More Challenges, Part 2  © 1998 By Bridget Cochran   (VOY, J/C, PG-13) SUMMARY:  Tom and Kate are estranged.  She and Chakotay discuss it. *** She reported to Stellar Cartography at 0900 hours the next morning.   At first Harry wanted to defer to her in everything because of her  copious experience, but Kate quashed that immediately.  "Forget it,  Harry.  We're equals or you do it yourself." So, they worked side-by-side.  Harry would attend senior staff  meetings once a week.  It pissed her off at first that Tom wanted  Harry at the meetings, but she shrugged it off and concentrated on  her work.  After all, she did tell him to stay away from her.  He  **was** keeping his distance. Then when Harry asked if she was going to the gala premiere of Tom's holoprogram, she stared at him as if he were stupid. ^ ^ Kate walked toward the bar aware most of the conversation centered on her.  She recognized the look.  She shouldn't have come; she was  testy, irritable and not in the mood to make nice with a bunch of  ingrates. But that damn Harry Kim.  He stood bright and fresh before her in the  Astrometrics Lab, like a fuzzy, olive complected peach, gushing about  Paris's new program.  The last place she wanted to be was Paris's new  program. "Are you asking me out, Mr. Kim?"  Her serious tone made him blush,  he gazed down at her blinking. "Um-no, ma'am--Kate," he corrected, aware that she hated being called ma'am.  "I already told B'Elanna I'd go with her." "Then, why the interest?"  She paused from her calculations to  scrutinize him. Harry was uncomfortable.  This woman was so direct, so serious all  the time.  She scared him, and she knew it. "Um," he shifted from one foot to the other.  "I just know it'll be  fun.  And everybody deserves to have a little fun." Even me, she added for him silently.  "We'll see," she said and went  back to her calibration equations. Now, here she was, in the only dress she owned, hair combed, a smudge of lipstick on her mouth.  The mood was light, the room well lit and inviting--some kind of retro, throw back place--definitely Paris's  doings. Kate eased onto the edge of the bar stool.  She had scanned for an  out of the way table, but found none open.  Her eyes briefly lingered  on the table where Tom held court.  Harry and B'Elanna were there and an assortment of those bland, but adorable girls favored by Starfleet.  She gave a mental shrug; she used to be one of those bland girls.  In another life time.  Her gaze moved on. To rest on the man easing onto the stool beside her. "Buy you a drink?"  Chakotay asked. "That's the only way I'll get one.  Club soda with lime." His eyes flickered at her choice of beverage.  He ordered her drink  and an iced coffee for himself.  He turned back, appraising Janeway  from top to bottom.  The black velour dress was tight, but not  obscene.  Sleeveless--sleeves actually cut out to emphasize her  strong shoulders.  On her feet were simple black thongs that revealed  her one vice in the universe--painted toe nails.  His scrutiny made  her uncomfortable.   "It's not for sale."  She had tired of his frank perusal.  She rolled  her eyes when Chakotay blushed, busying himself with his coffee. "I'm sorry," he said after a minute. Her brow twisted.  Did he just apologize?  "Forget it." Chakotay shrugged, as he turned from the bar to scan the assembled  crew over the rim of his glass.  "Your rations are reinstated," he  said in the direction of the room.   Her brow twisted.  "Then why did you buy me the drink?" "Peace offering." She nearly laughed at him.  "You'll have to do better than club  soda."  Chakotay's smile was rueful, but he said nothing as he  watched the raucous laughter coming from Tom's table. "How come you're not sitting with the Boy Wonder?" he asked. Kate followed Chakotay's line of vision to the flushed, happy Tom  Paris who sat like a focal point of all life.  "Wasn't invited." Chakotay cast a glance at the narrowed eyed Kate.  "No?" She turned to the man beside her wondering if she was going to regret confiding in him. "Tell me something, Captain." He nodded. "Do you get tired of my intensity?" He rubbed his chin, then tugged his ear. "You do."  She sat back with a sigh, blinking.  Of course, he did.   Everybody did.  She took a last sip of her drink, and moved off the  bar stool. "Where are you going?" he asked. "To my quarters.  To lick my wounds," she cast another glance at  Wonder Boy, careful to keep her face hard.  She looked down at the  brown fingers that held her wrist.  She raised cold eyes to him, but  he didn't release her, merely loosened his hold. "Do you want to talk about it?" She gave a hollow laugh.  "That's not likely."  She jerked her hand  free only to have it grasped again. "Dance with me." "You know," she looked at Chakotay levelly, "I'm not sure what's  going on, **Captain**, but I'm not amused." Chakotay stood up and pulled the stiff Janeway into his arms.  "It's  all or nothing with you, isn't it?" She cringed.  He just paraphrased Tom Paris.  "What do you mean?" He sighed as he moved her slowly around the dance floor, just a  graceful shuffling of feet.  "You must really hate me," he said at  last. She arched back to see his face.  "I stopped hating you a while ago.   It's just an active dislike."   His lips twitched.  "As long as that's all it is."  He paused, eyes  turning serious.  "Thank you for saving my life." Kate moved a hand to his shoulder.  "Even though I disobeyed orders?" If his lips twitched anymore, he might break into a smile, Kate  thought.  "Your judgement was good," he said. "Tell that to Wonder Boy."  She began to lead. "Is that what the problem is?"  Chakotay was trying to sound bland,  not as avidly interested in the drama as he really was. Kate wasn't fooled, she looked up into the dark, sparkling  eyes.  "That among other things," Kate whispered. "Like?" "Like being too intense.  Like acting on instinct and not in the  chain of command.  Like seeing only black and white, not the gray  parts of life.  Like reading something into a relationship that's not  there." Now Chakotay did smile.  "I'm sorry." "You don't look sorry," she said, irritation plain.   He pulled her close, resting a cheek on top of her head.  "He's  young, Kate.  He's led a very sheltered life until now." "That's an excuse?" "Uh-huh."  Another slow song began.  "It'll take a strong man to be  involved with you.  And patient."  He held her fast when she tried to  pull away, a hand sliding to the small of her back.  His lips moved  to her ear.  "But it would be worth every minute." Kate was at war.  She wanted to believe him, believe that she'd b  worth the effort.  But Wonder Boy had bruised her ego--the very  fragile, deep inside ego that she never let anyone see.  It had been  a mistake from the beginning, letting anybody in.  But now this  bonehead, Chakotay, had to start talking about this romantic clap- trap.  "What are you saying?"  She didn't try to keep the harshness  from her voice. "I'm saying that Tom Paris is just one man.  There are plenty of men,  and women, on this ship who want to be your friend."  His voice  dipped.  "More than your friend.    They'll either accept you the way  you are, or they won't." She couldn't help from sagging in his arms.  She wanted to believe  Chakotay's words, but she wasn't that naïve.  "I'd really like to go  now." Chakotay sighed and released her.  "I'll walk you to your quarters." Her face quirked as she looked up to him.  "Aren't you taking this  Knight in Shining Armor bit a little too far, Captain?" "As far as you'll let me," he answered.  "I have something I want to  talk over with you." "Me?"  She was already moving to the door, but she twisted around to  give him the full effect of her incredulity. Chakotay laughed at her screwed up face, as he caught up to her at  the bar door.  "Yes, I need your help." End Part 2.  On to Part 3.