I'M WHAT!...
BY AMMO
JANUARY 1999
I'm still not sure where exactly this
story materialised from, but here it is.
It did start off being a bit of a silly/funny story taking the mick out
of parts of Voyager, but I'm not sure where it actually ended up. Maybe you can decide.
Time scale: At the end of series four.
Rating: R - it's not that bad, probably
not NC/17, more of an adult story line then anything
else. Not
that much sex in it, but it is mentioned quite a bit. Oh and there is a
little swearing.
Disclaimer:- Paramount are god, they own
the characters but as they would not dream to do
a story like this, I decided to do it for them.
Enjoy!
*-*-*
"Congratulations Captain, you're pregnant."
"I'm what?..."
"You're pregnant. You know, going to have a baby pregnant."
Kathryn Janeway quickly sat up staring at
the Doctor as if he had suddenly sprouted hair. Her blue eyes were wide as her mind tried to rearrange what he
had just said. Had he actually said the word 'pregnant' or was she needing a break
more then even she would care to admit?
Okay, so she had been feeling a little strange for the past few days,
but that was due to stress wasn't it?
She could not actually be pregnant, could she?
No! Pushing that thought aside she tried to re-focus her mind.
"Doctor how long have I been ...
pregnant." God that sounded funny.
"Oh only around four weeks Captain," he replied cheerfully.
Four Weeks!
"I wouldn't worry about it, everything seems perfectly normal."
Normal! This was definitely not normal. It was impossible. Absurd.
Preposterous. It deigned all
laws of Biology.
The Doctor was speaking again. "May I ask who the father is?"
The father, oh yeah the father. That's important right? Who's that father? What father?
She quickly swallowed, her voice sounding hoarse and dry. "I don't know."
She stared at him as he cheekily raised an eyebrow. "Captain I would have expected more from you then too..."
She shook herself not believing what he was
suggesting. Save the lecture Doctor, I'm not a teenager.
"Doctor," she cut him off before he could actually get there. "Are you quite sure that I'm pregnant."
"Positive."
With difficulty she stopped herself from grabbing the tricorder and cheeking herself. "But that's impossible!"
He frowned as she slipped from the bed moving slowly away. "It's not impossible Captain, even with today's contraceptive means. All you need is a man and a woman and..."
She could not believe she was hearing this. From the Doctor. A HOLOGRAM! Spinning round she confronted him. "It's impossible Doctor, if you haven't had sex with anyone."
"What?"
"SEX Doctor, you know. You need sex before you can conceive. Before a woman can become ... pregnant."
He frowned slightly, no doubt contemplating the situation. He watched as the Captain buried her head on her hands resting on a nearby bio bed. "Are you saying you haven't had sex in the past four weeks."
Yes, of course that's what I'm saying. How dumb was he any way. Do I have to spell it out. She stared up at him frustration in her voice. "I haven't had sex in the past four years doctor, not since we came into this bloody quadrant. Now figure that one out."
That got him!
"Oh! I see your problem then Captain. Does this mean that you and Commander Chakotay haven't actually..."
The look was one of thunder.
"I guess not then."
* * * * *
"You're what?"
"Pregnant!"
"That's what I thought you had said. You're not serious are you? You're serious!"
Kathryn sat in her ready room nursing a mug of coffee. Really, being pregnant, she should cut down on the caffeine, but at the moment she could not care less.
Chakotay appeared to take this even harder then she was. He stood, leaning against the rail running his hands over his tanned face.
"Is this a joke?"
I
wish it were. Okay, I told him first
because ... he's the first officer, he deserved to know what condition the
Captain was in. Why else? Because he's your friend and you did not
want to surprise him ... too much.
Anything else? Because deep down
Kathryn you care for him and part of you hopes that he's the father. Admit it!
Okay. okay, just leave me alone.
He collapsed beside her on the couch. "So who's the father?"
She shrugged taking another sip of her drink.
What's
going through his mind? What's he
thinking? He knew her better then anyone, even
Tuvok. His opinion of her
mattered. Perhaps the only opinion to
matter. Why?
"How pregnant?"
So he
did know her well enough to know that there was not somebody.
"A month, give or take a day or two."
She glanced up at him over the rim of her mug. He was staring blankly at her, his dark eyes wide.
"Is it...urm... Human?"
