Chapter Text
Chakotay expected Janeway home at any moment. This trip, supposedly the final one, had taken her to Lima to discuss Unimatrix Zero and the subsequent assimilation of herself, B'Elanna and Tuvok, by the Borg.
Needing to just put the finishing touches on the back yard gate, he checked the hinge one last time and started to pick up his tools. He hoped that she'd be happy with the latest upgrades, which included the fence and gate. Examining his handiwork once more, his thoughts strayed, as they so often did, to the owner of the home he was busy rebuilding.
He was getting increasingly concerned with her state of mind with each passing week and each pointless talk-fest that she was made to attend.
She certainly hadn't been like this in the Delta Quadrant. She was so quiet. Not like what she'd gone through in the Void, but she lacked that Janeway spark. Or something.
He had even gone so far as to check with Gretchen if this was her 'normal' persona, when not stranded 70,000 light years from home. He was both relieved and alarmed that Gretchen felt the same way. It was like the joy had been stolen from Kathryn Janeway. And she was losing more and more of herself with each passing day.
When Gretchen confided in him that her daughter had intimated that she might be considering retirement, Chakotay was truly alarmed.
"Chakotay? Are you there?" Her voice bought him out of his reverie. He walked around to the front door and joined her in the living room.
"Kathryn, welcome home. I didn't hear you come in." He gave her a bright smile. "What did you bring me?"
Janeway did laugh this time. She had begun their new 'tradition' with her first trip to Paris. During a break in whatever proceedings she was attending, she would slip out, and after getting inside information from a local, seek out a patisserie or cake shop and buy him something sweet. She had discovered that, if it had plenty of sugar in it, he was likely to be delighted with whatever treat she brought back. So far, she had bought him pastries from Paris, mango pudding from Shanghai, sambouk from Moscow and his favorite so far, the meringue from Australia.
After he'd helped with her bags, he ushered her into the kitchen for coffee and to consume the inevitable treat she had bought home.
"Chakotay! My gosh! Look at this kitchen. It's marvelous. Just how I imagined it, even down to the replicator it's…"
"Don't change the subject, where is it?"
"In the bag on the dining table." She was peering into cupboards and running her hand across the bench tops. "Oh, this is wonderful, has Mom seen it?" There was no reply. She couldn't see him, but she knew there was something very wrong. "Chakotay?" She followed him back to the dining room.
He was crying. She had only seen him cry once in all the time she had known him and it scared her.
"Chakotay? What is it? Are you okay?" Instinctively, she put her arm around his shoulders.
He was staring at the dessert in the stasis container. The lid was off and he was standing very still, just closely examining the contents.
"Kathryn, do you know what this is?"
Oh, dear, was there a correct answer to this question? It was obvious from his reaction that the food had some kind of significance for him, but whether it was good or bad, she couldn't yet tell.
"Um, some kind of cornmeal pudding. I wasn't sure if it was still okay, it's seemed to have separated in the…"
"It's exactly right. Exactly. My mother used to make this. I haven't tasted it for over ten years. She only made it for special occasions."
"I'm sorry, Chakotay. I didn't mean to upset…"
"Kathryn, I'm not upset. Not really. This is wonderful." She followed him back to the kitchen. He put the container down on the main bench. "Let me get a spoon and taste it."
Janeway watched with some trepidation as he returned with two spoons and handed her one. He hadn't taken his eyes off the stasis container. She hadn't taken her eyes off him.
"It's usually served warm, with cream if we had it, but I can't wait to heat it up." He plunged the spoon inside the container and scooped out a small amount. She held her breath when he put it in his mouth. His eyes closed but his expression didn't change.
Finally, he spoke.
"It's the same. I never thought I'd ever taste that again for some reason. Thank you, Kathryn." He wiped the tears away from his cheek with one hand and put the spoon in again with the other. "Want some?"
"It's all yours, Chakotay."
"My mother used to say you could taste the sunshine in the corn."
He was licking the second lot off the spoon. Janeway made a mental note to contact the technician who had directed her to the vendor where she had purchased the pudding. If it was possible, she would get the recipe for this and give it to her mother.
"I'll keep the rest. We'll have some for dessert tonight and replicate some cream."
"Sounds great." Again her gaze returned to the sparkling new kitchen. "Chakotay have you done any work at all on your book?"
"Oh, it's finished. Sent it to the publishers last week. Day after you left." He'd put the lid back on his treat and was now seated on one of the stools and was just staring at it.
"You're finished? Really? When did you find the time?"
"Most of it was already done when we got home. It only needed a bit added for the last couple of weeks before the Admiral arrived, some polishing and it was done. It's with the editor now."
"What will you do once it's published?"
"I thought I'd re-do your office. I'm not happy with the orientation of the desk. And the laundry and fresher still need a few more touches."
"No, I mean it, Chakotay. What will you do next?"
Not that she really wanted to know. The thought that most disturbed her now was that he would leave. Every now and then she contemplated him moving off-planet and it made her feel hollow just thinking about it. Ever since she had woken up next to him at Christmas, all she could think about was that happening every day. Having him stay in her house was enough to keep her going.
"Well, when you're back in circulation, I'd like to visit Trebus." Somehow Janeway had managed to make a pot of coffee while he'd been admiring his latest gift, he turned the mug around in his hands. "Not sure about anything else. I guess it depends on how the book goes. You'll come with me? To Trebus, I mean."
"Of course. I'd be honored. You know that."
--<>--
A couple of days after they'd returned from Lima, Admiral Queeg had taken Janeway aside and informed her that they would be leaving on a two week mission aboard The Chomsky, a small, short range diplomatic vessel.
"What's the mission, sir?" She'd asked him, wondering what they could be possibly doing that would require her presence.
"Your mission is to follow orders for a change, Janeway." He sneered at her. "Do you think you'll be able to manage that?"
"Yes, sir." It was all she could do not to sigh out loud. It was also perhaps the first time in her life that a space mission didn't excite her.
It was days like this, when the Admiral was on the warpath, that Janeway reconsidered her long term future with Starfleet.
The regional debriefings, now complete, had been quite enjoyable on the whole, except for Admiral Queeg's presence at them. She had also noticed that he seemed to get more and more antagonistic to her as the weeks and months had passed.
Janeway shared the news with Chakotay as soon as she'd got home.
"Well, I guess at least this means I'm permitted off planet now."
