"Bit Of The Witch"
By Circe
Rating : PG-13
Disclaimer : Paramount owns the names, but the story is mine :)
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Velocity
“Can you hear me?”
There was a voice, a soft husky voice swimming towards him. His eyes. He couldn’t open his eyes. He felt a hand take his and pull it forward, unfolding his fingers and placing them on his chest. And another lifting his head and tucking a towel underneath it.
“I’m sorry, Chakotay.” She said trying to stifle a smirk and tapping her comm badge. “Janeway to sickbay, medical emergency.”
Medical emergency? He turned his head towards her voice.
His head was throbbing. The last thing he remembered was seeing a
velocity racket coming… that was it, he was playing velocity with Kathryn.
He felt his right eye twinge a little. Opening it slightly, all he
saw was red on his hand as he brought it forward.
“The EMH is down Captain.” Tom replied. “But I’m on my
way.”
“Forget it, Tom.“ Chakotay said as he moved to sit up. “I’m fine. The Captain was just…”
“Beating you at Velocity again?”
Kathryn covered her mouth, holding back a laugh. Chakotay looked up at her, grabbing the towel behind him to wipe his face. “You could say that. Chakotay out.”
He winced as he brought the towel right above his eye.
“You should go to sickbay.” She said, kneeling down next to him.
“Are you kidding? I’d never live it down.” He smiled. “Getting beat up by the Captain again.”
She laughed as she took the towel from his hand and lifted his chin: gently patting at his face. He could feel her breath brush across his skin as she drew closer to examine the cut. Her fingers brushing his forehead. He found himself studying the subtle line of her face, her eyes and mouth. Those beautiful, silky lips that were moving in front of him.
“Chakotay?”
He looked up. “What?”
“I said if you won’t go to sick bay, at least let me take care of this cut for you.” She replied, reaching around and stuffing the blood stained towel in her gym bag. “Where were you?”
“I got light headed for a second.” He said, moving to stand and toppling a bit.
“Looks like you still are.” She replied, grabbing his arm and wrapping it around her shoulders. “Come on.”
They left the holodeck and made their way down the hall towards the lift. He couldn’t remember how many times he had wanted to be this close to her. He could feel her hip rub against his leg as they walked: her spine under his arm as it wrapped around her waist. She put her hand on the small of his back. The moment was comfortable. The cut on his head was worth it. The doors to the lift opened.
“Deck 11.” Kathryn said, letting out a sigh as she moved to lean Chakotay against the wall. “You’re a little…”
“Tall for you?” he said, trying to smile.
“Don’t worry.” She replied as the lift doors opened “I’ve always been able to cut you down to size.”
Taking his arm and placing it on her shoulders again, they exited the lift and slowly walked towards the doors to her quarters.
“Your quarters?” he asked.
“Well, that’s where my med kit is.”
He shook his head and moved away from the doors. Motioning to the entrance of his quarters, Chakotay pulled her to him and began to walk. She stumbled a bit: trying to keep him balanced along with herself. But she was small compared her first officer. She lost her footing and fell forward: taking him with her as he tried to stop her fall. They both tumbled to the floor. With a loud thud, Chakotay had hit his head again.
“If I didn’t know any better, I’d say you were trying to kill me.”
“No, just keep you off balance.” Kathryn replied, wiping her hands on her trousers and moving to stand.
“You do it to me all the time.” He smiled.
She looked down at him. Sitting there on the floor with those damn dimples . All she could do was smile as she extended her hand to help him to his feet. He rose and commanded the doors open. Just as she had expected, his quarters were a complete mess. Clothes everywhere: data padds and sand art on his table. His medicine bundle open and spread out on the floor in front of his view port. For someone so efficient in his duties, his quarters told another story. Chakotay stumbled to his bed and covered his eyes with his hands.
“My head.” He whispered.
Kathryn ordered the lights to forty percent and entered the room behind him, heading for the standard med kit under his wash stand. Opening the small gray box, she removed a few sprays and some white bands. Grabbing a small towel and running it under warm water, Kathryn returned to Chakotay. She sat down next to him on the bed and opened one of the sprays.
“Move your hand.”
