Janeway sat in her quarters and stabbed at the food on her plate. Her vision blurred as she swirled her spaghetti around in a light red sauce. The clinking of her wine glass brought her out of her reverie as she looked up to find Chakotay gently banging his fork on the rim.

"Captain, are you all right?"

She sat up and rubbed her eyes. With a small smile, she said, "I'm sorry, Chakotay. I'm afraid I'm lousy company tonight."

Chakotay wiped his mouth with a napkin. "I've had worse."

She picked at her bread and watched it crumble onto the table. "I'll bet you have."

He leaned forward. "Excuse me?"

"Nothing." She shook her head and dropped the roll to dust her hands.

Chakotay studied her for a moment as she watched the stars streak past the ship as it continued on its long journey back to the Alpha Quadrant. It had been an eventful few weeks after a hostile takeover by Seska and the Kazon. An event he still felt very much responsible for, especially since Seska and Cullah had so far escaped justice and always would since Voyager was speeding away from Kazon space, never to return again. "I'm sorry, Captain."

Her blue eyes turned to him. "What?"

"I'm sorry for what happened. I should have known, anticipated, what Seska was planning."

"Are you part Betazoid?"

Chakotay grinned. "Not that I'm aware of. I'd have to have a talk with my mother."

Janeway smiled and leaned across the table to capture his hand. With a gentle shake, she said, "It's fine. I'm just decompressing and I'm afraid I don't do it very well. You may have noticed that by now."

Chakotay covered her hand with his other one. "It's called relaxing and you should let me show you how to do it properly sometime."

She pulled away from him and turned back to the window. "Perhaps one day I will."

"Good. Then how about tomorrow? Harry mentioned an M class planet not far from here. You're not the only one who needs rest. I think the entire crew could use a sojourn and some shore leave right about now."

Janeway rubbed her chin. "We just got back on board. I doubt anyone is eager to leave the ship again. Besides, we have too much time to make up."

"But we have decades to get there. A few days won't change our timeline. And we have no idea what lies ahead of us. A tired captain and a tired crew need to be recharged for whatever it is we meet next, friendly or otherwise."

She turned in her chair and met his dark eyes again. She watched them sparkle in the candlelight as he grinned and awaited her answer. Finally, she said, "You know, I don't know what I did with my first officer before you. I feel like I could tell you any trouble I had in the world and you would find a simple answer for it. It's very comforting."

"A First Officer's first duty is to protect the captain. I'm simply doing my job." He fingered his utensil. "Now I could have the Doctor mandate that time off with a simple suggestion that it's about time for him to update your medical records. So, what do you think about that planet now?"

Janeway's eyes narrowed. "I take back your gold star. They'll be a report instead in my log."

Chakotay smiled and grasped his wine glass and took a drink. Raising it, he said, "As long as there is a navigational change in that log as well, then my work here is done."

Janeway threw her napkin on the table and stood up. "I've had enough mutinies for one month, Chakotay. I don't need this."

He lost his smile and placed the glass back down on the table as he stared up. "You need that shore leave more than you know, Captain."

"I know I don't need your threats, Commander. Now, if you'll excuse me."

Chakotay slowly rose and placed his hands on his hips. "I'll excuse you this once because I know this isn't you. You're overworked, overtired, and you will meet me at 1400 hours tomorrow when we arrive at that planet for our personal away mission. I know how much you like to be in charge so I'll be ready for you to lead me."

"I am in charge!" Janeway snapped. Chakotay stared at her open mouthed and she took a deep breath. "I'm sorry." She walked away from the table and paced for a few minutes in front of the couch. "I'll meet you tomorrow in the transporter room. Tell Harry to adjust course to this planet of yours."

Chakotay put a hand to his ear. "Excuse me? I didn't quite hear that order."

Janeway gave him a deadly glare. "Don't push it or you may not like the next order I give."

His smile returned and he bowed. Shaking a finger at her, he said, "1400 hours. Be there or I transport myself to sick bay and have a conversation with our resident hologram."

She watched him leave the room and couldn't help a small laugh that escaped from her lips as she shook her heads and began to ready herself for bed. For some reason, she just knew she'd need a good night's sleep for whatever tomorrow's adventure held.