A/N: My greatest apologies for taking so long to update this. Real life and university has meant that the time in which I have to write is extremely limited. I'm trying my very best, now that the holidays have started, to get as much written and up for you all. I hope that at least someone is still reading this and that those of you who are continue to enjoy this. It will be a long running fiction so please bare with me as a continue to work on it. My thanks go to everyone who has read and reviewed so far and to everyone who will read and review from now on.
- Twisted -
Kathryn was sat in the middle of her living room floor, wrapping paper and ribbon surrounding her as she fought to wrap Kes' birthday present when her door chime sounded.
"Come in."
Chakotay entered and handed Kathryn a coffee without making any comments until she had taken her first sip. "If only the crew could see their Captain now."
Kathryn threw a roll of ribbon at the chuckling man and hit him on the leg, causing him to outright laugh. Kathryn chuckled and placed her coffee on the floor beside her. "If you're clever, you'd come and do this."
"Oh no! I've given you half of my rations for coffee so you could so this."
"Meanie." She muttered as she went back to the gift in front of her.
Chakotay stood silent and watched as she finally managed to get the paper to stick. He crouched down and handed her the ribbon she had thrown at him, their fingers brushing. He stayed where he was, gave her his finger when she asked and helped her finish tying the bow off before standing and helping her stand too. Kathryn, who hadn't stopped smiling since Chakotay entered the room, shoved the gift into the handsome man's hands before scooping her coffee off and quickly finishing it off.
"How are you this morning, Kathryn?"
"I'm fine Chakotay, good even."
"Good. Are you ready to go?"
"I think so." She threw her jacket on and did it up. "Thank you for the other night, Chakotay."
"You have no need to thank me, but you're welcome."
A few nights before Kathryn had had a time of reminiscence. Memories of all sorts flooding her brain. She had retired from the Bridge early and curled up in her bed, allowing the tears to fall, the distance away from home finally fully dawning on her. Later that night Chakotay had heard her sobs through the thin walls and had gone to help her. At first Kathryn had pushed him away, not wanting him to see her like that but when he continued to persevere, she gave in and allowed him to hold her. For the following days, Kathryn was stiff around Chakotay, drawing back a little, fearful of the effect on their professional relationship. Chakotay back off, giving her the space to think and process what had happened. It hadn't taken her long to relax with him again, but only after reaffirming the parameters. Now though, Chakotay signaled for Kathryn to precede him out of the door, keeping Kes' present in one hand while to other brushed along her back as she passed. Chakotay knew he should stop his little touches but found that unless Kathryn specifically told him to, then he wouldn't. He had however managed to limit herself to only allowing the little touches when they are alone. And gradually, he hoped Kathryn would start little touches of her own.
"Chakotay, are you okay?"
Chakotay came out of his thoughts. "I'm sorry Kathryn; I was lost in my thoughts. What are you saying?"
She smiled at him in forgiveness. "I was saying that I can't believe Kes is two already. It seems like just yesterday that she and Neelix joined the crew."
"I know; she's managed to adjust so well."
"They both have."
Chakotay nodded. "Have you spent much time with her?"
"I've tried. We've had breakfast a few times and she joined me on the holodeck once. I'm spending an evening with her next week, as long as nothing happens before then."
"I'm glad. And Samantha?"
"Once a week she comes over with her document book so I can help her out and talk."
"It's good she's got you to lean on."
Kathryn nodded but kept her thoughts on how much time she didn't have to spend with her crew to herself.
Chakotay saw her smiled drop minutely for second, but chose to file it away from later, rather than to comment on it. She was openly being Kathryn, the Captain not showing u, at least not yet. And as the pair stepped onto the holodeck, the Captain still didn't show. Chakotay was pleased that she had now relaxed enough to be around her crew both off schedule and as Kathryn, at least, as much as her personal self that she was willing to show.
Their semi-personal conversation when they arrived at the holodeck. Chakotay handed Kathryn the box and headed off towards the crewmen that were gathered at the bar. Kathryn followed him with her eyes before scanning the room for Samantha, the urge to follow her own unspoken rules and leave the crew to their fun was pulling her to the exit, and the thought of being there for Kes stopped her. She spotted Samantha by the door, taking a seat on one of the leather sofas.
"Mind if I join you?"
Samantha smiled. "Not at all."
Kathryn too smiled and sat next to the younger woman, her back ram rod straight.
"You don't need to worry."
"Sorry?" Kathryn turned her attention to the woman, her eyes no longer darting around the room.
"You're more than welcome here with us all."
"I know that."
"Then relax a little, Kathryn. We have much more fun when you're about. It stops us worrying about you."
"You don't need to do that, Chakotay worried about me enough for the whole crew."
"Which makes him tense when you're not about. Trust me and relax. No one is going to complain about you joining in, in anything. And Kes will be so happy to see you. It's no secret that she sees you as a mother."
Kathryn blushed and turned her attention to the room to find Chakotay stood just a few feet away. When their eyes met, he came closer.
"Neelix has said it's time to hide, he's going to collect Kes."
Kathryn nodded and she and Samantha stood. Kathryn went to the middle of the room with Chakotay and hid behind the pool table. The rest of the crew followed her lead and found places behind and around her, but keeping her at the front. Samantha stuck to the edge of the large group. She got along with Kes who was one of a very small group of people that knew she was pregnant. She was almost four months along and knew that she wouldn't be about to keep it a secret for much longer as she started to grow.
"Computer, turn off all light, only turn them on with the opening of the doors."
Samantha made a mental note to bring up all of her concerns about showing with the woman who had just spoken.
Just a few minute later Kes entered with Neelix, there's only a short delay until the lights turned on.
