[posted 10/15/98] A disclaimer, because it’s the way it’s done: Everything Star Trek-ish belongs to Paramount but I own my story. BTW, this is my first attempt at anything even remotely anywhere near J/C, so please, reader, be patient. Anyway, copyright 1998. Author’s note: I started this before “Vis á Vis” and before then I didn’t know that Chakotay had an office. I’d never seen one, heard about one, anything. I decided he needed one, so I wrote this, and I’m finishing it anyway. So, here it is: “Chakotay’s Surprise” J/C and a little P/T, PG by A.M. Telander (estrella47@yahoo.com) ****************************************************************************** “Captain to Commander Chakotay.” “I’m here, Kathryn,” Chakotay replied. “Please report to the bridge.” Chakotay heard Kathryn’s voice over the comm line. She was using her ‘Captain’ inflection, the one she usually reserved for junior officers. He wondered what had happened for her to be using that tone. “I’m on my way, Captain,” Chakotay said. Kathryn had chased him off the bridge two hours prior, an hour and a half before his shift had ended, with no excuse. Now she was calling him back? “Kathryn, some days I can’t figure you out,” he thought and left his quarters. ****************************************************************************** “I’m counting on all of you to keep straight faces, now,” Captain Janeway told her bridge crew. “I need the element of surprise. Nothing is out of the ordinary, right?” She surveyed them with a mock serious glint in her eyes. “Aye, Captain,” said Harry Kim after a beat of silence. The rest of the bridge crew echoed “Aye, Captain,” and smiled inwardly, anticipating the look on the Commander’s face. ****************************************************************************** “Lieutenant Torres, please tell me again how this happened,” the Holodoc said as he ran a tricorder over B’Elanna’s motionless body. “I guess I was putting away the materials left over from Chakotay’s surprise and a whole bunch of that heavy metal material fell back ontop of me. I’m going on what Joe Carey told me...I don’t rememberanything after putting it on the shelf.” “Are you in any pain?” the Holodoc asked, raising an eyebrow at the tricorder readings. “No, because I can’t feel my legs. I told you that!!!!” B’Elanna bellowed. “What’s going on?” The light in her eyes showed she was trying hard to keep the Klingon in her at bay. “You have some temporary paralysis in your lower body. You--” “Am I still going to be able to walk???” B’Elanna had pure terror marring her features. “Yes, you should be up and about in about twelve hours. Hypo of this stimulant every thirty minutes... you should be back on duty tomorrow or the day after.” B’Elanna let out a huge sigh and relaxed a little on the biobed. Tom burst through the door of Sickbay with a bit of anxiety gracing his face. He spotted B’Elanna and the Doctor and sprinted over to them. “Bella!! Are you okay? I came as soon as Lt. Carey told me.” He looked at the Holodoc. “What’s wrong with her, Doc?” The doctor explained B’Elanna’s malady to the worried helmsman, then turned back to his his patient. “I’m going to go prepare the hypospray. Don’t go anywhere,” he chuckled and walked toward his office. “How are you? Are you in pain?” Tom still looked uneasy. “I’m fine. I can’t feel my legs, but I’m fine.” B’Elanna smiled a bit as Tom smoothed her dark hair. “Shouldn’t you be on the bridge? Isn’t it almost time for Chakotay’s surprise?” “Yeah, I guess. I suppose I should be there.” Tom didn’t look overly thrilled. “But do you need anything? I hate to leave you here.” “I’ll be okay. Get down there... I want you to tell me about everything that happens. I really wish I could see the look on his face but, what can I do?” B’Elanna shrugged. “If you’re sure you’re all right...” “Go already, Helmboy. The unveiling won’t wait for you.” So Tom touched her hand and left Sickbay without another word. “I just wish I could see his face...” B’Elanna thought wistfully. ***************************************************************************** Chakotay noticed the acute calm in the corridors of the large ship. “There should be more activity at this time of day,” he thought. He found himself at the turbolift and commanded it to take him to the bridge. The lift seemed to move slowly, which balanced his slight impatience to get to his destination. Finally, the doors opened, exposing the bridge. He quickly stepped off the lift and crossed the bridge to where Kathryn was standing. “Is everything