Title:  Katheine
Author:  Sasscat Bu-to-y
Email: fitchett@netaccess.co.nz
Size:  6k
Rating:  PG
Codes:  J/P
Summary:  Janeway needs caffeine.  She follows her nose.

Disclaimer:  Paramount owns all.

Author's Note:  Based on Kaala12's exceptional 'Chakoffee' stories.
Thanks Kaala, for making me write this (instead of the first idea
that sprang to mind).


Katheine
     (c) Sasscat Bu-to-y 1999

What she wouldn't give for a cup of coffee.  Kathryn rubbed her head
tiredly, cursing herself for being such a damned diplomat.

Sure, the Kolari had had huge amounts of the compound that would get
the replicators running again.  Sure, there hadn't been another supply
within light-years.  It had been a perfectly reasonable step to 'wine
and dine' the alien trade ambassador, sharing some of her diminishing
supply of coffee with him.  After all, if it worked, the replicators
would be up again in a couple of weeks.  Her supply would have lasted
that long.

Would have, if the Kolari ambassador hadn't insisted on coffee, and
coffee only, as the trade goods for the precious compound Voyager
needed.  Who was she to know that he'd fall for it as much as she had?

Damn, damn, damn it all to hell.  The most powerful ship in the Delta
Quadrant (save the Borg, she remembered, and a few others-- but that
wasn't the point) and she couldn't even get herself a measly cup of
coffee.  It had been almost a week now, since her last cup.  Far, far
too long.

Kathryn heaved a great sigh and stood up.  She should take a walk,
soothe her coffee-deprived nerves.  Lord knew they could do with some
soothing.  She reached for her jacket, changed her mind, and headed
out the door.

Coffee!  The smell was so thick she could almost touch it.  She even
caught herself lifting a hand, and brought it back down to her side
sharply.  Coffee had been this way, and not too long ago.  She had to
find it.  Well, that wasn't going to be hard.

She closed her eyes and inhaled the rich aroma, moaning in frustration
at the absence of a smooth, satin-rimmed cup in her hand.  She opened
her eyes again, all business, and followed the trail of coffee-scent
down the corridor, taking no notice of the direction it led her.

Direction was irrelevant.  There was only the coffee.

She faltered a moment when it led her into the turbolift, then relaxed
as the lift started moving of its own accord, carrying her to a
preprogrammed destination.  The dark smell of coffee enveloped her,
teasing her senses, dancing on the edge of taste.

The doors opened and she hurried out, almost beyond conscious thought.
/This way... this way... it was here, then here... follow.../  A door.
It parted to grant her entry and she walked in.

"*You*."

Tom grinned, swinging a jug casually, deep smells wafting through the
air towards her.  "Why, hello, Captain.  What a surprise to find you
here."

"Give me the coffee, Tom," she growled, a little surprised at her own
intensity.

Tom just smiled.  He lifted the jug, a study in nonchalance, and took
a deep sip.  His eyes never left hers.  Kathryn could almost feel the
heat of the coffee skimming down his throat, the soft movements as he
swallowed, the incredible taste...  The taste...  She wet her lips.

"Give me the coffee."  It was almost a plea.

Tom stepped towards her, slow and tantalising.  The coffee smell
thickened as he crossed the room.  His eyes were dark, his lips moist.
He lifted the jug, so close she could almost draw the coffee to her
mouth by willpower alone.  Almost.  He took another sip, eyes inches
from hers.

Kathryn nearly moaned.  Her lips parted of their own accord.  Her
breathing was unsteady, and they both knew it.  "Give me the coffee,"
she whispered.

"You didn't say the magic word," Tom murmured, holding the jug between
them.

He wanted her to ask, Kathryn realised.  Her eyes were drawn to his
lips, a tiny droplet of coffee hanging from the corner of his mouth.
She could play games, too.

One quick movement and the droplet was on her tongue, melting, sliding
down her throat in a rich caress she hadn't tasted for far too long.
She moaned softly, licked his lips again, and when that failed she
slipped her tongue inside to capture every last molecule of coffee.
A hand ran up to tangle in his hair, another draped around his neck to
hold him close.

He slid an arm around her waist, his other hand holding the warm jug
awkwardly against her back.  Their tongues battled for the coffee,
pulses in syncopated war rhythms as first one, then the other gained
the upper hand.  The hardness of the jug pushing into her lower back
matched a similar pressure a little lower on her front.  Kathryn gave
a warm moan, and drew back in surrender.

Tom was flushed, pupils dilated and breath shallow.  His hair was
delighfully disheveled where her hand had wrapped itself, and he
surveyed her with open appreciation for a moment before handing over
the jug.  "For you."

"How kind," Kathryn said dryly, breathing not a little shallowly
herself.  She held the jug for several seconds, absorbing the heat and
the scent of the coffee, then took a long gulping sip.  The rich
flavour washed over her, followed quickly by the giddy caffeine rush
she hadn't felt in a long time.  She licked her lips of stray coffee,
reveling in its taste.

"Good?"  Tom's soft voice broke into her pleasure.  She opened her
eyes, wondering when she'd closed them, and nodded.

"Perfect."  She took another sip and amended, "Heavenly."

His eyes darkened further at the warm throb in her voice.  "I'm glad,"
he said quietly, watching her.

Kathryn hesitated on the verge of licking her lips again.  She took a
third sip and shot him a look full of coffee-laced invitation.  "Share
and share alike..."

FIN