THE INTERVIEW

Summary: What did (and did not!) happen when Janeway offered Chakotay the position of first officer.

 
"Come."

The ready room doors swished open, and the Maquis leader and Tuvok stepped through. Captain Janeway glanced up briefly from the console at her desk before refocusing back on the screen. "Thank you, Tuvok. That will be all. No calls other than Lieutenant Carey in Engineering."

The Vulcan hesitated. "Captain, perhaps I should remain."

Janeway finally looked up fully, her eyes hard. "Mr. Tuvok, you are dismissed," she said quietly.

Tuvok eyed Chakotay for a moment as though to warn him, then turned and exited. Even before the doors had shut, Janeway was again intent on the screen before her. "Please have a seat, Commander. I'll be with you momentarily."

The Maquis strode across the room in seconds, grabbed the captain by her upper arms, and hauled her up against his body. Her eyes and mouth were wide with shock, but before she could make a sound, his mouth was hard on hers, his tongue between her open lips, hot and probing.

Captain Janeway looked surprised to see the tall, dark-haired man still standing by the door. "Is there a problem, Commander?"

He spoke calmly, but his voice had an unmistakable edge to it. "Has Starfleet become so arrogant that it refuses to acknowledge the ranks of any organization other than its own?"

Her brow creased with a frown that expressed both irritation and confusion. Slowly, a look of comprehension spread over her face, along with a flush of chagrin. "I'm sorry, Captain. I've been immersed in your file for such a long time…" She spread her hands and shrugged apologetically. "It wasn't intentional. Please have a seat."

The Maquis captain was halfway into his chair when he stopped mid-motion. His eyes were riveted to a picture on the credenza behind Janeway's desk. Tilting his head at it, he asked, "Husband?"

"Fiancé," she corrected.

"I'm sorry," he said gently.

"A lot of others lost much more when I destroyed the array," she replied, waving her hand dismissively before nodding at the console on her desk. "I just pulled up the list of required repairs, and frankly, I think it would take less time to review the things that don't need fixing. I'd offer you a beverage, but our replicators still aren't functional."

"Shields?" he inquired.

"At 85%."

"Weapons?"

"Phasers fully functional, photon torpedoes 70% operational," she responded. "It seemed prudent under the circumstances to focus on our defenses."

He nodded in agreement. "It's what I would do. If the ship gets blown up, there's no need for replicators."

"Exactly."

A look of understanding connected the two for a moment before Janeway dropped her eyes. "Speaking of blowing up…I've yet to thank you for sacrificing your ship to save Voyager. I'm sure it wasn't easy to do. I haven't been in command of Voyager for very long, but already she feels so much a part of me." She regarded him sympathetically.

"At the time, it was the only thing to do, but now…" Chakotay heaved a sigh, and dragged his hand over his face. "It's not that I regret it, but Liberty was mine. I knew every vibration of that ship."

She walked around the desk to slide into his lap, wrapping her arms around his neck to hug him to her warmth.

Janeway leaned her elbows on her desk, hands clasped tightly before her. "I truly understand. And on behalf of my crew, I thank you for your sacrifice. How about your crew, Captain? With everything that's happened, I didn't ask if you lost any people from the pull into the Delta Quadrant."

Chakotay shook his head. "No fatalities. A couple of broken bones, a dislocated shoulder, the rest minor cuts and bruises. I gather it was much different for Voyager."

A look of pain flashed briefly across her face, and it was a couple of seconds before she replied. "I guess the Caretaker's transport was easier on a smaller ship. We lost a third of our crew."

Eyes wide with amazement, Chakotay pursed his lips in a silent whistle. "I knew you'd lost crew, but I'd no idea it was so many. I'm sorry."

She lowered her head for a moment. "I hadn't known most of them long, but they were all good people."

"It's that duel concern of a captain, both for the people as individuals, and the simple reality of the positions that they fill." He leaned forward and reached across the desk to take her hand sympathetically.

Chakotay leaned forward and reached across the desk to hand her a PADD.