He willingly obeyed and, without thinking, placed his hand on her knee. She looked down, head tilted and eyebrow raised. But when she brought her eyes back to his wound, he witnessed no protest: no reaction. Raising the vile to his forehead, he felt a small mist touch his skin. She ran her finger around the cut, smoothing the liquid into his swollen skin. He closed his eyes. She was touching in him. Small gesturing circles with nothing but the purest care behind them. Lost in the feeling, his head began to turn; almost nestling his cheek in her palm. But she drew her hand away and stood.
“Wait. I know what will help” She said, heading for the replicator. “Rowan root, jasmine and mint powder, ten c.c.’s and a glass of warmed water”
A flash of light and the replicator obeyed. Chakotay opened his eyes to see Kathryn returning with a small vile; filled with greenish-blue powder in side. Placing the water on the bedside table, Kathryn sat down again. He watched as she poured the contents of the vile into the palm of her hand. She reached for the glass and poured a small amount of the water into the powder: bringing her lips to blow on the paste like substance beginning to form. She set the glass down and brought her hand back to the other. In small circular motions, Kathryn began to move the mixture around. One finger, then two. The paste began to thicken; turning a pale white. Chakotay lay there, staring at her movements.
“What is that?” he whispered.
“Old family…. It will help with the healing.”
“You can’t cook, but you can whip up an old family remedy?” he smiled.
“I guess you could say that.” She smiled. “My grandmother used to put this on my knees or whatever else I would scrape up on those awful camping trips.”
“With no bathtubs.”
“With no bathtubs.” She laughed.
“I’ve never seen you do this before.”
“Well, I…” Kathryn looked down. “I’ve never done it before. I mean, other than for my sister… I don’t know what possessed me to do it now. Anyway, hold still.”
She took her fingers and smeared the warm paste above his eye, covering the cut. Picking up the towel beside him, she wiped her hands and opened a band, removed the adhesive and covered the paste.
“There. That should do it. Now you have to sit up for at least two hours if I remember correctly.” She said standing up. “Then, I suggest some rest. I’ll tell Tuvok to remove you from the duty roster tomorrow.”
“I take it those are orders?” He asked, sitting up and removing his rather sweaty shirt.
She turned around, away from him.
“What? You’ve seen more on new earth.”
She smiled. “By accident, Chaktoay, by accident.”
“Sorry Captain.: Chakotay jested, smiling to himself.
“Just change and get back in the bed, Chakotay.” She retorted. “I want to get these sweaty clothes off and into a shower.”
He couldn’t help it. She was facing away from him. But he could see her fidgeting. Wringing her hands along the sides of her leggings. Her breath getting quicker as she switched from side to side trying to stand still and not give him the satisfaction of knowing what he was doing to her. That the sight of seeing him, no shirt, skin glistening from the tiny beads of perspiration. That tattoo moving as he smiled. She was nervous and he loved it. He stood and unzipped the pants to his work out suit. Kathryn’s back stiffened. She could hear the fabric sliding down his rough legs. She lifted her head and turned to look away. But her eyes stopped at the mirror across the room: the mirror that shown the image of him standing there behind her. Nothing but those black Starfleet boxers covering him: those tight boxers. Her eyes traveled over him: the muscles in his legs, the smoothness of the black fabric as it stretched with his movements; the definition in his stomach and massiveness of his chest.
Suddenly, her mind filled with images of his tan skin next to hers. Moving. Touching. She swayed a little at the thought as she brought her hands up and curled her arms around her side. She sighed. Her movements stopping as her eyes found his. He was standing there watching her look at him. Never saying a word. She felt her face turn red as the silence filled in around her. Chakotay pulled the covers back and slipped between them, never breaking his gaze from hers.
“You can shower here.” He said softly.
She took a deep breath and turned to look him straight in the
eye. But she couldn’t. All her eyes could do was look at the
floor. “No, I can’t”
“But I have to stay awake.”
“Then I suggest you get up, get a book and retire to the couch Commander.”
“Yes mam.” He smirked as he threw the covers back and stood.
Kathryn looked up at him and just shook her head as he walked towards her. She stepped back to let him through the doorway: not enough room to keep his hip from brushing against her stomach. He selected a book with ease and sat down on his couch. Still smiling a bit, he pulled a blanket from the back of the couch, covered up and feigned to read.
“I’ll check on you when I’m finished.” She whispered and she headed for the door.