all right? I got here as quickly as I could.” The captain looked at him coolly, not answering his question. “You don’t look at all well, Commander. Go into the storage closet and get me a medical tricorder. We’ll find out what’s wrong.” Chakotay was exceedingly confused. Kathryn sounded even more angry than she did over the commlink. He was worried and befuddled and... The door to the storage closet opened up and Chakotay gasped. He looked around in amazement. What had been a storage closet was now-- “Kathryn,” Chakotay finally said. “What happened to the closet?” “Surprise!” Kathryn said, coming to his side, grinning broadly. “Happy birthday, Chakotay.” “You mean, this is mine?” He looked around the room that had once been a huge storage closet. It was now an office… similar to Kathryn’s ready room. “All yours,” Kathryn beamed. The bridge crew strained to catch a glimpse of the commander’s still shocked face. “Remember, you mentioned wanting an office of your own once, long ago?” Chakotay’s shock turned to slight confusion. “No, actually, I don’t… not that I don’t appreciate it. Kathryn, this is the nicest thing anyone’s ever given me. Thank you.” He smiled warmly. “Well, don’t just thank me. The whole crew’s been helping for months.” “All of them were in on it?” “Uh-huh.” Kathryn looked pleased with herself. “People getting materials during shore leave, working on construction a little after duty shifts, designing the place... it’s a gift from the whole crew.” “Actually, Commander,” Tuvok interjected, crossing the bridge to where his superiors were standing. “Most of the credit should be bestowed upon the captain. This was her plan; she instigated the whole project.” Chakotay nodded to Tuvok in acknowledgment of his statement. At that moment, the doors to the turbolift fwooshed open to reveal Tom. “So, Chakotay,” Tom began as he walked off the lift. “Like your present?” “Yes, I do, Mr. Paris. It’s…” He trailed off. “Where’s B’Elanna?” Chakotay asked, suddenly realizing that the engineer was unexpectedly absent. Tom’s face expressed genuine puzzlement. “You mean Joe Carey didn’t tell you? Or the Doctor?” “The Doctor? What’s wrong with B’Elanna?” Tom explained to the Bridge crew what had happened to B’Elanna. He could almost hear the sighs of relief from Harry, Chakotay and Captain Janeway when he told them she’d be walking and back on duty within a day or two. Captain Janeway turned to her crew after Tom’s explanation and said, “I hate to break this up, but, despite the fact that it is the Commander’s birthday, we do have things to do today.” She turned to Chakotay and smiled. “Enjoy the gift, Chakotay, and happy birthday.” Chakotay put an arm around her and squeezed her shoulder. “Thank you again, Kathryn.” He let his arm linger for a second, yet remembering the protocols and everything about Behavior of Senior Officers, he didn’t leave it there too long. Although the gossip mill would be turning soon about the events that had just taken place, the people stationed on the bridge turned back to their consoles without chatter. Captain Janeway returned to her chair and Chakotay entered his office for the first time. He stood in the middle and just looked around for a minute or two. ***Kathryn was right!*** he thought. ***This is a gift from everybody. There, on the desk…that’s one of Tuvok’s meditation lamps…it’s not replicated, it’s one of his ones from Vulcan…the swivel chair there looks familiar…that’s from B’Elanna’s office!…oh, Lanna, you’re so sweet; gotta love you……the desk, that’s real Qiahetga wood…I wonder how they got that on the ship without me knowing about it?…Oh geez, that armchair is from Tom Paris’ quarters!!…now I must really owe him, like twelve times over…ah, not for a chair…That painting is beautiful; it’s that one of Kathryn’s I was admiring in the Maestro’s workshop…she loves that painting…I love it too…I think I love her…Did I just think that?…At least I didn’t say it out loud, in front of her…she’d think I was nuts…does she think what I think?…am I nuts?…does she love me?…do I want her to?…did I just think that?…I do know I love this office…it’s from everyone, a real piece of the crew, my friends and comrades…it’s a gift from people who care…Kathryn cares, I know she does…I don’t know anything, what am I saying?…this thinking is really starting to get to me…I’ve got to do something to stop myself from thinking…geez, that’s stupid; stop thinking?