© October 5, 2000
Disclaimer: Voyager belongs to Paramount Pictures. No infringement intended.
Kathryn had no sooner entered Burgman Pleasures Unlimited then she came to a halt at B'Elanna's cries for them to wait.
Years of training had Kathryn on alert as she looked around quickly to make sure they weren't under sudden attack. There was nothing. Nothing but B'Elanna running into the store after them.
"Captain I don't think you want to go in there--" B'Elanna stated, out of breath.
"Whyever not?" she asked.
"Captain? What's this?" Katie held up a frilly piece of see-through pink material to her chest.
Annie folded her arms, and rolled her eyes, "I knew it -- just knew it. I hate shopping."
Caffey stared, her jaw dropping.
"It looks like --" Celia started forward, eyeing the scrap of fabric.
"Merciful heavens! Ensign, give that to me," Kathryn exclaimed, jumping into action and snatching the lingerie away from the young woman who could've been her daughter.
"Captain?!" Celia asked. "What was it?"
"Ladies, it's time to leave," Kathryn Janeway turned away, and started to move them forward all one . . . two . . . three . . . three?? "Where's Ensign Katie?"
Caffey giggled, "And the plot thickens."
They were missing one.
Ensign Braga Behynd was busy trying out some sort of unfamiliar drink in an Alien bar on the hub. Though Mr. Tuvok had specifically stated that they were to avoid any activities which might 'jeopardize' their time on the hub, but the Vulcan had never directly stated to avoid alien liquor.
He found himself alone, as usual, trying to think up his latest story about how to keep the Command duo apart. Because of Lieutenant Celia's new lists -- he found himself wanting to counter every bit of romantic fiction that was every created and posted on the damn thing. He was thinking more along the lines of making a Paris & Torres list himself.
But, it wasn't as if he had anything *personal* against Captain Kathryn Janeway or Commander Chakotay -- they just weren't interesting enough to him. His interest was with other crew members -- and the more the others spent time trying to set up Janeway and Chakotay, the less time they spent on themselves.
Sometimes, he thought, it even got in the way of how the ship functioned. And to Ensign Braga, there was more potential in the warp core than in a Starfleet Captain and a Maquis man getting together. Relationships, in stories -- real every day life ones or fictional all the same, just tore him to bits.
Setting down the empty glass, he turned and looked out at the groups of people milling around. His interest in the outside hub had peaked when he noted Kathryn Janeway walk by with a group of the other women from the ship.
"Great, just great," he muttered to himself, as after an hour or so he saw Chakotay walk by with the guys as well. "Not only are *they* down here but so are Chakotay and his crew." Punching in a tabulation code to exchange credit with the bartender, he then set off to follow and make sure that no funny business occurred.
"I'm telling you," Tom raced to catch up with Chakotay, "Burgman Pleasures Unlimited is where we need to go. If the name of the place doesn't say enough . . ."
"I know what it says, Paris," Chakotay murmured.
His posture was stiffening by the moment, his voice was growing crisper than a tea biscuit and his mood was rotten because he had yet to spend any credit. "Maybe I can replicate Kathryn some coffee beans," he sighed.
"'Kathryn'?" Harry perked up. "You're on a first name basis with the Captain? Our Captain?"
"So, when did this happen and what aren't you telling us?" Tom grinned as Ian and Brandon listened in.
"I enjoy her company -- on work, and off, and she doesn't know I call her Kathryn. As it is, I rarely do to even myself," he shrugged off their interest. "That's all."
"That's enough!" Ian and Brandon said in unison.
"Burgman Pleasures," Tom slapped his hands together and rubbed them, "here we come!"
Katie had wandered further into the store. It was curiosity's fault. All of it was curiosity's damn fault. She had finally figured out what that little pink article was and already she was planning her next feminine fashion show for Ensign George Clooney of Engineering. She had a huge and major attraction to the guy -- now she would make sure he had one for her.
Kathryn Janeway, B'Elanna Torres and Celia all rushed at once toward the young woman, pushing through racks of unspeakable.
"We have shopping to do," Celia urged Katie when they caught up to her.
"You've bought your nailpolish," B'Elanna stated. Katie giggled, moving out of range and went off toward the dressing room. She was going to catch her a hot damn Starfleet man.
"Is that what I think it is?" Kathryn's interest was drawn away from the Ensign and toward a section of wall shelves that housed what looked to be bath oils.
If it had to do with a bath, there was no turning back.
