Thirds and Sixths
Summary: After Shaw is downed by a phaser blast, Seven sends his body to Sickbay and a stasis bed. But not even that is going to pull him back. He needs Seven, her Borg implants, and a crazy plan.
Which is what he gets because she is not letting him die without a fight.
Four
Smoke is a bitter taste on her tongue. The corridor is dark, lit only by faint emergency tracks along the edges. The ship is bleeding: coolant and plasma and oxygen.
The way behind her is inaccessible - the door sealed against one of many hull breaches. She can remember the sudden cold and the suction. How she made it out is beyond her. She heads down and down, to the life deck, where she finds few survivors. She doesn’t recognise a single face. Then she hears a voice. Cold, measured, unrelenting.
"I am Locutus of Borg. Resistance is futile. Your life, as it has been is over. From this time forward, you will service us."
No. This isn't her memory. Seven reaches for the presence in her mind. Mentally shakes it.
"Shaw! Wake up! It's a dream. Just a dream."
The wave of terror and grief and guilt almost drowns her. She lies stunned, overwhelmed, and then wraps her mind around his.
"Hey," she says in a soft voice. "Hey, it's okay. I'm right here. You're safe, Liam."
~Seven~ It's oddly breathless when he doesn't need to breathe. ~Oh, fuck.~
"Is that what happened?" Her heart cramps at the idea. "All those years ago?"
~Yeah. That's what I remember~
"Oh, Liam."
His presence churns with emotion. She stays still and quiet, giving him time and as much space as she can to deal with the nightmare. Why it's come now she's not sure. Then she snorts at her stupidity - there are plenty of reasons for it happening now. The Borg returned and took their crew. One of them shot him. And Locutus himself had been aboard the Titan.
~Sorry for waking you~ Shaw sighs. ~Especially like that~
"It's okay. Well, no, it's not. I get the feeling you've had that nightmare before, but always alone. I don't mind being here for you."
~Aww, that's cute, Hansen~
Seven knows he's using sarcasm to deflect, so she smiles in the dark. "Don't be like that. I promise not to tell anyone that you have actual emotions."
He sniffs. ~Should think not~
Those actual emotions are calmer now. Seven rolls onto her side and snuggles under her cover. She feels Shaw curl within her and keeps her sense of self wrapped around his. Offering what comfort she can.
"I was six when I was assimilated," she tells him then. "My parents were studying the Borg. Kept taking us into danger, thinking themselves indestructible. And I might have passed them a hundred times or more on that cube, and not known."
~Your parents sucked. Taking a child into danger like that~
"They never thought of it as dangerous." She sighs.
~But you want to be called Seven. I don't understand that~ He scoffs. ~Though it isn't about understanding, but doing, right?. I ought to have respected your choice~
"Yes, but I understood why you didn't. However, you missed the point. That being we are both scarred by the Borg. At least yours aren't visible."
~Please~ He sounds dismissive. ~You're beautiful. Um, you know, within reason~
She wings an eyebrow although there's no way he can see that. "'Within reason'?"
~Yeah. Whichever one means I'm not going to get written up for putting the moves on the XO~
Seven laughs, then yawns wide enough that her jaw cracks. "Okay, fine. Go to sleep, Shaw. I'm tired."
~Copy that~
o O o
A day and a half later, the Titan docks with a Starbase. Her crew scatters, desperate to reconnect with family and friends. To celebrate the fact they didn't die, and mourn those that did. Seven goes to Sickbay. The news isn't good.
"I've got him so far, but Starfleet Medical is his best option," Ohk says. "Or having a synth body built."
~Too Picard~
"You would really be petty enough to die rather than be vaguely similar to him?" she asks him, a mutter of disbelief.
~What do you think?~
She thinks that he might. She also thinks that Starfleet Medical will have conniptions when they find out what she's done, but if a golum is out of the question ~Too fucking right~ then that's where they must go. Ohk then asks Seven to hop on the next bed. Shaw is quiet as the doctor checks her vitals, but there's a deep sense of worry from his corner of her brain.
"Your blood pressure is elevated," Ohk tells her. "And there are stress markers. I take it you'll accompany the body?"
~What am I, a piece of meat?~
"Yes," Seven says, in answer to both of them. She rubs the back of her neck. "I'll try to rest there. Hopefully, it won't take Medical long to fix him up."
~Or a derelict ship?~
"Hush," she murmurs. "Can you organise transport, Doctor? There are a few things I need to sign off on."
"Of course. I'll comm you when they're ready."
"Thanks again, Ohk."
"No problem. He's a dipshit, but he's our dipshit."
~Oy!~
Seven laughs, gives Ohk a quick hug, and then heads for her office. She has a report to write and several others to sign off on. Sooner or later, she'll have to answer to Command for defying her captain.
