It had been Tom's idea, Kathryn remembered with a small smile, before the quiet, pensive mood she was feeling overcame her. She surveyed the holodeck.
*It was suppose to be a celebration. An Irish wake,* he'd said. *A celebration of Kes's life. And Kes's last boon. Somehow she'd gotten them ten years closer to home.*
She turned away. Kathryn Janeway, Captain of the USS Voyager, did not feel like celebrating. With one last look around the room, she quietly left. Kes's life deserved the celebration...Except a huge part of her wanted Kes back.
Chakotay had stopped talking with Neelix when he'd spotted the Captain arrive. In uniform. Most of the crew were not.
Neelix smiled slightly and moved over to his buffet table.
Chakotay watched her the few minutes she stayed. Since Kes's...he couldn't call it death--it just didn't seem right: passing maybe--Kathryn had been quite. He knew the young woman had been one of the few people on the ship that Janeway truly called a friend. He was just starting to walk over to the door, when he noticed her slip out.
"Commander?"
Chakotay turned. "Yes B'Elanna?"
The young engineer smiled. "Neelix thought you might want this. It's his last bottle of Talaxian Champagne. Kes's favorite." She stopped for a second, as she vainly tried to stop the tears. Suddenly she forced a bottle and two glasses into his hand before she turned around angrily.
Chakotay looked at the bottle, then the half Klingon woman. B'Elanna would be angrier if he tried to comfort her...anyway--he figured--Tom was looking like he was about to volunteer.
It was also, equally obvious, with whom B'Elanna...and everybody else...expected him to share the champagne with.
Kathryn Janeway looked out her window. The unfamiliar stars. The dancing tendrils of the nebula only reminded her of the cost of being at that particular spot. More than Kes...There were the others. Durst, Caplan...Too many. She leaned her head against the window, and blinked back a tear. Starship Captains don't cry, she sternly reminded herself as another tear fell.
The repairs to Voyager were almost complete. Stellar had almost finished mapping the region. There was an interesting anomaly about two days ahead of them. Tomorrow she would give the order to continue their odyssey home...
She was startled out of her reverie by her doorchimes. "Come in," she called out as she wiped the few stray tears from her eyes. She smiled slightly as she recognized her first officer. "Yes Commander?" Her voice was a bit shaky.
"Kathryn." This was a social call, not ship's business. "I..." He paused.
She saw the bottle, "Champagne?"
He nodded quickly. "Talaxian..."
"It was Kes's favorite. I..." She looked at him strangely. "How did you get it away from Neelix?"
He didn't answer. Instead he placed the glasses on her table and opened the bottle with a small pop. He poured two glasses and carried them over to her. "To Kes," he said after she took the offered glass. Instinctively she raised her glass to his and there was the quiet bell-like clink of the glasses.
"To Kes," was her quiet reply before they each took a sip. "She said something about it being aged under moonlight." Kathryn turned toward the window again. "I shall miss her."
Her voice was so soft he almost didn't hear the last comment. He put his glass on the sill, and placed his hands on her shoulders. "I want you to do something for me," he whispered quietly.
She stiffened slightly, but nodded.
"Contact your spirit guide."
Kathryn turned her head and looked at him slightly puzzled: then looked away.
"I know you haven't for a while, your guide likes to complain..." He stopped.
She stood staring at the stars. "A very long while," not sure she wanted to know why her guide was talking to him. "I've not been able to contact her for a while..." She turned back to face him.
He spoke before she could voice her objections. "We can go together. A shared vision quest." He pulled his medicine bundle from around his neck. She nodded and slipped away, returning a few seconds later with her medicine bundle and her acunah.
"Acuchimoya, we are far from the bones of our people," Chakotay started, very aware of her hand under his.
"Hello," she said. Startled he looked around. Kathryn was talking to her small gecko guide. He smiled as he watched her. A wet nose sniffing at his hand distracted him as he looked down at his spirit guide. The she-wolf didn't say anything but motioned toward a rock.
Kes smiled at him, then at Kathryn who was also aware of the Ocampan's presence. "Kes?"
"Captain. You came. Thank-you Commander." Kes smiled at Kathryn's astonished look. Chakotay and his guide stepped back as Kathryn approached the other woman. "There wasn't time for good-byes. It all happened so fast."
Kathryn was silent her brain working to process this scene.
"Don't grieve for me. This existence is truly wonderful." Kes paused.
Kathryn smiled, Chakotay felt his heart leap at that smile. It been awhile since she'd smiled like that--he just wished she would smile at him again. He turned away.
"I shall miss you...Kes...we all will. The others are wishing you farewell now..."
"I can sense them." Kes looked down at the rocky pathway. "I'm truly sorry, I didn't have time to say good-bye..." Her eyes started to get misty. "Tell them good-bye. Tom, the Doctor, Harry, Tuvok...Neelix, I owe so much to them all..."
"As we owe you, Kes..." Kathryn stopped speaking in a desperate move to control her own tears.
"I only wish I could have done more." There was a long pause and Kes looked about--as if sensing another presence. Both Kathryn and Chakotay looked around too, but saw nothing. "I must go. Kathryn, open your eyes to the many gifts surrounding you. They are many..." She cast a quick look at the Commander, before looking back at the Captain, "...more precious than anything I could give you." She spoke an Ocampan phrase before vanishing in a mist of swirling colors.
Kathryn was sitting on the floor of her quarters, conscious of her First Officer's hand--the gentle movement of his fingers as he caressed hers. She didn't want it to stop, it felt so...right.
She opened her eyes when his hand lifted from hers, and turned to look at him. He smiled, the one that caused her heart to leap--it had been so long since he'd smiled at her...she'd missed it.
The emotions that leapt between them, caused them to stutter something about it being late and having an early duty shift. They stood quickly and Chakotay headed toward the door.
"Commander...Chakotay, I...Thank you." She took his hand.
He lifted her hand and gently placed a kiss on her palm. "Good-night Kathryn."
Kathryn stared at the door after he'd left, wondering about everything. Especially her own sense of peace and contentment.
This is also different than most my scene additions, since it will center around P/T. But don't fret...There is of course, the mandatory J/C scene.
Harry sighed with relief as he watched his two friends appear on the transporter pad. Tom threw him a quick thumb's up before collapsing. Harry beamed them both to sick-bay. "Kim to bridge," he said as he stood there. "I've beamed both to sick-bay."
"Very good, Ensign Kim." He smiled as he headed to sick-bay.
"But..." Tom tried for the third time to cut the Doctor off.
"You are fine. Just get something to eat and drink. And I want you to sleep. As for this young woman, she is suffering from mild hypoxia. I expect a full recovery. Now *Lieutenant* will you leave my sick-bay peacefully, or shall I have security escort you out."
Tom was about to make his fourth protestation, but was cut off by a hand on his shoulder. "Come Tom," Harry smiled at his friend. "She'll be fine. I'll buy you breakfast."
Tom silently acquiesced and followed his friend to the dining hall. It was when he sat down at the table and waited for Harry to bring him whatever Neelix was feeding them, that he realized how tired he was. He considered putting his head on the table and falling asleep. It was a very tempting thought. Too tempting.
It was the tray that Harry placed beside him that finally prevented him from falling asleep. He looked at the green and red stuff and raised his head.
Harry waited until Tom had eaten several bites and sipped the morning beverage. "Well?"
