Omega

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's log. Stardate 53374.32. Today marks the anniversary of our being in the Delta Quadrant for five years. Much has happened since we first chased the Maquis into the Badlands. There have been half a dozen weddings among the junior officers, and we now have three children on board. Most of the senior officers have remained the same over the past year. Except Neelix, who was promoted to a full ensign in security, much to Tuvok's dismay. And the addition to our medical staff, Leiaya of Reisayla. Aya has only been on board for two months, but she has proved to be a great addition to our crew, both for her help in sickbay and also for the crew's moral." Janeway paused for a minute. "End log."

She laid her head down on her arms on her desk. Five years. It was such a long time. Sixty five years and 58,000 more light years to go. Most of them would be old and at the end of their careers by the time they reached home. Sometimes she wondered why they kept pressing on. But, press on they must. They had families back home. Spouses and children they wanted to see again.

Raising her head again she stared straight at the gray wall in front of her. "Captain's personal log. Stardate 53374.32. It's five years since we've been here. It feels like we've been stuck out here forever. And I can feel the crew's anger at being trapped here. They're angry at me. I gave the order to chase the Maquis into the Badlands. I was the one who made the decision to destroy the wormhole. It's my fault we're stranded." A sob caught in her throat as she laid her head down again.

Beep...beep.... Janeway's head flew up. She'd fallen asleep crying! Quickly she pushed her hair back and refastened the clip. "Come."

Chakotay stepped hesitantly into her ready room. Taking in her red, puffy eyes, and hair that had been hastily redone, he wondered what had caused her to cry so hard. Then he remember what today was.

"The reports you wanted." he said softly lying the PADDs on her desk.

She nodded stiffly. "Thank you commander."

"Captain," he hesitated.

She noticed his hesitation and looked up reading his face like an open book. He was nervous about something. He was hesitating because he was uncertain if he could speak and not anger her.

"You have permission to speak freely, commander."

"Are you going to the party Neelix has planned for tonight?" he asked.

She shook her head. "I don't think anyone will have much fun with a chaperone there. And I don't intend to ruin their fun."

He took a step closer to the desk and laid a large hand on the top of her computer terminal. "We'd like for you to come....I'd like for you to come."

She shook her head again. The hair she had cut last year was now longer than before as it swung halfway down her back. She noticed his eyes lingering on it. "Commander, we've gone over why we can't do this." She finally said.

'No Kathryn, you went over why. I just listened.' Chakotay thought to himself remembering that awful night. Out loud he said, "Yes, captain. The crew would still like for you to make an appearance though."

She sighed. "I'll think about it."

He nodded knowing that was the best he was going to get. "See you there then." Chakotay tossed over his shoulder as he left to enter the bridge.

She closed her eyes again.

"Where is she? Didn't she say she'd come?" Neelix stood at Tom's elbow pestering him.

Tom looked at Neelix who was proudly wearing his black and gold uniform. "I thought so." he said. "Hey Chakotay, where's the captain?"

Chakotay looked up and shrugged, quickly returning to the two ensigns from stellar cartography.

Tom pulled Chakotay away from them. "Chakotay, my dear friend, you should go bring that lady who has caught your heart here." he said pushing him to the door.

Chakotay glared at him. "Remember who you are talking to, lieutenant." he said stressing the last word.

Tom stepped over and dropped his voice. "No disrespect intended sir, but she's been pulling back from us for five years. She needs to join the crew once in a while. They need to see that she cares."

Chakotay eyed him suspiciously for a minute. The strawberry blond headed pilot seemed genuinely concerned for his captain. "I'll go see if she'll come." He said in a low voice moving to the entrance of the mess hall.

Paris grinned. He really was concerned for the captain. And for the commander too. After that incident four months ago with the captain, neither had been the same.

Chakotay moved slowly down the corridors of Voyager. How had he gotten talked into this? He didn't go near the captain's quarters unless it was a life or death situation. He hadn't been there in over four months. Why was he going there now? Standing outside her door, he hesitated, uncertain if he should bother asking her to come. He pretty much knew the answer. Narrowing his eyes, he pushed the button.

Janeway looked up when the chime rang. She sighed, knowing who was there. She had been expecting him. "Come." she said at length.

Chakotay stopped just inside the door letting his eyes adjust to the low light setting.

"Can I help you commander?" she asked motioning him over to the couch where she sat.

He sank into the seat at the far end, as distant from her as he could. He sat silent for a minute, eyes taking in her quarters.

He noticed an empty spot on her desk. "You moved our picture." he said finally.

"It's in my room." she answered watching him.

He glanced at her, and then quickly away when he realized she was watching him.
"Chakotay..." she laid a hand on his arm feeling the same spark she always had when they touched.

His wide brown eyes whipped around to lock with her blue ones. Love. Regret. What he saw there was only a slight surprise.

"Nevermind." she said softly pulling her hand back and breaking the gaze. "You wanted me to come to the party..." she trailed off.

He nodded swallowing hard. "Tom practically forced me to come get you." he gave a hint of a smile. "He said the crew needed to see you there."

"They don't need a baby-sitter."

"Maybe they want to see that their captain is able to enjoy the time she has with them."

"Why would they want that? I'm not close to any of them."

'You used to be close to me.' he thought. 'Get a grip, commander!' Out loud he said, "That's because you won't let them get close to you. They still admire and respect you and want to see you happy."

Janeway sighed realizing she couldn't win this without looking like she didn't care about her crew. "All right, I'll come for a little bit." She rose from the couch and started walking to the door. "Coming commander?"

