(c) April 12, 2000
Caught in the act, out in the open is where it all started. All it had taken was one star flying by, and then another and another before the dark void of space enclosed itself entirely around her. What was a girl to do when there was nothing but beeps, and twips and soft murmurs of people around her as if she had stashed herself in a library -- a lone book on a shelf.
First, her eyes would start to close and then flicker open as if they were a yoyo on a child's string. Flicker . . . open . . . flicker . . . open. Then when they finally weighed too much, her elbow would start to slide . . . further . . . and further . . . and further down the armrest of her chair until -- until a male throat being cleared realigned her senses. Damn him. What would she do without him? Sleep. Kathryn ran a hand through her thick, auburn hair and turned to smile at Chakotay -- a silent thank you for saving her from an embarrassing moment.
"Captain, there is a ship approaching on sensors," Tuvok stated gaining her attention.
"Onscreen," Kathryn ordered. She stood up and tried to stretch her thigh muscles without being too noticeable. What she wouldn't give to be able to throw her arms up high above her head, raising herself up on tip toes and pulling every muscle in her back and in her arms towards the heavens.
"Captain," Ensign Kim added, "they're hailing us."
"Open a channel, Mr. Kim," she stated and was greeted by a . . . a . . .
"He looks like a teddy bear," Mr. Paris exclaimed before realizing his faux pas. He turned and gave an embarrassed smile to his Captain. "Sorry," he said.
'And here I thought I was the only one who thought this alien looked like a teddy bear . . . something to snuggle up with in bed . . . bed . . .' Kathryn heard her mind slowly ebbing out and felt her eyelids wanting to drop again.
"Greetings," the being murmured through a fuzzy mouth and snapped Kathryn out of her trance. "I don't believe we've met. I'm Tubtub of the Goobaar -- the third planet from the sun in this system."
"Captain Kathryn Janeway of," she stifled a yawn, "the Federation Starship Voyager." She caught Chakotay giving her one of *those* glances. "What can we do for you Mr. Tubtub?" 'Hot tub . . . hot bath tub . . . warm and relaxing . . . right before bed . . . bed . .' Kathryn smiled foggily to herself and winced as she heard Tuvok noticeably change his stance from behind her.
"No doubt your journey has been long and hard?" he asked.
Chakotay stepped forward, "Actually it has been. But what does that have to do with you?"
"We offer happiness and pleasure," Tubtub said and seemed to do a little jumpy dance before Voyager's viewscreen.
"We've heard that one before," Chakotay murmured towards Kathryn soft enough so that Tubtub wouldn't overhear him.
"Mr. Tubtub," Kathryn stepped forward, "we mean no disrespect but --"
"Doubtful of us you are," he stated oddly but nodded in understanding. "Scans show you have a Talaxian on-board?"
Kathryn shuddered at being scanned. Ever since they had been taken to the Delta Quadrant scans usually reeked of the Borg or other unpleasurables . . . not hospitable teddy bears. "Yes, we do," Kathryn agreed though.
"Ask him of Goobaar. Ask him, he will know," Tubtub said.
"Janeway to Neelix," she hit her combadge and waited.
"Yes, Captain?" came a cheerful male voice. "What can I do for you?"
"Mr. Neelix -- have you heard of the Goobaar?" she started to ask.
"They're here? THEY'RE HERE!!!" Neelix exclaimed and gave a hoot of what could only be explained as pure joy and giddiness. "Captain, I've always wanted to go to Goobaar. As a young Talaxian I dreamed of such a trip and ---"
"Thank you, Mr. Neelix." Kathryn ended the communication. "We get the point."
"Much good he say to you," Tubtub stated.
"Yes," Kathryn smiled, "much good."
"View, view our happy home," Tubtub said and then, in the next instant, the viewscreen was covered in what looked like luscious pasture land -- rolling green hills, rocky cliffs, beaches with crashing waves, city skylines in the distance, and thatched-roof cottages in the wilds. Tubtub's face came back on the screen, "You like-a very much-a?"
Chakotay put a reassuring hand on Kathryn's shoulder, "We like-a much-a."
"I don't understand it," Kathryn said as they walked down the corridor towards the messhall, "they invite us to their planet, of their own freewill, but we will have to talk to the council first? Something doesn't compute."
"Let's not think about it," Chakotay smiled, "it's probably all just their 'protocol.'"
"Ahh, my favorite word," Kathryn smiled and wagged her finger at Chakotay, "how did you know?"
