Chapter 3: Exposed
Chakotay stopped spinning and put Kathryn down on her feet. He looked at her and pulled her back into a hug. She put her arms around his waist and leaned into his chest. Tears of joy were making wet tracks through the dust on their faces. Kathryn pulled back to look into his face and laughed. She reached up and wiped his cheek with her hand. He took the corner of his cloak and wiped at her cheeks. They both were laughing now with joy.
Kathryn looked around to share her joy with the others and found they were alone. She looked at Chakotay with a grimace. She shook her head. She was a little embarrassed to show her feelings in front of the crew.
Chakotay just chuckled at her discomfort. His chuckle, a wonderful deep sound, was accompanied by his deeply dimpled grin.
"It's okay, Kathryn. They know how I feel about you. It was pretty evident when I thought the Runarians had killed you." The grin was quickly gone from his face at the painful thought.
"That's all right for you, Chakotay. But they don't know how I feel about you. In fact, you don't know how I feel about you!" She chided, trying to lighten the moment.
He reached out and touched her face. "I do, now." He whispered.
With much clearing of throats and loud voices, Neelix and the rest of the crew came back around the bend. Tom and B'Elanna were holding hands and the Ensigns were looking everywhere but at their commanding officers.
"Captain, Commander. What wonderful news! We're all fit and accounted for. Every last one of us." The little Talaxian was actually rubbing his hands together.
"That is good news, Neelix." Janeway agreed, quickly shaking off her embarrassment and slipping into her command mode.
"Now, everyone, we must find a place to rest for a while and then we can fill each other in on our stories. Chakotay, you were saying that the trail up ahead is blocked?" At his nod she continued. "So, let's backtrack. I passed a cavern not too far back that had a creek running through it. We'll rest there and form our plans."
With low conversations and much exclaiming at their luck, everyone started back down the tunnel with Janeway and Chakotay taking up the rear.
Chakotay reached out and put his arm around Kathryn's shoulders. She frowned and gave him a very weak Death Glare, but he just quietly laughed and pulled her closer. She didn't resist.
(TO BE CONTINUED) Chapter 4 will be up soon.
Chakotay stopped spinning and put Kathryn down on her feet. He looked at her and pulled her back into a hug. She put her arms around his waist and leaned into his chest. Tears of joy were making wet tracks through the dust on their faces. Kathryn pulled back to look into his face and laughed. She reached up and wiped his cheek with her hand. He took the corner of his cloak and wiped at her cheeks. They both were laughing now with joy.
Kathryn looked around to share her joy with the others and found they were alone. She looked at Chakotay with a grimace. She shook her head. She was a little embarrassed to show her feelings in front of the crew.
Chakotay just chuckled at her discomfort. His chuckle, a wonderful deep sound, was accompanied by his deeply dimpled grin.
"It's okay, Kathryn. They know how I feel about you. It was pretty evident when I thought the Runarians had killed you." The grin was quickly gone from his face at the painful thought.
"That's all right for you, Chakotay. But they don't know how I feel about you. In fact, you don't know how I feel about you!" She chided, trying to lighten the moment.
He reached out and touched her face. "I do, now." He whispered.
With much clearing of throats and loud voices, Neelix and the rest of the crew came back around the bend. Tom and B'Elanna were holding hands and the Ensigns were looking everywhere but at their commanding officers.
"Captain, Commander. What wonderful news! We're all fit and accounted for. Every last one of us." The little Talaxian was actually rubbing his hands together.
"That is good news, Neelix." Janeway agreed, quickly shaking off her embarrassment and slipping into her command mode.
"Now, everyone, we must find a place to rest for a while and then we can fill each other in on our stories. Chakotay, you were saying that the trail up ahead is blocked?" At his nod she continued. "So, let's backtrack. I passed a cavern not too far back that had a creek running through it. We'll rest there and form our plans."
With low conversations and much exclaiming at their luck, everyone started back down the tunnel with Janeway and Chakotay taking up the rear.
Chakotay reached out and put his arm around Kathryn's shoulders. She frowned and gave him a very weak Death Glare, but he just quietly laughed and pulled her closer. She didn't resist.
(TO BE CONTINUED) Chapter 4 will be up soon.