"You weren't kidding. This is spectacular Tom!" She said with wide eyes and a broad smile.
"See? I told you you'd like it!" he replied with a grin.
"A movie. I've never seen anything quite like this! A giant lizard creature attacking the people of earth? Absolutely fascinating!"
He chuckled and smoothly wrapped his arm around her body, drawing her closer.
"I'm glad you're enjoying it," he said staring deep into her lavender eyes.
"Oh yes… and I rather enjoy the company as well," she said, her voice barely above a whisper as their lips grazed and a shiver ran down her back.
He leaned forward and deepened the kiss, his hand tangling in her silver hair and brushing over her pinkish skin. He brushed his tongue over her lips, beckoning for her to allow him entrance, and she eagerly complied. His hand dared to drift down and gently caress her left breast.
She began unbuttoning her blouse, but before she could get half-way down, the holodeck doors opened. A very unamused B'Elanna and Harry looked disapprovingly at the couple.
Reya quickly stood and faced away from the three of them while she fixed her shirt and wiped away her smudged lipstick.
"Tom! The captain's been hailing you over twenty minutes. I apologize for interrupting, Princess Reya, but your father and his comrades are ready to go back to your ship. They're all in Transporter Room One waiting for you," Harry said, his tone shifting greatly when addressing the princess.
"Of course. My apologies. Could we just have a moment to…say goodbye,"
"We'll be out in the hall. Just come out whenever you're ready," B'Elanna said.
She and Harry turned to walk out the door and she whispered, "told you we'd find them all over each other. I expect those replicator rations to be in my account tonight, I won fair and square."
Harry simply rolled his eyes as they continued out the door.
Once Reya and Tom were alone she turned to him with a blush of embarrassment and a gentle smile.
"Well, I suppose this is where we go our separate ways. Tom, I must tell you that this past week has been an absolute delight. Thank you for showing me such kindness, and movies," she giggled.
"But most importantly, for treating me like a woman and not like a title or a crown. I'll always remember our time together fondly."
Tom brushed his hand across her cheek and leaned in for a chaste kiss.
"Goodbye Reya. Thank you for laughing at my jokes and…and for making me forget about everything for a while."
"Before I leave, I've brought you something. A small gift."
"Oh Reya you didn't have to get me…" he looked down in confusion as she grabbed a metal box from her bag and handed it to him.
"It's a prehenderat reve. I believe your species has a similar contraption called a dream catcher. Harry mentioned in passing that you were complaining of a lack of sleep, he said you mentioned nightmares. This box traps bad dreams and helps you sleep."
"Do I open it?" he asked, inspecting the box.
"No, you mustn't open it!" she said seriously.
He laughed.
"Ok, ok won't open it. Can you at least tell me why?"
"If you open the box, the demon escapes and you may not be able to get her back in!" she warned.
"Alright, so I won't open it,"
"Good. Now maybe you can dream of better things."
"Oh, I have a few ideas,"
"You are bad Mr. Paris,"
"Only for you princess,"
"Somehow I highly doubt that. I bet you get a new woman to fall for you every week and I don't blame any of them,"
"Why princess, what are you accusing me of?" he said, feigning a shocked expression.
"Being terribly attractive and impossibly…" she stopped herself.
"impossibly what?" he asked, amused.
"Immature," she said, shaking her head with a laugh.
"Princess…. I'm offended," he said sarcastically.
"Oh please, even I can see that you're simply afraid of commitment."
"I have no problems committing," he said.
"So then I should go call my father? And tell him that I wish to stay upon Voyager and continue our relationship?" she asked with a smirk.
"You…uhhh wait a second you're setting me up to fail here."
"Darling it's fine. What we had these past few days was amazing and wonderful, but I have no intention of staying long enough for you to ruin it. Besides, I don't get in the habit of dating men who are so obviously head over heels for someone else,"
"I'm lost here," he muttered.
"Well, the two of you ought to get yourselves together."
"The two of…what are you talking about?"
"The striking woman with the temper and the funny ridges. She has it bad for you Mister Paris. And if I'm not mistaken you return those feelings,"
"What, B'Elanna? No! Never!"
"Never say never, Tom! Stranger things have happened. And you better ask her out soon before you miss your chance,"
"Well the day I take B'Elanna Torres out on a date will be the day when pigs fly across Voyager's viewports," he said confidently, not hearing the door open once more.
"What was that Paris? Something about flying pigs?" B'Elanna asked with a smirk on her face and her hands on her hips.