He leapt off the couch and nearly ran over her trying to catch up. Grabbing her by the shoulders so she wouldn't fall he quickly released her when she had her balance again.

Janeway froze and closed her eyes. That was the first time he'd touched her in months. It was doing funny things to her heart again. Of course, if she was honest with herself, he'd been doing funny things to her heart for five years since he stepped on Voyager.

Chakotay looked at her concerned. His grip on her arms had affected him too. It had been ages since he'd held her. Now, he wanted nothing more than to pull her in his embrace. But he resisted knowing it would be greatly unwelcome. "Are you ok, captain?" he asked instead.

'No! I miss you like crazy and want for you to hold me until eternity comes!' She opened her eyes. "I'm fine." she said evenly starting to walk to the turbolift.

He quickly followed her.

"Captain! So good of you to make it!" Neelix approached them grinning from ear to ear.
"It looks like you've out done yourself, Neelix." she said looking around the mess hall. "This is even better than last year's party."

Neelix was beaming at her recognition of his talents.

The captain and commander spilt as they began to mingle with other crew members.

"Tuvok to the captain."

Janeway turned from where she was involved in a discussion about plants with Aya. "Janeway here."

"Captain, we've encountered an anomaly that I think you'll want to be on the bridge for." Tuvok's voice sounded urgent, if a Vulcan can sound urgent.

"On my way. Janeway out." she acknowledged. "I'm really sorry Aya."

"Quite all right captain." the sable haired woman smiled.

Janeway glanced around quickly trying to locate her XO.

"He's looking at the stars through the window by the door." Aya said softly.

Janeway turned sharply wondering if Kes had left her telepathic ability to the next nurse. "Thank you."

Quickly she made her way over to where Chakotay was standing by himself half in a daze. "Commander, they need us on the bridge." she said softly at his elbow.

He jumped, almost spilling the liquid in his glass. "Aye captain."

"Why is Tuvok on the bridge instead of at the party?" she asked once they were in the turbolift.

"He thought someone would need to be on the bridge, and he knew the crew wanted you to come."

She allowed the words to sink in. They had schemed in advance to make sure she wouldn't have an excuse. Maybe she should make more of an effort. But then, if she did, there was always the loss of the captain's front that she couldn't do without.

"Report Tuvok." Janeway said before she'd gotten completely out of the turbolift. Then she froze staring at the image on the screen. A wormhole, beautiful swirls of pink, lavender, blue, and gold, leading...

"Where does it go?" Chakotay found his voice first. He was still half in the turbolift. The captain stood frozen to the spot. For the second time that evening he put his hands on her arms, this time pushing her forward so he could step on the bridge.

She hardly noticed.

"A probe is coming back right now." the ensign at OPs said. "Captain," he looked up in amazement. "It goes straight to the Alpha Quadrant."

Janeway stared at the viewscreen, still having not moved from her location. Snapping out of her daze, she strode to the command center of the bridge and took her seat. Chakotay took his seat beside her.

"I want a full analysis of this wormhole. See if it's stable enough to go through."

"Aye, captain." Tuvok said from his station.

Janeway sat in her chair for about two more seconds. "Commander, you have the bridge. I'll be in my ready room. Let me know the instant you find something out." She spun on her heel making her way quickly to her ready room.

The door slid shut behind her. She sat at her desk and tried to work. No use. The excitement of finding a way home after five years was too much on her mind. She opened the drawer on the right side of her desk. At the very back, behind a picture of Chakotay and herself, there was another picture. A picture that had traveled 70,000 light years. Mark and their dog, Mollie. She held it for a minute. She may soon find a way to be home with them again. Her heart still lifted a little at the thought of him, but not as much as it did when she thought of a certain XO-no, she wouldn't think of that now. She couldn't. The crew needed her strong, not crying all over her desk again for something that would never be.

Flipping on her computer terminal, Janeway accessed the reports and began reading. She wanted to make sure she was up to date on everything with her ship when they docked.

What seemed like hours later Janeway stood from her desk and stretched. Wandering over to the window in her readyroom. She could just barely make out the pink glow of the wormhole around the curve of the ship.

Beep...beep..

"Come." she didn't turn. She knew who it was and why he was here. He came and stood behind her, but she still didn't turn around. Could she bare it if this wormhole was another obstacle to taunt and tease them, making them think they were almost home and then pulling away? Finally, she could stand it no more. "Well commander?"

He said nothing. When she spun around and saw the grin on his face, she knew. They were going home. A grin broke out on her face as she grabbed her first officer around the neck in a bear hug.

His arms went around her automatically as he began gasping for breath. "Kathryn!" he rasped out.

With a yelp she jumped back. "I'm sorry, Chakotay!" She blushed to the roots of her hair realizing what she had just done. Thankfully, the door to her ready room was closed so there were no witnesses.

"Quite all right. Just next time don't choke me."

She gave a short, uncomfortable nod. "There won't be a next time commander." Turning away and facing the window again she opened the comm link. "Janeway to all hands. Our sensors have picked up a wormhole that goes to the Alpha Quadrant. We will be entering it shortly, and then we'll be at the end of our journey." Unshed tears glistened in her eyes. This day couldn't be any more happier for her, she'd finally accomplished what they thought was going to take 70 years--getting her crew home.

"We are ready to enter the wormhole captain." Tuvok informed the captain from his station.

"How long will it take us to pass through?" Janeway asked.

"I estimate at twenty-six minutes and fourteen seconds."

