Hopefully this chapter makes sense...:)

Enjoy!

-Coffee

-------------------------------------

Janeway woke up the next morning with a happy feeling. It took her a minute to figure out what the difference was...and then it all came rushing back. The night before and her exploits with Q...and just as quickly as it came, the happy feeling was gone, replaced by one of frank disbelief and mild horror.

"What the hell was I thinking?" she asked herself in the bathroom mirror. "Computer, activate sonic shower."

Not only had she temporarily lost her mind and allowed Q to whisk her away, she'd actually enjoyed the experience, which in itself wasn't a problem, except for the fact that it was Q, and she shouldn't be encouraging his endeavors, regardless of how much she enjoyed them. It simply wasn't appropriate. Especially when she didn't have nearly the depth of feeling he proclaimed to have for her, and not to mention he had this nasty habit of putting her entire crew in jeopardy, intentionally or not...it was all just too damn complicated and messy to think about, so she was better off simply keeping to herself.

Oh, said part of her brain. But he's such a good kisser!

Kathryn was quick to shut that part of her brain up.

It doesn't matter, she thought silently. So I'm a little attracted to him. Big deal! It's not the first time I've been attracted to someone and it didn't work out. Chakotay's face came to mind. See? She snapped at the errant part of her brain. Not the first time at all. Besides...I'm the Captain. I have to get this crew home. It wouldn't matter if I wanted to pursue Q or not. Bottom line is that he's a distraction. Whether he means to or not, he disrupts Voyager's ability to function. Hell, he disrupts MY ability to function. It's a bad idea. End of story.

The problem that remained now was how to let Q down gently, especially given that she'd agreed to go on another date with him the next evening. Well, Kathryn thought, stepping out of her shower and drying off. I'll just have to make it clear to him that we can be friends and nothing more. She rolled her eyes at the cliché.

She finished up the rest of her morning routine with a strict, no-nonsense approach, mentally making a list of what she had to do to rectify the whole scenario.

First, I need to apologize to Chakotay for not backing him up when he took a stand against Q last night, she thought. Not because she completely approved of his behavior—although in retrospect, he done exactly what she should have done in the first place; refuse to interact with Q for more than what was necessary—but because she was smart enough to know that the Captain and the First Officer of a Federation ship needed to function together as well as possible. In allowing Q to abuse Chakotay the way he had, and then asking Chakotay to leave...well, in short, it wasn't the smartest thing she could have done. No doubt she'd hurt Chakotay's feelings, and she needed to have him behind her 100...not silently questioning her in the back of his mind like she knew he sometimes did. Her personal feelings about him needed to take a backseat to her professional priorities.

Second, she needed to formulate some sort of plan of attack for warding off Q's advances. Much as it disturbed her to admit, she had a bit of a weak spot when it came to Q. She put up with a lot more from him, and gave him more allowances than she would with most people. She wasn't sure if this was because he was a powerful Q and she just didn't want to set him off, or if there was else something deeper and more personal involved. She hadn't been afraid of him when he'd kissed her, but she still let him do it because she was lonely, and vulnerable, and attracted to him, and his lips made her whole body tingle...

Stop that! Kathryn mentally chided herself.

Third, she thought as she applied her lipstick, I need to stick to my guns!

She walked into her living room, tucking in her uniform jacket as she went. She was met there by an unwelcome surprise.

Her couch under the windows was missing, and in its place was a round table with an elaborate breakfast spread across it. Hesitantly, Kathryn approached the table and was relieved to see that it was only set for one, which meant Q didn't intend to be joining her. Thank goodness, she thought. She didn't know if she could deal with Q this early in the morning; she wasn't in work-mode yet.

In the middle of the table was a single red rose in a crystal vase. In the surrounding greens was another note. Kathryn pulled it free, her curiosity getting the better of her. Opening it, her eyes ran across the bold script.

Looking forward to tomorrow evening.

Love, Q

Kathryn scowled. Love, eh? Sure... She looked from the note back to the table with regret. It smelled delicious, and she was sure it would taste just as good as it smelled, and it seemed a shame to let such a tasteful spread go to waste, but if she was really going to reject Q, she had to reject all of him, including his extravagant gifts.

Leaving the card on the table, Kathryn grabbed a PADD to work on and left her quarters, heading towards the mess hall. She'd have a cup of Neelix's coffee and start her day as usual.

She rounded a corner imperiously, just in time to see the back of Commander Chakotay enter the mess hall. Good, she thought, following him. I'll apologize to him now and get it over with.

"Oh, Captain!" called a cheerful tenor. Janeway turned to see the Doctor approaching her purposefully. "I was able to analyze several of the samples you sent me from the nebula, and I believe I've found a way to counteract the radiation..."

