One Hell of an Away Mission (NC-17)

One Hell of an Away Mission

CATEGORY: VOY J/P

RATING: NC-17

DISCLAIMER: Paramount is the toy store. Janeway and Paris are the shiny new toys. And me… I am the penniless orphan child outside rummaging through the trashcan searching for the discarded package to play with. Well, who said life was fair?

AUTHOR: LadyChakotay

SUMMARY: Okay, it's the obligatory Janeway and Paris stuck in a shuttle and it's freezing cold story. Writing this story is like playing with yourself in the shower - no one wants to admit it, but everyone does it eventually.

"Hail them again, Mr. Paris." ordered Captain Janeway, her hands flying over her console.

"Delta Flyer to Voyager. Please respond." Tom's voice was steady and calm, but his heart was pounding wildly. "No answer, Captain."

"Must be interference from the ion storm." She informed him. "We're going to have to land and wait it out."

"There's an M Class planetoid just ahead in the Kalarron system. It's uninhabited."

"Perfect!" Janeway answered. "Set a course for the planetoid. Avoid those storm pockets as much as possible. I'll launch a distress beacon."

"Aye, Captain." he said, his fingers already working the console and entering the necessary calculations. "Hold on tight. This is going to get bumpy!"

"Just drive, Tom." She chided with a wry grin. She gripped the armrests of the co-pilot seat tightly.

Suddenly, they felt their chairs leave them as the shuttle was struck by an ion eddy and began a flat spin. The console behind Janeway exploded and shot hot debris across the cabin. Tom heard the captain cry out in pain as a piece of the flaming console pierced her arm. They were spinning out of control. "Captain, are you okay?" he yelled, as he tried to drag himself back into the pilot's seat. He saw her struggling to make it back to her seat out of the corner of his eye, and was flooded with relief. 'At least she's still conscious.'

"I'm fine, Mr. Paris." She rasped, obviously in great pain. She pulled herself into her seat and held on to the console for support. She began punching buttons to assess the damage. "Report."

As Tom steadied himself in his chair, he glanced at Janeway. She was bleeding from a huge gash above her right eye, and he could actually see the small piece of console debris halfway embedded in her left forearm. She ignored it, working as though it wasn't even there. He had to admire her courage.

"Inertial dampeners at 52%. Shields are holding at 68%, and we are on emergency power." He shouted over the commotion.

"Get the inertial dampeners back to 100%, Tom. I'll work on the shields. We need to land this thing as soon as we can."

He was already on it, and before Janeway had a chance to ask his status, she felt the flyer level and her body eased into the seat. "Inertial dampeners back on line, Captain. Resuming our course to the planetoid."

"Well done, Ensign!" she said affectionately. "You never cease to amaze me." She was still tapping at her console. "Communications are off line."

"I'll get us down safely, Captain. Then we'll take a look at those injuries of yours." He said with concern. She was bleeding pretty heavily from both wounds and her uniform was stained and torn. The pain showed in her eyes, despite her attempt to play if off as a minor annoyance. Janeway saw the worry clouding Tom's face, and opened her mouth to speak, but he cut her off. "I know, I know… you're fine." He said, shaking his head in annoyance.

She winced as the pain in her head shot down her neck and into her back. She knew she had more than minor injuries, and was glad Tom had been working with the Doctor in sickbay. "Just get us out of this in one piece, Tom. Then you can play doctor."

"Well, that's all the incentive I need Captain!" he teased, flashing her a reassuring smile.

The Delta Flyer shook and rocked along it's course to the planetoid, but Tom brought them down smoothly to the ground.

"Nice landing, Ensign." She smiled, resting a hand on his shoulder. "You're one hell of a pilot."

"Thank you, Captain. You're not a bad co-pilot either." He said, returning her smile. "Now let's see to those wounds."

Paris took his captain by the arm and led her to the aft section of the shuttle. He gently eased her onto the biobed and began scanning her injuries. "You're vital signs are all stable. But we need to stop the bleeding. I'm going to give you an analgesic to relieve the pain before I remove that console fragment from your arm." He said as he injected her neck with a hypospray.

Janeway tried to hide her nervousness. Fragment removal did not sound the slightest bit pleasant. But she had no intention of revealing her fear, so she sat up straight and prepared to suck it up, as a Starfleet Captain should.

Tom braced her by placing his hand firmly on her shoulder. "I'll try to make this as fast and as painless as possible, Captain. You ready?"

"Just pull it out, Tom." She growled impatiently.

He chuckled. "Heard that one before." He teased. "But I must admit, I never thought I'd be hearing it from you." She gave him a disapproving look, but there was laughter in her eyes. "I know… shut up, Tom." He said before she had a chance to. He took firm hold of the offending debris and, with one swift, merciful action, yanked it free from her arm. A small scream escaped Kathryn's lips as the charred flesh around the fragment tore and fell away.

