Disclaimer: ST: VOY is not mine.
Author's Note: Written in response to a challenge from Rachel Selina. She wanted a Resolutions story where the J/C relationship has progressed beyond canon. Only one of J and C is infected. They must decide whether to stay together or leave each other. I put my own twist to it and wrote dialogue only. I hope I did Rachel's idea justice. This ends happily. :)
Eternal Damnation
By mistress amethyst une
"I'll resign my commission and stay with you."
"No, you won't."
"I won't be able to command Voyager."
"If you truly love me, you will."
"Kathryn-"
"It's Captain."
"No. I can't lose you after one date. It's not fair."
"One date. Well, if it counts for anything… it was a damn good one, Commander."
"Those insects."
"Couldn't be helped. Lay out a picnic and ants will come."
"I should have-"
"No regrets. This was out of our hands."
"We could-"
"You are not to contact the Vidiians."
"Kathryn, please!"
"Chakotay, consider ourselves star-crossed. It just wasn't meant to be."
"I refuse to accept that."
"Don't make this difficult."
"But-"
"Please-"
"Damn it! Stop cutting me off! I love you!"
"Let me go!"
"Let me hold you."
"I might be contagious..."
"Good! Then I'll have a valid reason to stay with you."
"Commander, release me. Beam up, now."
"No. We've only just found each other."
"Don't be selfish."
"Why not? Aren't you being selfish by asking me to do your duty? By asking me to abandon the one thing I hold most dear?"
"That's entirely different. The crew-"
"The crew won't benefit from having me in command. How do you expect me to lead them? All I'll be able to think of is you."
"You'll learn to forget me."
"Never."
"Don't be stubborn."
"You hypocrite."
"I have a right to be stubborn. Staying with me would be wrong."
"But how will you fare? You're not exactly used to the rough life. You need someone to take care of you. You need me."
"This is hardly roughing it. All this 24th century equipment at my disposal… I'm hardly a damsel in distress."
"And if there's a plasma storm? If you run into some hostile native species?"
"What will happen, will happen."
"If you die alone on this planet-"
"Then I die. There's nothing more to be said."
"No…"
"Please let me go."
"Hate me. I'm staying."
"You wouldn't..."
"I'm never letting you go."
"There's no reasoning with you, is there?"
"No."
"I can't pull rank?"
"I told you, I'm resigning my commission. I meant it. You can't order me around, Kathryn."
"Nothing I say will change your mind?"
"Absolutely nothing. I'll die before I let you go."
"You really leave no room for argument, do you?"
"Nope."
"I give up."
"I thought you would."
"So could you please let me breathe now? As much as I love your hugs…"
"Sorry about that."
"You'll have a lot of explaining to do."
"They'll understand."
"This is so selfish."
"A man is entitled to a foolish decision once in awhile."
"Foolish is an understatement."
"Tuvok will make a great captain."
"For your sake, I hope so. Until I'm cured, you'll have hell to pay for staying here."
"If that hell is you, I think I might enjoy eternal damnation."
I hope you enjoy reading this as much as I enjoyed writing it. :)
