Chapter Five

"Tuvok to Janeway."

Kathryn sighed. She found herself tangled in her Pilot's arms. She quickly untangled herself to grab her communicator off of the bedside table.

"Go ahead Tuvok." Janeway said.

"I apologize for waking you, Captain, but we must speak urgently."

Kathryn paused to yawn. "Meet me in my ready room in an hour."

"Yes Captain. Tuvok out."

Tom woke once the conversation ended. "What's going on, Kat?"

It took Kathryn a moment to remember that Tom was next to her. He stayed in her quarters last night. She turned to look at the younger man. He looked so desirable with his hair a mess.

"Tuvok has something urgent that he and I need to discuss, babe. You can go back to sleep. Your shift doesn't start for another 3 hours." Kathryn said.

She pecked Tom on the lips before getting up to get ready. She chose not to shower. Instead, she found a clean uniform. While she was dressing, Tom came out of the bedroom. He was just in his boxers.

"What do you think it could be about?" Tom asked. He was not only intrigued, but worried as well.

Kathryn met Tom's eyes through the mirror. She was pulling her hair into a tight bun.

"No I don't. It must be something serious if Tuvok wants to speak to me."

"I could hear the urgency in that Vulcan's voice." Tom admitted.

Kathryn turned to Tom. She placed a hand on his cheek.

"It will be alright, Tommy. If I feel I need to bring in the Senior Staff then I will."

Tom moved so he could hold her hands. "I understand that you are the Captain and there are things that you need to keep from your crew, including your Senior Staff. Just know I am here if you need me."

Kathryn stood on her tippy toes to kiss him on the lips. She then went to grab her uniform jacket off of her desk before leaving her quarters.

She tried to focus on the large amount of PADDS on her desk so her thoughts wouldn't escape her as she waited for her Chief of Security. Tom said he would be on the bridge if she needed him. Tuvok was one of the few who knew they grew up together and how close they were. Although, he did not know that they rekindled their relationship.

There was a chime at the door. She swore she heard Tuvok and Tom's voices, although she couldn't make out what they were saying.

"Come in."

Tuvok walked in. Kathryn tried to hide her sigh as she took a sip of her coffee.

"Good morning, Captain. I have some disturbing news to share with you."

Kathryn leaned back in her chair. She nodded her head for her old friend to continue.

"I believe we have a traitor on board." Tuvok said.

Kathryn raised an eyebrow. It wasn't for the Vulcan to believe such things.

"What makes you think that?" Kathryn asked.

Tuvok handed her a PADD. Kathryn read it over as she listened to Tuvok talking about his findings about someone communicating with the Kazon Nistrim and Seska.

"Do you know who could be doing it?" Kathryn asked, her voice cracking a little.

She couldn't believe a member of her crew could think about doing something like this. They were family.

"I do not. However, I may have a way we could find that out."

Tom walked into the ready room. He resisted the urge to pull Kathryn into a hug. She looked like she was about to cry, but she was the Captain. She needed to pull herself together.

"Captain?"

"We have a mission for you, Tom. You'll be alone in this. It's a covert mission."

"I accept!" Tom exclaimed with no hesitation.

"I haven't even told you what it entails, Tommy." Kathryn said, letting Tom's nickname slip.

It was just the three of them in the ready room. Her, Tom, and Tuvok. She could let her guard down a little.

"And I can tell you that I don't like the idea of you being put in a dangerous situation." Kathryn finished her thought.

"It shouldn't matter. Kathryn, you know me. We grew up together. I spent all of my life getting my father to be proud of me, to not make me think that I am just some mess up. So I want to do this. Let me make him proud." Tom explained.

Kathryn grabbed Tom's face. She wiped the tears from his eyes. "You are not a mess up, honey. You've done nothing but exemplary work while we are stuck in the Delta Quadrant."

"Kat." Tom whispered.

Kathryn sighed. She let go of Tom to grab the PADD off of the desk. She handed it to him. He immediately took it and began reading it. She explained the mission with Tom.

"Because of her rough past, you are qualified for the mission. You will be acting like you don't give a damn about the rules or your duties. I give you full permission to do what you wish. Just remember you report to me."

"Yes ma'am. May I ask a question though?"

"Ask away."

Tom thought about it for a moment. "Why me?"

Kathryn sighed. She glared at her chief of security for a moment before turning her attention back to Tom. "Tuvok has been watching you closely. You are the only member of the crew that doesn't have any ties with Starfleet or the Maquis. He noticed that you only spend time with Harry or I."

"Fair enough."

"I do want to let you know in case the traitor is part of the Maquis crew, we are leaving Chakotay out of this. With that said, you may act how you wish, but please do not take it too far. He is still your first officer."

"Yes ma'am. I understand." Tom nodded his head.

As the bridge filled with the morning crew, they went over the briefing. Kathryn, Tuvok, and Tom came out a few moments later. Chakotay handed Kathryn a PADD. It was just a brief about the previous night. Tom couldn't keep himself from glaring at the Command Team.

"Need something, Mister Paris." Chakotay said, staring down at the helmsman.

Tom shook his head. "No sir."

Tom smiled to himself as his fingers tapped against the console. He was going to enjoy this mission.