Chapter 3 – Daybreak

"I know you haven't made your mind up yet
But I will never do you wrong
I've known it from the moment that we met
No doubt in my mind where you belong."

- Bob Dylan

=/\=

The holodeck was thick with talk and excitement as Chakotay entered through the sliding door. People milled happily. Two crew members were cuddled holding hands on a lounge chair to his right. Dancing was everywhere. Glasses clinked, the energy electric.

Neelix's program was the most exuberant he had ever seen, something that would have made the ship's former Ambassador proud.

Chakotay looked up just as the Doctor approached him. He was short of breath, his face worrisome.

"There you are, Commander."

"Yes, what's the emergency, Doctor?"

"It's the Captain."

"What's wrong?"

"Well, she has been dipping into the cocktails...," the Doctor started.

"Is that all?" Chakotay returned, annoyed.

The Doctor gasped, crushed by the Commander's aloofness. "But she's the Captain!"

"Doctor, we're home," he returned matter-of-factly. "There's no mission. I'm sure she can afford to let her hair down and relax for one evening."

"That's not all she's let down," the Doctor remarked quietly.

Chakotay strained to hear him over the loud music and chatter. "I'm sorry?"

"But what will the crew say?" the Doctor continued, adding to his argument.

"The crew is diminishing daily. They are going home."

"And what about Starfleet Command?"

Chakotay sighed. The Doctor was not going to let this go. "I'll see what I can do." He patted the Doctor on his shoulder as reassurance. "But she hardly needs a babysitter." Chakotay directed the Doctor to lead the way.

He followed him past the bar and pool, and smiled seeing a young couple locked in a heated kiss. The Doctor led him to a quiet corner hidden behind two leaning palm trees, no doubt a recent addition by Harry and Tom.

Through hanging sheer curtains, Chakotay could make out the silhouettes of figures seated, aligned on couches surrounding a lit fire.

The Doctor moved aside to pull back the break in the curtain, and it opened to reveal the Captain, curled in a corner of the couch, her legs tucked beneath her, hidden under the flowered print sundress she adorned.

She was engaged with the group before her, hands motioning through her speech. He couldn't follow what she was saying but Tom and Harry clung to her every word. They laughed together and she tilted her head back revealing her long neck line which plummeted past the soft curves of her cleavage. Her eyes had turned to the stars in the sky of the holodeck, and she stared mouth open in awe.

Chakotay approached the group moving around the stonework fire pit, and Tom and Harry stood.

"Chakotay!" Tom greeted energetically. "Welcome to the party!" His words flooded, stumbled from his lips. "Somebody get this man a drink!" he hollered to no one in particular.

"No, thank you," Chakotay added, his sights returning to the Captain as she slowly turned her head to look toward them. Lit torches were on spikes surrounding the seating area, and her glossy eyes danced. The dim light played across her milky skin.

"But I insist," Tom patted Chakotay on his chest. "Starfleet sent us the good stuff. You name it; we have it."

"I see that." He took Tom by the shoulders. "You might want to see the Doctor before calling it a night, Tom," and with a pat to his arm, "Would you excuse us?"

Tom and Harry gave each other a look and motioned to the other young ensigns surrounding the pit. "Come on," Tom ordered.

Janeway leaned forward, arms reaching out to the crowd as they left through the curtain. "No! Where is everyone going?"

Tom looked over his shoulder. "I think Chakotay is breaking up the party, Captain." He turned and shrugged.

Janeway shot a glance to Chakotay as the Commander took a seat beside her. "Who gives the orders around here?" she asked with disdain.

"You do."

She narrowed her eyes drunkenly. "Then the party continues." She lifted her glass, the liquid swirled and she took a sip. He watched her lips leave the glass. "But honestly, Chakotay, you should have one of these. Whatever it is, they are quite good." She drained the remaining liquid.

"I can see that." He smiled at her and reached across her body toward her hand. She smelled of liquor and perfume and it immersed his senses with longing. She moved her hand further, keeping the glass out of his reach, but he moved closer to lean across her, finally taking it from her.

"You really are breaking up the party, aren't you?" she slurred, and moved to rest her head in her hand, elbow perched on the edge of the couch.

"You have an early day tomorrow, Captain." He placed the glass on the raised, flat stone that surrounded the fire.

"Can I not make my own schedule?"

He smiled. "I'm just looking out for you."

"Of course you are."

She leaned toward him and shifted her weight, pulling her body beside his from the comfort of the corner. She grinned, eyes lowering to his lips, and her head dipped until it rested on his shoulder. Her hand moved to his leg and rested palm up, inviting. "Chakotay… My Number One."

Her tone had softened and it gripped his middle. He chuckled quietly and turned his head toward her. Her hair was light against his cheek. "You've never called me that."

"No," she agreed, inching her hand toward his. "But you are." She sighed softly.

