A/N: Sorry about the delay. My muse is an evil and elusive creature, but I forced it to get something done just so everyone knows I haven't forgotten it. Thank you Pierce for reminding me and helping to corral my muse and happy 19th B-Day!
Kathryn woke up on the floor of engineering. She made her way to the bridge, half listening to the ensign on the other end of the comm. As soon as he had mentioned the Maquis ship, her heart felt like it had jumped.
Her anxiety at seeing Chakotay again for the first time in a decade was only compounded with dread upon hearing that Ensign Kim didn't make it back to Voyager. As she stepped onto the bridge, she mentally prepared herself as she gave the order to hail the ship.
A million thoughts raced through her mind in the seconds before his imaged appeared. The only thoughts that she could clearly hear out of the chaos were: Do I still love him? Does he still love me?
The second his face lit up the screen and their eyes met, she had her answer to both questions. With great effort, she kept her voice calm and said, "Commander Chakotay, my name is Captain Kathryn Janeway."
"How do you know my name," Chakotay asked, playing along. He thought his heart was beating so hard and fast he thought it was going to beat out of his chest.
"We were on a mission to find you when we were brought here by the array. One of our crewmen is missing. Was he transported back to your ship by accident?"
"No, a member of our crew is missing too," he said, becoming concerned for both people.
"Commander, you and I have the same problem. I think it makes sense to try and solve it together, don't you?"
He would have said yes without hesitation, but he didn't want to give himself away. Saying yes so quickly would have drawn attention on both sides. He looked over to Tuvok, silently asking his thoughts and was relieved when he nodded his head yes. "Three of us will transport to your ship."
Chakotay ended the transmission and looked over at Tuvok and one of the members of his crew and said, "Alright, let's go."
"Are you sure this is a good idea, sir," someone on the bridge asked.
"Logic dictates that this is the best course of action," Tuvok said.
"I agree," Chakotay said. "Draw your phasers, but make sure they're on stun."
"It would not be wise to pose an immediate threat, especially if we are transporting to their bridge," Tuvok said, raising an eyebrow. "Logic dictates that…"
"I don't care what logic dictates, I gave you an order," Chakotay said.
"Very well," he said, pulling out his side arm.
Once again finding herself waiting, Kathryn felt fear and excitement taking turns punching her gut. She heard the familiar sound of a transporter, and could tell which silhouette was his as soon as she saw it. She also saw he was holding something in his hand…
"Look out, Captain, they're armed," the ensign manning the station behind her yelled, fear creeping into his voice as he pulled out his phaser.
She immediately put up her hand and said, "Put down your weapons."
When she turned back at Chakotay and glared at him, he had to fight the urge to laugh. He knew she was angry at him, but he had to do it. He'd explain it to her later, if she hadn't killed him by then, anyway.
"You won't need those here," she said. No point in delaying the inevitable, Kathryn thought as she walked up to Tuvok and said, "It's good to have you back, Mr. Tuvok."
He holstered his weapon and turned to Chakotay and said, "I must inform you that I was assigned to infiltrate your crew, sir. I'm Captain Janeway's Chief of Security."
Kathryn lowered her heard so she didn't have to see the look of betrayal play across Chakotay's eyes. She hated doing this to him after they had just seen each other for the first time, but she had to. She hoped he would understand. She heard a noise and looked up to see Chakotay grab the other person who'd beamed over with them to keep him from attacking Tuvok.
"Were you going to deliver us into their waiting hands, Vulcan?"
"My mission was to accumulate information on Maquis activities, and then 'deliver you into their waiting hands.' That is correct."
"I see you had help," Chakotay said, shifting focus to Tom Paris. He did not share Jenna's soft spot for the boy.
"It's good to see you to, Chakotay," Tom said walking towards him.
"At least the Vulcan was doing his duty as a Starfleet Officer. But you… You betrayed us for what? Freedom from prison? Latinum? What was your price this time," Chakotay demanded. When he didn't answer, he moved toward him when he hit something and was forced to stop.
"You are speaking to a member of my crew," he heard Kathryn say quietly, but with authority. "I expect you to treat him with the same respect as you would have me treat a member of yours." He looked over and locked eyes with her. He saw authority there and backed off, for now. This wasn't the woman he remembered, but then, he probably wasn't the man she remembered.
"Now," her voice said, invading his thoughts, "we have a lot to accomplish so I suggest we all concentrate on finding our people and getting ourselves back home."
"Based on my initial reconnaissance, Captain," Tuvok said, "I am convinced we are dealing with a single entity in the array. I would suggest he scanned our computers in order to find a comfortable holographic environment. In effect, a waiting room to pacify us prior to biometric assessments."
"An examination," Tom asked.
"It is the most logical explanation. Why else would he have release us unharmed?"
"Not all of us were," Tom said.
Kathryn thought for a moment before looking at Tuvok and saying, "Break out the compression rifles and meet us in transporter room two." She looked over at Chakotay and said, "We're going back."
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Kathryn looked out her viewport thinking over the past several hours.
She'd had no other choice but to destroy the array that had brought them 70,000 light years from home; at least, that's what she'd been telling herself, over and over, since she'd given that command. Maybe if she said it enough she'd start to believe it.
Her door chimed and she gave the open command. She felt his presence as he entered, and let a calm she hadn't felt in 12 years fill her before she met his brown eyes.
"I knew about Tuvok all along," Chakotay said without preamble. "I intercepted a transmission of his, and would have gotten rid of him, but I saw it was addressed to you, so I let it slide. After that I looked him up and found out the two of you were close friends. I didn't think you'd be too happy if I'd had him killed."
"Thank you," Kathryn said quietly. "I wasn't sure if you knew, but I didn't want to continue deceiving you."
"I figured as much," he said, slowly making his way towards her. "I'm hoping you understand why I had to have weapons drawn when we transported to your bridge."
"Yes, although I really wish you hadn't."
"I'm sorry," he said, stopping inches away from her. "I didn't mean to cause you problems…"
"It's not that," Kathryn interrupted. "I was afraid that one of my well meaning, but highly unstable crew members killed you before I had the chance to hold you again."
As soon as the words left her mouth, she was consumed by his embrace. "I missed you too."
"What are we going to do," Kathryn asked after a minute. "How are we ever going to get back to Earth?"
"We'll find away," Chakotay said, meeting her eyes. "I doubt Jenna would have sent us out here just to die."
"You're right," she sighed. "By the way, I'm going to need a first officer, if you're interested…"
He smiled down at her and asked, "Are you sure that's a good idea? How would your crew feel about making me your second in command?"
"That I'm giving you this job because you commanded the Maquis."
"You're not afraid that they're going to think that I'm going to try and manipulate you?"
"Well, if they knew anything about us, they would know they have nothing to worry about." At Chakotay's questioning look Kathryn said, with a smile, "It was your advice that got me here. If you think I'm listening to anything you say again…"
"You're welcome," he said, pulling her against him again.