Title: Kathryn, for the Very Last Time...
Author: Dave Rogers
Email Address: daverogers@geocities.com
Series: VOY
Rating: PG
Codes: J/C
Part: 1/1
Date Posted:

Summary: Returning from a mission, Janeway is struck down by...
what? 1001 Voyager Nights challenge story.

Disclaimer: Paramount, for the very last time...

Acknowledgement: Thanks to Jenn for beta reading.



Second Degree



"Shuttle to Voyager. Permission to dock."

Chakotay grinned broadly at the irritable tones. "Permission 
granted. Welcome home, Captain. How was the trade mission?"

"Fine, I got all the concessions we wanted." He'd rarely heard 
her voice this agitated, and that was saying something. "Chakotay, 
this shuttlecraft's falling apart. I've had some major systems 
break down, and it's three days since I've..."

Her voice was cut off abruptly as the shuttle entered the shuttle 
bay. What seemed mere seconds later, she stormed on to the bridge, 
nodding to the crew.

"Tuvok. Harry. Chakotay. Tom." And then she was gone, the ready 
room doors swishing shut behind her.

There was silence for a few seconds. Then...

They all heard the screams, even through the soundproof doors. 
Fearing the worst - an unknown disease, posession by non-corporeal 
aliens, assimilation or who knew what - Chakotay and Tuvok ran for 
the door. Chakotay never knew quite how he got the door open, but 
he was at her side, holding her in his arms and calling for an 
emergency beam-out to sickbay. Words tumbled out of his mouth, 
words he never remembered framing - "Hold on, Kathryn. Just hold 
on, we'll have you in sickbay in a moment." Then she was gone in a 
shimmer of blue, and Tuvok was regarding him with a most un-Vulcan 
look of concern.

"Were you able to determine the cause of Captain Janeway's 
affliction?"

How, Chakotay wondered, could Tuvok be so calm? He looked round, 
lost in thought; picked up a cup, registered a stain on the floor. 
"No idea yet. Let's just hope the Doc can - "

"Emergency Medical Hologram to Commander Chakotay."

"Chakotay here, Doctor. How is she?"

"She'll be fine, Commander. I've treated second degree burns to 
the oesophagus, parotid, epiglottis and soft palate, and she's 
relatively comfortable now."

Oesophagus, epiglottis - it couldn't be, could it? Suddenly 
Chakotay realised what Kathryn must have been three days without. 
Risking Tuvok's hardest stare, he found himself laughing out loud. 
"Can I..." He took a deep breath and thought of leola root. "Can 
I speak to her?"

"Go ahead, Chakotay," came Janeway's resigned voice. "Just say it."

"Kathryn, for the very last time..." He was going to savour every 
moment of this. "Just *sip* the coffee."


THE END