"Aren't you happy to see me, darling?"

As worried as she'd been all day, the actual sight of Q filled Janeway with steely resolve. She stood to face him with defiance glowing in her eyes.

Q clutched a hand to his chest and swayed a little on his feet. "My, my, Kathy," he said teasingly. "Aren't you a little foxy this evening. Anger quite becomes you."

Janeway grabbed him roughly by the front of his jacket with both hands. "Tell me what you want and then get the hell off my ship," she hissed. Even though she had to look up to stare him in the eyes, her personage was still imposing.

Q couldn't be cowed. Instead, he leaned down to catch her mouth in a kiss.

Janeway shoved away with all her might. She was surprised to find their location had changed when she stepped back. Gone was her ready room, replaced with her quarters, dimly lit.

"I thought we could use a bit more privacy," Q said, seemingly unperturbed by her violent rejection. He winked.

So this was how it was going to go. For some unfathomable reason, Q was threatening her, threatening Chakotay, all for her body. And she found herself entirely unprepared. She was still in her uniform; Q hadn't exchanged her clothes for something more risqué. Though, whether that was a blessing or a curse, she wasn't sure. Goosebumps erupted along her arms, her stomach twisted. What was she supposed to do? It all seemed absurd, laughable, but at the same time she suddenly felt like crying. But she wouldn't cry in front of Q.

She attempted to both ease her nerves and stall whatever was coming with a poor stab at humor. "Will you at least take me out to dinner first?" The words were hollow. She certainly didn't smile.

Q scrutinized her a second, apparently confused. Realization hit him, and he exclaimed, "No! Not like that! Don't flatter yourself, Kathy. Goodness, no!" He had plastered an expression of disgust on his face. "Your security circus was about to break into your ready room." But then he sent her a lecherous glance and mouthed "Maybe later."

Janeway released the breath she'd been holding with a shudder and brought a hand to her face to massage the bridge of her nose. "Q, I can't even begin to pretend to understand the game you're playing—"

"This isn't a game, Kathy." He was suddenly right in front of her, bearing down on her with a deadly expression on his face. "This is more serious than you could ever know."

Standing her ground, Janeway glared straight back up at him. "Then act like it."

Q snorted and changed the subject. "You're too tense." He snaked behind her to rub her shoulders.

She wrested herself from his grasp and twisted around to face him again. "Stop."

"Why don't you sit down, love?" He took a seat in her favorite chair and gestured for her to position herself on his lap.

"I'd prefer to stand."

Q made a face. "That won't do, Kathy."

A chair knocked the back of Janeway's knees, causing her to fall into it with an "oomph."

"Now then, Madam Captain," Q said, assuming a businesslike pose in his seat. "I have a friend." As he spoke, he drew a stick figure in midair that glowed slightly green "Let's call him R."

"R?"

"Yes, pay attention." He drew another stick figure in the air, this one slightly red. "I need you—" He drew shoulder length hair on the figure. "—to kill him." He drew an 'X' over the green figure.

There was silence for a moment as Kathryn stared at the ghastly illustration, eyes wide. And then her brow furrowed.

"Absolutely not."

"Kathy," Q said in a warning tone.

Janeway ignored him. Her face grew red as she allowed fury to course through her. "You cannot come to my ship and ask me to murder someone for you!"

"Kathy…"

Again she ignored him. She was on her feet by that point, pacing back and forth and gesticulating with her arms. "Kill him yourself if you must, but leave me the hell out of it!" She pointed a finger at him that shook with emotion. "You are purposely trying to compromise my morals and I will not let you do this to me!"

"Kathy!" Q's voice was raised this time. "Must I remind you of the consequences should you refuse." He snapped his fingers and the comm. system sounded throughout her quarters.

"Kim to sickbay! Commander Chakotay just collapsed. I'm not reading a pulse."

"Stop!"

Janeway had fallen to her knees. Both hands covered her mouth.

"Wait! He's breathing again."

"Bring him here, Ensign."

Janeway remained on the floor, taking shallow breaths. Her gaze was locked on the carpet. Q was insane. And he was serious. Most importantly, he was truly dangerous.

He strode to crouch beside her. He pulled her right hand from her face with one hand and traced a line from her chin to brow with his other. Janeway whimpered involuntarily at his touch. She trembled at his proximity. But she said nothing.

"I own you, Kathy," Q whispered. "Don't you dare forget." He released her hand and moved to toying with a lock of her hair. "You know, dear, I preferred you with long hair." He tugged the strand, and it lengthened beneath his touch.

Janeway sat stock still as Q ran his fingers through her hair until all of it reached the middle of her back. The pause gave her time to pull herself together and think. Q wanted her to kill someone. If she didn't, she'd effectively be killing Chakotay. Who was she to judge whose life was more valuable? Obviously, she wanted to choose to save Chakotay, but that wasn't her call to make. It wasn't Q's call either, but he was forcing her hand.

There had to be a way out of it. But she had to be careful.

Q was staring at her now, idly twirling a lock of her hair between his fingers.

"Are you finished?" she asked emotionlessly.

He released her hair. "Ah, yes. Back to business." He nodded. "It might take me some time to procure R for you, but rest assured, I'll have him to Voyager very soon." He patted her knee as if to comfort her. "The method of disposal will be up to you." He dropped his voice to a conspiratorial whisper. "I suggest you work fast. He's quite a troublemaker." He stroked his chin thoughtfully. "I haven't the foggiest idea how you'll be able to off him, but I'm sure you and your scans and your science will figure something out."

