“Aye, Captain.  We'll see you in about 15 minutes.  Delta Flyer out!”  Chakotay terminated the communications link with Voyager and sighed with relief.  It had been a long away mission—a three-day trip that had stretched into a very long three weeks—an endless three weeks with Neelix on an unpopulated planet restocking food supplies.  It was midmorning by the chronometer but Chakotay was tired; the journey had take nearly 18 hours and he had not slept in more than 24 hours.

Voyager had found a planet rich in mineral resources, many of them desperately needed by engineering so the Captain had decided to land the ship and give the crew an opportunity to rest while they collected the materials they needed.  The second day on the planet Neelix had approached the Captain about information on a neighboring planet that had showed up as a one sentence statement on one of the reports from astrometrics.  Neelix had been insistent that they check the planet for possible food plants.  After Neelix had tirelessly hounded her for three days, Kathryn had finally turned to Chakotay for his input.  Reading the desperation in her eyes and knowing she would get no rest until Neelix got what he wanted, Chakotay had volunteered to take Neelix to the planet on the Delta Flyer.  A day to get there, a day to find nothing, and a day to get back was his plan.

Neither of the Command Team had expected the away team to find anything useful.  They had been mistaken, not about the readings from astrometrics—that had turned out to be useless sea vegetation laden with sulfur.  But a plant that had not registered on the scans did prove to be edible and highly nutritious according to scans.  It was so nutritious that Neelix was singing its praises even more loudly than he had leola root.  That one detail made Chakotay a little leery of the new vegetable that Neelix had dubbed agarbreep.  The name didn't make it sound any better.  Neelix had insisted on harvesting every vegetable they could, putting as many as possible in stasis and storing the rest in every imaginable nook and cranny.  Chakotay had not even tried to count how many plants and seed pods Neelix had managed to cram into the storage bays of the Flyer.  Chakotay had drawn the line at the main cabin; he didn't want flying agarbreep hitting any controls if they encountered turbulence, at least that was the reason he gave Neelix.  The truth was he wanted one place on the Flyer where he didn't have to look at the ugly brownish vegetable with a sickly yellow-green cast and those ridiculous blue spots.  It had been late in the day when they had finished loading the flyer but Chakotay had decided they should leave right away rather than delay their departure until the next day.  Neelix was a cheerful companion but after three weeks of cheer Chakotay was ready for a little peace and quiet.

Chakotay shifted his thought to more pleasant memories—like those of his last night on Voyager with Kathryn and his expectations about his welcome home once they were alone.  Although well established between the two of them, their relationship was still unknown to the crew.  After three weeks with Neelix's enthusiasm about an ugly vegetable, Chakotay was looking forward to enthusiasm about something a lot more pleasurable and personal.  He checked the readings again – right on course for Voyager and home.  He sighed again, this time in pleasant anticipation before reaching for the switch to open a channel and requesting clearance for the docking bay.  It was good to be home.

Neelix had made sure the people assigned to unloading the agarbreep understood exactly how to store the harvested crop and that the hydroponics department was taking responsibility for the live plants.  Once he was satisfied about the remaining supply, he gathered enough to serve as the main course at dinner and headed for the galley, stopping only at sickbay to get the final safety check from the doctor.  Once he made it back to the galley with the doctor's approval on a pad in his hand, Neelix happily busied himself creating a culinary delight for the crew's evening meal.  The plant had more vitamins and trace minerals than leola root and promised to be as easy to fit into recipes as leola root.  (Of course, for Neelix, 'fitting' it into a recipe meant getting it physically into the same cooking pot.)  He wanted to show off his discovery to the captain as soon as possible.  He thought he would see how it gelled before making agarbreep lasagna.  He might even add some of the more boring vegetables like potatoes and carrots and onions and try for a vegetarian stew of sorts.  Yes, that would make a nice evening meal for the crew tonight.  Neelix selected his knives and pots with care before settling to work humming contentedly.

