AN: Sorry it took awhile to get this one up, had a few issues with uploading it :D Anyway, enjoy.
Kathryn woke the next morning and proceeded to massage her temples. "Computer, what's the time?"
"It is 0607," the computer responded, causing Kathryn to grimace as she crawled out of bed and proceeded to run her morning bath. Quietly the captain hoped it would rid her of the headache pounding behind her eyes.
Unfortunately, not even thirty some-odd minutes in her tub could ease the throbbing pain, in fact, it only seemed to get worse.
Standing, she wrapped herself in her robe and the let the water run out of the tub, meandering to the replicator.
Ordering herself some coffee she settled on the couch, wrapping herself in the nearby blanket.
"Computer," the woman shivered, "increase temperature by five degrees," she ordered. The computer promptly responded, increasing the room temperature as per the captain's command. This, unfortunately, didn't seem to help, as a chill ran up her spine, nothing like what Chakotay had caused the night before.
'A few minutes rest,' the captain thought, 'and I'll be ready to go.' She closed her eyes, for, what she presumed, would be a few minutes.
"Chakotay to Captain Janeway. Kathryn, you awake?" Is what finally woke her up.
Standing, she searched for her commbadge, causing her to stub her toe, trip over a table and nearly smack her head on her chair.
"I'm here, Commander," she responded, her voice croaking through the badge.
"You okay, Captain?"
"I'm fine, Chakotay, just stubbed my toe. I'll be out in a few minutes," was given.
"Aye, Captain, I'll be waiting. Chakotay out."
Kathryn moaned and stepped back into the washroom to look herself in the mirror. Upon seeing her reflection she shook her head, causing it to throb even more.
"Okay, keeping head still," was noted, though easier said than done, as she did her hair, thankful, now, that it was short. Finally, she got to pulling her uniform on, which was done as quickly as possible, so as not to keep the commander waiting.
With only fifteen minutes to get to the bridge, Kathryn exited her cabin, almost doing a face plant into Chakotay's chest.
"Captain…" Chakotay stepped back, taking the opportunity to examine the pale-faced woman before him. "Are you okay?" A genuine expression of concern etched itself across his face.
"I'm fine, Commander."
"You don't look so fine, Kath," he noted as they stepped into the turbolift.
Once the doors had closed behind them Chakotay lifted the back of his hand to the captains forehead. "Kath, you're burning up," he stated, before ordering the doors open and leading the captain back to her quarters.
"Commander Chakotay to Lieutenant Commander Tuvok."
"Tuvok here, Commander," Chakotay's commbadge replied.
"Tuvok, you have the bridge until further notice."
"Aye, Sir."
"Chakotay out."
"Chakotay, what are you doing?" Janeway questioned.
"It's called making sure the captain rests, Kathryn."
"Commander…" she was cut off by Chakotay shushing her.
"Commander Chakotay to the Doctor," he tapped his badge again.
"This is the Doctor, how can I be of assistance today, Commander?"
"Well, Doc, you can start by coming to the captain's quarters," he answered as he wrapped a shivering Janeway in a blanket, before removing her boots.
"I'll be right there, Commander. EMH out."
" Lay down, Kath," he 'ordered', placing a pillow at the near end of the couch.
"Are you presuming to give me orders, Commander?"
"Yes, Captain, I am," he answered as her door chime went.
"Come in," Chakotay answered, eyeing the glowering captain.
"Good morning Captain, Commander. What seems to be the problem today?" the doctor enquired.
"I think she's burning up, Doc."
"I'm right here, and I'm perfectly fine," Kathryn chimed in, still glowering.
"Of course you are, Captain, that's why the commanders here, instead of on the bridge," the doctor gave as he ran his tricorder over her. "Elevated caffeine levels, and, indeed, Captain, you are burning up."
"Alright, so do your thing with the hypospray and let me get to work."
With this the commander and doctor exchanged a look before the doc continued.
"I'm sorry, Captain, but it's exactly that that's caused you to fall ill. No, Captain, I think it will do you good not to work for the time it takes this to run its course."
"Doctor," the captain glowered, mentally cursing the hologram.
"Oh, and no coffee, either, Captain," the EMH noted before he headed to the door. "I trust you'll make sure she follows orders, Commander?"
"Of course, Doctor. Thank you for stopping by."
"It's not often that I get to see my favorite patient, Commander, she's extremely stubborn," he stated, before heading back to sickbay.
"Commander, would you kindly get off my legs so I can get to the bridge?" Kathryn requested, trying to get into a sitting position, though Chakotay wouldn't move.
"Sorry, Kath, you're sick, and so long as the doctor won't 'cure' you, you're stuck here. You'll be stuck with me if you don't behave," was stated. "Tuvok has the bridge, Kath, there's no one better for the job so long as we're here."
Janeway glared at the commander, crossing her arms in the process, though she quickly realized that she wouldn't win this.
VOYAGER-VOYAGER-VOYAGER-VOYAGER-VOYAGER-VOYAGER
The bridge crew was abuzz with the recent conversation between Tuvok and the commander. Perhaps the better phrase was 'lack of conversation'. Chakotay had said very little, which, in itself, was unusual. The tone in his voice sounded to be carefully schooled, as well.
"Lieutenant Paris, please return your attention to the con," Tuvok stated from tactical. "The reason for the Captain and Commanders absence is no one's concern but their own."
"Aye aye, Sir," was Paris's simple response, though he was rather curious as to what the command team was up to.
VOYAGER-VOYAGER-VOYAGER-VOYAGER-VOYAGER-VOYAGER
Back in the captains quarters Chakotay had just finished making a light breakfast for the Kathryn. "Breakfast is served, Kath," he stated, causing her to sit upright long enough for Chakotay to put the tray in front of her and sit where her head was.
"You forgot the coffee," she stated, staring with disinterest at the orange juice.
"Doc's orders, Kath. No coffee."
Janeway grumbled and bit into a piece of toast. "Your mean, Chakotay."
"I'm so mean that I'm sitting here, taking care of you. I could leave you to the doctors caring hands…"
"You do that and I will throw you out the nearest airlock."
"Eat up, Kathryn, it'll help you feel better."
"Chak, if you're going to be nursing me back to health, I may take a little longer to get better."
"Eat, Kathryn, or else I might think you're flirting with me."
"Just enough to get you to stay, I hope," was her response.
"I'll stay until you kick me out, Kath, that's always the way it's been," he answered, pulling her against him, careful not to upset the tray on her lap.
"So you've said, Chakotay, but there's still a ship to run."
"It will hold itself together long enough for its captain to get better. Besides, if I leave you might replicate yourself some coffee, then where would we be?" he enquired.
Kathryn just shook her head before setting her tray of forgotten food on the nearby table.
"Kath, you have to eat…"
"I will, I'm just not hungry right now," Janeway noted before closing her eyes. It didn't take long for her to doze off in the commander's arms. She probably would have enjoyed it a little more if she didn't feel like hell warmed over.
TBC:
I hope you enjoyed this one... the captain is not perfect ;)