DISCLAIMER: Star Trek and characters belong to CBS. This story and any errors are mine.
A/N: A special thank you to KJaneway115 for the beta! As always, I have to fiddle with it after she has read it, so any errors and oddities are mine alone.
***V*V***
Chakotay hardly took his eyes off of her all evening. Not because Kathryn was in any danger; they were aboard Voyager enjoying a holodeck luau while the ship was holding position to collect data on a nebula. Concern was not on his mind tonight. That damn dress she was wearing had him fidgeting like a Ferengi who'd lost his Rules of Acquisition manual.
She was gorgeous in a Polynesian-style green and white sundress that hinted at enticing cleavage, narrow waist, and curvy hips. Her hair was loosely swept back in a braid, and the lavender lei around her neck tinted her cheeks and highlighted her pale skin. Chakotay couldn't stop watching her, and if he wasn't mistaken, she had been flirting with him all night.
It had started as soon as they entered the party. Just when Kathryn turned a bright smile his way that stopped his heart in his chest, she'd linked her arm in his and pulled him along to the drink table. Chakotay had no choice but to follow her like a puppy on a short leash. When he finally regained his senses, he was all too happy to accept the drink she handed him before being dragged off in another direction to speak with the senior officers.
He still couldn't remember what that conversation was about, because when Kathryn leaned across him to pick up an hors d'oeuvre, her breast rested against his arm and caused more than one muscle in his body to react. He could have chalked it up to an accident of proximity if she hadn't lingered there, sampling the different foods, and then lifted a chocolate truffle to his lips for him to taste. When she finally took a half-step to the side and ended the elicit contact, he noted the twinkle in her eyes in the split second before she turned to admire a tropical flower arrangement.
They had grown close over the years - God, it had been years - spent commanding the ship and crew through the uncharted and unpredictable Delta Quadrant. In an area of space that was hazardous to survival, Chakotay and Kathryn clung to each other as officers, confidantes, friends, and occasionally as they were tonight, each other's "safe date." Only, somewhere along the way, he had stopped wanting it to be safe, and harbored a growing suspicion that she felt the same.
Kathryn excused herself to go over and speak to Neelix, and Chakotay watched the sway of her hips and the way her dress swished across her toned legs like a metronome. Voices and laughter around him blended into a sotto background music that heightened his narrowed focus onto the woman who'd captured his attention. And then, she turned her head to look over her shoulder at him, braid swinging and hip cocking, a blossom of her lei laying against her cheek, and he felt that surely he was liquefying where he stood. He'd always found her attractive, but tonight she was relaxed and smiling, and her excitement at the discovery of the unique nebula animated her petite frame and radiated from her strong face. She was a vision like no other he had seen, and his senses overloaded.
A holographic waiter approached him with a tray of sweets, and Chakotay waved it away even as he silently thanked the program for breaking his freefall into the vortex that was Kathryn. He deliberately turned his back to her and sat down at the table with B'Elanna, Vorik, and Tom. The thread of their conversation was completely lost on Chakotay, and rather than make the effort to catch up, he drained his glass and looked over the rest of the crowd. Tuvok was talking to the parasailing instructor, which seemed odd, and crew members had gathered in small groups scattered across the resort.
Chakotay collected his wits and smiled as he watched the different groups relaxing together and engaging with one another. It was good to see them having fun, and he made a mental note to thank Neelix for putting so much work into the luau. This time of ease was well deserved by everyone, and it was the times like this that helped them hold onto sanity a little while longer, and duty a little bit tighter. Neelix might be a questionable chef, but he was an excellent morale officer.
Chakotay realized Kathryn was standing beside him, and he took a tall glass of pink liquid from her. "What is this?" he asked.
"It's sweet, so I think you'll like it." Her husky voice slipped through his mind and down his spine to his groin. "It's called a Sex on the Beach." The tingle in his groin raced back up to tease his thoughts with images of him and Kathryn alone on a blanket on the sandy shore. He pictured himself licking her cleavage as she continued on about the drink. "I was assured it is delicious, but cautioned to drink it slowly. I have no idea what all was mixed together to create it."
He held her gaze for a moment more, perhaps, than was proper. "I'm willing to try it," he said as he dropped his eyes to the glass and took a sip. She sat down beside him and greeted their table mates, and Chakotay made the effort this time to follow the conversation and look at someone other than Kathryn. B'Elanna was beautiful in her sundress, and Tom and Vorik seemed to have noticed, as well. Chakotay knew Vorik didn't stand a chance with her, and wasn't surprised when a couple of minutes later, the Vulcan left the table. Kathryn and Chakotay had discussed the odd but seemingly right match of Tom Paris and B'Elanna Torres, and hoped that the two lieutenants would find a way to stop their bickering long enough to discover that maybe they could be happy together.