Sighing she stretched out, putting down her mug, resting her feet on the coffee table. "Yes. The Doctor's been able to analyse the DNA structure so far and he thinks that it's 87% certain to be fully Human."
"That doesn't leave many people."
No!
He was right, as usual. God I hate it
when he's right.
When she did not answer he ventured another question that had obviously been on his mind since she had broken the news to him.
"Are you going to keep it?"
She glanced up at him. She had given that matter a lot of thought, but only one thing had kept coming back to mind.
"I don't believe in abortion," she replied softly.
* * * * *
"You're pregnant?"
It was B'Elanna who finally spoke.
All the senior officers were seated around the conference room table, Janeway at the head. Chakotay, Tuvok and Tom sat on her left, Neelix, Seven , Harry and B'Elanna on the right. She had not failed not failed to notice the quick glances between Harry, Tom and B'Elanna. Even the glances that B'Elanna had given Chakotay. She didn't think that ... oh god she did. Shit this was not going well.
"Yes," she replied shortly her expression firm, her face still. "I'm pregnant."
She made sure to look each of them in the eye. Chakotay looked relaxed for the first time since she had told him. Tuvok's face was a blank as usual, except she knew that he was some what surprised. The younger officers, Tom, B'Elanna and Harry all looked a cross between surprised, shocked and some what amused. Seven looked the same as usual, almost as if she had suspected something like this. Neelix, on the other hand, was a fountain bubbling with excitement, his wispy red hair bobbing around as he moved.
"Congratulations Captain, I'm sure that you'll make a wonderful parent," he bubbled.
"Who, may I ask, is the father?" Tuvok's calm, still voice was reassuring some how.
"Your guess is as good as mine Tuvok," she admitted. "You must understand that this news came as a shock to me too. In all intents and purposes, it should be impossible." She let that thought hand by it's throat for a few seconds so they could absorb the implications.
"Any questions?"
Tom lent forward at the far end of the table. "By telling us Captain, I am presuming that you intend to continue with the pregnancy, no matter who the father is."
She nodded. "No matter who the father is." Suddenly she smiled slightly. "I wouldn't worry too much Tom, I'm
sure it's not you..." this time.
* * * * *
A
month or so later.
Kathryn had taken to pregnancy like a Klingon to tribbles. For some reason they just did not mix.
For weeks she and Chakotay had been having lengthy discussions on why children just could not be replicated and how much easier it would be if they could. For some reason through, he just did not seem to understand. After all, he was not the one who woke up each morning feeling as if you had just been thrown out an air lock.
She had decided to wear a loose jacket over her uniform on the idea of disguise the fact that she was pregnant. Her 'bulge' was getting bigger, enlarging a slow constant rate. No abnormal side effects, no exellerated growth, no strange mood swings - well none out of the ordinary. Nothing to suggest that this was a pregnancy out of the norm.
Something played on Kathryn's mind as she worked. The Doctor had said that he could now be able to analyse the DNA structure and work out who the father was, but the question was, did she really want to know? Did it really matter who the father was?
Over a few days these questions had continued to build up, haunting her, explaining was she was now sitting crossed legged in her quarters entering a trance.
Chakotay had mentioned that a talk with her spirit guide might help her with some of the answers she was looking for. So here she was, sitting on a cliff, watching the sea endlessly beating on the sandy shore.
"Kathryn?"
She froze at the sound of the familiar voice. One that she had thought she would never hear again. Turning she found a man, grey with years, an old fashioned star fleet Admiral's uniform zipped over his broad body.
"Daddy?"
He smiled to see her, holding out his arms to her.
She hesitated, frightening memories flashing through her mind. Fighting. Fighting. Never giving up. I won't go. I can't leave them, not yet.
"Don't worry darling," he informed her softly. "I'm part of you. I'm in you, in your soul."
Chakotay
speaks to his father, why can't I speak to mine?
He gently took her in his arms, holding her once she had moved towards him. Pulling softly away, he looked down at her, a frown on his face.
"Kathryn have you put on weight?"
Laughing she shook her head. "No... yes... I'm pregnant."
"My little girl going to be a parent?"
She looked up at him almost in an insulted way. "I'm forty-three years old," she said indignantly, "I'm a grown woman."
He smiled. "Of course you are. Tell me," he frowned as if it was the most important question he could think of. "Why did you cut your hair?"
"It was annoying me," she admitted. "After an attack I would have to spent two minutes in a turbo lift putting it all back together again."
