#katiebev

 The other cadet arched an eyebrow, her eyes mischievous asshe walked closer. “Maybe I do.” Her long brown hair was tied back in aponytail and Beverly wondered idly what it looked like when not constrained.

 She was about to offer her services as a teacher but anothercadet stumbled in at just that moment.

 “Janeway!” He said, slightly out of breath, “I thought I’dbeat you here.”

 “You’ll have to do better than that.” The cadet, Janeway,countered with a smirk. Competitive, Beverly could deal with that.

 The new cadet leveled Beverly with a confused look and thendrew himself up, “We have the holodeck now. Computer end program.”

 Her time on it must have run out quicker than she wasexpecting but the cadet’s rudeness had her scowling.

 “Sorry about that.” Janeway said, resting a hand on hershoulder. “Maybe next time I’ll be quicker and get a dance in.”

 Her anger rushed out of her and Beverly winked. “BeverlyCrusher,” She introduced herself and made sure she brushed by Janeway as sheleft, knocking her hips against Janeway’s slightly. “I’ll remember to save youone.”

  Two

(Academy era)

 A flash of long brown hair stirred at Beverly’s memories butshe couldn’t quite place where. The Andorian ale was hitting her hard, thegraduation celebration was in full swing at the bar near Starfleet Academy.

 Any minute now she’d find herself on the dance floor, allshe needed was a partner.

 That thought dragged her somewhat back to awareness- apartner. She hadn’t seen Janeway since that night or gotten a dance.

 Except now as she focused there Janeway was, standing at thebar.

 “Excuse me.” She said to her friends, standing on slightlywobbly feet and making her way to the bar. She stood next to Janeway, silentfor a second before she put on her most winning smile. “I think you owe me adance.”

 This time it was Janeway that jumped and turned to look ather. When she did she started laughing, loud and free and Beverly was drawn tothe way her head tilted and her hair fell over her shoulders and-

 “I think I do.” Janeway stuck out a hand, “I’m KathrynJaneway, just so you know.”

 Beverly reached out to take her hand, fully intending onleading Kathryn to the dance floor, when someone jostled her and her side feltsuddenly wet.

 “Sorry!” A voice yelped, somewhere to her other side andBeverly frowned as the drink that had been spilt on her started to seep underher clothes to her skin.

 “Janeway!” Another voice yelled out, “We need to go!”

 Kathryn shot her an apologetic glance as a hand came over tograb her shoulder and pull her into the crowd leaving Beverly partnerless oncemore.

 Three

(two years after Jack’s death)

 The science symposium was a marvel; Beverly was glad she’dtaken the leave to go to it. She had dropped Wesley off with a friend on anearby station, only a brief shuttle ride away, and was looking forward to allthe talks. Afterwards she’d spend some time with Wesley before they went backto Earth and her private practice.

 Around her Starfleet officers milled about, going to theirown sessions and she felt a brief pang of longing – missing her uniformsuddenly.

 Except she’d left that when Jack died and maybe one day she’dreturn to Starfleet but not yet, not while the wound was still too fresh.

 A pair of Trills walked by and Beverly almost followed them,curious to know about their biology and the symbionts they carried when shespotted someone else that made her stop in her tracks.

 It had been over five years but Beverly was certain that wasKathryn Janeway standing in front of her. Her long hair had been pulled into abun, somewhat no nonsense and that fitted the sharp knowing gaze that Kathryncarried. She was taller too though still not taller than Beverly herself.Seeing her brought back a burst of amusement in Beverly, she felt younger andlighter and –

 Like she could use a dance.

 Kathryn must have sensed eyes on her because she turned toface Beverly and Beverly watched as comprehension dawned on her. She walkedover, a sure steady stride that Beverly almost envied, and stopped in front ofBeverly.

 “Fancy meeting you here.” Kathryn said, the edges of herlips tilting upwards.

 “I’m surprised you remember me.” Beverly replied, honestly alittle shocked.

