For the second time in a week, Chakotay awoke in an unfamiliar bed.  Memories came rushing back when he felt Kathryn’s breathing slowly raising and lowering the arm he had flung across her rib cage.  He had literally exhausted himself last night.  Not particularly surprising since it was only his first day out of sickbay.  His body was still suffering from the effects of months of malnutrition and near starvation.  Nearly all of his muscles ached this morning.  But it had been worth every ache.  Knowing he would not sleep again, he slowly moved away from Kathryn and made his way to the bathroom.  Returning he found his pants, pulled them on and headed to the replicator for hot tea.  He needed to think about everything he had learned yesterday.  Most of all, he needed to decide whether last night had changed any of his earlier opinions or decisions about Starfleet, Voyager, and Captain Janeway.  He now knew he trusted Kathryn.  Thinking back to his days in the Maquis with Seska and Tuvok, he knew if his decision to trust Kathryn were a mistake, he would never trust his own judgment again.  He wanted to trust her, no, he needed to trust her and himself.  He kept the lights low and stared at the stars and allowed his thoughts to wander as he sipped his tea.

Chakotay nearly dropped his teacup when the chime sounded interrupting his reverie.  He asked the computer who was at the door.  When told it was B’Elanna, he called for her to enter.  He did drop his cup (good thing it was already empty) when she rushed to hug him.  Because she was working the night shift, Chakotay hadn’t seen her since the doctor released him from sickbay and other than the time they had talked in sickbay three days ago; this was the first time they had been together since his capture by the Cardassians.  “I am so glad you’re alive.  Don’t you ever do anything like this again!  I can’t handle it!”  B’Elanna’s relief and love expressing itself as humor and anger to hide how much she had worried about him over the past year.  This man was her big brother in all but blood and the only family she recognized.  She pulled away and returned to the door where she retrieved a bundle she had dropped.  Chakotay picked up the teacup and went to get another from the replicator asking B’Elanna if she wanted anything.  She asked for raktajino.

Chakotay returned to the viewport, but this time took a seat on the floor where she joined him.  He recognized the bundle in her arms.  It was his medicine bundle.  She handed it to him and he slowly opened it.  He carefully took each item from the bundle, allowing the memories associated with each to filter slowly through his mind.  Chakotay considered attempting to contact his spirit guide but decided to wait.  “Thank you, B’Elanna.  I never expected to see this again.”

“You’re welcome, Chakotay.  It was the one thing I had of yours that helped me hang on to the hope that we would find you.  And we did.  I still have some of your other things packed away in storage somewhere in the only cargo bay that’s actually holding cargo, not passengers.  We can dig it out when we reach DS9.  Welcome home, Chakotay.”

They talked about their days in the Maquis, days that seemed a lifetime ago for both.  B’Elanna spoke about the captain and Voyager; and about life as a lieutenant and chief engineer on a star ship.  Chakotay noticed that a name kept popping up in her anecdotes, the name of one Tom Paris.  The name was vaguely familiar.  He filed that little bit of information in the back of his mind for future consideration.  Who was this man who seemed to have attracted B’Elanna’s attention.  A second name also popped up, though not with such frequency, and always in connection with the first -- Harry Kim.  Chakotay thought that was the young ensign who had been on bridge duty yesterday when he went to the captain’s ready room.

B’Elanna got up with him when Chakotay went to refill their drinks.  She took a seat in a chair and he took the couch.  For the first time, B’Elanna noticed that the couch was not made up as a bed.  It was clear that Chakotay had not been up long before she arrived and his shirt and shoes were nowhere in sight, so she assumed that he had been given the bed in the next room while the captain took the couch.  B’Elanna was fairly certain the captain had the early bridge shift this morning if she remembered Tom’s comments about the schedule correctly.  She must have moved the bedding to a closet before she left.  When Chakotay handed her another cup of raktajino, she immediately launched into a story about engineering and sleepy ensigns on the night shift.

