Disclaimer: see chapter 1
Janeway stood in the doorway of the holodeck and smiled. Another of Neelix's entertainments. And from the crowd present, yet another successful night. All his entertainments had been successful--almost all, she amended--as she remembered judging the baking contest. At least that was what it was supposed to have been. There had only been four entries, since Neelix couldn't free the ovens for more contestants to use. He'd been bubbling over in apologies for the past week. She sighed. They'd rescheduled for next week.
She glanced around the pool hall. Tonight was the quarter finals of the pool tournament. She had decided not to participate--despite the over-exaggerated look of disappointment on Paris's face.
The place was packed, there wasn't an empty table in the place. But she noticed an empty stool at the bar and headed toward it, stopping to speak a few words to those she passed. A quick glass of white wine--synthehol of course--and then to bed. She was chatting with Ensign Wildman, when someone called her name. She noticed Harry motioning for her to join his group. She didn't really want to, but decided she could spare a few minutes.
"Harry, Jenny, Ayala."
The trio started to stand, but she motioned for them to remain seated. "Captain," Harry said. "Please join us."
She noticed a brief uncomfortable look from the other two, and promised herself to make it quick as she sat down. Harry then waved for the pert brunette waitress to come over and she ordered her drink.
"How's the pool?" She asked to break the silence.
"Good," Jenny said. "Captain. I believe Jimmy still has a comfortable lead...Ensign Jones. Captain..." The younger woman sipped her drink nervously.
"He's pretty good," Janeway said as she watched the table where he was playing. He was one of the few who had ever beaten her. She smiled, to try to relieve the tension. "How's the play?" Ayala had volunteered to direct it.
"It's going. Not as well as I could wish. Susan is too quiet..."
"I lowered her neckline," Jenny said. "She is projecting better." She must have seen the Captain's confusion. "Susan's voice wasn't carrying well."
"I like the new costume," Ayala said. "But..."
Her glass of wine came, and Kathryn politely excused herself from the table. She tried to remember what play they were doing...some mystery she thought. She meandered to the bar and sat on a stool and studied her crew. A difficult task, since they rarely relaxed in her presence. She had felt them come to attention when she'd entered the room. She leaned back against the counter and watched as Tom faced his opponent. The lieutenant must be feeling pretty cocky, she thought, as she watched him chalk his que stick and position himself. He was trying for a tough shot. She mentally calculated how to make it as he did the same. Finally he was ready.
There was a moan from the audience as the ball rolled to a stop just left of the pocket. Tom shrugged and sat down. Harry patted him on the back and was probably wishing him better luck next time...
"Hello, Captain." She smiled at the sound of his voice.
"Chakotay. I thought you were working on the engineering manifests with B'Elanna?"
"We worked an hour before I ordered her to get some sleep."
"Is she all right?"
"Fine, but you may have to order her to cut her hours." He sat down next to her. "Tom isn't doing well."
"No, I think he is distracted."
He chuckled as he ordered a glass of water from the barkeeper. "Jones will probably sweep the series now."
"Probably." She took a sip. "What are the odds?"
"Even...I didn't realize you wanted to place a bet."
"Good grief. The Captain betting...Next thing you know, I'll start having fun."
"That can be arranged..." He nodded toward Tom. They watched as the lieutenant congratulated the winner and quietly left the room.
She finished her drink and started to stand. "You're leaving now?" He asked as he put down his glass.
"I just came in for a moment. I promised myself an early night."
"Good for you..." He looked around hesitantly. "May I escort you back to your quarters?"
She nodded. She did enjoy their off duty talks. "I would be delighted."
#
A few hours later she was staring at the ceiling above her bed. Sleep was elusive--not that uncommon occurrence--but for once her insomnia did not involve failed systems or other Delta-Quadrant disasters. Far from it.
She'd enjoyed their walk back to her quarters. So what if they had taken the long way. And at a leisurely pace. Then there were the knowing smiles from the few crew members they'd passed.
So what if she had wanted to...She quickly pushed that thought aside as she remembered her earlier comment about having fun, which lead to remembering his retort...
