This story is the fourth in the series after 'Distress Call', 'House Call' and 'Call to Arms'. You don't have to read those to enjoy this, but it's probably a good idea as some elements of the story won't make sense otherwise.

All stories in this series feature a relationship between two women with some sexual scenes. If you don't like that, don't read this – otherwise, enjoy!

As always, your comments and reviews are welcome.

Part 1

"I agreed to meet the Captain, despite your recommendation that I suggest a more suitable time. However, I would appreciate any further advice you can offer."

Seven-of-Nine was in Astrometrics, oblivious of the late hour – or early hour more precisely – and talking to the Doctor over the comm system. Yet again she was grateful that Voyager's Chief Medical Officer was a hologram and therefore available any time of day or night. That didn't guarantee that he wouldn't be irritable on being disturbed, but at least one could expect the same reception no matter what the time of day.

"I specifically suggested, Seven, that you turn down the Captain's invitation, at least until tomorrow!" The Doctor's annoyance at being ignored was evident in his tone. "Call her back and tell her you're busy!"

Seven was not above showing irritation herself, and her reply was acerbic. "I will not comply. I wish to see Captain Janeway, and to talk to her. Doctor, do you know why she became upset when she and I were last together?"

Speaking in a low voice, the hologram replied, wishing that he was able say more to help his friend but at the same time knowing that he could never betray his captain's trust. "Yes, I do. But it's something you'll have to discuss with her yourself. I thought it would take a while for the Captain to be able to talk with you about…things, which is why I was surprised when you said she had asked you to her quarters."

"Perhaps she wishes to speak about other matters, Doctor? Or, as I have observed happen with humans after they have done something they wish they had not done, perhaps she simply intends to act as though nothing amiss occurred?"

"You're talking about humans as though you aren't one, Seven. But you're right, that does seem to happen quite frequently. At times I am glad to be made of photons and force fields – they don't get embarrassed quite so easily as flesh and blood." The Doctor chuckled to himself. "But," he continued, "I doubt that Captain Janeway will try to pretend that nothing happened. It's too important. Will you at least listen to one piece of advice I'm going to give you?"

"Of course," answered Seven immediately. She always listened, but often chose not to follow other people's words of wisdom.

"Since you are…who you are, I'm going to be blunt. Let the Captain talk, listen to her. Ask questions if you feel it's right, but not if they make her uncomfortable. And, Seven – this is important – don't make any more sexual advances towards her, at all. That's got to come from the Captain, and it's going to be difficult for both of you. Do you understand?" The Doctor wondered if he had said too much, even though he had not breached confidentiality in any way.

"I understand. Thank you, Doctor, and good night." Seven remembered to be polite even in her eagerness to end the conversation and make her way to deck three.

Part 2

Tom Paris couldn't sleep. He'd tried – crikey, had he tried! – but his persistent partner kept prodding him awake or simply talking loudly enough to have the same effect. B'Elanna Torres was the Chief of Engineering, Chief Gossip and currently, thought Tom, Chief Pain-in-the-Arse. Enough was enough. Pushing the covers off, he sat upright in their bed.

"Okay, B'Elanna. I'm awake, but if you really want to talk I suggest we get some coffee." He pushed himself to his feet and, after pulling on a blue robe, stumbled from the bedroom into the living room of their shared quarters, making a beeline for the replicator.

"Two coffees, strong, black."

Torres wasn't far behind, and accepted the proffered mug with a satisfied grin. "Thanks. So, now that you're actually listening, I'll start again." They sat on separate sofas, facing each other. "The Captain told me that she loves Seven, and Seven told you that she loves the Captain. So how come they didn't speak a word to each other today?"

"You don't know that," said Tom, shaking his head.

B'Elanna shot him a look, the meaning plain.

"Okay, so you do know that. I won't ask how," he added, knowing that he would probably disapprove of the Klingon's answer if he were to ask. "But, as I've said before – and I've lost count of the number of times – it's none of our business!"

"They are our friends, Tom. Well, kind of. But anyway, I wonder what's gone wrong? Captain Janeway couldn't get off the bridge fast enough after the Relativity left, and you said she never showed up again. Seven was in Engineering until gone 21:00 hours, working on the quantum torpedoes, and the computer logs said she didn't contact anyone; besides, I was there with her." Torres's eyes shone with excitement as she delved deeper, and it occurred to Paris that she would have made an excellent detective back in the days when they were needed.

His partner's interest was contagious, and without thinking he offered an opinion. "It must be personal – Seven hasn't done anything against regulations since she punched Chakotay, and that was only because of the alien intruder winding everyone up. I reckon they've had a fight."

"That's what I thought," agreed Torres, "but what about? What could Captain Janeway and Seven fight about?"

"I don't know. Could be anything, B'Elanna – think about some of the things we've argued about. What to have for dinner, whether to play chess or velocity, whose turn it is to put the washing in the recycler."

"Oh, come on. The Captain's above petty things like that, and I can't see Seven getting worked up about small stuff. Anyway, they don't live together, so that cuts out most of the potential issues." Torres paused, thinking hard as she sipped her scalding, bitter coffee. "No. It's more than that. I wonder if they've had sex yet?"

"B'Elanna!" Tom spluttered, a mouthful of coffee spraying out over his robe. "That – how can you? - It's, well, it's -"

Torres flashed a wicked smile, indicating that she was not about to drop the subject. "Seven's presumably never done it before. The Captain's been alone for five years, and between you and me I suspect she wouldn't have been sleeping with her fiancé since she got back from her last mission prior to taking captaincy of Voyager."

Despite his hesitance to question his partner's statements, Tom found this snippet so intriguing he couldn't help himself. "And what on Earth makes you say that?" he asked incredulously, picturing Torres outside their Captain's house back on Earth, up a tree with a pair of binoculars. "What are you talking about?"

Suddenly, B'Elanna was reluctant to speak. She had promised Chakotay years ago, once they and the other Maquis had felt truly at home on Voyager, that she would never tell anyone what they knew about Kathryn Janeway's past. Yet Tom was her partner, whom she thought she would spend the rest of her life with, and it didn't feel right to keep things from him. In the end, he made the decision for her.

"It's okay; I can see that it's something you don't want to talk about. I'm guessing you know something I don't and that you can't tell me. But do you think that whatever it is that you've just thought about has anything to do with the Captain and Seven now?"

Torres nodded slowly, her heart sinking as she tried to put herself in the Captain's position, knowing what she knew. It was too difficult, and if it was difficult for her then she couldn't imagine what Janeway had endured, and was still suffering as it affected her relationship, her physical and emotional connection with someone she clearly loved.

"I think so. But I don't know how they will get through it. Maybe they won't, maybe it will be too hard. Tom, I think you should talk to Seven again soon. She will need a friend, if I'm right."

Without waiting for a reply, Torres addressed the computer. "Computer, locate Seven-of-Nine."

Seven-of-Nine is in Turbolift 2.

"What is the turbolift's destination?"

Deck three.

Paris and Torres stared at each other, both realising the implications.

"Good luck, Captain," whispered B'Elanna.

Tom smiled. "Good luck, Seven," he replied in a soft murmur. Neither he nor Torres would sleep that night.