Traitorous Love

Part 8

 

by: AW

 

Rated: M

December 2009

Disclaimer: We all know what goes here, I don't own them.

 

[3 months after part 7]

 

Kathryn sat alone in her Ready Room. It had been three months since little Edward had entered and than vanished from the world.

 

She breathed in a deep breath hoping that might take some of the pain away of the loss she had been living for the past three months.

 

It did not.

 

Chakotay had rushed into the sickbay only moments after the doctor's proclamation of the end of their son's life and he had immediately had tears running down his face.

 

He had rushed over to Kathryn and embraced her and they had cried for the life that had never had a chance to be lived.

 

Kathryn cried for a baby she had never really had.

 

B'Elanna had two weeks ago given birth to a baby girl they had named Miral Kathryn after the two people they claimed had made the most impact in their lives.

 

Kathryn shook her head at the cruel ironies of life.

 

She had not wanted a baby, and the way in which the baby had been conceived had been a tragedy; but once she had felt the butterfly movements of the child within her womb she had fallen in love.

 

Kathryn heard the door chime and called for admittance. "Come."

 

Chakotay walked through the doors and looked at the forlorn woman in front of him. He handed her the duty rosters for the week and she simply nodded taking the padd in her hand.

 

"We can try for another baby Kathryn. The doctor said that after three months if we wanted to try again we could."

 

Kathryn numbly shook her head. "I can't go through that again Chakotay; it was a mistake the first time and this time probably won't be much better."

 

Chakotay attempted to stop her right there, "You don't know that Kathryn."

 

"Yes I do Chakotay, Captain's shouldn't have children or husbands or lives."

 

Chakotay shook his head, "Am I dismissed than Captain?"

 

"Dismissed."

 

And Kathryn was once again alone with her thoughts.

 

[Paris Quarters]

 

B'Elanna sat with little Miral and nursed her. Tom stared at her. "B'Elanna, what happened with Kathryn and Chakotay?" He paused, "I know we were all told that we were not to discuss it, but someone has to do something; have you seen her on the bridge lately? The light has disappeared from her eyes."

 

B'Elanna stared down at the child who had fallen asleep in her arms. "Are we sure that we can't do anything?"

 

Tom stared at her, "Maybe you can. I think that Chakotay is the key to this and you have been his best friend for a long time. I think you should talk to him."

 

B'Elanna looked down at Miral before taking her to the crib and putting her down for the night. "Okay I'll try, but no guarantees."

 

Tom kissed B'Elanna's forehead and whispered, "Thank you."

 

[Chakotay's Quarters]

 

Chakotay leaned back in his chair, wondering where they had gone wrong.

 

Yes losing Edward was a tragedy; but by all accounts it was not Kathryn's fault; it was not Chakotay's fault: It was just bad luck.

 

He had rushed to Sickbay when he had heard that Kathryn had delivered. He had been expecting to see Kathryn holding a new bundle of joy that he had been sure Kathryn was looking forward to.

 

Instead what he had walked in on was a horrific view.

 

Kathryn crying over the child that had died in her womb; blaming herself for something she could not control.

 

He had attempted to go over and comfort her, but all she had done was the typical Kathryn thing and pushed him away.

 

She had shut down.

 

She had not let him in.

 

And for that the couple and the crew both suffered.

 

He heard a chime at the door and called for admittance. He watched as B'Elanna walked through his doorway. "Hello?"

 

B'Elanna appeared as if she were getting her thoughts together; when finally she spoke it was about something that he had hoped that he wouldn't have to discuss with anyone let alone his former 'Maquis Engineer'. "You have to talk to her, you have to get her on track for the rest of the crew if not for herself."

 

Chakotay was angry, "And you don't think I've tried?"

 

"I'm not saying that Chakotay, what I'm saying is her mood is affecting everyone."

 

He stared at her, "You have no idea what she's going through, or what she went through B'Elanna. The three months have been horrible for her. She had finally accepted the baby and now she has nothing."

 

"She has you."

 

Chakotay looked strangely at B'Elanna, "I'm not sure even I can get her out of this slump. I had enough trouble getting through to her when we were in the Void."

 

"You have to Chakotay, you have to try. You have to make Kathryn whole again."

 

Chakotay stared at her, "I don't know how. She locked me out and I'm not sure I'll ever be granted entrance again."

 

B'Elanna rushed up to him and hugged him, "You will. I know you will and so do you and so does she; you just have to let her get over this first."

 

Chakotay nodded his head unsure, "I guess so...but I'm not sure if we can ever get over the loss of Edward."

 

B'Elanna saw the sorrow in her old friend's eyes. "You still love her don't you?"

 

Chakotay nodded with tears in his eyes. "I think I always have."

 

B'Elanna gave a little bit of a smile. "We all know what you did, and we all know you have to get over it. I think that the baby gave Kathryn a reason to get over it and now she's scrambling for reasons to still feel what she's feeling."

 

"B'Elanna. When did you become so smart?"

 

She grinned, "I guess you finally rubbed off on me."

 

And that was the moment that Chakotay knew what he had to do.

 

END PART 8

TBC IN PART 9