Disclaimer: I don't own them, I'm only playing.


Not Alone
By Sheri
Rated G

Kathryn stared out at the water, eyes focused on the infinite plane that lay before her. Much like her journey, it seemed to go on forever, with no end in sight for a battle weary captain.  

Only a week ago they had run into another unfriendly alien, hell bent on running them out of the galaxy by any way he possibly could. No deaths resulted from the attacks but many ended up in sickbay, including Naomi Wildman. So young, so innocent, she did not deserve any of this; none of them did. Once again, she could only blame herself. She had done this, she had placed her crew in this god-forsaken corner of the galaxy, and only she could get them out.

Kathryn looked back at the beach behind her, looking at the solitary set of footprints that led up to her, mocking her, letting her know just how alone she really was. Could she really go on for another 50 years like this? Could she really stand up to the pressure of the day-to-day life of a Captain lost in the Delta Quadrant?

She knew she had chosen this life but she never meant to spend it all alone. She had always had someone to come home to, whether it was Mark, Justin or her mother or sister. She always had someone she could lean on in the end, to tell her troubles, to yell at just to relieve the frustrations of the day.

Kathryn didn’t have that here, she had no one, or at least she felt as if she didn't. Just who did she have that she could run to, throw her arms around and cry if she felt the need? Who could she lean on when it got to be too much?

"I know what you're thinking," came the voice out of nowhere.

Kathryn looked up, bringing up her hand to shield her eyes from the setting sun, "I didn't hear you come up." She looked back towards the beach, still just one set of prints.

"I've been walking the shore line; somehow I knew I would find you here," he said, feet gently kicking around the dirt beneath his feet, pants rolled up to his knee's, yet still damp with the sea water.

"I've just been thinking," she said quietly.

"Am I disturbing you?" he asked sincerely.

"No, not really. My thoughts are disturbing enough," she said, her voice still a whisper.

He bent down, oblivious to the fact that he was now getting soaked. "You're not alone, Kathryn. We're here, I'm here."

"I'm the captain; this is my burden," she said, a little huff to her voice.

"I was a captain, too. I got my crew stranded here just like you. It was your choice to band together, a wise one," he said.

"I destroyed the …" she began but was quieted when his finger came out, gently resting across her lips.

"Stop, you need to stop this. It will do you no good to dwell on that fact, especially after so many years. It's done, it's over and it's no one's fault but the Caretaker for dragging us here in the first place. I would have done the same thing, along with anyone else who may have been in charge. You can think, over and over, that the blame falls only to you, but in the end you know it took a lot of courage to decide to help the Occampa. That decision saved thousands of innocent lives. We will be okay; we will get home someday and with more than we could have ever hoped for," he said, a smile forming on his lips.

Kathryn still found it hard to smile back. "What do you mean? More than we could ever have hoped for?"

Chakotay reached out, his hand tilting up her chin. "I would never have imagined finding my best friend in a situation like this, but I have.  I can't imagine a day without you, Kathryn."

Kathryn couldn't help it, the smile began to form, small at first but then growing wider, "I, too, Chakotay. You are the best friend a captain and Kathryn could ever hope for. Thank you."

Chakotay stood up and reached out, taking her hand. "Come on, let's get back."

As she walked, Kathryn looked back, smiling at the dual set of prints they created as they walked off the beach. This was how it was suppose to be, the two of them, together, always supporting each other, carrying each other when needed.

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