Disclaimer: Voyager belongs to Paramount Pictures. No infringement intended.

Kathryn Janeway's body jerked up as her lungs sucked in a mad, loud rush of air. Her body was being pushed down, she could feel but she couldn't see . . . everything was a bright blur and the sounds were sounds that were supposed to be familiar to her.

She had to get up -- to get warm -- to run back to life! To Voyager. To Chakotay . . . .

"You're on Voyager -- Captain, can you understand me?" the Doctor's voice trailed into her mind that let it beat the words around and around in an echo of time.

"You're safe -- you're alive," he stated.

She wanted to cry -- but the tears had been frozen from the inside out. She had wanted to ask about Chakotay -- about Paris -- even the flyer. But the sigh of a hypo led her to restful bliss.

"She's going to be alright, you know."

It was Tom Paris who had said it. Chakotay had turned, in his chair at his table in the Sandrines simulation, to see him standing there. He had little left to say. "For the most part, yes."

"It wasn't a question," Tom stated, walking to the table, and pulling out a chair. "I know I wasn't invited," he said, "but I thought I'd come anyway."

"You're here. Not much more I can do about it," Chakotay took another shot.

"I thought you didn't drink --" Tom said.

"-- much," Chakotay supplied the last bit for him.

They were silent.

"That could've been B'Elanna, Chakotay --" Tom started, "and I would've suggested the same thing."

"I know that. But that doesn't make it any easier. Pray you never have to sit by and watch your life's heart freeze to death -- to see her life edge away slowly in a cold sleep -- all your life, you'd better hold B'Elanna tight in those warm arms of yours," Chakotay looked at him. "Because it could all be over tomorrow."

"It hurt me to see the Captain suffer so. But it worked out in the end. It was supposed to have worked out, you know," he looked at his friend. "The two of you that is. Or else she wouldn't be here now."

"Fate," Chakotay stated.

"Maybe," Tom supplied. "Who really knows. Just work with the facts for now."

"Sometimes I don't even know what they are," he stated and took another shot.

"That she loves you," Tom smiled. "Some of us aren't that blind. Neither are you. I'm sure you've both made a move or two."

"What's your point Paris?" Chakotay was gruff, but it was because Tom knew how to hit that nail straight on with one blow.

"No point -- just wondering why you're here -- and not there, helping her to get warm? Scroll to number one. Your answer is there" he put a PADD down on the table, and after that, left.

Chakotay sat for a moment -- trying to find peace -- trying to remember that he wasn't the only one who had made a sacrifice in the past -- today -- or even possibly in the future. Picking up the PADD, he found it to be slightly abused -- rough around the edges -- the same one from the crash. It held the top ten list that Kathryn had been sharing with him. He had never questioned where she had gotten it or who had made it -- but with number one -- he knew it was completely from her. Top Ten faded away -- and instead there was only a statement. It was enough: After Tom and B'Elanna come around, let's make ours Voyager's second marriage.

Part 6