Disclaimer: No infringement on Paramount's copyright intended. 'Night', 'Counterpoint', and Star Trek and it’s characters are not mine, but Ana Vor and R’mor are my creation and so is the rest of the story. The story revolves around a relationship between women beyond friendship. If this bothers you, please look elsewhere for your fan fiction.

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 © 1999 by Saffron

Ana and B’Elanna were on a routine survey mission, scouting ahead of Voyager for resources and supplies to keep Voyager and her crew going.

"I hate these missions," said B’Elanna, scowling at her console.

Ana didn’t answer. She knew it was best to let B’Elanna continue talking as if no one was there. It was …. safer that way. Instead, she worked on increasing sensor range. Ana didn’t mind survey missions. Despite the cramped quarters of a shuttle, she liked to get away from Voyager once in a while even though, the one person she cared deeply about was there—Kathryn. Kathryn had been working very hard to repair the damage that had been made to their relationship, and in the process, had begun showing a bit more of her romantic side. Ana smiled at the thought of the rose that had been left in her quarters the day before. B’Elanna glanced over at Ana and noticed the smile.

"What’s with the goofy grin?"

Ana was brought out of her revelry by B’Elanna’s voice. "What? Oh…nothing."

B’Elanna refused to believe her. "That was NOT a look of nothing. More of a look of love."

As soon as Ana started to laugh, the shuttle was suddenly jolted and Ana was tossed out of her seat practically landing in B’Elanna’s lap. She scrambled against the G-forces to regain her seat to study the sensor panel. "We’ve been struck by a plasma burst."

"Where did it come from? It seemed like it came from out of nowhere."

"According to sensors, that’s exactly where it came from. It has…drained powers from each of our vital systems."

B’Elanna’s fingers flow over the panel. "I’m turning us around and going back to Voyager." Ana nodded in agreement.

As the shuttle began changing course, another burst hit one of the nacelles and sent the shuttle spiraling through space.

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Kathryn sat on the bridge among her senior staff, but she was only vaguely aware of them. She hated sending Ana on away missions, even the seemingly benign ones. Kathryn knew this was one of the drawbacks to having a relationship with a crewmember and also one of the reasons it was against protocol.

"Captain!"

Kathryn was jarred out of her thoughts by Harry Kim. She sat up at full attention and turned to face him. "What is it, Harry?"

"We’re just received a distress message from the shuttle."

Kathryn felt a lump in throat as she bit down on her tongue. The sharp pain and the taste of her own blood kept her focused and helped her keep down the panic she felt in her concern for Ana and maintain her focus on Voyager and her crew as a whole.

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Ana lay in a crumpled heap in the back of the shuttle. B’Elanna had been forced to make a crash landing on a nearby moon. The moon’s atmosphere did not have enough oxygen to support human life. Fortunately, the hull of the shuttle was still in tact and life support was one of the few systems operational.

B’Elanna, still in her seat, sat up and put her hand to her head. She felt something wet and sticky on her finger. She saw it was her blood. She silently thanked Kahless for her hard head. She tried to get up but was all most paralyzed by the pain the permeated through her body. She steeled herself against the pain and stood up. It was then that she saw Ana.

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Voyager arrived at the coordinates where the distress signal originated.

Kathryn’s fists were clenched so tight, her knuckles were white. "Mr. Kim. Report!"

Harry hesitated, "They’re… not on sensors, Captain."

Kathryn felt her heart beat faster. "Mr. Tuvok, divert available power to the sensors." Kathryn’s voice lowered so it resonated in her chest. "Find them, Mr. Kim."

Harry’s voice was crisp and alert. "Yes, Ma’am!"

Kathryn stood up on her shaky legs. "I’ll be in my ready room."

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B’Elanna kneeled next to Ana, her own pain forgotten. She reached into the panel behind her, brought out the med kit and scanned Ana with the medical Tricorder.

B’Elanna sighed when she looked at the readings. Ana had a broken leg, cracked ribs, multiple lacerations, but her worse injuries were internal bleeding and a severe concussion. It was not a good sign that she was unconscious.

B’Elanna did her best to tend to what injuries she could then went to concentrate on finding a way to send a message to Voyager.

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Kathryn stood motionless in the middle of her ready room, trying to regain her composure. She felt as bad as she imagined she would at a moment like this. This was one of the reasons she had avoided emotional entanglements on board Voyager. She felt tears stinging at the back of her eyes. She used all her will to force them back. She had to focus on getting her crew members back on board. There was no time for tears. She took a deep breath, straightened her uniform, and returned to her bridge.

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B’Elanna’s head began to throb as she worked on the Comm system. She heard a sound coming from Ana’s direction. She looked as way Ana’s eyes open. She abandoned the task at and went to kneel beside Ana.

Ana smiled weakly. "Hi."

