"A Separate Peace"
by Andra Marie Mueller

PART SIX : 'A Date With Destiny'

SUMMARY : On Board the U.S.S. Liberty, there is such a thing as love at first sight

See Part one for author's notes and disclaimer

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U.S.S. LIBERTY – SIXTEEN YEARS EARLIER

Seated at the helm on the Bridge, Chakotay tried not to look as frustrated as he felt. The Liberty had been stationed at Deep Space Four for nearly a week, undergoing routine maintenance while the crew enjoyed shore leave on the station. Yet Chakotay’s brief altercation with a fellow officer over a poker game had earned them both an official reprimand from their captain, Bruce Morgan, who had revoked their shore leave privileges for the remainder of their stay.

One stupid argument, and I’m stuck on the ship for the rest of the week, Chakotay thought bitterly. Barrett’s going to pay for this one.

"Mister Chakotay…"

Morgan’s voice snapped him out of his reverie, and Chakotay immediately focused on his captain.

"Yes, Captain?"

"Our new science officer is transferring over from the Al Batani," Morgan said. "Why don’t you go down to the transporter room and welcome her aboard?"

"Aye, sir."

Chakotay crossed over to enter the turbolift, then headed for the transporter room, his frustration increasing at being sent on fool’s errands. Entering the room, he afforded the transporter chief a brief glance.

"Mister Olsen," he greeted, then turned to face the platform. "Energize."

Olsen tapped his computer panel, and a moment later the new arrival materialized on the pad closest to Chakotay. She was a Human female, medium tall and somewhere in the neighborhood of twenty-seven to twenty-eight years old, her rank pins marking her as a lieutenant. Although not beautiful in the traditional sense, she was nonetheless quite attractive, and her midnight blue eyes scanned the room before coming to rest on Chakotay. Meeting her gaze, Chakotay immediately felt drawn to her and was overcome with the strangest feeling that after meeting her, his life would never be the same.

"Welcome aboard, Lieutenant," he greeted formally. "I’m Lieutenant Chakotay, helm officer and designated welcoming committee."

The self-imposed title earned Chakotay a faint smile from his new colleague. "Nice to meet you, Lieutenant. I’m Kathryn Janeway."

Janeway extended her hand, which Chakotay took in his, both feeling a flicker of attraction flare between them at the physical contact, and they exchanged a surprised look at their reactions.

Chakotay, my boy, you are in Trouble with a capital ‘T’, Chakotay thought.

Lieutenant, you have just met your match, Janeway declared silently.

Chakotay was the first to shake off his wayward thoughts and reluctantly released Janeway’s hand. "Your personal effects have already been delivered to your quarters, so I’ll take you to the Bridge to meet Captain Morgan. Then you can get settled in."

"Actually, it won’t take me very long to unpack," Janeway said. "Do you think I could get a tour of the ship?"

Chakotay smiled. "I’m sure that can be arranged," he replied, then took a step closer to her and lowered his voice to a conspiratorial whisper. "It just so happens that I’m the best tour guide on the ship. Keep it hush-hush, though; I wouldn’t want to lose my day job."

"Your secret is safe with me, Lieutenant," Janeway assured him.

Chakotay’s smile widened. Bidding farewell to Olsen, he escorted Janeway out of the room.

 

One week later, Janeway had completely settled into her new assignment. Although she had already befriended several members of the crew, it was clear that she and Chakotay favored each other’s company, and their time together had also served to strengthen the growing attraction between them. Casual conversation had revealed that neither of them was involved with anyone else, and despite trepidation over how a personal relationship would affect their professional one, they both knew it was only a matter of time before they acted on their feelings.

Late one evening, the two were en route to Janeway’s quarters following a party on the holodeck, laughing in recollection of some of their crewmates antics.

"I wish I’d had a camera to capture the look on Teresa’s face when Bardak pulled her onto the dance floor for the tango contest," Janeway replied.

"It wasn’t any funnier than your expression when I pulled you onto the floor," Chakotay countered, "and we won."

"Probably because we were the only completely sober people dancing," Janeway returned wryly.

They came to a halt in front of Janeway’s quarters, and she turned to face Chakotay.

"Thank you for an enjoyable evening, Lieutenant," she said formally. "I hope we can do it again sometime."

"I’m sure that can be arranged," Chakotay responded. "Maybe next time we’ll make it a private party."

"I’d like that."

The two exchanged a smile, and Chakotay leaned over to give her a light kiss.

"If that’s the best you can do, Chakotay, it explains why you’re still single," Janeway chided.

Chakotay’s smile widened at the jab, and he lowered his head to kiss her again. The old adage ‘Be careful what you wish for’ flashed through Janeway’s brain as the passion behind the second kiss took her breath away, and she pressed her body closer to Chakotay’s. Several minutes later, a belated remembrance of where they were forced Chakotay reluctantly to break off the kiss. After taking a moment to regain his composure, he addressed Janeway. "I trust I’ve redeemed myself?"

"Most definitely," Janeway assured him. "You’d better go."

"Worried about starting something you can’t finish?" Chakotay taunted.

"Was that a question or a challenge?"

"You tell me."

Janeway allowed herself a small smile. "All right. If it was a question, then the answer is no."

"And if it was a challenge?"

"What are the stakes?"

"Winner takes all."

"Those are pretty high stakes," Janeway remarked. "Feeling rather sure of yourself?"

"The only thing I’m sure of is that every time we touch we both go up in flames," came Chakotay’s solemn response.

"Chakotay…"

Chakotay took a step closer to her. "If you really want me to leave, Kathryn, then say so now, because if I stay we both know what’s going to happen."

Janeway held Chakotay’s gaze in silence for several moments, her indecision etched in her expression, before she at last graced him with a faint smile.

"Then stay."

 

Early the next morning, Chakotay awoke to the feel of a soft, warm body pressed to his, the tickle of Janeway’s breath against his chest telling him she was still asleep. Glancing down at her face, he gently brushed a stray hair from her forehead, then pressed a light kiss to her temple before attempting to ease himself out of bed. The arm draped around his waist immediately tightened, and he felt Janeway smile against his chest.

"I certainly hope you weren’t going to leave without saying good morning," she chided.

Janeway lifted her gaze to meet Chakotay’s, and he mirrored her smile before pulling her to him for a lengthy kiss.

"Good morning," he said when they finally parted.

"It certainly is," Janeway responded, then grew serious. "Chakotay, about last night…"

Chakotay immediately placed a finger against her lips to silence her.

"Last night was wonderful, but it was nobody’s business but ours, nor does it have to be repeated unless we’re both willing."

Janeway’s smile returned. "I agree with all of the above, but what I was about to say is that it was the first time I’ve ever done something like that," she clarified. "I’m usually more cautious about mixing business with pleasure."

"You don’t owe me any explanations, Kathryn, but thank you for being honest. And for the record, I’m usually just as cautious. Yet from the moment I met you, all of the standards I’ve set for myself regarding mixing business with pleasure seem to have gone flying out the window."

"I know the feeling," Janeway replied. "So where do we go from here?"

"Well, I’m due on the Bridge in less than an hour…" Chakotay began, earning him an admonishing look from Janeway.

"That’s not what I meant."

"I know. To answer your question, I’m not sure where we go from here, but I do know that I’d like to find out. I’ve never felt this way about anyone before."

"Neither have I," Janeway said. "Why don’t we just take it one day at a time and see what happens?"

"Works for me."

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Part 7