Chapter 2: The Decision

Chakotay stood in the ready room staring out at the stars and thinking about Kathryn. He thought about the time they had spent together on the holodeck, the meals they had and the talks they had until all hours of the night. The door chimed startling him from his reverie.

"Come in," he said, still staring at the starscape outside the window and thinking about Kathryn.

"Commander, this is Ensign Hoshi Sato." Harry Kim announced. Chakotay finally turned and looked at Hoshi.

"You're dismissed ensign."

"Aye sir." With that Harry left the ready room leaving Chakotay and the ensign to talk.

"So you're from the past?"

"Yes, the 22nd century"

"Who was your captain?"

"Jonathan Archer."

"Was he a good captain?"

"Well yes, why?"

"Because if you're here there's a chance that the woman I love was placed in your timeframe."

"Woman you love? Sir I'm afraid you've lost me."

He walked over to the computer on the desk and pulled up Janeway's service record.

"Captain Kathryn Janeway the captain of this ship. I loved her very much. I was planning on asking her to marry me before she disappeared," he said before choking up.

"Sir are you all right?" Hoshi asked with concern.

"Yeah it's just that." he let his voice trail off.

"I understand." She said quietly.

"Do you?" he challenged.

"Have you ever lost the most important person in your life before?"

"Yes I have but I would rather not go into details right now."

"Sorry, but she meant everything to me. Wait a minute why am I telling you this?"

"Because I have experience and I can listen."

"It's just so difficult and I'm not even sure I lost her. She could be out the somewhere right now missing me the way that I'm missing her."

"Well why don't you try to find her before you start thinking she's lost?"

"Because I'm not sure if we can find her especially if she's in another time frame."

"How else will you know unless you try?"

"I guess you're right. What was you're specialty on your ship?"

"Communications."

"I'm not sure that'll help around here but we'll try. I owe you one, I don't usually give up this easily, but I've also lost my family to a Cardassian attack. Losing her has just broken me."

"That's what I'm here for. I think. Well, can I go now Harry has offered to take me on a tour of the ship and try and "update" me so I can actually do something around here so I won't be a burden."

"Go ahead and Hoshi?"

"Yes?"

"Thanks."

"Anytime sir."