BEST INTERESTS
by Lesa L.

Softly lilting music came out of the doors as I entered the holodeck.
Neelix's Talaxian resort program was running this afternoon, and it
seemed like the crew was taking advantage of the relatively calm area
of space we'd entered to enjoy it.  I took my customary position on the
far side of the bar, it gave me an unobstructed view of the 'guests' as
well as new arrivals.

The attractive bartender, came over with my usual, as I took stock of
who was in attendance.  "Here you are Miss."  Noticing my data Padd he
asked with a sly grin, "Are you on duty this lovely afternoon?"  He'd
figured out that I used the Padd as a defense when someone pressed
unwanted attentions on me.  Sometimes holograms were too smart for
their own good.

I knew that Harry would be here, I had overhead him talking to Sue in
the Messhall.  I was surprised to see Tom and B'Elanna sitting with him. 
Tommyboy's only been out of the brig for three days.  I didn't think that
B'Elanna had let him out of her quarters for anything except helm duty
since his release.  Poor Gerron is B'Elanna's next door neighbor and he
said the sounds coming out of her room the last couple of days have
caused him to light more than a few candles to the Prophets.

The door swished open to reveal Samantha and Naomi Wildman,
closely followed by the Captain and Seven of Nine.  They were all
dressed very casually, and carried several beach bags with them. 
Seven had been persuaded to change from her usual unitard into her
Velocity outfit to my and all the other women's great relief she had
chosen not to wear bathing attire.  Not that I don't get my share of
attention mind you, but our Seven is in a class by herself.  There's a
betting pool out on what kind of swim suit she'll appear in one day.  I
have ten credits riding on a plain black one piece.  Bikini's being
irrelevant, don't you know.

Naomi shrieked with delight when she saw Tom.  Why is it when little
girls make those noises its cute and when women make the same
sounds its annoying?  "Uncle Tommy," she ran towards him jumping at
him and letting him catch her up in a deep hug.  "I've missed you so
much."

"I've missed you too squirt," he said, smoothing her long hair.

This could get interesting, especially if she asked him where he's been 
for the last, say, thirty days or so, I thought as I took a sip of my 
drink.

The whole dynamics of the table are fascinating.  B'Elanna, who hadn't
been too thrilled when the Captain had overruled her request about
being treated by a hologram, had positively seethed while Tom was
incarcerated.  Some of the crew thought it was really cold of her to not
try to visit Tom when he was in the Brig.  I understood, I think.  With that
volatile Klingon temper of hers, who knows what she would have done if
she'd seen her mate behind bars.

Poor Harry, the guy practically worshiped Janeway.  He wouldn't talk
about what had happened that day on the bridge, but I could tell he was
pretty devastated that she so could calmly issue the command to fire.

He doesn't know how to handle the situation.  So it's up to Captain
Proton to save the day. "What are you all up to?"   Smooth move
Tommyboy, change the subject.  We wouldn't want Janeway to be
uncomfortable now would we?

"Mommy and I, and the Captain and Seven are going to have a picnic
out at the cove," she says pointing toward a secluded area slightly apart
from the resort itself.

"Sounds like fun," he says setting her down gently.

"It will be," she assures him.  "I brought that toy you gave me, the 
Frisbee?  I'm going to teach Seven how to throw it.  Do you want to
come play with us?" she asks them all.

"No thanks squirt.  B'Elanna and I aren't planning on staying much
longer.  Harry might want to play though."

Harry glares at Tom, his face flushed.

"Ensign Kim you may join us if you wish," Seven says amiably.

"Thanks Seven, Naomi but I'm not sure how much longer I'll be staying 
myself."

The foursome say their good-byes and make their way over to the cove.

Tom and B'Elanna are teasing Harry about Seven, again.  I hear Tom
say, "You mean you don't want to play with her anymore?"  Damn them. 
I know they'd do anything for the guy but their constant taunting really
irks me.  They think of him as such a little brother, that they seem to
forget that he's a grown man with adult feelings and passions.  They
have no idea how hard they made it for Harry by flaunting their
relationship in his face.  It made him so much more aware of what he
was missing.

I have a soft spot for Harry, I always have.  I knew that Tom had 
practically forced him to double-date with me and Jenny when we first
got tossed out here.  Poor Tom didn't realize that I only wanted a double-
date the first time we dated, so that I could, feel him out so to speak. 
Having Jenny and Harry with us gave me a little security buffer.  I really
felt for Harry, Jenny really flung herself at him back them.  On the other
hand, the memory of them falling out of the gondola always makes me
smile.

