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THE LINK

CHAPTER 7

2 WEEKS LATER

After a week long journey from Trebus, a journey Chakotay had made alone in a shuttle, he finally reached Earth. As he flew into orbit, he selected his landing co-ordinates, which were Kathryn's lodge, and guided his vessel to a safe landing. He had now completely recovered from the effects of the implant and its removal, and the thick fog that had clouded his mind in the early days was gone. He knew now who he was and he knew what he felt. And what he felt was love, love for the woman he had loved so much for so long, Kathryn Janeway. As soon as the fog had cleared, as soon as he knew who he was, he had left Trebus. He had to see Kathryn, had to tell her that he loved her. He could only hope that she still felt the same. For she had loved him once, of that he was sure, for she had told him in so many different ways.

When the shuttle came to a stop, Chakotay opened its narrow door and stepped out into a fine April drizzle. He then shut the door, locked it, and walked from the stony clearing towards Kathryn's lodge. It was presently veiled by trees, tall fir trees that kissed the crying sky, but as he walked through them he expected to see the lodge before him in all its magnificence. However, when the lodge finally came into view, all he saw was charred ruins. Bewildered, Chakotay scanned the region with his tricorder, just to be sure that he had the right place, and the tricorder confirmed that he did. Chakotay looked again at the ruins and quickly deduced that there'd been a fire. Concern for Kathryn consumed him now and he hit his commbadge.

"Chakotay to Janeway."

Nothing.

"Chakotay to Janeway," he said again.

Still nothing.

His stomach began to churn now and he anxiously struck his commbadge again.

"Chakotay to B'Elanna."

This time there was a response.

"B'Elanna here. Hi, Chakotay."

"I'm at Kathryn's lodge," he said, "or at least what's left of it. What happened? Is she ok?"

"She's alive, but..."

"But what?" Chakotay asked. "Was she in the fire? Is she injured?"

"You'd better come over, Chakotay. Or rather, I'll come there. Stand by."

The connection terminated, but minutes later B'Elanna materialized before him. She was wearing a red coat and black boots and she slowly closed the gap between them. Chakotay could tell from her face that she bore bad news and he braced himself to bear it.

"I didn't want to tell you over the comm," she said. "You deserve this face to face."

"Just tell me how Kathryn is," he answered, tears in his eyes. "Is she hurt?"

"Yes. As you can see, there was a fire. Some maniac put her lodge on fire when she was in it with Naomi. It was a professional arson attack and the place went up in seconds. Kathryn managed to get Naomi out in a spacesuit, but there was only one so Kathryn couldn't escape. Help came fast, but not fast enough to save her without injury. When they beamed her out she was unconscious and had suffered third degree burns to seventy percent of her body. The Doctor has done what he could, but the arsonist contaminated the fire with some kind of chemical combustible that makes burns highly resistant to treatment. If he didn't succeed in killing her, the bastard was determined to disfigure her. She's badly scarred, maybe for life."

Chakotay stared at B'Elanna with an agony she never wanted to see on anyone's face again.

"I'm sorry," she whispered.

Chakotay turned back to the lodge, trembling. Kathryn had always been so beautiful, to him the most beautiful woman he'd ever seen, and the thought of some bastard doing this to her tore his insides up with profound pain and anger. It was almost more than he could bear. But he had to bear it, he had to be strong. Kathryn was alive, somehow she had survived, and for that he could only thank the gods.

"Where is she?" he asked at last.

"At St Ursula's Hospital in San Francisco."

"I have to see her."

"Of course."

Chakotay's anger began to manifest now and he turned sharply to B'Elanna. "Tell me they've caught the bastard. Tell me he's paying!"

"Not yet," B'Elanna answered. "The police and Starfleet are doing all they can to catch whoever is responsible, but they haven't yet. They think it's a guy with a grudge against us, I mean the Maquis. Apparently this isn't the first attack on a Starfleet Captain that was a Maquis sympathizer. I know Kathryn wasn't exactly, but because she integrated us into her crew, in some eyes that's the same thing. The attack on her follows the same pattern as the other attacks. Threatening letters followed by an assassination attempt. Three captains have been killed."

A tear ran down Chakotay's cheek. "But why Kathryn? If he hates us Maquis, why not come after us?"

"I don't know, Chakotay. Maybe because he feels she has betrayed Starfleet in some way by having us as part of her crew. Who can say what a madman thinks? But according to Detective Ronwell, who is heading the investigation, they're very close to finding him."

"They'd better be," Chakotay cried. "They'd so damn better be!"

He turned back to the lodge, a tortured figure, and all B'Elanna could do was reach out and put her hand on his arm.

"I really am sorry," she said. "I know you love her, or at least you did before the implant messed with things. And, now that it's gone, I'm guessing you do again."

"I do," he said tearfully. "I don't think I ever stopped. The implant it just...it made me forget."

"I understand. And she does too. I was ready to send you to the gallows over Seven. I'm sorry I was so quick to judge you."

"It doesn't matter. Nothing matters now but Kathryn's well being." He turned back to B'Elanna. "How is she taking it?"

"It's hard to say. You know Kathryn. She always puts on a brave face. But I think she's finding it harder to come to terms with than she's letting on. I think, mainly, because she's worried how you will react. Every woman wants to be attractive to the man she loves and she loves you. I know because she's told me. So, don't let her push you away, Chakotay. She's always been strong for us. Now we have to be strong for her."

"I won't let her down," he said.

"I know you won't. But visiting isn't for another two hours. How about we go to my place? I'll tell you more about what happened."

"Ok," Chakotay replied. "I'll leave my shuttle here and beam back with you."

B'Elanna squeezed his arm. "Good plan."

She then requested a double transport and in seconds they dematerialized.


St Ursula's was a small hospital set in a beautiful park and Chakotay arrived there as soon as visiting hours commenced. A kind young woman at reception gave him Kathryn's room number, but when Chakotay reached the ward he was denied entry through the doors by security.

"I'm sorry, Sir," a tall black security guard said. "But only authorized visitors are allowed beyond this point. Please tell me your name and who you are here to see."

"I'm Commander Chakotay," he replied. "And I'm here to see Admiral Kathryn Janeway."

The man smiled. "Just as I thought. One moment, Sir. I need to inform the Admiral that you're here."

He disappeared into a small office, closed the door, and then reappeared.

"I'm sorry, Commander," he said, "but the Admiral doesn't wish to see you."

Chakotay flinched. He hadn't expected that.

"In which case," the man continued, "I must ask you to leave."

But Chakotay didn't budge. "I'm not going anywhere until I've seen the Admiral," he said defiantly. "You can tell her that."

"I'm sorry, Commander, but you must leave. Without the Admiral's authorization, I can't let you in."

"Then let me speak to her over the comm. Please."

"I'm sorry, that is not permitted. Now, if you don't leave voluntarily, I will be forced to beam you out."

"But..."

"It's your choice, Commander."

Seeing that he had no other option, Chakotay reluctantly relented.

"Ok," he said. "I'll go. But tell the Admiral I'll be back."

With that, he turned around and left.

END OF CHAPTER 7