There was a story challenge after the Midwest US suffered blizzard: write a story where Captain Janeway and Chakotay are trapped by snow. Since I've already written a storm-story involving a cave (Flash Flood), I decided I should set this one somewhere else.
Disclaimer: Paramount owns all...but really needs to let J/C get together.
Captain Janeway smiled at the Dreevn President. "Ms President I have truly enjoyed our stay in your beautiful city."
The alien female smiled. "Thank you Captain Janeway. It has been a pleasure to have you here. It is a shame that you must be leaving so soon."
Janeway glanced at her First Officer and nodded. "It is, but we have taken advantage of your hospitality for too long." While she and Commander Chakotay had negotiated permission to mine on a distant planet, the Dreevns had granted permission for the crew to have shore leave in the capital.
The negotiations had been slow, but very pleasant. Both sides had willingly dragged out what had essentially been completed the first day. This way the crew had a chance for a too short--but much needed--shoreleave. All of the crew: both Captain Janeway and Commander Chakotay had been the guests of the Dreevn President, Zeraide, and had spent much of their time touring the planet.
There was a knock at the door and an aide walked in. He handed the Dreevn President a note. She read it then glanced at her guests. "Excuse me."
She was only absent a couple of minutes, before she returned. "I'm sorry, but the small snowstorm our forecasters predicted is turning out to be much bigger. Has your crew returned to your ship?"
Chakotay answered, "Yes, President Zeraide. The last one beamed aboard two hours ago."
"Good. I must oversee our emergency services. I'm afraid tonight's festivities will have to be canceled."
Janeway smiled. "We understand." She tapped her comm-badge. "Janeway to Voyager, two to beam up."
"Captain," Tuvok said. "The storm is interfering with the transporters. We will not be able to beam you out."
President Zeraide smiled. "I'll notify the staff you will be spending the night. These storms don't usually last more than 24 hours." She left them when another aide entered.
Janeway smiled. "Another night. I was hoping to be on our way." With a sigh, she notified Tuvok of the change. She quietly walked over to the window and looked out. "I haven't seen real snow in a long time." There was a short pause, then she grabbed her First Officer's hand and pulled him out the room.
Chakotay laughed as he watched her in the snow. The snow was about a foot deep already. His attention drifted to the delicate white flakes.
*Whap!*
"Hey, what was that for?" Chakotay shouted, as he bent down to gather up some snow.
"Since when did I need a reason?" She responded as she sent a second snowball sailing in his direction. She then quickly took off running. Chakotay made tossed his snowball, missing her by about a meter. She turned and laughed. "Missed!"
"You had an unfair advantage."
She shrugged as she bent down to restock her arsenal. Chakotay made two more and quickly approached. She tossed another snowball his direction, missing. His was on target, hitting her arm. She dropped the snowball she was holding in surprise. He lobbed two more quickly constructed ones off, hitting her both times. He was close enough now, that every shot either made would hit. She started to dash away, only to find Chakotay chasing her. He tackled her...both landing in snow bank.
Chakotay picked up a handful of loose snow and let it fall over her. "Stop it," she giggled. "There must be something in the regulations about tossing snowballs at the Captain."
His eyes sparkled in merriment as he retorted, "Probably the section just before it says the captain can't toss snowballs at her First Officer. We'll tell Tuvok that he's in command and sentence each other to a night in the brig."
She smiled as her left hand traced his tattoo. "The crew would love that." Her right hand was preparing an ill-shaped snowball. Her grin grew wicked as she stuffed it down the front of his uniform jacket.
He sat up and opened the jacket to get the snow out. "Foul!" He called out as she slipped out from under him and bolted.
"What?"
"You cheated."
"I did not. It was a diversion. I thought you taught tactics."
"A diversion." He quickly formed a snowball and tossed it, hitting her in the back. "Some diversion," he muttered under his breath as he took off after her.
The snow was too thick to run fast and he caught her quickly. His size gave him an advantage in plowing through the show. She lobbed two snowballs at him, before he brought her down. Both were laughing too hard to speak.
They silenced as their eyes locked. Kathryn was suddenly aware of their proximity. He was lying on her, for the second time in five minutes. Her smile faded as her body reacted to him. "Get up," she whispered hoarsely.
"You, Captain, are now my prisoner." He grabbed both her hands with his left one. "I'm taking no chances," he whispered as brought his mouth closer to hers. She closed her eyes, waiting for his lips to meet hers.
She sputtered suddenly as a handful of snow landed on her face. "Mistreatment of prisoner," she stammered.
"A diversion." He stood and pulled her up. "I think we should go in."
She nodded, "I think so too." The snow was starting to fall harder.
They silently walked back--side by side--but not touching.
The lights flickered slightly as they entered the building, where a young woman was waiting for them "President Zeraide asked me to show you to the guest suite. I've had the servants prepare a fire."
"Thank-you," Janeway said with a smile. Both their uniforms were damp. The warmth of the building had melted whatever snow had been on their clothes.
The aide smiled as she looked at the couple. "Please follow me."
They stopped at Janeway's room first. The young female started to show them around, but a quiet warbling sound interrupted the tour. She pulled a communication device out of her pocket. "Arnde here."
