Authors note: This chapter is integrated with actual dialogue and scenes from the episode "Night" that this story was based around. (aka I do not own those parts) I suggest watching it and reading my words with those images in mind. It is rare that someone writing this kind of work can give you a visual reference, but in this case I believe my story can incorporate well to the existing episode. Enjoy.

Chakotay awoke with a start. "Kathryn!" He yelled. He looked around and didn't see her.

In his vision he had talked with his Spirit guide until it told him to follow it. He did and was lead into a forest that looked slightly familiar. Without his noticing he had become one with his spirit guide as they walked through the woods.

He had stopped when suddenly Kathryn appeared in front of him, kneeling and crying. When she had looked up into his eyes and recognized him she got scared, he tried to comfort her but he found himself unable to move.

He had tried to follow her, tried to call her name, he could feel her fear, her sadness and anger. It hurt him to know she was feeling this.

Before he had awoken his spirit guide had whispered 'Go to her' and that was exactly what he intended to do.

He stood and rushed out the doors, heading for the turbolift and passing many confused crewman on his way.

He wasn't sure what he was going to say or do, but he knew he had to go to her anyway. He hadn't even checked the sensors, he knew she would be in her quarters.

Suddenly the ship shook and began to loose lighting. Bulkhead by bulkhead power was going down, lights flickering and panels sparking.

Everything went dark.

"Damn!" He exclaimed, surprising a nearby crewman and getting him more than a few odd looks as people rushed by, feeling the walls as they tried to find their way.

Chakotay located a near by arms locker and fumbled for the access port. Getting no response he felt for the door and began to pry it open.

Once inside he felt around until he recognized a handlight, he grabbed it and a phaser then started down the hall. He strapped the light to his forearm and began to scan the corridor.

An eerie feeling crept over him and he slowed his pace, he shinned his light around and found he was next to the mess-hall, no doubt Neelix was inside still.

He entered and could hear labored breathing, he scanned the area until he found Neelix sitting in a corner.

"Neelix."

"Don't mind me," responded the shaking Talaxian.

"There's been a power loss, nothing to worry about."

"Wh-who's worried?"

"Come on," Chakotay extended a hand to Neelix "Take deep breaths, nice and slow that's it."

At this point, Chakotay wasn't sure who he was trying to convince, himself or Neelix. His thoughts remained on the Captain, but he had to focus! The ship could be in danger!

They continued down the hall, Chakotay still shining his light on all the bulkheads, something didn't feel right…

His suspicions were temporarily confirmed when Neelix grabbed his shoulder, "I saw something! Over there…"

Chakotay pointed his light in the direction Neelix had indicated, seeing nothing, he pushed forward ever so slightly.

"I'm telling you I saw something, I may be nylophobic but my eyes work just fine!"

They continued around the bend in the corridor, Neelix squeezed his shoulder once again, harder this time.

He leaned close and whispered "I can hear breathing.." the stopped, both quieting their breathing to listen.

Chakotay turned his light and suddenly there was a strange looking creature in front of them, shielding himself from the light. The creature rushed towards them, meaning to attack, then out of no where a phaser shot caught him in the side.

It was her.

The creature began to run away and she shot again, missing the alien by inches. It continued around the corner but she turned back to them, "Follow me."

She had on her command jacket and was carrying a large phaser rifle. She had been crying, but you could barely tell, and he doubted Neelix noticed in his frightened state.

"Yes ma'am." Said Neelix shakily, and they continued down the corridor.

From that point on, Chakotay only caught glimpses of Kathryn, the Captain was ever present and locked in place tighter than a max security brig.

When he did get to see Kathryn, there was a look in her eyes that he swore he had seen before, and it scared him. The more they learned about the Malon and how their Thoron radiation was poisoning the other aliens, the more he saw her grow uneasy. She was pouring everything into helping the alien in sickbay, risking her own safety and… he had seen this before.

When he got to the bridge he asked Tuvok to join him in the conference room. He had to ask the Vulcan for advice, he had been able to help predict the Captain's actions earlier, maybe this time they could anticipate them farther in advance.

Tuvok described to him how Janeway had risked her own life after an away mission under her orders left several crewman badly injured. If that was enough to get her to risk her life, Chakotay couldn't imagine what he would do now.

"If she tries something like that again, I want to be ready. I'm going to need your support."

Tuvok nodded agreement.

