A Moment of Your Time
[Part 2]

by ALM_Voyager

"Enter!" Chakotay stated as he tossed his medicine bundle gently down on the chair in his makeshift living room.

"You come--" stated a sultry voice, "you go--" Kathryn Janeway leaned against the wall, a small grin on her face and dimples in each corner, "and never once do you hail your leading lady."

"Captain," Chakotay grinned and put down the items he had held in his hands. He cleared his throat, looking at his shoes and then upward, "It's good to be back."

"I didn't realize you had returned, Commander," Kathryn walked in, her composure slightly relaxed but not overtly. "Sensors never detected your arrival," she sat down and looked at the medicine bundle that she had been introduced to two years ago and hadn't touched since.

"I'm sorry Captain," he stated, trying to think of a way around explaining that which he couldn't deduce, "I understand that I went against protocol--" he stopped at her expression.

Kathryn was trying to formulate how even an unauthorized docking wouldn't be noticed on her ship -- maybe he had pulled some Maquis trick or two -- Chakotay always had one or two of those up his sleeve, "Next time, give a hail or two." She was smiling again. "So how were that Nebula?"

"Ah, the birthplace of stars," Chakotay sat down by her and rested his arm behind his neck, "other than your typical sensor readings, astronomical theories and mathematical computations -- it was just another day."

"Usually you're excited by such things, Chakotay," she stated and her smile had turned downward slightly.

"What about you?" he asked, "Did you get to work on that scientific research with Ensign Wildman?"

"That woman," she smirked, "is absolutely brilliant. We had to take time out from the work to see to Naomi's needs, but otherwise we were a couple of late night owls."

"I'll be interested in seeing the data," he looked at her. "You must be tired."

"That obvious huh?" She gave a chuckle, "Was it the dark circles under my eyes? The stiff posture? Or perhaps the added wrinkles to my ever aging face?" she asked.

"None of the above--" he smiled, "and you don't have wrinkles Captain."

"I swear this Quadrant ages me by the hour," she said. "Well, I've taken up enough of your unpacking time," she stood.

"Oh I don't know about--" Chakotay was about to finish but he realized Kathryn wasn't moving towards the door. Another moment in time. He went to his desk and took a tricorder off of it's dark, smooth surface. Walking back to where she stood, smile on face, hands clasped lightly in front of her body, he took the readings. Just as he thought. The best bet was just to let things play out -- as they always did.

Chakotay stood, looking at the woman who had so often pushed him to sever a gaze or two before he wanted to -- but this time, he took his fill. The dark blue eyes, the rosy mouth, silky red hair against pale Irish skin, and the posture of someone who understood where they wanted their life to go -- that was Kathryn Janeway. He reached up, his fingers nimbly extended towards her face wondering how close they should go until he withdrew them from contact. But withdraw he did not -- running his fingers down her skin, he sighed and looked at the woman, "How often have I had to request a moment of your time . . ."

He pulled his hand away and was rewarded with life springing back into action. Kathryn jumped slightly, "Commander!" she raised her hand to her head in a quiet flurry, "I didn't see you stand -- my concentration must have been elsewhere. Well, I'm going to go catch up on sleep. I feel I can do so since you're back."

"Of course--" Chakotay murmured and watched her turn to go.

"Ensign Kim to Commander Chakotay," the voice invaded the bedroom.

"Chakotay here. Go ahead Ensign," he sighed. His dream had been including the fragmentation of his animal guide -- which was unusual since he didn't have the visual and trance-like aids he used daily. His grandfather had told him that their guides would often visit their people in dreams -- but that was only when the door to self exploration needed to be opened -- and, quite frankly, Chakotay didn't feel he had reached that part of his life yet. He wasn't ready.

"Commander, we have a problem. We've made first contact with a species who call themselves the Kukandy--" Kim's voice trailed off.

"And--" Chakotay pushed the other man to follow up. He sat up and pushing himself out of bed, fighting back the unwillingness to set foot on the bridge, allowed himself to start darning his Uniform.

"They don't seem to be the most cooperative group, Sir," he added the last phrase.

Chakotay knew that Ensign Kim was being a little more diplomatic than the situation actually called for -- no doubt "uncooperative" meant the other party had their weapons charged and aimed at Voyager.

"Shall I wake the Captain as well?" Kim asked.

"No," Chakotay shook his head at the lone room, "Captain Janeway needs to rest. I'll handle this one until I see a reason that demands her presence. Chakotay out," he stated and wondered what more could go wrong tonight. Perhaps he should've told her . . . why hadn't he? He knew the answer in his heart -- it laid in what time held -- frozen images of the one he loved.

CONTINUED IN PART 3!

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