The Murdered Sun - Christie Golden [98]
They stared at one another, surprise and pleasure on their oh-so-similar reptilian features. Janeway and Chakotay shared a glance of their own. She was no Betazoid, but Janeway figured she didn't have to be able to read minds to know what was going on between the two leaders. She caught Garai's gaze, and the big warrior, calm finally sitting on his anguished spirit, nodded and smiled.
***
They were back on course to the Alpha Quadrant. Janeway had permitted herself a cup of hot herbal tea from her rations. It sat, untouched and steaming, as Janeway stared out her large viewing window into space as the stars streaked by.
The door buzzed. Janeway was mildly surprised. It was late; she'd allegedly retired to bed over two hours ago. Wrapping herself in a robe, she called, "Come."
Chakotay entered. "I hope I'm not disturbing you," he apologized.
"Of course you're not," she teased gently. "You know me well enough to know I'm a night owl." She indicated a chair, and he took it.
"I wasn't able to sleep myself," he admitted. "It was quite the encounter, wasn't it?"
She nodded, brushing her hair back from her neck. "That it was indeed.
I think," she added softly, "especially for you."
His dark eyes held hers, then he nodded. "I understand them.
They might almost have come from the same traditions as myself."
"They're a touch furrier than your people, though," she joked.
He grinned, the expression lighting his handsome face. Then the smile faded a little. "But they've been through almost as much.
Both Akerians and Verunans. I'm amazed that they seemed to be so willing to work together, to cooperate."
"We did," Janeway pointed out.
"Ah, but we had to."
"So do they."
"Not really. In one sense, yes, in another... They could have gone their separate ways. It would not have been the best answer, but they could have. But I think that Nata and Riva recognized something of themselves in each other. And that...
well, I didn't even dare hope for that."
"Chakotay..." Janeway stared down at her hands, then continued.
"Do you... blame us still? Blame me?"
"For what?" He seemed honestly confused.
"For making peace with the Cardassians. For, even farther back, taking your land away from you on old Earth. We'd have been enemies back then, you know."
He thought a moment, then shook his dark head. "No. That's ancient history. Even the Maquis part of it. Someday, it might be important again, but here, now... Things unfold the way they do, that's all.
It's the present and the future that matters.
Now we're friends, not enemies. And I hope," he added, gazing at her intently, "that whatever comes, Captain, you and I will be friends."
She thought of all she'd learned from the rock-steady Indian in the time they'd been together on this strange, unplanned journey in the Delta Quadrant. She remembered how she'd always trusted him and how he'd never let her down. She thought of the beautiful world of the animal guides he'd introduced her to, the new way of thinking he'd taught her. Without him, she could have taken some serious, dangerous missteps in handling the Verunans.
Instead, Chakotay had subtly shown her how to deal with this strange, wonderful new race in a manner both respectful and effective. If Tuvok was in truth her oldest friend on the Voyager, Chakotay was her newest oldest friend, for it felt like she'd known him all her life.
"Yes, Chakotay," she promised him. "I don't see how we could be anything but friends. Even," she added intently, "if we should be enemies."
He studied her for a long moment, his eyes searching, seeking out the words she did not say. At last he nodded. He understood.
Rising, he said, "Well, I'd better let you get back to your insomnia.
You shouldn't be drinking a stimulant this late at night, you know."
"Mother hen," she chided. "It's herbal tea. No caffeine."
He nodded his approval. "Ah, that's all right then. Good night, Captain."
"Good night,