Magnet and Steel
by Sheri
Rated NC17
 

She fought to concentrate on the voices calling her but she found it too difficult. Her mind was surrounded by a fog that didn't seem to want to break. There were voices somewhere in the distance but she couldn't make out who the belonged to; all except for one. One that seemed to be getting closer.

She reached out her hand, desperate for contact. She found it in an instant and didn't want to let go, this was the one.

=^=

Chakotay looked down at his commanding officer than back to the Tolian Ambassador, "How do you stop it?"

"I'm sorry, there is only one way to stop this. She must find her mate and join with him, that is the only way to stop the fever," the Ambassador explained.

"Commander if I may," started Tuvok. "This is very similar to a condition that Vulcan's have suffered from. I cannot be sure, but I believe the Ambassador is correct in saying that she must find a mate or she may not live."

"Tuvok this is the Captain we are talking about here," said Chakotay. "We can't expect her to just…"

"I know what you are saying and under normal circumstances I would agree," began Tuvok. "But I also see the results of this … elixir. She has to mate or she will die."

Chakotay sighed and closed his eyes, he opened them again and looked directly at Seven, would she understand? "Alright, I'm not letting her do this with just anyone, I will be the one too…" he started but the Ambassador cut him off.

"She has to be the one to decide and if I'm not mistaken she has made the choice. We should find someplace private for the two of them to join; he will soon feel the fever, she has made contact," explained the Ambassador.

Chakotay looked over to the Captain to find her resting her hand on Michael Ayala's face, "I don't think so," yelled Chakotay.

"You don't have a choice in the matter, once she chooses you have to let it finish. I do believe it would be okay for her to beam back to your ship now that she has chosen, I don't think there would be any harm in it and I'm sure you would feel better having her on more familiar ground," said the Ambassador.

Chakotay's head was spinning, "Tuvok…"

Noticing the mans confusion Tuvok stepped in, "Yes, we should beam her to her quarters to complete the joining, I know the Captain would feel much more comfortable there. Commander, I know this is distressing you but I think you know I wouldn't okay this if I didn't feel it was necessary. I would never put the Captain in any harm. It is unfortunate we didn't realize the effect the drink could have on one of us but it is done and we should step aside and let it finish."

"I am sorry too, for most off worlders like yourself the drink is merely a drink. Never before has it effected one of you like it effects us," said the Ambassador.

"Then why did you offer it?" asked Chakotay with an edge of anger.

"Because for us, considering what the drink means to us, it is a great honor to share it with a hopeful friend. Since it does not bring up the mating fever in off worlders then it's been nothing but a symbol of friendship, …until now."

Chakotay turned to the Captain, eyes flying open; Ayala was clearly effected now and had his mouth clamped over hers, his hands wandering everywhere. Chakotay knew he better get them beamed up to the ship, he slapped his COMM badge, "Chakotay to the Doctor, beam the Captain and Mr. Ayala to the Captains quarters. Monitor them, but do not interfere."

Having been listening to all that was happening the Doctor answered, "Aye Commander."

=^=

Kathryn materialized in her room oblivious of her actual surroundings; all she could focus on was the man who was now lying on top of her. She needed skin-to-skin contact, now.

She frantically tore at his clothes, tearing them off piece by piece. Hers came off much the same; the two of the only briefly losing contact. She grasped his head bringing it down to meet hers, tilting is slightly giving her access to the neck. She roughly bit down, hearing the man she was with cry out. She could taste the blood she drew, her tongue circling over the new wound.

Ayala too had no idea where he actually was, right now all he could see was his Captain. He had a blinding need to be buried inside of her, sparing no thought to any foreplay he quickly positioned his hard member at her entrance and plunged his way in.

Kathryn cried out at the suddenness of it, but then wrapped her legs around his waist, securing him in place: the sudden pleasure almost overwhelming her

He made a few frustrated attempts to thrust into her but Kathryn's grip was to tight.  He tried to back away slightly but was also blocked from making that move. He looked down at her and noticed her feral grin, "Like to play do you?" he said mockingly.

She wiggled her bottom, teasing him, stimulating herself and groaned as a tremor surged through her.

Wanting more she released her hold on him and was surprised to see him sit up on his knees, yet keep his hard member buried within her.  He pulled her to him, laying her legs on each of his shoulders then began to move once again.

The pace was fast and furious, both now anxious for the impending release. It rose quickly in her, starting in her belly and settling in her groin, leaving her just barely on the edge. One more thrust and she howled her release.

