Disclaimer: I do not own Star Trek Voyager or any of its characters
Chapter 8
"I'm fine I need to get back to work" Kathryn said, she had been arguing with the Doctor for the last five minutes and was now seriously tempted to deactivate him and make a run for it before Chakotay got there and made her stay put.
"You're not going anywhere Captain" The Doctor responded "Not for a few hours"
Kathryn was about to respond when the sickbay doors opened and Chakotay walked in, well that was her chance of escape gone.
"Commander will you please tell the Captain that she has to remain in sickbay for a few hours.
"I am not staying here" Kathryn stated simply.
Chakotay looked at her for a moment and then turned to the Doctor "How is she doing?"
"She'll be fine if she rests for a couple of hours in sickbay where I can monitor her condition"
"I don't need monitoring, I have work to do"
"The crew can survive without you for another couple of hours"
"I'm the Captain and I have a job to do"
"So do I and right now you are making that job very difficult"
"Well you're making mine difficult"
"Okay" Chakotay said finally speaking up "How about if you release her to her quarters and I will stay with her and monitor her condition"
Kathryn was about to open her mouth to object but quickly realised this was the only way she was getting out of sickbay.
"Fine as long as she rests for at least five hours"
"FIVE HOURS I D…"
"Five hours is fine Doctor" Chakotay interrupted and the Doctor nodded and walked into his office. Chakotay turned back to Kathryn who was seriously considering glaring at him.
"You expect me to sit around and do nothing for five hours"
"Yes, we've both been through hell over the last week and we both need the rest"
"But five hours"
"Stop complaining I got you out of sickbay didn't I" Chakotay said and gave her a smile which she returned.
"Fine"
"I swear you and the Doctor are like children once you get arguing"
Chakotay watched Kathryn as she stared at the floor in her quarters. He had told her everything she had missed after the console had exploded. The look on her face when he had informed her that Ensign Massel had died had been almost too much for him. He saw the same emotions on her face that he had seen a few days earlier in her ready room and realised he was going to have the same discussion with her again.
"This isn't your fault"
"I knew you were going to say that"
"And I knew you were going to blame yourself"
"How can I not? I'm the Captain and I'm responsible for every member of the crew"
"You couldn't have done things any differently and we're both responsible for the crew. You're not alone Kathryn"
He once again saw the other emotion flicker through her eyes as she looked at him and this time he wasn't willing to let it go.
"You had me scared you know, when that console exploded" he said as he brushed the back of his fingers over her cheek and was surprised when she didn't pull away.
"I know" she looked at him thoughtfully and Chakotay could see all of the love and desire he felt for her reflected back from her. Then all the emotions disappeared and the Captain's mask reappeared. She pulled back just enough to be out of his reach but did not break eye contact and Chakotay let his hand drop. He held her gaze a moment longer before standing up and moving away. He knew he shouldn't push her at the moment, not after everything she had just been through, he would bring it up again later.
"I'm going to go back to the bridge, it's been five hours"
Chakotay looked back at her and briefly made eye contact, he turned and left the room without another word.
B'Elanna laid in bed wrapped up in Tom's arms. When he had come looking for her an hour ago she hadn't bothered to argue that she had work to do. He would have followed her around until she agreed to take a break and she was tired anyway. Right now she wanted nothing more than to got to sleep in Tom's arms, which was exactly what she was doing.
She had hardly spent any time with Tom over the last few weeks and she had missed him. The ship was a mess and right now a piece of dust could impact the hull and cause a hull breach. They were by no means safe at the moment but now that she was laid in Tom's arms she felt completely safe, like nothing could hurt her. Tom always had that affect on her, she had never had that before and it was one of the many things she loved about him.
"Stop thinking and go to sleep" Tom mumbled into her hair bringing a smile to her face.
"Sorry" she said looking up to see his eyes open and she stared at him a moment "I love you"
"I love you" he said with a smile "now go to sleep"
TBC
