Echoing Heartbeat

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.

Captain Janeway was in her ready room reviewing crew evaluations when her door chime rang.

"Come in Chakotay," she called knowing who would enter. She wasn't disappointed. "How can I help you?" she asked.

"Someone informed me that you've been working too hard." A hint of a smile played on his lips. "You need someone relaxation time, Kathryn."

"And you, of course, have everything planned out." She said with a roll of her sapphire eyes.

"Of course." The smile broke into a full grin-the grin he saved her only. "Now, come along like a good little captain."

"The reports-"

"-will be here later. I know it's nothing pressing because I wrote them." His eyes began to sparkled teasingly. "Am I going to have to carry you?"

Janeway raised her eyebrows. "Don't even try it. I'll meet you on holodeck two,...in an hour."

Bending her head over the data padd, she didn't see Chakotay round the desk before she was yanked out of her chair and flipped on his shoulder. Legs kicking and arms flailing, she tried to free herself from his grasp.

"Chakotay!" she tried to suffocate the scream before it escaped her throat.

"Hmm?" he took a step to the door fully intending on carrying her to the holodeck like that, but he never made it.

Janeway grinned as his knees buckled sending them to the floor- his sides were extremly ticklish! She quickly scrambled out of his reach as he turned to face her.

"You will pay for that Miss Captain." He smiled at her coyly.

She stared to stand, but he pulled her down and relentlessly began to tickle her sides.

"Ah! Chakotay!" she laughed and then grabbed his knees which were just barely in her reach.

He yelped and let go of her for a minute while trying to pry her fingers off his knees.

Janeway let go and rolled off her back. Both were on even ground now as they stood on their knees facing each other.

Chakotay suddenly lunged at Kathryn and pinned her beneath him so he could get at her sides again.

Kathryn was laughing so hard she was actually crying when Chakotay suddenly stopped. The only sound was her out-of-breath breathing as they stared at one another wide eyed.

"Kat..." he whispered, barely a breath away from her lips.

"Hmm?"

The question was never answered as he leaned closer. Both were instantly lost for the moment as their lips met. When Captain Janeway's thought began to form again, she realized exactly where she was and what she was doing.

"Chakotay,...no...." she turned her head away.

"Kathryn..." He'd tangled his fingers in her short hair.

Her eyes gazed up at him. Loving. Wishing. He met her lips again.

This time, they both broke off as the ship lurched to the side.

"What in the world?!?"

Janeway ran a hand through her tangled hair as she dashed to the bridge with Chakotay on hr heels.

"Report!" she snapped ignoring Paris' surprised look at their disheveled appearance.

"A Hirogen ship on our port side." Harry answered crisply.

"They are firing." Tuvok said unnecessarily as another round of phasers rocked their shields.

"Well, return fire then!" Janeway shouted lunging for her console on the command level. When it refused to pull up the information she desired, she ran to Harry's station and punched in a few commands.

As the next round of phaser fire rocked the ship, Chakotay saw the danger and before she did. Later, no one could figure out how he managed to get from his seat to Janeway's side, but that's exactly what he did. Without thinking, her XO pinned her to the deck, his body protecting hers, as a portion of the heavy ceiling fell on them.

Both were stunned, but conscience, as they tried to recover at the sudden loss of oxygen to their lungs.

"Harry?" Janeway shouted as the rocking diminished.

"I'm fine captain, but I can't move this. We're going to have to have B'Elanna cut it away before we can get the commander to sickbay."

"Fine. Tom, get us out of here!"

"Aye, captain!"

Janeway was suddenly acutely aware of her and Chakotay's positions.

"Kathryn,..." he whispered still short of breath as he lifted his head off her shoulder. "I...I have to tell you...."

"Chakotay, are you ok? Did it hurt you bad?"

"Yes..." he rasped. "Kat...before I die...I-"

"No." She placed her free hand on the side of his face. "You won't die. I won't let you."

"Kat, you can't stop it." He closed his eyes. "The metal....it cut me....I'm loosing too much blood. I-...I can feel the end coming."

"Chakotay! No! Hang on! Use some of that inner strength I know you have."

"Too late..." he pried his eyes open and gazed down at her. "I...love...you,...Kathryn." he whispered lying his head in her shoulder.

"Hold on Chakotay, fight it! Please! Don't leave me!" she whispered back frantically trying to will some of her strength to him.

Kathryn sat shocked in her sitting room. He was gone. Forever. She would never see him again. Never hear his laughter. Never see him smile the one smile he saved just for her. Never touch his hand or arm while serving on the bridge. Never share a private smile over something a crew member did. No more holodeck excursions. No more shorleaves. No more kisses. No more best friend. A lost chance for love.

The tears began to fall then. Her first since they had pulled the metal off them and pried her arms off him. Softly they fell, then harder as great sobs racked her body.

How could she have been such a fool?! She had pushed him away almost every time they'd begun to grow close. Even right before the accident, she had pulled away and said no. After the accident, he had told her he loved her. Why hadn't she told him?!? Now he would never know! Kathryn pounded a fist into the couch. He had demonstrated that love over and over. Making a home for them on New Earth, begging her to live while the alien invaded her mind, always waiting patiently for her....giving his life so she could live.

The sobs would cease, but the hurt would endure. She was so alone now. One heart, once two. One heartbeat, the second now only an echo in her mind.