"What's this?"

"A list of my crew and the positions they held on Liberty, along with any additional skills."

Janeway placed the PADD carefully in the centre of her desk before eyeing the Maquis leader shrewdly. "I see you came prepared."

He shrugged. "I figured your choices were to lock us all in the brig, drop us off somewhere, or put us to work. Although Voyager is considerably bigger than Liberty, I doubted your brig was large enough to accommodate my whole crew. Plus, that way, we'd be nothing but a drain on the limited resources of this ship. The other choice is to drop us at an M-class planet, but you have a ship which needs more crew, while I have a crew that needs a ship. It seemed prudent under the circumstances." The Maquis captain crooked a smile at her, acknowledging the duplication of her earlier words.

Janeway eyed him speculatively. "You've done some serious thinking on this."

"Wouldn't you? I'm their captain, so I'm responsible for what happens to them."

At that moment, Janeway's comm badge beeped.

"Engineering to Captain Janeway."

"At last," she breathed, then tapped her badge. "Janeway here. I hope you have good news for me, Lieutenant Carey."

"Shields are back to 100%, we fixed the worst of the hull fractures, and we've also been able to restore the replicators, Captain."

"Excellent!" she exclaimed with a smile. "Good work, Lieutenant. You have no idea how much I need a cup of coffee."

"Yes, Ma'am…I mean, Captain." There was a lengthy pause.

"Is there anything else, Lieutenant?" Janeway prompted.

"Uh, what should we work on next? I don't know…" he trailed off.

"It is a little overwhelming, Mr. Carey, but I have full confidence in all of you. You are fully trained Starfleet officers," she encouraged. "How are the photon torpedoes coming along?

"About 80% now."

"Do we have warp drive?"

"No, not yet."

"Then those are your top two priorities, Lieutenant. We need to get moving at better than impulse, or I'm sure we'll be visited by more of the Kazon."

"Yes, Ma'am. Carey out."

Janeway scrunched up her face and sighed. "I hate being called Ma'am."

Chakotay grinned at her. "I'll keep that in mind, Captain."

She pushed back her chair and walked briskly across the room. "Since the replicators are back online, what would you like?"

Following quickly, he grabbed her from behind, and spun her in his arms to push her firmly against the wall. "You," he responded. His lips captured hers, his chest pressed against her breasts, and one leg wedged between hers. He moved his thigh up to rub against her body, swallowing her moan into his mouth. Her hands slid to his waist and tugged his shirt free, giving full access to his smooth, muscular back.

Chakotay stood beside her at the replicator. "What are you having?" he asked.

"What I always have. Black coffee," she spoke to the replicator.

He grimaced in revulsion. "Make mine with two sugars and extra cream."

It was Janeway's turn to make a face. Reluctance was in her voice as she placed the order. "That's a terrible thing to do to coffee."

"On the contrary. It's the only way to be able to drink this stuff," he countered as he accepted the mug from her.

They eyed each other over the rims of their cups, then Janeway tossed her mug away, and with a sweep of her hand, knocked his aside as well. The cups crashed to the floor, hot liquid spraying everywhere. She launched herself at him, pulling open his shirt to brush her hands over his bare chest. Her mouth trailed along his warm skin, licking, nuzzling her way down, until she kneeled before him. Opening his leather pants, she yanked them down his thighs, and like a starving woman, took his already erect penis in her mouth, and began to suck eagerly. Chakotay spread his legs as much as he could, groaning as the sensations shot through him, his hands going to her hair to guide her bobbing head.

"Well, I guess we'll just have to agree to disagree on this topic," she retorted. Her finger stroked up and down the side of her mug.

"I suppose so." His eyes watched her hands. "Tell me about Voyager's casualties."

Janeway rubbed at her temple. "One crewman might get a sprained wrist, while the person next to them died. Every area was hit in some fashion - some minimally, some devastated. Engineering was particularly hard-hit; it's a wonder the warp core didn't rupture. A large number of the fatalities occurred there. We also lost our entire medical staff."