"Surprise!" Everyone revealed themselves to the birthday girl.
"Surprise! Happy birthday, my sweet," Neelix whispered into Kes' ear.
Kathryn stepped forward and handed the girl her present. "Happy birthday, Kes."
Kes glanced at the neatly wrapped box before placing it gently on the pool table and throwing herself at Kathryn in happiness. Kathryn caught her with ease and held her tight. Chakotay chuckled and took a step forward as Kes let go of Kathryn.
"Why was everyone hiding?" The guest of honor asked the Captain.
"It's an old Earth tradition called a surprise party." Tom called out from somewhere.
Kathryn placed a hand on Kes' arm. "Sorry if we startled you." She nearly whispered. It hadn't crossed her mind that there was a possibility that Kes wouldn't know what a surprise party was.
When Neelix swept Kes off to the bar to see the Doctor, Chakotay stepped forward, a hand resting lightly on the small of Kathryn's back. "She's having a great time already, Kathryn."
Kathryn nodded and leaned back the slightest amount into his hand, sending a thrill through Chakotay, she had never done that before. He chose not to react, but his thumb twitched in a circular pattern anyway, causing her to move to stand with Tom and Kes, a bit closer to the pool table. Chakotay stayed where he was, just a few steps away, acting as normal as he could, bit that anyone was paying him any attention.
"Birthday gifts are also an old Earth tradition." Tom handed her a long thin box.
Kes looked at him as she took him from him. "Oh, thank you, Tom." You didn't have to."
"Hey, who am I to fly in the face of tradition?"
Kes giggled and opened the box, a beautiful round pendant stared up at her. "Tom it's beautiful, it must have cost you a weeks' worth of replicator rations."
"Two weeks' actually, but who's counting? I'm glad you like it." He smiled at her reaction.
Kes took it out and admitted it, her eyes sparkling. Kathryn felt her heart swell as she watched her. She glanced at Neelix and spotted jealousy shine in his eyes, so she stepped next to Kes and drew her attention.
"May I?"
Kes nodded and gently handed it over.
"Oh, it's lovely." She took a step closer showing Kes the locket. "You see, it's a locket. You pit little photographs in here. It keeps the people you love close to your heart."
"It's lovely."
The pair turned to look at Neelix who was with Chakotay at the bar.
"I'm sure he'll give you one."
"Can I have one of you too?"
Kathryn was shocked to the core. "Are you sure?" Kes nodded. "Then I would be honored. I'll find one out for you."
"Thank you."
"Anything." Kathryn placed a hand on Kes' arm. After another brief hug, Kes was swept into the crowd being handed gifts from most of the crew, Kathryn's had remained on the pool table and it hurt a little. Chakotay made his way over to her.
"Are you okay?"
"Kes didn't open her gift."
"She will and she'll love it."
"I hope so." She turned to face Chakotay. "What's wrong with Neelix?"
"Nothing, really, he's a little jealous of Tom."
"Paris?"
"The one and the same."
Kathryn shook her head. "I hope that boy doesn't cause any problems. Kes is happy with Neelix."
"Don't worry, I'll keep an eye on it all."
Kathryn nodded in thanks and turned quickly when she felt someone timidly touch her back. "Kes, are you okay?"
"Yes. I wanted to open your gift." She indicated to box in her hands.
Kathryn smiled and nodded. Chakotay led the pair to a sofa and Kes slowly opened the package. A medical kit starred up at her. Kes' eyes sparkled as her fingers ran across her name.
"The Doctor continues to inform me of your budding success in the medical field. I thought you might appreciate your own kit."
Kes popped the lid open. "Thank you," she whispered. "You didn't have to."
"I wanted to, Kes."
"Thank you. I'll put it to good use."
"Good."
Kes leaned over and hugged Kathryn. Kathryn held her tight, one hand rubbing her back. They would have stayed like that a little longer, both enjoying the contact, but Neelix came over, a large blue cake in his hands, two lit candles in the middle. The women stood and the crewmen crowded around, all of the close. So close that Chakotay had to place an arm around the Captain's waist to prevent her from losing her footing. Kathryn blushed but otherwise didn't act, thankful for the support, the heat of his touch was starting to burn through her uniform, it was both pleasant and uncomfortable. Chakotay must of sensed her discomfort because as soon as he felt he could, he let go. Kathryn breathed a sigh of relief and focused her mind back on the commotion around her.
"Seven layers of Jibelian fudge, and the icing is made from pureed l'maski nuts, Kes' favourite."
Kes' smile grew wider at the sight of the beautiful desert.
Kathryn held her shoulders and leaned into her. "Now make a wish and blow out the candles." Her voice was soft, almost like one would use with a child.
"What do I wish for" and the question was just as innocent as a child's.
But before Kathryn could answer, one of the female holocharacters answered, "Anything your petit Coeur desires, ma Cherie. And with a figure like hers, she'll probably get it too." The woman winked at Kathryn who' eyes darted to Chakotay and back involuntarily.
"Okay, I wish for…"
"Don't tell us!" B'Elanna stopped Kes talking as quick as she could. "The wish has to be a secret if it's going to come true." She continued in order to quell the confusion that was clearly showing on her face.
Kes nodded and paused briefly before blowing out her two candles. As the tiny flames were extinguished a round of applause rippled through the room from everyone. Neelix was about to take the cake back to the bar to cut into slices for the crew when Tuvok's voice was heard over the comm system.
Kathryn ignored to few scattered groans and took a few steps away from Kes, towards Chakotay. "Go ahead, Lieutenant."
"Captain, we have encountered an unusual phenomenon, phenomenon, phenomenon, phenomenon…" Tuvok's voice continued to echo through the room.
