When they reached engineering, they realised immediately that something was really wrong. People were rushing around, a smell suggested that a fire had recently been suppressed. "Report!" The Captain strode towards the core with determination. Suddenly a heavy jolt shook the ship, and Chakotay caught Kathryn just before she hit a wall. Her thankful smile met his warm gaze, then he shrugged apologetically. "I wonder why it always does that – regardless of what's happening." Kathryn rolled her eyes at that – the ship really made use of every possible excuse to shake them around.
B'Elanna was striding towards them. "I don't know what went wrong, Captain. One minute we had everything working, the next something exploded and we're still trying to figure out what makes every damn system down here fail!" She was really at her wits' end. She dashed around, barking orders, while Chakotay and Kathryn checked consoles. "At least the problem seems to be confined to engineering, and the warp core is in no immediate danger." She moved over and checked a wall panel. B'Elanna came back. "Captain, I think it's the gel packs. Some of the gas must have escaped through the conduits and now it's somehow infecting them."
"Chakotay to the Doctor. Report to Engineering."
"B'Elanna, can you disconnect the infected packs to stop it from spreading?"
"I already did, but they are literally too hot too handle. For some reason they have... developed some sort of fever, I think."
Kathryn stepped back to the console. "Janeway to astrometrics. Seven, scan the data from the nebula gasses for anything that might look like a virus." B'Elanna was already running back, raising forcefields, and sending several people to sickbay with burns. She also notified Tom and told him to go there and prepare.
"Acknowledged." The comm line closed and Chakotay turned to the Captain. "A virus? How could it get past the biofilters?"
She waved her hand. "I don't know, but I have an idea." She gestured at the data on the screen. "See this? The gasses are all normal... all but this one. It seems to have biological components... could very well be another Delta Quadrant speciality that our scanners are unable to detect." She rolled her eyes in annoyance.
The Doctor strode in and immediately went to see to another wounded crewmember emerging from the Jeffries tube. But as soon as the Captain saw him enter, she interrupted. "I'm sorry Doctor, but you're gonna have to leave your patients in Mr. Paris' capable hands. You have more pressing matters to attend to." And with that she ushered him over to the ever growing pile of gel packs B'Elanna had confined behind a forcefield. The Doctor's face became disgruntled with disgust as he began scanning the packs. "They are infected with a virus! How come these things happen all the time? You don't take any better care of your ship than you do of your bodies."
"Well, can you treat them?"
The Doctor collected a sample and put on his best superior are-you-lucky-to-have-me face on. "I'll analyse these and see if I can devise some kind of antigen."
When he left, Chakotay and the Captain shared annoyed sighs and a small smile. This wasn't such a bad situation, after all. Kathryn was glad that the least they had all gained from years in the Delta Quadrant was a certain equanimity. They had all had their share of terrors and near-death experiences - so how bad could this possibly be? They went back to help the rest of the engineering staff get things under control. Seven confirmed the Doctor's findings and worked with him to isolate the virus.
Later in the afternoon, they held a briefing. B'Elanna was relieved to report that engineering was back to its usual charming self, the Doctor confirmed almost all the gel packs 'healed' and some replaced. The other gasses from the nebula weren't dangerous and everything was fine. Tom made a comment along the lines of "I knew it.." and proved, again, that any uneventful day was a rare commodity. When all matters were discussed, Tom announced another movie night that evening. Although they were all a little tired, they welcomed the distraction. B'Elanna flashed an apologetic smile to Kathryn and Chakotay. Apparently, the budding knowledge that 'something' was going on had not been spread yet. Since the Doctor and Seven were present, Tom included them in his invitation, which the former accepted eagerly and the latter confirmed with a curt nod.
When the others were trailing out of the briefing room, B'Elanna shuffled closer to the Captain and lowered her voice. "I should warn you. I haven't said a word to anyone, but the betting pools are open and flourishing thanks to Tom's extensive hinting. See you tonight." She winked and left.
When noone was around anymore, Chakotay put his arms around the Captain, who relaxed visibly at his touch. She smiled. "You know, this makes any briefing more bearable." He pressed a tender kiss on her cheek. "So what do you say – shall we finish our picnic? As dinner perhaps?"
