A Grave New World
Part 4

By: AW
Date: August 2018
Length: 935 words
Summary: What would have happened if during Gravity it had been Janeway and Chakotay on that mission instead of Tom and Tuvok?
What if it had've been six months instead of two weeks? What would have happened between J/C?

Kathryn left the briefing room. Their shift was over and tomorrow they had mounds of debris from the destroyed Borg ship to go through.

She walked through the doors of what were formerly her cabin and which she now shared with Chakotay.

He followed her into the cabin and stared at her. "What are you thinking of doing with the remains of that Borg ship Kathryn. I saw the look on your face you're ready to drop one of your bombshells."

She placed her hand over the spot where their baby rested. "I was thinking…"

Chakotay stared at her skeptically. "What were you thinking Kathryn? The days of you going on dangerous away missions is over." She stared at her protruding abdomen, "At least until the baby comes. It's not just your life you're putting in danger anymore."

She sighed and waved her hand around her quarters pointing at the change table and the crib that had made its way into her home. "I can't let this change who I am and who I need to be for the crew."

He grabbed both her arms and made her stare into him. "What about who you need to be for me? And for the baby?"

Kathryn let out an exasperated sigh. "I can't be the Captain at work and Kathryn here. I can't separate them like that." She let a gasp and put a hand on her belly where their son or daughter had just given her a good hard kick.

He stared at her and approached her and put a hand on her belly. "This is our life now Kathryn. Is Earth even home anymore? To me this is home."

"I am still the Captain Chakotay and this crew has to be my first priority."

He glared at her. "When is this little one going to be your first priority? When we were stuck on that planet both me and the baby were your first priorities. What happened to you?"

Kathryn let her mouth hang open not quite sure how to respond, but before she even had a chance to formulate an answer he was gone.

[BRIDGE]

Chakotay entered the bridge and motioned for Tuvok to follow him to his office. The Security Chief entered the office and the door closed. "How do I make her see Tuvok. There is just too much at stake now."

Tuvok pursed his lips and nodded his head. "She still feels great guilt over stranding the crew here; and her letting herself have a life with you and a child makes her think she is showing the crew that she moved on and forgot her goal to get the crew home."

Chakotay sighed, "You've known her longer than anyone how do I make her see that her life now is just as important if not more so than the one she left back in the Alpha Quadrant?"

He stared at the Commander. "I told you before that guilt was her constant companion, that has not changed."

Chakotay shook his head frustrated. "We've all made new lives out here for ourselves. Everyone is in a different place than they were."

"Remember a year ago when Teero took control of the maquis and you captured her."\

Chakotay let guilt cloud his face, and nodded.

"She felt betrayed. She told me of all that had happened. She told me of the betrayal she felt, as well as the thought of the inability to ever trust you again."

Chakotay bowed his head in shame. "I remember every minute of that and of my inability to stop what was happening."

Tuvok nodded, "I have no doubt that that was what you felt; but the betrayal she felt stayed with her for a long time."

He stared at Chakotay, "By forgetting the past she feels she is betraying the crew and their future."

Chakotay was livid, "What about my future; our daughter's future; her future!"

Tuvok shook his head, "Their past and by proxy their future is paramount to her."

Chakotay let out an exasperated sigh. "How do I make her see that it is okay to live her life too?"

"I am not sure that you can Commander. I believe that that is something she has to realize and come to terms with on her own."

Chakotay nodded and left the office.

[MESS HALL]

It was supper time and there would probably be a fair number of crewmen there. He looked around and saw Tom and B'Elanna in the corner speaking of the day and what had happened. They beckoned him over.

"Hey old man where's the Captain?"

He looked at the couple, "She needed time alone and so did I."

Tom opened his mouth, :"Trouble in paradise Chakotay?"

Chakotay shook his head, "You could say that." Chakotay sighed,

"It will be okay Chakotay. You and Kathryn are good together."

Chakotay stared at the couple. "I hope so."

Chakotay left the mess hall and went back to their quarters. He rang the chime. He knew most of the time he didn't have to do that anymore.

She came to the door and opened the door, beckoning him in. "Let's talk Chakotay. We have to work this out."

Chakotay nodded and followed her in.

They had to get this fixed.

END PART 4
TBC IN CHAPTER 5