Kath and I decided
to have some fun, and do a story together.
Planets
Away
By Sheri and Kath
Oct, Nov 2000
The ship rocked under her.
*What the hell is going on? * Janeway thought as she ran from her ready room onto the bridge of her ship, the Voyager.
"Report!" she ordered as soon as the door made way for her.
"We're under attack, Captain. But we don't know by whom. They're not answering our hails," Chakotay informed.
The ship rocked again. Heavier this time.
"Shields down to 46 percent."
"Damn." Janeway looked at the screen grimly. If this would go much further they'd be space dust. Something had to be done.
"Fire torpedoes. Evasive maneuvers." 25 minutes before the shift change and then this. Definitely not her day.
"Firing torpedoes. Direct hit. Minor damage to their shields."
Again the ship rocked.
"Shields down to 15 percent… the next hit will collap… "
This time when the ship rocked Janeway lost her balance and tumbled on the deck. A gasp escaped her as she felt her wrist snap.
"Tom, get us out of here!" Janeway shouted. Things were certainly too hot in here.
Harry Kim cut in before Tom could even acknowledge their Captain's order. "They've got a lock on Commander Chakotay!"
At the same instant as Janeway turned to see her First Officer he was fading into a shimmering yellow light. "Get him back now!" * Oh God, don't let anything happen to him. *
"I'm unable to."
"Dammit I said get him back! There are no other options! I want Chakotay back NOW!"
*************
It didn't happen, voyager was in bad shape, and the short attack left them dead in the water. And Chakotay was gone.
"Report." Barked Janeway.
"We have no shields, no propulsion, warp core is off line, thrusters are off line. Hull breaches all over. Basically we're dead here."
"Shit." She mumbled under breath.
"What about the shuttles, we have to go after Chakotay."
“Sorry Captain shuttle bay one is a goner, and it looks like shuttle bay 2 took damage, the flyer was in there, it may be salvageable, but we'll have to wait and see.” Said Harry solemnly.
“What about Voyager, are we salvageable? BE'lanna, report.”
The Comm came back with static, she could hear BE'lanna say something, but couldn't make out what it was. Her wrist was throbbing, and starting to swell, she knew she should go to sickbay, but there were other priorities. “I think Ill make my way to engineering, try to see if I can help, Tuvok, you have the bridge, search for a m class planet we could set down on and effect repairs. Mr. Paris, get to sickbay, I'm sure you'll be needed there.”
“Captain, you should come with me, we could get your wrist fixed.” Tom finally put in as the captain stopped long enough to take a breath.
“I have better things to do then sit in sickbay, Tom.”
“Yes but you would be more productive in Engineering if you had that fixed. It won't take long Captain.”
She sighed, he was right. “Fine Mr. Paris, lead the way.” The two of them headed for the nearest jefferies tube, not bothering with the turbo lifts. IT was slow going, with her injured hand, but they eventually got there, the injured were beginning to pileup, luckily none of them serious. The doctor was nowhere to be seen and a question to the computer told all they needed to know. His program had damaged in the attack and from the sound of it, it would take a long time for B’Elanna to fix it, if it were even retrievable.
After checking on ensign Walker and making sure the painkiller's he'd given her were working, Tom turned back to the Captain.
Tom ushered the Captain to a corner and grabbed and ostio regenerator and began to fix, once finished he grabbed a medical tricorder, and gave her a quick scan.
“I just want to make sure there is nothing life threatening here, then you can go.”
“Fine, just get it done with.” She wasn't in the mood for all of this.
He pointed the scanner and began, “so far looks alright, let me finish up here.” He waved it around her stomach, and gasped.
“What is it Tom?” she asked, suddenly concerned, “did you find something? I really feel all right.
“Umm, I … I … did find something Captain.”
“Well what is, oh never mind just get it fixed so I can get out of here.” She said sounding slightly annoyed.
“Can't fix this Captain, you're pregnant.”
“I'm what? Give me that thing, you're crazy.” She grabbed the tricorder out of his hands and looked at the evidence herself. “Oh my, I thought my boosters where up to date. Shit.” She swore again.
“Captain, I…”
“Mr. Paris, obviously I'm fine, and I'm needed elsewhere right now, you will keep this to your self, please."
“Yes ma'am, of course, you're free to leave, but check back later, I want a better scan of the…well you know.”
“Yes of course, you can discuss this with the doctor, if we get his program running again. But I trust you will discuss with no one else, right Tom.”
“I won't captain, I promise.”
“Thank you Tom.” And she made a hasty exit, to head to engineering.
*************
She made it to the nearest jefferies tube and began the crawl to engineering. She stopped after a few feet, the tears began to fall, “oh Chakotay, why this? Why now?” She let her hand fall to her still flat stomach, “you would have loved this.”
