Work Text:
'Warp core breach in four minutes'
The Vidians had been attacking them for almost two weeks now, and Voyager and her crew were out of resources and power. At first it had seemed like an easy battle. Two Vidian ships with low weapon power against Voyager.
But then suddenly there appeared more and more hostile ships on the readings. They had been able to keep their defense for a few days, but they were at the end of their strength.
On the bridge, Kathryn looked over to Chakotay. 'I should probably talk to the crew.' Then she leaned back to ask Tuvok to enable a ship-wide comm.-link.
'Dear crew of Voyager', She spoke, 'I regret that I have to tell you that we can no longer withstand the Vidian attacks anymore. In approximately four minutes our warp core will breach. Please enter the life pods and leave the ship immediately. It has been an honor for me to serve with this outrageous and amazing crew. I am so happy to see that despite our differences and disagreements in the beginning of our journey we managed to form a bond that I haven't seen in any other crew. Please fly to the coordinates Tuvok send to the life pods. I am sorry that you won't ever have a chance to see your families again because of my mistakes. Janeway out.'
Chakotay had been holding her hand the whole time, but now he let go. Kathryn looked over to him and into his brown eyes that had this deepness she could study for eternity and still find something new every minute.
'I'm sorry, Chakotay. I really am. I'm sorry I trapped us here in the delta quadrant, I'm sorry I always held the status quo. You deserved better. I shouldn't have let you wait for me. I love you, and I am so sorry that I was too foolish to tell you that earlier.'
The crew had already left the bridge, so she let her tears fall down unfettered. Chakotay stood and walked over to stand in front of her.
'Kathryn', he said, 'I knew it anyway. I love you too, and I wouldn't have wanted anything to happen differently than it did.' He took her hands and pulled her to stand. He held her hands in both of his and continued: 'Listen, I wasn't exactly happy with the status quo, but I accepted it cause I know that you couldn't afford to have more in your position as the captain. I was happy with being your friend, and I enjoyed every closeness we could have.'
Tears were falling on his face too now, and Kathryn let go of his hands in order to wipe them away.
'Warp core breach in 5,4,3,...'
He pulled her in his arms and the last thing Kathryn Janeway saw in her life was Chakotay's loving smile and the knowledge in his eyes that they would meet again, before her world disrupted in blazing flames.