Author's note: Thanks all for hanging in with this one. I just wanted to give a heads up that although ALL of the main characters will be making appearances, it will still be a J/C centered story. I really hope you enjoy it! Please give me a shout or comment if you have the time. I do so enjoy knowing what you think, good or bad…

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Kathryn left the pool area soon after their agreeing to meet for dinner. Tom and Harry were contented to chat with their new compadres, so Kathryn figured she could use the time to shower and grab another cup of coffee.

She let the hot shower water wash the chlorine out of her hair and off her skin. Pressing her face into the spray, she marveled at the fact that in the last hour she'd arrived back in the United States, been reunited with an old friend, and their traveling party had doubled in size.

She looked forward to spending time with Tuvok. It had been nearly eight years since she'd seen him and had worried about him terribly. After his honorable discharge from the Air Force, due to his health, she had heard that he'd moved overseas to work as a freedom fighter in Iraq and Afghanistan. She'd lost contact with him and had feared the worst when none of her contacts in the Middle East had any news of his movements or whereabouts.

She was thrilled that he had made it back safe.

Her thoughts drifted next to the man and woman Tuvok had been traveling with. When she'd first seen them, she had assumed that they were together, in some type of romantic attachment. They were certainly comfortable enough with each other for that to be true.

And yet the man...Chakotay...had certainly enjoyed casually flirting with Kathryn, nearly from the second they had been introduced. He'd called her Captain several times, much to her chagrin...though she had to admit, hearing it in that honeyed voice he had wasn't as frustrating as it should have been.

He seemed a very mysterious man, yet oddly open. He was handsome; that was obvious, but there was obviously much more to him than that. The tattoo he wore across his brow was intriguing, looking tribal in Kathryn's estimation. She was certainly curious about him, as he seemingly was about her. She wasn't sure how to feel about that but knew she wanted to know more about him.

B'Elanna was harder to read; Kathryn sensed a lot of anger there, but often that type of abruptness was merely a cover, a front to keep strangers at bay. Kathryn knew that if Tuvok was traveling with her, that she must be a very honorable person indeed.

The prospect of dragging her heels to get back to San Fran didn't seem quite so daunting anymore.

She had already been toying with the idea of how they would get there if they were driving. Her first thought, when it was just going to be the three of them, would be to rent some type of SUV; something large enough for them all to be comfortable, and still have room for their luggage. Now that they were a party of six, Kathryn was thinking perhaps some type of RV would be in order. She'd ask at the front desk if there were any dealers in the area.

Quickly working the hotel shampoo through her hair, she cringed as she felt it tangle as she combed her fingers through it. She'd have to pick up real shampoo and conditioner before they hit the road. They would probably do well to pick up groceries and things once they had transportation sorted out. She started making mental notes of the things they would need to do and pick up before they started their trip.

=/\=

Kathryn arrived at the bar at a quarter to six; Harry and Tom were taking their time getting ready and all the coffee she'd consumed not only on the plane but since they'd arrived back had her feeling quite jittery, and she was very much looking forward to a cocktail...or two. She had had plans to take a nap today, but her dramatic caffeine consumption had made it impossible. At least maybe that would help her readjust to the current time zone a bit easier.

She was surprised to see Chakotay already seated at a table, a tall thin glass of some pale amber beverage before him. He grinned as she approached, his dimples pulling into his cheeks.

She couldn't help the soft smile that pulled her own lips up. He looked very elegant in a tailored black button-up dress shirt and dark jeans. She wasn't sure exactly what she'd been expecting, but she knew it wasn't this. She herself had chosen a simple pale blue blouse and slacks; one of the few outfits she had that was clean. She'd have to have some things laundered before they left the hotel.

Chakotay's sleeves were rolled up and she watched the muscles of his forearms flex as he lifted his glass to take another sip. She suppressed the fluttery feeling it evoked in her stomach as she slid into the large horseshoe-shaped booth they had been assigned.

"Good evening Kathryn. You look very nice." She fidgeted with a cocktail napkin, not meeting his eyes right away. When she did, she felt heat rise in her cheeks.

"Thank you. You clean up nicely as well." She could smell his cologne; sandalwood and smoke and some type of pine. "Where are B'Elanna and Tuvok?"

"They'll be along soon. B'Elanna was in the weight room and Tuvok was meditating when I left." He used the tips of his fingers to spin his glass slowly back and forth; Kathryn was mesmerized by the gentle swirling of the liquid inside. She heard him speak, but couldn't hear the words.

"I'm sorry?" She felt her cheeks flush at her error. She needed to get a better handle on her reaction to this man that she still knew nothing about save for his name and his voice.

