Disclaimer: Star Trek and its world, characters and ideas all belong to Paramount. The story belongs to me.

Thanks to Cat C for her friendship and editing abilities.

1 Chapter 4

"Kathryn, we need to talk." He said.

"Don't you think we were talked about enough this morning?" she shot back at him.

He gave her a little smile. "Do you know what they were saying? I sat with them, and I don't think you have the right idea."

"I can imagine what they were saying, and that is bad enough." She said, angrily. "This situation is most unbecoming of a Captain!"

Chakotay grabbed her by the shoulders and looked straight into her blue- gray eyes. He almost got trapped in them, but managed to get out. "Kathryn, the crew is happy for us. They were all smiling for us, not at us. They were happy to find out that we were finally together," he said as he held her in place. "They have been comparing occasions that they have seen us together and had all thought long ago that we were having a secret relationship. It seems, we were the only people on the ship that didn't know!" he added with his dimpled smile.

She started, "Chakotay, you know as well as I that we can't…"

"Can't what, Kathryn? We are home now, back in the Alpha quadrant. We are not on the ship anymore, and you are no longer in charge. Who knows what is going to happen to us now? We will all probably be split up. I, for one, don't want to see that happen. Especially us, Kathryn, I want us to stay together. We're home now, we're free to have a relationship if we want."

She looked up at him, cautious but almost hopeful, then turned away from him. "But what about Seven?" she asked, accusingly.

"What about her?" he replied acidly. He grabbed her shoulders and turned her back toward him, turning her face with one hand, holding her shoulder with the other. "According to her, I was helping her improve her 'social interaction'. She really didn't want me, she wanted someone to 'practice' on." He let go of her, walked over to the couch and sat down. "She told me, after we entered the Alpha quadrant, that she now had another relationship to pursue, that of being a niece. She is excited about meeting her Aunt. She wants to dedicate her time getting to know her aunt and adapting to the Alpha quadrant, and to Earth. She is worried how the people of Earth are going to react to her," he added. "Also, she told me that she could not continue our relationship because it was evident to her that I was not free to pursue one. She said 'We can not continue this relationship further, it is obvious to me that I am not the woman you desire. I refuse to be the 'Next best thing'." He laughed. "I wonder what she meant?" he added with sparkling eyes.

Kathryn looked at him, studied his face. "The crew is happy for us? They thought we had a relationship already? I don't believe it. I think you are just saying this…" she said as her voice trailed off. She left her quarters and headed for the lounge.

In the hallway, a few of the junior and senior officers were gathered together, talking. They looked up at her with broad smiles. Chakotay followed her into the hallway, and when they noticed that he came out of the same door as she did, their grins grew even wider.

Not noticing their growing grins; she walked up to them with Chakotay close behind her. The group opened up to admit them. "So, how are you all adjusting to being home?" she asked them.

"We're doing well, Captain." "It's nice to be home, but I want to see my family." "When are they letting us out of here?" "We're great, but not as well as you!" were the replies. She thought the last comment was Tom, but wasn't sure. Tom and Harry were looking at each other, smiling. The others chuckled, and tried to keep a straight face at the same time.

Kathryn turned red and hid her face, feigning wiping a spot off of her uniform. She left the group, pretending to get something with which to wipe her uniform, grabbed a cup of coffee from the lounge, and walked back into her room.

Chakotay watched her leave and grinned at the group. "We'll let you all know what we find out about leaving here as soon as we know anything. Believe me, we want to get out of here as much as you do. What have you heard about our relationship?" he asked them.

More willing to share information with Chakotay than with the Captain, the officers opened up. "Well, Sir, we heard that the Captain was seen leaving your room early this morning, and you were calling her back. Neither of you was properly dressed. It appeared that the two of you were having a disagreement." The others who were in the group agreed on this.

Chakotay laughed. "Just to straighten you out, the Captain walked into the wrong room, and I was trying to stop her from leaving, I wanted to talk to her. She was embarrassed about the whole thing."

Someone cut to the quick… "So, Chakotay, is it true that you and the Captain are having a relationship?"

