Kathryn and Chakotay sat in their quarters discussing minor details about the ship while Taylor slept soundly in the next room.  Kathryn had finally managed to adapt her haphazard habits to the presence of a child in their lives. Officially she was still on medical leave, but had been involving herself more and more with ship's business in the last week or two. Chakotay been wondering how much longer it would be before she insisted on returning to duty. Taylor was only fourteen weeks old and he had hoped Kathryn would delay her return for a few more weeks, but he knew it was only a matter of days before she insisted. Knowing she was more likely to accept a compromise before she had stated her position, he had already discussed her return with the doctor. He hoped his little plan worked.

"Would you check this over for me, Kathryn?" The crew roster was always his responsibility, but she had gotten into the habit of glancing over it for his schedule and to see who would be on bridge duty for various shifts. Chakotay hoped that having the schedule for the coming week already prepared would make it more acceptable.

"You have me on three four-hour shifts next week. Why?"

Chakotay sighed in relief. She had kept the question vague enough for him to answer it his way.

"Well, Tuvok and I have been standing double shifts lately. I'm still trying to keep Harry off extra shifts. I was hoping you would be willing to handle the bridge a few days a week for a part shift so Tuvok and I could have a little more time off duty. If you notice, I'm off duty during your shifts; I was hoping to spend the time with Taylor."

Kathryn was pleased and frustrated. She was more than ready to go back on duty, but she had not expected short shifts only a few days a week. She read over the duty roster then looked back at Chakotay. Patient as the Sphinx he waited for her reply; then he smiled ever so slightly.  Her resolve to insist on full time immediately wavered and was reflected in her face. The smile grew. Damn! He knew her too well! That smile and those dimples were too much!

"All right.  You win."

"What?"

"I said you win. I'll stand short shifts a few days a week."

"Look, Kathryn, if you don't want to go back on duty yet, it's ok."

"That's not what I meant and you know it."

"You're right. I know you want to go back on duty. I already checked with the doctor and he said fine, no restrictions. So, if you really want to go back full time, I'll redo the roster. I'll put you on Alpha shift and take Beta shift myself. That way one of us can be with Taylor most of the time. It will only take a week or so for her to get used to the daycare people and then we can go back to our regular shifts."

"I forgot about Taylor making the transition to the people in childcare. It really is better if I go back part time at first, isn't it?"

"I think so."

"I really hate it when you agree with me until you get your way."

"What can I say? It's a gift."

Kathryn chuckled at his response. She yawned and, realizing how late it was, hoped they were nearly finished.

"Is there anything else to go over?"

"No, but I have a question. We're approaching a star cluster that appears to have quite a few planets.  We've detected a few trace indications of what could be warp trails. It might be a good idea to try to find a place for some shore leave, a very crowded place. Some of the crew are having difficulty adjusting since Aaron and Jenny were killed. I think a day or two in orbit around a busy planet would provide a distraction and get them to focus on the present instead of the past."

"I agree. How soon will we be close enough to know whether there is a likely planet?"

"Sometime tomorrow during Beta shift, we should be within range to detect warp trails within the nearest cluster. That cluster is pretty crowded and they may not have bothered to go farther which is why we aren't picking up warp trails out here. You have that shift tomorrow, so you should know before you go off duty."

Chakotay stood up and held out his hand for Kathryn to join him. "I don't know about you, but I'm ready for bed." Holding hands they walked to their room. "Why don't you drop Taylor off a couple hours before your shift. I'll pick her up after you relieve me on the bridge and we'll have dinner waiting for you when you get off duty."

"Is it always going to be this easy to balance our private lives with our responsibilities to Voyager?"

"I doubt it, but as long as we're working together, I know we'll manage."

Voyager was in orbit around Tamlad, the fourth planet of a star near the edge of a large cluster.  They had made contact earlier in the day and made arrangements for the crew to start shore leave the next day.  Kathryn and Chakotay were sorting through a list of the supplies they needed and an inventory of the items they had to offer in trade in preparation for a meeting with a group of local traders.

"How long do you think this will take?"  Chakotay was surprised that Kathryn asked the question.

"I don't know.  Why?"

"I'm worried about us both being gone and leaving Taylor in the childcare center so long."

"She'll be fine. She's nearly as comfortable there as she is here with us. Besides, Neelix will be around and she always calms down for him."

"Oops, I forgot to tell you. Neelix asked for shore leave, so I put him on the roster. He said something about looking for a job."

