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CHAPTER SIX
ALWAYS & FOREVER
Part Two
How many hours had passed since Naomi had gone missing, Kathryn didn't know, but it had to be a few. It was dark now and the only lights were the flames of the fire and a few burning torches. Kathryn sat before the warm fire offering what comfort she could to Samantha. There were ten groups looking for Naomi now, but there was no sign of her. Kathryn was desperately worried, but tried to hide her concern from the child's mother.
Suddenly she heard Chakotay's voice speak through her commbadge.
"Chakotay to Janeway."
Kathryn hit her commbadge. "Janeway here."
"Kathryn..." he said, concern evident in his voice. "Are you alright?"
"Yes," she replied. "What's happening with you?"
"Tuvok's just performed the last mind-meld. We're ourselves again. We're going to transport you all back to the ship now."
"Wait a moment, Chakotay. Naomi ran off hours ago and we can't find her. Can you trace her?"
"We'll do a search now."
There was a long silence as the planet was scanned for Naomi's life sign. Then Chakotay spoke again.
"Yes...we've traced her. But we can't get a lock on her."
"Why not?"
"I don't know ... there's interference ... rocks of some kind. She appears to be inside some caves."
"There are no caves here ... no mountains..."
"Underground then ... mines, perhaps?"
Kathryn buried her head in her hands. This was something they were going to have to tackle from the ship. "Alright, Chakotay. Beam Samantha and I back to the ship and then the rest of the crew. We'll be able to find out more from the ship."
"Acknowledged."
Chakotay was waiting for Kathryn and Samantha in Astrometrics when they materialized. He looked drawn, tired, and his eyes were heavy with pain. He could remember everything that had happened and felt so responsible. It was his people who had rebelled, and it was he who had taken over the ship. Kathryn went over to him and put her hand on his arm. "It's good to have you back, Chakotay."
She smiled warmly and the love in her eyes was more of a comfort to him in that moment than she could ever have realized. He put his hand over hers and she squeezed it gently before turning away from him and addressing Seven.
"Alright, Seven, what have you found?"
"What appears to be a series of underground tunnels."
"Mines?"
"Perhaps. But whatever their purpose, they are unstable. The section where I have traced Naomi too is collapsing at regular intervals. My suspicion is that her presence has disturbed the structure, causing it to collapse. She may well be trapped inside."
"Why can't we beam her out?"
"Several of our systems were damaged during the Maquis incident and transporters are not functioning to their full capacity."
"Are repairs underway?"
"Yes, but they could take several hours."
Chakotay stepped forward. "Then we'll have to go into the tunnels on foot and get her."
"Too dangerous, Commander," Seven replied. "Another disturbance could cause the entire underground network to collapse."
"But the tunnels are collapsing all around Naomi," he protested. "It'll only be a matter of time before they collapse on her. We can't wait until transporters are fully operational. We need to send an away team." He paused. "I'll go into the tunnels after her, and Neelix and Tom can wait outside...Neelix with a light and Tom with a med. kit ... If she should..."
Samantha interrupted. "Let me go, Commander. She's my daughter, it should be my risk..."
Kathryn put her arm around Samantha. She was in no state to be going anywhere, and there could be all kinds of obstacles such as rocks that needed moving. It was a mission that required physical strength and Chakotay was one of the strongest and fittest men on board. "The transporters may be fully operational before Chakotay reaches Naomi. She'll need you here when we beam her onboard."
Samantha seemed to accept this and Kathryn turned to Chakotay. "But I don't want you going in alone. I want Harry to go with you."
Wearing head and body protection, Chakotay and Harry approached the mouth of the tunnel. They carried a powerful torch in their hand and also had a light attached to their helmet. They were supplied with oxygen masks incase the air was thin inside. The tunnel appeared to be more like a cave, a ragged opening in a large rock that was covered with grass. Chakotay went in first and cast his torch ahead. The passage was narrow and jagged with rocks. Harry followed him in, but after walking only a few feet, they found they had to crouch. It was clear Naomi couldn't have gone too far, not without a torch. Suddenly the tunnel turned sharply to the right and the passage became even narrower and slanted downhill, leading underground. Chakotay and Harry had to go down on their knees and crawl through it. The ground was rough but their hard clothing protected their legs from injury. Thankfully, the narrow passage didn't last long and Chakotay and Harry found themselves in a large cave. There was a wooden bridge over a seemingly bottomless pit, and half a dozen tunnels. Seven had chartered Naomi's position as best as she could, and Chakotay pulled out the chart. It seemed she was somewhere down the third tunnel. Thunder roared in the distance, the sound of rocks falling, and Chakotay pulled Harry in the direction of the tunnel.
