Conjugal Responsibilities
Part I

By: AW

April 2012

It was dark; wherever they were it was always dark. He missed being kissed by the sun in the morning. When they had gotten back to the Alpha Quadrant, they had had one day to enjoy the sun, before their worlds all turned to black.

He missed Voyager. He missed Kathryn, he missed of the intrepid travelers.

He shook his head, he still couldn't believe he had no view of outside from his cell. It was dark and foreboding, and he missed the primitive beauty of the outdoors that Earth had to offer.

Kathryn had assured him when they got back to the Alpha Quadrant there would be no jail time for any of the former Maquis.

But here they were.

All of them, or so he assumed, he was stuck in solitary. Had been since that fateful day four years ago.

[BLOOMINGTON INDIANA - JANEWAY HOUSE]

"You have to stop Kathryn, it's been what three years?"

She stared at her sister. "Four years Phobe, it has been four years, and I don't even know where they're holding them. I have spent the last four years of my life searching, and nothing. All the contacts I made before Voyager left Earth, all the people who owed me favors...they're all used up and still nothing."

Gretchen walked in on the sisters having a heated discussion. "What are you girls arguing about today?"

Kathryn sighed and ran a hand through her long hair. Since they had been back, she had not cut it, knowing when she finally found him he would appreciate the sentiment.

She pulled the long auburn strands out of her face and stared at her mother. "I will never forget what he did for me; and I can't let him down. Even if it takes the rest of my life to find him: I will."

Gretchen looked at her forlorn daughter. She had been an Admiral, but had given that up for the fight for Chakotay. She had given everything up.

She would never be the same.

The console at the kitchen table beeped and Kathryn walked up to see a face she hadn't seen in much too long. Kathryn hesitated to voice the question she had been asking for years.

When the words would not come out, Mark stared at her. "We found him Kathryn."

[SIX YEARS EARLIER – VOYAGER]

"Kathryn you can't be serious. I told you I would never forgive you for cutting the hair off."

Kathryn glared at Chakotay over her wine glass. "It was getting in the way. Do you have any idea how hard it is to take care of that much hair?"

Chakotay sighed, "It was so beautiful though Kathryn. I spent many a day fantasizing about running my hands through it."

Kathryn looked at him. "Oh come on, you did no such thing? Did you? Never mind I don't want to know."

He grinned at her showing her his dimples. "If only you did know, you'd want to try."

"Is that a challenge Commander?"

They locked gazes and the moment seemed to stand still. This was a dangerous game each of them had played before and all of a sudden he quarters felt stifling.

They slowly inched closer and before either realized it they were mere inches away, blue meeting obsidian the sand meeting ocean.

Their lips slowly met and the earth-shattering motion, caused both of their worlds to collide.

Kathryn closed her eyes and enjoyed the moment until her Captain's voice stated in her head, 'He's your First Officer', and the moment stopped.

She pulled back shocked at what she allowed to happen and brought her hand up to wipe the lipstick off Chakotay's lips. "I'm sorry."

Chakotay shook his head and pulled her head down once more, this time allowing her to control the situation.

She closed her eyes once again, lost in the moment and realized if she wasn't careful, she would lose herself in him forever. "Chakotay we can't let this happen."

Chakotay was not taking no for an answer and before she realized it, they were in her bedroom naked and as she stared at the clock she realized that time had passed and the deed had been done.

She stared at the empty wine bottles at her bedside and shook her head trying to remember the previous night.

She reached beside her, expecting to feel a warm body, and was disappointed to feel the coldness of empty sheets.

She got up and stared in the mirror and the woman she glimpsed staring back was no longer the woman that she had lived with and lived for, for the past 43 years.

[SANFRANCISCO – TEA LEAF COFFEE HOUSE]

Kathryn watched the door and waited for her former lover to come strolling in. For all the effort she had put into finding Chakotay over the years, she had failed.

