Chapter 9 – Fire on Fire

"They say that we're out of control and some say we're sinners

But don't let them ruin our beautiful rhythms
'Cause when you unfold me and tell me you love me
And look in my eyes

You are perfection. My only direction. It's fire on fire."

-Sam Smith and Steve Mac

=/\=

Vice Admiral Patterson inhales deeply as he sees her enter through his office door. "Captain Kathryn Janeway, as I live and breathe. You sure do clean up nice."

She smiles and opens her arms, looking down at her uniform. "It's always been a dream of mine, Sir."

"It suits you." The Admiral stands from his desk and moves across the floor to meet her. They share a hug, a light pat to each other's back, and when they part, he continues, "I'll be blunt, Katie. Your first orders are to proceed to the Badlands, find a Maquis ship, and bring them home."

"I'm sorry?" Her brow furrows. "The Maquis? Badlands? I thought this Maquis problem was being handled?"

He sighs and nods his head. "I know. It sounds daunting, but Starfleet needs you. We'll need Voyager's help to rein them in." He brings his hand forward and reaches out to touch her arm. "You're still good friends with Lieutenant Tuvok?"

"I am," she raises an eyebrow. "Why?"

"Tuvok has been working undercover aboard a raider-type craft operated by the Maquis."

"I see."

"We are trying to put an end to this conflict. Tuvok is aboard the Val Jean under the command of Captain Chakotay."

"Who is this Chakotay?" she asks, his name falling awkwardly from her lips. "The name sounds familiar."

The Admiral folds his hands behind his back, and lifts his chin toward her. "He is a former Starfleet officer turned dissident." He inhales deeply. His voice lowers. "He has abandoned his duties and made a mockery of this uniform."

She nods slowly. "Well, I'll need assistance. I'm still looking for a good pilot."

"We will work out crew details shortly. In the meantime, let's get you acquainted with the final upgrades of your ship."

He moves to a screen on a nearby wall and enters functions onto a keypad. The screen blips. A series of photos flash before them. Her lips purse, impressed by the design of her new ship.

She looks over the image of Voyager rotating on the screen. "She is a tiny thing, isn't she?"

"Don't let the schematics fool you. She'll pack a punch." He enters another command on the keypad and the image rotates showing Voyager's torpedo bays. "Voyager has been equipped with 38 photon torpedoes with type VI warheads and two tricobalt devices."

"Is all of this necessary, Admiral? It's just one Maquis ship. Not to mention, it's a relic. The Val Jean, you say?" She raises a hand, directing their attention back towards the monitor. "Clearly, I'll have the upper hand."

"The last we heard from the Val Jean, they were being pursued by the Cardassian warship Vetar." He sighs, a softness coming to his eyes. "This won't be easy, and if it were completely up to me, I wouldn't be sending you out there." His head tilts. "But with Voyager's warp drive you'll have speed on your side. She won't let you down."

She is eager and stands upright, lifts her chin. "It's been a long three months awaiting these orders, Sir. I assure you I am ready."

The Admiral reaches forward and holds her by the shoulders. "I know you are, Katie. You've been ready since the day you first put on a Starfleet uniform. But the Maquis are a dangerous group. Rogues and rebels. They have forgotten who they are." He straightens the shoulders of her uniform. "Never forget who you are. You are Starfleet. Abide by everything this uniform stands for. Everything I have taught you."

"I will, Sir." She smiles reassuringly. "Leave it to me, Admiral. I'll bring these Maquis home wrapped with a bow."

He smiles and reaches forward, offering his hand. She returns the gesture and shakes it firmly. "Congratulations, Captain. I have no doubt that your mission will be a complete success."

=/\=

The back door of the Argo touched down on the floor of the docking bay, and Tom popped his head out.

"They told me there would be a welcoming party, Captain," he said, returning his sights back to Chakotay and Janeway who stood by, closely knit together.

Chakotay's hand moved slowly down the Captain's backside to rest at the curve of her ass.

Tom raised an eyebrow. "We had better see what the delay is." He lowered his head, ducking under the doorway of the craft.

Janeway sighed as she watched Tom walk ahead across the floor of the bay, disappearing through a doorway to their left. "Ok," she said smiling, turning, releasing Chakotay's hand from her. "We need to be better at this."

