"Happy Birthday dear Kimberley, happy birthday to you". Everyone cheered and applauded when she blew out all but one candle on her birthday cake.
"That means that Michael Torres is your boyfriend" Isabelle shouted happily. Her mom quickly clapped a hand over Isabelle's mouth before she could say anything more. "Kids, he he" she said chuckling nervously.
After everyone present had gotten their piece of cake it was time for Kimberley to open her gifts. "This one here is from the Captain and Commander Chakotay" Naomi read the tag, then made a note onto the hand held padd.
"Ooh, it's kinda heavy...and big...what can it be?" Kimberley commented placing the box on her lap. When she opened the lid she gasped, "Oh my gosh" she whispered in awe.
"What did you get?" Isabelle and Nicole Jones asked at the same time. They were trying to climb over Kimberley so they could look in the box too. Kimberley ignored the girls and instead looked left first to Michael, then to her right at Naomi. Her look seemed to ask is this really for me or is it a 'guilt' present? Things were still somewhat tense between her and her mom even though their argument was weeks old by now. Looking back at the present she hesitated for a moment again then reached in and pulled out a ToneSmith 316 Underdog guitar in Candy Apple Red with a metallic sparkle. Kimberley realized that everyone was watching her and even whispering to each other. She quickly took a page from Kathryn's book and tucked her feelings behind a mask of calmness, pasted on a smile and pretended everything was okay. "Thank-you everyone for coming here and for these lovely gifts. Looking in the crowd she found Neelix. "Neelix thank you for making my cake, it was really good. I'm curious what lavish feast awaits me this evening for my party." Standing up she went over and wrapped her arms around him giggling as his whiskers tickled her neck.
- - - - -
"Mind if I join you?" Chakotay asked sidling up beside Janeway.
"Mm? Oh, Chakotay are you enjoying yourself?" she asked jumping a bit when she realized he was right next to her.
"As a matter of fact I am, you ought to try it sometime" he teased gently. When she didn't react or remark he reached behind and lightly rubbed her back in a friendly gesture. "What are you thinking so deeply about?"
Kathryn smiled and raised her glass in response to a hologram who initiated the action. "Look at Kimberley she is having a great time."
"Especially with Michael, those two are literally inseparable"
"It's good to see her happy. Besides, you remember what it was like to be young and in love."
"Which is all the more reason I'm not comfortable with her being with him in that way". Even though Kimberley wasn't his biological child he still cared for her deeply and wanted the best for her.
Kathryn decided she had been at the party long enough. Finding Kimberley she quietly bid her goodnight, "don't stay up really late. Have a good time and I'll see you in the morning."
"Okay goodnight Captain, Commander". The party ended about midnight however Kimberley, Michael, and Naomi didn't want to leave yet so they changed the program to Sandrines and continued having a good time, finally calling it a night close to 0300 the next morning. Being the gentleman that his parents are trying to raise him to be, he walked the girls back to their quarters, starting with Naomi. "Goodnight Naomi" Michael said hugging his friend and kissing her cheek.
"Behave yourself now guys" she replied returning his hug and winking at Kimberley over his shoulder.
"Sleep well Nomes. I'll talk to you tomorrow" Kimberley said repeating Michael's actions.
"Tomorrow I want to hear about the rest of your night tonight" Naomi whispered into Kimberley's ear before letting go and entering her quarters with a mischievous smile.
Kimberley and Michael wandered the ship for a bit before finally ending up in the Observation Lounge where they sat and watched the stars slowly passing by. "Enjoying yourself?"
"Very much so, especially now" she smiled as she glanced into his chocolate brown eyes. As he continued to stare deeply into her cobalt blue eyes her heart began to beat faster. Every time he looked at her the way he was right now, it literally took her breath away and she loved the feeling. She welcomed the feel of his lips on hers and his hands holding her tight to him as they discovered new ways to please each other emotionally as well as physically. They eventually fell asleep in each others arms, curled up together in a chair with she in his lap. His one hand rested on her bottom, his other hand underneath her shirt on her breast. Kimberley's hands were just as conspicuously placed with one being tangled in his hair at the base of his neck and the other being underneath her shirt with his. They stayed this way until Kimberley's internal alarm clock woke her up.
