SUMMARY: Forbidden places translates to challenge for one smart little girl.

CODES: VOY, J/C

RATING: PG

DISCLAIMER: Paramount owns the ship and main characters, but I own Melanie.

NOTES: none

"Breaking and Entering"
by Liz VanZandt

Melanie carefully looked in both directions to be sure there was no one else in the halls. Mommy and Daddy would be very mad if they knew what she was about to do, but that just added to the excitement. She tiptoed out from her hiding spot and across the hallway to the door.

She frowned as the door refused to open when she neared. Melanie pursed her lips and tried to think of another way to open the door. "Computer, open the door," she commanded in as big a voice as she could muster. But nothing happened.

This had Melanie even more confused. There was no way she could sneak into Mommy's office if the door wouldn't open. Her lip began to stick out in a pout, but before she could do anything else, she heard voices coming down the hall. Without a second thought, she dove back across the hall into her hiding spot.

"... I swear, Neelix's food has gotten worse, not better over the years."

"Not possible. As long as his food remains leola root free, I've sworn not to complain ..."

Melanie breathed a sigh of relief as the two crewmen walked past without noticing her. One crisis averted, but she still had no idea how to open the door. She bit her bottom lip and racked her brain for a way in. 'How do Mommy and Daddy open closed doors?' she thought. Her eyes lit up as she remembered Mommy's code. She could use that to open the door.

Smiling brightly, she again checked the hallway, and seeing no one, crossed back over to the door. Reaching up as far as she could, she just managed to punch in the code she'd seen her mother enter time and again. Crossing the fingers of her other hand, she waited for the door to open. With a whoosh of air, it did just that.

But her pride was short-lived as she heard more people coming down the hall. Quickly she stepped into the dark room, the door closing behind her. Melanie was momentarily disoriented by the darkness of the room. She stood there in awe for a moment -- this was Mommy's secret hideaway!

"Computer, lights," she ordered finally. The room was immediately bathed in light, revealing a bathroom. Melanie frowned, puzzled. She was sure the door led to Mommy's office. Though Melanie had never been allowed in Mommy's office, she knew it certainly wasn't a bathroom.

A second door caught her attention. Maybe ...

Melanie cautiously walked over to the door and peered through when it opened for her. A second, much larger, room was on the other side. This one looked much more like she imagined an office would, but she was struck by how much it resembled the living room of their quarters. There was a couch on the far wall under a large window that showed the stars streaking by; another doorway near the one Melanie was peeking through; a replicator in the far corner; and a desk along the near wall.

Melanie stepped into the room and was immediately assaulted by a familiar smell -- coffee. Yes, this was Mommy's office. She smiled, pleased with herself, and skipped over to the desk. It was big, much bigger than Mommy's desk in their quarters. Melanie walked around it to the chair in back and climbed up on it. Her smile grew even bigger as she realized how soft and comfortable Mommy's chair was. Much more comfortable than that stiff one by her other desk and the chairs in the mess hall.

She turned her gaze to the objects on the desk. There was a computer, a couple of PADDs piled on one corner, some pictures, and a coffee cup half full of the aromatic beverage. Melanie's eyes grew wide as she inspected the pictures closer. There was one of her as a baby, one of her standing between Mommy and Daddy, and one of Mommy and Daddy kissing. Her nose curled up in disgust at the last one. Her parents were always kissing and hugging and telling each other they loved each other. She thought they were way too mushy.

Her thoughts were suddenly interrupted as the door on the far wall opened. Someone was coming in! Melanie knew she'd be in big trouble if anyone caught her in here, especially Mommy. Without thinking, she slid off the chair and under the desk, pushing herself back into the kneehole as far as she could go.

"... have the bridge, Commander."

It was Mommy! Melanie held her breath, hoping Mommy wouldn't stay for long. And certainly not until Ensign Brown noticed she wasn't in school like she should have been.

She listened as Mommy walked over to the desk and picked up the cup of coffee. She let out a grunt and Melanie imagined her nose scrunching up in distaste at the cold liquid. Mommy had let Melanie try some of her coffee once, and she couldn't understand how Mommy could drink it. It was so bitter.

