Disclaimer: ST: VOY isn't mine.
Dedication: For SV, who scratched my writing itch.
Inaction
by mistress amethyst une
Chakotay lay alone in his bed, wanting regret to swallow him whole. A long time ago, she might have forgiven him for his insensitive action. Not this time. The dynamic between them had changed dramatically upon his wife's death, an event he couldn't help but blame her for.
It had started innocently enough. She had lost her temper, a once rare occurrence that was now becoming far too frequent. Unable to restrain himself, he'd publicly berated her, effectively undermining her authority. Instead of relieving him of duty, as she should have, she excused herself.
He'd hurt her, that much was clear. The thin walls that separated their quarters told him that. Muffled sobs were coming from the room next to his, her quarters. It stung him to know that he'd hurt her, that he couldn't bring himself to swallow his pride and comfort her.
He closed his eyes, imagining her trying to get to sleep even as tears fled from her eyes. Once, he'd promised himself that he would never make her cry. The sounds of her sadness ceased soon enough, her tiredness and frustration making her surrender to sleep. A single tear trickled down his face as silence reigned.
And now I'm off to try to finish those other two... :p