Chakotay slipped further under the blanket. His mind filled
with images of her. That uneasy smile was enough to keep him awake
all night.
Kathryn brought her hand to her head as the doors closed behind her. She couldn’t breath. She had to sit down. Her legs were shaking beneath her as she almost ran to her bed. Unzipping her tunic, she practically fell on her bed. He hadn’t even touched her and she was already going mad. She turned her head towards the stars. “You are such an idiot!” she thought to herself. “He saw you looking at him… drooling. Damn!”
With all her strength, she rose and commanded the sonic shower on. She was in no mood for a bath. Her clothes fell to the floor beside her bed. She made her way to the bathroom and slowly immersed herself into the hot sonic pulses: letting them beat against the aching muscle in her back as she brought her hands to the wall in front of her. Kathryn let her head fall back as she reached for the hair powder. She turned around and let the rhythmic motions fall over her breasts and stomach. Her muscles were so tight. She ached, but in her mind she knew it wasn’t the game of velocity.
Suddenly she heard a noise in the other room. She looked up towards the shower door. “Hello” she called out. No answer. “I’m hearing things.” She thought. “No one can get in without….” She stopped, a lump forming in her throat. She commanded the shower off and slowly opened the door, peering into her bedroom and across to her living area: no one. She shook her head and scolded herself for having the thought as she grabbed a towel and wrapped it around her. Kathryn looked up into her bathroom mirror: reaching for her brush. As she stood there, thoughts of her first officer bombarded her once more: how perfect he looked, dark and handsome and utterly delicious.
But she stopped in mid motion. Setting the brush down, she brought her hand to her face, tracing the lines given to her by life. The stress of command evident as she ran her index finger beneath her eye and down her cheek. Her lips opened, letting out a sigh, as her heart seemed to sink at the reflection. She didn’t feel older but her mind only asked where the Kathryn she knew had gone. She brought her hands to the knot holding the towel together and slowly unwound it: opening the white fabric to expose her pale skin. Kathryn returned her gaze to the reflection: her eyes tearing at the apparent reality. She wasn’t young anymore. She saw curves and the smallness of her body, but not as much muscle or the firmness she seemed to remember. She didn’t remember growing older. She didn’t remember her body changing. The image of his face flooded back as she stood there: examining the damage she thought the years had done. She looked into her own eyes. “You’re in a dream world, Kathryn.” She said aloud. “He could have any woman on this ship. What in the hell makes you think he would be interested in you.” She wrapped the towel back around her and pulled her hair up loosely: turning towards her closet. “Besides.” She thought. “You were the only female on that planet… he had to settle for you.”
With another sigh, Kathryn opened her closet. Grabbing a loose cream nightgown, she turned to toss it on the bed.
“What in the hell makes you think I wouldn’t be interested?”
Kathryn looked up into a pair of chocolate eyes as Chakotay stood there next to her bed: wearing nothing but black Starfleet issue.
“What are you doing in here?” she whispered, watching him take a step closer. “You’re supposed to be in...”
“I got lonely and this pain in my head…” he replied, taking her hand and bringing it to the bandage on his forehead. “Besides, you did this to me, so you have to take care of me.”
She smiled: bringing her other hand to the side of his face. “My pleasure.” She thought, as she began to run her thumb over his lips and the corner of his mouth. Kathryn felt his hands travel up her sides and rest on the knot to her towel. She looked up into his eyes once more: finding him searching for her response to his touch.
“Chakotay, I…” she whispered.
“I saw you Kathryn.” He interrupted, undoing the tightly wound towel. “I saw you looking at yourself in the mirror.”
She closed her eyes as she felt her face flush.
“You’re crazy if you think I don’t want this body.” He whispered, bringing his lips to her ear as he pulled the towel from her and brought her exposed body to his. “This small, beautiful, perfect body.”
She could smell the musk on his skin. His muscles moved against her as he nudged her head up with his own: her cheek next to his. She opened her eyes to find his lips lingering near hers in the darkness. But this time she wasn’t afraid to answer as she brought her hand down around the back of his neck: pulling his moist lips to hers.
“Doctor to Captain Janeway.”
Kathryn’s head shot up, only to be met with a face full of sonic pulses. Startled, she commanded the sonic shower off. “Dammit, get yourself together.” She thought.