The captain didn't dare look at her commander, they'd burst out laughing at Tuvok's accuracy. So instead she settled for lifting her right hand and pointing at the view screen. "Take us in."

Paris's hand was shaking a little as he engaged the impulse engines. They were actually going home. He didn't know if he should look forward to it or not. There was always the taste of a real pizza to look forward to, Neelix's just wasn't the same. But then there was Admiral Paris. He'd probably still find reasons to find fault in his son. He was beginning to think that the punishment he'd received from the alien world at the beginning of the trip would be better than facing the Admiral. That was only every fourteen hours of reliving a murder from the victim's point of view, facing his father would mean living every minute of every day knowing he wasn't good enough.

Then there was B'Elanna. They were dating steadily, but what would happen when they got back. He chanced a glance at her. She was watching him too. They quickly exchanged smiles and went back to work.

What would happen? Torres wondered also. Would they continue their relationship? Or would they be diminished to friends who heard from each other across the galaxy once in awhile? Would she be an outlaw? The thought came to her suddenly, but just as quickly she dismissed it. The captain would do all she could to get them pardoned. After all, she had shown her loyalty to Starfleet when she had intercepted the missile heading toward a heavily populated planet, right? She had risked her life to right the wrong of her Maquis idea back in the Alpha Quadrant. Even now she couldn't think of what she had been thinking sending a missile from her Maquis ship to the Delta Quadrant, but at least she'd had the opportunity to fix it. She wasn't like Harry. He was so innocent he'd probably not messed up once on this journey.

Harry was drumming his fingers into his console. It was the first free moment he'd gotten since they'd found the wormhole. He'd been so busy scanning and interpreting he hadn't thought of much else. Now with a free moment, he turned his thoughts to those he'd be seeing soon. His mom and dad, his whole family, he was sure. And Libby. The thought of seeing her made a knot form in his stomach. They'd been apart for five years. Would she actually want to go back to the relationship they'd had before? Or would she be like him, and just want to be friends. 'She's probably gone on with her life,' he mused, after all, Voyager was thought to be missing until just over a year ago. And like it or not, there was someone else in his life now. Maybe she would just stay a friend, but hopefully, when she was faced to deal with a whole planet of humans, she'd need someone to turn to, and that someone would be him.

Seven of Nine was down in Engineering taking orders from B'Elanna, who was stationed on the Bridge. After all the time they'd spent together they weren't getting along much better. Seven was efficient, the half-human half-klingon engineer wanted her to be polite. Polite and efficient didn't go together when there was an emergency, Seven reasoned. And besides, she certainly couldn't be called lazy. She had done her fair share, such as finding the alien sensor network over a year ago. They had been able to send the doctor to the Alpha Quadrant and talk to Starfleet. Due to her work, Starfleet was looking for a way to meet them halfway.

Seven's thoughts turned to what she would do after they got back. She had been ready to face an existence of living among the crew for the rest of her life, but now they would be home very shortly. Probably a prison, she figured, as she had been part of the Borg collective. Or maybe a menial task on some low level ship. She was startled to find that the thought upset her. She actually had feelings for the crew and Voyager. She wanted to stay in engineering, even if she had to stay with B'Elanna.

Tuvok made a slight course adjustment from his console. No one on the bridge would believe that he was as excited as the rest of the crew, but they couldn't be more wrong. He just had control of his feelings, after all, it wasn't logical to let your emotions run wild and affect what you're doing. They could end up in the Gamma Quadrant with one slight mistake. Soon he would be teaching again at the Academy, he didn't really want another deep space mission again. One was enough for the Vulcan. He gazed at the view screen thinking of the people he'd seen soon. His wife and their three children were at the front of his mind. Why, the children would be so grown up by the time he got back, maybe even some grandchildren on the way.

Chakotay wasn't sure, but was that a smile on Tuvok's face? When the Vulcan realized he was being observed, he frowned at the commander. Chakotay didn't let it bother him, he just turned back to the view screen, pausing to watch his captain intensely. He looked forward to getting home and seeing his family, or at least some of his family. He was probably disowned by others because he'd 'rejoined' Starfleet, but he could deal with that. He could even deal with never seeing Trebus, his home planet, again. He knew he wouldn't be welcome there for the same reason. What he could not deal with was the fact that he would lose the captain. They hadn't really talked in over four months, but there was still something there. Oh, they had 'talked' on the bridge all the time, or in her ready room about crew members, but nothing personal was ever said between them anymore.

Something was wrong with her. Chakotay could feel it. She hadn't really smiled since they'd found the wormhole. Well, there was that one smile and hug in her ready room when she'd learned that they were going home, but he had a feeling the smile was more for accomplishing what she thought was impossible instead of for seeing the people back home. Since the discovery, she hadn't spent any time with the crew. All of her off duty hours were spent in her quarters, and even on the bridge with the beautiful pink and gold cloud she did nothing but glare at it.

Janeway leaned back in her chair. it had been a long five years, but now, if this wormhole worked, they were all about to get a great deal of recognition. Why, she may even be promoted to an admiral! She reminisced about her long climb up the ladder of Starfleet.

Her first assignment as a Junior Ensign had been on the U.S.S. Encarta serving under Commander David Greene. She remembered making a conscience decision, before she beamed aboard, to act and carry herself like a captain. Upon transporting aboard, she went directly to the commander's office.
He barely glanced up when the small brunette with her head held high stepped in. "I'll be with you in a minute Lieutenant."

Janeway raised and eyebrow. "Junior Ensign, sir."

His eyes came up immediately and he locked on the single pip fastened to her jacket. "Junior Ensign." he gave a slight smile. "It appears that you have the ability to convey a sense of leadership, Junior."