Kathryn Janeway took a deep breath and forced herself to think about ship's business. Like Harry's failed idea on solving the power fluctuations. Parts of Deck four had been without power for five hours. The ease at which they'd reentered the slipstream twelve hours earlier...
A smile crept over her face as she rolled onto her side and closed her eyes and remembered the look in his eyes as he'd said good night just two hours earlier.
B'Elanna slowed her pace and the Captain had to slow down before she continued with their conversation. "I don't know. Our situation out here is so different from what Starfleet ever planned for."
"True," Janeway stopped at the corridor junction. "But decisions are still expected to have been made within..."
"You are kidding? Are you regretting your decision to let Tom and I to marry? Or..." She patted the slight bulge in her abdomen. "Starfleet isn't against families..."
Kathryn smiled. "No, I'm not."
"Then it's you?" B'Elanna pointed down the hall. "What happens when we get home? What will you do?"
It was a question she had started wondering about a lot recently. Maybe some of Chakotay's worries were starting to affect her, she wasn't sure. Maybe almost five years in the Delta-Quadrant had changed her in ways she was still hadn't learned about.
"And Chakotay?" B'Elanna didn't seem concerned that Kathryn hadn't answered the first question. They started walking toward their quarters.
"He's free to do what he wants." Kathryn decided she really didn't want to continue this conversation.
B'Elanna smiled. "Including dating someone else?"
Kathryn stopped suddenly, then continued toward her door. "Of course," she said bravely. "Has he?" The last slipped out...She pretended it hadn't been said as her door open.
"Obviously not..." B'Elanna looked around the Captain's quarters and whistled. There was a small table covered with a white tablecloth with a single lit candle in the middle. A large bouquet of blue and gold flowers in a crystal vase sat on her coffee table. And there was a wonderful aroma of food--not from Neelix's kitchen.
"I..." Kathryn looked around the room again, more than a bit overwhelmed...and possibly a bit irritated. B'Elanna shrugged slightly as she stepped back from the door.
"I would suggest, Captain, that you are being courted. And I should warn you, your admirer is more than just tenacious."
Kathryn took a deep breath, it sure smelled better than Neelix's Brilian casserole he'd been talking about...But she couldn't let the crew assume anything by it. "He's just making sure I eat properly--nothing else."
"Yes, Captain. Of course." Her tone suggested otherwise--but Kathryn realized that to continue with the conversation would only lead the other woman to speculate more.
B'Elanna was smiling at her, Kathryn noticed as she stood there, more than a little indecisive. "I'm sure it is a well-balanced meal, done with the Doctor's supervision."
It was obvious B'Elanna didn't buy that. The smile was slowly changing into a knowing smirk, then the lieutenant quickly said good-bye and left.
Leaving Kathryn to stare at the food and ponder the pleasures of revenge--exquisite ways...
"Damn," she muttered as she took another deep breath. Some of her favorites. She decided not to be too angry with him yet, the food just smelled far too good to let it go to waste in a pointless demonstration of...she couldn't decide between anger or protocol. She sat down and started to eat.
#
Kathryn leaned into the pillows she'd scrunched against the wall and looked through her notes. The taste of the heavenly mocha torte that Chakotay had included for her dessert was still a delicious memory. She chuckled as she debated exactly what to do next with him--but first she wanted to add to her notes. She had made it her goal to try to talk to every member of the crew about what getting home meant to them. Over the past couple of months, she'd talked to about seventy-five percent. She was surprised at the range of emotions.
Samantha was ecstatic. The young woman had long-ago realized that her husband had most likely continued with his life. But Naomi's grandparents would meet the little girl, and there was the possibility of a more secure future for the little girl.
Neelix was thrilled. He was working on putting together a portfolio as the ambassador from Talaxia. He was practically frothing with the thrill of new places to see...Maybe even a chance to find a replacement for his precious leola root. She smiled--their supplies of that tuber had run out over a year ago. No one (except Neelix) had mourned it's demise.
Geron had hinted he would seek out remnants of the Maquis. He seemed reluctant to talk about it. Not that she blamed him. So had several of his friends. (She hadn't mentioned this in her notes.) Most of the ones she had talked to wanted only to live in peace. Except Ayala. He had asked her if he could join Starfleet.
