Love Potion

~~~~ a Y a ~~~~

Disclaimer: The Wonderful World of Star Trek Voyager, the ship, the crew and most of what is spectacular about that world belongs to Paramount. Unfortunately they rarely let their characters behave like normal emotional Human Beings, Klingons, Talaxians, Bolians, holograms, etc. Therefore it is the sworn duty of all faithful and loyal fans to give these characters a life and let them have some feelings and some fun. I hope you enjoy this story.

Special thanks go to my friend, Irye, who has given me priceless encouragement and who has given me the courage to let others read my stories.

~~~~ a Y a ~~~~

Captain Kathryn Janeway smiled at the sight of the planet rotating like a blue and white marble below them and quickly took control of her quiet longing to walk once again on green grass with a blue sky overhead. She couldn’t keep herself from wishing – it had been a long time – too long.

After two difficult months of encountering nothing but trouble in their long journey toward home, Voyager’s sensors had detected this star system. Since scans revealed that this planet in the system was so much like Earth - home to herself and to many of her crew- she ordered Voyager to make the short detour to see if they could stop for some badly needed R&R and possibly negotiate for fresh food supplies. She was tense and weary and she longingly wondered whether they might even have coffee.

After entering a standard orbit of the planet, Voyager is hailed by Kert, second Martar of the planet Sentar, which they are told is known throughout the Delta quadrant for its loving and friendly inhabitants. They strongly resemble human beings, except for the predominant color of their hair which covers the soft pastel ranges and their skin which is very pale. Kert’s hair is a pleasant mint green color. "Welcome to you all. Please come visit us," he implores them, "as we would get much pleasure from making you feel welcome. Welcoming travelers is very important to us."

After an amused glance at Chakotay, Captain Janeway agrees stating to Chakotay, "This seems too good to be true."

"I agree," Chakotay states as he flashes his dimples at her. "Please be careful."

"Lt. Tuvok and Mr. Neelix, please meet me in Transporter Room 2 in ten minutes," Captain Janeway orders so they can beam down. They meet with Kert who, along with his ruling council members, welcomes them with profuse hugs and kisses much to Tuvok’s dismay, and invites the whole crew to come and enjoy themselves on their lovely world. "We’re so glad you could come," Kert states with feeling as he firmly attaches himself to Captain Janeway. "We hope you’ll like our lovely world as much as we do. You will find all kinds of pleasure here," he states as he rolls his eyes at her in a provocative way giving his words a multi-fold meaning.

And a lovely world it is, filled with green grass and blue skies much to Kathryn’s delight, colorful flowers, relaxing waterfalls, and gentle people who seem to only want to love the Voyager crew and each other and to make everyone happy. In fact, Kathryn is having a difficult time discretely wiggling free from the loving hands on her arms.

All of the away team are trying to disengage themselves from the loving Sentarians. Kert has now firmly attached himself to Captain Janeway and has already hugged and kissed her far too many times. Tuvok is becoming decidedly uncomfortable with the two lovely females who have attached themselves to him and seem reluctant to let go, but Neelix is thoroughly enjoying the attention. The away team is hard pressed to see anything resembling work being done by the inhabitants of this world, only pleasurable activities. Yet the place is beautifully landscaped, there seems to be plenty of everything people could want, and everyone seems happy and loving.

"Captain, there should be plenty of fresh food that would be good for Voyager’s crew," states a happy Neelix, who is already planning the next month’s meals made out of fresh supplies.

Kert is fascinated when Captain Janeway explains who they are, where they come from and why they are trying so hard to get home. In fact, he is so impressed that he gives her several more hugs and kisses, much to her increasing dismay. He persuades her to let the crew beam down in shifts for shore leave which makes her very happy as they so desperately need it. They will surely feel welcome, she decides.

"I would be delighted to negotiate with Neelix for fresh food," Kert states to Captain Janeway, "although I regret for your sake that we don’t have coffee. And you, my new Vulcan friend, what would you like for us to provide you?" Kert asks Tuvok. "Peace and quiet," is his reply as he again glares daggers at the two lovely peach-haired females still firmly attached to his arms.

With a sigh of regret and obvious longing to stay herself, she and Tuvok beam back up to Voyager - Captain Janeway because she still has so much work to finish and Tuvok because he can only stand so much emotion and this is far too much for him.