"That explains the crusty Emergency Medical Hologram with the bedside manner of a…" Captain Chakotay shook his head at a loss for words.

"A Nausican with a hangover?" Janeway supplied with a smile.

His expression showed puzzled curiosity. "Excellent description, but when did you ever encounter a Nausican with a hangover?"

She shrugged. "That's a story for another time, I believe."

"I'll hold you to it," he nodded, then returned to their discussion. "What bridge crew did you lose?"

"My chief helmsman, and…" She took a deep breath. "My first officer."

"Ah, I see," he nodded slowly in comprehension.

Janeway rubbed at her temple again, and turned to set her cup on a table. She raised her arms, and one by one, pulled the pins from her tight bun. When she released her hands, her hair cascaded over her shoulders, and down her back like a silky red-gold river. Chakotay stepped forward to run his fingers through the long, flowing tresses, massaging her scalp and neck. Her eyes were closed, and the blissfully rapt expression on her face drew a growl from him.

"Was that your stomach, Captain?" Janeway inquired. As though on cue, the Maquis captain's stomach rumbled. She turned to the replicator again. "When did you eat last?" Not waiting for a response, she ordered a chicken salad sandwich.

"Ah, Captain, I'm a -"

"Vegetarian, yes I know. That's for me. I have a headache, so I probably need to eat something." She tossed a grin over her shoulder in time to see him tug on his earlobe.

"Your research on me appears to be pretty thorough," he commented dryly.

Janeway just smiled. "Cheese or egg salad?"

"Cheese. Thanks." He set his mug down to take a tray of sandwiches and two bowls of tomato soup from her.

Moving to the couch, Janeway placed their drinks on the coffee table. "Let's eat while we talk. Speaking of which…" A tap to her comm badge. "Janeway to Tuvok."

The Vulcan's calm voice instantly replied, "Tuvok here."

"Tuvok, please ensure that all the Maquis have food and liquids to drink. Oh, and get them some cots to rest on for the time being."

"Aye, Captain."

Surprise and gratitude colored Chakotay's voice. "Thank you for that, Captain."

Janeway just shrugged. "We'll have to resort to ration packs soon enough to spare the replicators, but for now, we all need to eat."

The Maquis leader set the tray down, and pulled the coffee table away. She showed no surprise when he kneeled before her and began removing her boots. His big hands drifted up her thighs to her waist to open her trousers. Willingly, she shifted her hips while he tugged her pants and underwear away. He placed her feet against the table on either side of him, and slid his hands under her bare buttocks to draw her to the edge of the couch. Trim white thighs opened wide to expose her completely to him, and he leaned forward to nuzzle against her swollen, glistening folds. His tongue probed her gently, but when he suddenly sucked her hood-covered clitoris into his mouth, she gasped.

"Captain?" Chakotay inquired, a look of concern on his face.

She grimaced at him over her cup rim. "The replicators are still adjusting, I think. The coffee is very hot."

"I told you it needed cream," he smirked at her.

She cast him a sharp, assessing glance before returning his smile. "I guess we'd better be careful of the soup as well. Now, Captain Chakotay, I'm sure you realize what I'm going to ask; I am hoping you'll agree to become my first officer. As you said, Voyager needs more crew, and you and your crew need a ship. I can't afford to have freeloaders, but make no mistake: this is - and will remain - a Starfleet ship, and the majority onboard are Starfleet trained officers. I know your crew has no reason to trust me or Starfleet, so as I see it, the only way the two crews will become integrated is with you as first officer. And unless this crew does work well together, there's no way we will even survive out here, much less get home. How do you feel about that, and how do you think your crew will react?"