A moment later Melanie heard Mommy order the replicator to heat up her coffee, and then sigh contentedly as she tried it again. "Much better," she murmured, walking back across the room.

Melanie's little heart almost stopped when a pair of legs came into view and her mother sat down on the same chair Melanie had vacated only moments earlier. She listened as Mommy turned on her computer and began entering commands.

The little girl remained as quiet as she could for a long time. Melanie had long ago learned to tell time, but only with a chronometer, and since she couldn't see one right then, she could only guess how much time had passed. It felt like forever, but was in reality closer to an hour before she heard Mommy turn her computer off.

Just as Mommy made to get up, disaster struck. Melanie felt a sneeze beginning in her nose. She wiggled her nose and tried to make it go away as best she could, but to no avail. Just as Mommy's legs left the kneehole, Melanie sneezed. She immediately held her breath, hoping Mommy hadn't heard her.

A head appeared in the opening of the kneehole. "Melanie?" Kathryn Janeway asked, kneeling next to her desk. "What are you doing in here? Aren't you supposed to be in school?"

Melanie smiled and tried to look innocent. "Ensign Brown let us out early," she tried.

"Don't lie to me, young lady," her mother said sternly.

Melanie felt like crawling into a deep hole and disappearing. She hated it when Mommy was mad at her. She felt tears beginning to form.

Kathryn's face softened at the sight of her daughter's tears. "Come here, honey," she said, pulling the frightened girl out from under the desk and into her arms. Cuddling her daughter on her lap, Kathryn leaned back against the desk, still sitting on the floor. "I'm not mad at you, I just want to know why you're not in school right now."

Melanie reached one small hand up and wiped away her tears. She wanted to be strong like Mommy, and Mommy never cried. Daddy was the only person who'd ever seen her cry. "I snuck out," she admitted in a small voice.

"Why would you do that?" her mother questioned. "I thought you liked school."

"I do," Melanie said. "It's just that all the other kids are so stupid, and it's too easy for me. So I came to see you. Don't be mad, Mommy."

"I'm not mad," Kathryn replied, hugging the girl tightly. "Why didn't you tell me your classes are too easy? We can put you in school with the older kids."

Melanie shrugged and sniffled. "I don't know."

"Well, how 'bout you tell me how you got in here then," Kathryn said.

So Melanie explained about using the code to open the door and finding the bathroom, and then coming into Mommy's office.

"That certainly does sound like a lot more fun than going to school," her mother agreed. She turned her head and looked at the kneehole of the desk. "Did I ever tell you about how I used to sneak into my daddy's office and sit under his desk until he finished working ..."

* * *

Commander Chakotay frowned and looked over at the ready room doors for what seemed like the hundredth time in the past hour. Kathryn had disappeared in there over four hours ago, and he hadn't heard from her since. Normally he wouldn't have noticed, but it was now almost an hour past shift change and she still hadn't come out. A few years ago that was typical for Kathryn, but ever since Melanie was born she hadn't worked past shift unless there was a crisis.

Melanie. Chakotay was still amazed by how much one little person could affect an entire ship. And especially its captain. The bright, beautiful little five-year-old was the apple of his eye and the most precious thing in his life. Well, next to her mother, of course.

He picked up a PADD and turned control of the bridge over to Lieutenant Rollins before striding over to the door to the ready room. Without bothering to ring the chime, he punched in his well-used override and entered.

The scene that greeted him warmed his heart. Mother and daughter were sprawled out in the middle of the room, PADDs spread out around them. Both women were barefoot and Kathryn had stripped off her uniform jacket so she wore only the pants and turtleneck. As he silently watched them work, Chakotay was struck by how similar they were. Though Melanie had his black hair, she had her mother's features, especially those enchanting blue eyes and stubborn nature.

"What is this, a party and I'm not invited?" he joked, dropping down next to them on the floor.

"Silly Daddy," Melanie said. "Don't you know that Mommy's office is for work, not play." She looked over at her mother and gave her a silent wink.

'Yep,' Chakotay thought. 'She's Kathryn's daughter.'

The End

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