"A Separate Peace"
by Andra Marie Mueller

PART FOUR : 'Guess Who's Coming To Dinner'

SUMMARY : Dinner with Chakotay is anything but pleasant for Kathryn

See Part one for author's notes and disclaimer

*************************************

CORNELLIA COLONY

That evening, Chakotay was sequestered in his office, finishing a private meeting with Paris. The small room bore a passing resemblance to the Ready Room found on most Starfleet vessels, albeit about half the size, and its furnishings were sparse. A small desk with Chakotay’s computer was positioned in the center of the room, with a trio of chairs on the opposite side and a large storage cabinet standing against the wall. A large medicine wheel hung on the wall behind Chakotay, the only personal touch in the otherwise stark room.

"Julian says that the medical equipment we confiscated from Voyager will keep us in good stead for at least six weeks," Paris said. "We also managed to download some of their intelligence information into our computer, which will give us a significant tactical advantage the next time we engage a Starfleet ship."

"Hopefully that won’t prove necessary," Chakotay replied. "As good as it is for our cover, attacking Starfleet vessels won’t endear us to the powers that be once our masquerade is over."

"Maybe you should have thought of that before kidnapping Captain Janeway," Paris suggested. "Taking a rank officer prisoner isn’t going to score you any points with her or them."

"All is fair in love and war, Tom," Chakotay returned, then got to his feet. "I’m going to retrieve our lovely guest from Ean and head home. I’ll see you in the morning."

"Give my regards to Gray Feather," Paris said.

Chakotay exited his office and headed out into the compound in search of Ean and Janeway. He found them near the infirmary, engaged in casual conversation about Ean’s family.

"…and that’s how Maya learned to swim," Ean finished.

"Don’t you think throwing her into the lake was a little drastic?" Janeway asked.

Ean shrugged. "It worked, didn’t it?"

Janeway shook her head just as Chakotay appeared beside them, his arrival breaking her light mood.

"What tall tales are you filling the captain’s head with, Ean?" he inquired lightly.

"I was just telling her how I taught my sister how to swim," Ean answered. "How did your meeting with Paris go?"

"Quite well. Our supplies seem to be plentiful enough to sustain us for a while, so I think we’ll lie low for a few weeks. You’re welcome to stay here, or go home to Bajor."

"Bajor…I haven’t been back in almost a year," Ean said to himself.

"Then it’s high time you paid Maya a visit," Chakotay declared. "B’Elanna’s taking a shuttle off planet for maintenance work, so you can hitch a ride with her."

"I’ll do that, Captain. Thank you."

"You’re welcome."

Ean flashed Chakotay a grateful smile, then bid farewell to Janeway before disappearing into the night. Once he was gone, Chakotay addressed Janeway. "The two of you seem to have hit it off rather well," he observed.

"He’s very nice young man," Janeway responded. "Quite frankly I can’t imagine how he wound up a Maquis."

"The same way I did. He watched the Cardassians murder his family and burn their home to the ground while the Federation played power games with Cardassia instead of protecting its citizens."

Janeway shot him an even glance. "For whatever it’s worth, I’m truly sorry about what happened to your parents," she said softly. "Kolopak and Running Deer were good people."

Chakotay graced her with the ghost of a smile. "They were very fond of you, too," he told her. then changed the subject. "I don’t know about you, but I’m starving. Shall we get some dinner?"

"As in real food, or that gruel R’Vek tried to pass off as edible for two days?"

Chakotay ignored her question. "I happen to be well acquainted with a beautiful young woman who lives in the village on the other side of the woods, and she is the best cook on the planet."

"Another one of your leftovers, no doubt," Janeway muttered, earning her a chuckle from Chakotay.

"Actually, I think you’ll like her," he replied. "Let’s go."

 

The trek through the woods was made in companionable silence, the stillness of the night shattered only by the occasional call of the native wildlife. As they neared the edge of the woods, however, the sudden rustling of the brush signaled the approach of what was obviously one of Cornellia’s four-legged inhabitants.

"Something’s coming toward us," Janeway said.

No sooner had she spoken the words than a large, dark blur emerged from the bushes and launched itself at Chakotay. After recovering from her initial alarm, Janeway realized it was a dog, one that seemed vaguely familiar.

"Hello, Old Man," Chakotay greeted and knelt down to give the dog an affectionate hug. "Did you miss me?"

