Star Trek Voyager characters are the property of Paramount Pictures.

Way The Wind Blows

Chapter Seven

Curled up before a roaring simulated fire, Petunia happily chewed on a large bone Kathryn had given her after they had all shared dinner. She was enjoying the meaty treat so much that she hardly paid Kathryn and Chakotay any attention as they vigorously tested self-defense skills against each other in the middle of the room. They were both wearing a tight fitting white body suit and were standing on a large padded holographic black mat that covered most of the floor. It had only taken them minutes to move aside the small amount of furniture in the room, but to her disappointment, Kathryn had found that the cabin's holo-projectors were designed to only project objects, not holographic environments. The computer only had a limited database of possible objects too, but a martial arts mat was amongst them, so she and Chakotay had decided to use that. It was all they really needed, anyway.

Chakotay was very impressed with Kathryn's defense skills. She was quick, vigilant, firm, and completely focussed. They had begun with rather simple exercises, but were now progressing to more challenging ones that required intense concentration on both their parts.

As they took a much needed moment of respite, Kathryn dried her sweating face with a towel and then gulped down a glass of cool water.

"This is the toughest challenge I've ever had," she said, still slightly breathless from the exertion. "You're so good."

"So are you," Chakotay replied, drying his own brow with a towel. "What we're doing is very advanced, but you're holding your own."

"Last time I was pushed this hard was in Davison's class at the Academy," Kathryn continued. "You're an instructor, aren't you...or rather have been?"

Chakotay smiled at that correct assessment. As part of his job as a tactical instructor at the Academy, he had taught several self-defense classes. "Perhaps."

He smiled warmly and Kathryn walked back over to the mat. "Alright, I'm ready for round two."

Chakotay joined her on the mat and began to explain the next exercise. Kathryn listened carefully and watched as he illustrated some moves. The challenge sounded a lot tougher than the previous ones, but she was up for it.

When Chakotay was sure she was ready, he initiated the challenge. Kathryn responded, but within seconds was horizontal on the mat. She immediately got to her feet and continued to fight him. After a long struggle, she managed to throw him to the ground. Just like she had done, he got to his feet and continued the challenge. Kathryn fought him hard, but was beginning to tire. His body was strong, heavy, and she felt herself weaken. As she did so, Chakotay seized her and locked her tight in his arms.

Panting, Kathryn leant back against him. "You win," she said. "This time..."

Chakotay released his hold on her. "I think we've done enough for today. We don't want to push ourselves too hard." He knew Kathryn had really struggled in that round. He didn't want to push her, not when she wasn't physically at her peak.

"You mean you don't want to push me," she smiled. "But don't worry, I know when I'm beat."

She went over to the table, poured herself another glass of water, and then slumped into a chair.

"Boy, I wish you'd been my instructor at the Academy. Davison was good, but you're way better. Very few people defeat me."

Chakotay could believe it. Physical strength was a huge advantage, but the ultimate quality was skill, and Kathryn had that in abundance.

"But I think I'm going to pay for it later," she continued. "My body is aching all over. Especially my back and shoulders."

Chakotay went over to the table and poured himself a glass of water. "What you need is a hot bath and a massage."

"Is that an offer?" Kathryn teased. "I mean, the massage?"

"If you would like it to be," Chakotay said, sitting opposite her. "I'm good. I've given a number of massages over the years and recently I took a series of classes, courtesy of our holodeck."

Kathryn considered this a moment, then smiled. "Alright. Why not?"

Chakotay smiled in return. "While you take a bath, I'll get this room back in shape and get everything ready."

After a long relaxing soak in the bath, Kathryn returned to the living room. As she entered the room, a white bathrobe around her and her hair tied back from her face in a ponytail, she gasped at what she saw. There were candles on all the window sills, bathing the room in a warm bronze glow, and in the middle of the room was a high narrow bed with a very comfortable looking brown mattress and a cream pillow. There was a brown trolley beside the bed on which rested a fluffy white towel, and a bowl of what appeared to be clear copper liquid. Classical music was playing and a beautiful sweet smell filled the air.

