Surprise? (Star Trek Voyager, Chakotay, Tom Paris)

[divinemissem13]

Title: Surprise?
Fandom: Star Trek Voyager
Pair: Chakotay, Tom Paris
Content Warnings: N/A
Prompt: ignore previous instructions

"Are you sure this is a good idea?" Tom asks for what must be the 100th time. His fingers nervously brush the empty spot on his collar where his second pip used to sit. He remembers all too well what happens when you disobey orders.

"Come on, Tom, you've never had problems breaking the rules before," Chakotay says with just a hint of irritation. Tom's penchant for making up his own rules had in fact caused quite a rift between the two men when they had first met — a rift that they've only barely managed to repair, in large part due to the mutual affection and respect they hold for Captain Janeway.

"I just don't want to upset her… she seemed pretty adamant about not exploring in this region…"

"Look, the captain always does what's best for the ship and the crew, but she rarely does what's best for herself. That's what I'm here for," Chakotay declares. "And today, it's what you're here for too," he adds pointedly, not really giving Tom room to argue.

"Why don't you just fly the shuttle yourself?" Tom asks, even though he already knows the answer. Chakotay isn't allowed to take shuttles out on his own any more… it rarely ends well.

"I'll be busy… distracting the captain. So she doesn't catch on to where we're going," Chakotay replies, awkwardly pulling on his earlobe.

Tom wrinkles his nose and turns to the helm, beginning his pre-flight checks. "Fine. I'll do it if you promise to never elaborate on that, deal?"

"Deal," Chakotay says with an uncomfortable chuckle.

A delicate silence falls over the shuttle as Tom continues his checks and Chakotay busies himself preparing… whatever 'distraction' he has planned.

"Alright," Tom sighs after a few minutes. "All systems go. Shouldn't you go get the captain?"

"I'm going to transport her in. As soon as she's here, you can take off," Chakotay orders.

Tom's eyes go wide. Somehow he hadn't quite put it together that they are essentially about to kidnap the captain but it's too late to change things now. "Yes, sir," he grumbles, even as Chakotay is already inputting the commands into the transporter.

Tom keeps his focus straight ahead, hitting the ignition the moment he hears a very angry Captain Janeway demanding an explanation. Tom can hear Chakotay cooing her first name and offering placations as he urges her into the back of the shuttle while the captain's protests grow weaker, and Tom swallows down a wave of nausea as his mind drifts unbidden toward that distraction Chakotay had alluded to.

The door between compartments slides shut and it is blessedly quiet, only the hum of the warp core to keep Tom company. As he sets a course toward the pulsar field, he makes a mental note that the next shuttle he designs will have a very loud stereo integrated into the helm. Until then, he'll just have to pray that the back compartment is soundproof.