As soon as the words were out of her mouth, she regretted them. Chakotay had taken her 'don't leave Earth' requirement much harder than she had. Except for the inability to accompany Chakotay to Trebus, the restriction hadn't really bothered her. It had bothered Chakotay enormously. He was guaranteed to get angry when it was mentioned.
"It's a damned disgrace the way you've been treated, Kathryn." He realized that this argument was not between them. "Sorry, it always pushes my buttons."
"Anyway, at least the mission's short and sweet. More of a training exercise, judging by the crew manifest."
Janeway threw the PADD with the staffing levels to him and he quickly scanned the contents.
"What the hell are they thinking? There's hardly an officer that's been out of the Academy for more than five minutes. Have you been demoted from captain to den mother?"
"Seems that way, but Captain Martin is a first class officer. I've known him since I was at the Academy. He was in my year. Horatio Martin, do you remember him?"
"I think so. He was a nice kid. Good at hoverball."
"Yeah, well that 'nice kid' is a year older than me. Although, it's nice to be thought of as a kid again."
"So what is the mission, exactly?"
"Damned if I know. I'm sure I'll be informed once I'm on board."
--<>--
Chakotay accompanied Janeway to the Starfleet transporter station where she would beam up to the ship. They had chatted most of the way, but now she was silent and her eyes were downcast.
The lieutenant manning the transporter had almost fallen over in his attempt to stand to attention as Janeway had approached.
"Captain Janeway," He was obviously very much in awe of her. "It's an honor to meet you, if I may say so, Captain."
"Thank you, Lieutenant...?" And she held out a hand to shake, which the young man took solemnly.
"Clemens, Captain," he answered in a hushed voice.
"Pleased to meet you Lieutenant Clemens, may I introduce you to former Commander Chakotay."
The young man looked as if he'd been given an extra Christmas present as he shook Chakotay's hand.
"An honor, sir." And the young man meant it.
"What did I tell you?" Janeway whispered to Chakotay, nudging him in the ribs, seemingly referring to their discussion while at Gretchen's about his Maquis past.
Lieutenant Clemens took her bag.
"I'll get this sent to the Chomsky for you, Captain. You take your time, you've got another forty minutes before we pull up the gang plank."
"Thank you, Lieutenant. I'll be getting on board in a few minutes." But he had already wandered discretely away with her bag, giving her the opportunity to say goodbye in relative privacy.
"Do you think the Bret have a sweet tooth?"
She gave him a weak smile. "I sure hope so. Dessert is my main mission nowadays."
Now he was worried. Janeway was sometimes a bit down before a trip but this was different somehow.
"Kathryn, are you okay?"
She smiled at him. He rather thought it was forced.
"Of course I'm okay. I'll see you in a couple of weeks."
--<>--
Janeway still couldn't believe that they'd been sent on this mission with both a majority of the crew having little or no space experience and a ship that could only be described as 'experimental' and that only if one was being charitable.
Neither of the two factors should make things difficult on their own, but together, she privately thought them a recipe for disaster.
At least the Captain, Horatio Martin, was an excellent and experienced officer. One of the few survivors of her graduating class due to the colossal losses experienced during the recent war. 'Marty' was a good captain and they readily renewed their old friendship.
The rest of the ship's main staff could hardly be called 'senior' in any way. Apart from the Chief Medical Officer, Commander Tuev, and two Lieutenants in engineering, the rest of the officers were ensigns. It hardly seemed possible that the ship had been permitted to leave McKinley Station with this junior complement.
Marty had confided in her that he felt the same way. It hadn't seemed like such a critical factor until his first officer and two other senior staff had been exposed to a virus and were to be in quarantine for another week after the Chomsky's proposed departure. Admiral Queeg had been adamant that the mission couldn't be delayed any further and as the nature of the mission was deemed such low risk, the very junior crew would have to suffice.
If working with Queeg had been a trial on Earth, doing it within the confines of a vessel barely half the size of Voyager was truly difficult.
She couldn't escape him. He was everywhere.
They were out for less than a day when he suddenly found fault with, of all things, her boots. He didn't approve of the height of her heels and ordered her into 'regulation' boots. Not wanting to argue, she complied, but this hadn't seemed to appease him.
There was however, an upside to the trip so far. Her fellow officers, though extremely junior, seemed to be an excellent group.
She had struck up an almost instant friendship with an Ensign Emily Twinkler. Twinkler reminded Janeway of the young, and small, Harry Kim. Twinkler, or 'Twinky' as everyone seemed to call her, was shy but eager to please. This was her first space mission.
Ensign Leth was also a space rookie. He was an engineer and having spoken to the other more senior officers in his area, they were impressed with his abilities. Like Twinkler, he was just really trying to find his feet on a starship, as were so many of the other junior officers.
Janeway spent most of her free time with Twinky and Leth. They made an unlikely trio sitting together in the mess hall but after the first couple of days, the other officers got over their awe of the legendary captain of Voyager, and joined them.
Janeway had also finally found something to do on board the Chomsky. She was needed to help in Engineering on an almost daily basis.
The experimental engines were proving extremely unstable and, given the circumstances, she couldn't understand why the ship hadn't been ordered to just turn around and head back to McKinley. There were constant problems and though none were of major consequence, a full engineering crew was required at all times just to keep the ship running.
But engineering had one big advantage for Janeway. So far, Admiral Queeg had not found it necessary to follow her there and criticize everything she did.
Today, however, had been very trying. She had just sat down for dinner when she got a call from the Chief Engineer, there had been a series of failures, mostly straightforward but with potentially serious consequences and the engineering staff were unable to keep up, could she return to engineering and help out?
Trudging down the corridor to her quarters, she remembered that she was to meet Ensign Twinkler and a couple of the others for breakfast to discuss their career ambitions. She had left a message for Captain Martin early this morning and requested a later shift for the next day.
"Janeway to Twinkler."
"Twinkler here, Captain."
"Twinky, I'm sorry, I won't be able to make breakfast, I've been up all night in engineering. Can we make another time?"
"Of course, Captain. How about we figure something out tomorrow?"
"Suits me, Twinky. Thanks, and can you let the others know for me? Janeway out."
Finally reaching her quarters, she entered and without bothering to call for lights, she fell onto her bed fully clothed, not caring that her uniform was filthy. She would clean it all up when she'd had some sleep. Even in the hard days, when Voyager had been under attack, she hadn't felt this tired and defeated as she did on board the Chomsky with the most serious things happening were mechanical problems.
