Disclaimer: I still don't own Star Trek Voyager or the characters, Paramount does, I'm just going to borrow them for a while, but I give them back, I promise. Live long and prosper. -Linwe
About an hour later, they were sailing upstream against the current in their homemade canoe. Chakotay had no trouble, because he had ridden canoes as a boy, but Kathryn was another story. Luckily it wasn't a seasickness issue, but she had no idea how easily canoes could flip.
They had put their supplies and belongings on one side, and they sat together on the other, to balance the weight. Kathryn had almost tipped the canoe twice from leaning over the edge to look at the water. Chakotay had on both occasions, grabbed her before she could fall in and steadied the canoe. Although unlike most canoes, Chakotay had installed a propeller so his arms wouldn't get fatigued from rowing.
They now sat with Kathryn in front and Chakotay behind her. After her two almost-tipping-the-canoe slip-ups, Kathryn was trying extremely hard not to move at all.
"Kathryn, you can relax a little. If you move a little bit the canoe won't flip over. Only if you lean over the side. "Chakotay said almost laughing at his friend's effort to remain completely still.
"Are you sure? I don't want to risk all our things falling into the water." She said.
"Kathryn, you're fine."
"No, I'm not."
"Are you scared now?"
"Of course not." Chakotay knew she was, though.
"If it makes you feel any better, Kathryn, I could hold you in place so you don't strain something from trying so hard not to move." This gained him a "very funny" look from Kathryn.
"I'm not going to strain something, Commander, but if you really want to… it would make me feel a bit more secure in this thing. You seem to have control of it, but you never know when we could hit a rock and tip…"
"Kathryn, it's fine. I made this thing very sturdy."
"Alright." She carefully moved backward in between his legs. He wrapped his arms securely around her waist, holding her in place.
"Better?" he asked, staring down at her auburn head.
"Mmhmm." She said, and he could tell she was embarrassed.
"It's OK if you're scared, Kathryn, the river is over ten feet deep." He said.
"I'm not scared." She replied stubbornly.
"Then why are you shaking?" his deep voice whispered in her ear. He could feel a shiver run down her spine and smiled to himself.
"I'm just a little scared of tipping over, that's all." She snapped.
"Alright, alright."
They went upstream for about ten more minutes, when the water's rushing sound became louder, and the current, fiercer. The forest was now on their right and a cliff wall on their left.
"There, Chakotay!" Kathryn accidentally rocked the canoe with her sudden movement, but drew back, cowering, against Chakotay. "Sorry," she said in a small voice.
"It's fine, I got it." He said steadying the boat.
"There's a nice lagoon over there with a waterfall, and a nice shelf of grassy land to set up camp.
"I see where we can land. It's a good spot to set up camp, private and peaceful looking, don't you think?" she nodded.
He steered the canoe toward the grassy valley on the edge of the water, under the 50-foot cliff wall, and it's lagoon. It was a good spot. The lagoon had the waterfall with a small pool that led to the main river. With the sun low in the sky, casting its orange and pink rays upon the glassy surface of the lagoon, it looked like paradise. The grass was also spotted with multicolored wild flowers and a few trees.
When they reached the land, he and Kathryn unloaded their belongings and supplies. They set up their fold up tent and built a place for a campfire. The sun was now very low in the sky and it would soon be dark. Kathryn put their things in their tent while Chakotay gathered firewood from the few trees. Kathryn was again reminded when she was a girl and how much she hated camping. Chakotay was reminded of when he was a boy and had to practice survival skills with his father. However, their somewhat unpleasant memories did not put a damper on their spirits this night, and they both merrily completed their chores.
When Kathryn went outside, she set up lanterns and a table for dinner. They'd be cooking over an open fire tonight, no replicators. So about an hour or so later, they were sitting around the campfire eating roasted marshmallows after their dinner. They sat like that for a while, talking and laughing around the campfire on the green grass. The embers were dying as time passed, but it was a warm summer night, so it didn't matter.
"Chakotay?"
"Yes, Kathryn?"
"Do you want to go back to Voyager?" This was a question he had been waiting for.
"Yes… and no." he answered.
"Same here." She sighed. "I really started to like being here… with you."
"I definitely liked it here, too. But… Voyager needs us. And I'm looking forward to seeing everyone again." Chakotay said.
"Yeah, me too. I just…I accepted that we'd stay here for the rest of our lives. I mean, six months is a long time, Chakotay." She paused and then looked at the ground. "But… I'm sure we'll adjust."
"It won't be the same, though."
"What won't?"
"On Voyager. I don't know if I'm ready for you to be just 'Captain Janeway' again. I'll miss Kathryn, the woman I got to know for six months." Chakotay said, sincerely.
"Chakotay," she half whispered, tears shining in her blue eyes. She took his hand and looked in to his eyes. "I'll never be just 'Captain' again. And you'll never be just 'Commander' again. I want you to know that you're my best friend, Chakotay. If things went back to the way they were before we lived here together… I don't think I could stand it." She said, tears flowing as fast as the river.
"Kathryn, don't cry." Chakotay said softly as he moved toward her and embraced her tightly against him. He'd never seen her like this, she was usually an extremely private person. He was glad she had opened up to him. "You're my best friend, too, Kathryn. It's ok, I'll always be here for you, no matter what. And I want you to know that I wouldn't be able to stand it either, if things went back to the way they were."
"Thank you, Chakotay."
"Your welcome, Kathryn." He gently caressed her back comfortingly, and kissed the top of her head, tenderly.
They sat on the grass, under the stars, embracing for several minutes in silence, until Kathryn broke it suddenly.
"I'm sorry, Chakotay."
"What for?"
"For breaking down all of a sudden. It's just really hard when all of a sudden your starship contacts you after six months to rescue you and you're expected to become a whole different person. A captain has to maintain a certain distance from her crew… to be aloof… but it's just so hard to be that person, it's… lonely."
"I understand. And, Kathryn, I'll always be there for you, like I promised, so if you ever feel lonely, I'll be right there y your side."
"Thank you, Chakotay."
"Your welcome."
They finally pulled back.
"Chakotay, this is our last night without uniforms, protocol, hostile aliens, and Tuvok's sense of humor. I say we have some fun." Kathryn said, drying her tears.
"What did you have in mind?"
"How about we go for a swim in the pool under the waterfall?" Kathryn suggested.
"Sure," Chakotay said. "Sounds like fun."