The following day Kathryn gathered together the rest of her things to take down to the planet. She contacted Tuvok, instead of Chakotay, to let him know that she was about to beam down. Making her way through the halls of Voyager to the transporter room she hoped that she would be able to come to a decision while on the planet. Entering the transporter room, she gave the coordinates to the Ensign on duty and was beamed down.
Kathryn found the planet and cabin to be more than she expected. The Prime Minister had assured her the location would be very secluded and he was right. The cabin had two adjoining bedrooms, a bathroom, kitchen, and a large living room with what looked to be something of a fireplace. The Prime Minister had mentioned that the nights tend to get a bit cool on occasion. A small stream flowed outside the cabin. Kathryn decided to put her things in one of the rooms and take a walk along the stream. The Prime Minister had also informed her that she would be a great distance from the city and so there was no chance that she could be disturbed. Once outdoors, she found the atmosphere quite calming and also reminiscent of New Earth. Along her walk she found a nice, comfortable spot under a tree and took a seat. Pulling her legs closer to her, Kathryn began to remember all the good times she and Chakotay had shared on the planet. Especially when she finally admitted to Chakotay that she loved him. Why did that decision seem to be so easy to make? Maybe, it was believing that they would never be on Voyager again. There weren't any protocols or regulations. But what about now? She leaned back against the tree and sighed heavily. Even more, Kathryn hated the way she had treated Chakotay when they returned to Voyager, before finding out that she was pregnant. She wished her decision now was as easy as her decision on New Earth. Realizing she was starting to get hungry, Kathryn made her way back to the cabin.
By the time she reached the cabin, Kathryn was not only hungry, but also exhausted. She was beginning to realize how much physically this was taking out of her. Kathryn had packed some sandwiches and other food items before leaving the ship and decided to find something to eat. After starting a fire, she pulled a sandwich from her bag and took a seat in the living room. She watched the flames dance hypnotically in the fireplace and before long found herself trying to stay awake. Promising herself that tomorrow she would come to a decision, Kathryn headed off for bed. She was asleep in minutes.
Morning came before Kathryn knew it and once up, she decided to take another walk and explore more of the planet. She packed some sandwiches and headed out the door. Morning came and went, and Kathryn was truly amazed with the beauty of the planet. As afternoon slowly crept in, she noticed that a storm was approaching. Gathering things quickly, she started heading back to the cabin. As she approached the cabin, she noticed someone standing on the porch. Getting closer, she knew exactly who it was. What is he doing here? Didn't he realize that I wanted to be left alone!
"Commander, what can I do for you?" Chakotay tried to ignore the angry tone in her voice. "I wanted to make sure that you were fine Kathryn."
"And why wouldn't I be?" Kathryn walked past Chakotay without even looking at him.
"I'm sorry that I disturbed you, but several crewmembers are being treated in sickbay. It appears that the food on this planet leaves a lot to be desired. We have reported several cases of nausea, headaches, and fever. I just wanted to be sure that everything was alright here."
"Well, as you can see Commander, things are just fine." Kathryn noticed the storm getting closer. "I think it would be a good idea if you contacted Voyager to beam back before the storm hits."
Chakotay could tell that she was trying to get rid of him and not wanting to anger her any further felt it best to leave. "Chakotay to Voyager...One to beam up."
"I'm sorry Commander. The storm is affecting our transporters and we are unable to beam you back up to the ship," said Harry. "It appears the storm will be over your location for quite some time, so you may not be able to come back until morning."
"Thank you Harry. Chakotay out." Chakotay turned around to find that Kathryn had disappeared into the kitchen.
"It looks like I will be staying here for the night."
"So I heard." Kathryn kept her back to him...not wanting Chakotay to see how upset she had become. It didn't seem to help because Chakotay was behind her in seconds with his hands moving up and down her arms.
"Kathryn, I didn't come down here to argue or upset you. I was only worried about you. Maybe this is the opportunity you need. Talk to me. Tell me what's wrong. Let me help you." Kathryn turned around and could see the pleading in his eyes.
She wanted so badly to tell him. This could be the perfect opportunity. There would be no intrusions; it was just the two of them now. At that moment a loud crash of thunder broke the silence between them. "I...um...I have some sandwiches that I brought with me from the ship. Are you hungry?" She moved her gaze away from his.
Chakotay realized that she was trying to avoid talking to him by changing the subject. "Sure. Why don't we take some into the other room and sit in front of the fire."
Each took a seat at opposite ends of the couch, eating in silence. They appeared to be more like strangers than friends. Kathryn finally spoke, "Do you still think of New Earth?"
"All the time, you?"
"I can't get that place out of my mind. For once in my life I felt at peace and then they came back for us. I don't know if a part of me is angry or happy with Tuvok. I miss what we had there." Chakotay looked over at her as soon as she stopped talking and saw the tears flowing. He instinctively moved closer and put his arm around her. He could feel her tense at first, but then relax as she sobbed harder. He hated seeing her like this.
Kathryn cried for the pain she was feeling and for what she felt she lost when Voyager returned. Several minutes passed before Chakotay heard the sobs end. Then he felt her weight shift and realized that she had fallen asleep. He slowly picked her and took her to one of the bedrooms. Before heading to the adjoining room, he bent down and kissed Kathryn on the forehead, "I love you."
