This concludes this story - I hope you enjoyed the sequel to "The Rose". This chapter is rated "T".
And without further ado...
Part II - SickBay
Kathryn arrived at sickbay only moments before Chakotay. The Doctor was examining her hand.
"Now, Captain...would you please explain to me how this happened?" the Doctor asked.
"I'd rather not go into all the details, Doctor. Suffice it to say that I was enjoying the rose when I apparently was lost in my thoughts and held the rose too tightly causing the thorn to imbed itself in my hand," the Captain replied in her most "please let that be a sufficient explanation" voice.
"I see. Well, in the future, I suggest you leave the rose in the vase while 'enjoying' its beauty."
During the Doctor's dissertation, Chakotay walked in and observed that the Doc's attention is focused on Kathryn's right hand. A closer inspection revealed that a thorn was in her hand.
"Kathryn, are you all right?"
Startled, she replied, "Umm, I'm fine - just a minor accident. Chakotay...what are you doing here?"
He sat down next to her on the biobed and captured her gaze. "Just a minor accident, too." He lifted his right hand for her inspection without taking his eyes off of her.
She finally broke the gaze to see that his right hand was bleeding in precisely the same place her hand was. She looked back up to his eyes to see a questioning look tempered with love and concern.
The Doctor completed his treatment and looked carefully at both of them before stating, "You, two are free to go. I would suggest that you both be a little more careful when 'alone' in your quarters."
Both hurriedly said,"Thank you, Doctor." and quickly made an exit.
In the hallway, Chakotay caught Janeway by the shoulders and looked directly in her eyes. "I think we need to talk."
"Agreed." With that, they walked silently to her quarters.
Once inside and situated with two cups of Vulcan tea, Chakotay began. "I'm a little confused by all of this. Any chance you could shed some light onto our situation?"
She hesitated slightly before she began; but then proceeded to bring him up to date on her conversations earlier that day with Neelix. He listened intently - his heart alternately beating rapidly and stopping mid beat when he heard her say, "...soul mates, forever."
Sensing that she still had not come to grips with this situation - he opted not to push too hard. He began with, "So, how does all of this make you feel?"
Frustrated, she stood up and flashed him a look that would make others withdraw. "I don't know how I feel! I lose control one time - ONE TIME and now, less than 24 hours later, I'm in a situation that feels totally beyond my control."
Now that she had begun, she was unable to stop. "I can no more explain what happened tonight, than I can explain what happened last night. You are an important part of my life - but I have responsibilities...to my crew, to my ship, and..." she hesitated, "...to Mark."
"Regardless of how I may feel for you and how we may now be bound for life...I can't abandon those responsibilities...no matter how much I may want to. I...we...have to find a way to deal with this...We have to Chakotay."
With that confession, she sank to the couch, feeling like a rose whose petals had been pulled one by one until there was nothing left but a bare stem with thorns - exposing her innermost self to him.
Knowing that she had given all she could give and feeling more love for her than he had ever felt for another woman, he took her in his arms and just held her.
"My beautiful, Kathryn. I love you. I have since the moment I laid eyes on you and will until the day I die."
He held her for a while longer - gently caressing and comforting her. He broke silence, "Computer, play musical selection Chakotay Alpha 5." The music to Bette Midler's "The Rose" began to softly fill the room. When he felt that she was a little stronger, he lifted her face to look into his and continued...
"We are like this song, Kathryn, in so many ways. Our love brings pleasure and pain to our lives. Although, I may not like the fact that you would let your responsibilities and fears - whether founded or not - stand in the way of our happiness, I made a pledge to you...and I intend to keep it. Do you remember when I promised to be by your side - doing whatever I could to make your load lighter?"
She slowly nodded her head yes as her thoughts returned to New Earth and a happier time. The story of the ancient legend brought her not only to tears, but also to their first deeper, meaningful touch. It was a time when all of her responsibilities seemed so far away...but, that time was no more. She brought herself back to the present and to Chakotay's words as he continued...
"Nothing has happened to change my mind. I love you, Kathryn. I want to be a part of your life, regardless of what that part may be. I will always hope that someday you will change your mind and join with me - body, mind, and spirit. But, until that day, whatever role I may play in your life, will have to be sufficient. Rest assured, I will never stop trying to convince you, but I won't pressure you. Do you understand what I am saying to you?"
"Yes, Chakotay, and...thank you. You are unlike anyone I have ever met before and likely ever will again. You are and will continue to be my soul mate - no matter where the treks of life may take us. You will always have a part of my heart. I don't know what the future may hold; and, maybe someday, we can be together as you have described. Until that day, though, I count myself richly blessed to have you with me."
Having expended all of their energy and emotion, they simply held each other. Finally, Chakotay broke the embrace, but only enough to place a feather light kiss on Kathryn's lips. The kiss deepened as the pain and anguish of each of the participants surfaced in the form of raw need. Their lips communicated all that they would not or could not say as their separation neared. Finally, with tears in their eyes, they broke the connection. Each looked at their right hand where the wound from the thorn had begun throbbing from the increase in circulation.
Remembering Neelix's words from earlier that evening, Janeway held her right hand up. Following her lead, Chakotay grasped her right hand with his. The action created a bond between the two...their locked eyes communicated volumes as they, once again, looked into the windows of each other's souls. A bright light shone between their joined hands causing each to pull back.
As Kathryn looked at her hand, she noticed the scar from the thorn was gone. Chakotay's was gone as well. Smiling up at him, she recited, "...a single rose can flourish to make the world a beautiful and better place."
Smiling back at her, he replied, "You, my precious flower, make the world a beautiful place. Now, Captain, I believe that duty calls. We are due to report for duty in 15 minutes, I suggest you freshen up a bit and I'll meet you there."
Feeling the weight of the world had been lifted, even if temporarily, from her shoulders, she bid Chakotay goodbye and began to prepare herself for another day on Voyager.
End
