------------------------------
A Christmas Story
by Lianne
December 1997
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Christmas is a wonderful time of year. A time for celebrating the ending 
of another year. A time to get together with friends and family.

On board Voyager Christmas is a very bitter-sweet time. A time to 
remember old friends and family back in the alpha quadrant. A time to be 
with new friends and family in the delta quadrant.

A time to give presents....

* * * * *

"C'mon, Harry. Just a hint?" Tom was using his best wheedling voice, a 
tone that could usually be guaranteed to produce results. But not this 
time.

Harry shook his head with a smile. All he had told Tom was that he had 
put together a holo-program for the Christmas party the next day and that 
he wanted Tom's input to make sure it was ready.

"Sorry Tom. You'll just have to wait. Your impressions will be fresher if 
you don't know what to expect."

Harry led his friend over to the entrance for holodeck 2 and instructed 
the computer to run Kim-Xmas3. He gestured for Tom to lead the way.

Tom walked through the arch and stopped in delight. Stretched out before 
him was a winter wonderland, silent in the way that only a gentle 
snowfall can be. He was standing in snow up to his knees in the foothills 
of what looked to be the Rockies, back on Earth. Around him was the start 
of a forest, firs dusted with snow. Not too far away he could see a small 
log cabin. A curl of smoke rose from the chimney into an intensely blue 
sky, completely cloudless. By the angle of the sun it was late afternoon 
and the sun would be setting in less than an hour.

"Harry! This is... wonderful." Tom turned to his friend with a wide smile.

"Glad you like it. Listen, Tom, I have a few things I need to do. How 
about you just wander around and see if you have any suggestions. There's 
snow gear in the cabin. I'll be back as soon as I can." Harry smiled and 
left the holodeck. The arch disappeared as soon as he was gone.

Tom decided that the temperature was warm enough to walk a little bit 
before heading to the cabin. For the next half-hour he admired his 
friend's work. Every detail was perfect, right down to the glimpses of 
small animals from the corner of the eye.

Finally, wet and shivering, he made his way to the cabin. The light was 
starting to fade and a warm glow shone through the building's windows. He 
wondered, idly, what was keeping Harry.

At the door to the cabin he stopped to shake off the snow that clung to 
his clothing. Then he turned to examine the cabin's interior.

"Commander! What are you doing here?"

"I could ask you the same thing, Paris. B'Elanna said that she and Harry 
had been working on a holo-program and she asked me to take a look at it."

Tom frowned. "Strange. Harry told be the same thing. Although, he didn't 
mention B'Elanna. Paris to Kim." Tom tapped at his commbadge, but there 
was no response. Not even the beep of the computer acknowledging the 
action.

"Chakotay to Torres. Chakotay to Janeway. Chakotay to Tuvok." No 
response. The commander was starting to sound pissed off.

"Computer, arch. Computer, respond." Silence greeted Tom's commands. 
"Great. Just great. Looks like we're stuck until someone comes looking 
for us. Oh well. Harry said he wouldn't be too long at whatever he was 
doing."

"I hope this isn't another malfunction to the holodeck. Or alien 
'possession'."

Ignoring the commander, Tom prowled through the cabin. The largest part 
of the building was taken up by the main room. A large fireplace 
dominated the room, a crackling fire already going. Several over-stuffed 
couches were placed around the room, colorful blankets draped over them. 
Rugs were scattered over the floor, especially in front of the fireplace. 
To the right was a large, modern kitchen. To the left were two doors.

Moving to the closest one, Tom peered through to see a bedroom. A large 
four-poster bed dominated the room. The bed was covered with several 
layers of blankets and pillows were piled high at the head. All were 
covered in geometric patterns in earthtones. A nice complement to the 
bare log walls.

The other door led to a luxurious bathroom, with a large sunken tub. Tom 
noticed a couple of plush terrycloth robes hanging from hooks on the 
wall. Quickly he shrugged out of his wet uniform, still ignoring the 
commander back in the main room, and slid on one of the robes, belting it 
tightly around his waist.

Finally he headed back into the main room, pretending not to notice the 
surprised look the commander sent his way.

"So we're stuck. Any chance there's food in this place?"

"Paris, must you always think of your stomach first?"

"Hey! I didn't think of it first. Dry clothing was first. And besides, 
I'm hungry. I could barely stand to *look* at dinner tonight, let alone 
*eat* it." Tom headed over to the kitchen and opened the refrigerator.