Kathryn composed herself after a few minutes and continued toward her goal, she had to set aside her feelings for now, it wouldn't do her any good. Presenting the questions to herself helped her to try and understand the situation. As she neared Engineering she came to the conclusion that the aliens had specifically wanted Chakotay. Otherwise why retreat as soon as they had him. Who could be behind this? Kathryn's first thought was Seska, but she knew that was impossible. The Cardassian spy had been dead for years already. Still pondering at the people behind the kidnapping she reached engineering, and made her way to lieutenant Torres. “B’Elanna, what the status?”
*************
Even after working for 20 hours straight she and Belanna were getting nowhere, the injured were slowly returning to help out, but it was obvious that the warp core was not salvageable, at least right now. Other teams had been able to seal the breaches, and it looked as if the Delta Flyer could eventually be fixed. But life support was another story, it was failing and fast, they were going to have to set her down, and quickly. They had been able to get minimal thrusters online, hopefully that would get them somewhere, and communications were back online, and right now Kathryn was grateful for whatever small favors were coming their way.
She once again headed for the jefferies tube and began the long climb back to the bridge. Once there she made the announcement, “people, voyager is in bad shape, we need to find someplace to set down. Harry, have your scans revealed anything promising?”
“Yes Captain, there are two m class m- planets, just ahead, one populated the other isn't.”
“Is the unpopulated planet hospitable Harry?”
“Yes ma'am, looks great from up here.” He answered hopefully.
“Janeway to Paris. Report to the bridge.”
“I'm already on my way, Captain.” Tom replied.
“Any sign of the other ship?” She turned around to see Tuvok. She desperately wanted to find Chakotay, even more desperately than before, but that would have to wait, one more shot, and Voyager would not make it anywhere.
“No ma'am.”
Just then Tom Paris entered the bridge, “You in need of someone to push yet Captain.”
“We have minimal thrusters Tom, and a destination in mind, think you could get us there?”
“Of course, no problem. And Captain, I released everyone from sickbay with the exception of Walker. She's going to be off duty for the next few days.”
“Thank you Tom. Well, lets go, to what hopefully won't be our new home.” She didn't know how wrong she would be.
*************
The made it to the planet in a couple hours, “alright, gray mode, lets take her down.”
“Captain, there seems
to be a problem with one of the landing struts, it’ not fully extended”
explained Tom.
Of course, she thought, “can you do this Tom?”
“Well, I won't promise a graceful landing but its almost extended, we shouldn't crash, at least I hope not.
“Attention all hands, this is going to be a rough landing, brace for impact.” She took her chair and gripped the sides; this was not going to be pleasant.
Tom was true to his word; he took them down slow and graceful, considering Voyagers condition. All went quite well, they felt the impact of the landing struts, and them adjusting to the weight, and then voyager tilted to one side and fully landed with a jolt. “Not bad, not bad at all Tom.” She tried to stand up, but realized the tilt was a little more than she planned,originally thought, she started falling backwards, and she quickly took her seat. “Ok folks, this should be interesting, lets get everybody out of here, repair that strut, so we can actually work without having to hold on.”
*************
The crew of voyager worked diligently for the next month attempting to repair voyager, they managed to fix the broken strut, but everything else was proving futile. Most of the systems were just too badly damaged, to make her space worthy.
“I'm sorry captain, we may not leave here.” Torres said grimly.
“I don't want to hear that, there has to be something we can do. What about…?”
“No, we can't. We can salvage a lot, make it work. But we don't have the power to replicate the hull, that was too badly damaged, environmental controls are fried, the main computer... Do I need to continue?”
“I won't accept this crew giving up.” If Kathryn gave up, she would never find Chakotay. She had tried to set aside thinking of him, but she couldn't. Her own condition wouldn't let her. When she discovered it, she was approximately eight weeks pregnant. Now she was 12 weeks, and beginning to show. Tom was true to his word, he had not said anything, but she couldn't hide this anymore. Besides, she was more than aware of the condition Voyager was in. She would never take off again. *Even the eagle must know when to sleep. * "Belanna, I need time to think, please.”
“Alright Captain.” Belanna answered solemnly and walked away.
*************
Kathryn made her way to the near by river, and sat along its banks. It was peaceful here, and it gave her some time to think. She knew what Belanna was saying was true, she just didn't want to say it, believe it. She didn't want to give up on her ship; they had been through too much to do that now. But she knew her ship could now provide in other ways, providing for buildings that they desperately needed. Salvaging what was left to run the replicators, to provide the essentials. They had to do this, and it wasn't fair that her drive to get home would prevent that.
