The Other Torres | A Star Trek Fanfiction *Book 1*

Resolutions-Chapter 91

[Outside the shelter]

Tidying up.

"I've been thinking. There's plenty of wood available here. I could probably add rooms to the shelter, give us a little more living space." said Chakotay.

"How would you mill it?" Amanda asked.

"I could do a certain amount with a phaser, but I was actually thinking of logs." said Chakotay.

"As in log cabin?" Janeway and Amanda asked.

"I built a few of them when I was growing up. My father thought it was important that I learn how." said Chakotay.

"When I was young, my parents took us on backpacking trips. They thought we should all keep a connection to our pioneer roots. I hated it. No bed, no replicator." Janeway said.

"No bathtub." Amanda said.

"No bathtub. I guess I was always a child of the twenty fourth century." said Janeway.

"Well, maybe those camping trips helped prepare you for life here." said Chakotay.

"Oh, no. Life here is much better than that." said Janeway.

"I think that's the first time I've heard you say anything positive about being here." said Chakotay.

The primate chatters at them.

"Well, hello there. I haven't seen you in a while. Where have you been?" Janeway asked.

"Do you expect him to answer you?" Amanda asked.

"Not really. I just sense intelligence in him, and I could swear he came to warn me about the plasma storm. Come here, fellow. Come on." said Janeway.

"I doubt that he can be domesticated, at least not very easily." Amanda said.

The primate climbs a tree.

"Well, we have plenty of time. The rest of our lives." said Janeway.

"That's a long time. At least I hope so." Amanda said.

"Well, I can't give you orders anymore but I suggest we get back to work." said Janeway.

"Aye, aye, Captain." said Chakotay jokingly.

[Shelter]

Janeway's shoulder's ache.

"I guess I'm not used to that kind of work. My knots are getting knots." said Janeway.

"Here, let me help." said Chakotay.

He strokes her hair, moves it out of the way, then starts massaging. Amanda looks at them, she smiled, Tom was good at massages, she frowned and left not wanting to think of the people she's left behind. Amanda stands up and leaves, neither Janeway nor Chakotay notice and if they did, neither said anything.

"Oh, that feels good." said Janeway.

"I've had a lot of practice at this. My mother used to get sore necks all the time. I was the only one she'd trust not to make it worse." Chakotay said.

After a very long moment, Janeway stands up.

"That's much better. Thank you. Well, I'm going to go to bed now. I'll see you in the morning." said Janeway.

"Sleep well, Kathryn." said Chakotay.

"Yes. You too." said Janeway.

[Amanda's bedroom]

Amanda was watching what happened from her bedroom and smiled, it wouldn't be long until Janeway appeared in the kitchen to talk to Chakotay, again.

[Bridge]