Author's Note: This is another story that I began several years ago before I started my longer stories. I have about five chapters already written, but it's not completed yet. The writing muse seems to be leading me to some of my unfinished stories, so I look forward to skipping around and adding chapters along the way.

Disclaimer: Voyager's crew doesn't belong to me.

He felt the twitch in his right eye. And then, his cheek. He winced and rubbed his fingers over his face. There was no pain, just tension in his neck and shoulders. His eye twitched again.

He was tired. That was all. The past few days had been something of an ordeal. But who would have thought that floating around the ship as disembodied energy could be so exhausting. He stifled an approaching yawn and flexed his shoulders, rolled his head back, stretched his neck muscles. Felt the twitch in his eye trace down his back and into his arms. Then his legs. His body stiffened, grew rigid. He fell forward, on his side, shoulder to the deck. He was trembling uncontrollably.

Someone knelt above him, touched his face, spoke his name. He tried to respond, found that he couldn't speak. Sudden pain lanced through his head, behind his eyes, and everything went dark.

~vVv~

His eyes opened, and he was staring at the ceiling. In Sickbay. The diagnostic shell was closed over his bare chest. The Doctor's face suddenly appeared above him.

"You're awake," he stated the obvious.

Chakotay blinked. He was awake. In Sickbay. And it wasn't a dream. Or a nightmare. He closed his eyes. Long minutes passed. Then someone touched him, fingers brushing softly through his hair. He opened his eyes again. Janeway was staring down at him.

"Welcome back, Commander," she smiled.

He sighed, lifted one corner of his mouth into a half grin. "Where have I been this time?"

"You have been unconscious for the past two-point-three hours," the Doctor intoned as he stepped back to the biobed. He activated the diagnostic shell, and it opened.

Chakotay tried to sit up, but Janeway pressed her hand against his shoulder. "Not so fast. Apparently, we let you up too soon the last time."

"I was able to reintegrate the commander's consciousness by utilizing three neural transceivers, two cortical stimulators, and fifty gigaquads of computer memory," the Doctor explained. Again. "However, complete reintegration has not been achieved. Your neural synapses are experiencing difficulty with re-routing the electrical impulses. That is what caused your seizure."

Chakotay grimaced at the explanation. There was nothing comforting in the Doctor's words. It made him feel more like a science project than a human being.

"What can you do to aid the reintegration?" Janeway inquired, her hand closing protectively around Chakotay's shoulder.

"I have already begun an intensive drug treatment program," the Doctor replied.

"How long will it take?" Chakotay questioned.

The Doctor looked at the captain and then back to the first officer. "I cannot give you a precise answer."

Chakotay sighed. "How about an imprecise one?"

The Doctor gave him a blank stare. "I am unable to make such a conjecture. That would be terribly unscientific."

Sensing Chakotay's frustration, Janeway's hand closed tighter on his shoulder. "Needless to say, Commander, you will be here longer than you were the last time."

"That's what I was afraid of," Chakotay frowned and squeezed his eyes shut.

"Chakotay?" Worry edged Janeway's voice.

The commander's eyes fluttered open. "Just tired," he mumbled.

"Then I suggest you sleep," the Doctor said crisply. "And, I respectfully suggest that you leave, Captain."

Janeway's lips pursed as she tried to suppress a smile. "I'll be back later to check on you," she promised her first officer, patting his shoulder.

"I will keep you informed, Captain," the Doctor assured, a trace of impatience in his voice.

This time, Janeway's smile broke through. "I'm sure you will, Doctor." She winked at Chakotay.

He returned her smile as his eyes fell closed.

~vVv~