Series: From A - Z
Part: 24
Title: Xenophobia
Author: Chuckles
Feedback: chuckles_cpfic@hotmail.com
Pairing: C/P
Series Rating: NC-17
Disclaimer: Paramount's, not mine.
Summary: Chakotay and Tom visit the Captain.
 

"You want to get married," Janeway said, repeating Chakotay's request. She
looked from him to Tom, a smile gradually creeping across her face. "Well,
that's wonderful. Just let me know when, and we'll start making the
preparations."

"Preparations?" Tom queried with a frown. "What preparations?"

Janeway gave an amused snort and shook her head. "Men," she muttered. "I'll
tell you what preparations, Lieutenant. For a start, there's the location,
clothes, the reception - they all need to be organised beforehand."

"Why?" Chakotay asked, his face echoing Tom's puzzlement. "Why can't we just
get married without all that?"

"Well, technically, you can, I suppose," Janeway relented. "But don't you
want to share this special occasion with the rest of the crew?"

"Not really," Tom remarked, moving a little closer to Chakotay as they sat
side by side on Janeway's couch. "We just wanted it to be a private moment.
And we want to keep it simple."

"Oh, I see," Janeway said, leaning back in her chair, her disappointment
evident. "Well, in that case, there's nothing to stop you from marrying
whenever you want," she conceded. She gave a small sigh before continuing.
"You're going to need two witnesses, though," she informed them. "We can't
proceed without those, it's a legal requirement. And you'll need to decide
*when* you want to get married."

"Well, the 'when' is easy," Tom stated. "We'd like to get married now, if we
can. It's just the witnesses that might prove difficult."

"Has that got anything to do with what went on in Sandrine's earlier?" the
Captain questioned. "Tuvok reported that there'd been some sort of
disagreement between certain members of the senior staff. I must say, I'm
not too happy that it went on in public, but as Tuvok informed me it had
been sorted out fairly swiftly, and that there had been no need for security
to become involved, I suppose there wasn't too much harm done." She turned
her full attention on Tom then. "I understand that Harry Kim was one of the
participants. Was this a continuation of the friction that existed between
you two prior to the away mission?"

"Yes, unfortunately," Tom sighed. "Although, I honestly thought it'd been
resolved. I guess I was wrong."

"So I take it, Harry Kim is not a prospective witness, then? Is that
correct?"

"Yes, Captain," Tom replied quietly.

"In that case, have you decided on anyone else?"

"We have one witness arranged, Captain - B'Elanna's accepted," Chakotay
informed Janeway. "But we haven't asked anyone else yet. Coming to see you
now was something of an impulse," he confessed. "I didn't really think it
all through first."

Janeway frowned. "That's not very like *you*, Chakotay," she commented. "You
*are* sure about this, aren't you?"

"Of course I am," Chakotay insisted forcefully. "Tom and I love each other
very much, and we definitely want to get married. I just didn't think about
certain prerequisites before making my request to you, that's all."

"Well, if you're serious about going through with this, you're going to have
to think about them. And if you want to marry *tonight*, then you'll need to
get your witnesses sorted out very quickly."

Chakotay nodded. "Yes, Captain. If you could see us again in about an hour,
I'm sure we'll have everything worked out by then."

"Very well, Chakotay. But where do you and Tom want the ceremony to take
place? Do you have a preference?"

/Our quarters, Cha?/ Tom queried silently.

file://If that's what you want, Sweetheart.//

/Yes, it is,/ Tom confirmed. /Is that okay with you?/

In answer to Tom's question, Chakotay addressed Janeway. "We'd like the
ceremony to be held in our quarters, if that's acceptable."

"Your quarters? Are you living together?" the Captain asked, puzzled.

"Yes. Tom moved in with me tonight," Chakotay nodded.

"Oh, I see," Janeway responded, a little surprised, but deciding not to
comment further. "Well, in that case, I'll see you there at 2100 hours."

"Thank you, Kathryn. We'll be waiting," Chakotay answered, taking Tom's hand
as they both stood, then headed for the door.