Chakotay had gladly accepted Neelix's offer to supervise the unloading of their cargo in exchange for writing up the report of the away mission.  He would have written the report anyway.  He gathered his carrier of personal items and left the shuttle expecting to find B'Elanna on the shuttle deck to check out the Flyer, Tom there to check out the Flyer's paint job, and the Captain there to check out her away team.  He was not disappointed.  After he and Neelix had made very cursory reports, Neelix turned his attention back to the agarbreep and Chakotay followed the Captain out of the docking bay.  She made small talk about the crew until they entered a turbo lift.  She directed it to the bridge; he directed it to drop him near his quarters.

“Captain, I'll meet you on the bridge in about 20 minutes if that is acceptable.”

“Make it 30 minutes, Commander.  There's no hurry.  You can give me a preliminary verbal and turn in a detailed written report later tomorrow.”  Chakotay paused for a moment at the extended time for his written report before relaxing.  Kathryn must have some plans for him that they had not yet discussed.  He smiled as he exited the turbolift leaving Kathryn to continue the trip to the bridge.  Kathryn saw his smile and knew they understood each other perfectly.  Once on the bridge she waved Tuvok back into the command chair and went straight to her ready room.

“When Chakotay arrives, tell him I'm waiting for him in my ready room, Commander.”

“Aye, Captain.”

Once in her sanctuary, Kathryn spent most of the half hour until Chakotay arrived staring out at the stars.  It was good to have him home.

Chakotay hurried through his shower while mentally running through the main points of the away mission.  Its high and low points were the agarbreep.  All their scans indicated that it was the perfect vegetable; Chakotay thought it was the ugliest thing he had ever considered eating.  Although he and Neelix both thought of it as a vegetable, the plant itself had more in common with fungus than most Terran vegetable plants.  The plant seemed to multiply by sending off underground runners then sprouting shoots that produced the edible stem and leaves that contained spores.  It did not appear to use photosynthesis to produce nutrients so it was not going to contribute to the fresh oxygen supply on Voyager.  Agarbreep's only redeeming feature was its vitamin content.  Normally, Chakotay would not have considered bringing such a large single purpose plant on board Voyager but any chance that it would eliminate leola root as Neelix's vegetable of the day (every day) had to be investigated.  Chakotay finished dressing and sighed; if agarbreep got rid of leola root, it might be worth it to raise a plant for food purposes only.

When he saw Chakotay entered the bridge Tuvok stood up from the captains chair.

“The Captain is waiting for you in her ready room, Commander.”

“Thank you, Tuvok.  As you were.”

“Aye, sir.”  Tuvok returned his body to the chair and his attention to the screen next to it where he was monitoring Tom's latest betting pool.  He knew that the Captain didn't mind the diversion it offered the crew, but he also knew that Tom could get carried away.  Whenever that seemed to be happening, a judicious word to the Captain usually led to a much less judicious comment to Tom that kept things nicely in control and left the Captain with the reputation of being omniscient yet again.

Chakotay entered the ready room without signaling to find the Captain staring out the view port at the stars.  She didn't turn around as he approached her and put his hands on her hips and pulled her against his body.

“The stars look a lot friendlier when you're on board Voyager instead of wandering among them, Commander.”  Kathryn turned in place and put her arms around Chakotay's neck to pull him down to share a low leisurely kiss.

“And you're a lot more fun than Neelix, Captain.  Chakotay smiled and pulled Kathryn closer.  “I'm pretty sure I missed you a lot more than you missed me.”   Kathryn's smile quickly turned to a chuckle breaking the mood.

“This time I will let you win an argument, Commander, because I think there is a slight possibility that you could be correct  — but that does not mean I didn't miss you.”  Kathryn moved away from Chakotay toward her desk with its stack of pads.

“We were making some minor adjustments on half our systems while we waited for you two to get back.   As soon as you and I can confirm they are completed I want to see if we can't run at better than warp 7.5 for the next few weeks.  Systems should be optimal so Voyager should be able to handle that for a while.  Give me your summary briefing of the away mission on the way to engineering, then you check these systems while I check this group.”  Kathryn handed half the stack to Chakotay before heading for the door to the bridge.  She paused just outside range of the sensor.

