Harry dove to one side of the corridor as several members, including Tom, who slowed when he saw his friend, came running by. "Don't tell me they're loose again?!" Harry looked around as if he were searching for a jeffries tube to hide in.
"Don't even bother," Tom said, reading his mind, "that didn't work the last time now did it? Besides, the girls are with the doctor, *lucky doctor," he added under his breath. "It's just that I heard Neelix has actually made something edible."
"Edible?" Harry squinted trying to conceive of the notion.
"Yep, that's where everyone is running to," Tom laughed.
"But . . ." Harry started and stopped as Tom shrugged.
"At least we know *someone* got some," Paris laughed.
"I think I lost my appetite," Harry moaned.
**************************************
The Doctor looked helplessly around his sickbay which was still filled with female Ensigns, Lieutenants, et al. "Lucky me," he stated sarcastically, "I'm a Doctor, not the master of a Starfleet Harem!"
**************************************
Kes smiled to herself as she fingered the blooming flower before her in the airponics bay. She had always loved Neelix and regretted that it had taken a space anomaly to come to some sort of understanding. Fortunately for the both of them, it had taken only one kiss to sedate that which raged within her. She wondered what more all the other female ensigns and lieutenants needed, sure some had come around after claiming a kiss or two or four, but others still raged with the love-fever. But Kes had never seen any form of love as a bad thing, what better way to entertain and embrace the wonder known as life? She sighed as the airponics door swished open, but her sigh turned to a genuine smile as Chakotay entered.
"Commander!" Kes rushed forward to guide him into the flowering aisles. "How are you?" She asked with concern. Though she was only two years old, Kes understood a lot more of what was happening on Voyager then some of the crew themselves. She had watched Tom Paris fight his feelings for B'Elanna by chasing after the Delaney sister er sisters, she had watched Harry Kim fight to hang onto the memories of his 'Libby' on earth and she had watched as the Captain cut off any emotional feeling that might surface for her Commanding Officer . . . much to that Commanding Officer's dismay. And that was only lightly touching on the topic of Voyager's personal personnel life.
"As good as can be expected," he said and folded his arms.
"What brings you here?" Kes asked, hoping she could find some way to talk with the Commander on what was really bothering him.
Chakotay walked forward and looked at several flowering plants, "I just needed a change of pace . . . my people don't do well when we are away from nature for quite a while."
"It has been a while since we've all had a shore leave," Kes commented.
"And," Chakotay started.
"And?" Kes encouraged.
"And you're the only woman on board who is of a clear mind . . .er, and you're the only clear-minded one I trust to talk to, Kes. B'Elanna is either sedated or trying to bite Paris and the Captain . . . well . . ." he shrugged and walked down the aisles with Kes by his side.
"I'm sure the doctor has told you, and I can attest to it as well, that what the Captain is feeling for you, under the anomaly's influence, is anything but false," Kes offered.
"I find that very hard to believe . . . for some reason," he looked at her, his eyes sad.
"Why? Why is it so impossible to believe that the Captain has those feelings for you?" Kes was confused. Chakotay had always been looking for Kathryn to return his feelings and now that she had he doubted it all.
"I just didn't want it to happen this way," he explained and smiled.
"Commander, I'm not suggesting you do anything that would compromise yourself or the Captain in the current situation, all I'm suggesting is that perhaps you should take this time to listen carefully to the things she's telling you," Kes laughed remembering a few of the things she had overheard her dear Captain say to Chakotay.
Chakotay laughed as well, "I'm getting quite the earful, aren't I?"
"Yes, you are!" Kes hugged him.
CONTINUED IN PART 10!
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