Since that day, he'd called her Junior. It turned out to be a term of endearment as he took her under his wing and treated her as a daughter.

Years later, just after being promoted to Captain Janeway, she saw Admiral Greene again.

"It's good to see you, Junior." he had said giving her a small hug.

"It's captain now." she had told her mentor proudly.

"You'll always be Junior to me Kathryn." he had informed her.

Captain Janeway smiled slightly at the memory. She'd have to look up Admiral Greene when she got back. He would be interested in some of the stories she had to tell. Not like Mark. She frowned at the memory of him. He would patiently wait for her to chatter about the past five years, and then expect to move forward in their relationship. If he hadn't already moved on, she remembered. She wondered if his proposal still stood. She couldn't accept, not when her heart was tied up in the man who sat beside her captain's chair. Frowning, Janeway moved from the bridge to her ready room after turning command over to Chakotay. She didn't want to think of him like that with him so close by.

Sitting at her desk, she let the tears fall. It seemed like all she'd done lately was cry, but there were so many emotions running through her, she couldn't help it. She was about to lose the best friend, best first officer, and the man she truly loved, in just a matter of days. Who knew if they would see each other again in the next few years. They probably wouldn't. Starfleet would put the both on away missions, if he even chose to stay with Starfleet.

Beep....beep. Janeway's head snapped up from her desk. Hastily wiping her tears away, she grabbed a PADD, "Come."

Chakotay stepped in not fooled for one minute. Her eyes were still red and her hands were shaking slightly, but he had to make her see this. "Captain, are you happy to be going back?"

"Of course, I've been working toward this day for five years." she answered looking intently at the PADD in her hand.

"You're looking forward to seeing your family?"

"Yes. I can't wait to see them." She still didn't look at her XO.

"And you'll see Mark?"

She paused raising her eyes to his. "I'll enjoy seeing him too."
"Seeing your friends?"

"I didn't have many when I left, but I will look forward to the time with a few close friends." she frowned trying to figure out what he was implying.

"You'll be happy to see earth and Starfleet?"

"Yes commander!"

"So I would be dead wrong if I said you were dreading getting back to the Alpha Quadrant because you really are looking forward to it?"

"For goodness sakes, yes!" she exclaimed.

Placing his hands on either side of hers that were holding the PADD on her desk, he leaned into her face stopping only when they were barely inches apart. "Then why do you act as though we're on the way to a funeral?" he asked her softly staring into her blue eyes.

Her breath caught in her throat. She could smell his spicy scent from his aftershave mixed with that of his shampoo. He was so close to her. She couldn't help but think of her hand and how little pressure would be needed just barely pressing on the back of his neck to kiss him. She was getting lost in his eyes. She closed her eyes for a minute. When she opened them, he was standing up to his full height in front of her.

"The crew is concerned, Kathryn."

She looked up startled at his calling her Kathryn. "What should I do?" she began to get defensive as she always did when he spoke of her getting close to the crew. "I'm still the captain, and I still have things I need to do."

"The crew come first, right?"

"Yes, they do." she said tightly. "That's why I'm preparing these requests for pardons for each Maquis member and reading over the reports from last week."

"Will you try to make it to the Good-bye party Neelix has planned? Everyone on board is planning on getting together one last time before we separate."

She thought for a minute, "I suppose I will have to at least make an appearance."

"I had hoped you'd try to make it for the whole thing."

She sighed, "I'll try commander, but no promises."

He flashed his dimpled smile at her as he turned to leave. "I have faith in you, Kathryn, I know you'll do your best."

She rested her head in her hands after the door had slid shut. That smile. It was all she could do to keep from melting into a puddle right behind her desk. Yes, he was right. She would do all she could to get to that party. It may very well be the last time for a long time that she could sit beside him.

Chakotay took his seat on the bridge again. What had possessed him to do that?! He'd gone in there like they were old friends and let her know exactly what was going on. Well, not exactly. She didn't know how hard his heart had been pounding, or how much he wanted to protect her the instant he saw that she had been crying. She had looked so vulnerable, he wanted to do nothing more than gather her in his arms and let her cry, for whatever reason she had been crying. If only she'd share some of her pain with him!, then he could help her get through it and she wouldn't be alone.

"Preparing to exit the wormhole."

"Chakotay to Janeway. We are preparing to exit."

She burst out of her ready room not three seconds later. Taking her seat she followed everyone else's motions and stared at the view screen.

"One half impulse." Janeway instructed as they came out of the wormhole.

"Aye." Tom replied.

The pink and gold clouds began to fade away as the crew of Voyager got their first look of the Alpha Quadrant in five years. Janeway stood up and walked toward the viewscreen in horror. Mouths of the bridge crew fell open in terror.

On the screen, dozens of Starfleet, Xenkethen, Cardassian, and Ferengi ships were floating, abandoned in space. Around them were pieces of other ships. "Ensign Kim, what happened here?" she demanded spinning to face her crew.

"I am detecting Romulan, Klingon, Cardassian, Ferengi, Starfleet, and Vulcan signatures, captain. But none of the ships were in a fight with each other. It's another species. The computer is analyzing." his face drained in color. "Captain," he stared at the screen. "It's the Borg."

Janeway brushed a stray hair out of her way nervously. "Do you read any more Starfleet vessels in this sector?"

"None with life signs. And there are no other ships with life signs either."

"How far are we from earth?"

"About one day journey at Warp 5." Tuvok answered.

