The Date
Summary: This is the sequel to "Change of heart" Voyager was destroyed in Caretaker, and some of the Starfleet crew have joined the maquis.
Disclaimer: Paramount is stupid. I'm not. Paramount owns them. I don't. But I own Ricky Thoran and Laja Chrono. Paramount don't. hehe.
Author's note: Thanks for the positive feedback I got for Change of heart!
Chapter 1.
After three months on The Liberty, the former starfleet crew felt comfortable being maquis. Some of them even thought they'd stay on the ship if they got home. The starfleet and maquis slowly became one crew. Captain Chakotay liked that, but he still preferred the company of his old friends. One thing was wrong, though. When he sat beside his first officer on the bridge, he couldn't concentrate. Of course, in battle or in a negotiation, he could focus his attention, but when there were nothing going on, he found himself looking at her. No, looking is not enough. He was staring. He felt drawn to her in a way. It wasn't anything special about her, she was smart, beautiful, and quick-witted, but nothing outstanding. He liked her company, but sometimes on the bridge she looked at him and seemed very uncomfortable. Then he knew he had been staring at her. He was happy she and B'Elanna had formed a great relationship. He had invited Kathryn to dinner tonight, and decided to tell her about his feelings. He hoped she'd understand.
'So he invited you to dinner? After only three months? He must really like you! For me it took almost two years to get into that personal space of his! What are you going to wear? '
Kathryn laughed at her friend's eagerness.
'I'll wear my maquis outfit of course. Come on B'El, he probably want's to talk to me about work. A working dinner, ever heard of it?'
'Hello? Look at the note here then. You see? Casual clothing. NO UNIFORMS, that means. Come on now, we've got to find you something to wear.
'Why does he want me to wear casual clothing? I thought this should be a working dinner', she thought. 'Well, I'll know in a few hours.'.
B'Elanna wanted her to wear a black sexy dress, but Kathryn thought that would be embarrassing. After almost an hour, they settled for a pair of jeans, (Kathryn's choice) and a sleeve-less shirt with a plunging neckline. (B'Elannas choice.)
'You look great! But I still think those jeans are a little boring. Couldn't you change them for a short skirt or something?'
'No! This is good as it is. I must go now, but don't stay up just to hear "all the facts", some of us needs to get up early tomorrow.'
She winked to B'Elanna before leaving their quarters. She had never been in Chakotay's quarters before, and she felt a little nervous. She tried to calm herself, thinking that they had eaten together before, only then it was in the dining hall. She wondered if he invited her as his first officer or as his friend. She had made some friends aboard The Liberty. B'Elanna, Taia, Taia's roommate Laja, (She still thought that was a little funny, Taia and Laja...) B'Elannas friend Ricky, and she had spoken to lots of other people too, though she didn't count them as friends, not yet. Everyone aboard this ship seemed to be nice and friendly except for one. Kathryn always felt uncomfortable in Seska's company. She seemed to like Chakotay, but he avoided the bajoran as much as he could. Maybe she could ask him about that tonight.
Chakotay were just finished and sat on the couch, waiting for her arrival. He was a little nervous though, what if she didn't like him and just attended this dinner because he was her captain. In that case, she probably felt confused about his request for casual clothing. He wondered what she had chosen to wear. He looked at his own clothing. He wore a white shirt that showed his muscular chest and a pair of jeans. He hoped he didn't look to casual. He didn't really know what to talk about. He wanted to tell her how he felt about her, but he couldn't start with that. She'd go away, probably not wanting to talk with him again. He had to talk about other things, and not ship's business. When he was thinking about subjects to talk about, the doorbell chimed. He went to the door to open it. She took a step back when he opened, probably because he stood so close to her. She wore a pair of black jeans and a matching sleeve-less shirt. He couldn't seem to take his eyes of the plunging neckline. He tried to look somewhere else, not wanting her to be uncomfortable in his company. Though, if she didn't want him to look, then why would she have chosen that shirt? Well, if he knew B'Elanna right, she hadn't...
'Can I come in?'
He realised he had been standing there for almost a minute.
Oh, yes of course, I'm sorry, just come in please, have a seat.'
She looked strange at him, and he cursed himself for acting so weird. Then she walked over his quarters and sat down at the table.
'What is it we need to discuss?'
'It's nothing special, why?'
'Well, you invited me for dinner. There should be something to discuss, why else would you ask me to come here?'