"Katie! Ensign, get back here! Captain?? Oh great we've lost the Captain as well!" B'Elanna threw up her hands but stopped as Celia put a hand on her arm. "Celia, what are we going to do?"
"What if this is a good thing?" Celia asked.
"You mean when Tuvok finds out we lost the Captain to a sex store?" B'Elanna was frank. "That could never be a good thing--" she paused. "You're thinking J & C again, aren't you?"
"Right as rain after a day with bloodwine," Celia smirked. "If we sent her some hints about Chakotay as she's browsing, she might start to put two and two together and plan something of her own."
"That's pushing it, Lieutenant," B'Elanna raised an eyebrow with an expression of 'not buyin' it for a moment.' "Of course, if Chakotay did happen to come in and noted the things that Kathryn was looking at -- well, one awkward situation might lead to another. And what do you know? There he is now."
"This is too easy," the alien Lucitef laughed as he watched different messages be sent back and forth over the hub's central credit monitor program.
"So? What's the status?" Tipard, the other thief, smiled, looking over his partner's shoulder.
"They're sending out the creditors to try and locate the Federations. They've already made three 'illegal' purchases by buying items from two stores with no real credit," he smiled.
"That's because we took back what belongs to us. Let's notify Trugii -- tell him the credit that Chebrik 'paid' to that filthy Talaxian has been returned to us."
"Shouldn't we be worried about Chebrik? It *was* his credit to begin with," Tipard asked nervously.
"Chebrik should know by now -- even credit with someone elses name on it belongs, in the end, to Trugii," he smiled, calculating the return.
Chakotay felt a hot blush move up his necks and into his cheeks. The fact that he was surrounded by various items that could make every dream he had ever had of the Captain come true, was really affecting him. He had always hated blushing -- ever since his crush, at the age of ten, on Shatendi. The other boys had laughed at how red his face got whenever the girl walked past him. He had never lived it down and he expected, in present company, that he still wouldn't be able to if they noted the redness in his cheeks at the moment.
"This holds promise," Tom stated.
"What?" Chakotay left his thoughts for a bit.
Tom pointed to the back of the store where B'Elanna and Celia were talking rapidly and looking in his direction. He didn't like the looks of that.
"Well I'll be damned," Tom snirked, ". . . . and look over toward the left."
Chakotay let his gaze sweep the store in a slow motion and he nearly fell backwards as he saw the
Captain lifting up small vile after small vile, smelling the contents. What was she doing in this store of all places? Better yet, what was he going to do with the knowledge that she was in this store -- or even way better yet, what was he going to do with the fantasies of her being in the store???
Chakotay looked around to see if anyone else, beyond Paris and himself, had seen the women, and, more importantly, the Captain.
"You know," Tom Paris started, ignoring the slight groan that came from Chakotay, "you should really go over there and find out what she's looking at."
"It might be something person, Paris. Let's give her some space," Chakotay gave a warning glare toward the man.
"Space space space! She's surrounded by enough of it! And I'm not talking about the Delta Quadrant." Tom grew serious, "Look, you need to take a step forward and fill some of that space that you've given her up.
Or else someone is going to move in for you." With the words he moved off to try and convince B'Elanna, the girl he was interested in, to do some shopping for the both of them.
Kes was surprised to have returned, four hours later, to the Doctor *still* sitting at the console.
"Doctor?" she questioned when she stopped to look at him from a distance. She began to walk toward him again, a smile gracing her lips but her heart racing with worry just the same, "What are you still doing over there?"
He looked at her as if she were the oddest thing to enter sickbay since a Kazon, "I'm shopping of course." Kes was close to where he sat, and she took the time to read over his shoulder, "One Frugandi Medically approved forehead massager, two tribunal boxes of Sephar enhancer teabags, one galaxy mustarhair brush, *five* music chips of Buffy Brimptopian Babes Sing Songs of Kluckdah day?"
"The hub's shopping roster listed it as a 'classic'!" he beamed proudly.
The list went on and on. She punched in some codes to his console, much to his surprise and then turned with wide eyes, her voice rising. "Doctor?! How are you going to pay for all of this?!"
He rolled his eyes, "With my credit, Kes! What else?!"
She tapped the screen, "What credit? According to this -- you have none!"
"Don't be ridic--" he paused looking at the screen that showed a negative amount of two hundred and thirty one pintbics of credit. "We've gone over our limit! We don't even have a limit! Our credit is no good! We have bad credit! This is horrible! Someone has to tell the Captain! Medical Credit Emergency! We're in debt!!!"
"Sector five two three," the hub security guard hit his portable communications node, "we're on our way to sector eight one nine. What's your status?"
