Chakotay moved farther into the room. He noticed it was suspiciously empty of the Doctor's staff. "What is it? Has there been a change in her condition?" His eyes darted over to the far end of sickbay, where Kathryn lay on a biobed. He was still too far away to see much of her, though.

"Yes, there has. Commander, perhaps we should discuss this in my office."

He glared at the Doctor. "Why can't we discuss it here?"

The Doctor sighed and turned to go into his office. "Please, Commander."

He glanced once more at Kathryn's form before reluctantly following the Doctor. They sat at his desk, across from each other. The Doctor folded his hands under his chin and looked at Chakotay with compassionate brown eyes.

"I exhausted every test. I came up with twenty different variations of the vaccine from the original, and none of them worked. I-"

"Save it." Chakotay said sharply. "Just tell me what's going to happen. Are you going to take her off life support?"

"You didn't let me finish, Commander." The Doctor retorted. "After I exhausted all conventional methods, I began to use the blood samples I took to try and find an effective treatment. In examining the samples, I learned something interesting."

"And what is that?" Chakotay asked through clenched teeth.

If the Doctor noticed his frustration, he ignored it. "It's your blood. The chemistry is somewhat different than the average human's."

Chakotay frowned. "How do you mean?"

"It's…enhanced. That's the only easy I can describe it. I believe it's a result of the alien 'gift' you received shortly before you and the Captain were infected by the virus."

Chakotay remembered that away mission, all those years ago, to the planet of his people's 'sky spirits'. But why did that matter now? "Doc, please. What does this have to do with Kathryn?"

"I don't know why Captain Janeway's immune system rejected the cure. I can only postulate that it had something to do with the fact that she was deceased. And once I examined your blood, I noticed there were unusual regenerative properties embedded in your DNA. I tried using it to form a vaccination serum. It didn't work."

"And?" Chakotay all but shouted.

"Her body rejected your DNA. It was too drastically different from hers." The Doctor paused, and Chakotay could feel a stroke coming on. "So…I used the samples that had a little of both. Your DNA…and hers."

Chakotay paused in his building stroke. He stood up slowly. "What are you saying?" he whispered.

"I'm saying that I was able to formulate an effective vaccine using the blood samples from your children. In essence, Kathryn and Edward have saved their mother's life."

Chakotay's knees buckled and he struggled to stay upright. His heartbeat was thundering in his ears, right alongside the echo of Kathryn's long ago words.

"I liked that it was her children who pulled her out of her sleep. It was something for her to live for."

"One can only hope that one's child is that enterprising."

"I'll admit, there was always a part of me that wanted to live a fairy tale".

"And they lived happily ever after."

"So she's okay? She's going to live?" he rasped.

The Doctor held up a hand. "Let's not get ahead of ourselves. Right now, she's stable. Her body accepted the vaccine, and she no longer carries the virus. But Commander, you know her body has been through a lot. Even though by all rights she was only dead for a few minutes, she was suspended in that state for five years. Her body is very, very frail right now. She hasn't woken up, and I can't say for certain when – or even if – she will."

Chakotay braced himself on the desk. "I don't understand. There are hundreds of documented cases of people who have been frozen for centuries, and they've been revived to live healthy, full lives. How is this any different?"

"Every case is different, Commander."

Chakotay slammed his fists on the table. "Stop calling me Commander!" he shouted. "I'm not a Commander. I never was. I did it for her, and now I want you to stop screwing with me and tell me what is going to happen here!"

"Chakotay, please try to get your emotions under control and look at this objectively-"

"How do you expect me to look at this objectively? The woman I love, the mother of my children is laying there, stuck somewhere between life and death, and you want me to look at this objectively? Do you have any idea what it was like for me down there when she died? Well, do you?"

"I imagine it was difficult." The Doctor said slowly. "Com-Chakotay, you'll have to forgive me if I fail to properly consider the depth of your emotions in this situation. Remember, when we left you two here, you were barely friends. I more or less expected that a romantic relationship may have sprung up between you after all these years, but expecting something and actually seeing it are two different things. I'm not taking into account the extent of your grief, and for that, I apologize."