Kathryn's knee bumped against Chakotay's when she attempted to cross her legs, and she patted his thigh and said, "Excuse me." The imprint of her hand burned on his leg long after she had withdrawn the touch. Over half of his sweet, fruity, and alcoholic mix was gone before he remembered her warning to drink it slowly. He might not get drunk on the synthehol, but he was well on his way to a good buzz.
The little patch of freckles on Kathryn's shoulder was begging to be kissed, and he went so far as to lick his lips before his internal alarm sounded and wrenched his attention back to the party. He sighed as he realized it was going to be long, lonely night.
Tom and B'Elanna left the table to mingle with their friends, and Kathryn turned her piercing blue eyes to Chakotay. "How is the drink?" she asked.
"It's good." He looked at his glass, now about three-quarters empty, and smiled at her. "Potent, though. Maybe we should have eaten something before our Sex on the Beach."
She laughed at his innuendo. "I think you're right. I feel it, too."
He wanted to say "not yet," but kept that thought to himself and instead, stood up and pulled her chair out for her. She laid her hand on his shoulder as she maneuvered around the chairs and table legs, and his thin shirt seemed to develop electro conductive properties that zapped his body. He couldn't believe she hadn't felt it. Then again, maybe she had, because she squeezed his shoulder and brushed against his side closer than was necessary as she stepped past him. It took him a moment to pry his grip from the back of the chair and follow her to the banquet tables.
When he reached her side, she handed him a plate and started pointing at foods for him to put on it. He raised an eyebrow at her.
"If we get a little of everything, Chakotay, we can eat from both plates."
He grinned. "Would you like me to feed it to you, too?"
"No," she laughed. "But I'll be sure to let you know if I need help."
When they reached the end of the line, he handed his plate to her and said, "I'll get us another drink while you sit down. Same drink, or do you want something different?"
"I'm game for another if you are," she answered.
"More Sex on the Beach coming up." He raised his eyebrows at her, and Kathryn's laughter could be heard all the way back to the table. He shook his head and couldn't seem to wipe the grin off his face as he ordered the drinks from the tiki bar. When he carried the glasses to the table, he was glad no one was sitting with her. He leaned over her to set her drink down and said quietly, "I think you ordered these on purpose."
She sat back and looked up at him with a half-smile. "I didn't know what it was called until after Neelix made it and gave it to me."
He sat beside her and laid his napkin in his lap. "Well, at least somebody is getting a kick out of it." They slid the two plates together between them and sampled the food. Now that he had something to occupy him, Chakotay was able to relax and listen to Kathryn talk about vacationing in Hawaii.
When she finished her tale, she said, "I remember you saying once that you wanted to swim in the Gulf of Mexico again. Do you like beaches?"
"I do. I love the water. Oceans, lakes, rivers - it doesn't matter to me as long as it's a beach. There is nothing more relaxing than sitting on a sandy shore after a long day and watching the water glow with improbable reflections of color as the sun sets over the horizon."
Kathryn laid her hand over his between them. "Nor so invigorating as watching a sunrise streak across a mirrored expanse and realizing a new day has dawned with possibilities as vast as the waves before you."
"We will see the oceans of Earth again someday, Kathryn. Maybe when we do, we can find a quiet shore and watch the sunrise and sunset together."
For a moment, hope and delight shone from her eyes. "It's a date, Commander." Then the moment was gone. She lifted her hand from his and tasted a fruit pastry, commenting that Neelix had done a surprisingly good job with the food.
A holographic dance instructor was attempting to lead several of the crew in the traditional hula, and the command team laughed at their antics. Chakotay remarked, "They may look silly, but I'm glad they are comfortable enough with each other to have fun and not care that they look silly."
"It is wonderful, isn't it, Chakotay?" Kathryn said with a smile.
"I'll hold down the fort here if you want to go and give it a try."
She laughed and lifted her drink. "Oh, no. It will take several more of these before you see me out there. Feel free to join them yourself, though."
"Ha! No, thank you. A waltz or a slow dance, I can do." He pointed to the giggling, gyrating dancers. "That, I won't even attempt. I prefer to keep my dignity intact."
Her face was flushed pink from her laughter. "You mean to tell me your boxing agility doesn't help you?"
"It helps all right," he said with a mock leer. "But not on the dance floor."
She turned redder and bumped him with her shoulder. "Did you know I took ballet for several years?" She leaned closer to him and lowered her voice conspiratorially. "As a matter of fact, I agreed to perform at Talent Night. The Dance of the Dying Swan."
