Disclaimer: Paramount owns all...and if they are truly writing in Roxann's pregnancy...somehow I doubt we get this scene...
Kathryn looked down at the incubator and smiled. "Welcome to the world. That was some entrance." Tom and B'Elanna hadn't announced the name of the baby boy born one-and-a-half months early. The Doctor wasn't concerned...just taking precautions. The infant would stay in sick-bay for a week. She looked over at the parents. B'Elanna was sound asleep, Tom looked like he was too--hard to tell, she noted. He was sitting with his back toward her.
"And welcome to Voyager," she continued. "Though we will need to discuss your timing..." Carey and Seven were in engineering struggling to bring the warp engines back on line. B'Elanna had been there until 24 hours earlier when she had collapsed--in labor.
Kathryn jumped when she felt a hand on her shoulder. "Kathryn, don't tell you are going to court-martial the poor kid." Chakotay was smiling as he looked at her.
She cocked an eyebrow and grinned. "Sure, disobeying a senior officer..." She laughed, ignoring that his arm had tightened, pulling her close.
"Have you ever considered having a family?" He asked quietly.
She thought a second. "Yes. Sometimes. It's an unrealistic prospect out here..."
"How about if we reached the alpha-quadrant soon?"
She shrugged. "I don't know. Life has changed so much. I've moved on past my life there--I hope Mark has." She stopped. "We'd talked a couple of times about a family...At the time, neither of us wanted one." She looked down at the sleeping infant. "You?"
He nodded, "Especially after...I have no one waiting in the alpha-quadrant. Everything I want and love is on this ship." He glanced away from her--looking at Tom as he shifted position. Voyager's First Officer looked at his Captain. She was still blushing, but hadn't pulled out of his embrace.
"Coordinating schedules so that they have time together for their (she nodded toward Tom and B'Elanna) family is hard. Think how difficult it would be for..." She stopped. She had never admitted to anything between him and her, and she had been about to say that she had thought about him as more than her First Officer.
Taking a chance, Chakotay gently turned her so that she was facing him. "It does give the junior officers command time." Many of them, if they had been in the alpha-quadrant, would have been promoted. "And it wasn't a total surprise."
She grinned, looking up at his face. "I'm sure that Carey will do an excellent job in engineering...But if it's me. Tuvok would be in command..." Her voice faded away and she turned deep red. She tried to turn away--but he wouldn't let her.
Willing her to raise her head, he waited until again he was looking into her blue eyes. He started to speak, but only one thought crossed his mind. Instead he leaned down and kissed her. Pulling away, he grinned. "Would it really be impossible for us to be together...We don't have to start a family...But..."
She looked at him and wondered. When B'Elanna and Tom had started seeing each other, there had been the usual rumors...And when the half Klingon engineer had announced her pregnancy the crew had been extremely excited and joyful...She smiled. "I..." She leaned her head slightly inviting his lips to hers.
"Excuse me, Captain. Commander?" The Doctor shifted his weight as he watched Voyager's senior officers locked in an increasingly passionate embrace.
The sound of the Doctor broke through. Kathryn pulled away, slightly, from her First Officer. Yes Doctor?"
"I..." Voyager's Doctor was flustered. "Excuse me, but I do need to check on my patient." He walked over and looked at the displays for the incubator. "He's doing fine. So is Lieutenant Torres." He grinned as he turned and started to walk away, "I should inform you that in the past 2 months, I have confirmed four other pregnancies. It would be advantangeous to start training someone in pediatric health. I have my report..." He stopped talking for a second as he didn't pick up the PADD lying on the counter. "I'll have it for you tomorrow."
"Thank-you Doctor. Until tomorrow." She looked up at Chakotay and smiled. Together they left sick-bay.
This story is based upon the family game of hearts. Take no quarter...A mixture of clowning, bluffing, revenge, and just having fun. There are several variations on the game--this is based on the version we play.
TPTB want to show how the crew are interacting...what better way than a card game among friends.
Kathryn Janeway smiled wickedly as she prepared the table. It had taken her three years to feel comfortable enough doing this--but finally...She looked around, the killer instinct coming in. This had been one of her favorite activities in the Alpha Quadrant. She and her sister, Phoebe, had been avid Hearts players. When Kathryn had been home, Saturday nights they played hearts.