"Set course at warp 9." the captain instructed.

"Aye."



News traveled fast that they had come upon Borg in the Alpha Quadrant. Junior officers scurried around to do their work when someone was watching them, but otherwise they were sharing the latest gossip. Chakotay had to admit that the senior officers weren't doing much better. More than once Tom had moved to B'Elanna or Harry and spoken to them for a minute. Chakotay wasn't going to say much about it this time, it wasn't often that a crew returned home to find it over run with Borg after all. And if they weren't going to go crazy worrying, then maybe he could give them the luxury of not keeping them so strict.

Janeway sat behind the desk of her ready room reading the sensor data that Harry had patched through to her. It seemed that there were approximately a dozen Borg ships within sensor range. Why they weren't perusing her, she didn't know. But for the moment, she welcomed the bit of peace.

"Captain, we are approaching Earth."

She jumped up and once again had to stop herself from nearly running to the bridge.

"Open a channel."

"Not responding, captain." Tuvok announced. "I am reading no human life signs either."

"None at all?" she asked.

"I did not misread my data." the Vulcan said stiffly.

Her jaw tensed as she sat down beside her XO. "I want to lead an away team." she said softly to Chakotay.

His eyes widened. "There may be Borg down there, captain."

"I know and more than likely there are, but there's Starfleet headquarters there too. This is our planet, and we have the right to know what happened."

'What I'd give to be a fly near that conversation.' Paris thought to himself watching the two senior most officers having a whispered conference.

Finally Janeway stood. "I'll be leading an away team. I'm only asking for volunteers to go on this one." She looked around. Only her senior officers were on the bridge this time, the rest were being put to work on other decks, mostly engineering. "Is there anyone who particularly wants to be part of this team?"

Chakotay was the first to stand. "I'll go, captain."

"Me too." B'Elanna rose from her console.

Tom opened his mouth to say he would too when Tuvok beat him.

"I will accompany you also." Tuvok said.

Janeway raised her hand. "That's enough then. Tom, you will be in command until we return. Harry, you're in second. Keep close records of anything on sensors and keep a lock on us. If we're not back within six hours, take the ship back to the Delta Quadrant. Chakotay, Tuvok, B'Elanna, you're with me."

The four strode off the bridge and onto the turbolift determined to find out what happened.

"You don't expect for us to make it back do you?" Torres asked once the door had shut.

The captain met her chief of engineering's eyes. "I have my doubts. Sensors picked up Borg on the planet. Washington DC, and probably parts of Los Angeles have been over run with them. There is still time for you to decide not to go." she offered.

B'Elanna narrowed her eyes. "I will not back out."

"I concur." Tuvok stated.

Chakotay met Janeway's eyes. She didn't even need to ask him. His eyes were clearly saying 'You're not going into this alone.'

A short time later, the quartet beamed down to the surface. Phasers outstretched they began to make a run for headquarters. Rounding a corner of the tall building they stopped in shock. A space ship was lying on the ground, looking as though it had rammed itself there.

"Chakotay, take B'Elanna and see if you can get into headquarters and get the records of what happened. I'm going to see if I can download that ship's records into this tricorder or set up a link to upload the information to our ship. Tuvok, you're with me."

The quartet split into two duets as Tuvok and the captain ran to the ship. Part of the hull had been ripped down the center due to impact so they were able to slip inside quite easily. The ship wasn't identified by their sensors. 'Must have been made after we left.' Janeway mused. Stepping onto the bridge she found the inscription. "Prometheus, commissioned on stardate 48637.8. Just after we left." She whispered to Tuvok, not sure why she was whispering.

He nodded shortly already at the computer console trying to establish a link. "Perhaps the doctor could have helped up more with this mission." He stated.

She turned to give him a funny look. "The doctor? What does he know about uploading a computer's database?"

"Not the upload, captain. He could have helped us with the layout. Wasn't' the ship he visited called the Prometheus?"

Her eyes lit up. "You're right Tuvok. Do you have power running?"

He nodded.

"Good. Computer, please activate the EMH program."

"Please state the nature of the medical emergency." the holograph phased into appearance. "Who are you and what are you doing on my ship?" he demanded.

"Good to see you doctor. I believe our holodoctor had a run in with you just over a year ago when you were facing some Romulans. I'm his captain."

"Ah yes. Mark One." he straightened up proudly. "There we were. Two holographs. Alone. Facing a ship full of Romulans. More Romulan ships coming at us. We had to figure out how to get control of the ship. I crawled into a Jeffrey tube and-"

He was cut off by Janeway's raising her hand. "We have a full detailed report of the incident, doctor. Right now, I want to know what happened here."

"Here?" he looked around. "As in the ship, or on earth?"

Janeway forced herself to not roll her eyes. "The Alpha Quadrant is swarming with Borg, why are they here, how did they get here, what did they do?"

"So many questions at once." The holoprogram shook his head. "They are here to assimilate any organic creature. They came through a wormhole I believe. And they over took the Beta Quadrant all at once. We were no match for them. They came out of the wormhole, and within hours had destroyed or damaged every ship in the Klingon Empire. From there they just moved to the Romulan Empire and Tholian Assembly. Cardassian space the Federation were the first hit in the Alpha Quadrant, but they quickly assimilated the Ferengi and Tellurian and Xenkethen too. I do not know of a planet that was not assimilated."

Janeway and Tuvok stared, both speechless. "Everything is gone?" she asked shocked.

"I believe I just said that."

"Tuvok, download his program to our database. Guess you'll have to come with us doctor."

He raised his eyebrows. "And if I refuse?"

