Title : A Shoulder To Lean On 
Pairing : K / 7, EMH, Axum
Archiving : Seventh Heaven ( Please :) ? )
Summary : Harry gives Seven some pointers in mending a broken heart and 
ponders fate.
Disclaimer : Paramount and Viacom own all things Voyager. I'm just borrowing 
them.
References : " Unimatrix Zero Pts. I&II "
Feedback : Yes please :)  Ajax277@aol.com


" A Shoulder To Lean On "

    Things had been different since Axum. That much, Harry Kim knew. Seven 
had been different. Those who didn't know Seven well wouldn't have been able 
to see it, but he did. Her manner had changed toward him as well. When they 
had gone on their away mission together, it had seemed that the seeds he'd 
planted were promising, that they'd connected. But all that had changed the 
first time he heard her utter the name ' Axum' . It was written all over her 
face, even before the rumors started. Any connection made seemed almost 
useless now.
    He remembered standing in the briefing room with the senior officers as 
Seven presented her findings on Unimatrix Zero. She had kept looking to him, 
as if asking for his approval silently, with her eyes. Reluctantly, he had 
backed her up , and all this had been before she had mentioned Axum. When 
she'd said his name, Harry had blanched. Even before Seven even remembered 
anything about her life in Unimatrix Zero, Harry had known Seven had a thing 
for Axum. Maybe  Seven knew subconsciously as well ; who knew ? It had just 
been some kind of sixth sense feeling , he had just known.
    Not that he begrudged it, or harbored any hard feelings about the alleged 
relationship. Was it even a relationship ? He wasn't sure, but rumors were 
flying. Harry had heard about Seven, in the midst of battle while they were 
trying to shut down Unimatrix Zero, tearing down the corridors to get back to 
her alcove. People had seen her, and those people were talking. Seven hadn't 
been too forthcoming about it, but Harry could see it in her eyes. 
    Sighing into his coffee, he resolved to give Seven time. If there had 
been a romance, she needed that time to get over it. And God only knew how 
Harry Kim understood that. He'd been down that road many times. As he ate his 
breakfast, lost in thought, he barely noticed the shadow that loomed over his 
table. When he looked up, he was mildly suprised at his visitor. He began to 
stand, but was stopped by his visitor's quick wave of the hand. 
    " I'm worried about her, " the EMH said without preamble, sitting across 
from Harry.
    " Doctor ? "
    " Oh you know who I'm talking about. "
    " She seems normal enough to me. "
    " And to nearly everyone else, but you and I know better. "
    " If she needs to talk it out she'll go to  Captain Janeway, " he paused, 
" she always does."
    " I know, " he paused himself, something in his demeanor changing. His 
voice grew softer, " She responds to you , Ensign. you're her friend. " 
    " So are you. "
    " Yes, " he smiled slightly, " but she comes to me for guidance, and in 
this case, I don't have much to give. I haven't had as many, " he didn't 
finish.
    " Romantic partings, " Harry finished for him.
    " Exactly. "
    Harry could've taken the conversation in offense, but he didn't. He 
understood. But somehow, he didn't think this was the only reason the Doctor 
had come to him. " And you thought since I've been there I could give her 
guidance, " he continued.
    " Yes. "
    " Is that the only reason , " Harry asked point blank.
    " We both care for Seven, Ensign, " he said carefully, " but she responds 
to you in a way I never could get her to respond to me.You know that. "
    " I'll talk to her, but it's not going to be easy. Seven's not exactly 
forthcoming with her feelings."
    " I know that. I just think we should at least try. "

    ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
    
    Harry was unsure how to proceed in this matter. How could he bring it up 
to Seven without upsetting her, or getting her to clam up tighter than a 
Berillian shell crab ? The opportunity lay in front of him , as he helped her 
make repair to the sensors. So far, he'd been in Astrometrics all day, and he 
hadn't a clue as to what to say to her, other than the necessary conversation 
for their work.
    He watched her from the corner of his eye. They had brushed hands twice, 
and Seven had pulled away quickly, curtly apologizing. ' This is ridiculous, 
' Harry thought to himself, ' just talk to her. '
    " Seven, " he ventured, figuring it was now or never, " how are you doing 
? "
    " I am recaliberating the sensor grid. "
    " Really ? So am I, " he quipped.
    Seven was amused, with the ghost of a smile on her lips. " Next I will I 
will test the parameters of the view screen, and you will undoubtedly 
observe. "
    It was Harry's turn to be amused. He chuckled at Seven's slight joke. He 
was one of the few individuals on board Voyager who understood ' Seven speak 
' and her sense of humor.
    " I will be glad to, " he answered, " but that's not what I meant. "
    " I assume you are referring to our recent occurrences with the Borg. "
    " You know me well."
    " Yes, " she said looking at him briefly, then turning back to her work, 
" I know you well. You are concerned about my feelings toward Unimatrix Zero 
, and how it will effect me now that it is gone. "
    " Wow, I don't even have to say anything. That's amazing, " he teased , 
the turned serious, " that's what I was getting at ; yes. Are you okay ? "
    " I am well , Ensign , " She answered quickly, continuing her work, the 
amusement gone.
    " I'm sure everyone else would buy that , but I don't. "
    " Ensign, " Seven said, attempting to control her uncomfort.
    " You miss him ; don't you , " he asked softly. 
    " Ensign, there is work to do," she said curtly.
    " Ok, ok, I get it. I'll drop it. , " he put his hands up in surrender, 
then resumed his work.
    They finished repairing Astrometrics, and were wrapping up their tasks. 
Harry was almost off duty for the evening, but he knew Seven would continue 
to work. She usually did, but he couldn't help but wonder if she was throwing 
herself into work to get her mind off of Axum. He'd done it before with Tal 
and Libby, and he understood. He just wished there was some way he could 
help. Harry nodded to Seven, who acknowledged his silent request to leave. 
    " Ensign, " she called to him, as he was almost through the door.
    " Yes, " he asked, turning back to her.
    " Yes."
    " Yes ? Yes to what ? "
    " In answer to your earlier query. I miss him. "
    Harry cam back into the room and joined Seven at her console. " I thought 
so. I've been there ; you know. Getting over someone is very hard. Harder if 
the parting is less than amicable. "
    " Axum's and my parting was incomplete, but amicable. This feeling is 
uncomfortable. How long should I expect it to remain ? "
    " I wish I could tell you. It varies. Sometimes it takes weeks. Sometimes 
months, even a year."
    " That is unacceptable. I do not wish to feel this way for a year. "
    Harry chuckled ruefully, " You may have to force yourself to do things, " 
he said getting a far away look in his eyes, his voice above a whisper " To 
get out of bed, to eat. You may throw yourself into work because when you do, 
you don't think of that person as much. You may have to force yourself into 
crew activities, to have fun, because you don't want everyone to feel sorry 
for you, or to drown you in concern. But you don't want to be alone, because 
when you are all you do is think about the person you love and can't have. "
 g me Yes, ' Harry thought, ' I know exactly how you feel, Seven. ' What he 
slowly began to realize was that Seven had covered his hand that rested on 
the console with her own. He dared not to acknowledge it, as he feared she 
would pull away. Instead, he allowed his hand to remain under hers, and moved 
his thumb to rest on her hand and his fingers to curl around hers. Then he 
continued.
    " But then it gets better, " he said, his tone returning to normal, " 
Soon you don't have to force yourself to get out of bed, to eat, or have fun. 
It starts becoming normal again. When you can look at someone and feel 
stirrings of attraction and not feel guilty about it ; you'll be ready. I 
think you'll be okay Seven. You're a very adaptable person, " he smiled 
softly.
    " Thank you Ensign, " she said warmly. " I believe I will adapt soon. "
    " If you need to talk let me know, " he paused, " or if you just need to 
sit with someone and not talk, let me know. That's what friends do. "
    She nodded, curing her lips into her famous ghost smile. Harry gave her 
hand a final squeeze and left Astrometrics, resolving to give her all the 
time she needed, because he would be there. 
    Seven continued her work after Harry had gone. She was confused about her 
feelings for him. She had strong feelings for Axum, but she could feel 
stirrings for Harry Kim that made her uncomfortable. She was unsure of how to 
proceed and was pleased that she hadn't brought it up to Ensign Kim. A word 
she'd heard Lt. Paris use before, " Rebound " , sprung to mind. When she'd 
asked him about the term he had told her it loosely meant that it was the 
failed relationship that occurred after a major romantic entanglement. Seven 
did not wish to associate Harry Kim with that word. Nor would he be her ' 
rebound.' Seven Of Nine did not like to fail. And if rebounding meant 
failure, it would never happen. Not to her, or to Harry. 
 
The End