Tom injected her neck with a second hypospray and the pain immediately dissipated. "Thanks." She said shakily. He smiled warmly at her and then proceeded to treat her wounds with the dermal regenerator. His touch was tender and compassionate. Kathryn was swept up by the expression she saw on Tom's face. He looked as though he were working on a delicate and valuable sculpture. His hands moved over the gash on her forehead with precision and certainty. Their eyes locked momentarily, and Kathryn found herself unable to tear her gaze from his. His blue eyes shone with love and admiration. Tom reached up, and with all the tenderness of a lover, brushed a feather-like caress across her cheek. "You'll be fine now, Captain." he almost whispered.

Janeway was all too aware of the desirable man standing in front of her. His broad shoulders, the firm muscles along his torso, and the way the soft touch of his fingertips on her cheek made her skin tingle and her heart race. She knew she needed to get away from him now, or she would end up regretting it.

She rose to her feet. "Well…" she said nervously, "Shall we take a look around?"

"Ready when you are." Tom returned. His voice cracked slightly. He opened the hatch and motioned for her to follow him out.

"Ahhh, it's cold out here!" Janeway gasped as they stepped out of the protection of the Delta Flyer. She wrapped her arms across her chest, hugging herself to keep warm. She was already shivering.

"It looks like it's early evening on this planet, Captain. It'll be dark soon. The temperature will continue to drop. We should stay close to the shuttle." He said, surveying the area with his tricorder.

"Agreed." She replied. "Let's try to get communications on line. We have enough supplies in the flyer if we have to stay here tonight, but…"

Tom tried to suppress his grin. He was more than a little amused at the image of spending the night in the close confines of the Delta Flyer alone with his pretty captain. Apparently, he wasn't very successful at hiding his forbidden thoughts.

"What?" she snapped, giving him a slightly lesser version of the death glare. "You're smirking."

"I am not!" he lied.

"Yes, you are. Now spill it!" she demanded, placing her hands on her hips.

He couldn't hold back his laugh. "Well, I was just thinking… I'll be the envy of every guy on Voyager if I spend a night alone in a shuttle with you." He teased arrogantly. "Especially a certain Commander…"

"I suggest you shut up right now if you want to live to brag about it, Mr. Paris." She interrupted playfully. She stood in front of him, hands on her hips, in what Chakotay had affectionately dubbed her "Don't mess with me, I'm the Captain." stance. She was trying to look ominous and intimidating, but the mischievous glimmer in her eyes gave her away.

"Yes, Ma'am!" he joked, giving her a mock salute. She punched him lightly in the arm, flashed him a crooked grin, and then turned and walked back to the shuttle. He followed at her heels obediently, but still smirking.

Janeway was lying on her back under the console trying to restore communications. "I think… that should do it." Came her muffled voice. "Let's give it a try, Tom." She wriggled her way out of from under the console and Paris offered her his hand. She took it and gave him a soft smile as he helped her to her feet.

Before she had a chance to hail Voyager, Chakotay's voice filled the small shuttle. "Voyager to the Delta Flyer. Captain, if you can hear me, please respond."

She smiled reflexively at the sound of him. "Janeway here."

"Captain, it's good to hear your voice. Are you alright?" The relief was evident in his tone. He had called her 'Captain', but Tom heard the 'Kathryn' underneath. It was clear to the crew that Chakotay had feelings for the captain that went way beyond friendship. It seemed to Tom that her feelings for the commander were strong ones as well. But she clung to her beloved protocols, as his father - Admiral Paris - had taught her to do. Tom respected and admired Captain Janeway, and had thought her to be a beautiful woman from the first time he saw her. He knew she was lonely; sacrificing personal happiness to be the quintessential captain. It made him a little sad. He thought she deserved more, deserved someone to share her life with.

"We're fine, Commander." She assured him. "We ran into an ion storm and were hit by an eddy. We took heavy damage and had to make an emergency landing on this planetoid. What is your position?"

"We were at the rendezvous point when we received your distress call, Captain. We're moving in on your position, but this storm is really slowing us down. We have taken some damage as well and repairs are underway, but I'm afraid it will be another 7 hours before we reach your coordinates." Chakotay reported.

"7 hours?!?!" she asked incredulously.

"I'm sorry, Captain. It's the best I can do." He apologized.

"Understood, Commander." She relented. "We have sufficient supplies for tonight. Notify me immediately if conditions change."

"Yes, Ma'am." Chakotay answered. "I recommend that you check in with us every two hours."

