Author's note: I have waited a long time to continue this story because I received complaints about my writing style. I have decided that if you don't like the way I write then you can read something else. I like writing very descriptively because I like to imagine the scene and picture it as an episode. When I write Kathryn most of the time I am using her to help myself work through issues. There are so many similarities between the way she deals with things and the way I do that I feel I am able to write a lot about her. And I do. It helps me and I hope it is enjoyable to read. If not, then you are dismissed.

Be'lanna stood by the monitor and began talking,

"The Captain's theory is possible, it would have to have been done incredibly quickly though, scanning an entire brain and it's functions isn't something that can be done in the blink of an eye. The human brain is more complex than anything a holo-program could hold anyway."

The Doctor cleared his throat from the viewscreen, "Again, I will choose not to take that as an insult."

Be'lanna rolled her eyes and went back to looking at the reading from the stasis machine.

"Honestly I don't see any other way this thing could still be running." She looked at the Captain and so did the rest of the table.

"Can't we just cut power?" asked Tom.

A clearly exasperated Be'lanna replied, "No Mr. Paris. We can't. Because we are not the ones supplying the power, it has its own systems that have been running it for years, and even though we deactivated them they rebooted somehow. It locked us out when we tried to access them again."

Tom looked back down at the table, having been completely shut down by a frustrated half-Klingon, not even Tom had a witty comeback.

Janeway had her hands threaded in front of her face and she was staring at the table.

"No."

Everyone looked to Chakotay who had spoken up out of nowhere.

Janeway looked up too and with a cool stare that showed she could feel a challenge coming, "No to what Commander."

"What you're about to suggest."

Everyone around the table was completely still, amazed that he was challenging her like this, and that he was doing so without her having suggested anything.

She sat back in her chair, slowly, he could tell she didn't know how to react and that she was surprised he was recognizing their connection in front of everyone.

"And what pray tell, was I going to suggest."

Be'lanna caught on then, seeing her friend's gaze was one of protection.

"Captain," Eyes turned to Be'lanna.

"I agree with Commander Chakotay, you cannot do that, it's too risky."

It was Tom's turn to speak up then, "Okay, will someone please tell me what we are talking about."

Be'lanna crossed her arms and turned to Tom, "The Captain wants to hook herself back into the system, but this time in full stasis so she will have control over what happens."

"What? Seriously? That thing wouldn't let even one person go, why would he let her go if she went back?"

"Exactly," Be'lanna faced the Captain then.

Janeway stood slowly and placed her hands on the briefing table, "Look, I appreciate you trying to protect me, but going back in and seeing what is still running is the only way we can figure this out. Now, Be'lanna I want you to look into this, see if we can put me in stasis without booting the entire program again."

Be'lanna opened her mouth to argue.

"No, just do it. Understood?" No one questioned her, sensing the calm steeliness in her voice that meant no nonsense.

Be'lanna nodded curtly, avoiding Chakotay's gaze.

"Dismissed."

Everyone slowly pushed back from the table and exited, except Chakotay.

Janeway continued to look at the table as everyone exited. She knew he would stay behind and he did, but she refused to look at him.

She watched out of the corner of her eye as he stood and moved to her side. He was silent, but she could feel that he was close to her.

She took a deep breath and straightened, she turned to where she expected him to be. But he was much closer, their chests were almost touching as she looked up into his gaze, trying her best not to make her surprise, or embarrassment at their proximity, apparent.

It didn't work.

When she looked into his eyes she saw nothing but concern and love. The intensity at which these emotions were conveyed left her speechless.

She stood there with her mouth partially open, not sure whether she wanted to back up or kiss him right there.

She tried to speak "Chak.."

He stopped her by stepping back a bit and taking her hand, not breaking eye contact.

At the sudden touch it was she who averted her gaze, looking down and to the side, unable to meet his eyes any longer. Emotions began to overwhelm her.

"Kathryn, please." he let go over her hand, obviously unsure of her comfort with the contact.

"Please reconsider, I know you are worried and you want to stop this. But jumping in there and risking your life isn't the way to go, there must be another way-"

Janeway cut him off then, gaining a bit of strength back. "No there isn't! Someone has to go in." as she said this she walked away from him and threw her hands in the air in exasperation before returning one to her hip and the other to her forehead.

"We can't just let it run."

"Why."

"Because Chakotay! That holo-program is federation coding, unless you want to store the damn thing in the cargo bay for the next 60-70 years we need to get the program out so we can put it back on the planet or give it to their species, or otherwise dispose of it."

He thought for a moment, embarrassed he hadn't thought about it that way because he had been focused on protecting, well, other things.

"That's true…."

"See? I have to go in, besides no one besides me is going to be able to deal with the hologram of me if she's been tormented by that entity for so long."

"Let me." He said under his breath.

Her heart stopped. "What?"

"Let me go in, I can stop fear and I can take care of the other you."

She dropped her hands, ending her pacing, and walked to him. Placing a hand on his chest.

"Chakotay no… this was my decision. It was my fault, I am the Captain, I -"

"You are responsible for this crew, so you shouldn't go recklessly endangering yourself."

He grabbed the hand that was on his chest and squeezed.

"Please, let me."

Again the love returned to his eyes, she couldn't handle it.

She looked down and said "I will think about it." before pulling back and walking out the doors.

A few hours later Kathryn headed to the holodeck. Her mind - once again - would not quiet, and she needed to release anger.

Stupid fear, when did it get so smart? What had it learned from scanning her brain.. Harry and Be'lanna were hooked up much longer than she was so the entity had had more time to explore their minds and find out what they were afraid of and what they would respond to, but she had only been on a few minutes. Would it still know enough to terrorize her? Or at least the holographic her?

She shook her head and continued down the hall. Since it wasn't quite as late at night as it had been the last time she had decided to use the program, she had opted for a more conservative t-shirt, long yoga pants, and hair in a low ponytail for her work-out attire. Before she had left she checked the sensors to see if Chakotay was in the program, luckily and surprisingly he wasn't, so she should be safe to box in peace. Without added… distraction. Professional or otherwise...

Luckily she reached the holodeck doors just then before she could imagine Chakotay in workout clothing any more. Although, thoughts of his loving eyes, so ready to do anything to protect her, continued to cloud her mind.

She had just climbed the stairs and set down her bag her commbadge chirped.

"Torres to Janeway. Captain I think you need to get to Cargobay 2 as soon as possible."

"What is it Be'lanna?" Too annoyed at the interruption to be formal, she waited.

'"The program.. Well let's just say someone decided to go rogue and take matters into his own hands."

She froze. Chakotay.