Chakotay took the soup bowl from her and set it on the table. He clasped her hands and they stood together, face to face. Slowly, methodically, they stripped, laying each piece of clothing carefully aside like an unveiling. Once naked, they openly studied each other; the rise and fall of pert, firm breasts, the twitch of a fully distended cock. Hands reached, touched, explored, stroked. A study in contrasts - small pale hands over warm golden skin; strong dark hands over soft white flesh. Gently, her fingertips skimmed down his chest and belly, to caress his erection and sac. Chakotay held her up with a muscular arm around her narrow waist, while his other hand delved between her legs. Liquid heat closed over a probing finger, and he added a second one, scissoring them inside her. Bending his head, he suckled one rosy nipple, then the other. Her nipple popped from his mouth as he asked, "What would Tuvok say if he could see you now?"

He was regarding her expectantly, and she blinked momentarily. "I'm sorry, I didn't catch that."

"I said, what will Tuvok say when he hears you've offered me the second chair?"

Her lips curved slightly. "Actually, I've already discussed it with him. His comment was that it is-"

"Logical," he finished, returning her grin. "Figures." His expression turned serious. "Before I answer your questions, I have one for you. What makes you think you can trust me?"

Captain Janeway's response was instantaneous, and she counted on her fingers. "First, as I said before, I've immersed myself in the file on you. Every commanding officer you ever served under in Starfleet had nothing but praise for you, including your last captain, Madolyn Gordon on the Gettysburg. Second, you sacrificed an excellent career and resigned your commission for reasons based on your own personal principles. Third, Tuvok's reports were every bit as precise and detailed as you would expect from a Vulcan, and painted a clear portrait as to the kind of man you are. Lastly, and most importantly, from the moment we met, you've shown unfailing concern for others, and not just your own crew. Tom Paris informed me that when you broke your leg, you tried to make him abandon you for his own safety." She grinned at him. "If crashing your ship into the Kazon vessel was merely a ploy to lull me into a false sense of trust, it was a very extravagant gesture. By the way, how's your leg feeling?"

"Fine, thanks. The EMH's personality subroutines may be lacking, but his skills aren't." Chakotay rose and stood staring out the viewport behind the couch. After a moment, he looked back at her. "I have some conditions."

"Of course. Go ahead."

"That you treat my crew fairly, without discrimination against them or favoritism for the Starfleet crew."

Janeway nodded. "I give you my word on that. Neither will I tolerate any such behavior from anyone. And that goes both ways, Captain."

"Fair enough. Next, that my crew be given… What?" The sound of her laughter stopped his words.

She shook her head at him, still chuckling. "You just proved my earlier point. We're discussing your appointment to first officer, and each condition so far pertains to your crew."

With his arms folded, he looked down at her still on the couch. "Can you say you would do any differently, Captain?"

"No," she acknowledged readily, "probably not. Go on."

"Alright. That my crew be given positions and ranks commensurate with their experience and skills." He held up a hand to forestall any comment from her. "I know what you're going to say. It's true that few of them have received formal training similar to Starfleet Academy, but they're all talented, creative, quick-thinkers, who know how to take orders, and how to make clear-headed, life-and-death decisions in a snap. We did it every day in the Maquis. We learned to think outside the box in order to survive. I can guarantee that my small crew has seen more battle than all of yours put together. They don't have degrees or titles attached to their names, but they are seasoned warriors with years of experience, and they deserve recognition for that. To delegate them all to the level of crewman simply because of their lack of formal training would be a waste of the skills we're going to need out here. In addition, if you show them that kind of disrespect, the successful integration you referred to will be impossible."

"I agree," she nodded.

"You do?"

"Yes, I do." She laughed at his shocked expression. "It's going to take all of the abilities we possess to survive out here, and I'm not willing to waste anything useful. However, that said, I have a few conditions of my own. As I mentioned before, this is a Starfleet vessel, and will continue to operate as such. All the Maquis will wear the Starfleet uniform, since they will be a part of this crew. I believe it will be instrumental in overcoming any 'us and them' attitude. But I cannot give out Starfleet pips for ranks not earned."

A formidable frown creased the Maquis captain's brow and he crossed his arms over his broad chest. "But you just said-"

Janeway cut him off with a wave of her hand. "But I am able to give field commissions. If you agree to be first officer, we'll go over your crew roster and make assignments for each person. Then, one of your first duties will be to design something similar to pips that recognizes their positions."