Tom looked at him and sighed. "I think I have to agree with B'Elanna. It was the worst day of my life." Tom yawned--this from a man with a number of worst days. He quietly added, "And quite possibly one of the best."
Harry glanced at him with peculiar look. "What happened?"
Tom smiled at the memory. "It was interesting."
Harry looked at him slightly exasperated. "Interesting." He said flatly. "You both were suffering from Oxygen deprivation, you managed to lose another shuttle...And the warp core as well...And all you can say is *It was interesting.*" He sipped some more of the beverage.
"Oxygen deprivation...Maybe that explains it."
"What?" Harry asked, his curiosity still piqued.
"She said she loved me..." Tom blushed as he spoke. Harry's eyes opened wide as he spilled some of the cinnamon colored liquid on the table. Tom's face took on a shade of panic, as he quickly added, "Gods Harry don't tell anyone. She'll kill me."
Harry grinned. "And?"
Tom looked at his friend with a puzzled look. "And?"
"What did you say in return?" Harry was practically beaming.
"Uhhh. Nothing. She passed out and Voyager arrived."
"So, what will you say to her?" Harry prodded his friend.
Tom shook his head. "I don't know. I mean...I've..." He paused. "I have feelings for her...but...I mean. How can she love me...I'm such a royal...pig." Tom looked at his tray, "I'm sorry Harry. I don't want to talk about it." He again yawned. Again his thoughts turned to sleep...but mostly he wondered about B'Elanna and her apparent loss of reason. He quickly stood and wished Harry good night--and disappeared to his quarters.
B'Elanna was contemplating two things. If strangling the Doctor was considered a crime or if she should just rewrite his program. She was just deciding to try both, when Harry entered sick-bay.
"Gee B'Elanna, I can hear you through-out the ship." He smiled at her.
"Well this overwritten pain in the algorithm won't let me leave."
The Doctor nodded. "Lieutenant Torres has not agreed to follow my orders to eat something then get some sleep."
"Damn it Doctor, I've got a warp core to re-install and recalibrate...An investigation to conduct on what went wrong in the first place..." She glared at Harry who was laughing quietly. "And why the Hell are you laughing." It was still her bad day.
"Let's see. Seven and the Captain determined what happened several hours ago. Carey and I are working with her on how to write a report. She's pretty smart..." He stopped speaking as B'Elanna's glare intensified.
"Yea...Well, that still leaves..."
"The warp core has been reinstalled. Vorik is working on recalibrating it..." Harry was just full of good news, B'Elanna decided as she growled in frustration.
"See Lieutenant," the Doctor said. "Everything is fine. Except you. And you will be too after eating and getting some sleep. I've officially placed both you and Paris on medical-leave for the next twenty hours." He looked at Harry. "Ensign, perhaps you can accompany Lieutenant Torres to the dining hall and make sure she eats something."
"Yes Doctor." Harry turned and looked at B'Elanna. "Come on B'Elanna."
Harry smiled as he made his way back to engineering about half-an-hour later. B'Elanna had been pretty quiet while she ate something Neelix had thrown together for her. The only thing she had said of interest was that Tom was not a pig...
Tom was restless. With about three hours left before he returned to duty he couldn't stand sitting in his quarters any longer. He knew that a huge part of that restlessness was that he needed to talk with B'Elanna, but was too chicken to face her. Part of him worried that she would claim to have meant those fateful words. Another--a much larger--part of him was fearful that she hadn't. He closed his eyes.
Chirrip.
Tom looked up startled. "Enter." Even before the door opened he knew who it was. "B'Elanna."
She hesitated in the door, quickly wondering why she was here. Taking a deep breath she started. "Tom...what I said."
He nodded. "I understand," for some reason he felt his heart lurch.
She shook her head. "That's...I meant what I said...It's just that I'm not..." She closed her eyes--missing the smile that spread across his face.
He considered kissing her, but decided that...He would. He placed a quick kiss on her lips and stepped away. "Be..."
She looked up at him and grinned.
"So, is this day any better?" He asked.
"Much." She turned toward the door. "I'll see you later."
"'Til then." Tom felt like singing.
The morning briefing was uneventful, except for one thing. B'Elanna and Tom kept casting significant looks at each other. Captain Janeway watched them and her first officer as he watched them. She quietly motioned for him to remain at the end.
The two senior officers waited until everyone had left before looking at each.
Chakotay spoke first, "So?"
She sighed. "It's not exactly a situation I have been trained to deal with."
He nodded. "Considering...Everything," he motioned slightly with hands to indicate the delta quadrant.
"We've talked about the crew eventually pairing off...It's just that in the senior staff..."
He glanced at her then moved to stand behind her. "Don't tell me your against it?"
It was her turn to sigh. "No, I'm not. Unless it interferes."
Chakotay laughed. "With B'Elanna..."
She closed her eyes. "I guess we'll have to hope she leaves us our pilot in one piece more often than not. What will the crew think of all this."
"Close your eyes," he whispered.
"What?"
"Close your eyes. Trust me." He placed his hands on her shoulders and moved to stand close behind her. "Now imagine that you are crewmen Smith in...let's say in security"
She cocked her head and started to ask a question, but his gentle kneading of her shoulders stopped her...
"Now, you've been on this ship," he continued quietly. "For just over three years."
"OK. This sounds familiar."
They both grinned, as he continued. "Now you learn that two of the senior staff are romantically involved."
"OK, I've just learned Tom and B'Elanna are a couple..."
"It doesn't have to be them...but we'll say it is. How do you feel about it?" He grinned slightly.
"Hmmm. Can I have her quarters when she moves in with Tom?"
Chakotay started laughing in her hair. "I think we can arrange something. I've had several people requesting their own quarters these past few months. They want more space, for hobbies or their own budding romances."
"I hear Megan Delaney has taken up pottery, and her quarters are a mess."
"Her neighbors are complaining about the wheel. She throws pots after her shift."
His fingers were massaging her neck muscles: the gentle motion was lulling her to sleep. "Maybe we can get her to make..." She leaned back. "Some new plates for the dining hall."
"Possible. Now, what would this Ensign Smith say if she learned that say...the Captain was getting a roommate."
"Who'd want to room with the Captain?" Janeway laughed. "I think Ensign Smith would ask..."
"If she could have the new roommate's old room." They said together and started laughing. She turned around and leaned against his chest.
"So who would be foolish enough to move in with..." She stopped talking and moved away from him. She smiled sheepishly as she turned away. "Commander, the tactical reports on Cataati.
Chakotay's smile faded as he watched the walls go up. "Aye Captain. I'll have it for you in two hours."
"Very good commander. Two hours. Dismissed." She watched him turn to leave. "Chakotay." He turned slightly. She hesitated, "Two hours." She looked down at the pile of PADDs on the table and sighed. Her mind was wandering over what he had said. She smiled slightly. It would be a long two hours.
Tuvok watched the Captain flee sick-bay and quirked an eyebrow. He turned back to the ambassador who was still staring at the door. The ambassador muttered something before speaking to Tuvok. "Their methods are thorough. Eventually he will stop hating us, but by then you will be far away. I need to return to my planet." Tuvok nodded and escorted their guest back to the transporter room
Kathryn watched him turn the corner. She could see the hate he still felt against the Kragen. Even understood it. Then there was the feelings he must be undergoing. Feelings of betrayal...confusion. She followed him.
Chakotay had pulled off his jacket and was staring at nothing when the door chime sounded. He closed his eyes. He didn't want to talk to anyone, to see anyone...
