Summary: C/P, T/Dalby.
Leone's "30 Days" challenge. Chapter Nine:
More people than just B'Elanna get hot, in more ways than one.
Copyright March 2002 Cassatt
"Paris to Paris," she said as calmly as she could.
"I'm here, Martis. What do you need?"
Her heart started to pound. "I have to tell you something."
"Can it wait until lunchtime?"
"Yes."
"Okay - you meet me in our quarters at twelve hundred and we'll talk then."
"Da? I have to tell Tayo, too." Her heart pounded harder.
"Then he'll be there with us. Don't worry, honey. Whatever it is, it'll be okay. We'll be there in just a half hour. You want to read your book until then?"
"Okay. Paris out," she called. She told the computer to resume, got off and went to her second home. Once inside, she walked through the living area to her room, picked up her latest book off the shelf and settled down on her bed. But pictures of a tin man, a scarecrow and a young girl with bigger words she was still learning could not hold her attention. She was scared. Tayo was going to be very upset. He didn't like it when bad things happened to Bell and she had a feeling this was a very bad thing.
The morning had started out so fun. Her first birthday party had been just yesterday, and Bell had promised her anything as a present. So Martis told her she wanted to get a piggyback ride, but through engineering, up the little elevator, across the balcony and down the stairs again. Bell would only give her rides when no one could see them, and Martis really wanted to be up higher on that elevator, and even higher on the balcony. Bell agreed. And today she'd gotten her ride.
Then Bell got mad at some people who were smiling at them, and she'd let Martis off her back. She could feel the anger. She'd asked her why she was mad. The woman had picked her up and hugged her, telling her she wasn't mad. Martis was confused, so she'd put her hands on Bell's head. That's when she'd felt it. Something really, really bad, something put there by Vorik. But Da and Momma and Tayo and Neelix had told her she wasn't supposed to listen, and if she heard anything, she wasn't supposed to tell the person, so she'd kept quiet, even though she was really scared by what she'd felt.
But then she did what she knew was going to get her into even more big trouble. She got down and walked around engineering, over to Vorik and tried to hear something from him. She did. She didn't like it. She was going to have to tell Da and especially Tayo what she'd heard. She was going to have to confess what she'd done.
She tried to look at the pictures again and not cry. Picking up her stuffed dog she clutched it tightly to her chest and waited.
Ken Dalby approached the Chief Engineer with caution. B'Elanna was dressing down yet another member of the engineering staff for what seemed to him to be a minor, if nonexistent, infraction of the "Don't Question Torres" rule. A rule none of them had actually worked under for at least a year. But as a personal friend of hers, and a longtime acquaintance, he felt somewhat obligated to try and do something. Take her to lunch. Or for a walk. Maybe to the hydroponics bay, where they could talk. Something was wrong, he could feel it.
"Lieutenant Torres, may I speak to you in your office?" Ken said, during one of B'Elanna's breathing breaks, in between tirades.
She set her mouth into a firm line. "Okay," she snapped. "Fine." She turned and left the area, with Ken on her heels.
The door swooshed shut behind them. She turned again, but to face him. Her cheeks were slightly flushed and her eyes were having difficulty settling on his.
"B'Elanna..."
She interrupted him. "What do you want - I've got work to do."
"You also need to eat some lunch, don't you? Why don't we go to the mess and then take a quick walk..."
Something in her eyes changed, and Ken's stomach began to flutter. "Ken," she said, walking right up to him and grabbing his chin with one hand, "you wanting to spend some time alone with me?"
He'd been turned down for dates more than once by her and couldn't tell if she was teasing, flirting, or mocking him. He tried to move out of her grip, but she held on tight. The point of contact was getting quite warm. He could feel the heat radiating off of her. "Just want to have some lunch with you, that's all."
She made a noise that sounded to him like a growl. His heart skipped. She leaned up quickly, latched her mouth onto his cheek and bit it, hard. He yelped and wrenched his head away, asking her if she was crazy. She smiled, and it wasn't quite a nice smile. He was confused, but knew enough about Klingons to understand what she'd done. She'd initiated the mating dance. Why now, he had no clue. She took his hand and proclaimed they'd go find some food for him, since she wasn't the least bit hungry. Hand in hand, they left engineering.
Neither of them noticed Vorik, watching.
