Title: Hush
Author: Ben Mason
Contact: tychocelchu@mpx.com.au
Series: Voy
Part: 1/1
Rating: G
Code: J/C
Date originally posted: 1/11/99
Summary: Addendum to Counterpoint.
Archive: You betcha.
Disclaimer: Maybe TPTB are just tricking us....nah.
* * * *
"In for a penny, in for a pound."
The older man looked at the Captain of the wondrous vessel he was on in confusion. "I beg your pardon Captain Janeway?"
She smiled at him in her most diplomatic manner, trying to hide her amusement. She had always found it funny that the geniuses at 'Fleet R&D had never found a way to translate human idioms through the Universal Translator. "It's a human expression. What I meant was, we will have to take measures to hide our own telepaths from the Devore Inspectors, so we might as well help you while we're at it."
The telepath smiled at her in relief. "Thankyou Captain. You don't know how much this means to us."
"No, but I do know how much it would mean to lose our friends, so I can easily sympathise with your plight. Now, what can you tell us about this Inspector that patrols this region. Kashyk was it?"
* * * *
It would hurt him, she realised that. But when it came to her own person, his acting ability dropped below Vorik's. She hated to leave him out of the loop like she had done that other time, but her plan wouldn't succeed otherwise.
That thought became a mantra.
* * * *
Her lips tingled from the absent pressure of his lips against hers. For a moment, she had lost herself in his embrace, and she hated herself for it.
The figure emerged from the darkness of the shuttle bay's maintenance office. She turned to face him. "Well?"
"You were right. The way in was through his ego. At the point of his triumph, he was vulnerable. He means to betray us."
* * * *
Kathryn stood outside the door to the quarters of her First Officer, wrestling with herself as to whether or not she should request entry. *How can I bear to see the pain I know will be on his face?* Her own pain at his own betrayals had either been forgiven (Riley) or forgotten (Kellin). *But how can I let him go on without explaining myself, that what he saw didn't exist, that it was all a ruse. I can't let him suffer like that.*
Her hand had reached up three times to activate the chime, and three times it had dropped to her side again. Before long, the pacing would begin.
She was saved from making her decision when the door opened of its own volition. No one exited, and the room beyond was dark. Somehow he knew she was there, and had made Kathryn's decision for her. She tried not to creep as she entered into his domain.
In the faint illumination of the starfield streaking by, and the panels on the wall and desk, Kathryn could see him. Chakotay was sitting cross legged on the floor, obviously in front of an open medicine bundle. It became obvious after several minutes that he was waiting for her to begin. But first...
"Computer: Lights one half." She had to see him. Determine just how much damage she had caused. Just briefly, she saw the flash of rage and heartwrenching pain, the threatening storm of emotions being held barely at bay. Then he schooled his features, and resembled her oldest friend: impassive.
Bitter tears threatened to force their way out of her own eyes, but, out of reflex as had happened many times since her father's death, she blinked them away. Kathryn tried desperately to find the words to begin the healing, but ended up stammering.
Eventually, "I don't mean to hurt you."
He stood up and approached her, until he was standing close enough that she had to look up to see his eyes. Chakotay placed a single finger against her lips, the most intimate contact either of them had ever initiated with the other, and somehow the most sacred. "Hush. There's no need for explanation."
A soft sad smile emerged.
"Love requires none."
FIN