"Meet me for dinner?"

Janeway looked up from her desk and saw Chakotay's head poking through her ready room doors. She smiled and waved a hand towards a chair. "Sure. But how about we start with lunch?"

Chakotay's tattoo wrinkled as he frowned. Cautiously, he stepped into the room. "Who are you and what have you done with Captain Janeway?"

Her smile widened. "Sit, Commander, before I changed my mind."

Chakotay practically ran to the replicator and ordered the usual for them. Grabbing the items, he walked over and placed her plate on her desk. She thanked him and pulled it across as he settled down with his own meal in front of her. She picked up a padd to read but he quickly leaned over and slapped it down. "No way," he said.

Janeway gave him an irritated look. "I didn't invite you in here to smack my hands."

"Don't pick up another padd and I won't. I'm not going to spend my lunch watching you work."

She relaxed as she caught his teasing smile. "Okay." Picking up a corner piece of her sandwich, she bit into it. After swallowing, she said, "Happy?"

"Yes."

She smiled. "You know there are times that I really miss my family, especially my mother. But you just seem to knock that longing right out of me. At least that part."

"Well, I'm glad I could help, Captain. And don't you ever compare me to a woman again."

Her smile grew bigger. "You think my mother is not an impeccable woman to be compared to?"

Chakotay took another spoon of his soup before saying, "Oh I already know your mother is an exceptional woman. She raised you, didn't she?"

Janeway's eyes narrowed. "Is that a compliment?"

Chakotay's dimples came out as he lowered his head and tried to hide his own smile. "I am very grateful that I met the great Kathryn Janeway courtesy of Mrs. Janeway."

She tossed her napkin across her desk. "Flattery will get you nowhere, Commander. The only place you can go is the captain's chair and I'm not giving it up just yet." Her mood tempered as she sat back and took another bite of her lunch.

He noticed her thoughtful look and asked, "What?"

She continued to stare at him until he straightened up and asked again. Finally, she shook her head and said, "Nothing."

Chakotay put his empty soup bowl down and folded his arms across her desk as he leaned closer. "It's not nothing. What are you thinking about?"

Her face grew stern and he saw her familiar Captain's mask appear. "I said it was nothing, Commander."

"I don't believe you, Captain," he said, mimicking her authoritative tone. He tried to reach for her hand but she pulled back.

Turning to her desk console, she pushed her food away and said, "Commander, I've been thinking of exploring this dark matter nebula we've come across. I wonder if it might be useful to us."

Chakotay hesitated but relented on pushing the issue. With an audible sigh, he answered, "I suggest we take a shuttle craft and explore. That is what we do, right?"

Janeway glanced sharply at him. "You and Tuvok take a shuttle. See what readings you come up with."

Chakotay sat back. "You're not coming with me? Are you ill, Captain?"

"Someone has to run this ship and I've had my fill of shuttle adventures for a while."

Chakotay ran his tongue across the inside of his bottom lip as he studied her. "First you agree to lunch and then you're not going to fight me to be the first one on the away mission. Now I know something's wrong."

Janeway busied herself with items scattered around her desk. "There is nothing wrong, Commander. The Doctor pronounced us both physically fit after our wormhole trip. You lecture me daily on delegating my duties and acting appropriately in the best interest of this crew. I do that and you still have a problem with me?"

Chakotay rose slowly from his chair. He took the dishes and walked them to the recycler. Slowly, he walked back to her desk and placed his hands on his hips. "I know something is bothering you. We don't have a counselor on board and, if you don't want to talk to me, then you need to find someone else. Guess what percentage of faith I have in you doing that?"

Janeway raised her eyebrows but looked away.

"I know you well enough by now that you can become a very lonely person if you want to, Captain. I know you like me." He smiled as her head snapped back up. "That's what you were thinking, wasn't it? You enjoy my company. You and I are each other's closest confidants. You can talk to me about anything. Since when are you uncomfortable with that?"

She turned back and said, "I appreciate that, Chakotay. I do, but…I can't talk to you about everything." She put her hand up to stop his visible protest and added, "But I appreciate the offer."

Chakotay took a deep breath. "Okay, I won't push this for now. But I will later. That's a promise."

Janeway gave him a small smile that she lost quickly.

"It's not a threat," he added. "Only a promise. You will always have someone on this ship to give a damn about you whether you want him to or not."

"Really? And just how far does that concern go, Commander?"

He bit back a retort and breathed deeply. He stepped away but stopped and came back. "This is about what I said in the Alpha Quadrant, isn't it? When I said if you and I had stayed here that I envisioned us eventually being more than friends."

Janeway rose from her desk. It was her turn to look shocked as his words met her mark. Her own breathing sped up as she admitted, "Yes. It…it made me…it's not that I don't appreciate what you said or you….it's just…."

"I made you uncomfortable," he finished.