All movement stopped and Kathryn looked up at Chakotay, worry taking all happiness from her.
"What is going on, Lieutenant?" Kathryn tried to communicate with Tuvok, but in the end looked over to B'Elanna, who was stood at the side console trying to silence the still repeating voice.
"It might simply be a localized malfunction, but I've never heard anything like it. My guess is…" Tuvok's voice stopped. "…it's a problem with the comm system itself."
"Janeway to Bridge." There was no answer so she turned to B'Elanna. "Get down to engineering and run a diagnostic. I'm afraid we're going to have to cut your party short, Kes." She placed a hand on her elbow.
"It's okay."
"Station's everyone. Let's move." Kathryn started to lead the way out the room.
"But, but, what about the Jibelian fudge cake?" Neelix called.
"Save me a slice, won't you?" her stomach made a quiet noise in protest, wanting to have the delicious looking cake there and then. Kathryn stopped suddenly and turned to Samantha. "Stay."
"Excuse me?"
"Stay here, look after Neelix and Kes."
"But Captain, I'm needed on the Bridge."
"No. Now stay here. That's an order, Ensign." Kathryn only waited for her nod before stalking out of the large doors.
Chakotay looked apologetically at Samantha. "I'll speak to her."
"Thank you."
Chakotay inclined his head and quickened his pace to match Kathryn's.
"There was no need for that, Kathryn."
"I need to know she's safe."
"I understand, but where has this come from?"
"I have a bad feeling about whatever is happening, Chakotay. The holodeck is the safest place on board this ship."
Chakotay opened his mouth to retort but closed it as he noticed Tom and B'Elanna join them on the turbolift. He didn't know where this sudden protectiveness was coming from though.
"Bridge." The lift started moving and Kathryn turned to the other occupants. "The first this I want to do when we get to the Bridge is establish a remote comm link to engineering. I want to know exactly what's going on."
"Aye, Captain." Chakotay's voice was fully professional, not even an underlying tone just for her.
Kathryn noticed and she brought forward her full Captain persona and hid behind it. They all stepped out of the turbolift together. Kathryn frowned. "Where are we?"
Tom looked around for something to identify the deck and must have seen something because he declared, "Deck four."
"If the comm system's malfunctioning, the computer could be misreading out voice commands." Chakotay suggested.
"That might explain why it took us here instead of the Bridge."
"We'd better try setting the controls manually."
The group clambered back into the turbolift and Tom messed with the manual controls, leaving Kathryn and Chakotay at the back, an awkward silence setting between them. Kathryn had become accustomed to their ease over the past weeks and was unsure how to approach the situation, so she fell back on what she knew, her captaincy.
"And have someone take a look at the turbolift voice receptors, Commander."
"Aye, Captain."
The lift came to a stop and Kathryn stepped out, orders for the Bridge crew on the tip of her tongue but when her brain processed where she was, she sighed in frustration. "This is engineering. What's going on here?" She lifted her arms questioningly but dropped them when no one offered an answer.
"It looks like we're dealing with more than just a comm system malfunction."
Kathryn rolled her eyes and turned back to the turbolift. 'Well that's bleeding obvious, Chakotay.' "Computer, Bridge." She formed each word clearly and strictly.
Both accompanying men stood next to each other at the back of the lift.
"What's her problem?"
"Nothing," Chakotay whispered, not wanting to unknowingly reveal anything to the ship's main contributor to the gossip vine.
But however unwittingly, both Kathryn and Chakotay had provided plenty of talk for the crewmen and the tense atmosphere that had appeared once more was only fueling Tom's imagination. The trio stepped out again and Kathryn had to resist the urge to stamp her foot and settled on sighing instead. Tom glance back before slightly quickening his steps, just enough so that the command duo could talk in whispers but not lose sight of him. He followed the sound of hushed voices and the older pair followed, engaged in their conversation.
"We need to talk, Kathryn."
"We do not." Kathryn's voice was harsh and that should have been the end of it, but Chakotay chose to ignore her tone.
"We do."
"Not now, Chakotay. We agreed our friendship would not interfere with our responsibilities."
"Which is exactly what you have just done to Samantha."
Kathryn knew that he was right, but her stubbornness wouldn't allow it. The appearance of B'Elanna, Harry, Neelix and Kes gave her an excuse to push the conversation away.
"We'll talk about it later."
"What about Samantha?"
"She stays where she is. When this is over I'll talk to her."
All Chakotay could do was nod. His brain was quickly ticking. Something was going on in Kathryn's head that was causing her to struggle to keep her work / life balance as she had managed to perfect after a week of the Delta Quadrant.
"I don't suppose anyone here knows the way to the Bridge?" Tom's voice brought Chakotay back to the situation at hand.
When everyone present replied in the negative, Kathryn led them all into the holodeck where every member of the crew sat around a large table. Chakotay sat to Kathryn's left, as he always did and Samantha automatically gravitated towards the right of the Captain. Everyone else sat almost as they would in the conference room during a briefing.
"Let me get this straight. This distortion ring has completely immobalised us. We have no means of communication with the Bridge or any other part of the ship. And no matter where any of us have tried to go, the Bridge, engineering, Kes' quarters, we've all eventually ended up here, right back at deck six."
"The Bridge is one deck. Engineering is on deck eleven. Deck six is hallway between, right?" Ensign Kim stated the obvious.
"So?" Kathryn's bad mood seemed to be rubbing off on Chakotay.
"So if we're being surrounded by this ring, maybe it's pushing us all to the centre of the ship." Harry explained himself.
"But it's not just that we're being led back here. I mean, rooms are in the wrong places. Is it possible that this distortion ring is somehow changing the layout of the ship?"
