I do not own Star Trek Voyager.

Six Months Later

They had found a planet to make repairs on and landed. Since then, they had repaired nonstop. Tuvok hadn't slept at all during those past months and Chakotay and Tom got very minimal sleep. The Doctor was trying to help from Sickbay as best he could, but being trapped in Sickbay left him unable to do much.

While Chakotay worked, the only thing he could think of was the message. He had it memorized by heart and could see Janeway vividly when he closed his eyes. He couldn't believe it, but he knew Kathryn wouldn't joke about this. Just knowing that was enough to push him even harder.

He drank black coffee for Janeway, to keep him alert and to make himself feel closer to her. He remembered the words once more and he was given strength.

"Chakotay," she ahd begun. "I love you so much, even the thought of losing you makes me want to keep you all that much closer. I have always been hiding my feelings because the truth is, the scare me. My feelings have become my deepest fear. I try to make excuses to hide them, but I realize know that I must face my fear and tell you how I really feel.

"I love you. I do. I can't think of life without you. I realize that if you're seeing this, something went wrong with the Kazon mission, but the thought of that made me realize how much I needed to tell you this.

"I tried to tell you earlier, in my ready room, but interruptions prevented me. I wish, now more than ever, we had gotten just five more minutes at least. I don't think this can ever show you how much I truly love you. Only in person can I.

"I have news and depending on what has happened to me, will be good or bad. My feelings for you have always been this way, although I hid. Now I cannot hide. I hope that this news can be happy, because I know it should be.

"I am pregnant.

"It was that night on New Earth. I didn't know until a week ago and since then, I have been sorting my feelings. I am glad this happened and I hope you don't have to see this message so I can tell you in person.

"I love you Chakotay, forever and for always." Then the message would end with Janeway blowing an air kiss and a tear falling across her face.

Chakotay had shown no one and just worked harder and harder to get to Janeway. Tom had suggested one of them taking the shuttle to the planet and trying to bring back people to help. Chakotay had liked the idea although it was a bad idea. So much could happen and they weren't ready to give up one of the three of them. They all needed to work. After six months, only a dent had been made. If more people had been there, all their six months of work might have been done in two.

It was now he wished he hadn't gone along with the shuttle. Now was wen he would get angry at Janeway for separating knowingly. He would be angry, until he realized she wanted to keep him alive. That's what he pretended, although he doubted its truthfulness.

As he worked to try to bring the warp drive back online, he found one of Naomi's toys. He picked it up, remembering the girl. Still less than a year old and able to say a few words. Thanks to her Ktarian heritage.

However, as he looked at the toy, he couldn't help but think of Kathryn and their baby. If they are still alive, he thought, knowing it was a possibility. He kicked the console and immediately felt the pain of breaking his foot. He screamed, fell to the ground, and began to cry. The pain was too much. It wasn't just from breaking his foot, but from the suffering of being without Kathryn. it was too much. He needed to be there for her and their child.

Tom had heard Chakotay and rushed to him. He saw what a wreck he was in and took him to Sickbay. They both needed a break. They had been working for 37 hours straight.

--

In Sickbay, the Doctor repaired Chakotay's foot. He told Chakotay he needed to be careful, then deactivated himself to save power. Recently, it was the only help he could provide.

That left Tom and Chakotay. Chakotay was still clutching one of Naomi's toys. Tom looked at Chakotay and realized something was wrong. He hadn't seen Chakotay like this, not ever.

"Chakotay, what is it?" he asked. Chakotay looked at him, realizing he was falling to pieces. He didn't want to talk about it. He just wanted to get to Kathryn.

"Nothing, I just need to get back to work." He got up to leave, but Tom stopped him.

"Chakotay, you're not leaving until you tell me what is going on," Tom demanded. it was a bold move since he wasn't the superior officer.

"Out of my way, Lieutenant," he said, emphasis on rank.

"No, Commander," he answered. "I will get the Doctor to relieve you of duty, if I have to." Chakotay had it. He needed to get work done, needed to get to Kathryn, and this was wasting time. He tried to push pass Tom, but Tom was too quick for him.

"Lieutenant, stand aside," he said.

"I will not. Not until you tell me what has gotten you in this mood. You have been angry, sad, and crazy for the past six months. Something is eating at you and it's not repairs." Tom was practically challenging Chakotay. Tom had no idea how close to home he was hitting. He was walking a thin line and one wrong step would cause Chakotay and his emotions to explode. "What is it, Chakotay? Feeling guilty? Feeling sorry for the rest of the crew? What is it?"

That was it. Tom never saw it coming. He released a monster and it would not die until Kathryn was safely back with him. Chakotay's emotions ran even deeper than he knew. So deep that it was almost impossible to see how Chakotay and this monster looked alike.

The monster attacked Tom, knocking him out. He managed to warn Tuvok via combadge before totally passing out. Tuvok was on Chakotay's tail and painlessly performed the Vulcan nerve pinch, rendering him entirely unconscious.

--

When Chakotay woke up, he felt horrible. He remembered everything that had happened and found Tom looking at him. Chakotay wanted to kill Tom. To just slug him. He sat up and felt the blood rush to his brain. he suddenly realized what was going on with him and calmed down. He was just ready to drop everything, although he doubted Tom was feeling the same way.

And he was right. Tom wanted his answers. Whatever was going on, it was too big to ignore. Tom needed to know. Now.

"What is going on?" he demanded. Chakotay looked at him and said nothing. "Look, I don't know if you are feeling guilty about being here while they are there, or guilty for leading Voyager into a trap, but you need to talk about it. I can tell you I understand--" That was too much for Chakotay. He was feeling guilty about both, but what was really fueling him was his need to be with Kathryn. No way Tom understood.

"You don't know what I feel! Sure, I feel guilty, but that's not it! Nothing close. While I am here, Kathryn and the rest of the crew are stuck on that planet and on top of that Kathryn is pregnant with our child that I didn't even know about until we got stuck here. You think you understand the pain to be away from the person you love and your child-to-be, knowing you are doing nothing to help and that they could be dead already?" He was angry, but that made him feel slightly better. Tom wasn't aware that was how he felt, but he was angry. He did care and he understood.

"Look, you can't tell me I don't understand. I understand completely. I miss B'Elanna. Not only miss her, I love her. I love her and she has no idea how I feel. Not even a clue. So don't tell me I don't understand."

Then they stood there, in silence. They suddenly realized what they had to do. Tuvok wasn't going to like it but they would show him the logic.

They had to or it may be years before Voyager ever got off the ground.

To Be Continued . . .

Please comment! I'll try to post the next chapter soon.