…I think I’ve stopped thinking already………*** He sat down at the swivel chair and picked up the duty shift roster PADD that was waiting for him on the desk. He looked around once more, thought ***Kathryn, you are wonderful,*** and settled in to review the roster. ****************************************************************************** “…And he put his arm around her and thanked her again, then disappeared into the office,” Tom finished. B’Elanna looked up at Tom from her position on the biobed. “Did he hug her or what?” “I don’t know if it could have been considered a hug. It looked for a minute like he was going to kiss her or something, so I guess you could say he hugged her,” Tom shrugged. He was just the reporter; he didn’t know when B’Elanna had sent him to be her eyes that she expected him to be her analyst, too. “Well. Well. Tom, something needs to be done about those two,” B’Elanna said, wishing she could sit up. She brushed the hair out of her face and looked directly into Tom’s eyes. “What do you mean by that?” “The two of them belong together, Tom. They need to be told that. Soon.” Tom looked at her. “Bella, they left us alone to find each other; don’t you think we should do the same?” “No, actually I don’t. They’ve got a different problem. They’ve got Starfleet protocol standing between them. Somebody needs to tell them that we’re going to respect them just as much if they allow themselves to fall in love.” Tom smirked. “How do you know they’re going to fall in love?” “I’ve been suspecting it for a while, but what you told me about his reaction to the present seals it. It’s inevitable.” B’Elanna’s shrugged as much as her position on the bed would allow. “You know, for someone in your position, you’re incredibly smug.” “I take lessons from the best,” B’Elanna smiled. Tom traced her forehead ridges with his finger. B’Elanna’s smile lingered for a minute and then it faded into a more serious expression. “Hon, I’ve got a favor to ask you.” “Oh, geez. You never ask me favors; what do you need?” Tom laughed a little and put his hand on B’Elanna’s. “You know when I said someone needs to tell the Captain or Chakotay that their relationship needs to happen?” “Ye-ah,” Tom said slowly, not sure if he liked this so far. “Could you go talk to Chakotay for me? Tell him what I said?” B’Elanna asked, a little shyly. Tom’s eyes nearly popped out of his head. “You want me to go talk to Chakotay about this? B’Elanna, are you sure you didn’t hit your head when that stuff fell on top of you?” “Tom, I’m serious about this,” B’Elanna said, gaining back her confidence. “I really think something needs to be said.” “But why can’t you call him down here and talk to him about this? Or wait ‘til you can get down there yourself?” Tom was nearly whining by this point. “I can’t call him down here because the Doc’s coming in about five minutes to try some massage therapy. Supposed to speed the healing process or something.” She sounded as if she didn’t believe that the massage was going to help any more than burning incense or attaching leeches would. “That’s not exactly ideal conditions for holding a serious discussion.” B’Elanna rubbed her forehead ridges a bit, as if she was getting a headache. “And, something needs to be said soon, while what happened this morning is still fresh in his memory. By the time I can get to the bridge, his new office will be old news.” She looked at Tom with pleading eyes. ***Last resort,*** she thought. She began to whine. “Please, Tom? I know you want to see them together as much as I do!” Tom rolled his eyes. “All right, all right, I’ll go talk to him. But if he rips my pips right off my collar, then throws me in the brig for insubordination for the rest of the ride home, I’m gonna make sure you’re right there beside me. You’re gonna owe me big time, Warpgirl.” B’Elanna giggled a little. “Warpgirl?” she asked. “Where did you get that?” “You always call me ‘Helmboy’, don’t you?” Tom smirked. B’Elanna nodded, smiling. “So, then why can’t I call you Warpgirl?” “Fine, fine, whatever. But will you please go talk to him?” “I guess,” Tom sighed. “But what am I supposed to say? ‘Bella thinks you and the Captain should stop dancing around and allow yourselves to fall in love already’?” B’Elanna smirked a small smirk of her own. “That’s the idea, Helmboy.” Tom rolled his eyes. “I’m serious here, Bella. What do you want me to say to him?” “What you just said, except be a bit more gentle. Let him know how we feel.” Tom picked up B’Elanna’s hand and held it between his. “I’m not making any promises, but I swear I’ll try my best. I don’t know if he’ll listen to me but…” “Tom, he has a lot more