- - - - -
A couple days later Kimberley was working in the daycare/Nursery when Michael came by to see her. "Hi, what brings you here?" she asked giving him a kiss.
"I wanted to know if you had plans for tonight?"
"No I don't, none that I know of anyway. Why?"
"Gotta run, I love you" he replied hastily.
Meanwhile on the Bridge:
"Captain Janeway we would be honored to have you as a guest in our home tonight for dinner. You could check out our community and see if there is anything you wish to trade for perhaps."
"Thank you Mr. Pnar. I will have a list of items for you by tonight. Janeway out". Kathryn spent the next hour checking the inventory in all her different departments, hoping at least someone was stocked well enough to not need anything. "Come in" she called out hearing her Ready Room door chime. She smiled at seeing Chakotay and went over to her replicator for more coffee thankful for the intrusion, for once.
"Here is the away team schedule" he said handing her the padd.
"Thank you Chakotay. Do you have the inventory reports from the different departments?"
"all except Thermal Dynamics and Hydroponics"
"Did they say how long?"
"No and they're the two departments I talked to first"
"...and they're still not finished? Don't bother answering, it was a rhetorical question."
"You want me to go there now and bring back what they already have written?"
Closing her eyes and pinching the bridge of her nose she sighed. This was an ongoing problem and she decided that enough was enough. She shook her head slowly, "no I'm tired of getting reports late. It's time to bring in the big guns. I'll go talk to them, you have the Bridge". On her way down Janeway made a mental note to check the efficiency over the past few months of the officers in charge of the departments. For now she just wanted a list of supplies needed so she could do her trading and get out of here. Stepping off the turbolift she took a moment and then pulled on her Captain's mask and headed to Thermal Dynamics.
"Captain on the deck!"
"As you were crewman" she ordered with a slight nod and twitch of a smile for approval. "Lieutenant Fresco, report"
"Captain there's a fluctuation in the temperature of disrupter tank 4. We're analyzing the scans now but so far haven't come up with an explanation of why". Kathryn went over to the console containing the readouts to see for herself. Not finding any difference in her analysis she told him to keep her informed. "The reason I'm here is to get the inventory request and summary report I asked for an hour ago."
"I'm sorry Captain. The first time I had heard about this request was when Commander Chakotay came around to collect it. I have a very brief summary for you ma'am but I will need another hour to turn in an acceptable official report Captain". Over the past 17 years Kathryn had gotten good at reading her crew and knowing when they were trying to hide something. Lieutenant Fresco's apology and explanation seemed genuine enough. "one hour on my desk, personally. Dismissed."
"Yes Captain"
- - - - - -
"Here is the report as requested Captain" Fresco said walking into the Ready Room.
"Thank you Lieutenant."
"Bridge to Captain Janeway"
"Go ahead Harry"
"Governor Pnar is waiting your arrival whenever you're ready"
"Let him know I'll be there within the hour, Janeway out." Standing up Kathryn rounded the desk.
- - - - -
Michael and Kimberley stood outside her quarters locked in a passionate embrace, oblivious to any crew members who may have been passing by. It was no secret by now that they were definitely a couple. "I don't want to have to say goodnight yet" he growled as he nipped at her jawline and lips.
"You – don't – have to" she replied in between kisses. Reaching behind her she fumbled with the keypad on the door trying to enter her code. On the fifth attempt she finally managed to get it right and the doors swished open causing them to stumble inside. "Computer lock doors to Captain's quarters, authorization Kjaneway592Alpha10".
"Doors sealed" the computer confirmed. Taking her hand Michael walked towards the bedroom. "Wait," she said stopping, "are you sure you want to do this?" He pulled her close and kissed her passionately and more voraciously than ever before, while his body spoke for itself as to how much he wanted to be with her. "Does that answer your question?"
