DISCLAIMER: I don't own them, just borrowing them for a little while. As always thanks go out to Lilian for the beta.
AUTHOR'S NOTE: This is the third part in what should be a four part mini-
series. Sequel to Darkness Prevails and Darkness Fades
Light Dawns
By Gizzmogeek
At first all B'Elanna could feel was something soft holding her. Someone was holding her in their arms... and she was lying on the floor. That she was sure of.
'But... my head is resting on... Tom doesn't have.... Tom doesn't smell nice like ... '
B'Elanna slowly came to the realization of who was holding her and her eyes snapped open. The look of worry, concern, love and fear she saw reflected back at her shocked her to the core. Seven was holding her. She was lying on the floor, her upper body cradled in Seven's protective arms. Her head was tilted back and she was staring into Seven's beautiful blue eyes, merely inches away from her own.
Her breath caught. "What... Seven?"
Seven's borg mask quickly fell into place, hiding the emotions roiling underneath.
"Lieutenant. I found you in the corridor... on the floor. I was... concerned... for your well being."
Seven's explanation of where she was derailed B'Elanna's thoughts regarding what she saw in Seven's eyes.
"On the floor... in the corridor? What am I doing here? The last thing I remember was having a drink of water and sitting on my couch?"
"You are currently lying on the deck, 20 meters from Cargo Bay Two. It would appear you have moved from your last location... Do you remember anything in between?"
B'Elanna started to mull that over when she realized what she was wearing, a pair of boxers and a t-shirt. Her eyes went wide.
"Umm.. Seven... considering my lack of proper attire, can we continue this conversation ... uh.. elsewhere? Please?"
A look of alarm flit across Seven's features and then she quickly stood up, taking B'Elanna with her. However she was a little too quick. Bringing B'Elanna from a reclining position to standing on her own two feet in .47 seconds made the engineer lightheaded and she almost passed out. Klingons do not pass out, nor half Klingons for that matter. Therefore B'Elanna was not entirely pleased with her body's reaction, however she did appreciate Seven wrapping her arm around her once again to steady her.
Seven couldn't get back to sleep after waking up to yet another dream and therefore decided to try and regenerate for a bit before her shift started in a few hours. The lack of sleep over the last several nights was taking a toll on her and she wanted to be at her peak performance. She was on her way to the Cargo Bay when she came across the Lieutenant lying on the floor. Seven stopped dead in her tracks and she was frozen with fear. No! Her dream couldn't be coming true. Not B'Elanna. No, it can't be.
After a moment's hesitation, Seven ran to the engineer and picked her up, checking to make sure she was okay. Seven heaved an uncharacteristic sigh of relief when she realized that B'Elanna was not injured, however her concern for why she was lying in the middle of the corridor did not dissipate.
"B'Elanna" Seven whispered her name reverently while stroking the hair out of the engineer's eyes.
B'Elanna took an unsteady breath and then her eyes snapped open, capturing Seven with her chocolate eyes. Seven was riveted in place, concern etching her face. It didn't occur to Seven that she was staring at B'Elanna until she spoke...
"What... Seven?"
Seven blinked, the spell broken.
"Lieutenant. I found you in the corridor... on the floor. I was... concerned... for your well being."
Seven watched the confusion etch itself across her love's face.
"On the floor... in the corridor? What am I doing here? The last thing I remember was having a drink of water and sitting on my couch?"
"You are currently lying on the deck, 20 meters from Cargo Bay Two. It would appear you have moved from your last location. Do you remember anything in between?"
Seven watched as realization dawned on the engineer and then the alarm that quickly followed.
"Umm.. Seven... considering my lack of proper attire, can we continue this conversation ... uh.. elsewhere? Please?"
Seven quickly realized that B'Elanna was uncomfortable and surmised she would not appreciate being coddled in the middle of the hallway by a former Borg. Her Klingon heritage would be horrified. She quickly stood, taking B'Elanna with her. A little too quickly. B'Elanna swayed and Seven reacted before she could think about it and wrapped her arm around the hybrid to steady her.
B'Elanna grinned. Seven's heart jumped.
Seven was still standing with her arm around B'Elanna.
"Whoa. Hey Sev... can we talk about this in my quarters? I need to sit down for a minute."
"You are not operating under normal parameters Lieutenant. You should report to the Doctor."
"Please Sev... I'm just light headed from getting up so quickly. I'm fine, really. Can we just go back to my quarters... please? I'm half naked here."
Seven glanced at B'Elanna's attire and raised an implanted eyebrow.
"As you wish Lieutenant."
"Sev. Seeing as I am in my underwear, ya think you could call me B'Elanna?"
"I will comply, Lieu... B'Elanna."
"Better."
"Umm.. Sev?"
"Yes B'Elanna?"
"I think I can walk now... " she trailed off while gazing at Seven.
The confusion in Seven's eyes was obvious. B'Elanna glanced at their position and then back at Seven, raising her eyebrow and inclining her head.
Seven blushed and released the lithe engineer.
"Thanks. Have you eaten breakfast yet?"
"I do not... no I have not eaten this morning Lieu.. B'Elanna."
"Great. Let me repay you for picking my sorry ass up off the floor by making you breakfast in my quarters...." Seeing the normal protest of 'I do not require nutritional supplement at this time' about to cross her lips again, B'Elanna headed her off at the pass. "Please."
Seven inclined her head in agreement and the two women proceeded to the Lieutenant's quarters.
The End
Sequel Light Perseveres