The BLTS Archive- Unexpected Lessons
by LesaL. (Azlisa001@aol.com)

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Notes: This story can be archived to the ASC and BLTS archives.  All
others please ask me for permission.

A little wishful thinking on my part.  I hope you enjoy it.

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Seven of Nine touched the button to deck two.  Turning to face the
turbolift doors, she reviewed her conversation with the Doctor.  Their
usual ease of communication had felt strained, awkward.  It had left
her, unsettled.    The turbolift doors opened and she headed to the
Messhall, still analyzing their encounter.  She had made the correct
gesture as outlined in his lesson plan but his response had indicated
surprise and possibly disappointment.  It was curious.

Entering the Messhall, she advanced to the service line.  She knew
that her intake of carbohydrates and liquid had not been sufficient
for this time period and wished to rectify that error.  Before she
could pick up a tray she felt a hand on her arm.  Turning, she faced
the object of her first mating ritual failure, Lieutenant Chapman.

"Seven, how are you?  I haven't seen you since our date.  Why don't
you join me?  My table is right over there." 

Heat rose to her cheeks.  She knew she was experiencing embarrassment. 
Looking away she realized that they were the objects of intense
interest throughout the Messhall.  Unexpectedly she felt the sudden
need to apologize to Lieutenant Torres.  Scrutiny was indeed
irritating.  "I do not wish to sit at the moment."

He smiled nervously, "Come on, we'll just have some coffee and maybe
talk."

Pulling her arm away from his, she took a breath before replying,
"Thank you, no.  I am here to--"

"Help me carry things," a welcome voice said behind her.

She looked up to see the reassuring presence of Ensign Kim holding a
food container.  A small smile of relief softened her features.

Lieutenant Chapman said, with a hint of annoyance, "Harry, Seven and I
were talking.  Would you excuse us?"

"Sorry to interrupt you," Ensign Kim replied pleasantly.  He held the
container out to her.  She automatically accepted it.  "I'm glad you
made it Seven you saved me a trip."

"I am pleased that I can be of assistance," she replied.  Even though
she had no idea what they were discussing, she understood that he was
trying to help her out of a difficult situation.  She was grateful.

"Talk to you later Chapman," Ensign Kim said, leading her to the
doors.  He stopped picking up four stacked chairs and continued with
her out to the corridor.

After the doors closed, she addressed him as they walked to the
turbolift, "Ensign, thank you for creating a diversion.  Lieutenant
Chapman did not appear to understand that I did not wish to spend time
with him."

"He didn't seem to want to take no for an answer," Harry agreed with a
grimace.  "Well, it's not everyday that a woman asks you to be the
subject of her first...anything.  I guess it's not that easy to let it
go."  The turbolift doors opened, revealing two crewmembers. 

They rode in silence, as Seven studied Ensign Kim.  The tone of his
voice and his posture indicated that something had disturbed him. 
Following him as the doors opened, it occurred to her to ask what she
was carrying and where they were going.

With a slight chuckle of embarrassment, Harry replied, "You are
carrying Ktarian fruit nectar and Bajoran crackers.  We are going to
my quarters.  My jazz quartet is getting together to practice tonight
and these are snacks for afterwards."

"I understand.  I will return to cargo bay two after I have safety
deposited your foodstuffs."

"If you don't have anything else scheduled, you're welcome to stay and
listen," he replied as they reached his door.  Keying in his code they
entered his quarters. 

"I am not a part of your quartet," Seven said firmly.  "My presence is
not needed."

"That's true," Harry conceded.  "But it would be nice to have you stay
and listen anyway.  Besides you did say that music was one of your
interests," his voice had a hint of challenge that intrigued her.

"Very well, I will stay," she said decisively.

"Great, now if you'll set the snacks on the table.  I'll set up the
chairs and get my music.

In moments the chime sounded, the doors opened to allow Lieutenant
Nicoletti, Ensigns Golwat and Ashmore, each carrying their respective
instruments.  They're surprise at the sight of ship's resident ex-Borg
was evident.

Sue looked at the tall blond woman with disdain and threw a sharp look
at the Ops. Officer.

Before they could ask questions, Harry said firmly, "Seven has decided
to stay and listen to our practice session."