Kimberley just nodded her head while she concentrated on staying upright. She was overwhelmed with emotion and desired Michael in a way she never felt before. Wrapping her arms around his neck she pulled him close until their lips locked together. Letting out a deep growl Michael picked her up and carried her to the bed. Kimberley gasped and winced as she felt his teeth sink into the flesh of her jaw. They continued to love each other well into the night before they fell into a deep sleep brought on by blissful exhaustion.
- - - - -
Kimberley opened her eyes trying to figure out what had woke her up. Feeling a warm breath on the back of her neck reminded her of what was different. She was no longer a young adult but a woman now. As she rolled over her body cried out in pain for straining certain muscles she had never used before. Kimberley reached out and ran her hand lightly across his forehead, down the side of his face, across his lips and finally around the back of his neck. She loved the feel of his hair run through her fingers; and it also turned him on when she did that in the same way it turned her on when he kissed a certain spot right behind her earlobes. He's smiling, must be having a good dream she thought to herself. Shifting slightly she got right tight against him and ran her tongue across his lips causing them to part slightly. Taking advantage of this welcoming she kissed him and worked her way to his shoulders and eventually his chest where his nipples stood erect – among other things. Michael let out a moan of pleasure then pulled Kimberley back up so he could kiss her. "Mm good morning" he said with a smile on his face. "I had the best dream last night."
"Oh? What was it?" she asked curiously as she let her hands roam over his body.
"I dreamt that we finally made love. It was so intense and lasted all night long"
"That was no dream my love" Kimberley smiled teasingly as her hand moved back and forth on his lower torso. Grabbing her wrists he removed her hands from his body and rolled her over onto her back. He continued to hold her hands above her head with one hand while using his mouth and other hand to tease her until she was grinding against him; begging to be able to touch and love him back. He enjoyed hearing her cry out his name aloud as he pleased her.
"Damn it Michael, I can't last much longer."
"I love it – when -- you – talk that – way" he replied as he lowered himself onto her and quickly obtained a counter-rhythm increasing his pace as her nails raked down his back.
"Oh my God that was incredible" she said as she layed back in his arms catching her breath. "I could stay like this forever"
"So could I but we better get showered and dressed before someone comes looking for us."
Kimberley groaned as she heard the alarm on the computer go off. "Too late" she said climbing out of bed and reaching for her robe. "You shower first, I'll go next."
"Or I could wait and we could go together" he suggested kissing her neck seductively. Laughing she pushed him away, "go shower". Kimberley grimaced as she sat at Jane way's desk and activated the monitor.
- - - - -
"Janeway to Voyager, one to beam up". As soon as the Captain rematerialized Katelynn squealed and reached for her mom.
"How did the trade agreement go Captain?"
"Fine, it went fine. The last of the supplies should be on board in an hour then we will break orbit and continue on our journey. Did you sleep okay last night?" she asked Kimberley.
"Oh she slept wonderfully last night, didn't you?" Naomi said with a twinkle in her eye.
"I slept fine" Kimberley agreed turning three shades of red and shooting the "Janeway death glare" in Naomi's direction. Being the good captain that she is, Kathryn didn't miss Kimberley's reaction at all. Rather than saying something she just raised an eyebrow to Chakotay who shook his head meaning he didn't understand what that was about either.
"No, no sweetie. Mommy needs those" Kathryn told Katelynn who was trying to put Jane way's pips in her mouth. Taking the plastic music ring that Kimberley held out Kathryn told her, "here Katelynn chew on this". Stepping out of the lift onto the bridge she started her day. "Helm, as soon as all the supplies are aboard continue on our previous heading, warp 2. Mr. Tuvok you have the Bridge." With Katelynn still on her hip Janeway disappeared into her Ready Room. She had just finished recording a log entry when she saw the report about supplies needed for Thermal Dynamics, reminding her that she was going to review all the times the reports were late. As it turns out the results showed that each time they were late was when Naomi had gone down to deliver the request. Opening a comm line Janeway informed Naomi, Lieutenant Fresco and Ensign Parkes that there was to be a meeting in one hour. "Commander Chakotay please report to my Ready Room"
"Aye Captain"
- - - - - -
The three crewmembers were waiting in the Briefing room when Kathryn walked in with Chakotay right behind her and sat down, everyone else following suit. For a good five minutes not a word was said and the only sounds to be heard were those of Kathryn in her seat scrolling through the padd in her hand. When she finally did speak her voice was calm but laced with tones of disappointment and dissatisfaction. "I have called for this meeting because there seems to be a problem with reports being completed on time When Commander Chakotay investigated further he found that it only seemed to happen at certain times." Kathryn looked each of them in the eye making sure her point was getting across.
