Kathryn could hear Tom and B'Elanna finally let out the breath they had been holding behind her. She sighed and hopped up on her seat again. Once on it, she met Shane's eyes staring at her. She'd forgotten about him.

"I thought you weren't coming." She said to him as she turned her back. He gazed annoyed at her back as he moved to take the seat the Sarah woman had vacated.

"Like I said, I got home early and then I got to thinking that you might need some help batting off all the young drunken men." He shrugged as she sipped her drink and then set her eyes on him.

"So they have to be drunk before they start pestering me now?" Shane sighed at her tone. Behind them, Tom and B'Elanna shared curious glances between them.

"You know I didn't mean it like that." He assured her firmly. He noticed as her eyes lifted and lingered over the path that Chakotay and his new wife had just disappeared through. His anger rose a little.

"You know what Kathryn? I'm sorry I came." He spat his words angrily at her as he pushed himself from the stool. Her eyes darted to him and she hastily placed her drink on the bar.

"Shane!" She called after him but he plodded on. She groaned as her fingers slipped from the glass and she made her way to follow him.

He burst through the doors and outside. She hurried after him, running through the doors herself. Stepping outside she quickly scanned the area and spotted him stalking off to her left. She took off in his direction with modest speed until she caught him.

"Don't " She gulped for air.

"Don't leave. I'm sorry." She pulled at his shoulder with her hand and he spun around himself to meet her eyes with angry ones of his own.

"I'm sick of hearing that Kathryn! I'm bloody sick of anything to do with your damn ship and your bloody precious crew. I'm tired of the cold shoulder when it comes to them, and I'm tired of these hollow apologies when I threaten to walk away. I'm tired of giving in to you." He gulped for air himself now. She didn't retaliate, just stood silently.

"I came here tonight because I thought you'd need help fending off that woman in there. I'm glad to see you could handle it on your own. Jesus Kathryn, what are you even doing here? You should be out celebrating yourself tonight. Hell, so should I!" He bowed his head, attempting to control his anger.

"It doesn't matter how hard I try, everything comes back to them, back to Voyager. It's a ship Kathryn. They are your crew. I know you have a special bond with them and I don't care to take that away from you, but you have to learn to separate it from your life now. You've been home two years Kathryn. Two years! Voyager is no longer your home; it's just the place you work. Can't you see that?" His voice was desperate and she could hear the tightness in his throat smother his words even as her own tears glistened. He shook his head as she swallowed.

"I gave in to this tonight. I let you go because I thought you needed to come. I thought you needed to exercise some demons before tomorrow, but the simple fact of the matter is you don't want those demons exercised do you?" He sank into the hard wall behind him and closed his eyes tightly.

"Why won't you tell me Kathryn? Why?" He spoke in a tortured tone that speared her heart. Kathryn faintly heard the doors she had come out of open again. She was sure that the two figures that were casting the long shadows on the grass were her two tactful companions from the bar.

Not caring about them, she brought her attention back to Shane. Her eyes lingered over him as he slowly opened his eyes. Her head bowed as she looked down to her hands.

"Do you want it back?" She asked in a sad whisper. He frowned for a fraction of a second as he found what she was talking about. He watched her fingers fiddling with something.

"Do you want to give it back?" He asked. Her eyes darted up and she swallowed hard again. This time the wetness in her eyes tumbled down her face. He closed his eyes as he saw it. He tipped his head back.

"Damn it, Kathryn." He sighed as he reached for her. She clung to him tightly, throwing her arms around him; she dug her face into his neck and bit back her tears. Seconds later he pulled away from her and cupped her face in his hands. She smiled at him and he couldn't help but smile back.

Pulling her face closer her captured her lips and she melted into his grasp. He broke their kiss and rested his forehead on hers.

"I love you Kathryn, and I can deal with the fact that you have responsibilities to your ship. I can deal with lending the Captain to Voyager but I'll never settle for surrendering Kathryn to her as well." He broke contact with her completely and stood back, gazing at her.

"Go back to your party and think about that. I'll still be here in the morning, but only until then. For once, forget about Voyager, forget about your crew, Starfleet, forget about me and make the decision for you. Follow your heart Kathryn, not your head nor your pride." With that he walked away until the darkness of the night swallowed him and she could no longer see him.

Kathryn stood gazing after him long after he could no longer be seen. She was vaguely aware of timid footsteps that were getting nearer and louder behind her. She jumped when she felt a small hand on her shoulder.

"Are you okay?" B'Elanna couldn't bring herself to speak louder than a mere whisper. Her Captain turned her head and looked at her with watery eyes. She blinked away the film of water and took a deep breath.

"Fine." She answered. B'Elanna nodded at her.

"You coming back in?" She asked as Kathryn turned around fully towards her. She looked undecided. Her eyes dropped to the ground as she made her decision.

When she looked back up there was a faint smile on her lips.

"Why not?" B'Elanna grinned at her and they both walked back together.