"We'll simply leave your program turned off until you're ready to cooperate." she stated. "Computer deactivate the Emergency Medical Hologram."

In a blink of an eye, he was gone.

A minute later Tuvok held up the tricorder. "Transfer complete."

She acknowledge him with a wave of her hand. Out of the corner of her eye she detected a movement. Her head whipped around to come face to face with a Borg.

"Tuvok!"

He fired his phaser instantly at the drone. It stumbled backwards and fell, but there was another directly behind it. Tuvok fired on this one too, but they had already adapted to the frequency. Both Starfleet members turned and fled the bridge while trying to reconfigure their weapons' frequency.

Stumbling down the hall with phaser lights dancing around them they managed to slide into another corridor. "Janeway to Voyager." She snapped into the comm link. "Two to beam up, immediately!"

The blue beam of the transporter engulfed them. Janeway felt the familiar tingle as they were beamed aboard. They reappeared on the transport pad, thankfully in one piece.

"Janeway to Chakotay."

"Chakotay here."

"There are Borg in the area, are you ready to beam up?'

"Yes, captain."

"Get them out of there ensign." She told the young woman at the console.

"Senior briefing in the conference room in five minutes." She instructed her crew as they appeared.

Five minutes later, everyone was gathered.

"What did you and B'Elanna find?" the captain inquired of her XO.

"We were able to download every record in their computer."

"Every record?" she asked amazed.

"Every piece of history, every person, everything." The commander said.

"And have you learned anything?"

"Apparently the Borg found the wormhole about sixteen months ago. They came in full force and attacked. It said that the Romulans and Klingons were attacked on stardate 52968.22. And the last entry was on stardate 52969.34. So we can assume that was about when earth was attacked."

"We retrieved the holodoctor from the Prometheus." Janeway began. "He-"

"You have him on board?" the doctor interrupted.

She leveled him with one look for interrupting, but answered. "We have his program in the data banks. Eventually he was be your assistant. As I was saying, he told us that the Borg have attacked all of the Alpha and Beta Quadrants. There is no more home here."

Everyone froze. They had figured that there would be some part of the Alpha Quadrant still intact.

"We're alone?" B'Elanna asked.

Janeway nodded. "It appears to be that way."

"What are we going to do? We can't face a whole fleet of Borg." Neelix frowned, creases forming on his forehead.

"I realize that, we'll have to think of something." Janeway had hardly gotten the words out of her mouth when the ship lurched under them.

"Battle stations, I have no doubt who the enemy is!" she told the officers as they ran to their posts.

The small assembly dashed onto the bridge and quickly took control from the junior officers who were all to happy to yield command to their Cos.

"Shields at 86% and dropping." Tuvok stated calmly.

"Fire at will!" Janeway barked.

"Firing.....no affect."

"Attempt to hail them." Seven stood up straight and came forward.

"Seven? Please explain what that would accomplish."

Seven turned to her captain. "I was Borg. I know how they speak and think. I may be able to make them see that taking one more ship is...illogical."

Janeway raised her eyebrows and gave the woman a surprised smile. "You heard her, hail them."

"Aye captain. They are responding."

"On screen."

"Resistance is futile. You will be assimilated."

"Assimilation is illogical." Seven steeped forward turning the mechanical side of her face toward the drone on the screen. "The quadrant has been assimilated, one ship is irrelevant. You will allow this ship to go."

" You are not a match for the Borg. You will be assimilated."

"You are wrong. We have acquired more advanced weapons from species 8472." Her face gave nothing away. It was void of any emotion.

The Borg inclined his head slightly. "You are human. You lie."

"This one is a Borg drone. Designation, seven of nine. We are incapable of lying." She cocked her head to the side as many Borg did when they were processing information.

Chakotay felt his blood run cold. She was pulling this off almost too well. And the look on Janeway's face made him think she would agree with him.

The drone on the view screen hesitated. "You are free to go. Be out of Borg territory within four days." The view screen blinked back showing an external view of the cube.

The bridge was silent, all eyes were turned to Seven.

She was silent for a minute. Then she turned to the captain. "I believe negotiations were acceptable."

Janeway nodded. "Yes,...thank you." She took a deep breath. It looked like they had no choice. This was going to be one of the hardest orders she would ever have to issue. "Set course....for the wormhole to the Delta Quadrant." Then the captain turned and went into her ready room not wanting to see the dejected looks on the face of her crew.


Chakotay watched her go. She was feeling like a failure, he knew. Determined to make her understand that it wasn't his fault, he got up and followed her.

When the door to her ready room opened, he stepped in and allowed it to close before saying anything.

"Can I help you commander?" she asked without looking up.

"Yes."

She did look up from the doctor's report then.

"You can quit blaming yourself for us having to go back."

She lowered her head. "I don't' need a pep talk, Chakotay. I can take full responsibility for us having to go back without needing to be cheered up."

"You shouldn't have to. Everyone will understand when they are told their choice was either the Delta Quadrant or assimilation. And I know they would all choose the Delta Quadrant. We've lived there for the past five years not expecting to get home until we were old. What does a few more years mean?"

She lifted her face up, icy blue eyes piercing through him. "It means that this crew's children and grandchildren will be raised out there. They will have no where to call 'home'. They will be nomads. I don't' like the idea of leading a crew into that."

"Then don't."

"Excuse me commander? It was you who said we had the choice to be assimilated or leave here. What can you mean by that?"

"Get us to the Delta Quadrant. Find a nice little planet. Maybe take us back to New Earth. Let them settle there." Chakotay shifted his weight to his other foot. "We aren't physically joined to this ship. We can settle somewhere else."