"I'm glad you could come Seven," Golwat said in her gentle voice.  "It
will be nice to have someone listen to us play."

"Thank you," she said.  "I am pleased that Ensign Kim invited me."

Harry smiled at them all, "Seven's been exploring new areas of
interest--"

"So we hear," Nicoletti cut in.

"And she has expressed an interest in music," he added in a cautionary
tone.

"You're interested in music?" the Lieutenant asked with more than a
trace of contempt.

"Yes, I am," Seven replied, standing even taller than before.

Ashmore smiled, asking, "What instrument do you play?"

"I do not play an instrument.  I sing."

"Really?" Harry choked out.

"Yes, really," she answered him with arched brow.

Taking a seat, Ensign Ashmore said cordially, "Well, maybe after our
practice we can accompany you in a song."

"Perhaps," Seven said coolly.  Understanding that it would be
considered *bad manners* to stand during the session, she moved to the
couch and sat.

To her surprise she enjoyed the music.  The sounds were soothing yet
compelling at the same time.  The discussion of various etudes and
impromptus proved to be more interesting than she had anticipated. 
Lieutenant Nicoletti excused herself immediately following the
rehearsal.  Later as they consumed the nectar and crackers she
listened to the easy banter between Ensigns Ashmore and Kim which
brought a smile to her face more than once.

"Sounds to me like you've been practicing without us," Harry observed.

"Yeah, like I have any time off to practice.  My boss is a real slave
driver," Ensign Ashmore responded to the man that was his superior
officer.

As the conversation went back and forth Seven found herself studying
Ensign Kim.  It was unfortunate that he could not have been one of the
candidates for her date.  She felt at ease in his presence and knew
that he understood enough about her likes and dislikes not to have
ordered for dinner a creature with a visible exo-skeleton that was
also difficult to consume.  She shuddered slightly at the memory.

"Are you okay Seven?" the Ops. officer asked.

She looked over at him, noting his expression of concern, "I am fine,
thank you."

The Ensigns excused themselves, volunteering to return the chairs to
the Messhall.

---

"Can I get you anything else?" Harry asked after walking his guests to
the door.

"I have consumed sufficient carbohydrates.  However, I will accept
four more ounces of fluid," she replied holding out her glass.

Harry held up the clear pitcher, swirling it to examine the pink
liquid. "There's not much left.  Come on Seven, live dangerously, have
six more ounces," he urged.

"Very well."

After pouring out more nectar he asked, "So did you enjoy the music?"

"Yes I did.  All of the music I have heard previously was recorded. 
This was my first experience with live music.  I found it compelling."

"Glad to hear it.  Maybe next time you'll sing with us.  Thought I
forgot about that didn't you?" 

His warm grin brought out a smile of her own.  "Perhaps next time I
will."  Composing her features, she asked, "Ensign, I am confused by
Lieutenant Nicoletti's behavior.  Until tonight she has always behaved
cordially to me.  I know that she is well thought of among the crew. 
She is considered a *nice person.*  Yet, I sensed open hostility from
her.  Am I incorrect?"

Harry sat down in the armchair adjacent to the couch, taking a swallow
from his glass before replying.  "No, Sue was behaving badly tonight."

"Her hostility appeared to be directed at me.  Did I do something to
offend her?" Seven asked with resignation, wondering which of the
numerous rules of etiquette she had broken.

The Ensign sighed, "It has to do with your date with Chapman."

"Why would my wish to expand my social experiences offend her?" Seven
asked, leaning forward.

"You see Sue and Will used to date."

"But when Lieutenant Chapman had dinner with me, he made note of the
fact that he hadn't been on a date in a long while," she asked in
confusion.

"He hadn't.  He and Sue started dating about three years ago.  They
dated steadily for almost a year.  She was pretty sure he was getting
ready to ask her to marry him."

"But he did not," she stated.

"No he didn't.  After they'd been together for a while Voyager hosted
a group of aliens, called Enarans."

"Yes, I read the logs.  In exchange for swift passage to their
homeworld they shared some of their technology with Voyager."

"Right.  They were with us for a few weeks.  There was a young Enaran
woman named Jessen."