"Better at what?" He took her by both arms and guided her toward a nearby wall. He smiled hungrily, and his lips were on her swiftly. He was warm, his breath heavy, and his arms wrapped firmly around her, squeezing her tightly.

"At appearances," she said finally, pulling from his lips.

He drew her in closer, rocked against her slowly. He leaned in, dipped his lips to her neck. "I want your legs wrapped around me," he whispered, hot breath against her tender flesh. "I want to taste you." He brushed his lips against her ear lobe. "I want to be inside you again."

She felt the red rise to her cheeks, and the trembling in her middle. She opened her mouth to say something but Tom entered the craft, out of breath.

They turned quickly toward him. Chakotay's hands released her and he cleared his throat.

"Honestly, I leave you two alone for one minute," Tom said as he approached them slowly. He took a moment to look at them, and an awkward silence fell over the back of the ship. "You are commanding officers, and as such, are expected to maintain the standard for the rest of the crew." He drew near to them, and moved slowly to look Chakotay in the eyes. "But this adolescent behavior makes me question my faith in you both." He raised an eyebrow. "I seem to be rubbing off on you." He grinned, and moved slowly to Janeway, looking down at her in mock disdain. "With all due respect, Captain," his voice lowered to a whisper. "Get a room."

"We had one," Chakotay muttered under his breath as Tom turned toward the door. Janeway elbowed him lightly in the ribs.

"Come on," Tom motioned. "Starfleet's welcoming party is on its way."

They moved to the back of the Argo and exited down the small ramp to the large bay.

The evening sun was shining through the bay's large windows, cascading a gentle orange light in the room. Several small shuttles lined the walls of the bay in various states of dissection. A massive Starfleet Command emblem embellished the floor.

Three men in newly pressed Starfleet dress uniforms approached them. Her eyes quickly glanced at their ranks as they drew near, happy there had not been a change in pips since she was last home.

The Fleet Admiral was new and he was the first to reach out for her hand. He was tall with a darkened complexion, greying hair and dark, sunken eyes. "Captain Kathryn Janeway," he said with a thick accent. He shook her hand. "Welcome home. I am Damien Rodriguez."

"Thank you, Sir. It's nice to meet you." The handshake was long and awkward and Janeway could feel his black eyes burning into her, reading her. "Is Admiral Shanthi still with us?" she inquired.

He finally released her hand and folded them in front of his body. "Retired last year on Risa, I believe. Living the dream."

"Well, that's good to hear." Janeway fidgeted with the cuffs of her coat, straightening her sleeves. "She was always kind to me."

A familiar face emerged behind Rodriquez, and Janeway reached out for his hand, "Admiral Hayes," she greeted. "Good to see you in the flesh, Sir."

"Yes, likewise," Hayes returned awkwardly.

Janeway waited for him to continue, having been victim many times to the Admiral's long winded speeches, but Hayes remained oddly quiet. There seemed to be a hint of tension between the two men in front of her.

She raised an eyebrow and turned her sights back to Rodriguez who motioned to a man to his left

"Captain Janeway, allow me to introduce, Admiral-"

"Bullock," interrupted Chakotay, squeezing past to stand slightly in front of Janeway.

The man looked bewildered at having been recognized. "Yes, Gareth Bullock. Have we met?"

Chakotay gripped Bullock's hand and looked at Janeway smiling, as she remembered their encounter with a Bullock counterpart impersonated by Species 8472. "Well, no, not in this lifetime." Chakotay smiled warmly as he shook the man's hand. "Just by reputation."

Bullock straightened his jacket. "Well, I hope it's a good one."

Janeway cleared her throat, her hand motioned towards Chakotay. "Gentlemen, may I introduce, my First Officer? Commander Chakotay."

Hayes was the next to offer his hand and he shook without making eye contact with Chakotay. Rodriguez followed suit, reaching out to gingerly take the Commander's hand. He gave it a light shake.

Janeway watched as Rodriguez moved his hand to his pant leg, rubbing his palm across the fabric. The motion was intended to be discreet, but Janeway's brow furrowed slowly, and her lips parted.

