Chakotay entered sickbay to find the Doctor hovering over Janeway's form on the main bio-bed. The Doctor looked up from the monitor and moved over to him. "Commander I've repaired the internal damage, she had several broken ribs, a punctured lung and a perforated artery. I've managed to stop the bleeding and healed several third degree burns sustained from the initial blast. But the damage to her neural pathways cannot be healed until her cranial swelling goes down by at least 40%, I'm going to put her in an induced Coma, it's a dangerous procedure but it's the only way I'll be able to help her until the swelling goes down." He said concern for the captain's health evident.
"Do what you must Doctor." Chakotay replied.
"The Captain refused to let me carry out the procedure before she spoke to you." The Doctor said "she came around shortly after I had repaired the internal damage." He continued before Chakotay could ask when she had woke up.
"Thank you Doctor." Chakotay said before he moved to stand by Janeway's bio-bed.
"He...told you...what he was...going to...do." She managed to say.
"Yes,he told me about the procedure." Chakotay replied, reaching for her. A few strands of hair had fallen on her face and he gently brushed them away, his fingers brushed her skin, the brief contact sending a ripple of electricity through them both.
If...doesn't...work...promise...you'll...get...them...home." Janeway managed to get out.
"Don't say that Kathryn,you'll pull through this, you always do." Chakotay said, his hand reaching out to caress her face.
"Promise...you...won't...give...up." She managed to say,her voice becoming weaker.
"I won't give up,Kathryn,ever." He replied. Her hand reached out to him and tangled in the front of his uniform,weakly tugging. Chakotay covered her hand with his,flattening it to his chest and gently squeezing her fingers.
"...Chakotay...I..L-" was all she managed to say before the Doctor interrupted
"I must begin the proceedure." He informed them. Chakotay gazed down at Janeway once more, before he pressed a gentle kiss to her finger tips and placed her hand on the bio-bed next to her. He watched as the Doctor made sure the equipment was in place before he carried out the procedure. He gazed into her blue eyes, one last time before they slid closed and her heart rate and respiratory rate dropped then remained the same.
"Hang on Kathryn,don't let go." He whispered to her still form, before he left for the bridge.
Four hours later Voyager was docked at the Tal'haari starbase. Repairs were going under way and the senior staff and Captain Tal'robin had gathered in the conference room to figure out a plan of action when they next encountered the Val'haatan.
"I can modify our shields a rotating frequency to try offer more protection." Tuvok announced.
" A rotating frequency isn't strong enough. A multi phasic shield would be better protection, I can offer some of my crew to help with the modifacations." Tal'robin suggested to Tuvok.
"I appreciate your assistence, Captain." Tuvok stated.
Chakotay nodded before adding "what about their main weapon? Can we use anything to stop it?" He asked.
Tal'robin answered. "The Val'haatan developed a weapon that damages the neural pathways as well as causing damage to the ribs,lungs and artery. They target it at the Captain of their targeted vessel in order to seize control of it, however if they don't capture their target immediatly, they will follow and attack until they do. You'll need allies Commander. We can help you get past the Val'haatan and in return we require nothing more than a sample of dilithium to analyse, it could help boost the efficiency of our warp drive." He said.
Chakotay said nothing for awhile then he answered. "Agreed."
"Thank you Commander, I'll send my Chief Engineer over to collect the sample." Tal'robin said.
"Was there anything else?" Chakotay asked.
"Uh Commander, what's the news with the Captain's condition, the crew have been wondering.?" Neelix asked.
Chakotay had to force his own feelings for the Captain to the back of his mind before answering. "As you know the Captain was hit with the Val'haatan's main weapon. The Doctor has had to put her in a coma to aid her recovery." He said. Chakotay did not miss the looks of worry from everyone except Tuvok and Seven. "Anything else?" He asked. After receiving no answer he said "dismissed."
Everyone except B'elanna left.
"How are you holding up?" She asked. "I'm fine." He replied.
"No you're not fine, I know you better than that Chakotay." She replied.
"I'm fine B'elanna."He responded, his tone becoming short.
"You're being evasive, I know you're worried about her Chakotay, we all are, but there is something else and I'm not leaving until you tell me." B'elanna countered. "You love her don't you?" She asked.
"Dammit B'elanna!" He snaped,slamming his fist on the table. "Yes, I do love her, I love her with an intensity I haven't felt before. It's my job to keep her safe and every time she gets hurt it feels as though part my soul is in pain." He said softly.
"I don't know if I could ever love someone that much. Tell her Chakotay, tell her before you lose her." B'elanna replied, moving over to her friend. She placed her hand on his shoulder "the whole crew knows that there's something between you two, heck they heard about your little slip on the bridge" she said before asking "when did you start calling her that? Was it on that planet?"
"If you think I'm telling you that then you're out of luck." Chakotay replied smiling a little. He rose out of his chair and the two of them left the conference room and headed to their quarters.
Only Chakotay didn't go to his, he found himself standing outside Janeway's quarters. He keyed in his override and stepped in her dark quarters. "Computer lights to 50%." He called and her quarters lit up. He picked up everything that had fallen off her shelves and coffee table and placed them back where they belonged. He peeled off his jacket and turtleneck and discarded his boots. He then collapsed on her sofa and closed his eyes.
Chakotay found himself in sickbay at the console in front of Janeway's bio-bed. The Doctor was bringing her out of her Coma when she had gone into cardiac arrest. "Cortical stimulator now" the Doctor called out. He activated the stimulator and her body seized once before dropping back to the bio-bed.
"No effect!" Chakotay yelled.
"Again." The Doctor said. Janeway's body seized again, no effect. Then again and again. Then no more. "She's gone, I'm sorry Commander."
Chakotay jolted awake. He needed to see her. Even a comatose Kathryn Janeway would help ease his worry. He quickly shrugged on his turtleneck and jacket put his boots back on and headed down to sickbay.
Chakotay entered sickbay. The Doctor was nowhere to be seen, probably transferred himself to the holodeck for the night. If anything went wrong the computer would alert him. Chakotay pulled a chair out of the Doctors office and seated himself next to Janeway's bio-bed. He took her hand in his, it was cold due to her low body temperature. "Repairs are going along smoothly and we have made an alliance with the Tal'haari, they escorted us to their starbase and provided us with assistance with the repairs." He said softly, rubbing his thumb over the back of her hand, hoping that his touch could provide her some comfort. Chakotay felt himself drifting of to sleep, just before his eyes closed he whispered "I'll never leave you Kathryn."