The chime sounded again. He considered telling whomever to go away, but instead called out, "Enter."
They stood staring at each other for several seconds before turning and looking at the walls. Kathryn spoke first. "Do you want to talk about it?"
"I don't know if there is much to tell." He sighed as he ran his hand through his hair. "To discover that everything I've been through..."
She gave him a half-hearted smile. "Chakotay..." Again they looked at each other. This time he returned her smile.
"Hate is such a powerful emotion..." He looked away again, this time she continued to watch him. "They taught me to hate the Kragen. To consider them beasts. Evil. The things they did..."
Her heart ached for him. She wanted to reach out and touch him, let him know that she was there for him. But she didn't. "The Kragen say the same..." She paused to regroup her thoughts. He didn't need more reasons to continue his self-recrimination. "It's their war, we don't know who's right...who's wrong. It's been going on so long that both sides have probably forgotten what it was originallly about. A war of propaganda, of atrocities. Both sides so trained to hate the other that peace is unlikely. Both sides desperate enough to do anything. Anything to survive...to win. You just happened to be in the wrong spot."
Chakotay looked at her. She finally walked over and put her hand on his shoulder. "They fear each other..." She continued, not moving her hand. She stepped closer. "That fear causes hatred. You are right. Hate is an extremely powerful emotion. It's hard to overcome. It is probably the most destructive force in the galaxy."
Chakotay nodded. "They will continue fighting. All that waste." He reached up and took her hand in his. "Hate is a powerful emotion--but there is one more potent."
She looked at their joined hands, then back at his face. She closed her eyes and still all she could see was him looking at her. His finger brushing her cheek gently caused her to open them. "Chak..." His lips on hers silenced whatever she was going to say.
They pulled apart at the same moment, flushed and breathless. Kathryn stepped back, her mind racing. She had come here to talk with him, not...If she didn't leave now, she wouldn't. "I...Chakotay...I..." She couldn't think of anything coherent to say.
"Kathryn..." He smiled at her.
"I," she looked at him, suddenly emboldened. "I need time to think...Night, Chakotay." Their goodnight kiss was less intense and very quick.
"Good night...And Kathryn..."
She turned in the door, "Yes?"
"Thank-you."
She smiled as she left.
Chakotay stared at the closed doors. Silently he removed his acunah and medicine bundle and sat on the floor. In the hours since his...rescue, he had not felt calm enough to contact his spirit guide. He'd been too angry, too hateful. Now, with a sense of peace he set out to find his guide.
In TV guide it was mentioned that KJ would think about the loneliness of command...Well, I really doubt they will (pessimist)...and without Kes there is no counselor. So, I have her converse with her gecko spirit guide...
Kathryn sat in her darkened quarters in a near-trance-like-state. A part of her was surprised that after all these months (almost 2 years) since she had last contacted her spirit guide on her own, that she was trying to. She had talked briefly with her gecko three times since her First Officer had shown her how. Then she had stopped. There were many reasons. Mostly time...belief...and if she would admit it...him. It was also him that had recently reintroduced her to her guide.
She thought quickly of the events of the past 3 years. New Earth...Hanon...the Borg...Kes...
Tom and B'Elanna.
She sighed--was that a twinge of jealousy she felt--that another two people on Voyager had found each other. So far away from everything that had been familiar...safe...and yet would they recognize home when (she forced herself to think when--if was not an option) they made it back to the alpha-quadrant.
What was home? She asked herself as she looked around her dreamscape. She didn't see her gecko, but she recognized the forest as New Earth...This caused an unexpected twinge--regret? She brushed that thought aside as she continued looking for her guide.
"Hello," she called out. No response.
She smiled suddenly as she found the gecko lying on a rock. It looked up at her and flicked out it's tongue. "You're blocking the sun..." A decidedly feminine voice said.
Kathryn ducked to one side and watched the gecko stretch out, enjoying the early afternoon rays. "You've not been around much..."
Kathryn shook her head, not sure if she should offer an apology for the lack of attention.
The gecko smiled (if that was possible), "You are bothered." A simple statement. "Life in your world is changing...Expectations are changing..." The forest turned fuzzy...blurry and Kathryn Janeway found herself alone on the floor of her quarters...
She rubbed her eyes and stood. Change...Everything was changing.
Kathryn lay back down on her bed. He was dreaming again, she could hear the muffled sounds through the wall that separated them.
She sighed. Sometimes she could hear words, names, incomplete phrases. She'd meant to talk with him--ask him if everything was all right--but recent events had interfered.
Now she lingered in her bed--lost in her thoughts. There was a thud--like he'd kicked the wall.
She made up her mind in that instant. It well might be the most dangerous decision she'd made involving herself...another thump interrupted. She dressed quickly.
She entered his darkened quarters and waited a minute by the door for her eyes to again adjust to the dark. She then carefully made her way toward his bedroom.
Chakotay was asleep, his bedding wrapped around him like a giant python. He rolled over and cursed in an unknown language. She didn't recognize the words, but she recognized the emotion.
She knelt beside the bed, her hand reaching for his face. "Chakotay..." She whispered.
"Hmmm." He didn't wake, but she noticed him relax.
"Chakotay." Unconsciously now her fingers were exploring his face--a face that had been hard in its anger when she'd first entered, but was beginning to look peaceful. "Everything is alright."
His eyes fluttered open, "Kathryn?" If this was a dream, he didn't want to wake-up.
"Shhh. It's me. You were dreaming again."
"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to wake you." Her fingers were still caressing his face. He forced himself to ignore what her touch was doing to him.
She smiled. "I wasn't asleep. Do you want to talk?" She pulled her hand away suddenly--as she realized what she had been doing.
He sighed at the loss of her touch. "I don't know..." His voice faded away as he straightened out the bedding.
She looked at him, concern filling her features. "You haven't been sleeping well since your encounter with the Vori. You look tired and I've been listening to you every night..."
He lay back down and stared at the ceiling. "They twisted everything I ever believed in--distorted me...my beliefs...to suit their purposes. My dreams...what I remember...have been a tangled mess...Reliving battles against the Cardassians--only to see the Kragen...My father's funeral becomes the little girl's funeral. Jungles fuse into deserts." He rubbed his forehead.
"Have you talked with the Doctor?"
Chakotay shook his head as he rolled over on his side to watch her. "Not much point..." Which was true, she realized. The EMH was not programmed to handle psychological programs past the basics. "I had considered asking for a couple of days off to undergo a purification ritual...but..."
"Chakotay, whenever you want those two days...They're yours." They both realized that the unspoken *but* was very likely to interfere. She started to stand, but his hands reached out and grasped hers.
"Thanks." He smiled at her.
She hoped it was too dark for him to realize that she was blushing. "You're welcome." She waited for him to release her hand enjoying the warmth their contact infused in her. "Chakotay..."
"There's something bothering you?" He asked, not letting go of her hand.
She sat on the edge of his bed. "I...I..." She looked at him. "Once we talked about the crew pairing off..." She blushed at the memory, but continued speaking. "I always thought we would find a way home before that started happening..."
He grinned. "At that moment, if you had told me one of those couples would be B'Elanna and Tom..." He stopped speaking. He probably would have been furious at B'Elanna--Tom had still been an unproven hot-headed jack-ass. A lot had changed. He looked at their hands--they were still clasped. A lot had changed--but not as much as he would have liked.