Tom held his daughter gently, rocking her on his lap. He and Chakotay were sitting with her on her small bed, their backs against the wall, shoulders touching, their legs easily draping over the edge. It was at times like this that he couldn't believe he was really living this life. He had a family of his own, and it even extended beyond the three of them. His heart was filled with this girl and this man and he had never been prouder of her. When her crying subsided, he moved her off his shoulder, holding her so she could see his face. His father been quick to show him anger with a look, and rarely showed him anything else - something he did not want to pass along to his child. She wiped her eyes with the back of her hand.
"Martis, honey, you were very brave to tell us what happened. We are very, very proud of you," he said seriously. "You did the right thing." He looked at Chakotay again, relieved to see that the burning glare his lover had been sending out in the general direction of engineering somewhat cooled.
Chakotay caressed Martis' blond hair, cropped short like her mother's. "I'm not angry at you," he said in a soothing voice, "you know that, don't you? I'm angry because B'Elanna may be hurt..."
Martis looked at him with complete, unconditional trust. "I know, Tayo," she said, nodding her head. "You love Bell."
He flashed his dimples at her. "Yes, I do, and who else?"
She grinned, and Tom smiled. She opened one hand and began to count on her fingers. "Me, and Da, and Momma, and Neelix, and Greg, and Harry, and the captain..."
Chakotay covered her hands with one of his. "And who was first on the list?"
Martis looked at Tom and he winked. She giggled. "Me. And Da. And me. And Da an' me an' Da an' me an' ..."
Chakotay and Tom both laughed as they stopped her with tickles, dissolving her into a puddle of giggling child, sprawled across their thighs. It was a familiar game they played, and as she laughed, holding her dog out, trying to fend off the tickling fingers, Tom was certain he couldn't love the man on his right more.
"Okay, Me-Da," Chakotay said, smiling, "I've got to go talk to some people..." He moved out from under Martis, who, still laughing, held out her arms to him. Standing, he lifted her easily and she wrapped herself around his neck and waist in a tight hug.
"I love you, Tayo," she said.
He rubbed her back. "I love you, too, sweetness." He kissed her cheek and put her back on the bed.
Tom looked at him, and nodded, letting Chakotay know that he'd take Martis to Kes' and be back as soon as he could. He was worried about B'Elanna, as well, and had a bad feeling about what his daughter had told them.
Chakotay tried to assess what exactly was wrong with the woman pacing in front of him. B'Elanna had brought Ken along to the meeting, which was taking place in Chakotay's quarters, hopefully to keep it as private as possible. He'd been surprised to see Ken in tow, and looking at him now, knew that the man was as confused as he. "Just tell me, B'Elanna, what exactly did Ensign Vorik say to you before he grabbed your head. Please."
She waved her hands in the air. "Oh, you know! He was acting even more stupid than normal - saying shit like we belonged together and it was all so much garbage I just didn't even listen! I mean, what the hell is he talking about?" She evened her tone out in an almost perfect imitation of the young Vulcan. "Oh, Lieutenant Torres, it is logical that we bond together for all eternity..." She slapped her thighs harshly. "Garbage I tell you!"
"Well, I'm going to talk to Mr. Tuvok and see if he can't enlighten us. In the meantime, you'll be going back to work for the rest of your shift." Chakotay tried to catch her eye but she'd resumed the pacing. He looked once more to Ken. He mouthed 'watch her.' Ken nodded, then stood and herded her out.
"I'm confused," Tom stated. "I mean, I know that Vorik has had the hots for her, if a Vulcan can have the hots, for quite a while, but this? To put some mark in her against her will?"
"If he's hurt her you'd better hold me back, Tom. Remind me I'm the First Officer," Chakotay said in a low voice.
"I'll hold you any time, any place, you know that, Chak," Tom replied, his voice dropping as well.
Chakotay looked at the man sitting next to him. Tom's eyes were getting darker and he felt a stirring in his groin as he recognized the look. He smiled and shook his head, saying huskily, "You can get to me like no one ever has, Tom ... even right now. I want to kill Vorik, I'm worried as hell, and I swear I also want to flatten you on our mattress and lick every inch of your body..."