Kathryn woke to the sound of voices in the other room.  She stretched and smiled at the memories of the night before.  Damn.  She had not intended to let that happen so soon.  She had known he affected her more strongly than anyone she had met before, but she had underestimated that effect.  She wanted her relationship with this man to last for a long time, now more than ever, and she knew that Chakotay was in no shape mentally or emotionally to make decisions like this.  It was only a few days since he was rescued from an abandoned prisoner of war camp; he had been betrayed by two people he thought he could trust; and he had just been told, by Kathryn no less, that he would be going back to prison if he didn’t rejoin Starfleet.  “Great, Kathryn, just great!  You want to build a trusting relationship with this man and the first thing you do is act like his former lover who turned out to be a spy for Cardassia!”

She climbed from her bed searching for something to put on.  It sounded like B’Elanna and Chakotay were deep in a conversation.  Kathryn knew B’Elanna had been on duty last evening and would not have been in the mess hall last night.  Deciding she wasn’t going to hide this relationship from anyone, she grabbed the shirt he had worn last night and headed for the other room.

“Good morning, Chakotay.  B’Elanna,” Kathryn alerted the two to her presence to avoid the impression of eavesdropping.  They looked up, B’Elanna surprised at her captain’s attire.  Chakotay smiled as he remembered the night before.  He had been wondering how she would react this morning and his shirt told him more than two hours of conversation would have.  As she cautiously approached him on the couch she stretched out her hand looking for his reaction to the night before.

“Good morning, sleepy head.  You finally woke up, I see,” Chakotay responded reaching for her hand and tugging gently.  If she resisted his pull, he did not want to force her.  Kathryn felt the tug and was relieved as she bent her head to kiss him gently.  She then headed to the replicator to get herself a cup of coffee before joining them on the couch.  “Cat got your tongue, Lieutenant?” she inquired teasingly of B’Elanna.

“Uhhhh.  Sorry, Captain.  Good morning.  I don’t know why I thought you were already on the bridge this morning.  When you didn’t join us immediately, I just assumed you were on duty.  I’m sorry.  I didn’t mean to . . .”  B’Elanna was starting to babble.  When she realized it, she stopped talking and looked uncomfortable. . . very uncomfortable.

“It’s OK, B’Elanna.  You’re not expected to know everyone’s duty schedule.  You came to visit a friend in his quarters.  You’re talking and another friend, at least I hope I'm a friend, assigned to those quarters just woke up and joined you for a cup of coffee.  In fact, B’Elanna, haven’t I been asking you to call me Kathryn when we’re not on duty or doing ship’s business for a couple of months?  For that “Captain” I’ll accept your apology.  You don’t owe me one for anything else.”

Chakotay was watching the interaction of the two women with interest.  One represented his past and was the closest thing to family he had left.  The other he hoped represented his future and a new family.  Together they were his present.  He realized the two women were slowly working to establish a friendship.  He knew from B’Elanna that they already had a solid working relationship and a mutual respect.  He was pleased at the exchange between the two women; a solid friendship between them would only support his efforts to build a lasting relationship with Kathryn.

“Yes, Captain . . uh, Kathryn.  I really have to get going.  I was supposed to meet Tom for breakfast 20 minutes ago.  I never intended to stay this long when I came,” B’Elanna was trying to make a graceful exit.

“Wait!  Please, B’Elanna. I’d like to say something before you go.”  Chakotay halted her.

B’Elanna hesitated, then sat back down.  “OK.  But only a few minutes, Chakotay.  I really do have to get some sleep.”  Chakotay glanced at Kathryn asking permission for what he was about to say.  Seeing no reluctance in her face he spoke to B’Elanna.

“B’Elanna.  I think you know Kathryn and I shared more than just her bed last night.  I know neither of us planned for that to happen, but it did.  I’m not sorry and Kathryn wouldn’t be sitting quietly next to me if she were regretting what we shared.  We both know we've rushed this relationship and I know I want it to work.  Please, B’Elanna, understand.  We both need your support if we are to make this work.  We’ll need the crew’s support, too, once we are ready to let everyone know.”

