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Hearts Astray

Chapter 5

Kathryn wept a long time in Chakotay's arms, weeping away weeks of hurt and worry, but at last she was still.

"If it isn't obvious," Chakotay said. "I'm back."

Kathryn had to smile at that. "Welcome home."

"I heard from B'Elanna about your marriage. According to her it was idyllic." He drew away. "How long has Brett been violent?"

"This is the first time. I told him I'm pregnant and he went crazy."

Chakotay flinched. "You're pregnant?"

Kathryn nodded.

Anger consumed Chakotay and he clenched his fists. "The bastard! If I'd have known!" He then took a deep breath, suppressing his rage. "You need to see a doctor, Kathryn. Let me call one."

"It's ok," she said. "I'll do it. I just...Stay with me."

Chakotay put his hand on her shoulder. "As long as you need me."

Kathryn gave a wan smile and then limped over to her comm-speaker, which was on a wall. "Janeway to The Doctor."

The Doctor's voice immediately answered. "Good evening, Admiral. What can I do for you?"

"I need a house call."

"Then I'll be there in the next fifteen minutes."

"Ok, Doctor. Thank you."

The connection terminated and Kathryn leant against a cabinet. Her right side was killing, her face throbbing, and every part of her body was hurting. Chakotay went over to her and gently put his arm around her.

"Come and sit down," he said.

Kathryn let him help her to the couch and she sat down. As she leant back against the cushions a pain seared through her side and she clutched it.

"Where's your med-kit?" Chakotay asked. "I won't treat you, as The Doctor will need to catalogue your injuries so Brett can get what he deserves, but I can give you pain relief."

"It's in the bathroom," Kathryn answered, "bottom shelf."

Chakotay went to get the med-kit and returned with it in no time. He opened it quickly, pulled out a medical tricorder, and scanned Kathryn. As he did, Kathryn's stomach knotted in anxiety.

"The baby," she said. "Is everything...is everything ok?"

"Yes," Chakotay replied. "The baby's fine. But you have bruises all over and three cracked ribs. Damn him!"

"So long as the baby's ok. I was afraid Brett would finish us both off. If you hadn't of come when you did, maybe he would have. You always did have an impeccable sense of timing and I sure am glad of it tonight."

"He won't hurt you again," Chakotay said, taking a hypospray out of the med-kit and fiddling with it, "I promise you that." He then put the hypospray to Kathryn's neck. "This should ease the pain."

The medication took effect almost immediately and Kathryn relaxed as the pain ebbed.

"You must be thinking I'm so stupid to have gotten myself into this mess," she said. "I know I am. He was just such a different man when I met him. He was charming, intelligent, kind, gentle, witty...everything a woman wants in a man."

"Abusive husbands always start out that way," Chakotay replied, closing the med-kit and sitting beside her. "No woman deliberately marries a swine. You did nothing wrong. You loved him and you trusted him. He should have cherished both, should have cherished you."

"I did love him," she said. "Or at least I was in love with him. But the truth is I hardly knew him. I still don't. He made me believe that we were soulmates, that his interests were mine, but I think he just said what I wanted to hear. He'd probably read one of the many interviews I've given since we got back and used what he knew of me to impress me. And, stupid me, I was impressed."

"You weren't stupid, Kathryn. You're the smartest person I know. Don't ever think any of this was your fault."

Kathryn looked deep into Chakotay's eyes and tears filled her own. "I've missed you."

"I've missed you too."

"Strange, isn't it? We haven't seen each other for two years and yet it's like we only saw each other yesterday."

"That's how it should be between friends," he said. "No matter how much time has passed, a meeting should always transcend it."

"Yes," Kathryn said quietly. But while she agreed, the words hurt her heart. For even after all this time, and all that had happened, she still loved him. For a while she'd forgotten her love for him, as Brett had swept her so far off her feet that she'd lost all sense of grounding, but as her marriage fell apart, it was Chakotay that her heart longed for.

Suddenly, a blue light filled the room and the Doctor materialized.

"Commander!" he exclaimed when he saw Chakotay. "You're back! Welcome home!"

"Thank you," Chakotay said.

