I'll Never Forget III

The Captain hadn't come out of her ready room for days, Tuvok had the bridge and when she did come out it was only for a status report. Chakotay came onto the bridge every hour or so. But if she was there he immediately went back to his quarters and stayed until he knew she was gone.
"Neelix, is the party ready so far?" B'Elanna asked when she again went into the Mess Hall.
"I just need 1 more day B'Elanna. Then I'll be set."
"Good, that gives us all an extra day for rest before we have the talent night, you have the acts ready too?"
"Of course, even Naomi is going to sing a song from the late 21 early 22 century just for the Commander."
"That'll be cute to watch." B'Elanna said as she giggled.
"Um, B'Elanna, I was wondering, if you can get the Captain to perform then we can get Chakotay to stay for sure."
"I've talked about that to her. She declined but says she has something else in mind."
"What is that?"
"I'm not sure exactly, she just said She knows it'll get him to stay."
"I hope so."
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In her ready room the Captain was reading over some reports. She wanted to make sure that she had everything done before Chakotay had to leave. She wanted, needed to be there to talk to him. She wouldn't be able to live knowing that the last thing she did to Chakotay was hurt him. That was the last thing she wanted.
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In his quarters Chakotay was thinking of his going away party. He knew it wasn't a good idea to leave. But what other options were there? To stay and live with what Kathryn had said to him. Knowing that there was nothing to look forward to if he continued his journey home.
The next day he saw Kathryn and B'Elanna talking in a corner of the Mess Hall. He turned around before he thought they saw him but heard B'Elanna shout his name. He flinched knowing he'd have to go sit down with them.
"Don't stay like that, come over here!" B'Elanna shouted at his back knowing she'd rather have to forget about him going there, or going to get him herself. Luckily, he came over. Although he stared at his shoes, he came.
"Finally, so, are you coming to your party?" B'Elanna asked. When she got no response, she glanced at Chakotay the Captain. They were both fidgeting where they were.
"Hey," she hit him lightly on the shoulder, "look at me when I'm talking to you."
"Maybe," he said slowly, "I'm not sure yet."
Kathryn looked up quickly but when she noticed Chakotay looking at her she rapidly looked down at the table again.
B'Elanna sighed. She was praying that this would work. The talent night was tomorrow, and that was her last hope; Everyone's last hope.
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In her quarters, Kathryn was reading over some 'lyrics' on a PADD. She was preparing for her plan to make Chakotay stay on board until they reach the Alpha Quadrant. She had to.
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'I can't stay. It just wouldn't be right.' Chakotay thought to himself. 'Then why am I second-guessing meyself?!" He got up and started to pace around the room. There was no way he could go through with this. It was now or never...
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Kathryn had just finished her 'plan' and was waiting for the next day. Before he left. She couldn't let him go that easily. Never. She couldn't sleep; knowing B'Elanna was working the night shift today she called for a little favor.
"Janeway to B'Elanna"
"Yes Captain?"
"What time is Chakotay shuttle supposed to be leaving tomorrow?"
"1900 hours Captain, is there something you need?"
"Just one thing, when is the talent night starting?"
"1600. Is that a problem Captain?"
"Not at all. B'Elanna, in a few minutes I will be transferring you an encrypted file. I want you to transfer it to the shuttle Chakotay is taking. Prepare the message to turn on 15 minutes before take off, 1845."
"Yes ma'am. I'll be waiting for the file in my office."
"Thank you B'Elanna."
=^= *************** =^=
Chakotay knew it wasn't right. Not to leave them like this. But he had to before things got too hard. He saw it coming that he'd be forced to stay if he saw all the performances just for him. He had to leave. Now.
=^= *************** =^=
"Captain, I've sent the message to the shuttle. Everything is set."
"Thanks again B'Elanna. I hope this works."
"We all do Captain...We all do..." Her voice trailed off then the link was closed.
Kathryn just sat there and cried. There was nothing left to do. If this didn't work then, she'd not only be a Captain without a first officer, unless you count the Vulcan, but a lonely woman with no one to hold out for. No one to hope for. No she's waiting to hold at night.
Chakotay was in his quarters packing only things that he needed dearly to him. He took clothes, carvings, and of course his dream catcher. But when he got to pictures he froze. He never liked Paris, but he put the one of Tom and him fishing on the holodeck. B'Elanna he has known for a long time so of course he took a holopicture of her. Harry and Seven, well Seven didn't look too happy, but Harry was glowing when he was in a couple solo picture with Seven so that went in too. Then he saw one of him and Kathryn. It was one from a party at Sandrine's. It was just a typical game tournament but it was when Kathryn had a little too much to drink. He giggled at the memory. She laughed at anything he said but tried to hold her dignity. It was from a group picture the Doc. had taken, but he had cropped out her and him. He couldn't take it, yet he couldn't leave it behind. That he was going to take. No matter what he couldn't stand a day with out seeing her face. But still--
No more memories he couldn't take it. He was getting out of Voyager and then. He had all over-ride command codes so it would be easy to get out undetected. From his computer in his quarters, he transported the equipment he needed to the shuttle. This was an extremely large shuttle a second flyer Tom had built so he had room for just about everything. Then he headed with 2 bags towards the transporter room. He couldn't bear it anymore. As he walked by Kathryn's quarters he felt a tear trickle down his cheek.
He knew it would take him a day or so to get to the planet. But it would be worth it.
