SUMMARY: Janeway and Chakotay decide to change tactics in their fight against rumors of their relationship. But what they fail to consider is what could happen because of this change.
CODES: VOY, J/C, P/T
RATING: PG13
DISCLAIMER: Paramount owns everything in the "Voyager" universe, this is just a little piece I wrote to fill in the gaps they have yet to pursue (a girl can hope, can't she).
NOTES: none
"Rumor Has It"
by Liz VanZandt
"Hey Ed, have you heard about what happened in the mess at breakfast this morning?" Crewman Phillips said sitting down at a table in Sandrine's.
"No, I was on duty and missed it," Ensign Kline said. "What happened?"
"Janeway's sitting there sipping her coffee and reading something when Chakotay comes in."
"Yeah," Kline leaned forward a little, not wanting to miss the latest news on his commanding officers.
"She invites him to join her and the next thing you know, he's drinking her coffee."
"So?"
"She just laughed and let him. You know how much she loves that stuff."
"OK, but that certainly doesn't count as big news."
"Yeah, but Crewman Sanderson from Stellar Cartography told me that she saw her foot running up his leg under the table."
"Woah, I didn't think she was that brave. But that's nothing compared to what I heard happened in Hydroponics last week."
"Oh, what happened?"
"Crewman Reynolds told me she was going into Hydroponics one night last week and came across the two of them sitting on a bench laughing."
"Yeah?"
"Mmmhmm, and both of their clothes were rumpled and her hair was a mess."
Phillips whistled. "I guess we all know what they were up to in there."
Unbeknownst to either man, a third crew member sitting at a table behind them was listening intently to their conversation.
* * *
"Captain," Chakotay said entering Kathryn Janeway's quarters.
"Oh, Commander," Janeway said. "To what do I owe this visit?"
"I wanted to discuss something with you."
She motioned for him to have a seat and pulled her legs up under her on the couch. "OK, and what would that be?"
"Us."
"Chakotay," she frowned and let out a sigh, "we've been though this before --"
"Yes, protocol, I know. But that's not what I mean." He paused and studied her face. "I was sitting in Sandrine's this evening, and I caught part of a conversation."
"And the topic was our relationship." He nodded. "Chakotay, I'm well aware that the most frequently discussed topic of gossip on this ship is you and I, but I can't order the crew not to talk, no matter how much I'd like to."
He almost laughed at the thought. "I know that, but the rumors have increased as of late, and the crew is taking every little thing we do and putting their own spin on it. Normally I would just ignore it, but things are starting to really get out of hand."
"So what do you suggest we do? Put even more distance between ourselves? In case you don't remember, we've tried that and it didn't work."
"I don't know what to do, that's why I figured we should talk."
She contemplated the situation for a moment. A smile started to curve the corners of her mouth. "Neelix's party is tomorrow night, right?" He nodded. "Maybe since trying to discourage the rumors hasn't work, we should try encouraging them."
"Meaning what?"
* * *
Tom Paris fidgeted in his seat. A glance at the chronometer told him that he still had five minutes left of his shift. 'Damn. Too bad there's nothing happening between the Captain and Commander.' Paris tried craning his neck to see them. Usually at the end of the shift they would start whispering, heads bent together.
Suddenly Paris noticed that he had a message waiting for him. Opening it up he saw it was from the Captain.
To: Lieutenant Paris
Paris turned around and flashed a broad smile at the Captain before returning his gaze to his station. As he heard the turbolift open with his and Harry's replacements, Paris saw Janeway lean over to Chakotay. She loudly whispered, "I'm going to take off a little early. See you at 1900?"
"Definitely," Chakotay whispered back with a wink that she returned before entering the open turbolift.
Paris saw Harry's mouth drop to the floor at the exchange. "Close your mouth, Harry," he said as they entered the other turbolift. "I have a feeling there's more coming tonight."
* * *
Tom returned to his quarters and changed before finding his way to B'Elanna Torres's quarters. They made their way to the holodeck and Neelix's party, Tom explaining on the way what occurred on the bridge earlier. B'Elanna was less optimistic than Tom that anything special would happen at the party.
"They go to most of these parties together," she argued.
"Yeah, but they don't formally announce it on the bridge," Tom said.
