comments welcome at:  Ragpants

She felt awful. Her head ached and her chest ached and she generally felt all-around bad. Janeway struggled out of her bed and dragged herself into her bathroom. She looked awful too. Well, there was time to go by sickbay on the way to the Bridge. She didn't feel much like having breakfast anyway.

The doors to the Sickbay swooshed open.

"Ah, Captain. What can I do for you today?" The holodoctors's voice was cheery and slightly annoyed at the same time.

"I'm not feeling well this morning. I thought you might......" Janeway left the statement drift off, hoping the doctor wouldn't launch into one of his lectures.

The tricorder was being passed over her body before she had even finished speaking.

"Well, no wonder..... Congratulations. You've managed to catch both the Galli bronchial virus that Crewman Gallegos brought back from the last planetfall and the Malkarian Menegial Fever that had Ensigns Li and Palter in here last week....... Here."The hypospray hissed against her neck. "I've given you an analgesic." The hypospray hissed again, this time against the other side of her neck. "And a broad spectrum anti-viral. You should be feeling better."

"Good," Janeway rasped, "I'll be on my way to the Bridge then." She turned to leave.

"Not so fast, Captain." The hologram's voice halted her in mid-stride. "You're contagious. Short of a Red Alert, I expect you to remain in your quarters or here in Sickbay. It seems that one or possibly both of your viruses have mutated and no longer are responsive to the specific anti-viral vaccines I'd prepared for the earlier cases. You will need to remain isolated until I can analyze the specific mutations and prepare an updated inoculation."

Janeway faced the Doctor, bristling with irritation. But before she could speak, the doctor continued, " I can make that an *order*, Captain."

Janeway relaxed her posture slightly, realizing that arguing with the doctor would be pointless, and that Voyager could quite probably manage without her for a few hours.

"How long?"

"For the genetic analysis and to culture the vaccine, two, maybe three hours. Then you will require six hours for artificial immunities to become active and eradicate your infection." His voice became less clinical, more reassuring. "Don't worry, Captain, you'll be back on the Bridge by the beginning of Beta shift."

The doctor turned away, humming to himself. A moment passed and he realized that Janeway was still standing in the middle of sickbay.

"Either lie down on a biobed or go back to you quarters, Captain." He sounded annoyed. "But either way, get some rest. I'll let you know when the vaccine is ready."

Taking that as a dismissal, Janeway left to return to her cabin.

"Perfectly terrible patient," the doctor muttered as she left. Then he tapped his comm badge, "Sickbay to Bridge."
"Chakotay here. Yes, Doctor?"

"I've just placed Captain Janeway on sick call. She will not be reporting for duty this morning."

A look of concern passed over the first officer's face, but was quickly submerged. "Nothing serious, I hope?"

"A mild viral infection. She should be able to report back for duty in 8 to 10 hours. I've ordered her to her quarters to rest."

"Brave man, " muttered Paris from his station at navigation.
0;P>The First Officer shot the helmsman a look of warning but privately agreed with his assessment.

"Thank you, Doctor. Please inform me of any changes. Chakotay out."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Janeway stepped into her sitting room and slumped in relief. Her head didn't ache quite so fiercely as it had when she had gotten up, but breathing still hurt. Each breath felt like someone was jabbing Klingon D'K Tahg into her heart. She resolved to try and breathe *very* slowly.

She walked to her bedroom. If she was going to be sick, at least she could comfortable. She pushed her fingers through her hair and changed out of her uniform. The old sweats looked sloppy, but they felt wonderful.

Replicating a cup of Darjeeling with lemon, she curled up on the couch. Maybe resting wouldn't be such a bad idea after all.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

It was going to be one of those days. The Doctor could tell already. No more than had the Captain left--he hadn't even walked as far as the lab--when Lt. Nelson from Gamma shift appeared with a totally ordinary, but undoubtedly uncomfortable case of hives. The Doctor administered an histamine-blocker and a lecture on the importance of avoiding known allergens. The lecture was still tumbling from his mouth when two more cases of hives arrived through the sickbay door. Hmmmm. This was getting interesting. After injecting the anti-histamine, the Doctor began to question minutely the three itching victims. Then a fourth victim entered and he was accompanied by Tech Specialist Nakamura who was suffering an asthma attack. Something was definitely going on--and it was promising to be serious and perhaps widespread. A challenge! How he loved a challenge to his unique medical skills.

Moments later a sixth allergy patient was beamed to sickbay--this one in the throes of anaphalatic shock. She wasn't breathing and her heart had stopped beating. The Doctor went to work.

