The Game By Morticia Part 9/? "He's killing me, Kathryn. It's a plot he's hatched up to speed his promotion up the command structure of Voyager," Chakotay moaned into his coffee. Kathryn chuckled, leaning back in her seat as she looked at her second-in-command. Admittedly, Chakotay *did* looked pretty exhausted. He also looked happier than she had ever imagined possible. "Well, at least you'll die with a smile on your face, Chakotay. It's been almost a month, hasn't it?" Chakotay dragged his eyes up from his coffee cup. "Twenty-eight days, fourteen hours and," he checked the clock. "Thirty-two minutes. Not that I'm counting, of course," he added with a chuckle. "Well, it's almost a record. Only B'Elanna lasted longer than this, Chakotay," Kathryn said encouragingly. "Yes, but she's half-Klingon, and besides it wasn't her who needed the vitamin supplements," Chakotay answered miserably. "We never do anything else. He's insatiable, Kathryn. The minute we're alone, he rips his clothes off, sticks his ass in my face and that's it, a done deal. The rest of the evening just goes to hell." "Well, that's not a bad thing, surely? Anyway, you could always say no," Kathryn pointed out. Chakotay looked at her as though she had grown a second head. Kathryn laughed. "So, okay, I can understand why `no' wouldn't be in your vocabulary with a naked Tom in front of you. Hmmmmn. Maybe you should cut back on your dates instead. You don't *have* to see him every night he's off duty. It's always easier to resist temptation if it isn't right in front of your face," she suggested. "I tried that, Kathryn. To tell the truth I encouraged him to keep seeing Harry and his other friends. The last thing I want to do is prevent him from having a normal social life. Although considering the hours he works in Sickbay, Monday through Wednesday, it's not surprising that we only have time for sex. "He should be seeing his friends too, but we have so little time as it is that we don't waste time *doing* things together, we just sleep together, and he doesn't want to waste any of the time we *do* have by seeing anyone else. I know that's not healthy. I don't want to own him, Kathryn. Well, maybe I do, but I understand that someone like Tom needs his freedom. Trying to cage him would be as futile as trying to tame a wild bird." "So you aren't insisting that your relationship is exclusive?" Kathryn asked in genuine surprise. "It is for me, and I pray it is for him, but it's not something that I have any power over. All I can do is trust him and hope that he never lets me down. I don't think I could ever face that, Kathryn, even though I accept it as a possibility." "Would you share him?" "Never," Chakotay stated firmly. "I can understand that, my friend, although perhaps it wouldn't be such a bad thing. It seems to me that there is enough of Tom to share and still be satisfied," Kathryn pointed out. Chakotay laughed ruefully. "Well, I guess you have a point sexually," he laughed. "Tom could probably keep a harem without anyone being dissatisfied. But that's not the point. Not for me anyway. I love him, Kathryn. It's not just a sexual thing. It's about trust and understanding. I just want our relationship to be *more* than sex and, oh damn, you know what I'm talking about.." "Yes I do, and I understand. I just hope you have the energy to keep up with him, Chakotay, because I think that the sex is very important for Tom. Maybe even more important than the rest of the package." Chakotay blew miserably into his coffee. "I think you're wrong, Kathryn. I certainly hope so, anyway." ~~~ "So spill the beans, Tom," Harry demanded. "You've been seeing him for a month, sleeping with him for three weeks, how long is it going to take you, anyway?" Tom flushed. "Well, like I told you, Haz. I've got to take things slowly. I don't want him getting suspicious." "Like you once said to me, Tom. There's slow and there's dead. It seems to me that you aren't trying very hard. I mean you name me *one* thing you've gained so far out of this relationship except a sore ass," Harry challenged. Tom swallowed angrily. Shit, Harry was right. It *had* been a month and he still wasn't any nearer his original goal. To be perfectly honest, he hadn't even given it that much thought recently. His whole life had revolved around the helm and Chakotay's bed. He simply couldn't get enough of that man. Not that it was anything as stupid and sappy as love, of course. Nope, the truth was that Chakotay just happened to be the happy owner of the first cock that had proven to be the perfect fit. Kind of like an X-rated version of Cinderella. Only he could hardly say that to Harry, since Harry would only probably point out, quite rightly, that even the ugly sisters had had their own chance at fitting the shoe. He could hardly tell Harry that he hadn't even thought about his original plan in weeks and that the only devious plots that currently filled his head were the ones that involved getting Chakotay's cock into his ass in the fastest possible time whenever they stole some time together. No, he couldn't hurt Harry like that, he decided. "As a matter of fact," Tom drawled. "I'm planning on my *first* move tonight." "Really?" Harry asked excitedly. "Yeah. Just wait until the Senior Staff Meeting tomorrow, and you'll see what I mean." "You think you'll get your pip back that quickly?" Harry asked in surprise. Tom shrugged nonchalantly. "Nah, like I said, it's just my first move. You'll understand tomorrow." ~~~ As much as he had complained to