Rating: PG
Author: Anne Rose, Brianna, Dakota, Dawn, Jade, Squirrelly
Email: "Anne Rose" anne3rose@yahoo.com, "Brianna Thomas" betut@rogers.com, "Dakota" dakota4747@earthlink.net, "Dawn" katiedawns@yahoo.com, "Jade" jadetrekeast1@hotmail.com, "Squirrelly" squirrellygirlie@earthlink.net
<anne3> Once upon a time in the Delta Quadrant, Kathryn had just sat down at her desk with her coffee and a PADD.
<anne3> The door chimed and she looked up as her first officer walked in.
<briannaT47> "Yes, Commander? Is there a problem, or just the usual daily difficulties?"
<briannaT47> "You'll want to see this, Captain. It's B'Elanna's report on our dilithium levels," he replied.
<briannaT47> She sighed and held out her hand for the PADD.
<Dakota> Quickly she scanned the summary. "I don't understand. Last week B'Elanna said they were starting to decrystalize but now they are not only in perfect condition, but we have a reserve that will last us for over a year. What's going on?"
<Dawn47> Trying to hide a grin, Chakotay said, "Keep Reading."
<Jadie47> "B'Elanna's theory is that we have flown through a degraphicating, sublight field. I've never heard of that," Kathryn said.
<anne3> Chakotay nodded. "Personally I think it's one of Tom's elaborate ploys to get more shore leave. I ran that term through the databases, twice."
<anne3> "If you read on, you'll see her proposed solution."
<briannaT47> Janeway continued reading. "Hmm, I wonder if this can be duplicated on a regular basis. If it could, it would save us a whole lot of trouble with trade negotiations.
<briannaT47> Just think," she tapped the PADD with her fingernail, "We wouldn't have to trade for dilithium again if she can reproduce this test again."
<Dakota> "Keep reading. She thinks this degraphicating sublight field is one of many and that the region ahead of us is filled with similar fields. If that is true, we won't find many groups who need to trade for dilithium. It would just be a matter of traveling through one of the fields to restore old crystals and acquire at least as many more.
<Dakota> "In fact, it is more likely that dilithium will be relatively worthless in this region."
<Dakota> Chakotay paused. "Think about it, Kathryn. How much more dilithium can we store before we run out of room?"
<Dawn47> Kathryn smiled, "If you're sure Tom wants to stop to mine all this dilithium, put him in charge of the project - mining and storing."
<Jadie47> "That's was my thought on the matter," Chakotay winked. "Although, I thought of something in addition." He handed her another PADD.
<anne3> Kathryn scrolled through the information and smiled. "Chakotay, don't you think we should verify these findings before we 'blow the dilithium' on an elaborate holoprogram/party?"
<anne3> "Word has already spread all over the ship. The messhall is full of crewmen in newly replicated loud Hawaiian prints," he answered.
<briannaT47> Janeway sighed and put a hand to her head. "Oh good grief. Where are my sunglasses? The very thought of those colors is giving me a headache.
<briannaT47> Although, I'm sure you know what Neelix will have to say about it."
<briannaT47> They both grinned at each other and said together,
<Dakota> "I'll take the bridge for the party."
<Dakota> Chagrined, they exchanged grins.
<Dakota> "Let's both take the bridge."
<Dakota> Kathryn looked at his face. "And in return for letting me skip this party, what are you expecting?"
<Dawn47> Smiling, Chakotay hefted one hip on her desk and leaned forward. "Well... it wouldn't be nice to exclude anyone from attending the party. So... you and me... alone on the bridge..." Chakotay waggled his eyebrows.
<Jadie47> Kathryn stood up from her desk and leaned toward Chakotay, smiling slyly while whispering, "Nice try, Commander, but that is against regulations."
<Squirrelly> He grinned. "I won't tell the admirals if you don't."
<Squirrelly> She rolled her eyes. "There is something to be said for being 50,000 light years away from the brass."
<Squirrelly> "So what do you propose we do to keep occupied while every...single....other....person on this ship is down in the holodeck?" he asked, leaning close.
<Squirrelly> She leaned in closer, and breathed, "Gin....rummy."
<anne3> Chakotay looked crestfallen for a moment. He put out his lower lip and adopted a decidedly non-starfleet pose.
<anne3> Kathryn felt guilty for a moment, and was about to console him, when his expression brightened.
<anne3> "What are we playing for?" he asked.
<briannaT47> "Hmm," she mused. "What about rations? I can always do with more coffee rations."
<briannaT47> "I don't know why we'd bother with rations, considering you steal most of mine already," he scoffed.
<briannaT47> "How about this, then?"
<Dakota> "How about this then," Kathryn paused before she continued, "we just won't play at all. You can man the helm and I'll cover ops during the party. That suit you?"
<Dakota> Chakotay's smile faded. "No. It doesn't."
<Dakota> He stopped teasing. "Seriously, Kathryn, I don't mind both of us working through this party Tom has planned, but we both need a few hours away from ship's business."
<Dawn47> Kathryn laid her hand on his arm, "All right Chakotay... Gin Rummy and we'll play for a date. I win and you host... You win and I'll host."
<Dawn47> She smiled, "Should make you want to let me win, wouldn't you say?"