"Oh!" she exclaimed suddenly, lifting her head, turning to hit his chest. "You missed B'Elanna!"

"I did?" He rubbed where she hit him.

"Mmhmm," she purred. "And she brought the baby."

"I'm sorry to have missed them," he said honestly. "I'm glad you finally got to see her."

"She is the tiniest thing, Chakotay. She smells so good."

"Makes you want one of your own?"

"Ha!" she blurted. "I've had enough children on this ship to last five lifetimes."

They shared a laugh and Chakotay stole a glance of her dress and followed the light material down her body which clung to her curves.

"Did you find, Seven?" she asked. Her voice had lowered, was almost a whisper, and she looked down to fidget with a finger.

"I did."

She looked up to search what she could of the room. "Is she here?" she asked.

"No. She is engrossed in her studies, as you predicted."

She turned to him, catching his eyes wandering down her neckline. Her chest rose quickly. "And you're here now?"

"I am."

He looked down at her hand which returned to his leg, and she slowly turned her palm upward again. She lowered her head to his shoulder.

He moved his hand to reach hers, his fingertips playfully touching her soft skin. Palms met and their fingers entwined.

He looked down at their hands as she released a heavy sigh.

How perfectly it fit with his. How delicate her long fingers wrapped his hand. Nails freshly manicured, he coursed his thumb over one finger and played carefully.

These hands - how he would watch them while she spoke, always alluring with expression. How he would long for them to touch his shoulder. How he would envision them reaching out for him in the night, meeting his skin with tenderness.

He continued his examination. Eyes closed, all lines on her face relaxed. No stress hit her features and he smiled.

Her scent was intoxicating and her body a vision of creamy skin, and softness.

And here he held her hand, as her body recovered beside him, her weight increasingly lowering as she drifted.

He moved his head, dropped to the side to feel her hair against his cheek, taking her in. She curled closer, bringing her free hand to his inner elbow to tether to his body.

It was a quiet corner in the program and the Doctor was now off busily attending to crew members who were feeling the effects of Starfleet's gift.

Janeway sighed softly and began to move her fingers slightly, brushing against his tenderly, mirroring his gesture.

He could tell she was deep in her daydream.

He closed his eyes and let the warmth of her body take him under. He inhaled deeply for what felt like the first time in many long years.

The music was beginning to fade away; just the sound of her breathing filling his ears.

They were quiet, enjoying each other's presence. A single moment where nothing was expected of them. Nothing was needed to be said.

And he was happy to have the gift of her hand, feel her body pressing into his for the first time. She was comforting the loneliness within him, and providing him with a sense of calm. Curing him with each soothing sigh of the longing to be a shoulder to rest against, to share the burden she had felt for so long.

Someone cleared their throat close to them, but he ignored it, continued in his daydream.

"Ahem," the Doctor said and Chakotay opened his eyes to find him standing across the fire pit. "Commander?" he whispered.

Chakotay stirred and he looked down at Janeway who moved, opening her eyes sleepily.

"Let's get you back to your quarters, Captain," the Doctor said.

She released Chakotay and placed a hand to her cheek. "Now?"

"I really must insist."

Janeway swung her legs from beneath her, and slipped her feet into a pair of peep-toe wedges. She reached down to fasten them.

Chakotay leaned forward and stood. He turned back to the Captain, offering his hand. "Up we go."

She waved him off this time. "I can manage, thank you. I don't need an entourage."

She stood shakily and immediately fell back to her seat. Chakotay reached out for her arm and steadied her. "Ok. Maybe a little assistance is in order." She looked down to her feet and pointed. "It's the shoes."

"I'm sure it is," the Commander smiled.

She clung to his arm as he helped her up, guiding her around the fire pit, and through the sheer curtain.

They followed the Doctor out of the holodeck and down the hall to the turbolift.

When they reached the lift and the Doctor pressed the call button, Janeway leaned towards her First Officer, squeezing the forearm she clung to. "Chakotay," she whispered, bringing her free hand to her head, fingertips pushing into her brow. "I don't think that was synthehol."

Chakotay smiled as the doors to the lift opened. "I don't believe it was." They entered together. "No expense spared for Starfleet's finest Captain."

=/\=

They reached her quarters and entered.

Janeway grimaced, shielding her eyes from the light in the room. "Computer," she instructed. "Lower ambient lighting by twenty percent." Immediately, the lights dimmed and she shuffled across the room to plop on her couch. Her head slumped back, eyes closed.

The Doctor moved to the replicator. "One water. 16ºC." The replicator squeaked and a silver steaming mug of coffee appeared within. "What in the -"

"Oh, Doctor," Janeway called out, eyes still closed, head still back. "That won't work. Ask it for an English Cucumber."

Chakotay and the Doctor shared a confused look. "All right," he obliged. "One English Cucumber." A clear glass appeared with water. A lemon wedge sat on the rim.