"That's wonderful, Doctor," Janeway interrupted him. "I look forward to reading your report...but not before my first cup of coffee."

"Oh, of course! Please, don't let me keep you!" the Doctor continued in his usual chipper manner. "I think you'll find my results quite fascinating, particularly the..."

"Doctor," Janeway said warningly. The Doctor closed his mouth at once.

"My apologies, Captain," he said, taking a step back. "Enjoy your breakfast."

"Thank-you," replied Janeway diplomatically. "We'll have plenty to discuss later." She turned and walked through the mess hall doors. Almost instantly, Neelix approached her with a coffee mug and server.

"Good morning, Captain!" cried the little Talaxian jovially. "How did you sleep?"

"Well enough Neelix, thank-you," she replied, just managing to keep the irritation out of her voice as she gratefully accepted her warm mug of coffee. Why was everyone so damn happy this morning? She took her first sip as she scanned the room for Chakotay. The strange flavor of her coffee made her do a double-take.

"Neelix, is this a new blend?" she asked, looking down into her mug suspiciously.

"No Captain, it's the same one I've always made," Neelix answered, following her gaze into the mug. "Does it taste bad?"

"No, it's delicious, it's just that..." she started to say, when suddenly it occurred to her; this was the same blend of coffee that Q had left on her desk the day before. Growling in frustration, she set the offending mug on the serving counter.

"Oh Captain, I'm sorry! I don't know what I did wrong! It's the same as I always make it..." Neelix sputtered, opening the server he held in his hand and sniffing at it.

"It's fine, Neelix. It isn't you, it's Q..."

"Q!" Now it was her turn to be cut off. "Q did something to my coffee?" Neelix looked enraged. Janeway placed a calming hand on his shoulder, hoping to silence him before a particular omnipotent being took it into his mind to show up.

"It's all right, Neelix. There's nothing wrong with the coffee. It's just this certain blend that he knows I like...here." She grabbed her mug and pressed it into his empty hand. "Try it. I'm sure you'll like it...maybe even learn how to replicate it for me?"

"Oh! Of course Captain!" Neelix answered, ever eager to please. He took a generous swig from her mug and smacked his lips for a second, attempting to identify the different flavors. "There's a dash of cinnamon...maybe a hint of nutmeg? Allspice? No..."

"Sounds like you're on the right track," said Kathryn, trying to remain calm. "Neelix, have you seen Commander Chakotay?"

"Yes, he's over there," the Talaxian nodded his head in the general direction, obviously absorbed in the flavors of her coffee mug.

"Thank-you," said Kathryn, and scanned the room once more. She spotted him off in the very corner of the mess hall and began to make her way towards him, the beginnings of a smile pulling at her lips. Then she realized with a start that he wasn't sitting alone; Seven was sitting there with him. They presented such an intimate scene that Kathryn froze where she stood. A wave of jealousy and sadness passed through her. Not only did Chakotay not have dinner with her anymore, it appeared now that they wouldn't be having breakfast together either.

Kathryn set her jaw and turned on her heel. No coffee, no Chakotay, Q interfering with everything everywhere she went...it was going to be a long morning.

She arrived on the bridge ten minutes early and made straight for her Ready Room, only barely nodding hello to the other members of the dayshift. She swore she could almost feel Tuvok raise an eyebrow as she flew by. Once the doors whoooshed shut behind her, she breathed a sigh of relief.

Fortunately, her replicator made her a mug of normal, non-Q coffee. She gulped it down, and then replicated another. Feeling a bit better, Kathryn sat down at her desk, almost happy to see the reports she'd neglected the night before piled in front of her. Work. Mind-numbing, constant, dependable work. Kathryn jumped in with both feet.

A few hours later, she was feeling almost normal, even better than normal. A large number of the PADDs that had been piled on one side of her desk were now neatly stacked on the other. She was on her fourth cup of coffee, and she felt empowered.

The door beeped.

"Come," she called to whomever was on the other side, hoping it wasn't Chakotay. Thankfully, it was Tuvok.

"Good morning, Captain."

"Good morning, Tuvok."

It occurred to Kathryn that the last time she'd seen Tuvok, she'd been wrapped in Q's arms and about to disappear, and that Tuvok was the first person she'd called upon her return. It dawned on her that she hadn't spent much time at all with Tuvok recently...and he was supposed to be one of her best friends. Shame on her.

"I hope you weren't too worried about me last night," she began a little lamely, slapping herself mentally for saying something so dumb. Of course he'd been worried.

