Disclaimer: Paramount owns the ship, the humans...But Charlie and friends are all mine. Though why I would want to admit that, I don't know...
Warning: Hmm...It is J/C and P/T and both couples are/will be involved. So if you prefer them not to be, read at your own risk. :) Occassionally somebody swears...And if you don't like cute creatures that are particularly good at manipulating the crew (ALL of them) then definitely don't go any further.
Comments and constructive criticism are appreciated--but please remember that this series is for fun...
Captain Janeway walked with a purpose down the corridors of her ship. For three weeks they had been working on repairs to Voyager. And enjoying the many bounties of the wonderful planet they had landed on.
Voyager was long overdue for the intensive repairs she was undergoing. Engineering had relined the warp nacelles and they were repainting the interior of the ship...A tasteful beige. She laughed silently at her own personal joke.
But, to minimize the smell of fresh paint on the ship, they had opened every door and vent to the outside. And three days ago Charlie had snuck on board.
She wasn't even sure why someone had named the creature Charlie. Probably somebody's pet back in the alpha quadrant.
Except Charlie wasn't a pet. It was a grayish-brown mammal-like creature with a tendency to bite. And gods could it stink. Maybe not as bad as a skunk...But close enough.
Her comm-badge chirped. "Captain." It was B'Elanna. "We have him cornered on deck three...The Commander's quarters."
Kathryn headed toward the lift. "Deck three," she ordered. Seconds later she stepped out on deck three and continued toward the action.
She didn't have far to go, before she realized that Charlie had let loose. She gasped as she tapped her comm-badge. "What's happened."
"We've got him," B'Elanna replied. "But we're going to have vent section 4. Think we can find quarters for the everyone in this section."
"Ten people? Inform them of the temporary situation, if they need help finding a bed..." She smiled slightly as she wondered where B'Elanna would sleep tonight. Then admonishing herself she continued. "And make sure no more unwanted guests visit." Charlie had apparently wandered in when someone had forgotten to reactivate the force field on the cargo bay. He'd really enjoyed Neelix's leola roots. She laughed as she continued toward her quarters, noticing the smell was diminishing as she moved away from the source.
#
#
Only three more days, and they would be leaving. It had been (even with Charlie) a pleasant change. A chance for everyone to relax and catch up on reports. Kathryn leaned over her tub as she turned the faucet on and adjusted the water-temperature. She grabbed a small bottle of a scented oil she'd picked up on aDnIl Prime. It was a luxury she didn't usually indulge in, but tonight she just felt like it.
She slipped off her uniform and stepped into her tub for a rare moment of relaxation.
#
#
Chakotay looked at B'Elanna then Kes. He couldn't decide exactly what emotion to feel. Frustration, anger, pleasure...He frowned. "What do you mean, there is no place for me to spend the night.
Kes smiled soothingly. "I'm sorry Commander, but we asked the entire crew...Well almost everybody. They turned you down." She winked at B'Elanna when he looked away. It was too obvious, Kes admitted to herself...but opportunities like this didn't happen everyday.
When he looked back at the pair, his eyes were laughing. "Do I get three guesses to whom you didn't ask?"
Both women shook their heads. "Nope," B'Elanna replied. "She has a sofa though." She winked at him.
He shook his head. "I think I will take a bedroll and sleep in the shuttle." He walked out.
Kes looked at B'Elanna. "Phase two?"
"Stubborn fools. Yep." She tapped her comm-badge.
#
#
Kathryn reached for her comm-badge, wondering what had happened now. As she replied, she leaned back in the water.
"Captain, it's about the Commander."
"Yes, B'Elanna," the Captain responded.
"It seems he's going to spend the night on the shuttle. He'll just be cranky in the morning." B'Elanna pleaded with a conspiratorial wink at Kes.
"Isn't there a spare bed for him anywhere on this ship?" Kathryn replied rather astonished.
"Apparently not. We asked almost everyone."
