As Told By the Crew....

By: Jennica Williams

DISCLAIMER: I am not using Star Trek for profit. Paramount owns the characters, the ships, the uniforms, the biogel packs, even Neelix's food, I'm just here playing around with the ideas running through my head. No copyright infringement is intended.

"I first noticed it on stardate 48323.8." Tom said quietly, determined to not let the tears fall.

"48323.8 ? That was just after we were transported to the Delta Quadrant." B'Elanna countered him as she stepped closer.

"I know." Tom slid his arms around his wife. "But it was evident in the captain that she loved Chakotay even back then. I remember the first time they looked at each other as something other than enemies." He smiled a slight smile. "She was speechless for a minute, and he stood there confused at her expression for a minute. No one really knew what had happened. Even Tuvok was in the dark on this one." He tossed a smile at the Vulcan. "I think I may have been the only one who could see what happened. Remember, the captain served with my father for a while. You could say she was his pet cadet." There was no sarcasm in his voice. "She came for dinner with the family once or twice. And I saw how she acted around another of his favorites, Justin Tighe. Later, I found out the two had become engaged. So, when I saw how she was with Chakotay, I knew something would happen."

Tom quickened his steps to the mess hall. He'd been off duty for three minutes already and was in desperate need of food- edible food. Thinking of those replicator rations he'd won from one of the Maquis, Tom counted on ordering up a thick steak with a baked potato.

After dialing up the meal in the replicator, he grabbed the plate and looked around for a place to sit. Most Starfleet personnel were on duty or sleeping, leaving a Maquis crowd in the newly renovated dining room. Still not feeling too welcome with them, he opted for heading toward the captain's table where she sat with that annoying Vulcan, Tuvok. Having met admirals and other high ranking officials thanks to his father, Tom had no qualms about plopping down with a captain and chief of security for a meal.

"Good evening, captain, Tuvok." Tom said dropping his tray on the table and pulling out a chair. "Mind if I join you?"

She looked up from a cup of coffee and a data padd, startled. "Tom! Sure. Have a seat, since it looks like that's what you intend on doing." The warm smile was not missed on him and he returned it. Tuvok nodded coldly at him.

"What are you reading?" he asked buttering the potato.

"Just some diagnostics Lt. Torres gave me to scan over. She's our new chief of engineering."

Gray-blue eyes clouded over for a minute. "I know."

Janeway pretended not to notice. She didn't feel like getting into a discussion about putting Maquis in a place of authority. Actually, Tom didn't mind putting Maquis as full ranking officers. What bothered him was the half Klingon. She unnerved him. If given the chance, he didn't doubt she'd rip his guts out with a bat'telh and leave for the Cardassians. For some reason, this attracted him to her.

"What?" Tom suddenly realized the captain had been speaking to him.

"I asked what you thought of flying the Voyager." Sapphire blue eyes twinkled in unshed laughter at him.

"Oh. It's great. Nice ship." Laughing he added, "Better than staying in that penal settlement."

Janeway smiled. "Yes, I imagine so." Her attention was drawn to the door where Commander Chakotay stood framed and looking over the situation. Accepting a tray from Neelix, he turned for a place to sit. Janeway, Tuvok, and Paris watched a group wave to him. Chakotay returned the wave, but then headed for their own table.

"This seat taken?"

Paris cast a quick glance at the captain. She was staring at Chakotay as though she didn't know what to say. "Have a seat, old man." He interjected kicking a chair out for the former Maquis leader.

Chakotay grinned. "When did you pick up on that?"

"Heard Bendura call you that a few days ago."

Chakotay's eyes flashed briefly with the pain of losing his closest friend.

"Sorry." Paris ducked his head down and took another bite of the steak. Why did he have to be such and insensitive jerk?

"It's ok." Chakotay shrugged. "These things happen."

"They shouldn't."

Chakotay caught Janeway's eyes and held them for a minute. Tom could almost feel the attraction they were attempting to hide as it sparkled between them. "No, it shouldn't."

Tuvok eyed the two of them, eyebrows furrowed together. "Accidents do happen. Even when all safety precautions are taken."