"Love is in the air, and I am seriously allergic," Tuvok states to his Captain. Captain Janeway gives him an amused and understanding smile, but Tuvok notices the longing and fatigue in her face. "Captain, I suggest that you spend some time on Sentar as you obviously need to relax, and the crew would benefit more from a rested and relaxed Captain. Even you need a break every now and then."

But duty calls and Kathryn doesn’t believe in putting off her work no matter what the temptation. She gently reminds Tuvok, "The crew will probably mutiny if I don’t soon put together a shore leave schedule. I must return to Voyager."

Kert, after several more kisses and hugs and much imploring, does make her promise to try to return by tempting her with a walk by the waterfall and a drink that he states, "I promise will make you forget all about coffee." It’s the chance for fresh coffee that finally sways her answer, certainly not the chance to spend more time with the mint-green haired Kert.

Back aboard Voyager anticipation for shore leave is running high. Everyone would like the chance to walk on a beautiful planet and experience the local culture. Being confined for long periods, even on a starship with holodecks, can get almost anyone down.

Among the first group to beam down for shore leave are Tom Paris, Harry Kim and Ensign Christy Rowan. Ensign Rowan is a pretty, young Starfleet ensign who is serving in engineering and phaser maintenance aboard Voyager, and she has been trying for some time to catch the eye of Tom Paris even though he is obviously taken by B’Elanna Torres. Rowan believes firmly in the addage ‘To the victor goes the spoils’. Tom has not recognized her advances for what they really are because his attention is focused entirely on B’Elanna.. He likes Rowan but considers her more of a younger sister than an object of his affections. Unfortunately B’Elanna was not included in his shore leave group.

Harry is aware of Rowan’s interest in Tom and finds it highly amusing. After she passionately pleads with him, he finally agrees to help her in her pursuit of Tom, more as a joke and a chance to get back at Tom for some of the teasing he has dished out to Harry. ‘It will serve him right when B’Elanna gets mad at him,’ he thinks.

After spending some time with the highly affectionate Sentarians, Ensign Rowan has discovered that a native plant found only on this planet is processed into a potion and added in concentrated form to their community water supplies. This dilutes the potion and enhances the already well-advanced, naturally affectionate feelings in the population. This is done in order to keep everyone happy and satisfied with their lives, and this also helps avoid conflict and crime on this world which is so very hospitable to life. They have no crime since everyone is happy.

At the local street fair, Ensign Rowan is easily able to obtain some of this concentrated love potion which she plans to use on Tom to foster some feelings of affection for her in him.

Rowan coaxes Harry into helping her put some of the concentrated potion in Tom’s food that night when Tom and Harry have their dinner aboard Voyager. "Please, Harry, this can really work and nobody will know what we have done," she begs. "It’s all so harmless and nobody will get hurt. The vendor who sold this to me promised that it cannot hurt anyone. In fact, these people use it every day."

Harry agrees thinking this is all a good joke and that this love potion can’t really work, but he tells Rowan, "Getting back at Tom for some of the things he has pulled on me really appeals."

After Tom eats his food which will be sprinkled with the potion, the plan then calls for Harry to take Tom to where Ensign Rowan will be waiting in Holodeck 1. She has programmed a very romantic setting just waiting to be enjoyed by lovers.

"I was told by the Sentarians that the concentrated potion takes about ten minutes to take effect," Rowan instructs Harry. "Once it takes effect, the first person of the opposite sex who comes in contact with Tom is the one he will fall hopelessly in love with, and I want that to be me," she says. "According to the Sentarians this effect will last approximately 3-4 days unless the potion is re-administered." Ensign Rowan secretly hopes that in 3-4 days she will be able to have fostered genuine feelings in Tom for her that will last beyond the effect of the potion.

All is going according to plan and Ensign Rowan is able to convince Neelix to let her serve Harry and Tom their food. Smiling with anticipation, she sprinkles the potion on Tom’s food, and as Harry and Tom eat, she leaves with a bright smile on her face to go to the designated meeting place.

When Harry and Tom are nearly finished with their meal, Captain Janeway pages them. "Ensigns Kim and Paris, please come to my ready room immediately as I have a project that requires your assistance."

