"Excerpts from Voyager: The Musical"
by Liz VanZandt

Shortly after "Caretaker," Tom and Chakotay just had a fight about Tom's worth on the ship ...

Tom's eyes blazed as he watched Chakotay leave the room. 'Poocuh my ass,' he thought angrily, pushing himself up out of the chair. 'At least Janeway has some faith in me.' Silently he vowed not to betray that faith as he had in the past. This was truly a new start for him, and he was determined not to screw up this time.

He quietly walked through the halls of Voyager, letting his anger slowly dissipate. He thought about seeing if Harry was off duty and up for a friendly game of pool. Probably not, Tom figured, checking the time with the computer.

Eventually he wandered into his quarters, which were still a mess from the earlier battle with the Kazon. His eyes grew sad, but determined as he began picking up clothes from off the floor.

"Riff raff, street rat, I don't buy that. If only they'd look closer. Would they see a poocuh? No siree, they'd find out there's so much more to me."

-/\- -/\- -/\-

The Captain and Chakotay are in the ready room working on reports and other assorted paperwork. A bit later into the series, once they've had a chance to get to know each other a little, but before "Resolutions" ...

Janeway stretched, her body lengthening as her tired muscles resisted. She groaned and stood up, walking over to the replicator. "You want anything?" she asked absently.

By the desk, Chakotay looked up from the PADD in his hand. He silently watched her order up yet another cup of coffee before replying to the negative. His eyes followed her as she walked back over to the desk to continue working.

"What's wrong?" she asked, noticing his extra attention.

"Nothing," he said, smiling sheepishly before turning his attention back to the piles of work.

Janeway studied his profile thoughtfully, sitting back down behind the desk. He and all of his Maquis had come so far in the past months. They really had accomplished quite a task in that time, combining their two crews into one. And the two of them were functioning as one cohesive command unit, despite, and maybe even because of, their differences.

She picked up a PADD and pretended to study it as he stood and began to pace. Her lips curved into a smile. "There's something sweet, and almost kind, but he was mean and he was course and unrefined. And now he's sweet, and so I'm sure. I wonder why I didn't see it there before."

Chakotay's eyes drifted up, using the windows behind the couch as a mirror, taking in the sight of Janeway sitting at her desk. She looked so regal and commanding, yet relaxed at the same time. He caught her eyes drift up from her reading and study him. "She glanced this way, I thought I saw. And when we touched she didn't shudder at my paw." He shook his head slightly, returning his thoughts to the work before him. "No it can't be, I'll just ignore. But then she's never looked at me that way before." His eyes momentarily drifted back up to her form before he caught his slip and returned to his reading.

Janeway sighed and affixed her thumbprint to a PADD. Unconsciously her thoughts once again returned to her companion. "New, and a bit alarming, who'd have ever thought that this could be. True that he's no Prince Charming, but there's something in him that I simply didn't see."

"What do you say to lunch?" Chakotay suggested, tossing his PADD down onto the pile. "I heard Neelix's latest creation is actually edible today."

Janeway looked over the pile of work still waiting. She warred with herself as to the advisability of ignoring so much, but her grumbling stomach finally convinced her otherwise. "Sounds good," she smiled.

They emerged onto the bridge, briefly checking on the ship's status, before disappearing again, this time into the turbolift at the back of the deck. At the helm, Tom Paris watched their interaction out of the corner of his eye. He smiled at the ease and familiarity they had, the rapport they had developed in so short a time.

"Well who'd have thought," he voiced out loud.

"Well bless my soul," B'Elanna nodded, looking up from her station at the back of the bridge.

"Well who'd have known," Tuvok stated.

"Well who indeed," B'Elanna agreed.

"And who'd have guessed they'd come together on their own," Tom smiled, turning around to face his friends.

"It's so peculiar," B'Elanna observed.

Together the group all stated, "We'll wait and see a few days more. There may be something there that wasn't there before."