"There is another possibility." The Doctor dived straight into the debate starting at the table. "Exposure to some type of EM radiation has been known to cause hallucinations. Perhaps it's not the ship that's undergone changes, but rather your perception of it. Unfortunately, without my medical equipment to analyse your optic nerve, there's no way to tell."
Kes' eyes flicked to her med kit but didn't say anything. She highly doubted that EM radiation was involved. Kathryn noticed Kes' reaction and chose not to comment. She felt Samantha tense beside her, a hand going to her stomach. Kathryn looked to her, worry flashing in her eyes. When Samantha didn't look at her, she placed a hand on her arm under the table, drawing her attention.
"Are you okay? Is something wrong?"
Samantha shook her head. "I'm fine."
"Are you sure?"
"Yes, just got lost in my thoughts is all."
Kathryn nodded but wasn't entirely sure she believed her. She squeezed her arms in what Kathryn hoped was a comforting manner before turning back to the group. Samantha remained silent, almost grateful for Kathryn's, no the Captain's, orders to stay put. It had quickly become apparent to Samantha that the Captain was often a completely different person to Kathryn, the two rarely meeting as had happened earlier.
"We'll never figure it out sitting here," Kathryn called over the top of all the other voices, bringing the debate to a close. "We need information about this phenomenon. Sensor readings, computer analysis. We have to find a way back to the Bridge."
"I we can't get Back on foot or on the turbolift, maybe we can rig a site to site transport. Beam ourselves to the Bridge."
"We'd have to get to a transporter room first."
"Or to engineering." B'Elanna threw her hands up. "Wherever that is"
Tom leaned on the table towards B'Elanna. "When we tried to go to the Bridge, one of the places the turbolift took us was engineering. Maybe, if we repeated our steps, it'll take us back there."
Kathryn nodded. "It's worth a shot." She knew Tom was talking directly to B'Elanna, but she was getting antsy, she hated sitting still in a crisis especially when she was anywhere but the Bridge. "Lieutenant Paris, you're with Torres."
"Maybe we can get to the Bridge through a Jefferies tube. If I remember my ship specs correctly, there should be an emergency access conduit which leads directly from this deck to deck one, right behind the bridge." Harry spoke as if the previous conversation between the other crew members hadn't happened. He unintentionally caused others at the table to make their requests fully known to the Captain, starting with Chakotay.
"I'd like to keep trying to get to the Bridge on foot. If the ship has been reconfigured somehow, I can get a deck by deck picture of what it looks like as I go."
"What's going to keep you from getting lost?" Tom's mouth had moved quicker than Kathryn's and she was grateful for it, unsure on how 'Captain lie' the question would have been.
Chakotay had sensed Kathryn stiffen beside him so he chose to look at her instead of Tom. He knew from personal experience that their disagreements didn't stop their feelings for the other, if anything, it increased the sensitivity and unpredictability of those feelings. "I'll get a tricorder from the storage locker, rig it to omit a photoplasmic trail." He was both relieved and concerned when he saw Kathryns feelings fade behind her mask.
"right." She inclined her head sharply once. "We should all get tricorders. Set them on active san. Gather as much information as we can about what's happening to the ship."
There was no time for arguments as Kathryn stood, causing everyone else to follow.
"May I request that Kes be allowing to stay here with me? Besides helping stave off the predatory advances of that woman, she may be able to help me find a way to transfer myself back to sickbay."
Kathryn glanced at Samantha, who could help the Doctor more so than Kes, but nodded anyway. The Doctor knew of Samantha's condition and would look after her, as would Kes.
"And, er, I'll assist Commander Chakotay, Captain. As you may have heard, my tracking skills are legendary throughout the quadrant."
Kathryn knew that she couldn't accept the others but refuse Neelix, so she handed the decision to Chakotay, he was her First Officer after all. "That all right with you, commander?"
Chakotay rolled his eyes and sent a silent look of horror to Kathryn but nodded all the same. The look that usually pulled a least a small smile from Kathryn, didn't even begin to twitch. To him it just proved just how much Kathryn was hidden behind the Captain. While Kathryn hoped to give him the impression of anger, he did after all, call her out on a personal discussion while on duty. 'Not fair Kathryn, you know you started that one'. To distract herself, she threw herself into the most demanding course. "Mister Kim, I'm with you. Let's do it." She headed out the doors to the closest hatch with Harry at her heel like a puppy.
Chakotay and Neelix were the last of the crew to leave, heading to the Bridge on foot. They had been walking in silence for barely five minutes when Neelix couldn't stop himself any longer.
"Commander, I would imagine you've had some experience with women."
Chakotay chuckled. "Some."
"Oh, come now. Ha! A handsome man like you. I bet women find you irresistible."
'All but the one I want'. Chakotay stopped and turned to the Talaxian. "Neelix, what's this about?" there was no way Chakotay was going to talk about his own womanly experiences with nay one but especially not Neelix.
"Er, er, er, have you, er, but have you ever been jealous?"
"Of course." The sudden thought of Mark with Kathryn brought forth a spark of sad emotion.
"You have?" Neelix was surprised at the answer the Commander had given him.
"I imagine most people who've been in love have been jealous at one time or another." Until Chakotay had met Kathryn, he didn't believe that it was in his nature to be jealous.
"I see. It's a perfectly normal response. Then why, why is it so unpleasant?" the latter half was directed at Chakotay while the other was almost like Neelix was talking to himself.
"Jealousy's about the fear of losing someone we love. There's no pain greater than that." He paused, struggling to force down his feeling of losing Kathryn. "Neelix, are you afraid you're going to lose Kes to someone?"
