"Just what do you think you're doing?" Chakotay leaned in the doorway, staring at her.

She looked up and smiled at the sleepy expression on his face. "I'm making breakfast," she replied cheerily.

He shook his head. "But I'm supposed to be making you breakfast. In bed."

"Oh, that's a good trick." She winked at him. "How do you manage to make breakfast without leaving the bed?"

"Very funny," he complained, crossing over to the kitchen area and taking a pan out of Kathryn's hand. "In case you've forgotten, you're sick."

She shrugged. "But I feel fine this morning." She took his other hand in hers and held it to her forehead. "See. No fever. It must be a twenty-four hour thing."

Chakotay nodded and laughed slightly, his eyes focused on the ceiling. "How do you do it?"

"Do what?" she asked, stealing the pan away from him and continuing with her cooking.

He gazed back at her. "Nothing keeps you down for long, does it?"

She ran a free hand over his chest. "Not unless I want to be kept down. Now," she patted his shoulder, "hand me one of those eggs or I'll never finish these omelets."

Chakotay sighed and did as he was told. He'd discovered in the past eight months that sometimes is was much easier to go along with Kathryn Janeway.

She took the egg from him and cracked it on the side of the pan. She saw the worry in his eyes. "I'll make a deal with you?" she offered.

"What?"

"Since you're worried about me, I'll let you clean up. All right?"

Chakotay laughed.

And she smiled. "I'll take that as a yes."

~vVv~

He let her finish breakfast, but he insisted that she take it easy for the rest of the day. That meant no hikes into the forest, or along the river. No climbing to the top of the hills and scanning for various bird species. No working in the garden. And no cleaning up the house.

"Just what am I supposed to do?" she protested as Chakotay helped her settle into a lounge chair in the yard.

"I brought you this." He held out a data padd. "Wuthering Heights, by Emily Bronte."

"You want me to read?" She looked at him incredulously.

"And why not?" he replied. "You made me read last week while I was recuperating."

"But I have so much to do," she argued.

"Nothing that won't wait until tomorrow."

Reluctantly, she took the padd out of his hands. "And what are you going to be doing while I'm… forced to relax?"

"Well, I thought I'd weed the garden, and paint that table in the bedroom, and then finish weaving that rug."

She looked up at him. "You won't be far away?"

He glanced around. "Well, let's see. I think the garden is about four meters from here. And I was going to bring the table outside and put it under that tree while I paint it." He squinted to his right. "And that's about, oh, I'd say six meters away. And since the rug is fairly small, and could probably sit right here and work on it. So, what do you think?" He gazed back down at her. "Too far?"

She smiled and felt her cheeks grow warm with embarrassment. "I guess not," she admitted. "Just as long as I can see you."

He leaned over and placed a kiss on the top of her head. "Well, don't spend too much time watching me because I'm going to expect a report on that book at supper tonight."

"That's not fair," she teased. "I didn't make you do a report."

"Only because you didn't think of it. Now, as your First Officer, I like to show initiative and originality in my thinking."

Kathryn reached out and grabbed hold of his hand. "I'll make sure and put a commendation in your file."

"You'd better."

~vVv~

"Chakotay?" she whispered.

And he looked up from the rag rug on his lap. "Umm?"

"Look." She pointed in front of them. "It's George."

Chakotay had named their primate friend several months ago. The name came from a character in a childhood book, Curious George. Kathryn could remember reading that one as well. She kept threatening to make Chakotay a yellow hat.

She leaned forward in her chair, holding her hand out to the primate. "Hello, George," she said. "Long time, no see."

"I was afraid he'd moved," Chakotay chuckled, leaning forward as well.

"What, and not leave a forwarding address?" Kathryn said. "You wouldn't do that, would you, old friend?"

The monkey chattered at them, stretching his arms above his head.

Kathryn looked up at the sky. "No plasma storms today," she noted gratefully, remembering the time the animal had come to warn her about he first storm they'd encountered on the planet.

"I think he just came to show off," Chakotay offered.

The monkey came a little bit closer.

"He's getting brave," Kathryn observed.

"Either that, or he wants to share the house with us."

Kathryn smiled. "The house is fine. But I draw the line at the bathtub."