"Uhhh, no..n..nothing," he stammered.
She shook her head and looked right past him to Reya.
"Come with me Princess, I'll walk you to the transporter room."
"Thank you….B'Elanna," she said turning back to Tom with a sly wink.
Tom stood in the middle of the holodeck completely frozen and speechless.
Harry walked right up to him and patted him on the shoulder.
"Women," Harry said, shaking his head.
"You said it," Tom replied.
"What you got there?" he asked.
Tom looked down, remembering the dream catcher she gave him only moments before.
"It's a box, Harry,"
"Well yeah, but what's inside?"
"A demon apparently," he scoffed.
"You gonna open it?" Harry asked.
"Nope."
"No really, what's in there?"
"I don't know Harry, but she told me not to open it,"
"Come on...aren't you the least bit curious?"
"Harry, she explicitly told me not to open the box or else… bad things would happen."
"You almost sound afraid, the great Tom Paris afraid of a little box, I don't believe it!"
"Hey! Fine, you really want me to open the dumb box," he hesitated for a moment before undid the latch and threw the lid back.
A gust of wind blew back at them like a gentle breeze. Upon further inspection they realized that the only contents were:
"Sand," Tom said.
"Wow, Tom...she really went all out on this gift. Tell me, did you get her a few pebbles in return, maybe a jar of dirt?" he joked.
"Shut up Harry,"
He laughed and patted him on the back before making his way toward the exit.
"I'll see you later Tom. Enjoy the sand!"
"Well, I'd say trade negotiations were a success!" Chakotay said with a dimpled smile.
She raised her glass to his and lightly tapped it.
"To success!" she laughed.
They both took a sip, and he grinned. He placed his glass of wine on the coffee table.
"The shaqrien are quite a unique species," she said.
"That they are."
"Their culture is quite romanticized. They view everything through rose-colored glasses."
"Maybe our perception of the universe is just...pessimistic."
"Or maybe they should open their eyes to reality," she shot back with a smirk.
"Come on Kathryn life isn't all bad."
"Stuck on a ship thousands of lightyears from home, facing unknown dangers day in and day out… that doesn't seem bad to you?"
"We have a great crew, a sturdy ship, and not to mention a wonderful captain."
She shook her head.
"One who is wise and confident...and unbelievably gorgeous under the light of these stars."
She smiled and looked down to hide her blushing.
"Well, a captain is nothing without her first officer...and a damn sexy one at that,"
He chuckled and leaned forward, slowly. He gave her ample time to pull back, to turn away, or tell him to stop, but she did nothing. She sat there wide-eyed and breathless, anticipating what was to come.
The first brush of his lips against hers was gentle but sent sparks flying. Within that second she leaned in for a searing kiss. She tasted the wine on his lips. He leaned over her, carefully laying her down on the length of the couch as his hands felt her body under him. He started below her hips and slowly lifted her shirt out of her pants to gain access to her hot flesh.
She moaned in delight at first contact. Her whole body became electrified as goosebumps formed on her stomach. She sucked in her stomach as his fingers danced lightly over the skin.
"You're ticklish," he chucked breathlessly.
"Am not," she said.
He tested her again, running his fingers over her stomach and watching her try to maintain her composure. Seconds later she gave in and laughed heartily.
"Alright so maybe I am," she admitted.
He kissed her again and pulled back when she muttered something.
"What was that?" he asked.
"I said I think we should stop."
"Oh," he said sitting up and scooting over to give her more room.
She smiled warmly.
"It's not that I don't want to, it's just that...we agreed to take this slow and-"
"No, Kathryn it's fine. I wasn't trying to rush you. I'm willing to take this at any pace you're comfortable with. So if we have to wait a bit for you to be ready, that's fine by me. I'd much rather wait than have you do something you would regret later."
"I'd never regret taking that step with you, I'm just...It's been a long time."
"I know, and you don't need to give reasons. You'll be ready when you're ready. And I'll be waiting."
"As I told you on New Earth, I want to lessen your burdens. I never want to add to them." he added.
"And you never do. Starting this relationship with you there was one of the best decisions I've ever made-"
He was staring at her, his eyes held nothing but love and warmth. And at that moment all she wanted to do was say the words. Three simple words which she knew in her heart were true, but her stomach clenched and visions flashed of him injured, of him hurt, him dying. Suddenly to share that part of herself was too much. To open herself up like that would make her vulnerable, so she opted for a lighthearted response instead.
"What did I do to deserve you?" she asked.
