This is a great story. In the episodes, the integration of the crew and successful assimilation of the Maquis to make them into starfleet officers happened sort of too quickly. I guess the writers didn't want to keep the series feeling tense for too long, probably rightly so. But an episode addition story like this early on in KJ and C's friendship adds a lot. It makes really good sense that C would think of KJ as privileged and even naive, and would gradually learn that she's experienced more than that. And KJ would stop by just to check on his emotional state, even if she doesn't know him very well yet. It makes sense that he would initially refuse to discuss it, and then eventually open up. Thanks for this story.

Wow! I love how you portrayed the beginning of their friendship. Very well done!
Thank you!

Wow. You really captured the two of them well. And you made me think about what is going on in both of their heads in a way I hadn't considered before.

Mmh, I love missing scenes that use the opportunity to reflect on what's happened in an episode, especially if they come in the form of meaningful conversations. There was rarely time for that on-screen, so it's always good to see fanfic fill those gaps. You took a great moment to show the possible beginning of their off-duty friendship, and the first realizations of similarities between them. I'll be looking forward to more scenes like this if you decide to continue!

Excellent episode addition, exactly what was missing. I always felt after watching some episodes that we should have seen some more in debt conversations between the J/C and not just snippets of it. Gradation of their complex relationship deserved more.
Looking fw to more of these.

Great episode addition! Loved their interaction ; gives us depth and development beyond the surface, exactly what was missing in the episode.

awesome!

This felt so true to their characters at the time. Loved it!

Very nice and very plausible. I hope you write more additions. Thank you.

I love this. It's perfect for the two and where they were at this point in the series. Great job.

What a lovely addition to that episode! It addresses so much and shows us so much more character development in both Chakotay and Janeway. Thank you for posting!

What a beautiful addition to state of flux. I like how Chakotay tells her that he doesn't regret following Janeway but she dismisses it quickly with all her guilt she had over her decision to strand them there, that's very much like her. A lovely one shot.

Lovely. A relationship not cemented seamlessly but coming together gradually, with some work and concession from both sides. I agree that that "fool" statement struck her hard and that her instincts would have sent her to check on him in the situation, and I do so love to read mature adults doing adult things sometimes. Thank you. *hugs*

Great story loved this. Adds some colour to their friendship and how it developed. What Chakotay said about not regreting following her yeah! I agree.

Wow, I could totally picture this as you were writing it. The body language was a nice touch, and totally in character for both of them. I love seeing their inchoate friendship, way before New Earth and everything else that complicated it.

Small quibble: Chakotay was in Starfleet too, before he chose to leave and join the Maquis. So I'm not sure why he thinks Janeway is privileged compared to him: maybe just because she grew up with a Starfleet admiral as a father, and was destined to Starfleet for her whole life? Or because she didn't have family on worlds affected by the Cardassians? But she, too, was affected by Cardassians (at least if we believe what we know from "Mosaic"): she was even captured by them, and nearly lost her father to them. I doubt anyone in Starfleet truly escaped the brutality of the Cardassians completely, whether it was them or someone they knew: Maquis was just a choice some of them made when they thought Starfleet wasn't doing enough to fight. Maybe they can have a talk about this later, as a follow up to this piece?

Nicely written, in any case. Thank you for this.