“Once we're finished and Voyager is on course, we're both off duty until Beta shift tomorrow afternoon.  I have some plans for that free time, Commander, if you're interested in joining me.”

“Thank you, Captain.  I am definitely interested.  Shall we get to our system checks?”  Smiling the command team exited the ready room and crossed the bridge discussing the high points of the away mission, which took until they were out of the ready room.  They were both thoroughly engrossed in the system checks by the time they entered the turbo lift.  Neither noticed Tuvok as he rose and fell in the Captain's chair unable to get in a polite status report as they passed through the bridge.

Chakotay met Kathryn in engineering about 14:00 hours.  They had parted company in engineering after leaving the bridge.  Chakotay had been in most of the departments on the ship while Kathryn had been going through engineering's numerous systems.

“Captain, I've finished going over the systems you asked me to check.  Everything looks fine.  I have detailed notes and status reports at the end of each of the reports you gave me.”  He indicated the stack of pads in hand.

“We're finished here, too.  Is Voyager ready for warp 7.5, B'Elanna?”

“Yes, Captain.  We should be able to maintain that and possibly as high as warp 8 for at least a few weeks.”

“I think we'll settle with warp 7.5 for today, B'Elanna.”  Kathryn tapped her com badge.

“Captain to the bridge.”

“Bridge here, Captain,” came Tuvok's voice.

“Bring our speed up to warp 7.5, Commander.  Work with Lieutenant Torres solve any problems.  Janeway out.”

“Aye, Captain.”

Kathryn turned to Chakotay and B'Elanna returned to her engines to monitor their status as they went to warp 7.5.

“Have you eaten since you got back from the away mission?”

“No, ma'am.  My captain is a bit of a slave driver today and hasn't given me time for lunch.”  Checking to see that they weren't being overheard as they headed for the turbolift, Chakotay continued conspiratorially,  “I think she wants to get off duty for personal reasons.”

“I think you're right, Commander.  Join me for lunch in the mess hall before we both go off duty?  I want to save my replicator rations for dinner.”  Laughing, the two entered the turbolift, Kathryn forgetting that Neelix was back in the kitchen and Chakotay forgetting about the agarbreep that was now on the menu.

Kathryn and Chakotay looked distrustfully at their plates piled high with Neelix's latest concoction.  Neelix was standing next to the table positively bubbling with enthusiasm.

“I assure you it's the most marvelous vegetable, Captain.  It has even more vitamins and minerals than leola root and appears to be even more versatile.  I even left the leola root out of this stew so everyone could appreciate the agarbreep in its purest form.  Go ahead, Captain, try it.  You too, Commander.  I'm sure you'll find it a wonderful addition to our menu.”

Kathryn and Chakotay exchanged glances.  The ugly brown of the agarbreep was hidden by the other stew ingredients but the bright blue glared through the gravy with a glow approaching fluorescence.  Kathryn was surprised to see that the blue extended so deeply into the vegetable and had not faded with cooking.  Reluctantly the pair picked up their forks to taste the current pride of Neelix's kitchen.  They warily stabbed at a chunk of the vegetable and tasted it cautiously.  Finding it less than completely offensive, they ate cautiously at the stew.  It seemed to pick up the flavor of the other ingredients and foods they were eating.

“Not bad, Neelix, not bad.”  Kathryn's mild acceptance was taken as high praise by Neelix who beamed from ear to ear before turning joyfully back to the kitchen to prepare more stew for the evening meal.  Kathryn and Chakotay exchanged glances each reminding the other that they had other plans for the afternoon before finishing their meals and leaving the mess hall.

“Care to update your summary report of the agarbreep, Commander?”  Kathryn asked Chakotay as they headed for her quarters.  Kathryn noticed a not very pleasant taste in her mouth that grew slowly but steadily as they walked.

“It might take a while, Captain.”  Chakotay was smiling as they entered her quarters.

