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Part Four

My love is as a fever, longing still,
For that which longer nurseth the disease;
Feeding on that which doth preserve the ill,
The uncertain sickly appetite to please.

Red and yellow uniforms whizzed by Janeway as she stalked down the corridor to engineering. She and Chakotay had agreed to run as many battle drills as was feasible, as they were picking their way along the trail through Romulan and Klingon space, partly to be in readiness should a situation arise, and partly to keep the newly aware crew from dwelling too much. The people rushing the opposite way to her saw their Captain and tried to appear calm in their hurry. She nodded at them but did not slacken her pace, she had to get to Engineering quickly enough for it to be a surprise to them - an inspection where she was expected was hardly worth it. She knew that D'Mal wouldn't be expecting her, having just contacted her from the Bridge. The doors to Engineering flew open at her approach and she entered the busy, humming room. D'Mal was by her side in a shot.

"Good day Captain. I assume this is not a social call?"

"Then you would assume correctly Lieutenant. Please, carry on, and I'll try not to get in the way."

"Would you prefer for somebody to accompany you Captain. I'm sure I could-" she beckoned to one of her staff.

"Thank you D'Mal, but just.....carry on as if I'm not even here." Her hands made their classic open-palmed gesture as she shrugged and smiled at the Vulcan, not to be misunderstood as a request. D'Mal nodded.

"As you wish," and returned to the console at the warp core.

Kathryn wandered around the area, taking an observer's standpoint at several of the key stations, watching over people's shoulders, making observations and asking questions. She knew that D'Mal had everything running as well as possible at all times - she ran a very tight section - but experience had told Kathryn that an awareness of the Captain when going into a potentially hostile situation always helped. When she felt she had impressed enough on the obviously harassed Engineering crew, she nodded to her chief Engineer and strutted back out of the doors. Turning left she ran in her mind the sections she had visited and where she still had to go. She'd been to sick bay, astrometrics, weapons control (an extended visit) and Engineering. Passing a console she noted that it was 1100 hours, and that Chakotay's shift was due to start. Since crossing the neutral zone into the Star Empire she had put herself and her Number One on alternating shifts, doing fourteen hours each, their two overlapping hours spent in close conference. The days were becoming a blur spent in this fashion. She felt so much better since the talk with Chakotay about her fears of the Cardassians. She would be on the Bridge, and her mind would wander to him holding her on the floor of her Ready Room. It had been like coming home, like being allowed to come home. She had wanted to jump straight back in, move him into her quarters, but she now began to wonder at exactly what he was ready to commit to, as nothing more had been advanced. Of course, the situation left them no real time or room to explore the relationship further, but Kathryn couldn't help feeling anxious and impatient, worried something would happen, that he would change his mind. Deep inside, or if she just thought about it rationally, she knew that Chakotay was an honourable man and that he would never deliberately mislead her, wouldn't play with her feelings. She must be patient, and tend to her duties. Once this mission was accomplished they could take some time together, maybe request the same assignment, and things could get back to normal. And yet she couldn't stop fidgeting, wanted constantly to contact him and see how he was. So this was how he must have felt. The thought occurred to her as she entered the Bridge and crossed to her Ready Room, where Chakotay would meet her, the beginning of his shift and the end of hers.

"Captain," Ensign Burlan's voice at Ops.

"Yes Ensign?" Kathryn stopped and approached.

"I'm picking up a ship on long range sensors. It is Cardassian. It appears to be on an intercept course, but they're only at warp 2, so it is logical to assume that they are not deliberately approaching us."

"Can you detect a warp trail? Are they following the path?"

The young Vulcan nodded.

"Aye Captain, their recent trail suggests an almost direct adherence to the route the intelligence reports highlighted."

"Estimated time to intercept?"

"At current speeds, three hours and thirty minutes."

"Thank you Ensign. Helm, make sure we aren't too close when we get within scanning range. I'll be in my Ready Room."

A swift cup of coffee later, Kathryn sat aside Chakotay, who was mulling over the long range scans of the approaching Cardassian ship.

"Well it's a freighter, but fairly new.....could put up a good fight. But we can't really tell what they're carrying just yet. I guess we just have to sit tight........Kathryn?"

"Mm yes, what?"

"We should just sit tight."

"Sorry yes. It's been a long shift, and I was so looking forward to some sleep."

Chakotay looked at her and pursed his lips.

"What?" she queried.

"Well, I don't want to come over all big-brother like here," he sounded nervous, and sweet she thought. "But are you OK? Are you getting enough downtime?"

"Oh yes I'm fine."