The two senior most officers looked at Tuvok confused, but said nothing. Tom wanted to burst out laughing. He vaugly remembered one evening, a fall evening, after the return of the Icarus and his father to Earth. They had been having dinner with two of the crew members, Admiral Paris' favourite two, if Tom remembered correctly. Ensign Janeway and Lt. Justin Tighe. Tom remembered being a teenager and intrigued by this beautiful ensign. But more than that, he had memorized the way she had looked at Lt. Tighe, and learned to resent the older man in the few hours they had been there. That look was now in Janeway's eyes again. He wanted to laugh out loud, but figured that would not be appreciate. So, he kept his mouth shut. The betting pool was started later that same night.

Ensign Kim smiled a little at Tom's memory. "Did you have a crush on Janeway, Tom?"

Tom blushed. "For a little bit there, but it was just a teenage thing. I was out of it before we ever set foot on Voyager."

"Uh huh."

"Look who's talking." Tom poked his friend. "I'll bet you were half in love with her."

"No." Harry replied getting a far away look in his eyes as he gazed at the pod before him. "She was more like a mother to me. And Chakotay a father." His voice wobbled for a minute as he began. "From the start, like Tom, I saw that there was more to their friendship than the professional, Starfleet relationship. They were close, even before they knew it. I used to watch Chakotay give orders almost before they had formed in the captain's mind. I trusted both of them to the ends of the quadrant, and then some. I didn't think they'd ever disagree on anything." He stopped for a minute and then answered Doctor's raised eyebrows. "I knew they disagreed," he said hurriedly, "but didn't think they'd ever do it in front of the crew." Harry picked invisible lint off his jacket sleeve. "There was one time,....we were near the Tutopa binary system. They had to make a decision to march us into the Cartel space, or to try and hide as we poked along."

"You're using Starfleet tactics whereas guerrilla tactics would be more to our advantage." Chakotay countered.

"We are Starfleet, commander." She reminded him as she brushed a wisp of hair out of her eyes.

"Yes, but in this case, after my time with the Maquis, I think guerrilla tactics would be more to our advantage." Chakotay leaned in closer and whispered, "Kathryn, can we please discuss this somewhere else. The crew is getting nervous and I don't want to do this here."

"Come to my ready room." She instantly replied loud enough for the crew to hear. "Tuvok, you have the bridge."

Ensign Kim stood at his console watching the two leave. Chakotay was just behind the captain, and as they entered her ready room, he placed a hand on her back. Kim was wondering what he had said and if Tom had been able to hear it. He'd have to ask later. For now, a funny feeling was settling in his gut. He didn't like the idea of the captain and commander not fully agreeing on something.

***In the ready room...

"Kathryn, please, can't you see what marching us in there would do?" Chakotay ran his hands through his close cropped hair. "You're only opening us up for attack."

She leaned against her desk. "I don't like the idea of hiding. This vessel is fully capable of taking on most of what we've seen out here-"

"Most!" Chakotay leaned forward and gripped her shoulders. "Please, don't leave us open to be attacked by someone who is stronger than us."

Janeway looked at Chakotay for a long minute. "All right, commander. We'll be discreet."

Chakotay pulled the captain into his arms and let out a sigh of relief. "Thank you."

She stiffened for a minute, and then pulled away. "Let's inform the crew to keep a low profile while we're here."

Chakotay nodded and followed her out of the ready room.

"We're going to be discreet. Paris, plot a course for the secondary system of Tutopa." Taking her seat beside Chakotay, she inquired about Neelix, but Kim wasn't paying attention. His eyes were focused on Chakotay's hand covering the captain's as though to strengthen her. Tuvok, he noticed, was also eyeing them curiously.

"Harrumph!" the doctor muttered from his place beside Tuvok. "The captain and commander thought they were hiding it so well, but even the junior ensigns down in the science labs knew something was up with them. Heck, I wasn't able to leave sickbay for the longest time, but I knew it." A far off look came into the doctor's eyes. "I vividly remember the commander's actions right after the event with the alien trying to get the captain to join him. He continued to urge her to live after most would have thought it useless."