"Lucky guess?" he teased. They entered the mess hall and were greeted with a large amount of odd smells. "Want to eat in the hallway tonight again?" he asked reminder her of their previous adventures.
"Not tonight," Kathryn laughed, "I need to rest this weary back of mine against something."
"Who says that's not possible -- in the hallway," he drawled.
"Crossing the line," she said in a sing-song voice, "cr-rossing the line."
Scooping up a tray they went and sat down in the corner. Kathryn sighed and picked up a fork.
"How much sleep did you get last night?" Chakotay asked, taking a sip of water.
"Zero." she stated.
"Kathryn? You didn't sleep again?" Chakotay set down is cup with a thud. "This is the second row in a night."
"I'm still trying to go over things --" she looked up and then frowned. She knew he wouldn't let her push off some falsity on him -- he was too smart for that. "I'm still trying to forget things," she stated.
Chakotay nodded and let his eyes cast downward. He knew she was talking about the Equinox and what had transpired not only between the two of them but also inside of Kathryn herself. He had been able to hear her at night, through those thin Starfleet quarter walls, pacing and crying -- and yet he felt as though he could do nothing for her.
Three minutes passed before he looked up again and when he did he saw that Kathryn held her fork limply in her hand and her eyes were shut. A soft sound of breathing touched his ears, even over the dim of voices in the mess hall. He smiled.
"Chakotay!" Tom's voice rang out over his head and he winced as Kathryn jerked awake. One of these days he was going to kill Paris.
"Tom," Chakotay nodded. "I thought you were helping the doctor?"
"I was --" Tom started and seem to take special note of the Captain fidgeting slightly at the table, as if caught in the act. What he wouldn't give to have seen that act -- whatever it was. "He said he didn't need me anymore. I wish that were a permanent solution to the troubles we've been having."
"Troubles, Mr. Paris?" Kathryn perked as if it were second nature. She didn't *really* feel like talking about Tom's troubles with the EMH nor did she really care but her mouth had a course heading of its own -- it was detached from her body these days.
"Uh, can we maybe talk about it at a later time, Captain," he shifted his feet, "B'Elanna is expecting me --"
Kathryn raised her hand and smiled, "Say no more."
"Captain, we're due to beam down in thirty minutes," Chakotay confirmed via the combadge.
"Understood," Kathryn said, adding the final pip to her turtleneck and smiling at the sleepy reflection in the mirror. She had actually fallen asleep in the messhall -- but no real harm done -- she didn't think. Tom Paris' big mouth had saved her -- she didn't even think that Chakotay had noticed.
"Want to meet halfway?" Chakotay's voice held a casual banter to it -- something that Kathryn absolutely loved.
"Of course, Commander. State the intercept mark," she said humorously.
"Turbolift 5, between decks six and seven. Chakotay out," he said.
Kathryn entered the lift and looked up, "Computer, what is the current universal time?"
"1823 hours" the machine stated.
She was early. 'Oh well' she thought as she leaned against the lift's wall, 'I'll just wait in here and ride it wherever it goes . . . Captain's prerogative.'
Chakotay punched the button to summon the lift. He smiled to himself and silently said a prayer to the ancestors in hopes that they would clear the Goobaar council and have some down time. There were many things he wanted to talk to Kathryn about -- but more importantly -- he wanted her to get some sleep.
The turbolift doors sprang open and Chakotay had to cover his mouth to keep from laughing out loud. There was Kathryn. In the turbolift. Asleep. Halfway to a sitting position, she was slowly sliding down the lift wall. That didn't stop her from giving off a small snore or two. Chakotay stepped into the lift and stood there. The Goobaar were waiting. Kathryn was sleeping. What was a Commander to do?
He knelt down beside her, where she had finally made it to a sitting position, her knees still bent from the decent. "Kathryn? It's time to wake up," he whispered.
She murmured something softly but he couldn't make it out. Still he was curious -- if she talked in her sleep it was his lucky day. "What did you say, Kathryn?" he prodded and was rewarded with two blue eyes starring at him full force.
"I said don't even go there. Contrary to what you may think," she said as she grasped his hand and allowed him to pull her up, "I don't talk in my sleep."
"No," Chakotay folded his hands behind his back, "you just snore."
They entered the sickbay door and were greeted by the EMH, as surprised as ever, "Captain! So good to see you. Please have a seat on the biobed."