"You know, perhaps there's something there that wasn't there before," Tuvok said, sitting down in the command chair.

"There may be something there that wasn't there before," B'Elanna agreed.

"What's there, B'Elanna?" Harry asked.

B'Elanna looked up at the front of the bridge at Tom, exchanging a glance with him. "I'll explain it to you later, Harry."

"I suggest you return to your stations," Tuvok intoned, all business again.

-/\- -/\- -/\-

Janeway and the gals (B'Elanna, Seven, the Delaneys, Sam Wildman, and oh, throw in Nicoletti for good measure) are having lunch together. They're all sittin' around talkin' when someone brings up Chakotay and his latest fling ...

Janeway's face went pale.

"What's the matter?" B'Elanna asked, leaning over to touch Janeway's arm reassuringly. "You don't look so good."

"I'm fine," she replied. "Lunch just must not have agreed with me, that's all."

Jenny nodded skeptically, raising an eyebrow in her direction. "Sure, and that's why you didn't look sick until we mentioned a certain first officer."

"Are you suggesting the Captain is in love with Commander Chakotay?" Seven asked.

Jenny snorted. "I'm not suggesting anything. I'm just stating a fact."

"I am not in love with Chakotay," Janeway tried to object, but her companions would hear none of it.

"I'm not sure I would go for him after all he's done, though," Megan said. "I mean, look at the number of aliens he's bedded since we got out here. I can think of at least three if you count Seska."

"Oh, now that's not fair," B'Elanna said. "It's not like Kathryn was unattached and available until recently. He was just testing the waters."

"Whatever, B'Elanna," Megan rolled her eyes. "You're his friend, of course you're going to defend him."

"I'm not defending him," B'Elanna protested.

"Ladies," Sam said loudly. "Even if Chakotay has been a bit ... loose, at least he's not like Kathryn's old boyfriend. Remember, he left her shortly after we disappeared, giving her up for dead."

"Ooh, good call, Sam," Jenny nodded.

Janeway sighed. "All right, I agree," she said as the music began in the background. "If there's a prize for rotten judgment, I guess I've already won that. No man is worth the aggravation. That's ancient history, been there, done that."

The Delaney sisters exchanged a glance before Megan picked up the tune. "Who'dya think you're kidding? He's the Earth and heaven to you."

Jenny continued on, sitting back in her chair and crossing her arms across her chest. "Try to keep it hidden, honey we can see right through you."

Laughing, B'Elanna picked up where Jenny left off. "Girl you can't conceal it, we know how ya feel and who you're thinkin' of."

Shaking her head emphatically, Janeway pushed her chair back and rose. "No chance, no way. I won't say it, no, no."

Susan Nicoletti stood and placed a hand on Janeway's shoulder. "You swoon, you sigh. Why deny it?"

Janeway frowned at her friends, throwing her hands up in the air. "It's too cliché. I won't say I'm in love." She turned to stare out the large window along the back of the mess hall, her voice growing softer. "I thought my heart had learned its lesson. It feels so good when you start out. My head is screaming get a grip girl," she turned back to the table where the others still sat, "unless you're dying to cry your heart out."

Seven stared back at the older woman. "You keep on denying who you are and how you're feeling."

Megan nodded her agreement. "Baby we're not buying. Hon we saw you hit the ceiling," she pointed up and grinned at the thought.

Sam shook her head in exasperation. "Face it like a grown-up, when ya gonna own up ..."

Megan again picked up the thread. "That you got ..."

B'Elanna joined in, "Got ..."

And Jenny then joined in as well, "Got it bad."

Janeway shook her head again, heading for the exit. "No chance, no way. I won't say it, no, no."

The other women exchanged worried glances before Susan got up to follow their friend. "Give up, give in, check the grin. You're in love," she insisted.

Kathryn turned to see the others following her down the hall. "This scene won't play. I won't say I'm in love."

B'Elanna grinned at her friend's protestations. "You're doin' flips. Read our lips. You're in love."

