A Real Hot Coffee Night, part two
by Jennifer Ferris
For disclaimers and author's note, see part one
___________________________________________________________
Chakotay was finally heading for his office. Ted McKenzie had caught him leaving Engineering and spent ten minutes complaining up one side and down the other that there was nothing to do on this goddamn boat and didn't Chakotay think the captain could loosen up on their replicator rations and holodeck privileges. He'd talked so much Chakotay hadn't even had to tell him that the captain never bothered to check on the rationing schedule, it was Chakotay himself who had worked out the limits with the computer. Fortunately McKenzie also talked himself into a solution. When he left he was promising he'd get together with Lieutenant Paris to see if they could invent another interactive holoprogram like the Insurrection Alpha story, so everybody could get involved. Hell of a solution. McKenzie had thanked him twice.
It should all be so simple. Chris Bailey was due at 0900 and Chakotay was running late. Fortunately, so was the lieutenant from Life Sciences. They met at the turbolift.
Bailey was petite, blonde, demure-looking. The first impression was misleading. She'd fight like a tiger for what she considered the rights and benefits due her department. She immediately went on the offensive. "I heard you were going to cut our requisition in half, Commander. I don't think we can even function if we don't get the personnel I requested. And cutting into our computer time--"
He held up a hand. "Let's go up. I want to show you something."
She turned with him into the lift, her impatience visible. Chakotay led the way into his office. "Sit down."
"I don't think you understand the situation. We're operating on bare bones as it is. And Medical gets first dibs on everything. How are we supposed-"
"Bailey."
"-to run a full schedule with the limited-"
"Bailey."
She heard him this time. "Yes sir."
"Take a look at this." Chakotay pulled up a partial roster of crew assignments on his monitor, ticking off items she could see on screen. "Hydroponics, staff is short two. Security, the same. Stellar is down three from their full complement, and if it wasn't for the Delaneys pulling double shifts twice a week it'd be even worse. Seven's been working down there some, but she's been assigned primarily to Engineering. Her transwarp knowledge is too valuable to use anywhere else. So that doesn't help much. You can see where I'm heading with this."
"Yes, but-"
"Medical, you said they get first dibs, hell, with Kes gone the doc hasn't even got a full-time staff. You know we're trying to cross-train everyone. He's got *Paris* as a part-time nurse. He's pulling bridge crew off their main job. And you're telling me you're short-handed?"
"I know, but this is really important. If we can't keep on top of the data coming in-"
Chakotay leaned back in his chair, crossing his arms. "So you think cataloging in Life Sciences, and your research, is more important than bridge duty?"
She flushed. "I didn't mean that. It's just, well, it's hard to function with half the crew we need."
"I know that. I also know that every department on this ship is shorthanded. And half the people we've got aren't properly trained in the areas we need."
She pressed on doggedly. "That's another thing. We had Ayala in there the other day. Half the specimans he tested had to be redone. We've got to get better skills in there."
"Bailey. I appreciate that you're doing a difficult job under tough circumstances. But we just haven't got people to spare. And as for computer time, you've got full access, same as everybody."
"Well, we do, but sometimes we get backlogged for hours at a time. I can't function like this."
"Excuse me?" His eyes narrowed.
"I, well, this is really too much. If our work doesn't have priority-"
"Bailey. Every department on this ship deserves priority. Which would you downsize?"
"I don't know. Surely there's some areas that could spare somebody."
"Could spare somebody...untrained? You'd need 100 man-hours just to bring them up to speed."
"Well, I didn't mean just anybody. But there must be something you can do."
A swift kick in the ass wouldn't hurt, Chakotay thought, but he didn't let it show. "I'll take it under advisement. No promises, though."
She rose, dissatisfied but knowing that was the best she was going to get. "I just have to emphasize how important this is, Commander. We've got to have more staff."
"We're one hundred and forty seven people, Lieutenant. Trying to cover twenty-eight science specialties, keep the ship running, and improve our defensive capabilities. You're just going to have to make do. If I can get you more bodies, I will."
And that's it? Her thought was clear, but she nodded. "Yes sir."
As the door closed behind her, Chakotay pinched the bridge of his nose. The hell of it was, she was right. They needed more people. They needed more training. And other than what they were already trying, there wasn't a damn thing he could do about it.
