Voyager and its characters are the property of Paramount.
The Journey Back - Part 2
The morning on the bridge was uneventful which made time pass slowly. Chakotay knew he could leave at any time, turning the bridge over to Tuvok, yet he felt the need to keep things as normal as possible in Kathryn's absence. The crew was very worried about their captain and he knew his presence and regular routine might provide them with a sense of normalcy. As badly as he wished to be by Kathryn's side, his place, for now, was on the bridge. If he were in her place and she in his, that is exactly what she would do.
When he left the bridge for his midday break his steps naturally took him directly to sickbay. He took a chair to Kathryn's side and sat down with his eyes fixed on her. Having heard the sickbay doors open, the doctor approached from his office. "Commander." he said in greeting.
"Any change, Doctor?" Chakotay asked. The doctor very slightly shook his head, his expression apologetic. Chakotay's gaze went back to Kathryn. "Your program automatically reactivates if there is any change in her condition, is that correct?" he asked.
"Yes." the doctor answered.
Chakotay looked up at him. "Would you mind?"
"Not at all, Commander." the doctor said then slightly lifted his chin and said, "Computer, deactivate the EMH."
Chakotay pulled the chair closer to the biobed and took her hand in his. "Kathryn, you have to hear me. I want to help you find your way back." His voice was calm, reassuring. "I know you're searching, and you must keep searching. I would come after you if I could but this is your journey. All I can do is try to guide you, help you get back...to me." The lump in his throat made further words impossible. He leaned forward and rested his head on their hands, willing her to find her way.
When Chakotay did not return from his break Tom contacted B'Elanna to break their lunch date.
"It's alright, Tom. It's a little busy here anyway. I'll take a rain check. Torres out." came her answer. She went to Vorik who was working nearby. "Take over for me, will you? I have something I need to do."
BeElanna entered sickbay and crossed the room to the captain's bed where Chakotay was still sitting with his head down next to her. He did not move as she stood next to him looking down at Kathryn. The bruise was gone but there was still a small bump on her forehead. B'Elanna admired this woman deeply, valued her friendship, and it pained her to see her this way. Turning to look down at Chakotay she realized by listening to his even breathing that he was asleep. She knew he was worried about the captain and that he probably had not rested well. She reached out and put a hand on his shoulder. He snapped his head up looking at Kathryn, then turned to see who had touched him.
"B'Elanna." he said as he let go of Kathryn's hand and leaned back in the chair.
"How is she?" B'Elanna asked.
"The same." he said.
She gently squeezed his shoulder. "She's going to be alright." she said firmly. His eyes were full of concern yet he forced up a brief smile.
"I know." he said then looked back at Kathryn. Slowly he stood. "I have to get back to the bridge." Looking back at B'Elanna he asked, "Were you going to stay a while?" She heard hopefulness in his voice so she nodded.
"If that's alright." she said.
"Of course it is." he said and stepped back so she could sit down. With his hands on the back of the chair he leaned down slightly and added, "Talk to her, B'Elanna." She leaned to one side and looked up at him, seeing the seriousness in his expression. "She needs to know we want her back." he added.
"She would never doubt that, Chakotay." she said very softly. Chakotay looked at Kathryn as he straightened and lay a hand on B'Elanna's shoulder.
"I hope you're right." he said then turned and left.
B'Elanna watched him leave and wondered if this accident might be what it would take to make him wake up, make him know how short life could be. Turning her gaze back to her captain she was at first uncomfortable. Her thoughts went back to when she and the other Maquis had first joined the crew of Voyager. It had been a very difficult time and she knew she had behaved badly. When Captain Janeway had given her the position of chief engineer, she was shocked, flattered and humbled. B'Elanna knew from that point that she would always strive to live up to and exceed the captain's expectations of her. Since then they had forged a deep friendship, one that B'Elanna realized she desperately wanted to keep. Leaning closer, she spoke to Kathryn.
"Captain, I feel a little silly talking to you this way, but Chakotay asked me to. We all need you here. I need you. I've never had a friend like you before and I don't want to lose that. I'd even settle for a good dressing down if you'd just come back to us." She paused, feeling more comfortable talking to her friend. Things needed to be said and she decided this was as good a time as any. "I found Chakotay here when I came in, sleeping with his head down on this bed. He hasn't been himself since your accident. You mean so much to him, Captain. I'm not sure you know just how much." B'Elanna leaned back in the chair and crossed her arms. "And you may never know if you don't get well. Do you hear me?" Suddenly she felt tears welling in her eyes and she stood. "I'll see you soon." she whispered and quickly left the sickbay.
When the computer detected no life signs other than the captain's, the EMH was activated. He took a tricorder and went to scan her. "Hmmm," he said as a slight smile spread across his face. Finally he would have good news to report. Closing the tricorder he leaned down and said, "Very good, Captain."
Chakotay returned to sickbay as soon as his shift was over and was immediately approached by the doctor who was wearing a broad smile.
"The swelling is down considerably, Commander, and as well as I can tell at this point there has been no permanent damage."
Relief was quite obvious across Chakotay's face for he made no effort to conceal it. He clapped a hand down on the doctor's shoulder as he smiled and said, "Thank you, Doctor. Good work."
"I will maintain the induced coma until the swelling reduces further, but I expect her to make a full recovery." he said as they approached the captain. Chakotay leaned over her and tilted his head to look at her face on.
