A Matter of Principles

Rating: M
Pairing: J/Kashyk, J/C
Summary: Principles, principles, can she disobey her almighty principles?
Disclaimer: Paramount/Viacom own the series and the characters that are related to Star Trek: Voyager, but the story is mine.
Length: 1,096 words
Date: January 1999

Chakotay had waited. He had waited for her to come to her senses. Then he had hailed the Doc and asked him if Kathryn had come in lately. He said no. Fine, he had waited some more. Then he had hailed her in her ready room, and she hadn't answered. So what was he supposed to do now? He had to do something, this was getting ridiculous. He had to talk to her. It was time they had this out. So he went to her ready room unannounced.

He walked in, *no wonder she's not answering my hails, she's asleep.* He walked over to her and shook her gently. "Kathryn?" No response, *goodness, she's sleeping soundly*. "Kathryn!" She stirred on the couch. "Commander. What can I do for you?"

"Nothing, well you can look at this report; but I was worried. You weren't answering your hails."

"What time is it?" She looked at the chronometer. *Oh my goodness. Its 1800 hours. She'd slept for six hours in her ready room.

He was talking to her. She had been so focused on the time she hadn't even heard him start to talk to her. "...when was the last time you ate?

You need to stay in good health for the..." He was lecturing her again. What did he know? *Nothing Kathryn. He's never done this before either, but he cares for you... correction he loves you.*

"Chakotay, you have to stop this. I can take care of myself. I'm a grown woman who has been taking care of herself for more years than I care to admit. Now please, I promise I'll eat, but I have to finish these reports." He was looking at her. She felt as if he were looking into her soul. "You're dismissed Commander."

He left; he would deal with this tonight. This couldn't keep one going. This was beginning to become ludicrous. She needed to see the doctor, and he knew that she hadn't as of yet. This could even be considered dangerous for her. The doctor had not yet seen a hybrid like this. Yes, tonight he would take care of his Captain and friend.

"Computer, message me when the Captain has entered her quarters."

"Acknowledged."

***

It was 2200 hours. Kathryn felt as if she had been on the bridge all day. She was so tired all the time. *That could be because you're pregnant Kathryn.* She let out a long sigh. What the hell was she going to do? It wasn't like she had time to be a mother... she barely had enough time to take care of the crew. What indeed was she going to do? She heard the door to her quarters open. She turned around. "Chakotay, what do you want?"

He looked at her. She wasn't in her uniform anymore, and he could see the bulge under her nightgown. "Kathryn, we're going to deal with this here and now."

"Chakotay...."

"I'm not giving you an option Kathryn. I let you mope around for two months Kathryn. I let you deny what I knew was true. Now you have to deal with it."
"Commander..." Her tone was menacing, he knew it was probably a mistake to ignore the warning.

"Kathryn, what are you going to do? Just walk onto the bridge one day in a maternity smock and say... oops did I forget to mention that I'm pregnant?"

Kathryn had, had just about enough. Somewhere in the back of her mind she knew he was right, but she wasn't ready to admit it yet. Her hand strayed to the slight swell of her abdomen. "Commander you're..."

"I know Kathryn, I'm dismissed. Nice try, but it isn't going to work. You're starting to show, and I know for a fact you haven't even been to see the doc yet. It isn't a good idea, you're really only hurting yourself, and the child. You obviously want this child or you would have terminated already...."

"I'll take care of things. Just give me a few days Chakotay."

"Kathryn, you don't have a few days. We will deal with this tonight."

Kathryn looked at him. This wasn't his problem, why was he so adamant about this. "Chakotay, this has nothing to do with you. My mistake, my problem. So back off."

"Kathryn I can't. As your Commander and as your friend I have to make sure you're okay."

She was getting exasperated. This was all wrong. This wasn't how it was supposed to be. When she did have children, she had always expected it to be planned, and that she would be married.... and... "Chakotay I'm fine...okay?!"

"No. It's not okay." He walked up to her and grabbed her arms; he started to lead her out of her quarters.

"Chakotay, where are we going? I'm in my nightgown."

He picked her up and proceeded to exit her quarters. "Put me down Commander. That's an order."

"You're not wearing your pips right now, and it's not the Captain I'm concerned about, it's Kathryn."

"Chakotay...."

"Kathryn, we're going to see the doctor. You are going to deal with this tonight whether you want to or not. By the looks of it, this child will be here, sooner than you'd care to admit and I won't be responsible for anything bad happening to you. You need to see the doctor. He has to administer prenatal care. You can't do this alone."

She stared at Chakotay; tears started welling up in her eyes. "I'm scared. I'm scared I won't be able to do this. I'm scared that the crew won't accept this child. I'm scared that there will be something wrong with this child. I'm scared of a lot of things right now, but most of all I'm scared that you won't accept it, and seeing that I've moved on you'd give up on me. And I need you right now: I need you to not give up on me... because I know that I can't do this alone."

He looked down at the invincible Kathryn Janeway and for the first time in a long time, she seemed human. They proceeded to sickbay. He didn't know or understand much at that moment, but he knew that changes were on the way. Changes he hoped would be for the better.

TBC IN PART VI