Rodriguez blinked several times and his lips pressed together. "I trust your flight in was satisfactory?"

"It was," she smiled warmly at Tom. "I had a great pilot."

"Yes, indeed," Rodriguez remarked. He motioned for the group to begin walking toward the back of the bay.

As the others led the way, Rodriguez stayed behind with Janeway. "You must be looking forward to a great many things, Captain," he continued. "Starting fresh? A new exciting leap in your career?"

"To be honest, I'm most looking forward to experiencing a good rain, Sir." She smiled to herself, thinking of the way it would feel on her face. The smell that would envelope her senses. "It's one of the things I missed the most."

"I think many will agree with you, Captain," and off her inquisitive look, "We are in the midst of one of the worst draughts in a long time."

"That is unfortunate."

Rodriguez slowed to a stop and Janeway joined him. "Captain," he began. "Starfleet has requested you speak to the public in a moment." He was quick to raise a hand, interrupting her silent protest. "Something brief, something to calm the excitement surrounding Voyager's journey home. As you might imagine, your sudden appearance in the Alpha Quadrant caused quite a stir."

"I've received word of this excitement." She took a sharp inhale. "No one notified me of this speech, Admiral. I have nothing prepared."

"That's quite all right, Captain. We have prepared something for you to say." His eyes looked up as he gave Chakotay a side-eye. "We figured you'd have your hands tied." His eyes began to narrow and he turned his sights back to her. "We're all very anxious to hear your reasoning for turning the Maquis into members of your crew. For giving them the same freedoms as the rest of their Starfleet counterparts."

She cleared her throat, and raised an eyebrow carefully. "We were lost, Admiral. I had to utilize my resources."

"Still..." He folded his hands behind his back, shoulders straight, and continued to follow the small group in front of them. "They are convicted felons, rebels. Wanted by the laws that govern the Federation."

"And?"

He looked down his nose at her. "And you are a Starfleet Captain."

She scoffed. "What would you have me do? Lock them in the brig for the duration of the trip?"

"Precisely."

Janeway's brow furrowed. Her eyes narrowed. "I stand by my decision, Sir," she said firmly, satisfied with the sudden frigidness behind her words.

He chuckled softly. "Well, whatever you did on that ship, you certainly made a respectable man out of one of our most wanted." The corner of his lips lowered. "Even if those pips seem out of place, I'm sure Starfleet will make use of him."

She stopped walking and Rodriguez turned to face her.

"Chakotay is one of the most honorable men I have ever had the pleasure of working with." Her voice fell to the back of her throat and she looked at him with an icy cold stare. "He deserves our gratitude for the way he conducted himself." Her features warmed as she looked to find Chakotay deep in conversation with Bullock while they waited for them at the edge of the doorway. "He was my most loyal confidant. He garnered my deepest respect."

He scowled as his eyes trailed her uniform up and down. "Yes, well, seven years trapped out there with a crew of rebels, let's hope that all he garnered." He gave her a wry smile seeing her blush, her lips part. "Honestly, I want to know how you managed to convince Council, especially President Zife to pardon him. And in quite the record time, might I add."

"Chakotay saved my life. Protected the lives of the crew. He deserves more than a pardon. He deserves the respect of the council."

"I wouldn't be so sure, Captain." Disdain encircled his words, and he lowered his voice as he drew in. "I would assume it was going to cost more to the Federation to have him outside of it than within." And with that, Rodriguez continued towards the giant double doors of the bay.

She trailed her hands down her body trying to calm her nerves, heal the anger that was starting to rage within her. She let out a strong sigh and Rodriguez turned back to her.

"Don't look so tense, Kathryn," he said. "You'll do fine. Just stick to the script." There was a warning in his voice.

She followed the group through the doors and they moved down corridors of random repair rooms with large glass windows. Inside, a few workers went about their business repairing engine parts, tinkering, improving systems.

As the group walked by, the workers dropped what they were doing, annoyed to be stopping their work. But as the Admirals passed by, and Janeway and Chakotay remained to look in on their work area, the small crew looked up to her, mouths agape and they stood straight. One nodded with respect and she smiled, returning his gesture.

"Looks like word is getting around," Chakotay said, leaning down to her.

It appeared so.

