Chakotay ran his fingers through his short hair as he paced around his quarters in his captain's pants and tunic. He ignored the incessant chime until he heard banging and Belanna's voice calling him through the door.

"Come!" he called. "What do you want?"

Belanna gave him a wry smile. "Well, hello to you too. The warp core is overheating. I thought you'd like to know."

Chakotay's eyes widened as he grabbed his jacket and started towards the door. Belanna grabbed his arm to stop him. "I'm kidding. Would I be here if that were true?"

Chakotay shrugged off her arm. "You know, I am your captain now. As first officer, I had the authority to throw you in the brig. As captain, there is no one to overrule that decision."

"You forget we have an Admiral with us on this trip."

"Are you sure you want to take your chances with her? You don't make friends easily."

Belanna smiled. "At least you haven't totally lost your sense of humor today."

Chakotay smiled back. "Don't worry about me, Belanna. I'm fine."

"No, you're not." Belanna walked over to the couch and sat down. She gestured to the chair in front of her and watched as he followed her direction and sunk down into it.

"I guess I should get this over with," he said. "So, do you believe Lura?"

"Do you?" Belanna answered.

Chakotay sat silent for a minute and glanced away. When his gaze returned, she could see the struggle to contain his emotions. "I can't do this again," he said. "I won't do it."

"I know."

Chakotay took a deep breath. "It took me a long time to accept that she was gone. I had finally gotten to a place…" He clenched his fists.

"Then don't let her take you back there. It's done. You've made peace. We've all made peace and moved on."

"But what if I haven't now? What if it's true?" Chakotay said. "What if Kathryn is here, around, somewhere…? What if she has been taken by Q?"

"Do you believe that?" Belanna said.

Chakotay sat back and brushed his chin. "I don't know. I can not, no, I will not believe that if she had a choice that she would just…she would never let us all think…let her family think…not after seven years in the Delta Quadrant. We fought so hard to get back home. She would do it again."

"Maybe she doesn't have the choice."

"Maybe. Or maybe she does and she doesn't want to come back."

Belanna shook her head. "You don't believe that."

"I don't know what to believe any more."

Belanna leaned forward and took his hands in hers. "Chakotay, look at me." She smiled as his head turned. "You're right. You've come so far. Don't let this woman's crazy ideas send you back there. Back to a place that is not good for you and that you fought so hard to get away from. You and I both know Kathryn would come back if she could. The Q have been a pain in our butt from time to time but they've never been malicious. I don't think they would or could keep her from coming back if that's what she really wanted. Unless you tell me you've got some sort of proof that she's been around here, I say we continue business as usual."

Chakotay licked his lips. "Belanna, I could have sworn last night…"

Belanna's breath hitched as she searched his pained expression. "Last night, what?"

Chakotay sat quiet for a moment. "Last night, I know I was asleep but I did feel her. She was there. I would swear by the spirits that she was next to me, touching my face and holding my hand." His eyes widened as he looked at her. "Tell me, I was dreaming and it wasn't real. Tell me that, Belanna."

"I wish I could," she said softly. "Do you believe it was real?"

Chakotay shook his head. "If Kathryn was Q or a spirit of some sort, would I feel her?"

"Do you feel your father, your friends, the others who have crossed?"

"Yes," Chakotay said. "But I don't feel her. I never have. I can speak with my father when I meditate but Kathryn…she either won't come or…"

Belanna's brow arched. "Or she's not there like Lura said. Or maybe who you sensed last night was not her at all."

Chakotay pulled his hands from hers. "You think Q may be playing with me."

Belanna shrugged. "Maybe with all of us. It wouldn't be the first time. But why? And about this?" She shook her head. "I still think it's not their style. What about that entity that we encountered before who tried to convince her to go with him into some sort of afterlife? He pretended to be her father to get her to trust him."

"He came because she was badly injured. His species preyed on the dying. I think I was pretty healthy last night unless you're about to tell me that you and all of this are not real and I'm now dead."

"No, I don't see your father or my mother so I think we can safely say that we are both alive and kicking."

The two sat together until Belanna said, "Well, if she is trapped or waiting for us to detect her from some other dimension, then I think she'd tell both of us to get up and do something about it." Slapping her communicator, she said, "Torres to Engineering."

"Engineering here."

"Start running full scans to detect the Q or any other anomalies you can pick up. Inform me of anything out of the ordinary at once. Do you understand?"

"Acknowledged. Engineering out."

Belanna nodded at Chakotay. "That takes care of that. Now it's your end."

Chakotay broke into a wide grin. "I think I better watch my captain's chair." Rising from his chair, he said, "You want me to go back down there tonight and do what Lura said. Call for her. See if I can contact her."

Belanna nodded. "You have to. According to Lura, you're the one she wants to see. Her mate." She smiled as a wave of blush and sadness came over his face. "Will you be able to live with yourself, Chakotay, if you don't?"

He shook his head. "No."

"Then go." Belanna sat back and crossed her arms. " And look, don't tell him I said this, but Tuvok would tell you that a security team would be a prudent measure …"

"No!" Chakotay said. "No, Lura said I have to do this alone and I will. Don't worry, I'll take precautions." He held out his hand to help her up. "Thank you, Belanna. Thank you for coming here."

Belanna rose and walked over to the door. "I'll be back. Especially if you are not on board by 0400 hours tomorrow." As it slid open to let her go, she said, "I know I'm not the one you want to see, Chakotay but I do hope you find the one you do. Good Luck."