Janeway looked around the bridge, and then looked at Q, weighing her options. She knew there was no way to bargain with Q, and that she would have to go on a date with him in order to set her crew back on their way to the Alpha Quadrant.

"I'll do it, but you must allow me to explain this to Chakotay and if at any time I want to be returned to the ship, you must comply right away."

"I'm offended that you would imply that you may not have fun with me Kathy. I'll respect your wishes, and even go one step further. I'll protect Voyager from any and all dangers that it may encounter while we're gone."

Janeway had little time to react to Q's unexpected kindness, as the staff on the bridge suddenly sprang back to life. Tuvok was the first to notice that Q was standing on the bridge, and was the first to draw his phaser. The rest of the crew soon followed.

Janeway held her hands up. "Hold your fire! All of you were just frozen by Q, except for me. The only way that Q would agree to unfreeze you was if I went on a date of sorts with him. As much as it nauseates me, I had to agree in order to get the ship back on its course for the Alpha Quadrant. However, in exchange for me agreeing to this date, Q has agreed to protect the ship from any harm while I am gone, so you should have no major issues."

"Captain are you sure that this is a good idea?" Chakotay asked, concern evident in his voice.

"No commander, I'm not, but what choice do I have?"

"Oh come on Chuckles, what's the worst that can happen? Are you afraid that she'll have a good time?"

Chakotay glared a Q, then turned to the captain, his gaze softening a bit.

"Very well captain. We'll stay on course and wait for your return."

"Lets just get this over with. Commander, you have the bridge until I return."

In the blink of an eye, Janeway went from the bridge of Voyager to a beautiful red sand beach. She looked over at Q, who was dressed in a white t-shirt and cargo shorts now. Janeway looked down to find that she was dressed in a sleeveless black shirt, and khaki capris. All in all, she didn't look half bad, and neither did he.

"So Kathy, what shall we do now?" Q asked with a smile.

"You're asking me? You're the one who brought me here, I would have thought that you had some sort of plan in mind."

"Why don't we go swimming then?" before Janeway could answer, she was in a black bathing suit, and Q in a pair of swimming trunks. "Come on Kathy, let's go!" Q ran into the bright blue ocean that lay before them. As much as Kathryn hated it, Q's enthusiasm was contagious. She started running to catch up with him. She sat chest high in the water, just relaxing. Q swam over to her, and sat down, watching her.

"Why were you so reluctant to come out here with me today?"

"I don't like you in the way that you want me to like you. Not only that, I need to get my crew home, and sitting on a beautiful beach relaxing isn't going to do that."

"I already asked the Continuum if I could send Voyager home outright, but they said no, because I've already interfered too much, and that if I did so, I would be kicked out. So, long story short, I won't send Voyager home, but I will help you as much as possible in your voyage."

Q moved his hand over Kathryn's, and noted that she didn't flinch or move away.

"Q, don't get me wrong, I appreciate the offer, but if you're doing this just to win me ov-"

"No ma capitaine, that is not my intention. Granted, having you return my feelings would be great, but right now having you safe is most important to me right now.

"That's touching Q, it really ism but I don't know if I can trust what you're saying your intentions are."

"Then let me show you that my intentions are good Kathryn. Let me show you that all I want is for you to be safe. Maybe if I can show you that, then you'll trust me enough to give me a chance."

"Q, I don't like that. Hell, I'm not even sure that I like you at all."

She looked over at Q, and it looked as though he had been punched in the stomach.

"Q, I didn't mean-"

"No Kathy, I can see why you would say that. I really haven't been anything like a friend to you or your crew. I apologize for what I've done."

Before she could answer, she was in her ready room, back in her uniform, wishing she hadn't said that…

Rahainia- earth sounds like a good idea now that you mentioned it, but at the time that I wrote this chapter in a note book, I had just chosen a random nameless planet. Thanks for the heads up though, that would be a good second date…if there is one, I'm not sure yet.

Jenetri- thanks for the review!