This is what she'd been reduced to. Hiding in engineering, helping with the endless numbers of difficulties they had encountered since they'd left home.
Maybe when she returned she should request a transfer to Starfleet Research. Get back into science. Perhaps she was too much of an unreliable maverick to be allowed another command.
All these thoughts were swirling around her head when the door signaled that someone was outside.
With a weary sigh, she called out for whoever it was to enter, pushing herself upright and returning to the main section of her cabin.
She almost laughed at the sight that was presented to her. Admiral Queeg, ramrod straight with hands behind his back and looking none too happy stepped into the room with Ensign Mead, who just looked terrified and dismayed at the same time, holding a padd.
"Captain," it was the Admiral who spoke, "I'm performing an on-the-spot quarters inspection."
This time, she did laugh.
"You're joking."
"Captain, you will stand attention when you address a superior officer."
Janeway was still trying to process what was happening here. Was she dreaming? She hadn't undergone an inspection since, well actually, now she came to think of it, she couldn't remember when the hell the last time was.
"Captain!" Queeg shouted at her. "Perhaps others may pander to your atrocious behavior , but I will not. At attention. Now!"
She now stood in the middle of her quarters at perfect Academy attention.
Mead was looking even more miserable than he did before and his eyes met hers in silent sympathy and apology. Meanwhile, Admiral Queeg was shouting out infractions to him and Mead was glumly entering them into the record.
"Captain, this is appalling. It is 0900 hours and your bed is not only not made, but it is also dirty."
"Sir, if I may," Ensign Mead couldn't stand any more of this. "Captain Janeway has been working for the last twelve hours in Engineering, she was called out during the night…"
"Ensign! Not another word or I'll have you on report as well!" There was a slight, almost hysterical edge to the Admiral's speech. "It seems that the Captain's disrespectful manner is having a deleterious affect on this ship's crew as well." Still shouting, he swung back at Janeway. "Well, Captain?"
"No excuse, sir." It was the standard Academy reply, but she was pleased that she made it sound vaguely insulting.
"No excuse indeed, Captain. Your quarters are a disgrace. The state of these rooms is appalling and your uniform is disgusting. And where is your jacket?"
She didn't bother replying, thinking it wouldn't be a good idea to point out that she was in her quarters, so she could take off her jacket. He was now examining her desk where the calculations and recommendations she was putting together for the engineering Chief were scattered over the surface. That had somehow given him another three infractions to add to Mead's list. The ensign was now just looking sick.
"Janeway your behavior is slovenly, slapdash and totally unacceptable. You're on report."
And with that exclamation, he turned on his heel and went out the door, with the distraught Ensign Mead trotting behind him.
When she finally managed to return to a more relaxed pose, her shoulders slumped and she pressed the heels of her hands into her eyes. Why was this happening? Was the Admiral unreasonable, or was it in fact true that she had developed some bad habits while lost in the Delta Quadrant wilderness?
Despite her weariness, she stripped the bed of the soiled linen and replaced the sheets and remade it using precision military corners. Satisfied that it conformed with proper standards, she removed her uniform, placed it in the recycler and practically sleep walked into the bathroom. Taking a quick water shower, she felt cleaner but still exhausted and fell onto her crisp, newly made up bed. She was asleep within minutes.
The next day, Janeway felt better and less dejected. On her way to the mess hall for lunch, she realized that she needed a strategy to limit her direct contact with Queeg. There were only a few more days to go on this mission, so if she could spend as much time as she could in Engineering, then perhaps just staying out of his line of sight would help. It was worth a try anyway.
She smiled to herself when she thought of any of her crew hiding from her. It just wouldn't happen. And then she thought of Mortimer Harren who had managed to keep himself off her sensors for nearly six years. Surely Mort would be considered a special case.
As she came around the corner, Janeway could hear Admiral Queeg's high pitched voice tearing strips off someone. She could see his back, but not the object of his tirade.
When she got closer, the target revealed themselves to be poor little Twinky, looking for all the world like she wanted to die.
"…and you've changed this duty roster without my authorization, Ensign!"
"Sir, Captain Martin…"
"I don't want your pathetic excuses, Twinkler!"
"Admiral," Janeway wouldn't have Twinky taking the brunt of this attack. "Ensign Twinkler changed the roster on my orders, after I checked with Captain Martin."
Her attempt to stop him attacking the ensign worked. Unfortunately, he now turned his attention to Janeway and he looked furious.
"I will not have my authority undermined Janeway!" He screamed at her. "Your insubordination has now gone too far. Consider yourself demoted back to Commander." His movement towards her throat was sudden and she reflexively pushed his arm away.
"Make that Lieutenant Commander for assaulting a superior officer. I'll be making an official report to Starfleet Command this afternoon." He again reached up and Janeway now realized now that he was taking a pip from her collar. "And I want you back in science blue, Janeway. You're not fit for command."
And with that, he stormed off down the corridor, leaving a stunned Janeway and distraught Ensign Twinkler in his wake.
"Oh, Captain. I'm so sorry. That was all my fault."
"Twinky, is was not your fault, it was mine. And seeing we're so close in rank now, you'd better start calling me Kathryn." Her tone was light and she smiled as she reached over and touched the younger women's arm. "It's okay, Twinky." Twinkler nodded but was unconvinced.
But it wasn't really okay. The last twenty four hours had been a complete nightmare. This was a sign. It was time to resign her commission. Starfleet wasn't the same organization it had been when she'd left for her mission to the Badlands over seven years ago. And she wasn't the same officer. Apparently, she wasn't much of an officer at all.
--<>--
After the quarters inspection and the subsequent demotion, Queeg also ordered Janeway to change quarters. She was moved to the section between the junior officers and enlisted personnel.
Twinky had turned up just after she'd finished unpacking with a huge mug of strong coffee as a 'house warming' gift.
"Where were you when I needed you in the Delta Quadrant?" Twinky laughed at the comment. "Seriously though, Twinky, if he finds you here, he'll probably bust you down to crewman."
"No problem, I tied a bell round his neck." The defiant tone almost comical coming from the young officer.
"You did what?"
"I've got the computer to tell me when he's on the same deck. Just think how much easier this trip would've been if we'd thought to do that from day one!"
"Twinky, that's a move worthy of Tom Paris. Believe me, there's no higher praise."
They chatted for a short time until Twinkler explained she had to go on duty.
"Thanks for the coffee, Twinky."
"My pleasure, Kathryn. See you in the morning."