She noticed his eyes glance at their hands, and self-consciously pulled hers out of his. Both her hands rested in her lap. "I'd better leave..." She didn't move.
"Kathryn?"
She panicked--unsure of how she would respond to the question she feared was coming. Her heart beat started racing and it was with a great deal of effort that she controlled her breathing. "Hmmm?"
He sat up behind her, placing both his hands on her shoulders. "A lot has changed..." He whispered close to her ear. Unconsciously his thumb stroked her neck. "We've settled into life aboard Voyager. Our home is here...We're family..."
Suddenly she stood. "I...Good night." The last was barely a whisper. She moved to the doorway and looked at him.
Chakotay smiled as he watched her leave.
B'Elanna stared at her ceiling. Another strange day--life had been full of strange days recently. Her alarm would be going off soon. She should just get up, shower and get dressed.
She didn't. She thought back to the previous evening. Tom had appeared...both of them were hesitant...the dripping innuendo of their meeting in sick-bay had been replaced by extreme shyness. She'd been surprised at Tom's reluctance. Hers too...considering the kiss he'd planted on her outside of the dining hall. They'd spent the evening telling stories. She grinned: so Harry had a crush on 7/9. Sweet kid, just poor judgment recently in regards to women. B'Elanna growled slightly at the thought of 7/9. The Borg-female irritated B'Elanna, she just couldn't tell exactly why. That Borg arrogance, self assurance...
Her mind made the connection from self-assurance to that extremely insecure hologram...She shivered at the memory. It might have been interesting to study the algorithms...compare them...She shook her head. She wanted nothing to do with that hologram. She had enough problems with Voyager's EMH.
Her alarm sounded. With a sigh she started her day.
Lieutenant Commander Tuvok stood at his station and looked around the bridge. He accepted the congratulations of the departing shift with his usual Vulcan stoicism. He looked at the PADD he was carrying.
Harry was jumpy, Chakotay noted with a grin as he entered the bridge. He didn't blame the kid...It couldn't be easy to propositioned by a Borg...The First Officer whispered something to Tuvok, then moved to his chair. He still had the crew assignments to redo...
Janeway said good morning to Harry and Tuvok and a very quick greeting to her First Officer. Tom who was right behind her grinned. He walked by Harry and asked, "And how is Seven of Nine?"
Harry shot his friend a wicked look and watched him move to the nav-console. Tom sat down--there was a wicked hiss of air and Tom leapt off the chair. He reached down and pulled up a balloon like object.
Janeway controlled her smile as she examined the faces of the bridge crew--well all but one face. They looked surprised--some even laughing quietly. "Lieutenant, were you planning on flying the ship or playing with the cushion?"
Tom examined his chair quickly and sat down. He controlled the urge to look around, as he mentally ran down the list of people who had been near his chair. With a wicked smile he looked over the previous shift's logs. Realizing he was still holding the whoopie cushion he tossed it under his nav-console and mentally made a list of possible revenge scenarios...
At the end of the episode, Chakotay looked extremely uncomfortable...So I figure that the addition I did for Revulsion happened a couple of nights earlier.
Chakotay stared at the walls of his office. He had fled--yes that's what he had done--twenty minutes after Voyager had left Boemar space and they had stood down from the yellow-alert. He could still feel everybody's eyes on him...
He closed his eyes. B'Elanna would be arriving shortly with another estimate on constructing a new shuttle. Engineering was getting quite good at it...At least this time he hadn't been piloting it.
He had to sort out his feelings...And the other night. They had come so close. Too close. He could feel her uncomfortableness with the situation...She just hid it better than he did. Every time she looked at him, he'd wondered what she was thinking. Was she regretting what had happened--would the big speech on protocol be coming soon. He had over the years developed the counter-argument, but somehow suspected she wouldn't give him an opportunity.
"Since when have I been so pessimistic..." He muttered quietly.
"I wouldn't know Chakotay, but you're damn lucky I wasn't another intruder..."
He practically jumped. "B'Elanna? How..."
"Your door was unlocked. The report on the shuttle..." She grinned as she placed a PADD on his desk. "So what brings on this deep meditation...Hmmm let me guess. You have an idea for improving the fuel consumption of the sub-warp engines...
He smiled. "That sounds like something you should talk to Seven about..." He was rewarded with a frown.
"Very funny...considering everything that happened..."
"Well Harry thinks highly of her..."
"B'Elanna smiled. "Harry and the...(The Lieutenant was going to call Seven the raunchy name engineering had given her)...And Seven...Personally I don't see the attraction...Oh yes, back to what you were contemplating..." She paused and looked around. "The Captain seems a bit contemplative too...It isn't by any chance related???"
"She was worried about Seven," Chakotay said forcing himself to read the report.
"Uhuh. Maybe...The past few days..." There was no easy way to say this..."We've wondered if perhaps things are progressing along that front?"
He looked startled and started to speak, but B'Elanna cut him off with a drastic change in subject. "Perhaps you can discuss with her, the practical joker...I really don't like Gagh--alive or dead. Well I have a shuttle to construct...So long Commander." She grinned wickedly as she left.
Chakotay shook his head and looked down at her report...This newest shuttle would again deplete their titanium supplies.
He leaned back in his chair and finished the report. He entered his authorization.
The door chimes sounded. This time, whomever was outside his door, waited for him to say enter. "Captain," he started to stand.
She motioned him to remain seating. "We need to talk." Kathryn watched as a brief look of panic passed over his face. "Not here, my quarters 1900 hours?" She remained standing next to the door.
"Captain?"
"Are you available at 1900 hours?" She glanced about nervously.
He smiled, "I'm available."
She grinned. "Good...Oh and Chakotay--dress casual." Kathryn started to leave, but suddenly turned and looked at him. She took a deep breath. "I..." She looked down at the floor then back at him. She waited until he was looking at her. "I love you." Her face lit up with a smile and he responded. She briefly wondered if he realized what that smile did to her.
"Kathryn...I love you." She blushed as she left.
The mess hall was crowded with the lunch crowd, Neelix noted as he prepared a light meal for Seven. Something easy on the digestive system...and bland. Neelix was not one for cooking bland food. But the doctor had ordered him too.
"Neelix?" Janeway asked as she picked up her tray.
"Ah, Captain. You would like a serving of my Trethan squash gratin?"
She nodded. It was one of the Talaxian's more palatable dishes. "Is that for Seven?" She asked, indicating what he was preparing.
Neelix smiled. "Yes, Captain. The poor kid must be hungry...and after this recent incident..." The dining hall silenced suddenly. They turned and watched Seven enter the dining hall. Harry entered behind her and showed her to a table.
Janeway watched curiously. The diners were talking again--but they were wary--furtive glances cast toward the former Borg...and Harry. It would be a long while before Seven was fully trusted by the crew.
"Good-afternoon Captain, Neelix."
"Harry." Neelix placed Seven's meal on a tray. "Would you care for some Trethan squash gratin?"
Harry nodded. He felt uncomfortable with everyone watching--and new that there were plenty of rumors...Hell, he'd been the subject of rumors before.
"Harry," Janeway started. Harry looked at her. "You might want to have the doctor talk to her about what happens later..." Teaching her to eat was one thing. Neelix had written a report about that...Teaching her...
"Aye Captain..." She watched him sit down by Seven and obviously start discussing food and what to do with it.
"Ah," Tom's said from behind her. "Captain, watching the second-most-talked-about couple on Voyager?"