"That wasn't a formal announcement."
"That's as much of one as the Captain will give."
"It sounds to me like she purposely whispered that to throw you off the trail," B'Elanna said picking up a glass of punch.
"I don't think ..." he trailed off as his mouth fell open. B'Elanna turned around to see what had caught his attention and her face immediately mirrored his. In fact, everyone in the room had stopped and began staring at the couple standing in the doorway -- the Captain and Commander had arrived.
Janeway wore a very short red dress with plunging neckline and matching red high heeled shoes. Next to her, Chakotay had on a simple pair of black pants and a red silk shirt that matched Janeway's dress. But what brought everyone to silence was their arms. Both had their arms around the other and were acting very familiar with each other.
"Well don't stop the party just because we're here," Janeway said, extracting her arm from around Chakotay's waist, but still keeping her hand in his.
"Captain, welcome," Neelix finally said, the first to recover from the shock. "Come on in, have something to eat."
Slowly the party returned to the lively affair it was before the interruption, but all eyes kept flitting back to the same couple. All night, Janeway and Chakotay were basically inseparable, dancing and mingling with the crew until they snuck out of the party around midnight.
* * *
As soon as the doors closed behind her, Kathryn broke down into hysterical laughter. Tears streaming down her face, she stumbled over to the couch and collapsed into it. "Did you see their faces when we entered?"
Laughing himself, Chakotay eased himself down onto the couch next to her. "I think the sound from Tom's chin hitting the floor could be heard three decks away."
"That is definitely the most fun I've had in a long time," she proclaimed.
"I hope you're game for a little more fun," Chakotay said.
"Oh no, Chakotay," she shook her head emphatically, "you're spending tonight in your own quarters."
"I don't mean that kind of fun," he laughed. "I mean the next few days. After tonight, if the crew doesn't see us still relatively close, they're going to know something's up."
"You're right, I can just hear them now --" she began giggling, "she kicked him out for eating crackers in bed."
They both dissolved into another bout of laughter.
Finally Chakotay managed to get himself under control. "All right, than I'll pick you up at 06:30 for breakfast tomorrow."
She nodded, still laughing too hard to voice her assent.
* * *
The next morning Voyager found herself in quiet space. 'Not even a white dwarf to make things interesting,' Tom Paris thought as the turbolift doors opened at the back of the bridge. Looking for his lunch time replacement, Tom turned to see Chakotay exit the turbolift. The Commander had spent all morning in Engineering looking for something to keep him busy.
Tuvok stood from his spot in the command chair, but Chakotay motioned for him to stay as he crossed to the ready room, disappearing inside.
"Commander," Janeway acknowledged as he entered. She was seated at her desk in front of her computer.
"Looking at reports?" Chakotay said, nodding at the computer.
"Playing solitaire and waiting for you." She laughed, "One of the hazards of empty space is that I finished everything by mid-morning."
"That's why I spent the morning in Engineering. Care to join me there after lunch?"
"Aw, but I can't do that, Chakotay. I'd miss my afternoon nap. Unless, of course, you'd like to join me." She waggled her eyebrows suggestively at Chakotay. "It would certainly keep the rumor mill busy."
"That it would," he agreed. "And if things don't pick up around here soon, I may just take you up on that offer."
* * *
"I don't believe it," Tom Paris proclaimed, his gaze trained on his commanding officers eating lunch at a table on the other end of the mess.
"Don't believe what?" Harry Kim said, turning around to see what his friend was staring at so intently. "Them? Didn't you see them at the party last night?"
"Sure, but I can't believe how sudden it's all happened."
"Why not?" B'Elanna asked. "We've all known it was going to happen eventually. It was just a question of when."
"Yeah, but this is Captain Janeway and Commander Chakotay we're talking about here. Neither of them exactly goes around advertising their private life."
"Like you?" Harry said.
Tom's response was a death glare aimed at the younger man. "What I mean is that this whole situation just doesn't sit right with me -- something smells, and it isn't my lunch."
"What I think," B'Elanna said, "is that you just don't want to have to close the books on your most prolific bet."
"Either that," Harry said, "or he's just afraid that with them out of the way, he'll be the next topic for gossip."
