SPRUNG A LEAK?
[Part 2]

by ALM_Voyager

Kathryn admitted to herself that she did want to hear the stories -- she had enjoyed the one about Tuvok and she had enjoyed wondering what else had happened to Tom? Harry? Even Chakotay himself? Luckily she didn't have a story of her own to be spread throughout the confines of Voyager.

"Report!" She ordered as she entered engineering and was greeted with B'Elanna rushing towards her, following the commanding gait towards a console.

"It happened overnight -- one moment the mains that replicated the water were fine and the next -- they were channeling it all over the place--" B'Elanna roared.

"And then it found its way out --" she added, "--Directly onto Tuvok's head."

"He was lucky--" B'Elanna muttered and looked up slowly feeling her Captain's eyes on her. "Captain?"

Kathryn shook herself, "Sorry, Lieutenant. I was just wondering --"

"Wondering?" B'Elanna prodded. It wasn't like Janeway to be absent minded.

"I was just wondering what your story was . . . when the water hit?" she lifted her eyes slightly, pretending that it wasn't too important.

B'Elanna couldn't believe it . . . five years later and Captain Janeway had finally started showing some interest in rumors and gossip. It had to happen. B'Elanna pulled her aside and was surprised to find Kathryn a willing participant, "I was in bed," she said quietly so that only the Captain could hear. From a distance it looked as if they were working on ship's business.

"With Tom?" Kathryn asked.

"With Tom," she confirmed. "One moment he's telling me how much he loves me," she closed her eyes with the next statement, "the next moment a torrent of water comes rushing out from above the headboard, smacking him in the face, pushing him backwards off the bed and onto the floor."

Kathryn was starting to laugh but had to quell it as best she could from the looks people were sending her.

"Needless to say, I started laughing and Tom said I was 'unsympathetic,'" she folded her arms, "Can you believe that? So an argument ensues and we spend the whole night snapping at each other and trying to stop the flow. But that's not half as bad as Seven."

Kathryn had to sit down in one of the chairs at a science console, "Seven?!" Her stomach was already cramping from too much unexcelled humor.

"Imagine this," B'Elanna leaned on the console, "because trust me, it made my day. Okay," she cleared her throat, "Seven -- in her alcove -- a peaceful little Borg -- regenerating when - plop, plop, plop . . . . plop," B'Elanna mimicked a ceaseless stream of water dripping onto someone's head. "It took her five minutes to finally end her regeneration and discover that a leak had sprung, directly above her, and was dripping persistently -- nonstop."

"It was most inefficient for my regeneration cycle," a monotone but strong female voice countered.

"Seven!" Kathryn stood up, smoothing her hands over her uniform. "Just the person we were looking for."

"So where were you when it hit?" Tom asked Chakotay as they added another bucket in the messhall.

"Let's just say it got my attention," Chakotay mumbled and sighed as another leak sprung above his head.

Tom snorted, "Attention from what?"

"Commander! Mr. Paris! I think something is happening over here!" Came Neelix's high pitched voice before a torrent fell on his head.

"I don't think a bucket is going to handle that one," Tom stated. "Then again, that's one way to get rid of a Leola Root Cook."

"Mr. Paris--" Chakotay warned.

CONTINUED IN PART 3!

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Email: ALMcKenzie@aol.com