"No! I mean, I don't think so. At least, I certainly hope not. I just can't seem to stop these awful feelings." There was anger and fear in his tone.
"Nothing make us more vulnerable than when we love someone. We can be hurt very easily. But I've always believed that what you get when you love someone is greater than what you risk." Even though his speech was aimed at Neelix. With the intention of reassuring him, he realised he was also arguing with himself; his brain telling him to back off, his heart was protesting and very loudly at that.
Neelix began to speak, but whatever he was going to say was interrupted by Baxter who rounded the corner. "Commander, am I ever glad to see you. Do you have any idea what's going on?"
Chakotay was relieved at the interruption, as much as he enjoyed talking to members of the crew, he was starting to feel uncomfortable at the intimate nature of the current conversation. "Not exactly."
"Well, I feel like I've been wandering around for hours. I can't find the cargo bay."
"Have you seen anyone else? Any more of the crew?"
Baxter shrugged a shoulder. "Some people roaming around like me. A couple of times I ended up in the mess hall. There're quite a few people there."
"I suggest you make your way back. Tell everyone you run into to come with you, and all of you stay put in the mess hall. When we figure out what's going on, we'll let you know."
"Aye, Captain." Baxter nodded and headed back in the direction he had just come from.
Once Baxter had disappeared from sight Chakotay and Neelix carried on in their path, this time in silence, both men lost in their own thoughts. Occasionally they would look at their tricorders, but it wasn't until Tuvok exited one of the rooms and came towards them that the silence was broken.
"Gentlemen." He greeted.
"Tuvok, what are you doing here?" Chakotay asked in surprise, he was supposed to have the Bridge.
"That is an interesting question, Commander. I am not certain how I arrived in this location."
"You're lost too." 'Well, it's not EM radiation hallucinations'.
Tuvok nodded. "Indeed. When I received no word from you or the Captain, I left Lieutenant Ayala in command and came to look for myself."
"Can you lead us to the Bridge?" There was a flicker of hope in his chest. If he could get to the Bridge he could bring the situation under control.
"I do not believe so." And that hope disappeared. "When I first realised I was lost, I attempted to retrace my steps only to find myself here."
"None of us have been able to get to the Bridge. In fact, Neelix and I can't seem to get off deck six."
"Strange, I thought we were on deck three."
Chakotay frowned. "What was out status when you left the Bridge?"
"The ring had penetrated our shields and is now in direct contact with the hull."
"Then maybe it is possible the distortions are someone reconfiguring the ship." It was just one of many thoughts Chakotay had on the situation.
Neelix had been stood to the side of the two senior officers silently listening to the entire conversation in silence and now his mind had started to wander. And so too did his body. He rounded the closest corner and then another two before he realised he had wandered away from Chakotay and Mr. Vulcan. When he couldn't retrace his steps he carried on waling, in hopes that he would come across the holodeck or his precious kitchen.
Chakotay and Tuvok had continued their conversation for a few more moments after Neelix had wandered off, neither of them noticing until they had agreed on heading back to the holodeck.
Chakotay turned to the side, his lips already forming the words "Neelix let's go" that were unneeded. He and Tuvok stood on the spot and looked around for the Talaxian. "Neelix?" He was nowhere to be found and there was no reply to their calls. The pair gave it a few minutes in case Neelix rounded a corner, but when he didn't they slowly made their way back the way Chakotay and Neelix had walked, hoping to reach the holodeck.
Kathryn was enjoying the physical effort that was always needed when crawling and climbing through the Jefferies tubes. Much to Kathryn's surprise and delight, young Mister Harry Kim was managing to stay by her side, despite the quick pace that she kept. Exercise had always been on of Kathryn's ways to stop thinking, that was the whole reason that she happy to go along with Harry; she wanted to stop thinking about Samantha and Chakotay. And it was working.
"I don't understand it. We should have found the hatch to the Bridge ten minutes ago. I feel like we're crawling in circles."
"But we haven't, at least not according to this tricorder." 'I know my ship, we've not passed through a single tube that's been duplicated'. Kathryn stopped and fully looked at her tricorder. "Odd."
Harry stopped too, sitting opposite the Captain. "What is it?"
"A very faint electromagnetic reading. Now it's gone. There it is from another direction."
Harry fully looked at his own tricorder. "Yeah, I'm getting it too."
"It comes and goes, jumps from place to place."
"Could it be evidence of the ship's reconfiguration?"
"Possibly. We'll have to compare this data with the readings the other get." She paused, thinking. "Harry?"
"Yes, Ma'am."
'It's not crunch time'. "I just want you to know you've been one of the bright spots of this while mission. You've exceeded any expectations I might have had of you." Her voice was softer. Chakotay would have called it her 'Kathryn' voice. Apparently there was a difference between that and her 'Captain' voice. The thought caused her lips to turn up just the slightest for the briefest of seconds.
"That you, Captain. I appreciate that. What a minute. Down there. I think that's the conduit leading to the Bridge."
"Good work. Maybe now we'll get some answers. She crawled the last couple of feet towards the conduit that Harry had just pointed out.
"That's the hatch, Captain. This should let us out in the cargo hold directly behind the Bridge."
Kathryn nodded and attempted to open the hatch via the computer controls as she had done with all the others. After three failed tires she declared, frustrated, "It's not working."
"We better try it manually." Harry handed Kathryn the electromagnet.
Kathryn pushed and pulled, putting all of her body weight and strength behind it. "It's stuck." She became a little harsher with it, sending out a silent apology to the ship. Just as she was about to give up, the hatch flew open and her arm was pulled through into the distortion. The pain shot through her arm causing her to gasp.
"Captain!" Harry grabbed Kathryn around the waist trying to pull her back.