=/\=

Janeway and Chakotay continued to follow the Admirals and Tom down the hallway where a large double door awaited them.

Chakotay fidgeted beside her, running a finger inside the collar of his uniform jacket. Small beads of sweat were forming on his brow.

"You okay?" she asked, placing a hand on his arm.

"This thing." He exhaled deeply. "Has this always been this tight?"

"You'll be fine," she reassured him. She ran her hand down his arm and gave his hand a squeeze. "Just stick by side, will you? Whatever is through those doors."

"Always."

The doors gave way and they were greeted with an eruption of applause and cheer. The welcoming party were situated above the commotion, on a small platform with a set of stairs to their left, and as they descended slowly, the familiar faces of their crew opened up for Janeway and Chakotay.

She was filled instantly with joy and relief as several of them greeted her with a toast, with hugs, with hand shakes. Her Voyager family were all here, gathered together to see her, and for the first time since she left her ship, she felt truly home.

Through the crowd's noise Janeway could make out the small whimper of a baby, and she looked up to see B'Elanna holding a small bundle. She excused herself and she motioned for Chakotay to join her, retreating from their small entourage.

Quickly, she moved to B'Elanna's side and with open arms, hugged them. A new crowd had formed around them, but her sights were only on the baby as she pulled little Miral into her arms. Chakotay held a hand to the small of Janeway's back, and reached around her to let the baby grasp his finger.

"She's getting so big, B'Elanna!" Janeway remarked as she bent to smell the top of her head.

Janeway looked up curiously as Chakotay cupped Miral's face in his palm. He closed his eyes and took a deep breath. Janeway and B'Elanna watched as his lips moved in silent prayer. He leaned forward and kissed the baby on her forehead.

"What was that?" Janeway asked gently as he rose.

"That's between Miral and me." He placed a hand flat to her back and looked on the three of them. "Would you ladies excuse me?"

They watched him leave, disappearing into a small crowd of people.

"So... How long has this been going on?" B'Elanna inquired as soon as Chakotay was out of hearing range.

Janeway looked up, her face flushed. She waited for B'Elanna to emphasize but she did not, and there was no mistaking what she was referring to. "Tom didn't waste any time, did he?"

"He knew?!" She reached forward to cover the baby's ears. "That little PetaQ," she muffled angrily under her breath.

"It's not at all common knowledge." Janeway leaned toward her, lowering her voice. "It's all very, very new. No one knows yet. Certainly not Starfleet. And we'd like to keep it that way."

"Oh, but it's not going to last long." She pointed across the room to Chakotay who avoided her gaze as she found him. "He is looking like he wants to devour you."

Janeway blushed and a wide smile came to her face.

"Unless..." B'Elanna's face contorted with slight disgust at her revelation. "Already?!"

"This is embarrassing," Janeway whispered to Miral.

B'Elanna's face relaxed. "Mind you, you two have been dancing around this for the last seven years. You wouldn't believe the number of people who thought you were practically married."

"Tom told us about that too."

B'Elanna smiled. "It's good, Captain. The crew will be so happy for you."

Janeway shook her head slightly, unsure if she believed her.

From across the room, a figure emerged. Dressed in a tight fitted, blue dress with plunging neckline and long sleeves, her wavy blonde hair hung down to her shoulders, pulled back from her face with a clip.

Almost all the crew would be happy, she thought.

"Come on, Miral." B'Elanna reached forward to pick the infant carefully from Janeway's arms. "Auntie Kathryn has to make her rounds, and we have to find your father." She placed the infant to rest against her chest. "I have a feeling Daddy is trying to get out of his bet."

=/\=

She found her in the crowd again, swaying slightly to the music that played, a glass in her hand, which Janeway expected was more for show than usage.

Seven looked up as she approached. Her blue eyes had darkened, deepened by the shade of her dress and the light in the room. "You look lovely." Janeway said smiling, approvingly looking over her attire.

"I am being house in shared quarters with Ensign Brooks. She has suggested I put forth a greater effort when it comes to my physical appearance. That it would ease the public's apprehension."

Janeway reached forward to take Seven's arm and she held it gently. "How are you doing? Are you all right?"

"I am."

"And everyone has been kind?"

