Janeway and her crew met back at their landing spot and discovered that they had access to a small stream due South at the base of one of the large mountains in the distance. Chakotay has also noticed some small game and wood scattered about. Janeway ordered everyone to start picking up as much kindling as they could carry on the trek so they could build fires to keep warm on what was sure to be a cool desert night.
As they approached the water, Janeway bent down and splashed some on her hot face. The planet's sun was setting but it was still incredibly hot and her loose hair was aggravating her. She attempted to tie it back with a long strip of flexible sapling she had found but it still managed to work its way free on her walk. Her long tresses blew around her shoulders as the wind picked up and she wrestled it back as best she could.
A tall shadow fell across the water as she felt strong hands pull and stroke through her hair. "I could help you with this."
Janeway didn't turn around. "I don't need your help with my hair, Commander."
Chakotay played with it and twisted a small bit. "Okay, then I need to ask you to please donate some of it to the cause."
She turned and looked up. He had a sheepish grin on his face. Glancing around, she saw not one pile of wood was burning yet. "I thought you were starting the campfires."
Chakotay's boot kicked at the ground. "I tried. I need a little help. I seem to be the only Indian in the Delta Quadrant who can't start a proper campfire without help." He twisted a strand of her hair again. "A bit of this would help kick over the flame."
Janeway shrugged and said, "Well, go ahead. It's aggravating me anyway so take what you need."
He smiled and said, "I only need a small bit. You won't notice it's gone."
"I notice everything, Commander."
The smile faded and he nodded as he bent down to retrieve a sharp rock. He stopped midway up and held his stomach. Taking a deep breath, he straightened all the way.
Janeway jumped up and put her hand on his arm. "You need to rest. Without Tom or the Doctor here, I don't want you making that injury worse. It's bad enough already."
He flinched and gritted his teeth as she ran her hand along his abdomen. "Why do you care so much? Would you miss me, Captain?"
Janeway pulled her hand away as she looked up at him. "Don't play the pity card with me, Chakotay. I don't want to lose anyone on my crew."
"Your crew? Do you still consider me one of them?"
"Let's just say a probationary one. We'll talk later after I get my ship back about all of this. Right now, show me what to do and I'll get the fires started. It's going to be night soon and it's going to get cold."
Chakotay instructed her and a few other crewmates on the subtlety of rubbing sticks and a few strands of hair together to ignite a flame. Soon, there were several roaring fires and the crew huddled in small groups around them as the temperature dropped.
After checking with each one, Janeway gave a few instructions to B'Elanna, Neelix, and Tuvok about the next day's activities and priorities before walking back to the side of the stream. Chakotay had made a smaller fire for himself and sat on the ground alone. As she walked over, she noticed how the fire illuminated his pale face. She knelt down and placed a hand over his knee. "You found nothing to eat?"
Chakotay shook his head. "I'll be fine. I'm sure Neelix will find some horribly disgusting root that he can whip up into a soufflé for me."
Janeway smiled. "I know you don't eat meat but, under the circumstances, you may need to think about wavering from that just for now. Your body is trying to heal and it needs nourishment."
"I'll be fine, " Chakotay said firmly.
Janeway sighed and sat down beside him. Rubbing her hand on his thigh, she said, "Look, for what it's worth, I do believe that you were blindsided by Seska's mutiny. I have no doubt that any mutiny planned by you would have gone smoother and simpler. You're not this messy or cruel."
He looked sideways at her. "Thank you, I think."
She smiled and said, "I meant to say, you're a fair fighter. Seska isn't. You're smarter than she is. You and I both know an alliance with the Kazon will not serve her well."
"And she knows that now too. I think she expected to take the upper hand with Cullah. That is not happening."
"No, it's not," Janeway said. "And since she doesn't take kindly to authority figures and she's already frustrated by being here in the Delta Quadrant, she is going to be a very dangerous pill aboard that ship."
Chakotay nodded. After a few moments of silence, he said, "I'm sorry, Captain. I should have stopped this. I should have seen it coming. She must have been communicating with the Kazon for weeks."
Janeway patted his leg. "Yes, but like I said, I'll discipline you later."
He stared at her and said, "You knew she was communicating with them."
Janeway bit her lip. "I knew someone was making unauthorized transmissions. I didn't know who."
He managed a small smile. "I understand why you didn't tell me. You thought it could have been me."
"I had to be sure it wasn't." She rubbed her hand against him again. "Don't shut down on me, Chakotay. I need you." Waving her other hand, she added, "They need you."
Chakotay looked around at the crew. "They don't respect me."
"Well, can you blame them? Wasn't it you who told me less than 24 hours ago that you would earn back my trust and respect? You'll have to earn theirs back too. I heard what you said and I hope you heard mine about your actions proving it. You're on the right path. I'll bet even your spirit guide has told you that you'll get there. Am I right?"
He covered her hand with his own. "You remember what we shared. I promise, Captain, I'll stay on the path and not stray again."
She drew back and gave him her best Captain's stare. "See that you do, Commander. Because if you don't, I promise I'll make Seska's recent antics look like a warm up to your own personal Klingon Sonchi.
He grimaced a bit as he laughed. "You keep pain sticks around your office, Captain?"
"No, but I know a Chief Engineer that I can probably borrow them from." Taking her hand away, she said, "Get some rest, Commander. I'll need you with as much strength as you can muster bright and early tomorrow."
"Aye,Captain." They exchanged smiles and a silent nod as Janeway rose and walked away.
