I'll Never Forget IV
Hours went by with no word from Chakotay. No one was even really sure if he was coming back. Only Kathryn knew; he was bound to come back. No one spoke on the bridge. It was dead silence except for the buttons and controls being pushed. Even Tom learned that now was not a time to be making wisecracks about anything.
Kathryn was in her ready room reading over reports. She was just trying to keep her mind from wandering. If she stopped then she knew what, more like who, she'd start to think about. ' Chakotay you're so stubborn. Why won't you listen to me? I'm sure that you hear me speak to you but just listen. I never meant what I said. I just couldn't-' Luckily her thoughts were cut off by B'Elanna ringing the chime to the door.
"Come." Kathryn said flatly.
"Captain, I was just wondering, how long are we going to be sitting out here? I want Chakotay back to but-"
"B'Elanna, listen to me, if I know Chakotay, which I do, then he will be back as soon as he can."
"OK, but just in case, would you like to come with me to his quarters to see if there is any clue that he left behind?"
"Yes," she took a second to catch her breath, "I would like that."
They both walked out of the ready room, past the bridge and to the turbo lift. Before they knew it they were standing outside of commander Chakotay's door.
"Ready?" Kathryn asked and without waiting for a response, she put in the override code and they walked into the silent dark quarters.
"Computer lights." The lights went on to almost full illumination so the contents of the room could now be seen.
"Why don't I start in the main room and you start in the bedroom?" B'Elanna suggested already literally pushing Kathryn into Chakotay's bedroom.
B'Elanna didn't find much in the main room, only about half a dozen cups that obviously that held tea. Besides that she found two reports he was reading, one book form the late 20th century that Tom obviously let him borrow. And one personal log. One that helped her figure things out a lot. One part of the entry went like this:
'I should have seen from the beginning. There was no way this would have worked. Sure B'Elanna and the other Maquis would be granted freedom, but being the leader is just...And I knew she never accepted me. Not to her crew. Not to her life into the Delta Quadrant. Same with her heart. This is probably going to be my last entry. So this is it. I'm off to my new home...
B'Elanna stopped reading and suddenly knew why he was leaving. Not only because of the fight. He was just over all depressed that he couldn't have her. 'Well if he tried a little harder,' she chuckled to herself. Then she heard Kathryn softly crying. She stood up, put down the PADD and started for the bedroom.
What she saw was just sad. Over the bed were frames. There were no pictures in them just frames, obviously Chakotay had taken the pictures out with him to the planet. But she saw Kathryn holding a picture of both of them; it was still there in the frame, on the shelf.
"Not only didn't he want to see me again; he didn't even want to see my picture again." She said almost inaudible.
"Kathryn no, you're thinking the wrong way. He probably just couldn't go through with having to see you again and never being able to see YOU again."
=^=***************=^=
On the bridge Harry mad ea great discovery, but didn't want to tell anyone just yet. He had located Chakotay's shuttle and it was on an intercept course! He sent Tom a message straight to the CONN and told him to keep quiet about it, but saw Tom turn around and grin.
=^=***************=^=
"B'Elanna, I know you're trying to help, but can I just be alone for the night." Kathryn had just finished crying and was now able to speak regularly again.
"Sure, you need me to take you to your quarters?"
"No, I'll be fine;" she lowered her voice so B'Elanna could barely hear her, "here."
"OK well; call me if you need anything." Kathryn nodded and watched her go. B'Elanna stood out in the corridor for a minute and took a deep breath and almost literally ran to engineering. From there she alerted Tom that Kathryn was going to sleep in Chakotay's bed for the night and if she called him, tell him there was no sign on the Commander, no matter what.
"What if he does come and wants to talk to her?" He wrote back.
"Don't worry; send him to engineering to me. Torres out." This was perfect...
Of course, Tom told Harry, so when he took over the early shift he would know what to say.
=^=***************=^=
Kathryn slept through the night peacefully, somewhat, in Chakotay's bed. 'God it even has his scent.' She smiled as the thought came to her. And again, she drifted off to sleep.
Tom was now off duty and went straight to engineering to talk to B'Elanna.