- - - - -
He looked up as the door buzzed. "Come on in, Barry."
Barry Largeacres looked uncomfortable. "Hey, Commander."
"What's up? Everything okay in the lab?"
"Yeah. We think we may have found a way to boost sensor efficiency by about ten percent if we can-um, anyway. That's not what I needed to see you about."
Chakotay leaned back, studying the Denebian. "Okay. What's on your mind?"
Largeacres studied his hands for a moment. He avoided looking directly at Chakotay. "Um, look. I know you really worked your ass off so you could get Linda and me assigned quarters together."
Chakotay shrugged. It had taken a little juggling, but it was good to be able to actually grant a request instead of constantly saying not today, not right not, not enough. "So...everything going all right?"
"Um...well..." Largeacres didn't answer directly. " I know neither of us is exactly ideal roommate material. We can't help it if we smell funny to humans. It's a natural secretion, it's like marking our territory. It's part of the glands."
"I know," Chakotay offered. "It's just sort of...disturbing. I'm sure you've been told what it reminds people of."
"Oh yeah. 'Watch out for the Denebian, you spend a few hours in his quarters you'll smell like a whorehouse on payday."
With an effort, Chakotay didn't smile. "There's worse things."
"Yeah...yeah, well, that's partly sort of why I'm coming to see you now. It's about Linda."
"What about her?" Chakotay was more guarded now.
"Well...I really like her...we get along fine...I thought we did. But she's driving me up the floor!"
Shit. "Why?"
"Well, for one thing, she's got to have all the lights out when she sleeps. All of 'em! How in all the Worlds am I supposed to get a good night's sleep when it's completely dark! It's unnatural."
"You could just change shifts. Stagger your sleeping hours."
"We can't. We're working on two projects together, Peterson says we have to finish 'em before we can change shifts. And Linda," Largeacres obviously wasn't finished complaining, "She, well, she doesn't wear any clothes in bed! I mean, it isn't like we share a bed or anything, but still."
"And...that's a problem." Chakotay kept his expression carefully neutral.
"Well...I'm not in season, myself, so that's all right. And it's not like she means anything by it, her hearts are the right place," he touched his chest automatically. "But it's just so, so distasteful to me. How am I supposed to live with someone like that? And she won't even let me play my music when I go to bed. It's not like it's loud, or anything," he added defensively.
Chakotay nodded seriously. "So...this is driving you crazy. Sharing quarters with someone who...smells like sex. And likes to sleep in the dark. Nude. And wants it quiet."
"Well, yeah. How am I supposed to function like that? I mean, could you?"
Chakotay ignored that. "Didn't the two of you discuss all this before you made your request?"
"Well, yeah, but we thought, I thought we'd be able to adjust. Or she'd...well...go along with what I..."
Staring at the ceiling, Chakotay pursed his lips. "I suppose it wouldn't mean anything to you if I told how many people aboard this ship would find all those conditions perfectly satisfactory."
"Well-well-then let them have her. Uh. I mean-"
"I know what you mean. Let me put it this way, Barry. I really twisted some arms to get you Linda as a roommate. You both wanted it so much, you were going to be such good friends. So now... I think the first thing you've got to do is post a notice looking for a roommate. Better the request comes from you. If that doesn't work...I'll see what I can do. I have to tell you, it probably isn't going to be at the top of my list."
"Please, Commander. We're really driving each other crazy."
"Just tell me one thing. This isn't 'drive me crazy', as in, 'I'm crazy about her. Is it? Because if I have to find other roommates for both of you...and believe me, it's going to take some arranging....and then you tell me you didn't mean it-"
"Oh no, sir, I wouldn't do that."
"Because if you do, you're going to be sleeping in Cargo Two. In the other regen chamber, the one Seven isn't using. You got that?"
"Uh...yes. Sir. Yessir."
"Fine."
"I, um, I really appreciate it. I really-"
"Barry."
"Sir?"
"Go."
- - - - -
Rosie Gonzales dropped by just before lunch. Chakotay looked up in surprise. "What brings you here? You never come see me on duty."
