A Grave New World
Part 6

By: AW

Date: October 2018
Length: 860 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?

[DIRECTLY AFTER PART 5]

Kathryn walked into the Cargo Bay, Harry in tow. "Let's check and see if there are any other components that we could use. We've already found the transwarp coil but it was unusable."

Harry nodded and proceeded to the back of the Cargo Bay to join Tom in their search for something usable. "I'm going to the mess hall, I'll see you gentlemen later."

She slapped her combadge. "Janeway to Chakotay."

"Yes Captain."

"I'm going to the mess hall for some lunch, you want to join me?"

She heard Chakotay smile to himself. "Be right there . Chakotay out."

Kathryn made her way to the messhall. Neelix ran up to her. "You look divine today Captain. I'm glad you're trying to eat on a normal schedule now."

Kathryn ran hand over her belly. "Baby needs it I've been told."

He piled as plate for her. "Hope you like what we're serving today. Leola root casserole."

"Thank you Neelix." She was surprised that since the pregnancy leola root had begun tasting palatable. She saw Chakotay sitting in the corner and made her way to him.

She made it to the table that they shared and placed her plate down showing the mounds of food that Neelix had prepared for her.

"I see even Neelix is trying to make you eat properly; but really Leola root casserole?"

She laughed, "I like it."

Chakotay stared at her, looking green around the gills. "Well I'm glad you're the one that's pregnant and not me."

Just as Kathryn was putting a mouthful of the concoction to her mouth the ship shool. "Janeway to bridge. What's going on?"

Tuvok's voice came over the line. "It appears we missed something. There are three Borg Cubes approaching our location."

She looked to Chakotay. "The Commander and I will be right there."

[BRIDGE]

Kathryn and Chakotay streamed onto the bridge and Kathryn right away approached Tuvok. "Commander."

"The cubes are still two hours away. They cannot see us yet."

Kathryn nodded. "Commander, my ready room."Chakotay nodded and followed his wife into her domain.

She stared at him, "So what do we do now?"

Chakotay looked at her and stated the obvious. "We get as far away from those cubes as we can. I didn't think it was a good idea last time and I don't think it's a good idea this time. I say we call off the heist and get as far away as we can."

She stared at Chakotay. "We got out of the last skirmish with the Borg – and better for it. Seven has been a great help."

"How many times can we depend on dumb luck to get us out of these situations?" He stared into her, "We have to think about the children that are on this ship and the people making homes out here."

Kathryn glared at him. This is just what she was afraid of.

The crew no longer came first in Chakotay's eyes, now it was about her and the baby.

She sighed , "We have to look at this as a conversation between the first officer and the Captain – not us."

"Damnit Kathryn this is about us and about every person on this ship!"

Kathryn got a hard look in her eyes. "It is and has always been about this ship and this crew… nothing more."

Chakotay shook his head, "I've said this before and I'll say it again. I'm the Commander, you're the Captain; I'll follow your orders, but I disagree with them."

And with that he walked out of the ready room and left Kathryn once again to her own thoughts.

Kathryn thought about what her husband had said and came to the same conclusion. She could not change the way she ran the ship because of the decision she had made to start a family and to have a personal life she had already made too many concessions.

She sighed and picked up her empty tea cup and whipped it against the wall shattering it into hundreds of tiny pieces.

She went over to the wall where she has thrown the tea cup and began picking up the pieces

After the clean up she went and sat on the couch in her ready room.

What was she going to do?

How was she going to deal with this?

She felt their child squirm within her body and realized now at six months pregnant she had to use the bathroom.

She put her hand on her belly and moved to get up off the couch and felt the pressure in her belly released and saw the water running down her leg.

*Not now: it's too early.*

She went to make her way out of her ready room and felt her legs give way beneath her and passed oiut.

END PART 6
TBC IN CHAPTER 7