Rated NC17
 
First Place in Monster Mash contest

 There was something in the corner; Kathryn had seen it move when she opened the door, but when she requested lights, it was gone.  Well, maybe it was just catching up with her; she worked too many hours Chakotay always said, and  he was probably right.  Kathryn kicked off her boots, threw her jacket on the couch and headed for the bathroom.  Hallucinations, headaches or just plain bad moods could be cured by a bath- well at least improved.  That was her theory anyway and she intended to do everything in her power to prove it.  She dumped a large glob of bubble bath into the running water and stripped off the rest of her clothes.

Kathryn submerged herself in the steaming bubbles and rested her head on the edge of the tub.  Yes, this just might work.

“Sickbay to the Captain.”

The blare of the comm. disturbed her rest making her jump and bang her head on the wall.

“Damn!  What is it, Doctor?”  Her anger was clearly conveyed by her tone of voice.

“So sorry to disturb you, Captain.” His sarcasm was also evident. “But have you forgotten me?  Again.”  The last part was mumbled but distinguishable.

“Doctor, please forgive me, but it is very late.  I have just worked 18 hours and I am more than a little tired.  What can I do for you?”  She worked to control the anger but she couldn’t disguise it.

“Did you notice this call came ‘sickbay’ to the captain?”

“Your point, Doctor?”  Her anger was gaining the upper hand.

“You might remember that several hours ago, I reported my mobile emitter missing.”

“Yes, and I sent a security team down to help you locate it.”

“Well, it is still missing.”

“I’m sure they will locate it, eventually.”

“And until then?  Am I just supposed to be confined to sickbay?”

“That is where you belong, Doctor.”

“I don’t find an empty sickbay very stimulating.”

“I will do my best to antagonize the next alien race we encounter.  Maybe a few casualties will improve your mood.  Failing that, you can still attend Neelix’s Halloween party; it will be on the holodeck.”

“That is hardly an acceptable answer and certainly not one I expect from the captain!”

“How about this one— if I have to get out of this bath tub and come to sickbay, I will decompile your program and scatter you so far even B’Elanna won’t be able to put you back together!”

“Captain!”

“This conversation is over.”  She cut the link.  “Computer block all comm. transmissions to these quarters for the next eight hours unless there is a red alert.”

“COMMUNICATION TRANSMISSIONS OF RED ALERT STATUS ONLY WILL BE PERMITTED TO THE CAPTAINS QUARTERS FOR THE NEXT EIGHT HOURS.”

Kathryn tried to settle back and relax, but it wasn’t working.  Out of the corner of her eye, she caught a movement in the other room. 

“Who’s there?”  She received no answer.  “Computer, identify the occupants of the Captain’s quarters.”

“CAPTAIN JANEWAY IS THE SOLE OCCUPANT OF HER QUARTERS AT THIS TIME.”

Kathryn shook her head; she really was over tired and now the doctor had even managed to ruin her bath.  She drained the water, grabbed a towel and headed off to her bedroom.  Kathryn found brushing out her hair took almost more energy than she could muster.  She tossed the towel in the refresher and sat on the bed to finish her hair.  It didn’t take long for her eyes to drift closed; she nodded off several times before tossing the brush aside and curling up in the center of the bed.

Something brushed up against her back; soft, warm, feather light touches against her naked flesh.

“Ummm, that’s nice.”  She mumbled, reaching behind her. Finding nothing, Kathryn assumed she must be dreaming.  She curled up and went back to sleep.

Chakotay was just headed for the bedroom when the doctor hailed him for the third time.  He assured the doctor there was nothing wrong with the comm. system and that the captain had merely opted for a few hours privacy, which was well within her rights.  He had tried to soothe the doctor's ruffled feathers and assured him the emitter would be located in the morning.  None of this had made the doctor any happier, but he had at least agreed to be patient until morning.