With the resuscitation of the Ensign Ricco, the Doctor turned his skills to finding the source of this outbreak. His first stop was the galley.

Voyager had taken on new foodstocks the day before yesterday and all the victims had recently eaten meals there.........

Several hours later.......The Doctor scowled at Neelix. He began to lecture to the morale officer. The words bio-incompatibiblty, histamine reaction and shock were repeated numerous times. As was the stern reminder that *all* foodstuffs were to be cleared through Medical before being served to the crew. At each repetition the Talaxian's head had sunk lower and lower, but the Doctor didn't seem to notice The offending item had turned out to be a colorful leafy plant which Neelix had used as a decorative garnish. It wasn't even intended to be eaten.

The rebuke was mercifully interrupted by the Doctor's comm badge-- there had been an accident and his presence was required in sickbay.

"Humanoids," the Doctor grumbled to himself, "always willing to ignore reality and take their bodies for granted." Ensign Weaver had injure himself on the holodeck---skiing. His left knee would require reconstructive surgery and a full course of rehabilitation. "Did they really believe that because the holodeck has safety protocols in place they couldn't get hurt?" Yes, obviously, because the ensign had deliberately skied on a run beyond his skill and ability and taken foolish chances. The safety features had save the young man's life, but could not prevent him from a awkward landing. The Doctor sighed and prepared the surgery.

It had been a busy shift. The outbreak of allergic reactions, the holodeck injury, several scheduled but routine physicals, a broken wrist, a sprained ankle, a round of stomach aches (no doubt also traceable to Mr. Neelix's food).....assuredly the next shift would bring more of the same. The holodoctor sighed. It was a good thing he was not required to engage in the mundane activities of existence like his living fellow crewmembers: sleeping, eating, indulging in recreational activities.....Still he had not yet processed the Captain's anti-viral. He had completed the genetic analysis but hadn't had the time to modified the existing vaccine stock. He hadn't forgotten--*his* memory was, after all, computer-based--it had simply been low on his priority queue and sickbay had been seriously understaffed since Kes had passed on......Perhaps this was an opportunity to convince the Commander to reevaluate the personnel allocation......He touched him comm badge.

"Sickbay to Commander Chakotay......I regret to inform you that due to insufficient time and personnel I have been unable to process Captain Janeway's specific anti-viral."

"Is that going to be a problem, Doctor?"

"Of course not. "The EMH sounded indignant. "The Captain is receiving a generalized treatment and furthermore her infection is self-limiting and only moderately virulent. It *means* that the Captain will remain on sick call for the next 24 hours or until I have sufficient time to process the vaccine."

"I see. Have you informed the Captain?"

"No. I haven't had the time. And she's due for her next dose...." There was the sound of a transporter behind his voice and the moans of an injured person. " I suggest you send someone capable of administering a hypospray down here immediately---I don't have time for housecalls." The link was abruptly cut.

The First Officer turned to look at Harry. The ops officer looked up from his board. "There's been a explosion in Shuttle Repair Bay 2--with injuries. One critical, two minor. The power conversion unit on the Cochrane blew. Damage control parties have been dispatched."

Things were being handled. There was nothing the Bridge staff could do about it.

That just left the problem of the Captain.

Chakotay rose from his seat in the center of the bridge and walked to stand behind Paris. His hand came to rest heavily on the navigator's shoulder. "Tom....."

The pilot leaned intently over his board and fussed with the controls. "The left nacelle seems to be developing a slight thrust instability, Commander. I really need to get it locked down and corrected before Beta shift arrives."

"Coward," Chakotay murmured under his breath.

Chakotay turn to look speculatively at the Vulcan at the Security Station. "Tuvok...."

Tuvok raised an eyebrow and returned the look. "May I remind the Commander that *I* am scheduled to stand at conn during the next watch which is due to start in less then 20 minutes."

Chakotay surveyed the Bridge. Harry Kim actually ducked when the Commander's eyes swept over him.

When did Kathryn get such as reputation as a Dragon Lady? he wondered. Then again he had been in sickbay comparing disabilities with Neelix while Tom (and B'Elanna he noted with a silent chuckle) and Tuvok had suffered the worst of her temper during the incident with the alien implants. Maybe they had cause....Why was everyone looking at him?..... He sat back down and pulled up the crew schedule on his board.

"OK, Tuvok," he thought, "You like standing at conn. You can take tomorrow's Alpha shift. Tom, the Doctor says he needs more help. You can *be* his help." He noted the changes in crew schedule and closed the file, grinning. He'd planned to check on Kathryn anyway.

