Tegan Chronicles STV Style 3:
What's Left of the Flag 29
When she opened her eyes Tuvok was standing at the side of her biobed with Janeway a pace behind him. She mimicked a mind meld in the air. "Did you?"
"I did."
Her eyes drifted to Kathryn. She could feel her concern but not like in the past. This wasn't just a perceived feeling, it was more than that, it was almost palpable. She could actually feel it crushing her soul. "I'm fine."
Kathryn folded her arms across her chest. "What happened?"
"I don't know?" She shrugged as she sat up throwing her legs over the opposite side of the bed where the doctor stood with his trusty tricorder. "Ask the expert."
"I wish I knew." He frowned, his photonic forehead wrinkling in the process. "I can't find any reason for what happened. According to all my readings she's perfectly healthy."
Tegan smiled. "See." She looked at the doctor studying his features intently. "Wait, you said perfectly healthy?"
"Yes."
"Did you scan me as soon as I lost consciousness?"
Janeway listened with great interest to the conversation.
"Of course, and oddly enough your vitals were stable. Blood pressure was 110 over 65, heart rate was a steady 60, your oxygen saturation was 100 percent, and your potassium was dead center of normal limits."
"Cool." Tegan slipped off the bed and turned to Kathryn. "See, I'm fine."
Kathryn looked at Tuvok who just tilted his head to the side slightly. She knew he wouldn't share what if anything he had learned in the mind meld. She sighed and turned back to Tegan. "I don't want you returning to work today and I'd like for you to stay here until I come back after my shift."
"I don't need a babysitter."
"Captain's orders."
"Of course, Captain." She nodded as she accepted the command.
Janeway returned to sickbay at 1700 hours to find Tegan sitting in the office with her feet propped up on the edge of the desk and crossed at the ankle. "How are you feeling?"
"Great." Tegan dropped her legs and stood up.
She gave her an incredulous look but nodded her head all the same. "Dinner? My quarters?"
"Sure."
"What are you in the mood for?" Kathryn asked as the doors to her quarters shut. "Computer lights full."
"Computer belay that." Tegan gave her an uneven grin as she turned around to look at her with a question etching her features in the dim lighting of the cabin. "I'm in the mood for you."
"You've had an exciting day; I think you need to rest this evening."
"But I'm fine." Tegan stepped into her space and kissed her lips quickly. "Honest." She moved to her jawline and placed a kiss there. "What do I have to do to convince you?"
Kathryn put her hands on Tegan's shoulders to steady herself. "You need to eat."
Tegan smiled as she pressed her lips to the sensitive spot beneath Kathryn's ear. She sucked on it hard enough to bring her intent home but soft enough not to bruise the delicate skin. She pulled her mouth to Kathryn's ear. "Are you sure you want me to stop?"
Kathryn moaned as a sigh of pleasure vibrated her vocal cords and Tegan nibbled on her ear lobe.
"Chakotay to the Captain."
Tegan pulled back and closed her eyes.
"This is Janeway go ahead."
"We have something here you might want to take a look at Captain."
"I'm on my way." She looked at Tegan who was now staring at her.
She felt agitated, but she didn't know why. She knew the captain's job came first and even now she didn't want that to change. She should have just kept her mouth shut, especially considering her confusion over her what she was feeling. "Can't Planky ever do anything without you there to hold his hand? He is the first officer, right?"
"Planky?" It was the first thing she could think of to say. It was that or stand there imitating a starving pacman.
"Yes, as in a board. He's as dumb as a plank of wood." Tegan rubbed her eyes with her thumb and forefinger.
"That's rude." Even if it's a little true. Kathryn studied her for a minute. "And it's not like you to be rude."
Tegan shook her head. "I," she stopped and swallowed. Her emotions were on a roller coaster and she couldn't seem to control them. "It's been a long day and I'm tired. I'm sorry, I honestly don't know where the comment came from."
"Are you jealous of Chakotay?"
"He's your first officer." She answered briskly as she looked down and brushed a piece of imaginary fuzz off her pants.
"That's not really an answer is it?" Without pausing for a response she continued, "I can always cancel our weekly dinners if that's a problem. It's not like we can't discuss business during our regular duty hours."
"No." Her eyes jumped up to meet hers. "Kathryn, I don't want you to. He's your friend and I would never presume to pick your friends."
"Then what's wrong?"
"You need to go." Tegan looked at the door. "You did say you were on your way."
"And you'll be ok?"
"I am going to the mess hall to grab a bite and then I'm hitting the sack early." She reached her hand to cover her gapping mouth as she yawned a genuine yawn.
"Can I stop by your quarters when I'm done?"
The corners of Tegan's lips turned up slightly. "Let yourself in, I might be asleep."
Tegan waited a few minutes after Kathryn left to emerge from the captain's quarters. As each second passed she felt better, more like herself. She managed to make it to the mess hall without running into anyone in the lift or corridors, a minor miracle. As soon as the doors to the mess hall opened she could hear a cacophony of voices over the din of utensils scraping against trays. She walked in and stopped suddenly feeling overwhelmed. It was a similar feeling to what she had when Chakotay had interrupted her and Kathryn, but this time it was tenfold. Just breathe.
Tuvok watched her enter and stop as if someone had suddenly frozen her in place. As he continued to observe her with great curiosity he noticed the color draining from her body. He stood and quickly strode to her side. "Doctor?"
She didn't move, not even to blink.
Tuvok watched her chest for several seconds not even certain it was moving. "Tegan?"
"Is everything alright Commander Tuvok?" Neelix started to step out from the galley.
Saccharine happiness laced with concern threatened to squeeze her in its death grip.
"Yes Mr. Neelix, I have the situation under control." He stopped him from coming in closer as he grabbed Tegan's upper arm and started to move around her. To his surprise her feet followed and she did a 180 to face the door. He proceeded to lead her out into the hallway.
Almost as soon as they reached the corridor she freed her arm from Tuvok and leaned her back against the wall. Her chest heaved as she caught her breath. "I'm fine." She offered before he could ask.
"I don't believe you are." He disagreed with her. "I believe it would be wise to visit sickbay."
She looked at Tuvok for several minutes before nodding. "Maybe you're right."
"Would you like me to walk with you?"
"No, but I appreciate the offer."