“B’Elanna,” Kathryn finally entered the conversation, “he’s right.  We have rushed things.  I’m sorry we rushed but I’m not sorry about anything else. I want him in my life personally and professionally for a long time.  I want us to retire from Starfleet together and watch our grandchildren grow up.  I want a lot of things, and rushing has possibly put that future at risk.  We’re still getting to know each other.  Chakotay still has to recover from his time in that Cardassian prison camp and adjust to the fact there was a war and now peace while he was a prisoner.  I’m going to be blunt.  We both need to know beyond a shadow of a doubt that you don’t see Seska when you look at me standing at his side.”  Kathryn hoped she had not said too much.  She was afraid to look at Chakotay, not sure how he would react to the comparison with Seska.

B’Elanna paused to see if either would speak again, then stood and headed for the door.  Just before she reached it, she turned back to the couple on the couch.  “Captain.  Kathryn.  No, I don’t see Seska when I see the two of you together.  I don’t even think of Seska and neither should you.  I see something good finally coming out of this whole mess with the Cardassians.  I see my best friend and the woman who will probably challenge him for that position in the years to come.

"For what it’s worth, once things settle down and Chakotay has been the first officer for a month or two, I think the entire crew will accept whatever relationship you two have.  Right now the Starfleet crew and most of the Maquis trust you, Kathryn. The Maquis already trust Chakotay.  The Starfleet crew will too once they’ve worked with him a few weeks.  Don’t worry about the crew; they’ll support you.  Now, if I don’t get some sleep, I’ll sleep through my next duty shift and the chief engineer and captain will both have my head.”  B’Elanna slipped out while Kathryn and Chakotay reflected on her words.

Kathryn waited for Chakotay to react to her words and B’Elanna’s response.  He slowly turned towards her.  After studying her face for what seemed an eternity he spoke, “I don’t see Seska either.”  He kissed her gently, then feeling her response, picked her up and carried her back to the bedroom.  Kathryn was very glad the captain had awakened during the night and told Harry to take her shift on the bridge today.

The next time Chakotay awoke was when Kathryn’s breathing changed indicating she was awake.  She did not realize that he was also awake as she quietly left the bed and headed for the bathroom.  She returned in a few minutes and crawled back into bed, carefully lifting his arm so she could take her former position.  Chakotay decided to find out if she were ticklish so he moved ever so slightly, as if in his sleep, until his hand was positioned on her ribs.  She was!  She nearly broke his ribs with her elbow when she reacted to his first effort to tickle her.  He yelped in pain.  Those ribs had been broken too many times in too many places and had not had time to completely heal.  Kathryn’s concern and remorse were immediate in response to his obvious discomfort.  She knew she had hurt him.  As soon as she knew she had not broken any more ribs, she looked at him.  He was recovering and the pain was receding.  They stared at each other, then both began to laugh.

“It serves you right, trying to tickle me when you were supposed to be asleep.”

“I’m sorry, but I couldn’t resist seeing if you were ticklish.  I’ll be much more careful next time.”

“What do you mean, next time, mister?”

“Oh, there will be a next time, Kathryn, there will be a next time.  And not just for tickling.”  Abruptly Chakotay’s mood changed and he dragged Kathryn from the bed.

“Come on. I’m hungry.  First you wear me out last night and then again this morning.  Now you’re trying to starve me.  I’m still on medical leave, you know.  I need to eat to regain my strength.”  She blushed as she remembered just how she had worn Chakotay out the night before and earlier this morning.  Kathryn glanced at the chronometer and realized that the mess hall was already open for lunch.

“OK, but only if you promise I can wear you out again tonight.”  Kathryn’s comment startled her more than it did Chakotay, so much so, that she almost looked around the room to see who had spoken.

“It’s a promise.  Now hurry up.  I really am hungry.”  Laughing, she headed for the shower.  When she finished, he took his turn.  As she was dressing, Kathryn realized that Chakotay had no clean clothes.  She was hoping that most of his future clothing needs would be primarily a Starfleet uniform, but until then, he really needed more than one outfit.  Fortunately replicator credits were not being rationed.  Voyager had plenty of energy reserves; what Voyager lacked was space.  Checking to see if the computer had his sizes recorded, she replicated him underwear, boots, socks, a pair of uniform pants and a black tee shirt.  Instead of a turtleneck and uniform jacket, she added a dark red shirt with button down collar.  He would blend in with the crew yet not be in uniform.  She hoped he wouldn’t mind if he noticed the similarities to a command uniform.