He stood. "Tuvok, you have the Bridge. I'm going to sickbay." And he left.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The first chime had gone unanswered and Chakotay was reluctant to buzz a second lest he wake her so he tapped her code into her door panel.

The room was darkened but not dark. He could see that Kathryn was asleep on her couch. An empty tea mug and a untouched bowl of soup were on the table in front of her. He picked up the dishes and placed them in the recycler. Then, laying the padd with the shift reports and the hypospray on the table, he squatted down beside the couch and touched her lightly on the arm.

"Kathryn."

She started awake. "What's wrong?" she demanded, snapping into full command mode and sitting up.

"Nothing. I just came to see how you were feeling. The Doctor sent a hypospray."

"Oh." She relaxed slightly. "What time is it?"

"1450."

"Then I'm late." She scrubbed at her face with her hands trying to wipe away the sleepiness and shifted to stand up, but his hand on her arm stopped her.

"You're off duty. Doctor's orders."

"The vaccine...."

"...isn't ready. The Doctor hasn't finished it yet."

"But the hypospray...."

".....is the same thing he gave you this morning. He said you could come back to duty tomorrow Beta shift."

Chakotay was thankful Kathryn hadn't thought to ask why the Doctor hadn't finished the vaccine. He didn't think that an allergic outbreak qualified as a crisis on the ship, but if she knew about the explosion in the repair bay, without a doubt she would feel compelled to investigate.

He moved to sit beside her on the couch and pressed the hypospray against her neck.

Janeway sighed in relief, then blushed slightly as she realized she had just clearly betrayed her current state of discomfort. To cover, she asked what had transpired on the Bridge during the past shift.

Chakotay told her about the rash of allergic reactions to Neelix's food, careful to make the incident sound humorous, rather than life-threatening. Kathryn's smile was ample payment for his story. But he thought she still looked tired.

"How are you feeling?"

"Some better," she admitted grudgingly. "The headache is much better, but it still hurts when I breathe."

"Get some rest. I have a couple of errands to do. How about when I'm done I bring you some dinner--I can guarantee it's allergy-free."

Her laugh was feeble, but so was the joke. Chakotay rose and walked toward the door, but then turned and tapped his chest with a finger. "A hot shower. The steam will help loosen your chest."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

First, Chakotay went to Sickbay to check on Crewman Tsosie's recovery, then he was off to the Shuttle Repair Bay to see what progress had been made on finding the cause of the accident. The quick stop turned into a several hours long project, but it was determined that explosion had been caused by using a part bartered from a Delta Quadrant race whose safety specs weren't quite on par with those used on Voyager. The accident was no one's fault, just an unfortunate accident. He made a note in the log to more carefully scrutinize the technology they traded for.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Janeway stepped out of her bathroom. She was barefoot, wearing her tank top and a pair of sweat pants, and scrubbing her hair dry with a towel. She heard the noise of someone moving in her sitting room. Silently, she stepped to her doorway to look. Her first officer stood at her replicator, removing a bowl of something from its cavity. His back was toward her. He turned, saw her standing in the doorway and gave a sheepish smile that said: busted.

"Kathryn," he said, " I didn't hear you."

"Obviously," she drawled. "Tell me, Commander, just how long have you had my room codes?" She asked folding her arms across her chest.

He set the dishes down on her coffee table and straightened unconsciously. "Since before the end of my second week aboard. Yours. Tuvok's. Kim's. Paris uses some sort of encrypted thing which he changes randomly." He faced her seriously. "You 'Fleet types are too trusting. I bet none of you have changed your room codes since the day you first set foot on Voyager."

"Thank you for the security report, Commander," she said sardonically, "I'll send out a memo."

The replicator chimed softly. Chakotay gestured vaguely at the food on the table and took a step backwards. "I promised you dinner."

Only partly mollified, Janeway came to sit near one end of her couch. Chakotay lifted his plate from the replicator and sat at the other end of the couch in wary silence. Janeway tentatively spooned at the bowl in front of her. "What is this?"

"Green chile chicken soup. My Aunt Irene's recipe."

"Just what I need-- a yenta," Janeway muttered softly to herself.

She waved away his puzzled look and leaned down to taste the soup. The chicken stock had been enriched by cream and there were large chunks of carrots, potatoes and chicken. The small green dice--the chile, she guessed-- lent a warm spiciness to the soup that didn't overwhelm the other flavors. It tasted wonderful. Exactly what her body craved.

"This is good." Her voice sounded a little surprised, even to her own ears.

"It's always what I wanted when I was sick."

"I thought you were a vegetarian."

"I wasn't always, you know." And with that he launched into a story from his childhood.