He raise his brows. "A chore I never had to deal with. So, Kathryn, what's on your mind and who's the lucky father?"
"I don't know."
"You don't know or you don't want to
know?"
She hesitated for a second on that question. "I know who I hope it to be, but..."
"You're afraid that it's not him."
She nodded.
"And if it was him, would he take responsibility for the child and be a Dad to it?"
Visions flashed. A baby. Crying. Tears. Fists. Helpless. Voices. Help me Chakotay, if not for me, for your son.
Quickly she shook it from her mind. "Yes, I believe he would."
"And if he isn't the biological father, would he still mind raising the child as his?"
"No I don't think he would."
"So what does it matter who the biological father is. A real father, a dad, is one who is willing to take responsibility for the child and call it his."
Yeah. What did it matter? A smile formed
on her face. Of course what did it matter?
Janeway awoke, the dream land fading. Glancing around, she blew out the candles before pulling herself to her feet.
"Janeway to sickbay."
"The Doctor here Captain. Is there anything wrong?"
"No, no Doctor. I just wanted to tell you not to run your DNA test. I don't want to know who the father is."
There was a slight pause as the Doctor no
doubt contemplated this sudden decision.
"Any reason Captain?"
"A father is more then just DNA Doctor."
"Understood Captain. Sickbay out."
No
you don't, she thought. But understand on not, I does
not matter.
"Computer, location of Commander Chakotay."
"Commander Chakotay is in his quarters."
* * * * *
"Darum."
Chakotay paused drying his hair as the chime to his door rang. Now who could that be at this time? Then a thought flashed across his mind.
"Come in."
Kathryn entered. A light red blush formed on her face travelling down her neck as her gaze rested on him.
"I'm sorry," he apologised quickly. "I should get a shirt on.
No... no don't go. Come back!
Chakotay disappearing, Kathryn tried to shake the image of his gorgeous bare chest from her thoughts as she took a seat. For some reason it stubbornly refused to leave with out a fight. After four years of working with him, she had only just discovered that everything that was covered by his uniform was actually all his.
All of it. Every muscle, every contour. A small smile played on her lips as her imagination escaped form it's tightly guarded holding cell.
"Having fun."
What? Blinking, she came back to reality having failed to notice Chakotay's return.
"Yes thanks."
Not that reality's any worse. Not in a long shot. She could not help notice that he wore a
tight cream top that only covered half of what he owned. She could not help staring as he sat next to
her. If she had known that her first officer had the body of a
Chippendale... then....
"So?"
"What?"
Concentrate
Kathryn. No not on that. Look up... good girl.
He smiled leaning back. "Come on Kathryn, there must be a reason why you called on me at this time."
His
damp hair hung on his forehead is demanding an awful amount of attention.
She swallowed, fighting the urge to run her fingers through his hair.
Does
he know he's being down right cute.
Careful he's flirting with you Kathryn.
He's always flirting with you Kathryn!
Concentrate. You're a Star Fleet
Captain. He is your first officer. Yeah, but a damned cute one. Concentrate, your not co-operating. Sorry!
But I want to run my hands down his chest. Tough! Oh but
please. Just once. Just so that I can find out what he feels
like. No! Why not? Because touching
leads to caressing. Caressing leads to
kissing. Kissing leads to wanting. Wanting leads to bloody full blown sex and
your already pregnant. That's why! Oh!
Pulling herself together, she looked at him.
"I've been thinking right. You like children don't you?
He smiled slightly nodding, painful memories of betrayal and deceit crawling their was back. Quickly he pushed them aside.
"Well I've been thinking that... the child, my child, won't have a father figure to look up to and so I was wondering if you would consider... perhaps, if you want to that is..."
Just
say it Kathryn. Open your mouth and say
it before you chicken out.
"... If you would be that figure?"
He gently took her hand in his. "I'll love to," he smiled, "If that's what you want."
She nodded not trusting herself to speak.
"I thought you'll never ask."
* * * * *
"Give me that back Chakotay, that's an order! Chakotay!?
Chakotay grinned, evil filling his dark eyes as he held the coffee pot just out of reach. Kathryn stumbled trying to make a grab for it now five months and very pregnant. He was being out of order again and not letting her have her coffee.
