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Rating: PG
Disclaimer: Voyager and its characters belong to Paramount Pictures. No infringement intended. Spoilers: none Summary: J/C, Kathryn and Chakotay reminisce in an odd place, under even stranger circumstances. Author's Note: Usually I write happy stories, so I don't know where this idea came from. It sort of arrived like a baby on my doorstep with no forwarding address. © January 10, 2001 Thanks KateF, Jade, and Shayenne for looking over this for me. |
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~*~*~*~
"You're not usually this quiet. Tell me a story."
"I can't think of anything at the moment."
Silence, only interrupted by breathing, and a faint sound of thunder in the distance.
"Alright. Then tell, me what we would have found if we'd explored the river."
A sigh, followed by rustling as he sits up straighter.
"I was going to make the boat out of wood from the trees near the house. I noticed a couple species that were tall and straight, with the properties of mahogany from Earth. They were ideal for the keel. And there was another tree similar to fir, stout and light for the mast. We'd have a sail so that we could go wherever we wanted, as long as the wind blew. It wouldn't have been anything large, or elaborate, just an open skiff with seats, a place to stow our gear and food, and the ability to take us where our imaginations led.
"We would have taken the boat out one morning, as the sun was rising. The birds would just be waking up and the air would be full of their songs. We would make our way up the river at a leisurely pace, just watching the riverbank go by. At mid-day, we would look for a shaded grassy bank, and pull the boat ashore for lunch.
"I can see us there, laying on a blanket, enjoying a picnic together. You're wearing your blue dress, and your hair is long and red-golden in the sunlight. We're eating and laughing about something funny you've said about the trip."
Silence again...
"Why did you cut your hair? I always loved it long. I miss it."
"It got in the way. . . . No, that wasn't really it." A sigh. "It was a distraction, and I didn't think I could afford any distractions." A hand reaches out and touches his chest. "I was wrong. Life is too short not to indulge in distractions occasionally." His hand covers hers, and his other arm wraps around her shoulders, pulling her to lean against him.
The thunder is louder now, closer.
"Tell me more about our trip, exploring the river."
"If you'd like. . . . We're in no hurry. After lunch we lounge on the blanket, in the shade of the tree. You rub you neck, like you're doing now, and I offer to make the pain go away."
Hands slide to her shoulders and gently kneed the soreness, easing the tension away. She sighs, and relaxes the tight bands of muscle along her neck as the warmth of his hands sinks in.
"I should have taken advantage of this more. All those tension headaches and sore necks I could have avoided."
"Kathryn, I'm here now, and that's what matters. . . . We have here and now."
Another explosion sounds. This one was close enough to bring down dust from the ceiling of the cave.
"I'd like very much to be on the boat right now, Chakotay."
"I know. So would I."
"We'll have to program it for the holodeck when we get back."
"I'll see to it first thing, Kathryn. I'm sure I can get enough data from sensor logs to recreate everything."
"Including the monkey?"
A laugh. "Yes, including the monkey."
"But he doesn't get to come on the boat. He ruined my bath once. There's no telling what he might do on a boat."
Another blast rocks the cave and threatens to bring the ceiling down.
He looks at her, and offers his arm to help her stand up. "It's time."
"What about the others?"
"If any of them were still... able, they would have answered our hails."
She nods. "One thing? . . . Kiss me before we go."
He smiles, and then leans down and kisses her, deeply and passionately, as if it were the last time and not the first.
Separated, they look at each other. "Did I ever tell you that I love you, Kathryn?"
She shakes her head. "Never in words, but in all the ways that matter. I've known. And Chakotay, . . . I love you too."
They stand for a moment, looking again at each other - memorizing the details of this moment.
Voices now, in the distance. Commands in an alien tongue, and the sound of trampled underbrush, coming closer.
Quietly, they check the compression rifles and note the amount of charge left. Not quite empty. It will be just enough.
"Take my hand, Chakotay?"
He reaches out and takes her hand in his, as they walk together out
of the cave, into the daylight.
THE END
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