Chapter 5
A/N: this takes place about 3 weeks after chapter 4 ! Thanks to our beta RACHEL ! Thanks to the GREAT girls: Marieke, Carol, Tessa & Jacq; sunday was great ! Also thanks to our faithful reviewers ;) you all rock!
"Tom!" B'Elanna called from the bathroom, as she was brushing her hair. "Tom?"
"Yes? What?" Tom hollered back as he jumped into his pyjama-pants. "What is it B? What!"
"No need to yell, I'm right here." The half Klingon raised an eyebrow at her husband as she emerged from the bathroom and threw her robe over a nearby chair. "I was just wondering... about the Captain and Chakotay."
Tom snorted. "Well, everybody has been wondering about that... for weeks."
"I know, I know," B'Elanna replied as she got into bed and pulled up the covers. "I mean... they've changed... and yet, there's still something... that has remained the same."
Tom got into bed too and smirked. "Ah, yes. My wife, the philosopher. To quote the infamous blonde of this ship: Explain yourself."
"Well," B'Elanna started. "They do spend a lot of time together, I mean, you've seen them since the Captain told us about her pregnancy. But they don't act like a couple. And there's no way I'm believing that they would have a child together just like that."
"What do you mean; they don't act like a couple?" Tom frowned. "He follows her everywhere. Just like with us," he added with a cheeky grin.
She grinned. "Sweet. And I know that, but there's something that just doesn't seem right between them." B'Elanna shook her head. "I've known Chakotay for too long not to notice this."
"So," Tom started as he sat up. "What you're saying is... that... they are going to have a child together. Right? But they're not involved. And you don't believe it could be a one night thing. Am I right?"
"Yes!" B'Elanna turned to face him. "That's exactly what I'm saying!"
He had to stop himself from smirking. "That, honey, doesn't make any sense."
"Oh I know that!" Frustrated, she threw up her hands. "That's why I don't get it. It just doesn't make sense."
"Oooookay. Why don't we talk about... I don't know, umm," he shrugged, his blue eyes sparkling. "Ah yes, things that do make sense. Like, let's just leave this alone and….it's none of our business?"
"If it's about Chakotay, then it is my business. He's my best friend." B'Elanna snapped.
Rolling his eyes, Tom laid back down on the bed. In a mock-sad voice, he softly said, "But I thought I was your best friend?"
Annoyed that he wasn't taking her seriously, B'Elanna gave him a little push and turned her back at him.
Smiling mischievously , Tom leaned in very close, his warm breath tickling her ear as he whispered, "Or am I just your husband because I'm good at..."
"OW!" Tom cringed as his wife's elbow hit him in the ribs, hard.
"Computer, lights out."
"I was going to say 'good at making sense'."
"Goodnight Tom!"
In the Captain's ready-room nearby, Kathryn had just taken a nice warm bath to relax her strained muscles. Especially her back had been killing her these past few weeks. And, it would only get worse, Sam Wildman had told her.
Kathryn tied her robe around her waist, which wasn't as petite as it used to be. Smiling, she stared into the mirror and admired her belly. No matter how strange the circumstances, no matter how many inconveniences… she had to admit it wasn't all bad. Strange though, a week ago she'd told Chakotay how much she hated being pregnant, but now everything seemed… different. Especially since Chakotay had assumed the 'daddy-role' and they'd been 'forced' to spend a lot of time together. Pretending to be a happy couple. There were definitely worse things.
She slowly walked into her living-room and picked up the sketches Q had left for her. Designs for the nursery, one even more outrageous than the other. She chuckled softly, shook her head and placed them next to her computer. She'd have to show Q a few traditional human nurseries next time he decided to stopped by.
That morning, Tom and B'Elanna entered the mess-hall together, an hour before their shift started. After waking up, B'Elanna had continued to share her suspicions about the Captain and Chakotay, but Tom still wasn't buying it and it pissed her off. She just knew she was right.
The usual people were already gathered in the mess-hall, including The Captain and her first officer. They were sitting in a quiet corner, their heads together. It seemed that Chakotay was telling a story, and an amusing one for a change, because Captain Janeway was smiling at him.
B'Elanna tried to nudge her husband, but noticed he was already gone; walking around with a plate of food, laughing at Neelix for dropping something in the soup.
With a sigh, she focussed her attention back on the couple in the corner. The Captain was now 5 weeks pregnant and showing. Not just her appearance had changed, but so had her personality. She seemed a lot more... human. Easy going, more fun to be around since she'd told the crew about her pregnancy.
The half-Klingon took a deep breath. 'Now or never.'
Just as Tom looked up from Neelix and the hilarious soup-scene, he could see his wife heading for the Captain and Chakotay, who were sitting in a faraway corner of the mess-hall.
"Oh God, B, please don't…." he softly muttered to himself. But he knew there was no stopping her. Once B'Elanna had her mind set on something... And she had. She wanted to prove him wrong.
"Captain. Commander." B'Elanna said loudly and immediately the couple's whispered conversation stopped.