"I feel it, too... Maybe we caught something from 'Lanna - the energy she was putting out was intense...," Tom said, moving closer and finding a way to get his mouth on Chakotay's earlobe. Chakotay gasped, feeling his lover suck and nip. He hardened in response, and reached for him, trailing his hand down a long thigh. Tom whispered, "You'd better call Tuvok and call him now or we're going to miss the rest of alpha shift and I'll have to explain it to the First Officer..." He went back to the oral stimulation of Chakotay's skin.
He moaned softly. "Fuck, Tom..."
"That would be good. Yes, fucking Tom would be a very good thing." Tom's mouth took his in a slow, passionate kiss that was deepening by the nanosecond. Chakotay was about to succumb when he somehow managed to tear his lips away, and rest their foreheads together. They were both breathing quite heavily.
He tapped his combadge, his chest still heaving. "Commander Chakotay to Lieutenant Tuvok."
"Tuvok here, Commander. Are you in need of assistance?"
He placed his hand over Tom's mouth as the man was starting to chortle. "No, I'm fine, well, um, yes. I am in need of your counsel. Please report to my quarters."
"Understood. Tuvok out."
He tapped his badge to cut the link. "I need a cold shower. Fast," he said quietly to Tom, pulling his hand off that sweet mouth.
"Before I give you one - since Martis is with Kes tonight, how about we eat in?"
"In bed?"
"Yeah, in bed, love. Here's your cold shower - Vorik, Vorik, Vorik."
He felt his blood boil in a different way, and his desire took a back seat to it. Yes, Vorik.
B'Elanna walked ahead of Ken a little bit then turned around. He just wasn't walking fast enough. They were on the holodeck, in one of his hiking programs, though still moving through the rolling foothills. He'd promised her a hike and she wanted it. She needed it. Her skin was too tight and there was a burning between her legs that she'd never felt before, not this intensely. It was spreading throughout her body. She watched Ken moving toward her. Kah'less, he was hot. Sexy. Sweeter than he used to be, but he still had that edge to him. It was the edge that she liked. When he'd asked her out it was the nice Ken doing it, and that man confused her. He'd wanted the human her, not the Klingon her. She was fairly certain about that.
He had almost caught up. She stared at him and he stared back. Intensity. Sweet intensity. That was Ken. His lips. What would they taste like? Maybe they'd cool her off. Maybe they'd heat her up. She wanted them on hers. He was right in front of her, still saying nothing. She took two steps, wrapped her arms around his neck and kissed him full on the mouth, taking whatever she could from it, electrified... even more so when he returned the heated kiss. But too briefly. He pulled her off of him and held her at arms' length.
"I don't think you're really wanting this, B'Elanna," he said. "I won't take advantage of you. Not you."
She wrenched herself away, furious. "I knew it was just a load of bullshit, Ken, I knew it!" He hadn't really meant it when he'd asked her out. He wanted her passive. She stormed off.
If Tuvok could ever be described as having an emotional reaction, Tom and Chakotay had seen it. He had very, very reluctantly explained what he surmised had happened between Vorik and B'Elanna. Vorik was in the first stages of pon farr and had attempted to forge a link, unfortunately without her knowledge or consent. Even though she'd shoved him to the ground, it was quite possibly too late. She would have to be evaluated by the Doctor, but the likely prognosis was not pretty. Tuvok would take Vorik to sick bay himself.
All three left together. Tuvok to engineering. Chakotay and Tom to the bridge; Tom would go back to work, Chakotay would tell the captain what happened, then go talk to B'Elanna.
Sitting in the ready room, Captain Janeway gave her First Officer a look of incredulity, followed by a flash of anger and finally determination. She commed sick bay.
The Doctor told them that indeed, Mr. Tuvok had spoken with both Mr. Vorik and himself, explaining the pon farr. Or, as the Doctor said, not exactly explaining the pon farr. "It is my considered opinion, Captain, that this almost medieval attitude toward a basic human function such as the sexual drive can only bring about pain and distress to Mr. Vorik."
"Doctor," said Kathryn, "I understand the point you are trying to make. But in this instance, we must rely on the judgment of Mr. Tuvok, and respect his culture's mores."
The Doctor huffed his displeasure. "For the record, Captain, I disagree. However, Mr. Tuvok has taken Mr. Vorik to his quarters for some lessons in meditation which he believes will be of benefit. I, on the other hand, as the Medical Officer have devised an alternate plan. I believe that Mr. Vorik may derive some pleasure from a holographic simulation of a Vulcan partner. I believe it will alleviate his blood fever."
