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One Thousand Reasons
by Anna B
Katherine Janeway tilted her head to one side, absentmindedly sticking the handle of her paintbrush between her teeth. No, she thought, it wasn't right. The light just wasn't right. The was something magical about the early spring sunlight in Indiana that she could never catch on canvas. It was frustrating, she wanted this painting to be perfect. The house looked exactly as it had the last time she'd been home. In her minds eye she could see her mother standing in the doorway, her eyes bright with unshed tears, a pan of caramel brownies in her hands. Janeway's stomach rumbled. "Computer, time."
"The time is 1800 hours, 12 minutes and 37 seconds."
Kathryn dropped her brush and hastily cleaned up her paints. B'Elanna is going to be furious, she thought, as she dashed out of the holodeck. "Computer, save program."
"Computer, located Captain Janeway." B'Elanna Torres glanced at the chrono on her desk.
"Captain Janeway is in Turbolift 3."
"Torres to the Captain."
Captain Janeway's voice filtered through the room, slightly out of breath. "B'lanna, I'm on my way, sorry."
"No problem. I just wanted to make sure we were still on. Torres out," B'Elanna crossed the room, she usually looked forward to the Captain's "Ladies Night". At the sound of her door chime she frowned. That would be Seven of Nine, Captain Janeway had asked that she be included tonight. B'Elanna sighed, Janeway still thought she could teach the Borg manners. "Enter."
Janeway rounded the corner at a dead run only to find herself on the floor seconds later . Entangled with her First Officer. "Ouch. Damn it!"
Chakotay smiled, "Didn't anyone ever tell you it's not safe to run if the corridors?"
Blowing a stray lock of hair out of her eyes she scowled, "Don't get cute with me mister, and for heavens sake get off me!"
"I would if you'd let go of my shirt."
"I can't my comm badge is caught in the.." she looked closer at Chakotay's attire, "strings?" Why, she wondered, was he dressed in that absurd costume?"
Chakotay answered her unspoken question as he tried to untangle the laces of his shirt. "I'm dressed like this for Tom's latest holoprogram, oops sorry."
Kathryn felt a blush creep over her cheeks and one more time she cursed her fair skin. "What are you boys playing tonight?" He didn't sound very sorry, she thought.
Chakotay grinned at her, displaying his dimples, "We are not playing. We are recreating a famous sea battle. There." He stood and helped her to her feet. "And what are you ladies doing this evening?"
"Nothing much, and I'm late and getting later."
"You've been painting again." Chakotay smiled, that was a good sign, Kathryn was beginning to come back. He couldn't pin down the exact date or time, but for a long time, Kathryn was gone, replaced only by the Captain. She'd shut herself off, hell, she'd walled herself off. Recently she'd come out of her self imposed exile and begun to spend time socializing with the crew, eating her meals the mess hall.
"Chakotay?" Kathryn's voice dragged his attention back, "Are you okay?"
"Fine." He reached over an touched a finger to her chin, "you have a streak of pink paint." A smiled crinkled the corner of his eyes, "It looks cute."
"Captains don't do cute." she teased, "Now go play, I'm late and you know how B'lanna hates tardiness. Am I presentable?" She whirled the panels of her tunic spinning out.
"Torres to Janeway" The angry in B'Elanna's voice was obvious.
Kathryn stopped spinning "On my way B'Elanna." She wobbled a bit lightheaded. Chakotay reached out the steady her.
"Well, hurry before I launch Seven out a torpedo bay."
The Captain and the First Officer exchanged amused glances. "Be there is a second."
Before the channel closed they could hear Seven's voice, "It would serve no purpose to launch me...."
"I'd better get down there."
"I'll walk with you." They walked down the corridors occasionally greeting a passing crew member.
Chakotay stopped just outside B'Elanna's quarters. "Have fun."
"You too." Kathryn smiled, "Have a nice battle."
Chakotay rolled his eyes, "Only you would say that. A nice battle." He shook his head as he walked away.
"Chakotay?"
He stopped and turned around. "Captain?"
"Coffee at 2200 hours?"
He smiled, "My place or yours?"
She reached out and pushed B'Elanna's door chime. "Mine."
Katherine Janeway lowered herself to the couch with a sigh. At least no blood had been spilled, she thought, and Seven seemed to understand that arguing with a Klingon was not always a smart move. She kicked off her shoes, well, the Doctor had assured her Seven's ribs would heal just fine. Other than that small incident, the evening had been a success. Reluctantly she got up, stifling a soft moan, next time she'd let Seven and B'Elanna fight it out, she was pretty sure she'd have some bruises in some embarrassing places. What she really wanted was a hot bath but a glance at her chrono told her she didn't have time. A wicked grin spread across her face as for just a second she imagined the look on Chakotay's face if she greeted him wrapped it a towel, dripping wet. The sound of the door chime interrupted her thoughts. "Come in."
Chakotay tried not to limp as he walked in the Captain's quarters. Tom's holobattle had been very realistic. He winced, I'm getting too old for this, he thought. He smiled at Kathryn, "How was your evening?"
"Sit, before you fall down." She gestured to the couch, "Did you win the battle?"
"In a manner of speaking, but I lost the war. Remind me not to let Tom pick the next one."
