While the Chute will always be my favorite Harry Kim and Tom Paris episode this scenario just wouldn't escape me.

Prologue

Janeway was in a daze when she fell out of the chute. People leered at her, and hands grabbed at her.

"Hey, back off!BACK OFF!" A familiar voice all but bellowed through the jeering crowd. Someone pushed her.

"Captain!" She recoginzed that voice. Her hair fell out of her bun as someone helped her to her feet. "Are you all right?"

It was Ensign Harry Kim, looking bruised-but otherwise intact. She remembered now. They were on an away mission together when the Delta Flyer got taken hostage, and they were held prisoners. The aliens had drugged both of them by stabbing something in their arms. That was the last thing she remembered.

"Ensign, where are we?"

Laughter erupted with the group.

"She doesn't know where we are!"

"Should we tell her?"

"Been so long since there was a woman down here! And a good lookin' one at that!"

Harry did something that shocked her, then. He whipped out what looked like a small knife

"Any of you touch her, and your dead," he growled in a tone that she didn't recoginze.

"Harry!"She looked horrified at the nonchallant look on the young man's face when he said those words.

"I've been down here longer than you, Captain. I know the ropes. Lets get you into our home."

"Home?"

"While we're here. Before someone takes it."

Still half drugged, half dazed, Janeway followed the young ensign. Everything was still a blur, but it almost looked like a tiny village in this place. With shelters of all kinds.

"Here we are."

They were on a corner, with a blanket being supported by some wood.

"This is it?"

"It's a lot better than most prisoners here have," replied Harry grimly. He then noticed a figure rummaging through a box in the shelter.

"Hey! You!" The figure whipped around, and Kim took out his knife again. "Get the hell out of here, if you want to live."

The figure fled, leaving Janeway still in shock at this new side of Harry Kim. A side she wasn't sure she liked.

"Harry...you're behaving so violently..So,un you."

"Sorry Captain," he repiled in an apologetic tone. "It's just, it's a kill or be killed attitude kind of deal. And I promised Chakotay I'd look after you."

Janeway said nothing. The drugs were slowly wearing off, and her head was begining to clear.

"Where are we?"

"Some prison called "The Chute" cause of that thing that they threw us down," said Harry as he rummaged around the tiny area."Here." He handed her a can of beans. "You need something in you, besides whatever it is they drugged you with."

"Thanks." Janeway sat down and reached for the can and fork. "What about you?"

"Not hungry." Harry scratched his head, and then looked sharply both right and left, peaking through the blanketed curtain he had used for their door.

"Ensign, you have to eat." Her old authoritive self was returning. She needed to remind herself to stay in charge, for her sake-and for Harry's. "Besides, you're acting paraniod..."

"I have reasons to be. I've seen things in this place, Captain. Things that would make you have nightmares."

"I'm sure there are worse places than this."

"Yeah, maybe Bajorian concentration camps," said Harry with a huge sigh. "Other than that, can't really think of anywhere that is this bad."

The Captain side was slowly returning as well. The side to plot and plan things. A way to escape.

A plan was silently forming inside her mind, but she wanted to be better prepared before sharing it with Harry.

Besides, it was her job to watch out for her crewman. Not the other way around. And she'd be damned if she forgot that part of her responsibility. She remembered Mrs. Kim's last request.

"He's so young. Please, bring my boy back to me. He's my only son."

"I promise."

"What was that,Captain?"

She was startled, unaware she spoke those words out loud.

"Nothing." but as she tried to picture what Mrs. Kim looked like she felt more determined than ever to keep her promises.

I'm really nervous about this, but I've always loved Harry and Janeway's relationship. I really hope I have them in character! Should I continue?