Curse of The Banshee: Guinness, Brawls & 'Riverdancing' [Part 6]!

by ALM_Voyager

"Well, that should do it," Harry snapped the wall piece back on over the holodeck controls.

"No banshee?" Tom asked.

"No banshee." Harry replied.

"No memories of the banshee?" Chakotay asked.

"No, no memories," Harry laughed and paused when he saw them hesitate, "trust me . . . just because that last part of the programming gave me a few problems didn't mean that it wasn't a success!"

"Just remember, Harry," Tom smacked him on the back, "there's room enough for three in the Captain's brig."

B'Elanna sighed and held the icepack to her right eye. It was going to be a long night. Suddenly her door chimed, "Great, just great. Enter! And it better well be good."

"I need to ask a favor of you, B'Elanna," Chakotay smiled over the scowling Klingon woman who was still lying in bed, icepack to eye.

"A favor?" Her curiosity was perked.

"Remember those . . . those shoes you helped Kathryn find in the computer's database . . . the ones for her Fair Haven times?" Chakotay gestured absently trying to find the right description.

"Yes, those shoes were made for dancing, Chakotay," she sniffed and rested her arm behind her neck.

"I need a pair and I don't have enough replicator rations left," Chakotay sat down on the bed, the mattress sinking slightly beneath his weight.

"Chakotay, you don't dance," B'Elanna stated blandly but unable to blink. "And you certainly don't dance the way Kathryn Janeway dances in those shoes," she rolled over and put the pillow over her head, throwing the icepack across the room to hit the wall. "I suggest you find something else for me to replicate you," her muffled words came from under the pillow.

Chakotay lifted the pillow from her hands, tugging on it as best he could, "I need THOSE shoes B'Elanna."

B'Elanna tugged the pillow back, "I will not be responsible for your death Chakotay. You'd kill yourself doing that stuff."

Chakotay tugged again, wincing as a seam in the pillowcase ripped, "Get me the shoes, B'Elanna or else."

"Or else what," she strained, sitting up and pulling the pillow, feeling fabric rip, "You'll do a toe-stand?" Suddenly they both gave two big pulls at the same time and the pillow ripped in half. Feather flew up in the air, enveloping the two officers and landing softly all around them like snow.

"Tell you what," Chakotay blew some feathers from his nose with his upper lip.

"What," B'Elanna crossed her arms, which were covered in white feathers.

"I'll replicate you a new pillow, you replicate me the shoes," Chakotay blinked.

"Damn you," B'Elanna growled and jumped up to go to the replicator.

Kathryn walked into Sullivan's pub, the walls glowing a golden yellow due to the candlelight that was everywhere. People were smashed tightly together, all drinking and singing. Traditional Irish music played from the far end of the bar, where the band was, and Kathryn smiled at the traditional outfits some of her crew had replicated that were mixed with the Gold and Red of the Starfleet uniforms.

"Captain!" Neelix called out. "What do you think?"

"You and Michael have outdone yourselves!" Kathryn smiled and gave the Talaxian a surprising hug.

"Why thank you Captain. We were in a mad rush this morning -- he seemed a little distracted," Neelix said with some thought, "but," he continued just as suddenly, "we got it done. So, ERIN GO BRAGH! It surely was a race against time!"

"Is maith an scealai an aimsir," Kathryn laughed.

"I beg your pardon?" Neelix said and fingered his whiskers. "I don't think that one went through the translator."

"It's Gaelic," Kathryn smiled, "it means 'Time is a great storyteller.'"

"Absolutely amazing! You'll have to teach me that," Neelix smiled. "Well, duty calls!"

Kathryn watched Neelix move into the crowd and let her gaze circle around the room. She had expected to see Chakotay but he wasn't in the pub. 'Michael . . . where's Michael . .' Kathryn's mind whirled. 'Searching for two men in one night, Kathryn? Terrible,' she scolded herself.

"Chakotay!" some crewman or another called out and Kathryn felt herself turning around quickly to see his appearance. His broad shoulders aided him in pushing past the massive amount of bodies that were crowded in the pub. 'He's heading in the opposite direction' Kathryn felt her heart, surprisingly enough, drop but nearly screamed as a hand clamped down on her shoulder.

"Katie!" Michael's voice came suddenly. "Tis been too long, love," he smiled and embraced her.

Kathryn held tight but wondered why her body felt so numb, "Michael, how are you." She kissed him gently on the cheek to soften the formality and let herself be led to a table by him. They sat at a small table that was lit with a single candle. With a quick wave of the hand, two Gayness were delivered to their tables.

"I've been better, Katie," he smiled.

"I heard that your decorating time with Neelix was slightly rushed," she laughed.

"Oh, aye. But, something else . . . I dinna know . . ." he stated and looked around the pub, raising his glass to a friend or two.

"Something's wrong . . ." Kathryn stated knowingly and placed her hand on his. "What is it Michael?"

"I wish I knew . . . it's as though a piece of me were missing . . ." he took a long swallow of the rich liquid in his glass. "Or maybe it was because I was missing you."

CONTINUED IN PART 7!

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