"Ooookay. This is interesting. There's not much in the way of food here. 
A couple of bottles of champagne, strawberries, whipped cream, some 
finger food appetizers (I'll pull those out) and... a jar of maraschino 
cherries??"

Chakotay started going through the cupboards. "Hmmm. Chocolate sauce, 
caramel sauce, honey... If there's any ice cream then sundaes are a 
definite go."

"Nope. No ice cream. In fact there's nothing in the freezer. Well, pop 
the cork on a bottle of champagne while I heat these appetizer thingies."

* * * * *

An hour later Tom was feeling a little tipsy. It had taken a little while 
to realize that the champagne was not of the synthehol variety, and by 
then it was too late. The champagne, combined with not much food, was 
making him feel giddy, a feeling he definitely did not associate with 
Chakotay usually. 

"You know, commander, I'm beginning to have suspicions about this 
program."

"You too? Wine, nibble foods, romantic setting... Sounds like Harry and 
B'Elanna have plans for this program beyond just the Christmas party." 
The two men leered at each other suggestively.

Tom's heart did a little skip-step at the look on Chakotay's face. He had 
often wished that the commander would look at him that way. Usually when 
he pictured the expression it was part of fantasies that ended it hot, 
wild sex, but he tried to avoid those thoughts as much as possible. 
Fantasies were lonely things, and it was hard enough (pun intended) to 
sit on the bridge with the other man standing behind him and not reacting 
physically to that presence without the added pressure of having images 
from those fantasies running through his mind. 

Suddenly Tom thought of something. Harry was the only person he had ever 
told about his lust for his commanding officer. Well, actually it was 
more than just lust, but he had talked about it to Harry on a regular 
basis lately as the attraction had grown stronger. And now here he was. 
Trapped in a romantic holo-deck program with the object of his fantasies 
and he had been sent here by his friend.

And Chakotay had been sent here by B'Elanna. 'Oh God,' Tom thought. 
'Don't tell me that they're playing matchmaker. Chakotay has barely come 
to accept me as a little more than just pilot. I don't want to have it 
screwed up because those two want to play cupid!'

"So, commander. Tell me about yourself."

"What?" Chakotay was looking a little flushed himself. He was moving with 
the care of someone who is verging on drunk and knows it.

"You know. Tell me your deepest secrets. Tell me about your childhood. 
Something. Anything." Tom knew he was drunk at that point. Why was he 
saying these things? Definitely career suicide happening here, not to 
mention personal suicide. But he was curious too, and had been for quite 
a while. He knew a lot about Chakotay, first officer, and some about 
Chakotay, rebel leader, but nothing about Chakotay, person, except that 
he was native american and beautiful. And so very much desired.

But he really didn't expect the other man to actually respond, so he very 
was surprised when Chakotay actually started talking. The big guy must be 
drunk.

* * * * *

Hours later both had hoarse voices and were covering yawns. Tom was 
surprised to find that Chakotay was a wonderful conversationalist. He 
had a wicked sense of humor and told a great story. Tom was a little 
surprised to find himself responding to each story with one of his own. 
They had already drunk an entire bottle of the champagne and were 
working on a second, and had moved to the rugs in front of the fireplace, 
periodically throwing on another log. 

Chakotay was telling a hysterically funny story about going skinny 
dipping with his cousins as a teenager and coming out to find that 
several local girls had stolen their clothes so that they had to walk 
naked back to the village, trying to pretend they weren't beet red with 
embarrassment, while Tom laughed through his yawns, barely able to keep 
his eyes open. When he finished the story Chakotay yawned again and 
looked at Tom, eyes sparkling with amusement at the sight of the pilot 
stretched out on the rug, still giggling with a silly grin on his face.

"Tom, I don't know about you, but I'm exhausted. We might as well get 
some sleep."

Tom, still smiling, suddenly thought of something. The smile disappeared. 
"Shit, Chakotay. There's only one bed. Ummm, let me see if there are some 
spare blankets around. I'll sleep on one of the couches."

Chakotay looked at the couches dubiously. They were very comfortable, but 
they were all too short for the commander to stretch out on, let alone 
the lanky pilot.

"Don't be silly. The bed is more than big enough for two. And you can't 
honestly think you'd be comfortable on a couch. Or the floor for that 
matter."