"I only ask because...because...of what happened with Voyager." He looked down briefly, before Kathryn placed a hand on his shoulder to get his attention.

"Voyager was very different Chakotay. I'm not trapped here. I can see the end of this mission. I don't really see what could be done, but thank you, really." Her voice was soft.

"I know there's nothing we could do. I guess I just needed your reassurance."

Without a second thought Kathryn leaned over and kissed him soundly.

"Is this reassurance enough that I won't withdraw again? I promise Chakotay." She leaned her forehead against his, sensed his smile before he kissed her back. It was a gentle kiss at first, then growing in urgency as biological memory kicked in, all the old euphoria welling up and washing over them. Chakotay's arms went right around her and crushed her to him, while she took his face in her hands, as if holding him there would convince her that this was finally real and not a regretful dream. Her fingers traced his brow, fluttering over his tattoo, her palms pressing over his strong cheekbones. She touched his lips between kisses, before the kiss deepened and she felt herself being pushed gently backwards. Chakotay leaned over her, pushed a stray strand of hair from her face, and they just looked at one another, revelling in the closeness, the familiarity, and the heat that was obviously far from gone.

~chirrup~

"Bridge to Captain Janeway."

"Janeway here." Neither of them moved.

"We've managed some preliminary scans of the approaching ship. Perhaps you should come and see for yourself."

"We'll be right there Ensign. Janeway out." The channel closed and she looked up at Chakotay. "So Commander are you going to let me up?"

"Mm, if I have to." They got up and, straightening their uniforms, headed back out to the Bridge. Janeway went straight to Burlan.

"Well?" She was acutely aware of Chakotay close behind her. The young Vulcan eyed the pair quizzically, then spoke.

"Our scans suggest that the Cardassian ship is in fact carrying weapons."

"What kind of weapons?" Chakotay asked.

"Readings suggest polaric missiles, seven in total.....each with a 5000 isoton yield."

Kathryn turned to Chakotay.

"Inform Starfleet." Her grave voice rang in his ears, as she hurried away from him, back to her Ready Room.

***

"Come," Kathryn called out, and then caught her breath as the object of her affections strode in. It was odd how the sight of him was so pleasing, so calming. He had an elegant symmetry to him, and his graceful, almost feline movement enthralled her.
"Any news?"

"Yes, a transmission just came through on subspace. Paris wants us to tail the ship up to the Klingon border, monitor their transmissions and so on. They're sending a small fleet to intercept once they enter the Empire - only then do we have anything concrete to stop them with."

"That's it? That's all?" Kathryn looked at him confused. "Well, I can't say that I'm not pleased, but I must say my expectations were of something a little more dramatic," she smirked.

"Well it's not over yet. If the freighter, if that's what it really is, reaches Klingon space before the fleet, we're to delay' them."

"Ah right. Are there any signs they have detected us?"

"Not in the hour we've been matching them, no."

At that moment Kathryn's comm-badge chirped and Burlan's voice filled the small room.

"Bridge to Janeway. The Cardassian ship has altered its course."

"I'm on my way." Chakotay caught her arm as she passed him. She smiled.

"What is it?"

"Nothing," he shook his head. "I just can't wait for all this to be over, and we can have some time." Her smile widened. "Yes," she stepped closer. "Maybe we should take a trip up to my beach house. It's very quiet there, very private."

"Sounds perfect." Chakotay leaned in for a kiss and Kathryn responded eagerly. Her lips smiled against his, as lights danced behind her closed lids and her heartbeat quickened. They broke away, both inhaling deeply. Kathryn spoke first.

"Come along, we have work to do."

***

The command team returned to the Bridge, where a brief summation of the Cardassian craft's movements over the last twenty minutes seemed to indicate that she was running a rather complex series of evasive maneuvers.
"Do they know we're here?" Chakotay was leaning over the Ops console.

"It would seem that they suspect our presence Commander."

"Ensign, any more news on Paris's ships?"

"Estimated time of arrival 45 minutes Sir."

Chakotay looked over at Janeway. Their eyes locked. The ship would enter Klingon space in less than fifteen. Kathryn was clear in her mind as to their course of action - they had their orders, they could not risk a Klingon temper tantrum with a ship with such a cargo - and yet she also felt an odd uncertainty.

"Kathryn?" Chakotay's voice was low in her ear as he sat in his chair at her left. She looked up sharply as he asked, "OK?"

"Yes, thank you"

"The crew are waiting for your orders."

She hesitates, and Chakotay reached over and squeezed her hand.

