A Real Hot Coffee Night, part three
by Jennifer Ferris
For disclaimers and author's note, see part one
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She was staring into her closet, frowning, when Chakotay buzzed at her door the next evening. It had been another long day, full of minor mishaps that started when the tactical station developed what appeared to be a virus. She called absently, "Come."
Chakotay stopped at the door into her bedroom. "You're not ready."
Hands on her hips, Janeway scowled. "Brilliant observation, Commander. If I hadn't promised...frankly the last thing I feel like doing right now is being social."
He crossed the room and wrapped his hands around her from behind. "Then we won't go. It's not important."
"Yes it is. I said I'd go. I'm going." He smiled to himself. That was Kathryn, all right. Damn the torpedoes. Full speed ahead. A promise is a promise.
"All right."
"What am I supposed to wear, anyway?"
"It doesn't matter, as long as it's not your uniform. This isn't official, it's just a little get-together." Chakotay turned Kathryn in his arms so he could see her face. "You really don't want to go, do you."
"No, I don't. But-" She wouldn't meet his eyes.
"Hey...I'll be damned. You really are scared."
"It's just nerves. It's so damn awkward. I can't exactly go as your 'date'."
"Why not?"
She didn't dignify that with an answer. "Anyway, I told you it scared me."
"Yeah, but then it was a whole day away. Now it's time and you've got to figure out how to-"
"Don't start with me, mister," Kathryn growled.
He tightened his hold and as she squirmed to get away, fell back on the bed. Kathryn landed on top of him. "We could always stay here and fight instead," he offered helpfully.
"You can be a patronizing little shit sometimes, can't you?"
"Uh huh," Chakotay slid his arms down to her backside, pressing her close as he nuzzled at her neck.
"Stop that," Kathryn said into his shoulder. "Really," she added, as she pushed her pelvis into his, responding.
"You mean that," Chakotay asked, distracted, as his hands wandered to tug at her uniform, unzipping, and he lifted his hips a little to press into her.
Kathryn drew back suddenly, sitting up on his lap, and moving back apologetically as Chakotay winced. "Really...I guess. We've got a party to go to."
He let his head fall back onto the bed. "Right."
Sliding off the bed, Kathryn wandered back to the closet, leaning on one arm as she looked inside. "And what the hell am I going to wear."
- - - - -
They were on the way to the turbolift and they weren't even late, not really. The party would go on for half delta shift, anyway. Chakotay had watched with interest as Kathryn chose her clothing, applied makeup, found earrings. They were on their way in twenty minutes. He looked down at her as they entered the turbolift. "You look good. This is very nice," and his hand brushed the back of her tunic.
Janeway glanced up at him. "You've seen this before. I know you have. I wore it Prixen First Night."
"I remember. I liked it then. It's soft, it looks good. But there's a difference."
"Why?"
They were alone in the lift. "Well, for one thing," Chakotay said, putting his hands on the wall on either side of Janeway, effectively trapping her, "I wasn't able to do this, then." He trailed his fingers down the front of her tunic, then slipped his hand underneath. "I could only look, before."
She laughed softly. "Oh."
"Perspective is everything," he offered. He stood back, freeing her, as the doors opened.
Kathryn took Chakotay's arm as they exited the lift, matching his stride. "You know, sometimes I really think it's true."
"What?"
"What they say about men and women being from symbiotic, complementary, but different species. Entirely different thought processes."
Sam Wildman was catching up with them as she trotted down the hall. Janeway had spoken in normal, conversational tones, and Wildman couldn't help but overhear. She barked a brief laugh. "You tell him, Captain."
Janeway winked at Wildman. Then she turned to look at Chakotay. He had a bemused expression on his face. "For example."
"Okay, for example. I put this outfit on. There are several operative points to consider," she gestured toward the tunic and pants she was wearing. "One, everybody's seen this before, not very original, but that's good. There's enough 'new' about, um, this evening, without introducing other elements."
Chakotay grinned at that. "All right, but-"
She shook her head. "Two, it's not bad looking, reasonably feminine without being too overt. Don't want to look as if I'm coming on too strong." She arched an eyebrow at Chakotay and he nodded, straight-faced. "Three, it's not particularly expensive. So I don't look as if I'm showing off." She added solemnly, her voice lower now. "Although I am, of course. Showing off, I mean."