Janeway shook her head, getting on a turbolift. "You're way off base. I won't say it, get off my case. I won't say it."

The five friends shared one more look before joining in together. "Girl don't be proud. It's OK, you're in love."

The turbolift doors shut, sealing Janeway from her friends. Telling the computer her destination, she whispered softly, "At least out loud I won't say I'm in love."

-/\- -/\- -/\-

Tom and Harry are playing out a Middle Ages fantasy program on the holodeck ...

"Sir Harry," Tom bowed low as his friend approached, decked out in chain mail and armor. "You have returned from the Crusades."

Before Harry could respond, an arch appeared and B'Elanna came storming onto the scene. "Thomas Eugene Paris you'd better have one helluva good reason for ditching me to go play knight with Harry here." Her eyes blazing she didn't allow him time to respond before turning to her other friend. "And you," she poked a finger into Harry's chest and he silently thanked the gods the chain mail protected him from the full impact of her finger. "You knew we were supposed to have dinner together today, yet you let him talk you into this ... this ..." she sputtered, looking for an appropriate word.

"Frivolous activity," Harry suggested.

"Frivolous activity," B'Elanna nodded.

"B'Elanna, really, we had breakfast and lunch together today. Harry wanted someone to join him, so I offered," Tom explained. "It's perfectly innocent, I swear."

B'Elanna looked at him skeptically, so he turned to Harry. "Har, help me show B'Elanna what's so great about this program."

Harry raised a skeptic eyebrow but nodded. "Duke, Duke, Duke, Duke of Earl," he began in a low voice. "Duke, Duke, Duke of Earl ..."

Harry continued on in the background as Tom began singing. "As I walk through this world, nothing can stop the Duke of Earl." He put an arm around B'Elanna's shoulders and began walking along down a path in the woods. "And you, you are my girl, and no one can hurt you, oh no."

"Yes, I ... oh I'm gonna love you. Oh oh, come on let me hold you darlin'," Tom crooned. "Cause I'm the Duke of Earl. So yea yea yea yea."

He paused, ordering the computer to create a crown. "And when I hold you, you'll be my Duchess, Duchess of Earl." He placed the crown on her head, kissing her lightly. "When I walk through my dukedom, and the paradise we will share, yes, I ... oh I'm gonna love you. Oh oh, nothing can stop me now, cause I'm the Duke of Earl, so yea yea yea yea ..."

B'Elanna stopped walking, wrestling her shoulders out from under Tom's arm. "Tom, you're a pig. Go ahead and play out your stupid little fantasies." She took the crown off her head and looked at it for a moment before throwing it on the ground. "But don't plan on me joining you for any of them. We're through, Helmboy," she stated, turning on her heel and calling for an exit.

"Yes, I ... oh I'm gonna love you. Oh, oh, nothing can stop me now," Tom finished quietly. He bent and picked up the crown from where it lay on the ground. Twirling it forlornly in his hand, he sat down on a nearby rock. "Cause I'm the Duke of Earl ..."

-/\- -/\- -/\-

The guys are hanging out on the holodeck talking about their women (or lack thereof) ...

"So, Commander, are you still a confirmed bachelor?" Neelix asked, trying to pull Chakotay into the conversation.

He looked around the table at the group that had collected. Tom had recently broken up with B'Elanna after a huge fight; Harry and Seven were no further along than they were a few months ago; Neelix was still pining after Kes; and Tuvok's wife was half a galaxy away. If anyone could sympathize with him, it was this group.

His eyes unconsciously flew over to the table on the other side of the room where the ladies were all seated talking. And one lady in particular ...

He smiled sadly at his companions. "Well Neelix, the mystery of women is the appeal they still hold, even after hurting us time and again."

Chakotay could tell Neelix was confused. "Tell you what, let me try to explain." He rose and walked over to the piano in the corner. Sitting down he noticed most of the table had followed him. "It goes something like this ..."