He nodded slowly. "Alright. That's fair."

"It would probably be good for them to have some training as well, to become acquainted with the Starfleet structure," she added.

"Let me guess," he commented with a wry expression, "you want Tuvok to do the training."

"He was an instructor at Starfleet Academy for several years. Is that going to be a problem, Captain?" Janeway inquired.

"You mean because Tuvok was a spy on Liberty? We may not like it, but we understand it, and in a grudging way, we respect the fact that he did it so well, that not one of us picked up on it. After all," he added with a grin, "Starfleet isn't the only organization that can spy. The Maquis has a number of insiders at Starfleet."

"Which leads me to my second question: how is your crew feeling about all this?"

He mused for a moment. "The best way I can describe it is somewhat adrift. All of us had been laying our lives on the line every day for a cause we passionately believed in. And now, all of a sudden, that cause is no longer relevant for us. Some are expressing their feelings through anger, others seem a little dazed. I'd say they're all slightly apprehensive. They're not stupid; they'll have concluded the possible options available to us all by themselves. That said, what they've seen of you and your crew has been positive so far."

"Even with me destroying the array and stranding us here?"

"If anything," he replied, "that decision went a long way to creating a bridge between you and my crew."

"Really?" It was her turn to look amazed.

"You took a stand against a violent, oppressive race. Every single one of the Maquis knows what it's like to see or experience what happens when a vicious bully subjugates a weaker people."

The expression on his face was bleak, strained, as he turned to the side and stared blankly out the viewport. It was obvious that his eyes had turned inward to black memories. Janeway rose behind him and wrapped her arms around his waist, laying her cheek against his back. She slid one of her hands up to press his chest by his heart, and after a moment, he placed a hand over hers.

"I'm not sure what Starfleet will think of my action."

He turned to where she sat on the couch hugging her knees with both arms. "Actually, depending on your point of view, you either upheld the Prime Directive beautifully, or you smashed it to smithereens." At her raised eyebrow, he elaborated. "The original situation was with the Ocampans protected by the Caretaker. You maintained that, along with the current balance of power between the various Kazon sects. On the other hand, by destroying the array, you didn't allow this area to progress naturally." Chakotay shrugged. "I guess it will depend on who's sitting on the board of inquiry when we get back. Of course, depending on how long it takes us, it may not matter a hill of beans to anyone in the Alpha Quadrant."

"I would gather that not all of your crew is so accepting of my decision, Captain," Janeway stated dryly. "If you hadn't been on the bridge, I think Miss Torres would have tried to take my head off with her bare hands."

Chakotay laughed. "B'Elanna is a bit of a hot-head, I'll give you that. It stems partly from those warrior Klingon genes in her, but a lot of it comes from her insecurity at being of mixed race. When she was young, her Human father decided he couldn't handle living with Klingon women, so he left. B'Elanna's always been something of an outcast - not accepted or understood by either species of her parentage."

Janeway shook her head in sympathy. "Never really fitting in anywhere. How difficult for her."

Chakotay moved to sit at the other end of the couch. He leaned forward to rest his forearms on his knees. "Captain, tell me if I'm wrong, but you didn't seem totally…" He searched for the right word. "…satisfied, shall I say, with your Mr. Carey in Engineering."

The captain sighed. "It really isn't fair. Lieutenant Carey is a fine, capable engineer. But he's been thrown into a completely impossible situation. He's in shock and grieving, having lost a lot of colleagues in Engineering when the Caretaker pulled us here, and even more, because he has a wife and two children on Earth." She shook her head, and looked down at her hands in her lap. "It almost makes me glad that I didn't get married before I started this journey.

"In addition, Joe's operating extremely shorthanded, and has people pitching in who possess only the bare minimum of skills. On top of that, he's never been the department head, and to get thrown into it like this…" She spread her hands. "In the Alpha Quadrant where there's endless supplies and back up, Joe Carey would make a fine chief engineer at some point, but out here, I'm just not sure that 'capable' is going to be good enough."