"I see. Or at least I think I see. When can Mr. Vorik, um, partake of this simulation?"
"Whenever he would like. I've designed the parameters here in sick bay and transferred them to the resort holoprogram." The Doctor smiled his self-satisfied smile.
"And what about Lieutenant Torres," Kathryn asked.
"I need to see her as soon as possible. I've tried to contact her but she is not responding. She, apparently, is on the other holodeck with Mr. Dalby. Perhaps they are partaking in some release of her own blood fever."
Chakotay snorted and Kathryn blushed. She coughed and shot him a look. "So if we understand the situation, there is nothing you can do, correct? She either needs to continue the meld with Vorik, or, um, relieve her fever with someone else?"
"Actually, Captain and Commander, there are two other ways. The first would be to allow me to run some experiments on her brain chemistry and see if I can't find an antidote to the condition Mr. Vorik has imposed upon her. This, of course, is not a sure thing. The second is a sure one. Mr. Tuvok finally shared this little fact with me - she can have a physical fight with Vorik, until one of them becomes unconscious. That will purge the fever as well," said the Doctor seriously.
Chakotay was incredulous, and furious. Why Tuvok hadn't told them that in the first place was an issue he'd take up with the Vulcan later. He spoke quickly. "There is no way I'm going to allow her to be pounded into unconsciousness by Vorik," he stated.
Kathryn held her hand up to him and thanked the Doctor for the information. He promised to keep her advised of Mr. Vorik's progress. Then she turned to her First Officer. "Chakotay, I understand, believe me. But whatever has to be done will be done. We can't let her die..."
He glared at her.
"I'm sorry," she said, "I'm not trying to imply that you're willing to let her die."
He hit his fist hard on his thigh. "How about I pound the life out of Vorik? Think that'll work?" he asked sarcastically.
She now glared back at him.
Ken finally caught up with B'Elanna at the top of the next hill. She was sweating freely, had torn off her jacket and shirt and left them along the way. Ken had picked up her combadge and handed it to her as she rested. She ripped it out of his hands and slapped it on her tank top.
"What the hell did you mean back there," he demanded.
"I know bullshit when I see it," she spat out.
"Bullshit? What bullshit? That I don't want to take advantage of you right now - with whatever the hell is going on with you? I know you didn't really want to kiss me! I could be anyone!"
"ANYone? Well then - what the fuck difference does it make ?!" She turned away and started to climb. He grabbed her arm. She spun, furious. "Why are you stopping me?! I'm not the one you want anyway - just leave me alone!"
He held on tightly. "What the hell are you talking about, B'Elanna?!" She struggled, so he grabbed her other arm, too. She struggled some more.
"Let me go, Ken, dammit..."
"No."
"YES!"
"NO! Not until you tell me what you meant by bullshit!"
"Fine! All of that talk about wanting to go out with me - BULLshit! You don't want me, the whole me - you want the nice, meek, human me! Now let me go!"
He was about to give up, because he had no ability to follow her reasoning. He felt totally lost and incredibly angry about it. Well, she didn't believe him? He'd show her. He pulled her to him and kissed her. Hard. Full on the mouth. It only took a split second before she growled and kissed him back. Hard. Her lips were so hot he was stunned. She took advantage of the momentary lapse in concentration to part those lips and shove her tongue past his, diving into his mouth in a frenzy. Her arousal hit him like a sledgehammer. He came apart at the seams and fought back with his own tongue, consuming her, letting go of her arms which instantly wrapped themselves around his neck as she molded herself to his body. Oh, fuck.
After the report was concluded, the captain agreed with the commander that their Chief Engineer should be encouraged to take care of her blood fever in as natural a way as possible, as soon as possible, hopefully with Mr. Dalby. If that failed, she would be taken to sick bay where the Doctor could work on stabilizing her brain chemistry. Fighting Vorik was the last, and final option.
Chakotay materialized on the holodeck, amidst a chaparral environment of dry grasslands and far off forests. Hills, and valleys. And directly in front of him, nature at it's finest. Two members of his crew, grappling in the throes of passion, mouths locked together, making various noises and practically falling down. At least this talk might go easier than he'd been expecting, given this apparent change in the relationship between B'Elanna and Ken.