"OK, fine, don't believe me." Tom threw his hands up in resignation. "But there's something fishy going on with those two, and I'm going to figure out what it is." He grabbed his tray and stomped off.
* * *
"Lieutenant," Joe Carey said, knocking on the door to the Engineering office, "I have the results of the tests you wanted."
"Thanks," B'Elanna replied taking the PADD from his hand.
Carey nodded and left the room as his boss looked through the data on the PADD. "Hmm, curious," she muttered. "Chakotay will find this interesting."
She paused, wondering whether to disturb him with the latest string of results. "Computer, what is Commander Chakotay's location?"
"Commander Chakotay is currently in Hydroponics."
* * *
Kathryn Janeway stood and brushed the dirt off her knees. "I see you skipped your afternoon nap," came a voice from behind her.
Turning around she saw Chakotay leaning against a tree watching her. "Yeah, when you didn't come by to join me I decided to just take the rest of the day off and come check on the coffee plants."
He laughed, "You didn't wait long enough. B'Elanna wouldn't let me out of Engineering."
She smiled weakly, then sighed and walked over to a nearby bench. "Chakotay, I'm not so sure this whole charade is working."
"Why not?" he asked coming over to sit next to her.
"Chakotay, I had a dozen people in and out of my ready room this morning giving me congratulations and asking when we're getting married. I'm starting to wonder if we shouldn't just call it quits right now."
"It was your idea in the first place."
"I know. I guess it's just that the longer this goes on, the harder it is to convince myself it's not real, that we're not really a couple."
"Kathryn, it's as real as we make it." He paused and shrugged. "And we are a couple -- a couple of blockheads who need to realize that we can't fool a hundred and fifty other people."
She laughed, "Thank you, Chakotay. Somehow you always seem to put things in the proper perspective."
"My pleasure," he said with mock flourish.
Kathryn smiled and leaned up to kiss him on the cheek, but he moved just as she approached, and she found her lips on his. On impulse, she stayed like that rather than pull away when the kiss began to deepen.
What neither one knew was that their exchange had not gone unnoticed. Standing behind a tree about ten meters away was B'Elanna Torres, who quietly slipped out of the room, a shocked look on her face.
* * *
"Tom, you will never guess what I just heard and saw," B'Elanna said bursting into his room the minute the door opened. "It's a big charade on the surface, but it's not. They really do love each other, they just won't admit it."
"B'Elanna, slow down, you're babbling. What are you talking about?" Tom asked.
"The Captain and Chakotay. You were right, they really aren't that close."
"What?"
"It was all a big charade." She explained what she'd seen minutes earlier in Hydroponics.
"But the kiss," Tom finally said.
"It didn't look like it was supposed to be a lip lock like that. But Tom, that thing was so full of emotion, I felt it from half way across the room."
"OK, so they love each other, they just don't realize it. What do you suggest we do about it? We can't just go up to them and say, 'Hi, Captain, we know you and Chakotay aren't really involved, but we think you should be.'"
"Pig. Be serious for a minute."
"I am, B'Elanna. There just isn't a whole lot we can do about this."
"Sure there is, but I need your help," she said.
He looked skeptical but smug, "It's gonna cost you."
* * *
"Come in," Janeway said. She looked up from the PADD she was studying to see B'Elanna enter.
"Are you busy, Captain?" B'Elanna asked.
"Not particularly, what do you need?"
"Um," she looked almost nervous standing there, "I have a kind of personal question I was hoping you could help with."
Kathryn nodded, "I'll try." Usually people took their problems to Chakotay who was a much better listener, but sometimes it was easier to talk to another woman. "Would you like a cup of coffee?" she asked walking over to the replicator.
"Thanks." B'Elanna joined her captain on the couch, taking the cup offered her. "This may seem kind of petty, but it has to do with my relationship with Tom."
"Tom?" Kathryn's eyebrow went up in imitation of Tuvok. "B'Elanna, from my experience, matters of the heart are anything but petty."
"Yeah, well it's not so much Tom as it is everyone else." She took a sip of coffee, "As you know, we have occasion to work together sometimes. Not as much as you and Chakotay, but enough to make it a consideration. I'm also worried that my staff in Engineering will take it the wrong way and they won't see Tom, they'll just see some hotshot p'tahk helmboy."