"I can't get my arm out."
Harry took her slightly pained sentence as a sign that he should pull harder, and that is exactly what he did. Second later, Kathryn was sat a little way from the now closed hatch, breathing deeply.
"I think I'm okay."
Harry nodded, satisfied with her answer and withdrew his tricorder. "I'm reading an intense electromagnetic charge on the other side of the hatch. That must have been what was pulling you in."
"It's as if everything on the other side is in a state of structural flux. The walls, the atmosphere."
"And the sequence of those fluctuations matches the readings from the distortion ring. This phenomenon isn't just occurring in space. It's definitely inside the ship as well."
"We're going to have to regroup and come up with a plan from combating this thing." Kathryn goes to crouch and move back towards the holodeck, but finds that she can't and collapses back into an sitting position.
"Captain, what's wrong?"
"I don't know…oh!" she fell into darkness her mind blank, free of everything, her body limp.
"Captain? Captain!" Harry tried to revive her before placing her over his should and making his way back to the holodeck as quickly as he could. After a few minutes, when he realised he should have been growing tired under her dead weight, he allowing his brain to focus slightly on how light she was and it brought concerns to the forefront of his mind. He made a mental note to approach Chakotay with his worries.
It took Harry barely half an hour to get back to deck six, much less time than what it took the pair of them to get to where they were.
"Can I get some help here?" Harry called as the doors to the holodeck finished opening, drawing the attention of the whole deck as he entered.
Samantha, Kes and the Doctor all rush to his side as he placed the Captain gently on the sofa in the corner. Samantha instantly knelt on the floor and checked her over while the Doctor spoke to Harry.
A renewed concern sat in Samantha's heart. In all the months that she had known Kathryn she had never seen her like this. Other members of the crew, sure, but not her, not Kathryn. It made her realise that the Captain truly was human.
Sometime later, Samantha was sat on the sofa with Kathryn's head pillowed on her lap, Chakotay was standing a few steps away from the two ladies with everyone around him, but he always had one eye on Kathryn. He had never before realised how distracting it was to have the other half of their duo unconscious. So much so that he didn't notice when B'Elanna and Tom beamed in until he heard the voice of Gaunt Gary.
"Would you mind moving your foot, Tommy Boy? It's blocking my shot."
Chakotay ignored him and spoke directly to the pair that were jumping off of the pool table. "Tell me you already made it to the bridge, and you've come back here to give us a status report."
B'Elanna shook her head. "We locked onto the Bridge co-ordinates, but this is where we ended up. None of you have any luck either?"
"Not only has no one been able to reach the Bridge, but the Captain came into contact with the spatial distortion and is now unconscious." Tuvok sounded through his emotionless voice that all had been lost. It was no secret that the Vulcan still did not trust Chakotay.
"That's not all. We lost Neelix too." Chakotay pulled that the attention away from Kathryn knowing that not only was she being looked after, but that he and Samantha were worrying enough over her for the whole crew.
"Lost him?" Tom asked.
Chakotay nodded. "He turned a corner, and he was just gone. We think the spatial distortions are continually changing the configuration of the corridors."
"Kes must be worried sick." B'Elanna said, her eyes drifting to the young woman.
"And it isn't just Neelix who's missing. Where's the rest of the crew?" Harry asked, not wanting people to forget that here were other members of crew, not just those that worked on the Bridge.
"It is likely that they too are trapped in other parts of the ship, cut off from the communication and unable to find their way out." Tuvok answered logically, his response had been waiting in his brain sine he himself had gotten lost.
"So what do we do now?" Tom asked from his perch on top of one of the nearby tables.
Chakotay took command, tearing his attention from Kathryn. "This wave is obviously causing some kind of radical reconfiguration of the ship. We've got to try to reverse it. If not, we may never be able to get to the Bridge."
"How are we supposed to reverse something we don't understand?" B'Elanna asked. She may have come across many things, but never this. "No matter where we go, we end up here. Corridors are realigning. Rooms are in the wrong place. What's the pattern?" her frustration was clearly coming through her voice.
"We would certainly benefit from having an accurate picture of what the ship currently looks like. That way we could have a better chance of getting where we want to go." Tuvok didn't want to appear like he was trying to step on his toes so made his thoughts sound more like a suggestion.
"Maybe we could make a map.2 Harry bounced off of Tuvok's idea.
"Ensign?"
"one good thing about all the wandering we've been doing is that we've been collecting a lot of tricorder data about the structural changes that have been taking place."
"And if we fed all that information into the central database, the computer might be able to extrapolate a schematic of the ship as it's configured now."
Chakotay nodded. "What are we waiting for?" He glanced back at Samantha who nodded to him and he left with the rest of the Bridge crew on his tail.
Once everyone had gone, the Doctor took a seat next to Kes at the bar, leaving Samantha alone with Kathryn. She ran her fingers through Kathryn's long auburn hair, gently prising it all from the tight bun that she insisted on wearing. Kathryn stirred.
"Shh, it's okay Kathryn. You're safe," she whispered soothingly until he forehead smoothed out again.
Samantha glanced up when the doors opened and nodded at Chakotay. Rather than gathering around the Captain like before, the Bridge crew took seats around a large table, all leaning towards each other, talking rapidly. Samantha wanted to join in, but couldn't bring herself to leave Kathryn's side. She had done so much for her and this was the least she felt she could do. She caught snippets of the conversation, none of which did anything to reassure her.
"A shock pulse of that magnitude would create a subatomic particle shower all over the ship."
"Which could set off a chain reaction that would course not only the ring to explode outward, but Voyager along with it."
…
"If we don't give this a try, we're going to get crushed anyway."