"Negative," the reply came, "we do not have the debtors. I repeat, we do not have the debtors."
"Alright," he replied, "just make sure that they are escorted *quietly* back to Mr. Trugii's office -- we don't want to make a scene for the rest of the consumers. And Trugii wants this kept quiet from Chebrik as well. You know he's up for election, against the boss, as the Hub's main financial officer tomorrow."
"Understood," came the reply.
Kathryn turned the lid, of the small vile, with two delicate fingertips. Lifting it to her nose, she took a deep breath in, soaking in the sweet smell and then sighed as her eyes closed in ecstasy. She had always enjoyed the different scents of flora that other planets and species nurtured and turned into perfume, scented oils, soaps -- the whole works. And with her lovely bathtub, and her need to soak away the terrors of every dangerous attack to her ship, she was in constant need of them to add to the steaming hot water she so enjoyed.
She loved the way she could massage it into her skin, letting it add a silky sheen to her pale Irish pigmentation against the candles she adored lighting at night.
Setting down the vile, she moved to pick up the next one when someone else lifting one from the shelf as well drew her attention. She turned to smile. Her smile fled. It was Chakotay. She was in a sex store with Chakotay. Her first officer. She had to work with him every day. He would remember she had been in the sex store -- with him! And, why the hell was he smiling like that???
"Captain, I didn't expect to see you here," he stated and enjoyed watching a red blush spread up her own cheeks to cover most of her face. He was happy to know he wasn't the only blusher onboard Voyager.
Kathryn set down the vile she had been picking up to pat at her cheeks which felt as though they were on fire. She turned a steady gaze to him, determined not to let any more embarrassment show through her body.
But then . . . . she caught sight of his dimples.
"I might say the same to you," she stated. Did her voice sound that hoarse to him as it did to her?
"Well, I was the victim of a group shopping expedition," he nodded over his shoulder at the men who were following the other women around the rather entertaining store.
Kathryn watched as each woman interacted with the male members of her crew. Unlike herself, they seemed to be enjoying the fact that they were caught in the act, so to speak, of shopping in the store.
"Funnily enough, I too was a victim of one of those," she smiled and then moved her eyes back to the shelves of oils. She had no clue what to say next.
He felt as though he should take over. "So what are these?" he hoped he wouldn't regret the answer.
"Bath oils," she stated and opened another one to smell the contents.
Chakotay said a small prayer with her response. It wasn't anything kinky. Not that kinky with Kathryn bothered him. Though it was only a thought. "Smell anything you like?"
She was flattered he was interested. Usually, the men in Starfleet only asked her whether they should go to red alert or reprogram the EMH. "I was taken with this one," she uncorked the scent and lifted it to his nose.
Chakotay breathed in deeply, closing his eyes as his senses went about absorbing much of it as possible. But closing his eyes was a mistake, and immediately with the scent came the picture of Kathryn using the stuff . . . naked . . . in the bathtub.
His eyes snapped open, "Great stuff."
"I think so too," she smiled.
He seriously doubted that they were in agreement over the same thing.
"Hey! What do you think you're doing?" the voice was Tom Paris' and he seemed to be surprised at something.
Kathryn and Chakotay turned suddenly to watch as B'Elanna squeezed a bottle in his direction and hot pink liquid flew out all over him.
"That's for suggesting I use this stuff on you!" she growled. She turned to the shop clerk, "Don't worry -- I'll pay for it. It was definitely worth the price."
Harry, Ian and Brandon were too busy laughing to notice that their girls had grabbed their stuff and were headed toward the check-out counter.
Kathryn chuckled and smiled up at Chakotay, catching his dark eyes momentarily, before putting the vile of bath oil back.
"Aren't you going to get that?" he asked.
"No," she sighed and then genuinely smiled, "I'd rather buy things for others today. And, I would rather that the credit be available for Voyager and her crew."
"You are part of her crew," he pointed out, but knew she would dismiss it.
"Yes, I know," she admitted. "Although, I did get this," she held up her bag.
Chakotay looked inside and then grimaced, "Not only do you consume the stuff internally, but now you're going for the external?" he referred to the mocha blend facial mask.
"A girl has to get as much as possible in order to survive the long drive home," she chuckled.
"What do you mean it's denied?" came Katie's voice, rising up to draw their attention. She was standing, hands on hips, glaring at the checkout clerk. "We have 40,000 pintbics of credit to use!"
"She can pay for this! We all can pay!" Caffey added.
