A/N: Set mid-season 6. No C/7 in this one. Written mostly on a plane ride. One of two "lake stories" this year. This one is total and absolute fluff. Thanks to Mizvoy for the editing.

A LITTLE LAKE STORY

By KJaneway115

The wind was blowing, causing waves to rise up in white peaks on the water. They rolled over each other, then crashed up on the rocky shore, leaving white foam floating between the rocks. A wooden dock stretched out into the choppy lake, rising above the waves, and on that dock stood Captain Kathryn Janeway.

Chakotay heard the holodeck doors swish shut behind him. Janeway had turned to look at him when the doors had opened, but she had since turned back to the water. The commander sighed and walked down the grassy lawn towards the dock. He recognized the location; it was the Janeway family home at Lake George. Kathryn had brought him here on a few occasions over the years, but it had been some time since his last visit. "Kathryn?" he called, reaching the shore where the dock met land.

Reluctantly, she walked back to land to meet him. "What is it, Commander?" Her cheeks were pale and there were dark circles under her eyes.

"I didn't come here on ship's business."

"Can it wait, then? I'd like to be alone."

She started to walk back out to the end of the dock, but he caught her wrist. "I stopped in astrometrics a few minutes ago to ask Seven a question. She let it slip that you seemed upset by something in the latest data stream."

Janeway rubbed the bridge of her nose between her thumb and forefinger. "Seven should mind her own business."

"What happened?" "It's nothing, Chakotay. I'm fine."

It was her stock response, and he turned to go. He wasn't in the mood to argue with her or try several tactics to get her to tell him what was wrong. He expected he'd never find out. He was surprised when she stopped him before he reached the holodeck door.

"Chakotay?"

He turned back to look at her.

"Would you like to stay for a while?"

"Sure." He tried not to let his surprise show; it had been a long time since they had shared a personal interaction beyond a quick dinner or a cup of coffee in her ready room. Everything had been pretty businesslike between them of late.

She gestured to the picnic table by the shore. "Join me?" He sat down next to her, and she looked at him for a long moment before continuing, "It's been too long since we've done this."

"It has been a while." He looked out at the lake in front of them. "I forgot how beautiful it is here."

"Yeah." She propped her chin up in her hand, staring out at the water, her eyes filling with tears. "It is beautiful."

He saw a tear slide down her cheek and grew even more concerned. "Did I say something wrong?"

"No, no," she assured him, wiping her eyes. "I just got some bad news is all."

"What was it?"

"My grandmother passed away," she said, still looking out at the water instead of at him.

"I'm so sorry."

"It's not like it was a big surprise. She was quite elderly and had a long and happy life." She paused to wipe away another tear. "I'm just sad that I never got to see her again."

"I'm sorry," Chakotay whispered again, putting his arm around her shoulders and drawing her close. "I understand that feeling."

"She was a stubborn woman."

"So that's where you got it from."

Kathryn sniffled, letting Chakotay's arm around her bolster her spirits. "You would have liked her."

"I have no doubt of that." He made a vague gesture encompassing the scene around them. "This is where she lived?"

She pulled away from his embrace to gesture to the house overlooking the lake. "When I was very young, Lake George was a summer residence. Later, she and my grandfather moved there permanently. He's been gone for several years, now. Now that she's gone, too, my mother has decided to sell the house. She doesn't want to take care of the place at Lake George as well as the farmhouse in Indiana. I understand why. She's alone, my sister is living on Mars, and I'm… Well, I can't be of much help, now, can I?"

"Don't blame yourself."

"I know… Just another item to add to the list of things I have to feel guilty about." She stood and walked to the sandy beach. Her Starfleet issue boots dug into the holographic sand, and she squatted down to touch the water with her fingertips. "I love this place. I love the house; I love Lake George."

"I know." "I always thought that when we got home, after all the pomp and circumstance was done and all the battles were fought, this was the first place I'd go. To spend a week, or a month, or maybe even a whole year, doing nothing but painting, sculpting, swimming and sailing."

"I'm sure you could still find someplace to do that."

She stood and walked back to the picnic table. "You've talked about finding peace. For me, that's what Lake George is, the most peaceful place on Earth. Maybe it's because I've been going there since I was a child, but I always found that being there brought me back to myself. Now, it's gone."

"And you feel like a part of you has gone with it."

"Yes, that's it exactly." She shook her head. "I always thought I'd see it again. It's so sad to think that I can never go back to the real place, even if we do get home before I'm too old to enjoy it."

Chakotay leaned forward and took both her hands in his. "We will get home, Kathryn, and I wager that you and I will both still be young enough to enjoy it."

She pulled her hands away from his and leaned her elbows on the picnic table. "Some days I believe that, Chakotay. Others, I wonder who I'm kidding."

"I can understand why you'd feel a little down today, with the news you just received."

"I'm sorry. I'm being morose, aren't I? I'll be fine tomorrow. Don't worry about me."

"I always worry about you, Kathryn," he said softly, slipping an arm around her shoulders. "You carry such a big burden. I want to help, if I can."

"I know you do," she replied, squeezing his knee. "But I'm the captain."

"You're also my friend."

There was a long silence as Kathryn let herself enjoy the feeling of Chakotay's arm around her, his warm body pressed against hers, the steady rise and fall of his chest. In a moment, it would be back to business, back to being the captain, back to putting her family and the lake house to the back of her mind, but for just this one moment, she allowed herself to enjoy her friend's company and the support he was offering her. "I'm glad you came by," she admitted.

"You never would have told me what happened if I hadn't asked, would you?"

"Probably not. Which makes me a good captain, but a lousy friend."

"That's all right, Kathryn," he said, tightening his arm around her. "You're one lousy friend that I think I'll keep."