The surgery, true to the Doctor's prediction, went quickly. Chakotay waited by the Captain's bedside as she recovered and awoke from her sedation. When her blue eyes fluttered open, his face was the first thing she saw.

"Good evening, Captain," he said.

She gave him a weak smile. With a bit of trepidation, she took a deep breath and blew out her first real breath of natural air. Her breath dissolved into a coughing fit which earned her a scolding from the Doctor who tasked her before he walked back into his office.

Left alone again, Chakotay placed his hand on her shoulder and said, "Relax. The Doctor said you needed to take it easy until your lungs have fully recovered."

Janeway shook her head. "You just want to sit in my chair a little longer, Commander. Don't get too comfortable."

Chakotay chuckled. "Don't worry. I'm ready to give it back."

"Liar." She brushed her hair back from her face. "I expect the Vidiians will not be bothering us again anytime soon."

"Let's hope not. They'll probably be better prepared to put up a fight."

She searched for and found his hand. Clasping it tightly, she looked up at him and said, "Thank you, Chakotay, for everything."

He smiled and gripped her palm tight. Shaking their hands, he said, "You're welcome."

A few yards away, the sickbay doors opened and Seska walked into sickbay just in time to catch their tender moment. Her face grew angry and her boots skidded on the polished floor as she caught herself but neither Chakotay nor the Captain seemed to notice her entrance.

"Ah, Lieutenant Seska, what may I do for you today?" The Doctor walked out of his office to greet her. Seska did not answer nor could she pull her eyes away from the two officers. The Doctor followed her gaze and said, "The Captain came through the surgery better than expected. She'll be just fine thanks to you, Lieutenant Ayala, and Commander Chakotay. You three must have been very persuasive on that planet. You should be commended."

Seska pulled herself away from the scene before her to respond to the Doctor. "Yes, Maquis work well together." She turned back in Chakotay's direction and added, "We usually get what we set our sights on."

"Maquis? And here I thought this was a Starfleet crew."

The Doctor looked down his nose at her as Seska collected herself again and took a step back. She handed him a padd and said, "From B'Elanna. She put together a program that she wants you to download. It might help fix some of the glitches your program has been experiencing."

The Doctor took the padd and said, "Thank you. Nice to know I made someone's priority list around here." He watched her attention wander again as she continued to focus on the Captain and the Commander. After a few moments, he leaned down and said, "Would you like me to break it up so you can pay your respects?"

Seska jumped, startled by his voice in her ear. Before she could respond, the Doctor stepped forward and said, "Commander, you seem to be monopolizing the Captain's time. She needs her rest and I have another visitor who would like to check in on her."

Seska's mind raced as she softened her expression. She placed what she hoped was a sincere smile on her face and walked over. She noted Chakotay's surprise at her presence and said, "B'Elanna wanted me to give the Doctor a new program to help upgrade and stabilize his subroutines." Her eyes went to Janeway who struggled to sit up. She watched Chakotay help her and said, "I noticed you were awake, Captain. I just wanted to wish you well. I hear you'll be back on the bridge in no time."

Janeway smiled. "Thanks to you and the Commander here. Obviously your away mission was a success. You convinced the Vidiians to give back what they took from me and I am very, very grateful for that."

Seska's smile widened. "As are all of us who would have missed you as Captain."

Chakotay noted the edge in Seska's response and cleared his throat. "I think we are all coming together nicely as one crew."

Seska eyed him and said, "Yes, we are, aren't we? How nice." Before he could answer, Seska smiled once again at the Captain and nodded slightly. "It's never gracious to overstay a welcome. I'm glad you're feeling better, Captain. I look forward to seeing you around the ship again." With a knowing glance at Chakotay, Seska turned and left sickbay.

Janeway stared after her for a moment and said, "I'm not quite sure how to take that. Why do I feel like I may need medical attention again if she and I ever meet up alone?"

"Lieutenant Seska is a little high strung," the Doctor said. "But, should you require any further medical attention, I shall be at your service again, Captain." He waved the padd that Seska had given him and said, "And hopefully with even better abilities. Although, in the past twenty-four hours, I was something, wasn't I?"

Janeway smiled as Chakotay laughed and said, "That you were, Doctor. Thank you."

The Doctor bowed. "You're welcome, Captain." To Chakotay he said, "After she eats something, you may take her to her quarters where she will remain for the next forty-eight hours." He put up a hand as the Captain started to protest. "If she comes out of her quarters for anything other than a walk or some other form of gentle exercise, you may personally escort her back here and I will confine her with considerably less enjoyable distractions. Do I make myself clear, Captain?"

Janeway hesitated but closed her open mouth and remained silent. Chakotay grinned and said, "She understands. She really doesn't like it but she understands."

Janeway glared at him as he dissolved again into quiet laughter. She pushed him away as the Doctor walked back to his office. "You can leave too now. I mean why doesn't he just throw me in the brig? I'd be more comfortable there."

"As your current superior officer, I can arrange that. My crew's pleasure and well being is now my utmost priority seeing as our immediate safety threat has been resolved."

Her head snapped back and she noticed the teasing look in his eye. "As your soon to be reinstated Captain, I'd watch myself if I were you. Enjoy the next forty eight hours, Commander. They may be your last."

"Oh I intend to." He rubbed his hand up and down her shoulder and said, "But before I do, what would you like to eat? Oh and since this may be one of my last meals, you're buying." He walked over to the replicator and punched in her code. "Captain?"

Her eyes narrowed as she said, "How do you know my replicator code?"

"You gave me full access, remember? Now, menu option, please." He waved his hands around the room and said, "Or would you like to stay here for the next two days? I would think you'd be sick of it and him by now."

Janeway gathered the sheets around her as she swung her legs over the bio bed. "What else did you find out about me while I've been here?"

Chakotay's eyes twinkled again as he placed his hands on hips and said, "Wouldn't you like to know."