Author's Notes: Thanks for the reviews :D I hope you like this next chapter. Again ideas are more then welcome!

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Sickbay was extremely quiet when Chakotay reluctantly strolled through the doors. B'Elanna had left him outside the doors to go to engineering in order to deal with a problem her staff couldn't seem to figure out without her. Taking a gulp of air to settle his nerves, his mind instructed his legs to move towards the biobed that held the still form of his Captain, best friend and when he allowed himself to think about it, the person he was in love with. Without any though on his part, one of his hands gripped hers.

Chakotay lowered his head so that his mouth was on level with her ear.

"Kathryn I don't know if you can hear me, but you have got to fight this." He whispered with a voice cracking with emotion. "You have to come back to me…to us." He moved back and with his free hand moved a lock of hair out of her face. It was at that moment he noticed how pale her skin had truly become and it sent a new wave of worry travelling around his body.

The Doctor watched the touching scene before him with compassion and sorrow filling his holographic eyes, which looked more human then his programme suggested. This whole situation was very hard on him as no matter what he did he couldn't come up with a solution and he hated the fact that he was going to be the one who told Chakotay the prognosis, not to mention the fact that he couldn't help his Captain; a woman he respected greatly and who he classed as one of his closest friends.

"Commander."

The Doctor said after clearing his throat. Chakotay's head snapped around to face the intruding voice, his hand instantly releasing its hold on the Captain's. The Doctor used his hand to indicate his office and when he saw Chakotay begin walking he led the way, sitting in the seat behind his desk with a grim expression on his face. Hesitantly Chakotay sat in the seat across from the EMH, his face asking all the questions his mouth could not form at the time.

"The Captain is in a coma but is stable, for now. Her neural pathways have been severely affected by the drugs the Fraine put in her system, completely confusing her whole system. From what I heard she fought the programming they put her through." The Doctor looked at the man across form him waiting for an answer, after a few seconds Chakotay nodded in acknowledgement. "That put more stress on them and her brain had to compensate, it did that by shutting down, which is why she is in a coma."

"What now?" Chakotay questioned quietly. The Doctor hesitated and spread out his hands on his desk top.

"I will be perfectly honest with you Commander. I am completely out of my depth here. I can assume that if she awakens her memory will probably be affected, to what extent I'm not certain, but we must be prepared for that. Also she will wake up if and when her body and mind are ready."

"What…" Chakotay's sentence was cut off as the doors to sickbay slid open with a hiss, admitting the entry of Tuvok, First Prime Kallibyi and a man Chakotay did not recognise. Chakotay quickly stood and he quickly made his way out of the Doctor's office to greet the group, the Doctor mimicking his actions.

Chakotay extended his hand to Kallibyi but he pulled it back when he noticed that her eyes were firmly fixed on Kathryn's still form. Slowly she pulled her gaze away and smiled gently at him.

"Commander Chakotay." She said formally, lowering her head in an acknowledging nod. The man Chakotay didn't recognise stepped forward towards the Doctor.

"Doctor, it is good to see you again. I wish the circumstances were better." His rich voice boomed.

"Doctor Traben the feeling is mutual. Have you made any progress?" The Doctor asked hopefully.

"Forgive me Commander, I don't believe I have introduced you to Dr. Traben, he is our leading medical specialist." Kallibyi said. The two men shook hands briefly before Chakotay voiced the question running through his mind.

"Well, can you help her?"

"I am unsure yet Commander, this is a new situation for us all. I can promise you I will do everything in my power to help your Captain. Hopefully with your Doctor's help we will be able to reverse the effects." Dr. Traben then turned to face the Doctor. "I have brought all my equipment and research with me, maybe we could compare what we have and figure out the best course of action." The EMH looked towards his commanding officer for permission, when he received it he led Dr. Traben into his office.

"Commander I cannot apologise enough for what has happened." Kallibyi said her voice filled with sorrow. "I wish I could stay and watch over her with you but I am afraid that the Fraine issue needs dealing with immediately. I will not allow this to happen again."

"Apology accepted, not that it was your fault and I understand that you have work to do." He put a reassuring hand on her shoulder before continuing, "Tuvok please escort our guest back to the transporter and help her in anyway possible." Kallibyi and Chakotay exchanged grateful smiles before Tuvok led her out of the room.

Four days later…

Kathryn still hadn't shown any sign whatsoever of waking up and crew morale was suffering despite Nelix's best efforts. The two Doctor's had been working around the clock trying to find a solution, only stopping when Dr. Traben required sleep. Even then Voyager's own Doctor continued with the research.

Chakotay barely left sickbay. When he did it was to check up on the ships status, which didn't change much as they were still orbiting the planet. The only other time he left was when B'Elanna dragged him away in order to eat, even then he left reluctantly.

The only light in sickbay came from the Doctor's office where the two men continued to exchange ideas and theories in words that Chakotay barely understood on a good day. The rest of sickbay the light was dulled to ten percent illumination, giving Chakotay enough sight so that he didn't fall over anything. Wearily he slumped down into a chair, which had become a permanent feature next to Kathryn's biobed. He rubbed his hands over his face, desperately trying to erase the fatigue he was feeling.

Sleep didn't come very easily these days as he was afraid that if he went to sleep Kathryn would wake up without him there or that she would completely let go. He grasped her hand in his tightly, trying to transfer his strength to her. He nearly fell out of the chair when he felt hers grip back.

Startled and believing he was imagining things he squeezed her hand again getting the exact same response. His head whipped up to her face in excitement, his eyes becoming level with her own. They were open.

TBC…

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