She shrugged, uncomfortable. "Yeah, well, you don't spend as much time with us as you used to.. ."
"'Us'? Come on Rosie, is it still 'us' and 'them'?"
"Naw, not really. I, er. . ." She was clearly uncomfortable.
"What is it? Used to be we could talk about anything."
"Well, we had to be able to, then." Chakotay just waited. Gonzales shrugged. "Okay, Mr. Big Shot Second in Command, I've got a little problem and it's your fault."
"My fault."
"Yeah. Kenny Domanski."
"What about him?"
She flushed. "He won't leave me alone, that's what. Ever since we spent that night together on Diminis."
Chakotay snorted. "You didn't 'spend the night together', you were stuck down there like we all were until we could be beamed aboard. It's not the same thing."
"Yeah." Gonzales shifted in her chair. "That's the way you look at it. That's the way I look at it. But Kenny. . .apparently he thinks snuggling up to me to keep warm constitutes a real social introduction. I never even saw him much before this, you know Geology doesn't have much to do with Security, why should we, which is fine with me, we did enough 'security' shit back in the old days. I have no interest in repeating the experience."
"So what's he doing that's such a problem?"
"Well geez, he's invented a reason every day this week to come down and talk to me, he's pressuring me to go to the holodeck with him, he's taken to wearing perfume, for god's sake. He's really being a pest."
"And you're coming to me with this."
"Yeah, well, I thought maybe you could talk to him." She flashed a look at Chakotay from under dark lashes.
"Because you don't know how to say no to him without it being a big deal? I can't believe I'm hearing this. For that matter I can't believe you're having a hard time with it. You never used to," he teased.
"Well-I thought-coming from you, it would have a little more weight." Gonzales avoided looking at Chakotay.
He leaned forward. "Is he harassing you? Is this a 'File 247' issue?"
Gonzales looked horrified. "You mean, official? No, no, I don't want anything to go on his record."
"So what is it you're not telling me here?"
"Nothing. Not a thing."
"But you wanted him to think you had pull with the brass. For crying out loud, Rosie, I can't do that. I wouldn't if I could."
She sunk a little lower in her seat. "I...just, well..."
"Rosie. Tell him he's not your type. Tell him you like Bajorans better. Hell, tell him you like girls better. Either way, it's not my problem. Not unless there's something else going on here."
"I guess not."
"Then get out of here. I've got work to do." Gonzales sighed, a little bit red-faced. When she got to the door she turned around. "So you gonna come to the party tomorrow night? We've got Sandrines reserved for the evening, a lot of the guys are going to be there."
"The guys...you mean, like P'Triy...Ayala...Simmis."
"Yeah. You're such a stranger anymore."
"I'll try, Rosie. If you want me to come."
She nodded once. "Yeah. You should. You're not just Starfleet, you know."
At the look on her face, a little tentative, a little defensive, Chakotay frowned. "I haven't forgotten."
"Maybe." She tilted her head. "So you'll come?"
"...Maybe. For a little while."
"You could...if you want to, you could bring a date."
His expression instantly shuttered, Chakotay stared at her. Gonzales turned away, flushing, then looked back almost defiantly at her commanding officer. "If you think she'd like to come. She'd be welcome."
Chakotay got up from behind his desk, crossing over to the door where Gonzales stood. "You mean that, don't you." He tipped her head up to meet his eyes.
"...Yeah. You, well, you oughta know that. She'd...you'd both be welcome."
He gave her a quick hug. "Thank you, Rosalita. That means a lot."
"So, what do you think? You gonna come?"
"We'll see. I'll try. It's...it'd be fun."
As he released her, she grinned at him. "Ask her not to wear the damn uniform."
- - - - -
The quiet afternoon on the bridge he was hoping for didn't materialize. As soon as he'd settled in, relaxing and sharing a joke with the captain, Nordstrom called him and asked for a conference. If it was convenient. Well, both senior officers didn't need to be on the bridge at the same time, not in this peaceful sector. So he went down to Hydroponics.
Then Neelix wanted to know where he could possibly keep the new supply of falla they'd just picked up. Cargo Three had been the Talaxian's until now, but it was full of dilithium. They couldn't keep foodstuffs in the same area as the raw ore, not even contained as it was. One more logistical demand to juggle.
