Rating: PG13
Once upon a time...
<anne3write> Kathryn grimaced as her coffee spilled.
<anne3write> But she couldn't worry about that now, not with the way the shuttle was lurching and shaking.
<anne3write> "Can you stabilize the port nacelle?" she asked Chakotay, not looking away from her panel.
<anne3write> "I'll try, but I'm not B'Elanna," Chakotay replied.
<chris47> "No, it's too heavily damaged," Chakotay shouted
<chris47> Kathryn worked frantically at the controls to get the shuttle back in line
<KimK> "That's it," Chakotay said as the final brace gave way. "The nacelle is now detached entirely. We'll be losing artificial gravity at any moment. You might want to finish that cup of coffee now."
<KimK> Kathryn looked at what little was left, and the lapful that was warming her legs.
<KimK> "Will the life support go down too?" she asked.
<anne3write> Chakotay looked at the environmental system readouts. "All other systems seem unaffected, at least for now."
<anne3write> "All right." Kathryn tapped her console rapidly. "It looks like we'll be drifting for a while, as soon as we can slow down."
<chris47> "Good", Chakotay said "I will see if there is a planet where we can land."
<chris47> "Maybe we, umpf, you" he said "could repair the shuttle."
<chris47> Kathryn gave him a sideways look, and muttered "Can't make a fire without my hair, and now I have to repair the shuttle. Great!"
<KimK> Kathryn watched her coffee cup begin to rise from its spot beside the control panel.
<KimK> "I hate zero g. Have I ever told you that?"
<KimK> "Why hate it?" Chakotay asked. "Enjoy it."
<KimK> "Enjoy it?" Kathryn tried to control her voice, to make it less fearful. "I don't think so."
<KimK> "Sure, enjoy it." His voice had a caressing tone, that very soothing sound that usually made things more bearable for her in the midst of battles.
<KimK> "Enjoy it how?"
<KimK> "Get out of that chair and I'll show you."
<anne3write> Kathryn looked at her first officer, and then down at her coffee soaked uniform. She was annoyed that after being so determined not to push her, for years, that he chose this moment to "push".
<anne3write> But, on the other hand...
<anne3write> Her train of thought was derailed when the shuttle shook again.
<anne3write> "We need to get this shuttle secured!" Her hands flew over the console, setting the distress beacon. He almost missed what she said next. "We can discuss your idea once we're not hurtling through space like a rogue comet."
<chris47> Suddenly the chair gave way and she was flying though the shuttle in slow motion.
<chris47> Chakotay watched her with a slight smile, but then his expression changed to worry.
<chris47> She looked almost green to her nose, and her eyes were wide open
<KimK> "You need to get your mind off your body, to enjoy zero g." Chakotay pulled off his own jacket and tucked it into a handgrip.
<KimK> "Let yourself float. You can swim, can't you?
<KimK> "Of course I can swim," she replied angrily. "Zero g is nothing like swimming."
<KimK> "No, it's like floating." He reached out his hand and pulled her gently into the middle of the shuttle. "Lay back."
<KimK> Her glare would have melted the heat shields around the shuttle, if they hadn't already been lost.
<KimK> "If I do this, then will you help me?"
<anne3write> Chakotay sighed. "Didn't they teach you in command school to gracefully accept things you can't change?"
<anne3write> "No, they taught me to blast my way through," she grumbled.
<anne3write> Chakotay pushed away from the wall as gently as he could and floated towards her. He shook his head, but smiled. "Maybe that was my dad I'm thinking of."
<chris47> He tried to reach her arm, but she turned away. Instead he caught her right leg, and for a moment they floated peacefully.
<chris47> A wicked grin crossed his face as he spun her around like a drill.
<chris47> She tried to get hold of something to stop the rotation, but everything seemed so far away. Her eyes became blurry, and her stomach became upset.
<chris47> And she looked more green than before. Chakotay took pity on her and stopped.
<Dawn47> He hooked his foot under a low console so that he was in an upright position and pulled her to him.
<Dawn47> Gently, he rotated her so she was floating on her back and put one hand under her shoulder blades and the other rested on top of her legs.
<Dawn47> "Float like you are on water now. Let me hold you up."