The Starfleet crew had surprised her. Over four years in the Delta-Quadrant had changed them, many of them had grown up out here. And several had decided to resign when they'd returned. Almost all were hoping for time off and a chance to consider what they wanted.
Then there was the Doctor--the only one who had any idea how life in the Alpha-Quadrant had changed. He still loved to regale the crew with tales of his adventures with the Mark-2 EMH as they fought an entire crew of evil Romulans. It seemed the number of Romulans involved increased with each telling. He'd even put together a holoprogram that had been pretty popular for a while. He was worried what would happen to him--she had to wonder too. The Federation and Starfleet had acknowledged that artificial life-forms could be considered sentient. And if there ever was a sentient artificial life-form--with an ascerbic sense of humor and poor taste in jokes--it was their own Doctor. She'd recently spent some time looking for cases to support her argument that he was technically a sentient being. A case involving the Federation and Commander Data was her strongest one. There were several others--most involving Commander Data. She would contact him when they returned. He would make a good advocate, should the need arise.
She didn't respond to her comm-badge chirping at first--she secretly hoped it would stop. When it didn't she reached for it. "Janeway here."
"Captain. Did you enjoy the dinner?"
"Yes, Commander. It was fine, but..."
"I'm glad you enjoyed it," his voice said. "Next time I would be delighted to share it."
She rolled her eyes, "Commander...Chakotay, it was very nice and I thank-you--but..."
He ignored her. "I was thinking tomorrow night, I have some holodeck time and was thinking of a picnic dinner..."
She smiled. It did sound very nice, and outside her excursion into the caves, she hadn't had much downtime. This might shut the Doctor up. "I would like that." And if she would admit it to herself, she would truly be delighted for other reasons. "But Chakotay, we can't..." She stopped speaking. They couldn't what? Have dinner? Why? "Picnic? Where?"
He laughed and told her it was a surprise.
She hated surprises.
#
She had finally decided on a light blue dress, but was annoyed with herself for taking ten minutes to decide what she was going to wear on her date...Trip to the holodeck, she reminded herself. To keep the mood professional, she'd decided to take Harry's most recent report on the energy fluctuations. Today the problems had been minor--annoying. The replicators had been off all morning. It was lunchtime before she got a cup of coffee.
She stood outside of the holodeck and eyed the display warily. Nondescript. And very typical. Her First Officer had become very adept at keeping secrets from her. She had thought she knew most of his holoprograms. But this one's title meant absolutely nothing.
The door slid open at her approach, and she found herself by a rocky riverbed. The granite walls of the canyon limited her path to straight ahead, so that wass the way she went.
The path was fairly easy; a gentle climb up the canyon wall. Twenty minutes later she arrived at the top. Her first question was going to be, *Why the Hell not have the entrance open to the top,* but Chakotay was sitting by the fire and smiled.
"Timing is everything," he said as he picked up a pair of tongs.
"Huh?"
"It took you just long enough to get here for the Eatal tubers to be cooked." With that, he pulled two foiled wrapped objects out of the fire. He quickly opened one, letting his fingers barely touch the foil. He poked at the orangish-brown object. "Perfect." He looked up at her. "Have a seat. There's salad, the tubers, Ibo-peaches and cream. And I couldn't resist, replicated lemonade. The only thing on the menu that is."
She sat down and grabbed the pitcher from beside him causing the liquid to splash on the blanket. "What was that horror that Neelix made last month...Chiran or something..."
Chakotay laughed. as he watched her pour. "Chiran sweet juice. Sweet was an understatement."
"I hear ground Chirans make excellent fertilizer." She handed him a glass and raised hers to it. There was a dull clunk as the two glasses touched. "To coffee and lemonade, the likes of which have not been found in the Delta-Quadrant."
"To the Alpha-Quadrant. May it be all we remember." He took a sip and watched her as she swirled the pale yellow liquid before she took a sip. "Kathryn?"
She looked toward him, her eyes focused on the tree behind him as she remembered that home. She smiled and gave a little laugh. "I'm sorry, my mind wandered. Shall we eat?"