"Trouble?" Chakotay asked and Kathryn shook her head as they moved toward the scene in question.
"According to this, you just tried to purchase items with no credit! That's in violation of the hub's financial agreement of two beta one," the alien woman said as she tossed strands of green hair over her shoulder. "I'm going to have to call security."
"Wait," Kathryn moved past the men and women of her crew, to stand close beside Katie at the counter, "I believe there's been some sort of misunderstanding.
According to Mr. Chebrik, we had 40,000 pintbics worth of credit to spend at this hub. Before we jump to conclusions, I suggest you call him."
"There's no need," a voice stated from behind them.
Kathryn turned with her group toward where the voice had come from behind them. There, armed and ready, were four security officers.
"We'll take you directly to someone who can . . . help," he smiled with malice.
Ensign Braga Behynd watched as they were led, by the security officials, out of Burgman Pleasures and away from sight. He was absolutely thrilled. He hadn't done a thing and already the time the Captain and the Commander had spent together had been short lived to say the least. It was one of the best episodes he had ever witnessed.
It seemed to be the unfortunate end of one hell of a shopping spree. They were seated, in two neat rows, in uncomfortable chairs in a poorly lit room, in front of the boss known as Trugii.
He was fat to say the least. Fat, round, overflowing with weight and his eyes left something to be desired. They were wide orbs, wider than most bipedal species could boast and he kept making hacking noises that made Kathryn want to grab Chakotay's hand and run with him in tow -- to a galaxy far far away.
Kathryn looked sympathetically down at the women who sat beside her. Katie was sifting through her Burgman Pleasure's basket, looking at the newest feminine articles that may part her company sooner than the edible undies she had planned to wear for George. Caffey was busy trying to stuff her alien version of coffee down the front of her shirt for safe keeping. B'Elanna was still gripping her near-empty bottle of hot-pink 'stuff' that she had bought to spray on Tom. Annie was muttering how she hated shopping, again, but looking toward Kathryn herself for a reassuring glance, which Kathryn returned with honest affection and reassurance. Celia, for some reason, kept looking over her shoulder at the Commander and then back at her, nudging a scowling B'Elanna here and there. Kathryn wondered what was up with the two of them. Then again, no doubt it had something to do with that list of Celia's. Kathryn was already a 'secret' member.
"Let's see here," Trugii stated, his lips making wet smacking sounds as he spoke.
Chakotay sat with his crew behind the ladies. When he wasn't busy glaring at the man known as Trugii, he was busy trying to analyze the exact color of red that Kathryn's hair was. And when he chanced a glance at his compatriots he could tell that they had noted what he was up to. Tom, grinning in his direction, was still covered in hot pink stuff, which Chakotay wondered whether or not it would come off within the next day or two. Harry was trying his best not to sink lower and lower into his chair. Ian was busy leaning on every word that Annie was saying, though most of it confused the Commander . . . he thought that every woman liked shopping. And Lieutenant Brandon was busy trying to play with Celia's beautiful blonde tresses without being caught . . . by her *or* Trugii (for lack of attention).
Trugii looked at them, slamming down a big PADD, making all the women in the front row jump, "What makes you think you can waltz in here and buy things you can't afford?"
"If this is about the nailpolish, I can return it," Ensign Katie paled but whispered the words.
Kathryn shook her head at the Ensign subtly, and then moved in to play his game, "I think you should check your records. Only yesterday a Mr. Chebrik transferred a credit line of --"
"There are no records of a credit transfer from yesterday," Trugii cut her off.
"You're mistaken," Kathryn darned her glare and stated the words firmly. "It was a debt repaid. And, need I remind you that my crew has made every effort to improve the status of your hub since the distress call you sent out two nights ago. Or does that mean nothing in your diplomatic procedures?" "Diplomatic procedures?" he hacked. "I know nothing of diplomatic procedures!"
"That's rather obvious," Tom Paris muttered but quickly quieted when Chakotay sent him a warning glance.
"All I know is what the numbers say," he stated.
"Numbers can be wrong," Captain Janeway countered. "All I ask is that you check with Chebrik--"
"You owe me 8, 354 pintbics of credit," he stated and held out his hand. "Pay up."
"Sorry--" she stated in a lethal tone, "but you'll have to accept the items we've purchased as ample payment.
"They can't be returned," he smirked.
"The items still have their pricetags and wrappings on them" Chakotay spoke up softly but firmly.
No one answered.
"No?" Trugii asked them and shrugged. Then, with a snap of his long but thick fingers, two of his men moved to grab Kathryn.
