Time off 3

Pt3

Chakotay had been at a business meeting all day. He was tired, hungry, grouchy, and ready to call it a day. Even thou he no longer worked with Star fleet, he was still attending meetings on their behalf. Apparently his voice was very important when it came to working with new recruits for Star fleet training. Today had just been one big job interview for one of his current students, however it had turned into something a bit more pion et than that. Some hostile words were spoken, and he had resigned his commission. But the day was over, and he looked forward to some peace and quiet.

As he made his way up the sidewalk toward his home, he noticed how many cars lined the streets. It was strange because at this time of the day usually their were no cars on either side of the street. He looked up to see a line of people waiting outside his door.

He made his way up the stairs.

"Excuse me."

One of the people in line shouted at him. "Hey no line jumping you have to wait your turn like everyone else!"

Chakotay turned and faced the pimple faced kid. "No I don't, I live here dammit!"

Chakotay reached the door and opened it. A man stood inside the doorway. "Name?"

"My name isn't important this is my house!"

"Name!"

Chakotay didn't want to argue anymore, he was tired and hungry. "Chakotay."

The man checked the list. He went through several pieces of paper. "Sorry you didn't make the list. You are gonna have to wait outside like everyone else."

At this point, he was so agitated that he pushed the man backwards. The man fell on the kitchen table and broke it in half. He was stunned for a second but then proceeded to get up. Just then a tall blond women wearing barely nothing came into the room.

"Chakotay what on earth is going on in here!"

"Seven! Who the hell are all these people and WHY are you dressed in that!"

"It's a costume party, you told me to not have just men over so invited their girlfriends, or wives also."

Just then he heard some noises coming from the other room. He walked over to the dark living room, heard the noise again, did a 180 and left.

Seven figured that he was in one of his moods, and let him go. After all a good host can never leave their own party.

Chakotay walked to the transporter station, with his mouth dragging along the ground. He still couldn't believe what he had witnessed. In fact he was still trying to piece it together. The sounds still repeated through his ears, making the memory come alive even more. He started to shake. He stopped just short of the transporter, he looked over his shoulder one last time and boarded the vessel.

Several hours later he was in Indiana. He honestly didn't know where else to go. As he made his way down a secluded street he saw what he was looking for. A simple sign on the fence said it all.

JANEWAY

He walked up the stairs and knocked on the door. He turned around and waited. Indiana was very flat he thought. He was about to knock again when he heard the latch click. A women answered the door, she looked just like Kathryn.

"Well look what the cat dragged in."

"Hello, my name is Chakotay, I was looking for Kathryn Janeway is she here?"

The women laughed. "I know who you are, didn't think that you could be more handsome than your picture, but I guess it is true."

Chakotay gave her a dimpled smile and the women turned bright red. Her change in her expression made Chakotay laugh for the first time today.

"Please come in I'm Phoebe Kathryn's younger sister. Kathryn went out for groceries a little while ago, but she should be back soon."

Chakotay settled on the couch. "And you allow her to do that?"

Phoebe turned around. "Ahhh, and funny too. So your the entire combo, good to know. Kathryn is allowed, to shop just not cook. We as a family draw the line at cooking."

Chakotay erupted into laughter. "Thank you Phoebe it has been an interesting day."

"Tell me about it, could I fix you a drink Chakotay?"

Chakotay put his face in his hands. "That sounds great, but please make it strong."

Phoebe went to work making his drink. "My day was just, one of those days that nothing goes right."

She gave him the drink and settled down on the couch.

Chaktoay took a deep sip of his drink and looked at her. "I bet you I can top you Phoebe."

Phoebe looked at him. "Well let me see, I was teaching biology today to a new group of high school students. We were just finishing the syllabus when one of them asked me if I was married. That was proceeded by 10 men who sat in the front row just to watch me. Followed by lunch where they all asked me out tonight. But I have to say that the tipping point for me was when they all decided to turn down the lights to make the room a bit more romantic."

Chakotay put his hands up. "Please don't say anymore you are reminding me of something that happened to me earlier today." He told Phoebe his entire story up to the end. At the end Phoebe's mouth was on the floor.

"So your saying that she was basically..."

"Please don't say it, I never want to relive that moment ever again."

"Say no more. The two of them looked up from their drinks and started laughing hysterically.

The front door clicked. "That would be Kathryn. Why don't you surprise her by helping her with the door. I'm rather tired and I think I will turn in.

Kathryn pushed the door open with her back. "Phoebe I could use a hand please."

Chakotay opened the door wider. The bags were blocking her view, but somehow she managed to make it to the kitchen. Chakotay followed from behind carrying the last two bags.

Kathryn turned around and nearly had a heart attack. "Chakotay? What are you doing here?"

"I thought that it was rather obvious. I'm helping you with the groceries."

"It's so great to see you, but where is my sister?"

"She went to bed, she was a bit tired."

"Oh."

He could sense that she was uncomfortable and he was enjoying it.

"Have you eaten Chakotay, I could fix you something to eat"

"No, the rule is that you can shop, just not cook."

"I see that you have been chatting with my sister."

"I have."

"So what terrible stories has she told you about me?"

"Where would you like me to start?"

He looked at her and smiled. He could sense her discomfort again. "Kathryn I,"

"Yes?"

He searched for the words, but he couldn't find any. So he took a risk, a big risk.

"Kathryn I want us to be together. I want to do something that I have waited years to do. I want,"

He didn't get a chance to say another word, because she had already begun to kiss him.

TBC