In My Life
Just a short piece. Characters belong to Paramount, of course, song belongs to P. McCartney and J. Lennon. Story belongs to me. The purpose of this story is not, repeat, not to make money, though any donations are welcome!!
Author: Quin

She may have been a starship captain, but even a captain can only take so much, no matter what Tuvok might say. Just yesterday, during her annual check-up (no one knew the back-story to how the Doc actually got her in there, no one really wanted to), the Doctor had chastised her for how she drank way too much coffee, and then had started to quote the regulations on how many different ways a ship's Doctor could relieve a Captain from duty. That hadn't ended well. Captain Kathryn Janeway, psycho. Didn't have much of a ring to it.

She wandered over to her desk, and picked up the first padd on the (all to large) pile. Great, another talent night was coming up. They were getting more and more "creative" as time went on. This should be interesting. It could even be helpful. Yes, indeed....

She was on in a moment. Captain Janeway, of course, was never nervous, but Kathryn was beginning to feel a few butterflies....

Kathryn (the Captain having been firmly banished) made her way to the stool in the center of the stage, sat down, reasonably gracefully, and looked into the audience. The entire senoir staff was there, though she could only see a few. Chakotay, luckily, was sitting in the front row, and smiled at her, encouragingly. She grinned, crookedly, back, and cued the music.

It was an old song, out of the mid 1960's, with a lovely melody and beautiful lyrics. She had fallen in love with it years ago, and just one week ago, when she first decided to do this, realized how well it fit into her plans. She began to sing, unhurriedly, but with purpose.

There are places I'll remember,
All my life, though some have changed.
Some forever, not for better,
Some have gone, and some remain.

She began glancing over the audience purposefully now, looking for faces. Some heads were bent, some eyes were misting, the entire room was silent. She was getting through loud and clear. She continued.

All these places have their moments,
With lovers and friends, I still can recall.
Some are dead, and some are living,
In my life I've loved them all.

She could see Tom grasping B'Elanna's hand tightly. Even Tuvok had a nostalgic look. She turned to Chakotay.

But of all these friends and lovers,
There is no one, compares with you.
And these memories lose their meaning,
When I think of love as something new.
Though I know I'll never lose affection,
For people and things, that went before.
I know I'll often stop and think about them,
In my life, I've loved you more.

Chakotay had lost the surprised look on his face, and was staring into her eyes. They were five meters apart, but seemed like less than one. Kathryn could feel, just barely, the eyes on her, from all over the room. There were no bowed heads now. She tore her eyes away from Chakotay's, this next bit was for the crew.

Though I know I'll never lose affection,
For people and things, that went before.
I know I'll often stop and think about them,
In my life, I've loved you more.

The last line was barely audible.

In my life, I've loved you more.

Neither she nor Chakotay noticed the standing ovation. A small blue box came flying at her from backstage. She caught it easily, and tossed it to Chakotay, then strode offstage.

Chakotay was about to open it, but he noticed a note tied to the lid, in Kathryn's own handwriting.

Open only if alone. -K


Alone in his quarters, Chakotay carefully removed the ribbon, and opened the box. Inside was a piece of old fashioned rice paper. There was a line drawing, and a note written below. The picture was of the boat Chakotay had been going to build on New Earth, but the name on the side was Voyager. He and Kathryn were smiling, holding hands, and waving from the deck. The note read:

I'm sorry, Chakotay. I've been an idiot. Forgive me?

Yours, Kathryn

Chakotay walked out of his quarters, a purpose in his stride.


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