Chakotay smiled brilliantly. "Well, I have some very good news for you. I've worked with a lot of engineers in my life, both Starfleet and Maquis, and I can assure you that bar none, B'Elanna Torres is far and above the best of them all. She was born to be an engineer; it's like a vocation to her. She's not merely 'capable'; she's superb."

"I don't know…" Janeway hesitated.

"I won't be your token Maquis officer," Chakotay sternly warned. "But don't take my word for it; let her lose in Engineering, and see what she can do."

A slight smile tugged at her lips. "Does she know what a champion she has in you?"

He shrugged. "In some ways, she's like a little sister to me, but in regard to her skills, I'm not exaggerating when I say that her creative genius saved our lives every single week."

"Well, I guarantee she'll get her chance here too. Let's have a look at the rest of your crew roster." Crossing back to her desk, she slotted the PADD into the computer to be able to pull it up on the larger screen. Chakotay drew a chair around to her side of the desk.

They spent the next half hour comparing the vacancies on Voyager with the skills of the Maquis crewmen. When they came upon a certain name, Janeway silently regarded the Maquis leader with a solemn, inscrutable expression long enough to make him uncomfortable.

"Captain?" Chakotay inquired, confusion written on his face.

Pointing at the screen, she asked, "Any lingering, unresolved issues with this one?"

His eyes darted from the screen to her face and back again. His complexion colored slightly. "I see Tuvok's reports were very thorough." Janeway merely raised her eyebrows and waited. He sighed heavily. "No Captain, there are no lingering, unresolved issues with Seska."

Janeway continued to study his face for several long moments. At last she nodded and turned back to the screen. "Let's continue."

They worked steadily to begin the melding process of the two crews, surprising themselves at how well the majority fit in. They discussed the few individuals that Chakotay thought might have the most trouble adjusting.

At last, Janeway straightened up and rolled her tense shoulders. "That should about do it for now, I think. Any other suggestions?"

"Just one," he replied.

He rotated her chair away from him and began to massage her shoulders, listening to the sounds of pleasure she made. Finally, he leaned over to kiss the side of her jaw, and run his tongue along the edge of her ear.

Chakotay uncrossed his arms and placed his hands into his lap. He looked up in time to meet Janeway's gaze. "As much as it galls me to admit this, you won't find a better pilot to be your chief helmsman than Paris. He's among the best I've ever seen."

Captain Janeway nodded. "I actually had him in mind for the position. His father, Admiral Paris, was a tough man to please, but even he readily conceded that Tom had exemplary piloting skills. Most of the time, anyway." She stood to her feet. "We've done a lot of work here, but we haven't settled the one main issue. Will you accept the position of first officer on this vessel?"

As Chakotay rose from his chair, he let his hands slide up her shapely thighs, over the curve of her hips, to settle on her narrow waist.

He kept his hands clasped in front of him as he stood. "Yes, I do." He smiled. "Almost sounds like marriage vows, doesn't it?"

She crooked a grin at him, then reached across her desk for two PADDs. "I realize you know this, but all the same, here is a copy of your duties. If you will read them and register your acceptance, I'll do the same, so we each have a copy of it. Just in case this 'marriage of convenience' should ever be questioned by higher authorities if we get back to the Alpha Quadrant."

"I see you were prepared as well. Anticipating my acceptance, were you?" He took the first PADD from her and began to scan, then authorized it with his thumb.

Janeway set her thumbprint on the second PADD. "Hoping."

They exchanged PADDS and repeated the procedure. Chakotay pocketed his, while Captain Janeway tossed hers on the desk. She extended her hand to him. "Welcome to Voyager, Commander. It's good to have you aboard."

