Blueberries 10

Chakotay stopped struggling against the two men.

Mike emerged a few seconds later out of the same door that Phoebe had gone through. Mike simply starred at a man he thought he had knew. A man that he had respected for years on Voyager and even when they were both in the Maqui together. He never thought that Chakotay was capable of doing this.

Phoebe pointed at Chakotay. "I didn't have my sister for seven years! And I was finally getting to spend some of the lost years with her! And then you stole her away from me you bastard!"

The two men were about to take Chakotay away when a doctor rushed in through the door, that was directly behind them.

"I don't know how but we have a pulse, a few minutes ago we didn't have anything, but somehow Kathryn Janeway has a pulse!"

Phoebe fainted, and fell over into the arms of Mike.

Two Days Later-

Chakotay had spent 2 days awake and by Kathryn's side. Kathryn had a pulse but she had not been able to come out of the coma she was in yet. The doctors had told Chakotay that apparently she had suffered a fall, and perhaps fallen into water at the time of the accident.

He would never forgive himself for that not in this lifetime or the next. How could he have let jealously and rage take over him. He loved this woman. He trusted her with every breath he took. But somehow something always stood in the way. Whether it was her loyalty to the prime directive, Mark, or his own stupid flings with various women, they had never been together.

Friends, yes. Good friends there was even a time for that. Enemies, more then once. But still Chakotay loved this woman. He took her hand again and stared at her face. He felt a finger against his hand and immediately looked up. Kathryn's thumb was rubbing against his finger.

"Doctor!"

"Doctor!"

Kathryn stirred. Chaktoay could hardly believe it she was waking up. He learned over her and started to whisper softly.

"Kathryn, can you hear me its Chakotay. Kathryn its time to wake up now."

Very slowly Kathryn's eyes began to open. She squinted as soon as the light hit her blue eyes. She put her hand on her head and slowly began to rise off the bed.

Chakotay grasped her other hand. She looked over at him, and grabbed her hand back and began screaming at the top of her lungs.

"It's you!

"It's you!

Chakotay tried to comfort her. But the look she gave him was that of complete terror. Her eyes were in tears, and she was shaking uncontrollably. His Kathryn, the one that was not afraid of anything was afraid of him. It was almost too much for him to bare.

The doctor stepped next to him. "Sir you should leave. Apparently seeing you is making her extremely tense and uncomfortable."

Chakotay nodded and left through the metal door. He had just rounded the corner when he ran into Phoebe. She looked up at him, tears still fresh in her eyes, and then shook her head and went around him. Chakotay knew why she blamed him for everything. How could she not. Her sister, the woman that he loved had almost died because of his reckless behavior. He had become that angry warrior again. Somehow everything had just escalated out of control. And now he was certain he would never be welcome in the Janeway house again.

He knew one thing for sure. It was time for him to go home. Back to Dvoran.

One week later-

The rain was pouring in San Francisco. It had been raining non stop for three days. The wind whipped along the bay creating a frozen chill in the air. The weather report had said that today was going to be sunny. Chakotay chuckled to himself as he made his way to the small café by the bridge. He found some comfort in the fact that even in this century people still couldn't predict the weather.

Chakotay walked through the door and took off his jacket and sat at one of the tables near the back. In a few hours he would be returning to Dvoran for good. He was happy knowing that in a few days he would be back at his sisters home. And perhaps in a months time he would have his own dwelling, his own garden, and some peace of mind.

He looked up to see his friend Mike enter the café. He was quiet as he came over.

"Hello Mike, glad you could come, would you like anything to eat? Last chance to take advantage of your former commander."

Mike shook his head. "Thanks Chakotay, but Phoebe already fed me this morning. She has gotten into the habit of telling me I need to eat more. She is quite the woman. Strong and independent. Able to stare down any man with that glance of hers."

Chakotay smiled remembering the many times he was starred down with the same glance from Kathryn. Those were memories that were always present to him.

"I am thinking about asking her to marry me Chakotay."

Chakotay sat quietly for a moment. "Whatever you decide to do I am confident that any decision you make will be a great one. You are a good man Mike. I really respect the man you have grown into. Phoebe would be very smart to accept your offer."

