The shuttle shook so violently Kathryn Janeway found herself flung to the floor from her seat. Pushing up as quickly as she could she looked over to Chakotay, he was on the floor as well, though hovering over him was a large gray mass. Pushing herself forward Kathryn's eyes never left her first officer, her best friend… Out here… Her everything.

"Chakotay!" She cried. Her voice seemed to startle the gray mass as the form quivered before suddenly it disappeared into Chakotay's nose. Into his body, into his brain. Stopping her movement Kathryn pushed herself up from her crawling position. Her eyes were still locked on Chakotay, a breath held deeply in her chest.

When his eyes suddenly snapped open a startled cry tour from her throat as she fell backward. At first Chakotay didn't seem to be in control of his movements, as though he were only just learning to control himself. In only a moment he managed to gain his control, his head turning ever so slowly in her direction.

"Chakotay?" Questioned Kathryn she again found her balance.

"I'm fine," he said gruffly as he sat up.

Giving him a skeptical look Kathryn has stated only a moment before she gave a nod. Pushing to her feet she flung herself into the pilot's chair. Her mind wanted to pull her back to what that gray mass could've been, though she forced herself to concentrate on regaining control of the shuttle they were in.

It took her several minutes before she finally managed to straighten the shuttle. She heard Chakotay moving around behind her, claiming a piece of her consciousness. Sagging back in her seat she blew out a breath, "we are out of trouble… For the moment," she said, "what's the damage?"

"To what?" Questioned Chakotay, "the shuttle… Or you?"

Frowning Kathryn turned to question Chakotay's words, only to be yanked from her seat and flung to the floor by his strong hands. Turning to her back Kathryn scrambled away from the man looming over her. The kind, soulful look she should once found in Chakotay's eyes was gone, replaced by something dark, something that sent a chill down her spine. "What are you doing?" She questioned, "What are you?"

Rolling his shoulders Chakotay smiled, "Why captain, you did see me," he chided as though he were addressing a child, "As for what I'm doing… Well, you don't seem to be damaged enough for what we've just been through."

Pushing back all the more Kathryn's eyes widened when her back hit the bulkhead. She was trapped, nowhere to run, "Look, whatever you want, I'm the one that can get it for you. If I'm dead my people will never help you."

Chakotay gave a menacing laugh, "Kathryn, Kathryn, Kathryn. I never said anything about killing you." Not waiting for a response he reached out, taking hold of her hair had either side of her head. With one last smile he pulled her head forward before he pushed it back.

Her skull gave a satisfactory crack on contact. As he released her, he watched as her unconscious body fell limply to the floor. Turning to the helm he easily managed to cause more damage to the shuttle then had been. As a last touch he slammed his own head against the consol. Hissing in pain he gingerly touched the gash he'd open on his forehead, "Well that's inconvenient," he murmured before he caught sight of the great ship in front of him. "Commander Chakotay to Voyager," he called, "Beam the captain and myself directly to sickbay and tractor the shuttle in."

….

As Kathryn regained consciousness, her head felt as though someone were drilling spikes into it. "Captain?" She Heard the Doctor's voice calling out.

At this Kathryn opened her eyes to the harsh light of sickbay. "Chakotay…" She breathed. She had to tell them something had taken Chakotay over, that he was a danger to the crew.

"I'm right here," came Chakotay's voice from her other side.

Turning her head Kathryn wanted to cry out, but something in his look stopped her. As though he silently communicated to her 'try me.'

"Well," sighed the Doctor as he moved away, "I won't suggest any undue stress captain, though I can see no reason to keep you here."

Pushing up from the bio bed Kathryn nodded, "Thank you Doctor," she said as her feet touched the floor.

In only the blink of an eye Chakotay was at her side, one strong hand holding her upper arm in his grasp. "I'll make sure you get to your quarter safely," he said evenly, "You're not looking completely stable at the moment."

Kathryn's denial was cut short when the Doctor gave light smile, "That seems best," he agreed. Crossing the room he injected her with another hypo-spray, "Some pain reliever. If your headache persists, don't hesitate to come back to see me for more captain."

Kathryn didn't even get a chance to thank the Doctor before Chakotay was directing her out of sickbay. There was nothing she could do as he led her down the corridors. When they stopped in front of her quarters she gave him a skeptical look.