Janeway figured that the way she was going she'd probably by in a Utopia Planetia brig by morning, but she didn't share this with her young friend.
--<>--
"Hi."
"Hi."
The nightly comm calls to Chakotay were the highlight of Janeway's days. On more than one occasion, she had found herself counting down the minutes until she was off duty, like a cadet wanting to call home. Today she desperately needed to see him and hear his voice.
"Kathryn, are you okay? You look upset."
"No, I'm fine, thank you, Chakotay. Just a tough day."
"Kathryn," he peered at her intently, Janeway was wearing her 'Just do it' shirt. "Do you ever take that shirt off?"
That made her laugh. At last.
"Of course I do. I even wash it occasionally." She felt better just talking to him, even if it was only over the comm. "What have you been doing with yourself?"
"I've got a new girlfriend."
Chakotay thought that she looked like she just been punched in the stomach. Her reaction was only visible for a split second before she'd recovered, but it had been there. That certainly gave him something to ponder.
"Really? How lovely. Do I know her?"
There it was again. Now she looked like she was going to cry. He put her out of her misery.
"Let me introduce you now." Janeway looked as if she was about to run away. "No, Kathryn, wait. Here she is."
Chakotay turned and bent down slightly and returned to view holding a beautiful Irish Setter puppy. Janeway was sniffling now.
"She's adorable." Her hands wiped away the tears. Relief clearly showing on her face.
"She's nearly nine weeks old. I'm waiting till you're home to name her, at the moment she's answering to 'Puppy'. I've only had her three days and she's already helping with the compost heap. She's started digging a vegetable garden for you too."
"I'll bet."
"Kathryn. Are you really all right?" He put the dog down and held his hand up to the screen. She instantly mimicked the action, putting her palm to his. Her immediate reaction emboldened him. "Kathryn, would you like to be my other girlfriend? My real one?"
"Oh, yes." Her voice was almost a whisper. "I'd like that very much, Chakotay."
"Thank you, Kathryn." He gave her a cheeky grin. "I can't wait till you get home."
"Me too," she whispered.
"So, girlfriend. Am I allowed to tell your mother?"
"I'm sure she already knows." She laughed and her sense of humor had seemed to return. "Hey, I am chief girlfriend, right?"
"Chief girlfriend? Wrong tribe. I've only got one now."
"What about 'Puppy'?"
"She's actually a welcome home present for you."
"Thanks, Chakotay."
"Now we're an official item, I need more information about you." He motioned to her t-shirt. "Do you often get obsessed with garments?"
"Not often. Although, I did wear your white shirt to bed for about six months." She looked suddenly shy at her admission.
"You're kidding me? I looked everywhere for that shirt and you stole it?"
"You can have it back now, if you like. It's in my dresser. I'll steal another one when I'm home." She'd actually forgotten she'd had the shirt until she unpacked all her things from Voyager when Chakotay had finished her bedroom. After Christmas, she'd taken to wearing it again.
"You've still got it and you really wore it to bed?" He was delighted by this whole conversation now. It had started out with Janeway looking so melancholy, but now she was almost happily teasing him.
Suddenly, the mood shifted.
"It made you seem closer."
"Kathryn, why didn't you say something?"
"I couldn't Chakotay. You know that. It was too big a risk. And then, after a while, I'd convinced myself that I was 'over' you."
"Yes, I did too. I'm sorry."
"I'll make it up to you. I promise."
"I can't wait until you're home. I don't suppose you could steal a shuttle or something?"
"You wouldn't believe how tempting a proposition that is."
--<>--
Confined to quarters.
In her whole career she had never been confined to quarters. This was turning out to be more of a voyage of the damned than the whole seven years in the Delta Quadrant had ever been. Not only was she stuck in her cabin, but the Admiral had seen fit to reassign her quarters again, this time to a cabin without a porthole. She was now two decks down, with the non-coms and not even a window to watch the stars.
Why didn't Starfleet just cashier her? This was death by a thousand cuts.
She had spent forty five minutes shining her damn boots this morning. Taking no chances with the fresher, she had replicated a new uniform as well. Hell, she'd even given herself a manicure in an attempt to make absolutely sure there would be no opportunity for even the slightest criticism.
But it hadn't been enough. Admiral Queeg had 'caught' her leaning against a console in Engineering, discussing issues regarding the ever increasingly erratic experimental warp core, with one of the maintenance crew.
The poor ensign she had been talking to hadn't been immune to his tirade either and had also been put on report for, it seemed, just talking to her.
Admiral Queeg had been enraged when Janeway had tried to intervene on the innocent ensign's behalf and consequently, here she found herself.
The already pounding headache was turning into a migraine and she was feeling sufficiently ill to ask for medication from the CMO. He had visited her quarters and showed some sympathy for her position.
"I'd like you to try and get some rest, Captain, er, sorry, Commander." He looked embarrassed.
"Thank you Doctor." She gave him a weak smile. "Despite what my Doctor may've told you, I can follow orders. I won't be long out of bed. It's been a very long day."
"Please contact me if you start feeling ill again."
"I will, thank you."
She saw the doctor out and sat at her desk. A quick chat to Chakotay would do wonders. Probably more than the hypospray she'd just received. But it would only be around three in the afternoon in Indiana. He might not be home. Deciding to wait an hour or so, she leant her chin on her elbow and picked up a PADD containing a report on the warp core. Maybe she'd be able to do something useful while she waited.
Janeway was still sitting at her desk in her quarters when an explosion rocked the vessel, throwing her out of her seat and against the table. Her hip took the brunt of the blow and she when she finally registered what had happened, she realized that she had fallen asleep sitting up and she had forgotten to call Chakotay.
Bringing her thoughts back to the present, it was apparent that the explosion had the unmistakable feeling of a ship, without shields, being hit by phaser fire.
Having only enough time to grab her jacket, she left her quarters and headed to the Bridge at the best run she could manage.
The sight that greeted her when she finally struggled the Bridge was one of total disarray. The whole area was full of smoke and the sizzle and pop of equipment failing could be heard from all consoles.
There were only two people present, Ensign Twinkler and the pilot from the gamma shift whose name she could never remember.
"Ensign Twinkler, report!"
Twinky's story horrified Janeway. Apparently, Admiral Queeg had arrived on the bridge about an hour into the shift. He hadn't asked any questions or contacted Captain Martin before ordering the operations officer to open fire on the Bret vessel.