Mike took a sip of tea, and swallowed hard. "And you would be wise to go and see Kathryn and tell her you are sorry about what happened. I know you still love her I can see it in your eyes. And its time you were honest to her about how much you love her."

"Mike that was a long time ago. I loved her on Voyager. And that time has passed."

"Bullshit."

"Excuse me?"

"I said bullshit Chakotay. You know deep within yourself that she fulfills every desire that your soul craves. That when you think about having a life with her, you feel complete. That the tears you cry are only for her alone, and that you would give anything to kiss her lips and ask her to marry you."

Chakotays voice was rigid and deep. "That's enough Mike. I simply contacted you to say my goodbyes and good luck to you. I am leaving for Dvoran in a few hours. I will not be back to this planet again."

Chakotay put on his jacket and shook Mikes hand. "I wish you nothing but happiness Mike." And then he was gone. Mike sat at the table stirring his tea. He remembered something suddenly and ran out of the café chasing down Chakotay.

He reached him just at the end of the second block.

"Chakotay I forgot to tell you something important."

"Well lets here it Mike, it must be something really important. Did you run all the way here from the café?

Mike took a breath. "She was holding this the other day and clutching it to her heart Phoebe said. She told Phoebe that there was one man that could make her cry deeper then anyone else. And when she thought of you she cried every tear she had inside until she thought she was empty. And for her you were everything she needed and she has always wanted you and needed you more then you could ever know.

Mike slipped an old timepiece in Chakotays hand. And walked away.

Chakotay stood in the rain unable to move simply starring at it. Remembering that day on the bridge. When voyager was in shambles. And he held this timepiece in his hand.

"Happy Birthday."

"Happy what?"

"Today is May 20th."

"Is it I thought we were still in April. I guess I lost track of the time."

"Well this should help."

"Its beautiful."

"19th century, mechanical movement. it's a replica of the one worn by Captain Cray of the British navy. His ship was hit by a typhoon in the pacific. Everyone back in England thought they had been killed. But eight months later, Cray sailed his ship back into London Harbor. There was not much left of it a few planks, half a sail, but he got his crew home."

"I appreciate the sentiment but I can't keep this. Recycle it we can't afford to waste energy on non essentials."

"Kathryn I replicated this months ago. I have been saving it I wanted you to have it."

"That watch represents a meal, a hypo spray, It could mean the difference between life or death one day."

"DAMN!"

Phoebe was setting the table for dinner. She was expecting that Mike was going to come over for dinner, so instead of setting two places she set three yet again. Kathryn was upstairs. The doctors at Starfleet had given her the option to come home under Phoebes watchful eye. And with the exception of some slight confusion about some things she was relatively well. She was cleaning up her bedroom when she called down to her sister.

"Phoebe?"

"Yes Kathryn"

"Never mind"

"OK"

Phoebe heard her sister coming around the upstairs corner and making her way downstairs. Her sister hair was pulled back in a ponytail and she was dressed casually and seemed much better this morning.

"Phoebe, did you happen to see that timepiece I showed you yesterday? I was going to put it in a box and recycle this morning but I can't seem to find it."

Phoebe stirred the sauce for the pasta. "Why on earth would you want to recycle that? I mean you brought it back with you from the delta quadrant it must have some value to you."

"Kathryn smiled at her sister. "It used to Phoebe. Did I ever tell you how I found it?"

"Nope."

I was walking with Neelix the Talaxian through the decks inspecting damage on Voyager when we got to Chakotay's quarters. I had evacuated the crew to escape pods and only the senior staff remained. I was doing some scans in the room when I saw it sitting on the floor. I brushed it off and took it in my hand. Kathryn closed her eyes as the memory came flooding back to her.

"He disobeyed orders.

Chakotay gave this to me five months ago. A birthday gift. I ordered him to recycle it."

The front door opening put Kathryn back to reality.

"Phoebe I am back."

"I knew Mike would be back for dinner Kathryn. He can never stay away for some odd reason.

"I am going to go for a walk Phoebe I will be back later. You two enjoy your dinner."

"Are you sure sis?"

"Yes."