Title: Kes is Dead (Part 36)
Series: Star Trek: Voyager
Author: Singing Violin
Rating: T
Spoilers: Resolutions.
Disclaimer: TPTB own them, but they didn't do what I wanted with them, so I'm borrowing them for a bit. I'll give them back when I'm done.
Feedback: Yes please.
Archiving: Anywhere.

"I'm not an invalid," Kathryn insisted to the man who was holding her as he trudged forward. "I can walk."

"I know you can," he answered, "but I don't think it's a good idea right now." He debated whether or not to elaborate, but decided against it, not wanting her to panic, which would surely seal the fate of their unborn child. It was all he could do to control his voice so as not to betray his own fear. He worried that even what he'd already said was too much, and she would figure out what was going on.

To his relief, she didn't. "I knew it," she sighed. "You're disgusted with me. I'm a disgrace."

He bent down and kissed her forehead then before continuing to forge his way through the makeshift path. "Kathryn," he addressed her, just loudly enough to be heard over the ambient natural noises and the sounds of his footfalls, "you will never be a disgrace. I'm just worried about you. It's my job to put your needs first, remember? It just seems that lately I haven't been able to meet them, no matter how hard I try. No matter what I attempt to ease your burdens, you seem worse off than you were before."

To his dismay, tears began to form in his eyes, and he tried his best to swallow his pain, knowing that giving away too much of his own emotions would clue her in to the dangerous reality of their situation. It was too late, however; she'd seen his distress, but her reaction was not what he expected.

A look of deep sympathy crossed her features, and she threw her arms around his neck, pressing her cheek to his chest. "Oh Chakotay," she sighed, "please don't feel guilty. Without you, I'd be dead several times over by now." She shivered at the thought, and he tightened his hold on her.

"Are you cold?" he asked.

She smiled slightly. "You're keeping me quite warm, thank you."

They were quiet then for some time, and she marveled at how strong he was, able to carry two packs and her own body while hiking over rough terrain. She vowed to give him a massage later, knowing he would be sore from the trek. For the moment, she snuggled into his chest, trying to forget her horror and focus only on the soothing feel of his arms around her. Perhaps his embrace could be as comforting as the tree's...maybe even more so. Unlike the tree's, his limbs were warm and soft.

They were nearing the end of their journey when she put a hand on his chest and ordered him to stop. The urgency in her voice startled him, but he continued walking as he spoke to her. "Are you sick?" he queried. "I really don't think we should stop; we need to get you back, and if I put you down now, I don't know if I can pick you up again." If you throw up on me, it won't be the first time, but if I stop and you lose the baby...

It was the first time he had admitted that the journey was tiring him, and she felt her heart swelling with gratitude and sympathy. "No," she responded, "I'm not sick...please, just stop. Now."

Something about her tone demanded obeisance, and he paused. They were silent for a moment.

"There," she whispered. "Did you hear that?"

He felt a bead of sweat trickle down the side of his face, but he had no idea to what she was referring. "Hear what?" he responded.

"Voices," she stated. "I think we have visitors."

He sank to the ground then, with her body falling into his lap. "Could you be imagining it?" he asked. "You've been through so much..."

"No," she stated furiously. "Just listen."

He sighed, but obeyed. Sure enough, the faint murmur of humanoid voices could be heard, and he gripped her tightly, frozen in terror. "I hear them," he admitted.

They sat, as motionless as possible, for a long time as the voices grew closer. He wished he'd brought a phaser, but there was no reason to arm onesself on an uninhabited planet.

Finally, he could just make out a silhouette through the underbrush, and he peered closely, praying that the creature was a friend. But as it drew closer, his worst fears were confirmed.

"They're Breen," he told Kathryn.

"I can see that," she replied, as quietly as possible. "We may need to fight."

He shook his head. "I didn't pack any phasers," he admitted. "We have to hope they don't find us."

Even as he spoke, he watched the soldier stop moving and turn towards their position. The Breen had evidently heard them whispering, and was coming towards them now.

The humans held their breath, hoping against all hope that the Breen soldier would find nothing of consequence and move to a new search area. However, the menacing humanoid continued to approach.

Suddenly, Kathryn lunged forward out of Chakotay's arms, ambushing the soldier and knocking him to the ground. Quickly, she grabbed his weapon and aimed it at him, but did not fire.

However, there was another soldier nearby, who had witnessed the scuffle and was now running towards them. Chakotay saw it and leapt forward, knocking Kathryn to the ground just in time to prevent her from being hit with the discharge of the second soldier's weapon. Unfortunately, he didn't manage to avoid the blast himself, and slumped to the ground, senseless.

"Chakotay, no!" Kathryn cried, throwing herself on top of his body and pointing her weapon towards the soldier who had shot him. She was about to fire when the whine of a transporter...a Federation transporter...engulfed them.