"Indeed." Seven tilted her chin toward the Captain. "I believe most are afraid. They keep themselves at a safe proximity."

"Ah." Janeway nodded sadly, and looked down at Seven's nails which were freshly manicured, painted gold. "And how is Icheb?" She looked up. "Is he here?"

"He is settling in nicely. Much better than I am." She pointed across the room. "He is already conversing with his female counterparts at the Academy."

Janeway smiled with tight lips as she made out his form mimicking conversation etiquette with a few young girls who appeared to be close in age.

Beside him was Chakotay, and when she made eye contact with him, he offered a solemn smile.

"And how is the Commander?" Seven inquired.

"He is good," she replied.

For a moment, she forgot who had asked about him, and the smile spread slowly to her lips. B'Elanna was right - their secret wasn't going to be a secret for long.

She placed a hand to Seven's shoulder. "Come with me. Come say, Hi."

"I cannot."

Janeway could read the avoidance in her eyes, her unwillingness to discuss the matter further, but she pressed her. "Seven," she continued. "I hope you know I didn't mean for any of this."

"It is acceptable, Captain." Seven raised her eyes. "I am ..." She paused and tilted her head to the side finding the right words. "...happy for you both."

Janeway looked down at her hands, played with a finger nervously. "I never meant for this to be awkward."

"I am aware. Through my studies of human interaction, it became quite apparent that the Commander has only ever had eyes for you." She raised an eyebrow. "To coin a phrase."

=/\=

She was waiting at a small makeshift bar for a drink when he found her, and slipped his hand in hers, carefully pulling her from a crowd of eager Ensigns attempting to get the eye of the bartender.

Chakotay led her to a quiet corner, hidden behind large plants and long, navy blue curtains that hung from the ceiling. His grip on her hand had tightened as they neared the darkness the curtain created. It blocked out the noise and lights from the party.

A small table was beside them and he wrapped his arm around her, supporting her as he lifted her carefully onto it. He leaned against her.

"I've been away from you for too long," he growled. He trailed a fingertip over her cheek, down her jawline. "I miss your skin. Your touch. Your lips." He moved his hands down her body, letting his fingers inch upward under her jacket, dipping beneath the waist of her pants.

"We can't do this here," she breathed into his ear.

"But you feel so good." He kissed her. "And I have to admit..."

"Admit what?"

He dipped his tongue into her mouth, brushed against her teeth and tongue.

"I'm jealous of this uniform." His fingertips gripped the zipper of her jacket and lowered it. "How it gets to be so close to you." His lips were on her jawline as his hands ran up her body, cupping her breasts. "Hugging your every curve." His hands moved down her body.

"I have to give a speech," she said weakly.

"Let it wait." He loosened her button, lowered the zipper of her pants.

She breathed his name, but her protest fell into nothingness as he dipped his hand inside her pants.

With each touch he was erasing countless cold nights that left her with heartache and loneliness. Warming her insides, reigniting the fire within her. Slowly, with each caress, she could feel the walls around her beginning to crumble. Slowly, she was beginning to let go.

But there was always a tug at the back of her head, some warning that would be set off. And it was a struggle to silence it. It had built up over the years. Perhaps it was out of fear, perhaps it was out of necessity. But she struggled to find that aspect of her life, to give into it freely again. It was something she could not tell him. At least not yet.

But his arms had always been safe; his touch peaceful. If she could only open her mouth, and begin to tell him...

"Please," she whispered, as his lips moved to her neck to kiss below her ear. "Chakotay, please," she repeated and she took his face in her hands. He stopped and he looked up to meet her eyes.

There was a fiery sadness in them. A desire she could not match in the moment. She leaned forward and kissed his forehead. Wait for me, she begged him silently. Wait for me to get to where you are.

=/\=

With Chakotay by her side, Janeway moved into a small windowless room away from the hustle of the party. A hush fell over the occupants as she entered and immediately recording devices blinked to life. A buzz now came from the people seated in tightly packed rows; all eyes seemed to be on her and her First Officer.

Rodriguez, Hayes, and Bullock stood near the front of the room. At her hesitation, Rodriguez motioned her forward, and walked up to the small podium decorated with a Starfleet Command insignia.