<anne3write> Kathryn wobbled and he saw her jaw clench.
<anne3write> "It would help if you breathed," he suggested.
<anne3write> "I am breathing," she said between gritted teeth.
<anne3write> But after a minute she did start breathing easier. Kathryn turned her head to look at him and took hold of his arms. "The floating is making me ill. I think I'd be better off with something solid to hold onto."
<chris47> He pulled her in his arms and brought her in an upright position.
<chris47> She clung to his body like he was an anchor.
<chris47> After a while, she started to relax, the tension drained away, and she realized how near she was to his body.
<chris47> Captain or Kathryn, that was her dilemma. As captain, she knew that she couldn't give in to him, but as Kathryn she wanted just that.
<Dawn47> She pulled herself a little closer and threaded her arms around his neck. "You know, Chakotay... There are some barriers that a senior officer can't cross with a subordinate."
<Dawn47> She looked up into his eyes, "But if that subordinate pushes enough so that there is no doubt about his intentions, the senior officer can reciprocate."
<anne3write> Chakotay's face broke into a grin, and he pulled her closer still. "That could be a problem, Kathryn. If I push you, you'll wind up on the other side of the cabin. But if those are the regulations, who am I to argue?"
<anne3write> He leaned closer and "pushed" on her lips with his.
<chris47> She looked into his eyes and...
<Dawn47> After her head returned from being pushed back with his lips, she looked into his eyes and said, "I guess I need to offer a little resistance?"
<Dawn47> Chuckling, he said, "Only in zero G... please."
<Dawn47> He moved one hand from its position caressing her back, up to cup the back of her head. "Maybe this will help."
<Dawn47> She closed her eyes in anticipation of his kiss.
<Dawn47> At the very moment when their lips touched, she jumped at the sound of a loud series of beeps from the shuttle's computers.
<anne3write> Chakotay groaned and Kathryn rolled her eyes.
<anne3write> She pulled back slightly and tapped her combadge. "Janeway here."
<anne3write> Tuvok's calm voice came through the communicator. "Captain, we are en route to your location and should rendezvous in 30 minutes. Are you in immediate need of medical attention?"
<anne3write> Kathryn looked at Chakotay and saw he was frowning. "Thank you, Tuvok. No need to rush, we're in no danger."
<chris47> "Janeway out".
<chris47> Chakotay pulled her back in his arms. Again she looked in his eyes. "Where were we?
<Dawn47> "Well, I'd love to say we were right about here." He pulled her in tight, but his frown hadn't left. "But those beeps weren't just Tuvok. I think we're losing life support."
<Dawn47> She turned to examine the console. "Damn! Well, we still have 30 minutes of oxygen left and that's when Tuvok said he'd be here."
<Dawn47> He hadn't let go of her and still had his hands around her waist. He pulled her back against him and said, "But you just told him not to rush."
<Dawn47> She turned her head to look at him and said, "Then I suppose we had better make use of what time we have before we have to put the environmental suits on, hadn't we?"
<anne3write> They had floated back toward the front of the cabin and were within reach of the co-pilot's chair.
<anne3write> "Or, we could just wait here for Voyager." She tapped her badge again. "Change of plans, Tuvok. Life-support is failing so step on it."
<anne3write> After Tuvok acknowledged her she reached out and grabbed the top of Chakotay's chair. "Since we only have one chair left, I guess we'll have to share."
<anne3write> Chakotay managed to pull himself into his chair and secure the Delta Flyers "seat belts" around him.
<chris47> When he was finished, he pulled her in his lap, and wrapped his arms securely around her.
<chris47> She snuggled in his chest
<Dawn47> Sighing, she said, "This is nice."
<Dawn47> He kissed the top of her head and said, "Yes it is... but if you lift your chin a little I can think of something nicer."
<Dawn47> She chuckled and lifted her face. "Very nice pushing, Commander."
<Dawn47> "Why, thank you Captain."
<Dawn47> He leaned forward and touched her lips gently. She offered just enough resistance to make this kiss a life-changing event.
<anne3write> It seemed like only moments later when the cabin of the Flyer shimmered and dissolved around them to be replaced by the interior of Sickbay.