“Chako…Janeway here, go ahead.” She replied, grabbing her robe and exiting the bathroom.
“I was informed of the Commander’s… accident and I request he reports to sickbay, immediately.”
“And the problem Doctor?” she asked, grabbing some clothes from her closet.
“Well he’s not responding.” He said, exasperated. “I was about to go to his quarters, but Mr. Paris suggested I notify you first.”
Kathryn stood, pulling her leggings up the rest of the way. “He did, did he?”
“Yes, something about you beating him, so it was your problem.”
“Tell Mr. Paris he is going to be cleaning the torpedo bays with a toothbrush for the next two weeks.” She snapped, pulling a loose tunic over her head. “I’ll check on the Commander, Janeway out.”
“But Captain, if he needs medi…”
“I’ll take care of it, Doctor. Janeway out.”
Kathryn returned to her bathroom to pull her hair up. As
she ran her fingers through it, she glimpsed her reflection again.
The dream returned to her as she stood there. She found herself letting
her hair fall about her shoulders. She shook her head a little, bringing
her hand to the top button of her tunic and undoing it. “God.” She
thought. “Think straight, Katie. Think straight and just go
check on your first officer.” She headed for Chakotay’s quarters.
A small beep filled the room. Then again.
With a command override, Kathryn entered the dimly lit room: almost tripping on the random piles on the floor. “Chakotay?” she called out.
No answer. She called out again. A soft mumble filled the air to her left. She looked towards the couch to see his spine moving against the gray blanket that barely covered him: his arms wrapped around a pillow. She took a step closer to him and tapped her comm badge.
“Janeway to the Doctor.” She whispered.
“Yes Captain.”
“Chakotay is asleep in his quarters.”
“But Captain, he shouldn’t be asleep yet.” The Doctor replied exasperated. “If he had come to the sick bay like I…”
“Doctor.” She interrupted. “Just tell me what needs to be done.”
“Well wake him.” He replied in exasperation. “That blow to his head could…”
“Janeway out.” She hissed, tapping her comm badge.
She returned her gaze to his moving form on the couch. “Awake.” She thought. She walked towards him whispering his name. “Chakotay.” He didn’t move. “Chakotay, you need to wake up.” Still nothing. She hesitantly reached for his shoulder, gently moving her hand across his skin as she knelt down beside the couch. “Wake up, sweetheart.”
Dropping her head in disbelief, Kathryn brought her hand to her mouth. “Where in the hell did that come from?” she thought. “At least he didn’t hear it.”
“Sweetheart.” she heard in a low mumble. She looked up to see his face and body turned towards her: a hand reaching for her face. “Kathryn.”
She froze as his thumb traced the curve of her cheek and contour of her nose. Soft. Beautiful. Her hair fell across the back of his hand as he reached behind Kathryn’s neck: grabbing a handful of hair and tilting her head back as he pulled her to him. “Dreaming.” He mumbled as his lips hungrily claimed hers. Forceful and searching. Kathryn let out a whimper as Chakotay twisted down, leaned forward and lifted her from the floor, continuing the demanding assault on her lips with his own. His grip on her arms tightened as he brought her small frame on top of him: pressing her body to his as he lay back on the couch. She was caught. Caught up in the feel of his hands on her body: the way he whispered her name.
She felt his hands move along her thighs, grabbing and pulling as he began to kiss and suck his way down her neck. She brought her head up, eyes closed and mind at odds with her body. Chakotay was making it impossible for her to think; to break the connection that was feeding her like a lifeline. She turned her head to the side and pushed up on her hands as Chakotay slid his hands back up to her neck and brought her face back toward his. She opened her eyes and found herself looking directly into his as Chakotay gently pulled her body towards him again. Their lips met in the softest way Kathryn had ever felt. Tender. Warm and giving. The urgency subsiding, but the passion still there. Kathryn was lost.
“I love you.” Filled the mingling air of their breath as he mumbled through his moving lips over hers. “I love the way you feel. Your touch. Your lips. Your body. God, I need you.”
A sudden jolt of reality shot through Kathryn’s spine as she lifted her torso away from his once again.
“Chakotay…”
“Ssssshhhhh.” He whispered, tracing his fingers down her already tingling spine. “I don’t want this dream to end. Just let me touch you like I have always wanted to. I can have you in my dreams, Kathryn.”
