Captain's Prerogative: Just Don't Count The Sheep!
by ALM_Voyager- (c) April 12, 2000
- Disclaimer: Voyager belongs to Paramount Pictures. No infringement intended.
"I don't understand it," Kathryn said as they walked down the corridor towards the messhall, "they invite us to their planet, of their own freewill, but we will have to talk to the council first? Something doesn't compute."
"Let's not think about it," Chakotay smiled, "it's probably all just their 'protocol.'"
"Ahh, my favorite word," Kathryn smiled and wagged her finger at Chakotay, "how did you know?"
"Lucky guess?" he teased. They entered the mess hall and were greeted with a large amount of odd smells. "Want to eat in the hallway tonight again?" he asked reminder her of their previous adventures.
"Not tonight," Kathryn laughed, "I need to rest this weary back of mine against something."
"Who says that's not possible -- in the hallway," he drawled.
"Crossing the line," she said in a sing-song voice, "cr-rossing the line."
Scooping up a tray they went and sat down in the corner. Kathryn sighed and picked up a fork.
"How much sleep did you get last night?" Chakotay asked, taking a sip of water.
"Zero." she stated.
"Kathryn? You didn't sleep again?" Chakotay set down his cup with a thud. "This is the second row in a night."
"I'm still trying to go over things --" she looked up and then frowned. She knew he wouldn't let her push off some falsity on him -- he was too smart for that. "I'm still trying to forget things," she stated.
Chakotay nodded and let his eyes cast downward. He knew she was talking about the Equinox and what had transpired not only between the two of them but also inside of Kathryn herself. He had been able to hear her at night, through those thin Starfleet quarter walls, pacing and crying -- and yet he felt as though he could do nothing for her.
Three minutes passed before he looked up again and when he did he saw that Kathryn held her fork limply in her hand and her eyes were shut. A soft sound of breathing touched his ears, even over the dim of voices in the mess hall. He smiled.
"Chakotay!" Tom's voice rang out over his head and he winced as Kathryn jerked awake. One of these days he was going to kill Paris.
"Tom," Chakotay nodded. "I thought you were helping the doctor?"
"I was --" Tom started and seem to take special note of the Captain fidgeting slightly at the table, as if caught in the act. What he wouldn't give to have seen that act -- whatever it was. "He said he didn't need me anymore. I wish that were a permanent solution to the troubles we've been having."
"Troubles, Mr. Paris?" Kathryn perked as if it were second nature. She didn't *really* feel like talking about Tom's troubles with the EMH nor did she really care but her mouth had a course heading of its own -- it was detached from her body these days.
"Uh, can we maybe talk about it at a later time, Captain," he shifted his feet, "B'Elanna is expecting me --"
Kathryn raised her hand and smiled, "Say no more."
"Captain, we're due to beam down in thirty minutes," Chakotay confirmed via the combadge.
"Understood," Kathryn said, adding the final pip to her turtleneck and smiling at the sleepy reflection in the mirror. She had actually fallen asleep in the messhall -- but no real harm done -- she didn't think. Tom Paris' big mouth had saved her -- she didn't even think that Chakotay had noticed.
"Want to meet halfway?" Chakotay's voice held a casual banter to it -- something that Kathryn absolutely loved.
"Of course, Commander. State the intercept mark," she said humorously.
"Turbolift 5, between decks six and seven. Chakotay out," he said.
CONTINUED IN PART 3!
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