Janeway turned and looked at the pilot. "You and B'Elanna the first?"
Tom blushed. "We're third now. Same couple that's held the number one spot our entire stay--still holds it." He took his food and left quickly.
Janeway puzzled over that, she usually avoided such rumors...but was intrigued that...As she sat down she realized what couple he had been talking about.
She looked nervously around her quarters. She had replicated a simple light-dinner. Nothing to complicated. She rearranged the silverware--not because there was something wrong, but to do something.
The familiar chirp of her doorchime. "Finally," she whispered even though he was a couple of minutes early. "Come in."
They stood staring at each other for a minute or two, before he held out the flowers he was carrying. Daffodils. He continued to stare as she took the flowers and found something to put them in. She looked wonderful in the light blue dress. He had no idea what to expect...But one of them needed to speak and soon.
He did. Ship's business--safe and familiar. "So..."
She smiled. "So...I talked with Seven this afternoon. She really is a fascinating person." She emphasized that last word. "Though after this latest incident, I worry about the crew accepting her..."
"There are...concerns. Though I'm not sure that this incident will be too damaging...She's Borg...and yet she had her weapon set on stun...She didn't destroy any ships...And B'Elanna wants to adapt the modifications Seven made to the shuttlecraft shields for Voyager."
Kathryn smiled. "Interesting." She moved toward the little table.
Both officers studiously avoided looking at each other as they discussed ship's business over dinner. During the frequent long pauses, both were thinking *what next.*
She silently picked up the dishes and carried them to the recycler, her mind racing. She stood for several seconds to regain her calm...when she felt his hands on her shoulders. Startled she turned only to find herself held tightly in his arms as he tilted his head slightly.
They reluctantly separated. She knew all she had to do was hold out her hand and he would stay...She wanted him...but this was still so new. She smiled.
They kissed again, this time less passionately. "I'd better be going..." He said huskily. "Good night."
Seven looked around what had been her home for so many weeks. As Borg her thoughts were everyone's thoughts. But as she looked around, she felt a sense...she couldn't describe it. Harry had told her they had read her journal...Her private thoughts...It was that word...private. It was so alien to her being, yet she felt the violation of her privacy.
Then there was food. She didn't know what to make of it...It seemed so wasteful. And...what was the word the Doctor had used. Hygiene. Just more evidence of how wasteful organic life could be...
But these people...illogical...wasteful...separate had cared for her...worried about her. Like her family had...If only there had been more time...The Raven, once her home...her last link with everything she had known...
If there had been time, she would have found her room, seen if Timothy was...No...a stuffed bear would not have survived all these years.
She leaned in her chair. Her thoughts racing through the past several weeks. They had spent the two days since the aliens departure going over the ship's records trying to find clues on when and how they had arrived. A glitch here, a sneeze there...But still they had no idea when...
As to why. Kathryn snarled slightly as she looked at the glass she was holding. The red liquid lapped against the sides as she put it down with a frown. In the name of progress, humanity...It was science...Or so the alien had claimed.
Kathryn was a scientist, and held the principles of science very close to her heart and mind...and yet since speaking to that...alien--Kathryn couldn't bring herself to think of her as a scientist--she'd felt confused...humiliated. To see those principles she believed in, mutilated and twisted to something so...Gross, cruel...unnecessary. She sighed as she took another sip of wine.
Voyager's captain looked around the empty room. The wooden tables and benches, the candles...A certain ambiance--dark, moody. She grimaced. "Computer run characters." Immediately the noise level was loud, boisterous, gay.
A server walked over, his dark hair and pointed nose made him slightly comical. "Ahh, Signorina."
"I'm waiting for a friend," Kathryn said quietly.
The server nodded, then gave her a knowing look. "I understand." He winked as he walked away.
Tuvok walked down the corridor. He paused briefly in the lift, before giving his destination. "Deck 6."
Before the doors closed Chakotay leapt in. "Good afternoon Tuvok." He rubbed his head: the feel of his hair reminded him of the events of just two days ago. It was still scratchy--his hair. The Doctor had stimulated the hair follicles...but had also advised that it would be several days.
"Commander," Tuvok looked straight at the door.
"So, what do you have planned for this evening?" Chakotay asked. More, out of habit--than to make conversation with the Vulcan.
"I had planned on joining Captain Janeway on holodeck one...But I would like to finish the security analysis." He didn't look at the commander as he continued. "Perhaps you would take my message to her."
Chakotay looked at Tuvok in surprise. He tried to get a reading on the Vulcan's intentions--but the dark face was just as bland as ever. He smiled slightly as the doors opened on deck six. "If you insist, I would be happy to deliver her message." He stepped off the lift and again looked at Tuvok, still a bit puzzled.
Tuvok returned the look, quirked an eyebrow--and ordered the lift to deck three.
Chakotay stood there a second, then walked toward the holodeck.
The scene surprised him. He had expected some Vulcan meditation program. He instead found himself on a bustling street in Renaissance Italy. He had no idea where to begin to look for her. He stopped to ask a young girl. She giggled and pointed toward a building down the ally--past the fruit vendor. He walked quickly down the ally, it was noisy and loud. The vendors selling their wares. Suddenly from an upstairs window he heard shouting and rapid Italian phrases. He had no idea what was being said. He paused at the door and entered.
It was an inn or something he realized when he entered. He glanced around the crowded establishment and found her. She was sitting at a far table.
Kathryn looked at the door, Tuvok had said he would meet her this evening for a glass of wine. She glanced at her chronometer, then back at the door. She felt her face grow hot as Chakotay entered. She started to stand, wondering what had happened that needed her attention. He motioned for her to sit down as he approached.
His grin grew bigger as he drew nearer. The pale blue dress she was wearing looked enchanting--even though it wasn't in period. "Hello Kathryn."
"Commander, is there a problem?" She asked.
He shook his head, "No. Tuvok asked me to tell you that he had to finish the security reports."
"Oh." She looked disappointed, he noticed. "Well...Thank-you for bringing me the message." She started to stand again, but he sat down.
"Oh no you don't." There eyes met for a split second, before both looked away. They both sat down.
Chakotay reached for the bottle and poured himself a glass. Refilling hers, he raised his glass. "To Voyager and her wonderful Captain."
She smiled self-consciously, "To Voyager and her great crew."
Chakotay pointed to a far table. "Renaissance Tuscany--I would like to tour it...Who programmed this?"
"I did...Tom helped," she quickly added as they watched what was probably a *business* deal being transacted.
"Hmm. And what is upstairs?" He added as they watched the couple head up the stairs.
"I..." She looked at him and smiled. "Just what did Tuvok say?" A deft change of subject.
"He asked if I would deliver his message...Then he quirked an eyebrow." He leaned over the table. "Did he really offer to flog the crew for you?"
She gasped on her wine, sputtering slightly. "How...Yes he did. And Seven says he wasn't wired..." Her eyes saddened as she remembered what else had transpired. "How are you doing?"
He scratched his head as he answered--the new growth itched. "Better. And you?"
"I feel like a fool..." She laughed a bit self consciously. "I chewed Tom and B'Elanna out...Looking back," she looked at him and started laughing.
He frowned--or rather tried to, "What do you find so funny?"
"I'm sorry, it's just..."
"Are you laughing at my hair Kathryn Janeway?" He controlled the urge to join in laughing.