<Jadie47> Chakotay laid his hand over hers. "You have no idea what my plans are for that date. You might want to let me win, instead."
<Squirrelly> She looked at him innocently. "You really want me to cook that badly?"
<Squirrelly> He grinned. "You cook badly, gin rummy or no."
<Squirrelly> She swatted him on the arm and laughed, the sweet tension momentarily broken.
<Squirrelly> "I suppose we'll both just have to give it our best, then," she said.
<anne3> "And it was the computer that burned the potroast," she muttered.
<anne3> "What was that, Captain?" Chakotay asked.
<anne3> "Nothing." She tapped the PADD again and then handed it to him. "Here's the duty roster for Tuvok. You can inform him he'll be taking some time off to relax."
<Dakota> "You mean you aren't going to make him attend Tom's party?"
<Dakota> "Of course not. I want him to relax and enjoy himself. He can't do that at one of Tom's parties."
<Dakota> "Then the crew is going to wonder why we aren't there." Chakotay pointed out the obvious
<Dakota> "Your point?" Kth's glare was ready to ignite.
<Dawn47> Ignoring her scathing look, Chakotay said, "My point, Captain, is that the crew will start talking, which might lead to an increased number of bets regarding our relationship.
<Dawn47> This will, in turn, mean that more people will be watching our every move.
<Dawn47> Make Tuvok attend the party and we can avoid all of that."
<Dawn47> Admitting defeat, Kathryn said, "Fine. Tuvok gets to party. But first let's call the senior staff together to discuss this mysterious phenomenon."
<Jadie47> "Right away, Captain."
<Jadie47> The expression on his face as he left the ready room warmed Kathryn's heart.
<Jadie47> She was glad she had agreed to the game and the date.
<Squirrelly>
<Squirrelly> Though she tried not to be obvious about it, Chakotay knew the captain was staring at him throughout the staff meeting.
<Squirrelly> Finally, after the degraphicated sublight field and the accompanying party had both been well and truly discussed, Janeway called an end to the meeting.
<Squirrelly> "Commander," she called out. "May I speak with you, please?"
<Squirrelly> He remained seated in his chair, and as soon as the last person was out the door, she sat down next to him.
<Squirrelly> "I've been thinking about what you said earlier," she said without preamble.
<Squirrelly> "About?"
<Squirrelly> "The betting." She took a breath. "I was thinking about another game that would be much more fun than gin rummy."
<Squirrelly> "What do you mean?" he asked.
<Squirrelly> She lowered her voice and said, "What say we do something to tip the odds."
<Squirrelly> "You mean fix the game?" he said every bit as conspiratorially.
<Squirrelly> "I like the way you think, Commander."
<anne3> "I was thinking it would be more fun to plan were we're going when one of us wins the bet. If we pool our resources -- work together, we should be able to come up with some great ideas."
<anne3> Chakotay nodded. "I seem to remember getting this offer once before."
<anne3> "And look how well it worked out."
<Dakota> "It's a matter of opinion, Kathryn, how it has worked out." Chakotay met Kathryn's eyes with a steady gaze. She finally looked away.
<Dakota> "I don't know what you mean. We have a fine crew and we're more than halfway back to Earth. I'd say it's worked out better than we could have expected."
<Dakota> "I wasn't talking about the ship or crew, Kathryn."
<Dawn47> She stood and walked to look out of the viewport.
<Dawn47> "I'm struggling with this Chakotay. My heart tells me one thing and my brain tells me another."
<Dawn47> He was quiet for a moment while giving her time to think.
<Dawn47> She continued... "I desperately want to follow my heart, but I'm so worried that the ship will suffer. I don't care what Starfleet thinks, but I do care what happens to this family."
<Jadie47> Chakotay joined her at the view point, standing behind her.
<Jadie47> He turned her around to face him.
<Squirrelly> "Look, Kathryn, I didn't mean to get so serious; I know you have your reasons, and I respect that, okay?"
<Squirrelly> She nodded. "I know. And I'm grateful for that-- more than you'll ever know."
<Squirrelly> He relaxed, and tried to steer the conversation back onto safer ground. "So, Kathryn, what did you have in mind for this little bit of bet fixing?"
<Squirrelly> She looked up and slowly grinned. Chakotay gulped. He wouldn't want to be a Kazon on the business end of that smile.
<Squirrelly> "Well, as long as the crew is betting on us, we might as well make them think there's something to bet about."
<Squirrelly> He nodded his understanding. "And we'll make out like bandits. I like your style, Captain."
<anne3> Kathryn stepped forward again, causing Chakotay to step back involuntarily until he bumped into the viewport.
<anne3> "Making out like bandits," she repeated slowly. "How exactly would that work," she asked as she ran a hand up his shoulder.
<anne3> Chakotay stared at her, frozen, barely breathing. Kathryn blushed and frowned, "Or we could go back to the playing gin idea," she started to turn away.
<Dakota> Chakotay stared at Kathryn for a long time thinking. Her gaze never wavered from his. Finally he reached out one hand and pulled her closer.
<Dakota> "No, Kathryn, on second thought, I think I'd rather just make out."
<Dakota> -- 30 --]
<Dakota> the END
THE END
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