Title: A Lovely Flame
Author: Sr. Mary Kathryn (http://members.aol.com/SrMaryKath/smkjc.html)
Email: SrMaryKath@aol.com
Size: 9K
Rating: G
Codes: A, Q; J/m, C, Tu, N
Summary: Janeway gets kissed. But it's by the wrong dude, as Tuvok, Neelix 
and Chakotay can tell you... 

~:~:~:~:~:~
Disclaimers: Tomorrow no one will remember.
~:~:~:~:~:~

A Lovely Flame
By: Sr Mary Kathryn

The jarring twangs from the string trio behind them was drowned out by the
lilting melody of Kathryn Janewayâs laugh which drifted through the same
evening breeze that was blowing the smoke from the torch at the far end of
their table straight at them.

"Why is it we always get put down wind of those stupid things at these
functions, anyway?" Neelix dabbed his cheek with his napkin. The smoke
always got to him faster than it did Commanders Chakotay or Tuvok.

Janewayâs laughter wafted across their table and drifted into the night air
sounding like the choir of thousands of angels, bringing yet another billow of
smoke from the torch with it. The three stole glances at the captain. The
twilight had faded and it was kind of hard to make out her facial expressions
in the darkness. Even so it was pretty easy to make out what the silhouetted
Captain Kathryn Janeway and the leader of this planet were doing. Neelix had
lost track of the names of leaders and planets this had happened on.

"And to think, when I first met her, she reminded me of my sister, Alixia."
He rubbed his napkin across the end of his nose. "Maybe you shouldnât have
favorites, but Alixia was my favorite sister. I really loved her."

Neelix stole another glance in the Captain's direction and Chakotay patted him
on the back. Another billow brought more smoke and laughter. Chakotay rubbed
his eyes with the back of his hand. At least this torch wasnât as bad as the
bonfire at the last one of these things theyâd had to attend. It seemed
anymore like they were celebrating treaties made or trades negotiated on an
almost daily basis. Seemed to Chakotay like Janeway always had a lot more fun
at these things than he did.

"Sheâll wake up tomorrow and act as if tonight never happened." A twang
echoed through Chakotay, but he wasnât sure if it was the musicians behind him
or his heart that had caused it.

"I used to be able to predict her actions." 

"She said someday sheâd surprise you, Tuvok."

"Indeed. I would never have estimated the possibility of Captain Janeway ·" 

Tuvokâs voice faded as another wave of smoke and laughter washed across their
table. Neelix looked down at his napkin and Chakotay picked up his glass and
poked at an ice cube. Neither of them enjoyed watching Tuvok on these
occasions. He didnât blink and it was uncanny. Not showing emotions was one
thing, but once Chakotay had timed Tuvok. Heâd not blinked for five whole
minutes. Neelix and Chakotay both figured that was a pretty drastic measure
to go to just to avoid crying over an old flame. But it seemed to work for
Tuvok, so they didnât question it.

"And youâve known her longer than either of us," Neelix decided to test the
water to see if it was safe to talk to the Vulcan yet. 

"Indeed." Tuvok would be able to maintain his composure tonight. "She did
come on this mission to procure me." 

"Procure? What kind of word is that, Tuvok? Procure?" Chakotay looked at
Tuvok. "You know good and well she came on this damn mission after me."

"You just happened to be the Maquis captain at hand, Commander. My hand, I
might point out. She was coming after me and we were going to escort you back
to Starfleet. Still an option."

"Do we have to have this conversation again tonight?" Neelix always got a
little testy at this point. Heâd so admired Captain Janeway. He couldnât
help but be a little disappointed.

Another gust of laughter and smoke quieted the three for a few moments before
Chakotay gave in. He was in no mood to argue with Tuvok again tonight.
Distant memories of a headboard and a bathtub and a backrub combined with the
smoke blinded him. 

"Sorry, Tuvok." 

"And I apologize Commander, for disobeying Captain Janewayâs direct order and
returning to New Earth to rescue the two of you."

The tension was broken and theyâd knocked a good thirty minutes off tonightâs
quick wit and repartee. Unfortunately, the tension returned with yet another
shower of smoke from the torch and Kathryn Janewayâs laughter, which was
somewhat louder and more animated this time.

"It was illogical for me to think I had a chance with her after the trajector
incident. She never regained her trust in me."

"We all make mistakes, Tuvok. At least you know what you did wrong. One
minute we were on New Earth everything smooth sailing, next thing I knew, it
was as if nothing had ever happened between us. I tell you, there for a
while, I bonked as many bimbos as I could get my hands on, just to forget. It
just made everything worse though. If I could just set back time·"

Neelix sized up Chakotay and Tuvok and decided that the men beside him were
wallowing in self pity, and he wanted to join them.

"I never had a chance with her."

Chakotay and Tuvok looked in Neelixâs direction. There was never much they
could do at this point except agree with him, and neither of them had the
heart to do that.

"But she did so remind me of my sister."

All three men sighed as yet another gust of smoke blew full force toward them.
This was the part all three of them dreaded most. It was that first gust of
smoke that wasnât accompanied by the sound of her laughter that hit them the
hardest. They all knew what Captain Janeway was doing when the sound of her
laughter wasnât echoing its haunting song through the smoke. 

None of them wanted to look. But they couldnât help themselves. The flame
from the torch soared high into the night sky then flickered and died. The
three menâs gaze went from Kathryn Janeway to the smoke that rose from the
torch. They watched as the smoke separated into two strands and danced
soundlessly apart then back together again before disappearing into
nothingness like a kiss blown by a long lost love.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Chakotay: They asked me how I knew my true love was true.

Tuvok and Neelix: Ohhhhhhooooooooooooooh

Chakotay: I of course replied something here inside cannot be denied.

Tuvok and Neelix: doo doo doo dooo dooo dooo doo doo doo WAAAAHHHH

Chakotay: They said someday you'll find all who love are blind.

Tuvok and Neelix: Ooooooooooooooooooooo

Chakotay: When your heart's on fire you must realize smoke gets in your eyes.

Tuvok and Neelix: Mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm

Chakotay: So I tell them and I gaily laugh to think they could doubt my love.

Tuvok and Neelix: doubt my love

Chakotay: Yet today my love has flown away. I am without my love.

Tuvok and Neelix: without my love

Chakotay: Now laughing friends deride tears I cannot hide

Tuvok and Neelix: ohhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh

Chakotay: So I smile and say when a lovely flame dies, smoke gets in your 
eyes.

Tuvok and Neelix: smoke gets in your eyes

smoke gets in your eyes...
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
The End