The Captain, The Commander & The Mistletoe [Part Three]!

by ALM_Voyager

After the doors to the Captain's ready room had slid shut, Paris turned around and smiled at Harry. Up to your old tricks are you, Tom? Chakotay wondered what the Pilot had up his sleeve and how Harry was involved. Chakotay turned to glance at Harry who quickly, a little too quickly looked down at his console. Perhaps he ought to consult the Captain on this one, he thought as he stood and went towards the ready room doors. "Tuvok, you have the bridge," he stated.

"Aye, commander," Tuvok stated.

When Chakotay had disappeared behind the doors, Tom Paris stood up slowly and smoothed his black slacks. Walking over towards Harry he smiled slightly at Tuvok who's eyebrow was slowly raising up across his forehead. "Just have to check with Harry on . . something," Paris offered.

"Nevertheless . . ." Tuvok started by stopped short. He had long ago given up on trying to apply logic to Tom Paris. He would watch from a distance using his highly attuned hearing capabilities.

Paris knew they had to act fast, one aware Vulcan was one too many to risk in his Holiday good-will plan. "Did you send the message from Engineering?"

"Affirmative," Harry was cautious, trying not to give too much away to Tuvok's ears. He glanced over quickly to see that the Vulcan was tapping away furiously, but still with a controlled-like manner, at his consol. "He's checking Engineering's message-relay status," Harry hissed just as the doors to the ready room opened and admitted the Captain and her Commander.

"He's too late," Paris stated proudly. "On to Ho-Ho-Ho-Mistletoe-Phase Two," and rubbed his hands together before slapping Harry on the back. Harry shook his head and tried to outrace the Vulcan from across the room with each tap. If he was held accountable he'd personally lock Tom in the brig with Neelix.

The doors of the turbolift snapped shut as Harry joyously said out loud, "Got'em!"

The turbolift continued to move towards the Engineering level and as it stopped Kathryn and Chakotay stepped forward to exit. Both halted suddenly when the doors didn't open.

"That's odd . . . we're at the correct . . ." Chakotay muttered out loud as Kathryn automatically hit her combadge.

"Janeway to Kim," she waited. "Janeway to Kim?" She hit the combadge again, "Janeway to Torres? . . . Torres, come in . . ." She threw up her hands in the air.

"Well," Chakotay chuckled and looked at his watch, "Only three more hours before our shift ends and Neelix expects us for dinner. Then after dinner only one more hour before Paris opens Sandrines up for . . ."

"On second hand, the turbolift is as good a place as any to spend the holiday," Kathryn cut him off. And paused as Chakotay gently put his hand on her shoulder smiling. She covered her mouth with her fist, laughing light-heartedly into it, before gracing him with a loving smile. "Every Holiday . . . it's something." She took his hand as they sat down in the lift, giving it a slight squeeze. "Remember when Naomi discovered Halloween and dressing up in that . . . what was it?"

"Freddy Kreuger . . ." Chakotay supplied, smirking.

"Ah yes, Freddy Kreuger mask, jumped out at Ensigns who happened to wander by Jefferies tube eight?"

"Or how about the fourth of July celebration . ."

Kathryn shook her head, "The firecrackers and Nicoletti's pants . . ." They both broke up into fits of laughter. Kathryn was still laughing when she noticed that Chakotay had stopped and was glancing up towards the top of the lift. "What? Is someone working on the latch?" She stood up and he shook his head and stood up too.

"No," I was looking at," he reached up and plucked a small object, "this."

Kathryn groaned, "You're as bad as Mr. Paris."

"Don't even think about comparing the two of us, Kathryn" he warned jokingly. "I believe, according to tradition you owe this Commander a kiss."

"A kiss." Kathryn stated out loud, not sure she believed what she heard.

"Yes, 'a kiss,'" he moved towards her holding the small bundle of mistletoe out towards her.

"Well, when it comes to tradition . . . you know," she stammered moving along the walls of the lift, which lead the couple around in small circles repetitively, "rules were meant to be broken, Chakotay" she offered.

"And since when, Captain Kathryn Janeway, were you one to break rules?" He questioned as he held the mistletoe above her head.

"Just because you hold that plant above my head, Chakotay, does not mean that you get to . . ."

Ensign Darson and Ensign McHale stood side by side at deck five waiting for the turbolift. They both shifted uncomfortably recalling their earlier encounter . . . . being caught kissing by the captain. Ensign McHale shifted her weight slightly and squeezed Darson's hand for reassurance. He smiled, but that smile soon fled his face at warp speed when the doors of the turbolift finally opened revealing a couple locked in a kiss . . . .

The Captain . . . . The Commander . . . .
Complete with . . . . The Mistletoe.

THE END [that was the VERY FIRST JC story I ever wrote, btw!]

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