9:
Yes
DipshitChiTown:
On your ship, you mean. As your head of engineering, you said. Nothing more.
7of9:
Define more.
DipshitChiTown:
Fuck you, Seven
7of9:
Fuck you, too, Liam
Subject:
Shaw, WTF?
ScottyWasRight23:
Dude, I thought you were staying civilian? I was going to throw my name in the
hat.
LShaw:
Sorry, man. These engines are the love of my life
DontOverTighten:
Or something on that ship is LOL
LeftLooseRightTight:
Yeah, maybe those rumors were true.
DipshitChiTown:
Give the guy a break.
OutOfRespect:
For once I agree with DipshitChiTown
LShaw:
Settle down, everyone. Let me get used to wearing this uniform again before you
start yanking my chain okay?
LeftLooseRightTight:
You want non-engineers to yank it first? Come on!
OutOfRespect:
LOL
DontOverTighten:
Yeah, engineers have first dibs on ribbing!
DipshitChiTown:
Amen.
You're
on a planet riding out an ion storm with your captain. She's pacing in the cave
you've taken shelter in.
"You
told me this would happen." She meets your eyes and sighs.
"Sure
did." You see no reason not to say it. You did tell her, in the staff
meeting, and she ignored you. And if you both hadn't been so resolved to let
everyone else beam back first, you would not be stuck here together.
For
the next few hours.
But
she doesn't listen to anyone if she's got it in her mind to run with a plan,
and you think she's starting to see that maybe her experts are on the ship for
a fucking reason, not to just have their suggestions overruled while she makes
like Kirk or Janeway.
With
a sigh she sits down next to you, her leg pressing against yours. "Fuck. I
fucked up."
"Apt
summation of the situation." You reach out to stop her from jiggling her
leg and she captures your hand and you both sit staring out at the storm, not
looking at each other, not talking.
Finally,
you twine your fingers with hers and she leans her head on your shoulder.
"Do
you still wish I'd let you die, Liam?"
"Not
right at this moment, no."
"Good."
OurLadyOfTheMountains
Sunday Cast:
I
want to talk today about grace. Not just the grace God gives to us, but the
grace we give to each other. Humans are imperfect creatures. We strike out when
we're hurt. Or we retreat.
We
so rarely give each other the grace of truly reaching out: in love, in
forgiveness, in understanding.
I
know we're all up here in these mountains for our own reasons. I know we've all
been singed a bit by life. And that's okay. I call that seasoning, not damage.
A patina, not a wound.
Life
bruises us. It's just the way it is.
But
bruises fade.
Offer
grace to someone today. Or accept it if it's someone else offering it to you.
That's
all, brothers and sisters.
DipshitChiTown:
I just want to say, what you did, bringing me back. It's okay. I understand.
7of9:
You're giving me grace?
DipshitChiTown:
I can't believe you're listening to that thing still
7of9:
Could say the same for you
DipshitChiTown:
But I actually believe in that stuff, you don't
7of9:
I know. I believe in you though.
DipshitChiTown:
That's nice. Go to sleep. Oh and fuck you, Seven
7of9:
Fuck you, too, Liam
It's
a party Seven's thrown. A sing-along and you're not sure why you're watching a
twentieth century teen horror show, but you know the words so you sing along
like everyone else.
"How
the hell do you know the words?" you ask her when the credits roll.
"Tom
Paris was a student of that time. He loved Buffy and this episode was
his favorite."
"Well
yeah, it's a classic." And hit home. You can tell she's reading what
you're feeling. She's getting way too good at that.
"I
guess you could relate to that one song, huh? I wish I could give you something
to sing about."
"You
gave me my engines."
"Can
I give you a dance?" She points to the center of the lounge, where people
are starting to dance to slow and sexy music. "Or perhaps more aptly, can
you give me one?"
"I
like to dance. I guess I like you. Why not combine them?" You let her lead
you into the middle of the group.
"You
guess you like me? Thanks, Liam. Way to bowl a girl over."
"Wasn't
aware you needed to be bowled over." Pulling her close, you smell the
perfume you've dreamed about since she first came aboard your ship. You've
never been this close to her on purpose.
She
pulls you closer and you let her. Your lips are on her hair and you move it out
of the way and kiss her neck before you can think better of it.
She
doesn't tell you to stop, only pulls you in closer. "I love you. Even if
you don't love me." She's whispering this in your ear, her breath warm, as
warm as her body pressed against you, as her intentions no doubt were as she
brought you back to life.
"I
love you, too, Seven."
"Do
you want to go to one of our quarters and make out the way Buffy and Spike just
did?"
"They
did more than just make out."
She
smiles, and it's a wicked smile he's never seen. "I know. Tom made me
watch the whole series."
"You're
sure about this? You'll be breaking every rule for me, Seven."
"Seems
fair. Unless you don't want that risk?"
"What
do I care? I died, remember?"
She
runs her hand down your cheek. "I know. I have nightmares that I don't
bring you back. You have them because I did. Ironic, huh?"
"Yeah."
By
mutual accord you dance for a while before you head out, to her quarters, which
were your quarters but now look so different.
"It
was too dark," she says, almost in apology.
"It
was. I didn't live in the light." You frown. "It's true in so many
ways. I died with my friends at Wolf 359 and it wasn't until you got here that
I came back to life."
"Sort
of."
"Yeah.
Sort of." You see your knives, now on the wall, wired in place. "You
kept these?"
"Do
you want them back?"
"No.
Why'd you keep them?"
"They
were all I had of you."
"You
sure you want that to change? I'm no prize package."
"I
know but..." She moves close and traces your lips. "I think you
are."
"This
is grace, Seven."
"Yes,"
she says, as she starts removing your clothes. "This is."
Subject:
Refit FUBAR — Uhhhhhh?
ScottyWasRight23:
Shaw, saw you with your captain at a Command party. You weren't even trying to
hide that you're together. What the everlovin' fuck?
DontOverTighten:
I thought you guys looked great together.
LeftLooseRightTight:
Same.
LShaw:
I'm happy. She's happy. Command hasn't courtmartialed us. End of story.
DipshitChiTown:
Happy for you, bro! She's a lucky lady.
OutOfRespect:
I think it's more he's a lucky guy.
LeftLooseRightTight:
Hey, OutOfRespect, thank you for the POC at NG. Things are going well.
OutOfRespect:
Yay!
DontOverTighten:
Not sure who you are, but in my book, you rock.
DipshitChiTown:
Amen.
DipshitChiTown:
Time to retire those usernames I think.
7of9:
Consider OutOfRespect retired.
LShaw:
This feels better
7of9:
Get over here and I'll make it feel even better.
LShaw:
I'll be right there. Fuck you, Seven
7of9:
Fuck you, too, Liam
FIN