Kathryn closed her eyes and shook her head. "Are you suggesting that *I* invite him to sleep on my couch."
"Yes and no. B'Elanna out." She turned to Kes. "I think they're both suspicious."
Kes laughed. "Of course they are. We couldn't have been more subtle if we'd deliberately put Charlie in the Commander's quarters...B'Elanna you didn't?" B'Elanna just grinned. "And where are you staying?"
B'Elanna turned red. "Well, I've got to get going. I hope this works..."
#
#
Chakotay lay down on the hard surface of the shuttle. It was going to be a long night. He grumbled something, his thoughts damning the crew for interfering. Didn't they realize just how difficult it was trying to put a chink in the wall the Captain kept around her. Though it was nice to know the crew approved. He pulled the blanket up and then tried to position the pillow so he would be comfortable. He shifted position again.
"I should write you up for unauthorized use of a shuttle-craft floor." Her voice said over his comm-badge.
He sat up and grabbed his comm-badge. "Captain?"
"The one and only."
"Just a minute." He stood and dressed, then opened the door and looked out.
Kathryn shook her head. "Commander, the crew went to so much effort and you didn't even bother to ask."
He looked at her for several seconds before he spoke. "Are you inviting me to spend the night in your quarters?"
"Yes. I have a sofa..." She looked at him critically. "Though I suppose you're too tall for it. Never mind, get your stuff. We'll figure out something."
#
#
Neither spoke as they made their way through the maze of corridors. Kathryn smiled slightly--somehow she wasn't surprised that they didn't pass anybody. She glanced shyly at him, then looked away, a smile playing upon her lips.
There were several minutes of awkward silence after her door closed behind them. He put his stuff down and then stood there, trying to figure out something to say. Finally she moved to her replicator. "Tea or something?"
"No thank-you." He went to sit on the couch, noticing it was about a third of a meter too short for him to sleep on. He stood there and started to grin.
Kathryn watched him. She had for over three years avoided thinking such thoughts. Well, at least tried to. She had managed to avoid situations like this. But, it seemed the crew had other ideas--it would be difficult (no impossible) to justify not starting a relationship with him because of *what would the crew think.* They had just made themselves perfectly clear. "I was thinking, I'll sleep on the couch and you sleep in my bed."
His grin grew, showing off those dimples. "Just what we need, a cranky captain in the morning. I'll sleep on the floor--it can't be any worse than..."
She shook her head. "And have a cranky commander. I think not...I suppose..." They had walked toward each other and were now standing close.
"You suppose what?" His voice dripped innuendo.
"Well, if you promise to be good..." There was the beginnings of a wicked smile on her face that she couldn't quite control.
He grabbed her and pulled her tight to his body. "I'm always good," he whispered just before he kissed her. Her retort was lost in the kiss.
#
#
A small mammal-like creature slipped aboard the ship, padding softly down the corridors, stopping every so often to see if something was good to eat.
She woke up and looked at him lying by her and smiled. It had taken over three years, one small mammal, and her plotting crew; but she had finally allowed him to enter her life. The future was now different from the one that had faced her only yesterday afternoon. She started to move closer to him, but found her feet were pinned. Surprised she realized there was a weight on her feet. She looked down and nearly screamed. She did jump, waking everybody she was sharing her bed with.
Chakotay grabbed her, "Kathryn, what's the matter?" He asked with a frown as he pulled her close. He followed her gaze. "Damn."
Sitting at the edge of the bed were three rather upset looking creatures. One hissed, but none moved off. The biggest moved up and sniffed at the hand Chakotay offered. Finding nothing to eat, he started to crawl under the covers, but stopped when the hand started to stroke his back. The creature look surprised and looked at the pair then curled up in the Captain's lap and fell asleep.
"Must be feline," Chakotay whispered. "It has good taste though."
"How the hell did they get on the ship?" She whispered, though she wasn't sure why.
He shrugged and at that moment a comm-badge chirped. All three creatures jumped off the bed and scurried into the bathroom.