Kathryn that his relationship with Tom seemed to start and end in the bedroom, when Tom finally arrived that night and *didn't* immediately strip off and head for the bedroom in his usual trail of discarded clothing, Chakotay was not only disappointed, but decidedly concerned. Not only did Tom look pale and tired, but he just kissed Chakotay listlessly and then threw himself down onto the couch with a sigh. "What's wrong, Tom?" he asked worriedly. Tom attempted a brave smile. "Nothing, Chak, honest. I'm just tired. Would you, umm, would you mind terribly if we, umm, didn't, well, if you just held me tonight?" Chakotay leapt forwards and pressed his palm over Tom's brow. He certainly couldn't *feel* a temperature. He checked Tom's pulse. It *seemed* steady. He hurried to the bathroom and retrieved the medical tricorder and rushed back to Tom's side. "What *are* you doing, Chak?" Tom asked irritably. "I was just worried you were ill, Tom," Chakotay muttered sheepishly. "I don't wanna be fucked, so I must have a fatal disease, you mean?" Tom spat furiously. "You DO think I'm a slut. Shit, I'm outta here." He jumped to his feet, only to sway a little, his face draining of color. Chakotay dropped the tricorder in panic. It obviously was malfunctioning because Tom obviously *was* ill, whatever it said. "We're going to sickbay, Tom," he said firmly. "Oh, yeah, like that will *really* help under the circumstances," Tom snapped bitterly. "What circumstances, Tom? What is wrong?" Chakotay demanded frantically. "Nothing, babe, honest. I'm sorry I snapped at you. Like I said, I'm just tired, that's all. It's Wednesday. I'm always tired on Wednesdays," Tom replied. "You're working too hard, Tom. You've been pulling a double shift for months and then spending the nights with me. Of course you're tired," Chakotay soothed. Although it wrenched his heart to say it, he added, "maybe we shouldn't be seeing so much of each other, if it's waring you out." "It's not fair," Tom sobbed. "Everyone else has a real life. Why do I have to be different? Why can't we be together, Chak? It's not fair." As Chakotay hugged the sobbing pilot, he suddenly realised that Tom was right. It *wasn't* fair. Why should Tom have to work two shifts just because no-one else could be bothered to learn the job of medical assistant? Sure, in an emergency Tom's expertise was invaluable, but the rest of the time it was ludicrous that Tom spent 8 hours on the bridge and then a further 5 in sickbay, three nights a week. "You're right Tom, it isn't fair. I'll speak to the Captain about it." "You can't do that Chakotay. She'll think you're only doing it because we're together." "No she won't Tom because it isn't favoritism. I agree that if we weren't going out together, I might not have noticed how much the shifts in Sickbay were taking out of you, but since I have noticed, I can hardly turn my back on the situation. "You are Voyager's Chief Pilot, Tom. The safety of the whole ship depends on you being alert and at peak performance. Now I come to think about it, it's a stupid idea for you to pull a double shift three nights running every week. I can't even imagine how I came up with such a ludicrous schedule for you. Why didn't you ever say anything before?" "It was after I got out of the brig," Tom whispered. "I thought it was part of my punishment." "Maybe it was, Tom, but that was over six months ago. You served your time, got demoted, why the hell should you spend the rest of your life paying for one error of judgement?" "It wasn't," Tom couldn't help himself saying, even if it destroyed his carefully built ground work. "What?" Chakotay asked. "It wasn't an error of judgement. I did the right thing. I'd do it again," Tom confessed quietly. Tom's admission rocked Chakotay to the bone. It also warmed his heart that Tom trusted him enough to say it. "I'm glad you still feel your actions were worth the price you had to pay, Tom, but the punishment is over. Here and now. From now on you only attend Sickbay for medical emergencies, not duty shifts." "The Captain won't like it, Chak. I don't want you to fall out with her over me. It's not important." "It IS important. You are important. The Captain will understand." ~~~ "One other order of business," Kathryn announced to the command staff. "I have decided that despite Tom's invaluable experience as a medical assistant, his duties as Chief Helmsman must take priority, so I want you all to give some serious thought to any of your staff who show medical aptitude. It's time that we found a permanent assistant for the Doctor and as short-staffed as we are, we need to find someone in the lower-ranks for the position." Harry's eyes swivelled in disbelief between the Captain and Tom. Tom's innocent expression didn't fool him for a moment. Obviously *this* was what Tom had referred to as his "first move." He was impressed. He was also ecstatic, because maybe Tom would now get on with the program. Tom 1: Chakotay 0 ~~~ Tom stood in the Observation Lounge, staring out at the stars with unseeing eyes. "What are you thinking, Tom?" Chakotay whispered into his ear, his strong arms wrapped protectively around Tom's chest. Tom sighed miserably and leant back into his embrace. "I was just thinking how much I love you, Chakotay," he replied. Chakotay sighed with contentment "Funnily enough, Tom Paris. I was thinking the same thing about you," he said, nuzzling into the back of Tom's neck, oblivious to the tears that were slowly running down Tom's cheeks from eyes dull with shame. TBC