"Agreed. Talk to you in two hours. Janeway out."

Kathryn turned to face Paris. "Well, I suggest we make ourselves comfortable, Ensign. Looks like we're here for the night." She said. "And wipe that smirk off your face."

"What smirk?" he feigned innocence. "Was I smirking?"

She shot him an annoyed glare and then moved to the aft section of the shuttle. She pulled out two packets of emergency rations and tossed them on the table. "We better eat these instead of wasting power using the replicator. Best to conserve, just in case."

"Okay." Tom shrugged, looking at the rations distastefully. "Dehydrated protein it is." He handed her a bottle of water and took one for himself.

They sat and picked at their "food" and chatted casually about the away mission they were returning from. It had been very successful, right up until they ran into the ion storm. Then Janeway realized that she was becoming uncomfortably chilled. "Is it getting cold in here, Tom?"

He looked at her. "Yeah, as a matter of fact, it is."

They moved over to the console and Janeway began tapping in commands.

"The environmental controls are malfunctioning. The temperature has already dropped 8 degrees." She said.

He nodded. "We've got some fried power relays. Systems may begin to malfunction one by one. Attempting to reroute power through…"

"No, Tom." She cut in, grabbing hold of his arm. "We're at minimal power as it is. We need to conserve what we have for life support." He nodded his understanding. "I guess we better break out the blankets. It's going to get cold in here."

"It'll still be warmer in here than it is out there." Tom noted, nodding to the portal and the not-so-pleasant looking weather outside.

They each wrapped up in a Starfleet issue blanket and relaxed on the small sofa in the aft section. It was awkwardly quiet for a few minutes. Tom finally decided to break the ice. "Play 20 questions, Captain?"

She looked at him suspiciously for a moment, but he held his mischievous grin. She knew he wouldn't back down, and they did need a way to pass the time. "Okay, Tom" she said, pointing a finger at him. "But I'm warning you - behave yourself."

"Is that an order, Captain?" he teased provocatively.

"Does it need to be?" she retorted with a raised eyebrow any Vulcan would take pride in.

"Okay, okay… I'll be nice. But I get to go first. Let's see…" he paused, searching for just the right words. "Is that your real hair color?"

"Of course it is." She answered without hesitation. Suddenly, a worried look came over her face. "Why, does it look artificial?" Her hands moved nervously to her short hair.

"Is that your question?" he asked in response.

"I suppose so." She shrugged.

"No, it doesn't look artificial. I only ask because it's such an interesting color. It's a mixture of colors actually; blonde, brown, and then in some lighting, it's fiery red. It's… well, it's beautiful."

Kathryn felt the blood flushing her cheeks. "Thank you, Tom." She said quietly.

"My turn again." He said. "I'll probably get thrown in the brig for this one, but …what the hell. I've always wanted to know."

"What is it?" she asked warily.

"Do you wear Starfleet issue underwear?" he blurted, chuckling aloud.

The shocked look that came over her face made Tom wish he had a holo-imager. It was absolutely priceless. She was starting to think that a court martial for Tom Paris sounded good. "I hardly think that's an appropriate question to ask your captain, Ensign Paris." She scolded.

"Well then, I'm not asking my captain." he defended. "I'm asking Kathryn."

She glared at him, and for a moment he wondered if he had gone to far. He was about to apologize, when she surprised him. "No, no… they're definitely not Starfleet issue. Not even close." She looked at him with an evil grin. "In fact, I prefer to wear only satin." She taunted seductively.

Now Tom was the one with a shocked expression. "Really?" he stammered. "Well, what color are..."

"Uh, uh, uh!" she interrupted, waving a reproaching finger at him. "I answered your question, now it's my turn."

"Okay, shoot." He chuckled. He knew he was enjoying this far more than he should. It was nice to see her relax a little.

"Since you've already broken your agreement to behave yourself, let me be just as bold." She stated. Her blue eyes locked onto his. "Name the places where you've had sex on my ship. Besides the obvious location of crew's quarters."

He gave her a suspicious glance. "Are we dropping rank here? Or am I talking to my commanding officer?"

"No ranks, remember? It's just Tom and Kathryn. Whatever is said here, stays here. Agreed?"

"Agreed." He said with a grin. This game was getting interesting. "Let's see…to answer your question: turbolift 1 and 2, both holodecks, cargo bay 3, B'Elanna's office, more Jeffries tubes than I can remember … oh, and once in the mess hall in the middle of the night." He rattled off arrogantly.

Janeway's jaw hit the floor. "Gods Tom!" she gasped. "I obviously need to keep a closer eye on you. Maybe I should confine you to quarters when you're not on the bridge." She threatened playfully.