"Is that Ebony?" Janeway prompted incredulously, referring to the coal black German shepherd which, as an eight-week-old puppy, had been Janeway’s birthday gift to Chakotay nearly sixteen years ago.

"This is Ebony," Chakotay confirmed, rising to his feet.

"He’s got to be at least fifteen years old," Janeway deduced. "I can’t believe you still have him."

"After we separated, he was the only part of you I had left," Chakotay said and glanced down at his dog. "He’s a little gray around the edges and is starting to go deaf, but other than that he’s in pretty good shape."

Janeway was unsure what surprised her more: the dog’s presence or Chakotay’s explanation for it. After we separated, he was the only part of you I had left. Not wanting to dwell on the implications of that remark, Janeway instead posed a question to Chakotay: "How did you get him to Cornellia?"

"I had help," Chakotay evaded. "Come on; we’re going to be late."

Giving Ebony a final pat, Chakotay made his way out of the woods, with Janeway following close behind him. As they reached the village, a young Dorvanian boy approximately three years of age came running toward Chakotay, who reached down to pick him up and give him a warm hug.

"I knew you were coming!" the boy declared. "Ebony is never wrong."

"Is your mother mad at me?" Chakotay asked.

The boy nodded. "She’s says she’s going to put salt in your soup because you were late."

Chakotay chuckled. "Thanks for the warning."

The boy shifted his attention to Janeway. "Who are you?" he asked.

"My name is Kathryn," Janeway answered with a smile. "What’s yours?"

"I’m Little Wolf," he declared, then reached over to touch Janeway’s hair. "You have fire in your hair. It’s pretty."

Janeway’s smile widened. "Thank you."

Setting Little Wolf on the ground, Chakotay said, "Why don’t you take Ebony back to the house and tell your mom I’m bringing a friend to dinner? But don’t tell her who it is, because it’s a surprise."

Summoning Ebony, Little Wolf wandered back toward his house. Once he was out of earshot, Janeway posed a question to Chakotay.

"Who’s his mother?" she asked, hoping her tone did not reflect her jealously over the thought that another woman had borne Chakotay’s child, and angry at herself for caring that one had.

Chakotay glanced at Janeway, realizing from her voice that she believed Little Wolf to be his son. Although tempted to test her reaction by only giving her half an answer, he decided instead to tell her the truth.

"Little Wolf is my sister’s son, Kathryn, not mine. Gray Feather’s husband is part of my crew."

"Then Gray Feather was the beautiful woman you were referring to a little while ago," Janeway surmised.

"Yes."

Relief flickered across Janeway’s features for the briefest of moments, then she asked, "What about Tara?"

Chakotay chuckled. "Ironically enough, Tara is in Starfleet," he revealed. "She’s chief of security on the Excelsior and is married to its captain, Jeffrey Bennett."

Janeway nodded in silent acknowledgement then followed Chakotay into the village. A few moments later they stopped in front of a small, cabin-like house.

"Here we are," he declared, then glanced at Janeway. "Ladies first."

Janeway entered the house and spotted Gray Feather in the kitchen, her back to the door as she finished her dinner preparations.

"You’d better have a good excuse for being late, Big Brother, or I will put salt in your soup," she warned.

"That’s no way to talk in front of our guest, Gray Feather," Chakotay chided. "I trust you remember Kathryn?"

Gray Feather spun around at Chakotay’s use of Janeway’s given name, and her dark eyes widened in surprise. "Kathryn…"

"Hello, Gray Feather. It’s been a long time."

"Oh, it is so good to see you!" Gray Feather declared and quickly crossed over to envelop Janeway in a warm hug. "I’ve missed you!"

"I’ve missed you, too," Janeway returned. "You’ve grown into a beautiful woman."

"And you are like a fine wine," Gray Feather responded. "You only get better with age."

"I’ll second that," Chakotay interjected casually, earning him scowls from Janeway and his sister.

"Shame on you for keeping her a secret!" Gray Feather scolded. "How long have you been back together?"

"We’re not," Janeway answered.

Gray Feather frowned. "Then what are you doing…here…"

Gray Feather’s voice trailed off as she realized the answer to her unfinished question, and she shot Chakotay an angry glare. "Tell me she’s not your prisoner, Chakotay."

"She’s my guest," Chakotay amended.

"I’m your prisoner," Janeway corrected curtly.

"Let’s just drop it," Chakotay requested.