Chakotay was the other part, letting go of voyager, meant letting go of the chance of seeing him again. She didn't even know if he was still alive, it was likely that he wasn't, those aliens were brutal, and it was most likely that he was killed. She found that this pregnancy, which she was only know starting to accept, might be the one thing that saved her, still having a part of him that will go on.
She found herself actually smiling, the first smile in a long time. She let her hand wander down to her slightly swollen stomach, “I wonder little one, are you going to look like your daddy, I hope you do. I hope the moment someone lays eyes on you your heritage will be known.”
“Captain, am I interrupting?” it was Tom, “Belanna was worried about you.”
“I'm ok, Tom, at least, I will be ok. Just have to come to some resolutions here.”
“I know, this can't be an easy decision. It almost seems like we're giving up too soon.”
“We're not, I knew that, I just didn't want to admit that. I knew the moment I gave the order to land the ship that she probably wouldn't go back up. I just have to accept it now.” She sounded a little remorseful.
“And have you?” he asked.
“Yes, it wasn't easy to, but he makes it easier.” She replied, her hand patting her belly.
“He?”
“It's a boy, I know it is. He will give me my new lease on life Tom, because of him, I will go on, and I will eventually be happy.” She gave him a half smile, to reassure him. “Tom, go back to the camp, tell everyone to gather around, I have an announcement to make. Ill be there shortly.”
*************
“This isn't easy people, I know that, like myself, you all had hopes of returning to space, and heading for home. But with Voyager in its current condition, that won't be possible. We all have to accept this, and make a life for ourselves here. If anyone has any ideas, please feel free to say them, I will hear any. On a more personal note, there is something else I have to tell you, in another seven months, I am going to be a mother, his father will not be able to see him, but I know, through all of us, he will know of him. If there is nothing else, we have a community to build.” The happy whispers and smiles told her the news was welcomed. Soon various crew members came up to her giving her well wishes, and promises of help. She knew this wasn't going to be easy, and she still wished to leave the planet, but over time, she would be able to accept their fate, and lead a happy life. After all, one shouldn't sacrifice the present for a future that may never happen.
*************
They used some parts from voyager, but mainly trees from the woods and slowly the main complex was erected. This would house the crew, since voyager wasn't really able to for much longer. They would eventually start building their own houses, and allow there little community to grow. They integrated some parts from Voyager, bringing a few replicators online; saving the rest for the houses that would eventually go up. Considering how badly damaged most of the main systems were, the individual parts seemed to work fine. They would have sonic showers, replicators, and a few other luxuries. They had salvaged a lot; they just had to make sure they used everything sparingly, so that it would last them a long time.
Kathryn couldn't believe how much she was growing, at seven months she seemed to be stretched to alarming proportions, and she still had three more months to go. The doctor reassured her that she was not larger than normal, but she was positive he was mistaken, she really missed her feet.
Adjusting to living on the planet wasn't easy to anyone, but they were growing to love it here. Once they got over the fact that they would never leave, they began to see the beauty here. Kathryn even began to notice the similarity too new earth. The river was one of her favorite places to sit. It reminded her of Chakotay; maybe one day she would have to build a boat, to take a trip down the river, find a great spot to go camping with her son. Kathryn Janeway build a boat, would she even know how, with out Chakotay? She would just have to learn.
*************
And learn she did, maybe not how to build a boat, but how to live, be happy,and most importantly how to move on. This incredible crew did that, brought her to a new level. Her friendship with Belanna was growing strong, Belanna had announced that she too was expecting, a few months ago, and now at 5 months, was quite grumpy. Kathryn would just laugh; she knew all too well how uncomfortable it could get. Then sometimes she would be the one sulking and Belanna would be the one laughing.
One day, about 4 weeks before Kathryn's due date they where working and decided it was time for a break. They went to sit at the river, they were called back to look at some of the plans for there little town, when, try as she might, Kathryn couldn't get up. Belanna tried her hardest to stop laughing and help but thought the sight was too funny. “Yeah, laugh it up, just wait till your 8 months pregnant.” Kathryn barked back.
The laughing stopped, the thought of herself waddling like a duck, sobered Belanna rather quickly. “Kathryn, how am I going to do this? be a mother? I can't.”
“Yes you can, you have Tom…” she paused, the unsaid thought not lost on Belanna.
“Yes, I do, and you have us, don't worry, we will do all of this together.” Belanna reassured.
On the way back to the camp, Naomi stopped them, “Aunt Kathryn, could I have a word with you?”
Kathryn still remembered the day she'd told Naomi to call her Kathryn. She no longer had starship to captain so she preferred not to use the title any longer. The child had taken to it much faster than any of the adults.
“Of course Naomi, what can I do for you?” the captain answered cheerfully.