"Command entrance," insisted Chakotay as his grip tightened on her arm.

Kathryn was sure she'd bruise from his grasp, but she refused to show weakness, "Can't you, Cha-Ko-Tay?" She questioned, drawing out his name, "You know the code." Now Chakotay's fingers felt as though they'd break her bone. Giving a hiss Kathryn "Commanded entrance" and the door slid smoothly open.

Guiding Kathryn inside, he waited until the doors closed behind him before he turned. Taking her throat he pressed her back against the closed-door, raising her up until her toes barely touched the floor and she clawed at his hand. Leaning forward he gave breathy chuckle, "You don't seem to understand the enormity of what's taking place here." Releasing her he smiled as she crumpled to the floor gasping for breath.

Crouching down he attempted to brush a stray hair from her face only to have her jerk away from his hand. Snatching out, he managed a handful of her hair, "You will look at me!" He commanded as he jerked on her hair, making her look up to him.

"Just tell me what you want!" Insisted Kathryn as she looked up to a man so familiar, yet so utterly alien.

"Chakotay me or the real me?" He questioned thoughtfully, "Because I can tell you, what your Chakotay longs for involve oils and nakedness… Oh and you." At her shocked look he grinned, "Oh, I see you didn't know that. Why yes my dear captain, your second-in-command would like nothing better than to be with you, body, mind and soul, mostly body."

Clenching her teeth Kathryn glared at him, "What do you want?" She growled.

"Oh, you mean the real me," he chuckled, "This body is nice, I think I want this."

"You can't have it," hissed Kathryn, "Pick something else."

Letting out a roar he back handed Kathryn, her head jarring to the side, as he still held her hair in his hand. When she looked back up to him a line of blood ran down her chin, "How are you the leader of these people?" He spat in question, "Do you not see woman? I am already in possession of his body, how will you be rid of me now without harm coming to him?"

"How do I know he's not dead?" She questioned venomously.

"Oh, I assure you. He is very much alive… and very much aware!" His eyes gave a glint at his last words.

Spitting some blood Kathryn gave a weak smile, "Sorry if I don't believe you," she said calmly, "It's really hard to when you're holding my crewman hostage and are currently beating me."

He gave in other roar and Kathryn expected to be struck again, only this time he merely flung her a short distance from himself, "You are extremely frustrating woman!" He barked, "We'll just have to do something about that."

….

Kathryn Janeway's bloodcurdling scream was unmistakable when admitted from Lieutenant Commander Tuvok's comm badge. The entire bridge crew went silent as Tuvok and nodded to a couple of men before they exited the bridge. Leaving it in Ensign Harry Kim's confused hands.

….

The scream that tore from Kathryn's throat scared even her. Chakotay had been standing a few feet away before he suddenly spun and lunged at her. Raising her arms she had screamed before kicking and thrashing about under him.

He struggled with her for several minutes before he finally managed in her arms above her head. Straddling her waist he placed his feet over thighs. "Now I see why he enjoys you so. Such a small, fragile package, nothing more than wrapping for the smoldering fires to burn within."

Glaring Kathryn yanked at her arms, "Go to hell!" She spat.

This only earned her another backhand across her face. "I could do this all night captain," he said softly before his free hand raked along her body, pulling and twisting her flesh through her uniform.

Clenching her jaw Kathryn bucked her body against his with all of her might. This couldn't happen. Chakotay would never striker under any circumstances. She filled her mind with the knowledge that this wasn't the man she trusted; this was some unknown hostile alien.

Suddenly she felt one of his feet slip from her thigh. Without hesitation she acted upon the opportunity that had been given to her. Giving her hips a good thrust she managed to distance between them long enough to get a leg up. In an instant her knee collided with his groin.

Though instead of doubling over as she had thought he would Chakotay roared once more. Raising his free hand he clenched his fingers before bringing his fist down into her right rib cage. Not once, not twice, but multiple times, until it hurt Kathryn to even breathe.

….

Outside of the captain's quarters Tuvok and his team attempted to gain entry, only to be denied. Without a word from any of them they easily began to pry the doors open.

….

