| Rating: | K+™© |
|---|---|
| Spoilers: | Episode Addition for Basic, pt. 2,. I assume Chakotay knew better than to track at night with no suitable light source, and Tuvok needed time to build all those weapons. |
| Summary: | How J/C spend the night gets one crew member thinking. |
| Pairings: | Janeway/Chakotay, Baines/T'Lek |
| A/N: | A canon fix for the female Vulcan Maquis that appears in Repression. She was unavailable for Vorik, and not listed as one of the telepaths in Counterpoint.. |
| Credits: | Special thanks to Jadie and Trindajae for the beta work. |
| Disclaimer: | : How J/C spend the night gets one crew member thinking. |
Basic Inspiration
"Now is not the time to be shy folks. It's is going to be cold, and the person next to you is the only thermal generator going, so bundle together."
Ensign T'Lek stood in close proximity to the captain, and heard her clearly, but made no motion to obey her orders. The tall Maquis Vulcan did not feel near cold enough to make a prolonged period in close proximity to any of her crewmates an appealing proposition.
Few knew that T'Lek was more than half human. It was not information that she readily volunteered. But then, T'Lek rarely volunteered information. Her father was human, as was her great-grandfather on her mother's side. She looked Vulcan, but was not particularly telepathic, nor logical. Her mother blamed it on T'Lek's lack of discipline. T'Lek hated Vulcan mental discipline. It bored her. However, she feigned the perfect Vulcan exterior and found some entertaining uses for her Vulcan physiology.
Some of the crew huddled in groups, others more obviously paired off. T'Lek stoically observed some crew members taking this dismal situation as an opportunity to get close to a certain someone. She was amazed at the voracity and absurdity of the compulsion to find a mate.
When Voyager became stranded in the Delta Quadrant and some of the male crewman began looking for relationships, T'Lek responded by isolating herself further in her Vulcan mask. But, T'Lek worried about playing too Vulcan. Vorik was on the ship and while she hated fickle human flirts, she did not relish a lifetime trapped in her mother's dead Vulcan logic.
Tuvok and Commander Chakotay finished assessing and allocating the best use of the raw materials that the crew had gathered. T'Lek watched them approach the captain, and shifted slightly so she could hear their conversation. Despite the strength and confidence the captain displayed, both men were obviously worried. T'Lek could see that the captain did look cold and weary.
Chakotay began, "Captain, we've assigned crew members to a couple of teams as you instructed. One will go with me to search for Neelix and Kes at first light. Tuvok will teach the other to build some rudimentary weapons. They will work through the night."
"Good." Janeway replied, "I'll reassign the rest in teams in the morning. We will resume searching for supplies."
Nodding in agreement, Tuvok added, "Captain, Commander, you both need to rest. As you know, I can manage many days without sleep. Let me relieve you for the night. Try to get some rest."
Chakotay took Kathryn by the elbow. "Come with me." He guided her just a short way back from the direct glow of the flames and gestured to a small sheltered crook in the rocks.
T'Lek's curiosity got the better of her. She casually walked back towards the rock face, and stood at a distance that allowed her to just hear the command team.
"It's not exactly Captain's quarters, but it'll keep you warm tonight."
"Those cold rocks?"
Chakotay sat down inside the cleft, "Remember, Captain's orders, 'now is not the time to be shy.'" With his back against the smooth rock face and legs stretched out, he reached up for her hand and daringly said, "Come on."
Crouching down beside him, Janeway spoke in a low voice, "I don't know, Commander."
"Captain, we want to you keep your strength up; Tuvok concurs that this would be logical, and preferable to the captain sharing body heat with lower ranks. As your first officer, your health and well being is my responsibility. You need sleep. Now come here." He spoke firmly until he shrugged his shoulders and more playfully added, "Unless you'd rather cuddle with Tuvok. I'll go tell him."
She swatted him across the shoulder, "Alright. Have it your way. The truth is I'm cold and as tense as can be."
T'Lek suppressed a smirk with her hand. Of all the people looking for an opportunity to snuggle a special someone, this was a surprise. Even so, the commander's explanation was logical, believable, and probably genuine.
