I know this has been a long time coming, I can only hope that it will be worth the wait.

Tom staggered out of the trees, holding Kathryn firmly to his chest as a few drops of rain hit his head. Looking up briefly into the sky he saw the storm clouds gathering. Casting his eyes down to his precious cargo, Tom could see the pained look on Kathryn's face. Her eyes however remained closed as her body gave into the exhaustion. Tom could feel his own contentiousness slipping away as he moved across the field slowly. The blinding pain behind his eyes was making it hard for him to see his way clearly in the now fading light. Knowing he had to get them back to the house now, as the rain began to fall more heavily upon them, Tom adjusted his grip on Kathryn and pull her up tightly against his chest. The sticky feeling under his right hand caused him to look down momentarily. His feet almost colliding together as he saw the palm of his hand stained bright red with Kathryn's blood.

Tom's heart pounded wildly in his chest, the increased rhythm only making his head pound harder, but none of that pain mattered now, he had to get Kathryn back to the house. Refusing to look down any more, mostly in fear of what he might see when he looked, but also so he could pay full attention to where he was going Tom moved forwards. Now full of renewed urgency he cut a faster pace across the open expanse of grass land that covered the area directly in front of the house. As he moved onwards the house became clearer, looming up out of the horizon like an oasis in the desert. The rain fell in earnest now, covering Tom's body in its cold wet blanket. Rivulets ran down his face and streamed into his eyes, shaking his head to clear his vision Tom stumbled to one knee. Clutching onto Kathryn as he fell, pain shot through his leg and Tom winced heavily as his knee bit into the rain softened ground. Taking in deep breaths, trying to control the pain Tom picked himself up again and pulled Kathryn to his rain soaked chest once more.

He would not complain about the extra load, or the pain behind his eyes, or even the shivers that now racked his body, because the woman he was carrying was, for now still alive. Her heart beating inside her thin frame. Tom could feel it pounding against his own chest, there rhythms matching as Tom continued on his journey. What was perhaps a kilometre of grassland had become his green mile. His final walk before the end, inch by inch he could feel his body giving up on him. First his arms started to become numb with holding on so tightly to Kathryn. Then his shoulders began to tingle, sending pins and needles running down his spine. Finally his legs started to shake with every stride. Looking up for the first time in what felt like forever Tom almost collapsed at the sight of the distant house. Since falling he had made perhaps thirty feet, but it had felt like a thousand. Refusing to collapse and give into his body's need to fall into oblivion Tom took another stride forwards, his leg shook and his knee seemed to buckle, but he made another step. Virtually sliding himself across the rain slickened grass Tom huffed for breath, which was now coming out in little puffs of smoke as he breathed. The temperature had dropped with the sun, and the rain only seemed to have hastened the cooling effect.

Striding forwards once more, Tom fell to his knees again, this time both appendages hitting the grass as a huge thunder clap sounding right above his head. Looking down at Kathryn he saw her eyes still firmly closed. Her lips were a hauntingly blue colour and her face so pale Tom could almost see her veins just beneath the skin. As tears began to fill his eyes, they ran down his face joining the drops of rain that already resided there. Bending down he placed a soft kiss on Kathryn's forehead and lay her upon the wet ground. His vision swimming, Tom then fell next to her, his face down turned into the soil, as the rain now pounded his back. Tom was not crying for himself. His own end was something he had made piece with, he was crying because he had failed his Captain. His body was completely numb now, all Tom could feel was his own hot tears rolling down his cheeks. Turning his head now he saw Kathryn lying not a few yards from him, her face turned to his. Her hair was plastered to her neck, and her clothes to her body. Tom knew it should not end like this. They had come so far, been through so much, but even as he thought this his vision tunnelled and his world faded to black.

Tuvok and B'elanna had to run back into the forest to escape the freezing rain. As it started to pound all around them, they made a split second decision to hide under the trees in the forest. They had barely started on their journey back to the house when the heavens opened, dashing back they took shelter under a large tree at the edge of the forest.

"My god this planet gets some storms." B'elanna shouted above the noise of the rain, Tuvok merely looked at her and nodded his head. As they stood there looking out at the ever thickening blanket of rain, both of them couldn't help but wonder where Tom and Kathryn were.

"Do you think they managed to get to some shelter?" B'elanna asked after a few moments. She didn't have to state who "They" were, it was obvious who she was referring to.

"If they are able, I am sure the Captain and Mr Paris have found suitable shelter." Tuvok replied, his inference was clear. Tuvok was not certain that Tom and Kathryn were able to do anything at this point. They had been gone for over a week, had who knows what done to them by the person that brought them, and from the looks of it, been on the run for at least two days. Star-fleet officers or not, that was going to take its toll on any body.