respect for you than you think he does.” “Bella, I--” “Just go already, Tom. Stop weaseling.” Tom gently put her hand back on the biobed. “All right. I’m going. But if he sends an assassin after me because of this, you’d better miss me a whole lot.” “I suppose I could miss you, if I thought hard enough about it.” Tom looked at her in mock shock. “I love you too, Warpgirl.” He leaned over and kissed her. “Lieutenant Torres, are you ready for your massage therapy?” the Doctor asked, entering from his office. “Mr. Paris, you’ll have to leave.” “On my way, Doc.” He touched B’Elanna’s hand and left quickly. He was in no hurry to get to the Bridge and talk to Chakotay, but B’Elanna wouldn’t have asked him to do this if she hadn’t thought he could do it, right? ****************************************************************************** BWEE-DOOP. The door chime to Chakotay’s office sounded. ***Huh?*** Chakotay thought. ***I wonder who’s coming to see me already?*** “Come in,” he said. The doors opened, exposing a waiting Tom Paris behind them. If Chakotay was surprised, he didn’t show it. “Good morning, Tom. I suppose you’ve been down with B’Elanna?” “Yes, sir, I have.” Tom looked uncommonly uncomfortable. “You don’t really have to call me ‘sir’ in here, Tom. Chakotay will do,” Chakotay said amiably. “How is B’Elanna, though? Is she all right? Does she need anything?” “She’s okay. You should go visit her later on, when you get the chance. I’m sure she’d appreciate it,” Tom said. ***Geez, he’s in a good mood this morning. Is it the office, or the Captain, or what? It’s almost a little creepy.*** “Did you have a reason for your visit, Tom, or did you just stop to check out the office?” Chakotay paused. “Thank you for the armchair.” “Oh, no problem. I wish I’d had enough rations to get you a new one.” Tom was becoming a little more comfortable, but he still looked nervous. “Don’t bother. It’s quite comfortable.” There was a long, uneasy silence. Suddenly, Tom broke it. “Commander, I need to ask you a question.” “Go ahead.” “Ah, well, this is kind of difficult, but…” “What is it, Tom?” “Well, ah, what’s exactly… I mean, ah,” Tom stammered. Finally he burst out, “How would you define your relationship with the Captain?” Chakotay looked taken aback. “Tom, we’re friends.” “Permission to speak freely, sir?” ***He never asks to speak freely; he usually just barges right though. What is he trying to say here? Do I want to know?*** Chakotay thought to himself. “Granted,” he said slowly. “Well, sir, with all due respect, on the bridge this morning it seemed like you were, you know, more. Or at least you wanted to be.” Chakotay’s eyes narrowed. Tom saw his expression and began to speak quickly. “And it wasn’t just today…it’s seemed like it for a while. If you and the captain wanted to be more, sir, I doubt anyone on this ship would find it a problem. You two wouldn’t lose the respect of any of us, I’m sure of it.” “Are you finished, Lieutenant?” Chakotay said very levelly. “Uh, yes.” “Then let me tell you this with all due respect,” Chakotay said in the same calm voice. “What right do you have to come in here and say this to me? Don’t you suppose my relationship with Kath-- the Captain is my own business?” “Yes, sir, but--” “I don’t care. You are my junior and you have no place to say any of what you just said.” “But, B’Elanna--” “I don’t care about B’Elanna!!!” Chakotay shot out of the swivel chair. “Is she the reason why you came to tell me this? Do you think that because you landed her that that designates you Ship’s Love God?” Chakotay spat out. With every word, he became more angry, but only spoke more forcefully, never raising his voice. “Lieutenant, your shift starts soon. Report to Sickbay and let the Doctor put up with you until further notice. I don’t want to see you again today.” He sat back down in the swivel chair and turned away from Tom. Tom glared at the back of Chakotay’s head. ***Last time I ever try to talk reasonably to you…or do Bella a favor concerning you,*** he thought fiercely. He turned on his heel and swiftly walked out of the office. The second the doors fwooshed shut, Chakotay spun around, rested his elbows on his desk and buried his head in his hands. ***************************************************************************** Captain Janeway watched as Tom stormed out of Chakotay’s office. The glint in his eyes plainly stated that if the door that had just shut behind him had been manual, he would have slammed it so hard it would have fallen off the hinges. “Lieutenant, is something the matter?” she asked casually. “Ask Chakotay,” Tom spat without looking at anyone on the bridge. “I’ve been reassigned to Sickbay; don’t expect to see me here for a while.” The door to the turbolift opened quickly, as if sensing his frustration. Tom disappeared into the mouth of the lift and the gentle hum of the machine moving was audible over the silence echoing through the bridge. ***I wonder what happened?