"Janeway here."
"Captain, Charlie's back." It was Tom.
"He brought friends. We...I found three in my bed this morning," she responded.
#
#
Tom laughed at her slip, then looked at B'Elanna who was trying to force a creature out from under his sofa with a Bat'leth. "I only found one. Friendly enough..."
"Find out how many are on the ship."
#
#
Janeway sat up and grabbed her robe. "It seems they are invading my ship. Staff meeting in forty minutes. I want to know how many, how they are boarding, and how to get rid of them." She shook her head as one of the creatures looked around the opening. Damn, if they didn't have cute down. And this morning they didn't smell.
He stood and wrapped his arms around her. "Yes, Captain." He reached under her robe, just as both comm-badges chirped.
#
#
Janeway looked around at her staff and glared at Tom. One of the creatures was draped around his neck. Looking oh so comfortable. "B'Elanna, how many of these are on board..."
B'Elanna shook her head as she glared at the creature. "We haven't been able to determine that. Apparently the sensors are unable to detect them." She looked at the creature. Had it just winked at her...She looked over at the computer console. "Captain!" Another one had just jumped up on the console and was sitting on its haunches and looking around.
Harry laughed, so did Tom. The others (except Tuvok) were trying to control their laughter. It looked for all the world like it was studying the humans. And (though no one would admit it) doing a fairly good impression of the Captain's bridge stance. Forepaws on it's hips staring straight at the Captain.
Kathryn raised her eyes upward. "You...must be Charlie?" She asked it and was rewarded with rapid twittering. Then it leapt the meter between it and her. She almost dropped it, but Charlie dug in with his claws until she was supporting him. She looked down at Charlie who looked quite comfortable in her arms, then at her staff. "Does anyone else get the feeling that they want to stay?"
Tuvok quirked an eyebrow. "I have been fascinated by the human tendency to anthropomorphize small mammals."
Tom laughed as he scratched his creature's head."
Everybody looked at the two creatures, unaware that several others had entered the room.
Finally Janeway looked at the one she was holding. "Charlie, are you seeking asylum?" The only response was he bumped her chin with his nose. And some twittering. "B'Elanna, run a level one diagnostic." She looked at Kes. "I want a detailed scan on the creatures. Let's find out what they are." She was scratching the top of his head.
#
#
Several hours later, Kathryn was reading the doctor's report. She looked over at Charlie as he explored a corner. He was long, maybe a meter--a little less than half was a bushy tail. He was low to the ground and reminded her of...oh what was that creature called. The one that eats snakes...She shook her head, "I'll think of the name later..."
Charlie looked at her and twittered. Then went back to his exploring, finally leaping on an imaginary something, then rolling over and over in play.
Kathryn laughed and went back to reading. The doctor had been fascinated by the scent glands that had been their first introduction to Charlie several days earlier. They were stored in a special pouch and apparently only revealed/used under certain conditions. The Doctor had no idea why Charlie had been so willing to use his yesterday, and not today.
Charlie leapt on her desk and slid--knocking several PADDS to the ground. Janeway shook her head and laughed. "I've wanted to do that for a while." She leaned over to pick them up and Charlie ran down her back to the floor. "Well, you have just made life interesting." She looked straight at the creature which was now sitting, looking straight at her. "And what do you think I should do with my First Officer?" Charlie twittered and disappeared behind her sofa. "And what are we going to do with you?"
"Pardon?"
She looked up startled, she hadn't heard the door open. She controlled the urge to smile at Chakotay.
"Commander, I was talking to Charlie..." She looked a little sheepish.
He grinned at her, "And what were you talking about?"
She closed her eyes, "Charlie and his clan. B'Elanna still has not been able to determine how many are on board."
"Well, everybody seems to have been adopted by one. Charlie seems to have picked you. He has very good taste."
She turned bright red, and looked down. "Commander...Chakotay, we should talk about this."
