Title: Closing the Distance 1/3
Author: T'Yanna
Email: tyannarebelbase.net
Size: 11K
Rating: NC-17
Codes: A, F; C/Tu
Summary: Commanders Chakotay and Tuvok examine and modify their current situation. Mild spoilers for “Night” and “Alter Ego.”

Hey all.  This is my first Trek fic, so be kind.  This is really kind of long.  This is also my fic with actual and not implied slash.  Hope you like it. (Sorry about the X-post)

Disclaimer:  All things Trek belong to Paramount.  They have that and I have nothing worth getting in a lawsuit.


~/\~
Distance was a good thing when you had something to hide.  Unfortunately, Commander Chakotay did and he resented his displacement even as he reveled in it.

He’d come to realize that he felt things, powerful things, for a member of the crew that was more than just friendship or respect.  Of course, there was no way he could ever show what was rattling around his head and heart.

Long before the incident in the Void, the commander had come to think of Tuvok as more than just a security office and former spy.  Now, however, his musings were about more than competence and an odd sense of literal humor that he enjoyed.

Not for the first time, Chakotay wished that he could master the same emotional detachment that his obsession possessed.  He laughed to himself.  Like I could ask him to teach me…  

~/\~
Voyager swept through space on its journey home.  Most of the crew aboard never saw or heard about the by-plays on the bridge.  In fact, most of the bridge crew didn’t even notice.

However, Captain Kathryn Janeway and Ensign Tom Paris noticed the many glances the seemingly oblivious Tuvok kept getting from the first officer when the latter thought no one was looking.

The captain wouldn’t have seen if Chakotay didn’t fidget just before and after, like a man nervous of being caught scoping out an armory before he robbed it.  It amused her to see the reserved commander show his human side.

The pilot meanwhile was beyond amused.  He’d figured out the looks the minute he’d seen them reflecting off the helm.  He doubted the captain had by her odd expression.  This could be fun…

~/\~
“Detachment is the key.”

Chakotay sat in his office over lunch, repeating that over and over.  He wasn’t hungry, hadn’t been for a while, even though he still ate more often than not.

What had really killed his appetite was the look Tom had given him in the ‘lift.  He knew.  How, the commander wasn’t sure.  The man sat with his back to the rest of the bridge all day, and yet, he knew.

This couldn’t go on.  He had to get over this.  There could never be anything between them.  Tuvok was married for Spirits’ sake.  Besides which, if he did want to become involved with someone there was Vorik who would be much better able to understand him.

“Detachment is the key.”

That and keeping his eyes forward.

~/\~
He should have known that he couldn’t be that lucky.  He should have known that personal crisis always coincide with some sort of work problem.

This time it wasn’t exactly a problem.  They’d found a species with a vast colony network that was willing to trade foodstuffs and maps in return for some medical assistance on a damaged freighter.

He would have been excited except he was stuck in a shuttlecraft with the Doctor, Tom Paris and Tuvok.  He and the commander would help with repairs on their new ally’s ship.  

He was sure that they would be split up then and he’d be okay, but it would take them half an hour to get there and Tom seemed determine to use that time to subtly tease him.

He was sure that if a person didn’t know what the razzing was about, he’d never figure it out.  Than again, the look on his face when they arrived had to have been one of extreme embarrassment.

~/\~
Commander Tuvok nodded in appreciation of the fine work being done around him.  This crew was competent but too small for this size craft.

“Excuse me, sir?”

He turned to look at a small Marq’an male.  On a whole, this was a short species.  They seemed awed by the stature of away team.  He theorized that even Captain Janeway would be beyond their height range.  

“Yes?”

“Sol Nev has asked me to accompany you to crawl way D-98 and aid you in repairs there.”

Tuvok nodded while mentally he nearly shuddered to think what this little people considered a “crawl” space.  He was soon to learn that it was not as bad as he had thought it would be.

He could fit, barely, and his movements with the tools was somewhat hindered.  However, sealing the ruptures there went faster than he had expected.

“Can I ask you a question, sir?”

He nodded.  This was not an overly informal group so he was certain that he would be able to answer.

“What is it like to work with one’s mate?”

“Mate?”  Tuvok had no idea where this had come from.  Who could this man think was his mate?  More importantly, why would he think that?

“Commander Chakotay, of course.  He looks at you as a mate should and gives off the scent of one who has been claimed.  He smells as if he’s been mated to one of your species, unless you are scented differently.”

“No. I am not.”  Chakotay?  That would explain the looks the commander had been throwing him and the conversation Mr. Paris had inflicted on him in the shuttle.  Interesting.

“I was wondering if it distracts you from your duty.”

He found himself answering before he could think better of it.  “No, we try to maintain a measure of detachment while we are on duty.”

He laughed.  “It looks to me that you are more successful than he is.”

“Yes.  So it would appear.”

~/\~
Four days later, the shuttle “Moran” returned to Voyager.  The organic members of the away team were all stiff and glad to be able to stand upright.

Captain Janeway and Neelix met them, despite the late hour.   An odd combination that raised more than just a Vulcan eyebrow.

“Gentlemen, welcome back.  I’ll expect full reports from you all first thing in the morning.”

Neelix excitedly chatter about the oddities of the Marq’an culture while the crew that had spent time with them tried to humor him.  Only thoughts of being able to sleep stretched out kept Paris and Chakotay from scrunching him down into a gola ball, a Marq’an symbol of friendship. 

~/\~
Chakotay leaned against the back of his couch.  He was back aboard Voyager, away from Tom Paris’ teasing and with a new powerful ally but he couldn’t get beyond the idea that something was wrong.

He’d tried to meditate and failed.  He’d finished his report in record time, gone to work out in the gym and still he was unable to sleep.  He just couldn’t get his mind to relax.  He’d tried the shower, music, everything.

All he could concentrate on was the fact that something was terribly wrong.

He couldn’t find it, however.  The commander had checked the status of the ship six times from replicater power to engines and everything was fine.  He was being to wonder if all the bumps on the head that he’d gotten on the Marq’an vessel had done damage.

Just then, the chime to his door sounded.  He was very surprised when Janeway entered at his summons.  

“I’m sorry to disturb you, Chakotay.”

“It’s quite alright.  Is something the matter?”

She nodded but seemed reluctant to talk about it.  So, the tall first officer offered her coffee.

Soon she spoke.  “I’m concerned about Tuvok.”

Oh no.  “Has something happened?”

Again, she looked uncomfortable.  “He went to sickbay a couple of hours ago and has already been released.  Apparently T’Pel had their bond broke so that she could enter into another.”

“Is that possible?”  Why would she break a life bond especially after they’d contacted the Federation and she knew Tuvok was live?  Why now?

“Apparently.  Tuvok seemed almost relieved but his time is in just over eighteen months and with no bond, even one as weak as his was at this distance, the chances of him dying are twice as great.”

Chakotay didn’t know how to respond.  This wasn’t a conversation he’d ever thought to have.  Poor Tuvok.  

However, this did mean that the tactical officer was free to enter a new relationship.  That still didn’t mean that he was interested at all in one with the commander or anyone else.

~/\~
Tuvok settled onto his bed and looked up at his ceiling.  He had had a very long meditation and had reached some very important decisions.  He was not overly saddened that he no longer shared a bond with T’Pel.

In fact, he was relieved that he need not worry about taking a new mate for his Pon Farr.  He smiled, very slightly, into the dark.  Thanks to the Marq’an he knew who he would choose.