Kathryn succeeded in controlling her laughter at B'Elanna's phrasing, but a smile escaped to her lips. "B'Elanna, you have to realize that your staff respects you. After all we've been through out here, I don't think they're going to suddenly stop just because you chose to fall in love with a pilot."
"I know they're still sixty-some years away, but does Starfleet have any kind of rules against two officers having a relationship?"
"Their view is that as long as the relationship does not interfere with either person's responsibilities aboard the ship, than they have no basis to ask that it be terminated."
"So basically as long as we both get our jobs done efficiently and properly, than Starfleet will look the other way."
"More or less," Kathryn agreed. "B'Elanna, the most important thing to remember is to listen to your heart. It doesn't matter what Starfleet or anyone else thinks about you or the person you love, it's your opinions that count."
B'Elanna smiled thoughtfully, "Thanks for the coffee, Captain." She stood, pausing by the door. "And Captain, listen to your own advise."
As she crossed the bridge, B'Elanna looked down at the helm, flashing a thumbs up to the pilot sitting there.
* * *
"Commander."
Chakotay looked up from his lunch to see Tom Paris standing by the table. "Lieutenant."
"Can I ask a favor of you?" Tom asked.
"Sure," Chakotay replied motioning for Tom to sit. "What is it?"
"Well, a friend of mine came to me for some advise about two crew members she knows, and I didn't know what to tell her."
"And you were hoping I could help."
"Well, yeah," Tom said. "You're a lot better than I am at solving other people's problems."
"So I've been told," Chakotay said ruefully. "So who are these two crewmen?"
"Um, I'd rather keep this on a no-name basis, just in case it gets back to them," Tom said.
Chakotay nodded, "OK, so than what's their problem?"
"Well," Tom started, "you see, they're in love."
"That's a problem?"
"Normally it's not, but these two have a couple of complications standing in the way."
"Like what?" Chakotay asked.
"Well, to start with, they don't realize it. Everyone except the two in question can see they're meant for each other. It's kind of a strange relationship all around," Tom continued. "They work in the same department, so they see each other and work closely together everyday."
"And they're afraid that by getting involved they might ruin their working relationship," Chakotay said.
"Yeah, but it's more than that too. See, one of them is Starfleet and the other is former Maquis."
"Ah, I see where that might pose a problem."
"Yeah, and I think they still think the rest of the crew might see their relationship the wrong way."
"Tom, there is more than one mixed couple aboard Voyager, including you and B'Elanna. I don't think the crew will have a problem with theirs, especially if what you said about everyone's approval is true."
"I know that, and you know that, but they don't seem to realize it," Tom said. "I just don't know what to tell our mutual friend to do about the situation."
"Well," Chakotay thought for a minute, "I'd say that if these two really are in love with each other, than things will eventually work themselves out on their own. Life has a funny way of working out in the end."
"So I should tell her not to do anything."
"If it were me in that position, that's what I would do." He paused, "Although a good swift kick in the rear never hurt anyone before."
Tom laughed, "Thanks, Commander. I owe you big time for this."
* * *
Chakotay took one last look at himself in the mirror before grabbing the pile of PADDs off his desk and padding down the hall to Janeway's quarters. He figured that even though dinner was just the two of them alone in her quarters, it would still be a working dinner.
But he was wrong. As soon as Chakotay entered the room, he knew something was wrong. The lights were dimmed and there was a pair of candles on the table with dinner.
"Kathryn," Chakotay called, hesitantly stepping in the room.
"I'll be out in a minute," she called from the bedroom. Chakotay nodded and then turned to take in the surroundings.
Dinner for two was set on the table, and in the center were two tall candles, burning brightly in the dark room. The only other light came from the stars twinkling outside the window behind the couch. Playing softly in the background, just barely loud enough to hear, was a classical piece Chakotay couldn't identify.
"Sorry to keep you waiting," Kathryn said entering the room. "But I was called down to Stellar Cartography at the end of my shift."
Chakotay turned at the sound of her voice and almost lost the use of his own. She had on a white blouse and long red tartan plaid skirt. The skirt was fairly form-fitting, but still loose and comfortable thanks to a slit up the side, and she had the top of the blouse unbuttoned. Her hair was down and framed her face. It was a classic outfit and she wore it to perfection.
