Chapter 6

"I understand that it's needed for humans, but I don't understand why people find it enjoyable.", Seven stated and reached for the Doctors hand which lay on the table, placing it on her second hand, the one without the Borg technology covering most of her skin: "So that is supposed to cause pleasure?", she asked with a frown, watching her hand.

The holographic Doctor was glad she wasn't watching him instead of their hands, since the expression in his face might had given her a more than subtle hint regarding his feelings for her. He had been surprised, then he couldn't hold back a bright smile, now he was trying to stay calm as he replied: "Why, that's not exactly what I meant with physical contact. Caressing and tender touches are the usual physical contact causing pleasure in relationships.", he said, neither moving his fingers or hand, nor removing it. There wasn't even a possibility for him to remove his hand, since Seven was still holding it in place with her right hand. She seemed to be in thoughts, and certainly she must have forgotten to let the Doctors hand for a moment.

She looked up to meet the Doctors glance: "Show me.", she requested after a moment of watching their hands and trying to understand the matter of physical contact.

If the Photonic would have been able to blush, he would have been brightly red by now. He nodded after a moment of hesitation and moved his thumb over the back of Sevens delicate hand. Stroking her tenderly he looked in Sevens eyes and asked: "How does that make you feel?", the former Borg looked down and frowned: "It's a strange sensation.", she said and looked at the hand for another moment. "Is it rather good or rather bad?", the Doc asked to get a tendency. "Odd for the moment, but it's doing no harm.", Seven explained her confusing experience. "Since you are still holding my hand I assume it's not unpleasant and you don't want me to stop?", the Doctor asked.

"I am willing to explore my humanity.", Seven said: "I observed that Ensign Paris doesn't limits his touches to Lieutenant Torres hand.", she frowned for a moment and asked: "Is it inappropriate to extend our research to other regions of my body?", she still had a hard time trying to decide which things are appropriate and which aren't.

The Doctors eyes widened a little and he looked rather surprised: "Now, that depends on where you ask me to touch you.", he said: "Although, as long as were in private there ain't no limits as long as both of us are comfortable.", he took a breath to hide his nervousness, or at least he tried to: "If you consider me a friend, there are places I shouldn't touch, if we were in a relationship there are other things to consider. It wouldn't matter where on your body your boyfriend touches you, but it matters where you two are. In the mess hall isn't an appropriate place for touches that are too ….sexual. Holding hands would be alright but not, uhm …", the Doctor was a getting a bit more nervous: "It is considered unmannerly to touch your rear or bosom while being in public.", he couldn't look her in the face for a moment, and decided to just look at her hand holding his wrist in place still.

Seven was listening curiously and thought about the Doctors words for a moment, phrasing a question: "Are you feeling comfortable with expanding the research to my whole arm?"

"That would be alright with me, but how about you?", the EMH asked, making sure he wasn't taking advantage of Sevens lack of knowledge and scientific curiosity. "I am alright Doctor.", she stated. "Go ahead.", she loosened her grip on his wrist until she took of her grip entirely, now the Doctor hesitantly slid up his hand to her elbow and moved it cautiously up and down her forearm: "Now, that would be caressing, how someone strokes you can be pretty different.", he told her and couldn't hide a soft smile while differing his strokes from time to time. He let his palm slide over the thin fabric of her dermaplastic garment, then he changed to only caress her with his fingertips. The Doctor watched his hand for a moment, then looked up at Seven who happened to look at him: "You seem to enjoy this as well.", she observed – the smile had given her a hint. "Well I do.", the Doctor simply replied with a smile turning insecure after he noticed what he had just admitted. "Elaborate.", Seven requested.

It took the Doctor a moment to find the right words as he kept on stroking over Sevens arm: "Now, the garment is causing a slightly tingling feeling in my fingertips. Additionally giving is also nice, for instance … when you are in a relationship you usually want your partner to be happy. By caressing you show that and make sure your partner is feeling a little better – which makes you happy.", he said and pressed his lips together a little, not able to hide his insecurity for the moment. "We aren't in a relationship.", she reminded him. "I know, I know.", he quickly said: "But we are friends, and I care for you Seven. That's about the same feeling, but not that intense.", he really hoped he wasn't screwing it up at the moment. "I understand.", Seven replied. She had seen Neelix smile about things Crewman he liked told him had happened to them. It must be something like that. Relieved the Doctor allowed himself to relax again.

Seven was examining her hand for a moment before she placed it on the doctors, which made him pause his caresses. Just as he wanted to ask her if he should stop, she brushed her thumb over his hand, like he had done before. Thought it wasn't smoothly and relaxed as he had done it. Seven was focused on the movement of her finger and her brows were furrowed a little bit. "Is this right?", she asked hesitantly.

The Doctor was smiling: "It is. There is no right or wrong. You don't need to worry about the movement to be right or wrong.", the EMH reassured her. "Do you find this pleasurable?", Seven inquired: "I do.", he simply replied: "How do you feel about it Seven?", the Doctor asked and let his glance travel over her appearance before it stilled on her eyes. Oh, she had beautiful eyes! "I sense the tingling you've been talking about.", she told him: "I do not find this unpleasant."

Seven wasn't sure what to feel about all this exactly. The Doctor was being extremely patient with her and he doesn't seemed to be in a rush at all. Considering how impatient he could be it was a bit strange, but nice. She would need to think about this when she was back in private.

She was still brushing her thumb over his skin, which surprised her since she had been in thoughts and didn't really paid attention to her movements, it was like they had been so native to her that she didn't even had to think about it. Oddly enough, she must have been silent for a good minute or two, and the Doctor hadn't said anything. The EMH was known for being talkative, yet he was silently watching her and smiling all the way.

Words echoed in her mind: the past few days have been unforgettable… there ain't no limits as long as both of us are comfortable … if someone is interested in you, they may show it in many different ways: Take extra effort, smile when you are talking to them, often people tend to maintain eye contact … I do have a crush … the Doctor had been a good and patient mentor to you … Did they go the extra mile and did things for you even if they didn't had to, just to help you? Yes? That's a damn good indicator if you are important to them … a mate is someone whose company I enjoy as well, though I wish to procreate and touch them … just go ahead with the Doctors social lessons, he is trying hard to help you …

Something was strange about that and Seven was trying to figure out what it was. Maybe Ensign Paris could help her later with that matter, she wouldn't figure that out just now.

"Is something wrong with your vocal subroutines Doctor?", she asked with just the hint of an smile on her lips. "Not at all.", he said and smiled: "Was that a joke Seven?", he asked amused. "It was.", she answered simply.