<anne3write> Kathryn sighed and pulled away from Chakotay. He sat perfectly still, on the biobed, arms still around Kathryn, wondering what would happen next.
<anne3write> The Doctor cleared his throat. "I apologize, Captain, but your erratic biosigns seemed to warrant an immediate transport."
<anne3write> Kathryn smiled and winked at Chakotay. "I completely understand, Doctor. I'm just glad it wasn't Tuvok beaming us to the bridge."
<chris47> With that she went through the sickbay doors and left a chuckling Chakotay and a completely lost EMH standing there.
<Dawn47> Chakotay shook his head and without explaining to the doctor, walked out the door as well. As soon as he turned the corridor, he saw Kathryn collapsed on the floor.
<Dawn47> Worried, he quickly moved to her, turned her over, and picked her up in his arms.
<Dawn47> She began to stir on the short trip back to sickbay.
<anne3write> "Chakotay," she murmured. "You're headed the wrong way."
<anne3write> "I'm headed to sickbay." He paused as she nuzzled his neck. "And so are you."
<anne3write> Kathryn made a very uncaptainlike noise, but settled down as the doors to sickbay slid open.
<chris47> Chakotay laid her carefully on the biobed and the EMH ran the diagnostic scanner over her. "Mmh, you are a bit short of oxygen. Was it that hard to keep the Flyer together?"
<chris47> Kathryn blushed furiously and Chakotay grinned from ear to ear.
<Dawn47> Chakotay cleared his throat and said, "She had some trouble with the zero g environment."
<Dawn47> Kathryn leveled a glare at Chakotay that both he and the Doctor wisely chose not to acknowledge.
<Dawn47> "I see," said the Doctor. He moved to the console in the center of sickbay and loaded two hyposprays.
<Dawn47> Returning, he injected each one into Kathryn's neck. "One to boost your blood oxygen level and the other for motion sickness."
<Dawn47> Kathryn rubbed her neck in frustration at her obvious inability to handle something as simple as zero g.
<Squirrelly> "Alright, Captain," said the EMH. "You're free to return to your quarters, but I must insist," and here he flicked his eyes to the commander, "that you not engage in any, er, strenuous activities for the next 24 hours."
<Squirrelly> If the glare Kathryn had shot them before was bad, this one was lethal.
<Squirrelly> "What did you have in mind, Doctor?" she growled dangerously.
<Squirrelly> "Um, well, for instance, I know you enjoy...rock-climbing in your spare time," he stammered.
<Squirrelly> "So just try to stay off the holo-decks, and of course, you really ought to cut back on all that caffeine--" The rest of his words were lost on Kathryn as she stalked out of Sickbay, Chakotay following with some alacrity.
<Squirrelly> Once out in the corridor, he turned to her. "So, where to next, Captain?"
<anne3write> Kathryn's face relaxed as she turned and looked at him. She reached down and took his hand.
<anne3write> "We're off duty, so I think we should get out of these uniforms." She stared walking toward the turbolift. "And then I think we should go to the holodeck...and see if we can't find a nice rock climbing program."
<anne3write> Chakotay paused, and Kathryn tugged him into the turbolift.
<chris47> "Deck 3" she ordered. They rode to their deck and walked to their quarters.
<Dakota> "Come back when you've changed."
<Dakota> "Aye, Captain."
<Dakota> A few minutes later Chakotay returned to the captain's quarters to find her sitting on her couch with a cup of iced coffee in her hand and a glass of iced tea on the table.
<Dakota> "I've reconsidered the Holodeck," Kathryn met Chakotay's eyes steadily, "for now."
<Dakota> "The doctor will be pleased." Chakotay crossed the room wondering what she had planned.
<Dakota> Kathryn motioned Chakotay to sit down and handed him his glass. "I hope I made it sweet enough for you, Chakotay."
<Dakota> Chakotay tasted the tea. "It's perfect. Now what did you decide we should do?"
<Dakota> "I thought maybe I could find something else to climb... right here in my quarters."
<anne3write> Kathryn dissolved into laughter. "Don't look so worried."
<anne3write> He still looked apprehensive.
<anne3write> She shrugged. "Okay, maybe we need a new metaphor. I'm not trying to put you spot and you've been after me for years to relax when I'm off duty."