"Commander, I'll demote you. I'll set you scrubbing the exhaust manifolds with a toothbrush. I'll lock you in a room with only Neelix and the Doctor for company. I'll... I'll..." but for some reason the threats just were not working.
She found she could do nothing as she watched him finally pour the entire contents down the drain.
"I hate you," she moaned sulking, pushing strands of hair from her face. "I hate you, I hate you, I..." She gently stared to thump him in frustration.
Laughing her wrapped his strong arms under her and swept her easily off her feet into his strong arms. She continued hitting him in a playful manor.
"Now Kathryn, you don't mean that do you?"
"I do... I do. I hate you Chakotay. Hate you!"
He smiled.
Boy I
want to kiss her. Kiss her firmly. Kiss her slowly. Kiss her passionately.
Kiss her till she responds. Kiss
her till she kisses me back. Kiss her
till she screams for mercy. Then kiss
her some more. Kiss her till she admits
she loves me. Kiss her till she tells
me never to leave. Kiss her till she
can think of nothing else. Kiss her to
the end of the world. Kiss her till we
reach the Alpha Quadrant...
Who
was he trying to kid? She'll slap him,
then demote him, then chuck him off the ship.
Bye Bye.
Kathryn stared at him. Okay, he was good looking. She was attracted to him, yes, but were they her true feelings or the side effects of the pregnancy and coffee redraw?
Damn
I hate being pregnant! Pregnant with
all those loose hormones running riot round her body doing weird things to her
feelings. Damn!
Anyway
he probably doesn't feel the same way about you Kathryn. Forget him!
Don't think about it!
She stopped hitting him and just stared instead. He stared back at her, both of them scared stiff.
For half a second she felt as if she needed to get closer to him. Needed to feel this touch on her face and neck. To hear him repeat over and over and over again that he loved her...
"Bridge to the Captain."
Tuvok
just had the immaculate sense of timing don't you think?
Chakotay quickly blinked as if coming out of a trance before placing her back down on the floor.
"Janeway here." She wasn't sure as if to sound annoyed or relieved. Maybe a bit of both.
"Captain you're need on the Bridge."
Great,
she thought. Figures.
* * * * *
Two
and a half months later.
Kathryn tried to stretch out from where she
sat in Chakotay's quarters. Stifling a
yawn, she continued to pretend that she was reading through the latest warp
core matrix reviews. Interesting.
Her expression, though, did not go amiss.
Chakotay smiled slightly from where he sat
next to her, glancing over the top of his PADD. She looks tired, that was
for sure. Tired and worn and in the
need for a good rest. Something she had
not had for a long time. That and
something else that was. Not that he
would not have minded providing the other thing had it no of been the fact that
she was over five months pregnant.
Her eyes met his and they looked tired, but she smiled slightly.
Don't
think about him like that Kathryn.
Don't even go there!
He dropped his gaze and went back to what he was working on.
Ten minutes later, her looked up again, unable to keep his thoughts away from her.
He head was being supported by her arm and her eyes were closed as she finally slept. Underneath her Captain's mask, she just looked like a little girl, far too young to be in charge of a star ship. Stress and pain had made her age prematurely, made her grow up quicker, but now, peacefully asleep, she looked more like a woman then a Captain. Some how much more vulnerable.
Gently unzipping her jacket and slipping off her boots, he picked her up in his strong arms, carrying her to his bed.
Gently he tucked her in, pausing for a moment to brush hair away from her eyes, then bent his head to gently kiss her forehead.
"Good night," he murmured, "and pleasant dreams."
* * * * *
Moaning gently, Kathryn rolled over and opened her eyes. Allowing a few seconds for her eyes to come in focus, she then realise, with shock, that she was not actually in her quarters. No way. From the way looked, she appeared to be in Chakotay's quarters still.
"How do you feel?"
Turning she lifted her head briefly to look up at her first officer. He was stood in the doorway, a grin on his boyish face.
"Pregnant," she moaned in reply, one word summing up her life.
Painfully she pulled herself up into a sitting position, her whole body feeling as stiff as a twig.
Smiling her moved over and sat next to her.
"Here!" Gently removing her hand from her neck he gently, but firmly rubbed it, deeply massaging to muscles.
She sighed closing her eyes. Boy
that feels good. The last time he had
given her one of these was on New Earth.
Yeah, the only time as well.
"How does that feel?"
"Wonderful thanks." She winced slightly.
"What?"
