Title: Beyond Timeless
Author: CarolQ Continuum
Summary: Based on the Fifth Season episode Timeless. While facing a new, but dangerous, chance to get Voyager´s crew home, Captain Kathryn Janeway reflects on her feelings towards her first Officer Chakotay and acts based on solely on hope.
Pairing: Kathryn Janeway and Chakotay
Genre: Romance
Rating: K+
Disclaimer: Star Trek Voyager Series are Copyright and Trademark Paramount Pictures. No infringements intended.
Authors Note: Reviews are welcomed.
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Chapter One – The Long Waiting
Kathryn had been planning inviting him to dinner for a few weeks, but found no good excuse to do it until now. Voyager and its crew have a real, plausible chance to cross the Delta Quadrant and reach Earth in the next days using the new Quantum Slipstream Drive. There was still a change for them, for her and Chakotay and their crew. That was the perfect opportunity for the invitation.
Since she received the "Dear John" letter from Mark, Kathryn started to reflect on her relationship with her First Officer, she started to reconsider her feelings for him.
Chakotay had had plenty of opportunities to fraternize with the women on the ship, he wasn't bound by Starfleet regulations the same way the Captain was. However, not once she saw him being on a date or having a close conversation with any one of them.
In one occasion or two he got involved with aliens females, however he had never express the wish to prolong those encounters.
So after the Slipstream Drive Inauguration Party at Engineering, Kathryn had asked Chakotay to join her tonight for an intimate dinner.
Even before he had accepted, Kathryn had already carefully chosen the menu, Vegetable Byriani, with some white wine and Boolian chocolate cake for desert. She meant it to be a comfort meal for them, a reminder of what they would be returning to if their mission succeeded.
If their mission succeeded… she was much more confident in their success before Tom and Harry announced the 0.42 phase variance in the slipstream threshold. They believed that flying a shuttle to map the phase variance and send Voyager the corrections, the slipstream would stabilize and lead them home. However it was a risky plan; any mistake could cause the slipstream to destabilize and no one could predict the true effects of that.
She had considered Harry's plan carefully; she knew he could be quite inconsequential when "Returning Home" missions were concerned, but his theory was sound and through. Now she had to consult Chakotay and hear what he has to say about it; if the mission offered too greater risk, he surely would find a way to make Kathryn dismiss the idea; that's why she relied so much on him.
She had just finished decorating the dinning table with fresh white flowers and several candles. She had taken her time to set their places, carefully positioning the dishware as she used to do back home, on Indiana.
Soon, as she paced around the room taking one last look on Harry's report, her door chimed and she promptly answer – "Come in".
Chakotay entered, slowly absorbing his surroundings; the soft classical music in the air, the sweet smell of fresh flower and the soothing candle light. Definitely Kathryn had not intended to have a Captain-Commander business dinner.
They'd become very close in the past few months, and since the letter from her former fiancé Mark, Chakotay had noticed slightly changes in Kathryn's reactions towards him. She was more forthcoming and talkative, even flirting every now and then.
"Commander I hope you got an appetite." – Kathryn asked almost seductively. "Famished, but I assume you call me to talk about the slipstream flight." – He absently responded.
Chakotay had noticed her disappointment in the Engineering meeting. She had high hopes the new slipstream drive would work. It had been a team effort – Seven, B'Lanna, Harry and Tom had worked on it for months in a row while Kathryn reviewed intensively all the reports and holo-simulations. So he expected her to be in a totally captain mood this night.
"There's no reason to cancel our dinner plans." - She said, pointing at the chair in the opposite side of the table - "I've programmed a dish my grandmother used to make back on Earth, Vegetable Byriani." – She continued serving him a glass of water.
"Sounds delicious. I didn't know you can cook." – He answered a little bit distracted by the unusual situation; Kathryn Janeway, his captain preparing and serving him dinner.
She didn't not took his last comments personally – "Normally I draw a line on the pot of coffee, but tonight is a special occasion." – Kathryn finally had gotten his attention.
"Oh…" - Chakotay was slightly confused and the small talk was not helping enlighten him.
"Our last night in the Delta Quadrant, I would say that is special enough…" – She blurted out immediately trying to sound confident.
"You made your decision." – Chakotay looked annoyed. Kathryn had read the same report that he had, even though it was a good theory, there been no way to prove it safely. It was a highly dangerous technology.
"We will launch tomorrow 0800, you and Harry will take the Delta Flyer, and Voyager will be right behind you." – She could see in her First Officer's face how displeased he was; even defensive. Maybe that was altogether a bad idea.
"The crew will be please." – Chakotay insolently responded. "She had made her decision unilaterally, despite of what I would have to say" – he immediately thought.
"You can give then the news yourself, after desert." – She wouldn´t let this last minute problem ruins their dinner plans; she wanted Chakotay to know she needed his support on this mission; she depended on it – "What about you Chakotay? What do you think about my decision?"
He heavily sighed taking the pad that was still placed on the table – "I´ve analyzed Harry's flight plan. The theory is sound, but there´s too many variables. If something goes wrong in that slipstream…"
"Could be our only chance to use the quantum drive" – Kathryn cut him off.
"True, but if you show this data to any Starfleet engineer, he would think we are out of our minds. We can find another way home. We waited this long…" – He put the pad down, knowing when to retreat from a battle. Chakotay realized it was indeed her final decision.
"Long enough, we waited long enough!" – Kathryn couldn´t help to deeply consider the meaning of those words. The crew had waited long enough. She and Chakotay had waited long enough. Things could be different between them once there were no more Captain and First Officer - "I know it's a risk. Probably our biggest one yet, but I'm willing to take it. Are you with me?"
Chakotay sensed her concealed meaning. Kathryn was not only thinking about Voyager´s crew and the promise she made them four years ago; she was also thinking about herself and about him, she needed him to understand her reasons – "Always!"
She smiled, feeling Chakotay caring and protection, knowing that even disagreeing with her, he was always there for here, a supportive and devoted First Officer and Friend.
She stood up, walking towards his him –"Speaking of risks: are you ready to try some home cooking?" – She teased him, placing her hand in his shoulder as she had done many times before.
"I'll alert sickbay." – He teased her back and was rewarded with Kathryn's warm smile and a gentle caress on his face.
New Chapter coming soon!
