Kathryn removed the dinner plates from the table as Chakotay poured them each another glass of wine and carried both to the couch. As she joined him, he handed her one of the glasses.

"Okay, Kathryn, we've talked about ship's business and every mundane thing you could think of," he said with a smile on his lips. "I think it's time to talk about what's really on your mind."

"I talked with the Doctor this morning," she said before taking a drink of her wine. "I've been considering everything he told me and trying to decide what I should do."

"Let's start with what the Doctor told you," Chakotay suggested.

"I suppose that would be the best place to start. It appears that Tom and my physiologies did not, in fact, revert back to how they were before we left Voyager. We have acquired some added receptors in our brains and it would appear that we have pair bonded with each other.

"Long drawn out scientific explanation aside, the Doctor suggests that I continue the relationship with Tom."

"That's a convenient way to get around Starfleet protocols on shipboard fraternization," Chakotay joked.

"I've been medically cleared to have sex with my helmsman, I have nothing to worry about," she said as she left the sofa and moved to the window, watching the stars streak by.

Kathryn looked back towards Chakotay, "I'm Starfleet, Chakotay, through and through. It goes against everything I've been taught and believe shouldn't happen aboard a starship. It's asking for trouble. He is under my command, I shouldn't have a relationship with him, or any other member of my crew."

Chakotay left the sofa and moved to the window, standing next to Kathryn, he squeezed her arm gently to make sure he had her full attention. "I realize this is out of the realm of your normal behaviors and it does go against your thoughts of what should go on aboard a starship. But, so have other decisions you've had to make out here. You've bent your Starfleet way of thinking before. After all, I'm your first officer, instead of a guest of the brig.

"This is difficult for you, because, it's personal. You're going to have to bend on this, too. Or you're going to drive yourself into the ground before we make it home. Whether it's Tom or someone else, eventually you're going to need someone you can go to and not be the Captain, someone you can be open with. This could be good for you."

"Getting this crew home is my top priority and it has to remain that way," she responded as she turned to look into his face. "I don't know that there's enough of me left to have a real relationship with anyone. Tom deserves more. He had to share his father with Starfleet, he shouldn't have to make that sacrifice, again. " she sighed.

Chakotay gave Kathryn a small smile, "Maybe you're worth the sacrifice. If you're willing to try, then you should give Paris the opportunity to make that choice for himself."

"Which just leaves the question, Am I willing to try?"

"Only you can make that decision."

=/\=

After Harry had left his quarters to return to the bridge, Tom stalked the area of the room like a caged animal. He wanted to go to Kathryn, to find out what she was thinking. He refrained from going to her quarters, intent on giving her the time she felt she needed.

Hours past, she didn't come, she didn't contact him. The longer he was left with his thoughts, the more certain he became that she wanted to end this thing between them. When Harry commed him to see if he wanted to meet in the messhall for dinner, Tom declined, he was in no mood to be around people.

Shortly after talking with Harry, Tom called for the computer to darken the room as he went into the bathroom. He took a long shower, then wrapped his robe around himself and burrowed himself into the corner of the sofa. He didn't bother asking for the lights again, he just sat in the dark. He'd asked the computer where she was and then asked where the Commander was.

Together, in her quarters, probably having a nice quiet dinner and discussing how best to get rid of him.

He hadn't called for the lights or moved from the sofa for an hour, he continued to sit and brood. Chakotay was still in her quarters and Tom was becoming depressed at the thought of the conversation he was going to eventually have with Kathryn. Though, not tonight, he assumed, it was getting late. He just hoped she would cut straight to the end, like she did during senior staff briefings, no need to drag out breaking his heart.

An hour later, when his door chimed, he assumed it was Harry, coming to check up on him. When the door slid open, the silhouette he saw against the brightened corridor was not that of his friend's, but Kathryn's.

She walked far enough into the room for the door to slide shut behind her, he'd let her in, he wasn't asleep. She thought that maybe he'd gone to bed. "Tom," she said softly.

She didn't hear anything for a few moments, then she heard movement coming from the sofa. Before she had a chance to say anything, she found herself being pushed backwards until she was against the wall next to the door, with Tom's body pressed against her's. His lips quickly captured her's in a hard and frantic kiss. His tongue delved between her parted lips, exploring it's moist depths. He roughly grabbed her thigh, lifting it to his waist, pressing himself more fully into her. They were in much the same position as they had been in sickbay the morning before. She moaned as his intrusion into her mouth became more insistent.

She brought her hands up to his chest, sliding her hands underneath the opening of his robe, to feel his warm skin against the palms of her hands. Running her hands up and over his shoulders, loosening the tie of the robe as her hands went from his shoulders to his biceps, taking the robe with her.

