The next morning Kathryn arrived early for her duty shift, not wanting to run into Chakotay. The dark circles under her eyes were proof that she had not yet come to a decision. As she tried to concentrate on the report she was reading, her mind kept wandering. How can I deny Chakotay the child that he has always wanted? But how can I as captain carry this child to term? There are too many demands on me. What if we were to get involved in an unexpected battle? What if I am hurt? Kathryn shook her head and tried to focus again on the report. Protocols...regulations. She threw the report on the desk. She was getting no where. Walking over to the viewport, she stared out, watching the stars go by. Tears began to form and she cursed inwardly. She did not want to fall apart again...not now. This is not the time or place to have a child. It just won't work! Kathryn sighed heavily. Maybe the decision was now made for her.
An hour later Chakotay arrived for his shift and not suprising Kathryn wasn't on the bridge. He wondered if he should even go to her ready room, or leave her alone. Despite his better judgement he walked over to the ready room doors and waited to be let in.
She heard the first chime, but said nothing. She knew who it was. The second chime sounded and she gave in, "Come."
"Good morning Commander. What can I do for you?" Chakotay walked up to her desk and noticed the dark circles evident under her eyes. "I just wanted to check to see how you were doing."
"As you can see I am doing quite well and if there isn't anything else, I really must get back to all these reports that need my attention," Kathryn said, hoping he would take the hint and leave.
"Of course Captain. I'll be on the bridge." Chakotay wanted to say more, but didn't feel as if it was the right time. He walked back to the bridge, taking his place in his chair. Hours passed and Kathryn remained in her ready room. He didn't see her emerge until the end of her shift, when she seemed to go quickly to the turbolift. Chakotay sprang from his chair and made his way for the turbolift as well. Making it just in time, he could feel the tension in the air as soon as he entered.
Kathryn quietly wished the turbolift would go faster so she could get to her quarters. No one spoke a word and when the doors opened, Kathryn quickly tried to exit. Chakotay followed behind and grabbed a hold of her arm. Kathryn turned around with anger in her eyes.
"Let go of me," she spat.
"Kathryn, I think we need to talk, now!"
"Fine!" Not wanting to create a scene, Chakotay let go of Kathryn's arm and they walked to her quarters. He knew once inside he would face her wrath, but once and for all he was determined to talk about what was going on between them.
An hour later Chakotay arrived for his shift and not suprising Kathryn wasn't on the bridge. He wondered if he should even go to her ready room, or leave her alone. Despite his better judgement he walked over to the ready room doors and waited to be let in.
She heard the first chime, but said nothing. She knew who it was. The second chime sounded and she gave in, "Come."
"Good morning Commander. What can I do for you?" Chakotay walked up to her desk and noticed the dark circles evident under her eyes. "I just wanted to check to see how you were doing."
"As you can see I am doing quite well and if there isn't anything else, I really must get back to all these reports that need my attention," Kathryn said, hoping he would take the hint and leave.
"Of course Captain. I'll be on the bridge." Chakotay wanted to say more, but didn't feel as if it was the right time. He walked back to the bridge, taking his place in his chair. Hours passed and Kathryn remained in her ready room. He didn't see her emerge until the end of her shift, when she seemed to go quickly to the turbolift. Chakotay sprang from his chair and made his way for the turbolift as well. Making it just in time, he could feel the tension in the air as soon as he entered.
Kathryn quietly wished the turbolift would go faster so she could get to her quarters. No one spoke a word and when the doors opened, Kathryn quickly tried to exit. Chakotay followed behind and grabbed a hold of her arm. Kathryn turned around with anger in her eyes.
"Let go of me," she spat.
"Kathryn, I think we need to talk, now!"
"Fine!" Not wanting to create a scene, Chakotay let go of Kathryn's arm and they walked to her quarters. He knew once inside he would face her wrath, but once and for all he was determined to talk about what was going on between them.