Title: Better Late Than Never 
Author: Onedergirl
Codes: K/7, implied P/T
Rating: PG
Summary: Realizations abound in this tear jerker.
Disclaimer: I'm just borrowing and playing with Paramount's toys.  No harm 
(or profit) is intended.    
Warning: Character Death

Author's Notes: I just want to bow down and thank Morgan for beta reading 
this for me, and for giving me such good advice.  I'd also like to thank the 
RiF list for encouraging me to turn a little vignette into a full-fledged 
story.  This is my first completed K/7 story, so any and all feedback is 
appreciated.

    
    The lights dimmed, giving the hazy room an eerie, yet romantic and 
inviting atmosphere.  He sat there still, never taking his eyes off the woman 
across the room from him.  She had stood there all night, swaying to the 
music, lost in its beauty.  He found that intriguing.  The music had just 
slowed down, taking on a blusy, siren-like quality.  He meant to stand up, 
ask her to dance, but she was in motion now.  Her hips gently swaying in time 
to the music.  It had a hypnotic quality on him.  The crowd, all couples lost 
in their own worlds, parted for her as she walked.  She locked eyes with him, 
and time slowed down, committing to his memory every movement, every facial 
expression.  Finally, after years of walking, she reached him.  Her face was 
somewhat icy looking, yet he thought he could see intense emotions in her 
crystal-clear blue eyes.  The light bounced off her shiny blonde hair as she 
whispered to him, asking him to dance with her.  He got up and, taking her 
into his strong arms, ushered her onto the dimmed dance floor.  The music 
played on, and the couple came closer to each other, looking into each 
other's eyes.  Their dancing slowed as their preoccupation with each other 
took over, leaving only the music and each other for them to grasp onto.  
    He could hardly believe that he was the one who was dancing with her, 
holding her.  He looked deep into her eyes, and she looked into his, and an 
unspoken conversation passed between them.  Finally, as the music still 
played on, he asked her what her name was.
    "Anne," she replied, just loud enough for only him to hear.
    He repeated the name to himself, loving the way his thoughts made it 
sound absolutely beautiful.  He wanted so badly to kiss her, but he held 
back; he wasn't sure if he should be so bold.  He couldn't help himself.  It 
seemed to him that they were made for each other.
    The last chords of the music sang out over the entranced crowd.  He could 
hardly believe the dance had been so short.  He realized that the evening was 
over; at least, the dance hall was closing down for the night.  But, before 
the lights were raised, he looked down at her once again, contemplating 
kissing her.  She looked up at him, and he thought she was expecting him to.  
Ever so slowly, they came together.  Lips almost touching.  'Almost heaven,' 
he thought as his eyes closed and his lips-

    "Seven of Nine to Ensign Harry Kim."
    He pulled up short.  "Computer, freeze program," he managed, angry at 
having been disrupted.  "What is it Seven?" he asked, hoping the strain 
wasn't audible in his voice.
    Apparently it wasn't.  "I require your assistance in Astrometrics."
    "I'll be right there Seven," Harry answered, sighing.  "Kim out."
    He looked down at his companion-Anne was her name.  He half-smiled as he 
realized that the person who had interrupted him was the "model" of this 
hologram.  He wondered to himself what Seven would think if she knew about 
this little program of his or, for that matter, what she would think of his 
"artistic license" with her looks.  He shrugged it off.  
    "Computer," he said, still looking at the beauty he had created, "save 
program.  Kim Alpha Omega Seven Nine."
    "Program saved," the computer chirped back, seemingly unsympathetic to 
Harry's feelings.
    "End program," he called again.  The lovely face and eyes vanished to 
show the boring holodeck grid.  Harry sighed.  His uniform on, he walked out 
of the holodeck, whistling the song he had just heard.

    She stood at her console, fingers dancing gracefully over it.  The scans 
she was running were routine, but mandatory.  The beeping on her console did 
not annoy her, but merely confounded her.  She had been slightly surprised to 
find that the EPS relay in Jefferies tube Gamma 27 was not responding 
according to normal parameters, and the more she attempted to fix the problem 
from Astrometrics, the worse it got.  It was at that point that she decided 
it would be wise to ask for Ensign Kim's assistance.  From all indications, 
she would need him to help her correct the problem on the site.
    The hissing of the doors behind her alerted Seven to his arrival.  
Without turning around, she acknowledged him.  "Ensign Kim."
    "Seven," he answered as he walked in and stopped behind her.  "What is it 
that you need assistance with?"
    "The EPS relay in Jefferies Tube Gamma 27 is not responding within normal 
parameters.  My attempts to correct the problem from Astrometrics have 
failed.  I need you to go with me to the Jefferies Tube to correct the 
malfunction."
    Harry sighed.  "Understood."  They gathered the equipment they needed, 
and made their way to Jefferies tube Gamma 27.