The rest of the afternoon was more of the same. It was a relief to make his way back to the bridge for the usual end-of-shift briefing. Janeway was handing the reins to Tuvok when Chakotay left the turbolift. He followed her into the ready room.
"Hi." Janeway nodded at the stack of PADDS Chakotay carried. "Busy day?"
He put the reports on her desk. "So-so."
"Looks like you've--" Her voice trailed off as Chakotay stepped nearer, trapping her next to the desk so that she had to lean back against it. Her tone softened. "Looks like...my first officer is glad to see me."
"Your first officer," Chakotay bent to kiss her, one hand sliding down her neck to her shoulder, "is just having a little trouble keeping his hands off the captain."
Not moving away, Janeway spoke against his mouth. "Got to work on that, Commander. We're still on duty." But her hand trailed down his torso as she spoke, lingering, wanting the contact as much as he did.
"Aye...Captain." Chakotay stepped back reluctantly, nodding agreement though his voice betrayed him. "Still on duty. Reprimand noted."
"Good."
They stared at each other, eyes smiling, for a long moment before Chakotay cleared his throat, trying to bring his attention back to business. He spoke softly. "I'll get better at this. It's just so new...when I walk into a room and you're there, everything else goes away."
"...I know. But we can't let it get in the way." Janeway looked him up and down and blushed suddenly. "Of work, I mean."
Chakotay grinned. "I know what you mean." He nodded at the PADDS. "Reports for you. But the top one is my summary. I could just give it to you verbally. Fill you in..."
Her eyes sparkled. "I'm sure you could. Maybe you'd better just-" Janeway pushed away from the desk and leaned against him. After a minute she shook her head. "Damn. I told you you were distracting." She smiled at the wry look on his face and shrugged in answer. "Reprimand noted...Commander."
They moved apart, Janeway circling her desk to sit down behind it. "So what do I need to know about here?" She gestured toward the reports.
Chakotay nodded and settled into a chair.
They spent an hour going over recommendations, scuttlebut, and the latest reports from department heads, including the matter-of-fact summary Chakotay had prepared after Bailey's visit. Harry Kim brought in an ops report for the shift change, all business, though he seemed to be smiling a lot. There were no other interruptions and they finished the day's rundown only a little after end of shift. Finally Janeway leaned back, stretching. "It's getting to be dinnertime."
"I'll buy." Chakotay stood up and walked behind the desk, reaching to rub her shoulders.
Janeway closed her eyes, letting herself enjoy the touch. "Aren't you getting short on rations? I know I am." She smiled without opening her eyes. They'd been spending most of their off time for the past week, including mealtimes, in her quarters or Chakotay's.
"Actually-yes."
"Then we should go to the mess hall. Besides, we've got to...go outside...one of these days."
He leaned down to kiss the top of her head, then pulled Janeway to her feet. "You know the gossip is off the scale by now."
"Uh huh. I'm not as out of touch as you think." She turned her face up to Chakotay, slipping her arms around his waist. "I have my sources."
"I'm sure you do, Captain." He kissed her briefly, then again, lingering, and pulled back a bit. "We could just...lock the door."
Janeway stared at him. "Commander...don't tempt me."
Chakotay nuzzled at her neck. "No?"
She rubbed her face against his. "Oh my. No. I mean it. This is your captain speaking..." But she didn't move away. She stayed where she was, wrapped in his arms, breathing in the smell and feel of him.
Chakotay closed his eyes. "I know. We might have hours undisturbed. But somebody could also come through that door any minute with an emergency."
Janeway nodded. "You understand this, Chakotay. I can't let this," she brushed a hand over his neck, down his back, emphasizing the intimate touch. "I can't let this compromise our safety. Even our duty. Ever. You know that as well as I do."
He nodded, releasing her and pushing himself away. "Of course I do."
"Well then." She turned toward the door.
"Wait a minute. Please." Chakotay tugged at her hand. "This is important."
Janeway turned to him, leaning against the bulkhead. "You sound serious."
"I'm...we haven't talked about this. Not really."
"I'm not sure what you mean by 'this'."
