Since the meeting the previous day, Chakotay had spent almost every spare moment at Kathryn's side. The Doctor had done all he could. Her burns from the energy discharge had not healed due to the damage to her cells and their ability to replicate, but aside from that, she looked peaceful, her face entirely unmarred by the accident. She slept calmly in the surgical bay, face slack, chest gently rising and falling.

Chakotay sat beside her, eyes lingering on her face. Spirits, how much he loved her! He should have told her. He shouldn't have danced around the issue all these years, hoping for something to happen. Kathryn may have rebuffed him, told him that nothing could happen, but he should have at least said something. To know for sure. She had feelings for him; just once, he wished he'd taken the chance on those feelings, crossed that final boundary they'd always placed between them.

Chakotay softly stroked her hand. It was colder than he liked, and Chakotay could not bring himself to imagine what it would like if it never got any warmer. If this wonderful woman left his life forever with these things unsaid between them.

He stood and leaned over her, breathing in her scent, willing her to open her eyes and smile at him. But she remained still. Too still. This wasn't his Kathryn; she didn't do lying around all day.

Chakotay stretched out his fingers and softly stroked her cheek, fighting the sobs growing in his throat and the wateriness of his eyes. Why had he let so much come between them? Why had he never been brave enough to talk to her openly about what he felt? He wanted to tell her everything now, how much he loved her, how much he loved Amelia, explain to her how guilty he had always felt about what happened at her birth and beg her to forgive him. He wouldn't even care now if she was angry at him; he just wanted her awake.

Slowly, he bent down and pressed his lips to hers for a brief moment. The Doctor was pottering around somewhere, but he didn't care.

"I love you, Kathryn," he whispered into his ear. "And no matter what happens, I'll take care of Amelia. The way I should have done from the beginning."

But this was no fairy tale, and the sleeping maiden did not awaken with a kiss. Chakotay resumed his position on the stool by her bed and continued cradling her hand in his. He'd stay with her until the very end. He didn't fight the tears any more.

The door to sickbay opened and Chakotay turned to see Tom entering, Amelia in his arms. She had her arms hooked around her father's neck and drew in a sharp breath when she saw Kathryn lying there.

Tom put her down and let her run to her mother. As he drew closer he nodded to Chakotay, looking away as he noticed the other man's tears. He shifted uncomfortably, sticking his hands into his pockets.

Amelia stood on tiptoes to look at her mother, wide eyes blinking slowly. The Doctor came out from his office when he heard the new arrivals. Tom noticed him.

"Don't get any ideas yet, Doc," he said quickly. "It's just a visit for now."

"I understand," The Doctor said, although he looked put out.

Amelia touched her mother's other hand. "Can't she wake up?"

"Not yet," The Doctor answered her, when neither Tom nor Chakotay seemed able. "The sleep helps her body stay strong."

"But it won't make her better?"

"No, I'm afraid not," The Doctor said, with a half glance at Tom, who looked determinedly at the wall.

Amelia moved up closer to her mother's head and reached up with her fingers to touch her hair. She drew back and looked at the Doctor.

"If she's asleep does she not know I'm here?"

"Perhaps she does," The Doctor said with a small smile. "I always think there's a possibility patients are aware of what's going on around them."

"Can I tell her a story?"

"Why not?" The Doctor said. "It might help her to hear something cheerful. She'll love the sound of your voice."

Amelia nodded, and immediately leaned in to whisper in her mother's ear. Chakotay decided to give her a moment of privacy and backed off to stand at the side with Tom. Neither man said it, but he knew they both thought they might be watching the last time the little girl would see her mother alive.

Tom's expression was strained, and Chakotay did not think he had gotten much sleep. As much as he wanted the cure for Kathryn, Chakotay could not blame him for his hesitance.

"I haven't decided yet," Tom said, eyes on Amelia. "If you wanted to know."

"I'm not going to push you, Tom," Chakotay said, despite his own fear for Kathryn.

"I know you won't, but I can see it in your face. You want me to say yes, but I just can't."

Chakotay did not deny it.

"I understand where you're coming from, Tom," Chakotay was able to say after a few moments. "I don't want Amelia in any danger either. But as much as I want you to say yes, I just keep thinking; what would Kathryn want?"

Tom nodded, then stared at the floor. "I thought about that too. She'd say no. She'd not want her daughter put at any risk."

"I thought the same," Chakotay admitted, fighting through the pain. "It might be hard for us, but that's the decision she would make. And if you make it too, I'll do my best to respect it." He turned to look at Tom, seeing the other man was also tearful. "No one should be put in the position of choosing to either save the life of their captain or their daughter."

Tom laughed hollowly. "It seems I always get the easy choices. Do I admit to that accident on Caldik Prime? Do I raise my ex-lizard baby with my captain? Do I give weapons to evil aliens to save Amelia? Do I save Janeway or risk Amelia's health?"

"Seems like you've got a lot of practice," Chakotay remarked with a small smile. "You'll make the right decision, Tom."

Tom nodded gratefully, and let out a long sigh, running his hand through his hair.

The next moment, the two of them were surprised by Amelia suddenly racing over towards them. She halted in front of the two men, looking up at them with a determined expression, sticking her chin into the air.

"I'm going to help Mommy," she announced proudly.

Tom groaned. "Amelia, it's risky for you, remember? You could be hurt."

Amelia shook her head. "If I can help Mommy, I want to."

She turned then to Chakotay. "I told Mommy that story you told us about the warrior," she said, eyes shining. "About the brave lady that the man wanted to help. I want to be brave like her and like Mommy. I want to be brave like Daddy too."

Tom rounded on Chakotay, indignant. "What story? Have you influenced her-"

"I want to help Mommy!" Amelia shouted, bringing their attention back to her. She glared fiercely at both of them, placing her hands on her hips in a very familiar gesture. "And I'm going to help Mommy."

They stared at her, stunned for a good few moments at the sudden look of resolution on her young face. For a four year old, she was doing a good impersonation of intimidation.

"Oh, she's definitely a Janeway," The Doctor muttered in the background. "Her mother beat the Borg with that scowl."

Tom looked from Amelia to Chakotay and then back again. His indecision began to waver. He crouched down and gestured for Amelia to come closer. He held her face in his hands for a moment and kissed her on the forehead.

"You're such a brave girl," he said, stroking her cheek. He sighed and looked up at the Doctor, mouth set in a grim line. "Let's do it."