"You can't do that, Kathryn. No ranks, remember?" he argued, a satisfied smirk playing on his full lips.

She was about to retort when they received a hail. "Chakotay to Janeway."

She and Tom grinned at each other as though they had been caught doing something naughty. "Go ahead, Commander."

"It been over two hours and you haven't checked in. Is everything alright?" Chakotay's voice was calm and even. But it was obvious he was worried.

"We're fine, Chakotay. I must've lost track of the time. I'm sorry." She said.

It certainly didn't seem like it had been two hours.

"We're still about 5 hours away, Captain. You two holding up okay?" he inquired.

"Actually, we're having trouble with the environmental controls. It's getting pretty cold in here."

"Captain, if I may interrupt…" came the voice of the holographic doctor. "It would be wise in this case for you and Ensign Paris to share body heat."

Janeway shot Paris a nervous glance. "We'll be fine, Doctor. We have blankets, and it's warmer in here than it is outside the shuttle." She babbled, avoiding Tom's gaze.

"The Captain's ability to ignore her health not withstanding," he chided, "You'll need to share body heat to stave off hypothermia. It is a prudent course of action, and… it is Doctor's orders."

"There's his wonderful bedside manner again." Muttered Paris, a little too loudly.

Janeway looked at him reproachfully as she tried to stifle her own amusement. "Point taken, Doctor. Don't worry; we'll stay as warm as possible. And Chakotay…?"

"Yes, Captain?"

"I'll try to be prompt for the next check in." she said warmly. Her way of reassuring him that everything would be fine.

Chakotay's chuckle could be heard over the com channel. "See that you do. Chakotay out."

Another hour or so passed as they drifted from their earlier game of 20 questions to more serious topics. They spoke of home and of the things they missed the most. They shared old memories of friends and family, and laughed at the mistakes and embarrassments that are inevitable in life. Kathryn knew that this was a situation she couldn't control. She couldn't get Voyager there any faster simply by commanding it. That knowledge was liberating somehow, and she felt herself relaxing in Tom's easy- going company. She decided to enjoy the much needed break from routine. She couldn't remember the last time she felt so carefree… or so cold.

Tom couldn't help but notice her shivering under her blanket. "Captain, you're freezing!" He stood and wrapped his blanket snugly around her. "Wait here, I have an idea." Before she could protest, he exited the shuttle. Kathryn smiled to herself at his chivalry. It was a rare thing for a women of her position to be taken care of in such a manner, and she secretly enjoyed it very much. Though she would never admit it.

Paris returned a few minutes later with an armful of odd -looking rocks. He removed the metal covering from one of the access panels and sat it in the middle of the floor near the sofa. He stacked the strange rocks neatly on top of it and drew his phaser from it's case. He fired on the rocks until they emitted a radiant orange glow. Kathryn smiled dreamily as the heat radiated off the rocks and warmed her icy skin. "Thanks, Tom. That feels wonderful. Good thinking."

"Thanks." He smiled. "It won't keep all the cold away, but it'll help. Can't have you freeze to death on my watch." He loved to tease her. He loved the way her eyes danced when she was amused. He thought that was when she was the most beautiful.

Kathryn watched Tom adoringly as he fussed over her. Truth be told, Tom Paris was one of her favorite people. He always knew how to take the edge off a situation, to ease the tension. And, he was one of the few people with whom Kathryn could occasionally let her guard down and be herself. Being raised by a Starfleet Admiral, Tom recognized the duplicity of a commanding officer. He understood the two different sides of her - the Captain, and Kathryn. And he accepted them both without question.

She realized that Tom now stood before her with no blanket. He had put his over her. "Come on, Tom." She said softly. She drew back the blankets and patted the seat next to her on the sofa. "The doctor was right. We're going to have to keep each other warm."

A huge smile spread across Tom's boyish face. "Don't have to ask me twice." He moved quickly to her side and wrapped them both securely in the blankets. They sat very close, thighs and shoulders touching.

"You know, Captain…" Tom began. "We got a little side tracked earlier talking about Earth. We never finished our game of 20 questions."

"I guess you're right. We didn't." she returned. "And… I believe it was my turn."

"Glad to see you were keeping track."

"Hmmm…" she murmured, a thoughtful look on her face. "Do you ever plan to propose to B'Elanna?"

He looked a bit stunned for a minute, but recovered quickly. "Actually, it's funny you would ask that. I've been thinking about that very thing lately. B'Elanna means so much to me. I'm not quite ready to take that step yet, but it's definitely in the foreseeable future. I love her and can't imagine my life without her."

His tender response touched Kathryn's heart, and she instinctively leaned in a little closer to him. "That's wonderful, Tom. I know she feels the same way about you. It's obvious."

