Star Trek Voyager characters are the property of Paramount Pictures

Good Shepherd

The air was sweet, honeysuckle. Chakotay wandered through an ornamental garden, a statue here, a fountain there, and let himself drown in the scent of summer. He missed the seasons. He missed the ice cold of winter, the burning heat of summer, the fresh green of spring and the rust gold of autumn. Voyager was seasonless, as seasonless as silver stars against black space. He missed waking up in the morning and seeing a blue sky. He missed seeing the sunset, seeing it rise, and he even missed gray skies full of rain. For a moment he imagined that he really was on earth and that the garden, the flowers, the scent and the blue sky were all real, not a holosimulation. The garden led to a river bank. The water was flowing clear and soft. Joining one bank to the other was a quaint little stone bridge. The other side of the river was just as beautifully cultivated and there, dipping her feet in the water, was Kathryn Janeway. She was dressed in a long white Victorian gown, covered with pretty blue flowers, and her hair was tied up behind her head in a little bun. She was reading a book and seemed engrossed in it. Chakotay smiled to himself and then made his way over the bridge to her side of the water.

"Glad to see you're heeding the Doctor's advice for once and relaxing."

Kathryn hastily bookmarked her page with a strip of ribbon and then snapped it shut

"Chakotay ... I didn't know you were here..."

"Evidently. It must be a good book. What is it?"

"Just a frivolous novel," she said, putting it down on her lap. "Nothing that would interest you."

"I think you should let me be the judge of that. You're clearly enjoying it."

He took the book from her lap and Kathryn blushed crimson. Chakotay looked at the title printed in flourishing gold upon the maroon cover. " A Tomorrow of Summers." He turned the pages, scanning the text, and a dimple showed in his cheek at the content. "I see," he smiled. "A romance novel."

He turned to the page she had marked and began to read. "Veronica watched as the Duke slowly crossed the lawn. She could hardly breathe as the gap between them narrowed and she could hear her heart pound in her chest. As soon as he reached her, he swept her in his arms and..."

Kathryn snatched back the book. "That's quite enough. I haven't got to that part yet. You're spoiling the plot."

Chakotay laughed and Kathryn put the book down, beyond his reach this time. "What are you doing here anyway? You're supposed to be on the bridge."

"Things are so uneventful that I've put Tuvok in command for a while. I thought I would see what you are up to and make sure you're following Doctor's orders. You didn't have the privacy lock engaged so I took the liberty of entering. I hope that's alright."

Kathryn picked up a straw hat that he hadn't noticed beside her and put it on her head. "It's alright... seeing as it's you."

She smiled warmly and Chakotay smiled in return.

The End