He chuckled, "I asked how it is that you ended up here, and deciding to drive to California."

She took a deep breath but was interrupted when their waiter came over, asking if she'd like something to drink. She glanced at Chakotay's glass once again, "What are you drinking?"

"Antarian Cider." He held his glass over to her, and Kathryn took it timidly, giving the liquid a sniff before taking a light sip. It had a heady flavor, sweet but with a tangy bite. Kathryn handed the glass back and looked up at the waiter.

"I'll have one of those please, and a glass of water." He nodded and retreated, leaving them alone again. Chakotay looked at her expectantly. "Tom's father is an old family friend. He asked me to find Tom and bring him home. I said okay." It was a short answer, and a non-answer really, since it didn't at all explain why they were driving the roughly 3300 miles across the country. He eyed her for a moment, but let it slide for the time being. She figured, if they were going to be spending the next 3300 some miles together, they'd all learn a lot about one another.

"So...Kathryn Janeway. You aren't by chance any part of Janeway Aviation, are you?" There it was; the piece of information that people learned about her that always made them look at her differently. The waiter came back with her drink and she took a sip, nodding in thanks to the man before he left again. Glancing back at Chakotay, she gave him a nod.

"General Edward Janeway was my father."

"Wow, so the Air Force is in your blood," it wasn't a question, "He was your father? I didn't realize he'd passed away." Her father had been somewhat of a celebrity since his founding the aviation empire, but he'd tried to keep a somewhat private life, especially towards the end.

"Yes, several years ago." She hoped her tone, though not rude, would tell him that she was in no mood to talk about it.

"I'm very sorry for your loss, Kathryn." She was taken aback by the honesty she saw in his brown eyes, "I've lost both my parents as well. I know how much it hurts."

She saw his own emotions swimming in his eyes, but didn't want to pry, though several questions landed on the tip of her tongue. Instead, she smiled lightly at him, "Well, we'll have plenty of time to get into the nitty-gritty details of our lives on this trip. I'm thinking we can hit the road tomorrow afternoon."

Chakotay nodded, "Any idea where we're going to get a vehicle big enough for all of us?"

Kathryn nodded, noticing that B'Elanna and Tuvok had entered the bar. Tuvok slid into the booth next to Kathryn while B'Elanna took up the space beside Chakotay. They all passed quick greetings between each other.

"Yes, I was actually thinking of an RV. I was going to ask at the front desk if there are any dealers nearby."

"Not all of us can afford that, you know?" B'Elanna bit at Kathryn, crossing her arms in indignation. Chakotay cringed at his friend's outburst, and Kathryn still wondered at the relationship between them.

"It's fine. I have it covered."

"What the hell does that mean?"

"It means," Tom spoke as he slid in next to her in the booth, much to the woman's dismay, "that she has it covered. So don't worry about it." Harry moved into the booth silently, sitting down beside Tuvok.

B'Elanna opened her mouth to retort, but the waiter, bless him, chose that moment to come back over and take more drink orders, and after he left, the topic seemed to be dropped. Once everyone had a beverage of their choosing, all eyes fell on Kathryn again. It was a role she was normally used to, but in this setting, it still felt odd to be suddenly in charge of their joint endeavor, "Well, as I said, I have transportation covered. I think an RV of some kind will be most comfortable for everyone, so I'll make arrangements to procure one tomorrow. Since we aren't in any hurry to get to California," she left the statement open in case anyone wanted to change their mind from earlier, but everyone shook their heads, "I figure we can hit the road sometime tomorrow afternoon. I don't know when you all arrived in the states, but my brain is still functioning somewhere between New Zealand and here, so I don't know what kind of sleep we all might get tonight." Tom and Chakotay chuckled in agreement. Tuvok remained silent, but Kathryn didn't really expect anything different. He had a habit of keeping his opinions to himself, only offering them when they were asked for.

"I think that's a good idea. We will have to pick up groceries or provisions of some kind so we aren't eating out three meals a day every day until we get there," Chakotay offered and Kathryn turned to him with a smile.

"I agree. That should be our first stop once we leave. Also, since we aren't in any hurry, is there anywhere in particular anyone wants to visit? Within reason that is." Everyone glanced around the table, not wanting to be the first to speak.

"I wouldn't mind a stop in Arizona," Chakotay spoke. B'Elanna gave him a knowing look and Kathryn wondered at the significance of the location.

"I wouldn't mind spending a day in New York City," Harry added on.

"Alright, that sounds good. Be thinking about it. Our schedule seems pretty flexible. Now, about the RV...has anyone else but myself driven one before?"

