As Chakotay walked back from the bathroom, he noticed a man approaching their table. Chakotay stopped in front of his chair beside Kathryn and in the blink of an eye, the stranger raised a phaser and pointed it toward them. The table of battle hardened Starfleet officers exploded into action. Tom dove at Chakotay and covered him with his body, while Ayala leapt over the table and pulled Kathryn from her chair and underneath him, covering her. B'Elanna, Sam, and Jenkins went straight for the gunman. The Doctor slapped his combadge and ordered, "Doctor to Starfleet Security. To these coordinates immediately for Admiral Janeway's protection!" The rest of the crewmen fanned out to keep themselves between the danger and the other restaurant patrons. In mere seconds, the threat was over and the man was immobilized with B'Elanna wrenching his arms behind his back and her knee on the base of his neck, and Sam and Jenkins holding down his legs in similar positions.
By the time security beamed in, Chakotay and Kathryn were struggling to their feet and brushing themselves off. Kathryn pushed her way past Ayala and glared at the would-be attacker. "Who the hell are you?" she demanded. He tried to say something but all that came out was a strangled grunt. She steeled her voice with the same tone that had filled Delta Quadrant aliens with dread and said, "B'Elanna, don't kill him just yet. I want answers from him first."
"Yes, Admiral," B'Elanna clipped as she eased the pressure of her knee. She jerked the man to his feet by his arms and barked, "Get up, petaQ! The admiral wants an answer."
The Starfleet Security team leader stepped forward. "Admiral, what happened?"
"He pulled a phaser," she growled as she looked back at the restrained man. "Were you aiming for me or for Commander Chakotay?" A feral grin crept across the man's face, but he refused to say anything.
B'Elanna shook him as Sam handed the weapon over. The security officer took it, nodded to another officer with a smile and said, "Maybe you better take custody of the prisoner before the admiral's crew does serious harm to him."
Chakotay looked out over the restaurant and asked, "Is everyone alright?" He was met with stunned nods and slow smiles. "Harry, find the owner or manager and give our apologies. We'll pay for any damages and cleaning." He grinned at Ayala. "Mike seems to have cleared the table onto the floor."
"Yes, sir," Harry said smiling as he went toward the kitchen.
Mike shrugged his shoulders and said, "Sorry, Chief," before he started laughing. The tension released like a popped balloon and nervous laughter could be heard from some of the diners.
The security team leader sent his officer with the prisoner back to Headquarters, and then addressed the crew. "We'll get to the bottom of this. I will need you all to come to Headquarters to answer some questions. Since we don't know yet what the man's intentions were, we will treat this as an attempt against Admiral Janeway." He looked at her and continued, "Admiral, you'll be officially assigned a security detail until we can sort things out. Although, it looks like your own team does a fine job."
Harry returned to them, and she looked over her former crew. "They always have," she said with pride. "Ayala," she continued with furrowed brows, "the next time you decide to sweep me off my feet, please do it a little more gently."
"It's a deal, Admiral," he grinned. "Are you okay?"
"Yes, I'm fine. You just aren't the man I was expecting to land on top of me tonight." Ayala's cheeks turned red, and the crew erupted in laughter.
Chakotay smiled at Kathryn and spoke up. "Maybe we should all go outside to beam over to Headquarters. I think we've caused enough disruption here tonight." As everyone made their way to the door, the patrons stood to their feet and clapped. Kathryn, who had been herded to the center of the group for her protection, shook her head. She was concerned about the attempted attack, but it felt like any other day back on Voyager.
***V*V***
Finally, at 0200 hours, everyone had been questioned about the incident and Kathryn and Chakotay were the only two remaining at Headquarters. The Security Chief, Commander Harkin, entered the room with fresh coffee and a couple of PADDs. "Admiral Janeway, Commander Chakotay, I'm afraid we haven't been able been able to get a word out of your attacker yet. We still don't know which of you he was after, or why, or if he acted alone. A security detail is waiting outside and will take you home. They will be stationed around your house when you are home, and two of them will go wherever you go. Don't worry, they are very discreet and most of the time you won't even notice them unless they are needed."