"Tom," she whimpered into his mouth as he continued to kiss her unmercifully.

He pulled away from her mouth, "You've been with Chakotay and you've been drinking," he said shallowly.

"We had dinner," she answered as she felt his lips move across her neck and his hands slip under her shirt.

His hands slid across her smooth flesh and his fingers lightly stroked her breasts through the fabric of her bra before moving back out from under her shirt and to the buttons. He kissed her again as he fumbled with the first button before getting it undone.

As he worked on the second button, he pulled his lips away from her and breathed, "I've been waiting for you and you were talking with him."

"I needed a sounding board," Kathryn murmured as she tried to capture his lips with hers.

Impatient Tom took each side of her shirt in his hands and ripped the buttons from their holes. "I don't want to know right now," he whispered briskly, his mouth descending6 on her neck and he pulled her shirt from her arms.

His hands were on her again, exploring her as his lips sucked and licked her neck. She was vaguely aware that he was going to leave evidence of their encounter on her neck. Any protests were soon forgotten when he undid her bra and moved his hands to caress her hardened nipples.

A soft hum came from deep in her throat as he continued to assault her with his hands and lips.

"Take your shoes off," he commanded as he undid her pants and his fingers slid beneath her waistband.

She lowered the leg that was wrapped around his waist and she kicked out of her shoes as he slid her pants and underwear over her hips. They pooled on the floor around her feet and she stepped out of them. His hands were everywhere, she needed to feel his skin against her. Kathryn quickly undid the loosened tie around his waist and his robe fell open. As her hands found his skin, Tom shrugged out of the robe.

Kathryn brought her leg back up and hooked it around his waist, pulling him nearer to her. She could feel his hardness pressed against her and she could feel her need welling up inside her. He stroked her skin with a firm hand and she moaned in pleasure at his touch.

He wrapped his hands around her thighs and lifted her, bracing her against the wall. Kathryn wrapped her other leg around Tom's back, crossing her ankles to help give them more balance. He pulled her pelvis closer to him as she reached for his erection to help guide him into her. As soon as he made contact with her opening he pushed up into her as the hands gripping her thighs pulled her down fully onto him.

Kathryn brought her hands around Tom's neck, her fingers finding their way into his hair. Tom thrust deep inside her and his breathing was already becoming erratic, "Kathryn ... Beautiful … Kathryn, touch yourself," he commanded. "I'm not going to last much longer."

Kathryn obeyed, leaning back slightly and tilting her pelvis to give herself enough room to work her hand between. The shift of her body caused Tom's pelvis to rub against her clitoris with each thrust. Their was no longer a need for her to stimulate herself. The friction from their contact sent her soaring, "Yes," she moaned, voicing her deep desire aloud. "Keep going. Oh, yes, keep going."

She wrapped her one arm more firmly around his neck and the other moved up his chest to grip his shoulder. Her fingers dug almost painfully into his skin. He was on fire. His thrusts became faster as Kathryn used her arms to push herself down on his body.

Her orgasm erupted around her, sending blissful sensations through every inch of her body. Her head flew back, hitting the wall hard, but, she didn't register pain, she was delirious with amazement at the intensity of her orgasm. As the waves of passion continued to flow through her, Tom's body stiffened as he released himself into her.

His head fell against her shoulder and his lips found her neck, nipping at her lightly. Spent he continued to move his hips, continuing the contact between her clitoris and his pelvis. She could again feel the slow build of sensations in her body as heat flushed her from head to toe.

Her fingers on his shoulder dug deeper in, leaving nail marks on his skin as her body exploded again. Still wrapped around Tom as she came back to herself, she pulled his face up to capture his lips.

Her limbs felt lethargic as he eased himself out of her and put her on the floor. Her legs immediately gave out beneath her. Tom was still holding onto her and pulled her against himself to keep her from sliding to the floor. "What have you done to me? I can't even walk. I don't think anything works anymore."

"Don't worry, I'll get you to the bedroom."

"Yesterday you did promise to blow my mind. Nice work."

He brushed his lips across hers before picking her up and carrying her to the bedroom. "Kathryn, do you have enough control of your arms to reach down and move the blanket?"

"Maybe," she smiled as she reached down and threw the blanket out of the way.

Tom laid her on the bed and looked at her for a long moment before running the back of his hand over her cheek. He reached for the blanket to cover her with. "Sleep, beautiful," he said before he moved round to the other side of the bed and slipped in next to her. "We'll talk tomorrow."

Kathryn rolled onto her side and cuddled up against Tom's side, "Yes, tomorrow." She kissed his shoulder as she mumbled, "Goodnight."

Tom pulled her closer and kissed the top of her head, "Sleep well, Kathryn."