An hour later, after the remains of breakfast were cleared away, Chakotay and Kathryn settled in the den with fresh coffee. Jetta lay on the floor at his feet, content for the moment with her favorite chew toy.
During their meal, Kathryn had filled him in on what had occurred outside of the hearing room over the past weeks. She'd had more support from Starfleet than he realized, and had received over a hundred private messages from captains and admirals commending her on Voyager's accomplishments. Offers to serve as character witnesses had poured in from her Academy professors, former shipmates, and even the owner of the deli near her childhood home.
She had clasped Chakotay's hand across the table and thanked him for attending the hearing every day. When he told her that he had begged to take on part of the testimony and give her a break, her eyes had glistened. No one had informed her of his repeated attempts to find some way to help her. Not wanting to dampen her mood, he'd quipped that she had been far more tactful on the stand than he would have been, anyway. By the second week, he'd been ready to tell the board where they could stick the ship's logs.
Now, cradling her coffee cup in her hands and smiling softly as she glanced at Jetta, Kathryn looked radiant to him. He leaned forward, combed his fingers through his hair, and turned his head toward her. Grinning, he said, "I'm really happy you're here."
Her smile widened. "Me, too. I probably should have contacted you before I came, though. Did you have plans for today?"
"Not a one. I would like a closer look at that Harley."
"Do you ride?"
"Like you, it has been a while, but yeah. I owned a bike when I taught at the Academy. I didn't use it much in the city, but tried every weekend to take it out into the hills."
She set down her cup, stood up, and put her hands on her hips. "Let's do it! You can show me around the area."
"All right." He whistled for Jetta as he started for the back room he'd made into an area for her. "Let me put the dog in here, or there's no telling what the house will look like when we get back." Jetta knew the room was her space and trotted right in. Chakotay activated a blue force field across the doorway, and on the other side of the room a second field allowed her to go outside to a small, protected yard beside the house.
"Will she be okay?" Kathryn called down the hallway.
He smiled at the note of concern in her voice. "She'll be fine. She has everything she needs back here." He watched as Jetta found a squeaky targ toy and turned twice in her bed before lying down. Satisfied that she was settled, he went in the master bedroom and put on a black leather jacket and boots. The coat fit a bit more snugly than it used to, but it was his favorite riding jacket that he'd had for years.
When Chakotay came out of the room, Kathryn was zipping up her jacket. She noticed his black leather and raised an eyebrow. "Very nice, Chakotay."
"It's been a while since I wore this, too."
"I like it."
They eyed each other for a couple of seconds, then Chakotay held out his hand. "Shall we?" She took his hand and followed him through the back door. Words were unnecessary; holding hands simply felt right.
When they reached the motorcycle, Kathryn retrieved a second helmet from storage under the seat. Chakotay circled the bike, admiring the vintage details that had been preserved even though most of it was non-functional without a fossil fuel combustion engine. Modern power sources and computerized controls had done away with the need for a lot of extra equipment and parts on vehicles. The classic look and feel of the historic Harley Davidson brand appealed to him.
"When do you have to return it?" he asked.
"The dealer said I could keep it a week, at least. He doesn't get many requests for wheeled vehicles."
Chakotay had made his way around the bike and back to her side. His fingers brushed hers when he took the extra helmet from her. "Nice."
"I think so," she said, her voice low. She tipped her head and gestured for him to take the driver's seat.
"Are you sure?" he asked with surprise.
"You know the area."
He grinned and swung his leg over the seat, scooting forward to give her room to climb on. When her hand gripped his shoulder for balance, he remembered just what their positions would mean. He hoped he could keep his wits while driving with Kathryn's arms around his waist.
She settled behind him and tapped his hip to let him know he could slide back. They secured their helmets and activated the linked comm units so they could communicate easily. At a touch of the panel, the motorcycle hummed to life.
Kathryn put her arms around him and tightened her thighs against his, shifting her boots on the rear foot pegs. "Is this okay?" she asked.
"Perfect. Where would you like to go?"
"I want to see what makes this place special to you, Chakotay. Show me why you chose to buy a home here."
He chuckled. "That sounds like 'show me what makes you tick'."
She slid one hand up his chest and back down to his waist. "Oh, I think I know what makes you tick."
He laughed as he kicked up the stand and drove around the fence line onto the road. "That you do, Kathryn."
Once on the open road, Chakotay quickly remembered why he loved riding. This trip was better than all of those before, though, because of the woman behind him. He'd had the occasional girlfriend with him on his jaunts outside of San Francisco, but he had never loved any of them as deeply and completely as he loved Kathryn. To experience this time with her thrilled him.
