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RATED: PG13 (to be on the safe side!) SUMMARY: Your average 'I can't have a relationship, I'm the captain!' story, but with a twist...... The idea got a-hold of me after a typo on the 11 list that refused to die, and wouldn't leave me be, so I wrote this little gem in the middle of my shift on the issue desk, took me about an hour, so don't expect a masterpiece or anything… I hereby dedicate this story to JetC11, the loveliest, funniest, warmest group of people it has ever been my privilege to know. Send comments to:Mel
The Carror Affair by Mel ~~~ "Mr Neelix, could you please report to the bridge, we're nearing the Kaala system." "On my way Captain!" he answered brightly. Janeway smiled and looked over at Chakotay. "Why is he always so damn cheery?" Chakotay laughed. "No idea, just wish he'd let the rest of us in on his secret some time." He teeth were smiling but his eyes were not. Janeway's smile faded in response. She knew why he was unhappy. It was because of her, because of their 'little talk' last night. Chakotay had come to her with puppy dog eyes, entreating her again to consider, but she'd had to refuse him again. She sighed, it was impossible for them to take up where they left off on New Earth, he must understand that. She understood it, she accepted it, so why did she still find it so painful? The turbolift doors opened and admitted Mr Neelix, and she was thankful for the distraction. He looked even more gleeful than usual, and she couldn't help but grin at his expression. "Oh captain!" hebegan. "I'm so excited about this upcoming system. I think you'll find it has resources in volume and variety unlike anything you've ever seen before. I suggest we maintain a low orbit around the third planet and begin sending crew details down as soon as possible." Janeway squashed a laugh. "Yes sir!" she said, mock-saluting him. The little Talaxian had the grace to blush, in his own way, but continued, "I, er, I'd like to go take a look at the western seaboard of the southern continent if that's alright Captain, I have something I'd like to check out…" his eyes took on a faraway look. "I'll leave the collection details up to you Mr Neelix. Off you go." *** Neelix had organised a special dinner that evening in celebration of the vast amounts of supplies he had managed to bring on board. Kathryn slipped in the door quietly and began to observe her crew. She was both encouraged and saddened by the fact that many now stood in pairs and couples. She was encouraged that they had finally managed to make themselves a home of sorts, but saddened by the fact that she couldn't partake in the same kind of happiness. She couldn't have it all ways, she knew, but take tonight for example. Any other function on board and Chakotay would have called to accompany her, but tonight she was alone, and all because she had let him get close and then had to push him away. Oh well, she sighed, at least it had happened sooner rather than later when it might have been more difficult. "Captain!" Neelix called loudly to her, made her jump. "Captain, have a drink!" He sidled through the crowd and thrust a tall glass into her hand, filled with a thick orange liquid. "Ah, thanks Neelix. Um, what is it?" She raised it gingerly to her nose and sniffed it. "It's a juice made from some carrors I found down on the planet. They grow in abundance down on that southern continent. I suspected I might find them there!" He beamed with pleasure. "They have a multitude of uses Captain. They are an excellent tonic for when you are tired and weary and also have some valuable medical applications too, as I understand. The doctor has already comandeered several kilos for his own research." "Carrors huh? Never heard of them. And it's safe to ingest?" It smelled slightly pungent and sloshed thickly in her glass. "Absolutely! Look - Tom and B'Elanna are on their second glass!" He gestured over to the crewmen who were laughing together raucously and generally having a good time. "It's not alcoholic is it?" she asked. "No, I don't think so. Nothing showed up in the scans anyhow." He smiled. "So are you going to try it?" "OK," she said uncertainly, and raised the glass to her lips. It had a surprisingly pleasant taste and was cool and soothing over her tongue. She took a second long draught. "Well this is actually very good Neelix!" "You needn't sound so surprised Captain! Have I ever led you wrong with food?" She resisted the urge to look past him at the ever-present dish of leola root on the counter, smiled instead and raised her glass before moving out to circulate. "Captain?" His