"Come on, Kathryn." Chakotay furiously rubbed her hand. "Hang on just a little bit longer. You can do it. I know you can. Use some of that inner strength I know you have."

"That inner strength is being depleted, commander." Tuvok held the medical tricorder above Janeway's head. "There is an entity in her cerebral cortex that is preventing the doctor from treating her."

"She'll fight it." Chakotay leveled Tuvok with one glance. "She has to."

"If you both would quit your bickering," the doctor pushed closer. "I could do my job."

Tuvok moved back a bit, but not too far. Chakotay pushed closer to where Kathryn was lying on the cold ground.

The doctor let out a sigh and pushed a hypospray to her neck. "That should do something, I hope."

Chakotay glared at him and continued to whisper to the captain. "Fight it, Kathryn!" He gripped her hand tightly. The doctor looked over the distraught commander.

"Commander, you are exhausted. Perhaps it would be better if you returned to the ship and rested."

"No!" Chakotay met the doctor's eyes full. "I'm not leaving her until she's ready for duty."

'I don't doubt it.' The doctor thought to himself as he returned his gaze back to the tricorder. The commander usually kept a distance between himself and the captain, but this time, the doctor saw that all pretense of their 'friendship' had been thrown out of the airlock. Chakotay would not let go of her hands, much less let her out of his sight.

A small blip alerted the doctor to turn his attention away from the couple and focus solely on the patient. "She's coming around a bit." He told the commander and Lt. Tuvok.

Chakotay was practically lying on the ground he was so close to her face. "Come on, Kathryn. Come back to me. That's an order!" he whispered to her.

Tuvok raised an eyebrow, but stepped even further back. This was a private time for the commander, he knew. A witness was not needed as the commander nearly fell apart. Besides, if he had any questions of what was said, he could ask the doctor later.

"Kathryn! Come back to me right now!" Chakotay felt a sob rise in his stomach, but pushed it back.

The doctor nodded as the commander continued his pleas. He seemed to be getting through to her for her vital signs were increasing.

"Kathryn,..please..." Chakotay whispered and then bent the few centimeters to kiss her forehead.

The doctor's bald forehead erupted in a mass of surprised wrinkles as he witnessed the scene before him. He had never seen anyone other than Neelix or Kes kiss each other, especially not the captain or commander!

Kathryn's eyes began to flutter. Chakotay instinctively pulled back to give her room. "Wake up sleepy head." He teased softly, the tears in voice almost evident to the two officers around him.

"He was so scared she was going to die on that planet." The doctor said.

"Yes," Tuvok agreed. "He was scared. Though the commander did a relatively poor job of hiding his feelings at that time, I feel as though they both failed to hide their feelings on more than one occasion in the presence of the crew."

"How's that, Tuvok?" Harry asked as a tear found its way down his face and dropped off his chin to run down the side of the pod he was resting his hands on.

"On more than one occasion they put the crew in danger so as to protect the other." Tuvok replied calmly. If Kathryn were here, he thought, she would be able to see right through his calm demeanor and see his sorrow.

Tuvok ran another reading on his console. "Still no response from the planet, captain." He reported.

Janeway took a few steps forward, her brow furrowing in concern. It was not like Harry or Tom to stay out of contact with the ship for so long. Actually, it was exactly like Tom. But in this hostile, class-y atmosphere, even Tom respected the protocol about checking in.

Chakotay read her concern and beckoned for her to come closer to the helm. "You want me to take another shuttle down and look for them?" He asked softly.

She looked at him sharply. "What? And risk losing you too?" She rested a hand on his shoulder- a light caress. "No, Chakotay. I'm not sending an away team." She bowed her head as though making a decision. "We're going to land the ship."

Tuvok felt a surge of shock, but contained it. She would risk the whole crew if it meant keeping the commander on the ship?? "Captain, I must remind you that landing the ship will consume a considerable amount of energy. If we do indeed make it down, it will be impossible to lift off again."