"What's the meaning of this!" Kathryn shouted as she tried to pry her arms loose from their grasp. "Let her go!" Annie stood up, protesting with the words!
"Or you'll what, little Ensign?" Trugii laughed. "Or I'll this!" she stated and, taking a long bottle from behind her back, she squeezed with all her might.
The two men holding Kathryn hollered as the dark black liquid hit their eyes. It was just enough for
Kathryn to break free and for the rest of her crew to spring into action.
Chakotay reached over from his row, grabbing one of Katie's nailpolish bottles and aimed for Trugii's thick forehead. He hit him dead on.
"Sure beats phaser power," Chakotay smirked. Trugii might have been a big man but he had a weak forehead. The little bottle shattered with impact, dark purple liquid dripped down the front of his forehead and the alien man cried out in shock, clutching his head.
"No not the plum!" Katie shrieked but was grabbed by Celia and dragged along in their escape. Chakotay took ahold of Kathryn and pulled her along as they rushed out of the small room and toward the hub.
"Well, that's one way to get out of debt!" Kathryn chuckled as they ran along.
Neelix was busy smelling the perfumes in the Vidiian shop. Each and every one made him gag. At this rate, he would never find a scent worthy of his sweety Kes. He nearly dropped the big glass container of one bottle when his combadge chirped.
"Janeway to Neelix," stated the out of breath voice. Uh oh.
"Uh, Neelix here, Captain? Enjoying yourself?" he asked cautiously.
"Mr. Neelix," she started in immediately, "I thought you said the credit you acquired for Voyager was legitimate."
"It was Captain!" he could feel a sweat breaking out. There was a silence that followed. "Captain?"
"Very well. Neelix, I need you to contact that Chebrik of yours. Tell him that Mr. Trugii has no records of a credit transfer and that the 40,000 pintbics he sent to my ship and crew are null and void."
"Null and void---? But --??" he started. "Of, of course, Captain," he gave in wondering what had gone wrong.
Two Hours Later . . .
Kathryn sighed as she sat down on the small seat in the very small dressing room. Chakotay was seated next to her. In fact, all of her crew, who were on the run with her, were in the dressing rooms of 'Zubrik's Outrageous Outterwear' -- doing one thing and one thing only. Hiding.
"40,000 pintbics of credit," Kathryn shook her head sadly, "I should've known that *everything* comes with a pricetag."
"At least you still have your facial mask. Aren't you going to try this on?" Chakotay held up the small article of feminine clothing, trying to lighten her mood. It was bright purple and had one too many slits cut in it for her tastes.
Kathryn exhorted a rush of quick laughter, "Not in this timeline! Besides, I've had enough shopping for one day."
"Ian!" came the voice through the wall of the dressing room from the one next door, "don't make me hurt you!" It was Annie. No doubt she was stuck with the man who loved her a little *too* much.
"Look at this pink stuff!" Tom's voice rose as well, "It's never going to come out B'Elanna!"
"Good! Pink is not your color!" B'Elanna's voice came through too.
"Quiet!" Chakotay said loud enough for everyone to hear and they all hushed.
"I wonder how Lieutenant Celia is fairing?" Kathryn smiled.
"Considering I found her in a lip lock, early this morning, with Lieutenant Brandon Lebeaux in turbolift two, I'm pretty sure it's a repeat session," he smiled. "In other words, she's fine."
"Mmm," she stated thoughtfully. "You know, it's like we discussed, Chakotay," she stated and looked away, missing his blush as she said his name and not his command title, "they're starting to pair off."
"And now that it's begun?" he questioned. "Should we start to worry or not?"
"No," she shook her head and placed a gentle hand on his shoulder, "I think it has to happen."
"And you?" he asked. "Do you still think you won't be pairing off? That, as Captain, it's not an option open to you to explore?"
Kathryn opened her mouth to respond, but shut it as her combadge activated.
"Tuvok to the Captain."
"Go ahead," she stated and knew from the odd sounds in the surrounding dressing rooms that the others had overheard the summons.
"Neelix, myself and Mr. Chebrik have been able to retrieve the records of the credit transfer. You should be aware, that they were deleted in an effort to secure not only credit for Mr. Trugii's accounts but also to secure funding for his campaign to be re-elected on the hub, as financial officer, tomorrow." Kathryn breathed a sigh of relief as the Vulcan continued.
"All 'debts' have been repaid."
"Thank you, Tuvok," Kathryn held a smile not only to her lips but in her voice as well as the individuals surrounding her let loose on some exclamations of relief and joy. "Janeway out."
