Author's note: Thanks for the reviews, again this was just one of those stories that I wasn't to crazy about, but all you v. nice reviewers kept me going!
She knew his touch, and the soft whisper of his voice, she knew the man who stood behind her. And yet, she feared to turn around, feared that this was just a daydream, and if she turned around he would vanish. But as his hand tightened around her shoulder, she did turn to see him, tears streaming down her cheeks. "Chakotay…" she could barley hear herself above the beating of her heart. As he pulled her into a quick hug, she felt herself gasping for breath at the slightest touch of his body to hers. Why had she never felt this way on Voyager? As she looked into his eyes, not listening to what he was saying she realized, she had. She always had been in love with him… but now, now there was no reason to hide her feelings. She finally could let her barriers crumble, until she saw Seven.
He knew she wasn't listening to him, but he didn't care. He finally held the woman he had always loved. She had broken his heart every time she said the word protocol, but now he was no longer bound to Starfleet. As he followed her eyes to see what she was looking at, he noticed that Seven was walking toward him. Maybe he still was bound to Starfleet, more than he cared to admit.
As they parted ways, all of them she waved a small wave at Mark. She knew that she would never see him again. They had really grown apart, and her heart and mind belonged to another. Always to another. Chakotay had walked away with Seven she watched him look back, and she knew that she had been too late, he was bound to Seven and she had lost him. "Goodbye my love…" she whispered into the wind.
The Next Day:
She stood in front of Voyager, as it sat placidly on the lawn of Starfleet Headquarters. She moved toward her ship, and in a most tender way, she brushed her hand across the cold metal, covered with morning dew. In her other hand she held a cup of coffee, and as she walked away from her ship, she heard a noise, a voice… one she thought she would never hear again.
"I'd thought I just might find you here"
Chakotay! It was not real… he had been with Seven, they had been together…
Struggling to find her voice she replied. "Is there something you wanted?" She could not let her emotions betray her. No. She had to stay strong. But as he took her free hand in his, she felt her defenses crumble. "Kathryn…" his voice was tender and soothing, as he placed his arm around hers. She tried to force herself to turn away, but she could not. As he lifted her chin and looked into her eyes, he whispered. "Never say goodbye Kathryn, never."
What's going to happen next? Stay tuned to find out!