Tom quickly rises and signals Harry to follow. "Let’s go - she sounds like something interesting is happening." This type of summons demands immediate response. Realizing the implications of the situation Harry is panic-stricken but can find no way to avoid answering the summons as he hurries to catch up to Tom. As Harry and Tom enter Captain Janeway’s ready room Harry realizes that the ten minutes is up. As he glances at Tom he can only mutter, "Oh no," as the realization dawns on him that Tom is now falling hopelessly in love with the unsuspecting Captain Janeway, the first female Tom encounters as the potion takes effect.

A sudden intensity of feelings astonish Tom who has always admired his lovely Captain. He never pursued the matter thinking she would never look at him as a love interest, partly because of his past and partly because she had Mark as a partner until the fateful message she received over a year ago. He also suspects that Commander Chakotay is developing strong feelings for her and he has no wish to complicate any of their relationships, especially since he seems to finally be earning Chakotay’s respect. Besides, he is developing other interests – namely B’Elanna.

Tom has no idea what is going on, but the feelings that he is experiencing are overwhelming and he can’t control them. He quickly grabs the startled Captain Janeway, bends her over backward, tells her that he loves her and proceeds to kiss her passionately. Supporting her in his arms and surprised by his own actions, Tom flirts with his eyes and strokes the side of Captain’s face with his face because he honestly can’t control his actions. "Oh no!" he thinks to himself. "What am I doing? I’m destined to land in the brig for sure, but this feels so right. I wonder how many years she will sentence me to, or if I will even live through this. God!! B’Elanna’s gonna kill me!"

Taken totally by surprise, Captain Janeway is in shock and can’t move or do anything but lay in Tom’s arms dumbfounded with her eyes open wide. Chakotay, who is also there for this meeting, is so shocked that other than his mouth dropping open and his face turning red, he, too, can’t move and does not know what to do. Harry is the only one who realizes what is happening and he frantically tries to pull Tom from Captain Janeway, but Tom pushes him away vowing everlasting love to his shocked Captain.

Finally regaining her senses and her balance, Janeway pushes Tom away and sternly orders, "Sit down. You, too, Harry. Tell me what is going on," she demands in her no-nonsense voice.

Tom can only stare at her and roll his loving puppy eyes, but Harry reluctantly confesses about the joke that he and Ensign Rowan were playing on Tom "I can’t believe this love potion can really work. It was only a harmless joke," he says looking very sheepish. "We never thought anything could go wrong."

Chakotay is not amused, in fact he is quite upset and his face is even more red than before. "This isn’t funny, Harry. Just exactly what did you expect anyway," he angrily states as he moves to stand closer to Kathryn. Harry can only look away feeling very miserable.

Luckily Captain Janeway does have a wonderful sense of humor; however she is only willing to go so far and is not exactly thrilled about this situation. She realizes that this is a situation she will have to deal with, but is not quite sure how. Looking to Chakotay for a clue she is surprised to find him still red-faced and very angry. Obviously he will not have any helpful suggestions other than throwing Tom and Harry out of the nearest airlock. Deciding that she does not want to order Tom to the brig for three or four days she calls the Doctor. "Doctor, please report to my ready room immediately," she orders. When he appears the situation is presented to him and he, like Chakotay, is not amused.

All this time Tom has been in blissful heaven staring at the object of his affection, smiling at her, rolling his eyes, and blowing kisses her way. Captain Janeway has a tendency to pace when she is upset, so whenever she passes close enough to touch, he reaches out to touch her. Before long she starts making large, wary circles around him while keeping up the pacing.

"Doctor, please take Tom to sickbay to see if you can come up with an antidote for this potion," the Captain orders having made her decision. "Quickly!!"

"Harry, get the rest of the potion from Ensign Rowan and take it to the Doctor immediately," she demands. They then are dismissed, but Tom doesn’t want to leave his new-found love and begs on his knees to be allowed to stay with her. With the Doctor and Harry each taking one arm, Tom is firmly dragged from the room. "Please let me stay with her," is the last thing Chakotay and Captain Janeway hear as Tom is taken away.

Once the others except for Chakotay have left her ready room, Captain Janeway breaks down laughing. She laughs until she has to sit down and the tears are running down her flushed cheeks. "I fail to see anything funny in this situation," Chakotay jealously laments. "You probably think I don’t have any right to feel like this," he says seriously as he looks intently into her sparkling clear gray eyes, "but I just can’t see you and Tom Paris as a pair."