"Feeling your age?" she set down the coffee service. "Hungry?"
"Kathryn, don't waste your replicator rations. And I'm not old."
She smiled, "I'm hungry, and I've got plenty." she moved back to the replicator. "I never said you were old. What do you want?"
You, he thought, but answered, "whatever you're having is okay. Did you have a nice quiet evening?"
She placed a tray of fresh fruit on the coffee table, trying not wince in pain. "Quiet would not describe the evening I had." Settling down beside him on the couch she picked up a strawberry. "For future reference, never, ever play poker with Seven and B'Elanna."
Chakotay looked at her in surprise, "You played poker?"
"Yes, I played poker, or more precisely, I whupped them at poker."
"That explains the replicator rations. Hey, " he tapped her hand, "You're hogging the strawberries."
"Sorry," she leaned forward and popped one in his mouth. "It was no easier feat by the way, B'Elanna has a good poker face."
"I could have warned you."
"Well, I'll warn you, don't ever play cards with Samantha Wildman, she's a cardshark. Anyway, I was winning and then Seven accused B'Elanna of deceiving us. I couldn't convince her that bluffing was part of the game."
Chakotay groaned, "Don't tell me, how many broken bones?"
"Seven had 3 broken ribs and a dislocated elbow, B'Elanna had a dislocated shoulder. The Doctor said they'll both be fine. How was your night?" She poked a finger in a hole in his breeches. "You ripped your pants."
He tried not to jump at her touch, "Breeches, Kathryn, breeches. And I didn't tear them, Harry did," Smiling at her puzzled look he continued, "he got overly exuberant with his sword."
"Sword? Are you hurt?"
"No, it was a scratch. I may have a few bruises tomorrow, but I'm fine."
"You and me both," Kathryn grimaced, "never get in between two fighting women" A soft groan of pain escaped her lips as she reached for her coffee cup.
"Kathryn, you didn't! Did you have the Doctor check you out?"
"I'm fine Chakotay."
He knelt in front of her, "You could have a cracked rib Kathryn."
"Chakotay!" she gasped as he slide his hand under her tunic.
"Relax, I've done this dozens of times, we didn't always have a doctor a round."
Relax, she thought, how the hell do I relax when he's touching me. "Maybe I should assign you to sickbay."
"Shhh, take a deep breath."
"Hey!"
He pressed down with one hand cupping it over her lower ribcage and tapping with his other, "Does that hurt?"
"No, it tickles, I told you I'm fine." She raised her gaze slowly and found herself staring into Chakotay's dark brown eyes. A flush crept over her cheeks and her breath caught in her throat. "We shouldn't.." she whispered.
"Why not?" his asked searching her face.
"A thousand reasons."
"I can think of a thousand reasons why we should...."
Struggling her voice even she challenged him, "Name one." She made no move to stop him.
Leaning forward, lips dangerously close to hers he whispered, "Because it's right." His lips moved slowly along her jawline to her ear.
"Chakotay.." oh god, she thought, was that my voice?
"Kathryn, can you tell me that you don't want this."
"Chakotay, I can't," she could barely get the words out.
He traced a line across her face to the hollow of her throat, "Can't what Kathryn?" Please don't ask me to stop, he thought, not now.
Kathryn Janeway tilted her head back and tried to focus on something, anything but the feel of Chakotay's lips and hands. It didn't work.
Chakotay could feel the pounding of Kathryn's pulse beneath his lips. Her skin was so soft he thought, as he slowly reached up and brought her face even with his, "Kathryn?"
Her eyes searched his face. Don't be a fool Kathryn, she thought, you almost lost him once before, don't push him away again. Slowly she leaned forward and pressed her lips to his. After several long moments they drew apart.
Chakotay stood pulling Kathryn up with him, taking her in his arms. His mouth found hers again, his lips teased, playing lightly across hers. Kathryn moaned softly as she wrapped her arms around his neck pressing her body against his, opening her mouth as his kisses grew more insistent.
Kathryn cried out softly, her body reacting to the passion he was igniting in her even as her mind rebelled at the thought of this seduction. "Chakotay, please..."
'Tell me Kathryn..." he whispered, his voice slurred with desire, "tell me."
She held his gaze, all the logical reasons for stopping this whirling out of her reach. She held out her hand and simply said, "Make love with me." Taking his hand she lead him into the bedroom. He drew the tunic over her shoulders and she reached out and undid the laces of his shirt. Together they drew off his breeches and tumbled on the bed.
Later as they lay wrapped in each others arms. Chakotay gently reached over as brushed a lock of hair from Kathryn's face. "Thank you." she whispered.
"For what?"
"For not giving up on me, for not letting me hide, for loving me, even when I didn't deserve it."
"You're welcome. It was my pleasure." His hand slipped down her face a finger tracing her lips, a playful smile crossing his face.
Kathryn trapped his hand with hers. "You'd better stop that."
His lips replaced his fingers, "Why?" he murmured.
"Because, you have to be on duty in a few hours."
"Me? What about you?"
"What about me?"
"Don't you have to be on duty in a few hours too?"
"Nope, I gave myself the day off."
"And just when did you do that?"
"Just now."
"How to I get the day off?"
"Convince me you need it off."
"Prepare to be convinced."
END
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