Their game was not for the meek or faint-hearted, she and Phoebe had a reputation of anything goes style of playing...
Voyager's Captain had been delighted to discover three other players. Tuvok knew better than to play in a game...But Tom's eyes had practically glowed at the thought of getting a Hearts game going. Chakotay had been a surprise as had B'Elanna.
She glanced quickly at her chronometer...they would be coming in minutes. She looked at the table. Perfect. Numerous distractions designed to fit the personalities of her opponents. She ran her fingers through her hair--the ultimate distraction for her First Officer...
The doorchime rang. Her smile grew--her first victim...Guest. "Enter."
It was B'Elanna. Kathryn's eyes opened wide at the sight of her half-Klingon engineer--who was dressed in a deep red dress...Obviously designed to distract a certain pilot. Kathryn nodded in appreciation. She wasn't alone in the killer instinct when it came to a friendly game of cards.
"Captain," B'Elanna said as she looked around. She grinned. This evening might prove interesting after all...Janeway definitely looked like she knew what she was doing.
The chime rang again. Tom and Chakotay had arrived together. Kathryn eyed her second-in-command appreciatively. He was in dark brown pants, cream shirt and a dark-leather vest.
"Good-evening. Shall we begin."
They sat around the table...Kathryn sat between Tom and B'Elanna--across from Chakotay. She smiled as she shuffled and handed the cards to B'Elanna to cut. Kathryn quickly dealt the cards, finding a comfortable rhythm.
There were some groans as the players picked up their cards. Kathryn noted who...It would be interesting to find out if they were real moans of dismay or part of an act. She glanced at her hand as she put them in order and selected the three to pass. There was one word to describe her hand--ghastly. She decided to pass three clubs...Hopefully Tom would not pass her clubs.
Chakotay lead the two of spades. Kathryn noted his impassive look. Tom played the jack of the spades and announced he was running them. B'Elanna was quiet.
Two more rounds before the first heart fell. B'Elanna took it with a five of a diamonds and a look of dismay. Another two rounds before they realized they were in trouble. The tiniest of smiles played on B'Elanna's face as she started taking trick after trick. A huge smile broke over the engineer's face when she laid down her last card.
Tom groaned as he looked at the cards. "Just remember, revenge is half the fun."
"Well see about that flyboy," was B'Elanna's comment as she gathered the cards. She leaned over and looked at the scoresheet. "Yep, good addition." She grinned at her score of zero. "Just to let you all know, I will run them again." She quickly shuffled and dealt the cards. Again she was quiet.
Tom put on a performance, "Misdeal--no way I could be dealt these cards. I now have five suits."
"Spirits help us," Chakotay murmured. "Somebody will run them."
"Won't be me," Tom announced. "Not with these cards."
Kathryn smiled at the banter as she selected the three cards to pass. *Sorry Tom,* she thought without a trace of regret as she passed the king AND queen of spades and a low heart. She grinned wickedly at the look of horror that briefly appeared on his face.
Several rounds went by, Kathryn lead the five of diamonds, B'Elanna and Chakotay both played lower. Tom smiled--his grin growing larger as he slowly played the card.
"Aaahhh!" Kathryn exclaimed. "Remember--you said revenge can be half the fun." Tom had dropped the queen-of-spades.
The hand ended, B'Elanna had taken ten, Tom two and Kathryn fourteen. All three glared at Chakotay. He shrugged his shoulders in mock innocence at their stares and shuffled the cards. "B'Elanna is still low."
Kathryn's next hand had possibilities. Six spades (including the queen) and some good diamonds and clubs. What her sister called a dangerous hand--if everything went according to plan it was a running hand--if they didn't she could find herself with 25 points. She selected carefully the cards she would pass to B'Elanna. The three cards from Tom were awful. Low hearts. She would have to be careful.
Kathryn was worried that she would take more than the ten points...She was trying to give the queen to either Tom or B'Elanna, but when Chakotay led the five of hearts, she played the queen. The look Chakotay shot her alone was loaded. She cast him a challenging look.
Several more hands passed and the scores had even out. Kathryn was at 66, Tom at 70, B'Elanna at 62 and Chakotay at 58.
The silent consensus was that Chakotay was a marked man. Tom dealt the cards quietly. He grinned as he started picking them up.
