Disclaimer: Paramount owns the Trek Universe...I just like to play within their world.
A combination of two challenges: One to use an incident with the police that happened to one of the J/C crowd in a story (I modified it somewhat). The other to use the following words: Mating ritual: strawberry: oatmeal.
Thanks to Jackee for editing and Sara for helping with *that scene.*
Kathryn sat in the shuttle opening, waiting--a wistful smile on her lips. The Lityian Prime Minister was still talking to Chakotay. She glanced at her watch, they'd been talking for fifteen minutes. Several times she'd seen Chakotay move like he was going to turn and come her way. Kathryn grinned. Served her First Officer right. The Prime Minister talked fast. Most Lityians spoke slow...
She laughed quietly at the obvious discomfort of the commander. She'd let him suffer another couple of minutes, but then they really did need to start the trip back to Voyager. She looked down at the two bags she was carrying--not that the shopping trip he'd conned her into doing hadn't been worthwhile. She'd bought some electronic equipment for B'Elanna. And some clothing for herself. Her smile grew as she contemplated one purchase...And him...
She stood, slowly stretched, then walked over to the two men. "Please excuse my interruption, but Mr. Prime Minister we really need to be leaving." She controlled her facial expression--giving no sign at sensing Chakotay's obvious relief. "We must again thank you for all your time and courtesy."
The Prime Minister beamed. "If you could only stay one more day, but I understand all to well the vagaries of having a schedule. My dear Captain, I bid you farewell." They were walking over toward the shuttle. "I see you did not waste your trip to the markets. My daughter was a good guide?"
Kathryn smiled. "She did a remarkable job, until I got lost. She'll be home soon. Tell her thank-you for me."
Now it was Chakotay's turn to not grin. The Prime Minister's 20 year old daughter seemed to live for shopping. He would ask later about this getting lost. "Thank-you Mr. Prime Minister." He stood next to the shuttle and let the Captain enter, then quickly followed her. He closed the door, then turned to look at her. "While I was talking with the Prime Minister, you didn't perhaps complete the pre-flight?" He smiled at her affirmative answer. "Good, because I want out of here, before he thinks of something else to talk about." He sat down in the pilot's seat and quickly did the last few checks before starting the engines.
"It'll be good to get back to Voyager," Kathryn said as she sat down. Her mind playing with her still hidden plans for that return.
"And get away from Lityia. I have never discussed so many useless topics. Like I really needed to know that Argiarstian--whatever--mating rituals include the female flopping about in mud..."
Kathryn laughed, then responded seriously, "You never know when that piece of information might come in useful."
"Yea, like Neelix's trivia night."
She cocked her head, "It will just add to your reputation as the expert in mating behaviors."
He shook his head as he opened communication with the Lityian traffic control. "Lityian control this is the Voyager shuttle Sacajawea requesting permission for departure." He looked over at her. "Kathryn Janeway got lost?"
She smiled, "I wanted to look for supplies for Voyager, Erama wanted to go looking for footwear." They both sat quietly as permission was granted for departure and started lift-off.
"So," he said as he flew the shuttle into a cloud, "Did you buy those red shoes with bells?" They were the current fashion on Lityia.
"The crew would love that." She pitched her voice a half octave higher, "*Watch it, here comes the Captain--you can hear her ringing half-a-ship away.*"
Chakotay laughed at the image. "You did buy something for yourself?"
She looked at him curiously through half-open eyes. "Yes. I also got you something..." She whispered mysteriously. "But you'll have to wait until we return to Voyager."
"Not fair. I sat through his son's Goralball game." Chakotay eyed her carefully.
"And I promise, I will not ask you about that." She looked down at the board. "Set a heading of three-two-four warp five. We should arrive at the rendezvous site in thirty five hours."
"Very good Captain." He looked down at a display. "That route will take us near P'rosta space."
"The Prime Minister assures me they are a peaceful but rigid group."
"I hear rigid is an understatement..." Chakotay fell silent as he forced his concentration on the controls--trying to ignore that for the next 30-some hours they were going to be alone together. He jumped when he felt her hand on his shoulder.