"Doctor," Kathryn stated, "I need you to run some tests -- maybe some bloodwork?" she suggested.
"I'll be the judge of that. What seems to be the problem?" he asked running a medical tricorder over her head.
"She keeps falling asleep . . . snoring and all," Chakotay spoke up before Kathryn could. She glared at the man.
"I have been sleep deprived for two days. No doubt that is the cause. But *someone* thought it best if I stopped by . . . 'just to make sure.'" she muttered.
"And indeed that someone was right. So, let me suck your blood and run it this way and that," he joked but the smile dropped from his face as both Commanding Officers glared. "Results should be ready in an hour."
"I do not snore, Commander," she stated quietly but steadily as they walked across the green field to a rock formation. It was at this rock formation that the council met, under the open sky -- and sometimes the stars -- to greet and confer with travelers.
"Kathryn, you were snoring in turbolift 5. Lord only knows how many poor Ensigns were riding up and down in that lift with you there . . . snoring," he knew she would start to finger her combadge with that thought.
Kathryn moved her fingers to her combadge with that thought, "Chakotay -- why did you have to tell me that? I already can't sleep at night as it is!"
"Sorry," Chakotay mumbled and was rewarded with a soft fist in his chest due to the lack of sincerity.
"Tubtub meet Janeway!" The alien ran forward and bobbed up in down. No doubt it wasn't just an amusing little dance they did but a bodily form of a greeting. "Welcome, welcome. Come sit with Goobaar - we make many discussions on your happiness here here."
He turned and started to walk towards the rock formation with Kathryn and Chakotay following from behind.
"Oh god," Kathryn stopped suddenly, her eyes moving frantically around in front of her. "Oh no," she moaned.
Chakotay was worried, "What is it?" He grabbed her arm tenderly and let his eyes follow in the direction of where her finger was pointing.
Off in the horizon Chakotay could make out small forms. He squinted and then felt the muscles of his cheeks start to twitch, growing upward into a large smile and then into uncontrollable laughter. There were animals in the distance that looked amazingly like earth's sheep.
"This is not funny! This is a dire circumstance!" Kathryn protested and grew even more glum as she noted that Tubtub was jumping happily to Chakotay's laughter. The aliens seemed to like it. "You've got to help me!" She was desperate, "Chakotay what do I do?"
"Just don't count the sheep," Chakotay said and knew he had hit home.
'39 . . . 40 . . . for-rrttttyyy . . . oooonne . . .e . .e . .'
"OH MY! OH my goodness!" The doctor dropped the Data PADD. "Well THIS certainly is a surprise." He tapped his combadge, "Doctor to the bridge."
"Yes, Doctor," came Tuvok's stoic voice.
"I need to be patched through to the Captain, immediately! It's concerning some bloodwork I did on her!" he was frantic, pacing this way and that.
"Is there something wrong with the Captain's health, Doctor?" Tuvok questioned.
"Yes, I mean no I mean," the Doctor's voice was rapidly rising and increasing in speed, "Just patch me through Vulcan and just log my harassing language later tonight."
"Noted," Tuvok replied.
Chakotay materialized on the transporter platform carrying one sleep Captain in his arms. He smiled at Ayalya and stepped down. "Don't say a word about this to the rest of the crew. Understood?" he smiled as if to say, 'if you do, though, it still would be okay.'
"Aye, sir," Ayalya nodded and went back to fooling with the console.
"Tuvok to Commander Chakotay," came a voice over his combadge. He rolled his eyes at the Vulcan's voice and looked down at Kathryn. She hadn't stirred. No doubt she was exhausted and nothing would wake her this time. Then again --
"Chakotay here," he stated softly.
"Will the Captain be --"
"No," Chakotay stated and started walking towards Kathryn's quarters. "The Captain is sleep-deprived and the doctor has recommended she not be disturbed for the night," he lied and was happy with it.
"Understood. Status of the Goobaar?" Tuvok persisted.
"You can start sending the crew down from some R&R," Chakotay said as he punched in the override code. "But don't count on the Captain or I joining you. Chakotay out," he cut off the Vulcan and stepped inside. The doctor had stated that the bloodwork showed Kathryn was pregnant with his child. Beyond typical lack-of-sleep, that was why she was so tired.
Kathryn . . . . . pregnant. 'He like-a very much-a.'
THE END!!! GO CATCH A FEW ZZZZ's -- YOU DESERVE IT!
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