Kathryn certainly had the right to her privacy but it was unusual for her to cut herself off from the crew, especially without informing him first.  She was overly stressed and very tired which indicated to him he should just let her rest until morning.  Apparently from what the doctor said, she was very angry, also a good indication that he should just go to bed and deal with Kathryn in the morning.  He had worked late himself and hadn’t expected to see her tonight. That, along with the fact that she had not contacted him prior to shutting down her comm. link, said ‘go to bed man and leave the woman alone’. Chakotay slipped on a pair of shoes and headed for the Captain’s quarters.

He keyed in his override and slipped quietly into the darkened quarters.  Movement near her bedroom door caught his eyes and he stepped closer.

“Sooo nicccee.”

Her husky whisper caught him off guard.  He stood still listening for some indication as to whether to move forward or leave.  She certainly didn’t sound angry or stressed to him.

“Ummm, Chakotay..”

Moving to the doorway, Chakotay chuckled in relief; she was dreaming.  Kathryn was curled in a tight ball in the center of her bed, her pale skin illuminated by the light of the passing stars. Chakotay eased the blankets down on one side and gently maneuvered Kathryn beneath them.

“Don’t stop.”

“Kathryn, are you awake?”  He tucked the blanket around her.

“Yes.”  She snaked her hand out and grabbed his.  “Been awake but it felt sooo nice – tickled on my neck but was so soft on my back.  What did you use?”

“Sorry, I just got here.  You must have been dreaming.”

“Ohhh, it was so soft and warm.”  A frown of disappointment crossed her face.

“Well, go back to sleep and you’ll be warm again.”  He kissed her forehead.

“No, don’t go.”  She opened her eyes.  “Unless you had something to do.”

“Kathryn.”  He laughed.  “It’s the middle of the night.  I was just checking on you before I went to bed.”

“Then come to bed.”  She rolled back lifting the cover for him to join her.

“Then you won’t sleep.” He laughed and toed off his shoes.

“Yes, I will, better than I would without you.”

“Not right away, you won’t.  I know you better than that!”  He pulled his t-shirt off and dropped his sweats to the floor.

“Is that a problem?”   She snuggled closer as he climbed in beside her.

“Not for me.”  He laughed.  “but we still have to deal with the doctor and without sleep…”

 “OK, I promise I won’t decompile his program.

“That’s a start.”  He ran his palm down her back. “What do you suppose became of his emitter?”

“Didn’t just walk away.  Probably a Halloween prank.”  Her breath was warm against his chest, her tongue flicked across his nipple.  “Actually, at the moment I don’t give a damn.” Her teeth closed hard and he yelped.

“Hey, what was that?”

“Sorry, just making sure you weren’t a dream.”

“I’m real.”  He rubbed his sore nipple. “Tell me…”  He began running his hands down her back using different strokes and varied pressures.  “when it feels the same.”

“Nope, nahhh, it was soft, kinda fuzzy.” She began a mission of her own.  “Was sorta furry.  Ummm, but this is nice too.”

“I missed you.”  He breathed between kisses.  “Why haven’t I see you lately?”

“Cause you keep scheduling us these damn long shifts.”

“Oh, yea, sorry.”  His fingers took a slow inventory of the silky skin of her inner thighs.

“I though maybe you didn’t want to see me.”  She ran her hands down his body. “Ummm guess that was wrong.”

“So wrong.”  His lips sought a dusky nipple suckling it as she pressed her breast to his mouth.

Kathryn's eyes drifted closed as his hands stroked her body, moaning when his lips deserted her nipple. Kissing the valley between her breasts, Chakotay gradually moved his mouth down to her belly, dipping his tongue into her belly button. Kathryn sighed in pleasure feeling him smile against her skin, his warm breath making her shiver.  Her fingers tangled in his hair. He moved lower, his mouth pressed to her sensitive lips, his lips, his tongue…licking her, kissing her, nipping the inside of her thighs, easily finding her swollen bud and sucking it.

"Chakotay."  Her head thrashed wildly back and forth.  She writhed as if to escape his grasp but his powerful hands held her firmly in place.  How quickly he could bring her to this height. “Please… now.”  She tugged his hair to move him.