Janeway looked up in surprise. "B'Elanna... anything I can do for you?" Chakotay glanced at his friend curiously.
"Yes. ...yes." B'Elanna lowered her voice. "I um...wondered... if I could have a word."
"A word?" the Captain repeated. "Of course." Chakotay pulled up an extra chair in response.
"Actually I-" she started, but stopped mid-sentence, "…would just like to speak to Chakotay, if that's alright with you, Captain."
Kathryn nodded and smiled. "Of course, take your time. I'll go help out Neelix with the um… soup."
They both watched the Captain slowly walk away, then Chakotay turned to his friend in concern. "Something wrong, B'Elanna?"
B'Elanna sat down opposite him and folded her hands. "You could say that. Chakotay," she sighed. "I need you to be honest with me, alright?"
"Of course I will," he replied in surprise.
"Alright, good. So…what's going on? Between you and the Captain."
Chakotay first glanced at the Kathryn at the other side of the room, then back at B'Elanna. "What exactly do you mean?"
"Don't give me that, Chakotay. You know what I mean!" B'Elanna hissed, her cheeks flushed. She was getting tired of this game.
Chakotay lowered his voice as well, careful not to attract any attention. "B'Elanna, anything that goes on between the Captain and me stays there. It's personal and private."
"That, I understand." B'Elanna nodded. "But it doesn't give you the right to lie to us!"
Chakotay took a deep breath and then sighed. He wanted to exclaim that he'd 'never lie to her or the crew', but he had. So, instead he just stared at her. "B...I really don't know –"
"The baby," she replied a little too quickly. "You're the father, yet you and the captain aren't a real couple. And I know you Chakotay. And I know the Captain. This couldn't have been a one night thing."
He reached out and covered her hands with his. "B, listen to me. It's a very complicated situation. All I can tell you is that it will be explained in due time. That's all I can offer you for now."
"Chakotay.." she sighed. "Just don't let this get out of hand, alright? I know how you feel about her. I'm not sure what's going on and frankly, I don't want to think about it, but…please, be careful."
Before he could reply, he noticed Kathryn waving at him from across the room.
"If you'll excuse me…I have to go…" he apologised as he pushed himself from his seat.
"Chakotay wait…" B'Elanna started but was interrupted by her own husband.
"Hi there Commander. It seems that my wife wandered away from me again." Hands dug deep in his pockets, Tom stood there smirking at the two.
"Tom..." B'Elanna growled.
"Yes, honey?" the pilot replied, in a very cheerful voice.
"This... is not... the time," she said through clenched teeth.
Chakotay cleared his throat. "We," he motioned his head towards the Captain, "have to be on time for our…her doctor's appointment."
After a short nod at B'Elanna and Tom, Chakotay walked over to the Captain and offered her his arm. "Allow me to... guarantee you arrive at the Doctor's... safely?"
Kathryn smiled. "Why, thank you Commander." She took his arm and together they excited the mess-hall.
"B?" Tom tried as he put on hand on her shoulder.
Angrily, she pushed his hand away. "You are SO sleeping on the couch tonight." She got up as well and marched past him, towards Neelix.
Smiling, Tom could only shrug. "If it's just for one night..."
"A week! On the floor!" B'Elanna called from the other side of the room.
"Mind if I ask what that was all about?" Kathryn asked suddenly as she and Chakotay were walking through one of Voyager's endless hallways. "I mean, if it's not too personal or anything… I just thought- "
"It's alright," Chakotay grinned, but then the smile faded. "Looks like we're busted."
Kathryn nodded and put a hand on her belly. "That was what I was afraid of. One look at B'Elanna's determined face…"
He nodded. "She's just concerned about me. She knows I haven't been completely honest about this situation."
"She's a good friend," Kathryn said. "And you should really explain this to her. B'Elanna's not just concerned but also hurt because... she knows you've been hiding something and you two are very close."
"I know." Chakotay answered softly. "And I only hope she'll forgive me. And the rest of the crew for that matter."
"I'm sure she will. Who could resi-..." Kathryn smiled but didn't finish her sentence as they were already standing in front of sickbay. "Thank you Commander."
"Anytime, Captain."
"See you on the bridge."
Instead of answering, he smiled and nodded, before turning around and heading for the turbolift.
While the Captain and the Commander were at sickbay, Tuvok was in command of the bridge.
The Vulcan was just reading a padd ensign Kim had handed him, when he heard a soft popping noise. He immediately identified the source of that noise and slowly turned around.
"What are you doing here, Q junior?"
"How did you know it was me? It could have been my father!" The young Q hopped off one of the consoles and walked up to the Vulcan, smirking.
"Logic."
"But of course!"
"Why are you here?"
Junior rolled his eyes. "I'm here to see Aunt Kathy of course! You couldn't make that logical assumption? I'm disappointed."
Tuvok just stared at young man and didn't reply.
"So, I heard she's in sickbay right now. Okay by you if I sit around here while waiting for her?"
Tuvok merely blinked to hide his dismay for the uncontrollable young Q. "It would be 'okay', if you don't interfere with our work."