"An engineer."

"Right again.  She was," he paused, "she was pretty cute.  We had
dinner once."

Seven studied the Ensign coldly, her lip curling in disdain.  "You
went on a date with her?"

"It wasn't really a date," he answered.  "We had been working on
something and we had dinner together.  End of story."

"Did you copulate with her?" the ex-Borg pressed.

"No!  Didn't I say end of story?"

"Yes.  But I fail to see what this has to do with Lieutenant Nicoletti
or Chapman."

The Ensign looked into her eyes, she sensed he was trying to formulate
his answer, "You see, Will had more than dinner with her."

"You are saying they copulated?"  Harry nodded, and she continued
harshly, "He had sexual relations with an alien that could have caused
a potential health hazard to Voyager?" she continued coldly.

Ensign Kim looking away from her and sat back in his chair with a
sigh.  Grimly, he responded, "Don't worry the Enarans had all been
property vetted by the Doctor.  There were no potential health
hazards.  Unless you count Sue's broken heart.  She took it pretty
badly and since everyone likes her, none of the women on board would
go out with Will because they didn't want to hurt her feelings. 
Besides," he added, "I think they all thought that if he did it once
he'd do it again."

"A reasonable assumption," she nodded.

"No it's not!" he shot back, the strength of his voice startling her. 
"Will made a mistake.  I'm not excusing that, but he doesn't deserve
to be treated like an outcast because of it.  When you told me about
your two...candidates, I told you he was a nice guy.  He is."

"Thank you for explaining the situation to me.  I did not mean to
damage Lieutenant Nicoletti's feelings.  An incident like that will
not happen again.  I informed the Doctor this afternoon that I have
found no potential mates aboard Voyager and do not intend to *date*
until I can possibly find an alien that is suitable."

Ensign Kim placed his glass on the coffee table with a great deal more
force than was necessary.  "Ensign?" she asked.

"You're wrong Seven," he said firmly.

With an arched brow, she repeated, "I am wrong?"

"Yes!  This whole thing is wrong.  You can't find people that you
might want to have relationships with by cataloging them like
laboratory rats and picking the one that makes it through the maze
first," he said with evident exasperation.

A surge of anger enveloped her, "How do you suggest that I find
potential mates?"

Taking a breath, he pointed a finger at her, "By doing what you don't
want to do.  Spending time with people, frivolously.  Listening to
music, like you did tonight.  Going to one of Neelix's get togethers
in the Messhall, or to Sandrine's or the Resort, with people," he
emphasized.  "Not just holograms."

"You believe that I am uncomfortable in social situations?" she asked.

"Aren't you?" he replied.

"I have attended some of the events you mentioned with the Doctor,"
she pointed out.

"Yes," he nodded.  "And you two might as well have been wearing signs
that said 'We are observing you and taking notes.' That's not the way
to feel more comfortable or make other people feel comfortable with
you.  You saw how well your observations went with B'Elanna.  You're
lucky she didn't beat the hell out of you."

Seven observed, "I do not believe Lieutenant Torres could damage me in
an assault.  I am technologically enhanced," she added with superior
smugness.

"Right, and she's a half Klingon with a bad temper who has actually
killed people with her bare hands.  So far the betting pool gives her
three to two odds of knocking you senseless in a fair fight."

"A fair fight?"

"No unleashing hidden Borg hardware and paralyzing her.  Mano a mano,
hand to hand," he explained.  Holding up one of his own, he took a
breath and continued, "Forget that for now, what I'm trying to tell
you is that all your methods of observation do is create barriers. 
That wasn't your intention was it?"

Staring into the brown eyes that were focused on her, she felt
uncomfortable.  Rising, she said, "It is almost 1100 hours, I must
begin my regeneration."

She was almost to the door, when she heard, "That's what it is, isn't
it?  You want that barrier?  You need that distance.  You don't really
want to get close to people," he stated flatly.  Turning she saw that
he had followed her, standing barely a meter away.  He continued, "You
talk a good game Seven, but when it comes down to it you're afraid."

Coldly she replied, "I am Borg, I fear nothing."

"Bull!  You're like one those scientists that spend their lives
analyzing human development but not ever going out and really meeting
people."

