A/N: So, I have been making my way through Voyager and recently watched "Unimatrix Zero". I really liked Tom as 'Acting First Officer' and how assertive he (and some others on the crew) have become in regards to Janeway taking unnecessary risks. I decided that Tom might have some things to say once everything was over. Anyways, I hope you enjoy!

Disclaimer: I own nothing.

In My Humble Opinion

"Shouldn't you be resting?"

Kathryn looked up guiltily from the PADD she was reading to find Tom standing at the end of her bio-bed with his arms crossed.

"Just catching up on some reports," she assured him.

"Same old captain," he observed drily, "still burning the candle at both ends."

"How's B'Elanna doing?" she asked, changing the subject.

Tom glanced across at the other bio-bed where B'Elanna was fast asleep, "She's ok," he replied. "She'll be even better after taking the time to rest and recover," he added pointedly.

Kathryn shook her head with an amused smile, "You're starting to sound like Chakotay."

"Good," Tom said, surprising her, "maybe that means you'll listen to me."

Her amusement faded, "Tom…"

"This was hard on him, Captain," he continued, ignoring her warning tone, "I admire your compassion and commitment. And I appreciate the lengths that you're willing to go for us and those we care about." He paused, "But maybe you should take some time to consider the collateral damage."

She raised her eyebrows and he sighed.

"Chakotay cares about you," he told her baldly, "more than as your first officer or as your friend." He silenced her protests with a raised hand, "I don't pretend to know all of the ins and outs of your relationship, hell, sometimes I don't think the two of you even know. But perhaps you should consider the impact some of your more…imaginative solutions have. On all of us," he caught her eye, "we only have one captain."

"I heard you'd been 'acting first officer' in my absence," she began after a moment, "but I had no idea you had such a flare for the job."

It was Tom's turn to raise an eyebrow.

"I appreciate you concern, Tom," she told him, "but I can't let emotions get in the way of my command decisions."

Tom rolled his eyes, "To hell with protocol," he retorted, "we're thousands of lightyears away from Starfleet. I know we have more consistent contact with them now, but that doesn't change the fact that we're alone out here. If we can't turn to each other for support then who else can we turn to?"

"The minute we start picking and choosing which protocols to obey, we lose who we are," Kathryn told him levelly, deliberately ignoring the second part of his speech.

"Or we retain who we are," Tom countered, "the protocols weren't designed to prevent relationships, they were designed to prevent those relationships from compromising ship's business." He moved closer to where she was propped up against the bulkhead, "Have you ever considered that it might be easier to make those command decisions if you were being completely honest with each other? I hated seeing B'Elanna fly off on that mission, but at least – no matter what happened – she knew that I loved her." He paused, "So I knew, even if the worst happened, I'd have no regrets."

Kathryn stared up at him, "I'm not saying that you have to throw everything out the airlock," Tom continued, retreating towards the doors to Sickbay, "but just…think about it, ok?"

He stepped through the doors and was gone before she could respond, leaving a slightly dumbfounded Kathryn staring after him.

Only Tom would have had the gumption to speak to her in such a manner and, if she was honest, only Tom could have gotten away with it. She'd had an inexplicable soft spot for the cocky young man for almost as long as she'd known him which, to give him credit, he'd never consciously exploited.

Until now.

She should be angry at his presumption but instead she found herself considering his logic. She had to admit, he made a compelling argument but she wished she could be as confident as he was about how Chakotay felt.

It had been a long time since New Earth and a lot of things had happened, things like their alliance with the Borg and encounter with the Equinox. In fact, after the latter, her fear was no longer that their relationship would jeopardise command but that she'd left it too late.

She was brought out of her musings by the man in question as he entered Sickbay, stopping briefly just inside the doors in surprise at finding her still awake. Her involuntary smile at his entrance had him crossing to her side in a few short strides.

"I suppose I shouldn't be surprised that you're still awake," he commented coming to a stop by her bio-bed, just a little closer than was strictly appropriate.

"Well, I had a visit from your first officer," she replied with a wry grin.

"Oh?"

"I don't know who he's taken as his model, but he certainly spoke his mind," she added teasingly.

Chakotay's face clouded, "I warned him that his attitude could get him into a lot of trouble with his captain."

"Don't be too hard on him," Kathryn said, "he was a little out of line but…sometimes the best ones are."

Chakotay gave her an amused look, "I'll keep that in mind."

Kathryn looked down at her hands, "Actually he was mostly concerned about how this mission had affected you."

"I see."

"He also had quite a bit to say on the subject of regrets," she continued, without looking up.

Chakotay studied her profile, "Regrets?" he prompted.

"Apparently, seeing B'Elanna leave on this mission was one of the hardest things he's ever had to do," she explained. "But he could do it, because they both knew how the other felt," she looked up at him, "so, even if the worst had happened, he'd have no regrets." She swallowed and looked away once more, "He wasn't so sure that I could say the same."

Unconsciously, Chakotay clenched and unclenched his fists by his sides, torn between thanking Tom and throttling him. "He had no right to speak to you like that," he said finally as his protective instincts kicked in and he leaned more towards the latter.

If Tom's comments had hurt Kathryn, he'd kill him with his bare hands.

"Perhaps it's a good thing someone finally did," she commented softly, looking back up at him.

"Kathryn?" he questioned, contemplating whether he should be throttling the infuriating woman in front of him instead.

All he'd ever done was try to make her burdens lighter by not telling her outright how he felt, by never challenging her adherence to protocol. Now she was telling him that was wrong?

"My first officer knows better than to cross that particular line," she said, answering his unspoken question, "and, I confess, if he ever spoke to me like that I'd shut him down." She paused, "But I can't fault his logic and…I'm not sure that I want to. I have enough regrets already," she added, catching his eye.

Chakotay stepped closer to her bio-bed, tentatively taking hold of one of her hands as he did so, "I'd be lying if I said that I haven't been waiting a long time to hear you say that."

Kathryn's face fell, "But?"

"But, you've just been through one hell of an away mission," he continued, "I don't want you to rush into anything."

"I promise that this isn't a whim or some kind of rebound after my experience," she assured him, clutching his hand in earnest.

Chakotay smiled, "All right," he agreed, his smile widening as Kathryn relaxed, "but let's take this slow."

"How slowly are we talking?" she asked with a hint of playfulness now that she knew that she wasn't too late. "Will you kiss me good night?" she clarified at his quizzical expression.

Smothering a grin, Chakotay leaned over and kissed her cheek, "Good night Kathryn."

She narrowed her eyes, "Not quite what I had in mind, Commander."

This time Chakotay couldn't hide his grin, "Is that so, Captain?"

"Don't make me pull rank," Kathryn warned him, hiding her answering grin.

"Very well," Chakotay replied, closing the distance and kissing her soundly. Unconsciously she held on to his shoulders for support as they broke apart. "Pleasant dreams, Kathryn," he murmured, resting his forehead against hers.

"And you, Chakotay," she whispered as he kissed her forehead before gently disentangling himself from her hold and taking his leave.

For the second time that evening Kathryn sat staring at the closed Sickbay doors, but feeling more hopeful for the future than she had for a long time.