Part 8: Life Changes

Pairing: J/C, P/T
Rated T
Summary: Will they do the god's bidding?
Disclaimer: Paramount/Viacom own the series and the characters that are related to Star Trek: Voyager, but the story is mine.
Length: 1,408 words
Date: September 1998

B'Elanna was beginning to get worried about Chakotay, about Captain Janeway and about Tom. She had broken it off with Tom yes. That was nearly three months ago and she wanted him back, needed him back. Her Klingon pride prevented her from asking, begging up until this point, but she couldn't and wouldn't live without him. So she had gone to his quarters in the middle of the night, to talk to him and hopefully, rescue their relationship.

Tom was awakened by his door chime. *Jeez, who is that? It's 3:00am.* Tom opened the door.

"B'Elanna?"

"Tom... can I come in for a minute?"

"You know B'Elanna, it's really late, or early depending on how you look at it."

"Tom it'll only be for a minute...for old time’s sake...please?!"

Tom thought about it, hesitated, he didn't know what to do. She looked so vulnerable, so fragile; he was always a sucker for B'Elanna.

"Okay B'Elanna, but I'm on shift at 0700, so can we make it quick."

*He sounded so cold. Had she really hurt him that badly?*

"Tom, I'm sorry. I'm sorry I hurt you... I'm sorry you had to put up with me, I was scared."

"So that makes it alright? You made a mistake, I got hurt and now you want me back. So what? I'm just supposed to take your words at face value? I can't B'Elanna, I can't do this anymore!"

"Tom you've messed up more times than I can count, and I always gave you a second chance, always took you back. Why is it that you have such a double standard?"

"It's not a double standard. I just can't do this anymore B'Elanna. It's the lab rat in the cage; you can only get burned so many times before you realize the cheese is rigged."

"So that's it Tom...it's really over?"

"Yeah, it's really over."

"I guess I just needed to know, just needed to make sure."

Tom looked up at B'Elanna she had tears running down her cheeks.

"Tom I just wanted you to know... I did love you."

With that she walked out of his room and out of his life forever.

***

B'Elanna was walking down the hall to her quarters. She needed to talk to someone. "Computer, locate Commander Chakotay."

"Commander Chakotay is in sickbay."

*Sickbay, I wonder what he's doing there?*

B'Elanna started her trek up to sickbay. *I wonder if this has anything to do with Captain Janeway? Knowing him, he was probably spending every waking moment there with her.* B'Elanna knew Chakotay loved Kathryn Janeway dearly. B'Elanna also knew Janeway constantly pushed him away, rejected him. B'Elanna just didn't know why he kept pining over her.

B'Elanna walked into sickbay. She didn't see Chakotay anywhere. *Where the hell is he?*

"Doctor...have you seen Commander Chakotay?"

"Why yes, he's in the private room with the Captain, but I can't let you go in there."

"B'Elanna to Chakotay."

"Yes B'Elanna, what is it?"

*Gods, he sounded as if he had been crying.*

"I know you're in there with the Captain. Doc won't let me through. I need to talk to you, can I please come in?"

Chakotay knew she wouldn't give up, that if he didn't let her in she would find a way to circumvent his orders and protocols. He also knew that despite the politeness of her request, it was more an order than a question. *Funny, a lieutenant giving a commander an order.* He also knew it wasn't the lieutenant and the commander though; he knew it was just a friend concerned for another.
"Alright B'Elanna, come in."

"Doc..."

"Yes I heard lieutenant."

B'Elanna walked over to the entrance to the room. She peeked in and saw Chakotay. He was blocking her view of Captain Janeway.

"Chakotay?"

Chakotay turned around, he moved just enough so B'Elanna could see it...

"Oh my god Chakotay, she's pregnant. It's your baby too isn't it? That's why you've been spending so much time here alone with her."

"B'Elanna..."

"Why didn't you tell us Chakotay? God she must be at least five months along."
"She's actually 22 weeks pregnant, and I didn't tell anyone. I don't know if this is what she wants, I don't know if she wants this child. This child was a miracle B'Elanna. This child is a gift, but I'm not sure how she'll react to the child, or to being pregnant."

"All children are miracles Chakotay. What exactly do you mean you don't know how she'll react? Weren't you guys trying to get pregnant?"

"B'Elanna, you don't understand... we never became lovers... we never had that kind of relationship."

B'Elanna stared at him. *He's hurting, and there's not a damned thing I can do about it.* It was crazy though... they had to have been involved. Was it possible all the rumors and conjecture had been false? How would this explain her present condition though?

"I know what you're thinking B'Elanna. You think I'm making this up, but I don't know how she got pregnant. All I know is that she is, and that the child is mine, and that she will pull through, she has to."

"Whatever you have to believe to get you through this Chakotay, but don't lose yourself in your conquest to save her."

With that she left him alone to his misery. He needed Kathryn and he needed this child to complete his life and his existence.

***

Kathryn had spent what felt like an eternity thinking, contemplating, and wondering. *Why me? Why am I here? Why am I being forced to contemplate these things in my life? I know I'm attracted to Chakotay, who wouldn't be? But do I love him?* Who was she kidding! She had fallen completely head over heals in love with him on New Earth, but she couldn't act on these impulses and these emotions, it just...

"No! You must act. You must fulfill the prophecy, and your destiny. It is no longer an option. If your life is to be returned, you must complete the puzzle, and answer the question. Kathryn of earth, you must comply to the wishes of the gods."

"I don't respond well to threats."

"You don't respond well to anything Kathryn. Consider, just for a moment the fact that you will be out here, in the Delta Quadrant for another fifty, maybe sixty years, alone. No one, but no one can go that long without intimacy and close personal relations... it's not healthy."

"I can and I will, if you think..."

"This will not be allowed to prosper, you cannot do this alone!"

"Do what? What will not be allowed to prosper? Damn it! I need to know."

"That is the test, these are the questions you must answer. Only when these questions have been answered can your fate be decided."

Once again darkness overcame her, but this time it was different. This time she felt a weight being lifted, and she knew what she had to do.

***

Chakotay was by Kathryn's bedside. Kathryn had reached her sixth month, and Chakotay now had to face facts. Kathryn had been on life support for over three months now, and doc said her chances of making a complete recovery were growing dimmer every day. He kneeled down beside Kathryn's prone form. *I am so sorry Kathryn. If you don't make it... I'll make sure no one ever forgets you. I have to: you're my heart, my soul, my lifeline... Kathryn, I love you.*

The doctor walked in on Chakotay. "Commander, I'm sorry this has happened, but the crew needs you. If you get sick yourself, you will be no good to them. I am ordering you to go back to your quarters and get some rest. I promise you, if anything changes, I'll call you immediately.

"Alright doc... I'll go. I'm sure you're doing everything you can."

Chakotay walked out of sickbay. She had to be okay, she had to pull through. He needed her, her strength, her command abilities and her love. So why did he feel like he was giving up on her?

*He is hurting Kathryn of earth and your decision has been made. Your fate has been determined and will be realized.*

END PART 8

TBC IN PART 9