Chakotay and Kathryn materialized on the walkway leading to her house. He stood still for a moment, making sure he was balanced, and then followed her through the door. Hints of Kathryn's personality could be seen throughout the small home. Tall windows draped with sheer white curtains would let in plenty of sunlight during the day, and provided a beautiful view of the night sky above the city as he looked through them now. Holo-images sat next to books of warp theory and Irish poetry, and the stack of PADDs on her desk lay beside a vase of white roses. Her sleek, minimalist furniture was softened by throw pillows and handmade blankets, with an antique candle chandelier hanging above. The home was comfortable, and very Kathryn.

Chakotay limped to the sofa and sat down while she carried the bags to their respective bedrooms. When she returned, she asked, "Are you hungry? You would be eating dinner at Medical right about now."

"Not unless you're ready to eat. I would like to settle in a bit first."

"That's fine." Her hand brushed across his shoulder as she stepped around him to sit down. He could tell she was gathering her thoughts, so he waited quietly, watching her eyes cut to him and back to her hands. "Chakotay, when I spoke to Owen this morning, it wasn't just to check in. I've taken a month of leave."

Her statement surprised him, and he stared at her. "I can't ask you to do that."

"You didn't ask, and it has already been done." She clasped his hand and leaned back against the cushion. "I know that we hadn't talked about it, but even if you had chosen to go home, I would have been there every day."

"You're putting everything on hold because of my problem."

She shook her head. "No, not your problem. For years, you supported me. You gave me everything I demanded and more. I can never repay you, but being here for you now is a start. I want to do this."

"Kathryn, you don't owe me anything. I did my duty as your first officer, but mostly as your friend."

"Then please, accept what I'm doing as your friend." Her voice dropped lower. "I care about you."

He held her gaze, feeling her thumb circle over his knuckle. The truth of her words shone from her blue eyes, and he pulled her to his side, draping his arm around her shoulders. "I care about you, too, and that's why I hate being a burden. As much as I want to, though, I can't do everything on my own right now." He kissed the top of her head. "You'll be ready to kill me in a week."

She chuckled and snuggled into his embrace. "Then you'll have to make sure you can run in a week."

They sat in the quiet for a while, enjoying the starlight and their closeness, until Chakotay began to shift his legs. She looked up at him and saw his grimace. "What's wrong?"

"I've had my legs stretched out in bed for days. I didn't realize the pressure that sitting like this would put on my hips." She rose up, and he lifted his arm from her shoulders to rub his thighs.

"Do you want a foot stool, or do you want to lie down?"

The pain had steadily worsened, and he slid to the front of the cushion, reaching for his cane. "I think I need to lie down." As he stood up, his left leg gave out, and he would have fallen had Kathryn not grabbed him, pushing her weight against him to hold on until he balanced again.

"Let's get you to bed, and then I'll get the hypospray the Doctor prescribed."

He nodded, not trusting his voice in his struggle to keep from groaning his discomfort. She tucked her shoulder under his arm and allowed him to set the pace as they inched down the hallway to his room. Once there, he fell onto the bed a lay back with a hand over his eyes. She slipped his shoes off and lifted his legs onto the bed, then left to get the hypospray. She replicated tea for him and returned to the bedroom.

Chakotay kept his eyes closed as he tilted his head for the medication. After administering it, she sat down and held his hand, waiting for the pain to fade from his face. She'd seen that expression multiple times a day since his accident, and each time it made her heart ache along with him.

As a scientist, she understood the severity of his injuries and why there was no quick fix, but watching him hurt made her feel helpless. The Doctor had not exaggerated when he'd used the word "shattered." A narrow outcropping in the cliff had stopped Chakotay's fall, but cracked his pelvis in seventeen places and nearly obliterated his left hip joint, tearing ligaments and muscle tissue in the process.

He had been beamed out almost immediately, and when the attending physician had discovered the identity of her patient, she had ordered that Voyager's EMH be activated. The Doctor had then instructed an aide to contact Kathryn.