Chakotay had entered the bedroom to locate his clothing when he noticed the clothes Kathryn had replicated lying on the bed, now neatly made with clean sheets.  She had been busy.  Kathryn had done her hair and was just finishing her makeup at the dresser.  Her uniform jacket lay on the bed next to his clothes.  The sight was comforting.  Chakotay silently dressed, then approached Kathryn carrying her jacket, and kissed her on the side of the neck.  “Trying to ease me into that uniform gradually, are you?”

“Yes. I should have known you would notice.  Do you mind?”

“No, not really.  I just don’t understand why you think I might be resisting the uniform.”

“Maybe it was because you were so anxious to rid me of mine last night?”  Kathryn  chuckled as she turned in his arms to return his kiss.  He pulled her closer for a few moments before she stepped back, pulled on her uniform jacket, took his hand and dragged him towards the door.

“Come on, let’s get you fed.  I’m getting hungry, too.”

As they approached the mess hall, Kathryn gave Chakotay a thumbnail summary of Voyager’s capabilities, size, maximum cruising speed, fire power, her crew complement, current passenger complement and other information only a senior officer would care about.  He knew what she was doing.  He was pleased that after such a short acquaintance she knew he would be joining her crew without him actually saying he would.  She had filled him in on the careers and abilities of the senior staff, such as it was, by the time they reached the mess hall.  The mess hall frequented by the captain was on Deck 2.  All the passengers were using the main mess hall on Deck 6 where most of the crew quarters were located.  With the influx of civilians, most of the crew had taken to crowding into the smaller mess hall to give the civilians their own space.  Chakotay had been impressed with the food selection the previous evening and expected to be offered the same selection again for lunch.  He was amazed that only a few fresh vegetables were the same.  He had spent too many years in the Maquis and that Cardassian prison.  He had forgotten how good life . . . and food . . . could be.

“You know, Kathryn, you might be able to talk me into accepting Starfleet’s offer just by showing me the menu for the next month.  I haven’t eaten so well in years.”

“That wasn’t the incentive I had planned to use to get you to accept Starfleet’s offer.”  Kathryn grinned, enjoying the idea that they were already comfortable enough in each other’s presence to tease each other and to hint at their relationship where the crew could hear.  Chakotay returned her grin with one of his own.

“Oh.  I thought that was incentive for you to let me join your crew.  Does this mean you’ll  be rescinding that incentive?”  Chakotay teased back, choosing his words carefully in case they were overheard.  They continued their banter while they ate.  As they were finishing their meal, several of the crew who were former Maquis approached their table and asked if they could welcome Chakotay to Voyager.  Kathryn invited them to join them now that they were finished.  She sat back and listened to them catch up on their lives.  After about ten minutes, she excused herself pleading reports to complete for Starfleet and slipped out of the mess hall heading for the bridge.

Chakotay talked with various crew most of the afternoon.  He was surprised when Kathryn walked up to the table and asked the others if they would excuse them while they ate dinner.  Kathryn grinned at his embarrassment for talking all afternoon.

“Don’t worry.  I had plenty of work to do.  You’ll have your own work soon enough.  Enjoy the time with your friends.  Have you spoken with all your former crew yet?  How many of the Starfleet crew did you meet today?”

“I think I’ve only missed talking to two or three of my former crew and I think I met most of the Starfleet crew either last evening or this afternoon.  I’m not sure if I talked with a couple or just heard all their news from others.  If I didn’t know which people were from my old ship, I’m not sure I could tell which group everyone was from.  They all talk and act like they’ve been working together for years.” Kathryn was pleased with the praise for her crew.  Her command was at best informal.  Starfleet probably wouldn’t approve how many things she let slide in the interest of harmony or the casual atmosphere she allowed on the bridge.  She didn’t care. For all its casual appearance, Janeway ran an extremely tight ship and her crew knew it.  Her standards were high and she expected 100% from everyone, every day, but it didn’t feel or sound like that at first glance. Janeway’s standard for written reports was much higher than Starfleet guidelines.  She never permitted any hint of disrespect to go without comment and she made sure those who had done well knew it.  This crew worked best in a casual environment and, to be honest, Janeway found it reduced her own stress.  So that was the way it would stay as long as Janeway was Voyager’s captain.  Besides, when she went into formal mode, everyone on the crew knew she was deadly serious and most likely angry.  Chakotay’s silence drew her back from her contemplation of her command.

