The New Collective was hours and light-years behind them, getter further every second. The distance was not helping Chakotay. For the first time since coming on board Voyager, he felt adrift. It was as if something vital to his sense of self had been taken from him by Riley and her fellow Borg. He was unable to meditate, and unable to initiate a vision quest. The repeated attempts were exhausting, and after three days he abandoned the effort.

For days he did his best to conceal his increasing depression from his colleagues, responding to inquiries with a request for privacy. It was a surprise, then, when Captain Janeway turned to him as their regular duty shift was ending. "Commander, there is something I would like to show you, if you’ve got the time."

Her tone left little doubt that he had better take the time.

She said nothing in the turbolift, and he was not in the mood to start a conversation. He followed her in silence to the holodeck, then stopped. She must have planned something to cheer him up and he did not want to be cheered. "Captain, I appreciate whatever it is you are trying to do, but…"

"Just come with me."

Once again, it was not a request. He followed her inside, and then drew a sharp breath.

They were standing on the South Rim of the Grand Canyon. He had been there only a few times during his Academy days, and he had forgotten how stunning the vista was.

For a moment they stood quietly, listening to the wind in the junipers and the sound of the birds. Then, still looking across the red and green canyon, she said, "Mark brought me here once, after… after the accident that killed my father and my fiancé. It was a very hard time for me. I… I felt that I had lost my place in the universe."

She turned to him. "At that point, Mark and I were just good friends. He told me that this was the best place he knew to put things back in perspective. He sat me down and told me to study the scenery for a while, then he left me alone. When he came back two hours later, I was starting to heal."

Then she laid a hand on his arm. "Sit down, Chakotay, and study the scenery for a while."

He looked around, then nodded. "Will you join me?"

At first he thought she was going to decline but then she thought better of it. With a smile, she sat cross-legged on the ground. He followed suit, and they sat in silence.

As he sat, he became aware of different things – of the rustle from the occasional ground squirrel, the distant squawk of a jay. It was just barely possible to see the Painted Desert on the horizon. He should have felt like an intruder, but the longer he sat, the more he felt connected to the rock and water and wind. It was as if he had a natural place in the order of things.

He had lost all track of time when the voice of the computer interrupted. "This holodeck reservation has now expired. The next user is waiting."

The Captain seemed just as surprised as he felt, but terminated the program. Chakotay stood, but her knee had locked up and she looked to him for assistance. He held out his hand and helped her up.

He held on for a moment. "Thank you."

With an understanding smile, she squeezed his hand then let it go.

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