He coughed loudly and approached them. It was Ken who broke off the oral contact with a start, turning to him with a dazed look in his eyes. B'Elanna appeared to be ignoring his presence completely, for she started to eat Ken's ear.
"Excuse me for interrupting," Chakotay said as sternly as he could. He needed to remember that her life was at stake here.
"Yes, Commander," Ken said. The man was doing his best to act as though there was not an overtly sexual woman hanging on him, whose hands and mouth were traveling all over his body.
"B'Elanna!" Chakotay said loudly, in his best command voice.
She finally stopped what she was doing and looked at him. "Chakotay? What the hell are you doing here?"
"We need to talk," he answered.
Now that he had their attention, he told them almost all of what he knew, encouraging what he saw as he'd approached to continue, but with the safety protocols off, so that the Klingon mating rituals would have their full impact and thus purge the fever. Ken began to get quite upset and after some minutes of attempting to explain his feelings, with B'Elanna ignoring his words but once again assaulting him, Chakotay finally understood. Ken didn't want to do this under these conditions. He honestly cared for B'Elanna. His commanding officer hated to do it, but he reiterated the dire consequences if Ken refused. B'Elanna could die. He wasn't all that sure that the woman understood a word he said. Her burning focus was directed solely at Ken.
He justified not telling either of them about the fight option. They didn't need to know that. It wouldn't be necessary to take it. They could have sex and it would all be over. Ken agreed, though he was somewhat subdued when he did. Chakotay ordered the computer to take the holodeck safety protocols off-line, then with reassurances that a plan was in place, he left. Giving them some privacy.
B'Elanna was aware that Chakotay had left, though why he had interrupted them was still not quite clear in her mind. She didn't care. She was burning up inside, between her legs was a roaring inferno, so hot she could barely stop moving for fear she'd spontaneously combust on the spot. Her skin was way too tight. If she didn't have Ken she would likely be going insane. She was definitely on the edge of madness.
The edge. Ken had the edge. He'd shown her how much he wanted her, he'd shown her magnificently. Taking her. Claiming her. Just like a Klingon, burning with passion, for her. All for her. He was wonderful. He was so incredibly hot. And he was hers.
She grabbed his hand and wildly looked around for someplace off the dirt. Seeing some grass further up the hill she turned to him and threw her arms around his neck, kissing him, intending only a short kiss, but falling into it when he thrust his tongue into her mouth and pulled her tightly to him with a groan. If she could have sucked the life force from his throat she would have. She pulled back from his mouth, found his cheek and bit it again with a guttural grunt. In response, he latched onto her neck and sucked so hard it hurt. The pain was like lightening. She growled in his ear and begged for more.
He lifted her up by her ass and she clasped his waist with her legs, trying to make contact between his hard abdomen and the fire in her crotch. She writhed and moved and they almost fell over.
"Wait," Ken barked.
Kah'less, she loved it when he used that tone of voice. The edge was back. She loved it. She loved him.
He walked them to the grassy area and ordered her down. She jumped off, then grabbed his hands and forcefully took them both to the grass, getting him on his back and straddling him. Daring him to respond. He growled and flipped her and she screamed with lust.
"Do it!" She cried. "I'm yours!"
"Say it again," he said loudly, dropping his head down an inch from her face. "Say it! You're mine, B'Elanna, mine. I love you..."
"I'm yours," she said, pulling his head the final inch and devouring his mouth.
The next thing she knew, Ken left her. She tried to focus through her haze and saw Vorik, holding Ken up like a rag doll. "NO!" she screamed, trying to get to her feet. But as if in slow motion, Vorik dropped the doll over the edge of the hillside.
The flame inside of her burst into a conflagration - she charged the Vulcan, intent on killing him then scrabbling down the hill to find Ken. The weasel Vorik charged back, claiming she was his, that she was a liar, and belonged to no one but him. She got her hands around his neck and they went down, rolling down the dirty, rocky path, landing somewhere. She pummeled the man, wanting only to kill him. Her eyes were so hot. Her hair hurt. Her chest hurt. And finally, her knuckles hurt.
The heat left her without warning. One moment she was hitting Vorik, the next moment she wasn't. Then she remembered. Ken . She jumped up and frantically looked around, trying to get her bearings, then took off in the direction of a moan. Sliding on the dirt, through the brush, she reached him. Holding his head gently on her lap she called for an emergency beam out to sick bay.