Chakotay appeared from the kitchenette, wearing black trousers and a loose short sleeved black shirt. He smiled warmly.

"Did you have a good bath?"

"Yes," Kathryn replied, "thank you. But all of this...Chakotay...I wasn't expecting it..."

"A relaxing environment makes all the difference," he answered.

Kathryn wandered over to the bed and put her hand on the mattress, feeling the fabric and testing the firmness. "So soft and bouncy..." She then peeped into the bowl on the trolley. "What's this?"

"A blend of Lavender, Marjoram, Chamomile, and Eucalyptus oil," Chakotay explained. "It helps relax and heal muscles. I've warmed it so it won't feel cold on your skin."

Kathryn reached up to her hair and pulled out her bobble. She then made a high pony tail and wrapped her hair around itself into a casual bun, securing the bobble around it. "I've never had a massage like this before," she said. "In fact, I've never really had a massage. I always skipped them after training at the Academy because they'd take up too much time and I wanted to get back to study."

"Then you're in for a treat," Chakotay smiled.

Kathryn undid the tie on her bathrobe. "What will you do first?"

"Your shoulders and back," he said. "Then your legs."

Kathryn looked up at him as she was about to pull off her bathrobe. "Turn around."

Chakotay dutifully turned around and Kathryn carefully removed her bathrobe, revealing only blue hotpants beneath it. She folded the bathrobe, put it down on the trolley, climbed on the bed, and lay down on her front.

"Alright," she said. "I'm decent."

Chakotay turned back to her and couldn't help gaze at her body. Her bare back was snow white and dusted all over with pretty copper freckles... His eyes found their way to her face, and he saw that she was lying with her eyes open, waiting for him to begin.

He questioned. "Are you comfortable?"

"Yes," she replied.

"Then we'll begin." He turned to the trolley. "I'm going to put the oil on you first, and then I'll begin massaging you. If at any time you experience pain or discomfort, let me know."

"Okay," she said quietly.

Chakotay could tell she was nervous, but hoped she would relax once he began. He dipped his fingers into the oil and then gently put his hands on her back. Kathryn flinched a little, and her body was rigid and tense beneath his fingers. But as Chakotay gently rubbed the oil over her shoulders and back, his touch almost a caress, he felt her tension ease. Kathryn closed her eyes at the sweet sensations his fingers evoked, and when he began to massage her, she sighed with bliss.

Chakotay smiled. "Feel good?"

"Very good," she replied.

Chakotay worked slowly over her back, and felt all the tension in her thin body melt away beneath his touch. A smile graced her lips and the look of serenity on her face warmed his heart. There had been too much pain in her life, not enough pleasure. He deliberately took his time, wanting to prolong the pleasure as long as he could. When he had finished her back, he turned his attention to her legs and massaged them all the way from her feet to her thighs.

Then, at last, he was finished.

"All done," he said, turning to the trolley and drying his hands on the towel.

Kathryn sighed, this time from regret that it was over. "That was... incredible."

Chakotay smiled and picked up her bathrobe. "I'm glad you enjoyed it."

He gently put the bathrobe over her. "When you're ready, go and curl up on the couch. After I've washed my hands, I'll bring you a glass of water topped with a slice of lemon. Massage releases toxins that build up in our bodies, so it's always a good idea to drink water afterwards."

Kathryn smiled. "You're spoiling me."

"Good," he said kindly. "You deserve it."

He then went into the kitchenette and Kathryn slowly sat up. As Chakotay washed his hands, Kathryn got off the bed, put on her bathrobe, and made her way over to the couch. Petunia, who had tired of chewing her bone, jumped onto the couch and sat beside her mistress. Kathryn put her arm around her beloved dog, leant her head against the animal's soft head of black fur, and watched as Chakotay replicated two glasses of water.

