Through the Looking Glass

With gentle care, Rayna brought her other hand to Janeway's cheek and stroked it softly. It was a
dangerous game. If she roused her too little, the dream would be unbroken; too much, and
Janeway would awaken.
And be very unhappy with the uninvited contact, no doubt.
Her gamble paid off. The captain breathed a final moan of relief and settled more deeply into
slumber. Though she knew better, Rayna lingered, running the back of her fingers lightly down
the sharp plane of Janeway's cheek.
So soft, so cool and dry, like linen…you like her skin, don't you, Ray-Ray.
Oh yes.
Rayna straightened and reluctantly broke contact. The worst was past. She moved to the adjacent
chair and perched on the arm. Getting close to this woman was foolish; she knew that with every
synapse in her brain. In all her life, Rayna had only ever kept one friend: Tuvok. It never
bothered her much. As an Ornament and later as a spy, her world was comprised of deception
and manipulation. Those made for poor soil in which to grow the vine of friendship.
Look on the bright side. Janeway has no reason to trust you. You make an effort to get to know
her. She rejects you. End of story.
Why did that notion not bring her joy? Rayna sat with the sleeping captain and her own stormy
thoughts for an interminable amount of time. Finally she shook her head. "Fortune pisses on me,"
she said to the stillness, and thought she might have heard an answering chuckle.
************************
The cheery chime of Voyager's chronometer greeted Janeway when she woke. It was 1100 hours.
"Shit," she murmured, sitting upright. A brown blanket fell from her shoulder. Janeway blinked,
looking around. Where the devil was she?
"Good morning, Captain." Rayna Merris placed a steaming mug of coffee on the end table next
to the sofa. "Did you sleep well?"
"Yes. Too long, it appears." Memory returned to Janeway with the creeping slowness of Martian
winter. She'd only meant to rest her eyes a moment. Instead, she'd apparently spent the night.
You dreamt of butterflies. Why she was so certain of that, Janeway could not say. She really
didn't remember anything concrete. Well that's certainly a step up from your regular night time
companions.
Casting about, she found her shoes neatly placed on the carpet nearby. Her uniform tunic was