Chapter Two: Prying Eyes
- =/\= -
The door parted to reveal Kathryn and Chakotay, Kathryn was the first to exit, as she stepped out onto the bridge her words came out strong though she was fighting to keep the appearance of normality. "Report she barked as she walked down the steps and sat in her chair, followed by Chakotay who took his seat next to her.
Tom was the one to answer, "We will be arriving at the M class planet in roughly forty-eight hours. We are traveling at one quarter impulse," he delivered his report with a grin. He had already caught on that there was something bothering her, even though she sounded 'normal' he could tell that she was trying hard to sound that way. Tom dared a glance in her direction, what he saw was slightly unnerving. "Captain, are you alright?"
She hadn't realized that she'd leaned her aching head onto the hand that was resting on the arm of her chair. Straightening up quickly she stated "Yes, Tom, I'm just getting a headache, very good" She stood up, "Keep me informed, I'll be in my ready room." She turned to Chakotay, "you have the bridge." She tried to keep her voice even as she spoke. After a nod she quickly made her way to her retreat.
Tom and Harry made eye contact briefly, both sending a confused look to the other. Tuvok raised an eye brow and Chakotay just stared after her, the concern he felt for her growing even more by her behavior.
- =/\= -
Once inside her ready room she let out a sigh. She made her way to her couch and sat down, her hand coming up to her head, and the other to her stomach. She hadn't been this ill for ages. She knew that Chakotay would more than likely wouldn't be that far behind her, being that she was acting so strangely. Then again maybe he wouldn't being that… all thought left her mind as a wave a nausea ran through her, she quickly got off the couch and made it to her bathroom just in time.
- =/\= -
On the bridge Chakotay sat in his chair trying to figure out what had caused Kathryn to run and hide in her ready room, it was unlike her to just dismiss herself so quickly in the morning. She would usually sit for at least an hour before retiring to wait out the shift during down times. He was about to get up to check on her when the comm. Sounded, "Sickbay to bridge, could you please send Ensign Kim for his physical?"
Chakotay had to smile, that was it, "Right away Doctor, Harry?"
"Yes sir," with that the young man was gone. Chakotay had to fight not to burst into a fit of laughter, his initial worry was gone. He figured that she was probably hiding from the Doctor.
- =/\= -
Back inside the ready room Kathryn emerged from the restroom looking very pale. She made her way back to her couch slowly. Once she'd reached it she laid down, closing her eyes, she debated seeing the Doctor. Deciding that it would raise too much suspension she decided that it was a bad idea. Though that brought up the question as to how she was going to rid herself of the pain racking through her body.
After an hour she still felt just as bad, she'd made a few more trips to her rest room and now lay in a curl. Deciding that she couldn't fight it on her own she decided to call the Doctor, suspension or not.
"Computer" she meekly called out, "is there anyone in sickbay aside from the Doctor?"
"Negative," the Computer's stale voice resonated through the room.
'Good' she thought, 'I can pull this off' she then hit her combadge, "Janeway to sickbay" her voice sounded weak even though she was trying to sound normal. The Doctor caught note.
"Yes, Captain, what can I do for you?" He sounded concerned, and Kathryn knew that she'd failed in her task.
"Doctor this will" she paused as she fought the urge to run back to the restroom, after a moment she continued, "come as a surprise" she swallowed the spoke again, "But I think I need to see you, can you come to my ready room?"
The Doctor knew that something was really wrong, the only thing she was ever late for was an appointment in sickbay and she never asked to see him. "of course" he said quickly, he was already preparing a medkit.
"Doctor"
"Yes?"
"I don't want to worry the crew, could you pretend that you came to see me, and not that I'd asked you to come?" she was hoping that he'd agree.
"Of course captain, I understand." He was on his way out the door.
"Thank you" she closed the link and clutched her knees to her chest, she hoped he'd get there fast.