 “You made an impression.” Kathryn assured her, resting ahand on her arm. “I don’t suppose you’d like to get out of here? The food’smore fit for a Vulcan, no spices whatsoever and the replicators don’t agreewith me.”

 “They don’t agree with you or you don’t agree with them?”Beverly teased and stuck her hands in the pocket of her coat, a strange guiltflooding her as she remembered she was still wearing her wedding ring.

 Kathryn made a noise that could have been either anagreement or not. “I do know some places nearby. I had to scout out the areathe other night in preparation for this.”

 It was certainly a tempting offer.

 It was also too soon.

 Beverly gave her a tight and apologetic smile. “Anothertime.”

 Hopefully there would be one.

  Four

(set right before Voyager gets lost)

 Beverly hadn’t planned on stepping onto Deep Space Ninewhile the Enterprise was docked there but her supplies were lower than sheliked and she had wanted to talk to Bashir anyway. If only to tell him a fewthings about Worf – mostly things that could be used for teasing. She’d missedWorf on the Enterprise, the card games just weren’t the same without him there.

 The Enterprise had docked earlier so that Picard, Sisko, andJaneway could have a meeting regarding the Maquis. They were the foremostFederation officers involved in the hunt against the Maquis and were tradinginformation before Janeway set off on her mission; that much Beverly only knewbecause Picard had informed the bridge crew. Just the thought of the Maquismade her miss Ro and she sighed.

 Too many people were missing these days, too many regretsand lost friendships were weighing on her mind.

 Maybe while she was thinking about it she could also runinto Kathryn. The two had struck up a stilted sort of communications afterBeverly sent a message apologizing for her abrupt behaviour the last time theymet but they hadn’t seen each other face to face since then.

 As if summoned by her thoughts Kathryn walked out of theSecurity office and Beverly called out to her, smiling brightly when Kathrynturned around.

 “I heard you were on still on the Enterprise.” Kathryn saidin greeting.

 “And I heard you’d gotten your own command, congratulations.”Beverly reached out to squeeze Kathryn’s shoulder in comradery but then slidher hand down a little to rest it on Kathryn’s bicep. “Feel like a celebrationdrink?”

 The smile on Kathryn’s face faltered and Beverly wonderedwhat was wrong for a moment until she looked down to see the ring on Kathryn’sfingers.

 “Ah,” She stepped back, “Well, we can still have that drink.”

 This time Kathryn’s smile was the apologetic one. “How aboutwe have it when Voyager gets back. We shouldn’t be long.”

 “I’ll take your word on that.”

  Five

(before Voyager returns)

  You shouldn’t be long?

 Beverly looked at the note she was about to send through thePathfinder project. Deanna had told her if she had any messages to keep itshort and she wondered if Kathryn would get her drift.

 No way to know until it was sent she thought and theresponse came nearly a week later.

 Things went a littlesideways.

 Beverly chuckled under her breath at the understatement.

 Think you couldschedule some time for a real chat over communications?

 It’s a date.

 She never made it to the building that day however, she didn’tneed to. Not when Voyager unexpectedly dropped into the Alpha Quadrant withouta single word and sent everyone into a flurry.

 And the one time theygot their date

 “I know how you feel about replicators so I took the libertyof turning mine off for the night.” Beverly couldn’t resist the amused smirkshe sent Kathryn who rolled her eyes in return.

 “So long as there’s still coffee with the desert I won’tmind at all.” Kathryn took the dish that Beverly offered her and walked over toset it down at the table.

 “There’ll be a dance before desert. I’ve waited long enough.”Beverly took her own plate over and sat down across from Kathryn, her eyessoftening slightly when she saw Kathryn’s pleased grin.

 “I’ve been told I’m worth the wait.”

 “I was told you weren’t flexible.” Beverly joked back,recalling all those years ago when they had their first conversation.

 “Well.” Kathryn paused before she took a sip of her wine. “Icould still learn a trick or two.”

 “Good to know.” Beverly grinned brightly, “I can still showyou a trick or two.”