She turned in his arms. "Don't you think it was a little cool on New Earth at night?"
"Well that's one thing we can remedy, can't we?"
They were lying on the riverbank again, surrounded by a 'mild' breeze, stuffed with some wonderful vegetable dish Chakotay had cooked. Both on their backs, heads closely together, holding hands, they were studying the stars. "You even included Delta Quadrant stars." She simply stated the fact. He nodded mock-gravely. "Yes, well, wouldn't be the same without the monkey."
She turned her head to look at him in amusement. "The monkey?!"
"Yes, don't you see?" He pointed at a formation of stars in the centre of the sky and traced it. "There's the tail, a head... feet," he looked at her expectantly, eyebrows raised. She stared in concentration. After a while she shook her head and sighed in mock-desperation: "Sorry, looks nothing like a monkey to me. More like a.. hmm I can't quite make it out..."
Grinning broadly, he started teasing her. "I guess we'll have to work on those stargazing skills." She huffed and turned her head in indignation. "Bet you don't see the 'holy coffee cup of salvation' then either." She couldn't retain her repose now and broke out laughing. She held her belly, giggling happily. She pointed too now and teased back. "Oh well, I bet you haven't discovered the southern leola root yet! See, it's right next to the cooking pot of doom!"
They both laughed and rolled on their sides. When they had calmed down, they only looked at each other. He opened his arms. "Come here." She happily obliged and snuggled against his chest. His voice dropped to a mere whisper. "I want to make sure it's these moments that define our journey."
She closed her eyes and was flooded with warm affection. This was all so new yet. But she was sure she'd never love another man as surely as she loved him right now, in this moment. He was life to her. She whispered too now. "Our journey.. together. Finally."
His arms tightened around her and he brought her face almost level with his. Their eyes locked, and even in the almost darkness she could make out every so familiar feature of his face. He was very serious now. "I don't want to... pressure you. But.." he hesitated. She looked at him earnestly and nodded to encourage him. "Well, I want to make sure you know what you're getting yourself into."
She smiled at that and raised an eyebrow. "I think I have a fairly good idea." But he still looked serious. "I mean it. You are the world to me, Kathryn. I.." He couldn't continue, his eyes seemed to water a little. She tenderly put a hand to his face and caressed his tattoo. A tear quietly slipped down her cheek. She sounded totally certain and steady when she next spoke. "I know. Don't worry. You are the best thing that's ever happened to me... I'm not going anywhere."
They still hadn't openly said the words. But as surely as she could read his love in his eyes, he understood her. This wasn't for fun and not uncertain as their previous relationship, this was made to last. He nodded and took her face in his hands. Softly, his lips found hers and they lost themselves in their embrace. Gently, his tongue started to explore and their kiss deepened more and more, her hands behind his neck and his drawing her head closer. Kathryn smelled the warm air and him, felt his strong arms around her, incredibly glad that he was not guarded or reserved. He offered everything to her, and was very confident – he knew exactly what he was doing to her, probably enjoying making her knees weak and her heart race. But he also knew what he wanted, needed. It was nice not to be 'in command' all the time. She let herself go completely.
They were positively entangled in rising passion when a computer beep announced the time. They both jumped and broke apart. It was 18:30, time to get ready for Tom's final Star Wars night. Chakotay smiled at her apologetically. "First Tuvok, then some virus, and now Voyager. I wonder if Tom and B'Elanna ever had similar problems. "
She laughed at his angry look at the forest, as if there was an unbidden intruder sitting there. She kissed him on the cheek. "I guess we're star-crossed lovers." Thinking of their earlier conversation they both laughed now. He beamed at her. "So we're lovers now, are we?" She leant to his ear and whispered: "Not quite yet... But I think we have all the time in the universe." Again, she made that silent promise to him. He had to fight his racing heart as she kissed him once more, sending thoughts and images through his mind ...of actually loving her, body and soul. I wonder if she knows what she's doing to me. He saw her sweet and somewhat smug grin. Alright, she knows. She's driving me crazy. But he decided he liked that. She could drive him crazy all she wanted.