"I'm aware of that, Tuvok." Janeway said quickly. "But what's the alternative? We're up here. The deuterium's down there. And we're stuck without it." She opened a shipwide comm link and made the announcement. "Janeway to engineering: vent all plasma from the nacelles. Transfer any available power to atmospheric thrusters and stand by to commence landing sequence. Blue alert!"

"Blue alert indeed." Chakotay whispered.

"You have the helm, commander." Janeway smiled as Chakotay took the seat.

"Tom will be sorry he missed this." Chakotay grinned.

"Just let us down easy." She told him from her place in the middle of the bridge.

"Aye, captain." Chakotay tossed over his shoulder as he began piloting through the hazardous atmosphere which rocked the ship. "I think we're through the worst of it." Another time the ship got rocked. "Almost."

The final thump of the landing gears making contact with the planet and Janeway looked around quickly meeting Chakotay's eyes. 'We're fine.' His eyes seemed to tell her.

Tuvok noted the silent exchange and raised an eyebrow. But the captain quickly looked over to him as though she wanted a report. "I could give a litany of the damaged systems, captain." He replied. But suffice it to say, now that we're down, we won't go up again soon."

Janeway strode over to Chakotay who still sat at the helm and rested her hand on his shoulder. "That was very good, commander. Take an away team and find Harry and Tom."

Chakotay turned slightly and smiled up at her before catching her hand in his. "Aye, captain." His eyes twinkled as she blushed and withdrew her hand.

"I remember that now.." Torres almost smiled from the comfort of her husband's arms. "I'd forgotten. Goodness, that was what,.....twenty years ago?"

"Nineteen point six." Tuvok answered.

Tom rolled his eyes at Tuvok's logic. "Yeah, I heard about that." Tom smiled. "But, do you remember the time Chakotay ordered me to try that new fancy flying. It was only a few months after that demon planet."

"Of course we remember." B'Elanna patted Tom's hand.

"You'd remember." Tuvok said in monotone. "But I do remember also. It was right after that alien came on board and decrypted the message from Starfleet."

"Rather, we were gullible to believe that's what he did." Harry straightened up from his position over the pod.

Neelix blushed a light shade of red. "I'm responsible for that, I suppose..."

"It is irrelevant who is responsible." Seven interjected. "It happened, and we adapted."

"We almost lost you and the captain, though." Harry hesitantly reached for Seven's hand. She allowed him.

"Yes, but we survived."

Tuvok got a far away look in his eyes. A look that was becoming more and more familiar to the crew at this time. "He refused to believe that the Voyager would be left behind because of inferior technology."

"Commander, they're....they're gone." Paris said from the helm half in awe.

"What do you mean gone?" Chakotay flew to the helm and watched over his shoulder.

"It appears that they've gone to slip stream warp, and are gone."

Chakotay pondered this for only a few seconds. Every second took Kathryn farther away from him. Probably light years by the second. "Has B'Elanna finished modifications so we can travel in slip stream?"

Tom looked up startled. "Commander, we haven't had time to run any tests on it."

"No time like the present." Chakotay answered recklessly. "Bring it on-line and let's see how B'Elanna did."

Tom cast a look back at the commander as they informed the necessary crew men. Chakotay suddenly looked as though he had aged from the simple loss of the captain and Seven. He probably had. No one on the ship had missed how much the captain and commander relied on each other, heck, there was a betting pool on just how long the two could continue convincing themselves they weren't in love, but right now, Chakotay looked as though he had one goal. Get to the captain at any cost. That scared Tom a little, but also made him thankful that they realized they cared about one another.

"They knew they cared about each other." B'Elanna said softly, a tear falling down her cheek. She ignored it. What did one tear in front of her family for the past 20-something years mean? She was mourning, and had every right to. "I remember the time Kes was kidnapped by Aren Yashar and Janeway went after her." She cast a sorrowful look at Neelix who still wasn't fully over Kes leaving them. "The doctor had just informed us about the possibility of Stockholm Syndrome...."