Harry gets up to get them more drinks and I suspect to interrupt the flow 
of the teasing.  He smiles broadly when he sees me and approaches me
after placing his order.

"Hey Megan.  I didn't realize you were going to be here tonight."

"Yeah, well Jenny and Sue decided to do Sandrine's next door, but I felt 
like a little sun and water."

"Good choice," he says with a smile.

"I'm going to go work on a report for Cartography over by the cove side. 
 It's a little too noisy here.  I should be done in about twenty minutes if
you want to join me," I add.

"That'll be great," he says, his eyes lighting up with surprise.  "I'll 
bring you out a fresh drink."

"Sounds like a plan.  See you in a while."

I pass their table.  Tom greets me with absent smile.  That man, 
I swear there are times when I actually think he doesn't know which twin
I am.  Old B'Elanna even nods pleasantly to me, which is odd, until 
I recognize the look in her eyes.  She was so satiated with sex, that
she'd probably yawn at a warp core breach.  Must be nice.

To her credit, our Chief Engineer has been pretty decent to me the last 
few months.  She actually let Jenny and I play that holoprogram with
Tom and Harry, jeez was it actually over a month ago?  As if we would
have done it without knowing it was okay with her.  As much fun as Tom
and Harry are, we wouldn't risk invoking the wrath of the, what was that
cute nickname the Engineering staff was calling her while Tom was in
the brig?  "The Queen Bitch from Hell."

Again, I said she's been pretty decent to me.  I don't actually anticipate a
time where we'd sit down and discuss Tommyboy's techniques over tea. 
But at least she's stopped looking at me like she'd like to reach down my
throat and pull out my spleen.

I settle down in a lounge chair thinking about B'Elanna's old animosity
towards me.  I understand how territorial Klingons are, even half 
Klingons.  And I knew that it really galled her that I knew her mate in the,
what's that old term?  The biblical sense.  But things were crazy back
then, I don't think any one of us hasn't been changed by this experience. 
For a while after we ended up in the Delta Quadrant we went a little wild. 
There was something so shattering about the thought of never seeing
our families or loved ones again that it was like we all needed someone,
anyone.

Which led me to Mr. Paris.  Not that I regret it mind you.  No, I knew 
from the get go, that it was a fling pure and simple.  Tom was so much
fun, and eager, hey, he'd been in prison for two years, he was eagerness
personified, he was eagerness to the ninth degree, but I digress.  That
was then and this is now.  Now I know that I would like someone to share
my life, not just my bed.

I look over and observe the little mother and daughter picnic to my left. 
I was far enough away so as not to intrude, but close enough to overhear
patches of conversation.  It was sweet, and I mean that in a good way,
not sweet like I was going to lose my dinner any minute.  

I'm glad to see that Janeway's finally wised up and gone to someone
with actual experience with parenting.  You could see after Seven had
been with us for a couple of months that Janeway was just shocked that
Seven didn't toe the line for her.  I still don't understand what gave the
woman the idea that she could be a parental influence on Seven.  Prior
to Voyager, all the woman had raised were dogs.  She really seemed to
believe that she could just tell Seven to sit and she would.  Well, she
had a rude awakening, but at least she knew when she was getting out
of her depth.  The time she and Seven have spent with the Wildman's
had been good for all of them.

Now, there are some salacious people on the crew that have suggested
that the Captain intentions with our resident Ex-Borg aren't totally
honorable.  Frankly, I don't buy it for a minute, chronologically there is
maybe a 20 year age difference, but when you minus Seven's emotional
age, it would be pushing old Janeway right into the ranks of lechery. 
Our Captain's just too "Fleet" to do something that dishonorable.

The Captain will simply not allow herself to get involved with any
member of the crew because it could somehow jeopardize what she
sees as her divine mission, getting us home.  Besides, I've seen the
smoldering looks she and Chakotay exchange, they could melt titanium. 
The woman is noble.  Silly but noble.  Personally, the thought of possibly
going thirty more years without intimate contact makes me want to reach
for the nearest warm body.

I punch out some commands onto the Padd, ruminating about what I
was going to do this evening.  A girl's gotta do, what a girls gotta do, I
think to myself.  The faint tinkle of ice alerted me to Harry's approach, I
turn my head to watch him.  Damn, this is one good looking man.  That
smile, those dark eyes, and out of those gender neutering Starfleet
issue, he had a hell of a bod.  Steady girl.