"I'm sorry," she whispered, her head near his. "I didn't mean to startle you. I'm going to sit in the back and read." She smiled to herself.
He watched her sit down and pull out a padd. He wondered how she would respond if he just blurted out, *Kathryn Janeway, I love you.* Instead he refocused his attention on the instruments.
#
#
Several hours later, Kathryn glanced up from her padd to glance at her first officer. He was still sitting at the controls--as he had been every time she had looked. "Surely you can activate the auto-pilot now. We could work on finishing up crew evaluations." She smiled as he turned to look at her. A couple of other ideas crossed her mind as her thoughts drifted toward some of her purchases. *No,* she reminded herself. *It needs to happen on the ship.* She had finally decided to allow him completely in her life...It had been finding the right moment to tell him, that had been difficult.
"Crew evaluations. Who's did you bring?"
"The astrophysics department."
Chakotay rolled his eyes in mock despair. She was not the type to waste time. "Might as well get it over. We're approaching P'rosta space. Scans show several ships in the area."
Janeway quickly glanced at her chronometer, "We should send a signal to Voyager. And then to work." She leaned back against the wall as she watched him work. A satisfied smile crossed her lips.
Chakotay stood and stretched. "Well Captain..." He paused as he studied her. She blushed slightly as she averted her gaze and picked up a padd. Her expression had been so sensual, satisfied...He was dying to know what she'd been thinking. "Auto-pilot engaged..."
She stood, his confusion was very obvious. She smiled again, then dropped her Captain's mask in place. "Crew evaluations?"
"Umm. Yes, of course." He looked at the wall, then the floor as he tried to maintain control. *Thirty some hours. This was going to be a problem.*
She offered him the padd, "Commander, you seem distracted."
"Not at all, Captain." Her title was safe. "Just tired."
She grinned. "Is this your round-about way to say you would prefer to go to bed, rather than work?" She laughed silently when he dropped the padd.
Chakotay didn't dare look at her...He was more than a bit confused--was she doing this on purpose? He moved back to the pilot's seat--to find the space to think. Could it possibly be that after almost four years she was considering...
A blinking light caught his attention. "Damn."
"What's wrong?"
"We may have company. Two small ships approaching."
All business she approached the front. "Friendly?"
"They haven't powered their weapons, but their shields are up."
She reached down and flicked a switch. "This is the shuttle Sacajawea, we mean no harm."
There was static, then a male voice responded. "Shuttle Sacajawea, this is the P'rosta border patrol. You have entered P'rosta space without a licensed pilot. That is a violation of regulation-twenty-four, section-one, paragraphs-B and C."
Chakotay looked down at the displays and pressed a few buttons, then shook his head.
Kathryn shrugged as she shut off communications. They had negotiated for seven days for permission to forage on an uninhabited planet in P'rosta space; only to be turned down in the end because of some minor bureaucratic mix-up. The Lityians had been much more cordial.
She looked at the data and groaned as she re-opened communications. "This is the shuttle Sacajawea. We apologize for our *inadvertant* trespass--but our charts show that we are not in..."
She was cut off. "Please land your shuttle on the planet at coordinates seventy-four point three. We will request an authorized pilot to fly you out of P'rosta space."
"I assure you, we had no intention...
"Shuttle Sacajawea, adjust your heading." The voice was almost monotonic.
How long will this take?" Kathryn asked with a frown.
There was no response for several seconds, then "Not long. Once the pilot has been authorized, he should be here in a day. Please adjust your course now."
Chakotay and Kathryn studied the data. The two ships had powered their weapons--and several others were fast approaching.
"We can't be too far inside..." The small ship shook as phaser blast hit it. She nodded to Chakotay who adjusted the course. "We are changing course." She cut communication, "Send a message to Voyager."
He nodded as he sent a quick message. "The planet is in sensor range. It's M-class..." He started scanning for a landing site. "Not very hospitable."
