Author's note: Ah, the long awaited POV of the Kathryn Janeway; this is kind of just to clarify what exactly is going on… She's still part of the crew, don't worry she only gets one chapter. But I just love Kathryn! So I may give her more chapters… I don't know… Hey everyone thanks so much for the reviews, when I posted this I never thought anyone would actually read it… So I think the game plan for the story goes something like this: (these are the chapters, by POV), Kathryn, Chakotay, Harry, Kes, and B'Elanna and finally Tom. Thanks for hanging in there with this sucker… it's long I know. If you have any brain cells left after reading this, check out my other stuff… Thanks for all the encouragement. "Onward!" said Ensign Tea Earl Grey, hotly. Sorry for that. Alright here goes!
Everyone had been really irritated lately, on edge and aggravated. She wondered if the journey had finally gotten to them. After all it had been a good eight months out in space, eight months when they were supposed to be home in three weeks. Eight months into their journey of seventy- five years. Eight months with the same people, half of which hated each other. She rubbed her temples, and rolled her eyes. It had been tough these last few days, especially between her and Torres, and Chakotay, and Tom. It was just a royal mess. One that needed fixing, but she just didn't know how.
It had been three days since Chakotay had returned to his body. And as she stood over him, watching him awaken, she had seen Torres out of the corner of her eye. B'Elanna had glared at her, looking as if she was about to kill her, B'Elanna's eyes boring into her back, like a knife. She could not stop the smile that formed on her lips when she welcomed Chakotay back to the world of the living. He was so handsome and caring, but he was her first officer. The harder she tried to resist him, the closer she found herself sitting next to him, the more she found her hand on his arm or chest.
It had been Torres who had set her of though. The day that Chakotay had returned to duty, Torres had come into her ready room and started to discuss the warp core. But Kathryn could tell that there was something else on her mind. But when she asked, Kathryn got a response she was in no way expecting. "I'll tell you what's the matter ma'am" Torres began, emphasizing the Captain's title. "You could never understand how important Chakotay is to me! I have always loved him, but each time he gets close to me, someone else drives me from him. First it was Seska, and now you. Don't think that I don't notice the way you look at him, the way his eyes sparkle when he looks back at you! You cannot have Chakotay, protocol forbids it, and you'll only hurt him." As she paused, Kathryn tried to interject, but Torres continued. Kathryn could have removed her from the ready room, but she was too shocked and interested in what the Lieutenant had to say. "Further more, Captain, you are leading us on a damned fool's mission. We'll never get home. You are just robbing us of life. Not a day goes by when I don't think of finding a home in the Delta Quadrant, so I can settle down with Chakotay…" Something inside Kathryn snapped, and she found herself up out of her chair and yelling at B'Elanna, barley able to see through the tears that clouded in her eyes.
Chakotay entered the room, whether he heard something or not, she didn't know, but B'Elanna and she stopped yelling as he entered the room. Tears obviously stained the Kathryn's face, and Torres was flushed a deep crimson. As he looked from her to Torres, and back to her, their eyes locked. She looked at him, pleading with him to stop the fight, to end the agony of their journey. As he remained unmoving, eyes locked with her, she heard Torres's distant voice. "Just go to her! Comfort her! Leave me always like you always have!" As the ready room doors shut, Chakotay moved toward her and hesitantly placed his arm around Kathryn's shoulder.
And so, they had begun talking, and discovered that they had quite a lot in common and quite a lot to discuss about the crew and B'Elanna. They spent breakfast and dinner together, and Kathryn found herself content, relaxed and calm in his presence. She began to wonder just how much she missed Mark, and if she was really in love with Chakotay. The notion was absurd, but she couldn't help but wonder.