He nodded, his smile gone. "Some how I don't think you're talking about Charlie."
"I was thinking we could discuss it over dinner."
"My quarters, nineteen hundred hours. Casual dress, no uniforms." He turned and left before she could retort.
Damn. He wasn't going to make this easy. She couldn't become any more involved...Could she?
Charlie had leapt on the table and was nuzzling her chin. Twittering madly.
Kathryn Janeway started to leave her quarters for the third time that evening. She had finally decided not to wear her uniform and was now wearing very casual wear. She had promised herself an hour ago, that dinner with Chakotay would be just that. Dinner and conversation. They did need to talk about last night--how protocol dictated that she maintain a certain distance from *every* member of her crew.
She looked down at her outfit, "Maybe something less casual..." she muttered only to be interrupted by a loud twittering.
She really wanted to know how they, actually Charlie, always showed up at the appropriate moment. "Yes, Charlie. I'm going." She looked at the ceiling. "Now, I'm letting it give orders." *Admirals,* she thought with a chuckle.
Finally she left her quarters and made her way to his. During the short walk, she passed three of the crew. They just smiled. Except Tom. He actually had the gall to say, 'Enjoy yourself...'
She rang the doorchime and stepped in when the door opened. "Hello, Commander," she said looking around. The room was sparse. Just a few personal belongings picked up during their over three years of travel. Almost nothing from his home.
He looked up from the small burner he was cooking on and smiled. "Kathryn. I'd kiss you, but I can't stop stirring." His smile deepened when she blushed.
"I'll take a raincheck," she said then berated herself. *This is not why I'm here. I'm here to stop it from going further...* She watched his actions intently as she remember how his hands had moved over her last night. "Can I have a glass of water?" Her throat was suddenly dry. She went to the replicator and got herself one. Then walked over to see what he was cooking. "Smells good." She reached in the pan to grab a mushroom, but he swatted her hand.
She pouted, "Mean man." But she didn't resist when he took her injured hand and kissed it.
"Better?" He asked.
She didn't answer, having just mentally reminded herself that she was not to get within one meter of that man. "Better make it two," she added quietly.
Skittishly she moved to the couch and sat down. Somehow she wasn't surprised when Charlie jumped into her lap.
The creatures, somebody had suggested calling them Tavians (something about a story). The name stuck. They had so far identified over 50 individual Tavians. Charlie seemed to be the leader and with the grizzled grayish brown fur, was quite distinctive.
"I see you brought your friend," he said with a laugh.
"He just tagged along. Honest." She looked around. "Didn't any adopt you?"
"There are or were three sleeping in my bed."
She was thankful she wasn't looking at him--he couldn't see her blush. Any comment she was going to make, was drowned out by ferocious twittering and chirping as the trio emerged and leapt up to greet Charlie.
She picked him up and put him on the floor, laughing at his shocked look. "Say hello to everybody...Then I'll consider letting you back up." She watched for a minute as they sniffed and chirped at each other. Then she looked at Chakotay. "How long 'til dinner." The Tavians chirped loudly. "And has anybody figured out what these guys eat?"
"The Doctor uploaded a balanced meal for them. Said they were omnivores, even though they like leola root. Feed them twice a day, about half a cup. Everything's in the computer. Tavian Diet Chow One. They probably are ready to eat." He laughed when the four mongoose like animals trailed after the Captain as she walked over to the replicator.
"Four servings of Tavian Diet Chow One." Four bowls appeared. She placed them on the ground and looked around. "Dogs let you know when, well you know. But do we know anything about the habits of these little guys?"
"Mine seem to think the toilet is fine. By the way, I hear they really like water. One tried to take a bath with Ensign O'Leary last night."
Kathryn laughed. "Thanks for the warning. I did hear about the one that B'Elanna caught in a plasma conduit. She'd just opened it to inspect it."
"I heard B'Elanna. I was in engineering." He looked at her, then at the Tavians. "What are we going to do with them?"