"Of course not, Chakotay," she sputtered. "I...I can't believe those aliens did that to you...to us."
"I can't believe you flew the ship between two pulsars...Reckless..."
"It had to be done..."
"Of course." He watched her. "How are you doing?"
She shrugged and stared at the dark red liquid.
"You look tense," he whispered.
"Even with the last trace of the alien experiments removed..." She smiled at him. "Not like I was."
He stood and moved behind her, placing his hands on her shoulders. Gently he started massaging her shoulders. "Do I do as good a job as the Doc?" He asked after several minutes.
"Hmmm. Much better..." Her eyes had closed. "Chakotay?" She asked quietly.
"Yes," he was gently rubbing her neck.
"Speaking of B'Elanna and Tom..."
"What about them?"
"We've never really developed a policy on such things..."
He leaned over and whispered in her ear, "Do we need a policy?"
"Up to this incident..."
"They were under the influence of the aliens..."
"But it made me think. We don't have anyway of handling a bad break-up, the trauma of losing a loved one. We aren't set up to handle children."
He stopped massaging, but kept his hands on her shoulders. "Maybe we should consider it. Someone will need to fly this ship in thirty years..."
"I'm hoping we have found our way back to Federation space by then."
"And if we haven't?"
She swallowed the last bit of wine and stood taking his hand. She looked at him. "I'm placing you in charge of the committee to develop a plan. Little Wildman will be ready to enter school soon."
He raised her hand to his lips. "It would be an honor." He leaned down and kissed her. "So what is upstairs?"
She laughed just before her comm-badge chirped. "Janeway here."
"Captain, I'm sorry if I'm interrupting," Harry's voice said. "But I think we have found when the aliens first came aboard."
She glanced at Chakotay and shrugged. "Very good, I'll meet you in engineering in five minutes."
"Kathryn?"
"Oh, I suppose, come along." He let go of her hand just before they exited the program.
Bit of a *joke*: I wrote the opening of the J/C scene for something else--before I saw YOH1. The curious thing is that I called the ship the Endeavour...I decided to change it... Two days after the *events* (or is that nonevents) of YOH2.
Janeway looked at the doctor as the last of her staff left the briefing room, "You want to see me?"
"Thank-you Captain. I have noted an increase in insomnia and headaches in the crew over the past two days. These conditions can be treated, quite effectively--if I may so--but only if I know about it." He frowned as he continued, "I have also noticed a disturbing similarity in the dreams of those whom I have treated."
She looked startled. "Really, how?"
"They all involve Voyager being heavily damaged." He looked at her curiously. "Have you..."
She nodded, "It's nothing. I don't see how it fits in, but I've dreamed about a...About a watch...He was pretty grubby though." She smiled at the image.
"Who?"
"Nobody," she covered quickly. "What about feelings of deja vu?"
"Deja vu? A feeling like one has done or said something before. I haven't heard...But that isn't exactly a medical condition."
She cocked her head slightly, "No it's not..." But it was an interesting coincidence that she'd heard of several accounts of feelings of deja vu these past two days.
Harry looked up from studying the patterns on the floor when Torres entered the turbo-lift, "So, B'Elanna are you going to the movies tonight?"
She laughed. Tom's fascination with old Twentieth century movies was becoming part of the weekly entertainment. "Wouldn't miss it. He's showing *To Catch a Thief.* I've seen the holographic version twice. Clark Gable's pretty good in it..."
"Cary Grant," Harry said. "Same initials..." He paused and looked at her. Both officers showed a similar unsettled, startled expression that passed when B'Elanna laughed again.
"That was weird."
"Like we've had this conversation before." Harry shook his head as the doors opened. Still slightly puzzled he exited quickly.
Tuvok looked at the view screen, then glanced around the bridge. Without thinking his fingers ran over his console, feeling only the smoothness. Slightly puzzled he looked down. He wondered briefly what he had expected to see.
Chakotay tensed slightly as he heard the approach: the sound of someone walking across the hard rock surface. He didn't look back, but continued to study the night sky. He relaxed--he knew who had come. With a slight smile he lay his head back down on the ground.
"Are you planning on spending the night here?" She asked. "You missed our working dinner."
"I was watching the stars." He pointed upward as another light streaked across the black sky. "And wishing on the falling ones." He laughed at his own silliness.
Kathryn raised an eyebrow, "Really?"
"Uh huh. It must be later than I thought." He made no move to get up. "I've been enjoying lying here and watching stationary stars. It's a perspective I don't get to see too often." Even if they were only in the holodeck.
When she didn't answer, he glanced at her and smiled. She was staring at the sky too. "It's easier if you at least sit down." He sat up and patted the ground next to him. He was surprised when she sat down by him.
"So where are we?"
"Hmmm. Oh, on Vulcan. I just modified the climate some."
"Vulcan? Curious." She watched another meteor streak by. "So, what did you wish for?"
"It's a secret. If you tell, the wish won't come true."
She wrapped her arms around her knees and rocked slightly, "I wished for a pony once when I was a kid...Didn't work."
"Works best if you wish for things you have more control over."
She smiled, "But doesn't that defeat the purpose?"
"No. And sometimes it even works."
"Do I want to know what you wished for?" She let her eyes linger on his face.
"I was wishing you would come here," he whispered.
"All you had to do was use your comm-badge," she retorted disbelievingly.
"But, I didn't have to." His grin grew as he turned his head to watch her. "I was also wishing that I could do this." He reached out and took her right hand from her knee and pulled her toward him.
"What do you think you are doing?"
"Granting myself one of my wishes--throwing unwritten StarFleet protocols out the window."
She felt her stomach quiver as her body responded to his touch. He didn't kiss her: just pulled her closer to him. He sat up and wrapped his arms around her.
"Chakotay..." She couldn't think what to say.
"So, do you have a deepest wish," he whispered. "One that requires that you do something?"
Her eyes sparkled as she turned her head to look at him. "I have plenty of those..." She cocked her head, "And it seems, so do you. But wishes don't change reality..." She looked at him, her mood shifting to melancholy.
"Kathryn Janeway," he said a bit testily. He voice calmed as he continued, "The entire crew knows I'm in love with you--and have been since soon after joining your staff." He raised a hand to touch her face, she leaned into his touch. "It hasn't affected their attitudes or work habits..." His grin grew wicked, "Just the betting pools."
"Captains..."
He cut off her retort, "Don't become involved with members of their crew...Nor do they get flung 70 years from everything they know."
She stared at the stars as she spoke--but her mind was concentrating on the man beside her. "I knew the moment you appeared on the bridge that day, that you were going to be trouble...That I should have locked you in the brig and thrown away the key." She paused as she remembered something he'd said a few seconds earlier. "Betting pool?"
He nodded, "Several in fact."
She shook her head then smiled slightly. "So the crew is betting on when I'm going to toss you in the brig?"
He glanced away, so she wouldn't see his answering grin, "Actually, I believe most the bets involve tossing elsewhere..."
She closed her eyes as her face heated up. She remembered such pools on other ships she had served on through-out her career. She'd just never really thought about being the subject of one though...
He again looked at her. "It's not that bad. On the Endurance I heard they were betting when the Chief of Security would get caught." He smiled, "A friend told me she was smuggling Rarian Whiskey."
"Missed that one." She looked at the ground, then back up at the stars, her neck curving back.
Chakotay reached up and touched her face, he hadn't planned on more--but when she turned to look at him, the longing in her eyes unmistakable--he leaned over and kissed her. He felt her shiver as he pulled away...Her hands reached around his neck and she pulled his head back down to hers.