Finally Mark walked through the doors holding a piece of paper and a tiny velvet box. "Kath, nice to see you. You look good." He brought her into a hug of friendship and surreptitiously slipped the box into her pocket. His voice whispered, "That box is from him not me."

Kathryn scrunched her face up in confusion. She went to respond when Mark simply passed her the papers and said, "Read them, they'll explain everything."

Kathryn silently nodded and watched Mark walk out of her life once again.

[BLOOMINGTON INDIANA – 3 HOURS LATER]

Kathryn had been pacing around the large backyard for hours. She sat in the tree that she had climbed as a child hoping to re-capture some of the innocence of years past. She stared at the envelope she had yet to open and realized that future was contained in the small manila package.

She placed her hands in her pockets and pulled out the small black box that Mark had left behind. She knew what the box looked like, but why?

She picked up all the pieces of her life and walked into the house slipping quietly into the living room. She finally got the courage and opened up the envelope. Inside, were co-ordinates where Chakotay was supposedly being held and a marriage certificate.

She stared at the names and saw two familiar names staring back at her. Kathryn Janeway and Chakotay. It was a legal document signed by none other than Admiral Paris.

She shook her head and called her mother into the living room and she came in carrying a dish towel. "What is it honey? I was just finishing the dishes!"

Kathryn speechlessly handed her mother the marriage certificate dated the day they returned from the Delta Quadrant. "What is this Kathryn?" She stared at the license, "Why didn't you tell me?"

Kathryn laughed mirthlessly, "I didn't know."

Gretchen raised an eyebrow, "What do you mean you didn't know?"

"Look at who the marriage certificate is signed by."

"I'm going to kill Owen."

She stared at her mother, "Now don't be too hard on him mom, he found Chakotay and may just have given me a way to get into the prison."

Gretchen shook her head. "So the search is over."

"I really don't know mom; but I hope so."

[PENAL COLONY - CARDASSIA PRIME]

Chakotay stared at the measly food that they were given daily.

Today he had seen the hand of one of his captors through the slot where the meals were given.

It looked like a Cardassian appendage, and he wondered how even Kathryn could be so heartless as to give over half of her crew to a race of monsters.

He cried.

That night, all those years ago; she had finally given him her heart and then she had disappeared. The Kathryn Janeway he had once known was gone forever.

And maybe he really never known her at all.

[DELTA FLYER – TWO DAYS LATER]

Kathryn slipped the ring on her finger and slowly messaged the penal colony. "This is Kathryn Janeway, I need to see one of the prisoners."

The Cardassian laughed, "And why would we grant him that priviledge?"

Kathryn smiled, "I'm his wife."

The Cardassian shook his head, "This means nothing to me."

"Today is our anniversary, and I need to visit him. Under Federation law, conjugal visits are allowed."

The Cardassian laughed at her. "I'm going to need something more than that from you."

The woman who had to see the man she loved, pulled her hair out of the clasp that was holding it and felt it cascade down her back. She smiled. "I can make it worth your while."

The Cardassian grinned evilly at her and nodded. "Then I think we have an agreement."

[CARDASSIAN PENAL COLONY - OFFICER'S QUARTERS]

Kathryn had been escorted to this man's living quarters. This was going to be the end of the journey, she just hoped he would keep his end of the bargain. She had changed and was not wearing a short skirt and a low cut blouse.

She had to make this work. Forgive me Chakotay; I never meant for it to be like this.

She leaned into his advances and hoped that in the end it would all be worth it. She hoped that this would make it worthwhile.

She felt his scaly hands move roughly underneath her bra, and the teeth in his mouth nibble on her ear lobe.

She felt dirty, but in the end if this is what it took to save Chakotay, this is what she had to do.

She felt his big member enter her dry sheath and she knew that he could tell she wasn't doing this for her but for her 'husband'.

When all was said and done she dressed herself and stood up to her full height - still close to a foot shorter than the Cardassian - and stated, "I've filled my end of the bargain, now I expect you to complete yours."

He grinned, "You humans are so frail, but you humored me, so you have one hour with your husband."

