Author's Note: This scene was written for the Voyager1001 Finale Episode Challenge. All comments are welcomed.
 

At Ease

"Come," Chakotay called absently from the bedroom of his quarters. The disarray of the seven year's  worth of possession were strewn haphazardly about the room. So many things. When had he collected so many things? He had learned in the Maquis not to  gather material possessions around him, but somehow during his time aboard Voyager he had forgotten that lesson. Now he was learning it all over again.  He had to fit his entire past into the space of the small carryall that lay open on his bed. He held up a fragile leather bound book and smiled. Kathryn had  given this to him for his birthday two years ago. The book went inside the duffel. He considered a shirt and laid it aside.

"I thought you liked that shirt."

Chakotay glanced over his shoulder to see Kathryn Janeway standing in the doorway between the  public and private space of his quarters . "I do, but new clothing is easy to come by.  I want to save space for what's really important."

"Like?" she prompted.

Chakotay smiled to himself, but spoke carefully to project an attitude of  utmost seriousness. "A tricorder, several hundred gigaquads of sensitive political and astronomical data to barter with, some rather illicit communication equipment Tuvok cobbled together for me, a couple extra battery packs to go with my illegally modified phaser, a medkit and as much latinum as I can lay my hands on. Oh, and a  a couple of changes of  civilian clothing."

A snort of laughter escaped from Janeway. "Sure you don't want a photon torpedo to go with that?"

"Got one?"

"I've got several, but none that will fit in your bag."

"Too bad,"  responded Chakotay seriously. He tossed two shirts aside and carefully rolled a small smudge pot inside a third shirt before placing both in the bag.

"You're serious about this, aren't you?"  Kathryn moved a little way into the room in an attempt to peek into the bag.

"Absolutely," Chakotay agreed amiably as he sealed the bag closed. "I want to be prepared for all contingencies.  Me piloting. You commanding. Sounds like a recipe for disaster to me. I'm not about to be held responsible when  Star Fleet's newest admiral turns up missing."

Chakotay hastily ducked to avoid the pillow that arced on an intercept vector with his head.