Disclaimer: Star Trek and Star Trek: Voyager are the property of Paramount Pictures and Viacom. I make no money off of this story what so ever. No copyright infringement intended.
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It was Christmas...
by Tamar Richardson
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It was Christmas when they died. It had been unexpected. Two lives slipped away, unnoticed by ebbs and flows of time's tide. Gone were they during one of the most merriest times of the year. They simply died.
**********
"So, Captain, are you going to the Christmas party?" Tom asked. He had been requesting/recruiting/persuading/out right begging the crew to come to the Christmas party he had planned for Holodeck 1; a program Tom had designed for the merry occasion.
"I don't think I can, Lieutenant," the Captain replied. "I'm swamped with reports," she explained.
"Can't you put them off till later?" Tom pleaded. "Besides, the Commander would be disappointed if you didn't show up." He knew her weakness. The whole crew knew about the love affair their Captain and Commander were entwined in, despite the commanding officers attempts to keep it secret.
"I'll think about it," she relented. In spite if her words, her thoughts were screaming, YES! YES! YES! She would attend, any chance to see her Chakotay socially was a chance she would not waste.
Tom realized that he had her. "If you'll excuse me, Captain," he interrupted her thoughts, "I have to make some last minute preparations." He nodded and walked away.
And so do I, Janeway thought while heading off towards her quarters.
**********
Kathryn was putting on her golden earring when he can to her door.
*bleep*
"Come in," she called from her bedroom.
Chakotay walked into the main living area. "Kathryn?" he called.
The voice sent shivers down her spine. The man she loved was here. Kathryn looked her self over in the mirror before leaving. She had chosen a short, backless, red dress. Her shoulder-length hair had a tiny barrette resembling a golden feather on the side furthest from her part. She was wearing a necklace donned with a golden feather. He had given her the necklace as a birthday present. Yes, Chakotay would approve of her.
With all her grace and charm combined, she walked out of the bedroom, into the living space, and melted. There he stood, dressed in a pair of black trouser, a mahogany colored sweater, and the friendship bracelet she had given him when they had first professed their love for each other.
"Hello," he squeaked a little. Apparently, Chakotay, too, had succumb to his lover's beauty. He immediately went over to her, took Kathryn's hand, and kissed it. He looked up, "You look gorgeous." Chakotay wasn't exactly telling the truth; the truth was she was more than gorgeous, but he didn't have the vocabulary to express both his love for and the beauty of the woman standing before him.
"Shall we go?" she asked. He nodded. And they left, never to see the inside of her quarters again.
**********
The Holodeck doors opened and the two commanding officers walked in. There was a Christmas tree in the corner of the room. The room was also decorated with little, white lights. Everywhere, couples were dancing while a holographic band played a 24th century version of the swing.
"Captain! Commander!" Neelix greeted. "So glad that you could come."
"It was our pleasure," Kathryn answered.
The Holodeck doors opened, and through them, in limped Ensign Wildman. She had been injured in last week's attack. "If you'll excuse," Neelix said, "I think I'll go help Samatha." And he left.
The two commanding officers were left alone to enjoy their surroundings. The crew was happy, as it should be. Kathryn's eyes darted around the room, admiring the holographic design. "Well, would you look at that?" she exclaimed.
"What?" Chakotay asked.
She gestured towards the window, "Snow." It was both beautiful and peaceful; standing there, and watching the white flakes fall. They could have stood there forever, wrapped in each other's love. But Tom interrupted.
He tapped a spoon against a wine glass. "I'd like to make a toast," Paris announced to the crew. "To our Captain, for leading us bravely through battle. Despite the loses, we thank her." A muttering of "here, here." arose from the crew, while they all took a sip from the replicated champagne.
"I'd like to add to that if I may," B'Elanna now spoke. "To Commander Chakotay, for all the wonderful things he's done for us lately."
The crew also drank to that. A awkward silence fell upon the room. "What are we waiting for?" Tom said. He signaled the band to play. A soft, romantic melody started.
"Would you like to dance?" Chakotay asked Kathryn.
"I'd love to," she answered. Slowly and gracefully, the couple moved onto the dance floor. It didn't matter that no one else was dancing. It didn't matter that the entire crew just sat and watched. It didn't matter that they were all muttering amongst themselves. The Captain and the Commander saw only love. Love for each other was all that lay before them.
"Kathryn?" he whispered in her ear.
"Yes?"
"I love you."
A gigantic smile spread over her lips, "Oh, Chakotay, I love you, too."
They made a mistake that night by seeing only love. By not paying attention to their environment, they had left themselves vulnerable.
No one knew who actually fired the phaser. No one knew vaporized the Captain and the Commander. No one knew who killed them. No one cared.
Tom stood up on a nearby table, "Who did it?" No one said anything.
"It doesn't matter.
**********
It was a week ago when Chakotay was captured. It was a week ago when Janeway tried to rescue him. It was a week ago when twenty crewmembers gave their lives for one man. It was a week ago when Lt. Cmdr. Tuvok had told his Captain that she was acting "illogical", and that the crew would suffer because of it; he would later die when a nearby conduit exploded. It was a week ago when Kathryn got her Chakotay back. It was a week ago when the crew lost respect for either of them started planning their demise.
And so we have come full circle. It was Christmas when they died. Never suspecting anything. Never listening to the whispers of the crew or the advice of a Vulcan friend. Love blinded them.
*
