Disclaimer: Voyager belongs to Paramount Pictures. No infringement intended.
"What's that you're reading?"
I gasped not because of the last line of the story, but because Chakotay stood before me, looking as interested in what I held as I had been, no doubt, while reading it.
"Just another report," I lied and winced internally. I hated doing that to him, of all people but if it meant that this PADD were of the personal nature of a member of my crew, then it was worth not letting that information spread or get out of hand.
One never knew the power of a story. And, to be honest, I was slightly disappointed to see him sitting down at my table when all I wanted to do was start up again from where I had left off. Not only was Chakotay eight minutes past the time I had allotted for him to show up, but he also was keeping me from a very good piece of fiction.
What can I say? It's not every day that you find a PADD sitting by itself, in a busy messhall, where you discover, upon reading it, that you're one of the characters complete with an omnipotent being you've 'met' in the past.
"Looked as though it were a rather 'interesting' report, Kathryn," he smiled and I about melted. His smile took my mind off of the urgency to return to the story. Hell, his smile did that with just about everything; it completely and utterly grabbed my full attention.
"I thought I had missed you, Commander," I stated as he sat down and started working at his own pile of gloop.
"Had a few things to finish up in Astrometrics with Seven. You did say you wanted those --" he started to remind.
"Right," I cut in, nodding my head.
"Tired?" he asked, reading me so well.
"A bit. I have thought about nothing else than settling into bed and reading, undisturbed, for the rest of the night," a sigh took over with the statement.
"And strangling Gar?" he questioned.
"Yes, that too."
"Speaking of Gar," Chakotay stated.
Here it came. I raised my eyebrow, encouraging him to go on. Was it me, or was my Starfleet turtleneck choking my throat?
"What's I hear about Tuvok being 'your man'?" he asked, a grin just threatening to send me over the edge. There was laughter in that grin of his.
"Oh, that," I stated, shrugging as I took a sip from my coffee cup. "Just a matter of improvising under a set of unpredictable circumstances," I said. I paused, "You're beating yourself up because you missed the episode. Aren't you?"
"Yes," he admitted and shook his head. "I would've had a great time absorbing that one."
"Oh?" I asked. "How so?" I should have known better. Chakotay was a rather well bred man; he was partial to a semi-laid back nature when it was necessary. But, he could also boil into a heated rage and passion at the same instant. He had a sense of humor that, I hate to say, he shared more frequently with other members of the crew than me; I guess that was partially my fault as I should've loosened up around him more than I had over the past seven years. But then again, I had gone the extra length already. My humor, with day-to-day life, was full drawn and quartered.
"Seemed like one of those instances where I missed out in not being there," he winked.
Oh, the bastard.
"Yes, you did," I grinned. And he knew. "Well, Commander," I stood, trying to remain relaxed, trying to stay smooth. "I'll see you on the bridge at 0800." What more could be said? Besides, the night was young and the mysterious PADD demanded to be read.