We, the members of JetC3, humbly (yea right) have come to play with the characters created and owned by Paramount.
Tom sat at the dining table poking at his breakfast. At least he thought it was breakfast. It had already not been a good morning. He'd dropped his tray the first time, Chakotay was upset with him, and he didn't want to think what B'Elanna would do to him, if she found him.
"Good morning, Tom," Harry said as he sat down.
"Grrmp."
Harry laughed. "Yes it is...What's with you."
Tom glared at him.
Harry laughed. "Well I think I can cheer you up. The Captain contacted me, she wanted a report I didn't finish, well because..." He was still embarrassed by his experience with the Talasians. "So I dropped it off at her quarters just a few minutes ago..."
Tom looked at him, was there a point to this story...
"Did you know she'd taken up painting?" Harry asked.
"Yea," Tom muttered. "I've seen a couple of her landscapes."
Harry laughed. "She had a covered painting in her room. She was in the other room, so I peeked..." He looked even more embarrassed. "It was a picture of..." He leaned over and whispered something in Tom's ear.
Tom's eyes went wide. "Really!" He exclaimed.
Harry just nodded. "Please Tom, don't tell anyone."
Tom nodded as he tried to eat whatever he had been served.
***
B'Elanna lay on her back under the main console in engineering, attempting to replace a blown power coupling. This particular coupling was not easily accessible, even for someone of her slight build.
From his vantage point, Lieutenant Carey couldn't see Lieutenant Torres, but he could definitely hear her. The stream of Klingon epithets spewed forth from her direction was a clear sign of her presence. He laughed to himself...B'Elanna Torres could be rather entertaining...for a Klingon. He moved himself to a position where he could better view her struggle with the power coupling. Yes...most entertaining indeed.
Carey's attention was immediately drawn away from his superior when the doors to engineering swished open. Lieutenant Tom Paris entered...a smug little look on his face. Carey wondered what the hell Paris had up his sleeve. Paris could be somewhat smug most of the time, but today he seemed about ready to burst.
He watched as Paris started to survey engineering looking for something. Paris immediately turned his attention to the main console as a fresh onslaught of colorful Klingon phrases was presented for the listening pleasure of anyone within earshot. Paris laughed as he walked over to the console, then knelt down.
Carey glanced briefly in their direction, not wanting to be obviously eavesdropping...but, Tom Paris didn't come down to main engineering unless ordered to or...hmmmm. Carey leaned over a little more...straining to hear what was being said. By this time Tom and B'Elanna were standing, leaning against the console, whispering to each other. Tom still had that I-know-something-you-don't-know look on his face, and B'Elanna...well, she registered something akin to shock...incredulity. She quickly glanced around engineering and locked eyes with Carey. Damn...he'd been caught. He quickly looked down and feigned innocence. After all, she had no idea how long he had been looking at them. How would she know he had been attempting to eavesdrop? When she didn't approach him, he figured he'd been spared.
The next time Carey ventured a glance in the direction of the main console, Paris was gone, and B'Elanna was back to work on the power coupling...though unusually quiet this time.
He decided he was going to have to find out, one way or the other, what bit of information she had just become the bearer of.
***
It was precisely 19:29. Chakotay had been ready since 18:54. He already had a quick and necessarily small meal. He had exercised, showered and shaved. He even had time for more calisthenics to limber up his well developed physique while he waited for the time to advance. He could have used the remaining few minutes to meditate, but he was feeling too restless to do so, and instead spent it practicing various poses. He shook his head at the absurdity of his conduct, feeling like a teenager instead of a Commander. The computer signaled his impending appointment. He examined his appearance one last time, adjusted his uniform, before finally heading out to Kathryn's quarters.
***
Kathryn had just completed reading Harry's Ops report. She made a few notes, then set the PADD aside and asked for the time. 'Damn!' It was 19:25 hours and she was not yet ready. She took a final bite of her dinner, then set the dish into the recycler. She hurriedly set up her easel and paints. She set a low block, then covered it with a towel as her door chimed.
She walked to the door to greet her visitor. "Chakotay. Prompt as usual." Although she noticed that he was looking especially attractive, she made a point of appearing detached, feeling vaguely nervous.
"I wouldn't miss these sessions for the world," he grinned, as if he understood her discomfort, and deliberately set her at ease.
She relaxed with his familiar manner. "I should be the one saying that, given the view I get," she teased. "Come on in and get comfortable."
"Same pose as last time?" he queried as he unzipped his uniform and headed towards her bathroom to change.
Kathryn averted her eyes as he disrobed, busying herself with her palate. "Yes, I've almost completed the upper torso. You know Chakotay, I've never thanked you properly for volunteering to pose for me."
"It's my pleasure Kathryn. We couldn't have you propositioning the crew could we?" he laughed.
She returned his laugh. "I wouldn't have done that. As you saw, I was returning from the holodeck when you crashed into me and ruined my masterpiece," she said with an air of flourish. "But I have to thank you for your offer. I admit the pose and expressions of the holocharacters were rather wanting."
"Well, it's the least I could do for ruining your...um...masterpiece. Besides, it gives me a chance to contribute to the arts. If you're almost finished with my torso do you need to work on the rest next?" he hollered as he closed the door.