Chakotay moved over her, kissing his way up her body to capture her mouth.  She raised her legs around him and in one solid thrust he drove his hard length into her, full to the hilt, groaning as her slick walls closed tightly around him.  Kathryn gasped bringing her hips up to meet his long slow thrusts.  It didn't take long for Chakotay to lose himself and began thrusting erratically; he grabbed her hips and pounded into her.

Unable to hold herself back any longer Kathryn called out a garbled version his name, raking her nails down his back as she was consumed by the ecstasy of her release.  Her reaction brought him over the edge.  Panting her name in her face, he pumped wildly as he spilled his seed inside her.

Together they rolled to their sides.  Kathryn pulled the blanket over their still joined bodies and they drifted off to sleep.

~~~^^^~~~

Chakotay felt something on his shoulder. It sort of tickled; he brushed it away.  It brushed his cheek, tickled his neck and rubbed along his arm.

“Kathryn, go to sleep.”  He mumbled against the auburn hair.  “Stop.”

“Huh?”  The sleepy voice blew hot air against his chest.  “What’s wrong?”

“Stop tickling me and go to sleep.”  He slapped her butt.

“Hey, I was sleeping; I didn’t do it.”  She pulled up the covers and snuggled closer.  “Was it fuzzy?”

“Yea, now that you mention it – it felt like fur.”  He rolled back.  “Computer, identify the occupants of the Captain’s quarters.”

“Won’t help.”

“CAPTAIN JANEWAY AND COMMANDER CHAKOTAY ARE THE ONLY OCCUPANTS OF THE CAPTAIN'S QUARTERS.”

“See?  Come back here.”  She tugged on his shoulder until he moved back over on his side and buried her face in his chest again.  “Too tired.”

“Yea, but I’m going to figure this out in the morning.”

“Ummm.”  She was already asleep.

It lightly traced above his upper lip making his nose twitch.  His snort only stopped it for a moment.  Chakotay ran his hand across his face rubbing his nose to alleviate the itch.

“Kathryn.”  He warned but it happened again; he opened his eyes. Chakotay found himself alone in the bed; he could hear the water running in the other room.

Chakotay sat up and looked around.  He was sure the tickle was real but he was alone.  Out of the corner of his eye he saw a shadow move in the doorway. He followed it out into the living area but it was empty.

"Looking for something?"

"Spirits, Kathryn! Don't sneak up on me."  He jumped back.

"Jumpy this morning." She laughed.  "And I'm the one without coffee."  She headed to the replicator ordering her coffee and his tea.

"I felt it again.  Something is definitely in here."

"The computer says we are alone. It's probably our imaginations, all that nonsense Tom has been feeding us about ghosts and goblins."

"Kathryn, since when do you believe in ghosts?"  He took his tea and followed her back to the bedroom.

"I don't, but I believe in the science of our internal sensors and the computer says we are alone in here."

"It woke me up, Kathryn."

"You too?"

"I can't believe you are so calm about this.  Something keeps touching us.  We can't both be having the same dreams or hallucinations."

"You're the one who believes in spirits.  Maybe it's the ghost of Halloween past or something."   She put her coffee on the dresser and proceeded to dress.

"That's Christmas isn't it?"

"Oh, so it is.  Oh, well."

"Kathryn!"

"What? You are always tell me not to let the little things bother me.  Now I try it and you get crazy on me."

"OK, maybe it's nothing.  Whatever you say."  He went to take a shower, leaving her standing alone smiling.

Kathryn hummed to herself as she finished dressing.  It wasn't nice to play this prank on Chakotay.  Since he obviously wasn't the one who played it on her, maybe she would tell him.

To his surprise, Kathryn had breakfast on the table when he came out of the shower.

"What's this?"

"Breakfast."  She gave him a smile that indicated something was definitely up.

"Sickbay to the Captain."

"Oops, time's up."  Kathryn laughed and rolled her eyes.  "Yes, Doctor?"

