It was after 1100 when Kathryn awoke again, this time to the smell of fresh coffee and something delicious cooking in the kitchen. She grinned as she realized that Chakotay was making breakfast, and obviously not using the replicator. After fresh omelets, fruit and toast, along with another pot of coffee, they both felt refreshed and ready to enjoy another day at the lake.

That afternoon, as Kathryn had promised, she took Chakotay down to the boat house. "Where's the sailboat?" he asked. "Or was that just part of the holodeck program?"

"No, we really do have a sailboat, but our boathouse isn't big enough for it. We keep the sailboat over at the marina. We can take it out one day, if you'd like, but this is better for an afternoon boat ride." Together, they cranked the boat into the water, and Kathryn jumped in over the railing. "Meet me at the dock."

Chakotay obeyed, watching as she sat at the back of the boat and took the handle of the motor, easily manipulating the small vessel away from the boathouse and up next to the dock. She grabbed the dock and held on, keeping the boat close enough for Chakotay to climb in. He hadn't quite regained his full mobility yet, but he had no trouble stepping from the dock into the boat. There were three benches, including the one Kathryn was sitting on, and he chose the middle one. "Life jackets are in the front," she said.

"Are you planning to sink the ship?" he asked, teasing.

"Absolutely not, Commander. But I did think it was a good idea to have them aboard in case you wanted to drive."

He laughed and enjoyed the breeze on his face as she backed the boat away from the dock and steered them towards the center of the bay. "I haven't driven a boat since I was about fourteen," he said.

She winked at him. "Watch and learn." Then she turned the handle on the motor, cranked up the speed, and they were off, racing through the open water.

Chakotay tilted his face up at the sun, enjoying the combination of the cool wind and the sun's warmth. Starfleet thought he needed counseling and doctor's visits, but he knew that time at Lake George with Kathryn was the medicine he really needed in order to heal. They whizzed around the bay, and as they passed another boat, Kathryn waved at its occupants. "Do you know those people?" he called back to her, raising his voice over the engine's whir.

She slowed down so they could talk more easily. "Nope. It's lake etiquette."

"Lake etiquette?"

"You always wave at passing boats, even if you don't know the people."

"I like that."

"Me, too." She sped up again, heading for one end of the bay. As they neared the shore, he saw that the lake opened up to a small riverbed, and she slowed the boat as she piloted into the mouth of the river.

"This is beautiful," he said as they drove slowly past cabins and houses. There were children playing on some of the docks, jumping into the water and laughing in delight. "There was a river like this near where I grew up. My brothers and sisters and I used to play in it all the time."

"Is that where you learned to drive a boat?" she asked.

"Yes. I was only eight or nine when I first learned. My older cousin taught me, against my mother's wishes, I think."

She chuckled. "I can only imagine. Phoebe and I had a lot of good times at this lake growing up."

As they glided down the river at a leisurely pace, they lapsed into conversation about their families and their childhoods. When the conversation came to a lull, Chakotay said, "So, when do I get to drive?"

"Are you sure you remember how?"

"I think I've got the hang of it. Besides, if I forget something, I've got the master here to instruct me."

She rolled her eyes and idled the motor. Carefully, she stood so they could switch places, but just as they were passing each other, the boat tipped a little to one side. Kathryn nearly stumbled, and Chakotay caught her arms, steadying her. They regained their balance quickly, and the boat stayed upright. "Okay?" he asked.

"I'm fine," she replied, looking up to find her face only inches away from his. Her breath caught in her throat and she gazed into his eyes for several moments before she realized she was blushing and broke away.

Chakotay sat down on the back bench where Kathryn had been sitting. "Permission to take the helm, Captain?"

She laughed. "Granted."

He did, indeed, remember how to drive a boat, and as he steered them back up the river without incident, Kathryn moved to sit at the boat's bow. It had been her favorite seat ever since she was a child; she loved the feeling of being first, the water streaming by underneath her, the wind in her face. It was like flying while still being on the ground.