The door chimed.
"Just a moment Chakotay. I've got a visitor."
"What was that?" he asked through muffled tones.
Janeway walked over to the door to admit Ensign Kim. "Harry, this is a surprise."
"Sorry to disturb you Captain. I thought I'd get a jump on tomorrow's work. Did you get a chance to review my report?"
"Trying to make up for today's late report Ensign?" she asked as Harry blushed. She walked to her couch to pick up her report and handed it to Harry. "Here, I've made some comments. We can review them in more detail tomorrow morning."
As she walked Harry out, she heard before she saw Chakotay's appearance. "I'm all yours Kathryn!" he declared. They must have been a comedic trio as Chakotay looked from Kathryn to Harry, while they stared gaping at Chakotay's grand entrance--resplendent in just his briefs.
Janeway was the first to recover.
"Well, Ensign, that'll be all. As you can see, I have another appointment. I'll see you at the morning briefing. Goodnight Harry."
"Uh, yeah, um. Goodnight, Captain, Commander," saluted Harry as he turned and all but ran out of Janeway's quarters.
"Nice timing, Commander. That poor boy won't be able to look at either one of us without wanting to sink through the bulkhead for weeks!" Kathryn chanced a look at Chakotay's face, the left side of his mouth beginning to quirk up into a grin. A snicker escaped her own throat and that was the end of it for both of them as they both lost it, howling with laughter until their sides ached!
"'That'll be all Ensign...see you at duty call!...As you can see, I've got another appointment!' Shit, Kathryn, what couldn't he see!?! You are one ballsy woman! I don't know how the hell you do it!" Chakotay continued to laugh.
"Composure 101, another one of those secret Starfleet classes that only Captains know about." Janeway stated, completely deadpan "Now, shall we get down to business?"
"By all means, on with the masterpiece!"
Chakotay took his usual position and settled in for a comfortable evening of light teasing and easy banter, Kathryn's composure was the theme of the evening.
*Three hours later.*
"O.K., I've got it. I walk onto the bridge wearing nothing but your..."
"Enough! I told you I was done for the evening forty minutes ago! I swear to you, Chakotay, if you don't shut up, get that little smart ass of yours dressed and out of my cabin in thirty seconds we'll have two very confused officers in the morning--Tuvok wondering about his sudden promotion--and Harry wondering how he ended up scrubbing the muck off of the hydroponics lily pond with a toothbrush, not realizing what he started, and a very cold and stiff former first officer floating around the Delta quadrant!"
"You're so sexy when your pretending to be angry with me. I can see why Q..."
"OUT!"
"Anything you say. I'll see *you * at the morning briefing," Chakotay laughed as he pulled on his jumpsuit and headed for the door "By the way, which one of my little scenarios was your favorite, or should I just surprise you?" Chakotay ducked out of the door just in time to miss the jar of red paint that went sailing past his smug face.
'Harry better get his toothbrush ready,' Chakotay chuckled to himself as he looked at the huge artistic splat on the corridor bulkhead behind him and hurried off to his quarters to delightfully ponder more new and exciting ways to get past Captain Kathryn Janeway's composure! Some days Chakotay really loved his life!
***
"Mmfh"
"Oooh"
"Ahhh"
"Damn!"
"My game!"
"I know. I can keep score, Chakotay."
"What is the score, I lost count."
"Like hell you did. The score is: Chakotay three, B'Elanna nothing, but it's not going to stay that way for long."
"Do you mind if we take a little break before the next game?"
"Not at all. You probably need your rest."
"Why? B'Elanna, do you plan on keeping me here until you win a game?"
"Something like that."
"It could be a long night."
"Did you have another appointment?"
"No. My calendar is clear. I can stay here and beat you at hoverball all evening," Chakotay responded.
"I wouldn't want to keep you if you had somewhere else to go."
"I don't have anywhere else to go."
"You're sure?"
"Yes, quite sure."
"Because if you need to be somewhere else it's okay with me."
"But I *don't* need to be anywhere else. Why do you keep asking...Oh, *I* know. B'Elanna have you been talking to Harry?"
"Of course. I talk to Harry every day."
"Mmm Hmmm"
"Mmm Hmmm?"
"I wondered how long it would take before it was all over the ship."
"Before what was all over the ship?"
"B'Elanna, quit being coy. I know you know and now you know I know you know."
"I'm not quite sure what I know."
"Tell me what you know...And hand me that water. I'm thirsty."
"I know that you were in the Captain's quarters. In your underwear. Saying something like "Honey, I'm ready."
*Splut!*
"Chakotay! Don't spit on me!"
"Sorry, B'Elanna. I said *what*? "Honey, I'm ready?" Is that what Harry told you?"
"Not Harry."
"Who? Tom?"
"Not Tom. Jarron."
"Jarron? Is that what Harry told Jarron?"
"I think Jarron heard it from Wildman."
"And Wildman heard it from?"
"Dalby"
"Who heard it from?"
"Ayala, who heard it from Carey who heard it from Neelix. Beyond that I don't know."
"Does this crew have nothing better to talk about?"
