Distant Shores - Marco Palmieri [91]
When the laughter died down, Neelix continued forcefully, “As do many of us. I ask you now to raise your glasses in celebration of the fact that many… many, years ago…”
Chakotay rolled his eyes, but couldn’t help smiling a little.
“Careful how many ‘many’s you include in that thought,” the captain chided playfully.
“… the man we all think of as more than our first officer, but also as a wise and compassionate friend, was… born!” Neelix finished with a flourish.
After a brief pause to insure that Neelix was actually done, glasses were raised amid cheers of “Hear, hear,” and Chakotay felt a slight blush rising involuntarily to his cheeks.
As he turned back to the captain, he was surprised to find himself face to face with Crewman Chell. Chakotay allowed his mind to wander to more pleasant themes as the portly Bolian began his diatribe extolling Chakotay’s many virtues.
The moment he disconnected most of his consciousness from Chell’s running discourse, the question that surfaced abruptly was “Why now?” It’s a good thing Bolians rarely have to pause for breath, he thought with an inward smile.
Though she was technically free to pursue a romantic relationship, he’d always believed that it was doubtful she would ever do so. Her choices were limited at best and it would be somewhat awkward for her to attach herself to any member of Voyager’s crew. Back home, this wouldn’t have been such a hurdle. Husbands, wives, and lovers regularly found ways to separate their personal and professional lives while serving aboard the same vessel. But Voyager’s circumstances were unique. It was too small a ship for any two people to avoid one another for long should a relationship turn sour.
Chakotay had ultimately accepted the fact that until they were home, there was very little chance that anyone would breach the walls she seemed to have constructed around her heart. Though he had promised himself that the minute they reached the Alpha Quadrant, he was going to be the first in line to find a way over those walls come what may.
But something had obviously changed her mind. She had been thinking about it for weeks. He thought back over that time, but try as he might, he couldn’t pinpoint even one moment where she had seemed in any way out of the ordinary. Though, maybe, that’s to be expected, he reasoned. Once she had made her choice, she would have guarded carefully against exposing herself to the crew in any way.
It was a gamble she was taking. But it was not at all out of character. The woman had the highest tolerance for risk of anyone he had ever met.
Impossible to believe, but Chell was still bending his ear; something about a chocolate-like substance that would have made the cake that was still untouched in his hand both richer and lighter. Chakotay found himself encouraging Chell to pursue this passion to bake the perfect chocolate cake as he scanned the room and found that the party had all but ended. B’Elanna was guiding a very willing Tom Paris out the nearest door. Neelix could be heard singing softly to himself amidst the unmistakable clang of pot washing. Two other crewmen had found a dark corner where they “conversed,” oblivious of their surroundings. And she was nowhere to be seen.
He briefly allowed himself to imagine how wonderful it would be to return to his quarters to find her waiting for him there.
A brisk good-night to Chell and a genuine hug of appreciation for Neelix later, Chakotay walked as quickly as he could back to his cabin. But when the door opened, he found himself very much alone. He toyed with the idea of calling her over the com system, or at the very least asking the computer to locate her, but they were due to start