"One must be careful what one wishes for," she whispered as she broke the kiss.
He smiled as she leaned her head on his shoulder. "Do you want to go to holodeck two? Tom's showing a movie." Kathryn asked.
Chakotay shook his head. "I'm not up to another disaster film? Last time is was a *Night to Remember.*"
"No, he promised me it was a comedy. No ships sink..." She stopped and looked at him. "Bulkheads? Does that mean anything?"
"No...Yes..." He looked at her, "You too?"
She nodded, "Strange things. Like when I made tea this afternoon--I sat for several minutes staring at my teacup--it was almost like it wanted to tell me something."
"I was looking at all that exotic food Neelix prepared for the Astrometric lab dedication...It reminded of a...A dream."
"I had a dream..." She blushed. "A watch...You gave me a watch. I don't remember much...But you were scruffy looking."
A look of total astonishment appeared on his face, "A watch?" He stood and pulled her to her feet. "I have something to show you."
"Wait here," he said as he started toward the door to his bedroom. He glanced back, "Treat yourself to a cup of tea or something."
She smiled as she looked around his quarters. Her fingers ran over the table. It looked better than the last time...she closed her eyes, as the image of debris lying about faded.
Chakotay rummaged through the top drawer. Then grunted when he found what he was looking for. Carefully he unwrapped the cloth surrounding a pocket watch and chain.
"It's beautiful."
He jumped at the sound of her voice. He was even more surprised when she walked over and took it. "Why I know this, I don't know. But it is a replica of one that belonged to an Englishman named Cray. He struggled to bring his ship and crew home..." He focused on her eyes--confusion plainly written on her face.
"He succeeded. It took eight months--all that was left of the ship was a few planks and half a sail. I had planned of giving it to you for your birthday..." He was torn, between kissing her and his curiosity about how she knew about the watch. "Kathryn?"
She shook her head, her eyes never leaving the watch she was gently caressing. "I don't know. It's like we've said this before."
"I..." He pulled her in his arms and kissed her. Her last coherent thought before succumbing to her feelings and desires was about time.
She carefully slipped out of the bed, and pulled the heavy robe around her. She walked over to the dresser and picked up the watch. It was still where she had put it. She was happy, but the watch emanated a feeling of sadness: a regret of things unsaid, and of too many thing said.
"Is everything alright?" Chakotay asked, sitting up slightly.
"Time. It has something to do with time. I'm sure of it..." She sat down on the bed and dangled the watch from it's chain.
"Hmmm." He sat up behind her. "You think that we are remembering something that happened...and yet didn't happen???"
She closed her eyes. "A causality paradox? I don't know. But it is a real possibility." She grinned. "I've made it a goal in my life to avoid anything involving temporal anomalies."
"Kathryn?"
She looked at him curiously, his voice had become serious and sad. "Yes?"
"I do remember one other thing. Just part really...But Voyager was destroyed, and I wasn't here for you."
She again stared at the watch, "Seeing it, holding it. I remember you weren't here. Wanting you to be here...So I could tell you, I love you." She leaned down to kiss his forehead. "If we try to figure out what may have happened--do we trigger the event...Or will it happen if we don't...Is it behind us, or will we live through it again?"
He wrapped his arms around her. "I hope we never find out." He took the watch and placed it on the nightstand. "Now, I'm sure the Captain would be most upset with me if you show up tired tomorrow," he whispered in her ear. "Lie down and get some sleep."
"Yes boss." She continued to sit there and stare at the watch.
"Kathryn..."
She yawned as she slipped out of the robe and crawled under the covers.
There was a laugh from the far corner of the dining hall as Harry nearly splashed his morning coffee. "And in this dream, did he smile?"
Neelix shook his head. "Not even a hint of one." He looked around, "Just between you and me, I have made it my goal in life to cause him to smile."
"Well, *intruders among us* was a good attempt..." Harry grinned as he finished his gruel. "Hmmm beats ground survival bars in water spiced with..." His voice faded off as he wondered why he would even know what that tasted like.
Neelix gave him a funny look, then went to make a fresh pot of coffee. "Good morning Captain. My you look radiant." To his surprise she blushed.
She recovered quickly, and mentally admonished herself for reacting to one of his usual warm greetings. "Thank-you. I'll just have coffee and some gruel." She served herself quickly and found a lone corner in the back.
B'Elanna leaned over the table and wretched the book Tom was reading out of his hands. "What the hell are you reading?" She growled.
"B'Elanna..." He reached for the book, which she carefully kept just out of his grasp.
With a wicked smile she opened it. "Well, what trash are you reading, *Bimbos of the Bohemian Sector*?"
"I'm shocked that you would even think that I would read such trash." He made a mental note to make sure that book was deleted from his personal library though.
She raised her eyebrows and grinned. She opened the book and started to read outloud. "'By that point Prince Dakkar was famous. Rather than working behind the scenes, he had fought in plain view. A reward was offered for his assassination, and then when no traitors claimed it, his mother, wife, and children were seized without warning and put to death in his place...' What is this?" She closed the book and looked at the title. "*Mysterious Island*?" Tom reached out and plucked it from her hands. "I'm impressed. It doesn't sound like you."
He shrugged then smiled. "Well, maybe you have more to learn about me," he whispered seductively. "But not now. I have 15 minutes before I have to report to the bridge. I can at least finish the chapter." He kissed the top of her head and left.
Kathryn looked up as a shadow blocked the light. "What was that about?" Chakotay asked with the barest hint of a smile.
"I don't know." She smiled at him. "Good morning Commander."
"Captain," he replied in his most formal sounding voice.
"Have a seat." She said when he didn't move.
"Thanks." He sat down. "You look lovely this morning," he whispered.
"Commander...Chakotay, not here, please." But she smiled at him.
"Very well Captain." He winked. "Your wish is my command."
"You sir...what am I going to do with you..." She bent her face to hide the blush that spread over her cheeks..."You know what I mean."
"I hope I do," he said softly. "Dinner?" He resisted the urge to reach out and touch her face.
"I think I can find the time..."
Mysterious Island (1875) Jules Verne (from a yet unpublished, I think, translation by Walter James Miller and Frederik Paul Walter. Naval Institute Press (extracted from their translation of 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea)...
Mysterious Island is the sequel to 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea. In it we learn the back story of Captain Nemo or Prince Dakkar.
Well--I decided to refer to 20,000 Leagues obliquely. Those who caught my comments on the similarities to 20,000 Leagues this past weekend probably would have been more surprised if I had failed to mention my remarkable grasp of ESP...
"Tom, you shouldn't have." B'Elanna looked at the large bulky package he had placed on her table. Considering her experiences on that planet, she briefly wished he hadn't.
Tom grinned sheepishly. "I know you would rather forget..."
"Yea forget."
"But I still think you might like this. And B'Elanna..." She glared at him for a second, then smiled as he continued. "I won't be hurt if you decide to smash it."
She laughed. "Over your head might be a good idea."
Tom joined in the laughter. "I've been told I have a hard head."
"Very." She studied the package carefully. "Hmmm. It's fragile?"
Tom cocked his head, "I didn't say it was fragile--just that if you want, you can go ahead and smash it." He was starting to feel impatient. "Hurry up and open it..."
"You mean I can't smash it before I open it?"