"What's up? Anything else I should know about?"
"NO, not yet."
"Yet?"
"Yes, yet.
Come on! What are you going to do?"
"Not yet."
When morning came, Chakotay shuttle was nearly half an hour away and Kathryn still had no clue.
"Captain to the bridge."
"Harry here Captain."
"Is Chakotay's shuttle within 3 hours range yet?" Harry turned to Tom; he shook his head frantically.
"Not yet Captain, I suggest we wait another hour or so."
"Agreed, call me at the first sign. I'll be in my quarters."
'Dam,' Tom thought, ' know what's B'Elanna going to do?'
Kathryn stood out of bed real quick ran across the corridor and to her own quarters. Of course she wasn't going to stay there. She put her COMM. badge on the bed and swiftly went back to Chakotay's quarters. Everything was still set for B'Elanna.
Kathryn went back and sat down once again on Chakotay's bed. She just sat there thinking for a few minutes before falling asleep embracing his pillow.
"Computer, locate Kathryn Janeway's DNA on Voyager. Where is it located?" B'Elanna asked.
"Her DNA signs are in Chakotay's quarters."
"Perfect."
=^=***************=^=

"Harry, Chakotay's hailing." Tom looked somewhat frightened.
"Go ahead."
"Harry, where's the Captain?"
"Excuse me, I am in charge of the bridge right now sir and you will address me." Harry was trying not to laugh with all his might, and if was sort of working.
"Oh, I'm so sorry. Sir, are you the leader of this vessel?"
"The Captain is on leave right now what can I help you with?"
"I request permission to dock, have my quarter's back, and once again, out-rank you." Chakotay said smiling.
"Would I be able to talk to you like this on off-hours?" He replied with a smirk and a raised 'Tuvok' eyebrow.
"Uh---."
"You're clear to dock in shuttle bay 1 Commander, welcome back."
=^=***************=^=
Chakotay strutted onto the bridge noticing still, Kathryn was gone. A piece of his smile left, but he was still glad to be back.
After he said all of his hellos, Tom directed him straight towards Engineering.
"Why are you smiling?" Chakotay asked suspiciously.
"Just glad to have you back commander...Just glad to have you back."
"Chakotay!" B'Elanna yelled when she saw him. "You're back."
"Of course I am." He said in a smart alecked voice.
"Let's go back to you quarters to talk shall we?" She said also with a grin.
"What is up with you?"
"Nothing, I can be happy to have 'My' former captain and now commander and friend back aboard safely?"
"Well, that one time..."
"Anyways!" They continued their journey down the hall until they were at his door.
"Oops! I'm due in the Mess Hall, be with you in a minute!"
'Uh-oh" He said to himself aloud. His first thoughts were 1. His stuff was gone. 2.they trashed his stuff or 3. They used his room as a spare storage room.
He walked in saw his stuff was the way he left it, it was somewhat clean, and there was on extra storage.
"Good." He said to himself. What he saw next surprised him. He saw Kathryn curled up on HIS bed hugging HIS pillow...In HIS bed! he was just so. So. He couldn't even think straight. Then she started to stir.
He paused not knowing what to do or say when she awoke. He decided to sit down next to her on the bed and just explain things how they happened.
"Chakotay?" She said in a groggy voice.
"I'm back," he said in a soft voice.
She then shot straight up out of his bed and just looked around. Trying to remember what happened. When it came back and she looked at Chakotay he was just sitting there dumb-stricken.
"Commander! I'm sorry I was just, then I just." She couldn't think of words. She didn't have to because then Chakotay pulled her into his embrace and kissed her one sweet passionate kiss. Neither of them wanted to break it, but when they both slowed down Chakotay pulled back.
"Hi."
"Welcome back..." Kathryn was able to muster up. "I'm never going to let you leave me again you know that don't you?"
"I'd never dream of it." Chakotay lay back with her onto the bed and they started to learn the meaning of love, and passionate. Kathryn broke the kiss.
"Computer lights out." And they both sunk into each other's embraced. Never going to let the other get away.

Finish Series *g*