Chakotay found himself standing beside Kathryn's still body and looked around. Tom and the Doctor were staring at him in anticipation. He bent over and felt for a pulse in her neck, finding nothing he moved his hand to her cold cheek. "I guess I didn't convince him." Chakotay whispered. The Doctor and Tom looked at him, then each other, when Tom nodded his head they both backed away and left Chakotay alone with her.

Tears began to slide down down his face as he continued to caress her cold cheek. "I'm so sorry" he quietly sobbed. "I should have been there for you, there are so many things I wish I had said to you. So many thing that I wanted you to see. I wanted you to see Earth in the view screen, to feel the grass hills of Indiana under your feet, I wanted you to hear the praise of your crew, to hear how much they looked up to you. I wanted to tell you... I wish I had..."

"Then tell her." Came an echoey voice. Chakotay almost looked around for Q but couldn't take his eyes off Kathryn. "She took her own life, so she has to be the one to want to come back. Say what you will Chuckles, but this decision is hers and hers alone, I have given her that choice." Chakotay looked up then in complete disbelief.

"She isn't alone Q. She has me and she always has."

Q had his arms crossed over his chest and was leaning nonchalantly on the wall. He shrugged "Be that as it may she still has to decide."

"Why?" Chakotay couldn't help but ask.

"I just wanted my son to have a chance at knowing his Godmother. I'm not totally heartless you know." Chakotay almost smiled at that.

"Don't say I never did anything for you people." And with that Q snapped his fingers once more and disappeared. Harry, Be'lanna, Seven, and Tuvok had joined Tom and the Doctor, and they all looked on with tears on their cheeks and hope in their eyes. Chakotay felt self-concious for a moment, not wanting to have fellow officers see his affection towards their Captain; but as he looked at them he knew they were there as friends, family even, and they wanted Kathryn back as much as he did.

Chakoaty again looked down at Kathryn's beautiful face, not trying to hide the love in his voice he said

"Please come back to me Kathryn, Q is wrong you are not alone, you never were and I am so sorry I let you feel that you were. We can get through this void, but let's do it together. If you need strength I will give it to you. If you need rest then I will make it possible, if you want help I will be right there." at this point he had forgotten the others were in the room, all he saw was Kathryn, all he felt was her absence and the need for her return.

"Please Kathryn, give yourself a chance, give ME a chance... Please I can't do this without you. I cannot continue without you... I... I..." He clutched her hand to his chest then, placing it where she always did when she was concerned.

"I love you Kathryn. And I Always will..."

Chakotay stared at her then, hoping, praying for a stir or a breath…

But there was nothing. He stared for another few moments then gently let her hand fall back on the biobed. He took one last look at her, then turned to leave. He saw Be'lanna was now in Tom's arms, Seven was very close to the Doctor and Neelix had appeared next to Harry; this family was lost without her.

It wasn't enough.

He took a step, then felt a light touch on his hand.