Disclaimer: I still do not own Star Trek Voyager, although I wish I did. I'm just borrowing the characters for a while. Live long and prosper. -Linwe
Chakotay slowly opened his eyes and briefly wondered why he wasn't seeing the gray ceiling of the shelter. Memories of the past 24 hours flooded his mind and he sat up.
Kathryn was sleeping soundly in her sleeping bag with both arms above her head on his right. He smiled at how she looked more like a restless child, than a dignified Starfleet captain.
He reached out to touch her shoulder to wake her and as his fingers brushed her long auburn locks, he found her hair was still slightly damp. He remembered the night before and how they had clowned around like teenagers. He also remembered how Kathryn had made a revelation. She'd told him that she considered him her best friend, and that had genuinely touched Chakotay more than she could know.
They had told many stories to each other around the campfire and Kathryn had finally fallen asleep when Chakotay was in the middle of an ancient legend (a real one) of his people. He'd lifted her in his arms and tucked her in her sleeping bag. She was so exhausted that she'd never even flinched.
"Chakotay?" she asked groggily.
"Good morning, sunshine." He joked and she swatted his shoulder playfully.
"Am I still wearing that red bikini?"
"Yes."
"Don't tell me I fell asleep during your legend?"
"You did."
"Will you ever forgive me?"
"Hmm… I suppose I could, since you're the captain."
"How does the legend end?" she asked.
"I'll tell you when we return to Voyager."
"Is that a date, Commander?"
"Yes, Captain."
"I told you, it's still Kathryn, Chakotay."
"I was hoping you would say that."
"Now," she said sitting up. "Where's my coffee?"
The End
To my most gracious reviewers:
Sevenfan, you are absolutely right. Janeway did say in" Cannon" that she hated camping, but she also hated gardening, remember? She said herself she now finds it relaxing. Plus she was the one who suggested (rather enthusiastically at that) to Chakotay that they take the boat up the river for a camping trip. Perhaps she's also grown out of her hate for camping?
Ari, you are very wise to agree with sevenfan, they did sort of address each other like teenagers would, I was thinking casual though. They weren't on duty or even on Voyager, but I suppose they could've used a bit more sophisticated of words. I wasn't thinking too well when I wrote this, it was just for fun, you know? It's what I wanted to happen in the show.
Thanks to all for reading and reviewing! -Linwe