Kathryn inhaled fresh grass and heard birds chirping as she opened her eyes to a bright blue sky. Q's weight on top of her was heavy. Placing her hands on his shoulders, she gave him a quick shove.

"Ow!" he said as he rolled off to the side. "You don't have to be so rough."

Kathryn sat up and looked around. The setting was serene. Vast undulating meadows were interspersed with spots of green foliage and patches of forests here and there. It reminded her of her Indiana home. Yet, there were no buildings or any other signs of life other than a few small animals scurrying about. She shaded her eyes and looked up at the large sun hovering above.

Q knelt by her ear. "It's beautiful, isn't it? I thought you'd appreciate a bit of home."

Kathryn dropped her hand. "It's not home but thank you, Q."

Q ran a finger down her bare arm. Kathryn flinched at his touch and shook him off. Q came around and said, "I was trying to get rid of these." He lifted her hands and Kathryn noticed red and blue marks covering her arms. She moved her legs and saw the same bruises across her pale skin.

"Your biology is failing, my dear."

"Then fix it, Q."

"Kathy, are you always going to be this rude and demanding? We are going to spend a long time together in each other's company. A modicum of gratitude would not be out of place here."

Kathryn glanced away. "I guess I'll need some time to adjust."

Q's eyes never left her face as he moved his hands across her limbs. Her pale skin blushed under his touch as the bruises faded away. Kathryn shifted uncomfortably as his hands reached the edge of her sickbay gown.

"Can I do it myself now?"

Q moved his hands away. "Of course. I just had to do the initial step. As long as you stay with me, you can handle everything on your own from now on."

Kathryn stood up and brushed off grass. "I'm sure you enjoyed that. I'm going to find some privacy." She walked towards a small group of bushes, Q's eyes following her as she went.

Chakotay sat on the bridge scanning but not really seeing the reports in front of him. After Kathryn left with Q, he calmly stood down red alert and had dismissed the security detail with unnerving composure. He made a full report to the Admiral aboard one of Voyager's companion ships accompanying them on their return trip. She was none to happy with him for handling the situation alone and Chakotay was now under strict orders to never let it happen again or he would receive a one way ticket back to the Alpha Quadrant. He had almost volunteered to go at once and save her the later hassle.

Belanna, Tom, and the Doctor had all tried to make private attempts to speak with him. But, he had refused all invitations to their dinners, crew holodeck parties, and polite inquiries as to how he was doing. Instead, he was content to meditate in his quarters alone and bark orders in public during his daily routines.

The turbolift opened on the bridge and Belanna stepped out. She nodded to several crew members and looked at Tom in the first officer's chair. He glanced at the Captain and silently shook his head. Belanna sighed and stepped up behind and cleared her throat.

Chakotay jumped and looked up. "Lieutenant, is there a problem in Engineering?"

"There are some issues which I think require your attention. May we speak in your ready room?"

Chakotay eyed her. "I think we can speak about it here or you can save it for the briefing at 1300."

"I really don't think you want me to do that."

"Excuse me, Lieutenant?"

Belanna ignored Tom's subtle hints to back off and said, "The reconfiguration of our sensors and weapons array for our Q problem wreaked a little havoc on our systems. I'm having a little trouble sorting it out. I'm sure you're also experiencing some residual effects on the bridge. I thought we could help each other out."

Chakotay returned to his console. "I'm sure you are more than capable of handling it. Pull whoever you need to assist you. Harry, you're relieved. Please report to Engineering with Belanna and see what you can do for her."

"Yes, Captain." Harry looked expectantly at her.

Belanna crossed her arms and glared at Chakotay. "Is this how you are going to run this ship from now on?"

Chakotay's head rose as he looked first at Tom who averted his gaze and then back to Belanna. He stood up to face her. "Lieutenant, I want you in my ready room, now. Tom, you have the bridge."

Belanna smiled. "Thank you, Captain."

Chakotay watched her walk inside and then followed her in. "What the hell are you doing?"

Belanna put her face in his. "Exactly my question for you! You're just like her. You shut down and try to go through everything alone when you've got friends and a whole crew begging to help you."

"My personality is not up for discussion."

"No, it's not. Kathryn left you. She's gone, Chakotay. She walked out on you. Left you alone. Again."

"Shut up!" Chakotay slammed a fist on the desk as Belanna squared her shoulders. "Come on, Chakotay. Let it out! You need to. Yell, scream, fight, or hit something else. Just do it! Be a man and just do it!"