As she continued to make her way to the front, eyes from the crowd lingered on her, and they watched curiously, and their hands typed furiously on the small palm devices in their grasp. It was evident that Starfleet had summoned every news source available to them. Cameras from all over had come to hear about the Great Voyage.

The lump formed in her throat instantly.

"Good evening," Rodriguez began. "I know you are all anxious to hear from our good Captain, and we will get to her shortly, but I first wanted to thank you all for coming tonight." He looked over the cameras, taking his time to make contact with each lens. "As you can all imagine, we are all relieved to have Captain Janeway and her crew home safe after a very long, very successful journey. But please be advised that she won't be taking any questions."

The room erupted in a chorus of protest until one voice was heard at the end.

"The public has a right to know what went on out there."

Rodriguez smiled warmly, and Janeway could tell his mannerisms had altered since their discussion in the docking bay. He put up a hand and the crowd's intensity fell to a murmur.

"I understand your curiousness, but you have to understand that it has been a long day for the Captain." He motioned for Janeway to come forward. "So without further ado, I present, Captain Kathryn Janeway of the USS Voyager."

Applause erupted in room and Chakotay gave a small squeeze to her wrist as reassurance and retreated to the safety of the wall. She took a deep breath and moved to the podium.

A PADD was situated in front of her and she reached forward to run her palms over it.

"Good evening," she began shakily. "I would like to repeat the words of Admiral Rodriguez and thank you all for coming." She looked up quickly at the cameras and looked back down. Her hands shook at the podium, and she strained her eyes to see the words written in front of her. She inhaled deeply again, prayed the microphone had not picked up the nervousness in her voice.

She continued. "I want to thank Starfleet Command for their unshakable faith in my mission and their trust in me and my crew. Our trip to Sector 04-70 to retrieve the undercover Maquis vessel Val Jean..." She stopped, and quickly read over the remainder of the sentence. She looked up to Rodriguez who tilted his head, his brow furrowing with warning. "... to retrieve the undercover Maquis vessel Val Jean was an unprecedented success."

She quickly skimmed over the remainder of the speech. There was no mention of getting lost. No mention of the Caretaker's array. No mention of the Equinox, or the Borg. No mention of her once rebel-Maquis Captain, now First Commander. No mention of the Pathfinder Project or Reginald Barclay.

The seconds dripped by slowly; they ticked, pounded in her ears. The clicking of recording devices continued. Thumbs continued moving across palm devices tracking her every move and word.

She caught Rodriguez moving toward her from the corner of her eye and her hands calmed, flattening on the PADD at her fingertips. She cleared her throat and looked up, raising her chin to the cameras in front of her.

"I want to thank my crew for their hard work and dedication to this uniform, for their faith in me and my command team. They were a long seven years, but they made the journey an enjoyable one. I want them to know that they are my family."

Rodriguez neared closer. His hands clasped in front of him.

"I want to thank Admiral Owen Paris and Lieutenant Reginald Barclay for their unwavering dedication and for keeping us safe out there. Your efforts and love for my crew have not gone unnoticed."

She looked over to Chakotay who had removed himself from the wall and was moving toward her matching each move Rodriguez was making.

"I...," she began.

Rodriguez pounced toward her, taking his opening. "Thank you, Captain." He took her by the arm, squeezing tightly drawing her from the microphone. "Again, thank you for coming," he said to the crowd. "Have a wonderful evening."

A resounding boom resulted from the dismissal, and the crowd all stood shouting out questions in unison. Janeway released her arm, as Rodriguez directed her from the front of the room, Chakotay following closely behind him.

"Captain Janeway, can you tell us more about your relationship with the Commander?"

"Captain, is a Borg invasion imminent?"

=/\=

She found him outside, standing on a small balcony overlooking the city; its lights glowed and twinkled before them.

He turned as she approached. "You okay?" he asked. Worry gripped his words, and he reached out to place a hand to her shoulder.

"They came down hard, but it was nothing I haven't handled before."

"You want to talk about it?"

She shook her head, looking down. She was seething with rage, and she turned her hands over, testing if they would give her away.