T'Lek braved a glance in their direction.
Holding the side of the rock Kathryn turned and sat on his lap. Leaning her back against his chest, she stretched out her legs and then, thinking better of it, pulled them up and hooked both feet just below one of Chakotay's knees. Propping herself slightly to one side, she rested her head on top his chest.
Chakotay reached around her with both arms, to hold her snuggly in position and to provide warmth to her small frame. One of her arms was pressed between their bodies, but he noticed that the other is still exposed. Undoing his uniform jacket, Chakotay guided the exposed hand under the fabric to rest against the warmth of his chest. He held her tightly and she nestled deeper into a mutually comfortable position. Finally when they ceased shifting their bodies, her cheek rested on his shoulder, and her chest half resting against his.
'A lot like a lover's position,' T'Lek thought, 'but in what other way do two humanoid bodies fit so together?'
Looking down at the woman in his arms, Chakotay seemed pleased. "Now close your eyes."
"You can see my eyes?"
He leaned forward, out of the shadow, until his lips were mere inches from her face. With a sensual tone, he answered, "Yes, and I'm going to keep watching you until you close them. Try to get some rest."
Under his watchful gaze, the captain closed her eyes. Satisfied, he leaned back against the rock.
T'Lek looked away, ashamed at herself for spying on a private moment. She slowly walked back towards the crowd, but her heart became heavy with loneliness. Whether they were lovers or simply friends they definitely had something she did not.
At that moment T'Lek was startled by a hand on her shoulder.
Lt. Baines was equally surprised by his ability to startle a Vulcan.
"Hey, are you okay?"
"Yes, just deep in thought."
"Only a Vulcan can meditate at a time like this."
He was joking and she knew it. Baines was one of the few on board Voyager to discover she had a sense of humor, and the only one credited with spontaneously cracking her Vulcan exterior. That was how they met.
Looking into his eyes, she remembered that day.
It was in the shuttle bay. T'Lek was assigned to oversee the routine maintenance and testing of the shuttles. As a Maquis pilot who had started out on a command track at the Starfleet academy, it was the most suitable use of her skills. Baines happened through the shuttle bay while Lt. Paris and a couple others were giving her a hard time about the schedule. Paris wanted a shuttle when he couldn't have it and resorted to acidic Vulcan mockery. Baines, an overly intellectual science officer, overheard the dispute and instinctively defended the young Vulcan. He insulted the group's intelligence quotient in language beyond their comprehension. While the three pilots stared at him in confusion, only Baines saw T'Lek stifle a genuine laugh. He was intrigued by her from that moment on and likely that was why he sought her out now.
T'Lek decided to reconsider his obvious interest in her.
He continued without her reply, "Are you assigned to either of the teams the commander has put together?"
"No, and you?"
"Me neither. Guess that means we can sleep through the night. I'm sure there will be plenty of work to come our way tomorrow."
She silently nodded.
Baines was approximately 10 years her senior, balding and an inch shorter than her. However, he was also energetic, physically fit, muscular, and remarkably sincere. Not too mention his was the driest wit she'd ever heard.
T'Lek was easily irritated by human men. Her father had many extra marital affairs and her mother's 'logical' response to the news was what taught T'lek not to volunteer information. When T'Lek entered the academy, she was swept away by a charming young Starfleet cadet, only to find out that he dated her on a bet that he couldn't seduce the Vulcan. But, after carefully scrutiny, T'Lek speculated, Baines might be genuine.
He spoke bluntly, "T'Lek, I'm concerned about you. I know you like to keep to yourself, but on this planet, isolation could become is a life and death matter. You can't stand over here in the cold by yourself."
Vulcan mask intact, inwardly T'Lek laughed at his concern. He had no idea that she was over here alone to eavesdrop on the command team. Raising one eyebrow, T'Lek spoke almost coyly, "Really? If I can't do this Lieutenant, then what can I do?"
Baines blinked in surprise. He smiled and replied, "You can keep me company."
He held out his hand.