Chakotay grinned without answering. Janeway shook her head again. "Women in most cultures notice these things. Actually, most people notice these things. It's just human males that...well. --Every woman at the party will do an evaluation like that about what she's wearing and what the other women are wearing. It's, um, very logical. And quite a complex exchange of information."
"I thought women just picked out what they looked good in. Or looked sexy in. Or something like that."
"Commander, you can't be swayed by stereotypes. You ought to know that."
"Point taken, Captain."
"There's more," she said merrily. "So you've seen my reasoning. While you, on the other hand..."
"Why do I feel like I'm being set up?" Chakotay murmured as they approached Sandrine's.
"You, on the other hand," Kathryn ignored his interruption, but she did lower her voice, "see this outfit and think, oh good, now I can stick my hand in her shirt."
"Oh, I don't know, Captain," Chakotay nodded at Poul Simmis as they walked into the noisy bar. He had to raise his voice a little. " I've been, uh, studying command techniques. My statement was...hey, Harry...um, my statement was direct, specific, and clearly goal-oriented."
"While your approach," he glanced at Kathryn with a friendly, public smile, "is analytical and considers the effect on the whole of the group. So. Here we have two differing styles. I'd say they complement each other. Don't you think?"
Kathryn grinned. "I always did. And thank you."
Chakotay raised an eyebrow. "For what?"
"Oh, I'm a finely trained Starfleet officer, Commander. You think I didn't notice the way you diverted my attention from my case of nerves?"
"Oh." He nodded slightly. "You're welcome."
"Well." Kathryn smiled at him. "We're here now. Might as well enjoy it."
"Okay. Come on, I'll--good god." Chakotay was turning toward the bar when he stopped.
Rosie Gonzales was walking toward them, a drink in one hand. Chakotay shook his head. "Gonzales. You forgot to get dressed." Nothing moderate about this outfit. It was red, short, low-cut, and begged to be noticed.
"Hey, Chakotay," Rosie said easily. "Glad you could make it." Her eyes turned to Janeway, including the captain in her smile. "You know this guy?"
Kathryn laughed. "Uh huh. Why, is there something I need to know?"
"Oh boy, have I got some stories to tell you..." Gonzales took Kathryn by the arm and steered her away from Chakotay. Janeway rolled her eyes. Gonzales glanced back as they walked off. "Sweetie, you just run along and play. We've got a few war stories to tell."
He grinned at her back. "Don't you dare, Gonzales." He raised his voice as the women moved away. "I know where you live!" As he turned away he caught a couple of raised eyebrows scattered in the crowd. Nelson was frowning. The captain didn't usually come to unannounced gatherings like this. Well, they'd get used to it. Or not.
- - - - - - -
"-So then she said, hey, he can call me up on charges anytime--Hey," Janeway frowned at Chakotay. "You're not even listening."
"Of course I am," he sighed. "Just wondering how much of this you bought."
"Ah. Not too much. She didn't even mean me to. She was just...making an effort." Kathryn shook her head. "It was very sweet. She was obviously determined, come hell or high water, to make me feel welcome tonight. Which, uh, was obviously not true across the board."
Chakotay frowned. "What do you mean?"
"Nothing. But I'm the boss, after all. Let's be realistic."
"Yeah. Comes with the job." But Chakotay's jaw was a little tight. "So...what?"
Janeway sighed. "Just a couple of the younger crew. Doesn't matter who. You know." She lowered her voice, mimicking a sotto voce whisper. "'Oh man, now he's brought her. I thought this was supposed to be a goddamn party.'" She smiled and touched Chakotay's wrist, voice normal again. "Relax, Commander. It's a party."
"Yeah. I just-"
"You can't change human nature. Or whatever. Some people are going to have a problem with...this." Kathryn shrugged. "Anyway, Gonzales was being very nice."
Chakotay accepted the change of subject. "Yeah. Rosie's good people." Kathryn nodded and Chakotay moved a little closer. "And that's enough about them. I can think of someone I'd rather talk about."