The Doctor's words calmed him down, just a little. "Sorry, Doc." He said gruffly. "I didn't mean to take it out on you like that."

The Doctor nodded. "That's all right." He said softly. "You're going through a lot right now." He tapped a finger briefly on the table, and Chakotay was suddenly struck by how much more human the Doctor had become in the years since he saw him. He was surprised he could think of anything except Kathryn at this point, but he figured the brain worked in mysterious ways. Unfortunately, the Doctor caught him staring and immediately picked up on it.

"I suppose you're wondering about my gestures." He said, a tad pompously. "Commander Torres installed the subroutine several years ago. All the little unconscious gestures humans make, I make as well. I must say, I think it goes a long way towards making my patients comfortable with me."

Chakotay rolled his eyes. "That's fascinating, Doctor. But…"

The Doctor's expression changed immediately from pride to professionalism. "Of course, I'm sorry. I really can't give you any guarantees here. She'll either wake up, or she won't. To be quite frank, I'd say at this point, it's up to her."

"Up to her?" Chakotay asked in disbelief. "She's been dead for five years! For all we know, her consciousness isn't even there anymore!"

"I'm not going to debate theology with you-"

"And I'm not trying to goad you into a theological debated. But you're not giving me any solid answers here, Doctor. I need something."

"Fine. Her heart rate is the resting heart rate of someone in a state of unconsciousness. Her brain activity is at the same stage. However, there is no indication that her brain is in a state of R.E.M. sleep. She's not in a coma, and she's not asleep. And in response to your earlier question, well like I said, every case is different. Cryogenics was the forbearer of stasis, and while it was usually successful, there were many cases of people who weren't able to be revived. And keep in mind, those patients were usually prepped for cryo-freeze and tended to by doctors and scientists. The same is true for stasis. The units you and Captain Janeway were sent down in were never meant for long term use. They were temporary, portable stasis units. As such, while Captain Janeway's body was perfectly preserved, her biological functions were not. Tell me, Commander. When you placed her in the unit, did you have any intention of reviving her in the future?'

"No, I didn't. I know it's possible for someone to be revived if they've been placed in stasis shortly after death, but I suppose things were so crazy that it never occurred to me. And after the trauma of her death…I guess I just didn't think it was possible."

"The stasis unit was never prepped for this kind of use. Captain Janeway wasn't prepped, either. Her condition wasn't properly monitored. The unit she was in wasn't equipped for it, and you certainly aren't qualified. Basically, the fact that she had brain activity is surprising in and of itself. There really isn't a precedent for this particular situation, especially considering the cause of death. I really don't want to go unto the gory details, but you saw for yourself. We had a lot to repair."

"I know." He said shortly. "It was…pretty bad."

"Bad is an understatement. Had she been in any medical facility, there is no question there would have been a c-section, or a fetal transport. Any woman would have died in that situation. I can't even tell you for sure that it was the infection that killed her. There was hemorrhaging, internal bleeding, uterine tearing…honestly, I'm surprised she lasted the few days she did."

"But you fixed it, right?"

"Of course. It was one of the first things we took care of. If you had put her in stasis any later I might not have been able to reverse the damage. But I did. I can't promise she'll be able to have children again if she wakes up-"

"I'm not concerned with that at all right now." Chakotay interrupted. "I just want her to wake up."

"I've done all I can with modern medicine. There really is nothing further I can do except maintain her health. If she's going to wake up, it's going to be on her own. I've tried to wake her up already."

Chakotay sighed. "I can't believe that she would go through all this just to not wake up."

"I can't either. She was always a strong woman, Chakotay. I hope that she'll refuse to go quietly, just as she always did." The Doctor stood up. He rounded the desk to stand next to Chakotay, and placed a hand on the other man's arm. "Would you like to see her? Maybe you'd like to talk to her for a little while. Hearing your voice might help."

Chakotay nodded, and followed the Doctor the Kathryn's biobed. He sat down on a chair next to it, and stared at her. It was the first time in five years he saw her chest rise and fall as she breathed. He was nearly hypnotized by it, and barely heard what the Doctor was saying until he called his name.