Her mind wandered to forbidden corners throughout their dinner. But, like always (or almost always) Chakotay was patient...Too patient.
She was remembering Mark, and wondering about his marriage during dessert, when Chakotay waved his hand in front of her.
"Kathryn, is everything all right?"
She smiled at him--a little embarrassed. "Everything's fine Commander...Chakotay, I was just thinking."
"About the Alpha-Quadrant?"
She nodded. "I've been thinking a lot about it. What it means for the crew and for everybody back there..."
"Mark?"
"No...This dessert is wonderful..." She used the fork to scrape the crumbs together so she could eat them.
He looked at her in such a way that she realized she wasn't going to get away with that subject change. She took a deep breath and spoke again, much more quietly. "I used to wonder what I would say to Mark when we returned...And what he would say to me." She placed the plate on the ground. "He went on with his life...And I lost a safety net...It's still a long fall, but somehow I know I may have a new net." She reached over and ran her hand along his chin before pulling back. "I'd better be going..." But for some reason she didn't move as he took her hands in his big hands and pulled them to his lips, then he released them. His eyes sparkled in the setting sun...and she suspected hers were sparkling in return...
She concentrated on shifting herself around and standing up--her eyes never left his as he too slowly stood.
"Good-night, Kathryn," he whispered when his lips were centimeters from hers. She only realized she was holding her breath when his lips touched hers for a quick gentle kiss.
"Good-night, Chakotay."
"Captain?" Janeway turned at the voice.
"Seven?" She was surprised to see the younger woman on this deck. Seven still seemed to feel that quarters were irrelevant.
"The Doctor informed me, that in his informed opinion, I have sufficiently healed."
"Excellent." She held her breath--knowing yet dreading what Seven would say next.
"He did suggest that I decide..." She cocked her head slightly. Janeway realized she was possibly confused. "I do not understand the fascination humans have for clothing. A uniform is sufficient, yet you wear other clothing. When we were in the cave, you said that I should talk to you about clothing."
Janeway tried very hard not to feel frustrated. Sometimes it was worse than talking to a child. She still remembered the tour of Admiral Paris's ship she'd given to the crew's families. She hoped Tom didn't...He probably did, he had been 11 or so.
"Captain, do you wish to postpone this conversation?"
She almost nodded yes, but suddenly had an idea. "No. I'll meet you in my quarters in half-an-hour." Seven acknowledged the request and marched away.
Now to implement the rest of her plan. She tapped her comm-badge. "Janeway to Torres." She wouldn't do this alone.
"Torres here. Captain?"
"B'Elanna," she said to reassure the engineer this was an informal conversation. "Remember our discussion in the cave?" There was a slight hesitation before B'Elanna quietly said yes. "Well, the time has come..."
There was another long pause. "Now?" B'Elanna finally said.
"Twenty-eight minutes in my quarters."
"I don't suppose I can claim illness? Headache?"
"No..."
"Very well, Captain. Twenty-eight minutes." Janeway could hear the resignation in the engineer's voice.
Exactly twenty-six minutes later the door opened to reveal B'Elanna and Jenny Delaney. Kathryn stared hard at B'Elanna who gave an innocent shrug as she stepped into the Captain's quarters.
"I'm half Klingon, Captain. I don't think Klingon fashion is what you had in mind." B'Elanna smirked slightly, and Kathryn smiled at the image of Seven in the warrior's dress of a Klingon female.
"Good idea. Hello Ensign." Jenny nodded politely--Janeway knew she was feeling a bit out of her element--this was the first time the tall dark woman had been to the captain's quarters. Jenny nervously fingered the tape measure around her neck.
"While we're waiting, I thought perhaps...Well, I thought I could..." She didn't get to finish because the doorchime rang.
Seven entered without a word, glanced quickly at B'Elanna and Jenny, then looked at the Captain.
Janeway greeted her, then pulled out a data PADD. "We've decided that for duty you are entitled to wear a uniform. We haven't decided on rank--so the position is honorary for the moment." The senior staff had agreed to this--even Chakotay and B'Elanna: both had agreed with reservations. While Janeway spoke, Jenny had been studying Seven.
"Teal," Jenny said. "Blue and black. Do you have a preference?"