“Forget it then, Commander. I don't feel like listening to long reports about ugly vegetables.  I can think of better things for you to do this afternoon.”  Kathryn met Chakotay's eyes and decided that a taste of him might be just the thing to get rid of the aftertaste of the agarbreep.  She pulled him through her living area and into to the sleeping area before she turned to him and pulled his head down for a long kiss that quickly grew into much more than a simple kiss.  Neither noticed that for the first few minutes the other
tasted of agarbreep, they were more concerned with sliding into each other's skin after their enforced separation. Kathryn looked at Chakotay with a predatory expression on her face.

"I hope you're not too tired, Commander," she purred. "I haven't had much exercise in the last three weeks and I think I need a workout."  She ran her hands over his chest, unfastening his uniform with the ease of practice.

"I'm sure, Captain, that Darby will let you share his gymnasium simulation on the holodeck," deadpanned Chakotay. Her hands were already pushing his uniform down towards his hips. She pretended to consider.

"Darby doesn't have your other... attributes." She slid her hand into his briefs and wrapped it around the hard length of him. "Of course, I wouldn't know about his athletic ability. . ."
She stroked him deliberately, smiling up at him as she watched the expressions move across his face. It wouldn't be long and slow this time, not after three weeks apart.

She pulled his head down to hers again, groaning softly into his mouth, as he pushed her back against the bulkhead, sweeping his tongue into her mouth as his hands moved deliberately across her breasts. She arched into his caress wanting to feel those skilful hands on her bare skin. He sensed her need and moved away from her to strip off his uniform. His briefs went too, and he stepped back to her naked. Her hands went to his chest, running over the bulk of hard muscles and insistently dragging lower. She threaded her fingers through the dark hair on his groin, reaching underneath to scratch lightly under his scrotum.

As she had anticipated, his careful control shattered. He pushed her hard against the bulkhead, yanking unceremoniously at her uniform, tugging it over her hips. Her head rolled back as his urgent mouth traveled a line down between her breasts and one thick finger pushed into her panties, palming over her mound to reach up inside her. Somehow she managed to get her uniform down further and kicked it off without dislodging him. As tempting as it was to let his knowing fingers finish what they had started, she wanted more.

"Please. . .," she was nearly incoherent with the need to feel him filling her.  "Chakotay. . .."

One of her hands grasped his hair and she tried to pull him back up to her. He teased her a moment longer, his finger pressing inside her, his mouth teasing a rigid nipple, drawing as much of her breast into his mouth as possible.

As he slid up along her body to reclaim her mouth, she lifted a leg and wrapped it around his hip, opening herself to him. With one hand, she positioned him to enter her, feeling him bend his knees slightly before he straightened, entering her with one sure thrust that lifted her up, pressing her back against the wall. She opened around him then clenched down as his cock plunged deep, parting her channel, giving that familiar feeling of fullness. She groaned as he shook and trembled in that brief moment of penetration, momentarily still, before he cupped her buttocks in both hands and started thrusting hard and sure.  She leaned back away from him, knowing that the sight of their bodies joined intimately in this way increased his excitement. One of her hands clutched his shoulder, the other pressed down hard on her belly increasing the pressure he was causing. He was pumping her fiercely now, his hands clutching her buttocks so hard that he would leave marks, his face contorted with effort, as he breathed and sweated, groaned and panted.

She answered him in grunts, gripping his shoulder, pressing down harder on her belly as she felt the beginning spiral of orgasm swell and concentrate, the pressure building with every one of his thrusts. He was sweating profusely with the effort, his chest glistening and sleek.

She looked down over her own body to where they were joined, seeing the thrusting shaft repeatedly bury itself deep with in her body, then withdraw, large and wet to plunge back in to the hilt. The visual stimulation of the two of them pushed her over the edge and she started to convulse, clenching down hard around his cock, as the spasms went on and on in concert with his relentless pounding.

