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Switched

Chapter 12

"I really don't think my twin can be identical," Kathryn said, taking off her jacket as she entered her apartment with Chakotay. "I mean, our homecoming has been big news. Our faces have been everywhere. If she looked exactly like me then she'd have figured something's up when she saw herself on the news."

"That was my first thought," Chakotay replied, casting his own jacket to the couch, "but maybe she doesn't look exactly like you. Twins can have very different personalities. Maybe she styles her hair differently, dresses differently, behaves differently. And it's not uncommon for people to resemble celebrities. A lot of people have been mistaken for someone famous."

"That's true," Kathryn answered. "But I really hope she isn't identical to me. It would just be too weird."

"I don't know," Chakotay teased. "Two of you sounds good to me."

Kathryn had to smile at that and closed the gap between them. "Thank you...for coming with me tonight. Telling my mother it...it was the hardest thing I've ever had to do. I don't know if I could have got through it without your support."

Chakotay put his hand on her shoulder. "I'm glad I could make a difference. I don't want you to ever go through anything alone. I meant what I said on New Earth. I always want to be at your side, helping to carry your burdens."

"And you always have. I couldn't have got through the Voyager years without you and I couldn't have got through tonight. I know everyone thinks I'm so strong, that I don't need anyone, but I'm not made of iron. I have needs too."

"Of course you do," Chakotay said. "And I'm glad to hear you say it. You've suppressed Kathryn behind the captain for too long."

"I had too," she replied. "Voyager needed its captain. Kathryn was redundant."

Chakotay looked deep into her eyes. "Not to me."

"I know," she said. "And while I hated you sometimes for stirring the woman inside me, I loved you for it too."

Chakotay brushed his fingers against her cheek and then kissed her lips tenderly. Kathryn kissed him in return and then they held each other close.

"What do you want to tell people?" he asked. "About us. If people find out we're sharing this apartment, tongues will wag."

"Then let them wag," Kathryn replied. "We've nothing to hide or be ashamed of. I don't care if the whole worlds knows we're together."

"If a journalist finds out, the whole world might. And that could make things awkward for you. There's been a lot of speculation about our relationship. It might be better for me to get my own apartment. That way we won't raise any eye-brows."

Kathryn looked up at him. "You should know by now I'm an eye-brow raising kind of woman. The only reason I didn't get involved with you on Voyager was because I was afraid if we crossed the line my judgment would be compromised. I never gave a damn about what anyone would think back home, least of all stuffy old Admirals. So don't you dare get your own apartment. This is your apartment. It's ours. The whole Federation can speculate for all I care. We're together and that's that."

Chakotay smiled. "Then I stay."

Kathryn smiled in return, kissed his dimple, and then walked towards the replicator. "I'm almost dead on my feet. I need a coffee."

"What you need," Chakotay argued, "is to sleep."

"I can't. I've got things to do."

"Like what?" Now Voyager was home, her time was her own.

Kathryn made no reply, just manually replicated a coffee.

"Kathryn?"

For a long moment Kathryn didn't answer, then she spoke. "I want to look up Cayla Brenton's address in Dallas."

Chakotay hardly dare ask. "What for?"

"So I can go there...tomorrow." She picked up her coffee and turned towards him. "And I know what you're thinking, I shouldn't. But I need to see my supposed twin for myself. I need to know if we're identical. I won't talk to her, just look at her...from a distance."

"You're right," Chakotay said. "I don't think you should go. In a few days, a week at the most, all the tests will be done and you'll know whether your twin is identical or not."

"I can't wait days, certainly not a week. And what if she doesn't co-operate? Her doctor is under no obligation to release any information to me. If she doesn't co-operate, I might never know the truth."

"Thinking about what ifs never does any good," Chakotay reasoned. "Neither does assuming the negative. The overwhelming likelihood is she will co-operate. And if she doesn't, you have rights too. You have the right to know if you have an identical twin. I'm sure her doctor will be obliged to confirm or deny that, even if she never wants to contact you."

"Maybe. Or maybe it would mean a court case. Why put everyone through that when I can go to Dallas and see her for myself? Just a glimpse, Chakotay, that's all I need."

"And bar knocking on her door, how are you going to get that?"

"By hanging around her place. She's bound to leave home at some point in the day."

"And if she isn't home? If she's on vacation somewhere?"

"Then I don't see her." She paused. "I've made up my mind, Chakotay. I'm going. Tomorrow."

Chakotay slowly closed the gap between them. "How about we do a deal? You recycle that coffee and get some sleep, and tomorrow I'll look up Cayla Brenton's address and check her out in Dallas."

Kathryn looked at him in surprise. "You will?"

"Yes. If I remove my tattoo, disguise myself a little, no one will recognize me. That way you can find out what you want to know without putting yourself in an emotionally charged situation. If you did see her, you'd have to resist approaching her, and that would be difficult for anyone in your position to do."

"I suppose you're right," Kathryn conceded.

"So," he said, putting his hand on her shoulder. "Do we have a deal?"

Kathryn put her hand over his and gave a tired smile. "We have a deal."

END OF CHAPTER TWELVE