The last of her anger dissipated. He was being charming. Deliberately so. She couldn't stay angry with him. Not in the face of his good humor. Janeway allowed herself to relax, enjoy the company and the food. If only the lingering headache would fade, she would feel fine, or at least well enough to get on with it, with living, with whatever Voyager needed her to do.

He must have noticed the line between her brows, the subtle wrongness about her.

"Head still hurt?"

She gave a small begrudging nod.

"Let me rub your neck." He began to slide across the couch, but was stopped by her skeptical look. "I was right about the shower, wasn't I?" A slow nod from her. "And the soup?" Another acknowledgment there.

"I promise, I'll be good." Casting a doubtful look in his direction, Kathryn turn so her back was to him. Thinking to herself "that's what I'm afraid of..."

"Computer...play music selection Chakotay 4, instrumental only." He adjusted the volume until it was just right. Then Chakotay rubbed his hands together so that his hands would not feel too cool on her fever-warmed skin. He began, rubbing lightly at her temples in slow circular motions. Slowly he continued down behind her ears kneading, massaging, caressing his way to the base of her skull. His fingers massaging slowly her neck and shoulders. Kathryn began to relax and lean into his masterful hands.

"Mmmmmm.....feels good..." she murmured softly.

Chakotay leaned forward and whispered " Kathryn?"

"Hmmmm?" she asked drowsily.

"Feel better? Headache gone?"
"Ummm hmmmm..." came the affirmative.

"Maybe you should get into bed now and rest." His breath was hot and speculative on her neck.

"Ummmm.... Bed sounds nice." She leaned back against his chest, running her hands back along the insides of his thighs. Back and forth her nails lightly caressing the thin fabric.

Chakotay groaned. Pulling away, he stood up and scooped her up intending to deposit her in bed before things go too far out of hand. Kathryn wrapped her arms around his neck, her fingers twining among with the small hairs at the base of his neck. She lay her head against his strong chest. As he reached her bed, he lowered her feet allowing her to stand. Keeping her arms around his neck, her fingers entwined in his short cropped hair, Kathryn pulled his face toward hers. Settling his lips on hers, Chakotay found himself responding to her warm kiss. Chakotay broke the kiss reluctantly.

"Kathryn......." His voice was rough with desire.

She put two fingers against his lips still them. "Shhhh...."

Then taking a small step back, Kathryn pulled her tank top over her head and wriggled out her sweats in one motion .Chakotay's eyes devoured the sight of her beautiful body before him.

His voice cracked as he spoke " Kathryn......I...."

Again Kathryn stilled his lips with her fingers. "Don't...." she warned, "I'm not delusional, I'm not thinking irrationally..... I know what I'm doing and I want this, I need this"

And with that she brought his head down to meet hers. Chakotay responded to her parted lips with a passion long denied. Easing him back into a sitting position on the bed, Kathryn's hands began a quest of their own. Helping him off with his shirt, she ran her hands across his broad chest, reveling in the feel of his golden skin. She lifted her lips from his mouth to run her tongue down his neck, then lower to find his nipples already hard and erect. Teasing each one in turn briefly, she continued her mission downward. Her fingers slid beneath the waist band of his slacks, eliciting a groan from him. She loosened the fastening and, as he raised his hips. she eased his pants down past his knees, repeating the action on the black silk boxers that he wore beneath. Small kisses continued downward along the insides of his thighs. Their effect was becoming more apparent by the minute. Working her way back up she stopped to caress his hardening member, growing stiffer at her touch. He moaned in pleasure as she caressed it up and down its thick shaft, gently stroking the tender sac beneath it. Suddenly her tongue joined in licking down the underside along the large and sensitive vein. His breathing became more shallow as he endured the ecstasy of her touch. She looked up and smiled at him, licking the tiny salty droplets from the tip. Finally her mouth descended on him. For a moment, he thought his control would be lost. She was sucking the head, taking him in inch by inch, until he knew he could take no more.....

Pulling her away from her fun, Chakotay moved them both fully onto the bed. Taking his turn ,he commanded her lips, kissing them like a drowning man drinking in a oasis. When his composure was regained, he moved into position above her. Nudging her legs apart with his knee, his long hard length pressing at the entrance of her desire. Slowly he entered her, a few inches at time, allowing both of them to savor the sensation and giving her body time to adjust to his invasion. When finally his balls rested at the base of her bottom , enjoying the feel of her engulfing him for a few moments, he tenderly kissed her. Slowly he started to withdraw, and re-enter, in and out the rhythm was set, slow but steady. His mouth trailed down her neck, ending at her breast. Suckling at each in turn until her nipples were stiff and had a rosy hue. Never breaking stride, he continued his rhythm with the practiced hand of a master. Then slowly he withdrew completely... Kathryn gasped at the loss of contact, only to moan in delight as a new sensation took its place.

