Chapter Text
For the fifth night in a row, Kathryn ran through the dark forest. Sharp branches tore at her arms and legs as she barreled through the dense woodland, struggling to keep up with the man that led her on hurriedly into the night. He gripped her hand tightly, dragging her over tree roots and under low branches, urging her silently forward through the descending fog. Every so often, their way was lit up by torchlights cast from behind them; an illumination accompanied by barking dogs and orders shouted from the surrounding dark. The sound was growing louder and closer. Reaching a tree hollow that sat half hidden amongst the foliage, her guide stopped suddenly. For some reason, she knew better than to speak. The dark figure looked back at the nearing torchlights which cast an eerie glow against the night sky. He turned to her and ushered her into the hollow opening.
"I want to stay with you." Kathryn protested, the words feeling foreign in her mouth but the sentiment felt real enough. The figure pulled her into his arms and whispered with a sound of desperation into her ear.
"I'll lose them in the woods. Stay hidden, I will be back for you." He kissed the crown of her head and pushed her gently into hiding. Who was this man? Kathryn felt she knew but, like a forgotten word, it lay just out of reach in her mind. Nether the less, she knew she trusted him. Before Kathryn could look back, her guide was gone. A few minutes later, the approaching crowd followed and soon enough all she could hear was the noise of the surrounding forest and her beating heart. She waited, huddled on the damp mossy floor of the tree. Time passed strangely in the dark and she was no longer sure if she had been sitting for minutes or hours. Suddenly, a snap of a broken branch rang out. Kathryn held her breath. Her heart hammered so loud in her chest that she feared it would give her away. Another branch snapped. Someone was heading for her hiding place. She stared out into the impenetrable dark, straining her eyes to discover friend or foe, her mind somehow trying to reach out and sense who was approaching.
Out of nowhere, a great unseen force yanked her out into the open. She landed with a thud face down in the dirt and rolled through the rough undergrowth. Hands seemed to grab at her from every direction as she crawled away, half blinded by the mud in her eyes. She felt a grip on her ankle and instinctively kicked out with her free leg. There was a crunch followed by a cry of pain. The sound gave her courage. She pulled away and was momentarily up on her feet before a painful thud to the back of her head brought her down to her knees. Before she even had a chance to register that the blow had temporarily blinded her, a rough sack was pulled over her head. Thrown to the ground, she felt her hands being bound tightly behind her back. The sack was thick and hot, and stunk of dirt and blood. Kathryn couldn't breath. She couldn't see. She couldn't think. She tried to struggle but she couldn't move. All she should could hear was her racing heartbeat and soon enough, she heard nothing at all...
***
Kathryn shot out of bed and was half way across the bedroom floor before she truly awoke and realised where she was. Her heart was beating so fast; it took her a few moments to catch her breath. She glanced at herself in the mirror, an almost subconscious check that she was who she thought she was. The same old reflection stared back, wide eyed and tired looking; skin soaked in sweat that glistened in the starlight from the window.
"Computer, lights." she ordered wearily before wincing as the room was flooded with what felt like an overly bright electronic glow. Kathryn collected her robe from the back of her dresser chair and stumbled into the living area. Bravely, she glanced at the clock before instantly regretting it. The green glow of time told her mockingly that she'd only been asleep for an hour. She should not be surprised; it had been the same for the four nights prior. She ran her hands through her hair and screwed up her face in frustration.
Already knowing there was no point in trying to go back to sleep, she replicated a coffee and slumped tiredly on the sofa. She had already considered seeing the doctor for a sedative, but the questions he would ask and the tests he would want to run talked her out of it. She was too tired for that. Besides, the Captain having night terrors wasn't exactly something she wanted to get out. Tonight would be the fifth night that these dreams had kept her from slumber, as well as occupying much of her thoughts during the day. She knew it was dangerous to be operating on such limited sleep. Every day she had promised herself a trip to sickbay if it happened again and yet each night she had done what she was going to do now. After taking a moment to savour the last of her coffee, she quickly showered, dressed and headed to the bridge.
Ensign Kim was only half way through the night shift when the Captain arrived on deck.