~vVv~

"Room in there for me?"

The low, warm voice filled the night air, and Kathryn sighed, stretching in the tub of hot water. She opened her eyes and looked to her right. Chakotay stood there in his robe, his towel draped over one shoulder.

She studied him carefully, squinting her eyes in the dim light. "Just as long as you're alone," she stipulated.

He looked around uncertainly. "And… who would be with me?"

Kathryn nodded, giving him a suspicious look. "I know your accomplice. Short, silver-haired fellow. Long arms."

Chakotay drew his head back and smiled. "Oh, him." He exhaled a heavy breath. "We broke up. Something about… owing him too many bananas."

Kathryn gave a soft laugh and reached out her hand, touching the front of his robe. "In that case, there's room."

He grinned and shrugged out of his robe, then carefully climbed into the tub, settling at the opposite end, leaning his head back. "I like it here at night," he murmured, gazing up at the stars through the tree branches. "It's so peaceful."

He felt Kathryn's foot brush against his chest, and he wrapped his hands around it, began to massage it gently.

She sighed. "Umm, that feels good." She tilted her head to one side and stared at him. "Do you remember the first time we saw George?"

Chakotay nodded and gave her a guarded smile. He knew where this conversation was leading.

"The look you gave me." She smiled at him slyly. She'd seen that look many times since then, but the first time… Well, that was a look she would never forget.

He shrugged. "We've discussed this, Kathryn… haven't we?"

"Yes, I just like to make you nervous."

"Well, you made me nervous that night, that's for sure." He found her other foot under the water and continued his massage. "Do you know how beautiful you are wearing nothing but a towel?"

She didn't respond; she just smiled.

And his eyes dropped. "I felt so guilty about my feelings for you."

Her smile faded, sensing the heaviness in his tone. She pulled her foot away and gracefully managed to move to his end of the tub. She pressed close to him. "I'm sorry you felt that way." She could feel his heart beating.

He shook his head. "You were my captain. I… I wasn't supposed to have those feelings for you." He looked up, his eyes fastening to hers. "But I did. And seeing you half-dressed, in the moonlight…"

Kathryn nodded. "I felt guilty, too."

"It wasn't your fault."

"I know. But it wasn't your fault either." She drew her fingers along the line of his jaw. "You are a healthy, male-"

"Primate?" Chakotay supplied.

Kathryn laughed and ran her fingers through his hair. "Yes. But much more handsome than George."

"That's good to hear," he whispered, and then covered her lips with his.

~vVv~

Chakotay rolled over in bed and stretched, staring up at the woman who sat beside him. She was wide awake, and that was surprising. He was more of a morning person than she was, but today seemed to be an exception.

She looked down at him and placed a hand on his thigh. "Now that we're both fully recovered… and healthy," she added with a meaningful smile, "I think we should take a trip."

Chakotay groaned in response and curled onto his side, one hand reaching out, trying to draw her back down under the blankets.

She laughed and pushed his hand away. "Come on. There's nothing like piloting a craft through uncharted space."

Chakotay blinked up at her. "You want to take the shuttle out?"

They'd taken a few trips in the shuttle to different parts of the continent, but of course, had never taken it out of the atmosphere.

She sighed and shook her head. "Just a figure of speech. Actually I was thinking of taking the boat."

"Down river?"

She shrugged. "Maybe up. If I take you along, you can get some good exercise paddling."

Chakotay propped himself up on one elbow, his head resting against his palm. "Are you suggesting that I need more exercise?"

Kathryn glanced down at him. "Absolutely not. You are fine just the way you are."

He cringed slightly. "Just… fine?"

She noted the hurt expression on his face. "You are wonderful."

He still fixed her with an uncertain look.

"Marvelous," she offered, lying down next to him on the bed. "Truly exceptional." She reached out and ran her hand over his chest and stomach. "Magnificent." Her hand brushed lower. "Unbelievable."

Chakotay caught her hand in his, stopping its movement. "All right. I believe you." He gave her a slow, gentle smile. "So, do you want to get ready for this trip now… or later?"

Kathryn leaned forward and kissed him, at the same time pulling her hand away from his and letting it continue its exploration. "Later," she murmured, pushing her body closer to his. "Much later."

~vVv~