…
"Evacuate whoever's on duty and initiate the warp pulse."
…
Samantha was brought out of her thoughts when Chakotay placed a hand on her shoulder.
"How is she?"
"I think she's okay. She's been in and out on consciousness since she got here. I'll be worried if she doesn't wake up soon, but the Doctor says there's nothing he can do while stuck in here."
Chakotay nodded and took a seat in front of them. He ran a hand gently through Kathryn's hair and touched her cheek.
"You should tell her how you truly feel, Chakotay."
He shook his head. "We're in and out of our friendship as it is. We know that we have feelings for each other, we've discussed it, but she's refusing to allow herself to be happy."
Samantha nodded. "She'll come around soon enough. Not even Captain Kathryn Janeway can go seventy five years alone."
"I know I can't." The pair chuckled. "How are you?"
"I'm okay. Please don't be angry at Kathryn for making me stay here."
"I thought you wanted me to talk to her?"
"I did, but I've had time to think about it. I was a bit rash in my emotions. I have this little one to think about now." She placed her free hand on her only slightly swollen stomach. "I can't go gallivanting about a warping ship. She realised that before I did."
Chakotay nodded. He would apologise to Kathryn as soon as she was well again.
The pair continued to talk, only being interrupted by the shaking of the ship.
"They're heating up the warp core. They must be close to initiating the shock burst." The shaking became more violent. "Everyone take cover!"
Samantha curled herself over Kathryn and Chakotay did the same over Samantha, hoping that he could protect the both of them from whatever was to happen. The shaking abruptly stopped and Chakotay stood.
"Are you okay?"
"Yes, I'm fine. Go do what you need to."
Chakotay did a quick round of all the crew members and Samantha gave Kathryn a quick once over. Chakotay sat back in the chair a few minutes later and discreetly held one of Kathryn's hands.
"I'm here my darling," he whispered so quietly that Samantha nearly didn't hear him.
Kathryn opened her eyes and looked at Chakotay. The Doctor saw the movement and made his way over.
"Kathryn." He tightened his grip reassuringly.
"Dark. Gan."
Fear gripped Chakotay's heart in its cold hands. "What's wrong with her?"
Samantha placed her free hand on top of Chakotay's in the hope of providing him with a little comfort.
"It's possible the spatial distortions have damaged her speech centre."
Chakotay turned his attention to Kathryn who was no looking up at Samantha, who was talking to her soothingly.
"Chakotay, it didn't work!" B'Elanna called as she hurtled into the room, Harry close behind her.
Chakotay shot up from his position in front of 'his' girls.
"Instead of forcing the implosion outward, the pulse is drawing it in at a faster rate." Harry was much more clear headed than B'Elanna seemed to be.
"You're saying it made things worse?" Tom asked.
Harry nodded once sharply. "I don't think we have much more than a few minutes."
B'Elanna, in what seemed like desperation, turned to Tom. "Paris, we have to get to the navigational array and give Tuvok's plan a try."
"I'm afraid there is no long time for that."
"Why not?" B'Elanna and the rest of the crew turned to look at Tuvok, who was looking out towards the holodeck doors. The spatial distortion had started to affect the holodeck.
Chakotay took a step back, now standing next to Samantha and Kathryn as the crew discussed amongst themselves how best to approach the situation. Both Chakotay and Kathryn had learnt that once the crew got their teeth into something it was best to let them continue as they were, only coming to interfere when the crew needed or desired them. And it tended to work wanders.
When things started to get heated between B'Elanna and Tuvok, Chakotay decided that he was needed.
"Whatever this thing is, B'Elanna, it's bigger and more powerful than we are. Maybe, maybe this is one bear we can't wrestle to the ground. Maybe, like Tuvok says, there' nothing we can do but let it happen, and hope for the best."
"Fine. Fine, Chakotay. Have it your way!" B'Elanna threw herself into the closest chair and heaved a great sigh.
Everyone settled and waited for the distortion to enclose around them. As Chakotay was about to sit on the edge of the sofa with Kathryn and Samantha, Tuvok approached him.
"Commander Chakotay?"
"Yes Mister Tuvok?"
"I want to thank you for endorsing my recommendation."
"You know, Tuvok, I may not get another chance to say this. Sometimes I find you arrogant and irritating, but you're a hell of an officer."
"Thank you, Sir. And since we're speaking candidly, may I say, Sir, that I have not always been particularly partial to your methods either"
"I suppose it must have been tough for you to accept my being elevated to first officer over you."
"I have always respected Captain Janeway's decisions. However, I suppose that particular decision did put me in a position that I am unaccustomed to. If that ever caused me to make thing more difficult for you, I must apologise."
The two men nodded to each other and Tuvok left to take a seat at an empty table, eyes closed and hands together in Vulcan meditation.
Chakotay finally took a seat on the edge of the sofa. He took Kathryn's hand in his larger one, running his thumb across her knuckles. "Don't die on me Kathryn. We've haven't even started our journey yet."
Samantha smiled slightly. "She'll be okay. We all will."
Chakotay nodded and glanced behind himself. The distortion was drawing closer and had already enclosed itself around some of the crew. As it drew nearer, he placed a kiss to Kathryn's forehead and held onto Samantha's free hand. B'Elanna sat on the floor at Chakotay's feet and placed her head in his lap. He briefly ran his fingers through her short hair before returning it to Samantha's hand. For the first time since being in the Delta Quadrant, Chakotay felt whole and he was determined that should they make it through this, he was going to fight to keep it.
Minutes or perhaps hours later and the ship returned to its normal structure and everyone bounced back to normal. The crew started moving and Chakotay squeezed the hands of the two ladies that he was holding before running one through B'Elanna's hair before she stood and headed towards Tom. Samantha smiled and turned her attention to Kathryn who was beginning to stir.
