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BY AMMO
JUNE 2000

*-*-*

The Bridge was held between anxiety and hope. For the past eight hours, they had had almost none stop battle drills. Tuvok seemed to be preparing them for any and every eventuality. They seemed on edge now as they finally approached the coordinates the Vidiian Captain had sent, nineteen and a half hours after the initial contact with Doctor Pel.

This was when they would find out the truth. Would they be attacked, or was Tuvok only fearing the worst?

A faint bleeping sound echoed around the other wise still Bridge, the signal Harry had been waiting for what seemed like an eternity.

"Got something," he announced swiftly. "Vidiian ship, bearing 3-2-5 mark 5."

"Hail them," Tuvok's stoic voice called from the Captain's chair.

Nothing happened. He tried again, trying to stop his mind from fearing the worst. Nothing.

"They aren't responding," he called back. "trying on alternating frequencies."

Another bleeping sound, this time from the front.

"I'm reading a second ship," Tom called out from his station. "1-7-7 mark 5."

"I've got it," Harry picked up on, almost staring at what the instruments read in disbelief. "Now a third."

"They're surrounding us," Tom summarised, although they all knew exactly what this was; an ambush.

"None of them are answering hails," Harry concluded dryly, "and their weapons are powered."

Maybe Tuvok's drills were about to come in handy.

"Red alert," the Vulcan ordered, red lights flashing as the Bridge automatically darkened, getting itself into battle mode.

*-*-*

Chakotay sat at the table, unconsciously watching Kathryn's shadow as she tossed gently about in bed. What had just happened there?

Sighing slightly, he returned his attention to the rock he was carving a pattern into, distracted only by a movement in front of him. Kathryn was up, her long auburn hair falling onto the shoulders of her soft blue Vulcan like pyjamas that matched the shade of her eyes.

Moving over to him, she sat opposite, her eyes attentive to his.

"We need to talk about this," she said simply, getting straight to the point.

That was one of the things he had always loved about her. Oh, there was that word again... love.

"Alright," he replied softly, placing the rock and knife on the table.

"What's going on?" she asked finally, "between us?"

Forcing back a sigh, he allowed his eyes to move in various directions, before returning to hers.

"I don't know..." he admitted after a pause, "but I can tell you a story... an ancient legend among my people. It's about... an angry warrior, who lived hi life in conflict with the rest of his tribe... A man who couldn't find peace even with the help of his spirit guide..." As he spoke, he soon realised that the more he said, the easier it became to say it.

"For years he struggled with his discontent," he continued slowly. "The only satisfaction he ever got came when he was in battle. This made him a hero among his tribe, but the warrior still longed for peace within himself. On day, he and his war party were out, searching for a nearby tribe that threatened the security of his own. What he found though came as a surprise to him... This neighbouring tribe had only been looking out for the best interests of their own members who were threatened by many enemies. This tribe was led by a woman warrior, who was brave and beautiful and very wise. Upon seeing her, the angry warrior swore that he would let no harm come to her, so he urged her to join him, so they could stand together as equals, as one... and it was in that way, by her side, that the warrior began to know the true meaning of peace."

His voice trailing off, he met her gaze one more, surprised to see her eyes sparkling with dampness.

Slowly, a smile began to creep across her face, softening her features, till the edges crinkled her eyes, drawing a tear to fall slowly down her cheek.

"Is that really... an ancient legend?" she asked softly.

Knowing she had seen right through it and him, he could not help but smile back in return, before growing serious once more.

"No," he replied softly, "but it made it easier to say."

Slowly he watched as she tentatively reached up her hand, resting her elbow on the table, her palm facing him. Responding, he mirrored her move, their hands joining, clasped together in a promise.

"Kathryn," he whispered softly knowing he had to say this now, "I have a confession to make."

Her blue eyes were clear as she looked at him.

"Just over a month ago, I tried to push you away, for one reason and one reason only. I realised I had fallen in love with my first officer."

She seemed to stare at him blankly for a moment, till her hand gripped a little tighter on his.

"Why didn't you tell me?" she asked softly, searching his face as if looking for a clue.

"I couldn't" he practically whispered, "on Voyager, protocol dictates that the Captain keeps a safe distance from the rest of the crew, but here..."

"There are no protocols," she finished for him, "no rules, no regulations, no hindrances. Just two people, alone and... in love."

She said the last words so softly he was not even sure he had heard it correctly.

"Pardon?"

Squeezing his hand, she smiled again, its warmth lighting up her eyes.

"Is it so hard to believe that i could possibly reciprocate your feelings?" she asked gently. "Especially in regards to your eyes and adorable dimples."