The captain looked up at him. "I would never leave my crew on a planet for them to fend for themselves. I can't believe you would suggest that. Now, if you please, commander. I have work to do."

"I wasn't suggesting you leave them there, Kathryn. I think we'll need you on New Earth."

He was startled by the anger he saw blaze in her eyes suddenly. "Commander, I believe I said no to any relationship with you that would allow you to call me Kathryn. Please remember it."

"All right captain." He answered tightly. "But one day you're going to realize that you're all alone out here. You'll realize that all of your old friends are gone, probably assimilated like the rest of our families. And you'll wake up and see that you have no one to turn to because you pushed all of the crew away. A crew that would gladly be your family."

The anger he'd built up inside of himself was evident to Janeway as he stiffly walked out of her door. She sighed and returned to the report.


"Chakotay?....Hey! Voyager to Chakotay! Come in!"

"What?" he nearly growled at B'Elanna.

"Gee, and I thought I was the one who growled." She caught up with him finally as he made his way down the corridor at warp 9.9. "What happened?"

"I don't want to talk about it."

B'Elanna placed her hand on his arm stopping him and looked at his face carefully. He stared back at her. Eyebrows knit together in anger, a hard frown on his usually smiling lips, and eyes that were virtually shooting daggers.

"What happened with the captain?" she finally asked.

With a huff he resumed walking. B'Elanna nearly had to jog to keep up with his long strides.

"You've got that look, Chakotay. Might as well tell someone."

"You're right that it's about the captain. But I'm not going to indulge in telling crewmembers."

"So, I'm just another crew member?" she gave a short laugh. "Somehow I got the idea we were friends. Guess it wasn't because I saved your ship a few times with the Maquis. Or because you used to talk to me about stuff. Or because you 'counseled' me about Tom."

Chakotay stopped suddenly in the hall causing B'Elanna to spin in order to continue facing him.

"You are my friend, B'Elanna, but I can't tell you about my relationship with the captain. It's something that has to stay between the two of us. We can't have officers who know too much."

"So, there is a relationship now?" she grinned. "Didn't think it'd ever happen ag-"

"No." He interrupted stiffly. "There is no romance between us. I said that poorly didn't I? What I was saying is that whatever friendship, anger, or love there is between us, must only be part of our knowledge. Do you see what I'm saying?"

She nodded. "I can see you're upset. And I think you need to work off some of that steam in a game of hoverball. What do you say?"

He gave her a half hearted smile more for her benefit than because he felt like it. "Now you're talking."


A few hours later....


Chakotay moved through the corridors of Voyager with a thundercloud over his head. He didn't even see the two ensigns jump out of his way before he rushed past. Usually, he'd never take losing a game to B'Elanna so bad, but the stress the captain had put on him was too great. Crew members were coming to him because they didn't understand why she had made the decision. He was the one having to put up with the crying and comforting of those who had lost loved ones-which included all of them. To him, it seemed they all wanted to talk to him. He needed to get to his quarters and calm down before he blew up at someone.

He stepped into his darkened quarters "Computer, raise lights by twenty percent." He instructed moving emphatically to his room. A movement on the couch by the window startled him.

"What are you doing here?" he demanded of the captain.

She took in his hard jaw line and eyebrows knit together over his obsidian glare. "I thought I was looking for an old friend." She said standing. "I must have the wrong quarters." She snapped leaving him standing in the middle of the room.

Thankfully, the captain didn't see anyone as she made the short trip back to her quarters. She'd gone to Chakotay looking for a friend, of these she had been forced to admit she had precious few left in the universe. Janeway had always counted on getting home and being reunited with her mother, sister, Mark, and a few select friends she still had left. But now, for the first time in her life, Janeway realized that she was completely alone in the galaxy, with no one to turn to.

She didn't bother with the lock on her door. With now friend on board, the only people to disturb her would be the bridge crew who would use the comm link. Throwing herself on her bed, she didn't' bother getting undressed or even taking off her boots.

Chakotay stood frozen to the floor where Kathryn had left him. She was the last person he'd expected to find curled up in his sitting room, and he'd blown any chance of any friendship with her now. She was not one to run from most problems, he knew, if she worked up the courage to come to him and then had left like that, he didn't' even want to think of the anger that must be on his face and in his movements.

For the first time in a long while, Chakotay felt a sob rise in his chest. Tears streaming down his face as he held his head in his hands, he dropped to his knees and remember the last time Kathryn had dared enter his quarters.



It was late, or early depending on how one looked at it. Alpha shift was long over and Beta was well into theirs, but Chakotay hadn't been able to sleep. 'Must be picking up her insomnia.' He had thought to himself half amused reaching for another report.

He had glanced at the chronometer when the doorchime sounded. 0200. Who could be coming this late? "Come."

Kathryn had stepped in, still dressed in full uniform.

"Kathryn," he'd smiled widely going to her and pulling her in his embrace.

She had allowed it for a moment, breathing in his spicy, clean, scent as though trying to memorize it. When he went to kiss her, she'd allowed that for an instant too. Then, hand on his chest, she broke away. "We need to talk." She said, unshed tears glistening in her eyes about what she had to do.

He led her over to the couch and sat down beside her, one arm on the back resting lightly on her shoulders. "What is it Kathryn?"

She had looked out at the stars, anything to not look at him. "We can't see each other like this anymore." When he didn't respond she finally turned to look at him.

All of the color had drained from his face. "Why?" he asked hoarsely.