Tom opened his mouth to protest, then stopped as he took in the stubborn 
look on the other man's face. Chakotay obviously was not going to accept 
any excuses and Tom was a little too drunk to come up with one that 
the commander would accept, anyway. Even though he *knew* getting into a 
bed with Chakotay was a *big* mistake, he just closed his mouth and 
nodded.

It was going to be a looong night.

* * * * *

Tom woke, later in the night, confused about where he was. A warm bulk 
was pressed tightly against his back and a moist warmth - a tongue, he 
thought idly - was moving against his neck, just behind his ear. He 
sighed and melted back into the body behind him, tilting his head to 
allow the tongue better access.

Then his eyes flew open as he realized just who he was in bed with.

"Chakotay?"

A sleepy murmur was all that answered him. The commander was obviously 
still asleep, or at least mostly asleep. A large hand moved around his 
waist and started running over his chest. Tom sighed again as gentle 
fingers combed through his chest hair and rubbed at his nipples, raising 
them to hard little nubs. He couldn't help moaning, and moving against 
the erection pressed against his backside As the had traveled lower, 
moving in circles around his navel, he was tempted to just go with the 
flow.

No.

It had been a long time and it felt so good... but they had just barely 
established what could be considered the start of a friendship. No matter 
how much he wanted Chakotay he didn't want to risk this new camaraderie 
for one night in bed. Even one that might be spectacular.

He reached down and restrained the roaming hand before it could move any 
lower. "Wake up, Chakotay. You don't want to be doing this..."

"Yes I do, Tom."

Tom jerked in surprise at the husky voice that breathed across his ear. 
It was low and slightly blurred, but definitely awake. The hand moved to 
escape his grasp as he tried again.

"Commander, that's just the alcohol talking." He hung onto the squirming 
hand almost desperately.

"Un uhn. Wanted to do this for a while."

"Really?" Tom almost squeaked on that word.

"Really. You're beautiful, annoying, competent, frustrating, loyal, a 
tease.. Watching you run your hands over the helm controls every day 
drives me nuts. Want to be the one you are running your hands over. Want 
to run my hands over you." The hand escaped Tom's weakened grasp and 
proceeded to do just that.

"Knew you were interested. Could see it. Wasn't sure, though, if you just 
wanted a roll, or if you wanted more. Know now. Not letting this chance 
pass by."

Tom groaned, listening to the words he had never let himself hope to hear.

"Y'r mine now. Not gonna to let you get away. Keeping you. Make you want 
to stay forever. Do you?"

Tom squirmed around in Chakotay's grasp and rolled on top of the older 
man. He stared down at the warm brown eyes, searching for a moment.

Then he lowered his head and kissed Chakotay, pouring everything he felt, 
everything he was, into the kiss. Then he pulled back again and smiled at 
the silly grin on Chakotay's face.

"Yes."

Chakotay reached to pull Tom's face down for another kiss. Tom could feel 
the effects running through every part of his body. He sighed and melted 
into the arms holding him, barely able to think enough to roll them onto 
their sides before his weight could crush his lover.

Lover... what a wonderful word. It filled the heart and soul so 
beautifully.

All thought disappeared as the hands started moving over him again. One 
ran along his back, from the nape of his neck, down his spine to the 
cleft of his ass, then back up again to ruffle his hair. Then the other 
moved over his front, stroking him again. First it moved across his face, 
gently tracing eyebrows, cheekbones and lips. Then it moved around 
behind his ear and down the side of his neck, as lips gently brushed 
along the path that the fingers had followed. Then both fingers and lips 
traced along his collarbone and down to first one, then the other, 
nipple. Tom rolled onto his back and couldn't help giggling as a nose 
tickled at the hairs at the center of his chest. He knew he should be 
doing something for Chakotay, but he couldn't seem to get his mind and 
body working together. Finally he just melted a little more and let the 
other man do what he wanted.

The hands and lips continued south. The sweep of his ribs were traced, 
the touch remaining firm enough to avoid triggering a tickle reflex. Tom 
groaned as his navel was explored and a tongue was added to the 
repertoire. By this point there was only one part of his body that was 
truly solid. Lucky for his sanity, that was the next stop on Chakotay's 
exploration. First the fingers, lips and tongue made a careful 
examination, until Tom was writhing on the sheets begging for something. 
Anything.

Then the mouth descended, engulfing him, and he rose off the bed with what 
could only be described as a scream.