"The baby's kicking she explained smiling. Taking his hand in hers, she gently placed it on her stomach. "See."
It was not until she had done that that she realised the intimacy of the situation. Swallowing she tried not to blush as she looked up at him.
He smiled back, a look of wonder filling his face. Almost as if she had just handed him all the answers to the universe and everything in it.
"It's amazing," he murmured. "the fact that you have a new life inside of you growing. It's ... amazing."
She raised an eyebrow. "It's a pain," she added with a grin.
"So what do you want, a girl or a boy?"
She hesitated for a second. She had not actually given that too much thought. "I don't actually mind, why do you ask?"
His dark eyes suddenly filled with mischief. "Because it's a girl."
It's a... Pardon? How would he know. She had specifically told the Doctor that she and anyone else must not know.
"What makes you say that?"
Did he know something she did not?
"I just have this feeling that's all."
Really?
"Anyway, you would be bigger if it was a boy."
She narrowed her eyes trying to figure out if that was an insult or not. "And what would you like to call it if it is a girl?"
This was a subject that they had not really touched at all. Names. Names for boys. Names for girls. Names. Names. Lots of names.
He hesitated for a second before answering. "Natalia."
Natalia. Natalia.
Pretty name. Even she would have
to admit that. Almost sounded Russian.
"Okay Chakotay," she decided quickly. "I'll do you a deal. If it's a girl, she'll be called Natalia. But if it's a boy you have to buy me dinner. Agreed."
Smiling he nodded holding up his little finger. "Agreed."
* * * * *
A
month later
Janeway stumbled into the sickbay, due to the fact that she could not walk any where any more. One of her hands was clutching at her stomach.
The Doctor joined her quickly, assessing the situation with one look.
"Contractions?"
Why
the hell else would she be in here?
Nodding she climbed onto a bed taking deep breaths.
Shit they hurt.
* * * * *
An hour and a half later
Chakotay sat on the Bridge wondering where the Captain was. Okay, she should have been on duty five minutes ago and she was rarely late.
"Sickbay to Commander Chakotay."
His tattoo creased slightly with worry. He quickly answered. "Chakotay here Doctor. What's wrong?"
There was a slight pause. "Nothing's wrong Commander, but I think you should get down here quickly."
Now he was confused. "Why Doctor?"
"Because..."
A voice suddenly cut him off sounding mildly like the Captain's.
"Because if he doesn't, I'll make sure to throw him out of the nearest air lock ... personally," she swore again gasping for air.
"Did you get that Commander?"
But he was already out of his seat in the turbo lift before he had even had the chance to reply.
* * * * *
Three hours later Janeway sat calmly cradling her small bundle of joy. A little girl.
God I
hate it when he's right.
Not that she minded it too much in this case. Glancing up, she smiled at him as he looked down over her shoulder at the peaceful infant.
Little Natalia Kes Janeway was perfect in every way. She had her mother's shaped eyes, but hers were light brown not blue. Her hair, they could already see, was going to be dark like her fathers, who ever he was. Her little fingers were perfectly shaped, soft and ready to grip onto anything they could.
"Here."
Seeing Chakotay's look, she gently passed him the delicate bundle.
Taking the now sleeping baby from her, he cradled her close to is chest secretly wondering if some how, this actually was his child. No matter, he was going to be her father any way.
* * * * *
A
few weeks later.
Kathryn practically collapsed back down on the couch next to Chakotay. Natalia was finally asleep in her bed, all tucked up dreaming of sugar plum fairies. She gently rested her hand on his knee as if it was the easiest thing in the world.
"Thanks for everything. You've been great lately. I don't know what I would have done without you."
Oh,
you would have coped somehow. I know
you too well Kathryn. You can't lie to
me.
He smiled back. Gently, he suddenly felt compelled to run his fingers through her hair. If only to see what her reaction would be.
"She has your beautiful eyes," he heard himself saying.
Although blushing, for some reason she did not want him to remove his hand. He didn't.
They stared at each other for seconds on end, until as if drawn together by an invisible force, they got closer. Perhaps due to some deep feelings of desire and lust, they bent their heads closer until their lips finally gently touched, skimming across each other like a butterfly on a lake.
For
gods sake Kathryn, if your going to do this do it properly. Shut up!
She's
going to slap you Chakotay. Big mistake
buddy. Oh for gods sake get out of
here.