"Get lost seventy thousand lightyears from earth."
She laughed and patted him o the chest before leaning in for a peck on the lips.
"We should probably get to bed. We both have an early shift tomorrow," she said.
"You're right. I'll see you tomorrow."
"Goodnight," she said as he walked out the door.
She shook her head and repeated the thought "What did I do to deserve him?"
And a little voice in her head replied...You don't deserve him.
She quickly got dressed in her nightclothes and laid in her bed. Her last thoughts were of his smile as she drifted into a restful nights sleep.
Meanwhile, at her door, sand particles drifted into her room, slowly at first and then all at once they swirled and formed the shape of a person. This mound of sand began to take large steps towards Kathryn's bedroom. With each step, the sand fell and faded away to reveal a haggard woman. Her skin wrinkled and sagged, with a grotesque pale green color. She looked as if she were on the verge of death. Her hair was matted and thin, and her nails were long and sharp. She hobbled over to the bed and sat by the sleeping form. She brushed a piece of hair off Kathryn's forehead and leaned in to kiss the spot.
"Sweet dreams, dear Captain," she said with a sickening grin.
Chakotay got undressed but found that he wasn't tired, in fact, quite the opposite. His mind was swirling with thoughts of the future. He sensed there was more to her trepidation tonight than she was letting on. He wasn't going to push her and just as he told her, he was willing to wait a lifetime if it meant being with her. But that didn't stop his mind from pondering the question, Why?
He decided he needed some guidance, so setting down his medicine bundle he recited the words of his ancestors and drifted away into another state of mind.
Within a few minutes, sand began to filter through, from under his door. The revolting woman took her form once again, wandering over to Voyagers First Officer.
She observed him sitting upright with his eyes closed and in a relaxed state.
"Strange to sleep sitting up...no matter, as long as you're sleeping you can dream."
She ran her index finger across his forehead and snickered.
"I wonder what you'll dream of… such a pretty head with so many horrible thoughts and sad memories. So much to chose from!" she said with delight.
Confident that her work there was done she left, onto her next victim of the night.
"So you say that this woman...she is your true love?"
"Yes, there is no doubt in my mind that I'll spend the rest of my life by her side."
"Well, what is the problem, my son?"
"I feel that she is afraid to fully open up to me. Every time we discuss our feelings she changes the subject, every time I get close to telling her that I love her, she backs away. I told her I'd be patient but it's difficult to wait when I don't fully understand her reasoning. If she would just talk to me honestly, I wouldn't find myself doubting our future."
His father nodded and was about to reply when the ground beneath them began to shake. Boulders all around them came tumbling down. As he looked at his spirit guide he noticed her eyes go black and her sharp teeth bared in a growl.
"What's happening?" Chakotay asked.
"I'm not sure. I've never seen anything like this before! I suggest you get out of here before it gets worse."
"I'm trying to wake up...but nothing's happening," he said, beginning to panic.
"Then run! Take cover in the trees, I'll distract the wolf," his father spoke calmly approaching the rabid animal.
"Walk slowly and then when you're out of her line of sight pick up the pace but don't sprint, she'll run after you if you do,"
Chakotay did as his father told and without turning back, he made it into the cover of the trees. He kept running, his heart pounding in his ears, and then without warning, he stopped abruptly. He stood face-to-face with a metal door, unattached to anything. It seemed to float in the air.
As he heard the wolf approaching and his father calls out a warning, he opened the door and walked through without a second thought.
He was back on the ship, he realized, releasing a breath. Suddenly someone passed by, giving him an ugly stare of shock. It was then that he noticed that he was on a ship, but it was not Voyager. He then took note of the uniforms. Orange and white, they hadn't been used in starfleet for years. He stumbled about in confusion, making his way around the corridor when he saw her, dressed in the same uniform he had passed by. He thought for a moment that the orange color complimented her complexion, but not quite as much as command red. He shook the thought and made his way over to her, her back facing him.
"Kathryn!" he called out in relief.
As she turned around his heart dropped into his stomach. Her hair was longer, curlier, her alabaster skin dotted with a few more freckles, and there was a light around her eyes he hadn't seen before, she looked free. She was beautiful, the only problem was that the Kathryn he was staring at now was at least twenty years younger than the one he said goodnight to only a short while ago, and she looked at him as if he were a three-headed Targ.
"Yes? Do I know you?" She asked in confusion.
It took all of his strength not to fall faint. "What in the hell is going on?" he thought to himself.