The Lady Wasn’t Wearing Roses
By Maquis Leader
Author’s note: Set during and after Renaissance Man. I just think Chakotay would have had a better story to trip the Doctor up with.
Something is not right here. Chakotay followed Kathryn into her quarters. She was telling him again what they had to do to make the R’Kaal happy, but he wasn’t really listening. Her body language seemed… off. Stepping closer, he took a deep breath. Kathryn was still talking and she walked away to stand by the view port.
“I wish we could – “
“Kathryn.” He said softly.
“Yes?” She snapped.
When she turned to face him, Chakotay smiled. This wasn’t Kathryn. “I think you’re right.”
“What?” ‘Kathryn’ quickly recovered. “Of course I am. Glad you agree.”
“It’s all for the best.” He said softly as he moved closer. “Now we don’t have to hide anymore.”
“Hide?”
“Now we can tell the crew we’ve been married for the last five years.”
“Uh…” ‘Kathryn’ gaped. “I... uh… don’t think that would be a good idea, Commander.”
“Commander? I’m hurt, call me baby like you always do when we’re alone.” Chakotay laughed softly and took her hands in his as she backed away. “And why isn’t it a good idea? I won’t have to sneak out of your quarters every morning, beloved.”
“Uh… um…” ‘Kathryn’ stuttered.
On the alien ship, Kathryn’s eyes were wide and it was all
she could do to keep from laughing out loud. She’d recognized that glint in
Chakotay’s eyes and knew he was up to something. The Doctor, however, didn’t know Chakotay that well. Baby? She bit her lip hard to keep from
laughing.
“We’ll have another wedding and this time a real honeymoon.” Chakotay smiled. He tucked her hand in the crook of his arm and led her towards the bedroom.
“Oh… yes… ah… yes…” ‘Kathryn’ muttered in agreement. “Where are we going?”
“To the bedroom.” Chakotay smiled, dimples flashing. “So I can show you how much I missed you.”
“Oh, my.” Kathryn’s heart skipped a beat as it always did at Chakotay’s smile. “Level 10, at least.”
“The bedroom?” ‘Kathryn’ squeaked. “I, ah, I have a headache! A headache, remember?”
“Of course, how thoughtless of me to forget.” Chakotay brushed back a strand of auburn hair from ‘Kathryn’s’ face and looked into the blue eyes. They were decidedly panicked. “I love you, Kathryn.”
“I – I – I love you, too.” ‘Kathryn’ gulped. “Don’t I?”
There was a flash of pain in the black velvet eyes and Chakotay shook his head. “I lied. There was no marriage and no honeymoon.”
Realizing the danger, ‘Kathryn’ stepped back and pulled out the hidden hypospray. “I suppose calling you baby wouldn’t help?”
Kathryn watched anxiously as the Doctor injected Chakotay with the hypospray after a brief struggle and then hid him in the morgue. The Doctor won’t hurt him. He won’t hurt him! The mantra did little to soothe her as the Doctor closed the drawer with Chakotay inside.
“How are you feeling?”
“Like I was drugged and locked in a coffin.” Chakotay rubbed his eyes. “Like I need a vacation.”
“Consider yourself on vacation then.” Kathryn was sitting on the sofa next to him. After he’d been revived and the ship was once again in one piece, she had met him in his quarters for dinner.
“Tomorrow off?”
“Tomorrow and the next day.” She patted his leg. “Get some rest.”
“I’ve had enough rest, thank you.” He laughed.
“At least he didn’t kiss you.” Kathryn laughed. “I think Tom’s still washing his mouth out.”
“In that case…” He shook his head and laughed.
“Chakotay, I’ve been meaning to ask.” She set her coffee cup on the table. “How did you know?”
“You – she – didn’t act right. Body language, voice inflections. Just off somehow. And the scent – “
“The scent? Are you saying I stink?” The corner of her mouth quirked into a crooked smile.
“No, of course not.” He chuckled. “No roses. You wear a very faint, subtle perfume. She didn’t.”
“Ah, I see.” Her cheeks flushed. “I didn’t realize you noticed.”
“I notice. And there was no – spark.” It was his turn to flush.
“Spark?”
“Spark. There’s always something.” He shrugged, helpless to explain the snap and spark he always felt in her presence. “And it wasn’t there.”
“Why didn’t you hit ‘me’ or use a phaser?”
“Well… I could have been wrong.” He grinned at her. “Then I’d have been in the brig.”
“Instead of the morgue!” Kathryn laughed. “Some choice.”
“I just couldn’t.” Chakotay said softly.
“You know I was able to see everything the Doctor saw?”
“Kathryn, I’m sorry – “
“Don’t be. I noticed something while I was watching.” She hesitated. “You said the honeymoon and the wedding was all a lie.”
“Yes.” He dropped his eyes to the cold cup of tea in his hands.
“But, you didn’t say that your ‘I love you’ was a lie.”
Looking up into the smoky blue eyes, he saw both fear and hope. “That part wasn’t a lie, Kathryn. I just wished I was saying it to you.”
“You did.” She leaned slowly toward him until their lips almost touched. “You did, baby.”
Chakotay laughed softly as Kathryn kissed him for the first time.
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