Chakotay entered the last commands into the replicator panel and grabbed the things that rematerialised. Bring them to the mess-hall counter he said, "Okay Kathryn, we've sealed the mess-hall doors and activated the most sensitive setting on the fire alert systems. This is the part where we get our hands dirty. Know anything about making pizza?"
"Other than the fact that Neelix can't make one, no. Except I know the replicator code for it."
"They called me the Replicator Queen. My 'friends' found that I could program just about anything and told everyone. I was actually rather pissed off about. People would come up and ask when I was studying and eating... People asked me for codes all the time…" Kathryn trailed off, realising why Chakotay was suddenly silent.
"You were the one…."
They looked at each other self-consciously for a few seconds. Then she laughed. Hard. It was infectious and Chakotay couldn't help but join in. He looked at her, totally relaxed, light shining off her auburn hair and couldn't help but think about how beautiful she looked, relaxed and comfortable, eyes sparkling.
"Why don't we find out both sides of the story while we cook dinner hmm?"
"You know the code for pizza? I didn't know you ate pizza."
"I don't. But they didn't call me the Repliactor Queen when I was in the Academy for nothing."
"You were the what?!"
"I asked you for…"
"Sure."
"Now it's quite simple really, we preheat the oven, make the crust, put on the toppings and shove it in the oven," explained Chakotay.
"Fine. So, tell me, why you did you want that replicator code?" she asked, annoyed at the fact she didn't remember before this.
Kathryn pretended to pout. "Awww…how did you know I was who you were looking for?"
"You just have," she answered wryly, "Will?" she prompted.
Kathryn noticed that Chakotay was always a step ahead of her tonight, answering her questions before she even asked them. He was getting too smart for his own good. She had to turn the tables somehow. Getting a mischievous gleam in her eyes, she pretended to think about her answer.
"I…umm…"
Chakotay turned around and watched her mix the batter, chuckling, "It should've been don't mess with Janeway, period. That looks good," he said, pointing to the dough, " I'm done with the sauce. Now if you'll dump the ball of dough onto the cutting board, I'll show you how to knead it. Tell me, were you thinking anything else?"
She replied whilst watching his strong, capable hands kneading the dough.
Amused, he teased her further, "Just what exactly did you mean by 'a guy like him' huh?" and was rewarded with even deeper shade of red.
When she didn't answer, he turned back to the task at hand. "Now push the dough out so that I ends up in a circle."
That was the opening she needed. Quickly, she finished the pizza and grabbed a handful of pineapples, launching them at Chakotay.
"Oops…did I hit you?" she asked, unable to stop giggling.
Kathryn Janeway giggling? This must be a first. Getting up, he snatched the bowl away from her.
"Then I guess this isn't really a cooking lesson then, more like a baking lesson."
"Hey, we got to start out slow. Anyway, you took chemistry in High school right?" She nodded and replied. "Who didn't?"
"Then measuring and mixing the ingredients should be no problem. I'll watch."
"And why aren't you doing anything?"
"I'm waiting for the water to boil," he said, noticing her eyebrow go up, "for the sauce."
"Well…I desperately needed something 'unique' to impress my girlfriend for dinner and I had no money…I was hoping that since she's never eaten pizza before, she wouldn't notice the difference between real and replicated," he replied sheepishly.
"Why you…if I had known that, you would've NEVER gotten that code mister. So who was the girl?"
"I'm not telling you who it was. You'll blackmail me!"
"By some very accurate descriptions…from my friends, as well as a certain Will Riker. Has anyone told you how cute you look when you do that?" Chakotay knew he was on dangerous ground but she seemed to be in the mood for it.
"As I recall, he was quite smitten by you, but you ran out on him."
"How…"
"Rumours never die Kathryn," he said smiling, "Everyone knew. The girls who wanted Riker for themselves made sure of that."
"Well I never…"
"It was the juiciest piece of gossip around the Academy. Now tell me, what were you thinking when I asked you for the replicator code?"
"Kathryn..."
"Okay…I thought you had some nerve, coming up to me like that. The other rumour that should've been around was 'don't mess with Janeway while she's studying.'" She pretended to concentrate on mixing the batter, watching him out of the corner of her eye.
"Well, the second thought that crossed my mind was 'I can't believe a guy like him would ask me for something,'" Realising what she had just said, a deep, red blush appeared.
"Yes sir!" she mockingly saluted him, sending bits of dough everywhere.
"Hey watch it!"
"Alright, you asked for it," and a furious battle began.
10 minutes later, they stumbled out of the mess hall covered in pizza sauce and toppings. "Kathryn, you are lethal around food!"
Just then Tom, of all people, walked by. "Captain, Commander." He said. Then he did a double take. "What…. No, don't answer, I won't even ask. Good...er...morning." and hurried off, rather flustered.
"Well, never thought I'd see the day he'd be wordless. Commander, do you still remember that replicator code?"
"I know…we should've asked for a beamout."
"And let the whole crew know? No thanks. I rather not have them wonder about what we were doing in the mess hall at 0200 hours."
"Right."
"Never forgot it."
"Well, it looks like we'll be needing it. I'll be in your quarters in 15 minutes." And with that, she grinned and disappeared into her quarters.