Tom smiled at her words. And he instantly knew what his next question would be, speaking of obvious. "Okay, my turn. And, since you're the one that brought this topic up… I think it's only fair that you be honest." She looked at him warily, but nodded her understanding. He looked straight into her eyes. Here goes. "Are you in love with Chakotay?"

Tom felt Kathryn's body stiffen next to him as she took in a sharp breath of air. He reached over and put his arm gently around her small shoulders. "It's okay, Kathryn. What's said here, stays here, remember? Besides, I already know the answer."

"Well, if you already know the answer, why did you ask?" she quipped, a slight sharpness in her tone. Yet she didn't pull away from his embrace. She was conflicted on this one, and he knew it. Kathryn wanted to shout it, but the Captain preferred to ignore it.

"Because I think you need to admit it. You can pretend that you're impervious to loneliness with the others, Captain. But I'm an admiral's kid, remember? I know you have feelings and fears just like the rest of us. And I think part of you wants to talk to someone about it." He said.

She let out a deep sigh and leaned her head back against his shoulder. Her answer came soft as a whisper. "Yes." She breathed. "Yes, I love Chakotay. And I'd be lying if I said I wasn't lonely." Her voice cracked slightly, and Tom tightened his embrace. "But it makes little difference, really. There's nothing I can do about it, at least, not while he's my first officer."

"But, what if we're out here for another 50 years? Do you plan to hold out and be alone the whole time?" he asked.

"I don't know." She sighed. "I just keep hoping we'll find a faster way home, and then I can try to build a life with Chakotay. But for now, I have the crew to consider."

"The crew?" he asked incredulously. "We just want you to be happy, Captain. We all see how you two look at each other. We're just wondering what in the hell is taking you both so long."

"It's not that simple, Tom. I can't just start a relationship with my second in command simply because I want to." She said.

"I know you're lonely, Kathryn" he said quietly, taking her hand in his. "You don't have to be. Why don't you let him in? Let him be there for you and hold you like this. You need it sometimes, just like the rest of us."

She was quiet for a bit, enjoying the feeling of his arms around her a little more than she should. It was so nice to be held, to feel someone breathing next to her. "You're right, Tom. I do need someone sometimes. But I'm just not ready to take that step yet. Maybe one day, but not yet."

They sat in a comfortable silence for a while; Tom holding Kathryn in his arms. He was lost in thoughts of the woman in his embrace: the soft, even sound of her breathing, the delicate scent of her fragrant hair, and the sheer enjoyment of holding her this way. He had always thought his captain was an attractive woman, but the more time he spent in her presence, the more beautiful and endearing she became to him. And, in all honesty, he had thought many times about what it might be like to be close to her in this manner, to hold and caress her. But he never dreamed it would feel this satisfying. He was pulled out of his reverie when she spoke.

"I must admit, Tom, I am a little envious of your relationship with B'Elanna. To be that comfortable with another person, to curl up next to someone when it's cold." She said sadly.

"You really miss it don't you, Captain?" he asked gently.

She laughed a soft, melancholy laugh. "Miss it doesn't even begin to cover it. It's been so long… I'm not even sure I remember what it feels like." She chuckled. Then she grew serious. "The touch of a lover is so different from the touch of a friend."

For one of the first times in his life, Tom Paris was taken aback, almost speechless. Her vulnerability touched him unexpectedly. Before he could stop himself, he turned her around to face him and brought his lips down to softly brush her cheek. He slipped one arm around her waist and brought the other up to snake his hand through her thick auburn hair. "Let me remind you, Kathryn." He whispered in a husky voice. "Just for this one night, let me touch you as a lover. No strings."

"Oh, Tom…" she whispered. Their blue eyes locked together. She wanted him, wanted him badly. But her conscience was arguing that he was an officer under her command, so hands off. "You know I can't…"

"Shhh," he interrupted, quieting her as he covered her lips with his in a gentle kiss. She resisted for only a nanosecond, and then relaxed and returned his kisses. Her arms made their way around his neck and she began stroking his sandy hair. He pulled her body tight against his and deepened the kiss. At his gentle nudging, she parted her lips slightly, allowing his tongue to slip into her mouth. A soft moan escaped her throat as Tom began a slow exploration, savoring the sweet taste of her.

Tom caressed her back lovingly, and then slid his hands down her sides to her hips. He pulled her onto him, until she was straddling his lap. She could feel his erection pressing against her, and then the reality of what they were doing hit her like a shockwave from a supernova explosion.

She recoiled suddenly, struggling against the tangled blankets and trying to stand up. "We… we can't do this, Tom!" she gasped breathlessly.