"I can take shifts," Tom spoke, and Kathryn knew that to be true. No matter the vehicle, land or sea or sky craft, Tom could easily maneuver it.

"I can too," B'Elanna offered, her tone much more subdued than before. It was a welcome change and Kathryn smiled warmly at the other woman.

Kathryn knew Harry would be too nervous to drive, but perhaps Tuvok would take a turn or two, though she didn't know if he'd ever driven such a large vehicle before. Finally, she glanced over at Chakotay, who, she was surprised, had remained silent.

"What about you?" Kathryn asked, then jumped in surprise when B'Elanna let out a loud guffaw. Something of a smirk graced Tuvok's lips as well. Chakotay's cheeks pinked but B'Elanna spoke before he had a chance.

"Trust me, you do not want this one operating a vehicle. If he can drive it, he will crash it." B'Elanna slapped him on the back, and Chakotay just shrugged. Kathryn was very eager to hear that story as well but decided to keep it to the basics for now. They would all have plenty of time to chat on their road trip.

"Well, why don't we go around the table and say a little bit about ourselves. I'm sure we'll all know a lot more about each other after this trip, but we might as well start now." They all nodded but kept quiet, all of them deferring to her lead, "Alright, I'm Kathryn Janeway, and as I've already told Chakotay...yes, I'm that Janeway, of Janeway Aviation. The company was founded by my father, the late Admiral Edward Janeway. I am a Captain in the U.S. Air Force, on temporary leave. As long as you don't stand between me and a cup of coffee on this trip, we will all get along just fine." Chuckles were snickered out by several members of the group, but Kathryn turned to look at Chakotay, handing the torch to him, as it were.

"Alright, my name is Chakotay. I am a retired Command Sergeant Major from the U.S. Army," Kathryn's eyes flew to his, her mouth falling open. She had no idea. He didn't carry himself like military at all. That genuinely surprised her...but then again almost everything about this man was a surprise. "I've spent the last three years in the middle east with B'Elanna, but we've both decided to come back to the states."

That was barely anything to go on, and Kathryn was desperate to know more, but apparently that was all Chakotay was willing to offer at the moment, so she listened as B'Elanna spoke, giving nearly the same story as Chakotay.

"I'm Tom Paris, and I've known the Captain here nearly my whole life. My father and hers were friends, serving in the Air Force together. I joined up but washed out soon after, and have been living in New Zealand, for various reasons, ever since. Now my father wants me home, so that's where I'm going."

Harry offered a very different take; he'd lost the love of his life and had needed to get away to gain perspective. Halfway around the world had seemed far enough, and he'd spent the last year in New Zealand after having met and befriended Tom. When Tom decided to go back home, Harry decided that he'd spent enough time away as well, and traveled with Kathryn and Tom back to the states, but since he had no time frame in which to get home, he decided to travel with them, however long it took to get there.

Tuvok was also very mysterious about his introduction. He'd briefly served with Kathryn in the Air Force until an illness had caused him to seek early retirement. After getting well, he too had traveled to the middle east, where he'd met up with Chakotay and B'Elanna, and the three had been together ever since. He had also decided it was time to come home.

The drinks were flowing and everyone ordered dinner, stuffing themselves on the delicious if not overpriced fare that the hotel restaurant had to offer. As more alcohol was consumed, Tom and B'Elanna became more talkative, the latter actually flirting a bit with the blonde, though he may have been too tipsy to truly notice.

Kathryn surreptitiously snatched the bill and paid while no one but Tuvok noticed. He nodded his silent thanks, before excusing himself from the table. B'Elanna and Harry were next, followed soon by Tom. Kathryn herself still felt wide awake, though the Antarian Cider she'd consumed had her feeling warm and comfortable in the plush leather booth. She watched as Chakotay slid out of his seat, then reluctantly followed. She had no desire to sit there alone.

"Well, I guess I'll see you in the morning, Kathryn." He gave her another dimpled grin.

"Yes, breakfast at ten and then we'll go RV shopping."

She walked silently beside him towards the elevator. They each pushed the button for their respective floor. When the door opened for Chakotay, he turned towards her, "Sleep well, Kathryn."

"Yes,' she felt her cheeks pink but smiled at his sweet comment, "You too."

The door closed after him, leaving Kathryn alone in the elevator car, her mind swimming in cider and thoughts of the dimpled, dark stranger that she was going to be spending the foreseeable future with.

She quietly entered the hotel room; Tom and Harry were already passed out; jet lag and alcohol contributing to their exhaustion in equal measure. She slipped into the bathroom to change into pajamas before pulling the covers back on her own bed to lay down.

Before she knew it, it was morning.