The heat of his gaze was disconcerting.  She felt trapped by the force
of his voice.  Dropping her eyes from his, she realized that she was
visibly trembling.

His eyes widened in disbelief as he moved closer laying his hand on
her arm, "Seven, I'm sorry.  I had no right to talk to you like that. 
Maybe you didn't realize what you were doing.  You don't understand
yet."

Her throat felt constricted as she replied, "I do understand and you
are not entirely incorrect in your assumption."

A faint smile crossed his countenance, "That's good to hear.  But does
that mean that you might want to do something about it?"

She nodded, "I would like to do some of the things you suggested.  It
is true that I am not comfortable in those situations.  The Doctor has
been most helpful to me," she added.

Softly, he said, "I think it's time you realized that other people on
the crew would be willing to help you too."

She nodded, her lip curving slightly.  "The Captain has been helpful
also."

He smiled, "I know she has.  But the Captain is a busy woman.  She
doesn't have much free time."

"Commander Tuvok has assisted me at various times," she pointed out.

Nodding, he said, "Tuvok can be very helpful.  But, he really has no
interest in those activities.  Can you see him participating in a
limbo contest at the Resort?" 

Clear blue eyes met warm brown as they smiled together, "That is true. 
Do you have free time Ensign?"

He appeared to be considering her question, "Well, Ops. does keep me
pretty busy, but I'm sure that I could free up some time."

"Your assistance would be most appreciated," she replied.  A spark of
understanding passed between them.  "I do need to regenerate," Seven
said moving to the door.

"Of course you do," Harry said, escorting her to the door.  Before she
activated the door,  he placed his hand on her arm.  "Seven, I have to
know something.  I know I'm going to hate myself for asking but I have
to know."

"Why were you not one of my candidates?" she asked.

"Yes," his surprise at her deduction evident.  "I mean, I know I have
one black spot on my record but other than that it's pretty darn
good."

"One of the most exemplary on Voyager," she conceded.  "And if
circumstances had been different you would have been a potential
candidate."

"Circumstances?" he questioned.

"You have baggage," she said flatly.

"Baggage?"

"Emotional baggage," she replied.  "That is the correct term from the
databases.  The information on the databases regarding the subject
indicate that you have not had sufficient time to recover from your
experience with the Varro female to be ready to pursue other
relationships."

"This is about Tal?" he managed to blurt out.

"Yes, and your recovery time with your previous fiancé.  You seem to
require a great deal of time to recover from a broken heart.  Although
that term is inefficient since the heart--"

"Seven, stop!" he cut her off.

"I am sorry, I digressed," she admitted.  "You do not appear to agree
with the my conclusions?"

"I, I don't know what to think," he admitted, nonplused.  He appeared
to consider something as a small smile of what appeared to be triumph
crossed his features.  "Sounds like you must have spent some time
doing your homework about my condition?"

"Yes, I did," was her response.  She looked into his eyes, perhaps her
assessment had been flawed, "You do not concur?"

"I think that you didn't take into consideration the fact that a lot
of things have happened to me in the last few years.  I heal much
faster now.  Besides, I never said that I wanted to go on a date with
you did I?" he said to her surprise.

Regarding him steadily she asked, "You do not wish to date me?"

He smiled at her, and for the first time allowed his hand to touch her
hair. "I would like to spend time with you.  I would like to show you
some of the things you've been missing out on.  But I think that by
calling what we would be doing a date would start us out on the wrong
foot."

"Explain," she said softly.

"You see things in black and white.  You've been on a date.  You see
what happened as a failure, even though it wasn't.  Believe me
everyone has been on a bad date."

"Even you?"

"Even me," he nodded.  "But if we approach this as just two people
spending some time together we don't have anything to lose."

Seven considered his idea, "By not labeling it as a date, we don't
have the added psychological pressure that dating entails.  Your idea
has merit," she said with a nod as she moved to press the door pad. 

Harry smiled with relief; "A lot of my ideas have merit. You've just
never been interested in them before."

"That is true," she admitted.  "Goodnight, Harry."

"Goodnight Seven.  I'm glad you came tonight."

"As am I."

---

The End