Captain's Privilege

by PatsBard

Part 2

Captain Janeway lounged behind her desk, absentmindedly sipping her coffee as she stared off into space. Padds containing various reports were stacked neatly awaiting her attention, but her thoughts persisted in returning to the previous night and a certain blonde Borg. A small smile curved her lips and she shook her head. It hadn�t occurred to her until they had reached the doors to Cargo Bay Two that she had, in effect, walked Seven of Nine home. Directly on the heels of that revelation had come the first hint of awkwardness of the evening.

She had wanted nothing more than to kiss the woman good night, just as she had been kissed all those years ago when she had first entered the dating realm. Instead, Kathryn had contented herself with squeezing Seven�s hand gently and thanking her for a wonderful evening. The blonde had looked at her curiously, both knowing that under normal circumstances Captain Janeway would have entered the cargo bay and set the commands for Seven�s regeneration cycle. Seven chose not to comment on that, however, and merely returned her captain�s sentiments, though the timbre of the former drone�s voice had seemed much warmer than usual.

Captain Janeway sighed as she swiveled her chair back around and arose to pour herself more coffee. If she was lucky, Seven wouldn�t ask her why she had stopped at the door. It seemed almost silly now. In those few moments, Kathryn had suddenly known just how her suitors had felt when they dropped her off at her home. Incredibly awkward, incredibly shy?and acutely aware of the parents peering out through the drapes, making sure their daughter had arrived safely.

Soft chimes announcing a visitor to her Ready Room interrupted the captain�s musings. "Come in." Captain Janeway smiled as she watched the powerful form of her First Officer stride in. "Good morning, Chakotay. Coffee?"

"No, thank you," he smiled in return. "I just wanted to let you know that the away teams have already beamed down to the surface. If all goes correctly, we should be able to leave orbit in seven hours."

"Excellent." The delicate China cup was set on the desk and Captain Janeway retrieved a padd in its stead. After a brief pause, she glanced up and gave Chakotay a bemused look. "Was there something else, Commander?"

"Just wondering how your evening went, Captain," he returned smoothly, a slight twinkle brightening his dark eyes.

Captain Janeway sat back and regarded him evenly. "You were there for most of it, Chakotay. Unless, of course, there�s some small problem with my memory and it lasted longer than I recall."

"No, I guess not. I just thought.?" His voice trailed off invitingly.

"That there might be something more worthwhile for your vast intellect out on the bridge?" she finished for him, teasingly.

"That was it exactly." Chakotay gave in with a rueful chuckle and left the captain to her work.

"You�ll have to do better than that, Commander," Kathryn chuckled to herself as she settled into the tedious business of Star Fleet paperwork.

The hours passed steadily and it wasn�t until her door chimed again that the captain realized her duty shift was almost over. Setting aside the rest of the reports for another day, Captain Janeway followed the Commander out to the bridge. "Status?"

"The away teams have all transported back and the supplies are being distributed even as we speak," Ensign Kim responded immediately.

"Good enough. Open communications to the planet, Tuvok."

"Hailing frequencies open, Captain. Visual on-screen."

Premier Traden�s smiling features filled the screen and Captain Janeway smiled back. "Thank you for visiting our planet, Captain. May the rest of your journey home be filled with nothing but pleasant encounters."

"One can only hope, Premier," she answered, settling into a relaxed, yet respectful stance. "Thank you for allowing us to see the splendor of your world and for sharing some of it with us."

Premier Traden bowed and his smile grew, causing his face to exude an interesting emerald aura. "I would also like to wish you and your intended well. I have hopes that, by the time you reach the V�Alad�r Colony, they will be able to share their joining ceremony with you. It is a most delightful affair."

The soft swoosh of the turbolift opening saved the captain from answering for a moment, then a rosy hue tinted her cheeks when she realized it was Seven of Nine stepping out onto the deck. Turning back to the view screen, she saw Premier Traden execute another bow in the direction of her Astrometrics Officer. "Should the joyful event indeed take place, Captain, I hope you spare a moment to inform me of your merging," the Premier stated expansively.

Thankfully, the rest of their good byes were conducted with no further mention of the captain�s relationship with Seven and she sighed with relief after they signed off. "Paris, set a course for the Alpha Quadrant, Warp Six."

"Aye aye, Captain."

Captain Janeway�s right shoulder wouldn�t stop tingling and she refused to sit down for fear of losing any type of advantage.

"Captain."

Seven�s low, cool tone contrasted sharply with the warm puff of air that flitted past Kathryn�s right ear. God above, help me through this and I swear I�ll stop drinking coffee for a month. She took a deep breath and released it slowly. "Yes, Seven?"

Seven of Nine stepped around, waiting for the captain to face her before continuing. "To what merger was the Premier referring? I don�t recall any such discussions, nor have I ever heard of one being described as?joyful."

"Seven," Captain Janeway began smoothly, "why don�t we discuss this after our shifts. In private," she added, with a significant glare toward her smirking First Officer.

"Very well. I shall meet you in your quarters in one hour."

Kathryn felt both eyebrows hike into her hairline as she watched the tall blonde gracefully exit the bridge. "I have completely lost control of this situation," she murmured in amazement.

"Hell of a first date, Captain," Chakotay said, struggling to control his laughter. "Take a girl out for one social gathering and get engaged the next day. I�m impressed."

Muffled chuckles echoed around the bridge and the captain could only shake her head. "Carry on, gentlemen. And please try to keep this to yourselves." She gave each of them a hard stare. "This may seem funny now, but there�s a certain young Borg whose feelings could quite possibly be hurt if things get out of hand."

When she was satisfied that they all understood, Captain Janeway made her own exit. Chakotay waited until he was sure she was gone before adding his own thoughts. "I was there last night, gentlemen. And Seven�s not the only one who could be hurt by this." His dark brown eyes touched on every man on the bridge.

"Don�t worry, Chakotay," Tom Paris piped in from his post at the helm. "We�ll take our cue from the captain. Besides," his blue eyes twinkled with a grin, "I think they make a cute couple."

"Tom," Chakotay growled warningly.

Tom threw his hands up in the air defensively. "Okay, okay! Not a word?no problem."

There was silence while everyone concentrated on his task, and then Harry Kim spoke up. "You know, Tom, if your dates had gone that well, you�d be married to B�Elanna by now."

The blond helmsman gave a mock shudder and fell off his chair. "Oh, Harry! Low blow, my man, low blow!"

The bridge crew erupted in laughter, save for the Tuvok who merely observed them all with a slightly elevated eyebrow.