'I just thought we could get to know each other a little better.' He tried to sit down, and tipped over the chair in the process. He raised it again, but plunged his sleeve in a bowl of sauce. She watched him with amusement, which she obviously couldn't hide.
'Are you nervous tonight, or are you always this clumsy?'
'I'm sorry, it's been a long time since I had dinner with a woman so I guess I am a little nervous.'
'Well, I'm not here as a woman, I'm here as your first officer, so I don't see why you're so nervous?'
'Damn it, she's enjoying this. I must seem first class freaky. I've got to get a hold on myself.'
'Tonight you're not here as my first officer. Tonight you're just here as you.'
'Okay. I'll just be me.'
He served them some food, he had made a vegetarian gratin his grandmother used to cook. She ate pieces of it, quite slowly.
'Didn't you like it?'
'I liked it, why shouldn't I?'
'You haven't eaten so much. You've still got half of it left.' She smiled.
'Eating has never been my strong side. It takes a while for me, since I eat very slowly, but this was really good. You haven't been talking too much. Why did you invite me here in the first place?'
He shut his eyes and took a deep breath. This was now or never.
'I've realised that when you're close, I can't concentrate. When I see you, I forget everything else. I'm falling in love with you. I'm sorry, but now it's said anyway.' He looked at her. She seemed stunned, surprised.
'Maybe... I should leave now. But thank you for being so honest with me. I really appreciate that.'
She quickly left his quarters and he was devastated at the thought about how this night had been. It could have been so much better if he had told her in another way. But done is done, and if she could sleep on it, maybe she'd understand in the morning how he felt. Maybe they could forget about all this and just move on. He certainly hoped so.
Chapter 2
When she got back her quarters, she found B'Elanna and Ricky impatiently waiting. They jumped and rushed toward her.
'What happened? Why did he want to see you?'
'Nothing "happened" B'Elanna. You're imagining, as usual.''
'Then why are you home this early? C'mon, it's only been half an hour since you left here. And why would you look like you've met a ghost?'
'Yea.' Ricky Thoran looked concerned. 'We're you're friends, Kath. You can tell us.'
She put her hands in front of her, as if shaking her friends off. This were just to much! She felt like the world just fell down on her, she couldn't manage her nosey friends too! Her position on this ship were probably ruined. He wouldn't want her as his first officer anymore since she couldn't accommodate him. She had started to feel comfortable with being on this ship, found friends, a good posting. She had to admit she felt wrong about the Captain. She tried to avoid him, and she didn't know why he always were looking at her. Now she had her answer. And she didn't like it. So now what? He probably would be furious with her for refusing to do as he says. But she felt so wrong about it. She couldn't be with someone she didn't love, because she wanted to be first officer. That was just ridiculous! She just hoped he wouldn't throw her off the ship.
'Look, something did happen. But I don't think I want to talk about it. It was...surprising, to say the least.'
B'Elanna sat down, motioning for her to do the same. Ricky followed her example.
'Kath, what happened? Chakotay's a great guy, so it can't be that bad. Tell us what it is. Please, we can help you.'
'He, he said...' Kathryn was crying now. 'He said he was...falling in love with me.' She managed to tell them between sobs.
B'Elanna went dead quiet and Ricky looked very uncomfortable. Finally, Kathryn looked up at them.
'Why aren't you saying anything?'
Ricky left the room, and the two women were alone. B'Elanna finally looked at her, tears shining in her dark eyes.
'It's just that I...well since Seska and Chakotay broke up, I've had this stupid hope, that he'd see me. Not just as an engineer or a friend, but as a woman. I wanted him to love me, because I think I love him. But now he loves you, and I'm hopeless again.'
'I don't think you are. Look, Chakotay probably doesn't love me, he just wants someone to ease his burden, to take care of him. I'm sure that if you tell him how you feel, he won't have any interest in me.'
'You don't know Chakotay. He isn't easily charmed. If he say's he loves you, he does. I'm sorry, it's just been this never-ending story for me, trying to get him. I don't even know if I do love him. I've had my eyes on Paris for a while, he seems to be a nice guy and I've forgiven him for betraying us to Starfleet.'
'Oh, so we might have a love couple here soon? I'd love to see that!'
Soon, they were involved in gossip, and Kathryn did everything she could to avoid subject Chakotay. She still was sure he didn't really love her.