Kathryn slowly leaned down, barely bringing her lips to his.
“You’re not dreaming.” She replied, parting his lips with her tongue and pressing her body into his, deepening the kiss before pulling away. Only to find that Chakotay wasn’t moving, only staring at her, eyes wide and an expression of panic all over his face. He removed his hands from her face and covered his eyes. “My God, you idiot.” He thought to himself.
“Kathryn” he said, unsure of himself. “God, I am so sorry. I never should have…. the kissing… pulling you up… oh, God, grabbing at you.”
“I believe I just kissed you.”
Chakotay remained still. Staring at Kathryn in complete and total disbelief. He brought his hand to the bandage on his forehead and moved to look around the room. Kathryn gently slid towards the other end of the couch as he sat up: trying to read some sort of reaction from him. He brought his eyes back to her small form as Kathryn curled her legs in front of her.
“I am on Voyager?” he asked. “And have a bandage on my head? Right?”
“Yes.” She whispered.
“And I just woke up and found you taking advantage of me?” he chuckled, trying to ease the atmosphere of what he knew must have been a huge step for her. “Here. On my couch?”
Kathryn’s jaw dropped! “You shit!” she thought as she reached for the pillow on the floor and flung it at him. Spurring an automatic reaction, Chakotay ducked only to be hit by the pillow anyway. Right on the bandage: sending Chakotay’s hands flying to the pain and Kathryn lunging forward to help.
“You are trying to kill me!” he chuckled loudly, catching her hands before she could reach for the bandage. “Oh no, not a chance!”
Kathryn stopped and let her hands go limp in his as she slowly, and purposely, sat down on Chakotay’s now exposed lap. His eyebrow raised in response, he looked up.
“Not even one more?” she asked, tilting her head.
“Kathryn?”
“I know…” she whispered, “but I don’t want to make sense anymore.”
Chakotay sat in silence for a moment. Trying to wrap his mind around what he was hearing, he brought his palm to her face. He had to make sure she was real. That she was actually sitting on his lap, looking into his eyes and asking for a chance: a chance he never thought she would let herself ask for. A chance he had wanted to give her time and again.
“Kathryn, are you sure?” he asked, gently running his thumb across her lips. “I have to know you won’t…”
“I won’t.” she interrupted, bringing her hand to his as he continued to touch her lips. “I won’t.”
He leaned forward. Moving his fingers beneath her chin, Chakotay cautiously drew her trembling lips to his. She closed her eyes as the soft feeling of his kiss brushed against her mouth. Warmth traveled throughout her body. She trembled. He pulled her closer, deepening the exploration with hands: intensity began to take hold as a moan escaped his lips. Kathryn suddenly pulled away.
“Did I hurt you?”
“No.” he chuckled. “It wasn’t that kind of…no.”
“Sorry.” Kathryn laughed aloud.
“I’m not.” He smiled.
“Doctor to Captain Janeway.”
Kathryn jumped to her feet: like a caught school girl out past curfew, as Chakotay started laughing.
“Janeway here.” She stumbled, eyeing Chakotay as he covered his mouth.
“I am assuming you found a way to keep the Commander awake since I haven’t gotten any medical emergency calls.” He sarcastically retorted.
There was a sudden burst of laughter in the background.
“Captain?”
“The Commander is definitely awake and fine.” She said, trying
to hold back. “Janeway out.”
“Smooth Kathryn, very smooth.”
“Do you want another pillow, Chakotay?”
“No. no. I’ll shut up.”
The laughter subsided into silence again. They just looked at one another, unsure and loving the feeling. Chakotay extended his hand. Kathryn intwined her fingers with his as he moved to his side and pulled her to him. She lay down facing him. So close, breath mingling.
“What now?”
“Sleep.”
Kathryn sighed. “I’ll go.”
“No, sleep.” He replied, “Just sleep.”
“Is that a command?”
Chakotay smiled.
“Now and forever.”
For the first time, she lay there in quiet calmness next to him. Safe. Warm. Comfortable. With the lights ordered down, the two drifted away in the feeling: knowing their journey was just beginning.
“Kathryn?”
“Hmmm?”
“No more Velocity for awhile.”
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