Author's Note: Early work. Be merciful. ;-) Meltdown

If you look my way one more time / I'm gonna go out of my mind


She was acutely aware of the tickling of her hair on her neck and of the normally imperceptible vibration of her ship beneath her boots. Her feet were tingling from the prolonged sensation and she longed to stamp them. The vibration was extending its reach up her calves now and she became aware of it, suddenly, in an even more irritating spot. It seemed to rise from the bowels of her ship, like bile in the throat, to her consciouness. Pressed against her chair, her ass, her thighs, and crotch were falling prey to the thrumming of Voyager's engines. The urge to shift and arch (whether away from or to the vibrations, fortunately unclear to her) was driving her mad.

Her face felt flushed and, if she was correct, her forehead was growing damp with perspiration. The heat seemed to be spreading from two points high on the back of her head. She longed to turn, burned to see the guileless blue eyes she was certain were drilling into her. Her stomach quaked at the urge to--at the mere thought of meeting that demanding gaze. She tightly clamped down on that thought before it could proceed as it inevitably always did now. Surprised at first by the unfolding of these fantasies, now she was too familiar with them to allow the indulgence. And that is what it is . . .Later, the disciplined officer insisted, reassured. Too late, though, as already the image had formed of herself striding challengingly up to the tall beauty and picking up the gauntlet those eyes seemed to be throwing down.

She became aware of another annoyance--another betrayal of her body--a wetness, quickly cooling, in the crotch of her panties. The cooling against the seemingly rising heat of her body was maddening. She casually lifted her right boot from the deck--and the infernal vibration--and crossed her legs, executing perhaps the most controlled move of her life. WHY is she staring at me? Janeway pressed her thighs together. How long has she been at it, anyway? Feels like an eternity. How much longer until shift rotation--certainly an eternity!

But now she became aware that the back of her head felt strangely light, naked almost, and Harry Kim was standing over her. She rose, embarrassed and yet still relieved, and turned up the corners of her mouth in response to his bemused smile. That's right. She's doting, the old captain . . . She read his mind, or at least imagined she was doing so. Well. Rank's privilege, kid.

"Thought maybe you were giving me a break, Captain." The Harry she'd picked up at Deep Space 9 would not have dared jest with his captain.

"Sorry, Harry." She shrugged. He was pulling a double shift, the first at Ops with Voyager's first field-trainee. "It's the burden of command. Chakotay will be back soon, though."

"I'm enjoying it actually, Captain. Besides, I've basically got my feet up back there while Seven does all the work." He glanced up at the woman, who was briefing her replacement. "I suppose the formalities have to be honored, but she's already better than I was after four years at the Academy.

Janeway clapped him on the shoulder as she stepped past him. "Experience and schooling are different animals. Seven's just doing it backwards."

Harry grinned at her, standing in front of the chair, hands behind his back, as if he must have permission before sitting.

"You have the bridge, Mister Kim." He sat and she moved to the turbolift, abnormally conscious of the fabric of her uniform moving against her as she walked. Her tunic felt too tight across her chest. The melody of Seven's voice, which stood out above the bridge's usual harmony in Kathryn's mind, ceased. She turned to see Seven crossing to the 'lift. Does she have to walk that way?

Legs suddenly heavy and numb, thinking of kamikaze pilots, Janeway murmured, "Hold."

"Captain," said Seven, as the doors closed, nodding her appreciation.

Kathryn cleared her throat. "How is your training going, Seven?"

The rare smile lit Seven's face. "Well." Then an even rarer note of doubt entered her voice. "At least, I feel that it is. I wish to thank you for proposing the idea and giving me the opportunity to become more a part of the crew."

Quite a speech for Seven, Kathryn noted. "You're already a valued part of Voyager, Seven." She gave her what she hoped was a captainly smile.

Seven merely inclined her head, but Kathryn saw the brief coloring of her cheeks and longed to run hands and lips over the heated flesh. She took a deep breath, finding the air thick and smelling of Seven. The younger woman was far too close to her in the confined space. They both moved at the same time and Kathryn found her situation worsening as Seven's arm brushed hers. For some reason, she found herself not moving away, carefully maintaining the tenuous connection. Not even wondering that Seven, too, was motionless, though surely she must be aware of the contact, slight though it was. And slight though it was, it was too much for Janeway.

She abruptly faced Seven as the 'lift reached the deck. "You were watching me on the bridge. The entire shift. And yesterday, too--and for as manys days as I can remember, your eyes have followed me." Seven's lips parted in surprise, and Janeway knew it was because she had been right and not simply imagining things. "What are you hoping for, Seven? Is it this?"

And she leaned in, roughly pulled Seven's face down, and kissed her soundly on the mouth. The 'lift stopped as Janeway glared into Seven's surprised eyes. "If not, then watch yourself, because you were a test to my discipline before you began your latest project--whatever that may be."

The door had slid open as she spoke. Now she turned smartly on her heel and stalked off down the corridor. The door closed on a very shaken, and stirred, Seven of Nine.
Lyrics from "Whatever You Do! Don't!"
Shania Twain and John Lange

If you stand too close to me
I might melt down from the heat
If ya look my way one more time
I'm gonna go out of my mind
Whatever you do . . .
Don't even think about it!
Don't go and get me started!
Don't you dare drive me crazy!
Don't do that to me baby!
. . .
You got my heart under attack
You give me shivers down my bac
D'ya have to walk the way you do?
I get weak just watchin' you
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