"I'm sure you will make the most graceful expiring swan ever seen, Captain." They collapsed against each other until she was dabbing tears from her eyes with a napkin. Several deep breaths allowed them to collect themselves, but they were still grinning widely as they finished their drinks. Chakotay tossed his napkin onto the table and held out his hand. "Would you care for a stroll?"
"I'd like that." She placed her hand in his as they stood up, and then linked her arm around his elbow as they made their way to the simulated beach. They walked slowly and stopped to speak with the various groups of crew members. It didn't escape his notice that when they stopped, she would slide her arm from his but remained as close to his side as possible.
They continued their leisurely walk and halts to chat until they reached the small grass hut at the edge of the sand. When they were alongside the wall, Kathryn stepped in front of him and turned to say something. He watched her eyes suddenly widen and her chest push toward him as she hissed through her teeth in surprise. Tom Paris slid to halt behind her, a look of horror contorting his features as a toy gun dropped from his hand. Kathryn wiped the back of her neck and stared at the water on her hand.
"Captain!" Tom cried. "I'm so sorry. I heard a voice. I thought it was Chell hiding." He swiped at the cold droplets sliding down Kathryn's bare shoulder, making her push further toward Chakotay.
"Mr. Paris!" Chakotay barked. Tom balked when he realized his hand was on the captain's skin, and he snatched his fingers away from her. "Do you have a death wish, Mr. Paris?"
"N…No, sir!"
"Pick up the toy."
"Yes, sir!" Tom scooped up the water gun from the sand.
"Now, Mr. Paris, if I'm reading the look in the captain's eyes correctly, you have about three seconds to live. I suggest you run."
"Good idea, sir!" Tom was several strides across the beach before his muttered, "Sorry, Captain!" reached the command team.
Chakotay watched Kathryn's shock give way to mirth, and she started to chuckle. He grinned and ordered the computer to give him a bath towel. When the cloth appeared, Kathryn turned and lifted her damp braid so he could dry off her back. "Tom is fast when he needs to be," she laughed.
"That he is. Would you like me to get you a sweater? That water must have been cold; you have chills."
"I'm okay, though I fear my hair is a lost cause. It will never dry in this braid."
"Your hair is lovely," he said without thinking. She smirked at him over her shoulder, and he dropped his eyes to back of her dress wipe the water from it. Luckily, the toy gun wasn't very powerful and only a couple of wet spots showed on the material. "Uh, if it bothers you, I'll take it down," Chakotay offered.
Her blues eyes twinkled. "I think I'll keep it like this for now."
He slid the braid from her hand and gently squeezed the towel around it. "Maybe this will help some. We can still go after Tom if you want to. Or would you like me to write him up for an assassination attempt?"
"I'll let him stew for a while. I'm sure he is imagining all sorts of scenarios for his punishment."
Chakotay grinned at her and ran his hand over her back to check for any water he might have missed. She shivered under his touch, and his fingers stilled on the base of her neck. "I think I got it all," he said as his fingers slipped from her skin.
"Yes, that feels much better," she said quietly.
Chakotay dropped the towel at the corner of the hut and held out his elbow. "Shall we continue our walk? We can plot your revenge as we go." He laid his hand over hers on his arm. They reached the simulated beach and slowly ambled along the waterline.
"For a holoprogram, this is a nice place," Kathryn commented as she looked out over the ocean. "I'm not much of one to visit tourist resorts, but even the photonic scenery is a relaxing change from bulkheads and data displays."
"It is, isn't it? You're not anxious to get back to work analyzing the nebula?"
She glanced at him with a soft smile. "Not at the moment. It will still be there in the morning. Tell me, Commander, what places do you like to visit when you come to the holodeck?"
Chakotay tugged his ear and his cheek dimpled with a half-smile. "Well, there is the boxing ring, and combat simulations. I have to stay sharp if I'm going to protect you from water guns and other dangers." Kathryn chuckled. "Once, I ran a simulation of the Arizona desert where I spent a couple of weeks at an archaeology dig."
"Do you ever visit your home?"
He shook his head. "No. The last memories I have of seeing my home planet are not ones I care to revisit."
"Oh, I'm sorry, Chakotay. I wasn't thinking."
"It's okay. I do see my home in my vision quests sometimes. At least that way, my spirit guide is often with me, and I can talk to my family."
"I've never programmed my home in Indiana, either," she said quietly. "I miss it, but I don't want to see it until I am actually there, standing on the lawn and watching my mother come out of the house I grew up in."