Her climax was the trigger for his, and his fierce thrusting deteriorated into uncontrolled jerking as with one final desperate thrust he spilled himself deep within her.  She clenched around him joyfully, feeling him pulse and twitch, feeling the rush of fluid fill her as he collapsed forward, trapping her between his sweating chest and the bulkhead.  He was murmuring her name and stroking her hair, as she brought her aching thighs down from around him, sliding down his body to stand on unsteady legs.  Her face was pressed into his golden chest and she pushed at him, her hair in her mouth and over her eyes, damp with his sweat. He was leaning limp and sated against her, crushing her to the wall.

"Chakotay, I can't breathe."

He groaned slightly and moved away. She took a deep, shuddering breath, feeling aching muscles still trembling from the strain of their position. His penis softened and slipped out of her, a gush of their juices, his and hers mingled together followed, the moisture slickly wet on her thighs.

"The bed. . .."  He took her hand and lead her over to the bed, falling back weakly on the mattress and dragging her down on top of him.

"Enough of a workout?" His hand was stroking her hair, pushing back the sweaty tendrils so that he could see her face.

"I feel like I've run five miles in a vat of leola root puree."

His chuckle warmed her. "Or a cauldron of Neelix's new wonder food."

They lay still, while their breathing slowing returned to normal, limbs sticky and entwined.

Neelix watched with joy as many of the crew came back for seconds of the agarbreep stew.  He didn't realize that many were eating not because it tasted good but because it didn't taste of leola root.  Neelix was disappointed not to see Tom and B'Elanna during the main dinner hour.  He hadn't been back on Voyager long enough to know they were on Beta shift instead of Alpha and would be in with the later group.  He had seen Tuvok who had eaten his portion of stew without comment although he had raised an eyebrow when he saw the color of the agarbreep.  Only a few of the crew rushed through their meals; they were taking part in a hover ball tournament and had drawn the slots during the dinner hour for their rounds.

Kathryn returned to her bed from the bathroom with a distinctly unsettled feeling in her stomach.  Then Chakotay turned over and smiled at her and all thoughts of her stomach were driven from her mind when she joined him on the bed and he proceeded to demonstrate once again how much he had missed her while on the away mission.

This time, with the frantic edge of need gone, they were able to fall into a pattern of sighs, drifting hands and heavy limbs. She dragged her mouth down his body, licking and tickling him with her tongue and hair. Reaching his stirring penis, she enveloped him in her mouth, tasting herself and him mingled together, salty and sour, hot and sweet. He turned her around on top of him, parting her thighs to delve between her legs, lapping her with his
tongue, pushing two fingers into her as she crouched above him.  He came before she, thrusting up into her mouth with a roar, hips rising off the bed as she took him deeper into her mouth, tasting him, so uniquely Chakotay, the man she loved.

When his spasms had ceased, he redoubled his efforts on her, rubbing and stroking her with lips, tongue and gentle teeth, sucking on her clitoris until she shrieked and arched above him.  He saw her taut body silhouetted against the stars through the viewport,
shouting his name and words of love and thought he had never seen or heard anything more beautiful.

The doctor looked up as another person entered sick bay moaning.  This was the eleventh case to walk in during the last half hour.

“Don't tell me.  You have a really bad taste in your mouth reminiscent of hydrogen sulfide, acid reflux is killing you and you are constantly burping.  The good news is that it's not fatal.  The bad news is that I don't have a treatment yet.  Take a seat and I'll be with you in a minute.”  The suffering individual nodded his head as the doctor spoke then moved to sit on one of the biobeds.  The doctor had just finished his litany when the twelfth case entered the room.  He shook his head and motioned that person to join the others.  The doctor shook his head; of all evenings to have Mr. Paris on bridge duty as the senior officer this was possibly the worst.  The doctor returned to his cataloging of symptoms and patient history and activity trying to track down a common link.

Chakotay had awakened feeling slightly nauseous when he felt Kathryn move along his side.  At first he thought she was only shifting in her sleep but then he became aware that her movements were deliberate — very deliberate.  Her hands were exploring his body and bringing new life where minutes earlier there was only lethargy. He opened his eyes to find there was a definite sparkle in her eyes that told him that this wasn't going to be slow and reverent as she straddled him, grinding her hips into his awakening penis, her hands questing over his chest to find his nipples. He let his own hands creep around her thighs and pulled her down to him.  Chakotay blessed the day Kathryn had insisted he serve under her.