“I’m sorry, Chakotay.  My mind was wandering.  Thank you.  I’m proud of my crew.  You do know it’s not all sunshine and roses on Voyager.  There are still some conflicts between the two groups, though those are becoming conflicts between personalities more and more.  I think that a little time spent on the duty roster taking into account personalities would resolve all those conflicts.  But until I get a first officer, there’s just too much else to do for someone to spend time on the duty roster.  Let’s get something to eat before it’s all gone.”

By unspoken consent, the crew decided Kathryn and Chakotay should be allowed to eat in private.  Kathryn wondered whether Tom and B’Elanna could have dropped a hint to the others.  Kathryn and Chakotay were about half way through their meal discussing their experiences at Starfleet Academy and comparing opinions of various instructors when Chakotay abruptly changed the subject.

“You were talking about the duty roster earlier.  Why don’t you let me take a look at it tomorrow and see if I can make a few adjustments to reduce those minor problems you’re having.”

“I can’t ask you to do that, Chakotay.  And it would be insulting to Tom to let you.  He’s trying to fit in half of a first officer’s duties, including the duty roster, with his other work and with some of the duties a Chief of Security would normally handle.  If I gave you something to do that is Tom’s responsibility, he’d feel as if he had let me down and failed the rest of the crew.  You haven’t even decided whether to accept Starfleet’s offer yet.  It’s not that I don’t want your help or appreciate your offer, but I just can’t do that to Tom.”

“I understand.  If it will help matters, I can give you my response to Starfleet’s offer right now.  I’ll accept it . . . on one condition.”

“And that condition would be . . .?”

“That I’m assigned to your staff or crew for the duration of my forced enlistment.  I don’t care where we go, but we go together.  I guess there are really two conditions, but one isn’t for Starfleet.  I also need your promise not to resign your commission until my enlistment is up.  When we leave Starfleet, we leave together.  And yes, before you ask, that promise would be for a lifetime, not ten years.”  Kathryn was stunned.  It may not have been a marriage proposal but it was a lifetime commitment, and for the life of her, Kathryn could not have explained the difference.  She had thought she had been rushing him.  She searched Chakotay’s face and realized that he was as surprised as she was at his words, yet she saw no regret, only hope.  She had questions and doubts. She knew there would be problems between them.  She knew that one of their biggest problems would be Starfleet.  What she didn’t know was whether what they shared was strong enough to either solve the problems or endure them.  She looked at Chakotay again.  It was worth the risk.

“I promise, Chakotay, and that promise starts now.  As soon as we get to DS9, I’ll get Starfleet’s written acceptance of the terms.  They’ll agree or I’ll leave Starfleet.  If the brass are going to keep us apart, it will be on our terms, not theirs.”

Chakotay tried to interrupt her but she cut off his words.

“I know what you’re going to say.  Just trust me on this one, Chakotay.  Starfleet will agree to your condition.  The offer Starfleet made probably didn’t include orders assigning you to Voyager as my first officer in case I took exception to knowing they weren’t looking for a first officer for Voyager but were expecting me to find my own - literally.  Your orders for Voyager are probably already in a file, signed, sealed, approved and dated, just not delivered.  I won’t even have to make a threat to resign.  If they even look like hesitating, I’ll just write a report attached to a second request that says the Maquis crew will probably mutiny if you aren’t assigned to their ship.  I won’t add that I will be the leader of the mutiny.  Starfleet needs someone to do this cleanup work, and we need good officers.  Voyager is running with the least experienced crew in the Fleet and we’re still one of the best crews they have.  Most of them are people no one else in the Fleet would accept, and I haven’t filed one official protest about crew assignments to Voyager or one complaint about any of my crew.  What you don’t know, and what most of the crew don’t realize, is that Voyager is the Federation’s poster child in the post war recovery.  Voyager was one of a handful of ships assigned to patrol areas away from the front during the war.  We are not war heroes.  Voyager’s officers do not have medals earned defending the Federation against the Cardassians and Dominion.  We are peace heroes.  Voyager’s assignment is to find and rescue victims of the war.  Voyager houses the brightest and best Starfleet has to offer and former political enemies of the Federation and a few convicted criminals, and we have no problems.  We are returning with hundreds of war victims.  Starfleet can’t afford to irritate my crew or me.  If Starfleet turns you down, the Federation Council will tell them to change their minds as soon as they hear about your request.  On the practical side, if they do turn you down, they have to find another experienced first officer for Voyager in addition to a Chief of Security.  You solve many more problems than you cause when you make your acceptance conditional.”