Stretching out his fingers, he struck up a baleful tune. "Blue eyes, baby's got blue eyes. Like a deep blue sea on a blue, blue day. Blue eyes, baby's got blue eyes. When the morning comes, I'll be far away ..."

Across the room, Kathryn caught part of Chakotay's song. Trying to ignore him, she turned back to her companions, but her eyes kept drifting up to the dark man sitting at the piano.

"And I say, blue eyes holding back the tears, holding back the pain. Baby's got blue eyes, and she's alone, again. Blue eyes laughing in the sun, laughing in the rain. Baby's got blue eyes, and I am home, again ..."

-/\- -/\- -/\-

The ladies are all having lunch again, but this time Seven, having guy problems, asks Janeway how to tell if a guy is the one ...

"Captain," Seven spoke up, breaking the uneasy silence that had developed. "I have a question."

"Go ahead," Janeway nodded for the Borg to continue.

"It is of a personal nature," Seven began.

Around the table, eyebrows rose in surprise. "Yes," Janeway prompted.

"It involves Ensign Kim."

"What about Harry?" Janeway again prompted. Holding conversations with Seven could be like pulling teeth some days.

Without warning, Seven broke out into song. "Does he love me I wanna know. How can I tell if he loves me so? Is it in his eyes?"

Janeway shook her head. "Oh no you'll be deceived."

"Is it in his eyes?" Seven repeated.

"Oh no he'll make believe," Janeway said. "If you wanna know if he loves you so ..."

The four others began shooping in the background.

"...It's in his kiss," Kathryn finished.

"That's where it is," B'Elanna agreed.

"Or is it in his face?" Seven asked.

"Oh no it's just his charms," Janeway warned.

"In his warm embrace?" Seven suggested.

"Oh no that's just his arms," Janeway replied. "If you wanna know if he loves you so ..."

The shoops began again as she continued on, "... It's in his kiss."

"That's where it is," Jenny agreed.

"Oh kiss him," Megan suggested.

"Hold him," Sam offered .

"And squeeze him," Nicoletti added.

"Find out what you wanna know," B'Elanna said. "If it's love, if it really is, it's there in his kiss."

"How bout the way he asks?" Seven suggested.

"Oh no that's not the way," Janeway shook her head. "And you're not listenin' to all I say. If you wanna know if he loves you so ..."

Another round of shoops began.

"... It's in his kiss," Janeway said.

"That's where it is," Sam agreed with a decided nod.

"Oh kiss him," Jenny said.

"Hold him," Megan went on.

"And squeeze him," B'Elanna added.

"Find out what you wanna know," Janeway said. "If it's love if it really is, it's there in his kiss."

"How bout the way he asks?" Seven tried again.

"Oh no that's not the way," Janeway insisted. "And you're not listenin' to all I say. If you wanna know if he loves you so ..."

The other stood and began heading for the door, shooping as they walked.

"...It's in his kiss," Janeway again stated, tossing her dishes into the recycler.

"That's where it is," the other harmonized, exiting the room as Harry entered.

"Ensign," Seven said, the music stopping.

"Seven," he greeted her. "How are you today?"

Without replying, Seven walked over and pulled his head down to hers.

-/\- -/\- -/\-

Tom's still depressed about his breakup with B'Elanna, and he's sitting at the bar in Sandrine's on the holodeck, trying to drown himself in drinks ...

"Give me another one, Sandrine," Tom ordered, downing the rest of his drink. Around him, selected members of the crew were laughing and partying away the night. He felt a slap on his shoulder as Harry sat down next to him.

"You look like you could use some company," Harry observed, motioning the bartender over and ordering a drink.

"I don't think you want to be around me tonight," Tom replied. Picking up his drink he wandered over to the pool tables and began racking up the balls. "I'm not very good company," he said as Harry followed him.

"This doesn't have to do with a certain engineer, does it?" Harry guessed.

