Terry 'Men of a Certain Age' - We're at this place in our lives, we've come all this way, and I got nothing to show for it.
- Chakotay/Harry Kim - post-Endgame -
Chakotay put on his happy face, smiled for the Federation News Service, and moved into the grand ballroom at Starfleet Headquarters in San Francisco, the tunic of his dress uniform clinging in awkward places.
They had chosen to wear the dress uniforms of the version they had been wearing during their journey, one which was apparently replaced close to five years before, so everyone would know who they were.
Not that anyone could hope to misplace any of them for someone other than who they were.
They were the Voyagers, survivors of the Delta Quadrant, the valiant travellers who had finally returned home after seven long years.
And so, here he was, surrounded by his crew, his family, but he was alone.
Chakotay couldn't help but think, as he sat at the table designated for the senior officers, about everything they'd been through.
Harry Kim slipped into the seat next to him and sighed heavily.
Chakotay chuckled. 'Yeah, it feels that way, doesn't it?'
The younger man took a sip from the champagne flute he'd brought with him, nodding. 'It's not that I'm unhappy to be home, I mean, it's great, but…'
'But we're at this place in our lives, we've come all this way, and we've got nothing to show for it,' Chakotay deadpanned, sipping his own champagne.
'Yeah,' Harry sighed. 'I mean, look at Tom and B'Elanna, how happy they are, especially now that Miral's here. At least we have each other, the friends we've made, the family we've become.'
'But how much good is that going to be without Voyager to keep us together? How close will everyone stay once we've all been reassigned across all regions of the Alpha and Beta Quadrants?'
'We've come all this way, and we have nothing to show for it,' Harry breathed, the revelation sinking in.
'Yeah,' Chakotay sat back in his chair, watching the festivities happening before them, taking another sip of his champagne. 'Well Harry, we need to do something about that.'
'That we do.'
Both of them turned around to see Kathryn Janeway standing behind them, one of her biggest grins across her face.
'Captain?' he couldn't help but stand in his commanding officer's presence.
'It is my pleasure to promote you to the rank of full lieutenant, Mr Kim, with all the obligations and responsibilities that go with it,' she pinned the rank pip on the collar of the stunned man, her maternal pride shining through. 'It's been a long time coming Harry, and you deserve it. Congratulations.'
Lieutenant Harry Kim stood there, stunned, as Kathryn patted him on the shoulder before walking away.
'Well, looks like you have one thing to show for the journey,' Chakotay deadpanned, finishing off his champagne before getting up. 'Congratulations, Lieutenant.'
Something to show, indeed, Harry though.
