Disclaimer: Star Trek: Voyager belongs to Paramount

Abandoned Chapter 5

Author's notes: I have had a severe case of writer's block. I'm thankful it has finally subsided. I apologize for the lengthy wait for an update.

Her eyes are ebony with an intensity matched only by the fires of the sun. Her skin bares light brown with a hint of snow. This is indeed his daughter. Only time will tell her destiny. Yet he know no harm will ever come to her. Night now reflects in the eyes of the infant and Chakotay knows that soon Perry will need her mother.

Perry,

My child, I have come to the decision that those who once threatened us can no longer keep me away from you. I will tell you the stories when you are ready to receive the burden, but for now my love I will hold them as a secret of melancholy and isolation. I did not leave you because I did not love you but rather I gave you a chance to live without fear. Your father and I will protect you and only now do I see that by succumbing to my own fears I was putting you in more danger than I was giving you refuge from. I do and will always love you my little girl.

Kathryn gave the familiar territory that surrounded her another glance before she left it quite possibly forever. She knew that Chakotay was looking for her and he would come to her. But for now she must wait and hope that she could find the solutions that she seeked.

Perry cried uncontrollably with hunger. Chakotay had left B'Elanna's and Tom's in such a hurry that he had forgotten to bring formula along. He had to find Kathryn soon. As he looked around the small Indiana town he recalled a specific field that Kathryn had mentioned. A field that she went to when she needed time to sort out the confusions of life. He knew in that instance that he would find her there and discover the answers to the questions that constantly invaded his thoughts.

Kathryn's hair blew in the wind as she sat below the only tree that occupied her field. She had come here since she was a child. She was here the day she received the first of a series of letters from Tak'lay.

Kathryn sat under her tree with a heavy weight on her shoulders. She had made the decision not to tell Chakotay or anyone from Voyager about her child. Only her mother and sister would know of the new life but she so wanted to share this with Chakotay. She was being threatened, backed in a corner and forced to crumble under the will of a mad man. Tak'lay, even the thought of his name aroused anger in her. She had first heard his name when Starfleet informed her that he had been harassing female captains throughout the federation, stocking, threatening and even abusing them. He was a criminal mastermind and the federation was no match for him. He had taken a certain interest in Kathryn after Voyager returned. He had followed her but never given her any cause for concern until she started receiving letters from him. She found the first one when she was five months pregnant. Tak'lay threatened that if Kathryn ever let Chakotay see the child as his own the infant would be killed. The next letter, received when she was eight months pregnant, said to leave the child with B'Elanna but never tell her that the child was hers. Kathryn had contacted Starfleet and told them of the situation. They had given her a secure place to stay but within days another letter arrived saying the it was no use she was safer at her other house. Kathryn was frightened for the life of her unborn child and knew the only way to promise her safety would be to bend to Tak'lay's wishes.

Kathryn looked at the vastness of the field and wondered if her decision to tell B'Elanna that Perry was hers was worth the risk. The wind had steadily picked up over the last half an hour and Kathryn began to worry that Chakotay would not come. Another hour passed, when she thought she heard the faint sound of her name across the wind. She turned to see Chakotay approaching with Perry in his arms. Kathryn rushed to his side and lifted Perry from his arms.

"She's hungry, Kathryn"

"I know" and she did know as only a mother could.

Kathryn gave the child her breast. As Perry ate with vigor, a solitary tear graced Kathryn's cheek. She knew her daughter was content in her arms.

Author's notes: The next chapter or two will rap up this story. I hope you are enjoying it.