Kathryn glanced around the table as she decided which cards to pass. "Which direction are we passing?"
"Clockwise," Chakotay said as he grinned at her. She smiled back. Both didn't notice the exchange of glances between Tom and B'Elanna.
The first few tricks were straight forward. Nothing suspicious...Except that Chakotay was sluffing low cards. Kathryn wondered briefly when B'Elanna led the seven of diamonds. Chakotay played the ten and took the trick. It became very obvious the next trick that he was running them, when he led the ace of clubs. With a slight glint in his eye he lead his last card, the queen-of-spades. He'd done. "Hmmm. Let's see," he said as he tallied the scores. "B'Elanna has 88, Tom 96, and Kathryn (here he smiled) has 92...I should win next hand."
"In your dreams," B'Elanna commented as she picked up her cards.
Kathryn looked at her hand. She wouldn't win if she ran them...But running them was so much fun...And such a stylish end of a game. She decided to pass the three low hearts in her hand and hoped to be passed something good. She was.
Carefully she played her cards. Sluffing off cards, weeding out her weak ones.
Chakotay watched Kathryn with interest. Through-out the evening he had studied how she played, her facial expressions...her hair. He'd claim foul on that, except it was obvious that B'Elanna had dressed to distract Tom. He started to grin as he watched the captain's hands hold her cards a little tighter. He whistled quietly to himself. So, he thought, we'll see about this. He started playing his card carefully holding back the high cards, no way was he going to let her run them. Even though he would still win--it was the principle of the thing.
Only a few more tricks to go, and Kathryn realized she had a problem. Cards weren't falling right. She controlled the need to frown as she glanced around the table. She looked hard at her First Officer...Shaking her head ever so slightly she decided to go with it. She was already out if she didn't succeed. She lead the last of her diamonds--no surprise that no one had any left. She'd been counting.
The last trick finally. Chakotay looked at his last card and hoped he had guessed correctly. With a triumphant grin he placed his nine of clubs down--he now hoped that Tom still had a heart left.
With a wry grin, Tom made a big show of playing his final card. Kathryn buried her head in her hands with a loud groan as she started laughing. He had played the five of hearts. She had not done it--instead she had picked up 25 points--and was out.
B'Elanna grinned. "This was fun. Rematch next week in my quarters?' The idea was quickly accepted. She looked then at Tom, "Come on flyboy..." They left together.
Chakotay started gathering up the dishes and crumbs from the food she had put out. "A little out of practice?"
She glared at him. "I guess so. That wasn't nice of you Commander."
He shrugged. "Nice is not a word normally used to describe a game of Hearts." He carried the plates to the recycler.
She walked up behind him. "I'll get you next week..."
"Why wait...I'm available right now."
She blushed, then started laughing. "You are impossible sometimes..."
"I try." He reached out and pulled her in his arms. "I'd better be going." He bent his head and kissed her quickly. "Night Kathryn."
She watched him leave, a little stunned by the kiss. Then she smiled. "Yep, wait until next week..."
She had dimmed the lights and prepared for bed--when she asked herself..."Wait for what?" She knew she wasn't thinking about cards.
Disclaimer: The characters belong to Paramount, but they never let them have any fun. They spend all their time blowing-up or being blown-up by evil aliens in dire need of a new hairdressers. And what else am I suppose to write when it is 104 degrees F. out.
Kathryn Janeway sat in her office fanning herself with a replicated fan. The temperature was over 35 Celsius and the humidity was about 50% and had been for two days. B'Elanna had her crews working overtime trying to bring the environmental controls back on line. She looked at the update B'Elanna had just sent.
Six hours into the crisis, the Doctor had advised her to order the crew to drink plenty of water and had recommend easing the uniform requirements. She had done that. For most of those days she had steadfastly worn her uniform. But three hours ago, when B'Elanna had announced it would be another day before they had the problem fixed she had given up and was now without her jacket and turtleneck. Just the tank top and pants.
Except it was still miserable. She had several times considered locking the ready room door and working in her underwear. But considering the amount of people in and out--had decided it was a bit ridiculous.
She tried to concentrate on the report as she sipped water. The Doctor had insisted that *everybody* drink at least one glass every hour. Which had lead to some other problems...She laughed, then looked up from her report when the door chime rang. "Enter?"