T'Lek took it and replied flatly, "You appear to be in need of a thermal generator."
Baines eyed her carefully. She sounded so Vulcan, but he knew better by now. His previous advances had been shot down by Vulcan-sounding logic that always had an edge of a double meaning. Surely that was an invitation.
Daringly, he stepped into her personal space. He spoke quietly into her ear. "Are you offering?"
Her half-human heart pounded harder at his bold advance, but she maintained her Vulcan veneer, "I am. It is only logical given the circumstances."
Studying her body language, and still holding her hand, he raised it to his lips. Still just inches away from her, Baines brushed her hand with a gentle kiss.
T'Lek did not tense up or back away, but watched him intently.
"Over the last two years, I've thought of a lot of things that are 'logical' given the circumstances. But you weren't interested." Baines replied.
She softened, "Indeed. Perhaps the current circumstances have shed new light on the 'logic' of your ideas." She smiled faintly, unsure of the silent attraction that had grown between them during her time on Voyager.
Seeing that she was not pushing him away, Baines wrapped an arm around her waist and said, "Come." Together they walked back towards the group around the fire.
"Baines!" Ensign Kim called.
T'Lek and Baines walked over to Ensign Kim. Torres, Kim, Carey, and Sam & Naomi Wildman formed one of the clusters closest to the invisible command team.
"Join us. We could use your expertise." Kim explained.
As Baines and T'Lek crouched down to join their cluster, B'Elanna added, "It's amazing the things you discover when people can't retreat to their quarters at night."
Baines chuckled and replied, "Not that you are one for the latest gossip, right Lieutenant? A little speculation could go a long way tonight, don't you think?" He smiled at Kim and Torres, then Carey and Wildman, respectively.
Sensing T'Lek's apprehension he placed himself next to Kim, and T'Lek took the outside edge of their group. Kim and Torres sat tightly next to each other. Sam Wildman sat next to Torres, she held baby Naomi who was curled up in Joe Carey's jacket. Joe had his arm around Sam.
Joe Carey piped up, "I wouldn't be taking that speculation too far if I were you."
"Aye, sir. Just an observation, is all. So what can I do for you?"
Kim explained, "We were discussing the possibility of collecting the right alloys to devise a communicator. Sam's not being much of an optimist, so we wanted a second opinion."
Sam added, "With your expertise in planetology and geology, maybe you can see some possibilities I don't know of."
"Let's hear it, then."
The Engineers gave a joint explanation of the minimal requirements to develop the technology and Baines listened carefully.
T'Lek saw an opportunity to share one of perks of her Vulcan physiology with Baines. Using her ability to project energy from her finger tips and her ability to find pressure points, T'Lek casually gave him an amazing but discreet massage. Moving just a few fingers across his neck and shoulders, Baines could have melted under her touch.
Receiving T'Lek's attention and still remaining professional, he gave the engineers some solid advice. At the end of the conversation Baines summarized which geological clues might indicate the right types of ore and suggested that Torres request a search team in the coming days.
Kim, Sam, and Carey were all asleep. Torres was silently rolled the new information over in her mind.
Taking T'Lek by surprise, Baines whispered, "Come here." To Torres, Baines winked and said, "Some speculations are accurate."
T'Lek moved to sit between his legs and leaned against his chest. Baines wrapped his arms around her and the two repeated the scene that T'Lek witnessed earlier between the command team. Concentrating on the warmth coming from his body and, his steady heartbeat, it was easy to be lulled into that much needed rest.
Torres politely looked the other way as the lovebirds got comfortable, and chewed on the possibilities Baines suggested, a while longer.
And so the crew passed the night.
Light from the planet's yet-to-be-seen sun was beginning to illuminate the sparse Federation camp.
"Whoa!"
T'Lek awoke to someone's exclamation. Her eyes first focused on Tuvok, who was previously engrossed in teaching a small group of female crewmen the art of perfecting an arrow's tip. Now he stood in his group near the fire and glared at Harry Kim.
Kim, half asleep with one hand rubbing his face, gawked at a couple comfortably unconscious and entwined in each other's arms.