When they reached open water again, Chakotay accelerated. He watched Kathryn as she leaned forward, the wind blowing her hair back from her face. She glanced back at him, her expression one of pure joy, and his heart lifted at the sight. Another boat passed by them, and they both waved. Then he angled their boat into the other boat's wake, and watched Kathryn throw her head back in laughter as the boat bumped over the waves and spray from the lake flew into her face. He drove around in another circle so they would cross over the other boat's wake again, just to see her delight.

Then, as he directed the boat in the direction of the cabin, he slowed down. "Kathryn, look," he said, pointing to the horizon. Dark clouds had started to gather, and it looked like they were rolling in quickly.

"I heard the forecast for storms, but they weren't supposed to come in till this evening."

"Well, it looks like it's going to be storming a little earlier than they expected."

"Here," she said, slowly moving towards his end of the boat, "let me drive." She took the driver's seat again, and sped them towards the cabin, but by the time they pulled up to the dock, big, heavy droplets of rain were already falling. Chakotay clambered out of the boat onto the dock, using the strength of his good arm to compensate for his weaker left side.

As Kathryn steered the boat around to the boathouse, it started to rain harder. She drove up onto the ramp, and the automated system secured the boat. By the time she was ready to jump down onto the ground, Chakotay had made it into the boathouse and was waiting for her. She almost protested that she didn't need any help, but then she thought of the admiral's letter, and the protest died on her tongue. She took the proffered hand as she jumped over the side of the boat and landed on the soft earth. "Come on, we better get inside," she said, hearing the rain pounding on the boathouse roof.

Keeping his hand in hers, she led him out of the boathouse and up the hill towards the cabin. Chakotay tried to keep pace with her, but a light tug on her hand reminded her that he wasn't fully recovered yet and couldn't run up the hill, even though the rain was pelting them hard. She looked at him sheepishly. "Sorry."

"I'm sorry. You're getting all wet." It was true; the rain was soaking through their clothes, and her hair was matted to her face.

"It will dry," she replied, laughing, letting her pace slow as they made their way up the hill towards the house. A loud clap of thunder startled her, and she jumped backwards, bumping into Chakotay. They were only a few meters from the house, and she was about to apologize and step away from him when she found herself caught in his arms, her back pressed against his broad chest. She turned to look up at him and felt her arms go around his body, which was still a little too thin, but strong and muscular. A flash of lightning lit up the sky, illuminating the intensity of his dark eyes as he gazed down at her.

His big hands caressed her face, wiping away the droplets of water even as more fell. He cupped her face between his hands and lowered his lips to hers. And then he was tasting her, their lips touching, molding together, saliva mingling with the raindrops that were soaking them both to the bone. But they didn't care. One of his arms circled around her back, pulling her closer, while the other cupped the back of her head. Her hand snaked around the back of his neck, and she pulled him deeper, allowing his tongue entrance into her mouth, enjoying the contrast of his warm body and the cold rain falling all around them. Another burst of thunder made her jump, and he gently broke the kiss. They were both breathless as she collapsed against his chest, and he stroked his hands through her wet hair. Lightning pierced the air, and he grabbed her hand. "Come on!" he shouted over the storm. "Let's get inside."

Kathryn's whole body was humming with sensation, and it took his words a moment to penetrate the haze of arousal that was clouding her mind, but she knew he was right. They made it the few meters to the screen porch and hurried inside, the door slamming behind them. As she looked at Chakotay, water dripping from the end of his nose, his clothes sticking to him, she began to laugh, and couldn't stop. Then, he was laughing, too, doubled over, hysterical, and she was laughing so hard there were tears in her eyes. Then, Chakotay grabbed her hand and pulled her close, and her laughter died on her lips as he kissed her again, firm and sweet.

She pulled away gently. "We should get out of these wet clothes." She reached up and brushed aside a lock of hair that had fallen into his face.

"Okay."

"Leave your shoes in the porch. I don't want to track mud into the house."

He grinned at her, his dimples prominent. "Yes, ma'am."