She looked at the data. "Cold. Well, just don't crash the shuttle and we should be all right." She opened communication. "P'rosta ship..."
"We have noted you have sent an unauthorized signal--a violation of regulation twenty-five, section thirteen, paragraph A," the P'rostan speaker replied. "This will be added to the list of charges..." The two ships came closer, herding the shuttle into the atmosphere.
Kathryn sat down. "Rigid...Bloody hell." She looked at the data. "Visibility five miles, ceiling unlimited...Outside temperature four Celsius. The planet is uninhabited...Well, I hope the replicators work."
Chakotay smiled slightly as he brought the shuttle in for a perfect landing on a snow-covered meadow. The two P'rostan ships flew over, then away.
Kathryn studied the sensor output until she was satisfied that they were not going to be in any danger from the border patrol ships. "Well, I suggest we cut back on energy consumption and hope Voyager or that pilot get here soon." She leaned back in the chair. "There are now several ships patrolling the area." Slipping out would be very difficult.
"Maybe we should have taken the Lityian Minister up on his offer." Chakotay grinned, not looking at her. "Had Voyager meet us there..."
"Not a chance, I'd rather be stuck on a remote planet with you...Though we do seem to be making a habit of it..."
"The crew is beginning to suspect something."
She leaned over so her head was inches from his, "Only beginning...The rumors have been rampant ever since you asked if I would have served under you."
Chakotay laughed. "You never did answer..."
"You never specified what position..." She stood and quickly walked toward the back, leaving her first officer sputtering--unable to retort.
*Spirits, what was with her...* He risked a glance at her. She was sitting and reading...He took a deep breath. It was going to be a very long few days. He stared forward, his thoughts in a complete disarray.
Kathryn was not reading, just staring at the padd she was holding. She resisted the urge to turn...Her smile grew bigger...she should just let him know...but the word play was much too much fun.
Chakotay immersed himself in the crew evaluations. It beat trying to analyze her behavior. Part of him wondered if she was changing those damn unspoken parameters...He decided to keep those wishes within those parameters...
He looked up from the padd and recollected his thoughts. He was reading evaluations...Jenny Delaney's in fact. He forced his mind to focus.
#
#
After two hours of silence, Kathryn Janeway didn't want to read another evaluation. As far as she was concerned, she'd promote everybody...And if she included herself she could turn command of Voyager over to Chakotay and push papers as Admiral...They would eventually have to devise something besides promotions or in 10 years it would be a ship of Captains and Commanders...no ensigns. Promotion were so engrained in human culture that she wasn't sure anything else would work. And when they did make it back to Federation Space--would Star Fleet even honor the promotions...
Chakotay turned when she grunted. "Kathryn?"
"I think I've read enough. I'm hungry."
He grinned, "So am I. What did you have in mind?" He was rewarded with a blush. Revenge could be fun.
Kathryn turned her head to cover her smile, "I don't know. Oysters might be good."
"I was thinking of strawberries and cream." He let his voice carry a hint of innuendo.
"Sounds interesting. Maybe we can share some back on Voyager." She stretched. "But I think we're stuck with rations..."
"Great." Chakotay went to help her pull the supplies out of storage. "At least no leola root."
She laughed. "Fortunately Star Fleet hadn't been introduced to it before we left..." She opened the box and pulled out a bag. She looked at the date stamped on the bag and frowned. "This was packaged exactly two years before Voyager was commissioned. That seems so long ago...We've been out here almost four years..."
"Are you all right?" He resisted the urge to wrap his arms around her, to comfort her...
She looked up at him shyly. "I haven't really thought about it much recently. Haven't had time." She reached up and touched his shoulder. "I'm tough. Or so I've been told." They both laughed quietly when she handed him the bag. "Boring but nutritious."
"Taste is irrelevant."
"Don't start, we have to eat this stuff."
"Mmm. I just think there might be some leola root here some place..." She swatted at him and he grabbed her hand. They both stopped laughing as they looked at their joined hands.
