This story is a continuation of "Muffled Giggles". The show and the characters belong to Paramount but the way I love them I can’t stay away. (Did you catch that disclaimer?)

I have been curious to find out what would happen if Janeway really let her hair down (No, not like that. Get your mind out of the gutter). These characters, again, do belong to Paramount. I just like to play with them. I promise to put them back the way I found them. Please don’t sue, I don’t have anything of value. 

Beweep My Outcast State

By: Willow
willow_v@yahoo.com

Janeway rolled over and her hand landed on...empty space. "Damn." She groaned. He had been gone now for 10 days and it was 10 days too long. "If he doesn’t get back soon I’m going to scream." She rolled out of bed and put her robe on. "Well, you know your not going back to sleep now. What to do." She got up and went to her desk checking the time. 0200. She wondered if there was anyone else having trouble sleeping. Picking up a PADD, she rolled her eyes and threw it back down. "There’s only one other person that might be wondering around talking to himself. Computer locate Lieutenant Paris."

"Lieutenant Paris is in Holodeck 1."

Janeway got dressed and headed for the Holodeck. Checking the program. "Sandrine’s." She laughed. With recent events Sandrine had become the unofficial ship’s counselor. Bartenders through the ages had always been counselors of sorts.

She pressed the button and the door opened. To her surprise Tom wasn’t alone. Seven sat on the stool next to him looking almost... depressed.

"Well, Captain, what brings you in at this hour?" Sandrine smiled. "As if I didn’t know."

That hologram knew way too much.

"I thought I might have a drink with a friend."

Tom stood and motioned to Seven. "We should be going anyway. Come on Seven."

Janeway started to laugh, "I meant you and Seven."

Tom gave a sheepish grin and sat back down.

Sandrine brought a glass of wine. Inspecting each one of them, then shaking her head and moving away.

"We certainly are a motley crew aren’t we?"

Seven cocked an eyebrow as the Captain and Tom chuckled.

"I hope they never find out that we miss them this much. We will never hear the end of it." He clanked glasses with the Captain and went back to his own thoughts.

"I am here simply to keep you company." Sevens tone was even as always.

Tom nearly spit his drink across the counter, "Sure, Seven, sure."

The three took their leave of each other somewhere around 0400 and went their separate ways. Janeway entered her quarters thinking it was going to be a long day on the bridge. Later that morning the bridge was quiet and oppressing. "Tuvok you have the bridge." She went into her ready room and lay down on the couch. It wasn’t just his absence, but also they hadn’t come across anything interesting. Janeway the scientist was bored, Janeway the Captain was bored, and Kathryn the woman was lonely.

Having almost dozed off when her combadge sounded, she nearly fell off the couch. "Janeway here."

"Sorry to disturb you, Captain, but there is a subspace transmission from the Commander coming through."

"Thank you Tuvok. Put it through in here, please." She jumped off the couch and headed for her desk. She was much too eager when she pressed the panel activating the view screen. There, before her, was that beautiful face. Gods, I want him. Her thoughts betrayed her.

He didn’t miss the look, "Do you miss me, Captain?" He had that mischievous glint in his eyes.

"You are evil, Commander. Report."

He immediately went into Commander mode. "We made contact with the inhabitants. They are very friendly and helpful. We have been allowed to mine the minerals the Doctor needs. Tomorrow we will begin removing the vegetation and fresh fruits for the trip back."

She sat staring at him for several more seconds.

"Kathryn... Kathryn, are you ok?" He was smiling.

"Sorry, Commander. It sounds good. When do you expect to be home?"

"At least another 4 days."

She bowed her head. Spirits protect me I don’t know if I’m going to make it.

He was smiling again. She could tell when she looked back up, he knew.

"Are you ill, Captain?"

"Very funny, Commander. We’ll see you in four days, then."

"Aye, Captain."

"And... Chakotay, hurry home." She reached out and touched the screen.

The look on her face took his breath away, "I will, Kathryn."

She got up and started to pace. If I had it any worse the crew would have to put me down like a rabid dog, becoming amused at her own thoughts, Janeway sat on the couch and started to laugh. She knew that Tom would want to know. She exited her ready room and went to the helm. Leaning down she told him.

His fist clenched. "Four more days?"

"That’s what I said, Lieutenant." Knowing exactly where his frustrations were coming from. She sat down in her chair, put on her best Captain’s mask, and read reports.

1900 HOURS: HOLODECK 1

Janeway and Paris tried to play pool and failed. They stood leaning on their cue sticks when the door opened and Seven walked in.

"Well, now the party is complete." Tom said.

"I did not know that this was a party."

Covering her mouth with her hand, Janeway chuckled. Seven still didn’t quite grasp sarcasm. "It was a joke, Seven." She said then slumped down in the nearest chair.