Chakotay entered and smiled appreciatively at her. "Neelix sent you a gift." He was holding a bowl of something.
She grimaced at the thought, though she did admit privately to herself that he looked awfully good in his tanktop. "Please, no. The leola-root-ade was just...Undescribable.." She closed her eyes as she remembered.
Chakotay grinned. "Oh, this is much better."
"Better, anything would be better. What? What is it?" She started to stand, but he motioned her to stay seated.
"Now, close your eyes," he added mysteriously as he walked toward her.
"Why?"
He just grinned and carefully kept the bowl away from her. Finally she closed her eyes. "No peeking," he said in a low growl as he took an ice cube from the bowl and dropped it down her back.
She shrieked in surprise, then started to laugh. "Foul." She moved quickly and grabbed the bowl from him, getting the retaliatory piece down his front. He grabbed her hands to prevent a second attack causing the bowl to fall on the floor. They both stood there laughing for a second, before they dove to the carpet and started grabbing the ice cubes off the floor and sticking the cubes down each other.
Finally when there were only puddles on the carpet, they just sat on the ground laughing. They were soaking wet.
She felt self conscious suddenly as she realized her tank-top was clinging to her and he was watching her. She started to stand, but he took her hand and prevented her from leaving. She turned serious as she started to straighten out her hair. "We're on duty..."
Chakotay shrugged. "I don't think the crew would mind..." Apparently Tom had suggested the idea to Neelix who had suggested it to him. "Neelix has come up with a way of making ice...I think B'Elanna helped. He gave some to everybody. I suspect most of the cubes did not end up in glasses." He grinned at her as he stood then pulled her up. "Besides it's hot here." He watched her as she responded with a blush at his double entendre. He pulled her closer and with a gentle smile kissed her.
She pulled back and with a wicked smile, dumped the last ice cube she'd hidden down his top. "Well that should help you cool off." She moved back to her desk with a saucy sway of her hips. "Commander, please inform Neelix that I appreciate his very successful attempts at improving morale. If he can make ice, can he make ice cream?"
"I can ask. Leola root sherbet perhaps?"
"I think not." She noticed that they had pretty much dried off. "Chakotay," she smiled. "I owe you..." She sat down and grinned as she plotted her revenge...
Pure fluff--not even enough plot to pretend there is one.
B'Elanna entered the room and looked at Tom. He winced at her glare, then smiled. His open, warm smile disarmed her--it always did. "OK, Helmboy...What did you want me for?"
Tom glanced down at the transporter controls, stifling the urge to answer the question she wasn't asking--and lost. His grin turned suggestive as he eyed her small frame appreciatively. "What did I *want you* for." He watched as she blushed, then scowled at him. "Remember at dinner I said I had this idea?"
"Tom you wouldn't?"
He raised his eyebrows, suggesting he would. "I've got the co-ordinates of her bed..." His started to enter the information in the computer.
"Tom, you'll be thrown in the brig--or better out the airlock."
He grinned. "Whether this works or not, I'm safe...If it doesn't, neither will want to mention it--or acknowledge the incident. If it does, I'll be promoted." He looked at her. "I just need your help erasing the information afterwards."
She growled. "How did I get involved? I like my job, and would like to keep it..." She stepped over to the controls and shoved him away. "Not bad. You just need to do this..." She entered the information. "And I've blocked the information from showing up elsewhere--security won't be checking in."
"Thanks B'Elanna." He pulled up some other information. "Ah, they're both in bed..."
"Sensible people. Don't you have an early shift tomorrow?"
Tom nodded as he started the transport process. "And now I'm to bed." He walked quickly to the exit and stood inbetween the opening doors. "Would you care to join me." He ducked out quickly when he saw her hands reach for a wrench someone had left. #
#
Chakotay was asleep, having this strange dream. In this dream he was transported somewhere--he recognized the familiar tingle and the sound. Only he hadn't been transported anywhere--he was still in his bed. He rolled over onto his side...and became aware that he wasn't alone. Opening his eyes he saw her. This was some dream. And a very familiar one. He often dreamed of the two of them together like this. He reached out to touch her.
Kathryn Janeway woke quickly at the touch. "Lights." She turned over and looked at him. "Commander?" She sat on the edge of the bed.