It had taken over six hours of surgery and regeneration to treat all of Chakotay's injuries. Several members of the crew had waited at Starfleet Medical with Kathryn, not daring to point out her constant pacing or refusal of food. By the time the Doctor had finally emerged from the surgical bay, she'd been ready to collapse herself.

"Hey," Chakotay's low voice startled her. "What's going on in that mind of yours?"

"Nothing. Just waiting to be sure you're okay."

He noticed her dodge, but didn't force the issue. "I'm better, thank you." Pushing himself up against the headboard, he picked up his tea and sipped it. "I'm fine in here if you have things to do. I can read or something."

"How about a light dinner in bed? A salad, maybe?"

"That sounds good." He smiled. "Will you eat in bed with me?"

"Sure." She crossed to his bag in the corner chair and pulled out his gray pajamas, laying them beside him. "You can get comfortable while I get the food."

After she left, Chakotay sat on the end of the bed to change, and then shuffled into the bathroom. He leaned against the sink counter to wash up, and was back in bed with the sheet over his legs before Kathryn returned. He watched the blinking lights of the distant shuttle port through the window, and wished that he was out among the activity.

He huffed at that thought. Since returning to earth, he'd spent the majority of his time at the Academy or in his apartment. Aside from the rare dinner with friends or lunch with Kathryn, he'd hardly been social. If he was missing out on anything right now, it was only the same stuff that he'd willingly ignored for months. He decided that if he got better, when he got better, he'd make more of an effort to get out and see the city.

Kathryn entered carrying a tray, and he grinned at the sight of her loose, blue pajamas and white socks. "I decided to get comfortable, too," she said as lowered the tray onto the bedside table.

"I'm glad you did." He took his bowl of salad, balancing it while she climbed into bed beside him. She leaned against the headboard, then pulled the sheet back over both of them and settled with her shoulder touching his. After spreading napkins over his lap and then her own, she reached for her bowl.

He couldn't help showing his amusement, and she grinned back at him. "Comfy?" he asked.

"Quite. You?"

"Very."

"Good."

While they ate, they slipped into the easy chatter they'd shared for years. She told him about her last Sunday brunch at her mother's house, and he described the ancient nautical map he'd discovered in an archaeological site catalog a couple of weeks before. When he dripped salad dressing down his chin, she laughed. He laughed harder when she dropped a bite of tomato down her shirt and had to fish it out. Before either of them realized it, the food was long gone, and the chronometer clicked over to 0100 hours.

Chakotay yawned and slid lower in the bed. "I'm sorry, I'm about to fall asleep on you."

"I've kept you up too late. You need your rest."

Their hands were linked between them, and he gave her fingers a gentle squeeze. "This was nice, Kathryn. Thank you for asking me to stay."

She climbed out of bed and went around to his side, tugging the covers over him. "I'm right next door, so call if you need me."

"I will. Goodnight."

"Goodnight, Chakotay."

In her bedroom, Kathryn left the lights off and stood at the window watching the moonlight. The hollow feeling in her chest had been a constant companion since the moment she'd learned of Chakotay's accident. She had known for years that she loved him, but had become so proficient at hiding her emotions that she'd buried that one deeply, convincing herself that it was close friendship. When the Medical aide had told her that Chakotay was in critical condition, Kathryn had felt the grip of fear that she could lose him, and that love broke the surface of her barriers once again.

She had determined then and there that if he survived, she would no longer hide her emotions from him. Her first priority was to help him heal, and then to find out if they could have a chance together. Bringing him home with her had been a step toward filling that hollow space in her heart.

She turned from the window and crawled into bed, forcing herself to relax and take deep, even breaths. He had survived, and the Doctor had assured them that Chakotay would make a full recovery. Laying her hand above her head on the wall that connected to his room, she closed her eyes and drifted to sleep.