He shrugged. "You might not want to once you open it."
She hummed something as she picked it up.
Kathryn pulled her robe tighter as she stood. "So you let Tom sit in my chair."
Chakotay returned her smile, "Yes ma'am. He was very concerned about B'Elanna."
"I know." They were silent for several seconds as they considered the implications.
She looked down at the floor. "It's not easy balancing the needs of the ship with the needs of the individuals...I don't know what I would have done if Tuvok hadn't returned. It isn't like we needed their good will." She smiled slightly. "But we've met with so much ill will, that finding a friendly planet..." She glanced at her first-officer. "If Tuvok hadn't shown up when he did, I was ready to beam her out of there." She looked slightly shocked at her own admission.
Chakotay smiled. "Kathryn, no one on the ship would have done any differently."
"Seven is right--it would be an easier, safer trip if we avoided first contact situations."
"And boring. Seven said this?"
Kathryn nodded. "She's becoming very outspoken."
Chakotay laughed, "My life is full of *outspoken* women. B'Elanna, Seven...You."
"So, now I'm outspoken..."
He stood and wrapped his arms around her. "Very..." He kissed her forehead. "One of the things I love about you."
"Hmmm." She snaked her arms around his neck and pulled his lips to hers. "I'm glad I didn't take you with me...I wonder how the Mari would have responded to this thought." She kissed him again--this time much more intensely.
Kathryn turned and looked at Chakotay: she had avoided this moment since returning to the ship. But no more. "Yes?"
"Captain, as first officer it is my duty to keep the Captain safe." He smiled slightly at that. "A job whose difficulty is compounded by her penchant to take strange risks. An untried, unsafe glider?"
She laughed, "It was fun...And it was safe. I'm here..."
He just looked at her sternly. "Safe? Kathryn you could have been killed..."
She smiled as she placed her hands on his chest. "But I wasn't...You worry too much." She laughed quietly as she leaned against him. "It's perfectly safe, and to prove it I have programmed the holodeck to recreate the flight and conditions...Well most of them. Interested?"
He had wrapped his arms around her, "Trying to get me killed too?"
"The safeties are on..." She searched his face and her smile grew bigger. "You've never flown in this kind of glider before, have you?"
He shrugged and smiled sheepishly. "No, but..."
"But what? Worried because I helped design it?"
"I believe such machines must meet rigorous standards before they can be used..."
She laughed. "I'd say it's met those standards. Come...Please?"
He kissed her forehead. "Kathryn...Now?"
"Sure. Holodeck two in ten minutes."
The Commander looked around the wind swept precipice. A few trees and a lot of dead grass. The area reminded him of California during the summer and fall. He noticed the contraption on at the summit and went to examine it. Kathryn was already there. "What are you working on?"
"Hello. Just tightening a bolt. Ready?
Chakotay didn't answer, instead he looked at the machine and shook his head, but Kathryn was exuberantly motioning for him to get in. "You'll enjoy this."
He just nodded, wondering again how he had been dragged into this...And still he sat down on the left side.
They flew for about ten minutes. Chakotay actually enjoyed the flight. Or rather, he enjoyed watching her enjoy flying.
"It's grand," she shouted over the whistling wind. "It's so different from the confines of a shuttle."
He only nodded, mesmerized by watching the wind blowing her hair. He looked away and noticed they were approaching the ground.
"I've never landed this thing," Kathryn confessed as the ground grew nearer.
"Thanks for the reassurance," he answered. "To bad there isn't a lake or river..." He wondered why she laughed.
"Hang on. This could get a bit rough." She grasped a pole.
The glider landed, tossing both officers slightly. She was still laughing as she opened her eyes and looked around. "Voyager was easier to land the first time..."
"Maybe Paris kept his eyes open..."
"It wasn't that bad, was it?" She asked as she looked at him.
"No." He reached out and wrapped his arm around her waist. He pulled her into his lap. She leaned toward him, gently touching her lips to his.
"Again?" She whispered into his mouth.
"Uhh uhh." He shook his head slightly as he deepened the kiss. He leaned back as far as the seat would let him as she moved to lie on top of him.
SNAP.
They both sat up and looked around. There was a second snap.
They leapt out of the machine. A piece of the framework in the undercarriage had broken.
Chakotay grunted, "See...This definitely does not meet the safety standards."
"And what test did you use to determine that, *Commander." Kathryn looked serious, but there was a wicked glint in her eyes. "I would like to see your report."
"A load bearing test."
"Hmm, Commander would you please describe this load bearing test?'
"The craft could not support two people sitting in one seat..."
"And why would two people be sitting in one seat, Commander." She was enjoying this.
He looked at the machine for several seconds. "Checking tolerance levels..."
She grinned, "Would these two people be stationary?"
Chakotay shook his head, "No Captain, the test required the two people to be locked in a passionate embrace."
"Interesting test." Her grin grew as she stepped closer. "I'm a little confused. Would you care to demonstrate?"
He wrapped his arms around her, pulling her close. Their faces moved toward each other, savoring the moment when their lips would...
The computer chirped. "Your allotted time is up."
The command team separated. "Perhaps we should continue this conversation in my quarters," Kathryn whispered then ordered the program to be saved.
Tom looked at B'Elanna and smiled as they stepped aside to let the Captain and Commander exit the holodeck. Both Lieutenants noticed that Chakotay's arm had been around the Captain's waist when the doors had opened.
Kathryn sat down beside Chakotay and ran her hand along the side of his face. "You mustn't blame yourself." Even in the dark room she could see he was still mulling over the events of the day.
He smiled at her half heartily. "I should have paid more attention...I should have insisted that we talk. I should have..." He raised his hand and took hers kissing her fingers gently. "We're just lucky Sam showed up when she did."
She leaned down and kissed him. "Yes, lets here it for monsters in the replicator." She lifted the blankets and crawled under pulling herself close to him. "Chakotay?"
"Hmmm?" He let go of her hand and rolled over so that he was staring at the ceiling.
"How is Neelix doing?"
"I'm not sure. Confused mostly. The doctor will monitor him for a while..." His voice trailed off. "Was I wrong?"
She leaned up on her elbows and looked at him. "About what?"
"About suggesting a vision quest." His voice was quiet.
"No. There was no way you could have predicted...Chakotay...What does Neelix say?"
He chuckled, "That he jumped to conclusions. We talked for several hours about what his vision meant." He turned his head to look at her. "What does the Captain think?"
She raised her eyebrows. "Three years ago I would have scoffed at the idea of a spirit world. Today...let's just say I have a friend who has shown me there is more to life than just living." She leaned over and kissed him. "For which I am very grateful."
"How grateful?" He smiled at her. She quickly answered him.
Neelix looked around his dark quarters. He was exhausted and yet couldn't sleep. A tumultuous few days, to say the least. He had run the emotional gamut.
The doorchimes interrupted his thoughts. "Enter?" He knew it was late and hadn't expected to be disturbed. His visitor surprised him completely. "Naomi? What are you doing here."
The little girl hugged her stuffed animal tighter. "I...umm..." She stood straighter and put on her bravest face. "I came to scare away any monsters."
Neelix smiled as he picked her up. "You know," he whispered, "You are a brave girl--and today you have chased all the monsters away. Now come, we'll tell your mother we're going to the mess hall where we can share a cup of hot cocoa. That sound good?"
Naomi squealed in response. Neelix laughed. Yes, the monsters were gone. It was just good to be alive.