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He was never quite sure why it was that day that changed everything.
There was nothing actually that special about it. They'd been back in the Alpha Quadrant for almost three years, and for two years and eight months of it they'd both been single.
They remained the closest of friends. They talked, via subspace or over coffee, at least a few times a week. They were open about the fact that they missed seeing each other every day. And each time they were in the same room together there was always that spark of ... potential? A sense of unfinished business, attraction that flared back to life when she'd wrap her arm through his, or pat his shoulder.
But something always managed to hold him back. They were both still Starfleet officers, after all. Very busy Starfleet officers. She had a family who, understandably, wanted every possible moment with her, and he had his dedication to all of the former Maquis, which often devoured his spare time. And apparently old habits and packed schedules were enough – enough to keep barriers from being easily crossed.
Until that day.
A Starfleet Headquarters conference room wasn't exactly a romantic setting either. It was a briefing about security on the Cardassian border, and suddenly his Maquis background made him a desirable commodity instead of an outcast. He was irritated about the summons right up until Admiral Tadak said that Vice Admiral Janeway might join them.
And so, he found his eyes straying to the door every time someone walked in. When the meeting began without her, he'd felt his disappointment settle like a physical weight.
Maybe that had been the difference – that obvious shift from pain to joy when she'd walked in ten minutes late. Her eyes had swept the room, stopping not on Admiral Hayes, who was leading the briefing, but on Chakotay. She gave him a bright smile and an adorable little nod as she slid into the only empty seat which, unfortunately, was clear across the room from him.
He'd sat in so many briefings with her. Most of them with her at the head of the table. And a solid 95 percent of the time, he'd managed to keep his mind at least partially on the task at hand.
But on that day, even his default anger against anything Cardassian couldn't keep him from staring at her more than he should have. And he couldn’t help but grin when she caught him. Her gaze fluttered down for a moment, before she looked up through her lashes with a rare shy smile. Only moments later it was his turn to catch her watching him, and it was all he could do not to wink at her. He wondered just how obvious they were, but no one seemed to notice they were acting like crush struck teenagers in history class.
The meeting ended and she was, of course, swept into chatting with one person, and then another. He managed to be patient right up until she turned and looked over her shoulder, searching for him. Their eyes caught, held, and had a wordless conversation. It was something they'd probably done dozens, if not hundreds, of times on Voyager's bridge, or in the briefing room, or on some alien planet. This time that look seemed to say, I'd so much rather be talking to you.
And he was done with waiting.
Striding across the room, he interrupted Admiral Tadak midsentence. "I'm sorry, but I need to speak with Admiral Janeway for a moment. It's urgent."
She gave him a perplexed look, but turned to her superior officer and said, "If you'll excuse us for a moment."
When the older admiral walked away, she asked, "What is it?"
"Can we step out into the hall?" She nodded, and he took her elbow and moved close as they left the briefing room.
The moment they were alone she turned and set a hand on his chest. "Are you alright?" You look..."
"Will you go to dinner with me?" he asked, the words coming out in a rush.
Frowning a little, she said, "Of course, the officer's mess should still be open, let me..."
Praying that all of that Starfleet brass stayed in the conference room for a moment he put his hand over hers. "No, I mean, will you go out to dinner with me? No uniforms...no... parameters."
Her eyes widened. "Like a date?"
Sucking in a quick breath he said, "Well, yes, that's usually what it means when..."
A beautiful beaming smile filled her face. "Yes."
"Yes?" he asked. And then held his breath.
She rolled her eyes a little and the smile went lopsided. "Yes."
The briefing room door opened and Admiral Hayes stepped out. They pulled apart quickly, but Chakotay swore he saw a knowing smirk on the older man's face. "Don't mind me," Hayes said, carrying on down the hall.
Chakotay watched him turn the corner and then looked back at Kathryn.
"Tonight?" she asked.
"You don't have other plans?" he said, surprised.
"Oh, who cares," she said, with a little hiccup of a laugh. "If I do, I'll change them."
He felt a surge of pure delight at her enthusiasm. "7:00 pm? Pick you up at your place?"
“Six o’clock," she replied, in a teasing tone. "If you don't mind. I'm officially tired of waiting." But the last word became something softer, something that held a sorrow that he definitely understood.
Taking another risk, he pulled her hand up, dropped a quick kiss on her fingers. "I know exactly what you mean."
She let out a long deep breath, and shook her head a little.
"What?" he asked.
Closing her eyes, she leaned forward and slightly to one side, enough that their shoulders touched. That small contact was one of the rare things they'd been able to enjoy during those long years in the deep reaches of space. Walking down a corridor, standing on the bridge, facing down yet another enemy or anomaly, they often gravitated toward each other just enough for one shoulder to meet the other.
Her head dropped to her chest. “Finally,” she whispered. "Thank you… for being the brave one."
The urge to pull her into his arms was so overwhelming he had to step away and clench his fists. "We have to get out of here," he said, his own voiced edged with emotion. "Or we're going to get chucked out for indiscreet fraternization in a headquarters hallway."
She let out a startled laugh, looked up, and glanced at a computerized wall display. "I think we should eat early tonight. Say 4:30 pm?"
"It's ten to five," Chakotay pointed out.
She grinned and turned, striding a few paces toward the elevators before she looked back at him. "Then we'd better hurry. We're running late, Captain."
"Yes, ma'am," he said, moving to catch up to her.
Maybe they were a running a little late, he thought. Had been for a while now.
But better late than never.
So. Much. Better.