Michael grinned, then thrust one more time, he grunted as his orgasm hit him, spilling his seed deep within her. He collapsed onto her, gasping for breath, "That… was … amazing."

The fog was lifting with her release; Kathryn suddenly realized just what position she was in, "Umm, Mr. Ayala, I think…"

Ayala seemed to come out of the fog too, "Oh boy…"

Kathryn tried to hold back the grin that was slowly creeping to her face, "Yeah, I think you could say that."

"I'm sorry," he began as he hoisted herself off of her. "But I'm not really sure what happened, I'm a bit fuzzy."

Kathryn sat up, grimacing at the pain between her legs, "So am I. I guess we'll need to find Chakotay and Tuvok and get an explanation." She reached for the blanket on the back of the chair and wrapped it around herself.

She looked at Michael who didn't seem to be bothered by his nakedness. She was surprised that she herself wasn't all that bothered either, "I…" she laughed, "god, for the first time in my life I don't think I really know what to say."

Michael laughed, "I'm not going in the brig am I?"

Kathryn couldn't hold back, she too laughed, "After a performance like that, the brig is the last place I would send you."

"Yeah, that was quite amazing." He leaned in close to her, "You don't think we could do a repeat performance?"

She playfully swatted him, "I can barley walk, let alone do that again. Why don't you get dressed …okay then again," she began noticing the torn clothing around the room, "Why don’t I have you beamed back to your quarters. I am going to have a talk with Chakotay, then maybe we can talk."

Michael nodded, "Can I say, just for the record, that…  well, I don't know.."

"What?" she asked.

"Well, this surprised me, but I think I rather liked what happened here. And I guess what I'm trying to say is I wouldn’t mind it happening again," he said.

Kathryn shook her head, "I see."

"Oh man, I don't mean it like that, just the sex. I mean….shit."

Kathryn laughed, "I have a lot to consider before I decide to…"

"Don't say that with me, look we already …"

"I know we did but…"

"We can at least try to…"

Kathryn bit her lip to try to stop the laughter coming out, she shook her head, and "It's been so damn long I can't even talk about it Okay, how about just as I said, you get back to your quarters and let me talk to Chakotay. Then we can hopefully get a full sentence out on just what to do about this. I will admit that I don't feel the regret that I always thought I would feel, but where I want this to go... That I will have to wait and see, okay?"

He leaned in close to her, "Sounds fine." He snuck in a kiss before calling for a site-to-site transport to his quarters.

=^=

Kathryn paced her quarters waiting for Chakotay to arrive, she had contacted him the moment she had gotten dressed anxious to find out what led up to her screwing one of her security guards.

Moments later her chime rang and she called for the door to open.

Chakotay hesitantly stepped in, "Are you okay?"

"I'm… fine. But I need an explanation here, I take it you can give me one."

Chakotay looked her over, he saw no evidence of any harm done, or that Ayala had ever been there, "Well, it all happened so fast … we all had this drink. One that was later explained to almost be an aphrodisiac of sorts. As far as the Ambassador was concerned it should only work on his own people, and is meant more of a symbol as friendship to off worlders. Never before had it worked like this before. They use it to find their mates and begin what Tuvok described as a blood fever similar to the Ponn Farr."

Kathryn moved to the replicator and got the two of them a drink as she listened to his explanation.

"It seems once a woman drinks this, she can claim only one specific mate. Once she has found him she touches him and transfers the fever to him and then they… mate," he never really expected to be having this conversation with her.

"You bet they do…" she muttered to herself.

"Pardon me?" he said slightly grinning.

"Oh sorry, nothing, go on," she said.

"Well, there isn't much else to tell. Like I said, you took the drink and seemed to almost collapse. I approached you, Tuvok scanned you and that’s when we turned to the Ambassador for an explanation.  In the mean time Lieutenant Ayala moved over to you, to keep a watch on you." Chakotay looked down at his hand then continued, "Well, before we realized it the two of you, that is you and Ayala were…"

"Ahh, yes, that's when we ended up in my quarters?" she asked.

"Yes, we had come to the conclusion that… it was better to let it run its course.  I'm glad to see no harm was done."

Kathryn blurted it out before she realized what she was saying, "Well, with that mans technique it may be difficult to sit for a while…" she looked up in horror, then tried not to laugh at Chakotay's bemused expression, "Did I just say that?"

Chakotay let out a laugh, "Yes you did. That good huh?" Despite a little jealousy that he wasn't the one who could help her, he was glad to see her in good spirits after all that had happened.

Kathryn rolled her eyes, "Chakotay!" she glared at him in a mocking fashion then spoke, "you better believe it was."