He handed Chakotay a combadge. "I will ask the both of you to keep your combadges in easy reach at all times. If either of your badges is activated but no instructions are given within two seconds, a signal will be sent directly to security, and they will act under the assumption of imminent threat. The man has been identified, and we are in the process of tracking down his family and associates. I'm sorry I can't give you better answers, but until either he starts talking or we can get information from people who know him, there's not much I can tell you."
"It's okay, Commander Harkin," Kathryn said. "Thank you. I'll be in touch in a few hours after we've gotten some rest."
Harkin showed Kathryn and Chakotay outside to where the security detail was waiting, and they were beamed to Kathryn's home. A full security sweep was made of the grounds and the interior of the house before they were allowed to enter. Lt. Dawson posted himself and the three others on each side of the yard, and Kathryn closed the door, engaged the lock, and then slumped against it with a sigh.
"Are you okay?" Chakotay asked with concern.
"Yes, I'm okay. Tired. Well, exhausted is more like it. I would feel better if I knew what that was all about, or even which one of us he was after."
Chakotay took her hands and led her to the couch. "So would I. Have you had any problems at all since we got to the Alpha Quadrant?"
"No, none. I'm recognized quite a bit, as are the rest of us, particularly the senior staff. Anyone who has ever approached me, though, has been very friendly. What about you? Did you have any run-ins on Trebus?"
"No, nothing. The only thing I can think of is that maybe it has something to do with the Maquis."
"Do you think so? After all this time?"
"It makes more sense than someone having a grudge against you."
"Maybe, but I am an admiral now. I would think if there were any concerns about the Maquis, I would know. At least, I hope I would have been told considering you and our crew."
He pulled her to his side and rubbed his hand up and down her arm. "We'll have to trust Commander Harkin and the detail to do their jobs. I'm not letting you out of my sight until this is solved, though."
She smiled up at him. "Feeling a little protective, Chakotay?"
"Always, love," he said. He leaned down and gently kissed her, one arm around her shoulders and the other hand cupping her cheek. She clung to his shoulders and laid her head on his chest when he released her lips. He caressed her back and hugged her to him. "Why don't you try to get some sleep? I'll stay here on the couch where I can hear you if you need me."
"I am very tired, but I want you to come to bed with me. Will you?"
"How can I turn that down?" he said. "I even promise to let you rest. I just want to be near you." He kissed her again briefly and then stood up and helped her up. "I'll go get ready for bed. I'll be in there in a few minutes."
She kissed him again then went to her room to change while Chakotay went to the spare room where he had put his bag earlier. As he was pulling shorts and a tee from his duffel, Kathryn yelled, "Chakotay!" He ran back across the house and heard her calling the security team. She was standing back and staring at the open drawer of her dresser. He put his arms around her before looking in it and saw a large black snake curled in striking position on top of her nightgowns. "Shit," he gasped as he pulled her further away and Lt. Dawson entered the room.
Dawson phasered the snake and ordered the other officers to sweep the house and grounds again. Dawson ran a tricorder over the snake's body and looked grim. He turned to Kathryn and Chakotay and said, "A Tellar black serpent. They are rare and highly venomous. Victims of their bite usually die in under two minutes."
"How did it get in here?" Kathryn demanded.
"There are traces of a transporter signal. It must have somehow been transported in after we did our initial sweep, or else we would have detected the life sign. Whoever did this was watching and knew when we left the house to station outside. I think it is now clear that these attempts are being made against you, Admiral, and not Commander Chakotay."
Chakotay held her tighter and said, "Shit, Kathryn. How did you not get bitten?"
"When I started opening the drawer, I saw the black color. I immediately jumped back, and the strike missed me. I don't own any black nightgowns, so I knew whatever it was, it wasn't supposed to be in there."
"Thank the spirits your favorite color is peach," Chakotay said.
She chuckled and said, "Suddenly, a black teddy doesn't seem so sexy does it?"
