Paramount owns all. Including the mountain on the gong...
Chakotay leaned back in his chair. For a week there had been no sign of Borg or species 8472. The ship had remained at yellow alert during that whole time--and would so remain until they had cleared Borg Space. Whenever that was. The sooner the better was crew's general opinion. He controlled the urge to look at the captain, knowing the circles he would see under her eyes would cause him to start worrying about her again. He knew she hadn't been sleeping well...Hell, no one had been sleeping well. The adrenaline rush had long since worn off, but just the idea of there being one Borg cube (let alone hundreds and thousands) somewhere around was enough to keep anyone up and nervous.
"Commander?"
Startled he turned and looked at her. "Captain?"
"You look like you are miles away." She said with a smile.
"Not that far. Just thinking."
"A lot happened in a short time."
"Too much." He looked toward the screen of unfamiliar stars.
She nodded and left him to his thoughts. Too much had happened, she reflected. In more ways than meeting the Borg and 8472. Her First Officer had disagreed with her. Royally. And she couldn't decide if that was good or bad.
Kathryn jumped slightly when her comm-badge chirped. "Janeway here."
"Captain." It was Neelix. "As morale officer, I must inform you that morale is OK. But the crew is tired and in real need of some cheering up. To that end, I think a party is in order. Nothing major."
She thought a second before agreeing. "Very good. But Neelix, we will be remaining at yellow alert--so the crew *must be* prepared to jump into action..."
"Understood Captain, I'll let it be known that no alcoholic beverages will be tolerated. I was thinking this evening--before and after shift changes--that way everybody will have a chance to attend. I've reserved holodeck one."
"Good. Janeway out." She leaned back in her chair. She was not in the mood for a party. She cast a glance at the commander before standing and leaving him the bridge. There was a mountain of reports waiting in her ready room.
The party was in full swing Chakotay noticed as he entered. He also noticed that the usual holocharacters were absent. He glanced around. Then silently admonished himself. He was looking for her he realized.
Despite their disagreement, their friendship had survived. Maybe just barely--that was hard to tell. They had both been too busy to find out for sure. He saw an empty table and went to sit down. He had no intention of staying very long. He noticed a crowd at the far side cheering over something. He wondered briefly what was happening, but remained sitting.
"Hello Chakotay," B'Elanna said as she sat down. "You look like you're great company tonight."
He threw her a look. "This from a Klingon..."
She laughed. "I see. You're in one of your sour moods. So you disagreed with her."
He looked startled. "Wh...at?"
B'Elanna grinned as she sipped her ginger ale. (Tame--but all that Neelix would allow). "Everybody knows. Come on Chakotay--you can feel it through-out the ship." That wasn't all the ship knew, but she resisted bringing the other up.
"I see." He wouldn't last five minutes here. It was a bad day when he was in a worse mood than Voyager's chief engineer.
"Actually, I sometimes wonder about that." B'Elanna stood. "I'm going to find someone who is a bit cheerier."
"Tom?" Chakotay asked a bit irritated.
She blushed slightly. "Well at least Tom is in a better mood than you are. So is Harry." She walked off, leaving Chakotay feeling even more in the dumps.
After several seconds of quiet contemplation, he decided to leave. He was walking out the door just as Janeway walked in. "Excuse me Captain," he said as he stepped to one side.
"Commander, leaving so soon?" She asked.
He nodded. "I thought I would try to finish..."
"You're working too hard..."
"And you aren't?"
Neither were aware of the interest their conversation was garnering. No one was so blatant as to stare, but everybody in the holodeck would cast a quick glance at the pair.
"Touche. Commander." She looked at her hands she was clasping. "Chakotay, would you...I mean...We need to talk...A walk in the hydro-ponics garden." She glanced around the holodeck. "The crew usually enjoys themselves more when the Captain isn't present."
He wanted to tell her that after 3 years in the middle of no where, they were very willing to include her..."Very well."
The garden was quiet, in it's night cycle. The warm-humid air was oppressive after the controlled atmosphere of the rest of the ship. Kathryn realized that was why she liked coming here. It felt more *real,* less controlled.
They walked in silence for several minutes--individually stopping to look closer at a plant.
"Chakotay," she deliberately used his name. She had spent the past several days planning this conversation. She grinned slightly. "It took three years for you to feel comfortable enough as Voyager's First Officer to disagree with the Captain..."
"We've disagreed before."
"Not like this." She stopped walking. "Chakotay, I appreciate your opinions and feelings...I respect them. I...we placed each other in an awkward situation. It's...I've come to value our friendship and..."
He turned to look at her, a slight grin playing on his face. "I've come to value our friendship too. *And.*" There was just the ever so slightest inflection on that last word that caused Kathryn to blush. His grin grew at her discomfort.
She quickly came back to the subject, "I know you disagree with my decision to form an alliance with the Borg." Chakotay just nodded. "It must have been hard for you to continue with the alliance when I was in sick-bay."
Again he nodded. "I knew that was your wish. But when Seven-of-nine changed the conditions...I couldn't take the risk in believing that they would honor the new ones."
Janeway frowned slightly as she started walking again. "Considering everything...I'm just as happy we didn't turn back. That is between you and me." She looked at him sternly--but found herself instead feeling restless. "She was right. We work best as a team. Pooling our individuality and creativity. Using different perspectives to find different solutions...There is only one solution in the collective."
Chakotay nodded as he followed her. "What are you planning to do with her???"
"I have no idea," Kathryn admitted as she stopped to look at rose bush. "But I'm more concerned with Kes right now. The Doctor..." Had talked with her in private that morning. "She's not doing well." Her voice was tinged with sadness. She nearly jumped when she felt his hands on her shoulders, but she didn't move away. "However, Seven-of-nine--if she retains any of her knowledge--could be a useful addition to engineering...If..."
"If we can trust her," Chakotay added softly.
"There is practically no information on the deassimilation process. She may not even live. But the Doctor is optimistic."
"He'll want to write a paper," Chakotay chuckled as he let go of her shoulders and they started walking again. "It will be interesting though."
"What?"
"Seven-of-nine. She never had a childhood--she never learned the social norms of being human. She's been Borg for most of her life."
Kathryn assented. "I hadn't thought about that. I suppose we'll have to show her...educate her."
Chakotay nodded as he stopped to pick two lime-green fruits from a small bush. He handed one to Kathryn. "Here's to Voyager, her crew," he said as he bit into the wonderful fruit.
Kathryn smiled, "And here's to us." She bit into her fruit, then stopped as she realized there was more to her statement than she had meant...Or had she meant it. She started walking quickly to hide her confusion.
Chakotay smiled as he followed. "Shall I escort you back to the party?"
Kathryn shook her head. "I was planning on returning to my quarters. Not to work," she added quickly. "I promised the Doctor I would try to get six hours of sleep..." Not likely, but the EMH's threatened alternatives were worse.
The quick turbo-lift trip to deck three was quiet. Both were silently contemplating what was happening.
Chakotay finally spoke as they stopped at the door to her quarters. "Good night Kathryn," he whispered.
She smiled sweetly at him. "Good night..." There was a look in his eyes that sent a shiver through her body, leaving a warm, comfortable feeling inside. "Pleasant dreams." She didn't turn away...and briefly wondered if she was expecting him to kiss her good night.
That thought caused her to blush. Especially when he leaned his head slightly and gently brushed his lips across hers.
She stood by her door watching her First Officer quickly round the corner to his own quarters.