Janeway gave him a long-suffering glare.

"Questions, Kathy dear?"

"Can I ask why you want me to kill this person?"

Q grinned. "I don't know. Can you?"

The glare intensified.

He feigned offense. "I just thought as a Starfleet captain, you'd want your grammar to be tip top—"

She sauntered up to Q, not once breaking eye contact. Inches away from his face she whispered in a low voice, "May I ask why you want me to kill this person?"

Q sighed. "No. Highly classified, I'm afraid." He squeezed her knee again. "But there will be an enlightening debriefing after the fact that I'm sure you'll appreciate."

Janeway sighed with her eyes closed. When she opened them, they were ice. "You're going to regret this," she said very quietly.

"Oh I doubt it. I don't regret anything." He considered her a moment, chewing on his lip and clacking his tongue. He brought a hand to her chin. She instantly caught his wrist and pushed it away. He smiled and leaned forward.

She stopped breathing. Not again. No. He couldn't lick her again. But try as she might, she couldn't move away even as she felt his breath on her neck.

At the last moment, Q stopped and breathed into her ear, "Well, if that's all, I'll be going." He stood and pulled Janeway to her feet as well. "You should probably see to Chuckles. Who knows what sort of state he's in." He blew her a kiss and disappeared.

Minutes later, Janeway burst into sickbay, not caring how her actions might be interpreted. The Doctor was leaning over the biobed where Chakotay lay unconscious, but looked up at the sound of her entrance.

"Report!" Janeway demanded.

Instead of answering, the Doctor examined her appearance and stared at her with a cocked eyebrow. "Captain, where—?"

"Chakotay, Doctor," Janeway interrupted. She'd crossed the room and was standing beside the EMH by then.

The Doctor made a face at her behavior. "Well, you should have shown more concern before you went disappearing," he said grumpily. "This might not have even happened if you hadn't stepped out for a makeover."

Janeway's gaze snapped away from Chakotay's still form and to the Doctor's face. "What are you talking about?" Before the Doctor could respond, she changed her mind. "No. I don't care. Just tell me how Chakotay is."

Doc rolled his eyes and sighed. "He's perfectly fine, Captain. Or at least he would be if I could wake him up."

"A coma?"

"No. Brain activity suggests nothing of the sort."

Kathryn frowned. Perhaps Q was keeping him in a sort of stasis. But to what end? Almost without meaning to, she clasped Chakotay's hand in both of hers.

Immediately Chakotay's eyes opened. They stared directly into hers. "Kathryn! What—?" He stopped and squinted at her. An expression of horror overcame his face. "How long have I been out?" he asked groggily.

Janeway stared at him. Then at the Doctor. The Doctor only raised his eyebrows pointedly. "Less than an hour," she answered hesitantly. "Why?"

He struggled to sit up. "Your hair." He reached to hook a strand with one finger.

Oh. Oh! She'd entirely forgotten. And she had no idea how to respond. "This? Well, I—It just—"

"It was Q," Chakotay answered for her.

Kathryn froze. "Why do you say that?" She tried to sound casual, but the dire undertone was evident.

Chakotay took longer to respond than expected. "How else could you have suddenly disappeared from sensors?"

There didn't seem to be a reason to deny it, but Janeway was still reluctant to admit Q's involvement. She didn't say anything.

Chakotay appeared to understand. He turned to the Doctor. "Am I free to go, Doc?" He slid off the biobed without waiting for an answer.

The EMH shook his head. "I don't think so. Not until the two of you explain what has happened here. The captain's hair, your collapsing, her disappearing, your sudden revival, and this Q nonsense. I demand an explanation."

"Computer, end emergency medical hologram," Janeway said. It wasn't the best way to deal with things, but it had been a trying day. She looked at Chakotay. He gave her a half smile.

"Well, Commander, I am going to turn in early tonight. I suggest you do the same," she said. "Captain's orders."

"Shouldn't we at least inform the crew that everything is back in order?"

Janeway gave a curt nod. "I'll leave that in your capable hands, Commander. Good night," she said.

Not that she was going to sleep. How could she sleep until the disaster with Q was over? There was too much to think about. And the top priority was finding a way to appease Q without cold-blooded murder.

She didn't even make it three full steps before Chakotay stopped her with a gentle hand on her shoulder.

"Kathryn."

She closed her eyes and took a deep breath before turning to him. In doing so, the hair trapped beneath his touch pulled painfully. "Ouch," she hissed under her breath.

He quickly removed his hand. "Sorry," he muttered.

"No worries," she said, gathering her hair behind her head with both hands and twisting it into a bun. Since she had no pins, it would fall out with the slightest provocation, but it would have to do. "I'll get rid of it all in the morning." This was said mostly to herself.

"Don't."

Janeway quirked an eyebrow.

Instead of explaining his comment, he cleared his throat and changed the subject. "I know you're going through something. And I understand you won't tell me what it is. But please, Kathryn, anything I can do to help you, just ask. Hell, order me to do it."

Could she? Could she enlist his help? She wouldn't have to mention Q's possession of her. She wouldn't have to mention Q at all. She knew her task now. Surely she could trust Chakotay to help her. Maybe he'd know a way out.

When she didn't answer immediately, he loomed closer. "I'll let you know, Commander," she said, if only to stop him in his tracks. The imaginary lick line on her face burned with his proximity.

"Thank you," Chakotay said. He seemed genuinely grateful for her words. But his brow creased in concern nonetheless.

She gave a small nod as a plea to let her pass and rewarded him with a smile of thanks when he let her go without a word.