"I don't know."
"We'll have to remove them somehow, unless we take them with us..."
Charlie looked up and flicked his tail, then went back to his eating.
Kathryn smiled. "For some reason, I think they want to come with us...I..." She really couldn't explain why.
Chakotay nodded. "I think they do too. The Doctor says they are intelligent. And they have adjusted to shipboard life quickly."
"They've learned to manipulate the crew...Except me of course." Charlie had finished eating and was now rubbing her legs. "Oh, all right, come on." She sat down again and Charlie jumped up in her lap.
"Nope, they have not learned to manipulate you at all." Chakotay laughed as he put the human food on plates.
"Will you get that dirty thing off my sofa."
"B'Elanna! You've upset Cassandra." Tom reached up and stroked the Tavian's head.
"Cassandra?"
"Well, I didn't think you would appreciate it if I called her Bel. Anyway, she's not dirty. Are you..." Tom looked around. "I thought that mangy black one had adopted you?"
"I didn't adopt him. I haven't seen it all day."
"He'll turn up. Unless they've learned to use the replicator..." Cassandra leapt off his shoulder and ran over to the replicator and sat by it. Tom got up and followed. B'Elanna started laughing. "She's learned how to use it all right. Sit here long enough and the p'tuk helmboy will take care of me..."
As Tom walked by her, he reached out pulled her into his arms. "I most definitely will take care of you." He kissed her hard.
From under the sofa, a black Tavian slipped out and sat by Cassandra.
#
#
Chakotay finished cleaning up after dinner and put the dishes into the recycler. He would look over at Kathryn every few seconds. She was strangely silent sipping her coffee, which was probably cold by now. "More coffee?"
"Hmm. No, I'm fine." She resisted the urge to turn and look at him when he sat down on the couch beside her. Staring at her cup, she spoke softly. "We need to talk...About this."
"I love you."
She shook her head, he was going to make this difficult. "We can't. We have a ship to run."
"You can't constantly hide behind the ship. We're seventy years from all that is familiar, our families. All we have is each other. I think the crew has made it pretty clear..."
She stood and started to walk toward the door. She turned and looked at him. "I can't." She stepped backwards and fell over Charlie, who let out a shrill chirp then leapt away unharmed.
Chakotay was by her side. "Are you all right?"
She opened her eyes and stared at him. "Was it my imagination, or did Charlie deliberately trip me."
"Kathryn, you just weren't paying attention." He leaned very close to her. "Like you don't pay attention to your heart. Seventy years is a long time to be by yourself." He kissed her quickly. "A very long time." This time the kiss was slower. He let her pull him down.
#
#
Kathryn woke early and sat up. She smiled at the pile of Tavians sleeping at the foot of his bed. "Good morning Charlie. Did you come on board just to make my life complicated?" He twittered quietly and curled back up in the pile of Tavians. She shook her head. "Charlie, Charlie. What am I going to do with you." She looked at her first officer sleeping beside her. "I know, Chakotay hired you to make my life complicated. What's he paying you? Salmon? Mushrooms? I'll double his offer." *Kathryn, you're negotiating with an animal that already has delusions of grandeur.* Charlie was asleep and not paying any attention.
She felt Chakotay's hands hold her tighter. "You're awake?"
"Enough," he muttered, "to know that Charlie won't sell out to the highest bidder."
She laughed then looked at him seriously. "If your intentions were to make the Captain's life as complicated as you could...You succeeded."
"Good." He pulled her down and kissed her.
#
#
Their next to last day on the planet. Kathryn stood in the shuttle bay, very cognizant that Charlie was sitting at her feet like any well trained dog. "Do you realize that if you don't leave by tomorrow morning, you're coming with us?" Charlie just twittered. She laughed as she watched the last of the supplies being loaded.
"Good-morning Captain, Charlie," Neelix bent down to pet the creature. "Charlie I guess I'll have to forgive you for eating my leola roots." He stood back up. "We'll be finished loading the food supplies and plants for the gardens this afternoon. We saw a small herd of Tavians, they bolted as we approached."