He just stared at her blankly, too shocked to even blush at her remark.

"But... I thought..." he attempted searching for the words, "you and Tom were..."

Her eyebrows almost reached her hairline at that comment.

"Tom?" she questioned, fighting back the smile that threatened to engulf everything.

He nodded.

"You two are always together and things... In the holodeck, I found him draped over you while playing pool a few nights before we reached here."

She half could not believe what she was hearing, her mind drifting back to that time.

"I was blindfolded," she tried to explain, now seeing just how he may have jumped to conclusions. "Tom was trying to cheer me up because I was depressed at the way you had been ignoring me them."

He did blush this time.

"I'm sorry," he whispered with a hint of a smile, but she brushed it away with her free hand.

"Tom and I are only friends," she continued with a touch of a lop sided smile. "He's like... the cross between a son and a baby brother to me, except without the family awkwardness."

"He has feelings for you though," he pointed out softly.

Glancing down Kathryn practically sighed as she remembered.

"I know," she admitted looking back up into his eyes. "I know."

They sat in silence for a moment, gazing deeply into each others eyes, hands still clasped together, almost a symbol of their union.

"Can we take this slow?" Kathryn finally asked, her voice just above a whisper.

"As slow as you want," Chakotay smiled back in reply. "We have all the time in the world."

*-*-*

Meanwhile, Voyager shuddered as she was hit again and again, sparks flying as consoles protested.

"Shields down to 58%," Harry called, gripping onto his console as the ship rocked again.

"Re-arm the forward array," Tuvok ordered from where he sat in the Captain's chair, "and fire at will."

Rapidly pressing buttons, Harry complied, but to no effect and despite Paris' fancy flying, they were still receiving the brunt of the weapons fire.

"Shields down to 47%," Tom shouted over the sound of another exploding console nearby. "Sir there are just too many of them."

"Load aft torpedo bays," The Vulcan responded.

"Torpedoes armed."

"Fire number one."

A strike of a button and the torpedo shot away, speeding to strike an enemy ship.

"Report!"

"They're still coming," Paris threw back in response.

"Fire number two," the Vulcan ordered rising to his feet. "Tuvok to engineering."

"Torres here sir," B'Elanna's voice replied after a slight pause.

"Listen carefully," he ordered.

*-*-*

Another scramble brought another crewman into sickbay.

"She has a broken arm," Kes announced quickly assessing the situation.

"Set it with the oestrogenic stimulator," the Doctor ordered, moving around a console startled by a bleeping sound.

"I think there's someone on the monitor," Kes called out, glancing up from what she was doing.

"Odd," the Doctor frowned, lines forming between his eyebrows. "Why don't they just use the comm line? I don't think this is coming from our ship."

A few more buttons pressed and the screen flickered to suddenly reveal the grafted face of a woman he had saved half a year prior.

"Schmullus," he heard her call, the name he had not used since her departure. "Schmullus, can you hear me?"

"Denera?"

"Schmullus," she replied relieved. "I have to do this quickly. I'm on one of the Vidiian ships."

What?!

"Do they know you're contacting me?" he asked sharply, concerned for her safety. "Are you in any danger?"

"No," she replied shaking her head much to his initial relief. "Everyone's too focused on the battle. Oh Schmullus, I swear I didn't know they planned to attack. I thought we were on an errand of mercy."

"I believe you," he nodded.

"I have the antiviral serums here. If you could use your transport to get it to your sh..."

"Our shields are up," he replied very quickly, cutting her off, "we can't transport through them."

The look on her face was one of genuine grief.

"I don't know what else to suggest," she admitted.

"Alright," the Doctor breathed beginning to move away, "I'll see what I can do."

"Maybe we can lower the shields long enough to transport the serum," Kes offered as the Doctor moved past the bed she was at.

His eyes lighting up, the Doctor hit his badge.

"Sickbay to Bridge," he called, reaching out to steady himself as another shot hit their weakened shields.

"This is Tuvok," the stoic voice replied. "We're rather busy here Doctor."

"Doctor Pel is on one of the Vidiian ships," he replied quickly. "If we can drop our shields briefly we can beam aboard the serum."

There was a pause as Tuvok considered the suggestion.

"Keep this comm line open Doctor," he ordered after a bit, "when you hear me order the shields down, you must complete a site to site transport yourself, we will be busy with the Vidiians."

"Understand," the Doctor replied, moving to ready himself for the procedure.

*-*-*

Brushing strands of dark hair out of her face, B'Elanna moved to rapidly complete what Tuvok had ordered.