Summary: This is the sequel to "Change of heart" Voyager was destroyed in Caretaker, and some of the Starfleet crew have joined the maquis.
Disclaimer: Paramount is stupid. I'm not. Paramount owns them. I don't. But I own Ricky Thoran and Laja Chrono. Paramount don't. hehe.
Author's note: Thanks for the positive feedback I got for Change of heart!
Chapter 1.
After three months on The Liberty, the former starfleet crew felt comfortable being maquis. Some of them even thought they'd stay on the ship if they got home. The starfleet and maquis slowly became one crew. Captain Chakotay liked that, but he still preferred the company of his old friends. One thing was wrong, though. When he sat beside his first officer on the bridge, he couldn't concentrate. Of course, in battle or in a negotiation, he could focus his attention, but when there were nothing going on, he found himself looking at her. No, looking is not enough. He was staring. He felt drawn to her in a way. It wasn't anything special about her, she was smart, beautiful, and quick-witted, but nothing outstanding. He liked her company, but sometimes on the bridge she looked at him and seemed very uncomfortable. Then he knew he had been staring at her. He was happy she and B'Elanna had formed a great relationship. He had invited Kathryn to dinner tonight, and decided to tell her about his feelings. He hoped she'd understand.
'So he invited you to dinner? After only three months? He must really like you! For me it took almost two years to get into that personal space of his! What are you going to wear? '
Kathryn laughed at her friend's eagerness.
'I'll wear my maquis outfit of course. Come on B'El, he probably want's to talk to me about work. A working dinner, ever heard of it?'
'Hello? Look at the note here then. You see? Casual clothing. NO UNIFORMS, that means. Come on now, we've got to find you something to wear.
'Why does he want me to wear casual clothing? I thought this should be a working dinner', she thought. 'Well, I'll know in a few hours.'.
B'Elanna wanted her to wear a black sexy dress, but Kathryn thought that would be embarrassing. After almost an hour, they settled for a pair of jeans, (Kathryn's choice) and a sleeve-less shirt with a plunging neckline. (B'Elannas choice.)
'You look great! But I still think those jeans are a little boring. Couldn't you change them for a short skirt or something?'
'No! This is good as it is. I must go now, but don't stay up just to hear "all the facts", some of us needs to get up early tomorrow.'
She winked to B'Elanna before leaving their quarters. She had never been in Chakotay's quarters before, and she felt a little nervous. She tried to calm herself, thinking that they had eaten together before, only then it was in the dining hall. She wondered if he invited her as his first officer or as his friend. She had made some friends aboard The Liberty. B'Elanna, Taia, Taia's roommate Laja, (She still thought that was a little funny, Taia and Laja...) B'Elannas friend Ricky, and she had spoken to lots of other people too, though she didn't count them as friends, not yet. Everyone aboard this ship seemed to be nice and friendly except for one. Kathryn always felt uncomfortable in Seska's company. She seemed to like Chakotay, but he avoided the bajoran as much as he could. Maybe she could ask him about that tonight.
Chakotay were just finished and sat on the couch, waiting for her arrival. He was a little nervous though, what if she didn't like him and just attended this dinner because he was her captain. In that case, she probably felt confused about his request for casual clothing. He wondered what she had chosen to wear. He looked at his own clothing. He wore a white shirt that showed his muscular chest and a pair of jeans. He hoped he didn't look to casual. He didn't really know what to talk about. He wanted to tell her how he felt about her, but he couldn't start with that. She'd go away, probably not wanting to talk with him again. He had to talk about other things, and not ship's business. When he was thinking about subjects to talk about, the doorbell chimed. He went to the door to open it. She took a step back when he opened, probably because he stood so close to her. She wore a pair of black jeans and a matching sleeve-less shirt. He couldn't seem to take his eyes of the plunging neckline. He tried to look somewhere else, not wanting her to be uncomfortable in his company. Though, if she didn't want him to look, then why would she have chosen that shirt? Well, if he knew B'Elanna right, she hadn't...
'Can I come in?'
He realised he had been standing there for almost a minute.
Oh, yes of course, I'm sorry, just come in please, have a seat.'
She looked strange at him, and he cursed himself for acting so weird. Then she walked over his quarters and sat down at the table.
'What is it we need to discuss?'
'It's nothing special, why?'
'Well, you invited me for dinner. There should be something to discuss, why else would you ask me to come here?'