"They don't mean any harm. Everyone's very happy that the two of you are together."
"Together? We're not together."
"You're not?"
"No, I was posing for a painting. She'd been using holodeck characters as models, but one day I ran in to her as she was leaving the holodeck and I ruined her painting. When I encouraged her to start over she said that she felt bad about already reserving so much holodeck time for herself, so I agreed to pose for her in her quarters."
"She's painting a picture of you in your underwear?"
"I haven't actually seen the painting yet."
"Was the painting you ruined of a holodeck character *in his underwear*?"
"Not exactly."
"I see..."
"Look, B'Elanna, I'll admit that it is a bit unusual for the first officer to pose mostly naked for his captain, but things are different out here. She's finally reaching out in friendship. I want to be her friend."
"Things have been different between you two since we retrieved you from that planet where you were stranded with that virus. You both seem more relaxed with each other."
"You get to know someone pretty well when you live with them for that long. I think that whole incident was serendipitous. It allowed us to get to know each other without the constraints of command. That's made things better for us and better for the ship."
"A lot of people thought that you, ummm, 'became intimate', when you were on that planet. When Harry saw you in her quarters it just sort of confirmed everyone's suspicions."
"You have it straight from the source, B'Elanna. The captain and I are not now, nor have we ever been, 'intimate'."
"You sound a little sad"
"I am a little sad."
"I'm sorry, Chakotay. Don't give up hope. Your dreams may come true yet...I mean, it may work out eventually. I didn't mean to insinuate that you'd actually had dreams about her."
"Look at that grin! Chakotay! You *have* dreamed about her!"
"Of course I have. That's not unexpected is it? Have *you* ever dreamed about her?"
"*B'Elanna!* I didn't think know you could blush like that!"
"What do you think it means? I only had one dream, but it really disturbed me."
"I don't read too much in to dreams, B'Elanna. I think we have these emotions; respect, admiration, affection, and when we dream about someone those emotions get all jumbled up and sometimes the dream is sexual. I don't think it means that you sub-consciously want to have sex with that person. I think it just means that you have positive feelings for them. Now, you're dreams about *Tom*, on the other hand, those probably mean something."
"Watch it, Chakotay."
"Seriously, B'Elanna, don't worry too much about dreams. I've had dreams about you."
"Really?"
"Sure. Haven't you ever dreamed about me?"
"Ummmm, once. When the Bothans were causing us to have visions. My vision was about you."
"Yeah? So...was I good?"
"God, yes!"
"Quit laughing, Chakotay. What was your vision about?"
"Her. But not like you think. We'd gotten back home and shewas with Mark. At the time I thought that's what would make her happy. I want her to be happy."
"Do you think that's what would make her happy now?"
"No. I don't think that's what would make her happy now."
"You sound sad again."
"Sometimes we don't always get what makes us happy. Sometimes other things come first."
"Like 'Voyager'?"
"Like 'Voyager'."
"I'm sorry about the rumors, Chakotay."
"It's okay, B'Elanna. We knew there would be rumors when we came back from that planet. We thought they would die down, but I guess they haven't."
"Do you want me to say something. Run damage control."
"No. People know we're friends. It would probably just makes things worse, like you're trying to cover for me. Thank you though, B'Elanna. And thanks for listening. You're a good friend."
"My father used to do that."
"Kiss you on the forehead like that?"
"Yes. That's one of the few things I remember about him."
"It's his loss, B'Elanna. You're a wonderful person. I love you. You know that, don't you?"
"Chakotay?"
"Yes."
"Will you still love me after I trounce you this next game?"
"Put up or shut up, Torres."
"Chakotay?"
"Yes."
"Do you love me enough to let me see the painting when she's done with it."
"You saw me naked in your vision, B'Elanna, wasn't that enough?"
*Whap!*
"Ow! B'Elanna that hurt!"
When Chakotay stepped on to the bridge after his hoverball game, the only senior officer there was Tuvok. "Where is everybody?" he asked.
"There has been an incident, Commander. I do not, as of yet, have details pertaining to the outcome of this occurrence, but the captain is in her ready room dealing one by one with it's participants. Ensign Kim just walked out of there mumbling something about not believing that he actually has to scrub the Jeffrey's tubes with his tooth brush. The captain wanted to see you as soon as you got on the bridge. While you are there, you should convince her to go to sickbay," announced Tuvok.
"Sickbay?" Chakotay asked as he practically ran to the ready room doors and rang the chime.
"Come in!" called Janeway tersely. Chakotay walked in and saw that she was in her desk chair, facing the wall. Her posture suggested that she was...furious, but at what????
"Captain, is everything all right?" he asked. Stupid question, but what else could he do to initiate the conversation? He couldn't stare at the back of her head all day.
"Some of the former Maquis are in the brig." He was shocked, but he said nothing. She waited a few more seconds before she spun her chair around and allowed him to see her face. She had a black eye, and a large cut over the other eye. There was a bruise on her jaw.
"What happened?" asked Chakotay. "Maquis members did this?"