Chakotay and Dawson both grinned at her. The other security officers returned and reported no signs of anything else in the house. Dawson commed Headquarters and asked for another team to be sent to help them widen their search and try to find where the culprit could have been hiding and watching them.
Commander Harkin and a second, six-man team arrived three minutes later. "Admiral Janeway," Harkin said, "we need to get you to a safe house. Your home is too vulnerable if they were able to beam that snake in. I think it is safe to assume that we are dealing with a group rather than one or two men, and it's clear that they wish you dead."
Her eyes widened just a bit before she hardened into Starfleet officer mode. "Understood, Commander. Chakotay will be coming with me wherever we go."
"Yes, that's fine. Dawson will remain in here with you while you pack your things. Plan for several days, though I hope we can have you back here very soon." He pointed to another security officer and spoke to Chakotay. "Lt. Barron will go with you to retrieve your duffel bag. He will need to check everything before you are allowed to pick it up."
"Of course," Chakotay answered.
"Dawson," Harkin continued as he handed the officer an evidence pouch. "Bag that serpent and we'll send it to the xenobiology lab. Just because it's a Tellar black serpent, that doesn't mean it came from Tellar. Any clues about the snake's origin might help us figure out who we are dealing with."
"Yes, sir," Dawson answered. "Admiral Janeway, I'm going to need to bag the two gowns under the snake, as well. Did you want anything else from this drawer?"
She shook her head and said, "You know, Lt. Dawson, sleeping in pants and a T-shirt just got much more appealing."
After the evidence had been sent to the lab, Chakotay and Barron went get his duffel bag while Dawson scanned everything before allowing Kathryn to pack it in a bag for herself. She didn't like him studying the details of her underwear drawer, but it couldn't be helped. Trying to relieve her uneasiness, she asked Dawson, "Are you going to go home and tell your wife you spent the night checking out another woman's lingerie?"
He smiled and said, "No, ma'am. Part of my job is being good at keeping my mouth shut. She knows I work security, and we have an understanding that I won't talk about it, and she won't ask."
"Well, I'm glad to know the details of my wardrobe aren't going to be the topic of the Federation grape vine tomorrow."
"No, ma'am. I'll never tell a soul your favorite color is peach."
She laughed and finished packing her make-up and toiletries. Barron and Chakotay returned to the room, and Chakotay went to her and put his arm around her shoulders. She looked up at him, and then suddenly looked uncertain.
"What's wrong?" Chakotay asked.
"I just realized I didn't ask if you want to come with me. I'm being locked away until this thing is solved. I shouldn't have assumed that you would want to disappear with me."
"Kathryn, there's nowhere else in the universe I would rather be. I am going with you."
Harkin called to them and they gathered Kathryn's bag and returned to the bedroom. Harkin said, "We'll be beaming back to Headquarters first, and then you'll be beamed to the safe house with a security detail from there using a masked transporter signal. Everything you need will be provided. You won't be allowed to leave the grounds, and no one will know where you are except the security team and myself."
Kathryn asked, "Can I at least get a message to my mother and to Lt. Tom Paris that we'll be in a safe house?"
"We'll send a brief message stating that for your safety, you and Commander Chakotay are in protective custody. That's the most we can do."
"I understand. Thank you. You should know that my former crew are a remarkable bunch. There's nothing they can't do when they put their heads together. I hope you'll let them aide in the investigation if your team struggles."
"I assure you we have the best investigators already on the case. But, if we hit a snag, I'll consider consulting your crew, particularly the Doctor and Seven of Nine. They seem to have unique abilities."
"Put the Doctor, Seven, B'Elanna Torres, Harry Kim, and Tuvok together, and you'd be surprised what they can accomplish. I know their ingenuity surprised me on many occasions."
"I'll keep that in mind. We should be going now so we can get you to a safe place."
Chakotay picked up his and Kathryn's bags and turned to face her, ready to follow her to the ends of the earth and disappear into hiding, no matter for how long, to keep her alive.