"Kathryn?" Chakotay whispered.
Kathryn slowly opened her eyes and smiled at Samantha before looking up at Chakotay, her eyes glistening with all of the feelings she held for the handsome man. She had yet to pull up her barrios and Chakotay willingly dropped his own barrios and allowed her to see his own feelings. The moment was broken by the Doctor who appeared at their sides. Instantly both commanding officers pulled up their walls.
"Captain?"
"I'm all right." She brushed him off as she sat up with the help of Samantha and Chakotay, until she was seated between the pair of them.
"You were delirious."
Kathryn shook her head. "It was a message."
Chakotay frowned. "What was?"
"The spatial distortion. It was trying to communicate with us."
"Do you know what it was trying to say?"
Kathryn shook her head. "Unfortunately not. I couldn't understand it."
Chakotay nodded.
"Now, let's get back to the Bridge and see what damage has been done."
"Yes Ma'am." Was chorused by the crew who all headed off in different directions.
Kathryn took her time standing, having waited until it was just Chakotay and Samantha in the room with her. Chakotay supported her and she leaned on him.
"Thank you," she nearly whispered to Chakotay once she had found her feet. "And I'm sorry, Samantha."
"Whatever for?"
"Forcing you to stay here."
Samantha shook her head. "You were completely correct in your decision, it just took me a while to understand that."
Kathryn smiled at her. "And you're okay?"
"Perfectly. I will, however, go and have the Doctor check me over once we know the effect of the distortion."
"Good."
The women shared smiled and Kathryn nodded to Chakotay before heading to the Bridge. Chakotay was surprised at the Captain's actions but shrugged at Samantha who giggled at him before they both quickened their pace to catch up with the woman. There was silence between the trio as they headed towards he Bridge on the well-worn path. Once they arrived Samantha went straight to the science station, and Kathryn and Chakotay took their usual seats happily.
"I want a full systems report. And Mister Kim, Mister Tuvok, I want every iota of information that was recorded regarding that phenomenon."
"That distortion ring's directly ahead, Captain. It's moving away from us at two thousand kph." Tom called over his shoulder.
Kathryn nodded and looked at B'Elanna.
"No damage to the hull or ship systems."
"Incredible," she whispered.
"You're not going to believe this, Captain." Samantha turned in her chair and Kathryn gave her her attention. "Twenty million gigaquads of new information have been input into the ship's computer."
Kathryn frowned. "Where did it come from?"
"My guess is it came from the distortion ring."
"Somebody's definitely trying to tell us something." Kathryn went to turn her attention to the other Bridge members when Samantha's voice caught her once more.
"That's not all, Captain. Our entire database has been copied and downloaded into somebody else's system."
"I guess whoever they were; they went to know everything they can about us too." Chakotay said over the gap between the chairs hoping to draw a smile from her.
Kathryn didn't catch the bait. "Maybe it was their only way of communicating with us. Maybe they were just trying to say help." She was still annoyed at the way in which he had spoken to her about keeping Samantha in the holodeck, but she had also heard the conversation that he had held with Samantha when she was in and out of consciousness. It was a lot of emotions for her to deal with, especially when she still held such strong feelings for Mark. Neelix's entrance brought her out of her thoughts.
"Cake, anyone?"
Kathryn stood with a wide smile on her lips. 'This is just what I need'. She accepted her slice of cake from Neelix and mingled with the crew until she felt fatigue settle into her bones.
Kathryn settled on her sofa and sighed. Her jacket was on the back of her desk chair and her sleeves had been rolled up. She stood to refill her coffee mug when the chime on her door rang through her rooms.
"Come in." she turned on her heel and smiled at Chakotay. "What can I do for you?"
"Have you forgotten about our weekly dinner?"
"No. But I thought you had. You're an hour late."
"I'm sorry. Mister Kim caught me on my way off the Bridge."
"Everything okay?" Kathryn went to the replicator and ordered dinner while Chakotay set the table.
"Yes. He had a few worries that he wanted to discuss."
"Anything I can help with?"
The pair sat down opposite each other at the table.
"Only if you start eating properly."
"What exactly were his worries?"
"That you're far too light. He's worried that you're not looking after yourself. As are many of the crew."
"Including you?"
"Especially me."
Kathryn's eyes sparkled and they continued to talk amicably.
"Samantha to Kathryn."
"Yes, dear?"
"Are you busy?"
"No. What can I help you with?"
"Do you mind if I join you in your quarters?"
"Not at all. Let yourself in."
"Thank you, Kathryn, Samantha out."
Chakotay smiled and started clearing the table.
"What are you smirking at?"
"Nothing."
Kathryn lightly punched Chakotay's arm. Samantha entered just as the command duo were settling themselves in the living room, lightly teasing each other. Kathryn smiled at Samantha sat down gladly.
"How are you feeling?"
"Exhausted, but I can't seem to sleep."
"Did you see the Doctor?"
"Yes. He said everything is as it should be."
"Good." Kathryn wrapped an arm around her shoulders and Samantha curled up into her side.
The three of them relaxed together comfortably. Eventually, Samantha laid her head on Kathryn's lap and fell asleep as she ran her fingers through her hair.
"You're wonderful with her."
"I love her like I would a daughter."
Chakotay just smiled and carried on their conversation as if she had said nothing.
Their weekly dinners continued in such a way for the following weeks, while Samantha joined Kathryn in her rooms almost nightly until she could no longer stay awake and beamed to her rooms. Kathryn couldn't have been happier and is showed in the running of the ship.
To Be Continued...