"Seven of them. They jumped me in the turbo lift. They heard a version of the story that Tom and Harry are passing around saying that we are together. In this particular version of the story, the only reason that you have been following my orders for the past three years is because I am giving you sexual favors," explained Janeway, avoiding Chakotay's concerned gaze and looking down at her desk.
"I'm going to go to the brig and talk to them. Sickbay is on the way. Would you like me to walk you there?" asked Chakotay.
"I'll go by myself. I don't think I should be seen with you," said Janeway.
"Does that mean you don't want me to come over tonight?"
"The painting is through. I'll do the rest of it on the holodeck."
"We could just talk..."
"No, thank you, Commander. That will be all." And to stress that point, she wheeled the chair around, again facing the wall.
Chakotay stared at the back of her head, debating whether or not he should say anything else, and finally just left the room.
Chakotay stood for several moments outside the ready room, feeling his anger mount. He couldn't quite believe what had happened. The fact that members of his former crew would resort to attacking the captain en masse was totally beyond his comprehension.
A picture of her battlescarred face flashed into his mind, fueling the fire that had begun to rage inside him.
In no time at all he was totally furious, more furious than he could remember being in a very long time and hell bent on seeing the perpetrators of the crime, appropriately punished.
To that end, he strode purposefully across the bridge and into the turbolift. He heard Tuvok's call, but deliberately ignored him, being too angry to be anything approaching civil towards him or indeed anyone else for that matter.
After giving the computer the deck number in a clipped voice, he stood waiting impatiently for it to reach it's destination.
His mind was a seething mass of anger and he desperately needed an outlet for it. He clenched and unclenched his fists at his sides, not even trying to check it, as he mentally pictured the subjects of his wrath and how he intended to deal with them.
Finally the lift stopped. The doors opened and he bowled out, straight into an unsuspecting B'Elanna.
Had it been any other female on board, or even any of the lighter weight males, he had no doubt that he would have knocked them flying unceremoniously to the floor. But the fact that B'Elanna had the strength of a half Klingon, and quick reflexes to boot, allowed her to keep her feet, even though the force of the impact caused her to stumble backwards.
Chakotay put out his hands to steady her, grabbing her forearms in an unconsciously bruising grip.
They stared at each other for several seconds before B'Elanna winced. Realizing he was hurting her, Chakotay released his grip. "Sorry," he managed by way of an apology.
She locked eyes with him, noting his obviously angry state. "I guess you've heard then," she ventured, deliberately ignoring the tingling in her upper arms, which she was certain would be sporting massive bruises by the morning.
"Yes," he replied tersely, making to move past her.
"Chakotay." She grabbed his arm as he pulled level, using all her strength to swing him back around to face her.
"Damn it, B'Elanna, stay out of this," he all but yelled, as he snatched his arm back from her grasp.
He turned away from her but she moved quickly to block his escape. "What are you going to do?" she asked, even thought she knew the answer.
He glared angrily at her. "What do you think I'm going to do?"
"Chakotay." Again she grabbed his arm and he shook her off. "We're not in the Maquis any more. This isn't going to help."
"It'll sure as hell help me!" He made to move past her but she moved to block him again. "B'Elanna, get the hell out of my way," he fumed.
"Or what? You'll knock me down?" She folded her arms and stood defiantly in front of him. "Go ahead. If you're hell bent on this course of action, so be it. But you'll have to go through me first."
His black eyes bored into hers. She had seen him angry before, during confrontations with Cardassians, but that had been a long time ago, and it had never been quite like this. The distinction she supposed, lay in the fact that this time, the circumstances causing his anger were more personal.
Where previously his anger had been controlled and channeled, in this instance, he was almost completely out of control and she fought the small fission of fear that invaded her, not allowing it to show, as she wondered momentarily whether the small measure of control he still possessed, would be enough to turn him around.
He raised his arm, drawing it back as if to knock her aside, his face a mask of thunderous rage. She did not allow herself to flinch, standing her ground bravely, daring him to do his worst.
His hand came towards her with murderous force and intent, but at the last moment, he turned aside, allowing his fist to smash against the open palm of his other hand instead, his frustration at her interference clearly evident.
B'Elanna slowly let out the breath she hadn't realized she'd been holding, eyeing him warily.
He turned back towards her, fists balled at his sides. "Damn it, B'Elanna, I can't believe you're defending them," he spoke through clenched teeth.
"I'm not!" she denied emphatically. "As far as I'm concerned they're nothing but slime. You're my concern at the moment. Stopping you from making the biggest mistake you could possibly make at this point!"
He looked at her mutinously. "Have you seen what they did to her? Have you?"
"No," she was forced to admit. "But my source gave me a pretty graphic account. Let's just say I have a very good grasp of the situation."
"So what would you have me do? Just ignore it?" He gave a derisive laugh. "Coming from someone with your volatile temper and reputation for dealing with problem situations, I find this whole thing totally ludicrous. Do the words, Carey and broken nose mean anything to you?"
The look she gave him was telling. Her own easily aroused temper had begun to flare with his personal attack on her, but she managed to keep it in check with an effort. "Look Chakotay, I'm not standing here to trade insults with you, but hey, if you want to get really personal, I'm sure I could dig out a few good ones." Her voice softened slightly as she started to reason with him. "I just want you to think about this before you act."
