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Switched

Chapter 15

When Chakotay woke the following morning, he found Kathryn was already up. He could hear her pottering about in the kitchen and could smell fresh coffee in the air. Slowly he climbed out of bed, put on his robe, and made his way to the lounge. His body was less sore after a night's rest but still tender in places.

"Not so fast," Kathryn said from the kitchen when she saw him. "I'm making us breakfast in bed, so get yourself back there."

"Real or replicated?" he teased.

"Replicated," she smiled. "I don't want to burn this place down."

Chakotay laughed softly and then went back to bed. He had not long got into it before Kathryn came through with a silver tray. Upon it was a large plate piled with pancakes, a little jug of maple syrup, a glass of orange juice, a cup of coffee, a plate of melon slices, and a small rack of buttered toast.

"Our breakfast is served," she smiled.

"It looks delicious," Chakotay said as she put the tray down on his lap. "I'm spoiled."

Kathryn kissed his brow. "You deserve to be." She then got into bed beside him and helped herself to a slice of melon. "It's so nice to laze around like this. I'd forgotten just how nice. It seems like forever since I was lounging around. Admiral Hayes called just now, asked when I'll be returning to work, and I said not for at least another three months. I thought he'd be displeased but he was actually glad and told me to make it six. When I said I don't want to Captain anything more than short exploration missions when I do get back, he said I won't have to Captain at all if I don't want to as I'm going to be offered promotion to Admiral. Isn't that great, Chakotay? If you get a teaching post at the Academy, as you're hoping for, we'll both be working here in San Francisco. We can be together all the time."

"I look forward to it," Chakotay smiled. "And congratulations."

Kathryn picked up a piece of toast while Chakotay poured some syrup onto a second pancake.

"My mother will be pleased. She always hated me working in space. It was tough on her because she'd been through it all with Daddy before he got made an Admiral." She paused. "Even though I know they're not my biological parents, I can't ever imagine not calling them Mom and Dad. Marette and Draye will never be that. They'll always be Marette and Draye. Yet I should feel some affection for them because they gave me life. And I do. I feel something. I feel gratitude and respect and curiosity. I'd like to know more about them, even about Cayla, despite what you've told me about her."

Cayla. A piece of pancake almost stuck in Chakotay's throat at the reminder of her. Not that he really needed reminding. The whole event was haunting him still. And the more he thought about things, the more he thought he was wrong in not telling Kathryn about the assault. He had thought that by not telling her he would be protecting her from pain, but there was every chance she would find out eventually anyway. Then she would feel betrayed. And now that he'd had time to reflect on everything, it was clear to him that her ignorance could even put her life in danger.

Kathryn rolled up a pancake, dipped it into the syrup, and then lay back against her pillows. "Maybe I should dye my hair blonde. I've been black, brown, carrot red and even purple, but never blonde."

"Purple?" Chakotay asked.

"With black streaks," Kathryn added. "In high school. I was playing Titania in a ballet version of A Midsummer Night's Dream and for some bizarre reason I thought a fairy queen should have purple hair with black streaks."

Chakotay smiled and then gazed at her. "I love your hair just the way it is. Don't change it."

Kathryn smiled warmly. "Then I won't."

Chakotay took a drink of orange juice and tried to come to a decision. If he was going to tell Kathryn, he had to pick the right moment. But maybe there wasn't a right moment. Maybe now was as good a time as any.

"There's something so special about having breakfast in bed," Kathryn said, rolling up another pancake and dipping it in syrup. "It makes food taste better somehow. These pancakes are scrumptious. Never have replicated pancakes tasted as good. I could eat half a dozen."

"Eat away," Chakotay said.

Kathryn took a bite and Chakotay watched as she ate it. On Voyager he'd always had to remind her to eat and when she did, even during their private meals together, it was always sparingly. It was so good to see her enjoying food. There was no way he could tell her right now about the assault. It would quite ruin her appetite. He would have to tell her later.

When they had both eaten as much breakfast as they could, Chakotay cleared everything away while Kathryn made up the bed.

"If you're up to it," Kathryn said, coming into the kitchen when she'd finished, "how would you like a game of tennis this afternoon? They've got a court complex just down the street. It's been a while since I've played but I'm up for the challenge."