Chakotay remained standing in the middle of the bridge. Ngyuen was at the helm and McKay at tactical. The rest of the crew had retired for the evening, except for B'Elanna who felt she had to be doing something. She was hunched over a panel beside the science station trying to reconfigure the power flow through the tactical systems. If she could only get the transporters to be able to fix a lock on the captain and Kes... But it was getting harder to keep her footing, much less get any work done. The three "dead" ships had suddenly come alive and were fighting them- until Voyager retreated to a safe distance. "Just stay back!" Torres wanted to shout at the commander, but she could read his need to try anything for the captain in his eyes. Pushing her hair back, she sighed and continued to work in the shaking conditions.

Chakotay's mind, she could see, was not on the bridge. It was somewhere else. Probably thinking about the Stockholm Syndrome the doctor had just warned them about only a few hours ago. The thought of Kathryn falling in love with that Aren was beyond anything Chakotay would be able to stomach. She's stronger than that! B'Elanna wanted to shout. Over and over, scenes from the past kept replaying in her mind- the captain's determined look as she conquered the Maquis, Kes's fighting the alien who over took her body, Janeway fighting her own alien, Kes's survival on Ocampa- scenes she was sure proved that the two were strong willed enough to resist Aren.

They had stopped shaking, B'Elanna suddenly realized. Chakotay had retreated enough for the ships to go back into their 'sleep' mode. She should have turned back, but couldn't resist watching her former Maquis captain. He was sweating, nervously his hands twitched at his sides. His lips began to move. She was sure he didn't realize he was whispering, but she saw it.

"Kathryn, be all right. Please be all right."

There wasn't a dry eye in the room. Even Seven, who rarely cried, was caught wiping her eyes with the hem of her security uniform. Harry took that opportunity to pull her full back against his chest.

"They were almost like my parents." She admitted. "At first, the captain and I 'butted heads', I believe she called it, but then, when I realized what she was trying to do, we became friends. Although, I never did fit into the mold she wanted me to." Seven leaned back, comfortable in Harry's arms and closed her eyes for a minute. "You all speak of the commander and his feelings for her. But, the captain had some for him that weren't evident at the time." She met everyone's eyes, but let them rest on two young ensigns by the door. "An away mission around the planet of Species 4897 gave me my first glimpse of how much she loved him."

"No response from the shuttle." Harry replied to Janeway's question.

She drew in a ragged breath. Where were they? Didn't Tom and Chakotay know better than to stay out of contact range for more than six hours? Of course they did, she reprimanded herself. This could only mean one thing- they were in trouble. Glancing around the bridge, she found Seven at the science station watching her.

Seven wouldn't admit it to anyone, but since she had come on board two years ago, she had been watching Janeway and taking her cues. She didn't always do what the captain wanted, but she had learned how to read the captain's feelings and what she was thinking by the look on her face. At that moment, Seven knew the captain would be taking a shuttle after her two officers. Standing, she made as if to move to the turbolift. "I will accompany you, captain."

Janeway's eyebrows raised in surprise. Was she really that transparent? Could her crew read her mind and discover her intentions like that? "Request granted." She said even though it hadn't been a request.

Tuvok moved to block the captain's path. "Captain, I-"

"Noted, Tuvok. I don't have time to argue. Suffice it say that I'm the captain and I'm pulling rank this time. I'm going. You have the bridge."

Tuvok's mouth opened in surprise, but he quickly clamped it shut and moved to the center of the bridge.

"Thrusters are engaged." Janeway said as the shuttle moved from the safety of Voyager. "We are entering into the planet's atmosphere."

Seven's fingers danced over the console. "I'm iniating scans."

Janeway peered at the view screen. This darn gas giant had a lower atmosphere of almost pure dilithium, but the top layers prevented the ship from mining it directly. It had come to sending a shuttlecraft in to collect the supplies.

"Captain, I am getting a lock on the shuttle." Seven announced with almost no emotion. "Bearing 3 2 7 mark 4 9."

"Laying in course." Janeway's hands hit the controls faster than Seven thought was possible for a human. She defiantly was anxious.

"I am detecting minimal heavy damage to the craft. Thrusters are off-line, there is a hull breech in progress, and life support is minimal."

