The BLTS Archive - Pale Skin on Bronze
by waywardkitty

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Published: 10-23-07 - Updated: 10-23-07

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Kathryn Janeway hurried down the corridor of deck three
juggling a stack of PADDs. One year. One year of battling to
survive, struggling to find resources, fighting to get home.
One year of wrestling to smooth out the difference between
Starfleet and Maquis within the crew.

And thus the PADDs. Crew evaluations. Her destination was
her first officer's quarters to go over the personnel
reviews over coffee. She arrived at Chakotay's door and hit
the chime with her elbow.

The door swept open to reveal a breathtaking sight. Chakotay
had changed in to civilian clothes: bare feet, loose brown
pants, and white, deep v-neck, wrap shirt. The shirt would
have revealed a broad expanse of delicious bronze chest in
any event, but the shirt had been pushed slightly off his
right shoulder. Resting on Chakotay's bare shoulder, was
little Naomi, clad in only a diaper. Her milky white skin
was like a dollop of steamed milk on the cafe au lait of his
skin. Her little left hand was wrapped around his arm under
the edge of his shirt.

And Kathryn was staring.

"Sorry," he said. "I hope you don't mind a little extra
company."

"No." She roused her self to look at his face. "Umm. We
won't disturb her?"

Chakotay chuckled as he stepped back into his quarters to
grant her entrance. "She sleeps through everything but the
red alert klaxons. Coffee?"

"Please." Kathryn set the PADDs on his table and watched him
fetch one coffee and one tea with Naomi nestled against him
all the while. He moved smoothly, never jostling her. He had
an animal grace about him that she often admired. When he
settled himself across from her, she asked, "Do you need a
moment to put her down?"

"Hmmm? No. I'm going to hang on to her." He rubbed his cheek
on the baby's downy blond head. "Did you know Ktarian babies
need even more skin-to-skin contact than humans?"

"Really... Skin-to-skin contact. Kathryn was all too aware
of how much humans needed it. Humans needed it, but starship
captains couldn't afford the complications it brought with
it. Her heart clenched. "They need more of it or they suffer
more from the lack?"

"Both. The Doctor recommended at least four hours of skin
therapy after her last ear infection. It boosts the immune
system."

Naomi's skin, so pale like Kathryn's own. Seeing the child
curled up against his chest reminded her of the rare and
precious times when she had placed her own hand, her own
pale skin, against the bronze skin of his chest. "Well, that
makes babysitting duty rather... involved."

"Well, not all of Naomi's sitters are comfortable with it.
Makes those of us who are in higher demand." He shot her a
sweet, dimpled smile and her heart swelled.

"I had no idea you were so good with children."

"Growing up, everyone had to pitch in on childcare," he
shrugged with his free shoulder. "So where do you want to
begin?"

Kathryn forced herself to pay attention. They slogged
dutifully through the evaluations. Every so often, Naomi
would sigh or whimper in her sleep and Kathryn would be
drawn by the beautiful tableau before her.

Chakotay finally called her on staring rather than paying
attention with a simple, "Captain?"

"Sorry." She looked away to collect her self and when she
looked back he was gazing at her intensely with a question
in his eyes. "Art is a hobby of mine. I was just struck
by... You two make quite a picture. Like a variation on the
Madonna and child theme..." She worried momentarily that she
might have insulted him, called his masculinity into
question. She looked up at him and he smiled softly.
"Perhaps I could paint you sometime." Inwardly, she groaned.
Oh, Kathryn, she thought, how very
come-up-and-see-my-paintings.

"I'm sure Sam would love a painting of her." He kissed the
top of Naomi's head and she began to stir. "They change so
fast at this--" He sucked in a breath as Naomi turned her
head toward his neck, scraping on of her little horns across
his clavicle. "--age."

Kathryn winced. "You OK?"

He didn't get around to answering. Naomi whined and squirmed
in his arms, mouth searching his pectoral for a nipple.
"Sorry, kid," Chakotay chuckled. "Nothing for you there."

Kathryn was struck by how comfortable he was with his body.
Chakotay gave Naomi a finger to suck on as he stood and
headed for the replicator.

"Computer, nutritional supplement Wildman Nu Five." A bottle
materialized. He somehow managed to hold her and feed her
with the same arm. Returning to his seat, he picked up the
next PADD. "Ensign Miller."

As they continued on with the mundane work, at part of
Kathryn wondered at how well Chakotay was managing the
cerebral business of evaluations with the more personal task
of caring for Naomi. Kathryn had never been comfortable with
being herself on a personal level while working. She was
never able to shift gears so quickly and smoothly.

Naomi had almost finished her bottle when the door chimed.
"Come," he called.

Ensign Sam Wildman entered. "Captain. Commander. I hope she
wasn't much trouble."

"None at all."

Sam pried Naomi off Chakotay's chest. "Ooo. Looks like she
got you," she said nodding at the red welt across Chakotay's
collarbone. "Sorry about that."

"It's fine" he said, straightening his shirt. Kathryn
watched as they went about the business of packing up baby
supplies and chatting about Naomi's behavior and bodily
functions during her time in Chakotay's care.

"Goodnight, Captain," Sam called.

"Goodnight, Ensign."

"Thanks again, Commander," Sam said.

"Any time, Sam. G'night, little one." Chakotay rested a hand
on Sam's upper arm and leaned close to kiss Naomi on the
head. Kathryn had a brief, irrational flare of jealously.
She couldn't remember the last time she was really able to
be herself, to be close to another person. She occasionally
joked with the crew and touched them to offer support, but
she didn't feel comfortable being as unguarded as Chakotay
had just been with Sam and Naomi.

Sam exited and Chakotay swung past the replicator on his way
back to the table.

"Need anything?"

"What?"

"I asked if you needed anything."

Kathryn couldn't begin to articulate how much she needed.
"I'm fine."

"Captain? Are you sure you're--"

"It's late. I should get going," she said, gathering up the
PADDs.

"I suppose you're right. These will all keep until
tomorrow." As Chakotay walked Kathryn to his door, he placed
a hand gently in the small of her back. Just before she
triggered the automatic door, he said, "Captain."

She stopped and turned toward him, a question in her eyes.

He hesitated. What he was about to say would either going to
contribute to her well-being or get him tossed into the
brig. Or maybe both. "Captain. Kathryn." Had he ever used
her given name? "Babies aren't the only ones that need
touch."

"Yes."

"Do you... would you like a hug?"

Silence hung between them for a moment. "I don't think..."
She looked deep into his eyes expecting to see some ulterior
motive, but all she found was sincerity. "Yes."

He drew her in. Her cheek rested on a soft patch of golden
skin at the base of his neck. He only held her for a moment,
and she was disappointed when he released her.

"Thank you," he said.

She was a little stunned. Shouldn't she be thanking him?
"Goodnight, Chakotay."

"Goodnight."

Kathryn stepped out into the corridor and headed for her
quarters feeling more human than she had in a long time.

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The End