The tunnel was narrow, and the rocky floor fell away every now and then as Chakotay and Harry tried to make their way over it. Beneath the floor was another pit that seemed bottomless and Chakotay realized the tunnels were a humanoid construction over some kind of void. They were unstable and too much weight could cause them to collapse completely. It was better if he went on alone. He stopped moving and turned slowly to Harry. "If we both try and make it through, this passage may collapse completely. You're going to have to go back."
Harry didn't want to leave Chakotay alone, but this was no time to debate the judgment of his commanding officer.
"Alright," he said. "I'll wait by the bridge."
Chakotay patted his shoulder and then continued alone.
It wasn't long before he saw another cave ahead. He scrambled to it, more rocks falling behind him. He heard the soft whimpering of a child's cry as he got closer and quickened his pace. At last he was in the cave. He flashed his torch around, but could see only rocks.
"Naomi? Are you there?"
She cried out desperately. "Commander, help me, please!"
Chakotay turned in the direction of the voice. It seemed to be coming from behind some fallen rocks. He hurried in the direction. "Are you hurt?"
"No," she cried desperately. "But I can't get out...help me, please help me..."
"It's alright, Naomi, I'm here now."
He shone his torch over the rocks and saw they were almost completely blocking a tunnel entrance. Naomi had to be inside the tunnel. His sharp eye quickly assessed the situation. The rocks had fallen from the roof of the cave so moving them wouldn't effect the structure of the tunnel and cause it to collapse on Naomi. He strapped his torch to his waist and tried to clear away some of the rocks blocking the entrance. They were heavy and he had push them away, straining his body in the attempt. At last he had cleared what he thought was a large enough hole for a child to climb out of. He peered into the gap and saw Naomi curled up inside, crying. There was a little torch in her hand, answering his question as to how she had managed to find her way in this underground labyrinth. She looked up at him and her face was red raw from tears.
"It's alright, Naomi," he said again, trying to reassure her, "I'm here now. You're going to be alright."
He reached inside the tunnel with his hands. They were bleeding, but he was oblivious to the pain. "Come to me, Naomi. I'll lift you out."
Crying, Naomi made her way over to him and he noticed the passage way was just about high enough for her to stand. He gripped her with his strong hands and carefully pulled her to safety. She clutched to him frantically and he held her tight for a moment, kissing her hair softly. "I've got you," he whispered, "I've got you."
He then hit his commbadge, hoping transporters would soon be operational.
"Chakotay to Voyager."
"Janeway here."
"I have her, Captain. She's alright. How long until you can transport us?"
"I don't know, Chakotay," Kathryn replied, her voice cracking slightly. "It may be a while yet."
"Alright. Inform the others we're on our way out."
"Yes, Chakotay." She paused, and he knew she was struggling to break their connection. "Janeway out."
Chakotay held Naomi tighter and made his way through the cave to the passage. His stomach somersaulted when he saw that almost the entire floor of the passage had collapsed. Only the edges remained in tact. There was no way he was going to be able to make it across. Thunder sounded behind him and more rocks fell inside the cave. Naomi buried her head in Chakotay's chest and he held her even tighter, fighting to suppress the fear inside. Any moment now the cave would collapse on them. He couldn't make it across the passage, but it occurred to him that perhaps Naomi could. The edges were just wide enough for a child's feet and seemed to be solidly attached to the passage walls. As far as he could see, the edge reached across the whole length of the passage. But to be sure, he hit his commbadge.
"Chakotay to Harry Kim."
"Go ahead."
"Are you still at the bridge?"
"Yes, Commander."
"Alright. Make your way to the passage."