    Upon their arrival, the two began scanning the EPS relay without so much 
as a word to each other.  And it was at the precise moment that Harry was 
finishing his tricorder scan that he had an epiphany of another nature.  He 
loved her.  He had from the time that they had started to work together on 
the Astrometrics project almost a year and a half earlier.  He had known it 
then, but when she had propositioned him in the mess hall, he had been 
scared.  And he had realized that she was nowhere near ready for any kind of 
"romantic affiliation", as she would term it.  He had denied it to himself, 
and even fooled himself into believing that he didn't feel that way about her 
anymore.  Meghan Delany, he had told himself, was the girl of his dreams.  
And maybe for a time, she had been.  But that was before he had met Seven, of 
course.  Of course, after Meghan, there was Tal.  If anyone besides Seven had 
been close to taking his heart, it was Tal.  But he had known from the start 
that they wouldn't last, simply because neither was willing to sacrifice what 
they had for the other.  He supposed it was an old story.  In any case, time 
had healed the pain and the sickness, and now he looked back at his time with 
Tal fondly, and with no regrets.  
    And he lived in the present.  It was funny, he mused, how he had come to 
this revelation during a routine scan of an EPS relay in a Jefferies tube.  
But, he figured, it shouldn't come as much of a surprise.  Seven had been on 
his mind a lot lately.  Harry had noticed how they had slowly drifted apart.  
Lately, Seven relied more on the Doctor than on anyone else, including the 
Captain.  It saddened him how they no longer talked when they worked, or even 
when they were in the mess hall at the same time.  And the worst part was 
that he wasn't sure if she even considered him a friend anymore.  How could 
you be friends when you didn't interact?  As he sat pondering that problem, 
his tricorder started beeping, alerting him to the problem.  He stared down 
at his tricorder in horror.  If they didn't get out of there soon . . . .
    "Seven!"
    "Ensign?"
    "We need to get out of here now!"  Harry started shoving Seven toward the 
tube's hatch.
    "For what reason?"
    "My tricorder diagnosed the problem as a rupture and plasma leak in the 
EPS relay.  If the radiation from our tricorders comes into contact with the 
plasma . . . " 
    "Understood."  The two renewed their efforts to exit the Jefferies tube.  
Unfortunately, once they reached the hatch, they discovered that it wouldn't 
budge.
    "Kim to Bridge."
    "Bridge here," came Captain Janeway's voice.
    "Captain, Seven and I are stuck in Jefferies tube Gamma 27.  There's a 
plasma leak in here. We need a team to come get us out of here as soon as 
possible."
    "Understood.  Tuvok, B'Elanna, get a team down there now.  Harry, Seven, 
just stay calm.  Help is on the way."
    "Kim out."  Harry looked over at Seven, who still remained calm, despite 
the danger of the situation.  "Seven, I'm going to try and reroute the plasma 
flow through another EPS relay.  That should stop the amount of plasma that 
leaks in here."
    Seven merely nodded, and started heading toward the control panel, but 
Harry stopped her.  
    "No Seven.  You stay here.  I can take care of this."  Seven opened her 
mouth to speak, but Harry overrode her.  "And I outrank you, so I expect you 
to follow my orders.  Is that understood?"
    There was a long pause before Seven replied.  "Perfectly."
    Harry nodded once and turned to head back to the control panel.  He 
worked feverishly to stop the flow of plasma into the Jefferies tube.  He was 
just starting that task as he heard the team begin to cut through the hatch.  
They were nearly done cutting through, and Harry was almost finished cutting 
off the flow of plasma into the Jefferies tube when he realized that he 
wasn't going to make it.  It was a sixth sense that he had, at this moment, 
which caused him to look over at Seven.  Time slowed down and he looked into 
her eyes.  In her eyes, he saw his life reflected back at him, and he knew 
that he had to get to her and protect her before the entire console in front 
of him exploded.  He moved towards her and stretched himself out as the blast 
from the explosion ripped through the tube and sent him flying at the wall.  
    The world spun and blurred, getting increasingly brighter.  His skin felt 
as though it was being dissolved off his bone, as the heat and fire from the 
explosion washed over him.  He smelled the smell of burning flesh, and felt 
the white-hot pain in his head as he hit the wall with tremendous force.  And 
as quickly as the world around him had brightened, it began to dim as his 
pain overtook him.  It was precisely then that an angel looked down on him, 
her hair mussed and face seared.  He smiled up at the angel, and believed he 
saw her crystal clear blue eyes turn slightly red.  He saw her lips move, but 
could not hear a sound.  And that was when he managed to voice a thought that 
he had wanted to say for the longest time.  "I love you, Seven of Nine."  And 
then he fell into the black oblivion.