The facts and circumstances finally forced the doctor to revisit the advisability of agarbreep as a suitable food for Voyager's crew.  What he discovered unsettled him and would probably anger the Captain.  Although nothing in agarbreep was harmful and it did in fact contain an inordinate number of vitamins and trace minerals, it had unpleasant side effects as it was digested.  His cursory analysis of those effects led him to conclude that they were unavoidable.  He was now trying to determine why Neelix and a few of the crew who had eaten dinner had not exhibited those supposedly unavoidable side effects.  The doctor was hoping that would help him find a cure that would be easier on the sufferers than simply waiting for the agarbreep to pass through their systems, a process that seemed to be taking much longer than normal.

Chakotay awoke with one arm and leg pinning Kathryn to the bed.  She had wiggled away from him two times already this afternoon and evening and his subconscious apparently wasn't going to allow her to escape a third time.  He slipped from the bed to use the bathroom.  He paused on his way back to the bed as his stomach churned and a burning sensation made its way up his throat to leave a bitter taste in his mouth.  He was distracted by the sight of Kathryn sprawled on the bed and moved to join her despite the unpleasant taste.  Once back at her side he decided a subtle approach was the best way to wake his Captain just in case she had designs on getting some work done this evening.  Not only did he not feel like working, he did feel like playing.  He turned on his side and began to nibble Kathryn's neck and gently rub her lower back.  By the time he had her awake, she wouldn't even remember she was the captain of a star ship.

Kathryn lay like the dead, unmoving under his hands. Chakotay thought guiltily of how he had kept her awake for most of the afternoon. He should let her sleep, she often had little rest, but his hands had a will of their own as they roamed her soft back, skimming over her skin even lower to the firm globes of her buttocks.  She sighed and moved in her sleep and resettled slightly with her legs apart.  He grinned to himself and continued his featherlight touches over her backside, dipping down low to stroke a gentle finger through the damp curls between her legs.

Still she slept on. Chakotay felt the stirrings of his own arousal as his penis asserted itself by pressing against her flank. He draped one of his legs over her, dragging it deliberately down to enjoy the friction of his hairs against her soft skin. His lips settled in the crook of her neck and he sucked gently.

Still she didn't stir, but an indrawn breath and a clenching of her buttocks told him she was awake and well aware of what he was doing. He sucked harder on her neck, enough to leave a red mark, before moving to her ear, tracing the lobe and outer edge with his tongue. The bitter taste was back in his mouth so he lapped at the sweat of her neck to distract himself from the taste of it.  While one hand was drawing circles on her back, he let the other work its way around to stroke the side of her breast.  Abruptly she rolled on her side facing him.

"Looks like someone wants to play."

Unerringly she burrowed her hand down to his groin, stroking hot fingers along the length of his shaft before circling the head of it.  He grinned at her, pushing himself into her hand and letting her kiss him with love and passion. His fingers were doing their own exploring; she was hot and ready for him, and the undulations of her hips as he explored her soaked folds told him she wanted more.

"You're insatiable, old man," her voice was muffled in his shoulder.

He pulled back, letting her choose how she wanted him. She rolled back on her stomach and raised her hips invitingly. Raising himself on hands and knees he pulled her hips in the air and ran a gentle finger down over her sodden curls, pushing inside her for a brief moment.

"Not too sore?" he kissed the back of her neck.

"A little. But not TOO sore though," she raised up on hands and knees and wiggled
her hips at him.  He took the hint and moved behind her, positioning himself to slide into her warmth, still wet from their earlier games.

He had intended to be gentle, but her moans and sighs encouraged him until he was straining into her, grasping her hips as he pounded into her. Suddenly she reared up and twisting around brought their lips together, joining them in all possible ways.  She came very quickly after that and so did he falling forward into her pushing her down on the bed underneath him. She stretched slowly tensing each muscule.