"Get them off that ship and beam them directly in here as soon as you can." Janeway snapped maneuvering closer.

"Aye, captain." Seven cast a sidelong glance at the frayed captain. Did she realize how clear her emotions were whenever it involved the commander? Probably not. Humans usually failed to notice that sort of thing, but it never failed to spark the curiosity of the former borg anytime the commander and captain were in the same room. "Iniating transport."

"Take the con Seven. Keep us in position." Janeway jumped up and ran to where the two officers were materializing on the padd. "Chakotay? Tom?" Tom was coughing but for the most part looked okay. Chakotay lay on the floor breathing shallow and hardly conscience.

"Kathryn?" His hand reached up to grasp her face but only connected with thin air. "Kathryn? Are you there?"

"Tom, can you pilot us back?" Janeway reached out and took Chakotay's hand in hers.

"Sure." Tom took several deep breaths. "Never knew oxygen to taste so good." Stepping to the front of the shuttle he took Seven's place.

"Get us to Voyager as quickly as possible!" Janeway told him. Bending low to Chakotay's face, she whispered. "We'll get you back home in just a few minutes."

Seven was turned in her seat watching the scene unfold before her. Curious that the captain would concentrate on the commander as she did instead of Lieutenant Paris. She had heard it described as being 'in love' according to Ensign Kim and Lieutenants Paris and Torres. The three of them were positive that the two were 'in love.' Upon closer evaluation, Seven believe they may be correct. The way the captain was holding the commander's head in her lap was suggesting more than just a simple friendship. And the commander's eyes, which had cleared now that he was out of the dangerous gases, were looking up at her in adoration, and she was returning the look.

Neelix laughed loudly. "It took you that long, Seven?"

"Yes."

Harry felt Seven grow stiff in his arms. He pulled her back and let his hands rest on her swelling stomach. She did pull out his arms that time. 'Always the one to avoid public affection.' He thought to himself. Well, at least they were married now. Twenty years ago, he wouldn't have believed it possible for her to become enough human to enjoy a healthy friendship, much less a marriage.

"They were rather obvious...." The doctor looked down at the commander.

"I was not accustomed to friendships or romance when I was with the borg." She reminded the Talaxian. "This was the first romance for me to observe."

"There was an occasion I remember quite well...." Neelix pursed his lips together trying to recall the memory almost twenty years old. "Ah, yes. It was Commander Chakotay's birthday...."

"Remember, keep it a surprise." Janeway reminded the ensign.

"Of course, captain. The whole crew is excited about the party, but you can count on us to keep it a secret." She didn't mention that the crew had a surprise for the captain also.

"Thank you, Andrea." Kathryn smiled as Chakotay rounded the corner.

"Hello, Andrea, captain." Chakotay nodded to both of them.

"Hello commander." Andrea grinned. "I've got to go. Lieutenant Tuvok hates it when I'm late. Bye!" with a wave she ran off in the direction of security.

"Watch it!" Tom shouted as Neelix nearly plowed him over with a tray of....of something green and pink. "What is that?" Tom poked a finger at the pink substance.

"Stop it." Neelix swatted the pilot's hand away. "It's o'phail and t'julak. Two of the most delicious delicacies from the Naviaran system."

"Here he comes! Here he comes!" someone shouted to let the party goers in holodeck two know that the captain and commander were approaching the party.

Everyone gathered quickly in front of the door. When it opened, Chakotay stepped in still talking to the captain.

"I don't see why this can't wait until tomorrow. I-"

"Surprise!!!!"

Chakotay's jaw fell open as his head snapped up to take in the crew. He stood there, speechless for a minute before turning to the captain. "Ok, I see why."

Everyone laughed easily as they came to wish him a happy birthday, almost everyone at once. Finally, when the last crew member had had their turn, Kathryn slipped over to Chakotay.

"You're behind this whole thing, aren't you?" Chakotay asked still astonished.

Kathryn's evil grin couldn't be helped. "I had the help of the entire crew." She protested.