<anne3write> Chakotay's posture relaxed and he set his cup down.
<anne3write> Kathryn set her cup down too, stood up, and held out her hand. "Let's get out of here. I heard Neelix had something special planned for lunch."
<chris47> Together they went to the messhall. There were some crewman coming from the messhall and with a forced smile they greeted the command team.
<chris47> They all looked a bit pale.
<chris47> When they entered the room, they saw only some tables occupied. That was really normal for this time of the day.
<chris47> They went to the counter and were greeted by Neelix.
<Dakota> "What was everyone else eating today, Neelix?" Chakotay asked the obvious question.
<Dakota> "Oh, it's a new recipe I found for Leola root. I made a double batch. It's been a big hit with the crew since we ran out of everything else about an hour ago."
<Dakota> Chakotay watched Kathryn's face pale and she wobbled a bit.
<Dakota> "Are you sure you're hungry, Captain?"
<Dakota> "Not as hungry as I thought I was." Kathryn looked up at Chakotay. "Do you mind if we go for a walk in Airponics? Maybe I'll work up an appetite that way."
<Dakota> "We close in ten minutes, Captain. Don't take too long or you'll miss out on this new recipe"
<Dakota> "If we're late, we'll eat in our quarters, Neelix." Chakotay quickly led Kathryn out the door, hoping she could stay on her feet until they were well away from the Leola root.
<Squirrelly> "That was a close one," said Kathryn as they approached the turbolift. "Thanks for bailing me out."
<Squirrelly> "Any time," he grinned. "Feeling better?"
<Squirrelly> "Actually, I was feeling fine the whole time, but who wants to eat *that* dreck?" she said, grimacing.
<Squirrelly> Chakotay chuckled to himself as they entered the lift. "Deck three," he said.
<Squirrelly> She looked at him appraisingly. "I thought we were going for a walk in the Airponics bay."
<Squirrelly> "And I thought you were sick."
<Squirrelly> "Touche," she said, arching an eyebrow.
<anne3write> "All things considered, I think a little fresh air and conversation would do us some good. Deck 8," she ordered.
<anne3write> The lift opened on deck 8 and they strolled to Airponics.
<anne3write> "How long are we off duty?" Chakotay asked.
<anne3write> "I don't know." Kathryn tapped her combadge and asked the Doctor. Kathryn didn't even balk when he said two days; she just asked him to investigate what Neelix had server for lunch with an eye toward having it labeled as a biohazard.
<chris47> They walked in Airponics and wandered through the flowers to a corner where she stopped and inspected a green plant very carefully.
<chris47> "What is that?" Chakotay asked. "Is it one of the tomato plants of New Earth?"
<Dakota> "Don't try to play dumb, Chakotay. You know what those tomatoes look like almost as well as I do."
<Dakota> Kathryn turned and looked up at him. "Or don't you want to talk?"
<Dakota> "It's not that, Kathryn. I'm just not sure what to make of you when you're in this type of a mood."
<Dakota> Chakotay led the way to a bench among some of the flowering plants and waited to take a seat until Kathryn had sat down.
<Dakota> "Did you have anything in particular you wanted to discuss with me?"
<Dakota> Kathryn didn't meet his eyes as she considered how to answer his question.
<Dakota> Finally she looked up. "I wanted to talk about you and me."
<Dakota> Chakotay was silent so she continued. "As in you and me, not the captain and first officer."
<Squirrelly> Kathryn fiddled with her nails, waiting. "Yes. Just Kathryn and Chakotay."
<Squirrelly> "I think I can handle that," he said softly.
<Squirrelly> Equally softly, she murmured, "You know what I said earlier about pushing?" He nodded. "I still mean it," she said.
<Squirrelly> Gently as a breath of air, he lifted her chin up so that she faced him. Her eyes were a whirling storm of doubt...and something else.
<Squirrelly> Slowly, slowly, he leaned forward and brushed her lips with his once more.
<Squirrelly> "How was that for a push?" he whispered, his hot breath fanning out on her cheek.
<Squirrelly> Her eyes had drifted shut. "Just fine," she managed. "Just fine."
THE END
Please help me out - click to vote for my site! |