He was awake he realized. He smiled, "Good evening Captain. Before you ask, I have no idea how I got here...Transporter, I had been dreaming that..." He sat-up, "Umm...Captain."
She blushed. "I'll replicate a robe for you." She didn't take her eyes off him. "I..." He took her hand and pulled her closer. "Commander...Chakotay." He took her hand and gently kissed her fingers. "We..."
"We what?" He grinned at her confusion.
"Commander, we have a ship..."
"With a crew that seems bound and determined to get us together. I believe this is the fifth try..."
"Sixth." She blushed.
"Don't like the crew interferring?" He almost laughed, "Gossiping about the Captain's sex life or lack of one was always a favorite pasttime of the crew."
She frowned. "Oh, I hear they get very interested in First Officers to..." There was a wicked, teasing glint in her eyes.
He noticed, "Oh definitely. Especially when he's in love with his Captain. Computer dim lights to ten percent normal lumination."
She stuttered something at his confession. She pulled away from him and started to stand. His hands on her shoulders prevented her from leaving.
"So, Kathryn..."
"Yes?" She leaned back against his chest and let his arms wrap around her.
"Am I staying or leaving..." He whispered in her ear as he started nibbling it. "They'll just try again...and eventually it will work."
"It will." She moaned as his hands brushed over her breasts. "I..." She took a deep breath and turned around. She wrapped her arms around his neck and kissed him. The kiss intensified as they lay down next to each other.
Tom was asleep, when he felt hands rubbing his back. With a start he woke up and found himself staring at the very alluring half Klingon engineer. "B'Elanna?"
"I was invited, wasn't I." She slipped out of her robe and lay down beside him.
Janeway had to laugh. What a combination, Tom, Tuvok, and Neelix had agreed several months ago to write a holoadventure together. TNT Holoadventures, LTD. Tom said something about TNT being an early explosive. Nothing as explosive as the training program that had started this *collaboration.*
She again looked at the flourished handwriting. *You are cordially invited to the grand unveiling of TNT Holoadventures' first adventure. 1830 hours tonight on holodeck two. Please replicate costume TNT 1.*
She had. A note accompanying it said it was from 1687. Also included were instructions for styling her hair...Just no description of the program. She had considered using her over-ride codes and finding out what the program was.
It wasn't as if they could do to much damage--with most of the off-duty personnel there. Still laughing she picked up her dark blue skirt and entered the corridor.
There were several other costumed crew members standing outside holodeck 2. Tom grinned and bowed deeply. "My lady. Welcome to the grand premiere." The holodeck doors opened and she entered.
Tom looked at Neelix, then B'Elanna. "Ready, my dear."
"Who you calling dear..." B'Elanna's growl wasn't particularly threatening though as she walked over to the control panel. "Computer run Torres sigma seven over ride on TNT one a." She looked at Tom, then Neelix. "And I have no idea what is happening here. Remember that."
"Yes, Ma'am." Tom snorted, then offered his arm. Together they entered holodeck one.
Kathryn grabbed a railing to balance herself and looked around. She was on a three-masted ship. They had done a wonderful job with the details. The rolling of the ship, the little cove the ship was anchored in, the sounds of the water, the sunset...Suddenly she looked around. There was no one else about.
She made her way to the bridge and looked at the wheel and smiled. Travel was much easier in the 24th century. She laughed as she looked at the compass. "Absolutely useless in space..." She stood there enjoying the breeze blowing across her face. They'd even replicated the ocean smells--and something else...
She took another sniff. Food. It smelled wonderful. She followed the scent below decks. Smiling when she reached the large oak door, she knew who was waiting. She knocked.
The door opened, and Chakotay stood there, looking rather uncomfortable in his costume. "Good evening, Commander."
He grinned. "Actually, Captain. If I'm not mistaken, this ship is mine."
She laughed. "Nice looking ship. What does she do, warp three times ten to the minus 18?"
"You'd be surprised. But are we discussing speed relative to what frame of reference..." He started laughing. "The food's better on *my* ship though." He nodded toward the table.
"Strawberries, chocolate..."
He took her hand. "It was originally set up that we were to sit at opposite ends of the table. I fixed that while I was waiting..." He grinned sheepishly.