"Yeah the Captain is tough she will know what to do. And Tom is stubborn as a Targ, he wouldn't go down without a fight. I am sure they are fine. Probably curled up somewhere in a cave." B'elanna said as a crash of thunder sounded over head. Her words however were not lost, nor the doubt with which they had been said. Tuvok was certain that his half Klingon companion was trying to convince herself more than him as to their friends fate.

Looking out now across the rain soaked grassland Tuvok scanned the area in front of him, but he could see nothing. The rain had almost obliterated the landscape from view, and the ever deceasing light made the task of seeing that much harder. Taking a brief glance at B'elanna he could see the woman looking out across at the same view he had been trying to scan. The narrowing of her eyes, and the frown that appeared on her face told the Vulcan all he needed to know.

"They are out there Tuvok, don't ask me how I know that, and don't tell me its illogical because I already know. I just have a feeling that they are there right in front of us, but we can't see the wood for the trees." B'elanna said turning her eyes up to her companion, feeling his gaze upon her as she looked out onto the stormy fields.

"I can not deny your feelings lieutenant, as a Vulcan I have come to rely on logic and strategy. Investigation, and likely conclusions. However in my time spent with humans and other emotionally aware species, I have come to realise that this intuition you posses has its own compelling logic. Captain Janeway is one of the people who taught me that invaluable lesson. In the time I have know her I have come to realise one thing." Tuvok paused as a clap of thunder sounded over head. It was followed by a flash of lighting that lit up the surrounding area. B'elanna was looking at Tuvok impatiently for the conclusion of his sentence, as the Vulcan continued to look out on to the field, certain for a moment that he had seen something in that brief flash of light.

"Well what did you learn." B'elanna finally enquired as Tuvok averted his gaze back to his smaller companion as he convinced himself that is was merely a trick of the light.

"That as long as she is breathing, Kathryn Janeway will be fighting for her crew." Tuvok said as another clap of thunder hit and the sky was once again lit up with lightening.

Tom felt a warm but itchy flat surface underneath him. His body was cold, but he could feel heat warming his face and side of his body. Opening his eyes slightly he looked up to see a solid white ceiling. Sitting up quickly the world span for a moment and he clutched his hands to his head.

"My god." Tom uttered as he cautiously opened his eyes once more and looked around the room. He recognised it as Elderon's study, the fire was burning next to him, and he was lying upon the bare carpet. Looking around suddenly he spotted Kathryn unconscious on the sofa. Her arm dangled off the edge and her body was shivering. Getting up as quickly as his body would allow, Tom knelt down next to Kathryn and took her fallen hand into his own. The icy coolness of it was not lost on him and quickly he picked her up and moved her over to his spot next to the fire. Lying down next to her Tom wrapped his body around Kathryn's. Letting the fire warm her front whilst he warmed her back. As he closed his eyes his memory, or at least fragments of it came back.

He was lying on the grass, numb and certain he was dying, when he felt an hand grab his arm. Opening one eye he saw that Kathryn had gone. Sure that Elderon had returned Tom began to struggle, when Kathryn's voice had told him everything was going to be ok. As he wrapped his arms around her waist now, he recollected how she had virtually dragged him to the house, how they had climbed the steps and fell spent on the carpet. He could not remember however getting to this room. Kathryn must have dragged him here somehow and got the fire going. Placing his had over her heart, Tom was sure that there would be nothing there. Her body had been so limp, Tom had suspected the worst upon that first icy touch. Waiting holding his breath he waited for the tell tale thump of her heart. It did not come. Moving his fingers up to her pulse point Tom searched for the push against his fingers as blood was pumped around Kathryn's body, yet that did not come either. Panicked now Tom rolled Kathryn onto her back and bent his ear to her lips. No soft breath caressed his face however as his cheek hung there, inches from her soft lips, and yet he could not move.

"Dam it no, not like this." Tom yelled quickly, dashing out of the study and ignoring the spinning of his vision and running down the hallway to the bathroom. Tom had found a first aid kit in there several days ago, he had stored that knowledge away for use at a later date. He was now grateful he had done so.

Virtually breaking the door down Tom staggered into the bathroom and ripped open the cupboard door. Pulling out the med kit he ran back down the hallway and slid to a stop at Kathryn's side. Pulling out several hypo sprays Tom found the one he was most convinced would get her heart going again. Applying it to her neck Tom waited in silence, the only sound coming from the rain battering the windows, as the rain outside still fell. Feeling for a pulse and still getting nothing Tom applied another hypo spray and gave Kathryn's chest a firm thump with his fist. Her body jumped under the pressure and Tom knelt down again to feel for her breathing.