"We'll be fine Kathryn. This won't take long. We just have to delay them." She looked at him, and saw that he somehow knew what she was thinking. The command thus far had been unremarkable, but now they were being thrust back into action. The flutterings in her stomach were beginning to subside. She had never been nervous about her duties before; apprehensive maybe, but never afraid. But, she'd been a different person back then. So what was this feeling? Was she excited? Surely not. She blinked and looked away from her Number One. She'd spent so long expecting to find it difficult to be in command once again, that she'd forgotten how much she actually enjoyed times like these. She had a good ship, and a good crew - she felt the power flowing up to her through the ship. Chakotay squashed a smile as she stood, the old pride showing in her stance

"Mr Lucas," she turned to address the young human at Tactical. "I want you to decloak and raise shields. Ensign Burlan, hail them."

"They are responding Captain."

"On screen." She turned to face the viewscreen. "This is Captain Kathryn Janeway of the Federation Starship Aristeia. We have been monitoring your course for some time now, and you seem to be on a direct course for Federation space." Janeway's tone was questioning, almost innocent, as if she were asking directions, but the Cardassian on the screen could not mistake the objectives of a cloaked Federation ship that had been pursuing him.

"Ah greetings, Captain Janeway. I am Gul Durant, and this is the Freighter Ricsian. I can assure you that trespassing on Federation space is the last thing on my mind." I am merely here to meet a fellow trader. You, however, are indeed - shall we say - a little out of your way??"

Janeway looked sternly at him, ignoring his implicit accusation.

"Your government sent a Gul out to trade?" "Er yes -" His excuses were interrupted by one of his crew announcing four Federation ships closing on their position. He turned back to face Kathryn.

"Can you tell me why the Federation is now trespassing on Cardassian territory?" Janeway sensed Chakotay shift in his seat. Just a little longer. She didn't feel like testing the Aristeia out for the first time so far inside the Cardassian union.

"Merely a precaution, Gul Durant."

"And what of a Federation ship with a cloak? A mere precaution also? None of your intelligence has reported such a device."

Janeway did not reply. At a small hand signal from her Chakotay stood and positioned himself just behind her, as Durant continued.

"I see no choice but to consider your violation of our territory as an act of aggression. I have already signalled my government and reinforcements are on their way." Janeway decided that there was no more time, and bit the bullet.

"Scans of your ship tell us that you are carrying polaric weapons, and our intelligence suggests that your cargo is destined for Romulan space. I will do everything in my power to prevent you from leaving here with these weapons, is that understood?"

She and the Gul locked glares for a few brief seconds before he snapped the channel shut. Everybody on the Bridge exhaled as if they had been holding their breath. There was no avoiding the fact that they were violating Cardassian territory, but theirs was not the only wrong. Kathryn did not always enjoy being the aggressor, but today there had been little choice.

"What now?" Chakotay spoke softly.

"Now we wait."

Chakotay nodded sagely. The Ricsian wouldn't risk a stand-off. The Aristeia was as yet an unknown quantity to them, and they knew the dangers that such a cargo entailed.

"Captain there is a subspace message coming through to you. It is from the Agamemnon."

"Paris? Why don't they just hail us?" She looked at Chakotay. "Never mind, put it through here please Mr Burlan." Chakotay watched her concentrate, then her brow furrow in consternation. When she looked up her eyes were wide. Silently she turned the screen to face him, nodding slowly at it. Chakotay held her gaze, concerned, for a moment, then dipped his eyes to read the message. When he raised his eyes again his horror was apparent.

"They want us to blow up the ship?" Kathryn just stared dumbly at him. He opened his mouth to speak, but just shut it again without uttering a sound. This was ludicrous. Fire on a ship with those weapons aboard? Attack a Cardassian ship deep in Cardassian territory? Hell - pick a fight at all in these circumstances?? All of these thoughts passed unspoken between the two, and Chakotay saw the terribly indecision in Kathryn's eyes.

"What do I do Chakotay?" she whispered. "What?!"

"We can't." Chakotay did not hesitate. "What kind of orders are these? Can you imagine what this would do to Starfleet? To the Federation? It's madness!" Kathryn had begun to nod as he was speaking, hearing her own thoughts verbalised, and now she stood and addressed the Bridge crew.

"Your attention please." Her voice was calm. "I have just received orders to open fire on the Ricsian, and to destroy the ship. I am informing you that I intend to do no such thing. We will instead escort the ship to Deep Space Nine and release it to their custody. Any objecting will be noted now." The Bridge was silent. She nodded.

"Hail the Ricsian."

On to Part Five

Lines of poetry : from MY LOVE IS AS A FEVER..... by William Shakespeare