“Well, I just saw Mr. Tuvok. He was working on one of the replicators, and well” the little girl looked confused.
“What is it, sweetheart?” Kathryn was no longer able to bend down to Naomi’s level, but the ever assuring hand on the shoulder still worked its magic.
Assured that she'd be taken seriously Naomi continued. “He looked angry, and he even sounded angry. I didn't think Vulcan's showed any emotion.”
Kathryn was suddenly concerned. She had no reason to doubt Naomi. The girl, despite her young age had often shown her remarkable talents in observing things around her. And she was also correct, Vulcan's were well known for the fact that they showed no emotions. They often even denied having them at all. For Tuvok to be angry meant trouble in a big way. “Well, I will go see him as soon as I find out what Mr. Kim wanted ok.”
“Alright Captain, thanks.”
As Naomi scurried away Janeway called after her. “Naomi! Thank you for bringing this to me. And be careful on your way back.”
Kathryn then looked at Belanna, they both realized what this could mean, “lets go see what Harry wanted, then I think I need to have a talk with Tuvok.”
They reach the camp; several of the crew had begun to build their houses in various places. Harry approached the captain. “Sorry to disturb your break, but Ayala and I had something to discuss with you.”
“Sure Harry, what do you need?” she asked noticing that Ayala was hovering over Kim's shoulder, looking somewhat nervous.
“Well this house is turning out a lot bigger than we thought, there will be at least four bedrooms, if not more.” Kim said.
“Good, since we will be doubling up in these for a while.”
“Well, we were wondering, would you want to be here with us.”
“Captain, I have two boys back on earth, lots of experience with babies, I would love to be around to help out, all of us would.” Explained Ayala. “You can stay here until we get your house built.”
She thought about it for a minute, it wouldn't exactly be proper, but then again, why not. She was anxious to get out of the community house, and this one would be done soon. And she knew that the baby would keep the others awake over there, the sooner she got out the better, “alright, you have your self a deal. Just don't forget the bathtub.” She commented as she walked away. The two men just shook their heads, that woman was definitely a mystery.
Kathryn walked back to where Belanna was standing; “It's really coming along, isn't it. I didn't expect so many to build close together.”
“Why not, we're a family, a close knit one. We've been close together for a long time, and we don't want to stop right now.” Explained Belanna.
“I know, I just didn't expect all this. I expected some resistance, instead I'm getting acceptance.”
“And that isn't what you want?”
“I do, its just…”
“You were a captain, used to being alone, determined to get home. Now your Kathryn, a mother to be, a leader of a community, and a great friend. Accept it.”
She was about to make another comment when she felt a slight twinge of pain.
“Kathryn, are you ok?” asked Belanna.
There was no need to answer, the splash of water to the floor answered their questions, “Oh boy, guess someone is impatient, lets get you to the building.”
Belanna looked a little concerned; of course it wasn't in her nature to panic, yet with her impending motherhood, she found that at times she just couldn't help it. Fear of childbirth can tend to do that to the bravest of people, “Oh my, isn't it too soon.”
“They baby doesn't’ think so, could you find Tom for me before I make you deliver this kid.” Yelled Kathryn.
“He's already at the community building, Lets get you there.” It was a slow walk, but they eventually made it. They got Kathryn lying down, and cleared the room.
Several hours later had an exhausted Tom, a nervous Belanna and an angry Kathryn, “I want this kid out, do something, beam it out, something.” She screamed at whoever would listen.
Tom shook his head and did another scan, “it shouldn't be too much longer, you're dilated to a 9 already.”
“Not far enough, can't you speed this up. Please Tom?” She was begging, and pleading with them, it wasn't working.
IT only took another
hour before Kathryn had a squalling infant son in her arms. He had a full
head of black hair; he looked like a miniature version of his father.
“Oh Kathryn, he's
just perfect, he looks just like Chakotay.”
“Oh he does, doesn't he? I wished this, I just didn't imagine he would look so much like him.” Kathryn was crying by now, and Belanna was joining her with her hormones as crazy as they were. Tom just stood back; proud of what he just accomplished, bringing the first new life onto there new home.
“Come on, BE'lanna, lets let her get some rest.” He covered up the exhausted Kathryn, and placed the baby in the bassinet next to the bed, and escorted his wife out of the room, he had to go announce the new addition.
*************
The following morning Kathryn lay in bed nursing Christopher Chakotay, she had already had a long series of well wishers, but was wondering why Tuvok hadn't yet stop by. She asked a few of her visitors, but they knew nothing. Tom came in and gave her a scan, “Tom, have you seen Tuvok?”
“Hmmm, no I haven't. I'm sure he's fine. And so are you, Chris looks like he's taken to breast feeding quite well.”