Who is being very quiet again.
"You okay?"
~I hadn't considered that you carrying my consciousness could be that risky. Seven, you shouldn't continue. I'm not worth that risk~
"Ohk says I'm fine, other than elevated blood pressure." She smiles to herself. "That isn't unusual where you're concerned, Shaw."
The sense of worry doesn't diminish in the slightest. ~Your health isn't something to joke about, Hansen. Isn't there something else that you can upload me into?~
"You would not be conscious, and that's if there was another way, which I don't believe there is. Relax, Liam - it's only for a few more days. It’ll be fine. Once I've handed in these reports, I'll be off-duty. I can relax and lessen the stress."
~Okay~ he says, though he still sounds less than sure.
"Careful, Shaw," she teases. "You almost seem worried about me."
~Would you be shocked if I said that I am? I might be disembodied, but I'm still your captain. That carries a certain responsibility, you know~
"I do. I promise you that I feel fine. And that, if I stop feeling fine, then I will seek medical attention."
~I suppose that'll have to do~
Seven's computer pings. The notification is from Captain Tuvok, alerting her to his arrival on the Titan. She winces and Shaw's presences sighs.
~Your name was excluded from my report~ he says. ~Though Starfleet will know that the Titan went AWOL. Twice~
Seven runs a hand through her hair. "Yeah, I know they do." She pauses. "Thank you for trying to protect me, though. You didn't need to do that."
~The fuck I didn't. Picard used your loyalty to him to force you into acting against me. Did you know he didn't know you were on the Titan? He wasn't worth the effort, Seven~
She sighs. "I do not regret the end result, but how we got there... I regret that, Liam.
~Back to that name?~
"Do you actually mind?"
She senses something bright. She suspects that, if she could see his face, it would wear a very large grin. Damn, he is impossible. She rolls her eyes. Then frowns at the notification.
"What do I tell Tuvok?" she asks. "About what I did? About you?"
~Nothing to begin with. Get a feel for his mood. And how much he might tell Starfleet Command~
"They'll know once your body is transferred."
~Then let that be when. Delay as much as possible until I can be sure you won't get into trouble~
"Sir–"
~Liam~ He interrupts, tone firm.
And Seven knows he has to feel her surprise. And possiblity the wash of a deeper emotion she's worked damn hard at suppressing so far. She feels a flicker of delight but he says nothing. His presence is a warm softness in her mind. She smiles at the light touch.
"Liam," she says gently.
~Incoming~
The door opens and Tuvok stands at the threshold. Seven wonders how on earth Shaw knew he was there. She puts the question aside as she gets to her feet.
"Captain Tuvok," she says, then inclines her head. "The real deal this time, I presume?"
~Nice~ Shaw's voice brims with approval.
"Commander Seven." Tuvok holds out a hand and she shakes it. "I will be upfront and note that Starfleet Command has sent me to... 'deal with you' was how it was put."
"I had a feeling. I'll save you the trouble of a reprimand - I resign."
~The fuck you do! You take that back. Hansen, I mean it~
"Is something the matter?" Tuvok asks, frowning at her, and she's little doubt that her shock at Shaw's violent rejection of her resignation shows on her face.
"During the... occupation of the Titan, Captain Shaw was shot and is currently in stasis. As you're probably aware." Seven pauses and Tuvok nods. "What hasn't been reported is that his-his injuries are severe. Doctor Ohk informed me that there was too much strain on his body. On his organs. So I had his consciousness transported into my cortex. And he's really not happy that I informed you thusly."
"Captain Shaw is in your head and aware of this conversation?"
"He is."
"Ah." He puts something on the desk and Seven feels Shaw flinch. "Then this could be awkward."
~Oh, fuck me~
"What is that?" She isn't sure which of them she's asking. Only Shaw seems to be cringing, if such a thing is possible. She prods the sense of him and he groans. "Shaw?"
"Does he want to tell you or should I play this?" Tuvok asks.
When Shaw says nothing, Seven motions at the device. Moments later, she understands his stiffness and she's crying, because his belief in her has been solid. As has his affection. She dries her eyes and manages to smile at Tuvok.
"I'm not resigning, am I?"
"It would be preferable if you did not."
~I'd rather you didn't~
The fact they've said almost the same thing makes Seven laugh. "All right, no resignation," she says and then, eyes bright, asks, "I'm making captain?"
"Liam Shaw recommended you for promotion. His word is one that Command pays attention to. Congratulations, Seven. It is well-deserved."
~What he said~
She sits in a the glow of happiness, warmed by a promotion after so long of fighting just to get into Starfleet and by Shaw's firm belief in her. Then the moment is interrupted by the ping of her comm.
"Seven here."
"It's Ohk. They're ready."