"Captain?"

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.

Note: I was in the middle of pulling my hair out on my newest story when this idea came to me. If you don't like my twisted sense of humor, oh well. Consider yourself warned.

Dedicated to Robert Beltran and the one line he is guaranteed in EVERY episode.

"Captain?"

Looking up quickly, Kathryn Janeway smiled as her first officer of seven years entered her ready room. Taking her precious time, she closed the personal log that had been open and hesitantly rounded the desk. This was her doing, she reminded herself, trying to force the knot in her stomach to stay there instead of rising to choke her vocal chords. There was no going back now.

"Captain…" the look of concern on his face when she didn't immediately tell him her reason for the summons reminded her that there was another human at stake.

"I need to talk with you, Chakotay," Kathryn said in way of opening the conversation. "I should have said this years ago, but…well, I didn't. I can't make up for lost time, but I can and will tell you now."

As if he knew what she was going to say, her first officer and best friend started to open his mouth to protest, but she silenced him with one raised hand and then took a tentative step closer. "Capt-"

"Please, let me say my piece," she implored. When he silently nodded, she continued. "We've known each other for several years," the knot in her stomach began to dissipate as his eyes crinkled at the corners indicating he wanted to smile. "And I know we haven't seen eye to eye in every situation," she admitted, "But you're my best friend." Reaching forward, she held out her hand for his.

"Captain?"

"Give me your hand, Chakotay."

Doing as bid, she led him to her sofa and pulled him down to sit beside her. Butterflies continued to pound against her ribcage as if ready to take flight and she knew her palms were sweaty with apprehension, but his hand was just as calm and reassuring as she had imagined it to be. "Captain-"

"Five years ago," she interrupted him while turning slightly so her knees were touching his, "You told me an ancient Indian legend." His face revealed no surprise at her bringing up the subject after so many years, but she hadn't expected it to. "I never told you," she paused, acutely aware that her fair skin was rising in color, "How it affected me."

He squeezed her hand as if to assure her that he would support her whatever she had to say, as she had known he would. "Capt-"

"No, I didn't say anything then and I regret it now," Kathryn swallowed the lump in her throat and then lifted clear blue eyes to meet the chocolate brown ones of her best friend, "And if your feelings have changed since, I'll understand."

"Captain!" As if astonished she could think such a thing, Chakotay again started to open his mouth to protest, but she quickly laid a finger on his lips.

"Would you hush?" she looked up at him with a twinkle in her blue eyes "I've got to just say this, don't I?" he cocked an amused eye at her and then looked down at the hand still covering his mouth.

"I love you, Chakotay."

It was said in a rush, but the words didn't miss his ears. Slowly, a smile broke across his face and he reached to pull her hand from his face. Knowing he would return the declaration of love, Kathryn pulled herself from the sofa and moved away quickly.

"Computer, end program," Janeway ordered, just as his hands reached to clasp hers.

Chakotay and the ready room quickly shimmered out of existence leaving Kathryn Janeway alone on the holodeck with a hollow feeling penetrating her heart. Determinedly striding towards the door, she made a beeline for the bridge, the knot returning to her stomach, but knowing what she had to do.

The turbolift doors swished open and Tuvok nodded to her as she exited. Glancing around the bridge, Kathryn's gaze fell on her first officer reclined in her chair.

"Commander," she felt his eyes on her back even as she keyed the code to her haven. "My ready room, please." Soft footsteps fell on the carpet and a moment later the door closed.

For a moment, Kathryn stood and stared through her viewport, not seeing the stars but rather imagining what the next few minutes would hold. Enough! She shook herself from her daydream roughly. She had imagined this moment at least once a day since New Earth. Now, she told herself firmly, it was time to acknowledge the feelings that had been veiled for so long.

Gradually, she turned around and looked up at her first officer and best friend standing before her. Words couldn't convey the love she saw plainly written across his features, unhidden because she had been facing away. And she couldn't stop her face from displaying the range of her emotions from sorrow and regret to the pure love she felt anymore than she could prevent Chakotay from understanding them.

Slightly dazed, he stepped forward and reached for her hand, "Kathryn?"

THE END