She blushed. "Everybody else is on holodeck one?" Chakotay just nodded. "Just as well, I don't like sharing my strawberries." She laughed as she tried to arrange her dress so she could sit down. He sat down beside her.
The meal was quiet, she was very aware of the man who sat beside her. While he was very conscious of her every movement.
Finally she looked at the last few strawberries. "I'm full."
He looked at her, and reached up and wiped her mouth with his finger. Her eyes never left that finger as he licked the chocolate off it.
Suddenly, feeling self-conscious, she stood. "How about a tour of the ship."
"If you want."
Silently they made their way through the ships empty hull. It was dark, Chakotay had grabbed a small lantern and was carrying it in his right hand. As they walked, he slipped his left around her waist, and was pleasantly surprised when she didn't pull away.
"This, Kathryn, is the brig." They were looking at a couple of very small cells.
"Hardly big enough to turn around in..."
"True. But useful none-the-less. Especially for locking up mutineers..."
"Don't be so hard on yourself." She pulled away from him and continued looking around.
He watched, trying not to laugh as her dress snagged on something.
She glared at him, "Well, you coming or not?" She asked with mock indignation. She turned and climbed the ladder to the deck.
"Much better," she remarked as she saw his head appear in the entranceway. "Getting a little stuffy in there."
"Is that what it was. I should have figured you'd make your way to the bridge."
"What did you do, give your crew the night off?"
"Nah. I deleted them. A scurvy band of pirates. I thought it would be more interesting just the two of us..."
She quirked an eyebrow at him, before turning away to pretend to study the compass housing. He put his hands on her shoulders. "It's just a compass Kathryn. Personally I prefer to navigate by the stars." He smiled as she looked at him. "Especially two shining blue stars." He took her hands and pulled her closer. Quietly he leaned down and brushed her lips with his own. He pulled back and smiled again as she returned the smile. Running the side of his hand down her cheek, he spoke quietly. "Thank-you for a lovely evening."
She just nodded, silently staring at the wood planks. He took her hand again. She looked at him quickly. She smiled as she reached up and ran her fingers along his cheek, chin, then back behind his head, bringing his lips to hers.
When the need for air caused them to separate, she smiled. He whispered, "Interesting method for keeping the potential leader of a mutiny on your side."
She laughed quietly into his chest. "And how am I doing in preventing this uprising?"
He quietly whispered something in her ear causing her to blush, then laugh again.
Tom and B'Elanna were the last to leave the party on holodeck one. It was almost 0100 hours. As they walked by holodeck two, B'Elanna grabbed his shoulder. "Tom," she yelped quietly.
He stifled a yawn. "Yes?"
"The program is still running."
Both lieutenants smiled.
Standard disclaimers.
OK, this is another story about J/C mysteriously being in the same bed...This one is a twist upon that--a real wicked twist...(Which is very obvious from the start)
Kathryn sat down at the table and yawned. Another bad night. The past couple of nights she had slept poorly and was tired. Neelix's idea of oatmeal wasn't helping either. She ate it slowly...whatever it was didn't taste too awful, the texture just left something to be desired. She glanced at her PADD and felt her stomach well up inside her. She stood quickly and barely made it to the restroom before she lost her breakfast.
When she felt like she could stand and not pass out, she carefully made her way out of the messhall, trying to ignore all the *are you all right* comments. She walked very slowly to sick-bay.
The Doctor looked up when she entered. "Good morning Captain, is there something I can help you with..."
"Yes," she spoke carefully. "It seems Neelix's food has finally gotten to me."
He nodded toward the bio-bed and watched as she carefully sat down. He picked up the tri-corder. "Hmm. I'm not showing any signs of food poisoning...Might be an allergic reaction..." There was a long pause as he stared at the tri-corder. Then he scanned her again.
"Doctor?"
"This is most curious. I'm showing that you are seven-weeks pregnant."
The Captain's jaw fell open, as she tried to think of something to say...Her mind almost a complete blank. #
#
Seven weeks ago, she thought as she sat in her ready room an hour later. She smiled slightly at the memory of the dream...Gods it couldn't have really happened? But how? And why did he not remember? She blushed at that. She hadn't asked him...She sat back in the chair as she remembered. #
#
She'd been asleep. Dreaming of him, Chakotay. Not that unusual--her dreams were the only place she would let her desires play.