Out of that long discourse, Chakotay only found one question.  “How can you be so sure that the Federation Council hears about my request?”

“Easy.  Bajor has an “observer” in the Council.  Their membership has been pending for months now.  I just make sure the first officer on DS9 knows about it and she’ll let Bajor’s observer know.  The Council president will probably know about the condition to your acceptance of the Federation’s offer before the head of personnel at Starfleet does.”

“OK, Kathryn.  I’ll trust you about Starfleet.  But what haven’t you told me.  You’re putting a lot of energy into getting a first officer for your ship and a man to warm your bed at night.  You just committed your future to me barely two days after we met.  What haven’t you told me?”

“Probably the same things you haven’t told me.”

“And that would be . . . ?”

Kathryn hesitated a moment.  She was unsure whether to be completely candid.  She reviewed her thoughts and their conversation leading up to this point.  Then she realized why she was hesitating -- she was scared.  Fear was holding her back.  Fear that she had read his expression wrong earlier and fear of being rejected if she actually said the words.  She had made her decision before she made her promise.

“I want a life, and I want a family.  I don’t mean in the next year, but I want children, your children . . . if we can make this relationship work.  Starfleet has had all of me, has controlled my life for more than twenty years. So now it’s my turn.  I want a life, I want a family, and I want you in my bed at night, but mostly I want you in my life for all my tomorrows.”

“I want that with you, too, Kathryn.” was Chakotay’s quiet response.

They both knew there were still many things to be worked out between them, but they also knew they would work them out together.  They returned to their dinner and small talk about the ship and crew.  As they finished, several crewmembers again approached Chakotay and asked if they could join them.  The rest of the evening followed the pattern of the previous with two minor differences:  Chakotay stayed longer in the mess hall, and he knew exactly where and how his evening would end.

Ten days later in the middle of Alpha Shift, Deep Space 9 came into communications range.  Anticipating his assignment to Voyager as first officer, Kathryn had been including Chakotay in meetings with the senior staff, and had provided him copies of all reports routed to her or to Tom that would normally have been sent to the ship’s first officer.  She even talked Tom into asking Chakotay for his help with the duty roster, which took all of thirty seconds.  Tom jumped at the offer.  Chakotay told Kathryn later that the two men met for all of five minutes before Tom felt comfortable dumping the roster on the Chakotay and escaping.  Both chuckled. Chakotay’s presence was taken for granted on the bridge, occasionally at the helm but more often working in the exec’s chair reviewing personnel files and current reports.  The entire Maquis portion of the crew easily fell back in the habit of reporting to him and about half the Starfleet crew picked up the habit in a day or two.  If it had been the custom on Voyager to snap to attention when a senior officer entered the room, the crew would have been doing so for Chakotay.  The only bit of awkwardness was his rank.  He had none and it would have been disrespectful to call him by his name while performing ship’s business.  The crew fell back on the only title they could.  Chakotay never wanted to be called “sir” again.  He was beginning to think he was a knight from the Middle Ages.  So it was no surprise to the bridge crew when Chakotay accompanied the captain to the bridge to open their first contact with DS9.  He stood at her side while waiting for the com line to be opened.

Ben Sisko’s face appeared on the screen.  After his formal greeting to Voyager’s captain, he smiled.

“Well, Kathryn.  It certainly took you long enough to get back. I was beginning to think you were avoiding us.”