She paused. "I know how you feel about the Captain, and I know exactly how you feel about wanting to smash their skulls in. Like you so kindly reminded me, *I've* been in this situation countless times, but as I recall, haven't *you* always been the one preaching restraint at *me*." She eyed him purposefully, the challenge in her eyes clearly evident. "Not so easy is it, to practice what you preach?" She fell silent at that, but continued to challenge him with her eyes.
Despite his anger, he had to admire her tenacity. She had his measure all right. But even though she had known him for a long time, it still took guts for her to stand up to a furiously angry man several times larger than herself, even with the added advantage of a little hot headed Klingon blood to assist her.
Almost against his will, he felt his anger cool a notch or two. He closed his eyes briefly as he realized how close he had come to actually hitting her. Opening them again, he saw that she was still staring at him with that same intent expression on her face.
He gave a humorless laugh and shook his head in disbelief. "One of these days, B'Elanna, you're really going to bite off more than you can chew."
She smiled tentatively back at him, heaving a sigh of relief. "You're probably right about that. I'm just glad it didn't turn out to be today. Although, I don't mind admitting, that for a moment or two I thought it might have been."
He turned away from her then, resting his head against the wall of the corridor, his fists clenching and unclenching at his sides.
Having witnessed this action previously, she knew he was reaching for his center, endeavoring to return himself to some semblance of normal control. She stood there, waiting patiently, reluctant to leave him to his own devices just yet.
When he turned back to face her, his eyes were still angry but his demeanor was much calmer. He smiled slightly at her. "I guess an apology is in order."
"Taken as read," she smiled back at him.
He continued to regard her for several seconds before venturing, "You're right, you know. We're not in the Maquis any more and never can be again. It's time the members of this crew realized that once and for all. Do me a favor?"
She nodded.
"Get all the former Maquis to meet me outside the brig in half an hour. I'll address them all at once on the matter."
"And in the meantime?" she inquired.
He gave her another slight smile. "Don't worry, mother hen, I'm not about to go near the brig until then." He paused. "No, I think I need to have a word with our Mr. Paris. I've decided it's time this crew had something different with which to occupy their minds and I believe Mr. Paris might just be the man for the job."
He gave her a conspiratorial wink. "See you in thirty," and with that, he moved back into the turbo lift and disappeared from view, leaving B'Elanna to finally rub some of the pain from her throbbing forearms and wondering what in the name of Kahless he was up to.
***
"Hey!!"
"Well if you would stay still Tom it wouldn't hurt," Kes said calmly.
"It hurts no matter what I do...just fix it...please!"
"Just one more adjustment...There, good as new! Now be careful for the next day or two to make sure the mend holds and no more Parisee Squares for a week Okay!"
"Okay, okay...Sheesh Kes, are you all right?"
" Yes I'm fine."
"You seem a little, I don't know, edgy?"
Kes grimaced. "I'm sorry Tom it's been a pretty tough day."
"Ya, I know..."
They shared a look of understanding as Tom attempted to hop off the biobed without reinjuring his newly mended ankle.
***
B'Elanna watched Chakotay leave and sighed. She wondered briefly what he was going to do, but knew exactly what she was going to.
With deliberate steps she made her way to the brig and nodded at the two grim-looking security guards. They stared at her, but let her pass. She stood in the aisle between the cells and stared at the seven.
"Idiots," she muttered to herself, then walked over to one cell. Dalby lay on his bed staring at the ceiling. "Bastard!" She said with her best Klingon growl. He leapt up and looked at her. "Yea you." She glared at him and he tried to meet her eyes--but after a second looked away. "I always knew you weren't intelligent--but this..." She opened her arms to indicate where they were. "This has got to be the stupidest thing you've ever done. And I didn't think you could do anything worse than that stunt you pulled at Fer Prime. Gods I wish Chakotay had thrown you out the airlock that day."
Dalby lifted his head and said arrogantly, "Then at least *I* wouldn't be here--seventy years from anywhere. B'Elanna..."
"Lieutenant Torres to you, idiot."
He frowned. "You buy this shit, *Lieutenant*. StarFleet...Our bitch of a Captain--she's using him..."
*Thank Kahless for the security barrier,* she thought, *otherwise I'd kill him.* She growled. "He's in love with her you bloody fool."
Dalby looked at her skeptically as she continued. "And you bloody fools have probably ruined everything. He'll be lucky if she talks to him again." She paused, her anger starting to get the best of her. "I stopped him from coming down here and making a real mistake--killing you. Don't expect any support from him. The mood he's in, he'll probably volunteer for the firing squad." She looked around, the other six and the security guards were all listening. "And so will I."
Dalby looked a lot less arrogant, "This is Starfleet, they don't execute anybody."
B'Elanna smiled wickedly, "Starfleet's far away--and there are just enough Maquis to make it interesting." She lowered her voice and spoke slowly, "If you are ever released, I'd be very careful. Very careful indeed. Accidents do happen." She stepped back from the barrier and looked at the other six. "Don't count on *anybody's* support. I don't know what prompted you to follow this idiot." She looked at Jonathan Moore--the youngest of the Maquis. "Jon? And I thought you had brains." She shook her head in disappointment as Jon looked at the floor.