His mouth had just claimed hers, when the dream had suddenly switched. She had dreamed that she had awoken to find him in her bed. Their eyes had locked, then their mouths and bodies in one of the most incredible, erotic, satisfying dreams she had ever had.
She had awoken the next morning, naked in a pool of sweat. Her nightgown on the floor. She had thrown the sheets in the automatic washer, showered and reported to duty as usual. For several weeks after that she had been very uncomfortable/self-conscious around her first-officer.
She hadn't noticed if he had been uncomfortable around her... #
#
Seven-weeks pregnant. His child, the Doctor had confirmed that Chakotay was the father. Then given her something for the nausea and looked properly horrified that she would think it necessary to ask him not to tell anybody.
She pinched the bridge of her nose...But how?
She tapped her comm-badge, "Mr. Tuvok, please ask all the senior staff to report to the briefing room in five minutes." #
#
She looked at her senior staff, avoiding her First-Officer's concerned glance. "I want every sensor logs for stardate 53009 through 53018 analyzed."
They all looked at her, a mixture of puzzlement, concern, curiosity in their expressions. Tuvok spoke. "Captain, is there something in particular we are looking for?"
"I don't know for sure what. Let's just say something happened then, that has just come to my attention...You're looking for any anomalous reading. I'd like a preliminary report in an hour." She glanced around the table, this time allowing her eyes to linger on Chakotay. *Damn,* she thought. *He recognized the time period.* "Dismissed." Chakotay remained seated as the others left.
"Captain?" He asked when the door had closed.
She looked at him. She had to tell him, it wasn't fair not to...even though her mind was still in turmoil about the whole situation. There was several seconds silence as his mind ran over the possibilities. One kept coming up.
Finally the look of surprise, delight, love that appeared on his face compelled her to speak. "I think we both had the same dream that night." A slight smile and blush appeared on both their faces at the memory. "It wasn't a dream," her smile lessening. "I'm pregnant."
Silence. His mouth open in absolute astonishment. Finally he stammered, "What..."
"That dream--it was real. Somehow it was real..." She watched his brow wrinkle in puzzlement.
"But how?"
"That is what I'm hoping to find out..." She walked over to stand next to him and placed her hands on his shoulders. "But no matter what we find out..."
He pulled her into his lap and kissed her gently. "Marry me."
It was her turn to look astonished. She looked at him and found herself being kissed again, a much more passionate kiss...More like the one from that non-dream. She pulled away. "Chakotay..." She looked at him, "Captain's don't get pregnant..."
He just raised an eyebrow.
Suddenly she started laughing. There was a certain amount of humor in the situation...He joined in...
"I do like a happy ending," a voice said.
Both officers broke off their laughter and looked at the very unwelcome guest. "Q!" They said in unison as they both stood up.
"Who else?" He asked with mock indignation as he rose from the chair he'd appeared in. "Seven weeks before you realized that it had been real...And a bun in the oven...Congratulations you two. It's about time." He walked around them eyeing them carefully. "Yes, she does seem to glow. So does Papa Chuckles."
"Why?" Kathryn asked a bit perturbed.
Q shrugged. "The thrill, the challenge. My wife." He grinned in appreciation. "She will be pleased with this..." He glanced around. "Should I tell the crew, or would you like to?"
"I...We haven't decided any..."
Q shook his head, "You will be good parents...Do you want to know the sex? The kid's name? Oh, I shouldn't tell you that--might be accused of altering the space/time continuum...I do like that word. Well toodles kiddies, I've got to run..." With a flash of light he was gone.
Kathryn looked at Chakotay. "He always dominates the conversation..." The rest of the sentence was lost as his lips again claimed hers.
There was the sound of a throat being cleared behind them. They separated quickly and looked at the new interloper. "Excuse me, Captain." Tuvok said, his face not showing any reaction to the scene he had just witnessed. "But Mr. Kim has just finished the first sensor log. He reports nothing unusual..."
"It was a visit by Q." She looked at Chakotay. "I suppose we should explain. Have a seat Mr. Tuvok." #
#
By lunch everybody knew.
By dinner, B'Elanna had completed the plans for the alterations necessary to unite their neighboring quarters.
The party that Neelix gave them that evening had no strange foodstuffs or liquids...