He grasped her small shoulders and gently, but firmly pulled her back down onto his lap. She didn't resist him, but she would not meet his gaze. He lifted her chin with his fingers, looking deeply into her eyes. "Look at me, Kathryn." He said. "It's okay. You can let go, for just one night. It's just you and me."

"You know very well I can't do that!" she snapped. "No mater how tempting you are - and believe me, you are. I don't need your pity, Tom!"

He was shocked at her sudden burst of anger. "Is that what you really believe? That I pity you?" She said nothing, her gaze returning to the floor. "You really have no idea, do you? How can you be so blind?"

"What in the hell are you talking about?" she demanded.

"I feel a lot of things for you, Captain. Admiration, respect, affection, and maybe even love. I've been attracted to you since the first time I saw you - pity has nothing to do with it!" He took her hands in his. "I just want to share this one night with you, Kathryn. To know what it's like to touch you, to fall asleep next to you."

His words went straight to her heart, and touched her deeply. This time, she cut him off with a bruising, hungry kiss. Tom saw anti-matter explosions behind his eyes as the tingle of her touch spread through him at warp speed. He groaned deep in his throat and returned her kiss with equal fervor as his hands began traveling her body. He started at her hips and slid his hands up her torso. She moaned aloud as his hands brushed her breasts.

"It's just one night, Tom. No strings." She rasped between kisses. "The minute we beam back to the ship…"

"This never happened, I know." He cut in calmly. "Just be with me now."

Slowly, tenderly, almost ceremoniously, they began to undress each other. Tom took his time, softly kissing the newly revealed skin and inhaling the scent of her soft perfume. He pulled her Starfleet issue tank top over her head, and then chuckled aloud at the sight of her pink satin and lace bra. "You weren't kidding when you said they weren't Starfleet issue! The Federation would never allow something so enticing." She laughed at his comment.

Tom was struck for a moment at just how much Kathryn's attire reflected her personality. Strong, commanding Starfleet uniform on the outside, and soft, sensual lingerie underneath. The uniform was crisp and professional, just like the polished starship captain who wore it. But the lingerie was delicate and provocative, just like Kathryn.

He eased her out of the rest of her clothing. She studied his handsome face as his eyes traveled over her body. A worshipful expression on his face, he whispered, "You're more beautiful than I could ever have imagined, Kathryn."

She became even more aroused by the desire she saw flaming in his azure eyes. Her senses began to blur, as if she were running head first into the wind. She forgot about Voyager, about Chakotay and the crew. All that existed was that moment. She was going with Tom to the places that only her dreams had been since they started this mission. All she needed was his touch.

She ran her hands down his bare chest, reveling in the feeling of the taut muscles under his skin. Her fingertips were on fire with the sensation of flesh on flesh. She flicked his nipples with her fingernails. "I want you to touch me, Tom." She rasped.

All the plans that Tom had in his head to take this slowly were wiped away by her words. He wanted her so badly, it was difficult to breathe. He rose and slid his trousers and boxers off and tossed them aside. Then he lowered her to the floor and brought his body down on top of her. He kissed his way from her lips, down the soft skin of her elegant neck, to her breasts. She gasped and arched her back seductively as he took her erect nipple into his mouth, alternating between sucking and flicking his tongue. She caressed his bare back and brought her hands up to tangle in his hair.

His hands made the journey down her abdomen, to the thick thatch of hair between her thighs. She parted her legs eagerly for him, and he plunged his fingers into her hot center. She was tight and wet as he explored her in ways he had only dreamed of. He worked his fingers in rhythm until she was trembling and moaning his name.

"Tom, please…" she groaned in protest as he pulled his hand away. He couldn't wait any longer. He nudged her legs further apart with his knees and positioned himself between her thighs. He searched her face for any sign that he should stop. She met his gaze, and he saw nothing but passion in her indigo eyes. "It's okay, Tom." She whispered in a husky voice. "I want this. I want you."

His doubts erased by her desire, Tom thrust his hips forward and entered her. She gasped aloud and he knew it must've been painful after all this time. He gave her a little time to adjust to his size, turning his attention to the creamy flesh of her neck and breasts.

Kathryn slid her hands down his back and gripped his hard ass tightly. She let out an appreciative groan for the firm muscles in her hands. She had secretly admired the view of Tom from behind numerous times, but she never dreamed he would feel this good to her touch. He was exquisite.

She began to squirm beneath him. Taking her cue, Tom met her moves, thrusting in and out of her rhythmically. She wrapped her legs around his waist, pushing him deeper into her. He quickened his pace and Kathryn's soft groans turned to loud screams. Tom was pleasantly surprised that she was so vocal.

