"A Separate Peace"
by Andra Marie Mueller

PART TWENTY-NINE : 'Truth And Consequences'

SUMMARY : A 'resurrected' Chakotay faces his crew.

See Part one for author's notes and disclaimer

****************************************

DEEP SPACE NINE – TWO DAYS LATER

Chakotay awoke in the infirmary to the low hum of a nearby computer monitoring his vital signs, and he could hear the bustle of activity coming from the other room. Craning his neck to scan his surroundings, he recognized some of the equipment as Starfleet issue, and instantly realized he was no longer on R’Vek’s ship.

This isn’t a Sickbay but it’s definitely not a Romulan medical bay, either, he observed silently. Where am I?

Hearing the sound of approaching footsteps, Chakotay glanced over just as Bashir walked into the room, and the doctor flashed him a friendly smile. "Well, look who’s awake," he said. "Welcome back to the land of the living, Captain."

"Julian…" Chakotay rasped. "Where am I?"

"You’re in the infirmary on Deep Space Nine. We transported you off R’Vek’s ship almost three days ago."

"How?"

"That’s a story for another time. "Right now you need to concentrate on getting better."

"You’re the doctor."

"How do you feel?"

"Alive. Beyond that I’m not willing to commit to much, except that everything hurts and I feel like I’ve been hit by a starship doing warp nine."

"That sounds about normal after what you’ve been through," Bashir allowed.

"I assume I have you to thank for putting me back together again?" Chakotay prompted.

"Old habits die hard," Bashir quipped. "I took the liberty of properly repairing some of the previous damage your captors had done to you: I must say I’ve never seen more poorly set bones in my life. Are there any they didn’t break?"

"They left my toes alone," Chakotay offered.

"Actually, I was only half-kidding," Bashir stated. "You were in pretty bad shape when we transported you off R’Vek’s ship, Captain.

"The Cardys aren’t real big on medical care for their prisoners."

"Quite frankly I’m surprised they kept you alive at all."

"In the beginning I almost wished they hadn’t. Between the damage to my arm from when they literally dug out the transponder to the beatings I got in the interrogation sessions, I used to pray they would just kill me and put me out of my misery. But Ka’Tor found it amusing to see how many different ways they could torture me before I passed out, and he was convinced I would reveal my Maquis and Starfleet secrets if he could find my breaking point."

"Did he know you were a spy?"

"No, but he figured that my original tenure with Starfleet somehow endowed me with all of their confidential information. Personally I think he just enjoyed making me scream."

"How did you wind up with R’Vek?"

"About a week ago Ka’Tor finally ran out of things to do to me, so he gave me to R’Vek, who took great delight in picking up where Ka’Tor left off. Yet his need for vengeance was greater than his need for a prisoner to torture, so he was going to kill me after he helped defend DS9 against the Dominion."

"Charming."

"I take it from your comment when you first walked in that everyone has believed me to be dead for the past ten months," Chakotay surmised.

Bashir nodded. "Captain Janeway saw you go down just as she was transported to the Freedom, and from the conversation between the Cardassians that we overheard we assumed you were dead before they took you off Cornellia," he revealed.

Kathryn. The mere thought of her was enough to make Chakotay’s heart ache. "How is Kathryn?"

"I haven’t seen her since we left Cornellia. I know watching you ‘die’ took a heavy toll on her, and from what I heard Starfleet Command gave her a pretty hard time for resuming her relationship with you. But on the other hand she did manage to convince the Maquis to realign themselves with the Federation, and she helped prevent the Dominion from launching their first strike against us." Not to mention she gave birth to your children, Bashir added silently.

"That’s a story I’d like to hear," Chakotay remarked. "Who else knows I’m here?"

"Just the senior officers. Captain Sisko and I agreed that you should have a few days to recover before making your ‘return from the grave’ public knowledge."

"When Starfleet Command gets done with me I may wish I’d stayed dead," Chakotay mused. "As I recall they reacted rather poorly when Morgan told them I had Kathryn."

"Not as poorly as the Maquis reacted when Captain Janeway told them you’d been working with Starfleet for the past two years," Bashir countered.