B'Elanna turned to leave. Her anger spent--it was hard to remain furious with seven of the biggest fools she'd ever met. Anyway her mind was all ready working on plan. A way to try to repair the damage caused by these bastards.
***
Kathryn Janeway sighed. She had been sitting in her quarters for the past two and a half hours after her visit to the doctor doing absolutely nothing. Not that there weren't things that she should be doing, but she just didn't have the energy to do any of it. She didn't have energy, but she wasn't tired, so a quick nap was equally out of the question.
Usually, when she found herself in one of these moods, she would work on one of her hobbies, like her holonovel, or playing pool or tennis. Unfortunately, the hobby she had been spending the most time on, she did not want to think about anymore. Immediately after she had entered her quarters, she had thrown a sheet on her new work of art without even looking at it.
Maybe she had brought it upon herself, she thought. After all, it is kind of an unusual hobby for a captain of a starship to be painting pictures of naked men. But the hobby was truly relaxing, reminded her of her sister's artistic abilities, and took her mind way off of commanding a starship. And the inclusion of Chakotay into the picture gave her an opportunity to spend more time with someone who was rapidly becoming one of her closest friends in a non-command environment.
Chakotay...That would be a problem. How would she be able to continue her personal relationship with him without the crew thinking that he was her sex slave? She knew that it was only a select few people who thought that, but she would never be able to get the thought out of her mind. She would feel that even when they were alone, the crew would have eyes and ears everywhere, spying on everything they did together. *God, I'm so paranoid!* she thought.
She picked up a PADD and tried to concentrate on reading, but to no avail. She then started to clean her quarters a little, but couldn't follow that to completion either. Her concentration seemed to be so scattered that she could not focus on any one task, a problem that seldom befell her. She plopped on the couch and sighed again, then said to herself, "You know, I was just attacked by members of my crew...Shouldn't I be angry or something...?" She had been angry. Outrageously angry. But once that was spent, she felt nothing but...depression...She sighed.
She tapped her commbadge and said, "Janeway to Tuvok."
"Tuvok here, Captain," said the chief of security.
"You can let our prisoners out now. I think they've suffered enough," said Janeway.
"Are you certain that is wise, Captain?" asked Tuvok.
"Yes, let them out of the brig."
"Very well. Tuvok out."
Kathryn thought that maybe she'd be able to find some joy in the fact that B'Elanna had told the captain's attackers that the crew would not let them off the hook too easily for this, and that they should be very careful. But the idea that they would soon be as paranoid as she was did not lift the veil of depression that engulfed her.
"Paris to Captain Janeway," came Tom's voice suddenly over her commbadge.
"Janeway here. What is it, Mr. Paris?" she asked. It was unusual for Tom to be calling her. The curiosity momentarily took over the depression.
"Nothing important. I'm off-duty, and I'm going to shoot some pool. Care to join me?" asked the pilot.
"Maybe another time, Tom," said Kathryn. She wasn't in the mood.
"All right, Captain. I'll see you tomorrow, then." The disappointment in his voice was so palpable that she felt compelled to meet him in the holodeck anyway.
As she walked in, Tom greeted her warmly. "So, Captain, you decided to come after all! Think you can handle the challenge, Captain? I've been doing a lot of practicing."
"We'll see, Mr. Paris," she said, unconvincingly.
Several games later, she was being trounced by Paris. One time, Paris tried to let her win, but her heart wasn't into it, so she lost that game, too. After Tom broke for the next game, he handed her the pool stick and said, "You know, Captain, you and Chakotay aren't the only senior officers on this ship." He expected her to react angrily, but instead received an expression of apathy.
"What's that supposed to mean, Mr. Paris?" she asked, aiming for and missing an easy shot.
"Look at me and B'Elanna. Rumors are flying about us, too. Things like she only puts up with me because I'm such a butt kisser to you. We just ignore it, Captain. We can't let it bother us. We are too important to our jobs and to each other. Chakotay is head over heels in love with you, Captain." Paris looked up from his shot guiltily. "I invited him to come here, too, but he declined. He was saying something about rediscovering the beauty of life."
"The needs of the many outweigh the needs of the few," quoted Kathryn. Tom was finally beginning to reach her--she was beginning to show a little emotion.
"Or the one?" asked Paris. "Damn straight, they do. And the crew needs a strong captain who can be off-duty every once and a while. The crew needs the captain to be happy and healthy. Any member of the crew who doesn't believe that needs his head examined. We don't want a picture perfect 24-hour a day captain contrived from your imagination of what a good captain is. We want YOU to be our captain. And we want a captain who can be everything that she is without worrying about what everyone will think."
Kathryn stared blankly at Tom for a minute. Then she sat in a chair and the tears started flowing down her face, which she hid in her hands.
"I can't! Why can't anyone accept that under any circumstances a relationship between a captain and a member of her crew is unacceptable to me? It goes against everything I believe in, and this is the reason why!" she sobbed.
"All right, Tom, maybe I am up to a game of pool!" called Chakotay, entering the holodeck with not so impeccable timing. Kathryn got up and ran off the holodeck.