"You don't use it to remind you of why you are so determined to return?" he asked.
"No. I have enough memories and emotions to serve as a constant reminder of that."
"And dreams," he added. They had slowed to a stop and were facing the water, both of them deep in thought of their situation and the fact that they didn't belong where they were.
"Kathryn, what do you see when you dream of our return to the Alpha Quadrant?"
She was quiet for a moment, and her hand tightened over his arm. "I see Earth for the first time through the viewscreen on the bridge. I dream of standing on terra firma and watching the crew being greeted with hugs and tears of joy by their families." She dipped her head and then looked at him from the corner of her eye. "I see myself handing over control of Voyager, and telling whatever admiral is nearby that I am taking a long vacation."
He chuckled. "That sounds nice."
"What do you dream of, Chakotay?"
He grew serious, and she watched a shadow of pain in his eyes. "My dreams of returning aren't quite as pleasant. I am, after all, supposed to be your prisoner. I see Starfleet security leading me off the ship to be detained. Long interrogations and being kept away from the friends I've made here on the ship. I imagine I'll have to fight to keep the Maquis out of prison. And when I'm really troubled, I dream of Starfleet handing me over to the Cardassians." He attempted to soften his expression for her. "But from now on, I will dream that sometime, somehow before my imprisonment, I will stand on a beach by your side and watch the sunrise."
Kathryn turned to face him and laid her hand on his chest. "Chakotay, I would never let them send you to prison, and certainly not Cardassia. I hope you know that."
"I believe you will do whatever you can to help me and the rest of the Maquis. In the end, it won't be your decision, though. If the Federation so readily abandoned the colonies to keep peace with the Cardassians, why should they care what happens to a few Maquis terrorists?" He looked her in the eye and held her gaze. "It may not matter by the time we get back. But I need you to know that even with my expectations of being detained, I will continue to do everything in my power to help you get this ship home. I will never jeopardize our mission because of my own misgivings of what awaits."
"I know that. I trust you, maybe more than I've ever trusted anyone." Her hand pressed harder over his heart, and then with a deep breath, they turned and started walking again.
Chakotay spotted a seashell and knelt down to pick it up. He hefted it in his palm and turned it over. Kathryn knelt beside him and sat back on her heels, so he sat down in the sand and held the shell out to her. He said, "Thousands of years ago, some of the first monetary systems used shells for bartering. I wonder how much this one would have been worth?" He laid it in her palm and let his fingertips brush across her hand as he let go.
She studied the way the moonlight shimmered over the smooth inner surface of the shell. "I think this one would have been worth the village," she replied quietly.
His eyes wandered over her graceful neck and the tiny freckles barely visible above the edge of her dress over the curve of her breasts. "It is striking," he whispered. A faint blush rose over her pale skin, and he followed it up to her cheeks. "The greatest value is not found in possessions, but in our appreciation of simple beauty."
Kathryn smiled. "Are you turning philosopher on me, Commander?"
"I certainly hope not," he answered with a laugh. "I have my code of ethics and honor, but my life has not exactly been one that I would recommend for anyone else." He winked at her. "I am a renegade, remember?"
Her laughter was infectious. "I fear that out here, Voyager is a ship of renegades. Who knows? By the time we get home, I may be sitting in prison beside you."
Chakotay stood and helped her up. "I would welcome your company anywhere, my renegade Captain, but I hope you don't mind if I put prison at the bottom of the list."
They started walking back toward the resort level. "You have a list?" she asked.
He rested his hand on the small of her back and leaned toward her. "A man has to have some secrets."
"Is that so? It just so happens I have a long time to discover them."
"Yes, you do. I have no doubts that you will succeed." His heart filled with joy at the bright smile that lit her face.
They reached their table again and found a covered tray and a large bouquet of tropical flowers. Neelix approached them and said, "Captain, these things are for you. Just a few snacks and sweets, and I had noticed you enjoying the flowers earlier. Maybe they will help brighten up your quarters."
"Thank you, Neelix. They're lovely. You have done a wonderful job with the luau."
Neelix grinned at her praise and excused himself to return to the bar. Kathryn turned to Chakotay. "I'll make you a deal, Commander. If you will help me carry these things to my quarters, I'll serve coffee. Or would you prefer another drink?"
"Coffee sounds good. I'll take the sweets, you take the flowers."
She laughed. "Be sure that tray makes it intact."
He flashed a hurt look toward her. "I thought you said you trust me, Kathryn."
"Oh, I do, with anything but sweets."
He chuckled as he picked up the food and followed her out of the holodeck, once again captivated by the sway of her hips and the arch of her back in the fitted dress.