"Mmm. I like that," Janeway said lightly. "Especially after I look around at the competition."
He drew back, eyes twinkling. "What competition?"
"Oh come on, Commander. There's a lot of good-looking women on this ship."
A grin lit his face. "Kathryn. You're fishing."
She laughed. "Maybe." Her gaze moved around the room. "And then, of course, there's that dress..." she nodded toward the dance floor where Harry Kim was dancing, very closely indeed, with Gonzales.
"Oh. That." Chakotay shook his head. "Very...um."
Kathryn laughed. "Yes. Very 'um'.
"But it won't work. You can't make me believe you're jealous. Not of that," he said lightly.
She sighed, understanding him. "No. I know better. But she is a pretty girl."
"Uh huh. It's just that there's no comparison." Chakotay let his eyes wander down the captain, clearly enjoying himself.
"That's the other thing about this outfit," Kathryn smiled just for him, her expression innocent. Her hand touched the vee of her tunic. "It's not obvious or anything, but..."
"But..."
Her smile was mischievous. "It also makes you notice..." Her hand traced its way down her tunic.
Chakotay grinned. "Was that what you had in mind the last time you wore it? For Prixen?"
"Mmm, not consciously." She looked at him sideways. "But you've been on my mind for a long time. And I'm a very goal-oriented person myself." She shrugged. "Maybe."
"It worked."
"Hmm?"
"I noticed. It was a little ridiculous," he added.
"What was," Kathryn frowned.
"Well. There I was. A grown man. Spending half the evening trying to look down your shirt."
"Oh." Janeway shook her head, eyes smiling. "At least you don't have to do that now."
Chakotay raised an eyebrow. "You want to bet?"
"But you have, um, access to the whole package, you don't have to-"
"Yeah," he agreed, "but I like the view."
- - - - - -
"Tom, you're just trying to cause trouble."
"No I'm not, B'Elanna," Tom Paris protested. "I just want to say hello."
Torres grunted. "Hello. You want to say hello. You see the captain on the bridge every day. You see her in the mess hall every evening."
"Not lately," Paris grinned.
"And all of a sudden you want to say hi." Torres' tone was suspicious.
Tom looked down for a minute. "I might tease a little bit. But I...B'Ela, you should see the difference in her."
"Yeah?" Torres crossed her arms. "I'm not blind, Tom. I can see it."
"I know you can," Paris looked sideways at her. "But you don't work with her every day, all day long. It's not that she's so different, it's just that...I don't know, it's like she's five years younger. Or... that she's relaxed, or something. It's just...it's nice."
"Or taller," B'Elanna murmured to herself.
"What?"
"Nothing."
The chief engineer and ranking pilot of the Voyager stared at each other for a moment in perfect understanding. Torres snickered finally. "Relaxed," she echoed.
"Uh huh," Paris grinned. "Like she's been in a...really good mood lately. Or like maybe she's getting some really good workouts. You know. A lot."
"Tom," B'Elanna said warningly, "you're a pig."
"B'Ela...I'm just joking around. All right?"
But Torres felt a little touch of insult to the sisterhood. "Men," she snorted, remembering that even Chakotay had grinned like a schoolboy who'd just discovered how much fun it is to... But then she recalled the rest of his words. 'My heart is so full...' Maybe it was just a little harder for Tom to admit when he was happy for somebody. "Hmmph," she said, trying to give him the benefit of the doubt.
His gaze was introspective now. "You should have seen Janeway the night the away team was stranded on Diminis."
"Why? I mean--did something happen? Why didn't you tell me?" B'Elanna said accusingly.
"No, nothing happened, I'd forgotten about it what with...well, anyway. I took some coffee in to her that evening. That's all. She just looked so..." His voice was quiet.
"What."
"So...tiny, I guess. We were all waiting, and we didn't know what was happening down on the planet, and Chakotay was down there...I wanted to cheer her up." Paris shrugged self-deprecatingly, defensive. "Nothing."
B'Elanna looked down, thinking of her own protective reaction about Chakotay. Funny how you wanted to hug people you cared about and tell them everything was going to be all right. Like they were kids. Only they were older than you, and outranked you, and sometimes things weren't all right. But maybe this time it would be. "Maybe it'll work out after all," she said aloud.