To Chakotay's surprise she didn't pull away from him, but let her hand stay in his for several minutes before reminding him that he had been appointed cook. Chakotay set out to prepare their meal.
Dinner was quiet. Chakotay was convinced that there was a fundamental change happening, but wasn't ready to ask her what. Kathryn was suddenly nervous--doubts flooded her thoughts, what if he wasn't interested...
He smiled at her, causing her heart rate to double. Her face flushed and she shivered. To cover, she grabbed the containers from the floor and tossed them in the recycler. She looked around the small shuttle. It had been a long time since she'd had to sleep in one. They weren't very comfortable. She glanced over at her First Officer. A wicked smile danced on her face. Now, this was something she had never done...
Chakotay's eyes followed her, then he reached over to pick up his padd. "I think both Delaney's are deserving of a promotion..."
"Yes...Everybody is. They've both done very well with limited supplies and personnel." She looked at the sensors. "It's going to be cold. Already twenty below outside."
"It seems plenty warm in here." His eyes remained on the padd.
She smiled. "I don't think the cold will be a problem. Sleeping on the floor might be."
"I'm sure the emergency supplies will be quite comfortable."
"Hmm. Especially the pillow..." She wasn't going to wait until they were back on Voyager. She closed her eyes in anticipation...
"Kathryn?"
She looked at him, trying to look as innocent as possible. "Yes?"
He stood and moved to the storage. "I just hope there are enough blankets." Was it just possible that she was doing more than flirting? He didn't want to ask for fear of breaking whatever spell had been cast upon her. But there was another problem...one that was becoming more difficult to hide. He pulled open a cupboard door. "Well, should we use the air-mattress?"
"Oh definitely--nice and bouncy..."
"Bouncy?" He looked at her astounded, then quickly returned his attention to the supplies. "How should we set up the sleeping arrangements?"
Kathryn looked around the shuttle, then laughed. "Unless one of us wants to sleep in a chair, we don't have much choice."
"I'll sit..."
"You'll do no such thing. I have no idea how long we're here--and I don't want you grumpy."
"I'm never grumpy."
"Hah."
#
#
Harry was preparing to turn the bridge over to Tuvok. The Vulcan would be relieving him in fifteen minutes. It had been a long night. Tuvok at the last minute had assigned him bridge command when Tom had been felled by some mysterious malady. Several of the crew had come down with a rash after an encounter with a plant on the planet where they had been gathering supplies.
Harry was looking forward to some food, then sleep. Twelve hours off. He was looking forward to it.
"Sir, we're receiving a distress signal from the Captain's shuttle."
Harry sat-up straighter, "Let's hear it." He quickly sent a message to Commander Tuvok.
The message was short...and incomplete.
He looked at the pilot, "Set a course toward coordinates seventy-four point three. Avoid P'rosta space." He looked at his console as he pulled up a map of the region. *Curious, the planet they had been forced to land on was just inside P'rosta space.* "Continuous scans." He stood when Tuvok entered and quickly gave his report.
#
#
Chakotay sat on his mattress with his back against the wall. He'd dimmed the lights slightly when she had stepped into the bathroom. He was looking at, but not reading, another of the evaluations. He heard her leave the bathroom. He'd finally brought his growing arousal under control and wasn't about to risk looking at her...
A foot appeared on his padd.
"Kathryn?"
She responded with a sultry voice. "Yes?" The foot began to move softly along his leg and he closed his eyes briefly; the control he had found, slipping faster than a core breach.
Opening his eyes, he glanced up at her, and quickly returned his gaze to her foot. The off-white iridescent gown she was wearing was very shear. He caught his breath. "What are you doing?" He ran his finger up her leg. His hand trembled slightly but she didn't seem to notice.
A gentle laugh, "Dear, not obvious enough?"
He leaned forward and kissed her knee. "Blatantly...Kathryn..." He continued to run his fingers up and down her leg. The sound of her breath became ragged as his fingers lengthened their slow caress. He smiled as he felt his arousal return in full force.
