Title: The Gift That Keeps On Giving
Author: Cait N. 
Series: VOY
Codes: C (implied J/C)
Rating: PG
Feedback: Yes, please! caitn @ mindspring.com

Disclaimer: Paramount owns the characters, I just take 'em
out for a spin every once in a while.

Summary: Chakotay's birthday party winds down to a
close ... or has it?

Written in honor of Robert Beltran's birthday - November
19, 1953.

= = = = = = = = =

"The Gift That Keeps On Giving"
copyright November 2001 by Cait N.


"Are you sure you don't mind me borrowing it?" Tom asked.

"Of course not," Chakotay answered. He entered his
quarters, Tom following.

"It'll just take me a minute to find where I put it," the
commander said.

"No problem." Tom looked curiously around the room while
Chakotay disappeared into the bedroom. "So, how did you
like your birthday party, Commander?"

"I'm surprised the crew managed to keep it a secret,"
Chakotay answered.

Tom laughed. "It wasn't that easy, but the look on your
face when you walked into the mess hall ... it was worth
it. I just hope the captain is okay. Leaving the party
because of a headache. I heard the Doc tell her to lie down
for a while."

Chakotay walked back into the room, a long, slender object
in his hand. It had a pink bow tied around it. "You
wouldn't happen to know anything about this, would you?"

"Well, it's clearly not the holodeck program I was hoping
to borrow, but ..." Tom's voice trailed off as Chakotay got
closer and Tom recognized what was in the older man's hand.
"Holy shit!" He immediately regretted his outburst. "Um, I
mean, who gave you THAT?" If the commander didn't know what
he was holding, Tom certainly wasn't going to be the one to
enlighten him.

"I don't know. I just walked in and it was lying in the
middle of my bed." He turned the hard plastic device over
in his hand, looking at it from all angles. "Is this ..."
He pressed his fingers against the flat, circular end and
the leopard-print object began to vibrate. "Oh Spirits!" He
quickly pressed the same area again and the object stilled.

Tom wasn't sure if he should laugh or not. He decided it
wouldn't be wise, so he held out a palm. Chakotay gladly
passed over what he now knew was a vibrator. Tom studied
it, studiously ignoring the flush spreading up over
Chakotay's neck and face. 

"Cute practical joke, Tom", Chakotay said sarcastically. 

"Hey! I didn't leave this for you!" Tom was quick to say.
"But I think..." He pointed to a spot on the pink ribbon.
"I think it's signed."

Chakotay snatched the vibrator back as Tom started backing
slowly away. "I'll just get that holoprogram from you some
other time, Commander."

"Happy Birthday," Chakotay read, "from Ka ..." His wide-
eyed gaze shot up to lock on Tom. "Why would she give me
this?!"

"Um, well, uh," Tom started moving faster. "I don't think
it was intended for you to use on yourself, if you know
what I mean, um, Commander." The door opened behind him.
"They say the best birthday presents are the ones you can
share with your friends," Tom said, biting back a smirk. He
beat a hasty retreat. It looked like the captain wasn't
done celebrating Chakotay's birthday after all.


THE END