    " . . . The explosion occurred just as the rescue team managed to cut 
through the hatch.  Those in first heard Seven call for the emergency medical 
beam out.  When they arrived in sickbay, Ensign Kim was already dead.  The 
Doctor immediately began treating him, but to no avail.  Seven even tried 
resuscitating him with nanoprobes, but apparently it was already too late.  
The Doctor declared him dead at 1751 hours.  Lieutenant Torres has concluded 
that the explosion was a result of the high level of plasma already in the 
Jefferies tube, combined with the radiation from the tricorders.  It is my 
judgement that his death was the result of an accident, and that he did 
everything he should have in order to prevent the explosion."  
    Captain Janeway's tears rolled down her face as she read over Commander 
Chakotay's report about the accident.  He was too young.  It shouldn't have 
been his time to die.  Not this early in his life.  He had lived more than 
many people his age, and even some older than he, but he still had so much 
more that he could have accomplished.  And to have him die as the result of 
an accident, it seemed like such a waste.  She felt the loss keenly, because, 
as she had once admitted to Harry himself, "I think about you differently 
than the rest of the crew--which is not to say that I don't care deeply about 
each of them-but, you came to me fresh out of the Academy, wide-eyed with 
excitement about your first deep space assignment.  From that first day, I've 
always felt more protective of you than the others."  The fact was, she felt 
as if she had lost a valued member of her crew . . . and a son.  And the 
tears flowed on, until her door chimed.
    Hastily, she wiped her eyes and face, and turned to the viewport behind 
her.  "Come in," she said flatly.  Behind her, the doors hissed open, then 
hissed shut again.  The room was silent for a moment, before a voice said, 
"Captain."
    "Yes Seven?" the Captain asked before turning around and looking at her.  
    Seven's eyes were red-rimmed, and her eyes were filled with pain, though 
her face betrayed no emotion.  
    "I was hoping that you could explain something to me."
    The Captain was rather surprised at the words Seven had said.  It was 
probably the last thing she expected to hear from Seven.  She motioned for 
Seven to have a seat in front of her desk.  "I'll do what I can."
    Seven nodded.  Then she began.  "It is in regards to . . . Ensign Kim."  
    Captain Janeway could see that Seven was having difficulty with this.  
"Go on," she encouraged softly.
    "When we discovered what the problem with the EPS relay was, he insisted 
on going back to the control panel and attempt to cease the flow of plasma 
into the Jefferies tube.  However, he ordered me to remain by the hatch.  I 
did so.  He was almost done when suddenly he stopped working and looked at 
me.  He headed toward me, and that was when the explosion occurred."  Here 
she paused to regain control of her emotions.  Captain Janeway remained 
silent, waiting for her to continue.  After a moment, she did.  "I went over 
to him and assessed that he was seriously injured, which is when I called for 
the emergency medical beam out.  Right before we dematerialized, he said to 
me that he loved me.  I do not . . . understand, nor do I know the correct 
way to deal with that knowledge.  Additionally, I am feeling . . . guilt over 
having put him in the situation that would cause his death.  If it had not 
been for me asking him to assist me, when he was off-duty, he would more 
likely be alive now."
    "Yes, but someone else might be dead."  Captain Janeway sighed, got up 
and paced.  "Seven, it isn't your fault.  You both followed procedure on this 
one.  What we have to do now is move on.  I don't think Harry would want us 
to dwell on this.  As for his . . . confession, I'm sure that one day you 
will understand.  Always remember how special he was, and how much he meant 
to you, and you will honor his memory.  You will learn to deal with it when 
the pain has lessened.  And the only thing that will lessen the pain is time."
    Seven seemed to absorb this, but she didn't say anything at first.  
Finally, she nodded her head.  "Thank you Captain.  I appreciate your help."  
With that, she was gone.