"At ease Ensign." she said with a nod and made an immediate be-line for the sanctity of her ready room. She noted Kim's furrowed brow as she walked by, the same look of concern he had given her yesterday. Anxious to avoid any probing, she shot him a reassuring smile and made her exit as quickly as she had arrived. She was not in the mood for questions, she mused grumpily as the doors whooshed closed behind her. If she had been, she would have gone to sickbay.
A few hours later, she had muddled her way through a number of charts and personnel reports on the back of two more coffees and was trying to summon the energy to walk the the replicator to make a third when door buzzed. Kathryn looked at the time. The morning shift had just started so Kathryn knew who it would be.
"Come in." She called, stifling a yawn whist trying to remember if she'd actually read the section on Lt Paris's crew performance report that she'd just signed off on. The door slid open. "What can I do for you Commander?" she said, without looking up from her pad. There was a silence, causing Kathryn to look up. Chakotay had a mix of surprise and concern on his face. "Well?" she asked impatiently.
"Ensign Kim said you kept him company for graveyard shift last night." he said finally, clasping his hands behind his back.
"Well if by keeping him company, he means occupy the same level of the ship then yes. But I'm sure that definition encompasses lots of the crew." Kathryn replied testily. Seemingly ignoring her, Chakotay continued.
"A privilege he has enjoyed for at least the last three nights?" He raised an eyebrow. For a moment he looked like Tuvok. Kathryn slowly stood. Chakotay's habit of saying things that required one to read between the lines, while usually spiritually endearing, were rather more grating when operating on minimal sleep.
"If you have a point Commander, I would appreciate you getting to it." She said walking over to the replicator.
"My point," Chakotay stated stiffly, "is that you do not appear to have slept for a number of days."
Kathryn did not answer, instead replicating a coffee. Over her shoulder, she saw him approach her cautiously; his hand suddenly resting on her arm.
"Captain."
She turned and up looked at him.
"You look tired." He said softly, his expression now awash with worry. Kathryn studied his face for a moment, one that was once hers to behold but not anymore. She pulled away and gave him a superficial grin.
"It's a Captain's prerogative to look tired Chakotay but nice of you to point it out."
She walked back to her desk and placed the mug down. Her hand trembled slightly as she did so. Chakotay noticed despite her quick recoil to hide it.
"Kathryn.. please," he said almost pleadingly and placed in hands on her forearms. "I'm worried about you. You have shut yourself away in here for days. I haven't seen you rest or having anything other than coffee. Whatever it is that is going on, let me help you."
Kathryn felt so tired, she was sure that Chakotay was supporting her weight. She found herself focusing on the pips on his uniform. If she could just lay her head on his shoulder, she would close her eyes and sleep the longest sleep of her life...
Chakotay's grip suddenly became uncomfortably tight. She began to struggle but it was no use, she couldn't move.
Gasping for air, she closed her eyes. When she opened then again it was dark, the only light peeking through pinholes in the material that covered her face.
"She is awake." A voice sang out from beyond the fabric. The hood was pulled from her head causing Kathryn to cry out as bright lights blinded her.
"Baby Bird." the voice said, its owner coming so close that his breath tickled her skin. "What a pleasure it is to see you again. Did you miss me?"
The voice struck fear in Kathryn's chest. She swallowed, her mouth dry with the taste of blood, but said nothing. Through a haze of fuzzy spots, her sight returned. A handsome man with a cruel mouth grinned back at her. Without hesitation, Kathryn spat in his face. One of the guards went to strike her but her captor held up his hand. The man seemed more amused that perturbed by this act, taking a handkerchief from his gentleman's jacket and wiping his cheek.
"I see your manners haven't improved much." He chuckled and ran the outside of his finger down her cheek. "I always did like your spirit." Kathryn grimaced at his touch. He suddenly looked forlorn. "It's a shame I'll have to break it before my Master gets here." Kathryn's eyes widened. "Can't have you playing up in front of the boss." The man continued, removing his gloves as he straightened up to stand before her. He then flashed her a knowing smirk. "You know how he is about that."
Kathryn opened her mouth to respond but the hood was shoved over her head before she could go any further, immersing her world in darkness.