Somewhere, the space of the dressing rooms, Brandon started to sing, "Unnnnforgettabllleeee.... in every OWE!" he interrupted his off-key singing with his exclamation of surprise. "What was that for, Celia!?"
"Not even half as good!" Celia's voice carried. "Just stick to the kisses."
"Well," Chakotay, chuckled, took her hand and helped her to stand, "Another day another credit check. You wouldn't happen to know of any good replicator rations I could win in a game of pool for some Christmas gifts I'll have to replicate, do you?" Kathryn put her hand on his chest, "Is that a challenge?"
"What? Trying to find just the right gift for you or the pool game?" he smirked and raised his eyebrows as she moved closer to him, a wicked look in her eyes.
"There's no way you'd be able to get what I have or want," she chuckled.
"Now that's a bet worth taking on," he pulled her closer, gently, his arm wrapped around her waist. The moment seemed to last for an eternity -- but it fell short rather rapidly in the same instant as the door to their dressing room opened a crack and Katie peeked in.
"Now that we're no longer in debt, does this mean I get to keep the nailpolish?" Katie asked.
Kathryn and Chakotay laughed.
"Yes, Ensign," Kathryn stated and rolled her eyes as the door quietly shut again. She proceeded to follow in turn, opening the door to return home.
"Oh!" he stopped her as she was halfway out the door. "Did you happen to catch Ensign Dungar's story on Celia's J & C list called "The Captain, The Commander and the Turbolift Org--"
He was greeted with the door shutting with a crisp snap in response.
"Well," he sighed, "you never know until you ask the Captain herself."
Christmas Eve Night. . . .
Kathryn Janeway walked back from the messhall toward her quarters. Things were quiet on her deck and she couldn't help but hum with a smile on her face as she made her way home. The crew had gathered for their first Christmas and had exchanged gifts and good will all night. Everyone had been in high spirits, except for Ensign Braga -- who, for some odd reason that Kathryn Janeway couldn't figure out, seemed to be green in the face, after she had embraced Chakotay, for the rest of the night! Perhaps he didn't think Starfleet Commanding Officers should engage in shows of emotion and affection. But, it was Christmas, and where did he get off being such a prick?!
She shifted her packages into her other arm, as she smiled at the glistening gold and silver and red and green wrap that crinkled with the movement. She had also enjoyed distributing her gifts. Chebrik had been kind enough to give them credit after he had taken over for Trugii after 'the Credit Scandal' as it was dubbed.
Yet, she was slightly disappointed. Chakotay had only given her a card. In the card, he had written "To Kathryn Janeway. Serving with you has changed my life and given me peace. May you find your own peace and solitude in your quarters tonight." She had thought it odd, but being an adult and 'the Captain' had thanked him with an embrace. Punching in her code, she entered her quarters and was surprised to find a dim light coming from the back of her living area.
Setting down her packages, she moved through her bedroom to stand at the entry to her bathroom. All around her, small candles were lit and emitting a golden glow. Small vials of bath oils surrounded every possible alcove of her bathing area. Water filled the tub, and as she reached in to touch it she noted that it was still hot. Whoever had done this had been there recently. And she knew who.
"Chakotay," she sighed and leaned against the cool wall of the bathroom. Looking on her counter, by her sink, she saw a small PADD sitting there with a note attached to it. Picking it up, she scrolled through it . . . realizing that it held the latest contents of Celia's J & C list. Celia was brilliant, even she had to admit that.
Looking at the note, she read its contents: "Captain -- I know you're a member. I, myself joined four days ago. You'll find me listed as Ensign P.Parker on the group. And if you look carefully, you'll see I've sent the beginning of a story to you. I've created the first part -- now it's up to you to finish the rest. -- Chakotay."
Kathryn grinned, setting down the PADD.
Stripping out of her clothes and entering the warm water of the bath, she took one of the small oils and added it to the soothing water. She splashed it's silky substance up around her neck, and as she sank lower into its loving embrace she forgot with it all of the protocols, the rules and regulations that Chakotay had broken to give her this gift. But what were rules and regulations when she had been a woman who had had bad credit only recently? If they ever made it back to the Alpha Quadrant, she would be a Ferangii's worst nightmare.
But, It had all been memorable to say the least. Already she knew what she was going to create -- a world of an adventure for the J & C list. Picking up the PADD, careful not to drop it in the water, she began where Chakotay had left. And in her story, the Captain and the Commander most definitely had the option to pair off.
The End!