"What times were those Captain?"
"The times when Naomi Wildman announced that a report was required from Thermal Dynamics" Chakotay answered. Kathryn saw Parkes shift uncomfortably in his chair and look at his hands. Turning her attention to the chair across from him she asked, "Lieutenant Fresco please explain".
"Captain, the reports were late because I was unaware they were required until they were due or shortly before then, therefore not giving me an adequate amount of time to write it properly."
"The message was always delivered right away Captain. I would personally go down to every department and deliver the message personally." Naomi said aloud, defending herself before Janeway and Chakotay could put the blame on her.
"When I went to collect yesterday's report Lieutenant Fresco didn't know what report I was talking about. He was unaware the Captain had asked for one at all". All eyes turned to Naomi when Chakotay said this and her face became angry. She resented the fact that she was being accused of not doing her job. "I went down there and Ensign Parkes told me that Lieutenant Fresco was in Engineering so I told him that I needed an inventory report in an hour and then I left."
"How much time had passed between the time Miss Wildman left Thermal Dynamics and Lieutenant Fresco returned from Engineering, Mr. Parkes?"
"I don't know Captain, a while I think. I remember that when I did see him I have him the message right away."
"BULLSHIT!! I saw Naomi leave Thermal Dynamics as I rounded the corner in the corridor. It wasn't until after the Commander left and I asked everyone in the room if they knew about a report, that you told me about Naomi giving you the message." Fresco yelled angrily. "I was five feet away from you when I got Donnelly to help you, while I finished what I was working on."
Chakotay bristled with anger at the outburst. He knew the Lieutenant was only clearing up how long he had to wait to know about the report, but protocol was protocol and the rules on Voyager state that when you are in a room with a Commanding Officer you keep your temper and attitude in check. "Lieutenant you're dismissed".
"Captain..." Fresco pleaded standing up and looking over to her. With a glower on her face Kathryn placed both hands flat on the table for support and slowly stood up. In a calm razor edged voice she echoed Chakotay. "Dismissed!" Drumming her fingers on the table top, Kathryn dropped her head and counted to 10 before speaking again. "Miss Wildman, in the future when delivering messages, make sure the shift supervisor has received the report before you leave." Not hearing an answer, Janeway looked up to make sure Naomi heard her. "Yes ma'am" she acknowledged quietly. Looking away she quietly dismissed Naomi leaving only Chakotay, Ensign Parkes and herself in the room. "Is there a reason why you didn't think it was necessary to relay the message from Miss Wildman to Mr. Fresco?"
"She talked as if the report was for herself not you Captain".
"Why does it matter who the report was for? You were given an order". Janeway was struggling to keep her voice calm but she was quickly losing the fight.
"With all due respect Captain, that order was given by a rankless child"
"A rankless child who happens to be the acting Captain's Assistant" Chakotay interjected angrily.
Walking over to stand in between him and Parkes, Kathryn placed a hand on Chakotay's shoulder to stop him from saying anything else. "Whether Miss Wildman has a rank or not means nothing. You were told that a report was needed and it was then your responsibility to make sure the message was given to the appropriate officer in charge, who at the time was Lieutenant Fresco. You'll be closely watched about this matter from now on. Don't screw it up Ensign. Dismissed".
"Aye Captain" Ensign Parkes acknowledged standing up. When Janeway and Chakotay were alone again she sat back down in her chair, leaned her elbows on the table and massaged her forehead with the heels of her hands. Letting out a heavy sigh she said, "I have a feeling this is going to turn out to be one hell of a long day Chakotay."
"I'll be on the Bridge" he said softly, then disappeared out the door.