Out of the Darkness into the Light

Chapter 2

An Unexpected Turn

Kathryn sat at her desk; she was reading an engineering report that B'Elanna had brought to her that morning. It had been three weeks, three wonderful weeks, since she and Chakotay returned to Voyager, after spending several weeks captive on a planet they had dubbed New Earth. They had been forced to leave the ship after being bitten by an insect. During their time together on New Earth they had grown close to each other. Kathryn smiled remembering the night they were first together. Then the night five days later, after the ship came back with the antidote. She had been nervous. She loved Chakotay and opened up to him never believing that they would ever return to Voyager. Then they did. Chakotay had helped her to decide that it didn't matter where they were, they could still love each other and have a relationship.

Kathryn's smile widened as she remembered the hours after they agreed on trying out their relationship on voyager. They had walked to the mess hall together. Holding hands, she had leaned gently on his shoulder reveling in the feeling of his warmth. When they walked into the mess hall, there was dead silence. Tom, who had been in the process of carrying his tray to the table he shared with B'Elanna, stopped in his tracks; his tray hit the ground just a moment before his mouth did. Kathryn would never forget his expression, ever. Kathryn inwardly laughed at Tom but pretended not to notice. She was glad when Chakotay did the same. The two of them found a small table in a corner. Chakotay got their trays of food, if you could call it that; it smelled ok but it had a strange orange tint to it. Kathryn reluctantly tasted it and, to her surprise, found it had a pleasant flavor, Kathryn and Chakotay just talked and ate, happy knowing that neither one would leave the other. After they finished their meals they went back to her quarters. They talked well into the night, then…

A loud chime sounded, bringing Kathryn back to the present

"Come in" she said, the smile that she wore evident in her voice. Harry Kim appeared at the foot of her desk. "Harry, what can I do for you?"

"I just came to give you this." He handed her his tactical report.

"Thank you, Harry," she smiled. She then had an idea, "Harry, would you mind staying and having a cup of coffee with me?" Kathryn had taken a liking to the young man, but never could find time to get to know him. She was in a good mood and decided that perhaps she should get to know her crew a little better.

"A sure captain," Harry said not sure how to respond. Kathryn got up from her desk and went to the replicator. She ordered to cups of coffee and motioned for Harry to join her on the couch. Harry sat nervously, he was unsure as to what was going on. It was unusual for the captain to ask for his company, or any crewmember's for that matter. He wondered why she asked him to join her for coffee. To Harry's surprise, she just wanted to chat and get to know him. They talked for a while before he noticed her wince and rub her brow. "Captain, are you all right," Harry asked, concern creeping into his voice.

"Yeah I'm fine. It's just maybe I shouldn't have had a cup of coffee on an empty stomach." Kathryn gave a weak smile. Her stomach had started hurting just after she'd finished her coffee; the ache continued to worsen. Her head was also starting to hurt.

"Do you want me to call the Doctor?" Harry asked.

Kathryn looked at him and responded, "Absolutely not, that's the last thing I need." She smiled at Harry. "Every time I go in there he lectures me."

Harry saw the humor in her words, but was still concerned. He had taken a good look at her. She did not look to well; her face had grown pale and her cheeks were flushed. Her eyes had grown dim also. "I know, captain, but you don't look to well," Harry told her.

"I'm fine Harry," Kathryn said, "Thank you for being concerned, but I'll be just fine after I eat something." Kathryn gave him a smile then patted his shoulder. Harry smiled and discretely checked the time; he had been in her ready room for nearly two hours! Tom was going to wonder if she had killed him or something. Harry excused himself, and went to talk to Chakotay about how the captain looked.

After Harry left, Kathryn slowly got up and made her way back to the replicator. She ordered a small bowl of fruit; eating it she found that instead of making her feel better, she felt worse." She decided to lie down on the couch for a little while to see if she could fight what ever was making her feel so horrible. She did not want to go to sickbay.

Just a few minutes after she had lain down, her chime rang once more. She was barely able to call out the words "come in," the pain in her stomach was wrenching and her head was pounding. Chakotay appeared at the door briefly before he was at her side.

"Kathryn!" he said, Harry was right she looked awful; her face was ashen, her cheeks were a bright pink, and her lips were crimson. She lay on her side with her legs drawn in close to her chest, her arm across her abdomen. "What's wrong?" Chakotay was really concerned, it was the worse he had ever seen her. Chakotay ran his had across her brow, pushing the hair that had escaped from her bun out of her face. Chakotay gasped "O Kathryn you're burning up, we have to get you to sickbay." Normally Kathryn would have protested but she was in pain. She felt like a million needles were driving in to her skull and a hundred starships were crashing into her stomach. "Chakotay to transporter room one. Beam the captain and I directly to sickbay."

"I'm sorry Commander but the transporters are down" came the voice of a young ensign over the COM.

Damn, Chakotay thought "Thank you ensign," he cut the link. He knew that he had to get her to sickbay but unfortunately, with the transporters down, she would either have to walk or he would have to carry her. "Kathryn can you walk?" he asked her gently. Kathryn shook her head unable to find the energy or strength to talk. Tears of pain begin to flow from her eyes. Chakotay hit his combadge "Doctor, prepare for an emergency patient," he alerted the EMH. Chakotay gently scooped her up into his arms. She lay her head on his shoulder, unable to support it's weight. Chakotay hurried out of the ready room through the back door, he did not want to alarm the rest of the crew. He hurried down the corridor and into the turbo lift. Kathryn groaned as a pain stabbed through her abdomen. "It's ok Kathryn were almost to sick bay. I promise we'll get there soon. Every thing will be all right." His words were intended to calm her as well as himself. As soon as the doors opened Chakotay was moving, just a few steps later he had her in sickbay where the doctor quickly had him lay her down on the bio bed. The doctor took a quick scan of her then pressed a hypo spray into her neck. Her body relaxed as she fell in to a deep sleep.

The doctor proceeded with his scans while Chakotay sat by her side. She looked very tiny lying in front of him. Her hair was mused and her face still had the complexion from earlier. The doctor finished his scans then disappeared into his office. About ten minuets later he came out. "Doctor?" Chakotay questioned.

"She appears to have contracted a viral infection. However I will know more in the morning. Chakotay, I suggest that you go and get some sleep, she'll still be here in the morning."

Chakotay nodded, He leaned down and gently placed a kiss on her forehead. "Come on Kathryn you can fight this. Get better for me," he whispered to her before turning to retire to his cabin for a restless night.