"Kathryn, I had hoped we could prevent it, I'm sorry. I didn't know what to do…" he said looking down to the floor.

"Chakotay I know you probably did everything you could, but to be honest it wasn't that horrible. I wish I could remember more of what led up to it, and I don't like the idea of how it happened but I'm no worse for wear."

"Well, I would feel better if the doctor looked you over, just to be sure," said Chakotay.

"Chakotay, I am not going to the doctor simply because I had sex," she said exasperatedly.

"The drink Kathryn, not the actions afterwards, we have to make sure that drink doesn't have any more odd effects," explained Chakotay.

"Of course, sorry, I guess I'm just a bit off," admitted Kathryn.

"Well, now that we have covered that, how do you really feel?" he asked curiously.

She eyed him briefly, "Actually fine.  Don't worry Chakotay, Michael and I are having a talk a little later about… all of this."

"What is there to talk about?" Chakotay blurted out.

"Well, I think quite a bit. I'm not going to explain it to you, its between Michael and I," she said with a tone of anger.

"Sorry, I was just trying to help. I guess I just don’t see the reason, it happened, its over…"

"Who said either of us want it over," she cringed as she said it. This conversation was taking a turn she didn't want, perhaps there was still a bit of bitterness over his sudden relationship with Seven. "Look Chakotay, I don’t think I should be having this conversation before I talk to Michael. Why don't you get that report to me in the morning and we can go over it at the beginning of the shift, okay?"

"Of course Kathryn, sorry, I didn't mean to upset you," he said softly.

"You didn't, this day has just been overwhelming and I just want it to be over," she explained.

Chakotay eyed her before getting up, so many unanswered questions that may never be explained.  He had a surge of jealousy over all of this, a part of him wishing that she had chose him despite the fact that he was currently in a relationship.

He wanted to ask her why? Why Ayala? Why not him? But he may never get that chance. "Well, goodnight Kathryn, sleep well."

"You too Chakotay," she said softly. She smiled slightly before he turned and left wondering why she couldn't wait for him to leave and another man to come over?

She hit her COMM badge, "Janeway to Ayala, are you free?"

"I've just been sitting here waiting," he answered cheerfully.

"Well, what are you waiting for, get over here." She heard him laugh as she cut off the signal.

Just what in the world was she about to do?

=^=
 

Kathryn moved to get out of bed but found herself firmly held in place. The night suddenly came back to her and she found a slight grin forming on her face. Ayala arrived just minutes after she hailed him. They started off the conversation by both apologizing to each other, then both burst out laughing.

She found it strange that she was so at ease with him; a man she hadn't taken a lot of time to get to know.

He blatantly let her know that he was not in the least bit upset by what happened and was more concerned with how she felt. She too was not at all upset, by the sex that is. The more she thought about it, the more she did get bothered by the fact that the Ambassador had offered a drink that could have potential side effects, and had already formed the speech she was going to give to him in the morning.

The Ambassador needed to realize the potential danger and she was clearly going to let him know.

She and Mike spent the next couple of hours talking about basically nothing; the evening turning out much better than Kathryn anticipated. It was about time for Mike to get up and leave, he moved to the door, she followed. He turned to say goodbye and the two of them found themselves practically attacking each other.

A smile crept to her face as she remembered the furious lovemaking against the wall. Then as he led her to her bedroom, lowered her to the bed to take it much slower for the third time that day.

She turned to face him, studying his features in the starlight, he was handsome, devilishly so. Her hand moved to his dark curly hair and she had the sudden image of just what one of their babies would turn out like, with little ringlets running to her back. 'Now just where did that come from?'

She didn't even notice he was awake, had been for some time, "Hey, good morning."

She smiled at him, "Good morning yourself."

He leaned forward and kissed her, "I think I just want to say, I don't know where this is going, but I want you to know, I haven't been this happy in a long time. Thank you."

"Yeah, this is quite nice," she admitted. "I don't know what we should do either, but I do know that it feels good right now, and I would like to keep it up."

She moved from the bed, "Now I need to get up and get a shower."

He nodded and laid back down. She watched him for a moment, ignoring the little voice in her head that told her that she shouldn't let this continue. The little voice continued, telling her that this wasn't how it was supposed to be, in her fantasy's another man had been in that bed.

She shrugged to herself, for some reason she held no regret. Her love for that other man was still there, but he no longer was. She was curious to see just where this would go, was it love? Or lust? She didn't know at this point, but she knew she would have fun finding out.

End