After several minutes, Tom threw the pool cue on the table. "Ok, I think we should talk about this and get it out of our systems." His outburst surprised Janeway. Startled she turned to look at him and immediately understood his meaning. Seven looked confused. "Ok, Tom, but no rank and file." He nodded his agreement. "Just you, me, and Seven talking about our feeling. Everything said stays in here. Understood?"

"Understood, Captain." He nodded toward a table. All three sat down, Seven still looked confused.

"That would be Kathryn, Tom."

He flashed her his famous Paris grin. "Of course, Kathryn."

How many protocols were they about to break? At this point she didn’t care. She just wanted to talk to someone who would understand.

"What are we doing?" Tom couldn’t help but laugh. Although, Seven had emotions she wasn’t very good at expressing them verbally.

"We are going to wallow in self-pity for a while."

Kathryn began laughing and some of the stress from the last week and a half disappeared.

"Who wants to go first?"

Tom started, "I don’t think I’ve slept more than 6 hours since they left. I understand why she had to go on this mission, but it doesn’t help."

"It was B’Elanna’s new drilling apparatus design. She would have mutinied if I had tried to keep her here." She looked across the room at nothing in particular. "Gods, I really miss hi... them." Paris grinned at her obvious slip.

"I understand why the Commander and Lieutenant Torres went, but Cap... Kathryn was it necessary to send Harry?" There was complete silence as Seven looked at Kathryn Janeway with what could only be described as a pained look.

"Well, well Seven. I think this may be your last step into humanity."

"Tom, don’t tease. You really miss him?" Kathryn reached across the table to place her hand on the woman’s arm.

"Yes, I do." Her face again masked.

"We’ve got four more days of this." No one spoke. They sat in companionable silence for some time.

Tom decided to make the most of this new freedom, "So, Kathryn, when are you and Chakotay going to knock out the wall between your quarters?"

That was probably going too far, but to his astonishment she smiled wickedly, "As soon as you and B’Elanna stop doing it in the Jefferies Tubes."

He couldn’t help himself. Laughing until he was near tears, "You should try it, Kathryn. It brings a whole new meaning to closeness."

Returning the laughter, "How do you know we haven’t, Mr. Paris."

Both in complete hysteria now Seven very calmly add, "It is not that comfortable." The laughing stopped and they both looked at her, "Well, it is not."

The laughing started up again and Seven couldn’t help the smile that started across her face. It felt strange, but and the same time, right.

The Bridge the next morning wasn’t nearly as tense. Seven had decided to take a duty shift at Ops. This pleased Kathryn. She knew that the three of them needed the support they could get from each other. She mentally cringed when she thought of Starfleet and what they would think if they knew about last night. Captain’s were never meant to get that close to their crew. But then they were never meant to fall in love with their First Officers either. Just the thought of him made her smile and she sat down in her chair.

Two days later, it had become clear to Tuvok that something was happening. He had assumed that the Captain and the Commander had consummated their growing relationship. That alone gave him discord, but it was none of his business and did not seem to effect their working relationship. It was acceptable in their circumstances. The Delta Quadrant was far from home and humans seemed to need companionship. It was the new relationships that concerned him.

The buzzer on her ready room sounded, "Come."

The door slid open and Tuvok walked just inside the door.

"Hello, Tuvok. Please sit down."

"Thank you, Captain."

There was definitely something on his mind. She had suspected this yesterday, but had decided not to say anything until he was ready.

"Captain, there is a personal matter that I wish to discuss with you."

"Personal in what way."

"It seems that your relationship with Lieutenant Paris and Seven has changed. I am concerned that this may cause unforeseen problems."

"In what way." She momentarily wondered if he practiced being cryptic. 

"Becoming too familiar with the crew could cause misunderstandings."

"Oh." She stood and walked to the view port. "Tuvok... you and I have known one another for some time and I respect your opinion. You do know this?"

"Yes, Captain."

"I’m glad that you brought your concerns to me. I do want you to know that anything that has changed between myself, Lieutenant Paris and Seven won’t effect how we work together or my ability to command them. We’ve been out here almost six years and with Starfleet 60,000 light years away things were destined to change. We are Starfleet, Tuvok. At least as much as we can be."

He stood and walked over to her. She had changed. Had allowed her self to become closer to her crew. Tuvok thought, perhaps he had misjudged the situation. She seemed stronger now, more in control. The crew not only respected her, but liked her.

"I will take your concerns under advisement." It came out sounding less than friendly. Janeway turned and put her hand on his arm. "That isn’t the way I meant that. I just think that we have to adjust to our situation. There’s not a quick fix. This ship, this crew they are our home and family. Do you understand?"

"Yes." No other words were needed. He did understand.