"He was shouting something about the Bret treachery he had just discovered and that they were about to attack. When Grace, I mean, Ensign Johnson, objected, the Admiral shouted her down. Then he ordered a full phaser spread against the Bret." Twinky looked close to tears. "Thank god that the Bret had their shields up. Anyway, they returned fire and this," she motioned around the practically destroyed bridge, "is the result. We took the brunt of their fire on this deck and deck four."
Deck four was where most of the officer's quarters were.
"Has Captain Martin been informed?"
"The Captain was in his Ready Room, he came out just as we fired. When the Bret volley hit us, he got tossed against the ops console." Twinky's voice got even smaller. "He was pretty badly hurt." She took a deep shuddering breath. "So were the ops and security officers. They were banged up too."
Janeway was moving around the various consoles, trying to ascertain their status. It wasn't good.
Twinky continued her story.
"Anyway, transporters weren't working, so I grabbed some people from outside," she gestured to the bridge door, "and got them to take the injured to Sick Bay. It's not good down there either though. The CMO and one of the assistants are missing and the rescue crew are having trouble accessing deck four. A lot of the equipment isn't working either."
"Where's the Admiral now?" Janeway almost hoped that he'd been sucked out a hull breach.
"He left when the Captain was taken to Sick Bay. I'm not sure where he went. There's something seriously wrong with him, I think."
"Right. Well, it looks like we've got no shields, no weapons, most sensors are non-operational but from what I can see, it does look like there are some hull breaches on other decks and all internal and external comms are out." She peered at a monitor. "Environmental working at about seventy percent. Do you concur, Ensign?"
"Yes, ma'am"
Janeway looked at the two young people in front of her. They were plainly scared to death, but coping exceptionally well under the extreme circumstances.
"Are you okay, Twinky?" She got a nod from the young woman. "What about you, Ensign?"
"Just a few bumps, Captain."
Janeway smiled at the slip. She wasn't sure if it was a sign of defiance, or just habit, that most of the junior officers still called her 'captain'. One had been put on report for it by Admiral Queeg, who seemed to be everywhere, just the day before.
"Good work, both of you. I'm going to Engineering. Twinky, you're in charge. If you get comms up, contact the Bret, then Starfleet and let them know the situation. Understood? And under no circumstances are you to fire again on the Bret vessel. I don't care what you tell the Admiral if he insists. I'll take full responsibility. Understood?" She made her way to the turbo lift.
"Yes, ma'am." Twinky looked terrified. She followed Janeway to the door "Kathryn," she whispered, "shouldn't you stay here? I don't know…"
"Ensign Twinkler!" Janeway replied firmly, "You have the bridge!"
"Aye, Captain."
The scene in Engineering resembled that on the Bridge.
An unconscious, or worse, young engineer was draped across a terminal. Another was on the floor by the doorway. Janeway could see two officers working frantically on the warp core.
Ensign Leth was shouting instructions to his sole standing engineer.
"Captain! Thank god, you're here. I need someone to stabilize the flow on the intake. We're red lining badly! The core could go up." With that, he disappeared under a console.
Janeway hurried to the intake valve. It was about to fail, rushing over to the spare equipment locker, she grabbed another and started to replace it.
As she was working, she called out to Leth, "Ensign, give me an update."
Things weren't good. Systems were damaged everywhere and the already erratic engines were failing.
The three officers worked mostly silently, except for the cursing of the engineer. Even in this situation, Janeway reflected that swearing at the equipment was a universal characteristic for engineers everywhere. Even apprentice ones apparently.
When the critical repairs had been made, each moved onto other tasks. Leth moved onto trying to re-establish the shielding, while the other engineer concentrated on propulsion.
Janeway finally got some internal communications working and the first thing she did was contact Twinky for an update.
"Janeway to the bridge."
"Ensign Twinkler here, Captain." Again, Janeway smiled despite the situation. These kids really were something.
"What's our status, Ensign?"
"We had a few issues with the universal translators, but the Bret have established some rudimentary communications with us, Captain and they've managed to contact Starfleet for us, too. I've agreed to them sending a medical and rescue team over as soon as they can. They haven't got transporters working either and we damaged their shuttle bay." Twinky's voice sounded small again. "They did incur significant damage Captain, so they're not at full strength themselves."
"And the Chomsky situation, Twinky?"
"We've got some runners checking conditions on all decks. It's not too bad," Janeway could hear the deep breath. "We don't seem to have any dead, and they've found Doctor Tuev but he's badly injured. The assistants have set up a triage but they're overwhelmed. I've sent anyone with first aid training that can be spared down to help."
She had indeed sent out runners. Some had turned up in Engineering and taken the unconscious crew members a short while before. Others had returned and were assisting with repairs.
"Well done, Ensign. I'll stay down here. You've got everything under control. Carry on."
"Aye, Captain."
No one noticed Admiral Queeg enter Engineering at first, but all present were soon made aware of his presence.
"Leth, when the hell are we going to have weapons? We're in a combat situation here!"
The young engineer was totally at a loss. Although he knew what had caused the damage the Chomsky has sustained, he thought the crisis was over and he had needed to concentrate on the warp core.
Hearing the admiral's voice, Janeway emerged from under the console on which she was working.
Looking across the room, she could see Admiral Queeg with Ensign Twinkler trailing him. Janeway reasoned that the Bret situation must have been under control for Twinky to have left the Bridge.
Twinky looked exhausted. They all looked exhausted. All except Admiral Queeg, who seemed to be almost manic.
He was pacing around the area and he'd just picked up the worn out valve that Janeway had replaced but hadn't had time to recycle. The admiral was scowling at the piece of equipment and was muttering under his breath.
It was obvious to Janeway that Admiral Queeg had completely disintegrated mentally and it was also clear that Twinky had taken it upon herself to keep him out of trouble.
God, what a mess, thought Janeway, suddenly feeling exhausted and overwhelmed. At least they were close to home, as Leth had managed to get minimum warp speed working for the last hour or so.
"Admiral," Janeway distracted him away from Leth, "weapons will be on line shortly."
His furious gaze swung onto her. He now appeared even angrier than when he first arrived.
"Janeway, what the hell are you doing here? Can't you follow any orders? You were confined to quarters!"
The younger officers shifted nervously around her. They all now recognized that there was something seriously wrong with the admiral.
Janeway tried to reason with him, keeping her voice soothing and even.