"When did you get back? I wasn't expecting you for another month."

"A few hours ago."

"Seven too?"

"No, Doctor," he teased. "We left her at the dig."

"Very funny, Commander. But how is she? Did she enjoy the trip?"

"She did, very much."

The Doctor then saw Kathryn's injuries and looked at her in horror. "Admiral! What happened? You look like you've done ten rounds with a Klingon!"

"No," she answered, "just one with my husband."

"What?" The Doctor said in total shock. "You mean he...? But...?"

"His way of trying to get his own way," Kathryn said. "He doesn't want the baby."

"He doesn't? But this child is a miracle! Doesn't he know how hard it is to conceive at your age?"

Chakotay spoke. "Know it or not, the guy's not fit to be a father. And we want him prosecuted. Right, Kathryn?"

"Absolutely," she said. "When he messed with me, he messed with the wrong woman."

"So, Doctor," Chakotay went on, "you'd better catalogue her injuries to the finest detail. Because he's going to pay for every single one of them."

Dazed, The Doctor opened his med-kit and took out his medical tricorder. "I can't believe this," he said. "Captain Laurence always seemed so charming. I would never have thought him capable of this, never."

"Then I wasn't the only one fooled," Kathryn said.

The Doctor scanned her. "Skin lacerations, multiple bruising, swelling, sprains, and three cracked ribs. He's used you like a punch-bag! Well, it's a good thing he's not here now because half a round with a hologram would be enough to do him like damage!"

"I've given the Admiral some pain relief," Chakotay said. "Just enough to take the edge off the pain."

"So I detect. I'll give you some more, Admiral. That should numb the pain while you give a statement to the police. It's routine in cases like this for them to actually witness the injuries so there's no doubt about their legitimacy. Once I treat you, there'll be no trace of them. Then it can be hard to prove they actually existed, especially as I'm a hologram and vulnerable to program manipulation."

"Whatever it takes to get him convicted," Kathryn said. "But I won't risk my baby's life. If more painkillers jeopardize his safety then I'll do without them."

"They won't harm your baby, Admiral. I promise."

Chakotay turned to Kathryn. "Did I hear you say 'his'?"

"Yes," Kathryn smiled. "I'm having a boy."

"With black hair and brown eyes," The Doctor added as he put a hypospray to her neck.

"Congratulations," Chakotay smiled.

The Doctor put away the hypospray. "Where is your husband from hell now?"

"I don't know," Kathryn replied. "Chakotay threw him out."

The Doctor raised an eyebrow. "You did, Commander? Bravo."

"I'm just glad I was here," Chakotay said. "If I hadn't of come when I did, I dread to think what would have happened."

"Have you called the police?"

"Not yet," Kathryn answered. "We called you first."

"Then we better had. Commander, would you?"

Chakotay got to his feet. "Right away."

Two police officers arrived at Kathryn's apartment within five minutes of Chakotay's call and took statements separately from Kathryn, Chakotay and The Doctor. As Chakotay gave his in the lounge, The Doctor treated Kathryn in her bedroom and in minutes was done.

"You may feel twinges in your side for a couple of days," The Doctor said, "and sensitive in places, but other than that you're as good as new. Well, as good as your temporal condition allows you to be."

"I'm fine. And my pregnancy shows that. I wouldn't have conceived otherwise."

"You're hardly fine, Admiral. Not only are you suffering the effects of continuous cellular degeneration from the temporal flux, but you're under weight and under nourished. There's nothing I can do about the temporal flux, except keep looking for ways to slow down the degeneration, but your low weight and nutrient deficiency must be rectified now that you're pregnant. Have you started the new diet I gave you?"

"Yes. And I've gained a couple of pounds. I just...the last few months have been very stressful and my weight has been the last thing on my mind. But now that I have junior to take care, of course I'll do everything and anything to ensure his well being."

"I'm glad to hear it. The strain your body is under at normal times is tremendous. Now that you're pregnant it's immense. You must reduce your work hours and you must eat well."

"I will, Doctor."

There was a knock on the door and Kathryn called out. "Come in!"

The door opened and one of the police officers, a friendly woman with short blonde hair, came in.