Janeway nodded and smiled, then, with a thoughtful expression, watched  as
the two men left her cabin.

"So why our quarters, Tom?" Chakotay asked as they made their way down the
corridor towards the turbolift.

"It's convenient," Tom grinned, stopping and leaning against the wall next
to the lift.

The lift doors opened and they stepped in. After calling for engineering,
Chakotay returned his attention to Tom. "Convenient? How do you mean, Tom?"
he asked.

"Well, think about it, Cha," Tom responded, moving in front of the older man
and pressing into him. "What comes after the ceremony?" he asked, softly
kissing Chakotay on the cheek, then rubbing against him.

"I have no idea, Tom. Enlighten me," Chakotay requested, a twinkle in his
eye as he ran his hands down his lover's back and pulled him closer.

Just then, the lift stopped, and as the doors opened, Tom reluctantly pulled
away from Chakotay, whispering in his ear as they exited. "Our wedding
night," he said, smiling seductively.

"You have a one track mind, Tom," Chakotay admonished him as they walked
towards where B'Elanna stood engrossed in diagnostic readouts.

Tom raised his eyebrows, a knowing grin on his face. "And you don't?" he
asked.

"Of course not, Tom," Chakotay replied seriously. "I'm more interested in
the legal and spiritual aspects of our marriage."

"Yeah, right," Tom snorted. "And leola root is the crew's favourite
delicacy."

"It *is*," Chakotay insisted, a wide smile spreading across his face.

Tom laughed, and B'Elanna turned around, smiling as she saw the two men
approach. "This is the second time tonight I've seen you two. To what do I
owe *this* pleasure? " she asked.

"Well actually, B'Elanna, it concerns our earlier discussion," Chakotay
answered, moving to stand next to her. "I know this is very short notice,
but we need your services as a witness at 2100 hours."

"You're getting married tonight?" B'Elanna asked incredulously. "What's the
rush? One of you pregnant or something?" she grinned.

Chakotay slipped his arm around Tom's waist and smiled. "No. Tom's not ready
for that just yet," he replied, patting the younger man's stomach with his
other hand.

"No, Tom isn't," the pilot said hurriedly. "And he's never likely to be," he
added, turning to look at Chakotay, panic clearly evident on his face.

"It's okay, Tom. I was only joking," Chakotay reassured him. He pulled Tom
to him and gently kissed his lips. "I don't think *either* of us will ever
be ready for something like that."

"Good," Tom sighed, relieved. "You had me worried there for a minute."

"So," B'Elanna said, looking from one man to the other. "Why *are* you
getting married tonight? *Is* there a reason?"

"Not really," Tom answered, calmer now. "It just seemed like a good idea,
that's all. We've been to see the Captain, and she's fine about it. We just
have to find one more witness."

"I might be able to help you there," B'Elanna said, finishing up the
diagnostic she'd been running. "That's if you don't have anyone in mind
already, of course."

Chakotay shook his head. "No, we don't," he replied,. "Who were you thinking
of?"

"Sam Wildman. I was talking to her after you left Sandrine's. She'd been
sitting at the table behind us, and was appalled at Harry's behaviour. She
happened to mention that she would've loved it if *she'd* been asked to be a
witness. She's very fond of both of you, you know."

"I'm fond of *her*, too," Tom commented. "She'd be a good choice, Chakotay."

"Yes, she would," Chakotay agreed. "We should pay her a visit." He turned to
B'Elanna then. "Thanks for your suggestion, B'Elanna. And we'll see you a
little before 2100 hours?"

"Just tell me where, and I'll be there, Chakotay. I wouldn't miss it for
anything," B'Elanna assured him.

"Then we'll see you in our quarters, formerly *my* quarters, in just under
an hour," Chakotay said, giving her a hug. After Tom had done the same,
Chakotay asked the computer for Sam Wildman's location, then he and Tom left
to visit her.

