KJaneway115 wrote a brilliant drabble called "Combadge". I couldn't resist taking the idea back to the original Voyager (and trying my hand at a drabble as well, though I couldn't quite match her brevity).

DISCLAIMER: Star Trek: Voyager and all its characters belong to Paramount Pictures; no infringement of copyright is intended. The story itself belongs to me.

Assumptions
by Hester (hester4418)

Chakotay empties his wine glass and places it on the low table. "It's getting late, I should go."

"Yes, you're right." I suppress a yawn and rise with him, collecting our glasses and carrying them over to the recycler.

We discarded our uniform jackets before dinner, leaving them piled on a chair. When Chakotay picks up his, a combadge tumbles to the floor.

"Breakfast tomorrow?" I ask, bending to retrieve the badge while he shrugs on the jacket.

"I agreed to meet B'Elanna in the mess hall at 0700. Why don't you join us?"

He keeps trying to draw me out, make me socialize more. I appreciate the effort, though I often refuse. This time, I decide to say yes. "Sounds good."

"Are you low on rations again?" He grins when I sigh, my motives obviously too transparent. "I'll buy you a coffee to wash down whatever Neelix will be serving up."

"You're a life-saver." I affix the badge to his uniform and pat his chest. "Good night, Chakotay."

He catches my hand and squeezes it, then moves to the door. "Sleep well, Kathryn."

-/\=-

The next morning, I'm almost out the door when I notice that my combadge is missing. After locating it under a chair, I pick it up and then hurry to the mess hall.

Chakotay is already seated at a table with Torres and Paris, a steaming mug of coffee waiting for me.

The four of us joke a lot over breakfast, to the point of drawing a few stares from neighboring tables, and I quite enjoy the meal. When everyone is done, we walk to the turbolift together.

The first car is filled with engineering staff going down, so Torres joins them while we bridge officers await our turn. The next car is empty and we step inside.

The lift has barely started moving when a combadge chirps. "Sickbay to Captain Janeway."

I slap my badge. "Janeway here." Then I notice that Paris is staring at me oddly, that Chakotay looks shell-shocked, and that there is no reply to my call.

The chirp comes again. "Sickbay to Captain Janeway, do you read?"

My eyes slowly travel from Chakotay's increasingly red face to his chest and the chirping badge affixed to his uniform.

Last night's dinner. Our jackets on the same chair. Combadges shaken loose and falling to the floor. Tom Paris in the lift with us, no doubt drawing his own conclusions.

I pluck my badge from Chakotay's chest and answer the call while handing him his. He doesn't meet my eyes. Paris is now grinning broadly, his gaze alternating between us.

I point and mouth, ready room, while I'm still talking to the Doctor. By the time I can end the call, Chakotay has taken command of the bridge and I've shepherded our pilot into my sanctuary, dismissing an inquisitive glance from Tuvok along the way.

"Say it," I order as soon as the door has closed.

"Say what, Captain?" Paris asks innocently, but quickly shrinks under my death glare. "You'll have to admit that the evidence is rather telling."

"As much as I wish it were, I assure you that it is not," I counter and watch his mouth drop open as he gapes at me, looks to the door, and back at me.

"Do you believe me?" I ask, still glaring.

"If you had flat-out denied it, I wouldn't have. But put like that..." He wags his head. "Your secret is safe with me."

"See that it is," I dismiss him. I can only hope that he'll remain true to his word.

-/ Fin. \=-