Chapter Three

Chakotay awoke the next morning, Janeway was either asleep or unconscious, he savoured the feel of her against his body, it felt right to have her lying next to him. He wished that Voyager would hurry, Kathryn was slowly dying and he had to tell her that he loved her with all his heart, if she didn't get an antidote by tomorrow night she'd die and Voyager would be without their rightful captain and he wouldn't be able to continue without her. Chakotay leaned over and placed a gentle kiss on her lips. "I'll be back soon Kathryn, hang on my love." He said softly pressing another gentle kiss to her lips before he grabbed his phaser and joined the scouting party that was leaving to collect two samples of the poison this morning.

Tuvok, Ensign Harry Kim, LieutenantTom Paris and The Doctor had landed on the surface of the planet and had made their way to the crash site. "I'm reading a large cave system about 20 meters south of here." Harry announced. "They may have taken shelter in there." He continued. "Doctor, you and Ensign Kim will accompany me into the cave, Lieutenant Paris will remain here. If any hostiles approach our position contact me immediatly." Tuvok instructed. With that said Tuvok, The Doctor and Ensign Kim made there way to the cave whilst Lieutenant Paris remained at the crash site.

Tuvok lead The Doctor and Ensign Kim further into the cave, suddenly his tricorder emitted several shrill beeps. "There are five unknown life signs and one human life sign 30 meters ahead." Tuvok told them. As they approached the co-ordinates the sound of fighting intermingled with the sound of loud high pitched shrieks. The trio broke into a sprint, to find a group of four aliens and Commander Chakotay facing a large arachnid like creature. Tuvok and Ensign Kim quickly drew their phasers whilst The Doctor quickly grabbed his medical tricorder and loaded a hypospray. Tuvok and Ensign Kim fired at the creature but it had little effect. This continued for a while until Tuvok hit the one of the creature's many eyes and it retreated back into a tunnel. The trio approached the small party and Tuvok addressed Chakotay. "Commander, where is Captain Janeway and who are they?" He asked indicating to the arcacians. "They're known as the Arcacians and Captain Janeway is with them, she was injected with poison by that creature you have managed to get two pure samples in order to find an antidote." Chakotay replied. "We will accompany you." Tuvok said and with that being said they set off to the cavern where the Arcacians lived and where Janeway was.

The party entered the cavern and Chakotay lead Tuvok, Ensign Kim and The Doctor over to where Janeway was. Arlene was by her side with a piece of material and some water and was applying it to Janeway's flushed face. The Doctor immediatly scanned her with his tricorder, "The poison is moving slowly, currently she has a high fever and her heart rate is slowing down, if we were a day later she would be half dead now." The Doctor said. "The Captain would have already been dead, if Arlene hadn't given her a serum that slows the poison." Chakotay responded nodding towards Arlene who sat quietly watching the Doctor as he worked."We have to get her to sickbay urgently then I can created an antidote." The Doctor said closing his tricorder. Tuvok stood first then indicated for Ensign Kim to follow, Chakotay lifted Janeway into his arms, holding her close to him and the Doctor rose and remained next to Chakotay so he could monitor Janeway's condition. Arlene watched them leave and she knew the two humans she had known for just over a day would find their way home and that the bond they shared was one they would treasure.

Tom Paris was going out of his mind with bordom, there was nothing to detect, suddenly he saw Tuvok, Harry, The Doctor and Chakotay who was carrying a limp Janeway in his arms. Tome though that the worst had happened, when he heard Tuvok order him to get to the shuttle they had come down in and start the launch sequence. Tom hurried over to the shuttle and seated himself at the pilots station. Once everyone was on board, Tom piloted the shuttle off the planet to Voyager where he beamed Chakotay, Janeway and the Doctor straight to sickbay before he landed the shuttle in the shuttle bay.

Once in sickbay Chakotay placed Janeway on a biobed and handed the Doctor the vial of poison. The Doctor set to work immediately creating an antidote whilst Chakotay takled to Kes about what had happened on the planet. Three hours later and The Doctor came out of the his lab with a vial of clear liquid. "I've successfully created an antidote." He announced, handing the vial to Kes who put it in a hyopspray and handed it to the Doctor, Kes watched the monitor. Chakotay remained next to Janeway, holding her hand in his. The Doctor injected Janeway with the antidote and Kes called out the status of her vital signs. Chakotay rubbed her hand with his thumb watching her face of any sign of consciousness.

His hand tightened on hers as her eyelids fluttered, then opened revealing those glorious blue irises he had missed so much. "Welcome back Captain." The Doctor said. Janeway slowly raised her self up onto her elbows and gazed around disorientated for a moment before her gaze locked with Chakotay's "what happend?" She asked, her voice was soft. "I managed to get a sample of the poison, Tuvok came with an away team and we came back to Voyager so the Doctor could create an antidote. He was successful ,you've been cured." He said. "Cured but not healed, I will have to perform surgery to treat the large puncture wound in your side and the severed ligaments in your leg." The Doctor said. "Commander it would be best if you left so I could perform the surgery now, I'll notify you when it's compleat." He continued. Chakotay squeezed her hand, "I'll see you later Kathryn." He said softly before he let go of her hand and left sickbay