Title: Rations
Author: Ky (venom69)
Fandom: Star Trek: Voyager
Rating: Age Friendly
Summary: It was the same every month.
Character/Pairing: Janeway/Chakotay
Spoilers: None… the show’s ended!
Warnings: None.
Prompt Number for fic101: 16 - Borrow
Disclaimer: Usual guff. Not mine, promise to put them back where I found them.
Date: 05/01/07

***

“Chakotay, can I borrow a few rations, please?”

It was the same every month.

Four days before their rations re-set, Kathryn would be out. To be fair, she had, on occasion, had rations left two days before the end of the month. But she could never make them last the full thirty-one days.

Never.

So she turned to her loyal best friend for help.

Kathryn, unlike most people, didn’t mind eating Neelix’s food when her rations ran out. She would eat her meals in the mess hall with the rest of the crew. Chakotay, who only ran out of rations in the month of May, would often eat with her.

He didn’t like Neelix’s food, but he liked the thought of her eating alone even less than the protests of his tastebuds. So he would brave the multi-coloured things that the Talaxian would put on his plate and he would enjoy a meal with his best friend.

“Chakotay, can I borrow a few rations, please?”

“Sure Kathryn,” He’d say. “Wouldn’t want you to be deprived of coffee.”

“Why would you think I need rations for coffee?” She’d ask, her hands on her hips, her eyebrows raised.

“Because I know you.” He would smile and transfer enough rations to her account to cover her coffee fixes for the remaining days of the month.

She never paid him back though.

Oh, she’d offer, every month she would offer. But he would always wave her away and say that she could buy him dinner one night. He never called her on that, though. Because by the end of the month, she would be back in his quarters asking for a favour.

He wasn’t surprised, then, when the chime on his door rang.

Five days to go. Must have been a stressful month. He mused, calling for entrance.

And there she was.

Her soft blue dress clung to all of the right places – she never came to him as the Captain, not when she wanted rations – and her hair fell softly around her face, out of its usual bob style.

“Chakotay.”

“Kathryn.”

“How are you?” Small talk wasn’t really her thing and she always looked uncomfortable doing it. He guessed that she didn’t feel comfortable marching into his quarters and asking for favours without at least a little groundwork.

They both knew why she was there though.

“I’m doing well. And you?”

“Not bad.” She smiled. “May I sit?”

“Of course,” He waved to the spot on the sofa next to him. “What brings you by?”

He always gave her the opening, always set the foundations for her request.

Chakotay was never going to say no. In fact, he actually set aside enough rations for her end of month fixes. He was never out – except in May, but he tried his best to save for that so he could still cover her coffee and her birthday gifts – and he was always willing to share.

“I was wondering if you’d like to go to the holodeck with me tomorrow night. Italy, specifically.”

He blinked, surprised. “I’d love to. What’s the occasion?”

“A celebration.”

“Of?”

“This.”

And she leant forward and kissed him.

On the mouth.

Just a hint of her tongue poking through.

Chakotay thought it quite likely that he was going to faint.

When she pulled back, far too soon for his liking, she was smiling. “Thank you.”

He had the sudden urge to thank her. “For?”

“Always lending me rations. You let me borrow them so often and you never want them back. I know it makes your life easier to keep me caffeinated, but you don’t have to do it and you do. I wanted you to know that I appreciate it.”

“That was a nice thank you.”

A flush stained her cheeks, travelling downwards. He wondered if it went under the neckline of her dress or not. “I thought it appropriate.”

“Why Italy?”

“I’m going to buy you that dinner that I’ve been promising you for years.”

He smiled, softly. “I’m looking forward to that.”

“Me too.”

“So,” He started, a twinkle in his eye. “If that’s what happens when I lend you rations, what happens if I plant you a coffee crop in airponics?”

She tapped his nose and rose to her feet. “I guess we’ll never know.”

“Maybe I should plant that crop and see.”

Kathryn shook her head, the smile still firmly in place on her face as she moved to exit. “Chakotay,” She paused by the open doors, turning to look at him. “Can I borrow a few rations, please?”

It was the same every month.

***

End