*** Janeway thought, running a hand through her hair. ***I most certainly am not going to go ask now… Chakotay is probably just as riled up as Tom is… I’ll give him fifteen minutes and then go in there under the guise of wondering why Tom was reassigned when he should be on the bridge… *** ***************************************************************************** “He is _the_ most unreasonable person I have ever met!!! I tried to explain, but he wouldn’t hear me!! He just snapped!!!” Tom ranted, regaling B’Elanna with the story of his mission. B’Elanna sighed softly. “He’s afraid, of course.” “What has he got to be…? Oh, yeah,” Tom flushed, remembering his own less-than-brave behavior. Shaking his head and trying to change the subject, Tom continued. “I knew I should have left talking to Chakotay up to you. Any respect he might have had for me just flew out of the airlock.” B’Elanna rolled her eyes. “Tom, you told him what he had been thinking, and that frightened him, I’m sure. He might have acted this way for me, I don’t know.” Tom grabbed her hand. “It will all work out. I promise.” ****************************************************************************** ***His fifteen minutes are up. I’m going in,*** Kathryn thought, and rose from the Big Chair. She quickly crossed to the door that was barring her from Chakotay. The bell instantly chimed. Inside, Chakotay grimaced at the sound. ***I don’t want to talk to anyone.*** he thought. ***Why can’t all of these people just leave me alone?*** Out loud, he said “Come in,” quite civilly. The doors opened to reveal Kathryn. ***Oh great. The last person I want to talk to now.*** “Captain,” he said in the same civil tone. “Did you need something?” “Yes, Chakotay, I do.” She sat down in the armchair Tom had donated to the cause of the present. Chakotay boiled a bit inside, just thinking of the gift and its giver. ***I’ve got to get rid of that thing,*** he thought to himself, nearly missing what Kathryn was saying. “Why did you reassign Lieutenant Paris this morning? He’s spent the last two days with the Doctor. There is only one patient in Sickbay right now, and that’s B’Elanna, so don’t say the Doctor needs help,” Chakotay opened his mouth to speak, but Kathryn didn’t give him the chance. “…and don’t try to say you did it for B’Elanna, or so they could be together or anything like that, because I know it pains you to see the two of them going out.” She stopped and took a breath. “So, what happened?” “Since you seem to be so brilliant, why don’t you already know?” Chakotay practically spat the sarcastic icicles at his captain. Kathryn looked stricken. “What?” Chakotay leaned farther back into the chair. “All seeing and all knowing powers come with the job, or is it a class at the Academy I didn’t get around to taking?” “Chakotay, you aren’t making any sense!” “If you don’t get it, go talk to Paris. He’s just as good at this mind-reading as you are.” He turned away from Kathryn, part of him cursing at her for making him feel this way, part of him cursing at himself for shutting her out and pushing her away, and all of him cursing at Paris for being a meddler. “All right, I will.” Kathryn rose, glaring at Chakotay. ***Why is he shutting me out? Why won’t he give me a straight answer? Why won’t he look me in the eye?*** “But I will be back, later, to find out your side of this. Have yourself a congruent story… and decent attitude… by the time I come back.” Kathryn spun on her heel, her hair swishing around her face as she did so. She left soundlessly. The door shut and Chakotay spun away from everything: the door she had just walked out of; the chair from Paris; the argument that was still hanging in the air. ****************************************************************************** “Janeway to Paris.” The captain’s voice broke the silence that was strong in the air of Sickbay. Tom clutched B’Elanna’s hand tighter and ignored his captain. “Answer her, Tom,” B’Elanna hissed. “No. He’s probably with her.” B’Elanna didn’t have to ask who he was. “Mr. Paris, answer me,” Captain Janeway demanded, her voice crisp and commanding. Tom