"Her color is better." he said, not realizing he'd spoken aloud. Though she still looked small and frail to him, he was sure she looked better than just a few hours earlier.
"If you'll excuse me, Commander." the doctor said. Chakotay nodded without looking up then heard the doctor order his program deactivated.
Chakotay took her hand and leaned closer to speak to her. "Keep going, Kathryn. Find your way back. I'll be waiting."
The sickbay doors opened and Chakotay straightened but did not turn to see who had entered. He gently placed Kathryn's hand back by her side.
"Commander Chakotay?" came the meek voice of Naomi. He turned to see her slowly coming toward him.
"Hello, Naomi." he said, "Are you alright? Do you need the doctor?"
"No, I'm okay." she almost whispered as if in reverence as she came to stand by the bed. She looked down at the captain and the sadness on her face almost broke Chakotay's heart.
"Did you come to visit the captain?" he asked, smiling at her. She nodded slowly, never taking her eyes off Kathryn. Chakotay went around the table and put his large hand on the child's shoulder. "This is very thoughtful of you, Naomi. I'm sure she appreciates it very much."
There were tears in her eyes as she looked up at him and he quickly went down on one knee and turned her to face him. "Naomi, the captain is going to be alright. She's much better today."
Naomi turned her head to look back at the captain as a tear trickled over her cheek. "Then why doesn't she wake up?" she asked. Chakotay turned her face back to him and brushed away the tear.
"The doctor is making her sleep to help her get well. She'll wake up soon."
"Really?" she asked with her bottom lip quivering.
"Yes, really." he said with a smile. Naomi moved into his arms and wrapped hers around his neck. Chakotay smiled and patted her back. When he stood he took Naomi's small hand and put it on Kathryn's, felt her pull away slightly. "No, it's alright." he assured her and felt her relax and take hold of Kathryn's hand. "You can talk to her, too." he said, at which she looked up at him in surprise. "She'll hear you, Naomi. She'll be very pleased to hear from her favorite assistant." She smiled proudly. After a few moments Chakotay said,
"I'm going to the messhall to get a cup of tea. May I bring you something?"
"No, thanks." she said politely, then looked up at him. "I'll stay until you get back." she announced, sounding very adult. Chakotay smiled and patted her back then turned and left, knowing Kathryn was in good hands.
There was a definate spring in his step as he made his way to the messhall and he was having difficulty keeping the grin off his face. When he entered the messhall he was almost immediately surrounded by crew members including B'Elanna and Tom. He couldn't suppress his smile as he said, "She's finally turned the corner. She's going to be alright."
Tom and B'Elanna exchanged looks of relief as their fellow crewmen expressed their happiness at the good news then slowly dispersed.
"That's wonderful." B'Elanna said, smiling up at Chakotay.
"Yeah," Tom added, "great news, Commander." He took B'Elanna's elbow and they turned to leave. Chakotay went into the counter to help himself to tea and repeated the good news to Neelix.
"Oh Commander," Neelix said as he wiped his hands on his apron, "that is truly wonderful news." Chakotay had sipped his tea and then glanced around the kitchen to see what was on the menu for the day. He had eaten very little over the past two days and suddenly realized he was very hungry. "Can I get you something?" Neelix asked.
"I think I have time for a quick bite." Chakotay answered with a smile.
The crew that had surrounded Chakotay in the messhall made short work of spreading the good news about their captain. As Chakotay walked back to sickbay he saw the wide smiles on the faces of the crew he passed in the corridors, knowing the Voyager grapevine was running at warp speed. He was almost to sickbay when Samantha Wildman fell into step beside him.
"I heard," she said with a broad smile, "it's made my day."
"Mine too." he admitted, returning her smile.
"I'm going to retrieve my daughter before she wears out her welcome."
"No chance of that, Samantha." he said as he paused at the door allowing her to enter first.
"Naomi," Sam said softly, stopping several feet from the captain's bed, "come along. It's almost your bedtime."
Naomi let go of Kathryn's hand and looked up at Chakotay, her eyes twinkling. "I stayed at my post, Sir." she said proudly.
"Good work, crewman." Chakotay said in a mock serious tone. "Dismissed." He watched her smile back at Kathryn then join her mother. Samantha lingered a moment then smiled down and Naomi as they turned to leave.
Chakotay approached the bed and looked down at Kathryn. "I just came back to say goodnight." he said, "You've made the crew very happy today." Leaning closer, he added, "Especially me."
Tom suddenly stood up from the sofa where he and B'Elanna had been 'making out', a term she hated. She looked up at him in surprise and asked, "What's wrong?"
"You're not kissing me back is what's wrong." he said, "Where are you tonight?"
She reached for his hand and pulled him back down beside her. "I'm sorry," she said, kissing his cheek, "there's something I can't get out of my mind."
Tom exhaled as he put an arm around her shoulders. "Alright, let's have it." he said.
B'Elanna leaned her head back on his arm looking upward. "Did you see Chakotay's face in the messhall today?"
"Yeah," Tom said, remembering very well. "I know where you're going."
"Do you?" she said with a crooked smile as she started to pinch his thigh. He was too quick for her, grabbing her hand and holding it fast.
"You know," he said thoughtfully, "this accident just might do it."
"You think so too?" she said, excitement in her voice.
"I sure hope so." Tom said, turning a bit toward her. "I sure would like to win that pool." He leaned in to kiss her but she held him off with a forefinger to his lips.
"Unless I win it first." she said, then removed her finger and kissed him.
end part 2