Chakotay shook his head in amusement. "Alright, I'm going to tell you all right now. There is nothing going on with the Captain and I." He said. "We have a professional relationship, as well as a good friendship. I have to admit, I'd like it to be more." he confessed. "But I'm respectful of her feelings. She is not ready. That, I'd like to keep between just us though." He smiled, "At least until she and I can talk about it again."

The group nodded, and Tom nudged Chakotay's arm. "Good luck, Chakotay, you two are meant to be together. I should know, people thought the same way about B'Elanna and me.

You can't escape the inevitable." He smiled. The other crewmembers also smiled, and patted him on the back as he left.

After Chakotay walked into the Captain's quarters, they started to make bets with Tom Paris running the whole thing. The bet was, of course, when the Captain and the Commander would actually get together… this bet had been on many times on Voyager, but it looked like it would be soon now.

Chakotay again headed back to the Captain's quarters. This time, he didn't have to use his override codes to get in. She opened the door.

"Well, what did they say. Did they laugh at me the minute I left?" she asked bitterly.

"As a matter of fact, Kathryn, They all wished us luck. They said we are meant to be together, and that we can't escape the inevitable." He said with a big smile. "It seems the crew only wants the best for us, and they think we are best together. You know that I agree with them, and have had the same thoughts ever since we first met."

Just then, there was a chirping from her communications system. Admiral Paris was on the viewscreen. Chakotay stayed out of view and sat on the couch; determined not to leave until they had finished their talk.

"Kathryn, I hope you and your crew are comfortable there." The Admiral said. "Starfleet Medical says that they only have a few more tests to run, and you all will be free to visit your families, as long as you stay on Earth. I am pleased to inform you that Starfleet Command has approved leave for you all to see your families as soon as Medical is done with you. Of course, your positions will all be monitored, just in case your … medical conditions change." Kathryn noted the hesitation in his careful phrasing.

"In other words, Admiral, you want to make sure none of us run away" she stated boldly. Her steel blue eyes were focused on his image.

"I wouldn't have said it so frankly, Kathryn, but yes. We want to keep close tabs on the Maquis and the Equinox crew. We aren't so heartless as to deny them seeing their families; they have already been separated for seven years. They can remain with their families until Starfleet calls them back. The evidence is being collected, and there is a lot of information to be sifted through… seven years worth. Tell your crew about the leave, after Medical is finished with them, but don't mention that we are going to be keeping an eye on them. They will probably figure that out anyway."

Kathryn smiled, "Yes, Admiral, I do have a smart crew, and they will be asking me about that. I won't lie to them, but I won't offer information unless it's asked for." She said. "I have not lied to my crew in seven years, and I don't intend to start now."

Admiral Paris shook his head, "That is what I have always admired about you, Kathryn, the dedication of you towards your crew, and vice versa. I just wanted to keep you informed. I have an appointment that I am late for, but I'll be contacting you again soon. Paris out." His face faded out until it was replaced with the Starfleet insignia.

"Well, we knew that was coming." Chakotay said, startling Kathryn. She had forgotten he was still in the room, and was staring at the insignia trying to figure out how to tell the crew without lying to them.

"Oh, my, you scared me Chakotay!" she laughed. "I thought you left." She grabbed another mug of coffee, and sat near him on the couch. "So, where will you go for your leave? Now that we are home, you're free to go anywhere on Earth." she asked him.

He looked down, "Yes, free for the time being. Free to go anywhere on Earth… I can't even go see my planet, my dead planet. Just another reminder to me why we were running in the first place." And he looked up at her with a sad look in his eyes. "Sorry, I don't mean to sound bitter, but I have no place to go. The Maquis were my family, and now they are all gone; dead or in hiding, but not to be found."

She placed her hand on his arm, and looked at him with sadness. "You could visit Indiana with me, Chakotay. I've offered it to you before, and you seemed to like the idea then. My mother and sister would love to meet you." She said excitedly.

He grinned, dimples in full force, eyes sparkling mischievously, "Kathryn, are you inviting me to meet your family?"

More to come… Please review? (