Kathryn found the planet and cabin to be more than she expected. The Prime Minister had assured her the location would be very secluded and he was right. The cabin had two adjoining bedrooms, a bathroom, kitchen, and a large living room with what looked to be something of a fireplace. The Prime Minister had mentioned that the nights tend to get a bit cool on occasion. A small stream flowed outside the cabin. Kathryn decided to put her things in one of the rooms and take a walk along the stream. The Prime Minister had also informed her that she would be a great distance from the city and so there was no chance that she could be disturbed. Once outdoors, she found the atmosphere quite calming and also reminiscent of New Earth. Along her walk she found a nice, comfortable spot under a tree and took a seat. Pulling her legs closer to her, Kathryn began to remember all the good times she and Chakotay had shared on the planet. Especially when she finally admitted to Chakotay that she loved him. Why did that decision seem to be so easy to make? Maybe, it was believing that they would never be on Voyager again. There weren't any protocols or regulations. But what about now? She leaned back against the tree and sighed heavily. Even more, Kathryn hated the way she had treated Chakotay when they returned to Voyager, before finding out that she was pregnant. She wished her decision now was as easy as her decision on New Earth. Realizing she was starting to get hungry, Kathryn made her way back to the cabin.
By the time she reached the cabin, Kathryn was not only hungry, but also exhausted. She was beginning to realize how much physically this was taking out of her. Kathryn had packed some sandwiches and other food items before leaving the ship and decided to find something to eat. After starting a fire, she pulled a sandwich from her bag and took a seat in the living room. She watched the flames dance hypnotically in the fireplace and before long found herself trying to stay awake. Promising herself that tomorrow she would come to a decision, Kathryn headed off for bed. She was asleep in minutes.
Morning came before Kathryn knew it and once up, she decided to take another walk and explore more of the planet. She packed some sandwiches and headed out the door. Morning came and went, and Kathryn was truly amazed with the beauty of the planet. As afternoon slowly crept in, she noticed that a storm was approaching. Gathering things quickly, she started heading back to the cabin. As she approached the cabin, she noticed someone standing on the porch. Getting closer, she knew exactly who it was. What is he doing here? Didn't he realize that I wanted to be left alone!
"Commander, what can I do for you?" Chakotay tried to ignore the angry tone in her voice. "I wanted to make sure that you were fine Kathryn."
"And why wouldn't I be?" Kathryn walked past Chakotay without even looking at him.
"I'm sorry that I disturbed you, but several crewmembers are being treated in sickbay. It appears that the food on this planet leaves a lot to be desired. We have reported several cases of nausea, headaches, and fever. I just wanted to be sure that everything was alright here."
"Well, as you can see Commander, things are just fine." Kathryn noticed the storm getting closer. "I think it would be a good idea if you contacted Voyager to beam back before the storm hits."
Chakotay could tell that she was trying to get rid of him and not wanting to anger her any further felt it best to leave. "Chakotay to Voyager...One to beam up."
"I'm sorry Commander. The storm is affecting our transporters and we are unable to beam you back up to the ship," said Harry. "It appears the storm will be over your location for quite some time, so you may not be able to come back until morning."
"Thank you Harry. Chakotay out." Chakotay turned around to find that Kathryn had disappeared into the kitchen.
"It looks like I will be staying here for the night."
"So I heard." Kathryn kept her back to him...not wanting Chakotay to see how upset she had become. It didn't seem to help because Chakotay was behind her in seconds with his hands moving up and down her arms.
"Kathryn, I didn't come down here to argue or upset you. I was only worried about you. Maybe this is the opportunity you need. Talk to me. Tell me what's wrong. Let me help you." Kathryn turned around and could see the pleading in his eyes.
She wanted so badly to tell him. This could be the perfect opportunity. There would be no intrusions; it was just the two of them now. At that moment a loud crash of thunder broke the silence between them. "I...um...I have some sandwiches that I brought with me from the ship. Are you hungry?" She moved her gaze away from his.
Chakotay realized that she was trying to avoid talking to him by changing the subject. "Sure. Why don't we take some into the other room and sit in front of the fire."
Each took a seat at opposite ends of the couch, eating in silence. They appeared to be more like strangers than friends. Kathryn finally spoke, "Do you still think of New Earth?"
"All the time, you?"
"I can't get that place out of my mind. For once in my life I felt at peace and then they came back for us. I don't know if a part of me is angry or happy with Tuvok. I miss what we had there." Chakotay looked over at her as soon as she stopped talking and saw the tears flowing. He instinctively moved closer and put his arm around her. He could feel her tense at first, but then relax as she sobbed harder. He hated seeing her like this.
Kathryn cried for the pain she was feeling and for what she felt she lost when Voyager returned. Several minutes passed before Chakotay heard the sobs end. Then he felt her weight shift and realized that she had fallen asleep. He slowly picked her and took her to one of the bedrooms. Before heading to the adjoining room, he bent down and kissed Kathryn on the forehead, "I love you."