“Oh yes, he sure has. Tom would you go look for Tuvok, I'm a little worried about him. He wasn't acting right yesterday, and it isn't like Tuvok to not come and see the baby.”
“Alright Kathryn I will, you just take it easy.”
Tom left the building to talk to Harry, he didn't want to wander too far from Kathryn at this point, so he would have Harry look around the camp, and if Tuvok wasn't found, organize a search party.
Several hours later they determined that Tuvok was indeed missing, no one had seen him leave, but several had observed his odd behavior. The only conclusion was that Tuvok might be experiencing the ponn Farr. Vorik surmised that he probably left to find a suitable place to meditate, “at this point there is no need to worry, Tuvok is fully capable of the deep meditation required for the ponn Farr, I would not yet worry.” Explained Vorik.
That didn't reassure Kathryn any, Belanna was in trying to calm her down, “what could you have done Kathryn, you couldn't help him.”
“I could have and you know it, I'm the closest to him, I could have done something.”
“Kathryn, you are just being ridiculous now, you were delivering your son. I know your upset, but we have to believe he will be alright.”
Kathryn stroked her son's cheek, “I don't want to lose Tuvok too, I've lost to many people in my life.” How much is too much.
“I know Kathryn, and I'm sorry, I know how it feels to lose someone you care about, I loved Chakotay too, and I couldn't imagine how I would cope if I lost Tom. But you have us, and we aren't going anywhere, let us be a part of your family.”
“Oh Belanna you are, you and Tom are so important to me, I don't know how I would have made it through the past 7 months without you. You are my family, mine and Christopher's.” Belanna leaned over and hugged the older woman, both crying over their losses and their new lives.
Tom was going to take the newly fixed Delta flyer around the area to see if he could spot anything. The flyer was not space worthy, and the sensors did not work. But it would fly, much like the airplanes of the twentieth century, which allowed them to at least scope out areas of the planet. They were hoping to get it into space eventually, but it wasn't a top priority, they didn't have the materials to spare to do that at this time.
*************
It was nearly a week later before the found him, Tuvok was lying near the mouth of a cave, 20 miles away from them. He was dead; it seemed he did not survive the Ponn Farr.
Belanna knew she should be the one to deliver the sad news, she entered her room and found Kathryn awake, reading a book. Kathryn laid the book on her bed, “Belanna, what is it?” Kathryn could tell something was wrong.
“I'm sorry, I don't want to tell you this, but they found Tuvok, he's dead.”
“No, your lying, he can't be dead.” Not another one, please don't let me lose someone else.
“I'm sorry Kathryn, if its any consolation, it looked as if he just laid down and went to sleep, Tom said he looked at peace.”
“Noooooo.” It was a wail of complete and utter despair. One that woke the sleeping baby, who began to cry along with his mother. Belanna picked up the baby and tried to soothe him back to sleep, it wasn't long before he was out. She placed him back in the crib and turned her attention back to Kathryn, who was now lying on her side, facing away from Belanna.
“Kathryn…” Belanna began.
“Please, go away, I need to be alone.”
“Of course, just yell if you need anything. Ok?”
Kathryn just nodded her response.
It was several hours later when Tom looked at Belanna for probably the third time. Christopher had been crying for sometime now. “Are you going to go in there?” He asked, concerned.
Belanna wanted to give Kathryn some more time, but she must be having a problem, “Alright, Ill go see if everything is ok.”
She made her way back into Kathryn's room, only to find Kathryn still laying on her side, and the baby still in the crib, near hysterics by now. “Kathryn, how could you just let him cry like this, he's obviously hungry.”
“You take him, I just bring bad luck to everyone I love, he will eventually suffer the same fate that all others before him have.”
“What? That's ridiculous.”
“Is it? I don't think so. First there was Daddy and Justin, I should have been able to save them, but no, they're dead. Then my mom and Phoebe, they may not be dead, but Ill never see them again. Then Chakotay, now Tuvok. I wonder who will be next; I would die if it were my son. If you take him away, he may avoid all that suffering, he would be better off with out me.”
“That is just utterly ridiculous, none of them are your fault.”
“It's all my fault, I couldn't save any of them. They suffered because of me. Take Chris away, please, I don't deserve him, Ill just destroy him, just like I've destroyed everyone else.”
“Listen to yourself, I know your upset, but please just listen. Your Dad and Justin, there was nothing you could do, and you know that. The Caretakers array, would you change what you did, if you could go back in time, just to be back with your family?”
“No.” Kathryn whispered.
“Your relationship with Chakotay, would you stop that from starting if you knew that you would lose him?”
“No.” was repeated again.