rolled his eyes and slapped his commbadge. “Paris here, Captain,” he said, his voice dripping apathy. “Could you join me in my ready room, please? I have a few questions I need to ask you… off the record.” “On my way, Captain; Paris out,” Tom said, reluctant to let go of B’Elanna’s hand. He did, however, and was in Janeway’s ready room in less than five minutes. ***************************************************************************** “You wanted to talk to me, Captain?” Janeway rose from her couch and crossed the room to her desk. “Yes, Tom. If it’s not too personal,” (***Oh, geez,*** Tom thought) “would you be willing to tell me what you said to Chakotay so that he is so angry?” Trying his hardest to not sound insolent, Tom asked “Why don’t you ask him? I’m sure I wouldn’t know.” ***I’m not going to get mad, or frustrated. I have no reason to get mad,*** Captain Janeway thought. ***Just word the question so he’ll answer decently…*** “Was it something about B’Elanna?” “Ahhhhhh, n-n-n-n-n-n-n-o,” Tom said, carefully weighing every syllable. “Tom,” Captain Janeway said in her best “I-may-be-your-captain-but-I-can-still-be-your-friend” voice. “You can tell me. I need to know what happened. Maybe I can fix it, so you can be on the bridge without the commander accidentally firing off a phaser rifle at you.” Tom was shifting his weight from one foot to the other without saying anything. “It can be completely…” Suddenly, Tom exploded, “Why don’t you let yourself fall in love with him already?” “WHAT??!?!?!??!??!?!??!?!?!??!?” A little more subdued, Tom explained. “He’s not my favorite person, but obviously he cares about you. Give it a chance.” “Mr. Paris, I--” “If I’m out of line, I’m sorry, but we just thought that you two have been waltzing around for much too long now.” Tom looked her straight in the eye. “I’m sorry,” he said, and he was. Sort of. Captain Janeway made no reply. “Don’t be angry. Please.” Captain Janeway just stared at him. “Should I leave?” Captain Janeway heaved a large sigh. “I commend you for your… guts, Mr. Paris. Not… everyone would have been able to say… what you just said… to a commanding officer. You are dismissed. Now, go away.” He frowned, but obeyed her order. He waited until he was in the safety of the turbolift to analyze what had just happened. “At least I’m not in the brig, or free-falling through space. That’s at least something to be grateful for.” Kathryn slowly walked across the ready room to her couch and, after activating the lock on the door, lay down on the inviting grey sofa. She knew it was un-Captain-ish to “lay down on the job,” and that’s why she made sure the door was locked. ***Was he out of line?*** she thought as she covered her eyes with her hands. Rubbing her eyes gently, she thought, ***No, I don’t think so. He was telling the truth. And I bet that’s what he said to Chakotay, and Chakotay didn’t… Chakotay. He cares so much. I know he does. Why else would he have burst out at Tom the way he did? Oh, Chakotay… why does everything have to be so difficult?!? Why…? I don’t even know how I feel about you… I think I love you, but… I don’t know. I love Voyager more… would you put up with that? Is that a way to live? Make a man be second to a starship??? I don’t know… maybe I should…*** and before she knew what she was doing, she hit her commbadge and said softly, “Chakotay, could I see you in the ready room?” As soon as the words were out of her mouth, she put a hand over her mouth in disbelief. ***What did I do that for? I have no idea what I’m going to say; I don’t even… oh, dear God, why did I… how could I…?*** The bell rang, signaling that she had company. “Disengage lock, enter,” she said, sitting up at a transwarp speed and frantically smoothing her hair into place. Chakotay entered quietly, not wishing to make eye contact with her. “Kath… ah, Captain, I apologize for my behavior earlier,” he said, sounding incredibly rehearsed. “I was… carrying myself in a manner unbecoming that of an officer on a starship.” ***I sound stupid,*** he thought, ***but I’m saying this and then I’m getting out of here.*** She just looked at him. “Is that all?” “Yes, Captain.” ***Geez. I sound like a cadet.