Chapter 9
The next morning, Chakotay stood at Kathryn's door and pressed the chime. She wanted him to go with her to see the Doctor this morning. Her reasoning for going before breakfast was that if the Doctor cleared her, she could have a cup of coffee.
The door slid open and she walked out into the corridor. "Good morning, Chakotay."
"Good morning, Kathryn. Shall we head to sickbay?" He gave her a teasing grin. "I know you, you're dying to get your hands on a cup of coffee."
She grinned crookedly at him. "I'd rather have a whole pot, but that's still not allowed. Let's go."
They walked into sickbay, and Doctor stopped what he was doing. "Ah, Captain Janeway, you're here without me asking again. This might just set a record."
Kathryn rolled her eyes, "Doctor, just do whatever you need to do so I can have a cup of coffee."
"Ah, yes, your coffee, well let's see how you are doing this morning." He scanned her with a medical tricorder. "You are well hydrated this morning. All of your vital signs are normal. You may return to duty. I will lift the caffeine restriction from the replicator system. Computer, remove the caffeine restriction for Captain Janeway, authorization EMH1 alpha zeta 5."
"Restrictions removed," replied the computer.
"Thank you, Doctor." She turned to Chakotay. "Commander, I believe there is a cup of coffee waiting for me in the mess hall. Shall we?"
He smiled and gestured towards the door, "After you, Captain."
Once they got to the mess hall. Kathryn Janeway went directly to the replicator. "Coffee, hot and black," she stated in a happy tone.
A steaming cup of coffee materialized. She reached in and picked up. Lifting to her face, she inhaled deeply, savoring the scent. Chakotay laughed.
"What's so funny, Commander?"
"The expression on your face as you smelled your coffee."
"Well, IT IS the finest organic suspension in both the known and unknown universe. Come on, let's see what Neelix is serving today."
They walked over to the serving line. Neelix beamed at them. "Good morning, Captain, Commander, we have a fine breakfast this morning: oatmeal with brown sugar and raisins, Karlaren sausage, scrambled eggs, toast, and three types of juice." He pointed to the carafes. "Orange juice, tomato juice, and prune juice. I made the tomato juice fresh this morning from Talaxian tomatoes."
Kathryn and Chakotay stared at each other for a few moments, remembering her tomato plants back on New Earth. Bittersweet memories of a time without protocol washed over them.
"I'll take the oatmeal and some tomato juice," said Chakotay softly. Neelix handed him the requested food.
"What would you like, Captain?"
"I'll take the same thing, Neelix."
After he had given her the tray, both she and Chakotay went to a table in the corner of the mess hall. They sat down and began silently eating. Both were thinking of New Earth, and how close they had gotten while there.
Finally Chakotay broke the silence. "This juice is good." He grinned at her. "Not a bit of leola root to stretch it out a little."
"It is good. I may take glass with me and leave it in my Ready Room to go with my mid-morning snack." She picked up her coffee and took a long drink. "This is good too," she said holding her mug up with a grin. "Not as healthy as the juice, but much more satisfying taste wise."
Chakotay shook his head, "You and your coffee."
She glared at him teasingly. "You can't say too much, you frequently drink hot tea."
"Ah, but I don't drink so much that if you cut me open I bleed tea instead of blood."
"As a matter of fact, I do bleed coffee," she said bursting in laughter. She took another long sip. "Now, on to the serious…anything unexpected that might come up in the morning briefing?"
"Not that I'm aware of. Everything went smoothly yesterday, except for you scaring the crap out of all of us."
Kathryn blushed and looked down at her plate for a few minutes. "Sorry about that, Chakotay. My animal guide even told me to slow down. It's hard to do. I am so used to being in the middle of all the action."
"That's an understatement. It's like saying you enjoy a little coffee." They both laughed.
"It's more than enjoy, Chakotay. It's…it's more like coffee is a passion, and even that is putting it mildly."
"We'd better finish breakfast. It would be bad form for us to be late to the morning briefing."
They turned their attention to their breakfast. As he ate, Chakotay's mind was on New Earth. Her use of the word passion brought to mind all of the passion that blazed between them there.