"Sir, I thought that I should try to help out here. We had quite a significant number of injuries…Admiral, I have er, placed myself under the authority of Ensign Leth,"
Leth, to his credit, didn't even flinch at this statement. Unfortunately, Queeg was beyond reason.
"Look at the state of your uniform again!" His eyes were wild. Then he spied her t-shirt under her blouse and his hysteria reached a new level. "Out of uniform! A disgrace! I've never seen such disgusting conduct!"
"My apologies, Admiral, I'll return to my quarters now," she lied, trying to placate him, shrugging on her uniform jacket.
"An abomination!" He screamed. "You're a Bret spy!"
Without warning, he swung at Janeway with the replaced intake valve. He hit her on the shoulder and she staggered with the blow. Before anyone could come to her aid, he hit her again on the side of her face and she dropped to the deck like a stone.
--<>--
The puppy was barking. It had been cute the previous afternoon when he was playing with her, but at three o'clock in the morning it was less than appealing.
Chakotay finally realized that it was the sound of the doorbell ringing that had set the animal off.
"Good girl." He patted her on the head and then tried not to tread on her as he stumbled his way to the front door, while she threaded herself through his legs. "Coming!" he shouted as the door bell rang once again.
Whatever he expected when he opened the door, it wasn't a couple of Starfleet officers.
Chakotay suddenly felt sick and thought that he might pass out.
"Commander Chakotay?"
Another officer standing slightly behind the one at the door, caught the puppy as it gleefully barreled out the opened doorway.
"Sir, may we come in?"
Chakotay didn't move. "Is she dead?" The words came out in a calm fashion but inwardly he was screaming a denial.
"We'd be better discussing it inside, sir." And the young man guided Chakotay into the house. The second officer, still holding the delighted squirming dog, moved ahead and found the living room, guiding his partner and Chakotay inside.
Once they were all seated, the first man introduced them as Lieutenants Murphy and Felea.
"Please, tell me. Is she dead?"
"Well, sir, to be honest, we're not sure. We did receive an automated distress call from the Chomsky, then a garbled message from the Bret vessel they had met. There were reports of casualties, which I'm sorry to say, included Captain Janeway, but we have since received signals that seem to contradict that message." The young man looked apologetic. "The communications are all quite garbled."
Chakotay slowly tried to process what he'd been told. It didn't seem to be working.
"She's not dead?" He needed them to deny it.
"Unconfirmed at this stage, sir. I'm sorry." And he really looked it. "But the Chomsky will be arriving at Utopia Planetia in about an hour."
"Unconfirmed? What the hell does that mean?" he rubbed his face in exasperation. "How could a ship be that close and we not know? Why hasn't another ship met it?"
"We're not sure, sir. But we can arrange transport to UP immediately for you."
Chakotay absently stroked the puppy's ears. He was still not sure that he understood what was happening but he knew that he had to meet the Chomsky.
"I'll just need to get changed."
"Of course, sir. We'll wait here."
By the time he'd dressed and organized the puppy in the laundry, Murphy informed him that another report had been received from the Chomsky and there had been no fatalities. It didn't mean she wasn't injured, but it did mean she was alive.
The three men all shook hands in celebration.
--<>--
The relief still flooding through his body made him feel lightheaded. His eyes misted over and he swiped his hand over his face.
There was quite a crowd waiting for the final docking. It was organized chaos. No one seemed to have any details about anything. Although Starfleet hadn't announced any casualties, apart from Kathryn as far as he knew, it seemed that the crew's families needed the immediate reassurance of seeing for themselves.
The ugly memories of the recent war saw to that.
With almost a silent sigh, the doors of the docking bay opened and the crew of the Chomsky began to file out of the ship. One by one they came through the hatch into the arrivals area.
Given the nature of the crew, it wasn't surprising how many were greeted by parents. Once the initial greetings were made, there was quite a bit of crying with relief from the mothers and not a small amount from some of the fathers, as they all moved off towards the transport area.
A niggle of worry started to gnaw at him once more, as the stream of alighting crew began to reduce to a trickle.
Where could she be? Maybe she was…no, he wouldn't even allow himself to think that.
Then, his eyes fell on an impossibly small science officer with a slight limp and an arm in an old fashioned sling.
"Kathryn?"
She staggered more than ran to him, throwing her good arm around him, and her head barely came up to his chest. He needed little encouragement and he desperately needed to hold her. They continued to cling to each other for some time until an apologetic crewman cleared her throat and shyly asked them to make room on the gang way.
Chakotay came to his senses and held her at arm's length.
"God, did I hurt you? I'm sorry." He continued his examination, but was now almost giddy with relief. "You look like hell, Kathryn. Nice shiner." He wondered how he could possibly have missed it before.
"Nothing broken now. Sick Bay couldn't cope after we got hit by the Bret. I've got some final touches to be done now that we're on shore."
She wobbled a bit on her feet and he instantly put his arm around her for support.
"I'll take you to Starfleet Medical right now."
"No, please Chakotay," she rested her head on his chest. "I just want to go home. Can we call the Doctor to come see me?" She looked up and gave him a small smile. "It's about time he made a house call. Please, just take me home."
Chakotay was sufficiently worried to call the Doctor on their way to the transport station. He would meet them at the house.
Janeway was now practically asleep standing up, but within minutes they were transported close to home. He seriously wondered if he would need to carry her the last few meters.
Chakotay was relieved to see the Doctor standing on the porch waiting for them as they arrived. They almost had to drag Janeway up the final couple of steps into the house.
"Let's get her to her bed, Chakotay." The Doctor led the way inside. "I've downloaded her medical report from the Chomsky."
Chakotay had now picked her up and was carrying her, following the Doctor inside.
"What were they thinking, letting her go like this?"
"It was pretty chaotic on board, Chakotay." He began scanning as soon as she was on the bed. "And I think she just walked out."
Chakotay couldn't make any sense of that. As the Doctor examined Janeway, he removed her new low heeled boots and slacks, and then, with the Doctor's help to protect her arm, they removed her jacket. They both smiled when they realized that under her jacket and blouse she was wearing her favorite t-shirt that Tom had given her on Voyager.
"Hmm, concussion, remainder of a severe fracture of her cheek bone, cracked rib and shoulder and torn ligaments in her left knee and a very attractive bruise on her hip. Looks like she got tossed around quite a bit." The Doctor snapped closed his tricorder. "Kathryn Janeway sure knows how to have a good time." He started unpacking instruments from the large bag he'd been carrying. "Well, let's get started. She's out cold now, but I'll give her something for the inflammation and pain and see how she goes."