"We have finished interviewing Commander Chakotay," she said. "So, unless you have any further questions, we'll be on our way."

"I have one," The Doctor replied. "What will happen now?"

"We will arrest Captain Laurence," she said, "and charge him with assault. Cases of this nature are dealt with very quickly so he should be tried and sentenced within a week."

"Will he go to jail?" The Doctor asked.

"For a short time, certainly."

"In my opinion it should be indefinitely," he answered. "Men who beat up pregnant women are not fit to roam the streets."

"If it's any consolation," the officer replied, "he will be deranked and barred from ever captaining another ship. A man prone to violent outbursts cannot be trusted with such responsibility." She turned to Kathryn. "We'll let you know when he's in custody, Admiral. Until then, I recommend that you have someone with you at all times and a phaser at the ready."

"Recommendation noted and taken," Kathryn said.

"Then we'll leave you in peace. Take care and congratulations on your pregnancy."

"Thank you, Officer. Goodbye."

"Goodbye, Admiral. And you, Doctor."

"Goodbye," he said.

The officer went on her way and closed the door behind her.

"What I need now," Kathryn said, pulling her phaser out of a drawer and clipping it to her pants, "is a coffee. Could you, Doctor?"

"I could," he replied, "but I won't. It's a nutri-drink from this waiter or nothing."

"Then make it coffee flavored and we have a deal."

The Doctor sighed. "Very well. One coffee flavored nutri-shake coming up."

He left the bedroom and Kathryn followed him into the lounge. Chakotay was at the replicator and the smell of coffee hit Kathryn's nostrils.

"Oh, coffee!" she exclaimed. "Is it for me?"

Chakotay turned around with two cups of coffee in his hands. "Well, I don't plan on drinking both by myself."

Kathryn smiled and he walked over to her.

"I hope that coffee's decaffeinated, Commander," The Doctor said. "Need I remind you that the Admiral's pregnant?"

"It is," Chakotay answered. "And fortified with vitamins."

"Then I'll be grateful for small mercies."

Kathryn grabbed the coffee and eagerly took a drink. "Oh, heaven."

"I hate to leave you after all you've been through," The Doctor said, "but I'm on late clinic duty tonight and need to get going. Will you stay with her, Commander? Officer Travis doesn't want her left alone until Brett the brute is in custody."

"I will," Chakotay answered.

"Then I'll say goodbye. I'll call tomorrow, Admiral, to see how you're doing."

"Thank you, Doctor. Goodnight."

"Goodnight, Admiral. And welcome home again, Commander."

The Doctor then requested transport and in moments was gone.

"How are you feeling now?" Chakotay asked as he and Kathryn sat on the couch.

"Fine," she replied. "And I know I'd say that if I had both my legs torn off by a trachon beast, but I truly am. I feel like a huge weight has been lifted off my shoulders. The whole time I was with Brett I wondered if it was really him who had changed or me, but now I know it was definitely him."

"I'm sorry that things didn't work out," Chakotay said. "That he wasn't the man you thought he was."

"Me too...for junior's sake. Every child deserves a good father but in Brett that's not what he's going to get." She paused. "I'm going to file for divorce in the morning and for sole custody of the baby. I don't know if Brett will agree to a divorce, as he was pretty adamant about not agreeing to it, but as I'm filing for one he doesn't have a choice. Getting custody should be easier as he doesn't want the baby. I don't know why I even gave him the chance to want junior in the first place, because I knew he wouldn't, but I thought that if he really loved me he would. But I don't think he even knows what love is."

"Evidently. If a baby's made with love then it must surely always be welcome. I can't imagine not wanting a baby I made with love."

"Neither can I." She paused. "But I stopped loving Brett a long time ago. Intimacy with him it became...it became something that I just did. I didn't enjoy it, not like I used to, I just went through the motions. It wasn't too hard because Brett was away a lot. He captained a ship in the Caribbean for 3 months and then a 2 month cruise in the Mediterranean. It's just the weeks he was home that were hard. I thought about leaving him many times, but as we'd only just got married I felt I had to at least try to make things work."