Tom felt her inner muscles begin to tighten around him, and he knew she was close. He reached up to her face and cupped her cheek with his hand. "Look at me, Kathryn. I want to watch your face." Then he slammed into her hard and fast.

He sent her spiraling into an orgasm, the years of loneliness and frustration exploded around him as she screamed out his name. The intense look on her face, eyes tearing and boring into his soul, lips slightly parted, cheeks flushed; was his undoing. He came only seconds after her, thrusting into her hard and groaning her name into her sensitive neck.

When the spasms subsided, Tom rolled over and pulled Kathryn on top of him, holding her body tightly to his. They collapsed into each others arms, both panting and gasping for breath. She rested her head on his chest and he stroked her back, placing sweet kisses in her hair. They lay like that, holding each other. Neither one wanting to let go. Finally, Kathryn began to shiver from the cold ambient air.

"Let's get you warmed up, Captain." Tom said, pulling her to her feet. After firing his phaser on the rocks again, he guided her to the small sofa. He lowered himself onto it and pulled her down into his arms, covering them both with the blankets.

As her body temperature began to return to normal, Kathryn grew drowsy. She could hear Tom's slow, regular breathing behind her and realized that he was about to fall asleep as well. She shifted in an attempt to sit up, but he tightened his arms around her, holding her to him.

"Don't go, Kathryn. Just lay here with me, let me hold you." Came Tom's groggy voice.

"I intend to do just that, Tom." She assured him. "I just thought I'd check in with the ship before we both fall asleep."

"Yeah, that's probably a good idea." He chuckled. "We wouldn't want Chakotay to have a nervous break down."

"Very funny." She said dryly. She got up and searched for her combadge in the pile of discarded uniforms. She could feel Tom's eyes on her and her cheeks flushed involuntarily. She looked back at him with a wry smile and raised eyebrow.

"What?" he giggled defensively. "I'm just enjoying the view." But truthfully, he was trying to commit every detail to memory. He knew he would never see Kathryn in that way again. Soon the uniform would go back on, and the captain would return. She was so incredibly beautiful standing there in the glow from the heated rocks, and he wanted to burn the image in his mind forever.

As if reading his thoughts, Kathryn allowed his visual exploration, feeling his eyes on her body where his hands had been just minutes before. She located her combadge and hailed the ship. After checking in with Commander Chakotay and reassuring him for the hundredth time that she was fine, she rejoined Tom on the sofa.

Her body temperature had dropped significantly in the short time that she was out of the protection of the blankets. A throaty moan escaped Tom's lips as her icy body made contact with his warm skin. "You're like ice!" he said. He began rubbing his hands along her arms to warm her. But soon, his ministrations began to wander. His strong hands moved across her abdomen, down her hips and thighs, and then back up again. She groaned as his hands made their way to her breasts.

"Tom…" she said, her breathing quickening, "We shouldn't be doing this. We should try to get some sleep." Despite her attempts to refuse, her body responded eagerly to his touch.

"I only get one night of my life to be with you, Kathryn." He said sadly. "I don't care if I don't sleep a wink. I just want to touch you."

Kathryn sighed aloud as his tender words filled her ears. She rolled on top of him. This time she took the lead. Her aggressive side captivated Tom as she lowered herself onto his erection. He gave in to her every whim. Their lovemaking was more intimate and expressive with Kathryn at the helm. They explored each other unrushed, with eyes, hands, and tongues. Finally, they reached their climax together in a tangle of arms and legs. Then she collapsed onto his chest. And unable to fight it off any longer, they drifted off to sleep; her head snuggled into his neck, and his arms around her waist holding her possessively against him.

Voyager arrived in orbit around the planetoid. They had been trying to hail the shuttle for over an hour with no response. Chakotay was close to a state of panic.

"Are you detecting any life signs, Mr. Kim?" he asked, almost afraid to hear the answer.

"I'm reading two life signs, Commander." Said Harry Kim. "But they're faint.

"Life support on the shuttle has apparently malfunctioned, and the oxygen level is dangerously low." Came the stoic voice of Tuvok. "It is logical to assume that Captain Janeway and Ensign Paris are unconscious and suffering from hypoxia."

"I've got a lock on them, Commander." Said Kim.

"Beam them directly to sickbay and alert the doctor." Chakotay ordered as he made his way to the turbolift. "Tuvok, you have the bridge." This walk to sickbay would probably be the one of the longest of his life.

"Oh my…" murmured the doctor as the Captain and Ensign Paris materialized on the biobed in front of him. They were both nude and unconscious. This alone did not surprise the doctor. After all, he knew that they had been subjected to oxygen deprivation, which accounted for their altered levels of consciousness. And as for the nudity, the entire crew had been thoroughly trained in survival skills and knew that the best way to stay alive without heat is direct skin-to-skin contact.