"I hope he finds one. Are you sure you're ready to let your pet leave?"

"I'm sure. I have you."

Chakotay smiled at her jibe. "I'll make sure he has all the papers he needs plus a few extras."

Later that afternoon, Kathryn and Chakotay were strolling down a quiet street during a break from their duties and trade negotiations before returning to the ship. They were in a section devoted to clothing stores that seemed to cater to the wealthier inhabitants of the city.

"Have you noticed all the leather items people are wearing?"

"Yes, it reminds me of your clothes when we found you in that prison."

"You remember that outfit?"

"Of course. Despite the condition you and your clothes were in, I thought you looked pretty good."

"Maybe I should look for a leather jacket." Chakotay couldn't help teasing Kathryn, but she didn't let him get away with it. Taking his hand, she pulled him into the nearest store. They browsed through the selection of jackets before turning toward less expensive items, like belts and gloves. The leathers all seemed to be their natural colors and the solid colors were far less expensive. Some of the striped and spotted items were three or four times the cost of the same thing in a solid color, and even those items were extremely expensive. A clerk approached them.

"May I help you find something?"

"We were just looking actually. Why are they all so expensive?"

"We don't allow animals to be killed for their skins on Tamlad, so all our leather items are imported. The solid colors are imported from other planets in this system but nearly all the striped and spotted leathers come from other star systems so they are much more expensive. If you are shopping around, beware of very cheap leather items. They are either stolen or are from animals killed illegally here on Tamlad."

"Thank you. They are all out of our price range." Kathryn was looking at other displays in the store and noticed some small stuffed animals. "Perhaps we can afford one of those stuffed animals." Chakotay and Kathryn examined the selection and finally chose one that looked like a little orange two-legged rabbit with stubby yellow wings. Pleased with their success at shopping, they turned for the main beam down point.

Neelix was wandering down a street with a list of addresses in his hand searching for the address of yet another possible employer.  He had worked his way through six possibilities already and was beginning to think the local government agency did not want him to find a job.  All of the potential employers had told him they insisted on experienced people with very specific technical training for the positions they had open.  Neelix glanced around nervously.  At least those positions had been in better neighborhoods.

Twenty minutes later he finally located the address at the end of a side street that was little more than a dark alley.  He walked hesitantly down the half flight of stairs and knocked tentatively on the door.  Neelix was admitted into a dark office by a woman and asked to sit down.  While waiting for her to take her seat, he glanced around the room and noticed that samples of leather are on display.  The stripes were beautiful and the spotted ones reminded him of something, but he couldn't figure out exactly what.

"So, tell me a little bit about yourself."  The woman's voice startled Neelix and he brought his attention back to the matter of getting a job.  He spent about ten minutes describing his experience and exaggerating his responsibilities on Voyager.  The woman then explained the requirements of the position open in her business.  It seemed to Neelix as if his experiences were a perfect match.

"Are you traveling alone, Neelix?"

"No, ma'am.  I'm on my own this trip.  I'm helping out the people on Voyager in exchange for transit.  They are a long way from home, you know, and need advice on this region."

"Yes, I 'm sure you are invaluable to them.  Will any of them be staying with you if you get this position?"

"No.  I don't believe any of them want to leave the ship just yet."

"Now, I hope you aren't going to insist on working in the city because this job requires you to work in the country.  We are close enough for you to come into the city on your day off.  Would this be acceptable?"

"Oh, yes."  Neelix was thrilled.  It sounded like he might actually get this job.

"I need to check with my partner.  I'll be back in a few minutes."

The woman left and went into the adjoining room, pulling the door closed behind her but failing to notice that it did not latch.  Neelix started looking around the room again and caught his reflection in a glass and for a minute thought it was another leather display.  In that instant he realized why the spotted leathers reminded him of something.  He heard the woman raise her voice slightly in the next room.

"Well?  You still haven't said what you think.  He isn't going to wait forever, you know."

"I think he's perfect for our needs.  He should be worth plenty once tanned.  We can even get him to leave the city on his own with no problem.  Once the ship leaves, no one will ever notice he is missing.  I think we have several other hides similar enough to his to make a very nice jacket."

Neelix had heard enough and was sneaking out the door before the man finished speaking.  He had moved quietly so they wouldn't hear but had not noticed the bell over the door that jingled when it was opened.  As soon as he heard it, he started running never bothering to see if he was being followed.  The man was close behind him yelling at him to stop.  Neelix ran back up the alley and turned down the next street heading for the beam down point.  When he reached the main street, the man slowed and nearly gave up the chase when he saw Neelix turn off on what he knew was a cul de sac.  Neelix realized his mistake too late. If he were just at the beam down point, he could call for help. Suddenly he realized that he could do that from where he stood and slaped his communicator calling for an emergency beam out.

