Rating: M
This story is a sequel to "The Rose" and recounts what happens to Janeway and Chakotay "the day after" their encounter with a special rose from the planet Fantasia.
As usual, the characters belong to Paramount - but the storyline is completely mine. Your comments are always welcome.
Without further ado,
"The Thorn"The day had seemed to take an eternity for Kathryn Janeway. Since her conversation with Neelix that morning and his admitting to the whole truth about the flowers they brought on board Voyager, she had been unable to think of anything else. Luckily, there had been little excitement in the Delta quadrant that day and nothing on the ship that required her direct attention. Well, nothing other than her First Officer. Since their eyes had met as she walked on the bridge this morning, they had avoided eye contact. They both knew something was happening between them - but only Janeway was privy to exactly what acted as a catalyst to that event. That rose had started something between them that she wasn't quite sure how they would finish.
Finally, the chronometer signaled the end of her shift. Standing, she smiled, "Mr. Tuvok, you have the bridge." As she walked off the bridge, she knew she would get the one thing she needed to work through this - time. "Good night, Commander" was all she could bring herself to say.
"Good night, Captain - sleep well" were Chakotay's final words to her.
Alone in her room, she had decided to use some replicator rations to treat herself to a special dinner. After barely finishing, her thoughts drew once again to the events of the past 24 hours. One thought kept racing through her mind...
"If during the emotional contact, the two parties lock eyes for an extended period of time, they not only join bodies, but hearts, minds, and souls as well. There is a bond that will exist between them forever."
...forever...Neelix's words echoed through her mind.
"Janeway to Neelix"
"Neelix here, Captain. What can I do for you?"
"I was wondering if I might have a word with you...in my quarters?"
"Certainly, Captain. Is everything all right?" The concerned morale officer quickly added.
"Yes, I just have a few questions."
"On my way. Neelix out."
Within a minute, Neelix chimed at the Captain's door.
"Neelix, thank you for coming. I just wanted to ask you, once again, if there is anything else that I need to know about possible side affects to the situation with the rose."
"Other than what I've already explained, Captain, the only thing I can think of is the issue of unresolved conflict between the soul mates."
"Explain."
"Once destined as soul mates, it is important that the two resolve any differences they encounter. This is not to say that they have to agree, only that they respect the other's position. If this does not occur, the beauty of the rose will become scarred by the presence of a thorn. You see, every thing of beauty always has a dark side. For the rose - it is a thorn. However, by caring for the delicate rose (or the relationship), a single rose can flourish to make the world a beautiful and better place."
Now lost in her thoughts, she thanked Neelix and bid him good night. Her mind was racing. If there was one thing she and Chakotay had in their relationship...it was unresolved conflict. She shook her head soundly trying to clear her thoughts, but they kept returning to the rose. One single rose - one night - had destined her as a soul mate with her first officer...forever.
The rose: her thoughts brought that symbol back to her mind. She went into the sleeping quarters and found it there - still on the nightstand where Chakotay had placed it when he left her that night. She picked up the rose and slowly inhaled its scent. She walked to the window and gazed out at the stars while continuing to inhale the fragrance.
Suddenly she felt a warm presence next to her. She turned her head and saw Chakotay standing close once again. He slowly turned her head to look back at the stars and she began to feel a soft massage on her shoulders. Chakotay spoke softly, "Just relax, Kathryn and let me handle the rest."
The stress and fatigue of the day had begun to wear on her and she relaxed at his touch. There was something about this man that made her lose all rational thought when he was around. All of her carefully placed logic and protocol seemed to fade like a whisper in the wind each time he spoke her name.
She lost herself once again to the sweet smell of the rose and the sensations generating from Chakotay's touch. She felt the massage continue slowly as he methodically worked her shoulders, arms and back. With the rose still in her hand, she felt her arms being lifted above her head and pressed to the window in front of her. His arms encircled her and began the same magic on her front side. She felt his face nuzzling the side of her neck and placing tender kisses on the soft scented skin.
The relaxation ceased as it was replaced with familiar, but buried sensations. Her body came alive with his touch, responding in kind to the arousal infusing every pore. She felt the back of her uniform being undone; the garment removed and tossed to the floor. The cool air mixed with the hot kisses playing across her exposed flesh. The kisses continued their path downward. She felt she might explode from the contrasting sensations: the fire from his kisses on her backside mixed with the coolness on her front pressing against the glass of the window. She thought she could stand upright no longer from the spiraling emotions threatening to explode when suddenly - she felt a sharp pain tear through her right hand...her eyes flew open and she found that she was all alone.
It all had been a dream - a hallucination of some type induced once again by the scent of the rose. She looked at her hand that now had blood dripping down on to her uniform. A thorn from the rose had imbedded itself in her hand.
She tried to remove it herself, but it had imbedded itself deep within her hand. "Well, this will be an interesting one to explain to the doctor," she murmured out loud as she began to make her way to sick bay to have the thorn removed.
Meanwhile, in the quarters right next to the Captain's, a different story had evolved:
Chakotay was pacing around his quarters, berating himself for the way the day had transpired:
"Good night Captain. Sleep well." I can't believe that was all I could say to her after all we have shared. I know she doesn't want to talk about it, but she has to! She's always trying to hide her emotions - I've never met a woman who hides them as she does. I've been with her enough to know that under that calm exterior is a passionate woman just waiting to be released. I know I'm the man to do that for her. I just need to convince her to see things the same way I do - there's a way we can work this out - I just have to be patient.
Unable to come to peace with his thoughts, Chakotay decided to contact his spirit guide for a vision quest. He opened the bundle and laid out each piece ceremoniously. "Akoochemaya, we are far from the spirits of our ancestors..."
Chakotay opened his eyes to become acquainted with his surroundings. He felt an unnatural pull in the direction of a bright light. Being accustomed to strange things happening during these visions, he followed the light with no apprehension. Then he saw her...standing by the window...holding the rose.
He followed the pull of the vision until it left his spirit standing right behind her frame. She was looking out at the stars and inhaling the fragrance of the rose - "their rose." He could sense that she was troubled and fatigued - the day had been long for her as well. Out of instinct he began to massage her shoulders - murmuring words of encouragement for her to relax. It was the strangest sensation - he knew he was still physically in his quarters; but, he could smell the fragrance of the rose and he knew she could feel his touch. It was as if he was really there. Once again, the scent of the rose took over his senses. He placed Kathryn's arms above her head and encircled her waist with his arms...she felt so good. His caresses were almost worshipful as he strove to bring her pleasure and the release she so deeply craved. He inhaled her scent as he nuzzled her neck - oddly enough it registered to him that her scent was now the same as that of the rose. He undid the back of her jumpsuit and began to trail hot kisses along the soft satin skin of her back. He moved in behind her and reached up to cover her hands in his. As his hand covered the hand holding the rose, his fantasy was ripped apart with a searing pain in his hand.
He awoke from the vision to find his right hand bleeding - as though a thorn was imbedded in it. Unable to stop the bleeding himself, he decided a trip to sick bay might be necessary. As he made his way to see the Doctor, the only thought that kept running through his mind was, "Well, this will be an interesting one to explain to the doctor."
