Warning: I have thought it would be fun to write a story to this very famous song for a long time, but had no idea of a story. Then I had a thought, based upon a short story Jackee wrote (Dead Fish story)...But you have to figure out what song...don't worry it is from this century. And a wild coincidence--after I start writing it, the song was played on the radio!!!
It is borderline parody--as I wouldn't expect some of the situations to occur. But if TPTB can manipulate characters to fit a situation--why can't I?
Disclaimer: I hearby freely acknowledge that Paramount owns the characters--and probably most of the class-M planets in the Delta Quadrant too.
"You're my first officer," Kathryn said as she turned in her command chair. "And I'm bored." She glared at him with a slight smile.
Chakotay closed his eyes as in thought, a wicked grin played upon his lips. "I'll tell you what, Captain," he said as he turned to look at her. "I'll make it a bet. Hmmm, if you can learn my given name in the next say 12 hours, I'll do it."
She could hear Tom laugh, and suspected that he'd heard every word. Well, it was a simple request.
"Very well Commander, you have a bet..."
"Wait a minute. What do I get if you don't discover my name within the allotted time?" There was a slight smirk on his face.
"I'll...umm..."
"No, I pick. If you would look at your console..." He leaned back in his chair as her eyes opened wide.
"Chakotay! I...We...You can't mean this." She read the sentence again. *Dinner and a kiss.*
"You want me to perform at Talent Night--this is the deal. Take it or leave it."
He was being damned insufferably calm about the whole thing--but then she had started it...She nodded. "You do know I could just order you to tell me."
"Order me to what?" He glanced at his watch. "You have twelve hours from now. Tom, please note that she has until zero-five-thirty or she loses the bet."
"Yes, sir!" Tom said with an enthusiastic hoot. Janeway could imagine what was going through his head and what rumors would be started by this.
"Lieutenant, in my ready-room, now." She said it very authoritatively.
Chakotay laughed. "I see--you are going to have assistance."
"I am the Captain..." She tried not to smile as she stood. "And no one is going to get any sleep until I have the answer."
"Good luck, Captain...You'll need it." He stood. "And now that my shift is over, I'm going to have dinner, a shower, and perhaps spend the evening at Sandrine's" He walked slowly to the lift. "And of course prepare for tomorrow..."
She marched toward her ready-room, Tom hard on her heels.
#
"Captain, I don't know," B'Elanna repeated. She threw an angry glare at Tom, then tried to look calm as she returned her gaze to Janeway.
"Surely someone in the Maquis knows," Janeway was leaning forward, both hands resting on the desk.
"Seska might have, Kurt maybe...But I didn't even know he had another name."
"I want you to go through the computer, pick it apart...You have ten hours."
"Yes, Captain..." She would kill Tom later--she didn't really have a reason, it just seemed appropriate. She wasn't surprised when he followed her out.
"B'Elanna," he said after the lift doors closed. "It's not my fault. She and Chakotay made a bet."
Her eyes sparkled with delight. "Well, what was the bet?" Her former anger tempered with this piece of information.
"She has until tomorrow morning early to find his given name--if she does he'll sing in the Talent Show."
"And if she doesn't?"
Tom shook his head. "I don't know. He sent the message to her terminal."
"While I have teams going through the computer--I'm going to track down that message. It must have been something."
"Her reaction was rather interesting..." Tom tried to wrap his arms around her.
"You have a break-in to plan...And I have a team to put together." She tapped his cheek with her hand. The sooner they discovered his secret, the better.
#
"You want me to what?" Harry asked, his voice about an octave higher than normal.
"Break into Chakotay's quarters."
Harry studied Tom very carefully. "You have finally gone insane. I knew it." He patted Tom sympathetically on the shoulder. "I'm sure the Doctor will take good care of you."
Tom laughed. "I'm not nuts...And I have the Captain's permission."
Harry lowered his head and frowned. "Tom...This is not funny."
"Actually it is." Tom then explained about the bet and Harry's part. "I'm going to be in Sandrine's--I'll let you know if he leaves--you should have five minutes warning. You and maybe one other person."
Harry quietly agreed. The whole thing was rather intriguing.
#
It was all he could do not to laugh as he entered Sandrine's. The crowd was smaller than normal. He'd checked. Thirty-seven people were searching the computer and another twenty-two were going through the archives. He cocked his head slightly. What was Tom doing here. Chakotay had expected him to be participating...He smiled as he watched Tom hit his combadge and whisper something. The pilot was involved with this. This could be fun.
He was confidant that the information wouldn't be found. It wasn't recorded anywhere he could think of--and it wouldn't be found in his quarters. He wondered what she was doing, but knew asking the computer would cause the rumor mill to increase past the high pace he suspected it was running at.
#
Neelix took a deep breath as Harry spoke the engineering over-ride codes. "Lieutenant," Neelix said as he looked around the commander's quarters. "Where do I start?"
Harry thought about that a second. He was looking for something with the Commander's given name on it. But what that might be he didn't know. "Look for papers and books."
Neelix grunted and started to look around the room. His todnarut strudel dough still needed forty-five more minutes of rising--he would look for thirty minutes. He opened the bottom desk drawer and found a pile of papers and started to look through them. "Did you know the Commander was writing a romance novel?"