Chakotay’s eyes widened in surprise. "Kathryn told them? Why?"

"She said she wanted to make certain that they received their final message from you."

Chakotay sighed. "Well, I suppose that cat’s out of the bag."

"I don’t know what Starfleet Command will do once they learn you’re not dead, but I have to assume that the new Maquis/Federation alliance may work in your favor," Bashir offered.

"Not unless it’s retroactive," Chakotay returned, and lifted a hand to touch his jaw. "My beard’s gone."

"I had to shave it off to make sure it wasn’t covering any injuries," Bashir explained, "although anything that covered up your face was a definite improvement."

"I’ve never had any complaints."

"I stand corrected. If you’re feeling up to it, I thought we might try taking a short walk. You’ve been flat on your back for close to three days, so its time to get you up and about again."

"Is it safe to assume our little walk will take us to Sisko’s office?"

"I am under orders to contact him as soon as you’re awake."

Chakotay nodded. "Somehow I’m not surprised. Well, Doctor, if you would be so kind as to rustle me up some real clothes, I’ll change and we can go have a little chat with Captain Sisko."

 

Shortly thereafter, Bashir and Chakotay arrived at Ops. Dax and Kira were conversing in the center of the room and glanced over expectantly at the sound of the arriving turbolift.

"So that’s Chakotay," Dax remarked. "He certainly cleans up well."

"Jadzia…" Kira chided.

Dax shot her friend a knowing look. "Come on, Nerys; the man may be a little on the thin side after being in a Cardassian prison cell for close to a year, but he’s the personification of tall, dark and handsome."

"I’ll make certain to tell Worf you said so," Kira returned.

Across the room, Bashir and Chakotay were making their way up the short staircase to Sisko’s office when the former noticed the women watching them.

"I believe my colleagues have proven your point, Captain," he said. "They haven’t taken their eyes off you since we entered Ops."

Chakotay afforded the women a brief glance, and graced them with a faint smile before returning his attention to Bashir. "If I didn’t know better, Julian, I’d think you were jealous," he taunted.

Bashir shook his head as the two men entered Sisko’s office, and Sisko rose to greet them, addressing Chakotay.

"Captain," he greeted formally. "It’s good to see you back on your feet."

"Thank you. Your CMO does good work."

"I assume from your choice of attire that you’ve decided to make your allegiance with Starfleet official," Sisko remarked, referring to the Starfleet uniform Chakotay had chosen to wear.

Chakotay shrugged. "Captain Janeway already revealed my secret to my crew after my assumed death on Cornellia; and given that the Maquis are no longer at war with the Federation, there’s little point in continuing to hide the truth."

"I suppose not," Sisko allowed, and glanced at Bashir. "Doctor, would you excuse us please? I need to speak with Captain Chakotay privately for a moment."

"Of course."

Bashir excused himself and left the room. Once he was gone, Sisko again addressed Chakotay.

"I feel it only fair to warn you that the powers that be are still steaming from your abduction of Kathryn Janeway. I imagine there’s going to be hell to pay when you return to Earth."

"Considering what I’ve been through in the past ten months, Ben, I find it difficult to have any concern over whatever punishment Starfleet has in store for me. I would appreciate it, however, if you could refrain from forewarning them I’m coming. If Starfleet gets wind of my resurrection too soon, the news will make its way to Kathryn, and I don’t want her dragged through the mud again."

"I admire your loyalty to her, Chakotay; but from what I’ve seen, Janeway’s more than capable of taking care of herself. Maybe you should let her decide whether or not she wants to be with you."

"I intend to, but after I clear up my unfinished business with Starfleet."

Sisko smiled. "Did it ever occur to you that your life would have been much simpler if you had fallen in love with someone who doesn’t wear a Starfleet uniform?"

Chakotay returned the smile. "I imagine Kasidy asks herself that question every day."

"Touché."

"Julian wants me to stay put for at least another couple of days to make sure I’m recovering as well as I should, but then I’m going to need a ride to Earth," Chakotay said. "I don’t suppose you know of any civilian ships that are headed that way?"

"I can make a few inquiries," Sisko answered. "In the meantime, how about some lunch?"