"Tom and B'Elanna decided that they'd call it a night.  Am I too early?"

Chuckling, I pat the seat to my left.  "I figured they'd just come 
up for air.  I'm surprised they lasted that long.  I hope they decided to
give poor Gerron a break and use Tom's quarters this time?"

"Well, they did go back to Tom's, but only because his quarters were
closer."  

We chat about the day, nothing deep.  He's a good listener, a real 
listener.  Sometimes guys that are interested in you will 'look' like every
word you utter is a pearl of wisdom, when you know their just thinking
about how long it will take to separate you from your undies.

I notice some movement behind him.  Seven and Naomi have started
tossing around what appears to be an upside-down dinner plate,
composed of a blue polymer-like substance.

"Is that a Frisbee?"

Harry nodded, watching them with a smile.  "Yeah.  Its another one of 
Tom's 20th Century toys.  Naomi seems to like it."

Seven scans the area, then focuses her attention on us.  Childlike, she
has no inhibitions against staring.  Catching the disk awkwardly, she 
attempts to toss it back.

Nodding to him, I agree.  "Seven seems to be having a problem
handling it, though."

"I guess that's another one of those skills the Borg never bothered to 
assimilate."

I smile at his remark, then watch him, watching her.  I have to 
give the guy credit, he doesn't just stare at her body like most of the
other people on board.  He studies her face, reverently.  As lovely as her
face is, a lot of people try not to look too closely.  The remaining Borg
hardware is such a vicious reminder of what she was, and what she did
that they'd rather concentrate on her body and what they'd like to do.

Taking a deep breath I make my decision.  Sitting up, I swing my legs to 
the left.  Harry gentlemanly as usual, sat up and faced me.

"Harry it's time we talk."

"Is something wrong?" he asks.

"No.  I'm going to say this straight out.  You've made it pretty clear 
that your interested in me."

He blushed and sits back slightly.  "I've been wanting to ask you 
out," he admits.

"And I haven't exactly encouraged you.  Don't get me wrong, its very
flattering, you're a great guy Harry but-"

He hold up his hand quickly, "I know where this is going you 
don't have to finish."  He drops his hand to his knee, I cover it with mine. 

"I do have to finish, because it's not what you think."  I see Seven out 
of the corner of my eye, missing the Frisbee entirely as she watches us. 
 "Harry look at me."  He raises his eyes, I see dark pools of pain.  Jeez,
where did that come from.  This man makes me wax poetic.  "Why do
want to go out with me?"

His eyes widen in surprise.  "Because you're sensitive, pretty, artistic 
and intelligent."

"Thank you.  If you keep repeating those words enough to yourself you 
might start to believe them.  But your right, I am start, too smart too let 
myself fall for someone whose carrying the torch for someone else."

He stiffens and watches me warily.  "If you think I'm interested in
Jenny?"

"Harry please," I say with a hint of sarcasm.  "Don't insult my 
intelligence."  I pointedly look over his shoulder then back at him.

He stammers slightly, "Megan, believe me there is nothing going on
between me and Seven."

"I know," I say gently, looking back over his shoulder.  "I guess 
we all assumed when we got a load of Seven in her outfit that she would
just jump-start her way to puberty.  Too bad, she decided that she wants
to have a childhood first."

Harry nods, glancing back at her for a moment.  "She missed so 
much, she's trying to make up for it.  She might be the smartest person
in the galaxy but as far as her emotional development goes it might stop
right there."  In a husky voice he adds, "I know that she may never be
ready for a relationship."

"And you're so ready.  Some of us wondered whether you'd ever be able
to put Libby away in a special place.  And then here comes Seven who
reminded you that you could care for someone again, as well as
reminding your body that it was time to get going.  But as much as your
mind tells you to move on, and well, another part of your anatomy is
screaming for attention, your heart isn't ready."  I reach out to touch his
cheek and add, "I know if I let us happen, you would treat me like a
queen."

"Since when is that a bad thing?" he asks with a hint of bitterness.

"It's a wonderful thing and I would love it.  But I would always be 
afraid that one day, Seven's hormones would kick in, and she'd come
looking for the first person she really bonded with, the first person who
treated her like a human being, you.  So you see, logically speaking it
would not be in my best interests to pursue a relationship with you."