    The halls of the starship Voyager were empty.  A quick ride on the 
turbolift to the messhall revealed a large part of the crew, silently staring 
out of the viewports.  The silence was broken by a human female voice in the 
center of the messhall.
    "We are gathered here to remember our honored dead, Ensign Harry Kim.  
Ensign Harry Kim was-" here the Captain's voice cracked, and soft weeping 
could be heard.  A small pause and then the Captain continued, "was a fine 
officer, a brilliant computer programmer, a perfect gentleman, a loyal and 
devoted friend, and a loving son.  Harry was all and more that any captain 
could have asked for, and I feel honored to have had him as a part of my 
senior staff, as well as my friend."  A single tear spilled out of one of her 
eyes, and slowly rolled down her cheek.  She paused momentarily, and then 
resumed.  "Harry touched all of us in a different and special way, and I have 
no doubt that each of us will remember him with love and respect.  Though 
this ship that he so loyally served for five years will continue on its 
mission, he will continue to sail through the stars, always headed in the 
direction of home.  His memory will live on in the hearts and minds of those 
that knew him best.  Godspeed, Harry Kim.  We will never forget you."  An old 
dirge, played on clarinet, began as the Captain said her next words.  "Mr. 
Tuvok, fire torpedo casing."  A muted sound was followed by a single dot of 
light as it arced and sped away from Voyager.
    "A memorial service and gathering will be held in the messhall at 1800 
hours.  Those of you off-duty are welcome to attend.  Thank you."  And with 
that, the Captain retreated out of the room.

    The door hissed open, admitting eight shadows, one-by-one, into the dark 
room.  The door closed with a hiss, and the eight stood silently for a 
moment, each preoccupied with their own thoughts.  But, it was not to be.  A 
voice from the darkness spoke up.  "Computer, activate program Kim Omega 
S-S-1."
    A light from above appeared, and in front of the eight stood Harry Kim, 
dressed in his uniform.  Each took in the sight of the man that, 
intellectually, they knew they would never see again.  A moment later, the 
voice said, "begin program."
With a beep of acknowledgement, the figure unfroze and began to speak.
    "If this program has been activated, then that means I'm dead again.  
Only this time, I'm really dead."  A small smile.  "I didn't think that would 
be funny, but you can't blame a guy for trying.  Anyway, I don't know if I 
can tell you all how much you mean to me, but I will certainly give it a try.
    "Captain," the hologram said, and the Captain Janeway stepped forward.  
"You are such a wonderful person, and an excellent captain.  I thank whatever 
Supreme Being there is that I was assigned to Voyager.  You believed in me, 
and I think I learned more in my time on Voyager than I have in any other 
time of my life.  And I owe a great deal of that to you.  I can only hope 
that I never failed you, because that would be a violation of all the trust 
that you had in me.  I don't think that there are words enough to tell you 
how much I admire you, and I hope that you had enough reason to feel that I 
was worthy of all the trust and teaching that you gave me.  Please take care 
of yourself, and make it back home safely.  Thank you for everything."  The 
Captain stepped back, her eyes glistening from unshed tears.
    "Commander Chakotay," Harry said as Chakotay stepped forward.  "You are 
one of the most principled and spiritual men I have ever met, and I couldn't 
respect you more.  Sure, you had your share of fun at my expense with that 
twisted sense of humor of yours, but I know that your intent was never 
malicious.  I admire the way with which you worked with Captain Janeway to 
meld the two crews, not to mention a sentient hologram, a Talaxian, and a 
former Borg, together.  What you accomplished, most could never dream of.  
And, I admire your selflessness, because of how you destroyed your ship and 
agreed to meld the crews into one Starfleet crew.  Just, try not to go on too 
many shuttle missions.  You have to get back home in one piece.  Thank you, 
Commander."  Chakotay smiled a sad smile as he stepped back, and Harry 
continued.
    "Commander Tuvok," Harry said as Tuvok stepped forward.  "You are so very 
logical, and your logic serves you, and this entire ship, well.  Your voice 
of reason proved helpful in countless situations, and your counsel was beyond 
compare.  I respect you and your accomplishments so much.  And, even though 
on occasion, someone will make fun of you, it's only because they respect you 
as much as I do.  So, live long and prosper, Commander."  Tuvok nodded once 
before receding into the shadows.  
    "Tom," Harry said, and Tom took one tentative step forward.  "Tom, I 
couldn't have asked for a better friend to spend the last five years with.  
You once told me that I would do well to stay away from you, and I replied 
that I choose my own friends.  Not once since then have I ever, ever 
regretted that decision.  Sure, we had our ups and downs, but they always 
made the friendship stronger, until one day I realized that we were 
practically brothers.  There's so much I want to say, but I can't find the 
words.  But, I think you know where I'm coming from, and what I mean.  So, 
take care of B'Elanna.  I know it will work out.  Bye Tom."
    "Bye Harry," Tom whispered quietly, then stepped back and gave B'Elanna's 
hand a squeeze.
    "B'Elanna," Harry said, as she stepped forward, her eyes a little red.  
"Hey Maquis, how's it going?  Good, I hope.  I just wanted to say that you 
were the person that taught me the meaning of honor.  You are the most 
honorable and courageous person I know.  Never believe anything less.  You do 
have a temper, but it makes you unique, and you wouldn't be B'Elanna without 
it.  Take care of Tom, and always remember that I love you like the sister I 
never had."  B'Elanna stepped back, and hugged Tom fiercely.
    "Doctor," said Harry and the Doctor stepped forward.  "I remember what 
you were like when your program was first activated.  Not a very good bedside 
manner, if you remember.  But, five years later, you are hardly the same 
hologram.  You have evolved and expanded to places where no hologram has gone 
before.    I feel fortunate to have witnessed your growth.  I hope you 
continue to grow and change in ways that no one has imagined.  Good luck."  
The Doctor took a step back without saying a word.
    "Neelix."  Neelix stepped forward.  "I just wanted to thank you for being 
a bit nosy sometimes.  You always seemed to know when someone needed to talk 
about something.  And, no matter what anyone says, you were always useful and 
valued.  You always seemed to help the crew's morale when it needed lifting 
most.  Thank you for deciding to join us on our journey home."  Neelix smiled 
a small smile and stepped back.
    And Harry paused then.  "Seven."  She quietly stepped forward.  "You are 
such a wonderful person, when you allow yourself to open up.  You have a 
beautiful smile, and a wonderful, if subtle, sense of humor.  You are so very 
unique and special, and I am glad to have known you, if but briefly.  I 
admire your willingness to adapt and to explore your humanity.  I can't say I 
know what you've gone through, but I hope that your struggle gets easier as 
time goes on.  And, in case I never had the chance to say it in life, I love 
you.  I only hope that you will eventually understand what that means.  Good 
bye."  Seven stepped back, lost in thought.
    "Thank you all for being part of my life.  My experiences aboard Voyager 
were ones that I enjoyed, and will always remember.  My life here wasn't just 
bearable; it was happy because I had you as my friends.  Thank you so very 
much, and good bye."  And with that, the hologram disappeared.
    The eight looked around, no conversation passed between them, merely 
silence as each said their last good byes to their friend.  Moments later, 
the holodeck was again dark and empty.

