Chakotay and the away team made quick work of scouting the planet. All scans indicated an uninhabited paradise waiting to be explored and enjoyed by a ship full of weary space travelers. As he took in the beautiful scenery, Chakotay inhaled a deep breath of the cool fragrant air. It had been a long time since he had been still with nature. Too long and it felt good. He made a mental note to retrieve his medicine bundle and put it to good use on his next trip down.

Paris came up behind him and holstered his tricorder. "An absolute Eden, isn't it? I'm not sure if this is literally a breath of fresh air or a cold hard slap in the face. Kind of makes you forget what you're not going to see again, doesn't it, Chakotay?"

Before Chakotay could reply, the Captain's voice sounded behind them. "Don't worry, Mr. Paris. I'll get you both home. I promise."

The two men exchanged glances as they spun around. Janeway started to walk towards them but stopped as Chakotay marched to meet her. His raw anger was more than evident and she placed her hands on her hips readying for the battle. At least this skirmish I deserve, she thought. As he approached, she smiled and said, "You have something to say to me, Commander?"

Chakotay halted and shook his head. "Yes. But let's start with you. Would you mind telling me just what the hell you are doing here after I told you that you were not to beam down to this planet without the standard safety exploration first? You just can't stand it, can you? You can't stand to let me do what you've asked me to do."

Janeway put up her hand. "At ease, Commander. I already got the all clear before I came to join you."

"From who? I didn't signal the ship."

Janeway nodded at the other two Starfleet crew members who had accompanied Chakotay and Paris down to the planet. They stood just off to the side fiddling with their instruments and doing their best to ignore the scene in front of them.

Chakotay turned back and stepped closer. "Since when do a geologist and a botanist outrank your First Officer?"

"Relax, Commander. I already told them they are to follow proper protocol from now on."

Chakotay blinked. "Oh really? You couldn't instruct them to do that before you came down here and made a big show over your crew undermining me once again? Did you high five them before you made your presence known to me or do they just get a gold star in your log?"

Janeway's mouth dropped open. Undermining…this crew is not undermining you or anyone else."

Chakotay laughed. "Oh really?"

Janeway nodded. "Really! There is a certain amount of growing pains that we are all going to have to go through and you better toughen up, Commander. I'm getting a little tired of your ego getting bruised every time someone has a misstep around here. Trust me. They'll be more of them as we learn to work together. And you and I are both going to have to adapt to them."

"Are we? And my ego? Since when is calling you and your lauded Starfleet crew on not following proper procedures, one more time, have everything to do with my ego? I thought it was my Maquis who were the green ones, who had to be watched over and reprimanded by you and your high class Academy cadets!"

Janeway drew herself up to him. "I already told you their actions have been noted and corrected. What would you have me do? Throw them in the brig?"

Chakotay didn't flinch. "How about instructing them to relay the order to me as they should have and then allow me the courtesy and privilege to notify you properly? Wouldn't that have been the better judgment call, Captain?"

Janeway's eyes darted with his. "While I appreciate an aggressive First Officer, I don't like you questioning me and my methods, Commander."

"Well, I don't like doing it! But keep this up and you're the one who's going to do the adapting around here! You'll start adapting to me!" Chakotay heard his voice rise to an unacceptable level even for him and he quickly stepped back. He turned and waved her away from him. "You know what? You do what you want to do. I need to take a walk."

"Is this your resignation, Commander?" Janeway called after him.

"I'm going to scout around this planet for a bit. I'll let you know," he yelled back over his shoulder.

As he disappeared into the distance, Paris walked up and said, "Touchy Indian, isn't he?"

Janeway folded her arms and sighed. "Actually, I think he's more frustrated with himself than me."

Paris's brow arched. "You think so?"

"Yes. He's trying to decide which way he wants to go: conform or rebel."

"Hmmm…"

"He's warring within himself, Mr. Paris. Does he follow the path he's been on and keep rebelling to get himself home by any means necessary? Or, does he buckle down and return his roots and the path that makes the most sense and become a team. Working together with me towards a common goal of getting everyone home." Janeway cocked her head. "I think it's been a long time since he's had the yoke of responsibility around his neck. He's beginning to chafe. That's exactly what I needed to know before I entrust him with anything further. "

Paris shook his head. "With all due respect, I think you're wrong, Captain. Chakotay feels very responsible for what happened to his people. That's his real problem. He feels he ultimately betrayed them by joining an organization that he touted as a good and honorable one. Do you know he went to the Academy against his father's wishes? His father told him he would be turning his back on his tribe but he went. And then to have Starfleet , the organization you defied your family for, hand over his home to the Cardassians, cause thousands of deaths of people who loved and cared for you…And now he's marooned here where he can't fight any longer to right that wrong. He's got a bigger war inside of him than you could ever imagine, Captain. I understand what you're doing but he can't see it right now. If I were you, I'd stop pushing him."

Janeway looked thoughtfully at Paris as she considered his words.

Paris put a hand on her shoulder. "He'll let you know where he stands soon enough. I am a betting man and my money is on you. I wasn't with the Maquis long but it was long enough to know that Chakotay is an honorable man. He's nothing like me. He does what he says he'll do and means what he says. If he told you he would help you get Voyager home, my sense is that's not an empty promise he made. Any mutiny plans in his back pocket are contingencies since you and he don't have a level of trust yet. I know scoundrels when I see them having been one most of my life, Captain. Chakotay is not one of them. Keep pushing him and you'll see his ugly side. But truly stand by him and I think he may be someone you'd really value and be lucky to have as your First Officer."

Janeway smiled as she looked him over. "Mr. Paris, I dare say you've grown up in the mere few weeks you've been aboard Voyager. Careful. I have a feeling your scoundrel days may be behind you."

Paris shook off her words and looked around as he shifted uncomfortably. "Don't trust me, Captain. Not yet. I mean you took a chance on me and I'm grateful. I just think if you give Chakotay the same expectations, he'll meet them. More than I probably ever will."

Janeway watched Paris walk away before she joined her other two crew members. "Get back to the ship. Have Tuvok make up a shore leave schedule. We'll start rotation in two hours." The crew members tapped their communicators but were stopped by the Captain's final order. "And if you ever skirt Commander Chakotay's authority again, I won't be so lenient in overlooking it. Do I make myself clear?"

The man and the young woman nodded. "Aye, Captain."

"Dismissed."

Janeway watched them beam back to Voyager and then signaled across the meadow at Tom who also called for his beam out and disappeared. Alone in the tall grass, Janeway shielded her eyes from the setting sun and examined the horizon in the direction of Chakotay's exit. She unhooked her tricorder from her belt and found a humanoid life form several meters in front of her position. Putting one foot in front of the other, she headed out to join him.