"I wanted to remind you that my emitter has yet to be located and ...." He could hear the Captain's muffled laugh.  "I don't find this amusing, Captain."

"Sorry, Doctor.  I'm sure you will have your emitter back soon.  I will contact you later.  Janeway out."  Kathryn control her laugher long enough to close the link.

"Kathryn?"  Chakotay was watching her like she had lost her mind.  "OK, you are way too calm and having too much fun.  Are you going to let me in on this?"

"OK."  She took his hand, bringing him to the couch and dropping then both to their knees.  "Here kitty, kitty."

Kathryn placed one hand under the edge of the couch, rubbing her fingers together making a soft sound.  From under the sofa came a tiny black cat. Soft and furry it purred as it rubbed up against the captain's hand.

"What have we here?"  Chakotay scooped up the small ball of fur.  "OH?!"  He turned it over to discover the doctor's emitter on her belly.  "A holographic kitten?"

"No.  A holographic black cat." 

"Oh, that Halloween prank you mentioned."

"Exactly.  I expect she is part of Mr. Paris's Halloween scheme that went astray, literally."

"So, what now?"  Chakotay carried the kitten back to the table cradling it in his lap as he ate his breakfast.

"Well, first I suppose I have to tear her away from you."  She smiled when he blushed.  "She is only a hologram you know."

"So is the doctor but we keep him." Chakotay countered.

"Good point.  And she is less trouble, but..."

"OK, but can we keep her till after breakfast?"

"B'E, come on. You gotta find her."

"Hold on Flyboy, I'm doing the best I can.  It's not easy trying to locate something that doesn't exist."

"Ahhh B'E, I'm going to be late and the captain will kill me and so will the doc.  God, I don't even want to think what he is going to do when he finds out."

"Got her!"  B'Elanna smiled then her face dropped.  "Oh this is not good.  You are not going to like this."

"What??!"

"She’s in the captain's quarters."

"Shit!"

“Kathryn, what are you doing?”

“Give her up!” Kathryn tried to take the kitten from Chakotay’s lap

“What are you going to do?”  He reluctantly gave the cat to Kathryn.

“I’m going to down load her program into my terminal.”  She caught the sad look in his eyes.  “I won’t hurt her, Chakotay!”  She took the cat, downloading her program into the terminal.  “She’s a hologram, for spirits sake!”

“What are you doing to her?”

“I’m making a few changes.  We are going to teach Mr. Paris a lesson.”  Kathryn keyed some commands into the terminal than uploaded the program to the emitter and handed the kitten, now a little smaller, back to Chakotay.  “Here, come sit down and I’ll explain.”

The command team was already in place by the time the rest of Alpha shift joined them on the bridge.  Tom gave a silent sigh of relief when a smiling captain greeted him; his runaway prank must still be a secret.  He took his seat at the helm and prayed B’Elanna could retrieve the cat before the captain discovered it.

“Commander, you have the bridge.   I’ll be in my readyroom.”

“Aye, captain.”

It was a normal morning ritual, the captain was due for her coffee.  Everything remained peaceful and normal until B’Elanna’s message scrolled across his screen.

You are dead.  Not in the C.Q.  Can’t locate. Your widow.

Tom shifted uneasily in his seat.  He had to find that cat before the captain did.

“Mr. Paris, report to the readyroom.”

The sound of her voice sent chills down his spine.  Tom stood and faced Chakotay who nodded and wave Lieutenant Parker to take the helm.  Silently Tom walked to the door and rang the chime.

“Come”

“Captain, you wanted to see me?”  Tom stood nervously in front of her desk.

“Yes, Tom..”  She looked up at him with concern.  “Are you feeling all right?  You don’t look well.”

“Fine, Captain, I’m fine.”

“Well, if you say so.  Have a seat, Tom.  I want to talk to you.”

“Thank you.”  Tom sat stiffly across from her desk expecting the worst.

“Tom, I was wondering how the plans for the Halloween party are going?”

“Fine, er just fine.”

“I know by now that you handle these thing well and I’m sure everything will be ready.”  She smiled as she stood.  “I’m having coffee Tom.  Can I get you anything?”