"Bridge to engineering," she heard the comm line crackle. "Report."

"We're ready to eject the antimatter container," she replied, rapidly adding the final touches as she spoke.

"Stand by for my command," Tuvok continued. "Here is the sequence of events. We will drop shields to transport the medicine. At the same time the antimatter container will be ejected. As soon as it’s clear, Mr Kim will detonate it with a photon torpedo. Simultaneously, Mr Paris will jump to full impulse, so we will not take the brunt of the explosion. Is everyone clear on this? Timing is of the utmost importance. We won't get a second chance."

"Understood," she heard Paris snap turning back to face his console.

"Aye sir,' replied the young Ensign at Ops.

"We're ready down here sir," she replied herself, praying to a god that they were.

"Doctor?"

"I'm set up to make the transport," came the reply.

"Stand ready then..." the Vulcan announced with a pause. "Lower shields."

So it had begun then.

"Initiating transport."

"Ejecting the antimatter container... now," she replied.

"We've got it," the Doctor called barely able to contain his excitement. "Raise shields."

"Mr Kim, Mr Paris," Tuvok snapped, "...go!"

"Firing torpedoes."

There was a slight pause before Tuvok asked for a report.

"The Vidiian ships are all disabled sir," Harry announced, relief creeping into his voice. "They're not perusing."

Thank god!

"Ready to go to warp sir," she heard Paris say just before she closed the comm line.

"Set a course for the planet where we left the Captain and Commander Janeway, warp six," tuvok ordered, answered only by Paris' "Aye-aye sir," and the ship's sudden increase in velocity.

*-*-*

Kathryn sighed in contentment as she leaned back in Chakotay's arms.

A week had passed since the 'angry warrior' story and they were indeed taking their relationship slowly, facing each new development as it came, spending time just simply enjoying each other's company. Although they had not kissed properly since, holding hand had become a regular occurrence, especially when they took walks together through the woods and along the river bank.

So far, Chakotay had managed to surprise her on numerous occasions. Like the day he had collected wild flowers and given them to her. Or had gone out fruit picking early so she could have some fresh for breakfast. Or replicating a small bottle of bubble bath so she could enjoy her baths even more. Or as he had done today, dragged her out at half past four in the morning while it was still dark, so they could climb to the top of a nearby hill and sit and watch as the sun slowly rose over the orange tipped horizon.

"Are you cold?" he asked, wrapping his arms further around her to draw her closer.

"No," she whispered back, catching his hands before he could pull them away. "It's beautiful though."

"I know," he smile back, gently resting his chin on her shoulder, "but not as much as you though."

Turning slightly, she looked at him, a hand reaching up to stroke his face, no words spoken as their lips met briefly.

"See," he replied softly when they drew apart.

"You're incorrigible," she smiled returning to watching the sun slowly climbing the sky.

"Kathryn."

This time his tone seemed a little more serious and she wondered just what it was on his mind.

"If you don't want to answer this I won't mind, but what made you turn your back on a successful Starfleet career and join the Maquis?"

It was strange him asking that. After two years of serving together, she had though she had told him, well apparently not.

Taking a deep breath, she plunged in.

"I guess it all started with my father," she admitted after the initial pause. "When the Cardassian situation first arose, he was one of the first to be bought in which meant he was away from home a lot and I grew up with a resenting that and therefore had a built in dislike of Cardassians. Then once I graduated, I joined Admiral Paris on the Icarus. Just six months into the mission, the admiral and I were taken captive by the Cardassians..."

She could feel him tense behind her and pull her tighter to him as they both knew what capture by Cardassians usually meant.

"They didn't hurt me," she admitted, "not properly. I was just forced to listen to hours of screaming as they tortured the admiral, waiting for them to come to me next. Luckily they got that far, we were rescued by the Rangers, one of whom, Justin, I started a relationship with and we became engaged to be married..."

"But I guess something happened then?!"

She nodded.

"Daddy, Justin and I were testing a vessel called the Terra Nova, when something went wrong and it ripped itself apart. I survived only because I was near the back when it happened. Both Daddy and Justin died. It wasn't until a few months later, when they analysed the wreckage that they realised that it had been sabotaged... by the Cardassians."

"So they had destroyed your life," he whispered softly.

She nodded slightly, "But it didn't end there. As the Cardassians continued to advance, I often found myself on the front lines, or in the rescue teams. I fought them and I killed them. I saw then kill my friends and I saw what they did to the planets they annexed. I hated them, but not blindly until after the peace treaty. I knew the Demilitarized Zone would be a mistake the minute they proposed it. The Federation sold out its own people, but there was nothing i could do.

