Janeway asks if he has any dinner plans. "Nothing special. Date with a replicator," he says.

"Cancel it. That's an order," she says in that You Must Comply voice of hers. With that, she sprints away, leaving Chakotay to eat her dust.

"Aye, Captain," he says crisply, with a twinkle in his eye that prompts a collective sigh in the viewing audience so profound it measured on the Richter scale.

*

Janeway's quarters are dark. Candles and her flaming red hair are the room's only illumination. She is reading a PADD.

The door chime rings, and she admits entrance. "Commander," Janeway says, her voice silky smooth and husky as Kes in the swollen-tongued throes of Elogium. "I hope you've got an appetite."

"Famished, but I assumed you called me here to talk about the slipstream flight." Chakotay has a PADD of his own.

"No reason to cancel our dinner plans. I've programmed a dish my grandmother used to make back on Earth--vegetable biryani." Chakotay takes his seat as Janeway pours the...looks like water. Could be vodka, though. Either way, I'm sure she added caffeine.

"Sounds delicious. I didn't know you could cook."

"Normally, I draw the line at a pot of coffee," Kathryn says with a shy smile, pouring herself a glass. "But tonight is a special occasion."

"Oh?"

"Our last night in the Delta Quadrant. I'd say that's special enough," she says softly. She sits, gives Chakotay a measured look.

"You've made your decision," he says after a moment, sounding surprised...but not much. He knows Janeway well enough by now to know the sort of risks she's willing to take.

"We launch tomorrow at 0800. You and Harry will take the Delta Flyer. Voyager will be right behind you." She's going to let Chakotay pilot the Delta Flyer? They're doomed!

Chakotay takes a deep breath, lets it out slow. "The crew will be pleased," he says with false enthusiasm.

Kathryn leans on her elbows. She locks on with her ocular tractor beams. "What about you, Chakotay? What do you think about my decision?" Her voice is barely a whisper, but it penetrates every cell of Chakotay's being.

He hates this part--disagreeing with the captain. He picks up his PADD. "I've analyzed Harry's flight plan. The theory is sound, but there are just too many variables. If something goes wrong in that slipstream..." (Did they run simulations on this?)

"It could be our only chance to use the quantum drive," Janeway reminds him.

"True, but if you showed this data to any Starfleet engineer they'd think we were out of our minds. We can find another way home. We've waited this long--"

"Long enough," Kathryn interrupts, too quickly, then softens her tone. "We've waited long enough. I know it's a risk...probably our biggest one yet...but I'm willing to take it."

Now comes the big question. Janeway asks it tentatively. "Are you with me?"

This isn't Scorpion. This is just their lives on the line, not the entire galaxy's. He gives her a thin smile. "Always." He sets the PADD down.

Kathryn rises from her seat, walks around the table, and puts her hand on his shoulder. She whispers into his ear. "Speaking of risks...are you ready to try some home cooking?"

Chakotay smiles up at her. "I'll alert Sickbay." Janeway touches his cheek affectionately. Darn near intimately.

We see the discarded PADD on the dinner table.

*

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