Inspired by the song,
I hope you dance, by Leanne Womak.
She leaned against the wall, wishing desperately that she could blend right into it. After all these years, six in all, of loneliness in the delta quadrant, it had taken a song to remind the Captain, who Kathryn was.
She was trying not to cry here, in the holodeck, with her crew surrounding her. But the tears were coming forth, pouring down her cheeks. Tom was playing some music from the 20th century, and a song came on, a song that Admiral Janeway used to play for his little goldenbird, telling her it should be how she lived her life.
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“I hope you dance goldenbird.” He used to say, as I lifted her on his lap. “Never forget who you are, and who you used to be. Remember the joy you feel now, as you grow into an adult. Remember the innocence you have now, it will save you one day.”
She had lived by those words, striving for achievement, yet remembering that she was still small, compared to the ocean. That heartbreak should only make you stronger, to move on towards your destiny. That if a door closes in your face, to just look for the next open one.
“Goldenbird” he would say, “just like the song says, if you get the choice to sit it out or dance, then dance. Show the world who you are, not just your abilities.”
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She did dance through life, being both starfleet, and woman. She showed the powers above her, that she could do both. Mark was a man that had accepted both, he loved her, without hesitation. He accepted her career, knowing it was Kathryn who came home to him.
The problem started when she entered the delta quadrant. Kathryn slowly was lost, and the Captain took over. Kathryn forgot to dance, and the Captain didn’t know how.
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Now Kathryn knew, she needed to dance, she needed to come out of hiding, before she was lost for good. She could not continue living life like this, she had to realize that protocol had to be different out here. Now she just had to find a way to show the crew.
“Hey, are you alright.” Came the all to familiar voice, edged with concern.
She took a deep breath and turned to face him, “yes Chakotay, I’m alright. I am better than alright, in fact.”
He flashed her his dimples, “good, for a minute there I thought you were crying.”
“I was, but I’m ok now. Chakotay, I need to dance. Join me on the dance floor?” She hoped he caught her hidden meaning.
He did, leaning down to brush a kiss on her cheek, “I would dance with you any where.” He took her hand, and led her out.
She could only smile. She would no longer choose to sit it out, she would dance!
End