Disclaimer: A short story with a touch of angst. I don't own anything of Paramount's. Comments and feedback are welcomed.

Rated G

He was too late. Something inside warned him, seemed to shout into his head. The pace of his running between the nearly crumbled structures didn't slow down, nor did the rapid looking everywhere for that tale tell sign of Commanding red uniform.

From a distance he could hear the search team he had beamed down with but they were a vague sound in the back of his mind. His commbadge sounded but he kept walking, not even paying it any heed.

She had beamed down with Tuvok and a small group to speak with the Leaders of Quasar Prime, it was meant to be a simple meeting. Upon entering this welcoming planet, the Captain and crew were unaware that enemies of the Leaders were planning to overthrow their government.

Now his greatest fear was coming true.

The salty taste of bile lingered on the back of his throat as he recalled again what had happened.

They had received the hail coming from the security team, someone had planted explosives within the building. Everything was amok and everyone except the Captain and an Ensign could be found.

She was hurt and it killed him inside as each minute passed without knowing where she was.

Again his commbadge chirped but this time the words registered. "Tuvok to Commander Chakotay. We have found Ensign Gelled. His injuries are not life threatening. The Captain is still missing. She was last see in the proximity of the outer gardens. Do you require my assistance?"

Chakotay tapped his badge. "Acknowledged. And no. I'll find her. Get everyone else back to the ship."

The garden had once been beautiful, bits and pieces of exotic plants were scattered everywhere while the scents of vegetation and upturned dirt lingered in the air, but at this moment his eyes could only look for her. He was just about to begin tearing foliage from every corner when he spotted a large blot of red.

Her uniform.

Chakotay sprinted over and began to throw off the flowers and dirt that shielded the rest of her body. She was face up but laying so still that he couldn't see if she was breathing. Her hair at her temple was slightly matted in drying blood from a small wound and she was so pale that her hair seemed to vibrate with color.

With two fingers he felt the side of her neck, releasing a too long held sigh of relief when the pulse that was there was found.

"Kathryn? Please open your eyes. It's me." His voice was no louder than the soft breeze, his nerves were still shocked and there was an unbearable dryness in his throat.

With the palm of one hand he cupped her small chin, delicately tracking the curve of skin that was still encrusted with dirt. She was bleeding, smelled of earth and plants but at this moment she was more beautiful to him than ever before.

A thumb pad caressed its way all across the bottom of her lip until her lashes fluttered slightly. Slowly she opened her expressive eyes and looked up where he kneeled before her.

Her eyes remained unfocused for long seconds until finally it all registered and Kathryn gave him a small smile. "Hello."

She sounded terribly odd and that helped ease a relieved smile on his tired and worried face.

"Hello to you. Welcome back." Chakotay responded.

Kathryn cleared her throat and with his help began to sit up. She raised a haughty eyebrow his way.

"I never realized I'd left."

Chakotay scanned her quickly with his eyes, then suddenly remembered that he had a tricorder. Scanning her quickly he spoke aloud the results. "Mild concussion. Slight bruises and a minor cut on the side of the head but you'll survive yet another day. Damn. Thought I'd get the ship this time!"

Her laugh was light as she hit him softly on the arm. "Next time perhaps."

Chakotay didn't smile back, and the teasing had left his eyes. "I don't want Voyager that badly. Not at the expense of you."

He sounded so grave that Kathryn leaned forward and hugged him hard, allowing herself to forget everything else for a brief moment, before letting him help her up. The aches of her head and body seemed to ease when Chakotay wrapped an arm around her dainty waist and slowly they walked out of the garden.

The end.