Chakotay shrugged. "The command structure. Our relationship. Our work." Janeway tilted her head, watching him. Chakotay led her back to the sofa. He sat down, pulling her to sit beside him. "Listen for a minute."
"I think I have to say this." He reached out, grasping her hands in his. "I love you. I respect you. I respect your position."
"I know that. I-"
Chakotay held up one hand, asking her to wait. "Hear me out. This is just...for the record. Kathryn...Captain. I would never...by choice, I will never allow our relationship to interfere with the safety of this vessel. Any more than I would ever, as much as I can control, try to bring our relationship into the command structure. I know you know this. I'm saying it, only so you know that I've thought about it. That I take it every bit as seriously as you do."
Janeway's eyes were very soft. "Chakotay. I do know that. Truly, I do. I've never for one moment doubted it."
He touched her cheek. "It's important. It's important to me that you know I take it seriously. I get a little carried away sometimes," he smiled. "But I only need to be reminded. I said...I'll get better at this."
"Oh, love," Janeway sighed, her cheeks stained with pink, "you think I don't understand? Don't you know it's me I have to remind? I want to just...run away with you to the holodeck and disappear for a week and take away all your clothes and never leave your arms. That's what I want. And I can't do that. And you are a...constant temptation. Don't you know that?" She reached out to cup his cheek in the palm of her hand.
Chakotay turned his head, kissing her fingers. "Yes. I'm beginning to. I'm beginning to believe that I won't just...wake up and find this is a lovely dream that..." He kept his eyes turned away, his own color rising.
"Chakotay," Janeway whispered. He looked back at her finally, his eyes bright. She swallowed. "I'll spend the next 60 years convincing you. If you'll let me."
"Fair enough." And he leaned forward, kissing her gently, to seal the bargain. A smile quirked the corners of his mouth. "But not-"
She nodded in understanding. "But not in my ready room. Not on duty."
"All right. If we leave the bridge, we're off duty, Kathryn. As much as we can ever be. What do you say we call it a day."
"Let's." She stood up, taking a deep breath. "I'll get this figured out. Trust me."
"Sure," he said easily.
"Besides, Commander. We've got to eat. And we might as well face the public. Everybody's speculating anyway."
"Ah." Chakotay looked squarely at her. "Not just speculating."
"Which means?"
"B'Elanna asked me about it this morning. Asked about you."
"Did she." Kathryn sighed. "And?"
"She wasn't trying to pry. Exactly." Chakotay hesitated.
"She cares about you."
"Yeah."
"What did you tell her?"
"That I couldn't break a confidence." Chakotay shrugged. "But I didn't deny anything, either."
"She's got eyes." Janeway looked away for a moment, then shook her head. "And you're not a good liar, anyway. I wouldn't want--" She stopped in mid-sentence.
"So." Chakotay brushed her cheek lightly.
"So, we'll...I'll figure this out sooner or later, really. Sooner."
He grabbed the top three PADDS off the desk as Kathryn palmed the door open. "Maybe sooner than you'd thought. We've, um, been asked to a party tomorrow night."
Janeway turned to him, hands on her hips. "What?"
"I didn't say we'd come...I said I'd ask. I said maybe."
She stopped for a moment in thought, then went out onto the bridge. "We'll see about that, Commander."
"Okay."
D'Elassandro was waiting to speak to the captain, had been waiting for quite a while in fact. "I'm sorry, I didn't know you were here, Ensign. You should have buzzed in." She shot a look at Chakotay, sharing a wry smile at what D'Elassandro could have been interrupting. She breathed a silent sigh of thanks to the little voice of conscience. Because that had been all that had stopped her...
The technician shrugged. "Just a couple things I wanted to ask you about, Captain. It wasn't urgent or anything."
Janeway turned to her first officer. "Why don't you go on ahead. I'll meet you in the mess hall in a little while."
"All right." Chakotay nodded to Donaldson at ops, spoke briefly to Carey at the engineering station, and then stepped into the turbolift.
- - - - -
It was an hour before Janeway got to the mess hall. The crowd had thinned a little, but the room was still half full as she made her way to the table near the back where Chakotay sat with Torres and Tom Paris.
Chakotay stood up as she approached. "Problem?"
