Curse of The Banshee: Guinness, Brawls & Riverdancing [Part 8]!

by ALM_Voyager

"Chakotay! Michael said he wanted to invite you over," she greeted her Commanding officer and patted a chair that was beside her own. "Sit, converse and most importantly . . ." she held up a mug, "drink!"

Michael glanced around the bar, not making eye contact with the man sitting across from him and pounded the wooden surface of the table with his hands. "Those boys sure do know how to play," he stated and turned to Kathryn. "When are you goin' t'dance for us, Katie-girl?"

"Oh, not tonight," she blushed.

"This woman here," Michael told Chakotay, "has feet that move as gracefully as a butterfly's wings . . . but you wouldn't know that would you."

"What do you mean," Chakotay asked, making direct eye contact.

"Well, comin' from another heritage than the Irish . . . I doubt you could tell your left from your right," Michael smiled and laughed.

"Michael," Kathryn said quietly and then leaned closer to Chakotay to whisper in his ear, "must be something wrong with the subroutines. He was acting strange earlier . . ."

"I've been known to dance a step or two," Chakotay said non-chalantly.

"Oh really," Michael countered, not believing.

"Chakotay . . ." Kathryn wanted to sink low into her chair. There was just absolutely too much male testosterone in the air for her to handle.

"And what do you prefer, lad . . . the jig or the reel?" Michael laughed.

"The reel," Chakotay stated and took a sip of Guinness.

"That so . . ." Sullivan stood up and whistled to the band.

"Michael . . ." Kathryn stated and actually started to sink lower into her chair.

"Boys," Michael addressed the band and all eyes in the pub focused on him as the room came to a disturbing hush. "Play a reel for us, would ye? This here 'man'," Michael looked at Chakotay, "is going to dance with my Katie girl."

"Absolutely not!" Kathryn started to stand up but Chakotay caught her hand.

"It's alright, Kathryn," he held her gaze with persistence. "But can we stick with the beginner hardshoe reel?"

"You're kidding me . . . . I think I know what you've been doing with your holodeck hours now . . ." a smile started to come to her face. "But why?"

"To be Irish for a day," Chakotay smiled. "Well, that, and I did it for you." He didn't have time to say anymore as the musicians started tuning their instruments.

"Hope you brought your shoes," he said under his breath so that only Kathryn could hear. "B'Elanna!" He called out and caught a wrapped up bundle the woman had thrown in the air towards him. Unwrapping it he pulled out a broken-in pair of Rutherford Irish Hardshoes.

"You do know those are not with Fair Haven's time period, Commander," Kathryn smiled.

"You use them, don't you" Chakotay pointed out and chuckled.

"I just couldn't get a damn beat out with this ½ inch thick leather soles on my Sunday bests," Kathryn laughed and then turned serious as the reel music started up. "Are you sure you want to do this. The Irish always test people . . ." Kathryn started but was dragged out to the dance area of the wooden floor. "One moment," Kathryn held up her hand and hiked up her skirts to reveal her legs and half of her thighs. "Don't want to trip on the skirt she explained with a blush as masculine whistles and yells filled the room.

Chakotay squeezed Kathryn's hand and they both started to tap out a wild rhythm with their feet to the reel music. Their bodies were in perfect timing with one another and Chakotay thought that he would never be able to stop for pure enjoyment of it all. He glanced to his left and looked at Kathryn's smile, though her eyes were filled with concentration, she was keeping the pace perfectly.

Sweat glistened on the upper part of her exposed neck and she felt some laughter rising to the surface and sneaking out during the dance. Her thighs burned from exhaustion but she didn't stop, allowing Chakotay to take her waist and holding on to one another they ended the dance with a full circle in each other's arms. A loud cheer went up and they embraced in a pleased hug before bowing to their audience.

They made their way back through the crowd to the table where Michael was taking long sips of his drink. "Well I'll be a bastard," Michael said and smiled glumly. "If I had know you were that good I wouldn't have challenged you to that reel."

"I didn't let on much," Chakotay chuckled.

"No, ye didn't. But that's just fine . . . I had it comin' to me," Michael said and handed Kathryn a glass of water. "Here Katie dear," he smiled and rubbed her neck lovingly.

"Thank you, Michael. Jesus Mary 'N' Joseph, that took a lot out of me," Kathryn laughed.

"Yep, seems as though I have a lot of things comin' t'me . . ." he continued.

"Michael?" Kathryn questioned with confusion.

"Care to tell Katie here 'bout that banshee?" Michael asked.

Chakotay felt the blood drain from his face. Where had they gone wrong . . . 'Harry said everything was fixed' Chakotay's mind whirled. 'Not with Kathryn here,' his mind cried. He shifted in his chair.

"Banshee?" Kathryn asked. "Surely we're not going to revisit those fairytales again . . ."

"He" Michael stood suddenly, the chair sliding back harshly against the wooden floor causing everyone to turn to stare, "set the Banshee on me . . . the curse of the Banshee!"

"What?" Kathryn was incredulous. "Michael, Chakotay would never . . .never . ." she turned to look at her friend . . . ". . . would you?" She asked quietly, standing as well, waiting for a reply.

CONTINUED IN PART 9!

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