"I hope you're hungry," Kathryn said moving over to the table. "I spent quite a few rations on dinner and I'd rather not waste good food like this."
"Um, Kathryn," Chakotay said, trying to understand what was happening.
"Yes," she looked up at him while pouring two glasses of wine.
"I thought this was supposed to be a working dinner. What happened to the working part?" he asked.
She frowned. "I never said anything about working," she said with a shake of the head. "I just said dinner. What gave you that idea?"
"I don't know," he said, a hint of sarcasm in his voice. "Maybe it's just because every other dinner we've had this week has been spent going over the logs."
"Exactly," she nodded, handing him a glass. "That's why I thought it might be a good idea to do something different tonight." At his skeptic look she relented with a sigh. "OK, would you believe me if I told you I had a talk with B'Elanna today about her relationship with Tom."
"Funny, I had a similar conversation with Tom today," Chakotay said.
She seemed not to hear him, though, as she just continued on. "It made me realize how silly I must seem resisting every time you start to push me about our relationship."
He shook his head. "You're never silly."
Kathryn frowned, flashing him an admonishing look. "Do you mind? I'm trying to be serious here."
"Sorry," he said quietly, and then it struck him what she was saying. "So this dinner is your way of saying you're finally ready to throw protocol in the wind."
"No," she shook her head emphatically. "As much as I know you hate it, protocol will always be with us." His crestfallen face tore at her heart. "What I'm saying is, well, you know that rumor you've heard about me loving you?"
"Yes," he nodded cautiously.
"Well, I've been doing some thinking," she leaned forward conspiratorially and whispered, "and I think it may be true." She straightened back up and her voice rose back to normal. "Of course, it might also depend on whether the other rumor is true also."
Chakotay breathed a silent sigh of relief and flashed her one of his fantastic smiles that turned her stomach to jelly. "I think you know it is," he said.
Kathryn's stomach was indeed doing flip flops at his smile and she found herself smiling back at him. "I suppose since the rumors are already floating around that means we can't just keep this between ourselves." Sensing there was more to come, Chakotay wisely stayed silent and let her continue on. "So I was thinking that maybe we could have a little fun with it."
"A little fun?" he echoed, a little wary after her last plan.
She laughed. "Come now, you're the expert on mating behavior. Are you telling me you don't know how to court someone the old fashioned way?"
"Are you saying you want me to court you?" he asked. She nodded and a wicked smile played on his lips. "OK," he said standing. "Hold that thought and I will be back in one minute." Picking up the PADDs he'd brought with him earlier, Chakotay exited the room. A minute later the doorchime rang.
Curious, Janeway went over and opened the door. Standing there was Chakotay holding a bouquet of long stemmed red and white roses. "You look lovely, Kathryn," he said stepping in the room with a kiss on the cheek.
"Thank you," she blushed and giggled. "You look wonderful as well. But don't you think the roses are a bit much?"
He placed a hand on the small of her back and aimed her toward the table. "Kathryn, if there's one thing you should know about me by now, it's that I never do things halfway. I just have one question: are you free for dinner tomorrow night as well?"
"Are you asking me out on a date, Chakotay?"
He put on a thoughtful expression. "Hmm, I do believe that's what it's normally called when a man asks a woman he finds attractive to have dinner with him."
She laughed. "Well than in that case, I accept."
The End
-/\- -/\- -/\- -/\- -/\-
"Rumor Has It"
Darlin' you know it's true
It must have been the roses and the wine
Well I've got a ring and a plan
It must have been the roses and the wine
Back to my homepage
From: Captain Janeway
Subject: End of shift
P.S. The Commander and I aren't planning on doing anything until tonight, so you can stop straining your neck to see what we're doing.
by Clay Walker
The rumor you heard about me lovin' you
Well I never told a soul
So tell me how the whole world knows
Or maybe this unexplainable smile
They say, where there's smoke there's fire
Well I hope it's true
'Cause rumor has it you love me too
But I see you're on to what I'm gonna ask
Well I never said a thing
Tell me what gave it away
Or maybe this unexplainable smile
They say, where there's smoke there's fire
Well I hope it's true
'Cause rumor has it you love me too
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