"Aw, Chakotay, shucks!" exclaimed Tom.
"Tom, you didn't try to--Damn!" exclaimed Chakotay. "You know, from now on, I think you and B'Elanna and Harry and whoever else cares should mind your own business."
"Someone has to try to do something!" exclaimed Tom. "Well? Aren't you going to follow her?"
"No. She wants to be alone, and I intend to honor that," said Chakotay.
"Whatever!" snapped Tom as he took off to find the captain.
Tom reached the hallway and turned the corner and fell.
Chakotay heard him shout something as the holodeck doors closed and quickly followed the blonde pilot into the hall.
Tom looked up as the Commander exited the holodeck. "Tom?"
Tom shook his head sheepishly. "Ankle sir, Kes told me not to do anything strenuous." He looked down the hall, then back to the Commander. "I'll be fine, but sir...Chakotay the views of few drunken sods should not..."
The Commander glared at him. "Lieutenant, stay out of this. Haven't you done enough *damage.*" He tapped his comm-badge. "Chakotay to sick-bay."
"Sick-bay, something wrong Commander?" Kes asked.
"Nothing, except Tom has re-injured his ankle. Beam him to sick-bay."
He watched as Tom was swallowed by the familiar twinkling lights. The commander looked at the holodeck, then down the hall. He had hoped to enlist Tom's help--but now wasn't so sure it was a good idea. The young man was keen to help though...
For that matter so were the *other* members of his old crew.
Chakotay leaned heavily against the wall just inside the door to his quarter. He closed his eyes, breathing deeply...exhaling slowly...breathing deeply again. He tried to concentrate on his breathing, attempting to settle himself...to find his center. In the last twenty-four hours, he'd gone from an incredible high to the depths of hell. How had all this happened?
He felt helpless...swept along an uncontrollable tide. He knew he needed to think...try to work through this mess and find some solution...some way to set things right again. But at the same time...he didn't care. No that wasn't right...he did care...he just was tired. He didn't want to think right now.
Opening his eyes, he pushed himself away from the wall and headed for the replicator. "Tequila." He felt like getting drunk. Tequila was his poison. He couldn't stand the stuff, but he knew it was a quick route to the bottom. He retrieved the glass, immediately downed it, and ordered another one. He hadn't gotten drunk since his days in the academy. He hadn't ever felt the urge. That wasn't true...he had felt the urge...he just chose to ignore it. But now...now he didn't give a damn. He downed the second glass and ordered yet a third. Once it appeared, he retrieved it and turned to stare out the viewport.
His mind sifted through the events of the day. Kathryn...her bruised face. Her unbending demeanor. The rage he felt. B'Elanna had been able to talk some semblance of sense back into him...had prevented him from descending on the seven former Maquis currently detained in the brig and beating them all into oblivion. He would have done it, too. And that scared him.
When B'Elanna had managed to divert his attention, his energy, into calming himself, he had her assemble the former Maquis while he attended to other business...business with Tom Paris. He asked Tom to meet him in the morning for breakfast. He wanted to discuss diversions...diversions for the crew. Something to take their mind off of what was none of their damn business to begin with...he and Kathryn. Tom had agreed...said he would work on some ideas and they could discuss them in the morning. But, after the incident in the holodeck...shit...he didn't know. Even a harmless diversion could blow up in his face...especially with the likes of Tom Paris at the helm.
He looked at the empty glass in his hand...he didn't remember drinking it. Good. He poked his cheek...felt the tingling sensation as his nerve endings tried to tell his brain that he was being poked. He chuckled. He recalled one night out with a few friends in the academy. It was his birthday and his friends had vowed to get him wasted. Covertly, of course...he hadn't been of legal drinking age. He remembered an excruciating walk back to his room, all the while his friends poking him in the face, telling him he was plastered. His tell-tale sign...ruddy cheeks, devoid of any sensation. He was well on his way there.
Holding the fourth shot in his hand, he moved to the sofa. Sitting heavily on the floor, he rested his back against the couch, reclining his head against the seat cushions...staring at the ceiling. His mind drifted back to the turbolift ride to the brig. B'Elanna had contacted him and said that the former Maquis were assembled...waiting. He wasn't sure what awaited him...were the rest of his former crew just as eager to see the captain lynched? What had gone so wrong? Why did they think the worst of the friendship that existed between he and Kathryn. When he thought of what Dalby and the others had done to her. He unconsciously started to clench and unclench his fists...again...echoing the trip he'd made earlier in the day. As he exited the turbolift, he could feel the tension building...the anger rising from a slow burn to a boil. It took all the concentration he could muster to keep himself under control. He wasn't going to let them see him falter.
As he approached the brig, B'Elanna met him. She blocked his path, preventing him from rounding the final corner. He knew she was concerned...concerned that he had worked himself back into a state that would do more harm than good. "Chakotay."
He met her gaze. "B'Elanna...don't worry. I don't intend to do anything stupid. We went over all this earlier."
"I know. Look...I'm sorry...I just had to be sure."
He sighed. "I intend to walk in there...say my peace...and then walk the hell out."
She searched his face...then nodded, satisfied. Stepping aside, she allowed him to precede her to the waiting Maquis.