"I was indeed," Tuvok replied calmly. "If you remember Captain, the last time Q took you away, you were almost killed by an American Civil War firing squad in the Continuum."

"I do remember," Kathryn said softly. And I also remember that you were one of the first ones to run over the hill and fire in my defense. "Oh Tuvok...I'm sorry."

Tuvok quirked an eyebrow.

"Do not apologize, Captain. I only wish to express my relief in the fact that you were unharmed."

"I am. I know, but...thank you for being so concerned about me."

"You are welcome. I am sure that you would do the same for me," he replied with typical Vulcan stoic-ness. Janeway smiled. In her grievances over Chakotay, she'd forgotten that Tuvok was one of her most trusted confidants...having known her and advised her for far longer than anyone else.

"Tuvok," she said suddenly. "Are you free for dinner tonight? It's just occurred to me that we haven't spent much time together at all recently. I'd like to catch up."

The Vulcan looked pleased...if a Vulcan could look pleased.

"That would be acceptable."

"Wonderful. Nineteen hundred hours? My quarters? I'll try not to burn anything."

"Very well. I will see you then," Tuvok replied. He turned gracefully and exited her Ready Room. It occurred to Kathryn as the door whooshed shut behind him, that Tuvok hadn't come to report any official business, only to tell her he was glad she was unharmed and that he'd worried about her. Kathryn sighed, feeling ashamed. She'd turned into that annoying woman who focused on a potential love interest to the neglect of everyone else around her. Not that she and Chakotay had ever been "love interests." She was sure of that now.

Don't think about that...get back to work.

A bright flash in front of her desk let her know that that wasn't going to happen. Kathryn looked up at Q.

"Well, honestly Kathy, I'm hurt."

"For some reason Q, I find that doubtful." Kathryn replied, looking back down at her PADD.

"Oh! You do, do you?" huffed Q. "There I was, being lectured in the Continuum, and still, I was thinking of you!"

"How flattering, what did you do this time?"

Q hesitated for a split second before waving his hand carelessly.

"Nothing of consequence. Your actions on the other hand...shameful! First, you don't even touch that lovely breakfast I laid out for you in your quarters this morning. Then, you refuse to drink the coffee I sent you. And now, I find you're seeing other men!"

"What other men?" Kathryn snorted. "You mean Tuvok? Don't be ridiculous."

"Not to mention he had the nerve to suggest that you weren't safe in my presence!"

"Well, come to think of it, Q, he did have a point..."

Q gasped in outrage.

"He did not! When have I ever put you in harm's way?"

Kathryn looked up at him incredulously.

"Do you really want me to answer that?" she asked dangerously.

"Oh yes, by all means," Q replied smoothly, acting as though she were about to tell him a particularly good bedtime story, and taking a seat on the edge of her desk.

"For starters, I didn't appreciate being pulled into the Continuum when it was in the middle of a civil war! They almost shot us to death, or have you forgotten?"

"Of course I haven't forgotten! But Kathy, I never would have taken you there if I'd thought...I needed you to see..."

"Well I saw! And I almost didn't live to tell about it! Not to mention the week you let your son run amuck on my ship..."

"He learned some valuable lessons that week!"

"And almost killed us all in the process!"

Q scowled.

"You're exaggerating! No one actually got hurt!"

Kathryn stood up and glared at Q, who did the same to her.

"There are other ways to be hurt, Q! Other ways to be in danger beside actual physical harm!"

"I know that Kathy! And I set it all right in the end, didn't I? Come now, dearest! Why so cross?" He reached to take her hand, but she pulled back and strode up to her replicator.

"Coffee, black!" she snarled. The mug appeared, she took a gulp, and growled in frustration. Whirling on Q, who to her surprise was standing right behind her looking nonchalant, she thrust the mug into his hand. "Damn it, Q!"

"Oh Kathy, I was only trying to be nice! You seemed to like this blend so much the other day..."

"What I don't like is your interference! You do these things with no thought..."

"On the contrary! I've given you a great deal of thought!"

"Well stop it! I don't want your thoughts Q! I don't want anything from you! You just can't seem to understand that!"

"Moi? Not understand? An omnipotent Q like myself not able to follow the primitive thought processes of a scrawny biped such as yourself?" Q snorted derisively and advanced on her position. "Hardly! I know exactly what's going on here, ma capitaine ...you're pushing me away!"

Kathryn froze up inside for just a second, but stood her ground. He was right, of course. Trust Q to be spot on with the one thing she didn't want him to grasp.

"You were never close to begin with," she snapped in self defense. Q's eyes suddenly went hard.

"Au contraire," he hissed dangerously. "Perhaps I should remind you of just how close I was."