B’Elanna smiled back. "Hey."

They sat silent for a moment before Ana asked the question that was written all over her face. "How bad is it?"

"The shuttle? Well, it could have been worse. I’m trying to…"

Ana closed her eyes and shook her head. "No, B’Elanna, you know that’s not what I meant. Tell me."

B’Elanna sighed. "You’ve got a broken leg, cracked ribs…and there’s internal bleeding and a severe concussion."

"That explains the headache," Ana said wryly. "Where’s Voyager?"

"I’m sure there out there looking for us. I’ve been working to get a signal sent to them." She stood up to return to her task but felt a tug on her pant leg. Ana had taken hold of it. She kneeled back down. "What?"

"I need you to tell the Captain something if I don’t make it."

B’Elanna stared at her in disbelief. "Don’t talk like that. You’re gonna…."

Ana interrupted. "No! Please… I have to say this…," she said, almost pleading.

B’Elanna nodded and waited patiently for Ana to speak.

"Please tell her that I love her and… that I don’t regret anything."

If B’Elanna was shocked to hear those words, she didn’t show it. "I’ll do that," she said in a soft voice. But you have to do something for me, so that you’ll be able to tell her yourself. You have… to stay… awake. Don’t give up."

"I’m so tired."

B’Elanna got up to finish working on the signal, but continued to talk. "I know. Keep talking," she ordered.

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Kathryn returned to the bridge with renewed authority. "Report!"

"I think we’ve found the shuttle, Captain." said Harry. "They’re on a the third moon of the sixth planet in this solar system."

"Are there any life signs?"

"We’re too far to get sensor readings."

"Well then, take us closer, Ensign."

The optimism faded from Harry’s voice. "There are some very violent plasma storms in that region. That’s probably what made them crash… and that’s also what will make a rescue very difficult."

Kathryn responded in a smooth tone of voice more calm than she felt. "Then we’ll just have to rise to the occasion, Mr. Kim." She turned to Chakotay. "I want to you get a team together and come up with a rescue plan. I want a report on my desk in thirty minutes."

Chakotay’s eyes clearly read the pain she tried to hide. "Yes, Ma’am."

"I’ll be in my ready room working on an idea of my own." She said curtly, turned, and exited the bridge to her Ready Room.

Kathryn knew she had to keep her mind busy. She settled on the couch and began to work diligently.

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"There! I finally got it going," said B’Elanna after turning on the makeshift distress beacon. "Now, if only we knew Voyager could hear us." She turned to look at Ana. She had tried to keep Ana talking, but Ana became increasingly delirious and her life signs were weakening. B’Elanna closed her eyes and cursed under her breath. Today was NOT a good day for Ana to die.

She kneeled next Ana and took her hands in both of hers. Ana’s hands were so cold. B’Elanna closed her eyes, lifted her head skyward, and offered a silent prayer up to anyone who was listening.

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Kathryn sat up quickly. She had dozed off briefly. Chakotay was standing over her. "Captain…"

Kathryn abruptly stood up and took the PADD out of his hand. "I assume this is the report." Chakotay nodded and waited patiently for Kathryn to review the information.

She looked up at him, her eyes so clearly fatigued. "Are you sure the Delta Flyer can handle the plasma bursts, landing and returning to Voyager?"

Chakotay nodded again. "Seven has helped Tom modify the shields using Borg technology and will have enough energy to deal with the storms as well as landing and taking off."

Kathryn nodded… then effectively crumbled before his eyes. He moved closer but didn’t touch her. She looked up at him. "What if she didn’t survive, Chakotay? What if…"

Chakotay cut her off. "There is no use in thinking like this and you know it."

Her eyes flashed him an angry glare. "If I wanted logic, I’d be talking to Tuvok." Her voice and expression softened again. "Why do we not learn to cherish what we have instead of taking it all for granted? I took it for granted that she and I would have time. I took it for granted that she cared about me. I took it for granted…that she’d be here." Her voice broke. "Chakotay, she’s become a bigger part of my life that I ever realized. I don’t know what I’ll do if I lose that."

Chakotay started to respond, but was interrupted by the voice of Tom Paris. "Paris to Chakotay."

"Chakotay here."

"She’s ready to go, Commander."

"Thanks, Tom. Chakotay out."

Chakotay watched as Kathryn’s vulnerability was covered by mask of command. "You have Voyager until I get back."

The objection was obvious on his face. "Kathryn…"

"I have to go, Chakotay. End of discussion." And with that, they left the room.

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B’Elanna slowly lifted her head. She had fallen asleep next to Ana, still holding her hand. B’Elanna shivered as she notice that it was getting cold. She noticed that the environmental controls were off-line. She tired to will herself to get up and repair it, but couldn’t. Her injuries had finally caught up with her. It was all she could do to get up and retrieve another blanket.