Chakotay trailed a path of kisses down her belly to the small patch of auburn curls. Seeking still lower, his tongue lightly caressed the swollen folds. Responding both to her moans of pleasure and the combined taste of them on her lips, Chakotay alternatingly sucked and licked her stiff nub, inserting his fingers resuming his previous rhythm until she cried out his name in the throes of passion.

He moved up to kiss her mouth and Kathryn savored their combined flavors on his mouth. Taking his former position between her legs, Chakotay entered in one swift motion. Kathryn gasped at the suddenness of it. Chakotay reached behind her head and removed one pillow, then, stopping his motions for a moment, he raised her hips and placed the pillow beneath her. As he resumed his rhythm, he increased the pace. With one hand he thrust two fingers between them to rub her clit, while he pounded away. Kathryn met him thrust for thrust, thought she would lose her mind when she finally came. As her warm sheath quaked around him, she saw that his remarkable control flagging.

Taking advantage of the moment, she shifted her weight, rolling him under her. Now she was in charge. She would take him to the pinnacle and over the edge with her this time. Kathryn began to ride Chakotay, while his hands massaged her soft breasts. Faster, Faster...his breath was coming in ragged pants, his control overwhelmed. He cried out her name as they went over together.

Kathryn collapsed on to his chest. Chakotay's hands caressed her hair as he kissed her tenderly. Looking up into his satisfied eyes, Kathryn saw such open and vulnerable emotion that it overwhelmed her. She felt tears well up in her own eyes and she looked away, burrowing her face more deeply into the crook of his neck. Reluctantly after a time, she allowed him to slip her off his chest and tuck her closely against his left side. He pulled up the sheet to cover them both and they fell contentedly asleep.

~~~~~~~~~~~~

Chakotay awoke. He felt awful. His head throbbed in time with his too rapid pulse and his chest ached as if he had been in bar fight with three Klingons and a Nausicaan and lost. His left side had gone completely numb. He tried to move the affected limbs, but found them weighed down by the warm, sleeping weight of Kathryn Janeway. He smiled affectionately at her and eased his arm out from underneath her. The motion woke her.

"Morning, Chakotay, " she greeted him with a pleased smile. " Sleep well?" she asked mischievously.

"Better than I have in a long time ,"he answered back with a grin. But as he moved to sit up, he grimaced in pain and lifted a hand to his forehead.

"Headache?" Kathryn asked, concern coloring her voice." Chest hurt?"

He nodded gingerly, trying not to move his head too much.

"Better get down to the Doctor and see if he's got that anti-viral ready. Ask for a painkiller too. It helps." She gave him a sympathetic smile and then started to roll over. She noticed the disappointed look forming on his face. "Don't worry, " she said with no small amount of cheerfulness, "I'll be right here when you get back." And Captain Janeway went back to sleep.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The doors to Sickbay whooshed open. Chakotay entered and stopped, looking for the Doctor.

The EMH stepped out of his office.

"What can I do for...." he began, but one look at the Commander's pale face told him the man was ill. The Doctor motioned him toward the biobed and reached for his tricorder, but the Doctor was sure he knew exactly what ailed the Commander. He could hear the man's raspy breathing quite clearly with his enhanced holographic hearing. However, to be completely accurate and scientific in his diagnosis, he scanned the Commander anyway. Just as he'd thought. He snapped the tricorder closed.

" Commander, you have Gallian bronchitis and Malkarian Fever. And coincidentally, you happen to be infected with the *same* mutated strains which the Captain came in here with yesterday...." The Doctor's voice was full of smug superciliousness. "Now I *wonder* how that could have happened? Care to share any thoughts on that, Commander?" With a vaguely amused look, the EMH turned away and picked up a hypospray.

Chakotay opened his mouth to protest against the Doctor's insinuations, but was interrupted by the sting and hiss of a hypospray.

"There," said the Doctor with satisfaction, " I've given you the tailored anti-viral and an analgesic. You should be feeling much better soon and will be able to return to duty this afternoon." The EMH nodded and Chakotay slid off the biobed and headed for the door, all the while wondering exactly what the Doctor had meant by his remark.

The Doctor followed Chakotay, escorting him out of Sickbay. "Get some rest, Commander," he advised as they reached the door and it opened obediently. "And, Commander, tell the Captain that by rest, I mean sleep.....for both of you." The door swished closed leaving Chakotay standing in the corridor staring dumbfoundedly at the Sickbay door.