Before Kathryn could stop him, Q pulled her body to his in a grip that allowed no escape. Kathryn tensed, but forced herself not to respond, pretending as though his proximity had no effect on her. It was a total lie, of course; he felt good, he smelled good, but she managed to hold strong. Focusing on the Captain's pips on his collar, she stood still. Neither of them moved for a full minute, both locked in a silent battle of wills. After a time, Q sighed in mock desperation.

"You're not making this any fun, love," he whispered teasingly in her ear.

"I'll give you three guesses as to why," she snarled in return.

"Oh Kathy, you're such a dreadful tease," he chuckled, pulling her closer. Kathryn struggled and managed to get her arms wedged between her body and his, pushing against his chest.

"Let me go!" she snapped.

"No," Q answered playfully, and lightening fast grabbed her wrists and pinned her arms behind her back. She growled in frustration and tried knee him in groin. Q gasped and deflected the blow with one of his legs. There was a flash, and Kathryn felt something solid against her back. To her dismay, she realized that Q's body had her pinned against the wall of her Ready Room, and even worse, he was standing between her legs, making it impossible for her to try to kick him again. She struggled to escape the horrifyingly intimate position to no avail. Q pressed her into the wall with even more force than before, and whispered quite distinctly in her ear:

"I like it when you wiggle."

"Go to hell," she hissed, and stopped moving immediately. Q clucked his tongue at her and shook his head despairingly, while studying her face intently. "Let me go!" she repeated.

"You're shaking," he observed.

"With disgust!" she spat. "Get off me!"

"Tell me something," Q said, as though he hadn't heard her. "What's made you so upset this morning?"

"You have. Let go of me."

"Last night, you seemed so relaxed Kathy...and this morning you're entirely tense."

"You don't think the fact that you're pinning me to the wall has anything to do with that?" she scoffed.

"I'm speaking about your behavior earlier. Why didn't you accept my gifts?"

"I don't want your damn gifts," Kathryn sighed.

"Why not?" Q murmured calmly.

"Because I don't love you, and I don't want you thinking otherwise." Despite the fact that she was in an extremely compromising and uncomfortable position, Kathryn started to relax in degrees. Q was restraining her, but not hurting her, and the tone of his voice was soothing.

"That was very considerate of you, Kathryn, but in all fairness, you haven't really given me a chance," he was studying her face again with un-Q-like seriousness. Kathryn took a breath.

"I'm afraid I can't afford to give you a chance, Q. I'm sorry."

Q quirked an eyebrow.

"Why not?"

"Because it's too risky."

"How so?" he asked quietly. Behind her back, she felt his thumb gently stoke the skin of her wrist.

"You distract me, and the members of my crew. I can't do my job with you constantly popping in and out..."

"So I'll be more discreet with my entrances and exits. What else?"

"You don't respect my boundaries, my personal space, my wishes, or my privacy."

"Of course I do!" cried Q. Kathryn looked down pointedly at the lack of space between them. Q sighed, but didn't move.

"I mean it Q! Last night, you whisked me out of here despite the fact the explicitly asked you not to!"

"But in all fairness, Kathryn, when I told you I'd return you to Voyager, you chose to stay with me."

"I shouldn't have had to make that choice in the first place, Q!"

"All right," said Q, diplomatically. "I understand what you're saying, and I will do my best to respect your person...starting now."

"Don't patronize me, Q."

"I didn't mean to...just using a phrase I picked up from Junior."

He stepped back and Kathryn shot by him, straight to her desk, doing her best to ignore that the front of her body suddenly missed the warmth of his.

"So," Q continued, sitting on the edge of her desk and counting off on his fingers. "Less distraction from work, more respect of personal space and wishes...am I leaving anything out?"

"Yes, the fact that it will never work out between us. Period," she said, crossing her legs and leaning back in her chair. For the first time, a look of true frustration passed over Q's face.

"You would have made it work for Commander Chakotay," he muttered petulantly.

"The Commander and I were never romantically involved...not that it's any of your business Q," Kathryn hissed.

"Oh, now who's patronizing who?" Q chuckled. "Please, Kathy, if that idiot ever took it into his head to pursue you like he should have, you can't honestly tell me that you would have turned him down?"

Kathryn nodded her head, not trusting her voice. Q was right, but damned if she'd let him know it.

"And what does he do instead?" Q cried, standing up and pacing before her desk. "He sits there like a Tulusian slug, eying you mournfully every time you walk by, feeling sorry for himself because he can't have you. Coward!

"Commander Chakotay is a member of my crew! We couldn't have a relationship because it wouldn't be appropriate!"