"I've been thinking about this for a long time..." She grinned. "In fact, I bought this gown especially for this occasion." She knelt down in front of him. "And you haven't looked at it..." She reached out and traced the pattern of his tattoo. "At least say you like it."
"It's wonderful..." He was staring at her, his eyes growing dark with desire. Then she leaned over and quickly kissed him. "Kathryn..." The thought wasn't finished as their lips met again.
#
#
"Sir," the young ensign at the nav-console announced. "There are four ships on an intercept course."
"All stop. Yellow alert." Tuvok stood. "Hail them."
"No response," Harry said from his station. He'd only gotten a few hours sleep before returning to his station.
"Keep trying." Tuvok studied the viewscreen.
"Sir, a response coming in."
"On screen." A seal-faced alien appeared on the screen. "This is P'rosta border patrol. You are about to cross P'rostan borders without a licensed pilot. This would be a violation of regulation twenty-four, section 2, paragraph B."
"We will retrieve our missing crew and be on our way."
The big eyes of the alien rolled expressively, "Negative. They have been grounded until a licensed pilot can be brought here to fly them out of our space per regulation twenty-four paragraphs D and E."
"How long?"
"The pilot should be here in fourteen hours."
"Sir," Harry said. "They are arming weapons and sensors show five more ships approaching."
"We will wait here for this pilot. Voyager out." Tuvok turned and looked at Harry. "Send a message to the Captain, informing her of our arrival and the situation."
"Sir."
#
#
Janeway woke with a smile and a groan. "Move over," she whispered as she shoved at Chakotay. His hands pulled her tighter to his chest. "I've got to get up...Please."
He kissed the back of her neck, then let go. "If you insist." She reached for a blanket--he took it from her. "I like the view."
"Dreadful man." She stood and blatantly walked naked across the shuttle to the restroom. Chakotay grinned.
A chirping noise from the console and Harry's voice startled him. He grabbed his robe and quickly moved to the front. He activated the audio. "Commander Chakotay here. Harry, it's good to hear your voice."
"Commander, as it is yours. We are at the P'rosta border. Their border patrol has denied us entrance, and we are waiting for a pilot to fly your shuttle out."
"So we were told. Any idea how long?" He looked at the incoming data. Voyager wasn't that far away.
"We've been informed that it will take fourteen hours."
"Good..."
"Sir?"
"I...We were worried it could take longer." He laughed.
"Harry," Janeway said from behind him.
"Yes Captain," Harry's voice responded.
"Is Tuvok there?"
"Captain?" This time it was the Vulcan speaking.
"Tuvok, see if you can convince them to give us an updated star-chart--ours seem to be a bit dated. Otherwise monitor the situation. We'll see you in..." She playfully slapped at Chakotay's wandering hands.
"Fourteen hours, Captain." Chakotay cut in, before kissing her.
"Very good Captain. Voyager out."
Janeway quickly closed the link before allowing the kiss to continue. Breakfast could wait. It was probably stale oatmeal anyway...
Not that either one of them were thinking about breakfast.
#
#
Tuvok stood outside the shuttle bay, monitoring the progress of the shuttle. The P'rostan pilot had beamed back to one of the border ships half-an-hour ago. He waited until the big outer-doors had shut, then entered. Janeway was already exiting the small ship.
"Captain, welcome back."
She stretched slightly as she nodded. "It's good to be back."
"Is everything alright, Captain?"
She smiled. "Yes fine. Just stiff. Shuttle floors were not meant for sleeping." She stifled a yawn. "I'll be in my quarters. The Lityians have given us permission to mine. Set a course to Lityia...Around P'rosta space."
"Very good Captain." Tuvok watched her as she stiffly walked out.
Chakotay grinned at the puzzled look on the Vulcan's face. "I'll be in my quarters." Actually he would only be there for a short time.
"Welcome back Commander."
"It's good to be back." He almost slapped the Vulcan on the back--but stopped himself.
Tuvok looked at the shuttle, then the door as it closed behind Chakotay. "Curious." Then he too walked out.
The End