*** “What did he say to you?” Kathryn asked. “What?” Chakotay looked shocked. He had, from the precedent set by Kathryn’s previous attitude, expected a cold “Dismissed, Commander,” or maybe a “Thank you; you may go now.” “He told me we need to stop ‘waltzing around’. What did he say to you?” Kathryn smiled. Suddenly realizing that she wasn’t mad anymore, he smiled a small smile himself and said, “Something about not losing the respect of the crew…” Kathryn laughed a little. “It sounds like he actually had some tact when he spoke to you.” “What, Tom have tact?” He chuckled a bit. “Actually, I thought he was being an insubordinate fool.” He paused a beat. “He was actually pretty decent about it.” She swallowed nervously. “I think he had a point,” she said slowly. “Several, actually.” Chakotay realized he was looking at his feet. “I think you’re right.” “You’d have to share me with the ship…” “I already do.” ***Closer to her. I should move closer to her,*** he thought. “I’ve hoped that she’d share you with me more.” “I think that that could be arranged,” she said quietly. ***I should move closer to him,*** she thought. She moved, slowly, slowly, slowly, to Chakotay and… The doorbell rang. Kathryn’s eyes were pools of frustration, but she said “Enter,” anyway. The doors opened to reveal Harry. “Captain, have you gotten so busy you’ve forgotten…?” he asked. “No, Mr. Kim, I hadn’t forgotten,” ***How could I have forgotten? What an airhead,*** Kathryn thought. “But thank you for reminding me anyway. You are dismissed.” Harry looked at the Commander, then at the Captain, then back at the Commander, then at both of them, like he wanted to say something, but wasn’t quite sure of the words. He just shook his head and left. “Computer, site-to-site transport sequence ‘Janeway 4-G’ for Commander Chakotay and myself,” Kathryn commanded the computer and, before Chakotay could ask what was going on, the Ready Room disappeared and the two were deposited in the holodeck, with Sandrine’s booted up. All of the people in the bar, who were dressed in various degrees of civvies, turned to see who had just materialized. “I’ve brought you your guest of honor,” Kathryn laughed. She glanced to Chakotay, whose features were, once again, the textbook definition of surprise. “Make way for the cake!” yelled Ensign Wildman as she and Neelix tried to get through the crowd of crew, bearing a sheet cake for an army. “Make way for the lady in red!” came a cry from the entrance. All heads turned to the door. “Lanna!” exclaimed Chakotay. B’Elanna, wearing her favorite ‘festive occasion’ red dress, was seated on an antigrav version of a wheelchair. Steering the contraption carefully, she made her way to the middle of the room where Chakotay and the Captain were standing. “Are you any better?” Chakotay asked anxiously. “Not a bit. But I couldn’t miss your fiesta, now could I?” She smiled. Then she sobered up quickly. “Chakotay, please, don’t be mad at Tom. It wasn’t his fault… I made him go talk to you. He only did it as a favor to me.” “It’s okay, Lanna. I’m not exactly mad at him anymore.” Chakotay slowly reached around Kathryn’s back and put his hand on her hip. He felt the gentle reassurance of her hand touching his and left his hand there. “Captain…?” B’Elanna asked unsurely. “Tom is not in any trouble.” Kathryn nodded toward the door “You can tell him he can come in now.” “How did you…?” the engineer started, then she stopped and shrugged. “I’ll tell him. Happy birthday, Chakotay.” “Thanks, Lanna.” Chakotay leaned in and dropped a quick kiss on her cheek. She smiled and maneuvered the antigrav unit towards the door, stopping to chat with Lieutenant Carey on the way. “Chakotay, I do believe you have a cake to cut,” said Kathryn lightly. And so the fiesta officially began. B’Elanna returned with Tom in tow, who, although he didn’t even want to be around the Captain and Chakotay, arranged a pool tournament. Captain Janeway, saying she’d be kind to the crew for once and not play, opted to be in charge of bets and the games began. Tom easily beat everyone he went up against and those who were placing bets made a haul off of him. “Who else feels lucky and dares to challenge me tonight?” he asked after Lieutenant Carey admitted defeat, the arrogant streak showing its smirk once again. “I will.” “Oh, geez. Chakotay. Anyone but Chakotay. What if he ‘accidentally’ skewers me with the cue?” he whispered to B’Elanna, who was observing from the antigrav chair. “He won’t. Stop whining. You asked for a challenge; take it.” She touched his arm and said, “I’d love to stay and see this, but the Doc will throw a fit if I’m late for that hypo.” She smiled, whispered “Good luck!” and made her way through the crowd of people who were gathered to watch. Heaving a sigh and cursing his cockiness, Tom stepped up to the table. Whispers and murmurs abounded as people placed their bets and gossiped