He thought he was beginning to understand why she had come to him that morning. For years, they both had known the feelings they shared. They had also reached an unspoken agreement that in the Delta Quadrant, a relationship couldn't happen. Now, Kathryn was showing him the woman she had wanted to be with him for all those years. She had won her freedom, and he was free to be the man he wanted for her.
He pressed a hand over hers, and she lifted her fingers so he could thread his through. For a moment, they held to each other and tried to convey their love with a gentle squeeze. He slowly pulled his hand free and returned it to the handlebar.
Clearing his throat, he said, "Right up here is the first thing I want to show you." He slowed down and pointed off to his right. Just visible toward the horizon were two large formations, the layered striations of red, brown, and tan colored earth shimmering in the sunlight. They looked like jagged boulders balanced atop pillars.
He pulled off the road and stopped, lifting the helmet's faceplate as she did the same. "Mounds like those two are scattered throughout the desert. The erosion of the dirt can leave behind some fascinating structures."
"They're beautiful," she said. "Is there anything else around them?"
"No, just the usual scrub brush and an occasional cactus. They're several miles away from where we are. I drove across the desert one day to check them out. Some of the largest formations in other areas have been tourist attractions for centuries. They are well preserved and protected."
"I can see why."
"I think we'll swing by the ranch next, and then head into town."
"The ranch?"
"Yes, a historical site. Any records of the original builders are lost to history, though it is believed the Spanish built it as a fort. The current owner has restored much of it. He's a friend of my cousin."
"It sounds intriguing."
"It is. A portion of it is used as a bed-and-breakfast. There is something else there that I think you will love."
"What is it?"
"You'll see."
"You're going to make me wait, Chakotay?"
"You've waited this long," he teased, pitching his voice so she couldn't mistake the hidden meaning.
Kathryn was chuckling when he steered the motorcycle back onto the road. This stretch of highway was straight and flat, and he put one hand over hers again. With their fingers entwined, he pressed her hand over his heart and held it there for the four miles until they approached the turn off.
A long, narrow lane wended to their left, with a wooden beam fence enclosing part of the land. Chakotay slowly drove down the lane, and Kathryn spotted a palomino mare standing inside the fence. When he stopped beside the horse, he pulled off his helmet and took Kathryn's from her, hanging them on the handlebars. Then he spoke to the horse. "Hello, Darling. How's my lady today?"
The horse whinnied, and Kathryn laughed. "You call her 'darling'?"
He grinned. "That's her name, not an endearment. Are you ready for your surprise?"
"Where is it?"
"Let's get off the bike and I'll show you."
When they were standing beside the fence, Chakotay took Kathryn's hand, then raised his other hand and put two fingers in his mouth, emitting a shrill whistle. In seconds, another mare thundered toward them from the distant barn. Hot on her heels was a gamboling pony kicking up his hooves and trying to keep up.
Kathryn grabbed Chakotay's arm with her free hand and pulled him close. "Oh, Chakotay, he's adorable!"
"He's only a couple of months old. I thought you might like him."
The mother horse moved up and hung her head over the rail, but the pony tried to hide behind her, eyeing Kathryn warily. Chakotay patted the mother's neck and said, "This is Starlight, and that shy little one is Comet."
Kathryn's eyes were twinkling when she looked up at Chakotay. "Will they let me pet them?"
"Sure. They're very friendly."
Kathryn stepped up to Darling and held out her free hand, still clasping Chakotay's tightly with the other. Darling lowered her head to sniff and didn't flinch when Kathryn began rubbing her neck. Reaching into his pocket, Chakotay pulled out several flat, white discs and handed a few to Kathryn. "Apple treats for the horses."
She laughed. "No wonder they come running."
She fed a couple to Darling while he fed Starlight, and the pony began to inch forward. He could smell the treats and wanted one, too, but was unsure of the stranger. Kathryn let go of Chakotay's hand and knelt down, holding a disc between the fence rails. Comet's nostrils flared, and then he looked up and watched his mother chewing her treat. He finally moved forward and stretched out his neck, gingerly taking the treat between his lips. When he had it, he backed up a step and quickly ate it.
Chakotay fed the older ones a couple of more discs while Kathryn fed Comet. After the third treat, the shy pony stood still and let her gently touch his neck. Chakotay knelt beside her and put a hand on her back. "I think you've made a friend."
"He's so soft," she said, smiling.
Comet tossed his head, then turned and galloped up the field before racing back to his mother. The three horses ambled together back toward the barn.
Chakotay stood and helped Kathryn up. He was so surprised when she hugged him that he didn't know if his lightheadedness was from pure joy or forgetting to breathe. Holding her tightly, he kissed the top of her head. "I take it you liked your surprise?" he whispered.
She gazed up at him and trailed a fingertip down his jaw. "I loved it."
He lowered his lips to hers for their first kiss, tender and slow, in the warmth of Earth's sun.