"Sorry, Doctor. I'm just…I'm just taking it in."

"I understand. I was asking you if I should have some of the crew come see her, So far, they've stayed away, out of respect, I think. One of my nurses mentioned that a lot of them feel they shouldn't intrude. The Captain still has their loyalty and respect, even after all this time."

"She would appreciate that." He continued to stare at her. "While I'm here with her, I'd appreciate it if no one else was. I can't deal with anymore sympathy, as well intentioned as it is."

"I'll make sure you aren't disturbed."

"I'll definitely be gone in four hours. I want to be able to put the children to bed. They've had enough upheaval lately; I don't want to add to it."

"Of course." The Doctor placed a brief hand on Chakotay's shoulder, then headed back into his office.

Chakotay sat looking at her. He wanted to touch her hand, but he was suddenly afraid to. He was afraid he would touch her and she would disappear, or be dead again. She was still a sleeping princess to him, only able to be woken up by a prince's kiss. And he knew he wasn't worthy enough to be that prince. He had never deserved her.

"But are you the princess, or the woman warrior?" he whispered to her inert form. "Are you to be saved with a kiss, or a warrior's cry? What will it be, Kathryn? How can we make you live again?"

She didn't answer. He didn't expect her to.

Tentatively, he reached out a hand. He ran a finger down her cheek, gasping at the feel of her skin after all these years. It was as smooth and warm as the last time he touched it, and he suddenly wondered if a day had gone by at all. Was he going crazy? Was Kathryn right here in front of him?

He slowly let his hand drift to hers. He gently picked it up and entwined his fingers with hers. He pulled their joined hands up to his lips and held them there, tears falling silently from his eyes. He ran his other hand through her long hair, which was spread out around her like a reddish gold cloud. His silent tears soon gained momentum, and he leaned over her, his hand still tangled in her hair, crying bitterly.

"I can't do this again, Kathryn," he sobbed. "Please don't let me go through this again, please. Wake up and see your children, Kathryn." He tightened his grip on her hand, as if it would jolt her out of her slumber. He couldn't believe it; his heart really was breaking all over again.

He couldn't stop touching her; he couldn't break the connection. He hadn't seen her without a clear surface between them in five years. He certainly hadn't touched her,. But here he was, one hand in her hair and the other gripping her hand tightly. And yet she wasn't there, not really.

His stomach was hurting from his the wrenching sobs being ripped from him. "I'm begging you," he cried, to no one and perhaps everyone. "Please let her wake up. Please."

Chakotay rested his head next to hers, his body still shaking with his tears. He gazed at her through the haze, watching her face, wanting so badly to see the smallest of movement. He would have been satisfied with even a small twitch, but she remained still. He wrapped an arm around her, holding her close to him. It was times like these he wished he had kept going on vision quests, but he hadn't gone on one since Kathryn died. He hadn't had the heart to. Still, he could use some guidance right about now.

He didn't know how long he stayed there for. He didn't remember nodding off, either, but from the way his body jumped suddenly, he knew that he had. The Doctor must have dimmed the lights, because sickbay was dark. He was confused for a moment, wondering what woke him, when he heard it.

"Chakotay."

TBC

I can't remember who made the comment about TNG's cryo-people from the past episode, but I decided to address it here. Someone wondered how Chakotay would be surprised that putting Kathryn in stasis meant she could be revived, since it had been done for hundreds of years. I'm hoping this chapter clears that up a little. And whoever pointed that out to me, please refresh my memory so I can give credit where it's due!

This chapter is also for Singing Violin, who shared my love of making Chakotay cry  I promised her he would cry!

And the little updates on Harry and Samantha Wildman were mostly for Tayababy. She mentioned wanting to know some more back stories.

Anyone who has anything they want to see in this story, let me know. I usually add suggestions in.

And I have enabled my anonymous reviews. Thanks to DaBlackRose for bringing that to my attention.

The alien 'gift' referred to in this chapter is from the episode 'Tattoo'.