"Isn't he amazing?" she whispered. "Wasn't it our lucky day when he turned up?"

Chakotay picked up the two glasses of water and made his way over to her.

"Here," he said, holding out a glass.

Kathryn took the glass gratefully. "Thank you."

As Chakotay sat beside her on the couch, Petunia jumped off and returned to her place before the fire.

"Thank you for the massage too. It was wonderful."

"You're welcome. Perhaps I can give you another one before I leave."

Kathryn's eyes lit up at that. "I would love that." She smiled warmly at him and then took a drink of water. "I was thinking," she continued, "that if you're still around tomorrow, we could go back to the lake and take Petunia with us...if the weather's dry, that is. I don't want to leave her alone for another day. We could walk around the lake."

"Good idea."

"I was also thinking that if you're still around tomorrow evening, we could go to an old restaurant in the village. I've never been there, but I've always wanted too. They serve Victorian style food and everyone has to wear Victorian costume to go in." She paused. "I understand if it wouldn't appeal to you, though."

"I'd love to go," Chakotay said sincerely. "But how would we get there?"

"My father built a transporter room onto the back of this cabin as he needed a way to get to Starfleet Headquarters quickly. It's only a small room, but the transporter can beam up to two people at a time. You don't seem to be suffering from post-transportation-trauma any more, so it should be safe to transport you."

Chakotay took a sip of water. "How long has this cabin been in your family?"

"About ten years. It belongs to my Aunt Martha, but she hardly ever comes here since her husband died. Rather than have the place stand empty all year, she lets us, her family, share it. My cousins...my aunt's sons... stay here a lot with their families, especially during the summer. I was going to bring Justin here but... well... it never happened. My sister comes here often as she's an artist and likes to go down to the lake and paint." She paused. "Do you paint?"

"No," Chakotay replied. "But I do enjoy making things out of wood."

"What kind of things?"

"All kinds of things. Over the years I've built a boat, a hut, a table, a chair, and have made lots of carvings."

"Impressive. You seem to be a man of many talents. I bet you play a musical instrument too, don't you?"

Chakotay smiled. "As it happens, no."

"Really? Neither do I. Something else we have in common." She put her now empty glass of water down on the floor. "I wish I'd learnt, though. I kind of regret it. But I don't know which instrument I would have picked. The piano, maybe, or perhaps the guitar. But it helps if you can sing with those and my speaking voice is bad enough. I'd never inflict my singing on anyone. So, I probably would have chosen the flute or violin."

"I like your voice just fine," Chakotay said. "And I wouldn't mind hearing you sing."

Kathryn looked at him curiously. "You sure must be a glutton for punishment. Either that or you have a hidden agenda." She smiled, teasing. "Some might say all this pampering and spoiling is part of some elaborate seduction plan."

Chakotay smiled. "I assure you that is not the case."

At those words, Kathryn's face fell and her bright eyes dulled. "Well," she said, "at least you're honest."

"No," Chakotay said, desperately trying to correct the implication he had given that she was not attractive to him. "I didn't mean to imply..."

Kathryn looked up at him. "What is it? The hair or the freckles?"

"Neither," he answered, putting his glass of water down and turning towards her. "Your hair is lovely, your freckles too. I think you're a very beautiful woman."

Kathryn smiled as she saw the sincerity in his eyes. "You really mean that, don't you?"

"Yes, I do."

Kathryn turned her body slightly towards him. "Well, for what it's worth, I think you're handsome too."

Chakotay couldn't help tease. "For an older man?"

Kathryn laughed softly. "For any man." Then, almost without thinking, she reached out and brushed her fingers against his cheek. "You have such pronounced features and there's so much warmth and kindness in your eyes."

Her eyes held his and they gazed deep into each other's eyes, losing themselves.

Then, Kathryn slipped her hand to his neck and slowly, tentatively, edged closer. Just as her lips were about to touch his, Chakotay drew away and got to his feet.