about the glint in Chakotay’s eyes. Thunk. Thunk. Thunk. One ball after another slid neatly into the pockets until Chakotay was done. The room was silent… even Tom was rendered speechless, space enough in his gaping mouth for Q to place a small solar system with room to spare. “I guess tonight is full of surprises, Tom,” Chakotay said, his arrogant tone rivaling Tom’s. “All right, everyone, pay up,” Harry said when he got his voice back. “I expect all rations in my account by morning.” Tom turned his look of shock to Harry. “You bet against me?” Harry’s gleeful grin answered for him. “Why?” “Everybody was betting on you. It would have been a small price to pay if you won and a big gain if you didn’t.” His smile lit the room. “All right, now, people, I expect payment in full…” “Nice game, Paris,” Chakotay offered. “Nice game, my eye! I didn’t even get to shoot!” Tom said, almost more to himself than anyone else. He shook his head. “Well done, Chakotay. Happy birthday… and I’m sorry.” “Don’t, Tom.” “All right, I won’t. Enjoy your party,” he said, and walked toward the bar in hopes of finding someone to talk to, hopefully B’Elanna. Chakotay stayed by the pool table, watching as Kathryn worked out who owed Harry and how much. He said nothing, just watched. She looked up at one point and caught his eye. She smiled as though she had a secret and went on with her figuring. She finished, handed the PADD to Harry, and walked around the pool table to Chakotay. “Care for a drink, Commander?” “Of course. Does it come with your company?” Kathryn smiled. “Would I have asked if I was going to stick you with Seven?” “I guess not.” They made their way through the crowded room and found a tiny table in the back. “It’s not a very fancy party, I know,” Kathryn said in way of apology. “But, most of us were thinking about the office instead.” “Don’t worry about it, Kathryn. I’m not much for ‘fancy’ stuff, anyway.” ***I should kiss her,*** he thought. It was a night of acting without consulting brains first. He leaned across the small table and kissed Kathryn gently. Kathryn’s face was a mask of surprise. ***Where did that come from?…I don’t care…I’m not sorry,*** he thought. “You don’t know how long I’ve been wishing you’d do that,” she whispered breathlessly. “About as long as I’ve been wanting to,” he said, still a little shocked that he had. He kissed her again. “I’ve wanted to every time you looked distressed.” Another kiss. “That’s for landing here.” And another. “That’s for New Earth.” And another. “That’s the Borg, and the Hirogen,” two quick ones. “And the Vidiians, and the Kazon, and everyone else.” He kissed her once more, a little longer this time. “And that’s for Mark,” he said softly. He watched her for a moment as she sat there, looking most un-Captain-like, her eyes closed with a look of peace on her face. Her eyes popped open and looked around the bar. None of her crew was looking at them; they were all absorbed in their conversations. None of them were paying attention to their two commanding officers. “I don’t think any of them care,” he said. “I find that very reassuring,” Kathryn replied with a smile. “Do you think they’re tired of our ‘waltzing around’ too?” “Do we care?” A knowing smile from each accompanied their unison “Nah.” She kissed him this time. “I really am sick of this uniform--I’m dying to get into some civvies. Walk me to my quarters?” she asked. “Of course,” he replied. He stood and offered her his arm, as he had so many times before. She joined him at his side, like always, but instead of resting her hand gently in the crook of his arm, she took his hand in her own. His eyes showed the surprise at the gesture the rest of his face cleverly masked. But she noticed. “You know, Chakotay, I saw you surprised more times today than I think I’ve seen you in a year.” “Can’t really blame me, can you? It was a day of surprises.” He smiled and she returned it. They walked towards the door, unnoticed… or so they thought. “Aren’t they cute?” B’Elanna whispered to Tom as the couple passed their table. Tom chucked a bit. “They *are* cute. You were right, Bella.” “As usual.” “Hey, my confidence finally rubbed off on you!” “You gotta be useful for something, Helmboy.” “Thanks tons, Warpgirl.” “I love you.” “I love you, too.” ***************************************************************************** And, with that, I end my story. Geez, I feel like something big is done now. Hey, I finally finished a piece of fanfic!!!!!!! Woo-hoo! And it did something! Good thing!!! So, estoy finito. =)!