"Oh yeah, but you're the coordinator." Chakotay grabbed her arm and pulled her behind a large palm frond. "Now I think I know why you've not been happy with my scheduling for the past few weeks."

She continued to grin at him. "Couldn't have you off duty the same time the band was rehearsing."

"Oh really?..."

Neelix could see the two off in the corner, partially hidden behind the palm fronds. They were talking- sort of. Chakotay had the captain's arms in his hands and they were standing pretty close. He grinned broadly. "Mission romance is already in progress." He said to Tom and gestured with his thumb just as the commander leaned forward and kissed the captain.

The shock on Tom's face was something to be remembered until Neelix died.

"If finally happened..." Tom turned and grinned at the short Talaxian. "Just wait until we really do put mission romance into effect! They won't know what hit them!"

The party continued for another hour or so. Actually, the duration depended on one thing- how long it would take Chakotay to ask Janeway to dance. But neither party knew that. As Harry saw the commander and captain drift to the dance floor, he softly instructed the band to play "Forever Love," a song that would last at least ten minutes. It would be enough time for them to clear the holodeck without the captain and commander realize what was happening. Seven minutes later, the only ones on the holodeck were the band members, Tom, and Neelix. The band iniated the holodeck to continue playing as the rest of the group slipped out.

Janeway sighed softly as the song finally ended. That had to be the longest song she'd ever danced to. The longest, but the time in Chakotay's arms made it seem short. She wished it would go on forever. Opening her eyes and lifting her head from his chest she looked around in surprise. There was no one on the holodeck except herself and the commander!

"Chakotay, I-"

"Shhhh.." he held her by the arms again. "Obviously you're not the only one up to tricks." He gave a short laugh. "How did they manage to slip out under our noses?"

She gave him a helpless shrug and stepped back into his arms. "I don't know. But I'm kind of glad they did."

His arms circled tightly around her. "Are you now?" he teased her.

"Yes." She lifted her head to look at him. "Yes, I'm very glad."

"Me too." He whispered huskily. "Because I can't kiss you in the middle of the crew...."

A sudden sound from near the door way reminded them of the youngest crewmembers in the room. Elizabeth had O'Wak's arms wrapped around her, but they were only eighteen, and probably not ready to hear about stories the way the rest of the crew was.

"I'm sorry." Elizabeth said snuggling herself into O'Wak's embrace and fighting back tears that blurred her vision of the two capsules that sat on the transporter padd....waiting. B'Elanna and Tom smiled sadly at seeing their son so in love with the dark haired girl with sapphire colored eyes. They were happy for their young love, but sorrowful at the ship's loss. "It's just....they're my parents! I can't imagine them ever falling in love because it's seemed they always were in love."

"It's ok to cry, Elizabeth." Seven stepped over to the young woman and wrapped her arms around her. If Seven had viewed Janeway as her mother, then this girl would be the equivalent of her younger sister. And Seven had been treating Elizabeth as such since the time of her birth. Elizabeth reached out for the comfort the former borg, now fully loving human was giving.

"I miss them so much.." Elizabeth sobbed. Seven looked up at the rest of the senior officers concerned of what she could do. Tuvok was the first to react. He came over and placed a hesitant arm around Seven and Elizabeth. O'Wak wrapped his arms around the two of them also. Tom released his wife and came to join his son and future daughter-in-law, followed by B'Elanna. Hesitantly, the doctor added his own affection to the group after Harry and Neelix joined. The transporter room was filled with the soft sobs of the crew members as they mourned for their loss.

"Dad loved mom right till the end." Elizabeth sobbed.

"We know, honey. We know." B'Elanna stroked the girl's long chestnut colored hair.

"No. I mean, he tried to save her by dying for her." Elizabeth took a shaky breath and began the story O'Wak already knew.

O'Wak moved his fingers expertly over the console as he guided the shuttle craft into receiving range of the data probe.

"Twenty thousand more kilometers." Janeway told the quarter Klingon who reminded her much of his father. "Then we'll have it."

"Aye, captain." O'Wak cast a smile at Elizabeth. She couldn't help but smile back. If her parents hadn't been in the shuttlecraft, she would have been very tempted to give him a kiss right there and then.