Kathryn clasped her hands together. "The crew..."

"They've supported us." He'd said low realizing he now had no right to have his arm where it was, but he hadn't move it.

"The senior staff does, but the junior staff does nothing but gossip. Chakotay," she turned to fully face him. "When I walk through the halls, the junior staff spends more time watching my waistline than they do their work. I can't have those kinds of rumors flying around about the two senior most officers."

He gaped at her. "We've probably only kissed a dozen times! And never in public! Where can they get these rumors?"

She had put her head in her hands, tears now streaming freely down both cheeks. "I don't' know Chakotay, I don't' know."



She had left him then, and taken his heart too. For the next couple months, neither were but a shadow of what they had been.

Making a decision, Chakotay wiped the tears from his eyes and strode determinedly to the captain's quarters. They had to face this sooner or later. And knowing he was the closest thing to a friend that she had left in this world made him want to fix it now for her.

She didn't answer when he rang the door chime. He was about to override it when he saw it wasn't locked. Opening the door, Chakotay let himself into the dimly lit interior.

A couple of PADDs were sitting on her couch beside a half full cup of cold coffee, but she was no where in sight. Surveying the room, he saw the door to her room open, and a pair of booted feet hanging off the end of the bed. Chakotay hesitated about going into her room. He'd never been in there, and he didn't know what the captain would do if she woke up and found him in her quarters, much less in her room. As it was she had the right to report him for an unauthorized entry into her quarters.

Slipping into her room quietly, he took in her sleeping form. She had been crying, he could tell instantly despite the now peaceful look on her face. Sadness tugged at his heart that he'd possibly been the cause of those tears. Gently, he pulled the boots off her feet and covered her with a blanket that had been tossed over a chair in the corner. Then, closing the door, he allowed her to sleep.

Back in her sitting room the commander put the half finished coffee in the replicator and then curled up on her couch to wait.

Janeway stretched out on her bed. Why was she not in bed, she wondered. For that matter, why was she still in uniform?? The events of the past evening then came rushing to her. She closed her eyes remembering coming into her quarters after snapping at Chakotay. She hadn't gotten undressed or gotten in bed. So, where did her boots go and why was she covered with the blanket that was usually on her chair? Startled awake by the line of her thoughts she looked about her. Her boots were set neatly in a corner and the door to her room was closed. Her ears could just barely detect a light snore coming from her sitting room-a snore that was usually on the other side of her wall in the direction of her first officer's room.

Climbing out of bed, she quietly made her way into the sitting room. There he was. Stretched out on her couch that was really too small for him. She didn't want to wake him, so instead settled for sitting on a chair and watching him sleep. She had never had the opportunity to see him asleep before, even when they were an item they never spent a night in the other's quarters. He looked so peaceful. A slight smile was playing on his lips. Then she realized the snoring had stopped and he was watching her.

"Good morning captain." He said groggily moving to sit up.

"It's not quite morning." She said glancing at the chronometer. 0430. "What are you doing in here?" she repeated his words from last night, but in a much less forceful manner.

"I came to apologize." He said softly, eyes begging her to forgive him. "You, ...were..ah...asleep when I came over, so I let myself in and, well, I guess I fell asleep."

She just looked at him.

"Do you still want that friend?"

She hesitated. It was true that if she pushed him away she'd have no one. And she had a feeling he would not come back to her, so it was now or never. "Yes," she took a deep breath. "I realized like you said that I'm totally alone in this world- or at least in what's left of it. I don't want to be alone, I need someone to lean on." she looked away as she whispered, "For five years, you've been the one I've leaned on, and I don't want to lose you."

Slowly, he stood and went over to kneel beside her taking her hand. She slid off the chair so they were kneeling together when she finally allowed him to pull her into his arms.

Holding her was doing wonders to his heart. If she tried to push him back to a 'friendship' he knew he was going to have a time trying to keep from grabbing her in a bear hug in the middle of the bridge. He was in love with this woman, and had kept a distance for a while before she finally allowed him close that first time. When they had spilt, she had taken a part of his heart, as he knew he'd taken a part of hers. Now, maybe they could be 'normal' again.

Janeway was afraid her knees would buckle, it felt wonderful to be held by her first officer-no, not her first officer. He was more than that now, always had been in fact. She buried her face into the shoulder of his uniform letting hot tears of joy stream down her cheeks before seeping into his uniform. "I love you Chakotay."

He barely heard the whispered confession, but he didn't miss it. "I love you too Kathryn." He whispered back pulling her closer to him and meeting her lips with his own.

When they finally broke apart they both had tears in their eyes. The two officers knew life would never be the same for them, not with the relationship that was starting again, and the adventure they would have once the ship reached the Delta Quadrant.

"New Earth is fine, Chakotay."

"Should we bring the crew?" he asked grinning.

"Maybe not for the honeymoon." She replied grinning back.

"Sure about this?" he asked her seriously. "Are you sure you want to be my wife?"

"Positive." She tried to lean back into his kiss, but he stopped her and pulled away for a minute.

"Then I want for you to have this." He was pulling something out of his pocket. Something he had been carrying around ever since he'd met her. The white silk fell away to reveal an antique ring. It was gold, with two tiny gold hearts linked together, with a tiny diamond in the center of each heart.

She gasped as he slid it onto the fourth finger of her left hand.

"This was my mothers, and her mother's, and her mother's...for as long as anyone can remember. I was told to give it to the woman who became my wife." Her eyes managed to tear away from the ring. "You..." he whispered claiming her lips again.

The End!