Chakotay knew that Kathryn had improved since they first entered the void and since she…. but it wasn't enough. She was not stable, now at least, he had an ally to protect her. Tuvok may not know all his reasons for protecting the Captain, but he knew enough.

After the Malon had come aboard and ignored their offer, Chakotay and the Captain agreed to meet in her quarters to discuss options, he wanted to talk about her and her earlier disappearance from the meditation program, but with how active she was and how well she seemed to be doing her duties he was afraid to mess with her.

"Options?" She asked.

Her Captain's mask was in place but it was cracking, he could see the concern on her face, the longing to make this work, and the fear that she would destroy yet another opportunity to get the crew closer to home.

He explained his idea, but he knew immediately she wasn't satisfied. His suspicions were confirmed when she started to poke holes in the idea.

"As long as this vortex exists, the inhabitants of this region are at risk."

"Any chance we can destroy it?" As soon as the words left his mouth he wanted to retract them. He saw it, this is what she wanted him to suggest.

"I believe so, but there is a catch, we have to collapse it from this end where it's demential radius is weakest."

He put his hands on his hips, trying to keep calm. Now was not the moment to confront her, he had to wait.

"We would be closing our shortcut out of here." She was watching him closely, saw his discomfort.

He decided to try and avoid the issue he knew was coming, "Two more years in the void, I can live with that." Oops. Wrong thing to say.

"But I'm not sure I can… Four years ago I destroyed the caretaker's array to protect the Occampa, that act of compassion stranded this crew in the Delta Quadrant."

Gods how he wished he could tell her, comfort her, but she was in her determined state, he couldn't not yet.

"I'm not about to give that order again."

"This situation is a little different," Come on Kathryn, please.

"Oh is it? It's close enough. I'm asking this crew to make too big a sacrifice, I won't make that same mistake."

Alright, out with it. "If you have another option, I'm listening." Here we go.

"Chakotay," He could hear Kathryn now, the Captain was slipping. She walked around her desk to him.

"There's no one I trust more than you, you're a fine first officer," Nice recovery, she paused.

Her eyes became steady and dark, he had seen this look before.

"Are you ready to Captain this ship?"

No, how he hated to be right, he tried to hold composure.

"Yes."

"Assemble the crew."

Chakotay fast-walked to the bridge, tapping his commbadge on the way. "All Senior Officers report to the bridge on the double."

When he stepped through the turbolift most of the senior officers were there, and as he stood Seven and Neelix walked in from the other lift.

"Computer, alert me when Captain Janeway has entered the turbolift and is on her way to the bridge."

"Acknowledged."

The Doctor was the first to speak up. "Commander, what is going on? Where is the Captain?" They all looked at Chakotay.

"Look, I don't have much time to explain. As you all know the Captain has been isolated, depressed, you know what happened before…"

They all looked at each other solemnly, remembering how they almost lost their Captain a few weeks ago.

"This situation has given her another escape, another path to redemption for her mistakes in her mind. When she comes to the bridge she will suggest a course of action that Tuvok and I," he paused to make eye contact with the Vulcan, "believe will most likely end up in her sacrificing herself."

The crew looked at eachother, worried. Even Seven shifted uncomfortably.

Tom spoke up, "What can we do?"

"We have to help her, she means to much to this crew, to us." said Harry.

"My thoughts exactly, we have to resist her. Show her that we are willing to brave this void for as long as we need to, as long as she is with us. That is how I feel. I will leave your judgments to you, but I wanted you all to know what to expect."

The computer chirped, "Captain Janeway is in the turbolift."

"To your stations." Said Chakotay. With a nod the crew got in place, the Doctor and Neelix standing where they could without blocking someone

else's view of the turbolift.

The doors opened, and a weary Captain Janeway stepped out.

"Captain on the bridge." At Tuvok's words they all rose to look at her.

"At ease." Surprised, she began to make her way to her chair.

She made small talk with Harry for a moment, but Chakotay was to focused on keeping his emotions hidden. He couldn't lose her, not again.

She began to propose her idea, and one by one, the crew stood up to her. Even Seven refused her order. They really did care for her, and he hoped that this experience would convince her that no matter what she did, or had done, this family needed her.

Defeated, she sat next to him. "You warned them, they knew coming in."

"I wouldn't be such a fine first officer if I hadn't."

Now all they had to do was get Chakotay's plan to work. Then, maybe, they could get out of there. And maybe, she could continue to heal and continue to open up to him and her own future.