There was a moment of silence as Harry did what he was told. Chakotay saw his torch light in the distance and knew he was at the other end.
"Has the passage collapsed your end?"
"Yes, Sir."
"What of the edges? Are there edges?"
"Yes, Commander, but very narrow."
"But wide enough for a child to stand on?"
"I would say so, Sir..."
"Yes, or no, Harry ... no maybes."
"Yes, Sir."
"Alright. Stand by. Chakotay out."
He lowered Naomi to the floor and stroked her hair softly. "I need you to be a brave girl for me, Naomi. Can you be brave?"
She hesitated, but then nodded.
"Good girl." He gestured to the passage way. "Can you think of a way across the passage?"
Naomi nodded. "I can walk on the edges, holding onto the wall."
"That's right," Chakotay smiled. He hit his commbadge. "Chakotay to Harry Kim."
"Go ahead."
"Naomi is going to cross the passage on your right hand side. I want you to shine your torch so she can see her way and I'll shine mine from this end."
"But what of you, Sir?"
"No time for questions, Harry. Chakotay out."
Chakotay put his hand on Naomi's shoulder. "Take your time, Naomi, and feel the security of the stones before you before you put your weight on them. Understand?"
"Yes, Sir," she said.
"Alright," he smiled. "Go on."
She hesitated. "Are you going to follow me?"
Chakotay nodded. "Now go. Harry will be waiting for you at the other side."
Naomi turned to the passage and stepped onto the ledge. Carefully she made her way across and Chakotay watched her. When she was half way across, he hit his commbadge and connected with Harry again.
"Can you see her, Harry?"
"Yes, she's over half way."
"When you have her, make the hell out of here."
"Sir...?"
"I'm not going to be able to make it across. Just get Naomi to safety."
More thunder sounded behind him as more rocks fell. "Do you understand, Harry?"
Harry's reply was quiet. He understood only too well. "Yes, Sir."
Chakotay watched as Naomi continued across the passage. She was near the torch light now ... almost there...
Then she and the torch light were gone.
Chakotay leant against the wall and closed his eyes in relief. He then looked up, around... More of the passage way fell now and rocks fell behind him. He was going to die, he knew it...any moment now the cave was going to collapse.
"Janeway to Chakotay."
He hit his commbadge. "Kathryn..."
"Sensors show us that Naomi and Harry are leaving the tunnels but you're still inside..."
"Yes," he whispered. "The passage way has collapsed ... there's no way I can get out..."
There was a long painful silence before Kathryn spoke. "But the structure is collapsing ... you must get out..."
"There's no way out, Kathryn ... I'm trapped."
Thunder sounded behind him and more rocks fell.
"We're going to get you out of there, Chakotay," he heard Kathryn answer. "We..."
There was another thunderous roar, and then all was black.
Kathryn paced sickbay anxiously and shouted atSeven through her commbadge to get the transporters fully operational. The Doctor put his hand on her shoulder. "Shouting at Seven is not going to help, Captain. Try and stay calm..."
Kathryn turned to him sharply. "Calm, Doctor? How the hell can I be calm? Chakotay is buried beneath tons of rock. He may be..." She couldn't say it, couldn't think it...
"Seven of Nine to the Captain. We have a lock on him. Stand by for transport."
In moments, Chakotay materialized on one of the biobeds. Kathryn stifled a scream at the sight of him. He was covered in blood and his legs were horribly crushed and twisted. The Doctor was instantly at his side and what happened next, Kathryn could only recall as a blur.
"He's dead," she heard the Doctor cry, "cortical stimulator, now!"
Colors blurred before her eyes as the Doctor and Tom moved around the bed, desperately trying to save him.
Then she felt Tom's hand on her shoulder. "I'm sorry, Captain. There's nothing more we can do."
Kathryn shook him loose and went over to Chakotay. "Keep trying, Doctor."
"Captain, there's..."
"I said keep trying!"
The Doctor did as she requested and Kathryn took Chakotay's limp hand in hers.
"Don't leave me now," she whispered. "Not now..."
The dead beep of the monitor began to change and Chakotay's chest began to move.
"He's coming back," the Doctor said, "he's coming back..."