B'Elanna took a deep breath, her hand poised over the door pad. Then she chided herself for her lack of courage. What did she have to lose here, exactly? More than she cared to admit to herself. She hit the pad and heard the chime. The door opened and she entered.
Ken was lying on his bed, propped up by pillows, reading a PADD. His eyes met hers as she walked toward him but when she couldn't read a thing in the eye contact, she almost turned and walked out. "Hi," he said.
"Hi. Do you mind some company?"
"No, not at all. Afraid I can't get up and offer you anything. Doc says I'm to lay low for a day or two."
She perched on the edge of the bed and rested her hands in her lap. "I didn't get the chance to talk to you in sick bay, with you being pretty well out of it and all. I just wanted to thank you. And apologize..."
"Apologize for what? It's not your fault Vorik is a little creep. I didn't do anything I didn't want to do." He smiled, a soft smile.
Though she missed edgy Ken, she found herself responding to the smile with one of her own. "Not anything?" Her heart started to pound.
He dropped the PADD and reached for her hand. "No, B'Elanna, not anything. I think I'm past the point of pretending with you..."
She had to ask it, she had to know. "So, nothing scared you off?"
"You mean the Klingon side of you? No. Did it seem like I was scared off?"
"No. It didn't." She felt a remnant of the burning, but whether or not it was still the fever wasn't clear.
"Can we go out then?" he asked, squeezing her hand.
She liked the feeling of her hand in his, but she needed to know something else, still. "Kiss me," she said.
He didn't even hesitate, not for one nanosecond, micro-millisecond, or instant. He sat up, took her head in his hands and brought his mouth down on hers. Kissed her with passion, and certainty, and just enough force to remind her. Edgy Ken was still there. So was the heat. Yes, she thought, they'd go out. And more.
"Yes," Chakotay answered. "She could have done it easily. We'll never know why she stopped. And here I was worried that Vorik would hurt her. I should have given her more credit. She didn't even get him to sick bay. Just Ken."
Tom put the final piece of fruit back on his plate and the plate on the ledge behind their heads. They were in bed, enjoying dinner, and time together under the covers. "Well, I guess I can understand her not worrying about Vorik, for pete's sake, he'd tried to kill Ken after all. But Jesus, how the hell are those two going to work together again?"
"Vorik and B'El?" Chakotay closed his eyes and exhaled loudly. "They'll need counseling, and there's no way I can do it. I can still barely look at the man. Tuvok's going to have to be the one. I wish him luck."
Tom took the other plate off Chakotay's lap and put it with his. Then he rolled on top of him, folding his legs, and straddled Chakotay's thighs. "You've had a fucked day, haven't you?" Placing his hands on the man's stomach, he massaged up the smooth bronze chest, across his broad shoulders and down his arms, then repeated the action. The third time he reached the shoulders, Chakotay slid his hands around to Tom's ass and started a massage of his own. The fourth time Tom continued his forward motion and leaned in, capturing his lover's mouth in a profoundly heated kiss. Tom's semi-erect cock now lay heavy against Chakotay's thighs, and strong dark hands were working their way in between his cheeks.
Tom reached down and stroked the other man's hardening erection as their tongues flexed and tasted the familiar, heady flavor of the two of them. His own erection started to rise. His overwhelming need for this man was the blood in his veins. Their heat. Their love. It was so much of who he was that it sometimes scared him. Not tonight. Tonight was for giving his lover pleasure, and release. To remind him that he was not just the second in command of this wayward ship. He was loved. And desired.
He rolled off onto his back and pulled Chakotay on top of him, settling him between his knees. He gazed into the dark brown eyes that were rapidly becoming darker as they moved against each other. "I love you, Chakotay," he said.
The man propped himself on an elbow and traced Tom's mouth with two fingers. "I depend on that, you know. I am a very, very lucky man. A man who loves you. Wholeheartedly."
Tom smiled. He wrapped his arms around his lover, lifted his head and kissed him, taking them both back to the pillows with their mouths enmeshed. He murmured against hot lips, "So... fuck me, love me, brand me your own..."
Chakotay growled, thrusting against him. Then chuckled, nipping Tom's lips. "You're already branded. You're mine. All....fucking....mine...."
