The White Christmas Conspiracy: To Kathryn & Chakotay, With Love - The Crew of Voyager
by ALM_Voyager
© September 10, 2000
Disclaimer: Voyager belongs to Paramount Pictures. No infringement intended.

*~*~* 'T'was the night before Christmas . . . and all through the ship . . . not a crewman was stirring . . . not even an Ensign, when from the portable console there arose such a mechanical clatter, I rose from my bed to see what the heck was the Starfleet matter. . . *~*~*

Kathryn rolled over in bed, wondering what had woken her from such a peaceful sleep. Listening into the darkness, she finally was awarded another communications summons. Moving to her portable console, she saw she had an onboard message . . . from Chakotay?
Pushing the "accept" log-in, she was greeted with text only:

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Captain --
I need to speak with you on a rather personal matter.
I understand that it is rather late, but the matter demands not only urgency but also the Captain's presence.
Please meet me in the privacy of the Sandrine's simulation as soon as possible.
--Commander Chakotay
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Kathryn didn't hesitate a moment before searching for something to throw on. She opted for her favorite blue, wool tunic sweater and a pair of dark blue leggings before leaving her quarters. She wasn't about to let any Delta Quadrant emergency get the better of her. And, she trusted Chakotay, on making a call, to her, like this.

Kathryn walked into an empty Holodeck and whirled around in confusion. She hadn't been dreaming it had she? Waking in the middle of the night with confusion on what was reality was a natural occurrence for her during her months in the Delta Quadrant. She turned to backtrack her steps when the doors opened to produce Chakotay.
"Captain?" he asked, his clothes looked as though they had just been thrown together and his hair was slightly ruffled from what she could only assume was recent sleep. "You wanted to see me?"
"No," she stated bluntly. "I thought you were the one who wanted to see me?" she questioned looking around. "I don't like this," she stated and started to move toward the nearest exit.
"Captain?" Chakotay questioned again. But closed his mouth as the doors closed, cutting off Kathryn's retreat and the Computers words echoing in a moments silence: "Privacy Lock Engaged."
"Computer," Kathryn stated, her voice edgy, "belay that Command, authorization Janeway phi-three-zero-zero."
"Unable to comply," the feminine voice replied.
Before either of them could take another action the holodeck sprang into action, changing from the geometric patterns of cool lines and mechanical operational materials to a white wonderland of snow and a midnight moon.
"Where are we?" Chakotay asked and was thankful that whoever had done this hadn't altered the environmental controls to reflect the environments natural temperature.
"I don't know what this simulations is--" Kathryn stated, "I don't remember seeing it in the Database," she looked around and then was silent.
They could both hear the snow falling, a soft crisp sound of settling snow balancing the soft sound of movement in what was left of mother nature's presence.
The sky was a royal saphire blue . . not black . . but the kind of blue unique to winter and with the white that surrounded them things seemed bright and the stars only reflected more of a tranquil sparkle down from the nightly heavens.
"I see a light," Chakotay pointed into the distance. "A soft yellow glow . . has to be shelter."
"How do you know?" Kathryn asked pointedly.
"Trust me," he smiled and held out his hand to her. He paused, withdrawing it as if he had broken a barrier he shouldn't have but stopped, without choice, when Kathryn grasped it lightly.

PART 11
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