T'Lek realized what Kim had just drawn attention to.
"What is it?" asked B'Elanna groggily from the ground nearby.
Harry who was suddenly aware of what he had done, stammered, "Oh, uh it's nothing. Uh, just forgot where we were."
But it was too late. One of the arrow makers followed Tuvok's gaze to the command team. Jumping to her feet, she moved closer to Harry's group to find out if she really saw what she thought she did.
"Wow! They are adorable!" she said in loud whisper to the group of female crewman she had been working with.
Another joined her and responded, "They look like a real couple, don't you think?"
T'Lek casually rose from her equally intimate position upon a sleeping Baines, and walked away from all the attention, towards the fire.
Tuvok cast a look of annoyance at Harry Kim.
B'Elanna saw Tuvok's glare and realized what Harry had reacted to. Standing up, she took charge of Harry's feeble efforts to redirect their attention.
B'Elanna spoke to the two enthusiastic women in a low growl, "Look! Last night we could do nothing but endure the cold. Ensign Kim and I kept busy swapping ideas on how to develop basic technologies out of this God-forsaken planet. We fell asleep close together to stay warm." Her voice continued to rise. "Our circumstances are bad enough without a bunch of childish gossips treating a survival situation like a cheap holo-novel. So, back off."
Behind her, a jacket-less Joe Carey rose from where he spent the night next to Sam Wildman. Young Naomi was still sleeping in his uniform jacket. He stood ready to support B'Elanna.
"Aye, sir!"
"Sorry, Lieutenant!" The young crewmembers quickly retreated, however they continued their playful banter out of earshot of the senior officers.
T'Lek listened to the group and concealed her amusement in Vulcan disinterest. The speculation among the group of women was rapid, and T'Lek was pleased to hear that she and Baines managed to go completely unseen. Ironically, the only ones actually taking advantage of the survival situation remained unnoticed.
Walking back to where she spent the night T'lek caught the tail end of a conversation between Harry, B'Elanna, and Tuvok.
Tuvok was saying, "...for those who fail to show respect to their senior officers."
Harry and B'Elanna agreed. "Understood."
Turning briefly to watch her friend cuddling the captain, B'Elanna spoke softly so that only Harry, Tuvok and, behind her T'Lek, could hear. "But you have to admit they do look pretty cute."
Irritation flashed through Tuvok's controlled eyes. Harry covertly smirked at the Vulcan's brief lack of composure. T'Lek noticed a change in Chakotay's breathing and suspected that he was awake and listening to the crew.
Chakotay was awakened by the sound of B'Elanna's threats but had remained motionless until the attention was off of them. If Neelix hadn't wandered away from the camp last night, he could have let Kathryn sleep a little longer.
Checking the camp to make sure, he wasn't watched, Chakotay took the liberty of gently brushing her cheek as he whispered close to her ear, "Kathryn." She muttered something unintelligible in her sleep, and Chakotay chuckled lightly at her sleepy morning face. He shook her firmly but gently.
She muttered.
"Kathryn."
Half awake, she looked up into his face. "Chakotay."
He playfully whispered, "Rise and shine, Captain, before the crew comes looking for you."
Captain Janeway moved off her first officer and dusted off her uniform. Putting on the pleasant captain's expression, she replied professionally, "Morning, Commander."
Walking over to the dwindling fire, Kathryn adjusted her hair. Impressed by all the weapons that were forged during the night, she complimented an unusually happy group of young ladies on their work.
The Captain took comfort in their chipper demeanor, until she turned and happened to catch a Vulcan smiling at her. Then Kathryn wondered if there was not something in the atmosphere affecting her crew.
T'Lek was pleased to see Captain Janeway so well rested. Genuinely thankful for the inspiration she received from the captain and Chakotay. She had no idea her Vulcan mask cracked and gave way to a gentle smile.
Background and graphics made by Dakota. © 2003
Star Trek™©, Star Trek: The Next Generation™©, Star Trek: Voyager™© and related properties are Registered Trademarks of Paramount Pictures. No copyright infringement intended. No profits made here. © Magical M, May 2005.