Seven looked at Janeway, a confused look in her eyes. "Preference?"
"Your basic wardrobe colors. And you'll need something dressy too." Jenny walked around Seven again.
"Dressy?" Seven was definitely confused.
"To catch someone's eye. For the more formal functions..." Jenny glared at B'Elanna.
"I do not need to catch an eye..."
Janeway bit her lip. She would speak to the Doctor about expanding Seven's education to include idiomatic expressions.
Jenny smiled. "Don't worry. Captain, I would like to take some measurements..." She looked at Seven with a cautious look. "I...um...I really don't mean to embarrass you...But I need to...I need accurate measurements."
"I understand." Seven said with no sign of embarrassment. Of course she did, Janeway realized. Measuring was relevant.
"You may use the other room," Janeway said with a slight smile. She waited for the two women to leave before she whispered to B'Elanna. "Jenny?"
"Why not? She's designed dresses for most of the women. And just two hours ago she was in engineering saying that she would like to do this...It was too perfect." B'Elanna smiled. "And it beat my help. She designed my wedding gown." She lowered her voice to a conspiratorial whisper. "And I hear she has a piece of material with your name on it." She raised her eyebrows to suggest innuendo.
"What?" Janeway closed her eyes. "I've not...He didn't...Did he?"
B'Elanna smirked and shrugged. "He who? I thought you were just friends. Whatever that means." Suddenly B'Elanna laughed, then clasped her stomach.
"Lieutenant? Is everything all right?" Janeway started to reach for her commbadge.
"I'm fine. She's moving...I still haven't gotten used to it. That and the way she likes to sit on my bladder at inconvenient times."
"She?" B'Elanna nodded while she took several deep breaths.
"The doctor did a complete scan a month ago to make sure everything was all right."
"Should you sit down?"
B'Elanna shook her head. "It's more comfortable standing...Though Sam tells me that will change."
The conversation continued along similar lines for several more minutes before Jenny appeared, followed by Seven dressed in black slacks and black jacket. Her hair was down. Seven didn't seem at all aware of the change in the severity of her outfit. Janeway nodded appreciatively. The young woman for once looked more human than Borg.
"Very nice," B'Elanna said. "Harry will like it."
Seven deemed that irrelevant and that while it was comfortable--it was not efficient and added it necessary to return to her alcove. B'Elanna mentioned something about her bladder and followed her out.
"Thank-you, Jenny," Kathryn said.
She smiled. "You're welcome." The door started to slide open. "Captain, I have a piece of material that would be perfect for you...And Neelix and Harry are hinting they want a formal ball before we enter the Alpha-Quadrant..." Jenny's smile grew bigger.
The younger woman had tried several times to get permission to make the Captain a dress...It was just that Janeway had never felt it appropriate to have a new dress, considering where they were and the number of times they'd had to do without the basics.
"Captain, in about four months we'll be home."
"Very well..." She tried to sound like she wasn't anticipating this...but she was curious about the material--and just what Jenny had in mind. "But I would like to see the material and design before you make it."
Jenny nodded. "Yes ma'am."
"Captain," Jenny said as she put her breakfast tray down on the counter. "I've completed my dress design...I'll send a copy to the ready room."
It took Kathryn a second to remember what Jenny was referring to. She acknowledged the information then made a comment about chartreuse not being her idea of the perfect cereal.
"Damn it anyway..." Kathryn turned around to see who was shouting. Before anyone could react, the young crewmember had thrown her breakfast at her dining companion and stormed out.
"What was that about?" Neelix asked as he passed her carrying a mop. "Marie's the third person in three days to do this."
Janeway shrugged, she'd have to ask Tuvok. The embarrassed companion drank the last of her juice and left without a word. The other diners returned to what they were doing, speaking in hushed tones.
Kathryn took her seat and looked around the theater again. Spartan was an apt description. She'd been expecting something more gaudy--but considering the play choice, she decided that spartan was appropriate.
The first act of *Witness for the Prosecution* had been fun. It was a 20th century mystery play (probably picked by Tom). Joe Carey had been having fun playing the pompous lawyer, and Susan Niccoletti had been delightful as the suspect's wife...She turned in her seat to face backward and smiled at Neelix.