Paris glanced at her. "Maybe." Without thinking, he reached out and took B'Elanna's hand. "I hope so."
She glanced over at him, a little shy even after all this time. "Tom? You know, sometimes you're not a pig. Sometimes you're a nice man."
He straightened up, throwing off the strange mood that had come over them. "So I'm just going to ask her to dance, or something."
B'Elanna shrugged. "Okay."
"You don't mind, do you?"
"For god's sake, Paris, I don't have a chain on you."
"I wouldn't want to make you mad."
She rolled her eyes. "You will make me mad if you keep being so careful."
"Oh. Okay." Then the devil in him grinned. "I'm just going to give her a little..." He twisted his hand back and forth. "Or maybe him."
Torres sighed.
- - - - - - - - - -
"So are you two gonna flirt all night long?" The unmistakeable voice of Tom Paris.
"Shit," Chakotay said clearly.
"Come on, Commander," Paris grinned, "you can't lock this gorgeous woman away all night."
"I can try."
"Won't work. We've caught you out. Captain," Paris put on his best polite look, "be a sport."
"A 'sport', Tom? You should know by now that I am never-"
"Well--be sweet then. You do that very well," Paris argued. "Dance with me. You've been, um, hiding away, we've barely seen you all week," he said with meaning, and a grin.
"Blackmail, Mr. Paris?"
"Never, Captain. Just the pleasure of your company." He held out his hand and Janeway took it, with a tiny snort. Chakotay watched as Paris pulled the captain over to the dance floor. As if on cue, romantic music began to play. It had to have been planned. He shook his head, looking around. Might as well scout the lay of the land.
He spent fifteen minutes listening to Harry argue with Poul Simmis and Ayala about the relative merits of Starfleet scooters versus Bajoran shuttles. It seemed strange that after all this time, there were still some lines drawn. Harry backed away, finally. But Simmins was still going strong. He was ultra nationalistic: Bajor uber alles. He was also a little bit the worse for wear.
Ayala was trying to keep the lid on. "Come on, Polie. We're never going to find out, anyway."
Simmis sneered. "Yeah, probably, cause by the time this bucket makes it back-"
"Chop it, Poul." Ayala flashed a warning look.
"Oh hell, I know, it's nobody's fault, we're all doing the best we can, I know it, I know it." Simmis had clearly had a couple drinks too many. "It's just nights like this I get to thinking about Peritta and it gets to me, that's all. She likes to have a good time. She's probably moved on three times by now."
"She was a rover even when you were there, kid," Ayala chided. "Can't keep a woman home when she don't want to be there."
"Yeah. Maybe. I'm just so tired of my good ol' right hand. It's a bitch, that's all, it's a-"
His voice was rising and Chakotay stepped in. "Poul. Settle down. This isn't going to help. Why don't you get something to eat."
"Don't fucking want something to eat." Simmis shrugged. "Why should you care, man, you got yours. Took you a while, didn't it?"
Chakotay's eyes narrowed. "You got something to say to me, Polie? Let's hear it."
"Hell no, I got nothing to say. Why should I? I'm just telling you what everybody's been talking about. Captain's been walking around with that real good just-fucked look for a month, you think we didn't notice? Nobody else been giving it to her-"
"Simmis." Somehow without moving, Chakotay was inches from the Bajoran. "We go back a long time. I'll say this once. Don't. Ever. Talk about the captain that way again. Ever. You listening to me?"
The Bajoran stared back, breathing heavily. He didn't answer.
"Ever, Simmis." Chakotay's voice was very soft now.
Ayala stepped between them quickly. "Come on, Polie. We got to get you home. Sorry about that," he hissed to Chakotay.
Chakotay shook his head, staring expressionlessly at Simmis. "Good advice. He should take it."
"Yeah." Ayala's laugh was short. He was nervous. He shoved Simmis gently toward the exit. "Got to get you out of here," he hissed, voice fading as they walked on. But Chakotay could hear well enough. "Are you crazy? You're crazy. You think it'll do any good to fuck with the old man? You think that'll-" and they were gone.