--<>--
The comm light was flashing, indicating an emergency call. Chakotay assumed it would be Gretchen and then he realized that in his panic this morning he had forgotten to let her know that there was a problem, let alone that everything was now all right.
"Chakotay."
"Admiral?"
He couldn't have been more surprised. Staring at him with an extremely agitated look on her face was Alynna Nechayev.
"Is Captain Janeway there?"
"Yes, sir." That sort of slipped out. Apparently you can take the man out of Starfleet but you can't take the Starfleet out of the man. "I picked her up at the docking station."
"Thank god. I've been worried. She didn't sign out."
He was staggered. He couldn't believe that Kathryn had gone effectively AWOL. There was going to be hell to pay it seemed.
"She had been wounded, Admiral, a head injury…"
Nechayev made a dismissive slashing motion with her hand.
"Don't worry about paperwork. It's all taken care of. I just wanted to make sure she was okay." She paused. "She is, isn't she? A head injury? Did you want me to send over a doctor, or I can arrange transport to Medical?"
"It's fine, Admiral. I contacted Voyager's EMH. He was waiting at home for us."
"Excellent. Good work, Commander." She sighed in obvious relief and then stared at him with an intense gaze. She appeared suddenly unsure of herself. "Chakotay, I know you have no reason to trust me," she must be referring to her history with the Maquis, he assumed, "but may I come to the house? There are some things that I need to discuss with Captain Janeway."
"She's asleep, Admiral. The Doctor gave her a light sedative when he treated her, I'm not sure when she'll be awake. We didn't realize she was AWOL, is there something I can do…"
"Don't worry about the AWOL thing, I've taken care of that and just about everything else." Chakotay wondered what 'everything else' could refer to, maybe something about her science uniform. "Actually, I'd like to talk to you too. If you don't want me in your home, I understand."
"The war's over, Admiral. I'm sure you're welcome to visit and it's Captain Janeway's home."
"Thank you." She gave him a warm smile. "I'll be over within the hour, if you're sure it's all right."
"Of course. I'll put some coffee on. That may even wake Kathryn for you."
Three hours later, Chakotay found himself sitting in the living room, finishing the second pot of coffee with Alynna Nechayev and completely revising his negative opinion of her. Which, he mused to himself, showed that all things in the universe were possible.
Nechayev had related the events of the Chomsky to Chakotay.
No wonder Kathryn had appeared so upset when he had spoken to her only two nights before. Nechayev explained how she had come to be demoted and reassigned to science during the trip.
If it hadn't been so horrible, it would have been funny. Of all the people to accuse of not respecting Starfleet and its traditions, Kathryn Janeway would be the last on his list. The criticism, however unjust, would probably have upset her enormously.
The admiral also told him of the obvious hero worship of the junior officers towards Janeway. When she had left Twinkler in charge of the Bridge and then left for Engineering, Twinkler had managed to negotiate with the Bret for medical help as well as some Bret repair personnel being sent to their vessel.
"The Captain has had the most amazing affect on those young officers. Especially Ensigns Twinkler and Leth. She's engendered the most incredible loyalty."
Chakotay was glad to hear Nechayev continue to refer to Janeway as 'captain' and he couldn't agree more about her assessment of his former commanding officer.
"Admiral, anyone who has worked for, or with, Kathryn Janeway would walk through the gates of hell for her. And we did sometimes have to do just that, but she always got us through. It's not misplaced loyalty."
Nechayev nodded in agreement, smiling at his assessment. Her expression suddenly sobered.
"Do you think she might resign her commission, Chakotay?"
"I honestly don't know, Admiral. I think she'll have been very hurt by the treatment that has been meted out to her in the last six months, not just on this mission."
"Who could blame her?" Nechayev sighed sadly. "Selfishly, and from Starfleet's point of view, I hope she stays on in the job. Quite frankly, we can't afford to lose her."
He had, however, been completely shocked by her description of the events of the Chomsky mission. No wonder Kathryn had been so shattered on her return. It wasn't just the physical injuries that had affected her so deeply. Being demoted and relegated back to science officer must've been the straw that broke the camel's back. Her fall from grace complete.
"Admiral Queeg has been relieved of duty. Just before I came here I received a report that he was suffering from a rare disease not unlike the ancient affliction of syphilis. The poor man is delusional. Nobody had picked it up, I'm sorry to say, before they left on their mission. It's totally my responsibility and I blew it. I'm lucky that I didn't have even more blood on my hands."
Chakotay was shocked by her candor.
"The demotion doesn't stand, of course. Nor does the transfer to the sciences stream."
"Chakotay, who are you talking to…oh, Admiral, excuse me."
"Please Kathryn, it's Alynna. I know it's your house, but please join us."
Janeway carefully sat next to Chakotay on the sofa.
"Kathryn, how are you feeling? Please relax, I'm not here in an official capacity."
"Much better than whenever it was that I got back," she looked to Chakotay.
"It's about 1600 now Kathryn." She nodded her thanks.
"I was just explaining to Chakotay about the mission, Kathryn. I can't express how sorry I am about what happened. Admiral Queeg has been medically relieved of duty. Your demotion has been expunged, as has your move to science."
"Thank you." Her total lack of enthusiasm worried Chakotay and surprised Nechayev. "What happened after Queeg hit me?"
"Ensign Twinkler relieved him and had him put in the brig."
Janeway finally brightened at the Admiral's statement. "She did?"
"Not only that, but she did an outstanding job of dealing with the Bret. Their captain hadn't been on the Bridge either, when Queeg attacked them and, as soon as she spoke to him, he realized that something odd had happened. Well, something more 'odd' than a damned Starfleet vessel attacking his ship without provocation." Nechayev sighed. "Anyway, she bought the ship back with the help of the Bret and was well on the way to having her report completed when you docked. She organized it all with the Bret."
"I know my opinion isn't welcomed, but that kid is command material." Janeway's voice had returned to a monotone.
"Well, she's currently scared to death. It's not every day an ensign relieves an admiral. I've sent her home with her parents. But she's terribly worried about you Kathryn, when you're up to it, could you give her a call?"
"Of course, Admiral."
"Well, I'd better leave you to rest. You're on your four month's leave as of now, Captain. When you return, come and see me. We'll talk about you sponsoring Ensign Twinkler at command school and we can have a proper debrief about the Chomsky."