"No. There were a couple things Sandy wanted to ask about. I thought about going down to freshen up, but I knew you were waiting." Kathryn looked around the mess hall for a moment. "Mostly, I was thinking."
He was very aware that they weren't alone. "And..."
Smiling, Kathryn shook her head. "Nothing much. Just reflecting on life and...something somebody said to me about not doing things halfway."
"Ah." Some expression, too fleeting to be read, crossed Chakotay's face. The smile lit only his eyes. "I'm sure you'll tell me about it when you're ready."
She nodded and sat down. "So...have you eaten?" Her glance included all three.
B'Elanna shrugged. "He," she nodded at Chakotay, "was waiting for you. Tom and I ate already. We were just..."
"Hanging around?" Chakotay offered.
"Keeping you company," she retorted. "Which you have now, so we're leaving. Tom?" She collected Paris with a glance.
Or tried to. As the engineer stood up, Janeway put a hand out to stop her. Her tone was innocuous. "B'Elanna, a minute, please."
Torres tone was friendly. "Captain?"
"I heard you had an...interesting conversation this morning." Janeway kept the grin off her face with an effort.
Torres' eyes snapped back to Chakotay. "You didn't."
Chakotay tried to look innocent. "B'Elanna, I-"
"I'm going to kill you."
He tried again. "But I--"
"You're a pig. You're worse than a pig. You're not even fit to eat-" Janeway coughed. Torres didn't stop. "I'm going to skin you alive and use your worthless hide as a-"
"Oh, don't, please," Kathryn murmured, her eyes radiating amusement. "I'm kind of fond of his skin the way it is."
The half-klingon flushed, embarrassment warring with humor across her features. Laughter won out, barely. "Damn. And they say women are gossips."
"Hell of a note, isn't it," Janeway agreed.
"Is anybody going to tell me what this is about?" Paris interjected, trying to sound hurt.
Three pairs of eyes turned to him. Chakotay cleared his throat. Torres and Janeway turned, after a moment, to each other. "No," said Janeway.
"I don't think so," said Torres.
They looked at each other in perfect understanding. "Thank you, Lieutenant," Janeway smiled.
"Any time, Captain." Torres tugged at Tom's arm. "We're leaving, remember?"
He collected his tray hurriedly. "Why do I have the feeling I'm leaving just when it's starting to get good around-"
"Because you know what's good for you," Chakotay offered.
"-and I have a feeling I'm going to miss all the fun-"
"Strong sense of self-preservation," Janeway noted to Chakotay, ignoring Tom. "I like that. He'll go far."
"Maybe," Chakotay shrugged, "assuming he can survive-" He nodded at the departing pair.
Eyes sparkling, Janeway studied Chakotay. After a moment she reached across the table and touched her hand to his cheek. She cleared her throat and continued the unspoken thought from earlier. "--as that very wise person said to me, I shouldn't do things halfway."
"No," Chakotay shook his head, eyes lingering on her hand as Janeway dropped it to the table, "he didn't say you shouldn't. He said you didn't."
"One thing at a time," Kathryn smiled. "One step. Then one more."
He nodded. "That's fine. That's more than enough. It doesn't matter."
She tilted her head. "It doesn't?"
Chakotay covered her hand with his. Just for a touch. Then drew it back. "Not really. Because you're here. That's all that matters."
"Yes."
As they got up to head for the canteen line, Janeway added as an afterthought, "She's wrong, you know."
"Who? B'Elanna?"
"Um hmm." They joined the line of crew collecting trays, and she turned to Chakotay, her command façade in place. She pitched her voice low, so that even leaning close he could barely hear. "Definitely wrong. You're very..."
Chakotay's eyes widened as he struggled to keep a straight face.
"...fit to eat."
They were heading out of the mess hall before Janeway remembered the question she'd meant to ask. "Whose party?"
"Um...Rosie Gonzales asked me."
Ah. That could mean it was a get-together of science techs. Or the whole fifth deck. Or mostly Maquis. Janeway didn't ask. She nodded once. "Tell her we'll come."
"You sure?"
"No. It scares me actually. But let's go anyway."
As they entered the turbolift, Chakotay grinned. "Biggest balls on the ship."
Janeway laughed.
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