"Neither can I," Kathryn admits with a smile and a gentle hand on his arm, "but I haven’t felt like a schoolgirl for a long time and he does have those puppy eyes." Even though she is laughing, she admits to Chakotay that this could be a problem, but it just struck her as funny. "I guess I really need that coffee more than I realized," she says with a grin. "So much for my food preservation analysis project," she states.

As the day progresses the Doctor pages Chakotay and Kathryn who are going over reports in her ready room. "I have the rest of the love potion and am analyzing it to try to create an antidote. I have also contacted the Sentarians who have informed me that there is no antidote - only time. They don’t understand what the fuss is all about because they think love is wonderful," the Doctor states dryly. "I really don’t know where they get their ideas from. If they had to treat lovesick pilots they might feel differently. It’s all I can do to keep him confined to sickbay. He keeps trying to break out of here to be by you, Captain."

A worried Captain Janeway contacts Kert regarding the other members of her crew. "Is there any danger that other members of my crew might find themselves affected like Tom Paris?" she asks.

Kert informs the Captain," The amount of the potion that your crew members will come in contact with will not affect them at all, only if they get it in concentrated form like your pilot did. But isn’t love wonderful?" After giving Kert a skeptical look, the Captain breathes a weary sigh of relief about the effects of the potion, and Chakotay echoes her sentiments.

"Doctor to Captain Janeway. I am releasing Tom from sickbay because he isn’t sick - only lovesick which is not an illness described in my medical program," the Doctor informs Kathryn and Chakotay. "I am a doctor after all - not Cupid and I can’t do anything for him until I formulate an antidote. I have, however, advised him that pursuing his love affair with you could be dangerous to his health."

"Why is that, Doctor? I don’t have any illness that I’m aware of," a perplexed Captain Janeway replies.

"With your present level of tension and fatigue you might just kill him if he continues to grab and kiss you," the Doctor advises. "Or Commander Chakotay might do it for you. I know your martial arts skills are excellent. You really should take my expert advice to get more rest and take some leave on the planet. Maybe then your stress levels will drop. I’ll keep you posted. Doctor out."

Kathryn’s eyes widen and her expression is priceless. It’s now Chakotay’s turn to laugh as he gathers her into a friendly hug. "The Doctor knows you Kathryn," he laughingly states as she returns the hug.

Meanwhile, Harry is having a hard time trying to make Ensign Rowan understand why they did not show up at the meeting place after Tom had eaten the potion. She breaks down in tears lamenting, "Tom will never look at me now except to laugh because of what I have done. I only wanted him to feel a little of what I feel for him. I’m so miserable!!"

"I wonder whether I have lost a friend in Tom, as well as the respect of the Captain. This was supposed to be a joke," Harry laments. They can only hope that Tom can control his feelings until the effect of the potion wears off and that B’Elanna doesn’t kill him before then.

Long after her shift is officially over the weary Captain Janeway leaves her Ready Room heading for her quarters to change into her workout clothes. Badly in need of some form of release for her tension, she plans to use the holodeck for some tension and fatigue releasing and conditioning workout programs. As she walks to her quarters she is deep in thought, so therefore she is caught unprepared when Tom appears, grabs her bending her over in his arms, and kisses her passionately. "I’ve fallen in love with you," he proceeds to tell her. "I love you, I love the way you look, the way you walk, and I especially love all the things you have done for me and the other members of Voyager’s crew," Tom states solemnly as he presents her with a flower - a token of his affection.

Nobody else is in the corridor to help her gently repel Tom’s affections, and Captain Janeway does not want to hurt him because she realizes that he is not in control of his emotions, but she is standing here in the very public hallway trapped in his arms. "Tom, this isn’t really you speaking," she says gently to try to get him to come to his senses and release her. "Don’t you remember about the love potion?"

She knows that she has to stop him before things go too far. He isn’t trying to harm her, only to express his love, but with no other options and because he won’t listen to her, she regains her balance and pushes him back, decks him in the jaw with a right cross and marches down the hall to her quarters to change.