Chakotay stood frozen, waiting for the adrenaline to leave his system, staring at nothing. He wasn't even surprised. Somebody was bound to say something. Better it was Simmis, someone that had been in his old crew. They'd take his warning seriously. There was nothing else he could do, not unless somebody really got out of line. He didn't want that ever to happen.
He considered mentioning the incident to Kathryn, then mentally shook his head. She didn't need to hear this. And it was part of the package too: the downside to being under the microscope. Came with the territory.
He knew that as well as Kathryn did.
- - - - - - - -
After a minute he started wandering again, watching people, listening to a few bad jokes. He sat down and kibitzed through one hand at the perennial poker game in the corner. He never played anymore. Either he didn't concentrate on it--he'd lost three weeks' rations on a busted flush, during that marathon session not long after they'd settled on Voyager--or he played too hard. For a long time he'd sharpened his competitive edge at any opportunity that presented itself...life in the Maquis had encouraged that. He'd made a conscious decision not to let that happen here. Life was too short. Poker was a game.
Hoverball with B'Elanna or Jonny Inglewood didn't count. They all played hard, liking the physical demand, the reaching, the exhaustion afterwards. But in hoverball playing hard was what made the game. Chakotay grinned suddenly. He hadn't had a match with B'Elanna in weeks. Have to fit it in, one of these days. For some reason he hadn't had time lately.
He was deliberately not concentrating on Janeway. Well. Not hovering over her, anyway. He couldn't help being aware of her. The room was...a little warmer, where she was. He glanced back at the pool table. Paris and B'Elanna had made their way over, seemed to be challenging Kathryn to a game of pool. Sigrid Nillson and Ito Tokugawa were nearby. Looked like Kathryn was giving them a tip, hands talking, shaking her head as she took the pool cue from Nillson and illustrated some shot or other. Or maybe Sigrid was just looking to rack up some points with the captain, she had a tendency to do that.
Shaking his head, Chakotay wandered over to the buffet table, set up with a sampling of munchies and finger foods. Ought to get something to eat, he might need the energy later...
"You look like you just ate the canary," Rosie Gonzales leaned on the table next to Chakotay.
He sighed, playing the straight man. "Why would I want to-"
"Oh, stuff it, Chakotay. Nice little party, huh?"
"Uh huh."
"So what are you doing over here all alone?" Gonzales grinned.
"I don't know, Rosie," Chakotay said seriously. "I've been able to walk across the street by myself for a long time now."
"Come on," she took his arm and steered him away from the table. "There's a great song playing and I'm not dancing."
"Losing your touch?"
"Pah. Don't kid yourself, honey. I just wanted to..." Gonzales shrugged.
"Okay." Chakotay held out his arms. "Dance with me, Gonzales."
"That's more like it."
He drew her close, giving her a little hug in the process. "You look great tonight." He looked down, eyeing her cleavage. "Nice dress."
"You like it?" Gonzales took a deep breath, sticking her chest out. "Well, you know, some of us are still playing the field. Not like others I could mention."
Chakotay shook his head. "That sounded like a question."
"It did, huh?"
"Dance, Gonzales."
She followed his footsteps. "I just wanted to say, well, I'm glad you came." She looked up, a tiny smile on her face. "Um. I'm glad you brought her."
"Good." He smiled down at her. "Thanks for asking us."
She tilted her head, absorbing the 'us'. "It's like...you decided you could just be people, a little."
"A little? I'm hurt."
"Well...I didn't mean just you, maybe."
"Oh. We're all...just people, Rosie. Whether everybody thinks so or not." She raised her eyebrows in question, but Chakotay shrugged. "Nothing."
"It's not the same, though."
He nodded. "I know. Sometimes."
"Wasn't so hard for you, back in the old days. You didn't have any trouble just being one of the guys. You and Seska...you know."
"Yeah...and look how that turned out."
"Ah, you didn't know, Cap."
Chakotay frowned. "Don't call me that, Rosie."
She nodded. "I won't. I know. Just this once. I just wanted you to know I haven't forgotten."
He tightened his grip on her waist. "Let it go, kiddo."
Gonzales' eyes flashed at him. "You saved our asses too many times, Cap. I mean it. You think we're gonna forget that? Don't be stupid."
