Betrayal and Turkey.

Chapter Twenty.

By Hopping Hamster.

As Chakotay helped Kathryn back into his transport vehicle thirty minutes later after a lovely stroll along the river where their talk was mainly about the wildlife and scenery Kathryn smiled a warm smile up at him with her blue eyes showing a relaxed joy about them "thanks for the walk" she said softly giving his hand a soft squeeze before realising it to place her own hand on her lap.

"I am glad you liked it" he smiled a warm dimpled smile as he looked down where she sat. He lent in and planted a gentle kiss on her cheek before pulling away and closing the door before she could protest.

As he settle into the driving seat next to her she watched him start up the controls "now where?" she asked trying her best to sound casual but the need and urgency in her voice wasn't missed by Chakotay, she didn't like not being in control and he guessed the accident had meant that she had lost a fair amount of control and she was desperate to keep some.

"To our final destination" he whispered in a gentle deep voice as he started up the car and backed out onto the open road not daring to look at the annoyed expression he knew she was now giving him.

"You do realise it's nearly lunch time" she growled at him in annoyance.

Chakotay had to laugh "of course" he told her through his laughter, there had been countless times over the years he had tried to force her to eat when she had been unwilling, now she seemed to be annoyed with him for no giving her lunch. Kathryn merely scowled and turned away knowing she would get nothing more out of him now.

It wasn't all that long later when Chakotay pulled up on a side street on San Francisco and shut down the engine before turning and glancing at his companion. A smile crept across his face she looked so beautiful, so peaceful, so content and safe. He wanted to reach out and stroke her hair from where t had fallen over her relaxed face but he knew that was crossing a line. He suddenly felt a wash of peace fill himself as he realised she clearly felt safe with him there like that, safe enough to fall asleep beside him in his care. Slowly he reached out and stroked her arm gently "Kathryn" he whispered leaning in saying in a gentle tender voice "darling wake up"

"What?!" Her blue eyes shot open, suddenly her smooth and content sleeping face filled with lines of worry and distress filled her beautiful face once again. He took her face steadily in his hands forcing her to look at him. She let out a gasp as her confused eyes locked with his "Chakotay?"

"Shhh its ok" he reassured her letting his thumbs run softly over her cheeks. As her eyes filled with tears he told her softly and steadily "you fell asleep"

"What?" she gasped in utter surprise forcing herself to sit up. It was an awkward manoeuvre but one she had gotten used to in the last five years.

As she looked around he placed a hand on her shoulder "It's ok" he whispered. He watched her face as she seemed to get her bearings and her muscles visibly relaxed under his hand. "Your beautiful when your asleep" he told her with a beaming dimpled smile "you always were" he added with a soft caress of her cheek.

She looked at him with such compassion and love in her eyes she didn't want to pull away, nor did he. Finally she reached up and took his hand in hers and lowered it as she asked firmly "Well where are we?"

As though coming from a trance he looked out the window and told her "in San Francisco" she followed his line of vision the stare at the busy city street they were now parked in.

"What?" she gasped, she hadn't been here since her resignation of Starfleet, this city was not somewhere she had ever wanted to visit again. She had given half her life to Starfleet and now she was a useless invalid, a hindrance to anyone who stayed with her, San Francisco was the last place in the entire universe she wanted to be.

Chakotay had wanted to be reassuring as he placed a hand on her shoulder and said proudly "in the heart of the city" she turned to him slowly, her death glare on full show.

Through her set jaw and gritted teeth she demanded "so where are we going?"

"For coffee" he smiled "real coffee" with that he opened the door and jumped out the vehicle once again before she could say anything. As he opened the door on her side he reached out a hand to help her down saying "come on"

She cautiously placed her hand in his and let him help her to a standing position. As soon as she stood and looked up at the building before her she knew exactly where she was, she had been there countless times before "the night owl" she whispered as she turned her wide blue eyes to him. Thais was a bad idea, a very bad idea. What exactly was he doing? "Chakotay…." She whispered turning to him but she couldn't quite finish her sentence as all her emotions filled her mind. Her eyes filled with tears as she remembered countless memories in this quaint little establishment dating back as far as her childhood.

"Indulge me" Chakotay smiled wiping the tears from her face with his fingertips, giving a light kiss on her cheek. Before she knew where she was she was being led into the beautiful little coffee shop she knew so well.

As she and Chakotay made their way to the counter the bar tender nearly dropped the glass mug he was drying with a towel as he gapped open mouthed at her before seemingly getting himself together and asking "Katie?" with than the short, plump elderly man hurried around the bar to stand in front of her "Katie my dear it is you"

"Barry" she smiled warmly as the small man approached her. Chakotay was watching her; she was suddenly looked free and relaxed before this old man.

He drew her into a hug seemingly not aware of her injuries and laughed a hearty laugh as he drew away telling her "I worried you had gotten yourself lost again"

"no Barry I just live out in the country now" she smiled a soft awkward smile as she tightened her grip on Chakotay who was doing a fine job at helping her stand upright without making it obvious what he was doing "I don't get over to the city much" Kathryn finished with a warm smile at the small older man.