Undeterred by her response, Tom gets to his feet and hurries to follow. "Please let me be with you and let me work out with you, or just sit and watch if you prefer. Please just let me be close to you," he begs. Knowing that they are still very much in a public corridor and thinking that maybe this will take his mind off of love and have him where she can keep an eye on him, she agrees. Much to Tom’s dismay, she invites Chakotay to join them also. Even though she sympathizes with Tom’s predicament, she is tired and tense and does not want to tempt fate.

The workout program Janeway has chosen involves practicing intense hand-to-hand fighting using martial arts skills. She and Chakotay, along with Tom who is rolling his eyes at her and blowing kisses her way whenever an opportunity presents itself, fight the programmed opponents. But Tom is unable to concentrate except on Janeway and on protecting her. Anytime one of the programmed opponents attack her he intervenes and fights for her. Chakotay is becoming increasingly agitated and has started his own tactic of trying to protect Kathryn from Tom. All in all, this is not turning out to be a very stress-relieving workout for Kathryn.

Totally frustrated because Tom will not let her do her own thing and afraid that she will soon start taking her frustration out on him, Kathryn stalks out of the holodeck tossing her head and ordering Chakotay, "Please have a man-to-man talk with Tom, or else put him on a leash before I kill him or sic B’Elanna on him. I can’t take anymore of this!!"

As she stalks down the corridor on her way back to her quarters, crew members who are unfortunate enough to be in the same corridor take one look at her and practically dive into the walls to get out of her way. The rumor mill is going crazy and the bets are on who will kill Tom first – B’Elanna, Chakotay or Janeway herself.

While they are talking Tom tells Chakotay, "I realize that this is not natural, but I can’t help myself even though I try. I realize that I should probably save myself a lot of trouble and just check myself into the brig, but all my focus is on Captain Janeway and my feelings for her and I can’t stop myself from trying to express them. I’m really sorry because I know you have feelings for her, but it feels so good to really love someone, even if they do not reciprocate, and to have that person seem perfect in your eyes. She’s so beautiful in every way. I have never felt this intense about anyone before, and here I am making a fool of myself. Do you think I should chain myself to my bed, or just beat the system and report to the brig now?"

"She is quite a woman!" Chakotay states with admiration radiating from his eyes as he still finds himself sympathizing with Tom. "I understand some of what you are feeling." He really does feel some sympathy for Tom knowing that when this is finally over Tom will probably not be able to look his Captain in the eye for quite some time. He again has that strong feeling that he would like to strangle Harry Kim and Ensign Rowan.

"Hang in there, Tom. The Doctor is working on a cure and Captain Janeway really does understand that this is not your fault. In fact, she’s more understanding than most people would be. But I don’t think you made any brownie points with her when you interfered in her workout program," Chakotay states with a grin as he again realizes just how beautiful she looked when she was furious. "In fact, I would stay away from her for a while. She has all that unreleased tension and she might just practice her martial arts moves on you if you get too close. I’d hate to see you with all your bones broken. She’d feel guilty after it was all said and done."

As they leave the holodeck the Doctor pages Tom. "Please come to sickbay right away. I believe I have a cure for you."

Chakotay accompanies Tom for two reasons - first to make sure he really goes directly there, and second to make sure that he does not detour to Kathryn’s quarters to make more loving overtures. His protective instincts are in red alert mode. After seeing Kathryn’s frustrated reaction to Tom’s participation in the holodeck program, Chakotay wonders whether she might not enjoy practicing her skills on Tom instead of the program. He then would truly fear for Tom’s life. She was not in the best of moods when she left the holodeck and she is actually very accomplished in the martial arts. All starship captains are required to be able to defend themselves as well as their crews.

It seems that the Doctor has found a cure for this love potion and he quickly administers it to Tom. "You know, I amaze myself," the Doctor states with all his usual aplomb. "Maybe I could play Cupid after all if I just reverse this treatment. My superior medical abilities would certainly be more than capable of allowing me to do this." Tom and Chakotay just give him dirty looks.

A few minutes after the Doctor injects the cure, Tom slowly recovers from his loving fog and is confused by the fleeting shadows of his emotions. He does, unfortunately, remember clearly everything that happened. He realizes what he has done and realizes that it has probably embarrassed Captain Janeway, not to mention himself and B’Elanna. He sadly admits to Chakotay and the Doctor, "I now feel empty and sad because the feelings I had while under the influence of the potion gave me such great joy. I really felt at peace, like I was on a total high." As he sadly leaves sickbay both Chakotay and the Doctor feel sorry for his loss and wonder how they would deal with that situation.

