They didn't beam directly to sickbay, choosing to go through the transporter room instead – the walk would do her good, let her clear her a mind a little bit more, think of what to say.

She glanced over at Tom, and he caught her eye before she quickly looked away. He touched her elbow, drew her attention back.

"Just tell him how you feel. He can handle it."

He felt her stiffen, and he firmed his hand around her arm.

She drew in a deep breath, squared her shoulders, but she didn't pull away, letting Tom's grasp remain – a gentle reminder and support.

A few minutes later, when the doors to sickbay slid open in front of them, Tom dropped his hand, slowed his pace, letting her enter a step ahead of him.

Chakotay was on the opposite side of the room, sitting on the edge of a biobed; B'Elanna stood beside him; the Doctor was in his office. He came out when he saw them, met the captain halfway.

"He'll be just fine," he assured as Kathryn's eyes focused over his shoulder, gazing past him to Chakotay. "A superficial scrape – perfectly healed now."

And Tom didn't miss the unintentional irony of his words – if only Chakotay's mind could be healed as easily as his knee.

Kathryn nodded. "Thank you, Doctor. I'd… like to speak to him alone… if you don't mind."

He shook his head. "Of course not. I'll be in my office if you need me."

"And B'Elanna and I need to…" Tom's voice trailed off.

"Check the sensor array in Engineering," B'Elanna finished his sentence as she joined them. "If you need us…" she looked back at Chakotay, "that's where we'll be."

Kathryn managed a soft smile and squeezed her hand around B'Elanna's arm. "I think we'll be all right… now."

B'Elanna returned the smile. "I think so, too." And then she linked her arm through Tom's, pulled him toward the exit. "Come on, Helmboy, let's check that array."

"Yes, ma'am," Tom responded following her out the door.

Kathryn watched them go, then turned back, gazed across the room, found Chakotay looking back at her, his dark eyes large and round and questioning. She took another deep breath and went over to him, trying to convey an expression that was more confident than she felt – until she remembered Tom's words and forced herself to relax, let go of the "Captain" and just be Kathryn. Easier said than done, she realized as tried to resist her natural desire for control. But when she stopped beside him, saw the look of uncertainty on his face, she knew Tom was right – Chakotay didn't need his Captain; he needed his wife.

And she needed him.

"I'm sorry," she started, just as he said the same words.

"I'm sorry." His voice, like hers, was hoarse and unsteady.

She quickly shook her head, reaching out and touching her hand to his knee. "No… you have nothing to be sorry for."

He nodded emphatically. "Yes, I do. I… I wandered off. I shouldn't have done that." He sighed and closed his eyes for a moment, as if searching for the right words, then he looked back at her. "B'Elanna said… she said that you were worried because you didn't know where I was. I should have told you, but I… I didn't want to wake you." The look on his face softened even more, and he slowly raised his hand, brushed his fingers gently against her cheek. "You were sleeping and you looked so… so…" He sighed again and shook his head in frustration. "I can't think of the word, but… your face was so… soft." He moved his fingers up over her forehead. "There were no lines here…" He touched the corners of her eyes. "Or here… You were smiling, Kathryn - in your sleep."

She reached up and wrapped her fingers around his, pressed them to her mouth and kissed them. "I was… peaceful," she offered.

And he smiled at the word and nodded. "That's it… you were… peaceful." He dropped his gaze. "You don't… always look like that when you sleep."

She raised an eyebrow at the statement, gave him a gentle lopsided grin. "And you watch me sleep?"

He looked up at her. "All the time," he breathed.

Kathryn felt tears fill her eyes at the image of him awake beside her, ever her first officer, keeping watch in the night. Then the tears began to drip warmly onto her face. And she let them fall, let him lean forward and press his lips to hers, let him kiss her softly as his fingers wiped at the wetness on her cheeks.

And in that moment, she stopped being so damned strong.

~vVv~