"Promise," the young Q said earnestly. "Go ahead people." He then called out. "Live short and do….prosperous things." He winked at the Vulcan before the latter had a chance to correct him.
Tom looked up at Harry and the two grinned.
"I'll alert the captain of your arrival," Tuvok told Junior.
"You do that." Q junior nodded. "Tell her I intend to be great brother. You know, I'm the first Q to become a half-brother. Seeing as she's half Q."
Tuvok stopped dead in his tracks and Tom Paris spun around in his chair. "Half Q? Who?"
Junior frowned at Tom's surprise. "The baby! Aunt Kathy's baby of course." He glanced around and noticed all the shocked faces. "What? You didn't know? ….uh-oh."
"Explain yourself," Tuvok told the young Q.
Q shrugged. "Well I don't think there's much that you guys don't already know. But maybe I should go." He knew he'd said something he wasn't supposed to. Just as he was doing so good back at the Continuum. He softly cursed.
"Wait a minute," Tom said. "I think there is something we don't know. And I also think that you know."
"Maybe," Q replied carefully. He was frantically trying to think of an answer that wouldn't get him into more trouble than he already was.
"Lieutenant, I believe this is a private matter. We should not discuss this," Tuvok said, firmly.
"The Vulcan's right!" another voice said. Q stepped onto the bridge, glaring.
"Father!" Q exclaimed as he spun around, not knowing whether to feel relieved or not. "Why are you here?"
Q approached his son, his face flushed. "To clean up the mess you made!"
"What do you mean?" Q Junior winced.
"From now on, you will not say a word about Kathy to any member of this crew here." Q hissed to his son.
"Why?" the younger Q folded his arms across his chest, ignoring the audience they had.
His father looked at the other people on the bridge, who didn't have a clue what he was discussing with his son.
"WHY? Because I say so!" Q threw his hands up in the air.
"That's not a valid reason." The young Q redirected his attention to Voyager's crew again. "Now where was I…"
"Q!"
"What's going on here?"
Both Qs turned around. Commander Chakotay had just stepped of the turbo lift.
Q sent an angry glare towards his son. "I'm sorry Commander, Junior... you see..."
He rolled his eyes. "... Junior has been spreading... gossip."
"Gossip!" The younger Q jumped up angrily. "You told me yourself, Q!"
"I told you nothing," Q's eyes widened. "Nothing, do you hear me?"
Chakotay understood right away why the Qs were arguing. And it was a good thing Kathryn wasn't here. Just this once.
"Q... and..." He frowned. "Q, why don't you take your dispute somewhere else?"
Tom and Harry exchanged looks, while the others on the bridge couldn't do anything but stare at the arguing Q's.
"Yes, Q. You're coming with me. Now, young man!" Q said loudly.
Chakotay looked at the young Q pointedly, waiting for him to leave. First B'Elanna, now something Q Junior had said. Their scheme, as the doctor had called it, was falling apart. And he hated to go back to just being...Kathryn's friend and first officer.
The young Q's face was flushed with anger. "I don't deserve this! There's no need to yell at me father. But you just told me that I'll become a brother soon, I hurry off to ask how aunt Kathy is doing, and this is the welcome I get!"
Q rolled his eyes at his son's stubbornness. True enough, he had revealed to Junior that he was the father of Kathy's child, but just when he was about to inform his son about the arrangement with Chakotay and Kathryn, his son had rushed off.
But the young Q was right. Junior had changed after being apart of Voyager's crew for awhile and was no longer the arrogant little…..'Q' he used to be. But still, his enthusiasm about becoming a brother could ruin everything. For Kathryn.
"Q, please." He put a hand on Junior's shoulder. "We'll discuss this back at the continuum, alright?"
"No," Q said, his pride hurt. "Take a look around you." He pointed at the bystanders who wondered what they'd been arguing about. "I want to know what's going on. And I think they do too."
"For once I agree with him," Tom spoke up. He was getting a feeling that B'Elanna may have been right after all. Something just wasn't right.
Chakotay looked at the pilot in surprise. "Lieutenant Paris, this isn't any of your-"
Suddenly, all conversation halted and heads turned when Tuvok loudly called out, "Captain on the bridge."
"At ease..." Kathryn stepped out, looked around and frowned in surprise. "…Everyone!"
Most of the crewmembers had left their posts and were just standing there, looking at the scene.
"Something going on, Q? Chakotay?" She glanced around and placed her hands on her hips. "And Q?"
"Kathy." Senior Q began and lowered his voice. "I told Junior about your pregnancy."
"And?" She shrugged. "Anyone can see that I'm pregnant."
When she saw his sheepish grin, she knew what version of this story he'd told his son. The real one. "I see." She began. "Q, Q, Commander Chakotay, my ready room. Now!"
Her hands balled into fists and she could feel her cheeks flush in anger. What was Q thinking when he told his son about this!
"Tuvok you have the bridge," she said as she marched out, closely followed by Chakotay and the two Qs... at a safe distance.
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