Delta of VoyagerPart 14

"I think we should aim to meet within the next day and check on all stations."

"Very good." he told her. "Now, if there is nothing more, then I would like to get some sleep."

"Of course," she dismissed.

"Wait!" she said, "There is something else…"

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In a heartbeat, she was in his arms. The despair Chakotay had felt a split second ago fled, and he was once again lost in her love. He knew it was real and not the result of outside intervention. He knew he was loving her from within and it quenched him in every way. He finally knew her without any strings being pulled, free, no longer a puppet of manipulated hormones.

--- --- -- --- --- --

Their ardor had given way to sleep and the couple slowly came back to consciousness. Chakotay was elated. He felt healed. He was free of the burden of the torch he carried for Kathryn all these years. He permitted himself to savor the pure joy of holding her close.

He had not realized just how lonely his existence had been without her to return his love.

"This feels nice," she said snuggling into the cuddle, her eyes still not opened.

"I hope so," he replied. "I've been practicing. Oh, I didn't mean that!"

She laughed and patted his chest.

"I know what you meant. Has the Doctor found an antidote yet?" she asked.

"What?"

"An antidote, some way to counteract what the aliens did to us?"

"Kathryn, you can thank Michael Sullivan for happening upon the cure."

"What!" she sat up suddenly, alarmed.

"Didn't you know? Don't you remember?"

Realization slapped her in the face like ice water. Her pent-up feelings for Chakotay had been set free, and were as strong and driving as anything the Toolanders could throw at her. She had spent so many years denying herself, she herself was unable to reconcile the balance sheet.

"'Captain'," he used her formal address, "that was purely us, you and me. Two humans in love." he told her, feeling some dismay. "That is what it is like, what you've been denying us all these years."

"Speechless at last!" said an unwelcome voice.

"Q!" they said in unison.

"Now, I will be giving the bride away of course, and I know some musicians from the Beta Quadrant who will…"

"Q, get out of my quarters!" she reverted.

"I knew the quiet wouldn't last," Q said conspiratorially to Chakotay. "Don't get used to it. She always has to have the final word."

"In fact, get off my ship!"

"No, please don't thank me all at once…"

"What have you done that we should be grateful for?" she demanded.

"Well, actually, he did get us far away from Toolander influence," Chakotay told her. "Thank you, Q."

"Chakotay, I don't know whether to congratulate or pity you, but I can tell by that satisfied look on your face that it wouldn't matter either way."

Janeway turned to look at her new lover but Chakotay could not hide his smile. Janeway could not hide her horror.

"Gentlemen, I do believe you are ganging up on me. This is mutiny!"

"Mutiny on the booty!"

Janeway groaned and Chakotay still beamed a smile.

"And, may I say what a lovely booty it is." Q leered.

"You may not," she said indignantly.

"Chakotay…"

"Oh oh! I think I hear the other shoe crashing down."

"Chakotay, I'm afraid I'm going to have to ask you to leave."

"What?" Chakotay was stunned by her complete one eighty turnabout on a bar of latinum.

"I'm…I'm very sorry."

"Oh, I can't watch," Q said, his hand over his eyes with fingers parted so he could see their every bead of sweat.

"Fine." Chakotay told her. "That's just fine." He rose and pulled on a pair of wrinkled pants that had been crumpled on the floor. He grabbed a black t-shirt which was a size too small and yanked it over his head.

"Now you've done it missy! Are you happy? You really got to him. He isn't given to the display of this much emotion. He learned from the best, my dear: you!"

"Chakotay…I…"

"You do not need to say more, 'Captain'," he spat her title. "I'm sure I have neglected duties and I am anxious to attend to whatever needs to be done."

TBC….