Tom rotated his hips upward with gusto, and Chakotay groaned aloud. "Yours....all....yours...," Tom said through the haze of rapidly increasing lust, "only... and forever.... yours..." He pulled his legs up and apart...
Kes was the parent now holding a crying Martis to her chest, rocking her, speaking the soft words of comfort that only a parent can say. She felt some tears prick her eyelids as the pain and confusion her daughter felt washed over her, too. Martis had had quite a day. The morning's minor trauma had faded to a certain extent, only to be brought forth again, by another innocent.
Kes had just picked Martis up from her play date with Naomi, an upset and softly crying Martis, who hadn't wanted to talk about what had happened. Kes respected her wishes and kept her telepathic distance as they walked back to their cabin, with Martis turning her head almost continuously toward Kes' leg, away from gently prying eyes of the crew. Sniffling, and chewing on her fist.
But now they were home and the crying jag, which had hit in earnest as soon as the child climbed up on her lap, was slowing down. It was time to try and talk about it. Kes rocked her a little bit longer, thinking about what a brave child the four of them were raising. How willing she was to take on new experiences. And that confession she made. Kes, too, had been overwhelmed when Tom told her.
"Momma," said Martis quietly.
"Yes, honey?"
"Am I bad?"
Her stomach clenched. "Bad? Of course not. What happened this afternoon? Why do you think you might be bad?"
"I can hear what's in people's heads."
"Yes, you're a telepath. Just like me, you know that. And you know it's not bad, too." She held Martis more tightly to her chest and kissed her head. "So. Tell me. What happened?"
The girl sighed. "Naomi doesn't like me cause I can do that. She said it's not fair."
Now Kes sighed. Children. "Naomi thinks it's not fair - like to other people? When you listen to their thoughts? That's not fair?"
"I don't know. She got mad and said it's not fair." Martis hiccupped.
"Then what happened?"
"She ran out of the room. She was crying. I didn't mean to make her cry, Momma. And I didn't listen!"
"But you could feel how upset she was, couldn't you, sweetie," Kes said softly.
Martis nodded and went back to chewing on her fist.
Kes took a deep breath. "Well, Martis, here's what I think. I don't believe Naomi thinks you're bad because you're a telepath. My guess is that she wants to be able to do it, too, and she can't. She just wants it, too. She probably thinks it would be fun. That's all."
"But it's not fun all the time, is it," said Martis seriously.
"No, it's not. What you heard in B'Elanna's head this morning was scary. You wanted to know what it was, so you listened to Vorik. You were scared for your friend."
"Uh huh. But I was bad."
Kes sighed. "No, honey, you weren't bad. Did Da and Tayo say you were bad?" She knew they didn't. Martis shook her head. "That's right." Kes made a decision. It was time to talk to her daughter in more detail about the responsibilities of being a telepath. She got them up from the rocking chair and settled them down on the couch, facing each other.
They talked for as long as the girl's attention allowed. Kes explained the differences between listening for fun, or because you don't like someone and want to know something you shouldn't, and taking responsibility for something you might have heard accidentally. Difficult concepts for a four-year-old child, even one as precocious as Martis.
Then Kes tried to explain the further responsibility of a telepath - when to take action. When to do something based on something you heard. How to protect the people that you love and care about. Peoples and civilizations you may never have encountered before, but who are trying to communicate with you nonetheless. She harbored no illusions that her daughter understood that, but she tried to supplement her lesson with some telepathically sent images. Whether she understood or didn't, Martis sat quietly and listened to it all, asking a few questions here and there.
* ** ** ** *
The night lights were the only illumination in Martis' room. Kes sat in the rocking chair, holding one of her daughter's stuffed animals, and watched the child sleep. Wondering what kind of woman she would grow to be. Her aptitudes were beginning to show, but would they continue to develop? Or would they change in the next couple of years. Would she want to get married? Would she still be on Voyager, or would they have found a planet to settle on? Would they have to stop their journey for some reason, or would her daughter, the absolute love and joy of her life, have found her way back to her father's homeland.
For just as a year ago, when
she was deciding whether or not to bring this child to life, she was not
seeing herself in Martis' future. There was no certainty in her heart about
that - however, she felt more and more as if her time with this beautiful
little person was running out. So she rocked, and watched her sleep.