Captain Janeway, alone in her quarters, is having second thoughts about shore leave for herself. She realizes that she is tired and tense and again wistfully wishes for a chance to walk on real green grass under real blue skies, so she makes up her mind and pages Chakotay. "If you are not busy, would you like to meet me in Transporter Room 2 in ten minutes? Dress casual."

"Yes Captain," Chakotay responds with a wide smile on his face, as he guesses what she has in mind. The thought of walking on the planet alone with Kathryn holds great appeal for him and he, too, could use a chance to relax. He especially looks forward to the chance to talk to her without the pressures of command interfering with their conversation, and hopes they both can relax enough to do this. ‘Maybe a backrub?’ he thinks to himself as he smiles in anticipation as he fills a small backpack to take along.

Dressed in casual clothing, they beam directly down to the spectacular waterfall that Kert suggested they visit, which is located several miles from the town where most of the crew on shore leave are busy enjoying themselves. Since most of the crew on the current rotation have already been on the planet for several hours and are currently enjoying the busy and colorful local life, they have the place to themselves.

Chakotay can’t help noticing how slim and beautiful Kathryn looks in her black form-fitting pants and tucked-in white long-sleeved poet shirt with the neck open enticingly. She is clad in comfortable flat-heeled shoes and he again is amazed at how petite she really is. Those high-heeled boots she wears while in uniform always give the impression that she is much taller and more formidable than she really is. He has to turn his face away from Kathryn for a minute so she won’t see his smile at this realization.

Unbeknownst to Chakotay, he is also under intense scrutiny from Kathryn. He is dressed in a light blue long-sleeved shirt which is open at the neck and brown pants that end in a pair of soft brown boots. "He looks so handsome," Kathryn musses as she tries not to look directly at him as they walk along the waterfall. As Chakotay places her arm in his, she tries desperately not to blush.

After walking for about 20 minutes they find a beautiful and romantic spot with a wonderful view of the waterfall. With a sigh of pure happiness, Kathryn plops down on the grass inviting Chakotay to do the same. As he sits down beside her he gestures for her to lay her head in his lap, which she does and her soft reddish-brown hair cascades over his leg. "This is about as close to Heaven as I have been in a long, long time," she states looking up at the sky. "Doesn’t it make you feel good?" she asks Chakotay with a wistful smile on her face.

"Yes, the waterfall, the surroundings and the company all make me feel good," he replies returning the smile. "I haven’t relaxed like this for so long I can hardly remember what it is like. Even my animal guide could find peace here. It is too bad we will only be here for a few days."

"At least we don’t have Kert and his associates kissing and hugging us here," Kathryn laughingly says. "I’m all in favor of love, but it sure has taken some twists and turns these last few hours."

"I’m glad you’re still in favor of it," Chakotay replies with a radiant smile.

In the peace and solitude of the surroundings, the captain and her first officer are finally able to talk freely. They laugh and joke about the recent events and start to delve into events from their personal lives before they embarked on their present odyssey, telling stories about their families and friends. Kathryn is enthralled at Chakotay’s Maquis stories, and he is relieved to learn that she has finally let go of her feelings for Mark. During the course of their conversation, Chakotay has taken possession of one of Kathryn’s hands and is lovingly running his thumb over her smooth skin.

Time passes quickly. Chakotay finally gathers the courage to bend over and brush his lips softly over Kathryn’s, which she allows with a smile. With her head in his lap and while holding her hand, he offers to help her contact her spirit guide. Excited by the possibility she agrees, especially since Chakotay brought his medicine bundle along.

Just then a cheery, "There you are! How wonderful to see you," rings through the air. Kert and five of his friends have discovered Kathryn and Chakotay and are just thrilled at the prospect of showing them a good time.

"Oh, no," Kathryn whispers. "I don’t believe this," Chakotay moans.

Kert and his friends sit down beside the Captain and Chakotay and start excitedly planning a tour of the city for them. Repeatedly reminding herself that diplomacy is important, and that her crew badly needs this shore leave, the Captain reluctantly agrees. "So much for time alone," Janeway laments to Chakotay.