"Yes," she breathed. She met his eyes and said, "Just to be clear, Commander, I can't ever do that. It would never be appropriate. Even under these circumstances."

Chakotay shook his head. "Circumstances change especially with a 60-70 year trip ahead of us." He watched as she retreated and crossed her arms across her chest. "Look, it was a random thought I had in an emotional situation. You don't have to be afraid of me. I won't pursue you, Captain. I have too much respect for you to ever make you uncomfortable aboard your own ship."

Janeway looked over and said, "Thank you, Commander."

He nodded and turned to go.

"Commander?"

He stopped again and looked back.

"I do believe the woman you marry someday is going to be a very, very lucky lady."

He smiled as she sat back down and busied herself. He stole another moment to appreciate her and said, "Yes, Captain. Even if she doesn't know it yet, I'm certain she will make me very, very happy."

"Captain?"

Janeway looked up from her captain's seat. "Yes, Mr. Paris?"

"I'm detecting the shuttle dead ahead but there is no response to our hails."

Janeway shot up. "On screen."

Tom punched up the visual of the shuttle Tuvok and Chakotay had taken earlier to the nebula. It drifted lifeless in space.

"Life signs?" When Harry hesitated, she demanded, "Mr. Kim, life signs!"

Harry shifted nervously as he reviewed the sensors. "I'm reading only one, Captain. It's Vulcan."

Janeway's eyes widened. "Transport them both directly to sick bay. Doctor, I'm on my way!"

"It was close, Captain," the Doctor said. "The Commander gave it his best shot but I am not without superior healing abilities. He has made a full recovery from the attack and, after a good's night rest, I will clear him to return to duty tomorrow."

Janeway looked at Chakotay who sat up in his bio bed smiling. His expression seemed odd but after being revived from no discernable brain activity, she wasn't going to question it. She walked over and placed a hand against his bare chest. "How do you feel?"

Chakotay glanced down at her touch. He covered her hand and pressed her flesh into his. She tried to pull back from the intensely intimate touch but he wouldn't allow it. "Much better now that you're here, Captain."

Janeway looked back at the Doctor.

"The medication should wear off in a few hours, Captain."

Returning to Chakotay, she allowed his fingers to caress hers and said, "I'm glad you're okay, Commander. May I have my hand back now?"

He grinned. "Why? There are other places you haven't felt yet."

Janeway's mouth dropped and the Doctor cleared his throat loudly. He walked over and said, "Commander, I think the Captain would like to check on my other patient."

"Yes," she said. "But I promise I'll be back."

"You better," he said sternly. "We have a lot to discuss."

Janeway took note of his intense demeanor as he let her hand slip away from his. "Thank you."

His sweet smile returned. "You're welcome, Captain."

Janeway walked away and took the Doctor with her. "Medication?" she whispered.

The Doctor nodded. "Yes, Captain. The side effects will disappear in a few hours."

She walked to the other side of the room where Tuvok sat on a separate bio bed already re-dressed in his uniform. "Tuvok, I don't expect you back on duty today."

"If you don't mind, Captain, I'd like to return at once."

"Why?"

"It is necessary."

Her brow furrowed. "Now you're cryptic as well. What happened out there?"

"The Commander and I were returning to Voyager after investigating the nebula. We found nothing of any consequence or interest to us. As we were about to leave, an unknown alien attacked us. I heard the Commander yell but, before I could turn around to see why, I was hit on the back of the head. Then, I woke up here."

Janeway's eyes searched his. "And you have no recollection of what or who may have attacked you?"

"No, Captain. I do not. I strongly suggest we leave this area of space. We are obviously not equipped to encounter whatever beings make this nebula their home."

The Captain folded her arms. "I'd still like to know who they are and why they attacked you without provocation."

"Not necessary. Both Commander Chakotay and I are now well and we will return to our duties at once."

"Not Commander Chakotay," the Doctor interjected. "He was obviously the target. He needs a little more rest than you require. You only received a glancing blow. He was hit full force."

"By what?" Janeway asked. "What attacked them?"

"Well, from what I can tell, it was some sort of bioneural energy attack. However it was done, it drained their nervous systems of all neural activity."

"Why?"

"I have a theory," Tuvok said.

"Well, let's hear it, Mr. Tuvok," she said.

"I believe we have encountered a type of species that feeds off of or uses bioneural energy in some way. That's why we must leave. Since this ship operates with bioneural circuitry, I would strongly advise against initiating future contact with this life form as it will definitely endanger us and this ship."

Janeway nodded. "Agreed. But I still want you to take the rest of the day off. I'll see you tomorrow on the bridge along with the Commander."

Tuvok nodded. "As you wish, Captain."

She glanced back at Chakotay who sat and stared intently at her across the room. She was relieved that a bad situation hadn't been any worse but she couldn't shake the feeling that something was still very, very wrong.