"After the gruel I’ve been living on for the past ten months, even dog food would be a gourmet feast," Chakotay declared.

Sisko frowned. "Dog food?"

Chakotay chuckled. "Sorry; inside joke."

The captains’ conversation was interrupted by the beep of Sisko’s combadge. "Odo to Captain Sisko."

"Yes, Constable?"

"Sir, is Captain Chakotay with you?" Odo inquired.

"As a matter of fact, he is. Is there a problem?"

"There’s a group of his Maquis comrades in my office demanding to see him."

"Chakotay and I are headed to Quark’s for lunch, Constable. Have his friends meet us there."

"Yes, sir."

The transmission ended and Sisko glanced at Chakotay. "You sure you don’t want to change before you have your little reunion?" he prompted.

"I’m perfectly comfortable with what I have on," Chakotay responded.

"Then let’s go."

 

A few minutes later Sisko and Chakotay strolled into Quark’s, and spotted the Maquis in the center of the room. The group consisted of six people: Tom Paris, B’Elanna Torres, Red Hawk, Gray Feather, Terven Darjenko and Brev Korran. Their conversation immediately halted at the sight of Chakotay, and their mutual mixture of curiosity and anger over the uniform that he wore was evident even from a distance.

"Somehow they don’t seem overjoyed by your return from the dead," Sisko observed wryly.

"They’re probably upset that they can’t get a refund on the flowers they brought to my funeral," Chakotay deadpanned in response.

It was obvious the others were not going to cross the room to greet him, and Chakotay was just as obviously not going to go to them. Gray Feather, however, was more interested in her brother than her friend’s issues with his attire, and was the first one to close the distance between them. "Is that really you?" she asked softly.

"There’s about thirty pounds less of me," Chakotay answered dryly, "but yes."

Gray Feather wordlessly wrapped her arm around him in a fierce hug, and the two held onto to each other for a long moment before Gray Feather reluctantly relinquished her hold on Chakotay. "We thought you were dead," she told him. "Where have you been?"

"In a Cardassian prison camp," Chakotay answered simply. "I hear that the Maquis have called a truce with the Federation."

Gray Feather nodded. "They offered us our freedom in exchange for our help against the Dominion."

By this time the rest of the Maquis had crossed over to stand beside Gray Feather, and Brev Korran was the first to address Chakotay. "Well, it would seem Janeway was telling the truth about your return to the Fleet after all," he remarked. "I never would have taken you for a traitor, Chakotay."

"Watch your mouth, Korran," Chakotay cautioned tautly. "I may have been out of commission for the last ten months but I can still wipe the floor with you. And for the record, I’m no traitor. I accepted Starfleet’s offer on the condition that they would grant all of you complete exoneration, not for any personal gain."

"You’ll forgive me if I have trouble believing anything you say," Brev retorted. "You spent two years concealing the truth from us. Why should we trust you now?"

"He has a point, Chakotay," Red Hawk allowed

"I’m no traitor," Chakotay repeated. "I did what I thought was in the best interest for the Maquis, to ensure that all of you would have a future when our private little war with the Federation was over. Any personal benefits I may have earned were more than secondary to that."

"Even if you had had your own agenda with Starfleet, I imagine your abduction of Captain Janeway blew your deal right out the water," Darjenko remarked.

Chakotay flashed his friend a smile. "Subtle as ever, aren’t you, Terven?"

"If the shoes fits," Darjenko allowed. "Your fashion choices will take some getting used to, Old Friend, but it’s good to have you back."

"Thank you."

The two men exchanged a handshake as Torres joined the conversation.

"I don’t know whether to kiss you or slap you," she declared.

"How about a hug while you’re thinking it over?" Chakotay requested lightly.

Torres sent him a mock glare but nonetheless gave him a brief hug. "I missed you," she whispered in his ear.

"Likewise." Chakotay glanced at Paris. "Tom; I trust you’ve taken good care of our crew."

"I suppose now that you’re no longer dead, you’re going to want your ship back?" Paris prompted.

Chakotay chuckled. "You can keep the Freedom, Commander. I’ve got more important things to reclaim."

"Such as a certain Starfleet captain?" Red Hawk pressed.