The city is beautiful and Captain Janeway has long since lost count of the number of times that she and Chakotay have been hugged and kissed. "Where is a minor emergency on board the ship when you need it?" Chakotay wistfully whispers to Kathryn.

So for three hours they see the sights and enjoy the colorful, but loving, culture of Sentar. Kert, in keeping with his earlier promise, introduces the Captain and Chakotay to Filla, a drink cherished by the people of Sentar. It is very good, but not as satisfying to Captain Janeway as coffee. "I’ll replicate us some coffee when we get back to Voyager," Chakotay whispers softly into her ear as he understands her feelings.

Finally totally exhausted they both make their excuses and beam back to Voyager.

Tom Paris has been pacing his quarters for at least an hour when he finally makes up his mind. It was not an easy decision in light of what has been going on today, but he realizes he has to face things straight on even if it might put him in danger of being decked again.

Leaving his quarters he marches straight to engineering where B’Elanna Torres is still on duty. He finds her with her head in a Jeffries tube. Not wanting to frighten this temperamental half Klingon, he softly whispers his request. "Please join me for something to eat as soon as your shift is over?" he requests with a smile. "I really need someone to talk to."

"Why don’t you talk to your new love?" she growls sarcastically.

"Come on Lanna," Tom quips, "give me a break. You know I had nothing to do with that. I’m the victim here for goodness sake. Can’t you find it in yourself to have pity on me?" he asks rolling his best puppy dog eyes at her. He purposely used the nickname he knows she reserves only for him in order to weaken her defenses. "I love you and only you."

"I could use some help here," B’Elanna states evading his request. "Could you climb into this tube and adjust that capacitor by 3.5 degrees? That way I can still finish my adjustments at this panel and it would be a big help to work the two together."

"Sure," he replies as he climbs into the tube hoping that by helping he is aiding in his redemption. As he reaches for the capacitor the door to the tube suddenly slams shut and a forcefield appears on the other side of the capacitor. Tom is very effectively trapped in a 5-foot section of the Jeffries tube with nowhere to go. "B’Elanna, let me out!!" he shouts as he tries to open the door, but to no avail. The controls on the inside have been deactivated. "Come on, B’El – you know I love only you. Please let me out." There is no reply and his communicator is now suddenly inactive.

Three hours later the door to the Jeffries tube suddenly opens. B’Elanna is standing in front of the door with her hands on her hips giving Tom a glare that he wished he understood. Has his penance been served? Is he forgiven now that she had time to think? It takes him several minutes to convince his back and legs to straighten up after being hunched in the tube for so long, but he is finally able to stand straight and look B’Elanna in the eye. "I’m so sorry. I love only you."

"All right," Torres pouts as her glare softens, "I suppose we could have something to eat. But I know all about your little affair with Captain Janeway."

"Affair!!" Tom squawks, "whatever gave you that idea? I was under the influence of some kind of love potion and couldn’t control myself. There was no affair. I never even got anywhere near first base - not that I was trying mind you. The Captain wouldn’t listen to me and Chakotay appointed himself as her bodyguard and protector. All I got for my trouble was a right cross to the jaw, which by the way still hurts. Would you consider kissing it and making it better?" He again rolls his eyes at her.

"Dream on, Romeo," Torres replies giving Tom a sly look. "Dinner is as far as you get tonight and you buy. Take it or leave it." "I’ll take it," he replies with a sincere smile. "See you soon."

Tom leaves engineering grateful that at least one of his relationships is still intact even if his legs and back are now sore. Next in line - Harry Kim.

The sound of clarinet music drifting into the hallway lets Tom know that Harry is alone in his quarters. Not quite sure what he wants to say to Harry, he rings the bell hoping that inspiration will strike as this confrontation progresses. He’s not sure whether to be really mad, or whether to laugh. In all honesty he does realize that he deserved this trick in payment for some of those he has dished out. But boy, they really got him good!

Harry’s tentative, "Come in," lets Tom know that Harry is as unsure as he is. Harry doesn’t know yet that the Doctor has cured him of the effects of the love potion, so this might give him an opportunity to get back at Harry. Deciding that having a good friend is better than being mad he enters with a smile on his face as inspiration strikes.