He looked her up and down for a long second before smiling seemingly happy with her explanation before asking "Are you here to hear young Harry's Keynote speech"

"What?" Kathryn almost blurted out shocked and suddenly frightened, of course she was happy Harry's Starfleet career was saving him well but sitting in headquarters with the brass was not her idea of a fun day out with a long lost friend.

"That Mr Kim who served on your ship" Barry told her cautiously looking from the now horrified Kathryn to the concerned Chakotay stood just beside her. He had never met this man before but somehow he didn't like the way he held close to her. Deciding to continue with his explanation Barry added "he's giving the keynote speech on the Delta Quadrant this evening at Starfleet Head Quarters"

"No" Kathryn gasped a horrified plea that neither men missed. Her eyes were wide with fear as she looked at Chakotay and grabbed his shirt in her fist "Chakotay tell me no" she begged in horror.

"no Kathryn" He whispered deeply into her eyes before taking her trembling hand in his and kissing her palm saying firmly and softly "I promise" He looked up at the now concerned looking small man, at the mention of her companion's name he was on alert. The tanned skinned man has handsome he would give him that. "Ms Janeway and I are just visiting the city for a few hours" Chakotay smiled a dimpled smile addressing Barry "I am afraid we will miss Harry's address"

Barry could tell he was covering up something but what he didn't know. Narrowing his eyes at the tall man holding on to Kathryn he hissed in a semi polite manner "Shame"

Kathryn suddenly noticed the tension mounting between the two men and so in an effort to defuse them she places a delicate hand on Chakotay's chest saying with a warm smile "Oh err Barry you remember me telling you about Commander Chakotay of Trebus" Barry simply nodded not taking his eyes from Chakotay, his jolly smiling had long since subsided "Chakotay Barry, Barry has been running this place since long before my academy day's" she looked between the two men and saw Barry was still hostile to her date and sighed as she added "since long before my academy days, he was here when my father was still alive, Daddy used to drop me off here at the night owl in Barry's care if he had business at headquarters"

Chakotay kept eye contact with the seemingly hostile man as he hissed "I remember you saying"

Barry stepped forward to match Chakotay's glare saying "Commander Chakotay I must say it is a surprise to see you and dear Kathryn arm in arm"

Kathryn shifted herself between the two men and snapped at Barry "Chakotay is visiting from Trebus; we had a Voyager reunion the other night"

"I see" Barry hissed steeping back behind his bar and returning to drying his glass.

Kathryn sighed slightly thankful the situation was defused as she looked around the room for her usual seat and was pleased to see it was free "well now that we are all properly acquainted I think I'll take my usual seat"

"Certainly Katie" Barry smiled but his smile faltered as he saw how awkward she moved and why Chakotay had to hold on to her. Deciding not to be fazed the old man pushed Chakotay out of the way and insisted "allow me" Chakotay nodded and waited by the bar as Kathryn and her old friend moved towards a beautiful secluded table by the window.

Chakotay took the opportunity to look around as he waited for the bar tender to return. It was a minute or so before the older man moved up behind him and hissed "you had better look after her Commander I have known Katie Janeway for a long time" Slowly Chakotay turned to look into the face of the older man, he was about to say something but Barry cut across him saying "you hurt her very badly when you walked away"

Chakotay asked stiffly "Mr erm?" waving in his direction.

The small man took in a deep breath and pushed out his already unusually large belly saying angrily "Goodwin, Barry Goodwin"

Chakotay nodded respectfully at him as he added "well Mr. Goodwin I am sure Kathryn appreciates your concern but I assure you I would never cause her any harm"

Barry folded his arms and hissed angrily "Well she was heartbroken the day you left for trebus, she came here in a right state, I have never seen her so distressed" trying to keep his voice down as to maintain Kathryn's privacy and not to cause a riot in his own establishment.

"we have all made mistakes Mr. Goodwin" Chakotay told him firmly "I am not proud of leaving her and I regret that choice very much but Kathryn has been gracious enough to give me another chance" Barry looked as though he wanted to say more but a glance at Kathryn made him reconsider, she had hoped this day would come when this man would come back to her, he wasn't about to mess it up for her turning back to Chakotay he looked expecting at him and the native American nodded and added "now please, Coffee black I am sure you know how she likes it, and I'll take a herbal tea. Thank you" Barry nodded and turned to make the drinks. Handing them to the taller man he met his eyes firmly and Chakotay said politely "do excuse me"

"Of course Commander" Barry managed to spit out in his attempt to be cordial.

He watched as Chakotay took large, firm strides towards where Kathryn sat and placed the drink's on the table before her "What was that?" she asked softly nodding her head towards where Barry stood watching them.

"what was what?" Chakotay asked casually taking the seat next to her so he too could look out of the large window.

Kathryn watched her friend trying to look so innocent and indifferent before she laughed and demanded softly "what did he say to you?"

Chakotay placed both his hands flat on the table before him, a sure sign to Kathryn he was trying to calm his nerves as he added "I think Mr. Goodwin likes to play protective father"

"Oh ignore him" Kathryn whispered placing her hand on his hand nearest to her and planting a sudden and unexpected kiss on his cheek "he's been a family friend for many years"