"Neelix, I'm going to put a note in your file stating that you have a special knack as Voyager's morale officer."
He grinned at her. "Why thank-you Captain, but I really didn't have anything to do with this..." He pointed at Ayala who was standing in the aisle talking to someone. "He's the director."
"Don't worry, I'll let the cast and crew know that their work is appreciated." She glanced up when the lights blinked. "But I think that means they are ready to begin act 2." She faced forward and placed her hand Chakotay's. "Enjoying yourself?" She whispered to him.
"Immensely. I still think her husband did it."
"No, I think she did..." They'd started debating the mystery during the intermission. "But we'll find out soon enough."
The lights dimmed and the audience grew quiet.
The next afternoon, she found herself yawning in her ready room. She looked at the never-ending pile of PADDs that sometimes seemed like they were out to literally bury her; she grabbed the top one and swore at it quietly. The energy fluctuations again.
"Sick-bay to Captain Janeway."
"Yes, Doctor." She didn't bother to keep the irritation out of her voice.
"There are some problems with the preventative treatments. I would like to meet with you..."
"I'll be there in an hour. Is that acceptable?"
"Very. Sick-bay out."
Well, she had an hour. She'd read the report. Harry and his team had rerouted power, replaced couplings and put together a usage program that was only slightly irritating. She grumbled as she read the report. What she wanted was another cup of coffee--but she could only use the replicator at certain hours--and her time wasn't for another hour-and-a-half.
#
The lift doors were closing when Harry's voice stopped them. "Captain, I've been looking for you." He handed her a PADD. "The energy fluctuations."
She skimmed his summary. Damn, damn, damn. "Solutions?"
He shook his head. "If we are going to maintain the slipstream we'll need to cut power to non-essential systems by at least ninety-percent."
"Brown-outs?"
"Possible. Seven and I ran a simulation. It worked better when we blacked-out two decks at a time."
She hit her comm-badge. "Janeway to sick-bay. Doctor, I'm going to have to postpone our meeting." She ordered the lift to return to bridge then summoned the senior staff and department heads for a meeting in half-an-hour.
#
She sat on her bed and positioned the PADD to reflect some of the light coming in from her window. Finally in disgust she tossed the PADD on the table--only to hear it hit the floor.
Since she couldn't read anything she debated going to sleep, except she didn't feel like that.
"Chakotay to Janeway."
"Janeway here."
"Are you throwing things?" His voice asked.
"No, I tried to put a PADD on the table and missed."
"I heard a thud. Kathryn, you weren't trying to read it were you?"
"Yes I was. In fact I may return to my ready room and try to finish the monthly fuel-consumption reports."
"They'll wait. Can I ask a personal question?"
"I can't stop you." She smiled slightly as she knelt on the floor and started to search for the PADD.
"You seem testy...Maybe instead of working you should sleep."
"Chakotay, you worry too much. I'm fine." She crawled under the table. "Ah. Found it." She grabbed the wayward PADD and started to stand. "Ouch..." She'd hit her head on the table. She dropped the PADD and rubbed her head.
Then laughed as the door to her quarters swished open. "Kathryn?"
"In here. Commander, I'm fine." This time when she stood, she carefully avoided the table. "The table tried to get in my way...So I...umm...hit it."
He laughed for several seconds, during which time she started to see the humor of the situation--except laughing caused her head to hurt. She didn't notice him come closer until his hands were on her head.
"Shh," he said. "I just want to make sure you didn't do any damage." His fingers gliding over her scalp caused her to shiver.
"You need to relax, Kathryn." Instead she tensed as his hands slipped to her shoulders and started massaging them.
"Chakotay..." She closed her eyes as he found that stiff area in her neck. "That feels good..." She didn't resist as he guided her to the living area and her couch. Even in her growing state of relaxation she had noticed his quick glance at her bed. She sat down and turned herself so her back was toward him.
"You know, Kathryn, one of these days you'll have to return the favor."
"Uh huh." She hummed something as her eyes grew heavier. She was barely conscious of his arms wrapping around her as she slid off to dream about a Voyager that had lights.
And some other dreams.