She rolled her eyes and removed her own shoes, her body still tingling with the aftereffects of their kiss. Then she slipped into her bedroom to change out of her wet clothes, and he went into his room to do the same.

When she emerged a few minutes later, wearing jeans and a lightweight navy blue v-neck sweater, she saw that he had changed into black jeans and a striped button down shirt. He had pulled the quilt off the back of the sofa and was sitting there waiting for her. "Come here," he said, holding the quilt open. It wasn't cold in the house, but the rain had left both of them feeling a little chilled.

She snuggled in beside him, curling into his side as he put his arm around her shoulders and pressed his lips to her forehead. Thunder crashed and lightning lanced across the sky, and they watched the storm through the big glass doors that opened onto the deck. The wind was whipping up the lake, and white capped waves crashed up against the dock. Even though it was only late afternoon, the sky had taken on a dark grey hue. As the thunder roared, Kathryn snuggled closer into Chakotay's side. "That was fun," she murmured.

"Better than fun," was his reply as he tilted his head down to hers again. This was a gentle exploration, lips and tongues meeting and dancing together slowly, languidly. She discovered that running her tongue along the inside of his bottom lip made him moan, and he learned gradually just how she liked to be kissed.

She broke the kiss and nuzzled against him, draping one arm over his chest. "I forgot what this was like."

"What?" he asked, his fingers drawing lazy circles on her arm.

"This." She gestured between the two of them. "I didn't know it was possible for me to feel this way anymore."

"Feel what way?"

She tilted her head up and kissed his chin. "Protected. Desired. Cared for. And to feel those things in return, too."

He turned his face to hers, allowing their lips to meet in a kiss he infused with all the love and desire he felt for her. "Spirits, I missed you. Every day I was in that damn hospital room, I was pestering the Doctor to let me see you. Then finally, I just capitulated and did everything they wanted me to do, because I realized they weren't going to let me out until they decided I was 'well' again."

"The poor Doctor. He was getting it from both sides." She snuggled her arms around him and hugged him tighter. "I missed you, too."

Outside, the rain was still coming down in droves, pounding the rooftop incessantly, and thunder rumbled in the distance. "When I was a little girl, and I was afraid of the thunder, my grandma used to say that there was someone bowling up there," Kathryn remembered.

"My grandfather used to tell me that long ago, an evil spirit unleashed the waters upon the earth and killed many of our people. Ever since, the spirits have been on the lookout for this evil trickster, and whenever they see him, they threaten him with their thunder and shoot at him with their lightning bolts."

"Does that mean there's an evil spirit around?"

Chakotay chuckled. "I guess it depends on how much stock you put in ancient legends."

She snapped her head around to look at him, wondering whether he had made the reference on purpose. He said nothing, but smiled and kissed her full on the mouth. They sat snuggled together under the blanket while the storm raged on outside. Through the sliding glass doors, they could see the lightning as it lanced out, like white veins running through the dark sky. The thunder boomed, and waves crashed against the shore.

"I always liked storms," Chakotay mused.

"I always hated them."

"Until that plasma storm on New Earth." She pulled back to look up at his face, surprised that he would mention their forced exile so directly. Like so many things, they had never discussed New Earth, but it seemed right that they should speak of it now. "It wasn't the first time I almost lost you, but it was the first time I realized what losing you would do to me."

The admiral's words echoed in her mind. I realized, after he was gone, that he meant much more to me than I had ever admitted to myself. "Chakotay, stay here with me," she said impulsively.

He laughed softly. "I am here with you."

"No, I mean the rest of the week, not just two or three days like we originally planned. Can you? Would you like to, I mean?"

"That sounds like paradise. Of course I'll stay. Just promise me one thing."

"What?"

"I want to go sailing."

"That sounds like a promise I can keep. Let's just wait till the rain stops, okay?"

"Oh don't worry, I think we can keep ourselves occupied until then." And he rested his head on top of hers and pulled her close just as a crack of thunder roared through the sky.