“No, thank you, Captain.”  Tom thought he might throw up as it was; he wished she would just get on with it but she seemed to want to take her time.

The captain took what seemed like forever to return with her coffee.  She questioned him in detail about the decorations, the music and every item on the menu.  It must have taken half an hour before she was satisfied and to his great relief dismissed him.

A relieved but bewildered Tom returned to the helm.  A second message awaited him as he retrieved it he prayed it was good news.

My late husband—no luck—B. in black

Tom didn’t have time to dwell on the message; the captain returned to the bridge.

“Sick bay to the bridge”

“Yes, Doctor?”

“Captain, I have tried to be patient…”

“No luck with the emitter yet, Doctor?”  She rolled her eyes and glanced with at smile at Chakotay.

Tom cringed at her reflection on the view screen.  God he didn’t need the doctor whining.

“I would appreciate a little respect here, Captain.  I can not continue to function properly without my emitter.  What if someone should need my help?”

“I’m sure Mr. Paris can handle anything that comes up.”

The sound of his name on her lips frightened Tom.  Damn, how did he get himself into these things.

“Captain, we must face facts here.  Some one has stolen my emitter and I want it back.”

Tom flinched.  Closing his eyes, he took a deep calming breath.  God, if she caught him….He saw something move out to the corner of his eye.  Oh NO!

“I’m sure that isn’t the case, Doctor.  It has merely been misplaced.”

The conversation went on but Tom lost track of it as he watched the reflection of the tiny kitten dart from console to console.  He was a dead man.  It headed for ops. Tom punched in a message to Harry.

Grab the cat!

What cat? Have you lost it?

Tom resisted the urge to turn around.  Was Harry nuts?  The cat was right at his feet!

“…won’t you, Mr. Paris?” The Captain was speaking to him.

“Captain?”  Tom whirled around to face her and the cat, larger now, ran right under her.
 feet.

“Assist the doctor in his search?”  She didn’t seem to notice the now full-grown cat jump over her feet on its way to Tactical.

“ERR, yes, of course.”  Tom tried to concentrate on the captain but the cat, growing again, jumped on Tuvok’s console and bounded to the engineering station.

Tom felt the blood drain from his face.  The cat was rubbing up against Seven’s leg.  Seven didn't respond.

“Mr. Paris, are you unwell?”

“Huh?”  The captain was looking at him with concern and no one was reaction to the now dog-sized cat prancing around the bridge.  Was he hallucinating?

“Tom, are you alright?”
 
“Yea, fine.”  He turned back to his station.  It all moved in slow motion.  The cat kept growing, bouncing and stretching all over the bridge.  Tom was sweating.  It was never going to end.  Oh, he was sooooo dead.

Harry, don’t you see that thing?  Tom fingers were shaking so he could barely type.

Hey, are you OK?  Harry showed only his usual concern.

The cat, the damn cat!  It's as big as a pony! Don’t you see it?

Man, what have you been drinking?

She is gonna kill me!

The cat ambled across the bridge.  Tom looked from face to face; no one else reacted.  Suddenly, she jumped across the railing and landed in his lap.  Tom gasped and everyone looked in his direction.  He was dead.

“Bridge to sickbay”

“Yes, Captain?  Have you had any luck locating my emitter?”

“No, doctor..”

NO!?  Tom’s brain silently screamed; can't you see this?

“But I believe Mr. Paris is unwell.  I will transport him to sickbay, now.”

Tom sat open mouthed as the Captain called for the computer to transport him, and the animal he held in his lap, to sickbay.  As the transporter beam caught him, Tom saw the commander chuckle, then the entire bridge crew, with the exception of Tuvok, and Tom would have sworn he smiled, laughed.  Tom realized the captain had caught him in his own joke and began to relax.

Tom and the cat materialized in sick bay.   Suddenly it wasn’t very funny anymore!

The End 
 

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