“It’s good to see you too, Ben.  Don’t worry.  Voyager has not been avoiding you or DS9.  We have a few civilians to transfer to your station.  Our EMH says they are all generally in good health though still recovering from the effects of malnutrition and dehydration. Think you can handle them?”

“Certainly.  I’ll let Dr. Bashir know he can expect some visitors when you arrive.  How many civilians did you find?”

“Only 194, Ben.  Oh, yes, more than 50 are children.”

“194?  You said 194?  Just where have you stacked these people, Kathryn?  That’s more than your entire crew complement!  How can you be so casual about that many people jammed on Voyager?”

“I had no choice, Ben.  I have crew sleeping in shifts on the floor of my office, all our conference rooms and anyplace else they could find.  And they all volunteered for the hard spots.  They’ve really pulled together to help these people.”

“Where did you find them all anyway?”

“It’s a long story, Ben.  Can we tell you over a drink at Quark’s when we get to DS9?”

“We, Kathryn?”

“Chakotay and I.  He was the last one we found but the only one who had not been a civilian when captured.  I’m sorry.  I should have introduced you.  Chakotay, this is Captain Benjamin Sisko, commander of Deep Space 9.  Ben, this is Chakotay, the last of the Maquis I was sent to find before the war started.”

“I’ll save all my questions for later. What’s your ETA, Kathryn?”

“About five hours.  Do you have room for Voyager or should I alert my chief engineer we’ll be using transporters?”

“Don’t be silly, Kathryn.  Of course DS9 has room for Voyager.  If I didn’t, I’d move the Defiant to make room.  I might do that anyway; that berth is the closest to sickbay.  If you have your doctor send me a recommendation for their dinner, DS9 will have a welcome home dinner for your civilians and crew when you arrive.  It will give your mess hall staff a break.  I have a feeling they need it.”

“I’ll have them send the recommendations within the hour.  I’ll also have someone put together a recommendation on housing for the civilians.  They’ve formed some pretty close friendships during their confinement and the children have bonded with some of the women in the few weeks we’ve had them aboard.  I don’t thing they should be split up, at least not yet.  As confined and restricted as Voyager is right now, these people are having trouble adjusting to the freedom and space.  Separation from close friends would probably do more harm than good.  We’ll see you in a few hours, Captain.  Janeway out.”

“Understood, Captain.  Sisko out.”

Janeway relayed the requests about meals and accommodations to the doctor, the mess hall supervisor, and Tom Paris.  They all would send the requested information within the hour.

“You have the bridge, Mr. Kim.  I’ll be in my ready room.”

Chakotay followed Kathryn into her ready room.  He stood silently gazing at Kathryn.  Finally she could stand it no longer.

“What?!”

“What exactly did you tell Captain Sisko just now, Kathryn?”

“You were standing there and heard every word we said.”

“Yes, but what did you tell him that you wasn’t said?”

“Ben is an old friend.  We have very similar outlooks about Starfleet, the Cardassians and following orders.   Almost is not good enough for either of us when it comes to things we believe are our responsibility.  He knows my orders that led to the rescue of the Élan specifically included bringing you back to Starfleet.  He knows that the Cardassians infuriated me when they snatched you out from under my nose.  He also knows that Starfleet has been hoping you survived your capture and the war and that my orders for this mission implied that I find you this time.  Your presence on the bridge told him you would be accepting Starfleet’s offer.  I also told him you had not been as lucky as the civilians in your treatment at the hands of the Cardassians.  I managed to tell my friend that the “we” was personal not professional.  If he asks us to spend the night on the station, he won’t be offering us two rooms.”

“I’ll look forward to getting to know Ben Sisko.  If he’s that good a friend, he might be willing to give me a few pointers on handling a certain mutual acquaintance.  If you don’t mind, Kathryn, I’d like to return to our quarters and work on that last report on my time in the prison camp.  I might be able to finish it before we reach DS9.  If I can send them all requested reports with my acceptance of their offer, maybe Starfleet won’t try to debrief me.”

“I don’t mind at all, Chakotay.  Are you sure you want to spend the next few hours working. This may be the last time for a long time that you don’t need my permission to put up your feet with a good book.”  Chuckling, Chakotay kissed her cheek before leaving the ready room.  He didn’t ask permission.