"Brilliant guess, Harry," Tom said, picking up a pool stick and breaking. He looked up just in time to see Chakotay walking over toward the table. "And I have a feeling my life is about to go down a few notches."

"Tom," Chakotay nodded, coming over. He turned to the other man. "Harry, Seven's looking for you. She says she has some figures she wants you to take a look at when you get a minute."

Harry nodded, passing his stick to Chakotay. "I'll go now." He leaned over and whispered to Chakotay, "Talk to him, Chakotay. He's still really depressed about B'Elanna."

A dark shadow passed over Chakotay's face, but it was gone quickly and he just nodded. Chakotay watched Harry leave before turning back to the pool table. "So, I hear you and B'Elanna broke up."

Tom didn't bother to look up, he just shrugged and took aim. "That's old news. You obviously don't get out much, Chakotay."

"Maybe," he acceded. "But that doesn't mean I don't know what it's like. Listen boy, don't want to see you let a good thing slip away. You know I don't like watching anybody make the same mistakes I made. She's a real nice girl and she's always there for you, but a nice girl wouldn't tell you what you should do."

Tom looked up, slightly surprised that Chakotay would be giving him advice rather than ripping him apart limb by limb.

"Listen boy, I'm sure that you think you got it all under control. You don't want somebody telling you the way to stay in somebody's soul. You're a big boy now, and you'll never let her go, but that's just the kind of thing she ought to know," Chakotay said, watching as Tom missed his shot.

"Tell her about it, tell her everything you feel. Give her ev'ry reason to accept that you're for real," he continued on, leaning down to take his shot. "Tell her about it, tell her all your crazy dreams. Let her know you need her, let her know how much she means."

Both men watched as the cue ball rolled across the table, sending a second ball straight into the pocket. "Listen boy, it's not automatically a certain guarantee. To ensure yourself, you've got to provide communication constantly. When you love someone you're always insecure, and there's only one good way to reassure."

Tom stared at the older man.

"Tell her about it, let her know how much you care. When she can't be with you tell her you wish you were there. Tell her about it, every day before you leave. Pay her some attention, give her something to believe.

"Cause now and then she'll get to worrying, just because you haven't spoken for so long. And although you may not have done anything, will that be a consolation when she's gone?"

Chakotay stood up from his shot, and looked Tom straight in the eye, his eyes betraying him. Chakotay knew what he was talking about, Tom realized. And as different as the two men might be, they both cared immensely for a certain beautiful Klingon engineer.

"Listen boy, it's good information from a man who's made mistakes. Just a word or two that she gets from you could be the difference that it makes. She's a trusting soul, she's put her trust in you, but a girl like that won't tell you what to do."

Chakotay looked down at the pool stick in his hand. Feeling the need for air, he tossed it on the pool table, conceding the win to Tom.

"Tell her about it, tell her everything you feel. Give her ev'ry reason to accept that you're for real," he said with conviction. "Tell her about it, tell her all your crazy dreams. Let her know you need her, let her know how much she means."

Finished dishing out his advice for the evening, Chakotay nodded and turned to leave. But he was stopped by Tom's voice. "Chakotay, thanks," Tom said quietly, but the conviction in his voice was resounding.

"You want to thank me," Chakotay said, "go find B'Elanna and apologize."

-/\- -/\- -/\-

The senior staff just finished a staff meeting and are all filing out of the briefing room to go get ready for Neelix's party that night ...

"B'Elanna, would you stay a minute," Janeway asked.

Puzzled, the engineer nodded and sat back down at the briefing table, waiting for the others to finish leaving before Janeway would say anything. "What's the matter, Captain?" she asked when only the two of them were left in the room. "Are you all right?"

Janeway looked over at her friend with sad eyes. "No, B'Elanna, but I think I know a way I could be. Would you mind giving me a hand getting ready for Neelix's party?"

B'Elanna broke out into a grin. "Of course. Hold on." She tapped her commbadge. "Torres to the Delaneys."