“And Tuvok, do you think he would have accepted your help, if you could have.”
“No, his bond with T’pel was strong, he would not have betrayed her.” Kathryn answered.
“None of this is your fault, you can't give up here, your son needs you, we all need you, and I need you. We have grown close, and I don't think I could stand to be without you. Besides, someone has to help me here, in a few more months I'm going to be a mother, and I don't have a single clue as to what to do.”
Kathryn smiled a genuine smile, “you will do just fine, here give me my baby, he looks like he's hungry.” She took the baby and began nursing. Belanna got up to leave her work finished for right now. “Belanna?”
“Yes?”
“Thank you.”
“No problem Kathryn, no problem.”
*************
Over the following year, everyone saw great changes in the city of Voyager. They named there ever growing community after the great ship that brought them together. Not much remained of their star ship, but the remains still stood where the originally landed the ship. They treated it like a monument, many went to the spot just to sit and talk about old times. No one remained living in the large community building that was first erected; they now all lived in the houses that were built over time. Many, who originally moved in together out of convenience, still remained together out of friendship.
Kathryn still lived in the house with Harry Kim, his new girlfriend Celeste, had joined them six months ago and at the same time Ayala finished his new house and moved in with a nice young woman he had been dating.
The community building was being turned into a town center, where they would meet, organize and plan what to do to expand their small city.
Belanna gave birth to a healthy son, 3 months after Kathryn; Kathryn had to laugh at the fact that Tom came through it with minimal damage. The two kids seemed to hold good promise to becoming good friends.
Christopher looked even more like Chakotay as he grew; Kathryn would joke with Belanna saying she wondered if her DNA was in there at all.
“He does look like a miniature version of Chakotay, doesn't he. He would be so amazed Kathryn, you do know that? Don't you?”
“I know Belanna. It doesn't hurt so much anymore. Don't get me wrong, I would give anything to have him here, but watching Christopher grow, well, it helps. He left something behind for me to love and care for, and I need that, I makes me feel close to him.”
“I understand, really I do. I loved Chakotay, differently than you, but love much the same, Christopher helps me too.”
“Hey ladies, dinner is almost ready, are you coming?” Tom yelled from the main complex. Dinner was still served in much the same fashion as on voyager. People had the option to cook at home, but they had built neelix a mess hall and large kitchen, and most of the former crew opted to eat there all together.
Belanna and Kathryn joined everyone else, discovering they were both extremely hungry. They all ate and chatted amongst their own groups, when Harry stood up, clanging his fork against his glass to get everyone's attention.
“Sorry to interrupt, but almost everyone is here, so I thought it would be a good time for a couple announcements and a request. Firstly, I have asked Celeste to marry me, and she has accepted.” A round of cheers could be heard throughout the room. “Second, we are expecting a baby in about six months. And now for the request, Captain, would you do the honor of marrying us?”
Kathryn laughed, “of course I would Harry, just name the time. I may not be a captain anymore, but I am grateful the honor of joining two people in marriage still falls upon me.” She got up to go give a warm hug to the happy couple. “I guess I'm going to be booted out of the house soon?”
Celeste interrupted, “no captain, we would never do that.”
Ayala interrupted her, “Captain, if you let us know where, you know the guys would be glad to get a start on your own house. We've actually been wondering when you were going to ask.”
“What did I do to deserve a crew like you? Thank you, I would greatly appreciate it.” She knew just the spot, on the edge of the woods, near the river. She was surprised no one had claimed it yet, she wouldn't waste any time taking it for herself.
*************
Kathryn stood in front of her new house, with Christopher in her arms. The group of guys who all helped build her house were standing in front of her proudly. “Men, you have outdid your selves here. I didn't need much, you didn't have…”
No the house wasn't big, two bedrooms, a living room, a kitchen, a bathroom and a small playroom for Christopher. But they had also fenced off one side of the yard, leaving an outdoor play area for Chris.
“We did have to. You have done so much for us over the years, and we knew this was just a small way to pay you back, this way you can work in that garden you want so much, and Chris can play without you having to worry.”
“Yes, and I can drop off Owen, and you can easily watch him too.” Belanna added.
Kathryn laughed, “alright you made your point, thank you, really, this means so much to me.” She proceeded to hug every one of them before exploring her new surroundings.
The house came in perfect time, Celeste was due any day now, and she didn't want to get in the way of the new parents. They had been married now for 5 months, a simple ceremony, performed in the center of town.
Over the next five months, she wed three more couples, she was sure more were to come. She would often think of Chakotay during them, wishing she could once again know the happiness these couples shared. But she would carry the memories of the time they shared together with her always, and she would treasure the gift of their son, that she would always have with her.
