tp35


	Thanks to Mort for digging my out of a few corners. Also thanks to my wonderful beta readers for catching my mistakes. You girls rock. ****************************************************** Part 35 Chakotay stood inside the door to Dr. Kéla'an's office for a moment, just studying his mate. The younger man appeared to be deep in thought. When Tom looked up and met his eyes, Chakotay finally closed the office door and walked over to the couch and sat down. He then faced his husband. "Harry said that you wanted to speak with me," he said quietly. Tom sighed softly and averted his eyes before nodding hesitantly. Then he frowned slightly and bit his lip, unsure of how to begin. After some time, he lifted his eyes and met the dark ones of his mate again. Seeing the patience in Chakotay's eyes gave Tom the courage he needed. "I'm sorry I got so mad at you earlier." Chakotay accepted the apology with a nod, then asked the question that had puzzled him greatly ever since Tom's harsh reaction to his teasing words. "Why were you so angry at what I said?" Tom shrugged and looked uncomfortable. "Mood swing, I think." He hesitated for a moment, then added, "I know I overreacted, but the thing is, that comment you made about my prowess as a lover? It bothered me." "It never upset you before," said Chakotay softly. "So why does it trouble you now?" "I don't know," Tom admitted quietly. "It just does. And with the pregnancy-induced mood swings, that comment made me angry." "Well," Chakotay said and lifted a hand to Tom's cheek. "I'd better stop making those kind of comments then." Tom leaned into Chakotay's hand. "At least in public," he replied. Chakotay lifted an eyebrow questioningly. "So, you don't mind if I make remarks about your sexual prowess in private?" "No, not as long as it's just you and me, I don't mind," Tom answered with a smile. He turned his head and brushed his lips across the palm of his lover's hand resting on his cheek. Chakotay inhaled sharply when he felt Tom's lips on his hand. Looking into the suddenly smoldering blue eyes of his mate, Chakotay forgot what he'd been about to say. Instead, he let his hand slide down to rest on Tom's chest, then leaned forward and pressed his mouth against his mate's in a gentle kiss. When he felt the slight pressure of Chakotay's lips against his, Tom sighed softly and opened his mouth, tracing his husband's full mouth with his tongue. After a brief moment, he felt Chakotay's lips part under his, and slipped his tongue into the hot, wet cavern of his lover's mouth. When Tom deepened the kiss, Chakotay moaned and wrapped his arms around the younger man and returned the passionate kiss. Almost instantly, he felt Tom's hands in his hair and moaned again as he felt a strong wave of love and desire flowing through the bond. The sound of someone clearing their throat broke the two men apart. They turned to see Dr. Kéla'an standing in the office door, watching them with a slight smile. "I'm sorry to interrupt you, gentlemen," the doctor said when he saw he had their attention. "But Captain Janeway wants to talk to you." Tom sent Dr. Kéla'an a questioning look. "Does she want to talk to me or Chakotay?" he asked. The doctor lifted an eyebrow. "She asked to speak to both of you," he informed the two men. Chakotay sighed and reluctantly let go of Tom. He rose from the couch, then turned and held out his hand to the blonde, helping him to his feet. Then they both turned towards Dr. Kéla'an and moved to leave the office. Either Tom had seen Chakotay's regret at the interruption, or he was disappointed too. Whatever the reason, Chakotay suddenly heard his husband's voice in his mind. #We'll continue our talk later,# Tom promised. #When we're back in our quarters.# Chakotay turned his head and smiled softly at Tom. Then he got a mischievous expression in his dark eyes. #Just the talk?# He was rewarded with Tom's mental laughter. #Of course,# he answered as innocently as he could. #What else would we need to continue?# Despite his best effort, Chakotay couldn't keep from snorting in amusement at Tom's teasing. Ignoring the doctor's puzzled look, he motioned for his mate to precede him out of the office. As he stood back to let Tom leave, Chakotay answered the other man's question. #If you don't know what else we need to continue, you'll just have to wait until we're home. I'll show you when we've talked,# he promised. #Promise?