"I would never do anything to hurt you," he insists.

"Oh, I know that even if she came around you wouldn't leave me.  But
she has a place in your heart, and I would always know that I came in
second."  I reach out and do what I should have done when I started this
conversation.  Wrapping my arms around him I hug him closely.

This is a good man, a decent man.  A man who has lost more than most 
people ever have.  He rests his cheek on my hair, his breathing ragged. 
I don't fool myself by thinking that its because of me.  Rocking him
slightly, I croon to him like a child.  Opening my eyes for a brief moment
I take satisfaction in seeing Seven so mesmerized by our actions that
the Frisbee hits her squarely in the boobs and then falls to the ground.  I
stroke his hair, his pain and loneliness so palpable I feel it as though it
were my own.  I wonder how long its been since someone held this
lovely man.  For a moment, my resolve wavers, it would be so easy to
love him.

Suddenly a strong voice startles us both.  "You have damaged him!"

I look up to see Seven standing behind Harry, her face a mix of
confusion and anger.  "Ensign Kim do you require medical assistance?"

Harry sits up struggling to regain his composure.  I know he doesn't want
her to see him like this.  Over his shoulder he says, "I'm fine Seven. 
Megan and I were talking about something that made me sad."

She looks coldly at me, "Why did you cause him distress?"

I look up at her.  I want to tell her that I was not the cause of it, she 
was.  I want to be angry at her for hurting him so badly, but I can't, 
because it's not her fault.  Maybe someday she would understand what
she did, maybe.  "Seven, we were discussing feelings and emotions, and
sometimes it makes people sad.  Go back to your picnic, Harry's going
to be okay."

"Ensign Kim will you be well?" she asks as if disbelieving my
reassurance."

Harry takes a deep breath, before turning to her.  "I'll be fine Seven.  I'm
just a little tired I guess.  You should go back and play with Naomi."

She looks uneasily from him to me, "Very well."

We both watch her rejoin her group.  Finally I sit back, brushing some 
hair off his face, I ask, "Are you going to be well?"

His eyes glistening, he nods, taking a deep breath.  "I'm always 
all right.  Remember, I've died and come back.  Experienced alternative
universes and returned, been turned into an alien and survived.  You
can't kill Harry Kim."

I smile at his attitude, teasingly I ask, "Are you sure your not part cat?
They're supposed to have nine lives you know." He smiles slightly and I
continue, "Harry there's something that you have to do." He looks 
inquiringly at me, as I continue, "You have to learn to play again."

"Excuse me?"

"I've watched you with Seven.  The things you invited her to do, go to 
Sandrines, dining under the stars, things like that.  She wasn't ready for
them at the time.  She's just learning how to be a child again.  You need
to play with her, the way a child does.  I know you don't think that she
has feelings for you, but its been obvious to me that she does.  The way
she stormed over here when she thought I did something to you should
tell you that."

"I don't know," he adicea.  "Sometimes it so hard to be with her and not 
think about, I mean, I " he looks embarrassed at his admission.

"There's nothing to be ashamed of," I answer heartily.  "Everyone has 
needs.  What you could use is a fling."

A devilish smile crosses his face, "Megan, I thought you weren't 
interested."

"Not me you dolt.  I don't do flings anymore."  I grin brazenly at him, 
"Jenny would happily step in."

"Thanks, but no thanks.  I couldn't do that with someone I see everyday,
without having a relationship.  I know that sounds silly."

"No it doesn't," I say quickly.  "That's the kind of man you are."

"Thanks," he says.  Looking up at the holographic sky he rubs his face. 
 "I should go back to my quarters and leave you alone."

"That's exactly what you won't do," I say sternly.  "You spend too much 
time in your quarters alone, or practicing your clarinet.  You need to be 
around people more.  I'm going to make it an early night and leave you
in peace.  You can either A, go back to the resort and hang out with the
crew, the limbo contest should be starting soon or B, if you're so inclined
you can go join the foursome over there and maybe teach Seven and
Naomi how to play volleyball.  The choice is yours."

He smiles gently at me.  "Thanks Megan, for everything.  I think I'll
choose C, sit here for a few while and think about my options."

"Good luck."  Standing up I see Seven watching me suspiciously, giving
in to my baser instincts I leave over and kiss Harry gently on the cheek
before leaving.  So what do you think about that Miss Seven?


                  THE END