White...bright lights...a mist...
It cleared slowly and Chakotay saw B'Elanna's face smiling down at him.
"Welcome back," she whispered.
Chakotay closed his eyes as the light hurt them. "Naomi," he murmured.
"She's fine, just fine."
At that he calmed again ... but something wasn't right, something felt wrong...
"My legs," he muttered.
B'Elanna squeezed his hand. "Anaesthetized. Your legs were badly broken by the rocks and the Doctor has anaesthetized them."
It was all he needed to know for now.
Chakotay opened his eyes and looked into hers. "The Doctor can set broken bones, he doesn't need to anaesthetize them. Tell me the truth..."
B'Elanna bit her lip and was a moment in answering. "They were crushed by the rocks, Chakotay. The Doctor has operated on them to restore veins and neural pathways, but it's going to take several more operations to reconstruct the muscles, bone and everything else. The Doctor has anaesthetized them to spare you pain."
"Will I walk again?"
B'Elanna squeezed his hand. "We don't know, Chakotay. We really don't know. The Doctor is hopeful, but it's too early to say."
"I see," he whispered.
"But if the Doctor can restore a borg drone," B'Elanna continued, trying to sound as reassuring as she could, "I'm sure he can restore your legs."
Chakotay looked to the side, hoping to see Kathryn, but saw only an empty space. "Where's Kathryn?"
"She's on duty. She'll be with you as soon as she can."
Chakotay nodded again, but was not sure he believed her. When he had been injured on away missions in the past, she had always been distant with him ffor a few days after, and it would be as the Captain she would talk to him. But now they were a couple, she couldn't use the Captain as a screen for her feelings any more. She would have to face them. And that was something Kathryn wasn't very good at doing. She usually locked them away deep inside the captain and refused to acknowledge their existence.
A WEEK LATER
The Doctor had performed several operations on Chakotay's legs and he could walk a little on them now with the help of crutches. He hated staying in sickbay, but the Doctor needed to monitor his condition and didn't want him returning to his quarters where he would be all alone. Not once had Kathryn been to see him, and Chakotay was extremely worried about her. B'Elanna told him she kept very much to her ready room or her quarters and had hardly been on the bridge all week. He didn't know what to do for the best: .try to talk to her over the comm, or ask her to come and see him. In the end he had done neither, deciding she would come and see him if, and when, she was up to it.
He was almost asleep when he heard Kathryn's voice in the distance. His senses awoke and he sat up a little. In the dim light he could see Kathryn talking with the Doctor. The Doctor put his hand on her arm, she nodded, and then the Doctor deactivated himself. She then turned in Chakotay's direction and slowly walked over to the bed. Chakotay saw that her face was pale and there were dark shadows under her eyes.
"How are you?"
"Doing well," he answered. "A couple more operations and my legs should be as good as new." He paused. "How are you?"
"I'm alright," she said, averting her eyes.
Chakotay gestured to the chair beside the bed.
"Please, sit."
Slowly, silently, she sat.
There was so much that Chakotay wanted to say, but he wanted her to be the first to speak. If he knew which direction she was going, he could better navigate her. For what seemed an eternity, she just sat silently before him, staring at her hands. Then she looked up at him.
"With everything that happened, I didn't get a chance to send a letter to Starfleet Command." She paused. "But that's just aswell because... " She placed her engagement ring on the edge of the bed. "I can't marry you, Chakotay."
Chakotay had expected this, but still the words hurt him.
"We were wrong ... personal and professional ... they don't ... I can't... Captain and First Officer is what we are, and...and we should go back to how things were."
"We can never go back to how things were," Chakotay said kindly. "You know that..."
Kathryn looked up at him, tears in her eyes. "You died, Chakotay. When we were finally able to get you out of that cave, you were dead. Do you have any idea what that was like for me? I thought I'd lost you, Chakotay. I can't go through it again. I can't love only to lose again. Not here, not now. I need to be focused, need to be the captain..."