What was surprising, however, was the fact that Captain Janeway was lying on top of Mr. Paris, his arms locked tightly around her waist as if in a lover's embrace, and her head nuzzled into the curve of his neck. And he would've sworn that they both had slight smiles on their faces.

The Doctor moved quickly to the controls. He had to beam the captain to her own biobed before Commander Chakotay made his way to sickbay. Janeway's body shimmered and then reappeared face up on biobed two. And none too soon, for just as the Doctor tossed blankets over the nude senior officers, Chakotay rushed through the door.

"Report." He barked, rushing to Kathryn's side. He lovingly took her small hand in his. "She's cold as ice."

"That is because both the captain and…" the Doctor began.

"How are they?" B'Elanna Torres asked breathlessly as she stormed through the doors into sickbay.

The Doctor silently congratulated himself for managing to transport Captain Janeway off of Lt. Torres's boyfriend before the volatile half Klingon arrived and killed them all. 'Once again, my quick thinking averted yet another tragedy aboard the voyage of the damned.' He thought to himself.

"As I was about to tell Commander Chakotay before I was so rudely interrupted…" he began dryly, "They are both suffering form hypoxia and hypothermia." He moved first to Janeway and then to Paris with a hypospray. "I am injecting them with a tri-ox compound to normalize the gases in their bloodstreams, and I have increased the temperature output of the biobeds to warm them up. They have suffered no further injury. They will be fine, thanks to their very skilled physician." He said smugly.

"Can you wake them?' Chakotay asked.

"Yes, Commander. Though they will be somewhat confused until their oxygen levels and body temperatures return to normal. No interrogations for now."

"Understood. Just wake them, please." He said.

At the hiss of the hypospray, Kathryn's eyes fluttered open. She looked around at her surroundings, obviously trying to figure out where she was. "I'm in sickbay." She said slowly, and then she realized that Chakotay was leaning over her. He was stroking her hair and murmuring soothing words to her.

"Chakotay?" she rasped, trying to sit up.

"Woah, take it easy, Kathryn. You're suffering from hypothermia." He said as he took her shoulders and eased her gently back down on the biobed. "You need to rest for a while. Besides, you're a little too out of uniform to go roaming around the ship."

"Oh Gods…" Kathryn groaned, remembering that she was nude. Suddenly, she remembered the night before. She remembered being with Tom and making love in the shuttle. He had been so tender and loving. She looked over to see him on the biobed next to her. Their eyes locked and she knew that he was remembering too. He offered her a warm smile.

Her last memory was of lying on top of Tom and feeling sleep wash over her. Oh, Gods! Had they found her that way? Had Chakotay and B'Elanna seen…

"That is correct, Captain." offered the Doctor, giving Janeway a knowing look. "We beamed you directly to sick bay, where I managed to cover each of you with a blanket before you're guests arrived." He didn't come right out and say it, but Janeway knew what he meant. He had moved she and Tom apart and covered them up before anyone got there. She made a mental note to thank him for his unusual discretion.

"You're going to be just fine, Kathryn." Chakotay said, holding her hand to his chest tightly. "But you gave a quite a scare when we couldn't raise you with our hails." He touched her cheek lightly with his free hand and smiled affectionately at her. "It's good to have you back, Captain." he said softly.

"I missed you too, Chakotay." She said, returning his smile. She was comforted by his presence, and she realized that she always had been. He had always brought her an inner peace that she had never felt with anyone else. She would tell Chakotay how much he meant to her someday. Maybe someday soon. Because she realized at that moment that if he was not a part of her life, she would be incomplete somehow.

She stole a glance at Tom on the biobed next to her. He was holding tightly to B'Elanna's hand, talking softly to her. As is he felt Janeway's eyes on him, he turned slightly and met her gaze. She saw no regret in his face. He looked at her with the same respect and admiration he always had, only now, there was a private twinkle in his blue eyes, one that only they shared. A closeness that they both knew would never take place again, but they would cherish privately forever. And she realized that she had no regrets.

Kathryn slowly raised herself into a sitting position and pulled Chakotay to her in a tight embrace. His arms moved protectively around her small waist. "What'd ya say you treat your Captain to a hot meal, once she is deemed medically fit of course." She grinned.

"I'd love to, Captain." he said, the pleasure evident on his face. Janeway looked from Chakotay to Tom and B'Elanna. Everything was as it should be, she thought. This is where we all belong.

"Well, Mr. Paris," she said with a wry grin, "That was one hell of an away mission. It's good to be home."

"Yes, Ma'am." He said with a cocky grin. "It was a mission I'll never forget."

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