"According to whom?" asked Q. "Certainly not the rest of your crew. They all seem to want you to be happy. Kathy, they probably prayed the two of you would hook up so they wouldn't have to suffer through the spectacle of you both dancing around each other!"

Kathryn was horrified at the thought, but she'd think about it later.

"It doesn't matter, Q. I will not engage in a romantic relationship with a member of my crew. Ever."

"Which is exactly why you should fall in love with me, Kathy; I'm not a member of your crew. It works out perfectly."

"No," she said stubbornly. "It doesn't. The fact that you're not a member of Voyager only makes it worse. Voyager is my life right now. Getting this ship, this crew, home...it's the most important thing in the world to me. I have my hands full trying to take care of them, dammit!" she slapped her hand on the desktop for emphasis, passion shinning in her eyes. "You're too different, Q. You don't fit into life here...I don't think you ever could. It's not your fault, it's just the way things are, but until this ship and its crew are back in the Alpha Quadrant, I'm not willing to consider a relationship with anyone," she asserted, hoping Q wouldn't realize that her statement wasn't entirely true,

"So, even though you couldn't date a member of your crew, you need a man who has the understanding and life experience that a member of your crew would have? Do I have that correct, Madam Captain?"

"Exactly," Kathryn was surprised. Maybe he finally understood? She watched with growing alarm as a grin slowly spread across Q's face and his eyes began to dance. Maybe not...she thought.

"Oh my darling Captain!" Q cried, clasping his hands together in delight. "This is perfect! I'd never have expected it all to come together like this, but it has! How wonderful!"

"What are you going on about now, Q?" Janeway sighed, rubbing her suddenly aching temples with both hands. Upon seeing her do this, Q moved to stand behind her chair and take over the job. Mentally exhausted and noting how the circular motions of his cool fingers made the pain and tension melt away, Kathryn didn't resist him. Instead she sat and braced herself for the prolific statement she knew he was going to make.

"Well, of course I've been pondering for some time now how my Q-ness and your human qualities would be able to mesh. I thought at first that my omnipotence would not be an issue...After all, hundreds of mortal females across the universe seemed to find me irresistible for that quality alone...however, I soon realized that you were no ordinary female, my dear, and no such shallow display of power would lure you into my arms..."

Kathryn rolled her eyes and concentrated on not giving herself over to the blissful sensations Q was creating by massaging her scalp.

"Then, of course, there was the reaction of the Continuum High Council when I announced my intentions to win your affections..."

"Oh?" she said. Q was working his way down her neck and starting on her shoulders. Unable to stop herself, Kathryn found herself leaning into his touch. "And what did they have to say about it?"

"They seemed to be of the impression that I wasn't being sincere," answered Q, digging deep with his thumbs into the area between her shoulder blades. Kathryn bit back a moan of pleasure. "They believed I was looking for another opportunity to interfere with humanity." Kathryn snorted at that one.

"I wonder why?" she queried nonchalantly.

"As did I!" cried Q, oblivious to her intended sarcasm. "I spent the last week trying to convince them of my genuine feelings for you, and this morning they actually dared to offer me an ultimatum!"

"What was it?" Kathryn asked, bracing herself. Here it comes...

"Well," Q huffed. "They gave me one month to demonstrate my earnestness, and should I fail to convince them of my love for you by the end of that time, I'll be banished from the Continuum...No, Kathryn, they're not pleased with me at all. Even my son couldn't get them to change their minds, despite his advanced negotiating abilities."

Kathryn froze under his touch.

"Q...Why would you risk...?" she started to say, but Q was quick to shush her. Placing one hand on her cheek, he turned her chair to face him, and kneeled on the floor before her without breaking the contact.

"You know why," he whispered. "Isn't your history littered with examples of the foolish things people do in the name of love? Consider this another step forward in my understanding of Humanity."

Kathryn blushed, but held his gaze evenly.

"How will you prove to them that you...care...for me?"

"Well, dearest Kathy," Q began, reaching out and grasping both her hands in his. "Originally, I had intended to dazzle you, showering you with a display of everything you deserve that a Q like myself could offer...however, you've just given me a much better idea."

"Tell me," she whispered, both dreading and anticipating what he would say. He rose and considered her thoughtfully, still holding her hands in his.

"There are still some things to be arranged," he answered, deliberately not answering her question. "I'll be back soon."

"Q—" she began in protest, but couldn't finish because Q chose that moment to steal a kiss, pressing his mouth to hers in a way that made Kathryn glad she was already sitting down. Q kissed her quickly, winking cheekily as he pulled away.

"Until later, Madam Captain," he whispered playfully, and in a flash, disappeared.

----------------------------------------------------

Love it? Hate it? Please review. -Coffee