'I just thought we could get to know each other a little better.' He tried to sit down, and tipped over the chair in the process. He raised it again, but plunged his sleeve in a bowl of sauce. She watched him with amusement, which she obviously couldn't hide.
'Are you nervous tonight, or are you always this clumsy?'
'I'm sorry, it's been a long time since I had dinner with a woman so I guess I am a little nervous.'
'Well, I'm not here as a woman, I'm here as your first officer, so I don't see why you're so nervous?'
'Damn it, she's enjoying this. I must seem first class freaky. I've got to get a hold on myself.'
'Tonight you're not here as my first officer. Tonight you're just here as you.'
'Okay. I'll just be me.'
He served them some food, he had made a vegetarian gratin his grandmother used to cook. She ate pieces of it, quite slowly.
'Didn't you like it?'
'I liked it, why shouldn't I?'
'You haven't eaten so much. You've still got half of it left.' She smiled.
'Eating has never been my strong side. It takes a while for me, since I eat very slowly, but this was really good. You haven't been talking too much. Why did you invite me here in the first place?'
He shut his eyes and took a deep breath. This was now or never.
'I've realised that when you're close, I can't concentrate. When I see you, I forget everything else. I'm falling in love with you. I'm sorry, but now it's said anyway.' He looked at her. She seemed stunned, surprised.
'Maybe... I should leave now. But thank you for being so honest with me. I really appreciate that.'
She quickly left his quarters and he was devastated at the thought about how this night had been. It could have been so much better if he had told her in another way. But done is done, and if she could sleep on it, maybe she'd understand in the morning how he felt. Maybe they could forget about all this and just move on. He certainly hoped so.
Chapter 2
When she got back her quarters, she found B'Elanna and Ricky impatiently waiting. They jumped and rushed toward her.
'What happened? Why did he want to see you?'
'Nothing "happened" B'Elanna. You're imagining, as usual.''
'Then why are you home this early? C'mon, it's only been half an hour since you left here. And why would you look like you've met a ghost?'
'Yea.' Ricky Thoran looked concerned. 'We're you're friends, Kath. You can tell us.'
She put her hands in front of her, as if shaking her friends off. This were just to much! She felt like the world just fell down on her, she couldn't manage her nosey friends too! Her position on this ship were probably ruined. He wouldn't want her as his first officer anymore since she couldn't accommodate him. She had started to feel comfortable with being on this ship, found friends, a good posting. She had to admit she felt wrong about the Captain. She tried to avoid him, and she didn't know why he always were looking at her. Now she had her answer. And she didn't like it. So now what? He probably would be furious with her for refusing to do as he says. But she felt so wrong about it. She couldn't be with someone she didn't love, because she wanted to be first officer. That was just ridiculous! She just hoped he wouldn't throw her off the ship.
'Look, something did happen. But I don't think I want to talk about it. It was...surprising, to say the least.'
B'Elanna sat down, motioning for her to do the same. Ricky followed her example.
'Kath, what happened? Chakotay's a great guy, so it can't be that bad. Tell us what it is. Please, we can help you.'
'He, he said...' Kathryn was crying now. 'He said he was...falling in love with me.' She managed to tell them between sobs.
B'Elanna went dead quiet and Ricky looked very uncomfortable. Finally, Kathryn looked up at them.
'Why aren't you saying anything?'
Ricky left the room, and the two women were alone. B'Elanna finally looked at her, tears shining in her dark eyes.
'It's just that I...well since Seska and Chakotay broke up, I've had this stupid hope, that he'd see me. Not just as an engineer or a friend, but as a woman. I wanted him to love me, because I think I love him. But now he loves you, and I'm hopeless again.'
'I don't think you are. Look, Chakotay probably doesn't love me, he just wants someone to ease his burden, to take care of him. I'm sure that if you tell him how you feel, he won't have any interest in me.'
'You don't know Chakotay. He isn't easily charmed. If he say's he loves you, he does. I'm sorry, it's just been this never-ending story for me, trying to get him. I don't even know if I do love him. I've had my eyes on Paris for a while, he seems to be a nice guy and I've forgiven him for betraying us to Starfleet.'
'Oh, so we might have a love couple here soon? I'd love to see that!'
Soon, they were involved in gossip, and Kathryn did everything she could to avoid subject Chakotay. She still was sure he didn't really love her.