"Computer, set to transport Commander Chakotay's COMM. badge throughout carious parts of the ship every half-hour starting 0700."
The computer bleeped in return. He didn't want any one to know he was gone from the computer either.
=^= *************** =^=
Kathryn strode onto the bridge at 0800 and looked around the bridge for Chakotay, 'Of course, she thought, he's away in his quarters or his office again.' So she thought nothing more of it. She thought he'd come when he's ready. And she'd be there waiting. She actually stayed on the bridge that morning, waiting for him, waiting and waiting. By 1000 she was starting to wonder about him but didn't want to risk upsetting him anymore. Lunch came and went and every time she located Chakotay he was moving about. So she had no need to worry.
It was now 1600 and everyone had piled into the holodeck and awaited things to begin. No one noticed Chakotay wasn't there since everyone kept moving about every other minute, so no one noticed he was gone. And the shows went on.
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In the shuttlecraft, Chakotay thought about what he was doing, making sure it was right. 'No go back, you need them. You need HER!' he decided he had done enough thinking for the time being. He just kept his eyes out of space.
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"OK folks," Neelix introduced, " we only have 20 minutes left and the Commander has to leave in five so here's The Senior Staff to say a few words..." The senior staff stood by turn. Except Harry, he was on the bridge until he was called.
Tom stood up to the 'mic' and started to speak as everyone hushed.
"Everyone on board here knows that Chakotay and I haven't really gotten along that well, but there are sometimes that you have to stop joking. I realize that there is no reason for Chakotay to believe me now, since everything I've done to him. But I am wishing the best for him." He chuckled slightly, "You know, one time...I pulled at least 4 pranks on him one day, and the only thing I could say then was, 'What are you going to do? Live out here in space? You're stuck with me until we get back.' And I guess...the jokes on me..." the rest of the crew gave speeches and then it was the Captain's turn.
"Chakotay...I'm sorry. This is my fault and I deserve it, but..." Harry almost literally screaming over the COMM. cut Her voice.
"Captain! Chakotay's gone."
"What do you mean gone Ensign?"
"He's off the ship. He's no longer on Voyager." Harry's voice sounded like he was in a hurry too get everything out of his mouth at once but still could not speak fast enough.
Everyone in the holodeck started to search for Chakotay frantically. And many people started to call the computer for his position. Until Kathryn yelled out above everyone,
"Hold on!" Everyone's voices hushed immediately. "Now, let's figure out what's happened..." They went though talking when and where they saw him last until B'Elanna ran up to the Captain.
"Kathryn, it's 1645."
=^= *************** =^=
In the shuttle, the view screen flickered on at that exact moment. And what Chakotay saw was the most beautiful woman ever. It was Kathryn. She was wearing a black sleeveless dress that went slightly above her knee. He started to open his mouth to talk. But was cut off by Kathryn's voice.
"Chakotay, you know I'm sorry...I was just mad and I never meant what I said and you know that." Her voice was soft and she was almost in tears. "If you are getting this then it's almost time for you to leave Voyager." He then knew that this was a set recording made to go off before he could get off the ship.
=^= *************** =^=
"OK, OK, people, now we know that Chakotay has been off the ship for at least 2 days. He could and probably is nearest that planet now. So where do we go from here?"
"Let's go at high warp and follow him!" A crewman yelled from beyond the crowd. And many cheers were given at the suggestion.
"Change course and cut him off before he reaches the planet!" Yelled someone else.
"Let's go back." Kathryn said, not it a yell but loud enough for everyone to hear.
"What?"
"What do you mean?" Everyone started to shout from that moment until the Captain left. As she was walking down the halls, she tapped her COMM. badge and hailed Harry who was on the Bridge at that time.
"Harry, listen to me and don't question what I am saying. Go back to our previous position when Commander Chakotay was last on the ship. Is that understood?"
=^= *************** =^=
"Please Chakotay, just come back to me. Not for the crew, not for the command structure but me. I am waiting for you." The rest of the message was Kathryn singing with many holo- images of Chakotay and her floating by the screen. It almost brought tears to his eyes.
" I'll never forget the way you seemed to know when I was thinking of you
I'll never forget the way you laughed when you first saw me throw a ball
And I'll never forget the way your friends would smile when I would come around.
And I'll never forget the ice cream cones and late nights on the telephone.

"I'll never forget you
I don't forget my friends
I may forget to write you
But we were so much more then friends.

"I look at your picture all the time and say the words you said to me
I think about all the places we left both our engraved in wood
I think about all the things we did, legally or otherwise
I can mention a few more things we did but I don't want to make your parents cry

"I'll never forget you
I don't forget my friends
I may forget to write you
But we were so much more then friends.

"I'll never forget you
I don't forget my friends
I may forget to write you
But we were so much more then friends."
Kathryn was now just watching Chakotay, knowing that when he saw the message he would be staring straight at the screen. Chakotay was. He couldn't do anything else."
'Why do you want me back after everything you said?'
"Because I love you." Kathryn said back. Chakotay was astonished that she knew what he was thinking.
"Chakotay I do love you so come back to me. Come back to your home on Voyager. Please."
The screen chirped off and Chakotay was left with only his thoughts. Wondering if he really should go back to Voyager, or to go 'Home.'...
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