Title: "Right Hook"
Author: Voy_Girl
Written: 29/12 2002
Code/s: J, C, J/C
VG's Note: The first J/C story I've accepted myself... ;) Hope you do too.
Summary: Short... Sappy, perhaps. Chakotay talks Kathryn into trying boxing.

***

Kathryn Janeway studied herself in the mirror, resisting the almost overwhelming desire to for
once put on some make-up to show her happiness. Though since everyone would notice and
ask why, she didn't.

She was surprised that a single game of violent boxing could send her into such a strange
state. Perhaps it was because Chakotay was one of the fighters. Perhaps it was since he had
invited her specially to watch him practise. Perhaps it was because she during all the rounds
had fantizised about Chakotay fighting for her honor.

*

While zipping her uniform jacket, Kathryn glanced adoringly at the tap and the cold water it
could produce, but realized she had no time to rince the goofy smile off her face yet another
time. She had no time, simply had to take herself back down to floor singlehandedly.

Her one efficient goal stayed in her mind between her quarters and the mess, as it always did
early, unstressful mornings; coffee.

***

"Are you trying to get yourself a living opponent to replace the holograms?" Kathryn joked as
she put on the heavy gloves and rested them against her thighs, properly clad in shorts as they
were.

"Who knows what will happen later? Right now, I just want you to try this. That lyric
expression you had after my training program yesterday can only spring from an interest in the
sport."

'Not really,' she thought. 'Rather from an interset in daydreaming.' But she didn't say
anything, didn't want to spoil Chakotay's childish happiness over perhaps finding a worthy
opponent in his Captain.

"Here," Chakotay grabbed the sandbag with both gloved hands. "Give it a taste of that famous
right hook!"

Kathryn eyed the large, brownish sack hanging fown from the ceiling of the holographic
training room, modified for the noble boxing. She squinted, summoned strenght, and hit. It
didn't move a millimeter. Another punch. Not a half millimeter.

"Let me show you," Chakotay tried to cover his smile with one of his gloves. He gave the
unexpecting sack a serie of hard punshes.
Kathryn studied the technique, actually quite interested for real.

"Think of this lifeless sack as a Cardassian, Hirogen, Kazon!" Chakotay advised, stepping
back.

Kathryn concentrated on the leater. Suddenly it transformed in front of her eyes, shimmered
with different faces of old 'friends' and acquaintances. This time the sack moved, and when it
did; the faces disappeared.

She grinned her teeth, waiting for the sudden pain in her fist to subside. "There isn't much
finess in hitting a heavy pile of sand."

"You'd like to try to hit me?" Chakotay offered, though the polite smile couldn't hide the
self-secure smirk. He seemed convinced that she couldn't hurt him. After all, though she was
slim and worked out; he was the boxing star on the ship.

"It's your own fault if I'll know you out cold," Kathryn warned politly, following him up into
the small boxing ring. When he didn't even glance at his folded jacket at a bench near by and
the rubber he used to protect his teeth lying on top of the cloth, she didn't remind him.

*

Everytime she tried to hit, Chakotay either moved away, ducked or parred. Several times,
Kathryn nearly tripped over her own feet. She was tired, sweaty, annoyed and humilliated.
Overall she felt clumpsy; and she couldn't stand that feeling.

'Trying to hit an old professional,' she reproached herself, snorting at her own self-trust and
naivety.

Chakotay grinned at her; glanced at the clock on the wall behind her.

'If he'll sigh, nothing can stop me from nailing him!' Kathryn though, anger growing, she
looked up again. Though Chakotay was no longer himself, there was that Cardassian face
teasing her again! Her 'famous right hook' raised, she struck.

*

The feeling of something other than air meeting her fist, combined with Chakotay's surprised
and frightened whimper brought her back again, and she could see straight.

There was no Cardassian in the ring, just Chakotay; and he was lying in his full lenght on the
thick mattres.

Kathryn kneeled next to him, "Chakotay?" She tried. No response. She shook her head at his
appearance and stroked his left cheek carefully, pulling her glove off first.

'I guess I can convince my personal logg that Chakotay finally has fallen for me,' she thought,
impodently amused, as she touched her comm badge to hail the Doctor.

***
End!
***
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