"Let’s not," Gray Feather retorted. "Spirits above, Chakotay; what were you thinking? Mama and Papa are probably looking down on you with heavy hearts, wondering how it could have come to this. Not to mention what the ramifications will be if Starfleet finds out she’s here."

"That’s not going to happen."

"What about our people?" Gray Feather pressed. "Do you think they are all going to passively accept having a Starfleet captain among us?"

"My crew will follow my orders."

Gray Feather scoffed. "This isn’t about your authority, Chakotay. There are close to two hundred people on Cornellia, all of whom have reason to want Kathryn dead simply because of the uniform she wears. Everything she represents is everything they are fighting against. Are you so certain you can convince all of them to turn the other cheek merely because you tell them to?"

"Yes."

Unwilling to be the cause of a family squabble, Janeway quickly intervened, flashing Gray Feather a reassuring smile. "Gray Feather, please listen to me," she requested. "This is between Chakotay and me. Don’t let our conflict create one between the two of you."

Gray Feather was clearly still perturbed, but she reluctantly let the subject drop and shot her brother a final glare as she addressed Janeway. "Out of deference to my parents’ memories, I will respect your wishes and leave it alone," she relented.

Gray Feather made her way back into the kitchen as Janeway and Chakotay seated themselves at the table. Just then the door opened to admit an attractive Dorvanian near Chakotay’s age, and he shot Little Wolf an affectionate smile before glancing curiously at Janeway.

"You must be Chakotay’s newest trophy," he remarked. "I must say, Chakotay, that Starfleet or not, she is a definite improvement over Seska."

"Once you’ve reached the bottom of the pit there is nowhere else to go but up," Janeway returned evenly.

Red Hawk smiled. "Touché, Captain. Why don’t you introduce us, Chakotay?"

Chakotay glanced at Janeway. "The gentleman with the death wish is my brother-in-law, Red Hawk," he clarified. "Red Hawk, this is Captain Kathryn Janeway."

"Kathryn?" Red Hawk echoed. "Don’t tell me she’s the Kathryn?"

"She is."

Red Hawk chuckled as he took his seat. "Chakotay, my friend, you are full of surprises."

"What does he mean by the Kathryn?" Janeway asked of Chakotay.

"I’ll explain after dinner," Chakotay answered.

 

Once Gray Feather’s initial ire over Janeway’s presence cooled, the remainder of the evening passed without incident. Chakotay, however, had been unusually quiet, and shortly after dinner Gray Feather decided to question him about his mood. The two were alone in the kitchen doing dishes when Gray Feather broached the subject.

"You barely said ten words during dinner," she remarked. "Is something wrong?"

"Nothing aside from the obvious," Chakotay answered.

"Kathryn?"

"Kathryn."

"I would imagine having her here brings back memories."

"It does. It’s also a reminder of everything I can never have."

"If you love her enough, anything’s possible, Chakotay."

"Not for Kathryn and me. Between our personal history and our political differences, I’ve burned too many bridges with her for us to give our relationship another try."

"Yet you still brought her here," Gray Feather pointed out. "Why?"

"I’m not entirely sure. I didn’t know Voyager was her ship until after we had attacked it, but as soon as I found out I knew I had to see her again, whatever the cost."

"You still love her," Gray Feather surmised.

"Whatever I do or don’t feel for Kathryn doesn’t matter," Chakotay responded. "Any chance we had was lost fifteen years ago."

On that note, Chakotay walked out of the kitchen and out of the house. Sighing to herself, Gray Feather returned her attention to her clean-up duties. Once her task was completed, she wandered into the living room and discovered Janeway standing by the fireplace, staring silently at the flames. From his position by the door, Red Hawk glanced up at his wife’s arrival and crossed over to stand beside her.

"What did you say to Chakotay that sent him scurrying into the night?" he asked, deliberately keeping his voice low so as not to be overheard.

"We had a brief conversation regarding Kathryn," Gray Feather revealed. "He is wrestling with his reaction to having her here."

"Is he questioning his decision to abduct her?"

"Yes and no. He feels guilty over her kidnapping, yet he’s waited fifteen years to see her again."

Red Hawk glanced at Janeway. "I would imagine being here has rattled Janeway’s cage, as well. If the passion with which they fight is any indication, they must have been amazing together."

"They were, until the conflict between the Federation and the Maquis tore them apart. Deep in his heart, I don’t know that Chakotay has ever recovered from losing her."

"Perhaps that’s his reason for bringing her here."

"And it may very well be the reason he doesn’t let her go."

**********************************

Part 5