"When did he start to change?"

"As soon as we got married. Not all at once, of course, but he got more and more domineering and possessive by the day. And the more controlling he got, the less I felt for him until I felt nothing. But as hard as things have been, I wouldn't change anything as I have junior. I love him so much and can't wait to hold him in my arms. I never thought I'd have a child, thought it was too late, and he's truly a miracle." She put down her cup of coffee. "Would you like to see a photo-scan of him?"

"I would," Chakotay said. "Very much."

"Then I'll go and get it."

With that, she went to fetch the scan. When she returned, she proudly showed it to Chakotay.

"He's still very small," she said, "only the size of a strawberry, but can you see his little arms and legs and button eyes?"

"I can," Chakotay smiled.

"He has a heartbeat too, I heard it, and on The Doctor's monitor I saw him swim in his sac. It was incredible. Totally incredible."

"I'm sure it was. He's amazing, Kathryn. And with you as his mother, he's going to have an amazing life."

"I hope so. I'm certainly going to do my best for him." She put the picture down and picked up her coffee. "But enough about me. How are you? How was your trip?"

"Wonderful," he replied. "It was everything I thought it would be and more. Annika...Seven... enjoyed it too and we've signed up for another mission that leaves in five months time." He paused. "And I have something to tell you. We're married."

Those words seemed to suck the air out of the room and Kathryn felt as though she couldn't breathe. Even though she had no claim on him, even though she had married herself, she felt as though her heart had been ripped out of her body. A part of her had hoped, hoped against all the odds, that now that he was back he was free, but his words had killed that hope forever.

"We got married over a year ago," he continued, "on our ship."

Kathryn looked at his hands, his gentle but strong hands, and saw there was indeed a tell-tale gold band on his wedding finger.

"Seven has changed so much over the passed couple of years," he went on. "You'd hardly know her now. She no longer calls herself Seven, but Annika, and apart from her super intelligence is as human as the rest of us. It's amazing the impact her failsafe device had on her personality. She even looks different as our ship doctor, who was once a cosmetic and reconstruction surgeon, was able to fully restore her human face."

Kathryn tried hard to conceal her heartache and forced a smile. "I'm very happy for you both. Congratulations."

Suddenly, a chime played and a voice spoke. "Incoming transmission from San Francisco Police Station X10."

"Receive on audio," Kathryn said.

The transmission came through and Officer Travis spoke. "This is Officer Emily Travis. You'll be pleased to know that we have arrested Captain Laurence and have him in custody. He will remain so until he is tried and sentenced."

"Thank you for informing me so promptly," Kathryn replied. "Where was he?"

"At a meeting in Seattle. He denied assulating you at first, but when we presented him with the evidence, he confessed. This makes a conviction certain. But if you have any questions or concerns, don't hesitate to get in touch with us."

"I won't," Kathryn replied. "Goodnight."

"Goodnight, Admiral."

The connection terminated and Chakotay spoke. "I'm glad he's getting what's coming to him. I'm damned angry at what he's done to you, Kathryn, damned angry." He paused, swallowing the rage that was rising again. "Would you like me to stay tonight?"

"No," she answered. "But thank you for offering. I'll be ok."

"Are you sure? Annika and I are staying with her aunt in Sweden, until we get a place of our own, and I'm sure they'd appreciate time to catch up."

"No, I'll be fine, honestly. In fact, I'm pretty tired and would like an early night."

Chakotay put his hand on her shoulder. "In that case, I'll say goodnight."

He got to his feet and Kathryn walked him to the door.

"I'll come back tomorrow," he said when they got there, "with Annika. She really wants to see you."

"And I her," Kathryn replied.

"We're on commlink," Chakotay said as he opened the door, "so call us if you need anything."

"I will," Kathryn answered. "Thank you. And thank you for what you did tonight."

"No need to thank me. I'm just glad I was around." He gently drew her close and hugged her tenderly. "Goodnight, Kathryn."

Tears filled Kathryn's eyes as they hugged but she fought to suppress them. "Goodnight, Chakotay."

Then Chakotay drew away and, before she knew it, was gone.

END OF CHAPTER 5