The Marriage Lament By Serena Janeway Disclaimer: the story is mine the characters are Paramount?s synopsis: Continuation from Placing Blame, what is Janeway?s answer to Chakotay?s question? Kathryn Janeway had secluded herself in her quarters for 3 days now, put Chakotay in charge on the bridge, she couldn?t face him not after...that. She would?ve really liked to say ?Yes Chakotay I will marry you!? but she couldn?t bring herself to do so...not after he almost died under her command. She had taken off her comm badge, not allowed anyone to enter her quarters, and had barely eaten anything, she had duplicated some things in particular a lot of coffee. It always seemed that when she was under stress the more coffee she drank. You love him Kathryn...you want to marry him! But how can I first I almost killed him and second I?m the Captain, I can?t have a relationship...think about command structure! Just then her door chirped Kathryn went silent hoping that whoever it was would go away but the door chirped again followed by a voice...a familiar voice. ?Kathryn I know you?re in there please let me in!? of course the familiar voice was Chakotay?s. Kathryn still stayed silent she couldn?t face him, not yet anyway. ?Kathryn, I love you...please let me in! I really should just barge in there...but I?ll respect your privacy...please get in touch with me later.? and with that he left and Kathryn let out a sigh of relief, Thank God he left, I just can?t...not yet. On the bridge the mood was somber...everyone was relieved that the conflict had resolved itself and that all the crew was safe and sound, however they were once again without a Captain. It was like the void all over again...but the crew should?ve been rejoicing that everything was okay, but no the Captain had isolated herself again and it was affecting everyone. *God Kathryn why can?t I get through to you? Why won?t you let me in? I love you Kathryn, why can?t you understand that?* Chakotay wondered to himself, he had the biggest burden and it showed...he spent a lot of time in the Captain?s ready room trying to sort things out and he couldn?t figure out the woman he loved so much. ?Chakotay to Janeway...please answer Kathryn...I?m begging you!? he said over his comm badge, but the only answer was silence. *God Kathryn stop shutting me out!* ?Commander your presence is needed on the bridge.? instead of Kathryn?s voice over the comm it was Tuvok?s. ?On my way.? ?Status.? ?A lazari vessel is hailing us.? ?On screen.? Suddenly a lazari commander appeared on the viewscreen, and he didn?t look too happy. ?Where is the Captain?? ?She?s not available at the moment, what can I do to help you?? ?She is responsible for the loss of an entire fleet, she has killed thousands of our people. Now she must pay!? ?You took our people hostage and tried to take her ship by force, all we did was defend ourselves. You were the hostile ones I remind you.? ?You have defeated our ancestors we are not hostile, you are the hostile ones, prepare to be boarded!? ?Our technology is superior to yours, I?d like to see you try!? ?Prepare to be boarded.? And with that the first shot was fired from the lazari vessel. ?Tuvok fire phasers! Mr. Paris evasive maneuvers! I would really hate to use the malton torpedo again.? ?Shields down to 70%! We?ve taken heavy damage on our starboard side!? Kim shouted from his station. ?Tuvok arm the malton torpedo, Paris get ready to go to warp...on my mark...fire! Go to warp Paris!? And in a flash they were gone as another malton torpedo exploded into space, but by then Voyager was long gone. ?Chakotay to Janeway...please respond...? silence, it wasn?t like Kathryn to stay in her quarters and sit while her ship is being attacked and because of this Chakotay became more and more concerned. Janeway looked out her window the lazari had left and the ship was out of immediate danger. She felt the need to go to the bridge but she still couldn?t bring herself up to it, she sank deeper into the depression that she had thrung herself into. Neelix saw the Commander walking down the corridor and flagged him down. ?Commander! Have you spoke with the Captain lately! You have no idea what her absence is doing to crew morale! The crew wants to know how she?s doing!? ?Neelix, I have not spoke to her recently, she doesn?t answer my comms and she doesn?t answer her door.? ?Well you?re the commander can?t you get into her room with a code or something?!? ?Well yes but she?s the Captain, and if she wants her privacy I?m not going to barge in on her, I?m going to respect her privacy.? ?But...Commander...the crew...? ?Enough Neelix! I?ll update you when I find out anything!? and with that Neelix walked away. *Oh Kathryn, you can?t make your crew suffer too...that?s it Kathryn...I?m coming in...no more hiding from your problems!* With that he strode to her quarters. Kathryn listened as her door beeped, she of course ignored it, and it beeped again followed by a voice. ?Kathryn...let me in...you can?t stay in there forever...the crew is asking about you! Come out and act like a Captain!? Kathryn couldn?t believe that he had just said that...undermined her command, who was he to say how she commanded her ship and her actions... ?Enter!? and with that Chakotay entered the room. ?Hello Kathryn, I?m glad you came to your senses, now can we talk about this?? ?Well I guess that?s what you came barging in here for...what do you want to talk about?? ?You know what I want to talk about, I want to talk about us.? ?Chakotay, there is no us.? ?What do you mean...I love you Kathryn and I know you love me, you said it yourself...I wish you wouldn?t blame yourself for the accident, it wasn?t your fault, you had the ship?s best interest in mind. There was nothing that I would have changed in your plan.? ?I almost killed my first officer and pilot...how can I forgive myself, I almost killed the one I love...and for that...? ?I?m not dead Kathryn! How long will it take you to realize that, your mission was a success!? ?Then what do you call that attack today! If we were successful why are they still in pursuit of us?? ?That I don?t know but for now they?re gone and we haven?t heard from them since. I wouldn?t worry. Kathryn you have to come out of here, you can?t stay here