Two days later, it had become clear to Tuvok that something was happening. He had assumed that the Captain and the Commander had consummated their growing relationship. That alone gave him discord, but it was none of his business and did not seem to effect their working relationship. It was acceptable in their circumstances. The Delta Quadrant was far from home and humans seemed to need companionship. It was the new relationships that concerned him.

The buzzer on her ready room sounded, "Come."

The door slid open and Tuvok walked just inside the door.

"Hello, Tuvok. Please sit down."

"Thank you, Captain."

There was definitely something on his mind. She had suspected this yesterday, but had decided not to say anything until he was ready.

"Captain, there is a personal matter that I wish to discuss with you."

"Personal in what way."

"It seems that your relationship with Lieutenant Paris and Seven has changed. I am concerned that this may cause unforeseen problems."

"In what way." She momentarily wondered if he practiced being cryptic. 

"Becoming too familiar with the crew could cause misunderstandings."

"Oh." She stood and walked to the view port. "Tuvok... you and I have known one another for some time and I respect your opinion. You do know this?"

"Yes, Captain."

"I’m glad that you brought your concerns to me. I do want you to know that anything that has changed between myself, Lieutenant Paris and Seven won’t effect how we work together or my ability to command them. We’ve been out here almost six years and with Starfleet 60,000 light years away things were destined to change. We are Starfleet, Tuvok. At least as much as we can be."

He stood and walked over to her. She had changed. Had allowed her self to become closer to her crew. Tuvok thought, perhaps he had misjudged the situation. She seemed stronger now, more in control. The crew not only respected her, but liked her.

"I will take your concerns under advisement." It came out sounding less than friendly. Janeway turned and put her hand on his arm. "That isn’t the way I meant that. I just think that we have to adjust to our situation. There’s not a quick fix. This ship, this crew they are our home and family. Do you understand?"

"Yes." No other words were needed. He did understand.

The following day was filled with minor problems. Preparing the cargo bays for the new supplies, the consequent reports, and a few the minor injuries. The Captain left the bridge, at 1400, with Tom and Seven for a very late lunch when her combadge sounded.

"Janeway here."

"Captain, we have just received a transmission from the Commander’s shuttle. They are approaching our position."

Trying to contain the increasing joy in her voice. "How long ‘til the shuttle is aboard, Tuvok?"

"45 minutes, Captain."

"Thank you, Tuvok." Maintaining complete control until the link was broken. She looked and the other two faces in the lift. "They’re early."

The lift opened and deposited them outside the mess hall. They looked at each other and got back on the lift.

"Shuttle bay 2." Once there she dismissed the two ensigns on duty.

"Are we going to just stand around until they dock?" Tom smirked.

"Do you have a better idea, Lieutenant?" Kathryn’s hand moved over the control panel preparing for the shuttle’s arrival.

"No, I just wanted to make sure that we were all three going to look equally pathetic."

The last 10 minutes were an eternity. Finally, "Delta Flyer on final approach. Requesting permission to dock."

"Permission granted, Commander. Welcome home." He had never wanted to hear her voice more.

The shuttle docked, the hatch opened and Chakotay, B’Elanna, and Harry walked out. Tom didn’t even try to hide his excitement. He closed the distance between B’Elanna and himself and scooped her into his arms. She began laughing and kissed him.

Seven calmly walked over to Harry, "I am glad that you are back and you are well."

"Tha..." That was all he got out before she embraced him. He looked up, "Well, thank you, Seven. Captain request permission to leave the ship more often."

Janeway couldn’t help the chuckle that escaped. The two younger couples entered the shuttle to inspect the cargo. Chakotay pulled Kathryn to the other side of the shuttle. Pushing her against the shuttle his mouth came down on hers. If she had been about to question him, it was completely lost in that kiss. Her arms encircled his neck and drew his body hard against hers. His moan was the cue she needed.

"Commander, I suggest that we continue this elsewhere."

"Yes, ma’am." There were those dimples. She was lost.

"What about the shuttle?" She and Chakotay came back around the shuttle to find grins all around.

Chakotay tapped his combadge. "Chakotay to the Doctor."

"Welcome home Commander."

"Thanks, Doc. The minerals you needed are on the shuttle. I’ll leave it to you to get them to Sickbay. Oh, and contact Neelix and let him know he will need to join you."

"Is that absolutely necessary?" The Doctor’s familiar tone of irritation returning to his voice.

"Unless you want to off load the fresh vegetation and fruits that we brought back, Doc, yes it is."

"Very well, Commander."

As the six exited the shuttle bay Tom heard the Captain... Kathryn, say in a very sly voice, "Tell me Commander what do you know about Jefferies Tubes?"

Before he could help himself Tom Paris was laughing hysterically.

Fin