"You're needed in the briefing room, now."
She looked at her two guests. "The Commander's quarters are through that door. If you need anything...Considering our situation I'm not sure..."
"We understand," Janeway replied. "You've been more than helpful." She turned to the Commander after Arnde had left. "We should get comfortable..." The lights went out as if on cue, leaving the fire to barely brighten the room. With the loss of power, the central heating also went out.
Chakotay moved closer to the fire. "Come, no point in freezing..." He held out his hand, which she ignored as she sat down on the fuzzy rug near the fireplace. He grinned as he sat down beside her.
"It's been a long time since I've played in the snow," she whispered more to the fire than to him.
"Create a holodeck program: you need to relax more often."
She rubbed her eyes as she spoke, "No time. I was planning on finishing with the engineering reports tonight. Instead I'm sitting here, wasting time."
"Wasting time?" Chakotay moved to sit behind her. "Do you have to be working all the time?"
"I don't..."
"You do a pretty good impression of overworking...The crew is concerned..." He started to massage her shoulders. "You might be interested that there is a conspiracy to require you to take some time off..."
"I'm fine..." She leaned back, enjoying the relief in her muscles...and his touch.
"Uhh huh...Even the Doctor is concerned. You require the crew to take a day off...Even me..." His fingers started rubbing her neck. She leaned her head to the left, he was tempted to replace his fingers with his lips...To explore...He closed his eyes and forced such thoughts out of his mind.
She shivered, "This place gets cold quickly." She wasn't sure why she had shivered...She wasn't feeling the cold.
"I hadn't noticed," he said. He stood and walked over to the bed and grabbed two blankets and pillows. Returning to the rug, he tossed the pillows down, and handed her the blankets. He then added some wood to fire, before sitting down beside her again. "Are you planning to share?" She had wrapped both blankets around her.
She looked up at him for several seconds before nodding, "Oh, I suppose so." She dropped one side of the blanket. Chakotay sat down and bundled up with her. She flinched--but didn't pull away--when he wrapped his arms around. "Uhh...Commander?" She studied the fire, trying to avoid looking at him again.
He sat still, surprised that she had hadn't moved away or pushed him away. His eyes reflected the firelight as they sat there, neither wishing to break the spell of the moment.
She leaned against him, and he realized she was asleep.
"Kathryn?" He whispered. A soft snore was his only response. Carefully, he lay down with her back tight against his chest. He'd wanted this for so long. He soon fell asleep too.
#
#
Kathryn woke smiling at the memory of her dream and tried to roll over--only to find herself entangled in her First Officer's arms.
Chakotay grinned as he felt her move--for one night at least--he'd held her in his arms as they slept. "Good morning, Kathryn."
"Commander," she desperately wanted (or did she) to re-establish the command hierarchy. His arms did not let her go--which caused her to smile again. She was also fortunate that he back was to him, he couldn't see the blush that had warmed her face.
"Kathryn."
She wasn't sure if he was asking, but the proximity of his lips to her ear caused her to tremble. She shifted slightly, accidentally discovering the state of his arousal. "I'm awake." She knew that wasn't the answer.
Her mind raced to all those times she had nearly gone to him and told him she didn't want to be alone anymore...That she loved him. She had always found an excuse not to.
Then came their disagreement over the Borg. Her idea had worked--but at what cost? For the last few months, both had skirted around each other--burying their emotions deep inside.
Chakotay was surprised that she was still in his arms even after several minutes. He'd expected her to escape, to pull away. He leaned over and kissed her neck. She rolled over onto her back to smile at him and wrap her arms around his neck.
Just as their lips met, there was a quite knock at the door. "Tuvok?" Chakotay whispered as they both stood.
She laughed as she called out "Come in."
A Dreevn aide walked in. "Excuse me, Captain Janeway, but President Zeraide sent you breakfast. We're afraid it's not much." Another servant entered carrying a small plate of cheese and fruit that he placed on a desk.
"It's perfect," Janeway said with a smile, the two Dreevns exited.
Janeway examined the tray and picked up a turquoise blue fruit and looked at it. Quickly she bit and then smiled. "It's rather like a mandarin orange. Wonderful." She took another bite. The light blue juice flowed down her chin. Chakotay leaned down and licked the juices from her chin.
"Yes wonderful," he whispered before he kissed her again. The kiss was slow, gentle, and full of promise. Again they were interrupted: this time by the chirp of her comm-badge.
"Janeway here," she said stepping out of his embrace.
Tuvok spoke. "Captain, the storm has abated enough for us to transport you back to the ship."
"Very good. Give us twenty minutes. We need to say farewell to President Zeraide." She looked at Chakotay and smiled, they linked their arms.
The hallway was dark--the only light coming from a heavily curtained window. As they walked past, she opened the curtain slightly and gasped. "Spirits, they must have had four meters of snow last night." Chakotay stood behind her with his arms wrapped around her. Together they looked at the artic landscape. An occasional chimney or tree top broke the surface--many of the building were only one story. The few multi-story buildings stood out--their second and third floors dark against the white.
She turned to look at her friend...and soon to be lover. "We'd better be going. Dinner?"
"Aye Captain." They kissed quickly before walking down the stairs.