Pulling her closer, Chakotay kissed her, gently, slowly, lazily, for what seemed like an eternity, before they both realised that they were never going to let go.
Drawing closer, Kathryn kissed him back. It had been so long since she had experience feelings like these. Far too long. Deep inner desires of want and lust escaped from their jail and she pressed herself closer still, pushing herself at him. She wanted him. She needed him. Wrapping her arms around his neck, she made sure that he would never leave her again. Giving herself to him, she made sure that he would never want to.
He pressed deeper wanting more, wanting it all. Her mind, body, heart and soul. He wanted them and he got them as she gave herself over to him. Just the soft touch of her fingers on his neck sent shivers screaming down his spine.
Pulling away he gasped for air whispering her name over and over and over again. His hands were lost in her hair, his fingers gently caressing her face. She felt hot to touch. Flushed, shaking slightly, her breathing deep.
She stared at him her blue eyes wide. Her heart pounding in her chest. Why
had she done that. Why had they just
done that? What had come over
them? Oh god who cares! It felt good. Hell it felt better then good.
It felt like a dream come true.
They couldn't stop now. They
wouldn't stop now!
Pressing on the back on his neck, she brought his mouth back down to hers. Warmth spread through her body as he gently pushed her back till she was laying on the couch. His lips teased, warmed and excited her. She couldn't get enough of it. Would never get enough of it. The more she got the more she wanted.
He pressed his body tightly against hers and her legs wrapped around him in reply. He had never felt so alive or in love. His hands slipped from her face wanting to feel her all over, wanting to become one with her.
He felt her moan against his mouth as his hand met and cupped her breasts through the uniform. How they had got this far he was not sure, but stopping now would be impossible.
"Make love to me Chakotay."
His lips slipped from hers and gently attacked her neck as in a reply. She arched against him, against the sensations of pleasure he was sending down her body.
His fingers fumbled around searching for the zip that would undo her jacket. Gently he undid it, peeling it off like a second skin.
She lifted his head and stared into his eyes now darker with lust and desire.
"I love you Chakotay."
How easy that sounded. How smoothly it had slipped from her lips. After all the years of denying it.
Gently she pulled his top over his head revealing the chest she had only been able to dream about. Leaning forward she gently ran her fingers over it. Over every muscle, every contour, everything.
He gently slipped off her top as she kissed his nipples, teasing them with her teeth, running her tongue over them.
Supporting her back, he nuzzled his face at the crock of her neck as they continued to slowly undress each other.
"What about the bed," he heard himself whisper kissing round her breasts, slowly and lazily.
"Next time," she promised, gripping his head, running fingers through his damp hair. "Next time."
* * * * *
A figure observed lurking in the shadows, a smile on his unformed lips. Even with his omnipotent ego, he knew when it was time to leave. His work here was done. Or was it?
His senses picked up a small sound attracting his attention to a small bundle of trouble wrapped up in her bed. She had her eyes open and looked as if about to make trouble any minute.
Tipping his head, he pondered a thought for a milli-second before lifting the baby and quickly disappearing.
* * * * *
A woman entered the bridge, a tricorder in her lab coat pocket. Her blond/red hair bobbed on her shoulders as she moved.
"How are the patients coming Doctor?"
A flash of light erupted onto the Bridge even before Beverly had had a chance to open her mouth to answer the Captain's question.
Riker jumped to his feet, phaser drawn although he already knew that it would prove useless against the entity known as...
"Q!"
Shaking his head, Q frowned as the baby's screams suddenly filled the room.
"Put that toy down Riker, can't you see that it's frightening her." He looked down at the bundle shaking his head making silly baby noises. "Don't you be scared of him sweety, he's just some minor inferior Commander who's over dosing on testosterone again. He won't hurt you."
Picard swallowed all and any pride that he might have had and slowly unclenched his fists, the baby's screams finally dying.
"What do you want Q?"
Usually when Q appeared for no apparent reason wearing a starfleet uniform, it meant trouble. Now that he had a baby with him, it meant double trouble. Curiously enough, the baby was also wearing a starfleet uniform, but of the old design. The black body and red shoulders on top of a blue polo shirt. Curious and curiouser.
"Well that's a nice tone to great your old pal with Picard. No wonder the Federations at war with everyone if they can't treat any of their friends with respect."
With a click of his fingers, Riker found the baby in his arms, the phaser in Q's grasp.