The poor ensign on duty had just been given instructions to beam the captain and first officer aboard when the call came from Neelix for an emergency transfer. Hoping they would understand, she transported Neelix first.  He was so shaken he didn't move off the pad until she told him for the third time. Quickly she transported the command team hoping the delay had not irritated them. Chakotay spoke as they stepped off the transporter.

"What was the delay, Ensign?"

"I'm sorry, sir. Neelix called for an emergency transport right after you asked to be transported.  I hope I did the right thing by transporting him first, sir."

"You did fine, Ensign."  He looked over at Neelix who was still breathing a bit heavily and looked too afraid to move. He then exchanged glances with Kathryn.  "Shall we take him to the mess hall and find out what happened?"

"Sounds like a good idea. I’m going to go check on Taylor. I'll meet the two of you there in a few minutes."

"Yes, ma'am!"  Chakotay grinned back at her glare before turning his attention to Neelix.

An hour later, Kathryn and Chakotay had heard Neelix's story and sent him to sickbay to be checked by the doctor. Chakotay was retrieving coffee refills for them and noticed Kathryn's face looked a bit unsettled when he returned.

"What's wrong?"

"Well, I hate to admit it, but if we hadn't had that talk with the clerk in that store I might have though Neelix was imagining what he heard. As it is, I still can't imagine people are being killed."

"I probably would have thought he misunderstood something they said, too. What are we going to do about it?"

"Report it to the local authorities. There's not much else we can do. Did you get that list of addresses from him?"

"Yes. I'll write up a summary of what he told us and have him read it over yet tonight. I'll get the name of the clerk from the employment agency who gave him that list. Do you want me to cancel shore leave for the rest of the crew?"

"No, but tell everyone to travel in groups of three or more – no exceptions. I don't want to take any chances."

"I'll have everything ready in the morning. We can report the incident after we finish the trade arrangements. I'm going to work in your ready room. If I try to work in our quarters, Taylor will distract me. I shouldn't be more than an hour, ok?"

"Fine. Taylor and I will be waiting for you."

Kathryn and Chakotay stood making small talk after they had completed the trade arrangements with the Tamlad Commerce Agency.  As the group started to break up and return to their daily tasks, Kathryn broached the incident involving Neelix.

"Minister, could we discuss something unrelated to our trade arrangement. It concerns something that happened with one of the people from our ship yesterday."

"Of course. Tell me what happened; if I can't help you I'm sure I can direct you to the proper person."

Briefly Chakotay summarized Neelix's story and handed the Minister the written report and list of address with the clerk's name appended before concluding. "If we hadn't talked with that store clerk, we might have discounted Neelix's story as exaggeration, but it seems to fit in with a problem you are having with illegal activities. It's possible this information may be useful to your government."

"Thank you. It will be very useful. If you don't mind, I'd like to take this to the appropriate people personally. I can arrange to give her this information without attracting the attention of those who work for her. We believe it is possible that some of the people in her department are involved."

"Of course, Minister. Whatever you think is best." Kathryn glanced at Chakotay to make sure he had nothing to add. "Now, we have taken advantage of your hospitality long enough and neglected our duties on the ship. It was a pleasure doing business with you."

"Safe journey, Captain. It was a pleasure dealing with such reasonable people. Thank you again for this information."

Kathryn and Chakotay asked for a transport directly to the ready room. Once there Kathryn flopped on the couch while Chakotay approached the replicator.

"I can't believe I'm actually glad we're going to be leaving tomorrow."

"Really? You seemed bored with the inactivity before we got here."

"I was, but I wasn't on duty then either. Now I am and it will be good to be moving again." She sipped her coffee thoughtfully. "Do you think the Minister is going to give that information to anyone?"

"Are you asking me if I think he's involved in the illegal activities?"

"I wouldn't have phrased it quite like that, but I guess it's the same thing."

"I'm not sure. I trust him to carry out the terms of our trade arrangements and I have to trust him to follow up on that as well. We did what we could."

Kathryn finished her coffee and stood up.  "Come on.  I miss Taylor.  Let's get her and eat in our quarters tonight."

"Sounds fine to me."  Smiling the command team left the ready room and headed for the ship's nursery and their waiting daughter.