"Jenny here, B'Elanna. What do you need?" came the response a short moment later.

"Jenny, gather Megan and your makeup and meet me at the Captain's quarters in five minutes. It's time for a major makeover."

Both women could hear the smile in Jenny's voice as she agreed.

"So, Commander," Harry said joining the group by the buffet table. "No date tonight?"

"No," he replied tersely, sadness creeping into his voice. He heard the doors open to admit a newcomer as he turned to refill his glass. A moment later Harry's hand slapped him on the back of the shoulder and out of the corner of his eye, Chakotay caught Neelix's jaw drop. He turned and almost dropped his glass as his eyes fell on Kathryn Janeway.

She was dressed in tight black pants and a short, form fitting black sweater with a red belt around her thin waist. Her hair was curled at the bottom and the sides were pulled up with a clip. She dropped the cigarette from her hand and delicately crushed it with the toe of her shoes.

"Kathryn?" he stammered, bewildered.

"Hey there, stud," she whispered in that low breathy voice of hers.

Around them the sounds of a guitar filtered in as Chakotay began to sing. "I got chills, they're multiplyin'. And I'm loosin' control, cause the power you're supplyin' ... it's electrifyin'!"

Kathryn began walking backwards across the room, crooking her finger in a 'come hither' gesture. "You better shape up, cause I need a man and my heart is set on you. You better shape up, you better be honest. To my heart I must be true."

"Nothin' left, nothin' left for me to do," Chakotay crooned, Kathryn joining in.

"You're the one that I want, ooh ooh ooh. Honey, the one that I want, ooh ooh ooh. Honey, the one that I want, ooh ooh ooh. The one I need, oh, yes indeed."

She hopped up onto the counter, Chakotay standing in front of her with his hands on either side of her. "If you feel a weird affection you're too shy to convey, meditate in my direction. Feel your way," she ran her hands smoothly down her sides, causing Chakotay to fall back from the heated emotions running between them.

"Aw!," he exclaimed. "I better shape up, cause you need a man."

"I need a man," she affirmed. "Who can keep me satisfied."

"I better shape up if I'm gonna prove ..."

"Better prove," she warned, "that my faith is justified."

"Are you sure?" he asked, not wanting to press his luck.

"Yes I'm sure down deep inside," she smiled, hopping off the counter and into his waiting arms.

"You're the one that I want, ooh ooh ooh," they belted out together. "Honey, the one that I want, ooh ooh ooh. Honey, the one that I want, ooh ooh ooh. The one I need, oh, yes indeed."

As a pair they danced their way back across the room, laughing and feeling younger than either of them had felt in years. Around them, the music began fading as they again repeated the chorus.

"Guess what!" Jenny said running over to them. "Tom and B'Elanna got back together!"

"That's wonderful," Kathryn said, smiling as the other couple approached.

"Yeah, and he even proposed," B'Elanna said holding up her left hand to reveal a ring on the fourth finger.

Tom shrugged. "I figured I'd make an honest woman of her. It's the least I could do after what I've put her through."

"I guess we're all back to the way it should be," Harry said joining the group, Seven hanging on his arm, an uncharacteristically large smile on her face.

"And I propose we never let petty quarrels come between any of us again," Tom suggested. "After all, we go together like a rama lamma lamma ding dong a shoo be de bop doo wop."

"Yeah!" they all exclaimed, instantaneously breaking into song.

"We go together like rama lamma lamma di dinkity dinkty dong. Remembered forever as shoo bop shoo wada wada yippidy boom da boom, chang chang changity chang shoo bop. That's the way it should be wah ooh yea. We're one of a kind like di dip da dip do wop da dooby do. Our names are signs, a boogidy boogidy boodgidy boogidy shoo be doo wap shoo wap chang chang changity chang shoo bop ..."

Arm in arm, the group danced off down the halls of Voyager to spread their good mood.

And they lived happily ever after ...