"I'm not going to ask how long it took you to figure that one out," Chakotay said as he approached the couch. He sat down on the small table directly in front of her.

"I drink a lot of coffee."

The Doctor approached them and presented the glass to the Captain. "Here. Drink up."

The Captain opened her eyes slightly and peered at it disapprovingly. "If I must."

"I insist."

She took it form him and raised one foot toward Chakotay. "Please help," she asked as she brought the glass to her lips. "They are killing me."

A tiny buckle was all that was needed to remove the strap on the wedge shoe, and he obliged bringing her shoe into his lap, pulling at the leather. She watched him attentively and brought the remaining shoe to rest on his thigh.

"You never said, Chakotay," she remarked. "Do you like my dress?"

"It's lovely." His eyes fell to the plummeting neckline again, but he quickly returned to his work.

"Thank you," she smirked. "I made it tonight. Turns out that replicator is good for something." "Yes!" she shouted across the room in its direction. "I'm talking about you!" She brought her glass to her lips and sipped. "You useless piece of technology."

"Are you two ever going to kiss and make up?"

Her eyes opened wide, she pointed toward the wall. "It started it!"

Chakotay loosened the buckle and removed the second wedge with ease. "I thought it was you that started it." He wracked his brain, "What was it?" He paused slowly brining his hands to the bare feet in his lap. "A glorified toaster?"

She smiled, looking down to his hands that rested on her feet. "Case in point, Commander."

The Doctor began to putter behind them. Chakotay could hear his case open, a PADD spring to life.

But Chakotay's eyes were now set on the feet in his hands and his thumbs which began to simultaneously massage the ball of each foot. He raised his eyes slightly, to see her eyes roll heavily as he worked down her arches.

The Doctor stamped across the floor and Chakotay smiled to himself.

"I'm going to give you a pain reliever, Captain," he remarked.

"Sure... Fine... Whatever..." Janeway sighed, Chakotay's work now causing her head to roll back, her eyes to close once again.

The Doctor held his hypospray and glared at Chakotay, who returned a smile. He pressed the device to the Captain's neck.

"If that will be all, Captain."

"Yes," she said, gasping as Chakotay pressed his knuckle into her arch. "Good night, Doctor."

Janeway's brow came together. "That feels so good," she gasped.

The Doctor closed his case noisily, and the beeping of his PADD continued.

"Long day on your feet," Chakotay remarked.

"Extremely."

He moved his hands from the soles of her feet to her toes. Warmth was beginning to spread through hm as she sighed heavily again. He moved to the front of her smooth legs, massaging his way to her calves, working with palms and fingertips.

She released a small moan and Chakotay stopped. Her eyes shot open.

"Captain," the Doctor interrupted, returning to the couch, PADD in hand. "Please finish the water."

"Right." Janeway pulled her feet from Chakotay's lap and followed the Doctor's orders.

Chakotay licked his lips and stood, watched as she finished. She handed Chakotay the glass.

"I think it's time I turn in," she said to them.

"About time," the Doctor said under his breath.

Chakotay shot a smile in his direction and turned back to the Captain who was beginning to stand. Feet planted, she gingerly lifted herself from the couch. As she stood, a knee buckled and she fell toward Chakotay and reached out to grab both of his forearms.

He leaned forward to steady her. Their faces now close to each other, their heavy breath touched each other's skin, encircling them. She licked her lips.

"Captain."

"Commander," she returned. She released his arms and turned, carefully treading across the carpeted floor.

The Doctor stood in the doorway and watched Chakotay, his sights still on the Captain as she disappeared into the darkness of her bedroom. "Well I suppose I should return to Holodeck 2."

"Uh huh."

"Just in case there are more displays of disorderly conduct."

"Very good."

"Chakotay?"

Chakotay looked to the Doctor. "Yes. Right." He walked toward him. "Thank you for your assistance tonight, Doctor."

"My pleasure."

They motioned to leave and as the Doctor entered the hallway, he turned noticing the Commander was no longer with him. He turned suddenly, "Comman-" he gasped as the door closed to the Captain's quarters, leaving him alone in the hallway.

Chakotay turned from the door, afraid it would open again, and he listened attentively. No sound came from her bedroom. He crept toward the door frame, eyes adjusting to the light.

Her dress lay on the floor at the foot of the bed.

He chanced it, and crept softly to her. His eyes adjusted now, a soft light spread over her peaceful form. Half beneath the sheets, curled on her side, her bare back was visible to him. Her breathing told him she was safe within a deep sleep.

He reached forward and took the edge of her blanket, pulling it over her body, tucking her in. He leaned forward taking another deep inhale.

Softly, he placed a kiss to her brow, regrettably pulling his lips from her.

A smile spread slowly, and he whispered, "Sleep well, Kathryn."

Coming Soon: Chapter 4 - "Say Goodbye" - Dave Matthews Band