"I understand that, Kathryn. I've lost people too ... almost everyone I've ever cared about. And too many times over the past six years I've come close to losing you. When our shuttle crashed three years ago, you lay dead on the ground before me. I did everything that I could to revive you, screamed at you to breathe ... but there was nothing I could do ... nothing. So yes, I know exactly how you felt. You're not the only one to love and to lose, and you're not the only one whose afraid here. If you want the truth, I'm terrified of losing you, Kathryn, absolutely terrified. I've never loved or needed anyone in my entire life as much as I love and need you. But if we spend the rest of our lives fearing the future, we lose the happiness that waits for us in the present, and I don't want to spend the rest of my life regretting the mistakes of the past. I don't know how long we will have together ... it could be weeks, it could be the rest of our lives, but what I do know is that I love you and want to be with you for as long as we can have together."
Kathryn was quiet for a long time, but then looked up at him. "Everyone thinks that because the captain is so strong, that Kathryn is too. But she isn't strong, Chakotay. Kathryn survives by letting the captain dominate."
"Which means not letting anyone get too close."
Kathryn nodded. "But you're right. I'm not the only one to have loved and lost and I'm not the only one who is scared here. And you're right that we can't keep taking a backward step every time something happens." She paused. "You needed me this week more than ever and I should have been here for you. I'm sorry. I'll won't let you down again. I promise..."
Chakotay smiled. "Does that mean we're still getting married?"
Kathryn had to smile at that. "I guess it means we are..."
They looked into each others eyes a moment, and then Chakotay picked up the ring and slipped it back onto her finger.
The Mess Hall was beautifully decorated with all kinds of colorful flowers and music played softly as Chakotay waited with Tom and Tuvok for his bride to appear. He was dressed in a white suit with a light blue shirt underneath and, although his legs were still weak, he could stand unaided now. Suddenly Harry's clarinet sounded and the mess hall doors opened. Chakotay caught his breath when Kathryn appeared. She was dressed in a long sleeveless white gown that sparkled in the light. Her hair was swept back from her face and a beautiful tiara glistened on top of it. In her hands she held a magnificent bouquet of blue, yellow, and pink flowers. Kathryn smiled as her eyes met Chakotay's and then slowly began to walk towards him. Naomi proudly followed, dressed in a pretty gown of pale blue satin.
At last, Kathryn reached Chakotay. They smiled at each other and gazed deep into each others eyes for a moment, neither doubting the promises they were about to make to each other. Kathryn handed her bouquet to Naomi and then joined hands with Chakotay. The music stopped and Tuvok began the ceremony.
"Ladies and gentlemen. We are gathered here today to witness the marriage of two very special people we know as our Captain and First Officer. But it is not as Captain and First Officer they come before us today, but simply as Kathryn and Chakotay." He turned to Chakotay. "Chakotay. Do you take this woman, Kathryn May Janeway, as your lawful wedded wife? To love her, to honor her, to comfort and to cherish her, from this day forward, in sickness and in health, for as long as you both shall live?"
Chakotay squeezed Kathryn's hands. "I do."
"Kathryn May Janeway. Do you take this man, Chakotay, to be your lawful wedded husband? To love him, to honor him, to comfort and to cherish him, from this day forward, in sickness and in health, for as long as you both shall live?"
Kathryn smiled. "I do."
Tom stepped forward and Kathryn and Chakotay took the wedding rings they were going to give each other from the blue velvet box he was holding. Tom then stepped aside. Chakotay took Kathryn's hand in his and waited for Tuvok to speak. He did.
"Repeat after me. I, Chakotay, give you, Kathryn, this ring as a symbol of our marriage."
Chakotay slipped the ring onto her finger. "I, Chakotay, give you, Kathryn, this ring as a symbol of our marriage."
Tuvok then turned to Kathryn. Repeat after me. "I, Kathryn, give you, Chakotay, this ring as a symbol of our marriage."
Kathryn slipped the ring onto his finger, struggling a little to get it over his knuckle. "I, Kathryn, give you, Chakotay, this ring as a symbol of our marriage."
Tuvok then united their hands and lay his over them. "Now, with the authority invested in me by Starfleet Command, I pronounce you husband and wife."
The crew broke into rapturous applause as Chakotay drew Kathryn into his arms and kissed her gently.
END OF PART TWO