"I'm sore."

"I'm stiff," he added his complaint to hers.  Not until she met his eyes did she realize his words carried a double meaning.

"Chakotay, not again . . .." He rolled off her and took her in his arms.

"You have that effect on me, my love."

The doctor had finally figured out a treatment for his victims of agarbreep stew.  While he was stopping short of calling it poisoning, those suffering from its effects ahd not such qualms.  The few crew members that had eaten early during the dinner hour and then played in the hover ball tournament had provided the clue.  The lactic acid, which builds up in muscle tissue after extended periods of over-exertion, was an effective counteragent to effects of agarbreep.  Neelix offered a clue to an alternative treatment:  leola root.  Unlike the others, he had added leola root to his agarbreep stew because he enjoyed the combination of flavors.  When offered the choice between the two treatments, the crew unanimously chose to run until they were exhausted rather than eat creamed leola root.  A few of the worst cases swallowed just enough leola root to stumble to their feet before following the others out the door of sick bay and down the corridor.  The doctor turned to Neelix who had been scanning a pad listing the patients the doctor had treated and those who had participated in the hover ball tournament.

“Is there anyone missing that you know ate some of the stew?  They could be too ill to come to sick bay.”

“No. No, I believe that is everyone who came to dinner.”  Neelix handed the pad back to the doctor and turned to leave.  Half way to the door, he stopped.

“Wait!  The Captain and Commander Chakotay ate some of the agarbreep stew much earlier in the afternoon – around 14:00, I believe it was.  They aren't on the list.”  Panicked, the doctor reacted immediately.

“Sick bay to the Captain.”

Kathryn and Chakotay groaned in unison.  They were resting contentedly in each other's arms.  Kathryn reluctantly reached for her com badge.

“Janeway here, doctor.  I hope for your program's sake this is important.”  The doctor hurriedly explained that most of the crew had gotten sick from the agarbreep stew and that he wanted to examine both the Captain and the Commander immediately.  Kathryn sighed.  At least they had had a few uninterrupted hours alone together.

“All right, doctor.  I'll be there in half an hour and I'll bring the Commander with me.  Janeway out.”  Kathryn gave the doctor no time to protest her delayed arrival time.

“Care to join me in the shower, Commander?”

“Better not, Captain.  If I do we'll both be late for our appointment with the doctor.”

“You're probably right, Chakotay.  Why don't you go and change and meet me back here in 20 minutes.  Casual dress.  I'm off duty and not about to let the doctor forget he interrupted some of that leisure time he always tells me I don't get enough of.”

“Yes, ma'am.  I'll be back in 20 minutes — with my toothbrush and a clean uniform.  Then I won't have to rush out in the morning.”

“Good thinking, Commander.  Wouldn't want you to be late to work tomorrow.  Now get out of here so I can get ready!”

Kathryn and Chakotay stood in sickbay as the doctor finished his detailed summary of the agarbreep stew incident.  He was still shaking his head over the readings he was getting from both the Captain and First Officer.  Neither showed any signs of the symptoms displayed by the others individuals who had eaten the agarbreep stew.

“I don't understand.  Neither of you ate any leola root or participated in any competitive sports after you ate the agarbreep, yet you display none of the symptoms.  It appears you have benefited from the accumulation of lactic acid without engaging in competitive sports.  There must be a third way to counter the effects of argabreep.”  The doctor's comment about lactic acid was the clue the command team needed to figure out what had prevented them from feeling the effects of agarbreep.  They both knew lactic acid was the result of any type of vigorous physical activity, not just competitive sports.  Neelix rushed in the door before the doctor had a chance to question them further.

“Doctor, I forgot, Lieutenants Paris and Torres had just finished eating some of the agarbreep stew before they went off duty this evening and they weren't on your list of patients either!”  The command team exchanged knowing looks.  Theory confirmed.

“I don't think you have to worry about Tom and B'Elanna, doctor.  I think they'll be just fine.”  Laughing, they left sickbay.