For a long moment Chakotay said nothing, he just finished recycling the last breakfast plate, then he turned to her. "There's something I have to tell you," he said quietly. "I wasn't going to tell you because you've been through so much already, but I've never kept anything from you and you should know."

Kathryn could tell by Chakotay's face that he had something serious to say and her stomach began to churn. "What it is?" she asked.

Chakotay stepped closer. "Someone saw me follow Cayla into the bar. When I was on my way home through the park, two of her men friends seized me and she questioned me. They thought I'd been sent by someone called Taron to kill her. When they found no weapon on me they let me go, but they'd beaten me and I had to call the Doctor for help." He paused. "That's why I didn't contact you."

With tears in her eyes, Kathryn went over to him and wrapped her arms around his neck.

"I'm so sorry," Chakotay said, holding her against him. "I'm so sorry I messed up and got involved in whatever Cayla's up to."

"No," Kathryn replied. "You've nothing to be sorry for." A tear ran down her cheek and she could say no more. All she could do was hold him as tight as she could. It hurt so much to think of anyone hurting him.

"I wanted to protect you from this," Chakotay said after a while, "from what Cayla might be really like, but I know I can't."

"I wouldn't want you too," Kathryn replied, finding her voice again. "I just wish you'd told me last night. No wonder you were so quiet." She drew slightly away from him. "How badly were you hurt?"

"Quite badly," he answered. "They broke my ribs, my leg, my collar-bone and I was unconscious for a while. When I came around I called the Doctor. He treated me at his new surgery."

Another tear ran down Kathryn's cheek and she lowered her eyes. "It's my fault," she said. "I should have gone myself or not gone at all. I'm so sorry."

Chakotay put his hand on her shoulder. "It was my decision to go, Kathryn. Don't blame yourself. How could you know things would turn out that way? How could you even have imagined it? I'm ok and that's all that matters."

Kathryn looked up at him. "I'm glad you've told me this, but don't ever keep something like this from me again, understand?"

Chakotay nodded.

Kathryn then embraced him again and they held each other close.

"Cayla," Kathryn said when they finally drew apart. "What kind of crime do you think she is involved in?"

"I don't know," he replied. "Maybe no crime at all. Maybe she's undercover."

"Highly unlikely, Chakotay. Undercover agents don't assault."

"Not generally, but it has been known."

"True, but if she was undercover she'd hardly be working in her own backyard. She has to be involved in something criminal."

"That's my gut feeling," Chakotay said sadly, "but I'm trying to keep an open mind."

"Did you report the attack?"

"No," he answered. "But I did send an anonymous tip to the authorities last night. I thought it was for the best. If I reported the incident I'd have to explain what I was doing in Dallas in disguise. Whatever Cayla's involved in, criminal or otherwise, I think she's a professional. I don't think she goes around assaulting innocent people. I was following her. That makes me not innocent."

Kathryn broke free of Chakotay and went over to the replicator. "I should have known things would be complicated. Nothing is ever simple in my life." She manually replicated a coffee. "I shouldn't have been naive enough to think my twin would actually be ordinary."

"With a twin as extraordinary as you," Chakotay teased, "how could she be?"

Kathryn picked up a newly replicated cup of coffee and took a sip. "Want one?"

"No, thank you," he answered.

"I just thought that she would be ordinary," Kathryn said, returning to Chakotay. "Or at least, I never thought she'd be involved in something criminal. But then, who knows what kind of life she's had." She paused. "Or Lacey Brenton."

"Or maybe she is an undercover agent," Chakotay reminded her, "even if she isn't exactly playing by the rules. Until we know otherwise, let's not assume the worst."

"You're right," Kathryn said. "We must always hope for the best, even if we fear the worst."

"The Doctor says I have to take it easy for a couple of days, so I'm afraid tennis is out of the question. But how would you like to watch a game of basketball? I believe a team from Indiana is playing locally this afternoon."

"The bluebeards," Kathryn answered. "The best team in the state. And yes, I'd love to go."

Chakotay smiled. "Then I'll book two tickets."

He walked towards the door, but as he reached it Kathryn called to him.

"Chakotay..."

He turned back to her.

"Promise me you'll never keep something like this from me again."

Chakotay looked deep into her eyes and Kathryn saw in them a sincerity she knew she could trust. "I promise."

END OF CHAPTER 15