Chakotay's face screwed up in anger as he fought to calm down and contain his emotion. "Lieutenant, you are relieved of duty effective immediately."

"Good, then I can really tell you off and let everyone know what a jerk you're being. Of course, they already know that but I'd love to shout it throughout this ship."

"What?"

"Your actions and inactions are affecting your crew. Or haven't you noticed? Gosh, Chakotay, does this conversation sound even the least bit familiar? The only difference is I'm you and you're Kathryn."

"Don't speak her name."

"Why? Because she might come if she's called and tell you again she has to leave? Run out on you again with another man?"

"Q is not a man."

"You're right. He's not. He's a Q who Kathryn needs to stay alive or be physical or whatever it is you want to call it. He's saving her existence."

Chakotay clenched his fist. "He's taking it."

"No, he's giving it back to her. He's the one rescuing her and you can't stand it!"

"Stop it!" Chakotay picked up a padd from his desk and hurled it across the room.

"The truth hurts, doesn't it, Chakotay? You protected Kathryn all those years and Q, a being you despise, one who has done nothing but insult you, swoops in and takes her. Just like that. And to do what? Spend eternity with her. Your most desperate wish. And she has no choice but to give him what he wants. And what's worse? You won't even see Kathryn when you die because she won't be there. She'll be with Q, forever."

Belanna watched Chakotay blink back tears. She placed a hand on his forearm and rubbed it up and down. "The one good thing is we don't have to worry about you taking your own life. You won't do it because it doesn't solve the problem, does it?"

His voice was barely above a whisper. "It's not fair. I would die for that woman but it wouldn't matter." He laughed. "The only person in the world that it wouldn't accomplish a damn thing for. I'm in love with her and I can't help her." Chakotay licked his lips. "She's really gone, isn't she, Belanna?"

Belanna moved her hand to his back. "Well, if I know our former captain, she went with Q until she could figure out a way to come back, on her own terms."

Chakotay nodded. "If you can't beat them, join them?"

"And learn everything you can about them until you find their Achilles heel and upend it all in your favor," Belanna said.

Chakotay smiled. "Where was she when we had a job opening at the Maquis?"

"She was chasing us through the Badlands and bringing us all together." She hugged him. "Together, Chakotay. She taught us all that whatever we're up against; we do it as a team. Don't ever forget that lesson. It dishonors her."

The door chime interrupted and Belanna stepped back as Chakotay called, "Come!"

Tom poked his head in. "Everything okay in here? I've got the fleet on standby and the torpedoes locked and loaded. I know how those Klingons can be when they get angry."

Chakotay grinned as Belanna's cheeks grew hot. She stalked over to her husband as Chakotay said, "Actually, Tom, I need you to escort the Lieutenant back to her quarters."

Tom gave his wife a romantic look. "Oh, my most favorite type of assignment. Then it sounds like things are okay in here?"

Chakotay gave him a quick nod. "She was a good choice to take one for the team but she's confined to quarters for the rest of the day. And they'll be a note made in the disciplinary report."

Belanna's head snapped back. "What? Why?"

Chakotay walked over and said, "Lieutenant, don't you ever speak to your captain or any other commanding officer like that again or you will find yourself in a much more uncomfortable setting for a longer period of time. Do we understand each other?"

"Perfectly," Belanna said as she dropped her shoulders and released an angry sigh. Tom smiled as he took her arm to lead her away.

"Oh and Tom," Chakotay said. "You still have the bridge so I'm sure there is an available security person to escort Ms. Torres?"

Tom's face dropped as he kicked the floor. "Sir, if I become insubordinate right now, can I be relieved of duty and join her in confinement?"

"Yes," Chakotay said. He held up a hand as Tom opened his mouth to speak. "But, not in the same place. If I remember my first officer training, detainees have to be separated per Starfleet regulations."

Tom shook his head. "I never should have taken this first officer gig. Let's go, Ms. Torres." Belanna shot him a dirty look and Tom said, "Hey, you're not using my last name while you're in custody. My record's been cleared and the Paris name is golden again. I won't have you besmirching it." As he pulled her towards the door, he said, "Keep your hands where I can see them and don't try anything. I can't believe that just came out of my mouth to a woman."

Chakotay's smile broadened as he watched them go. It felt good to him. It was an expression his face hadn't seen in a while and it felt good. He wondered how long this good feeling would last.