As he approached his assembled comrades, he slowed down...his anger suddenly dissipating as he studied each face before him. He wasn't sure what he read in them. Quiet support? Empathy? It wasn't what he'd expected. What exactly had he expected? He was getting paranoid. He mentally rebuked himself. This wasn't some mass conspiracy. It made what he had to say all the more difficult.
Apparently B'Elanna had convinced the security officer on duty to lower the outer force field, allowing him to move to the outer room of the brig. He walked into it and stopped. He now stood amongst his old crew...the seven before him charged with assault...the remainder behind him...all watching...all waiting.
He was in no particular hurry. He moved closer to the seven being held...looked them each squarely in the eye. Each cowered...flinched...in his own way, under the scrutiny of their former commander. Dalby met his glare. "Chakotay..."
"I don't want to hear it." he growled. He turned so that he could look at the entire group assembled. "I am not here to engage in conversation. I am not here to entertain questions. Nobody says a word. All you will do is listen."
He stared at the wall directly in front of him, steeling himself. After a few seconds, he allowed himself to focus on the people around him...slowly looking from face to face as he spoke. "I have never been more deeply disappointed in you people as I am today. Perhaps only seven of you assaulted the Captain, but we all are responsible. How long is it going to take before the division disappears? Before the 'us' versus 'them' attitude that you so proudly tout is left behind? Haven't you people figured out yet that we are all in this together? That there is no way any of us is getting home unless we pull together? Captain Janeway could just have easily thrown us all in the brig...70 years is a hell of long time to spend locked up. But she didn't. She welcomed all of us as members of her crew."
"She had no choice..." Dalby started to protest.
Chakotay cut him off, glaring at him. "We can end your trip right here...right now. Is that what you want Dalby?" When Dalby didn't respond, he continued. "What the hell do you people think we've been doing for the last 2 1/2 years? Where do you think you'll be for the next 70?" He shook his head, exhaling heavily. "Yeah...maybe in some respect, Captain Janeway had no choice but to integrate the two crews...to ensure survival." He glared at Dalby. "Don't give me that look Dalby. I know what your thinking...that she's the reason we're out here...in this godforsaken quadrant. She made the only choice she could. And I supported her...I still do. You've got a problem with it...with her...you talk to me."
"What the hell is going on here? Why is the past being dredged up? Because of some damn rumor?" He laughed, watching as a good portion of the people assembled exchanged nervous glances. "You think I'm not privy to them? What surprises me is that you people actually believe them. Do you have that low an opinion of me? Of yourselves? This is our home...our family. If you want to dredge up the past, let's think about what most of us were fighting for back in the alpha quadrant. Home. Family. We vowed to defend them even if it meant our death. What makes Voyager so different? Because it wasn't your choice? Fine...I'll give you choice. You want out...the next opportunity we get...I'll personally escort you. But I will not tolerate the kind of behavior displayed by this crew in the last 24 hours."
"Haven't we been through all this before? We've fought our divisive battles...we've been given the opportunity to leave. But you're still here. What's so different? Is it the Captain and I? Because if it is...the Captain and I are just friends...at least we used to be. Beyond that...what happens between us is none of your damn business. As long as our ability to command is not impaired...it's none of your concern.
"The next time any one of you steps out of line, especially where the Captain is concerned...you won't have the pleasure of dealing with Lieutenant Tuvok...because you'll be mine." He turned to Dalby...the catalyst he was sure. "Don't ever give me a reason."
He left as quickly and quietly as he had entered. Leaving them all there...speechless...stunned.
He looked into yet another empty glass...and groaned. The depths of hell.
And to make it worse, Paris had contacted him and had invited him to shoot some pool at Sandrine's. He'd thanked him but decided he should try to meditate...try to reestablish some sense of calm...of peace. He'd tried, but it didn't work. After several attempts he decided to give up and take Tom up on his offer. Kathryn was there...but as soon as he walked in...she left.
He wondered if she would ever let him in again. The many months they'd been working at building a friendship...tearing down the walls of protocol that she had erected...boom! In one day...friendship destroyed...wall rebuilt. When he had seen her in Sandrine's...he had seen Kathryn. But in the instant it took her to realize he was there, Kathryn disappeared...every fiber of her being reflected Captain. Kathryn was no longer available to him...ripped from his grasp.
He jumped. "What the hell is that?" There it was again. Door chime? He shook his head trying to clear away the fuzziness creeping in. There it was again...definitely the door chime. "Come." Damn. He didn't want company...why the hell did he do that? Shit.
B'Elanna stopped short just inside the door...shocked by the sight that met her eyes. Chakotay sat on the floor half sprawled over the couch, half falling all over the floor. "Chakotay...are...are you okay?"
He snorted. "That's a stupid question."
She stepped closer to him...the smell of alcohol reaching her. "I don't believe it...you're drunk!"
"You got a problem with that?" he quietly growled.
She raised her hands in a gesture of surrender. "Look...I'm not here to fight with you."
"Fine. Why are you here?" he asked calmly.
"Damage control." she grinned.
He shot her a questioning look. "What?"
"You heard me...damage control."