Harry peeked around the corner. "Perhaps it's the new holoprogram I hear he's been working on."
Neelix thumbed through the few pages of carefully written script. "It looks pretty steamy, but the only name mentioned is Kellin--and that's not it--she's obviously the romantic interest in the holoprogram."
"I didn't think steamy holoprograms were the Commander's style," Harry called out. Neelix could hear the sound of opening drawers.
"Especially when..." He carefully put the papers back, hoping he'd replaced them correctly. "He's secretly involved with the Captain."
"I hear," Harry said walking out of the bedroom, "That they've been together since New Earth."
Neelix closed the drawer and looked through the other two--there was nothing of interest.
Harry's combadge chirped. "Harry, he's leaving!" Tom's voice whispered excitedly.
"Time to go, and thanks," Harry said to Neelix. They both looked around quickly to satisfy themselves that their activities would not be discoverable and left.
#
The Doctor crossed his arms and stared at the Captain for several seconds before answering her question. "Medical records are confidential--and unless his given name is impeding with his abilities as First Officer on this ship--I am unable to divulge that information." He controlled the urge to smile--it wasn't in the medical database anyway--he'd checked when he'd heard about this bet.
Janeway sighed. "Thank-you, Doctor." She started to leave. "Can you give me a clue?" She asked at the door.
"A clue?" He thought a second to make it look like he was searching. "I have no clue to offer--except I think you might be in for a surprise."
"Oh...That bad is it?"
He started to answer, then decided not to. Let her think that. "I cannot say."
She smiled and said thank-you again. He chuckled slightly as he continued his repairs to several of the tricorders. He was also monitoring the crew activity. It was fascinating just what she had ordered to avoid losing--or was it what she had to do if she lost. That last thought was intriguing. He placed the tricorder down and tapped into the computer database.
#
Seven wondered why the computer had taken two point three seconds longer to process the data from the incoming readings. She logged the results and ordered a diagnostic.
"Unable to comply," the computer's voice said. "There are too many users on line."
"Most curious," she said. She pulled up the necessary data. That was probably the problem. She studied the kind-of data these users were looking for and cocked her head. "The crew is looking for information on Commander Chakotay. Is he in some kind of trouble?
"Unable to answer, the question is not specific."
Seven almost smiled. She understood why the crew sometimes threatened the computer. It could be inefficient at times. "Computer, what is the information on Commander Chakotay everybody is looking for?"
"Not everybody is looking."
She would find out herself by accessing the primary data processor.
#
Tuvok had followed the search from his office. He studied the methods of the various crewmembers as they hacked their way into different databases. It was most curious how they were reacting to this bet. That the Captain would take such extreme measures to avoid whatever the Commander had wagered was interesting.
It was also a good study on the flaws in the computer security systems. He would use this information to modify their security system to prevent future incursions. He quirked an eyebrow as he noted a new participant in the search.
#
Kathryn stood slowly from her ready-room desk-chair. The time was telling her the bad news. If no one told her within the next five minutes, she would lose the bet. She jumped at the sound of the doorchimes and called for her guest to enter.
"Kathryn," Chakotay said as he leaned against the doorframe. "Did they find it?"
"I have four point three minutes left, Commander." She smiled slightly. "And contrary to your popular belief I looked too." She tapped her combadge. "Janeway to Torres. Anything?"
"I'm afraid not, Captain. It's like it doesn't exist--at least not in Voyager's computer banks."
"Tell everyone thank-you." She sighed. Nothing.
He smirked. "I'll see you at nineteen-thirty this evening holodeck one. And Kathryn, wear something casual."
#
Chakotay looked around the holodeck one last time. It was perfect the perfect spot for their first kiss. And he desperately hoped, not their last. He heard the door slide open and the sound of footsteps crunching on the gravel. He turned.
She stood in the soft moonlight in a simple blue dress. "Well, will you tell me?"
"I haven't decided yet." He smiled. "But first dinner, then..." She actually blushed. He hesitated then held out his hand. "Dinner is up there." He pointed toward a gazebo at the top of a small hill.
#
Kathryn looked around nervously, knowing all she had to do was say that she didn't think this was appropriate and he wouldn't insist upon the second part of the bet. But something drove her to accompany him. The meal passed in a haze, she was aware that it was very good--and probably home made, but she had no idea what it was. She was too nervous--or rather excited--to concentrate on mere food. Every time she looked at him, he was staring at her. They ate in silence after two (or maybe three) feeble attempts of conversation had drifted into embarrassing silence. Finally she put her fork down.
"Kathryn?" His voice was hesitant. She smiled as she stood with a smile. He followed her out of the gazebo. They stood several feet apart for the longest time just staring at the stars. Finally she held out her hand and took his. She closed her eyes as his other hand caressed her face, then chin, then throat.
He leaned down and kissed her. He whispered something as he pulled away.
"Huh?" She reached up with her hand and traced the pattern of his tattoo.
"My name," he whispered. "And now..." This time the kiss lasted longer...Much longer.
#
Tom looked at the holodeck settings and cursed quietly. He would personally file a report on whomever had overstayed their welcome. "Computer, who is on holodeck one?"
Then again, he decided, maybe not. But he would tell B'Elanna...