Chakotay shook his head. "It was a long time ago."
"Yeah. I know." But she stared at him, ceding nothing.
As they moved around the floor they caught sight of the pool table. Janeway was leaning over, taking another shot, and Chakotay smiled a little to himself.
Rosie followed his gaze, then looked up at Chakotay with a grin. "Man, you really got it bad, don't you? You see her and you get a hard on."
Involuntarily Chakotay backed away a little. Gonzales laughed out loud. "Hey, I was kidding."
Exasperated, Chakotay shook his head. "Rosie, it's you. I never told you. All this time, it's really been you."
"Yeah, right." She squinted at him. "All the same, I think I better enjoy my dance. It's the only one I'll get."
"And you're incorrigible."
"God, I hope so."
When the song ended Chakotay steered her back to Ayala. "Simmis all right?"
"Uh...yeah. He, uh, just had a little too much to drink."
"Yeah. He did." He stared carefully at Ayala. The man shrugged, and nodded once. Message received. Chakotay looked down at Gonzales with a tiny wink. "You're too much for me, kid." He squeezed her shoulder. "Good luck with the hunt."
She smiled, but watched Ayala, obviously wondering what else was going on here. Chakotay shrugged. "Aya, she's all yours."
Ayala snorted. "That'll be the day."
Chakotay just shook his head and headed back to the buffet, and discovered that the only food left was purple and soft. He wasn't that hungry.
There must have been over fifty people crammed in here. Chakotay threaded his way back to the bar. He was getting a glass of water from Sandrine when a low, throaty voice whispered in his ear, "Buy me a drink?"
He turned on the bar stool and found himself staring at Janeway's chest. "Hello, Captain."
She smiled knowingly. "Well?"
"Sure. What are you drinking?"
"Can you afford real scotch?"
"Let's find out." Chakotay beckoned Sandrine back and asked for scotch, neat. When the barkeep returned with the drink, he slid it over to Janeway. "I guess I can."
"Thanks." She took a small sip. "You were right. This was a good idea." She gestured at the room, the party, in general.
Not wanting to make a big deal of it, Chakotay just nodded. Kathryn looked over her glass at him, eyes teasing. "You certainly seemed to be enjoying yourself."
He tried not to smile. "Did I."
"Uh huh. She's, um, a good dancer, huh?"
"Rosie? She's the best." He lost the battle and grinned, dimples and all. "Well. Almost."
"Oh?"
"Yeah." Chakotay stood up. "You want to show them the best? Captain."
Janeway tilted her head back. "You asking me to dance, Commander?"
"Yep."
"Can I bring my drink?"
"Uh huh."
"Okay." Glass in hand, Kathryn followed Chakotay to the dance floor. She sighed as he pulled her close, hand light on her waist, one hand grasping hers, intertwining their fingers. She closed her eyes as the music started. It was soft and slow, the kind she liked and hadn't danced to much in years. Not formal enough. Not distant enough. Not...captainly enough.
Chakotay was a better dancer than she was, but it didn't matter. This was the kind that was just an excuse to hold each other, anyway. They swayed back and forth on the crowded dance floor, moving in time to the beat. She took a sip of her drink. "God. What a luxury." At his questioning look, she gestured at the dance floor, at him. "Not having to...being able to dance with you. And it's okay."
Chakotay swallowed. "Yes. It is."
Kathryn moved a little closer, resting her cheek against his shoulder. The glass tilted precariously in her hand. "I feel very...um..."
He nuzzled her hair. "What?"
"Decadent. Self-indulgent."
"Good."
"...Sexy."
He drew in a breath. "Good." His fingers tightened on hers, his other hand moving on her back, a small caress that nobody would see.
"Hey," she whispered, "how long are we supposed to stay at this thing?"
"I think," Chakotay murmured, "I think we've been here long enough."
"Okay. Let's finish the dance, I never get to indulge like this."
"We can stay as long as you want."
"One more dance. Then let's go."
"Uh huh." He breathed in her fragrance. "Besides, I think you better give me a minute."
"What...oh." Kathryn smiled a little secret smile as she realized what he meant. They were dancing very closely indeed... "God," she said. "I love this music."
Chakotay smiled.
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