"Good job Neelix. Find any coffee?"
He laughed, "I'm afraid not, Captain. But I think I found a substitute. It isn't quite the same, but it does have a high caffeine content."
"Not too high, I don't need the crew climbing the walls." She had to laugh--several Tavians were exploring the walls of the shuttle bay.
"I wonder if we can assign them jobs," Neelix said as he ran over to assist in the loading of several saplings.
"They are intelligent," Harry said behind her.
"Hmm. Intelligent, I think so." She turned to face the ensign. "Yes, ensign?"
"Just to inform you that repairs are complete. B'Elanna is doing the last test on the transporters."
"Good." She smiled. "Neelix has promised us a feast tonight..."
Harry bent down and petted Charlie. "Good morning." As he stood he commented, "And thanks to Charlie, Neelix can't serve any leola roots. As I said Captain, Tavians are definitely intelligent. They knew the way to our hearts was to eat the leola roots." They both laughed and watched Charlie trot off to join his friends exploring the walls.
Kathryn Janeway sat back in her chair as she watched the planet disappear from the viewscreen. Much as she liked these brief stops, it was always a relief to be back in space. She started to stand--planning to spend the morning working in her ready room.
Chirrip.
"Sick-bay to Bridge." It was Kes.
"Janeway here. Yes?"
"Captain, its the Tavians."
"Yes," Janeway replied. For twelve hours no one had seen them or been able to find them with the internal sensors. It was almost as if...
"We found them. I don't know where they were hiding, but there are ten in sick-bay."
She heard Tom snicker. Fortunately Chakotay was working in engineering. He'd been convinced they were still on-board. She'd wanted to make sure they had been left on the planet. It didn't seem right to take them from their home.
Janeway sighed as she tapped her comm-badge. "Janeway to engineering. B'Elanna, run another diagnostic on the internal sensors. The Tavians are still on..." She was cut off as Charlie leapt into her lap, obviously quite delighted to see her. "Hello to you too." He sat in her lap expectantly. She looked at Tuvok and shook her head. "Open ship wide communications." She waited until he signaled her. "This is Captain Janeway. For those of you who had the fortune--or is that misfortune--to be adopted by a Tavian, please arrange to take a few minutes to feed them. I would also like to have an accurate head count. So if you would let Commander Chakotay know how many you have been adopted by." She laughed as she thought of Chakotay's three. Four Tavians and two humans in one small...(She quickly blocked that thought.)
"We also need to make adjustments to replicator rations to account for our new crew members." She nodded to Tuvok who cut the link. Yes, she was convinced that the Tavians had deliberately hid. They wanted to stay.
She looked at Charlie. "Well, it looks like you just joined the crew. Welcome aboard."
Charlie just twittered as he curled up on her lap.
"Uh, Charlie...I was going to go to my ready-room."
Tom laughed. "I think the first rule of Tavian life is: be inconvenient. I swear they know just when that is..." He smiled as he thought of Cassandra who had decided she wanted to be petted at the same moment he was...His smile got a little bigger as he remembered B'Elanna's comments.
#
#
Chakotay looked at B'Elanna who was trying to avoid a black Tavian. He laughed.
"It isn't funny. This thing thinks I'm its slave." She looked at it. "Scrounge off someone else." It sat there and looked at her pathetically. "I don't like pets. Be useful..." She and Chakotay watched in amazement as it leapt up on the computer and chirped. B'Elanna walked over and looked at the screen, then the Tavian, then the screen. Finally shrugging her shoulders, she said, "Internal sensors are back on-line. There are 182 Tavians on board..." She looked at Chakotay, then her erstwhile pet and shook her head.
"You should feed it," Chakotay said. "And Lieutenant, that's an order." He laughed when she almost stuck her tongue out at him. He ducked and fled her office when she picked up a coffee mug.