Author: MoiraShipper

Summary: Final of Counterpoint with a farewell of Janeway and Kashyk.

Because of you

Because of you

I never stray too far from the sidewalk

Because of you

I learned to play on the safe side so I don't get hurt

Because of you-Kelly Clarkson

"Well played, Captain. It seems I never did earn your trust." Kashyk said sitting next to Janeway, staring at her and despite their cat and mouse game, behind the alien's words, there was a tone of resignation.

How he wanted to be able to drop Devore and go with her, that gaharay, she was beautiful, intelligent and aroused a great curiosity in him to learn more, and she had a lot of passion in her. But he couldn't, he followed orders and a disaster could happen if he left. And he knew she didn't trust him anymore, which hurt, but was deserved.

"I had to take a few precautions. You understand." She responded in sarcasm, leaning over the controls between them. But in truth, she felt her heart tighten, remembering the night they had spent awake, researching and sharing thoughts and kissing in the next day.

As much as it had been a game, a part of her was attracted to him, she had created feelings for him, he was intelligent, charming, and had so much interest in things, and there was a passion that had been born between them in those days, and she genuinely wanted things could be different, that he could go with her.

"Better than anyone." Kashyk replied, his voice cold. He was like that too.

"I never lied to you. My offer to take you with us was genuine and it would still stand if you'd kept your part of the bargain." She told him honestly, this time her face resigned, sad, staring into the inspector's eyes and seeing the look of regret on his face.

She wanted to be able to trust him, she wanted to take him with her, but she knew it wouldn't work, no matter how much they wanted to. He wasn't trusting because he was following orders, although his feeling were real.

"For what it's worth, you made a tempting offer." He admitted, his voice low, bittersweet and he took a deep breath, getting up to go back to his ship and asked: "Could you escort me back, gaharay?"

And he turned his back, not wanting to see her say no because it would hurt, and Janeway closed her eyes for a second, running her hand over her lips, remembering the kiss and that in the midst of the whole game, the feeling between them It had been real and she stood up, reaching Kashyk.

He looked at her a little surprised, but she just put a finger over her own lip, before the two of them approached, kissing. The kiss was more intense than the first time, because they weren't running out of time, they were just going to close that chapter of their lives, which was the other. Janeway parted her lips for him, feeling his tongue searching for hers as he gripped her waist tightening and massaging it, making adrenaline rush into their veins and she gripped his hair, pulling at them and fighting for control of the kiss, until they were breathless.

When they broke the kiss, he kept his hands on her waist for a moment and her hands in his hair led him down, to stare at him and she said in a firm voice:

"For a moment, I really trusted you 100% Kashyk, but because of you, I realized that I can't afford that, because if I had done that, then I would have lost my crew to Devore's cells."

"And you're right, gaharay, you can't trust me." He told her honestly.

As they reached the transporter room, Kashyk climbed the platform and turned, facing Janeway. He knew it would have been easier to leave if he hadn't asked her to escort him, it would have been the right, but he didn't want the right, he had always been the wrong. The two exchanged a last look, he resigned and she, with an indecipherable face, before he disappeared.