"Are you sure, you are alright, Sir?"

"I'm fine, thank you, Commander."

Tom frowned and scrutinized him for what felt like the umpteenth time. Chakotay knew he meant well, but it annoyed him nevertheless.

"You know, Harry and I thought of having a little ping pong competition tonight. You are most welcome to join us."

Chakotay sighed. "Thank you, I'll take a rain check."

"Are you sure?" Tom tried to go for his most charming smile.

"Is there anything else, Commander?" Chakotay snapped to finally get rid of him.

Tom sprang to attention. "No, Sir. If everything goes according to schedule, Voyager will leave dry dock at 0600 hours tomorrow morning."

"Thank you, Commander. Dismissed!" Tom turned to leave, but before he could do so, someone chimed the door bell. "Come!" Chakotay called and suppressed a sigh.

Both men straightened up in surprise when Admiral Janeway appeared on the threshold.

"Admiral!"

"Tom, it's good to see you again." Kathryn smiled at him. "Will we talk later?"

"Absolutely, Admiral." He grinned at Chakotay and left.

But Chakotay realized that he was not thrilled to see Kathryn for the first time he could remember. She obviously sensed that as well.

"I'm sorry to disturb you like this," she said and approached his desk. "But since Voyager is leaving tomorrow…"

"What can I do for you?" he interrupted her with an indifference that caught himself by surprise.

Kathryn sighed. "I screwed up and I would like you to help me fix it. You know how much I hate to be at fault."

Chakotay looked at her and had no idea what she was getting at. "I don't understand."

"I think you do, Chakotay, but if you want to keep me on tenterhooks, I guess that's your prerogative." Kathryn started pacing up and down as she had done so often when they had still served together. "I'm talking about the other night. I have no idea what has gotten into me – edging you on like that and then backing out again. I didn't intend to do that, but you know what they say, old habits die hard."

"It's alright, Kathryn," Chakotay said because he couldn't keep up the pretence of indifference any longer. "I don't want you to change anything because of me. I never wanted you to do anything because of me. All I wanted was to be there for you in whatever position you felt comfortable with."

He sighed. "Voyager leaves tomorrow. When we get back in a few months, we can have dinner again – just the way we always did." Until then his pain would hopefully have subsided again.

Kathryn, however, had a peculiar look on her face. "If there is one thing I learned from our confrontations with the Borg, then that you always have to adapt."

Chakotay frowned. "So, what exactly are you saying?"

She stepped closer until only his desk was between them. "I want to adapt, Chakotay. All those years in the delta quadrant I told myself: get this job done, your crew home and then you can open up to him. But when we did get home, I still didn't do it because… I was too comfortable with what we already had. The other night proved however that it's not working anymore and there is no reason why it should. So, here I am, adapting. Question is, do you still want do adapt with me?"

Chakotay looked at her, for a long time probably. For the second time within a week Kathryn was opening a door for him. But he had been hesitant the first time and still got burned. How could he be so stupid to play with fire again?

The answer was quite simple. He could and would because he was head over heels in love with that woman.

So he got up now and walked around his desk, smiling. "Well, you know what the Borg say: Resistance is futile."

"They do say that," Kathryn nodded and her deep blue eyes still looked at him a little anxious.

Chakotay decided not to wait any longer. He was a patient man. But now that Kathryn actually seemed willing to give herself to him, there was nothing to hold him back. He just took her in his arms and kissed her.

It was the sweetest kiss he had ever shared with anyone.