* * * * *

When Tom came back down to earth, breathing still ragged, but a little 
slower, he was cuddled up to Chakotay, who was holding him tightly with a 
fond smile on his expressive face and still very much aroused.

Tom smiled up at him, then started nuzzling at the other man's neck. He 
hummed contentedly against the flushed skin as Chakotay's head rolled 
back with a groan. He rolled the man onto his back and sat straddling him, 
still nuzzling at the salty and delicious neck. His hands started roaming 
over bronzed flesh, almost without any direction from him. He catalogued 
all responses for future reference, like the patch over the ribs right 
below the armpit. A touch produced a lush sigh. A kiss and a lick 
produced the most beautiful groan.

Finally, taking pity of the poor man, Tom started to thrust his hips 
against Chakotay's groin. Between the alcohol and the recent - and 
explosive - orgasm there was no way that Tom was going to be able to get 
another erection that night, but the friction was obviously what the 
other man needed. He began thrusting back, rubbing against Tom's soft 
genitals, still slick with a combination of saliva and semen. 

It didn't take long for Chakotay to explode, Tom's name on his lips as he 
did. Then he wrapped himself tightly around the pilot, ignoring their 
mutual stickiness, and the two men both fell asleep quickly.

* * * * *

The next morning Tom and Chakotay woke to bright sunshine flooding 
through the window, still wrapped tightly around each other. They smiled 
lazily at each other.

"Good morning."

"Good morning to you too."

A gentle kiss was exchanged. The kiss was starting to heat up when there 
was a beep from the air.

"Computer timelock disengaged. Message waiting."

They frowned at each other.

"Computer," Chakotay said. "Who ordered the timelock?"

"Timelock placed by Captain Janeway."

"The Captain?" Tom sounded shocked. "I thought it was Harry and B'Elanna 
that set this up." Chakotay sighed.

"Computer. Play message."

The air in front of the bed shimmered, and an image of the Captain 
appeared. Harry and B'Elanna flanked her. Even though it was a recording, 
Tom and Chakotay pulled the covers up a little higher.

"Good morning gentlemen. I'm sure you are wondering just what is going 
on." The image of B'Elanna snickered a little bit. Tom and Chakotay just 
groaned.

"For the last few years we have been watching the two of you dance around 
each other. It was obvious from the moment I saw the two of you together 
on the bridge during the business with the caretaker. You were so angry 
at each other that all I could think was where there's smoke..."

"Then, when Tom went back to rescue you, Chakotay, I knew I was right. But 
then the two of you just kept dancing! Neither one of you seemed to want 
to admit how you really felt. So we decided to push things. B'Elanna 
wanted to just lock the two of you in a Jeffries tube or something, but 
Harry suggested the holodeck. So we built the perfect locale and got the 
two of you there, then locked you out of the computer system."

"We figure that at the end of the lockout period you will have either 
killed each other, or dealt with your feelings. And maybe more." Janeway 
was practically leering at that point. Chakotay pulled the covers over 
his head, then pulled them back down again.

Harry spoke up. "Hopefully more. Really, Tom. You seem to spend most of 
your time with me talking about the commander. Hopefully we can now find 
other topics of conversation?" Tom groaned and muttered something about 
revenge. Chakotay smiled.

"And don't feel left out, Chakotay. How often have you bent my ear about 
*your* favorite topic, a certain blond pilot?" B'Elanna smirked while Tom 
laughed and Chakotay blushed.

"Anyway," the captain continued. "You can now leave the holodeck whenever 
you choose, but it is reserved for you under privacy lock until the 
party at 1900."

"Merry Christmas gentlemen. See you at the party." And the grinning trio 
disappeared.

Tom flipped onto his stomach with a moan. "Harry and B'Elanna setting us 
up was bad enough. But the Captain.....?" He pulled the covers over his 
head.

Chakotay tried to stay angry, but found himself unable to stop a laugh 
from coming out. Kathryn definitely knew him too well.

"Computer, what time is it?"

"The time is 1047."

Chakotay leaned over and pulled the covers back from Tom's head and 
shoulders. He ran a soft hand down the man's back, keeping it a shade 
away from being ticklish.

"Well, since we still have the holodeck for a little more than umm... 8 
hours, what say we find a use for the chocolate sauce in the cupboard? 
I'm feeling a little hungry."

Tom looked up at the leer on the commander's face, and flipped over onto 
his back again.

"What the hell. Why not?" He pushed himself up to kiss the other man.

"Merry Christmas Chakotay."

END