*************
The man worked the controls of the small craft, now all to familiar to him. His friend, Shana sat in the co-pilots chair, glancing over at him every chance he got. He knew she liked him, she made that point quite obvious, but he did not feel the same, he still had hopes of one day finding his love, his woman warrior, hoping she was not too far away by now.
Chakotay still found it hard to understand all that had happened in the almost two years that had past. His capture off of Voyager, the aliens that simply put him in a cell, shoved small amounts of food and water at him, but otherwise ignored him. Why take him, if they wanted nothing from him. He wasn't sure how long he was there before he was rescued, the best he could calculate was six months.
It was Shana’s people, the Darden’s, who had rescued him, along with some of there own people. They were a kind race, who invited him to stay with them, for as long as he needed. They looked a little strange, almost a cross between a reptile and a human, they definitely were not attractive, but their hearts made up for that in great amounts.
He lived with Shana’s family, and helped them out as much as he could. He often tried to procure a ride, to seek out Voyager's path, yet never could find anyone willing to take him. The problem with the Darden’s was they weren't willing to venture vary far from their space, and they didn't have spare ship's to allow him to leave. He accepted his fate and did his best to fit in.
It was 3 months ago that he had heard the rumor, about the Offworlders that settled on a planet just out side the Darden system. Shanna was just about finished with her pilot training, and was the only one willing to go that far for him to investigate. He waited until her training was complete, they made the request, it was reluctantly accepted, and they set off.
It had been four days, but they were finally reaching the planet in question. The sensors of the small craft were not powerful enough to scan down to the planet, so they planned on setting the craft down a short distance away, and hike around, till they found the town. They did not want to startle anyone, and if this was not the crew of Voyager, who knows what they would be like. No need to get captured again.
Once they set down, they began to scan, all the sensors could pick up were possible life signs, five miles ahead. They decided to head off in that direction.
“You know you should not get your hopes up too high Chakotay. You've been waiting for this for a long time, I don't want you too disappointed.”
“Shanna, I know there is a good possibility that it isn't them, and even if it is, that Kathryn may not have survived, but I have to know, and I have to be with my own people.”
“You are not happy with us, I thought we have been good to you.”
“You have, don't get me wrong, but could you stand to be separated from your family, for possible forever?”
“If I was with you, maybe I could.” She just wished he could understand her feelings.
Chakotay sighed, stopped his walking and turned to face her. “I wish you could understand, there are many reasons that I do not return your feelings. We are friends, but there will never be anything more. You have many men who share these strong feelings toward you, yet you pursue me, why?”
“You said it yourself, your captain said the same thing to you for many years. Yet you chose to pursue her, not stop. She one day returned those feelings. Why can't this be much the same.”
This was the same debate they had many times over. How could he tell her besides the huge age difference, he did not find her attractive in the least. “Shanna, lets just find out who these people are, Ok.?”
“Ok. Listen I was looking at these readings, if we go that way, through the forest, we will come to a river. We might be able to stay disguised that way, there population looks to be much less in that area.”
Chakotay looked at the scanner, damn, what he would give for a federation tricorder. These scanners were almost useless, but at least they showed something. “Alright, sounds like a plan.”
They had no way of knowing that if they continued on the original path they would have come upon the former Voyager, once a great beauty, now a monument to a growing city.
*************
The journey to the river was a quiet one, he hated hurting her feelings, but he knew if these feelings he was having were correct, that she would be able to go back to her family and leave him behind. The closer he got to the river, the stronger the feeling got. He couldn't explain it, excitement, and anticipation. Whatever you want to call it, he knew his life would be changing, for the better.
Once they reached the river, they only had to walk a few more minutes, when they spotted the house in the distance, they both picked a tree to hide behind, and tried to see if they could spot anyone. From that angle they couldn't. They made their way closer, dangerously close until they were only a few feet away. They could see a fence on the side of the house, and several toys scattered amongst the ground, “toys, must belong to a child, could be friendly enough.”
Before Chakotay could answer a little head popped up and peered over the fence, directly at him. The boy definitely looked human, skin complexion much like his own, black hair, and when the boy smiled, dimples that will someday, stop many women in their tracks.
“Chakotay, I think he sees us, what should we do?”
“Maybe we should back off for a while, I don't know, he looks human but…”
The little voice spoke, and stopped Chakotay completely with his words. The boys little hand was stretched out towards him and he was repeating excitedly, “Daddy, daddy, daddy.”
He looked questioningly at Shanna, then another voice broke through, “Christopher, what are you saying?” then he saw her, long auburn hair, now down to the middle of her back, beautiful blue dress swaying as she walked, it was Kathryn. She was bending down talking to the little boy, then she looked toward him, following the direction that so excited the little boy.