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

"Smile, please," the Doctor requested as he focussed on the two men standing
in front of the viewport in their cabin, their arms around each other's
shoulders. Tom and Chakotay complied, and the EMH beamed with satisfaction
as he preserved yet another moment for posterity. He walked away then,
crossing the room to find B'Elanna and Sam, determined to record their
inclusion in the evening's proceedings.

"I hope you didn't mind me asking the Doctor to come along," Janeway said as
she approached her newly-married officers. "I know you said you didn't want
anything elaborate, but I couldn't let an occasion like this slip by without
some sort of visual record of it."

Chakotay smiled, his arm now around Tom's waist, and a glass of champagne,
supplied by Sam, clutched in his other hand. "We didn't mind at all,
Kathryn," he answered. "I'm sure we'll enjoy looking at the pictures for
many years to come."

"I'm sure you will," Janeway smiled. "After all, you do make a very handsome
couple, as I think the rest of the crew will agree."

"With the notable exception of Harry Kim," Tom muttered, leaning his
forehead on Chakotay's shoulder.

Chakotay sighed and placed his glass on the small table that stood nearby,
then pulled Tom into his arms, holding him tightly. "Don't let him spoil our
evening, Tom," he whispered against Tom's neck. "Harry's already hurt you
enough. Forget about him now. Please?"

Tom nodded, rubbing his cheek against Chakotay's. "I'm sorry, Cha," he
answered quietly. "I didn't mean to let him get to me any more."

"I know, Tom," Chakotay said softly. He ran his hands over Tom's back,
feeling the warmth of Tom's body through the white silk shirt he wore, and
drew him even closer. "I love you," he stated, kissing Tom's cheek. "We're
married, Tom. Let's never let anyone, or anything, come between us."

Tom pulled back slightly and looked into Chakotay's dark eyes, noting the
concern and love he saw there. And as the Captain stepped away from them,
Tom leaned forward to give Chakotay a long, loving kiss. When he pulled away
several minutes later, Tom smiled. "No more worrying about Harry Kim. I
promise," he said, holding Chakotay by the hips. "But if we make it home, I
wonder what my dad'll think of us. He's never approved of anything I've ever
done, and I can't see him approving of our marriage."

"Does that bother you, Tom?" Chakotay asked, frowning.

"A little," Tom confessed. "But not enough to make me worry about it. It was
just a stray thought that was all. The days I spent seeking to make him
proud of me are long gone. It'd be nice if we could gain his acceptance, but
if we can't, I shan't lose any sleep over it." He moved his hands to
Chakotay's waist, then pulled him close again. "You're all I care about,
Chakotay," he said softly. "Nothing else matters."

"I feel the same way, Tom," Chakotay replied. "And as soon as everyone
leaves, I want to show you just how much you mean to me."

"Mmm," Tom murmured, pushing his hips forward until his groin brushed
Chakotay's. "Sounds good. Let's tell them all to go away now."

Chakotay gave a soft laugh. "I don't think we need to say anything, Tom. I
think they've already got the message," he remarked, glancing towards the
Captain. He was about to comment on Janeway's attempts to usher the others
out, when Tom groaned and brought his hands to his head in evident
discomfort. "What's the matter, Tom?" Chakotay asked, running his hand over
the younger man's forehead. "Are you in pain?"

"Something's wrong, Chakotay, but I'm not sure what. Can't you feel it?" Tom
asked, dropping his hands, then studying Chakotay's worried face. "I think
we're about to.... " His words were cut off as the ship shook violently, and
the red alert sounded.

"Status!" the Captain shouted into her comm badge as she ran for the door.

"We're under attack, Captain," Tuvok's calm voice informed her. "Two alien
vessels. They are ignoring our hails."

"I'm on my way," Janeway called as the others hastily followed her into the
corridor, then began making their way to the bridge.

The Doctor huffed as he prepared to return to sickbay. "Does *every* species
in this quadrant suffer from xenophobia?" he muttered.

Tom snorted in frustration as his and Chakotay's plans were put on hold.
"Certainly seems that way," he responded moodily as the EMH vanished.  He
gave Chakotay a small wry smile as he grabbed his hand, then along with
everyone else, they entered the turbolift.

TBC