"Now be careful with her. I want to return her to her mother in one piece."
Deanna smiled slightly from where she sat, sensing that Riker was not to keen on his new role as baby sitter. The baby seemed to sense it too and her crying started again.
Coming to the rescue, Beverly's mother instincts took over and she gently took the child from Riker, who could not have looked happier.
"Q is there a point to this little visit?"
Q paused from where he was looking around the new ship. "Nope," he replied truthfully. "I just thought that I'll pop in and see how you're doing. Inspect your new ship. Be friendly."
Be friendly? I don't think so!
"Oh that reminds me Jean-Luc, what ever happened to that old bag of bolts? No wait don't tell me. You let Riker be in charge, or did you just let Troi fly it."
Bitting her tongue Deanna refused to rise to the accusation.
"My, my Picard, you should look after your little flying things better, Kathy would never have been so careless."
Kathy?
"Jean-Luc," Beverly looked up from where she was clutching the baby, a puzzled expression on her face. "This child's Human."
"Well of course it's Human. That's what you get when two of your species get together." Q's expression was one that could not believe that they were so dense.
"Q, who's baby is this?"
A hand flew quickly to his mouth. "You mean that after all this I forgot to tell you?"
Picard did not reply.
"It's a friend of mine. Well the mother is any way."
This was going now where.
"A friend?"
"Don't sound so jealous Jean- Luc, but I do have other friends apart from you. Well actually, you're right. What Kathy and I have goes much further then friendship. She respects me, which is one thing you never did. Anyway, she knows I can get her ship and intrepid crew home at the drop of a hat." Or the drop of her pants.
Kathy? Ship?
Home? Then everything fell into
place for Picard, like a jigsaw puzzle.
"Kathryn Janeway?"
Delight lit up Q's face like a lamp. "You know her?"
Picard slowly rolled his tongue around his mouth, his mind ticking. "She turned you down didn't she. That's why Voyager's still lost in the Delta Quadrant and you've kidnapped her daughter."
Q looked a little pt out by the suggestion. "I did not kidnap her. I'm baby sitting so that Kathy and the big helf with the tattoo she calls a first officer can intimately get to know each other better."
"So she knows that you've got her daughter."
"Well, not exactly... You see..." suddenly he paused. "Oops, got to go." With a click of his fingers and a flash of light, both Q and the baby disappeared leaving a rather perplexed crew of the Enterprise.
* * * * *
Kathryn smiled, running her hand over the hard muscular chest of her first officer, best friend and now lover. Strange images flashed though her head as he replied gently kissing her bare shoulder.
"Why did we wait so long?" she murmured against him content.
"Because we weren't ready before."
He
was right. He was always right.
A smile played on her lips as she lifted her head to gently kiss him on the lips. "You've said that before."
Frowning he looked at her. "When was that?"
His grip on her loosened as she sat up. Looking him in the eyes, she lightly ran a finger over the lines of his tattoo. " I've always wanted to do that, she admitted softly. "I can't remember properly," she finally replied to his previous question. "But for some reason I remember you saying that but it all feels like a dream."
He sat up next to her considering the possibilities. "You've done that before as well. I'm sure of it."
"Done what."
"Traced the lines of my tattoo, but I don't remember..."
His voice faded as they looked towards the
bedroom door. Shit. Not remembering didn't
mean that it did not happen.
"Q!"
Muttering his name like a curse under her breath, Kathryn sprung form the couch grabbing a grown as she hurried to the bedroom. Chakotay followed after pulling on some pants.
Just as she had expected, Q was there waiting for them, gently leaning over the now sleeping baby.
A grin crossed his omnipotent face as he saw them "Kathy, Chuckles, you're up early."
Kathryn folded her arms in her 'I'm really
now very amused expression'. "Okay
Q, explain!" Now!
Q sighed. "Never one for small
talk were you Kathryn. It's quite
simple. You needed me to get you two
together, so you could get pregnant, so you can get to know each other better
and then get yourselves together on your own, no help from me. Understand?"
Closing her eyes, Kathryn shook her head. "Sometimes I could strange you Q, she vowed feeling Chakotay's hand on her shoulder squeezing the muscles with his fingers. God that feels good.
On opening her eyes, she realised that Q had vanished, but she was not sure if he was really gone or not.
Two words softly echoed around the room as her answer.
"We're even!"
*-*-*
*-*-*
