"KATHRYN" he sobbed as he reached her limp body. He picked her up and held her in his arms for the second time that day. But this was different, he held her to his chest and rocked while almost screaming at the computer to transport them to sick bay. He stared at her tear-stained face and gently wiped a hair back from her cheek as she started to shimmer. He clutched her tighter as they were transported.
The drab of sickbay was a stark contrast to the beautiful hilltop they had just left, but he knew that here she had a chance. The Doctor was soon upon him making him lift her to a biobed. The Doc's voice had never come as more of a relief to him, apparently Be'lanna had been able to override the lockout. The Doctor began shouting orders to Tom while running a tricorder over her body, but Chakotay tuned it out.
He stood there holding her cold hand and willing her to wake up and be fine. "Come one Kathryn, you're not alone. We can beat this together." He silently said to her. The Doctor had tried to move him, but had given up after Chakotay had looked ready to decompile his program if he made him leave.
A few minutes of shouting and frantic cortical stimulations had passed when Chakotay felt a hand on his arm that made him jump. It was Tom. His eyes were full of tears and he looked at Chakotay and then nodded toward the Doctor who was talking to the computer. "Computer, put a note in Chief Medical Officers log, Captain Kathryn Janeway died at approximately 0500 hours stardate 2593-18."
"No." The guttural sob that emanated from Chakotay was enough to break anyones heart. But his sadness quickly turned to anger. "WHY CAN'T YOU SAVE HER. KEEP TRYING!"
"Chakotay the Doc's done everything he can." The rage that filled Chakotay's eyes when Tom said that made him take a set back. "IT CANNOT BE TO LATE... but why..." he cried.
She was gone. He had been to late, and now, no earthly power could bring her back... wait a minute. An idea popped into his head and he ran to the center of the room sobbing, "Q! Q Please! I know you can hear me, PLEASE, help!" The sobbing continued as Chakotay fell to his knees. "I know you keep a close eye on Kathryn, Please help her! Please bring her back... bring her back to me..." The Doctor and Tom stood quite a distance back from Chakotay, watching intently.
After a few heart wrenching moments of quiet sobbing. Tom walked to Chakotay and put a hand cautiously on his shoulder. "Chakotay..." his voice caught, but he kept talking in a hushed tone. "She's gone... he isn't going to come... he.."
"I can't imagine what you were about to say Tommy Boy."
They all started and spun toward the voice. Q stood next to Kathryn, leaning against the biobed. Chakotay quickly got up from the floor, and when Q reached for Kathryn he started towards him.
"Easy there Chuckles, I won't hurt her." Chakotay stopped but still looked cautious. Q leaned in towards Kathryn and uncharacteristicly picking up her hand and almost caressing it. "Now, Chuckles... what happened here?"
"She... she drank something, I don't know what it was. But it killed her. Q. Can you help her. Please Q you have to"
"Okay there Commander Worrywart, I get it, you want my help." Q said cutting him off. "I think we need a moment alone." With that, Q snapped his fingers and they both disappeared.
"AH! That's better." Chakotay looked around and found that they were in Kathryn's quarters. "Why are we in here." Chakotay asked bitterly. "Because it IS Dear Kathy that we are talking about, and I happen to rather like it in here." Q strode over to her desk and sat on it.
"Q this is serious, Kathryn is..." He couldn't say it.
"Yes, how did you let that happen." Chakotay opened his mouth but Q began talking again. "Oh wait let me guess, parameters got it the way right? She wanted to reach out to you but she couldn't let herself, and you wanted to help but didn't want to force her to accept it. Oh you humans are so predictable. Really I don't know why I am surprised anymore."
"That's all very interesting Q and yes you're right, we should have known better, but I'm asking you to help. This crew cannot make it back to the Alpha Quadrant without her. Hell we probably can't make it out of this void without her! Look Q you know I am not your biggest fan..." Q's eyebrows raised and he pretended to look offended. "But we need our Captain! You are the only one I know that bring her back to us."
"To US? Chakotaaayyy please do me a favor and do not insult my limitless intelligence. You want me to bring her back to YOU. You love her." Chakotay opened his mouth to protest but closed it again. What was the point of denying it?
"Yes, I do. I need her. I.. I can't... she's..."
"Yeah yeah I get it. Look it's not like I don't want to help you out, but The Q don't interfere with death. It messes with timelines and makes people mad and confused. It is all a headache."
"Q please, you know we need her. And I know you want her back too." Q looked at him then right in the eyes. Chakotay help his gaze, almost as a challenge. Chakotay knew Q's soft spot for Kathryn, and yes it bothered the hell out of him most of the time, but it was his only hope. Q blinked, then snapped his fingers.