# Tom's mental voice had suddenly turned sultry. #I promise,# Chakotay answered as they reached Janeway's biobed. Turning his attention to her, he smiled and asked, "You wanted to see us, Captain?" Janeway didn't return his smile. Instead she looked at Tom. "I want you to tell me everything that's happened since I was put in stasis!" Tom considered the implications of that... demand. He frowned slightly when he realized the truth of that thought. Janeway had not made a request for information, but a demand. Then, with a mental shrug, he dismissed it. She was the captain after all, and probably worried about her ship. "How much did Harry and the doctor tell you?" he asked, wondering what she already knew. Janeway threw an annoyed glance at Harry and the doctor, then turned her attention back to Tom. "They haven't told me anything," she said with an irritated frown. "They told me to ask you." Tom blinked in surprise. Then he had to bite his lip to keep from smiling as he realized why Harry and Dr. Kéla'an had refused to tell Janeway anything. To them, he was the captain, and that was their way of showing him their loyalty. Suddenly a thought occurred to him, making him frown in concern. {How many of the unaffected crew is going to have a problem with Janeway back in command?} he wondered silently. Remembering that Janeway was waiting, he shook off his thoughts. He turned to look at Chakotay. "Would you get me a chair?" he asked. "This will take a while." When his mate nodded and went to fetch the requested chair, Tom turned to Harry and the doctor. "Thanks for the help, Harry. And thanks for getting him here, Doc." "You're welcome, Captain." "My pleasure, Tom." Tom smiled at them. "Okay gentlemen. Dismissed." Just as Harry and Dr. Kéla'an left, Chakotay returned with the chair for Tom. He put it down beside the biobed, and helped Tom sit. Then he moved to stand right behind his husband, resting a hand on his slim shoulder. Tom lifted a hand and gently squeezed the one on his shoulder. Then he turned his attention back to Janeway. Seeing her angry expression, he wondered what had upset her this time, but decided to ignore it for now. First he would answer her demand for information and tell her what had happened with Voyager over the last seventeen weeks. "Well, Captain. After you were put in stasis, we turned Voyager and headed back to that planet as you had ordered," he began. "However, we hadn't gotten far when the Kazon attacked...." ***** "... Then, three weeks ago, the doctor found a cure for the virus. So I had to make a decision about who to get out of stasis first, Tuvok or Chakotay," Tom finished his tale. He had talked almost non-stop for two hours, only stopping to get something to drink and a snack or two. "Who did you chose?" Janeway asked, her earlier bad mood forgotten. "I picked Tuvok," Tom answered with a slight smile. Janeway looked puzzled. "Why Tuvok?" she asked. "Chakotay is the first officer. Wouldn't it make more sense to get him back first?" Tom's smile widened. "I thought about having Chakotay revived first," he told her. He ran a hand through his hair before he continued. "However, I considered what would happen when Chakotay got out of stasis after fourteen weeks." When he saw Janeway's questioning look, he elaborated. "Think about it, Captain. We hadn't been together for fourteen weeks. I knew that when he got out of stasis, we wouldn't be able to concentrate on anything but each other." Janeway smiled in understanding. "So you needed someone who could take care of Voyager and the crew while you reunited with your husband," she concluded. "Yeah," Tom agreed. "Of course, that wasn't the only reason I picked Tuvok." Janeway lifted a questioning eyebrow. "Oh?" "No," Tom said. "I also chose to have Tuvok revived first for a couple of other reasons." "What reasons were those?" "Well, Tuvok was aware that something was wrong before he went into stasis, so he wouldn't be confused by the situation," Tom began. "Also, as a Vulcan he is dictated by logic, not emotions so I didn't have to worry about him having problems with me being the Acting Captain." "Problems?" Janeway asked with a slight frown. "What kind of problems?" Tom shrugged carelessly. "My age. Or the fact that I'm pregnant." Janeway's eyes narrowed dangerously. "Does any of the crew have objections to you being the Acting Captain because of your age or your pregnancy?" she asked, all her protective instincts coming to the surface. Tom winced when he realized what he'd let slip. "Just a few of the revived crew," he admitted quietly. Noticing Janeway's rising anger, Chakotay hastened to reassure her. "Don't worry, Captain," he said. "Tuvok and I took care of it. No one has said anything since we talked to them." Janeway nodded in satisfaction. "Good," she said. Then she noticed the tired look on Tom's face. "Chakotay, you'd better take Tom back to your quarters so he can get some rest." A glance at his mate showed Chakotay that the Captain was right. Tom needed a nap. He moved to help the younger man rise from the chair, then smiled at Janeway. "Good night, Captain. See you tomorrow." Janeway returned his smile. "Sleep well, both of you." With that, she laid back down, suddenly realizing that she was as tired as Tom looked. She watched until the sickbay door closed after the two men, then closed her eyes and was soon asleep. Next