A Few Years Later

    A lone figured entered the room.  The figure hesitated.  She hadn't 
thought about him in so long.  She knew she was finally ready to see the 
program, but she wondered what thinking about him would do to her.  
Nevertheless, she did what she came to do.  "Computer, activate program Kim 
Alpha Omega Seven Nine.  Add in holographic image of Ensign Harry Kim."  A 
beep of acknowledgement, and the boring holodeck grid suddenly transformed 
into a dark and smoky dance hall.  "Begin program."  Another beep of 
acknowledgement, and the scene began to move.
    The people on the dance floor danced away, until the music suddenly 
changed, becoming slow and seductive.  The observer saw the lights dim, and 
men and women pair off.  That's when she spotted Harry Kim, sitting and 
watching, looking as handsome and alive as he was the last time he was seen.  
And that's when the observer noticed a woman walking towards him.  As she 
reached him, the singer began to sing.

At last
My love has come along
My lonely days are over
And life is like a song

    They danced so close, staring at each other.  Even though both were 
holograms, and were across the room, she could still feel the intensity 
between them.

At last
The skies above are blue
My heart was wrapped up in clovers
The night I looked at you

    She noticed the emotion in their eyes.  It was unadulterated and pure, 
something the observer had never experienced, but longed for.

I found a dream that I could speak to
A dream that I can call my own
I found a thrill to press my cheek to
A thrill that I have never known

    The lyrics hit home, and the observer had to sit.  So many emotions from 
the past, all the confusion that had haunted her long ago, began to lift like 
a fog in the afternoon, to allow the sun to shine.

Oh yeah, yeah, you smiled, you smiled
Oh and then the spell was cast
And here we are in heaven
For you are mine
At last

    The final chords of music hung over the audience, and then they ceased to 
exist any longer.  "Computer, end program," Lieutenant (j.g) Hansen said.  
The scene returned once more to the holodeck grid.  And then, a slow, warm 
smile spread across her face.  "Thank you Harry. I'm no longer unsure or 
confused by what you meant, and I loved you too."  And Annika Hansen, known 
to her close friends as Anne, exited the holodeck with a smile on her face 
and a bounce in her step.

The End.