Janeway notes that the Talaxians mourn their dead for a week and they will do the same. There will also be a memorial service in the Messhall, which is appropriate.

Voyager stays within range of the nebula.

The Doctor informs Neelix that he must rest. He will also need to be kept under observation and will require more nanoprobe injections.

Neelix, amazed: "Dead?"
Doctor: "For 18 hours, 49 minutes, 13 seconds. Congratulations, Mr Neelix. You've just set a new world record.
Neelix: "That's impossible. You mean I lost consciousness. I was in a coma."
Seven: "No. You were dead.
Neelix: "I'm stunned. I'm amazed. I'm grateful. Thank you, Doctor.
Janeway: "Actually you can thank Seven of Nine. The procedure was her idea.
Neelix to Seven: "Yours."
Seven: "The Borg have assimilated the technique from Species 149. I simply modified it. But you are welcome."
Neelix: "Am I good as new?"
Doctor: "That remains to be seen. There's no way to tell if your body will successfully take over the functions the nanoprobes are serving."
Neelix, not liking the something Borg: "Nanoprobes!"
Janeway: "It was necessary to repair the necrotised tissue."
Doctor: "Until I'm certain the damaged tissue can function independently, you'll have to be injected with nanoprobes on a daily basis."
Neelix, trying to see the bright side: "Well, as long as I don't start assimilating the crew or sprouting Borg implants, I'm sure I can live with it."
Doctor: "I'm releasing you to your quarters. Your body's been through quite a shock so try to get some rest. Report to Sickbay tomorrow at 0800 hours for your next injection."

Neelix: "The shuttle mission - was it a success? Did we get the protomatter?"
Janeway: "I'm afraid not. The sample you collected destabilised before it got back to Voyager."
Neelix: "The containment field needs to be reinforced next time."
Janeway: "If there is a next time. I've asked Chakotay to find out exactly what caused the accident, and unless we can take additional precautions I'm not sending another team into that nebula."
Neelix: "I could help with that investigation."
Janeway: "No, you are taking some time off and that's an order."
Neelix: "No, Captain, please, I don't need any special treatment."
Janeway: "Neelix, you've just returned from the dead. Go easy on yourself."
Neelix: "Yes, I suppose you're right. Oh, but you can't ask me to cancel the first night of Prixin. The celebration's in three days."
Janeway: "Oh, I almost forgot."
Neelix: "I've been aging fruit compote in moolt nectar for weeks now. I can't just let it go to waste."
Janeway: "Only if you feel up to it. Could you not ferment those compotes so long this time, 'cause last year I got a little light-headed."
Neelix: "I'll make the necessary adjustments."
Janeway: "It's good to have you back."
Neelix: "It's good to be back, Captain."

In his quarters, Neelix is drawn to the replica of the Guiding Tree and wonders why his dead sister Alixia was not there to meet him when he died.

During the Holodeck re-creation of events on the shuttlecraft, Neelix sees himself die.

Neelix: "Nothing." Chakotay: "What?" Neelix: "I died and there was nothing. There was no one there, no Forest." Chakotay: "Forest?" Neelix: "The Great Forest - the afterlife. I was taught that when I died my ancestors would be there waiting for me by the Guiding Tree: my sisters, my mother and father, my cousins, everyone who was killed in the War. I took great comfort in knowing that we'd all be together one day. But it's not true." Chakotay: "Maybe we pulled you back before any of that could happen." Neelix: "No, I was dead for 18 hours I should've experienced something, should've remembered something. It's just a story, a myth. There is no Guiding Tree, no gathering of the ancestors." Chakotay: "You can't be certain of that. Don't throw away a lifetime of faith because of one anomalous incident. Death is still the greatest mystery there is." Neelix: "I was there. I experienced it. There was nothing." Chakotay: "Computer, delete characters." Neelix: "That's what going to happen to all of us, like a hologram, we just disappear into nothing."