Here is another J/C fanfic for you all...

The day was like any other in the Delta Quadrant, except it was quiet, too quiet. Everyone was bored; the Captain included as she read reports and signed off on various things that only a Captain had to do. Kathryn was lost in thought when she smelled that familiar scent of coffee, but it had subtle differences, "Peace offering," A cup appeared before her and in the hand of Chakotay; her friend and unrequited love. She knew now that her heart loved him and where her heart went her mind was reluctant to follow without that cold stab of reality. It was knowledge on the grape vine that her first officer was dating her protégé; 7 of 9. That was her cold stab of reality and it was time she made her mind up about what she would do.

Taking the offered cup Kathryn said, "I didn't realize we were at war."

"Pre-emptive strike then, you seemed angry with me over the last few weeks and I…"

"Well, then have dinner with and we'll work it out." Kathryn offered, though somehow she knew that he would turn her down.

"I can't do dinner, but I do have lunch free if you want to brave the Mess and see what Chell decided to serve."

She knew it, but then again what was she expecting, "I'm up for an adventure." And without taking a sip she set the mug down on the console between them to follow him to the turbo lift.

THE MESS HALL:

As usual, but not lately, Janeway and Chakotay sat across from each other and talked, just talked like they used to and were oblivious to everyone around them. Kathryn found it oddly comforting to be with him again. Subtly she had been carving him out of her life ever since she learned he and 7 were together. It was petty and low to try and shut out her best friend, but still she tried and was miserable for it. So, this was her decision, she was going to fight for him. Leaning just a little closer she saw he had a tear in his uniform sleeve. Rather than call attention to it with her words she reached out her left hand and tugged on the material, "Were you crawling around the inside of my ship?"

Chakotay was baffled; the last time she had out right touched him was two years ago. They had just made up from a huge fight, one he couldn't remember; it was then that she placed her hand on his shoulder and smiled, much like she was smiling now. Stunned he looked at his sleeve and saw he did indeed have a tear, though he couldn't remember where he got it. Chakotay was about to say something when Kathryn rubbed her hand up and down his arm. Now he was sure that someone had taken his Captain, "Who are you and what have you done with Kathryn?" Chakotay asked.

"What are you talking about?" Kathryn answered with a question of her own. She knew how she must look to him. After all she had been brooding for the last two months.

Chakotay shook his head and smiled, this time it was a real smile that he had to dust off for Kathryn. Long ago he had reserved this smile only for her and since she was in a good mood he thought it ok to bring it out again, "Nothing, you just seemed…" Again he shook his head, "Never mind." Chakotay also noted that Kathryn hadn't moved her hand from his arm.

"Since you can't do dinner tonight how about tomorrow it's you and me in the holodeck," Kathryn offered. She had just the program in mind too; Lake George.

Getting into the playful mood, a mood he had long since abandoned with Kathryn, Chakotay leaned close and whispered, "What did you have in mind?"

"Lake George, a bon fire, and a bottle of wine," Kathryn answered and smiled.

"That is so tempting," Chakotay replied and he was still leaning close, all other thoughts had gone out of his mind at the moment. Too long had he lived without the teasing, tempting side of Kathryn; he was finding it a nice change from her brooding attitude from the last few weeks.

"You know you can't refuse," Kathryn said and chuckled.

"You're right, I can't refuse. Ok, I will see you tomorrow, 1900 on the holodeck, and I will bring the wine." With plans made Chakotay excused himself to go to his office to think, to ponder the sudden change in his Captain's, his friend's mood.

1900 HOLODECK 1:

Chakotay stepped through the doors of the Holodeck to a roaring bon fire, silvery stars dancing around a pale moon, and the sound of water lapping against the shore. He was greeted to the sight of his Captain dressed in loose fitting black pants and a form fitting cream colored shirt with bell sleeves that billowed in the breeze. For this evening she had brushed out her hair and let it fall down her over her shoulders as the firelight caught the hints of red. Chakotay was over come with a wave of lust so strong it nearly took his breath. His Captain, his friend, looked so gorgeous in the fire light; she was made for fire light. It cast her in shadows adding an air of mystery to her. Seven could never have this effect; her Borg implants would reflect the light. 'What have you done Chakotay?' He thought as he continued to stare at the woman in front of him. Slowly he started to move towards her as he continued his line of thought. Maybe he started with Seven to force her decision, force her to make a choice. The last time he and Kathryn had been to Lake George she had just cheated death and that night they had nearly kissed, but at the last moment she pulled back and made a hasty retreat. At the time he thought he understood; it was too much for her. And now here they were again and he was sure that if he tried to kiss her, her response would be different. At lunch the other day he had seen something there that he had not seen in a long time; she wanted him. It was the desire and just on the fringes was the emotion of her and regret. She must have known about him and Seven, how could she not this was her ship. And this had to be the reason for her prickly attitude the last couple of weeks. Her whole demeanor of acting like a lioness with a thorn in her paw was because of him. 'It was her fault.' His wounded pride hissed, and he supposed it was, but he still hated to see her in and sort of negative mood.