"I expect Starfleet to come down hard on the Equinox crew. On the Maquis." She looked up at him slowly. "They gave me their word that you, B'Elanna, Seven, and Icheb would be left out of it." She turned back to the city, and leaned forward against the balcony's railing. "But I honestly don't have much faith in their words anymore."

"I'm sure they'd like to get their hands on me. Clean up the mess this created."

She blinked slowly, and her head tilted up toward him. "You suspected this all along, didn't you?"

"That is Starfleet Command to me." His brow furrowed. "A two-faced syndicate."

She scoffed slightly. "And I'm soon to walk among them."

He turned her around to face him. "Yes, but you'll be there to keep them in line. To clean up the injustice that plagues it."

She smiled, and reached forward to take his hand. "I have to protect them," she confessed. "Protect Seven. My Maquis."

"Your Maquis?"

"Yes. Mine." She lowered her head, and brought his hand up, pressing their palms together. Slowly, she entwined their fingers together. She watched a loving smile spread across his face. "I owe them that, Chakotay." She released his hand. "Let's say we get out of here," she suggested as she lifted herself on her toes to kiss him gently.

In the near distance, safely hidden behind a long, navy blue curtain, a recording device sprang to life.

=/\=

The accommodations Starfleet had given them were quaint but comfortable. Lines of stacked condominiums lined streets very close to the Academy's campus. The entire crew of Voyager were provided with rooms near one another with the Captain and Commander housed in opposing end units.

Janeway and Chakotay approached a white door with the number one on it and Janeway entered a code on a keypad. They stepped inside.

The room was an open concept; a small kitchenette, a sofa, a few chairs. She paced across the floor to behind a half wall where a modest-sized bed greeted her. The room was smaller than what she was used to on Voyager, but it would do.

"Home sweet, home," she said as she turned to him.

"It is cozy," he replied, his eyes looking up to the ceiling. He moved across the floor to meet her and looked around the room inquisitively. "But it's better than the accommodations I thought they would give a Maquis rebel." He inhaled deeply. "I thought I'd be in handcuffs, locked in a cell."

"I could make that happen, you know?" She raised an eyebrow and her lip curled upward. She reached forward wrapping her arms around him. "At least the handcuff part."

He smiled and she could see the fatigue in his face. He was clearly drained from the day's events.

"Don't let them get to you, Chakotay." She ran her hands over his chest, placed a palm over his badge. "This is where you belong. Here. With me." She moved her hands to the sides of his body. "You're staying, right? Here with me tonight."

"If you want me to," he remarked sadly.

"Of course I want you to." The pain spread across her brow, and she leaned forward to place her head to his chest; the fabric scratchy against her cheek.

He placed a single palm to the small of her back. "Can we promise each other one thing?" he asked quietly.

"What's that?"

"To leave the protocol and regulations and Starfleet outside?" She pulled back from his chest and he immediately cupped her face. "That in here, it's just you and me?" He sighed. "Please don't let them ruin this. Ruin us."

"They won't." Her fingertips reached up to trace the lines of his tattoo. He closed his eyes. "I promise."

She pulled at the zipper of his jacket lowering it, releasing him of its confines. She could see the weight fall from his shoulders as she lowered the jacket to the floor. She could see the pain in his face start to diminish. Piece by piece each article of their clothing began to pool at their feet until their hands could move smoothly, freely gliding over each other's skin; their forms outlined by the glow from the city flooding in from the window of her bedroom.

"I've never known the burden of that uniform for you until tonight," she confessed. "I'm sorry for asking you to wear it. You won't have to anymore."

He lowered his eyes to her body; his hands moved carefully over her back. "One day I'll tell you why. What I've seen. But not now." He trailed his fingertips over the top of her shoulder. "Not with you like this in front of me."

"When you're ready then."

He leaned in to kiss her forehead. He pulled her in so their bodies touched. "I just want to hold you. Feel your skin against me."

He dipped his head and kissed her gently, parting her lips with his tongue as he pulled away.

She closed her eyes as a quiet sigh escaped her. "Let's go to bed."

What they did not know as they lay bare in each other's arms, safe and unfolding within the comfort of each other's touch, is that he would wear the uniform again, and four pips would adorn his collar.

Because she would ask him to.

Coming Soon - "Dust to Dust" - The Civil Wars