"But then the Cardassians made their last big mistake. They attacked a small non Federation vessel of diplomats and ambassadors, destroying it in cold blood. Mark was on that ship, we were due to get marries in the fall, so then I saw red and wanted revenge. I didn't want what had happened to me to happen to anyone else, so I resigned my commission and joined the Maquis."

"The straw that broke the camel's back," he whispered softly.

"Exactly."

They spent the next few minutes in silence, continuing to watch the sun rise slowly in the east.

"I probably would have done the same thing myself," Chakotay whispered surprising her. "Had my people not moved planets, the Cardassians could well have killed them all and I would have been serving with you in the Maquis."

Turning, she gazed up at him, smiling slightly.

"Under different circumstances," she replied. "i could have been hunting you."

*-*-*

Keying in the over ride, Tom stepped into familiar quarters; Kathryn's.

After back tracking for over three weeks now, Voyager was once again within three days of the planet. Compared to the time spent leaving them, the time returning felt like nothing. Crew morale was high again, pool tournaments were being set up. Neelix was serving edible food and gentle banter had returned to the Bridge. All in all, the ship was running smoothly.

Now though, it had been almost three months since anyone had been in these quarters and it was beginning to show. he was glad they had not been cleared out, that everything was as Kathryn had left it, but now he was here to add a bit of life to it again, to freshen it up for her return.

*-*-*

Kathryn lay back into the bath, allowing the bubbles to sooth and caress her soft skin. The scent of lavender rose and tingled her nostrils, sending relaxing messages to her brain. God this was heaven, well almost. Only one thing, or one person could make it better now.

"Chakotay," she called out a smile on her lips as her eyes closed, "are you there?"

"No," she heard him shout back in reply from inside the shelter. "I left an hour ago."

It was traditional.

"I was wondering," she continued, "if you'd come out here, I'm getting lonely by myself."

"What, no monkey friend," she heard him reply, his voice clearer as he slowly moved out to join her.

Ever since the day they had first met the monkey, he had made sure not to interrupt her while she was in the bath. It was just too dangerous. He wouldn't be held responsible for what might happen.

"You called my lady," he joked as she motioned him closer, till he was kneeling beside her, eyes enchanted by what lay hidden beneath the bubbles. "So anything you wanted to talk about in particular?" he asked making sure to lift his eyes to gaze into hers. "I was just thinking about a shower."

Her eyebrows rose slightly at that, a hand reaching out to softly unbutton the top of his shirt.

"Well, in that case," she shrugged a mysterious twinkle in her blue eyes, "why don't you join me."

He stared at her, trying desperately hard to prevent his mouth form dropping to the floor. Was she serious? She was serious!

"Well," he sighed teasingly, rising to his feet, "if you really insist, but only on one condition."

"Oh?"

"You'll allow me to do your hair."

A nod of her head and he could barely remove his clothes fast enough. Hearing her move forward, pulling her knees up to her chest, he dropped his underwear on the ground and slipped in behind her, back against the end,, drawing her towards him until back met chest.

God this felt good.

Reaching up, she slowly unpinned her long locks, allowing them to tumble down into the water and beyond. It had been a while since he had seen it completely loose and it was gorgeous. Cupping water into his palms, he sprinkled it onto her head, adding the lotion she handed him.

"You have beautiful hair," he breathed deeply, allowing himself the time to take in the scent that was Kathryn Janeway. "I've been wanting to do this for a long time," he admitted, rewarded with a faint laugh.

"I could tell," she admitted.

Smiling, he continued with is ministrations, slowly massaging her scalp.

"So is there anything you really want to do Kathryn?" he asked softly, gently pouring on the water.

"Two things," she sighed content. "I want to explore the river, see what's down there, on the other side."

He rose a dark eyebrow.

"And the other?"

There was a pause for a moment as she slowly turned to face him, moonlight glittering off her wet body.

"I want to make love with you," she said simply, allowing her finger to trace the lines of his dark tattoo.

"Now?' he whispered hoarsely, not believing what he was hearing.

"Yes," she nodded, "now!"

*-*-*

The sun was shining, the birds were singing and there was a smile on Kathryn's face that could not be missed.

Her hands in the dark earth, she was stretched out on the grass, her mind much further away then the tomato plants she was weeding. Actually, she was thinking about the night before. The night both she and Chakotay had come together as one, literally; mind body and soul.

Chakotay turned out to be one hell of a lover. She had always joked that there was something about a man with the ability to make you beg, and there was. God there was. Everything he had done, he had done with her needs at the front of him mind.