Kathryn wanted to turn the minute the doors opened. As hard as it was she remained with her back to him, she had to. She was giving him the chance to run, to flee back to Seven and then she would know his heart was no longer hers. And yet he stood watching her as she heard his foot steps coming closer. Tonight's intention was for her to apologize for the way she had been acting towards him for the past few weeks. It hadn't been her intention to be a monster, but she had and it was hard keeping up the anger at him, not when all she had to do was look at him and she melted inside. She had been a bitch, plain and simple. Chakotay was her friend, her best friend, and she had treated him terribly. But that didn't mean she was going to give him to Seven. No! Chakotay was hers and she had forgotten hat, more like she had convinced herself that it was better not to love him; it was safer for everyone. Kathryn had sentenced herself to a personal hell full of sleepless nights, tormented dreams. And she was sure it was no different for her Angry Warrior. Well, it stopped now. Kathryn was tired of having erotic dreams about her first officer and having now way of relieving the tension when she woke. She grew tired of having no one to hold her at night, just be with her, and surround her with the warmth that she so desperately needed at night but was terrified to ask for. She didn't want to ask him, had dreaded giving in to her wants and her needs. She was the Captain and she needed to be strong for the crew, the crew needed her to be larger than life. That was what she had told herself for years. But it was an excuse that she was going to stop using. Chakotay was what she wanted and with him she could survive anything.

Chakotay shook himself out of hit thought enough to close the distance between him and Kathryn; he needed to see her face, look into her eyes, and just to be near her. Right now she didn't look angry; she looked much as she had yesterday at lunch, she looked playful. He could also see a hint of decisiveness to her as well. And Chakotay had a feeling that it was a very big choice she had made. He was hoping that he lived up to the choice. For right now there was no Seven, no Voyager, no crew, and no Delta Quadrant; it was only them. It was just him and Kathryn on the shore of Lake George. Isn't this what he wanted? Didn't he want her to make a choice about him? 'You did this, you started with Seven to force Kathryn's hand, to force her decision.' Chakotay's conscience shouted at him. And maybe he had. But he was tired, tired of sleepless nights and dreams of unfulfilled pleasure. This was his way of getting what he wanted by a round about way. He was slightly ill to think he would be this underhanded about it, but he was left with no option. She had to control and this was the only way to make her act. Plus, he had no right to treat Seven this way; she had come so far as a person. But as he gazed at Kathryn he felt everything fall away until there was only her. "Hey Kathryn," He greeted and offered her his dimpled smile, the smile that belonged only to her.

For a moment Kathryn was taken aback by the power of his smile, the smile she hadn't seen in so long. Maybe he had made a choice without knowing hers. But that was Chakotay. He was able to orient himself around her moods, her choices, and her very being. Right now she was contented, content to stare at him, content to be by the bon fire. Chakotay had that ability; he could calm her, incite a fire to burn through her, or make her laugh. She should have known there was problem between them. First their dinners had started to dwindle, even though they were few and far between. Then he had stopped teasing her and calling her Kathryn. He even stopped smiling his amazing dimpled smile that was all for her. That should have told her something was wrong and yet she had ignored the clues and went about living in denial of her needs and his. Her only hope had been to reach Earth; that was when she could be with him. But as it stood Earth was a long way off. Now she was changing the game and taking what she wanted; she wanted Chakotay. Kathryn wanted Chakotay to hold her at night and guard her against the cold. She wanted him to fire her blood and bring her every desire to life. She wanted to wake to him in the morning and know that all was right within her world. "Good evening Chakotay," Kathryn greeted in return as she gave him her lopsided grin. It was a grin she used for him and him alone. It was a grin se used when she wanted to be playful with him and now she wanted to be playful.

"It's been a while since we've been here together," Chakotay muttered, "and just as I promised a bottle of wine." He handed her the bottle and let his fingers dance over her as she took it from him. Chakotay had seen the playfulness in her eyes and decided that two can play that game. H wanted to be playful with her, to make his Captain see what she had been missing in the dead of night while she had been alone in her quarters without him.