"That, my brother, is none of your business."

"I hate to interrupt your little lovefest," Quark interjected sarcastically from behind the bar, "but you’re blocking the entrance to the bar."

"Relax, Quark," Sisko chided. "No one’s trying to get in here, anyway."

Quark shook his head and returned his attention to stacking glasses as Sisko gestured the others back to their table. Once they were all settled, Gray Feather posed a question to Chakotay.

"I’m curious, Big Brother; does Kathryn know you’re alive yet?"

A shadow of some unidentifiable emotion flickered across Chakotay’s features at the mention of Janeway, but it disappeared just as quickly. "No, she doesn’t," he answered, "and I intend to keep it that way until I’ve resolved my issues with Starfleet Command."

Red Hawk shot a questioning glance at Sisko and silently mouthed ‘The twins?’ Sisko discreetly shook his head, and the Maquis let it pass.

"It’s a three-week trip to Earth, Chakotay," Paris pointed out. "How do you intend to keep yourself a secret for that long?"

"By going back on a civilian ship," Chakotay answered. "No one outside of Starfleet and the Maquis knows me well enough to recognize me on sight, so I’ll book passage under an assumed name."

"I have a better idea," Darjenko interjected. "Why don’t you let us give you a ride on the Cloud Dancer?"

"You’re going to Earth?" Chakotay asked.

"We’re supposed to meet with Starfleet Command and the Federation Council to ‘negotiate’ the terms of our new alliance," Darjenko said. "I think that meeting would be as good a time as any to make your first public appearance."

"Not to mention give you the chance to see their expressions when I walk into the room," Chakotay added dryly.

"That, too."

Chakotay glanced at Sisko. "You’ve been unusually quiet," he observed. "I’m sure you have an opinion about all of this."

"I agree with your friends," Sisko replied. "Starfleet doesn’t deal well with surprises, so having a dead man walk into a meeting with both the Admiralty and the Council present would definitely tip the confidence scales in the Maquis’ favor."

"Or they might interpret it as another attempt on our part to aggravate them," Red Hawk countered.

""What do you suggest we do?" Paris prompted. "Send them all singing telegrams heralding Chakotay’s return from the grave?"

"There’s an image," Sisko mumbled under his breath.

Chakotay sighed. "Starfleet Command is going to be upset about my return no matter how they find out about it," he pointed out. "In order to avoid jeopardizing their new working relationship with the Maquis, I think I should make my appearance as low key as possible."

"Chakotay’s right," Gray Feather declared. "For his sake as well as ours, I think we should keep his return as low profile as possible."

The group exchanged glances, and each one nodded in silent agreement.

‘Well, now that we’ve settled that issue," Chakotay began. "What’s for lunch?"

"A return trip to the infirmary, I’m afraid," Bashir answered from behind him.

The group turned to see the doctor standing a few feet away, and he flashed them an apologetic smile as he addressed Chakotay. "The results of your last blood test came back, and it seems you’ve contracted Zarallian’s Syndrome," Bashir revealed. "I’m going to have to put you in quarantine for ten days."

"Zarallian’s Syndrome?’ Chakotay echoed. "I thought that was indigenous to Benecia."

"It’s indigenous to Benecians," Bashir corrected, "but prolonged exposure can infect another species. I assume you came into contact with Benecians during your imprisonment?"

"There were a few in the mines on Betak Gulearn," Chakotay recalled. "Why did it take so long to show up?"

"Most likely you suffered from the Syndrome on Betak Gulearn," Bashir told him, "but with everything else the Cardassians did to you it went unnoticed. You’ve recovered from your major injuries but your immune system is still somewhat depressed, and the virus has reasserted itself. Under normal conditions it’s not fatal, but given your present condition I can’t be certain how your body will react. It’s going to take a week to ten days for the virus to run its course and eliminate itself from your system. Until it does, I’m afraid you’re going to have to stay put."

Chakotay sighed. "Well, I’ve waited ten months to resolve things with Starfleet," he mused. "I suppose another ten days won’t kill me."

Bashir grimaced. "Bad choice of words, Captain."

"Sorry."

**********************************

Part 30