[ that just makes him chuckle softly. oh kirk. you haven't met b'elanna torres. or seven of nine, but seven cheats via her borg history and she's not technically the chief engineer. ]

If she's offering you this, take it. I don't think you quite understand how rare it is for her to do even this much. Kathryn's offering you friendship... and help. If she didn't want to have anything to do with you, your people, or how this whole thing turns out, she wouldn't have let you touch that phaser, let alone take it from her.

[ he pauses for a moment, ducking his head as though to shuffle something unseen on the sand in front of him before he looks back up and fixes kirk with an even expression. ]

She's a great ally, a fantastic captain... and a wonderful friend. She wouldn't consider herself being bothered unless she suddenly decides not to talk to you and I don't see that happening any time soon.

[ aka use her friendship, kirk. you might not get another chance like this. ]