She was brought to a doorway of a cell and entered seeing Chakotay sitting on what she assumed was their idea of bedding.

[PRISON CELL]

Chakotay heard the door opening and looked up to see the vision of Kathryn Janeway that he had always imagined.

She was wearing very revealing clothing and had a wedding ring on her left hand.

He would almost think this was a dream, but in his dreams no ring adorned her finger save for the one he put there himself.

He looked at the vision before him and approached her slowly. "Kathryn?"

She nodded but didn't trust her voice enough to answer. "Why are you here?"

The mistrust in his voice almost broke her heart, and she looked at the broken and scarred man in front of her. "It's me Chakotay, I finally found you."

He laughed mirthlessly, "You couldn't have missed me that much." He motioned towards the ring on her wedding finger."

"It's only ever been you Chakotay."

He stared at her unsure. "You belong to another Kathryn."

She pulled the wedding certificate out of her pocket. "I only ever belonged to you."

He read over the paper. "We're married?"

Kathryn nodded, "Conjugal visit."

"I don't understand Kathryn. You never loved me. You never let me in."

"I was lost the night that you left me in my quarters after I finally let you in on Voyager."

He laughed, "You were never lost Kathryn. You were just waylaid for a little bit."

He stared at the paper, "Admiral Paris married us four years ago when we got back from the Delta Quadrant did he?"

Kathryn almost laughed, "That's what it says." She paused, "I told the Cardassian that you couldn't wear your wedding ring in jail without getting it taken." She stared at him, "I told them that you were my husband and that they had no right to keep you from me when all the other Maquis went free."

Chakotay shook his head confused, "They told me that they're here me." He looked at her confused, "I can't confirm that since I have been in solitary for all this time."

He looked at her and saw the awkward gape to her step. "What did you have to do to see me, Kathryn?"

She had tears streaming down her cheeks, "The same thing the Cardassians always take in payment."

He looked at the door hatred in his eyes. "They tainted you in their eyes."

Kathryn nodded, "But it was worth an hour with you."

Chakotay reached up and wiped the tears from her face. "It wasn't worth it Kathryn. You gave yourself for an hour with what? Your former commander?"

She shook her head, "With my husband." She stared deep into his eyes, "They made you pay with your life." She paused with tears streaming down her cheeks, "I told them it wasn't good enough." She stared at him. "You broke me Chakotay. I needed you that morning when I woke up; I needed you to tell me that it would be okay. I needed you to tell me that you would be mine forever. I needed –"

His hands reached down and pulled her face towards his. His lips met hers and her eyes closed swiftly. She fell into the feeling and she felt his wandering hands under her shirt. She pulled away quickly, "Chakotay we have to stop. We can't do this."

Chakotay stared at her, "What 'Starfleet Protocols'?" He let out a nervous laugh, "After what you did with that Cardassian to get here, how can you say that?"

She shook her head, "I'm not in Starfleet anymore Chakotay. I have spent the last four years trying to find you; wondering if I'd ever see you again. I need you." She drew in a deep breath. "And that comment about the Cardassian was a low blow."

Chakotay stared at her, "I have spent those last four years alone. I have been in solitary for all that time. Never knowing if I'd see another human being again."

She pulled him close to her. "I need to get you out of here Chakotay. I can't live without you anymore."

She hugged him close and called to the cloaked ship above her. "Two to beam up."

He felt the weightlessness of the transporter and found himself on a ship akin to the ones that had fought the founders during the war.

When she was sure he was safe, she pulled back and looked him in the eyes.

He smiled, the first smile he had felt himself give since Voyager and bent down to kiss her.

He heard B'Elanna smirk in the background. "So this is what the last four years was for?"

Janeway pulled away blushing. "You know that wasn't it. If Tom and Seven had've died in vain, I wouldn't be able to live with myself."

B'Elanna nodded and walked out from behind the transporter control.

Chakotay looked at her obviously pregnant form and stared at Kathryn, "I think you'd better fill me in."

END PART I