"It's...It's getting late," he said uncomfortably. "I'd better say goodnight."

Kathryn also got to her feet. "You don't have too," she said. "I mean...say goodnight. If you want we can...we can spend the night together..."

There was a profound longing in her eyes, a longing that was almost a plea, and Chakotay had to avert his eyes.

"We can't, Kathryn," he said quietly. "It wouldn't be right."

For a long moment, there was a horrible awkward silence. Then Kathryn spoke. "I see," she said sadly. "And you don't have to explain. You don't want to and..."

Chakotay looked up at her now and saw that she was looking down, fidgeting with her fingers. "I didn't say I didn't want too," he said kindly. "I said it wouldn't be right."

Kathryn nodded, but evidently didn't believe him. "I understand. Temporal prime directive and all that..." She put her hand to her neck, visibly uncomfortable. "Well, as you say, it's getting late and we'd better get to bed...I mean our own bed...and..." She paused. "Goodnight, Chakotay."

Without looking at him, she walked passed him and hurried into her bedroom.

When she was gone, Chakotay sat on the couch. His rejection had hurt her, he could tell, and hurting her was the last thing he had wanted to do. But there was no way he could have spent the night with her. All other considerations aside, it would have been wrong as a Starfleet Officer caught in a temporal aberration, and it would have been wrong as a man to take advantage of a woman who was grieving, confused, lonely and vulnerable. And, even though he loved this younger Kathryn, she wasn't "his" Kathryn. She wasn't the Kathryn who knew him and loved him, wasn't the Kathryn who was his friend and companion. It was that Kathryn he wanted to kiss and caress and make love with. For years he had hoped the day would come when they could finally consummate their love, but now he doubted that it ever would. He had thought time was all Kathryn needed, that in time she would change her mind about her position as captain being a barrier to a relationship, but if she hadn't changed her mind in seven years, it was unlikely she ever would. Letting go of the hope had been the hardest thing he had ever had to do. It hurt so much to love, and be loved by, the one woman he could never have.

He buried his head in his hands and rubbed his tired eyes. He would have to leave. That was all there was to it. He would have to leave this cabin and take his chances in the world beyond. It would be cruel to stay and toy with Kathryn's heart, and the entire situation was doing no good for his own. Kathryn needed a friend, needed that desperately, but perhaps someone else was destined to fill that need at this point in her life. Perhaps it was a role Mark was meant to play. Kathryn had once told him that she and Mark had been friends for a long time before they were lovers. Perhaps it was his place to be here now. It would be easy enough to leave. Kathryn had mentioned a village nearby and he could make his way thereon foot. From there he could work out what to do next, where to go.

He would leave at the first light of dawn. That would give him time to tidy up the living room, shower, replicate essential supplies, and get four or five hours sleep before beginning the long journey. When Kathryn woke up in the morning and found him gone, she would simply assume he'd been transported back to his own time. If his timeline still existed, the next time she would see him would be at the Caretaker's array in the Delta Quadrant, eleven years from now.

At sunrise, Chakotay was ready to leave. The replicator had refused to replicate him a rucksack, or a bag of any kind, so he had replicated a plastic coat and then used a kitchen scissors to make himself one. After recycling all the left over material, he'd replicated some food and water and put them into his self-made bag. There was no way he could replicate a phaser or a tricorder, but a sharp kitchen knife would serve as both a tool and a weapon, so he had packed one.

The clothes he had arrived in had long been recycled, so he was leaving in black jeans, walking shoes, and a warm black sweater. Just incase it rained, he replicated a mack and packed it away with his supplies. As he did so, Petunia emerged from Kathryn's bedroom, having heard movement in the living room. She walked over to him and Chakotay knelt to the animal's level.

"I'm leaving now," he whispered, patting the dog. "You take care of Kathryn, understand?"

He then got to his feet, picked up his bag, and went over to the front door. He looked around the cabin one last time, and then ventured alone into the wilderness outside.

END OF CHAPTER SEVEN