in your quarters, it?s not healthy, I care for you and I can?t let you waste away like this!? ?I appreciate your concern for my welfare but I?m fine!? ?No your not you?re acting the same way you were during our travel through the void, but you?re worse this time!? ?Who do you think you are? Thinking you know how I am...I think I can judge that!? ?Kathryn, I?m sorry, I just wish you?d go back to being the Kathryn Janeway I know because this is not the Kathryn I have come to know and love.? ?Well I?m sorry...I don?t know...it?s just...God Chakotay I love you...I never want to lose you...and I almost did!? ?Well it?s gonna take a lot more than a malton torpedo blast to get rid of me I guess.? ?I?m glad...let?s go to the bridge!? she started out of her room, but Chakotay stopped her before she got to the door. ?What about my question Kathryn, will you marry me?? ?I...well...I?m the Captain.? ?I know command structure, yada yada, Kathryn, you aren?t breaking any rules by marrying me, nowhere in Starfleet does it say we can?t be husband and wife. Kathryn I love you, I want to grow old with you, I want you to be my wife.? ?I?ll have to think about that one, now can we go to the bridge?? ?Yeah, as long as you promise me that you?ll consider my question.? ?Of course I will, let?s go!? Over the next two weeks they had had two more attacks by the lazari, and both Voyager was successful in defeating them. And of course she had been thinking long and hard about Chakotay?s question...and so she invited him up for dinner in her quarters. ?Hello Kathryn...wow you look fabulous tonight!? Kathryn had put on a simple black dress, and curled her hair so it bounced gently on her shoulders. ?Why thank you, you look good yourself handsome! Shall we eat?? ?Yeah, what?s on the menu?? ?Well I replicated some roasted duck, rice pilaf, carrots and some champagne, I already had the candles.? ?So I take it that you?ve come to an answer...? ?Yes I have and my answer is...? Just then the lights dimmed and the red lights started blinking, and Tuvok?s voice came over the comm loud and clear. ?All senior staff, please report to the bridge.? ?Well I guess that answer will just have to wait.? She kissed him on the lips and walked out of her quarters. She then walked on to the bridge, she got some funny looks and realized that she hadn?t changed. ?Report!? ?The lazari have come out of warp, and have hailed us.? ?On screen!? ?Captain, this is your last chance to surrender your ship and all its technology!? ?You know I will never surrender my ship!? ?Very well Captain, prepare to die!? And the battle commenced there were 5 lazari vessels but Voyager?s technology was superior and Janeway was going to show them that. ?Mr. Paris evasive maneuvers! Tuvok fire phasers and load the malton torpedo, don?t fire the torpedo until I give the order.? They commenced their attack taking out 2 lazari ships on phasers alone, Janeway thought that this would make them retreat, but they kept going. ?Our shields are at 70% and holding Captain, more ships are on their way, time to intercept, 5 minutes.? ?Tuvok arm the malton torpedo, let?s make ourselves a little more menacing.? ?Torpedo loaded.? Even with the torpedo loaded the lazari continued their attack, giving the Captain no other choice. ?Tuvok arm the torpedo, Mr. Paris get ready to go to warp, gentlemen, on my mark. Fire! Paris go to warp!? Voyager went to warp before the torpedo even detonated, Voyager didn?t hear from the lazari ever again, and now she had to give Chakotay the answer she was going to give him the other night. ?Chakotay please report to my quarters.? ?On my way.? Kathryn?s room beeped, ?Enter!? When Chakotay entered the room the lights were dimmed and candles were lit, and this time Kathryn was wearing her pink nightgown. ?Hello Chakotay.? ?Hello Kathryn, so I take it you have an answer for me?? ?Of course, I love you Chakotay, of course I?ll marry you!? ?Kathryn, you just made me the happiest man in the Delta Quadrant!? With that they both kissed each other passionately, each deepening the kiss even more as they fell to Kathryn?s bed, Kathryn, began to take off, Chakotay?s shirt to make him a little more equal to her in clothing. Then she ran her hands all over his chest, so he did the same, she moaned as his hands went over her breasts and moved down to the depths of her soul. ?Oh Chakotay, make love to me!? ?Just wait, all good things come to those who wait, just enjoy this.? He slowly started to kiss her lips and then her neck, then her breasts... ?Oh Chakotay pleeeaaasseee now!? ?All good things come to those who wait.? The next morning Kathryn woke up and saw Chakotay sleeping next to her, she was so happy, never again would she be alone, he would always be beside her... ?Do you Chakotay take Kathryn Janeway to be your lawful wedded wife in sickness and in health for richer for poorer as long as you both shall live?? Tuvok asked. ?I do.? ?Do you Kathryn Janeway take Chakotay to be your lawful wedded husband in sickness and in health, for richer or poorer as long as you both shall live?? ?I do.? ?The bride and groom both have vows of their own.? ?Kathryn, the moment I laid eyes on you I knew that you were something special, I told you that I would serve you as your first officer to the best of my ability. Now I give you this same vow as your husband. I love you and you will never ever be alone ever again. I give my life to you Kathryn, forever and always.? ?Chakotay, you?ve always been there for me, you have been my true confidant and friend. Even though I haven?t always realized my feelings for you, but they have always been there. I love you so deeply, you mean so much to me, words can?t even describe it.? ?I now pronounce you husband and wife, you may now kiss the bride.? With that Chakotay lifted the veil and kissed her deeply, and the whole crew cheered and threw confetti and rice, and popped champagne bottles to celebrate. Everyone was dancing and enjoying themselves. A little later on the couple retreated to the holodeck, for a relaxing get away on a tropical island Paris created for them, it was sure to be an interesting honeymoon. This was sure to be the start of something wonderful for both of them and prove to be interesting for the crew. END |