"Oh god, I must be dreaming." Kathryn said shakily as she finally spotted Chakotay.
Belanna rounded the corner, sounding concerned, "Kathryn, are you ok?"she then looked to where the other two were looking and saw what everyone else did. "Chakotay is that you, really you?"
Chakotay smiled, he was home he was finally home. Running up, leaving Shanna behind, he grabbed Kathryn, and swooped her off her feet in a hug, "You can't possibly imagine how much I missed you, I love you, oh how I love you."
Kathryn's arms were wrapped tightly around his neck, she was crying, not able to speak yet. He lowered her to the ground, then, keeping a tight hold on Kathryn, reached out one arm and pulled Belanna into the embrace. "I could only dream of finding you again, I was hoping the people here would be you but it was only hope.”
"I never thought I would see you again, I assumed you were killed."Kathryn managed to choke out.
"I will tell you everything soon, but first, I would like you to meet my friend Shanna, her people were the ones who rescued me, and she agreed to bring me here to see if it was you. Plus, I think you have someone I need to meet."
Shanna began to make her way wearily into the crowd, she watched Chakotay pick up his son, and she saw he began to cry. He had a child, and a woman who loved him, she knew now that she would not be bringing him back. Perhaps he was right, the two of them were too different, and she did find that she looked up to him as more of a brother than anything else, it was just too easy to confuse the two feelings. She would be happy for him, she would stay a while, to make sure he was ok, then she would go back to her home, were she belonged.
*************
It wasn't long before the entire crew came to greet their long lost Commander, they all made their visits short, but endearing, letting him know just how much he was missed. Shanna was invited to stay with to stay with Harry and Celeste, since they had the extra room, she was hesitant, but with Chakotay's convincing she eventually went. Chakotay could only sit back and watched Kathryn prepare their son for bed. It was a sight he had wished for for many years yet, never thought he would see. Soon their son was sound asleep in his bed, and Kathryn led Chakotay to their bedroom, a room that was so lonely for so long, yet tonight it would know the joys of love.
They made love all night, and would have continued through out the morning if Chris hadn't come in between the two of them. Chakotay laughed as the little boy jumped up and down on the bed.
"He's so at ease with me Kathryn, I would have assumed he would be a little shy, since he really doesn't know me.”
"Oh he knows you all right, we made sure of that. We wanted him to grow up knowing exactly who his daddy was, he's been told stories, shown pictures, everything, you are definitely no stranger to him."
"Oh Kathryn, you have made me the happiest man alive, I only wished I didn't miss out on so much of this life, on his growing up. I've always wanted to see you pregnant with my child, witness my child's birth, growing, everything, now I can't go back."
"Well we can't go back, but we can go forward. And as far as seeing your child grow, I'm sure not on any birth control, I had no need for it, so you might just get lucky, after last night." She laughed.
Chakotay almost blushed, always Kathryn, right to the point, "I will only hope so love."
*************
Kathryn took Chakotay on a tour of their little town, showed him the remains of voyager, and told him all that he had missed. She told him of her willingness to let go of her old self and grasp onto the new. How the crew accepted her as Kathryn, and no longer called her Captain, everything she could think of. In return, he told her of his life, about the kindness of Shanna's family.
"She likes you, doesn't she?"
“Yes, she does, I think she brought me here to let go, I don't think she expected me to find you. I feel bad, because I never returned those feelings. I always had high hopes that we would be together again. Besides, she is a sweet person, but not entirely attractive.”
“Chakotay, you surprise me.”
“Please Kathryn, don't tell me you don't agree.”
“Alright, I agree.” She laughed. “Oh Chakotay, I missed this so much. I never really believed that you would come back to me. All this time, you were just planets away from home. She may not be the most attractive woman, but I owe her everything. She brought me even closer to home than I ever imagined.”
“I know love, me too.”
They finally finished the tour late in the day, and joined everyone else in the mess hall. Belanna and Tom had kept Chris for the day, and Chakotay was only to happy to take him back. The called Shanna to join them at the table for dinner; Neelix had prepared quite the feast to celebrate the occasion. Kathryn stood, before eating, “People, I need your attention. I’d like to propose a toast. Our family is now complete, Chakotay has been brought back to us, which was something we could have only dreamed of. And along with that, we made a new friend, someone, who I hope will continue her visits with us. We owe her a lot, let's make sure she feels welcome.” The crowd cheered, causing Shanna to blush, she was not used to this attention. She was beginning to feel that her doubts were unwarranted. Her feelings for Chakotay were not what she thought they were, and yet her drive helped him find the family he had been seeking. On top of that, she now had friends, ones that she felt would become very close to her heart, and they only lived planets away.
End