B’Elanna had just begun to doze off again when she heard a scraping noise and voices outside the shuttle. Her heartbeat began to race. Ana was still unconscious. B’Elanna lay very still, listening to the sound outside, fully prepared to fight if need be. She moved opposite the door, phaser pointed in its direction. She squinted at the door as it opened. He heart nearly stopped when she saw Tom. He ran to her side.

Kathryn stood in the doorway staring at Ana, so very afraid to move. "Tom." Her voice was almost inaudible.

He looked up and followed her gaze to Ana. He stepped over B’Elanna to scan Ana with his tricorder. "She still alive… but barely."

Kathryn finally got her legs to work and walked over to kneel between Ana and B’Elanna. She patted B’Elanna on her shoulder. "Do you think you can walk?"

B’Elanna nodded and struggled to stand.

Kathryn gestured to Tom to help her with Ana.

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Kathryn sat in the back of the Delta flyer with Ana’s head in her lap as Tom dodged the plasma bursts. She gently stroked Ana’s dark hair. Her heart skipped a beat when she saw Ana’s eyes flutter open. Kathryn flashed her the biggest smile she could. "Hey."

Ana struggled to speak, but Kathryn placed a finger on her lips. "Shhhh. Don’t try to talk."

The Delta Flyer jolted violently as it was stuck by a plasma burst. Sparks showered Kathryn and Ana.

"We’ve lost one of the nacelles and we’re losing impulse engines!" said Tom. "I need your help, Captain!"

Kathryn wavered only a moment before she gently lay Ana’s head on the floor and went to help Tom. She read the information displayed on the panel. "We’re leaking antimatter. If a plasma burst hits it or anywhere near it, we’ll explode."

"I know," said Tom. "that’s why I need your help."

Kathryn concentrated on diverting antimatter flow away from the damaged nacelle. "How’s that?" she asked.

"Impulse engines are up to 75 percent," said Tom as he steered clear of another plasma burst. Kathryn looked up as he continued speaking. "We’re approaching Voyager."

Kathryn looked back at Ana. Ana’s eyes were closed and she was so still. Kathryn’s breath caught in her throat as she went to check Ana’s pulse. She tried to speak, but her voice came out like a croak. She tried again. "Tom, hurry, she has no pulse."

"We’ll be docked in one minute."

Kathryn felt she was on the edge of internal hysteria. She inhaled a disjointed breath. She had to keep it together. She could not fall apart in front of any crewmember. She continued to stroke Ana’s hair until the ship docked.

"We’re docked," said Tom.

Kathryn immediately went into action. "Transporter room, Emergency transport to sick bay!"

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Kathryn stood against the wall next to the sickbay doors, watching the Doctor work on Ana, her mind only comprehending a few words spoken by the Doctor. The Doctor seems to work forever on Ana. And with each passing moment, Kathryn felt her hope slip away.

"Cortical stimulator!"said the doctor, urgently, " 2 c.c.s of Aniproviline!" With that injection, Ana made a sudden gasp. Kathryn thought her heart stopped at the sound of Ana’s breath. Ana was breathing.

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No one heard the door open. It was R’mor. He froze at the sight of Ana’s still form on the biobed.

He looked around the room and saw the captain leaning against the wall. He felt anger rise up inside him. This was her fault. But as quickly as he was to feel anger, he felt a strange kinship with this woman who couldn’t take her eyes off Ana.

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When Ana opened finally opened her eyes an hour later, the first sight she saw was Kathryn’s face, whose expression of concern brightened into a smile. "Hi," said Kathryn softly as unabashed affection shone in her eyes.

Ana closed her eyes again. In her weakend state, the emotions she felt were so intense, she almost didn’t have the energy to endure them. She took a slow careful breath then opened her eyes again. "I need to tell you something."

Kathryn nodded.

Ana spoke so soft that Kathryn had to lower her ear next to Ana’s mouth.

Ana clutched the front of Kathryn’s uniform to keep her for moving away. "I was so afraid I wouldn’t see you again. So… for all the times that I should have said it, but didn’t…I love you." Ana choked on her emotion as she spoke.

Kathryn moved as far as Ana’s hand would allow to look Ana in the face. She tried to swallow the lump in her throat but it wouldn’t go a way. She put her mouth the Ana’s ear and whispered. "I…I was so scared of losing you. I love you too." Somehow the kiss with Kashyk did not seem as important now.

The moment was broken by the doctor. His bedside manner had improved over the years, but he still had a ways to go in the area of tact and timing. "I hate to break this up, but my patient needs her rest."

Without looking up, Kathryn pried Ana’s fingers from the front of her uniform and held her hand in hers. "We’ll talk later. You get some rest and I’ll be back," and gave Ana’s hand a reassuring squeeze. Ana smiled.

Nobody even realized R’mor was still in the room.