"Hi, Harry," he quips as he enters the room. "Kathryn and I are going to beam down to the planet for a little fun and relaxation. By the way, she did ask me to call her Kathryn. She and I have just spent the nicest two hours together developing our relationship, and I’m not telling what kind of relationship," he slyly whispers with a silly grin. "We thought that since you were responsible for awakening these wonderful feelings in both of us that you might like to join us on the planet. In fact, Kathryn says it’s an order. Please meet us in Transporter Room 2 in thirty minutes. Wear something comfortable. Wait for us if we’re a little late. You never know what might develop in thirty minutes," Tom says with a sly wink and a smirk.

"What?" says the stunned Harry. "Meet you in thirty minutes? You and the Captain? It’s an order? Uhh, OK."

Chuckling at Harry’s expression, Tom leaves whistling a happy tune. Once he is a few meters away from Harry’s doorway, he breaks down laughing. He can just picture Harry standing in the transporter room in his casual clothes for an hour or more trying to explain to the transporter operator that he’s going down to the planet to help develop the loving relationship between their Captain and Tom Paris. "Oh, this should be priceless," he laughs out loud.

Next on the list – Ensign Rowan. After searching his conscience for a few minutes Tom decides that Christy is just too cute and too young to really punish. After all, he is really flattered that she thinks enough of him to want to attract his attention. If it weren’t for his feelings for B’Elanna……..?

Finally Tom makes a decision and heads straight for his quarters. His years of Starfleet training, loose living, and his time in prison have given him some unique computer skills, so it only takes a few minutes to rearrange Christy’s duty schedule. She now is in possession of five extra shifts in engineering working with B’Elanna as her supervisor, and two extra shifts in phaser maintenance running dull, but routine, diagnostics. Tom smiles as he ponders what chores B’El will find for Christy to fill five shifts. Oh, well, time to meet Lanna for dinner.

Alone again in her Ready Room, Captain Janeway is trying to review some reports that have been laying on her desk, but she finds that her thoughts keep drifting to Chakotay, their time alone on the planet, and that kiss! A wistful sigh escapes unnoticed. Her combadge startles her as it states, "Chakotay to Janeway. Would you please come to Holodeck 2 as soon as possible? I have something to show you."

"On my way," Janeway answers wondering what could possibly be wrong. When she arrives at Holodeck 2, Chakotay is waiting for her in the hallway. "What’s wrong?" she asks as she ponders how handsome he looks in his casual clothing.

"Come with me," he smiles putting his arm around her slim shoulders and ushering her into the holodeck. As he softly brushes his lips over hers he whispers, "We have some unfinished business to attend to."

Kathryn gasps in pleasure when she sees the waterfall, green grass and blue sky all recreated in the holodeck. It even smells wonderfully clean, just like the planet Sentar. "I promise that Kert and his friends can’t disturb us this time," a very pleased-with-himself Chakotay states as he smiles lovingly at her upturned face. "Computer, engage privacy lock, authorization Chakotay beta six, six. I brought dinner and my medicine bundle. Your animal guide is waiting for you."

"Wonderful!" Janeway cries eagerly anticipating this encounter as she hungrily returns the kiss. Her lovely gray eyes are sparkling as Chakotay’s arms gently pull her into an embrace. As their kiss deepens and Kathryn reaches up to wind her arms around his neck, his hands gently begin messaging her back which causes tingles to run up and down her whole body.

"Kathryn….," Chakotay passionately whispers as he sweeps her up into his arms and carries her closer to the waterfall. As he gently lowers her onto the soft green grass she can hear his moans of pleasure, which match her own.

For several hours the two officers relax and enjoy each other’s company, as well as the company of their animal guides. "This is the best shore leave I can remember," she later enthuses while lying in Chakotay’s arms beside the waterfall. She realizes that all her fatigue and tension have magically disappeared. She softly smiles as she brushes her lips softly over his. "Thanks."

The following day and once again on duty on the bridge Tom is taken aside by Captain Janeway who asks, "How are you feeling, Tom?" Her concern is genuine. He is obviously embarrassed and uncomfortable, but putting her hand on his arm she tells him, "I realize this situation was not under your control. I need the best pilot in Starfleet at his very best. I am willing to forgive everything - but not forget."

She takes him by surprise when she tells him, "It has been a long time since I have been so flattered in this way. Thank you."

The End

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