voice reverberated through her and she shivered as his hand grasped her elbow. He steered her over to a corner. "Chakotay,"she said, overly brightly. "Lovely gathering don't you think?" She noticed he was holding a glass of familiar orange liquid. "And what do you think of this....um, carror juice?" "Yes, it's lovely, I've had three glasses - but that's not what I wanted to talk to you about." He leaned in close and her eyes flickered in response. She took a deep gulp of her beverage, tried to break the spell he was casting on her. "I think we should go somewhere and talk." "Um, ok Chakotay," the words tumbled from her mouth and she silently cursed herself, but allowed herself to be led from the mess hall. ~~~ Neelix looked over as the doors to the mess hall opened. The Captain and the Commander weren't leaving already surely? He hurriedly pushed through the crowds, trying to catch them. He hustled out of the door and into the corridor, saw them disappearing round a corner. They were certainly walking very quickly. As soon as he thought he had caught up with them they rounded another corner. Making a concerted effort he almost jogged after them, and saw them at the other end of the corridor in the turbolift. What he saw caused him to stop in his tracks and made his whiskers bristle. All he could see was the broad back of Commander Chakotay, and the arms and legs of the Captain as she was flattened against the wall of the lift. Ah, perhaps he shouldn't be watching this. The lingering memory as he turned and crept away was of the almost empty glass of carror juice falling from the Captain's hand. ~~~ "Chakotay!" she breathed as she stumbled backwards up the corridor. He growled in response and ran both hands down to her ass, to lift her momentarily clear off the floor. He kept walking, and she kept stumbling backwards. She prayed they wouldn't meet anyone along the way. What would they think? The two senior officers necking like teenagers for all to see. The Number One unzipping the Captain's uniform as they stumbled down the corridor wrapped around one another. They arrived at her quarters and he backed her up against the door. Why was she allowing this to happen? An hour ago she had been determined upon the correct course of action and now - now all she knew was she *had* to have this man. She somehow managed to enter hercodes and was pushed through the open doorway. As she stepped backwards the back of her foot made contact with something and she stumbled, unable to sidestep the obstruction and down she went, pulling her first officer with her. "Ooohh," she groaned as her back complained at the short sharp shock at hitting the floor with the deadweight of Chakotay atop her. "What the hell was that?" She and Chakotay both turned the heads towards their feet and saw a basket filled with many kinds of exotic fruits. "Who on earth is that from?" Chakotay asked, puzzled. "I've no idea." She pushed herself up to kneel beside him, and pulled off the cellophane wrapper from the basket. "And what on earth is *that*?!?" His eyes went wide as she pulled a distinctly rude-shaped piece of fruit from the overflowing package. He snatched it from her hands and almost immediately looked as if he wanted to give it back. he fumbled with the thich, cigar-shaped fruit as if eh couldn't bear to touch it. Sighing, she took it from him. It was firm to the touch but yielded under slight pressure from her fingers. It smelled slightly sweet... "I think it's a carror. One of those things Neelix brought onboard from the planet." Chakotay watched in silence as he slender fingers explored the ridiculously phallic fruit. His eyes grew wide at her technique, and when he gulped and looked up he saw she was looking at him. "So Commander." She brandished the fruit suggestively, and his eyes nearly popped out of his head as she added, "Wonder what else this stuff is good for?" ~~~ "EMH to Mr Neelix." "I'm here Doctor. Is anything wrong?" "No no, nothing wrong as such. I just finished my work up on that new fruit you brought up from the planet. It certainly is a versatile variety." "It certainly is, it makes the most wonderful soups as well as deserts." "Not exactly what I had in mind Neelix but yes, it's applications are mind-boggling. It has even proven to be a powerful antiseptic - should help for all those burns you give yourself in that stoneage kitchen of yours. What I wanted to tell you however was that it should be strictly rationed among the crew, I discovered it has certain, shall we say, aphrodisiac qualities." *** "Mr Neelix? Are you there?" ~FIN~
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