He took her hand, drawing her slowly toward him. Her free hand reached for his waistband and with a tug, quickly finished the movement together. Hands buried into hair, stroking skin as their open mouths met. She pushed him back enough to open his pants, while he pulled her jacket off. The wide legs of her trousers allowed him to slide her pants over her boots. He rose and toed off his own boots. When she faced her desk and placed her forearms on the top of her console, he nudged her legs apart. She was naked from the waist down, except for her boots. The sight of her perfect white buttocks called for his touch, and he skimmed his palms over her. Pushing her top up to her armpits, he kneaded her dangling breasts and gently tweaked the nipples. She arched her back, presenting herself to him, and he moved his hands between her spread legs. One hand stroked her dripping folds while his other reached around to circle her clitoris. She moaned her protest when he removed his hands from her, but it was only to position his penis against her. Bending his knees slightly, he thrust into her deeply. Janeway stretched one hand back to his muscular hip, urging him on as he began to rock back and forth inside her wet heat.

Chakotay released her hand and stepped back. "Thank you, Captain. I do need to make one correction, though."

Janeway looked at him quizzically. "And that would be…?"

"You said 'if' we reach the Alpha Quadrant. The proper term would be 'when' we reach the Alpha Quadrant."

Her eyes glistened brightly. "Thank you for that, Commander. I hope your trust will not be unfounded."

"I know it won't be," he declared.

Their gazes locked for a moment before they both looked aside. Janeway cleared her throat. "Shall we head down to the cargo bay now to speak with your crew? I'm sure they're concerned about your lengthy absence."

"Actually, if I could make one request of you first?"

"Yes?"

Be my lover.

"I was wondering if you would…"

Be my lover.

"…tell me where my quarters are. I'd like to…"

Be your lover.

"…freshen up before we go to the cargo bay. I'm still covered with soot from Liberty."

"Of course, Commander." Janeway quickly input the designation on a PADD and handed it to him. "Shall I meet you outside the cargo bay in twenty minutes?"

He took the PADD from her and scanned it. "That should do fine, thanks. And if you don't mind, for now I'll forego on the uniform, and stick with civvies."

"Agreed. That would be best until after our meeting with your - the rest of our crew." She corrected her terminology with a small smile.

An awkward silence hung in the air, and Chakotay hesitated. "Is Tuvok going to let me past him?"

In reply, Janeway tapped her comm badge. "Janeway to Tuvok."

"Tuvok here."

"Mr. Chakotay has agreed to our proposal. I will be making a formal announcement once we've had a chance to inform his crew."

A cold pause. "Understood. Tuvok out."

Chakotay's expression was wry as he turned toward the door. "Not exactly a ringing endorsement considering he knows me, but I suppose it will have to do for now."

Janeway stopped him with a hand on his arm. "Tuvok is very gifted with what he does, but a stickler for rules and regulations. A bit of a 'box' thinker."

"Captain!" The new first officer looked at her with mock severity. "Did you just call Mr. Tuvok a square?"

Laughing out loud, she swatted his arm, and shooed him out the door.

****

Chakotay crossed the bridge, ignoring the curious glances of the crew. They'd find out soon enough what was going on. Tuvok did not look up from his console, and Chakotay brushed by him to the lift.

Once inside, he leaned against the wall, grateful for the solitary respite. He needed time in his new quarters not only to clean up, but to give a certain body part some much needed relief. If B'Elanna or Seska saw him now, they'd both know he was almost aroused enough to explode. He hoped like hell that Captain Janeway hadn't noticed his hard-on. Leather trousers were not particularly forgiving.

In the ready room, Janeway pressed against her hot face the hand she'd just lifted from Chakotay's sleeve. Get a grip, woman, she berated herself. How could she let her mind wander like that, to entertain fantasies about the man she was going to have to work side-by-side with for who knew how long? She hoped like mad he hadn't noticed her staring at his crotch. However, two things disturbed her even more than her wayward thoughts.

First, she knew that Mark's picture was on the credenza behind her desk, yet without actually turning to look at it, for the life of her, she couldn't seem to recall his features. All she could see in her mind's eye was golden skin, dark brown eyes, and a blue-winged tattoo.

And second, what in the universe had possessed her to assign Chakotay the quarters right next to hers?

The End

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© Brianna Thomas, February 2006 Please email me to post/distribute elsewhere.