Kathryn knew some of her ribs had been cracked or broken before he had given up using her as a punching bag. Though she would have rather been punched them to fill Chakotay's hungry hand over her body, his wet lips on her neck and his hardened member pressed against her hips. Closing her eyes Kathryn set her jaw as she attempted to concentrate on ways to rid Chakotay of the alien instead of what the alien was making him do now.

Before she could form a completely conscious thought Chakotay's heavyweight was pulled from her body and she looked up to Tuvok Bringing her arms down Kathryn flinched at the pain in her right side. Shaking her head against Tuvok's questions she stood on semi-sturdy legs, "It can wait," she finally said, "I really should visit sickbay now."

Tuvok was silent as he nodded and escorted his captain to sickbay.

Once there Kathryn excepted help onto the bio bed as she watched the Doctor hovered over a prone form that was Chakotay. As she lay back the gray mass made its escape from its prone host. "Contain it!" Shouted Kathryn

In seconds the mass was enclosed in a containment field, ready to be transported to a more permanent container. Kathryn sighed as she eased some, in moments the doctor administered a sedative and she was blissfully unaware.

….

As her consciousness returned she was haunted by images of the ordeal she'd went through only hours before, eyes snapping open she gave a gasp when her view was filled by Chakotay standing over her. Her heart felt as though it were lodged in her throat.

Seeing the wild fear ignited in her eyes Chakotay hurriedly stepped away from her, "I'm sorry," he said quickly, "you were calling out. I only thought…" Sighing he looked to the floor, "I'm sorry."

Closing your eyes Kathryn regained herself some, "No," she finally muttered, "I'm sorry. I know it wasn't you, I saw the alien enter you."

"But I'm sorry for everything that was done to you," insisted Chakotay, "I was there to Kathryn and not being able to do anything to stop him… I failed you. I didn't protect you like I should have."

"There is nothing you could've done Chakotay," eased Kathryn, "I don't blame you."

"But you always tense in my presence. You'll jerk away from my touch and you'll never have that light in your eyes for me again," insisted Chakotay, "We'll never be us again," he finished on a sigh.

Taking the shaky breath Kathryn shook her head, "Not us," she insisted slowly, "we'll make it through, somehow."

Chakotay nodded, "But I won't sleep well until the thing is far away," he sighed.

….

The next day Kathryn gingerly held her ribs as she moved through her quarters. The bones were healed, but still tender. She'd only managed a mere 30 min. of sleep at a time the night before. It is taking longer to find peace, closure, or whatever the Doctor had been talking about. She'd only just awoken and she had yet to have even her coffee when the red alert was called. Stopping in the center of her main living area Kathryn spun when her door opened. "Oh Chakotay," she called tentatively, "You heard the alarm?"

When he didn't respond to her she began to back away from him, "Captain," erupted her comm badge, sitting on her desk several feet away, "The being has escaped containment."

Kathryn wanted to scream, 'I know, it's here!' Though she knew no one would hear her. Glancing around, she tried her luck with a sudden movement, darting toward her only communication device.

He smiled as he easily scooped her up from a full run. "Ah, she flees, very intriguing," he chided as he held her tightly against himself, "But captain, we should really finish what started earlier."

Feeling his intention against her lower back Kathryn took a sharp breath, "please," she finally managed in a quivering tone.

"Begging?" He questioned as he ran a hand down her silken clad body, "This mind does not remember Kathryn Janeway ever begging."

"Well that mind," hissed Kathryn, "Knows I've never been in this situation."

At this he chuckled, "This might insist it will never happen again. He's very willful." Reaching her mid-thigh he began to pull up the slip like nightgown she wore.

Her breath caught, this couldn't happen. But he held her arms tightly against her chest. As a thought crossed her mind she acted as she released her breath, her head pulling forward before slamming back into his nose. He roared as he released her, allowing her to stumble a few steps away from him.

"You stupid, worthless female!" He cried as blood flowed down his chin, "You will pay!"

As he charged Kathryn turned and fled like the terrified rabbit. She moved past her table and around, doubling back toward the door, though he was faster.

Growling he reached out when he was close enough and managed a handful of her hair. The jerk sent her feet flying out from under her, sending her sprawling to the floor. In seconds he was on top of her, one hand on her throat, the other pulling off her underwear.