Her smile spread at that. They hadn't fallen asleep until the early hours of the morning and even then, he had kept her close, ensuing that she was as comfortable as possible on those small cots.

There was no doubt in her mind that she did love him and had told him that, to which he had replied with a very broad and a gentle kiss, before whispering, "I love you too."

"How are they coming?"

Glancing up, she took a quick sip of coffee as she watched him move over to where she was lying, bending down before her.

"Very nicely," she returned smoothly. "We should have vine ripen Talaxian tomatoes in a couple of months. Unless this planet has the equivalent of tomato bugs," she added grimacing slightly, "oh they're awful."

Chakotay gazed at her with a smile on his lips, slowly shaking his head.

"I would never have thought of you as a gardener," he admitted softly.

"I grew up around farmers," she reminded him. "My parents insisted we learnt some basic gardening skills."

"Did you hate that as much as camping?"

"Of course," she laughed. "Who wants to much around in the dirt when you could be studying quantum mechanics?"

That was Kathryn all over, a true scientist and he loved her for it. That and the soft dress she was wearing that exactly matched her eyes. God he loved her in that.

"But I find it satisfying now,' he heard her continue. "Watching the seeds sprout and grow."

He could see that. Ever since he had first met her, this had to be the most relaxed he had over seen her. So carefree, so beautiful. Careful Chakotay, he reminded himself. Don't go there now.

"Well, if your tomatoes could spare you for a moment," he asked his dimples beginning to show, "I'd like your opinion on something in the house."

"You've come to the right person,' she smiled slightly as he helped her to her feet. "I always have an opinion."

"Really?"

Laughing he lead her inside, switching on their computer as she wiped her hands clean.

"What do you think?"

"A boat," she gasped, her eyes lighting up.

"You said you wanted to explore the river," he shrugged, "I think I could build this."

"We could go on a camping trip," she said automatically, drawing a laugh from him at the irony of the idea.

"I'm not sure we could fit the bathtub in the boat," he threw back, causing a grin to spread across her own face.

"That's alright," she responded, "I'll have the river..."

A faint crackling stopped her and she looked up at him with a slight frown.

"Do you hear that?" she questioned.

Listening carefully, a voice could just be made out between the static. A very familiar voice, although it took a few moments to place it.

"...to Captain Chakotay... Do you read me? This is Tuvok calling Captain Chakotay and Commander Janeway. Please respond."

Moving to a cupboard, Chakotay reached into a tray and pulled out the offending instruments; their comm badges. Lying them on the table next to where Kathryn had taken a seat, he pressed one, holding it closer to his mouth.

"This is Chakotay."

Was that really his voice?

"Captain, it's good to hear your voice again," the badge crackled. "We have news."

"Go ahead."

"We have medicine which we believe will effectively treat your condition. We plan to be in orbit within thirty hours," and then the badges went dead.

Slowly, Chakotay dropped his arm, placing he badge back down on the table. Slowly he rose his head to gaze into Kathryn's eyes, too dazed to do any more. her gaze was searching his, looking for a clue that what ever they had heard was correct. That it truly was over. Their lives, all they had made her, over.

Smiling slightly, he knew he had to say something, but only one thing would come to mind.

"At least you won't have t to put up with my cooking any more," he said softly, before looking back down at the table, whispering a brief "excuse me," and walked out the door, Kathryn not making a move to follow him.

*-*-*

Two days later and Kathryn found herself back in uniform, the red and black feeling awkward and strange having been without it for so long. Behind and around her stood a variety of crates, their lives here all packed up within them.

Chakotay had barely said more then ten words to her since Tuvok's hail, spending most of his time away from her, sitting on his own. Different people cope with things differently, and she knew he had to work through this on his own. She just hoped he would not draw away further, not sure if she could cope if he removed himself totally from her life. They could not go back to the way it was before, and neither did she want to, but she feared it, almost as much as she feared losing her love.

"Ready?"

Hearing Chakotay exit the shelter for the last time, she turned to face him, nodding slightly. A screeching sound made her stop and she moved to find that the monkey was back, motioning almost as if to say goodbye.

"There you are," she smiled slightly as best she could. "At least I get to say goodbye." Then added, "Feel free to use the house," before walking back to where the Captain was standing, no longer the man she had gotten to know.

Their eyes met, but only for a moment, before Chakotay's hand reached up to slap his badge.

"Chakotay to Voyager, two to beam up!"

*-*-*

The End

This has taken a long time to write so please, tell me what you think! Feedback is what all writers live on. It is our Ketracell white, the stuff we live for.

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