Kathryn saw in his eyes and felt in his fingers the flirtation that he was going to use; it was something she had missed; she had missed the way he would play with her. Chakotay could use his voice, his eyes, and the barest touch of his fingers to flirt and it was something she had truly wanted him to do again. If he wanted to play, then she would oblige, "2301, a very good year." Her voice dropped to a sensual whisper as she turned from him to retrieve the wine glasses she had brought with her.

She walked away from him and he was not about to let her get too far. Moving quickly and quietly Chakotay stood close behind her. When she stood her back was against his chest. All the heat he had and plus that of the fire seeped into her and he heard her breath hitch. Leaning so his lips were close to her ear Chakotay purred, "It is a very good year. The bouquet is rich with the trace of desire and a hint of wantonness." A shiver worked over her body and into him.

"And here I thought I could at least apologize first," Kathryn was breathless. He could do that to her just by being near her. His body was so warm, whether it was him or the fire she wasn't sure, but she was burning and it was all because of him. He was so close behind her and his lips wee so close to that one sensual spot just below her ear all he had to do was move her hair and he would have her, she would be his completely. This heat was all consuming and it was a heat only her first officer could inspire. 'He's with Seven.' The voice of her conscience shrieked. 'But right now he's not.' The devil answered with a wicked grin. And it was the devil that Kathryn was going to listen to.

"Oh, you will apologize," Chakotay backed away and took the heat with him. He wanted her to now the hell she had put him through. She would give him smiles, she would touch him, and then she would take it all away if it suited her. Now it was his turn to have the power over her body. "Don't misunderstand; you are going to apologize for acting like a lioness with a thorn in her paw."

"At least you didn't call me a bitch," Kathryn replied with no hint of anger or venom. She knew she was in the wrong and she was going to own up to it. The side of her that was the Captain knew what she had done was wrong, but it was the woman who lashed out and been hurtful because she was hurt. There had been no excuse for the way she had treated and now she regretted her treatment of him, not just over the past weeks but over the last five years. She had been absolutely retched to him. In denying them both she had done damage that was going to take too long to repair, but if he gave her the chance she would spend the rest of their lives trying to repair it.

"No, you were being a bitch, but I was trying to be polite." Chakotay shot back as he crossed his arms over his chest, a chest that was burning for her touch. He knew he was risking her temper, courting her ire, but he stood his ground and waited, just waited for her next words. Would they be words of anger? Would they be words of remorse? Or would she say nothing at all? This was his field, this was is game. He needed her to come to terms with what was between them; then and only then would he make his ultimate choice regarding his happiness.

"Ouch," Kathryn splayed her hand over her heart and then continued, "But given. You have thirty seconds to tell me how retched I've been to you the last few weeks." She may live to regret this but it was something that had to be done.

"You don't want to do that." Chakotay argued. What was she doing? She was making him crumble.

"29."

"Fine. You were miserable, insufferable, to be around. You were a bitch and I nearly dreaded coming to the bridge in the morning knowing you were there. I wanted to hide in my office rather than face you. For the last five years you made my life hell and I let you…"

"15 seconds and I'm starting to regret this."

"But in the face of all that, just looking at you now in the fire light I can forget it all and fall in love with you all over again." Chakotay confessed. Let him crumble. If he could crumble into her arms it would be worth it.

"Time," Kathryn whispered. "I really made you feel that way?" Her voice was small and barely above a whisper.

"You called time remember."

"Forget it. I really made you feel that horrible?"

"You did, but seeing you like this," He grabbed her shoulders lightly and squeezed, "I love you all over again." Chakotay answered and laid a kiss to her forehead. All the playfulness, all his intentions flew out the window so to speak and he held her in his arms. She was more precious to him than his next breath and he would fight to keep her. In the morning he would have the task of telling Seven that he couldn't be with her anymore, that he… Chakotay couldn't even think what to tell her, not when he was holding Kathryn.

"I'm sorry," Kathryn whispered into his chest and let the tears fall. Gone was the strong willed Captain, gone was her icy exterior, gone was her shields forged of steel until all that was left was the woman who hurt everyday for the pain she was casing him. Maybe now that it was all out in the open they could move on past the hurt, mend their hearts, and live a life that should have been theirs on New Earth.

"Do you love me?"

"Chakotay…"

"Answer me."

"Chakotay…"

"I need you to answer me."

"Yes, I love you."