"Here, Elizabeth." Kathryn stood from the seat. "Take sensors and keep scanning for information to be picked up. It should come through in a few minutes." Then, moving quickly, Kathryn joined Chakotay at the back of the shuttle where he was inspecting the power couplings.

Elizabeth grinned and sat down. Leaning over, she kissed his cheek and whispered, "I love you." So soft no one save O'Wak could hear her.

"I love you too." He mouthed back sending her that special smile.

Kathryn slid her hand over Chakotay's shoulder. He caught it and kissed her palm quickly.

"How's it going?" she asked kneeling down beside him.

"Not good." Chakotay sighed. "We're going to start having to take five crew members for each shuttle craft if this keeps up."

Janeway nodded knowing the reasons. They had already made it mandatory that four people were to be involved for each shuttlemission. These shuttle crafts were just not meant to be on constant call for twenty four years without a chance to stop by a star base for a 'check up'. Already, they had given up the hopeless task of getting transporters to function again. Now, time and energy was directed toward keeping life support and impulse engines.

"Captain?" O'Wak's voice was trained to be calm, but his panic showed through. "The probe is being pulled into the gravity of a white dwarf star."

Janeway flew to the consoles. "See if you can get any closer while keeping us at a safe distance. Liz, honey, get that data in here. I want to see how much we can recover. Keep me posted." She moved back to Chakotay and tore open another panel. White dwarf star. One of the hottest. They were going to need more shields.

"Mom!" Elizabeth was not holding her panic back in the least. "We're in the graviton pull. It's trying to suck us in, Mom!!"

"Full thrusters! Get us out of here, Paris!" Janeway ordered.

"Not enough power!" Chakotay and O'Wak both shouted over the sounds of the groaning hull.

"Get more power!" Janeway exclaimed abandoning her work to help her husband. "O'Wak, Liz, set the computer to continue pulling us away and get into space suits."

Chakotay looked at his captain, his wife, and read what she was thinking. There would be no time for them to adorn space suits, but once life support was taken off-line, they may be able to restore enough energy to thrusters and break free. It would mean giving their life. He was ready to do that for his daughter and her fiancee. "Hurry you two!" Chakotay shouted already moving to reroute the controls. "I love you, Kathryn." He whispered loud enough for her to hear knowing that this could well be his last time to tell her.

She looked up at him. "I love you too, Chakotay."

"I'm hurrying dad!" Elizabeth hadn't stood up before she saw the power fluctuating on the grid before her. "Mom! Dad! The panel's about to explode!!"

O'Wak had seen what she was saying and had enough time to pull Elizabeth to the ground and protect her with his body. Chakotay heard Elizabeth, and seeming to move in slow motion, he grabbed his Kate and pulled her to the ground as far from the explosion as he could as he leapt on her.

When it was over, Elizabeth drew in a ragged breath. On top of her, O'Wak did the same. They were alive. They could still breathe. Gingerly, they pulled apart. The front of the shuttle craft had fared reasonably well. There were burn marks on the chairs, but O'Wak had pulled her under the consoles in front of the chairs so they were well shielded- unlike her parents.

A sob rose in Elizabeth's throat as she saw her parents. Chakotay had been thrown three feet from Kathryn. By trying to save his wife, he had subjected himself to the flames that had shot out from the panel. But, it wasn't enough. Kathryn had been scorched by the inferno also.

Elizabeth dropped to her knees and let her tears fall as she grabbed hold of her parents' hands. O'Wak bent down and gathered her into his arms. When Voyager's transporter took hold of them, they were still huddled together crying.

There hadn't been a dry eye in the room before, and there wasn't now. Even Tuvok had tears streaming down his face as he remembered his dearest friends. Moving apart from the huddle, he went to stand by the command console.

The words had become familiar over the past twenty four years, but no one ever thought they would be used to say good bye to their leaders. Tuvok drew a deep breath and repeated the phrase Kathryn Janeway herself had coined as Voyager's farewell.

"We commit thy memory to our hearts, and thy body to the stars."