"Don't you dare die on me you hear me." Tom shouted, now pushing away the useless med kit and resorting to old fashioned mouth to mouth. As he watched Kathryn's chest rise and fall, Tom felt again for a heart beat. When none came he resumed pressing on her chest and forcing air into her lungs. He would not let this happen again, he would not lose another person, he could not lose Kathryn.

The touch on his arm shocked Tom out of his grief stricken daze as he lay his body half across Kathryn's lifeless one. Turning his face up to whomever had disturbed him, Tom actually welcomed the sight of Elderon. Hoping that the man would kill him and put him out of his misery. But it was not to be. The hand that was now pulling him off Kathryn was that of another Validian, one he did not recognise.

"Get your hands off her!" Tom screamed only to be held back by another smaller Validian woman who spoke to him in a voice he recognised.

"Its us Tom, please we are here to help you." Tom blinked a couple of times as he looked at the first man who was picking up Kathryn and holding what looked like a star-fleet comm badge in his hand.

"Tuvok to Kim, we have them four to beam up." Tuvok said as Tom realised that he had indeed been saved, but it was far too late for Kathryn.

The world was a dark mass of swirling noise and pain. Beeping and voices blanketed the world as feeling slowly came back. Fighting to stay in the darkness and retreat from the pain did not seem like an option, as the voices started to become clearer. Now able to make out distinct sentences as they came closer, talking in hushed tones and whispered agitation.

"They were in very bad shape commander, Mr Paris here will probably recover in a few days, but the Captain." There was a pause here, the entire room seemed to fall silent all of a sudden and the loss of sound made the darkness creep up once more.

"Do what you can Dr, we are making our way across Validian territory at maximum warp, we will be clear of this sector in seven hours." Again there was a pause, filling the silence was a question, one that no one dared ask. Even in the grip of unconsciousness and the all consuming darkness it hung there like a bad omen.

"Make sure sick bay is closed off to all those without clearance, I do not need this getting around the ship until we are out of danger." The answering reply was lost as once again the darkness came and consumed everything beyond it.

Tom sat alone in his quarters, staring out at the stars streaking passed his window as Voyager continued on its journey home. He had been though so much in the past few weeks that they now seemed like a blur of images and feelings. They had left Validia well behind, but Tom knew as well as the next person, that they would not be the last species to take advantage of them. The only thing they could do was do the best they could to avoid bad situations, and continue on home. Letting out a long sigh Tom rolled his head on his neck and worked out some of the kinks there. Physically he was fine now, but the Doc had given him two weeks of for mental evaluation. Tom was not best pleased about the idea, but right now he knew he could not work either. Every night he woke up in a sweat, his clothes plastered to his body, and his hands in a death grip around the bed sheets. Tonight had been no different. Sometimes the nightmares were vivid, each images ingrained on his memory until he had to force his eyes open to stop them. And other times like tonight they were fleeting, vanishing as soon as he woke up. They where the worst kind, his mind in turmoil about something he couldn't even remember. The chime at the door made Tom jump before he called for the person to enter.

"Couldn't sleep either?" Tom didn't need to turn around to know who had called upon him at this late hour it could only be one person. The half smile that came to his face, turned into a full blow one as they settled themselves down beside him.

"You know now that you're here I think I could manage it." Tom replied as he moved to sit next to them on the sofa. One arm snaking out to wrap around the narrow shoulders that now inched closer to his body.

"Me too, but you know what would be even better." Kathryn said as she smiled up at Tom as his head moved back so he could look into her eyes.

"No what?" He enquired but the half smile on his face told Kathryn he already knew what she was going to say.

"My ship back, I am sick of spending my day in the holo suit taking to a shrink, best cure for me would be getting back to work." The smile on Kathryn's face was saying one thing, but the haunted look in her eyes was telling an entirely different story.

"I think we both need time to heel, even if that's not what we tell the Doc." Tom replied getting up off the sofa and offering his hand to Kathryn. Pulling her up with him, Tom led them into the bedroom and pulled back the covers. Climbing in they curled up together, feeling warm and safe in each others arms. Kathryn knew this was the only way either one of them would ever get any sleep. It was one of the many things that had been left with her after waking up in sick bay two weeks ago. All the memories coming back to her piece by piece, until the moment she died.

Kathryn owed her life to Tom, not just because he had kept her alive long enough for the Doc to perform miracles, but well before that. He had saved her in every way a person could be saved. Or so Kathryn Janeway thought, when in those early hours after dreaming, and she fights to forget the nightmares, she turns her thoughts not to what happened back on that planet, but to the man with whom she shared it.

Well that's all folks, I hoped you enjoy my little story, any and all feed back is welcomed. Thank you for reading XxX