"Four months?"
"Well, you don't think that four weeks was all you were entitled to, do you? Didn't Admiral Queeg…" at Janeway's confused look she continued. "Good god, Kathryn, he didn't tell you?"
"No ma'am. He didn't talk to me much at all."
"What a mess." The admiral rubbed her face. "Look, don't worry about anything, do you understand me? Everything is under control and I'll send you the details of your proposed promotion etc with my assistant this afternoon." She considered something and smacked her comm badge. "No, I'll do it now…Nechayev to Lieutenant Enders."
"Yes, Admiral?"
"Christopher, get all the details of Captain Janeway's transitional activities and transport the PADD as soon as possible to this location."
"Aye, Admiral."
Nechayev took a deep breath. "I don't believe this. The placing with Queeg was supposed to be anything but a punishment. The idea was to be a more relaxed debriefing. He was one of your most ardent admirers while you were in the Delta Quadrant and argued for you as we received some of your logs. I thought that he'd look out for you. Obviously, I was wrong." She looked at Janeway. "I am so terribly sorry, Kathryn."
Janeway said nothing.
"Enders to Nechayev. Transporting now."
"Thank you Chris. Now get home."
"Thank you, Admiral."
A PADD materialized in front of them.
Nechayev picked it up and handed it to Chakotay.
"Here, look this over. If you have any questions, and I mean anything at all, call me. I mean it."
At last Janeway spoke.
"Admiral, may I accompany Chakotay to Trebus for a week or two?"
"You're free to do whatever you wish, wherever you wish. That damned Queeg…" Nechayev stopped and rubbed her forehead. "Your time is your own. Again, I can't tell you how sorry I am."
She picked up her briefcase and stood, holding out her hand to Chakotay, who gave her a warm handshake. "Thank you for the coffee, Chakotay. You stay here. I'll see myself out."
"Your mother will be here soon." Chakotay had called Gretchen as soon as the Admiral had left and he was concerned that Kathryn was so quiet, despite the good news. As he joined her on the sofa, she had almost burrowed into his side and he instinctively put his arm around her to comfort her. When he finally looked down to check on her, he realized that she was again asleep.
The sound from the kitchen woke him. Looking down he could see that Kathryn was still sound asleep. It occurred to him that going by what had transpired on the Chomsky, it was likely that she hadn't had a good night's sleep in probably three to four days.
Again he heard the noise. It was coming from the kitchen, so he assumed it was Gretchen.
As if to confirm he theory, Gretchen emerged with a large pot of tea and a plate of sandwiches, with Puppy at her heels. She put the lot on the coffee table after ensuring it was out of the dog's reach.
She gave Chakotay a warm smile and cupped his cheek almost exactly how her daughter had a couple of years before. Except Gretchen followed her touch with a tender kiss on his forehead, before sitting down.
"How are we doing?" she poured him a cup of tea and turned the handle towards him, also placing a sandwich within his reach.
"I think we've both been asleep since the Admiral left. What time is it?"
"It's about 6.30pm. I've been here for a couple of hours but I've been busy. I've already sent a holo-image of you two to Phoebe. I'm surprised you didn't hear her squeal."
"It's finally happened I think, Gretchen." They both knew what he meant.
"Well, you two were the last to know."
"We were the first to know and then we forgot for the longest time, I think."
A muffled "Chakotay" rumbled against his chest. Kathryn slowly pushed herself into a sitting position. "Hi, Mom."
"Hello, honey. Hard day at the office?"
"A little bit."
Half an hour later, the three sat comfortably in the living room, eating sandwiches and drinking the tea.
"Are you sure you're feeling okay, Kathryn?" Chakotay asked her as she ate her third sandwich. "The Doctor left a hypo if you're in pain."
"No, really, I'm fine. No headache, but I'm starved." The puppy had positioned herself on Janeway's lap and neither was inclined to move. "I haven't eaten much over the last forty-eight hours."
Gretchen watched her daughter intently but seemed satisfied that she was, at least physically, doing well.
"So, what are your plans for your four months leave?"
"We're going to visit Trebus." Kathryn said, as she picked up a couple of slices of apple of the now nearly empty sandwich plate.
Gretchen knew how important this was to Chakotay, and that he was unwilling to visit his home planet without Kathryn.
"And, when we return," added Chakotay, "we're going to get married."
"Really?" both women asked at the same time. Both clearly delighted.
"Really. I'll let Sekaya know and that'll give her enough time to get leave and return home." He looked at Kathryn, who was smiling back at him.
"So is it some kind of tradition of your people that you get engaged without even kissing your intended?" Kathryn asked, tea mug in hand and looking much better than she had a few hours ago.
"Wrong tribe," replied Chakotay and leant down, taking the mug out of her hand and placing it on the side table. He tenderly took placed a hand to the side of her face and lowered his lips to hers.
"I'll just make some more sandwiches." Gretchen sighed happily as she left them to it.
--<>--
"Captain? I'm Lieutenant Enders from Admiral Nechayev's office. A matter of some importance has arisen and you're to report to Head Quarters on Friday at 0930."
Well, that didn't take long, Janeway reflected. She had almost twenty four hours of respite before she had, in the opinion of damned Starfleet, done something wrong again.
"I'm not going. I'll resign my commission. Screw 'em."
"Kathryn, I think you should go."
Janeway made an indelicate snorting noise.
"Yesterday, Nechayev was here being all touchy feely and today she gets her assistant to order me to HQ without so much as a 'sorry to interrupt your leave'." Chakotay could see the old Kathryn Janeway returning. An angry Janeway was a glorious thing to behold. She continued her rant.
"They probably just want to point out some other situation where I supposedly broke the damned regulations, or protocol." She was getting up a head of steam "I should go just to tell them where they can stick their interpretation of the prime directive."
"Well, maybe, but…"
"No buts, Chakotay," she was in full Janeway mode. "Hey, maybe I'll go just to personally chew some Admiralty butt." She paced around the living room. Chakotay's heart soared. "I've had it up to here," she made a vague gesture that could've been construed as a little rude. "With their nit picking and 'holier than thou' pinger fointing." She was seething.
"Pinger fointing?"
"Shut up, Chakotay."
Her progress was halted by strong arms enveloping her.
"Welcome back, Kathryn." He kissed her. "I love it when you're angry."
"You must've been very happy in the Delta Quadrant," she said wryly.
"Deliriously. Well, most of the time."
--<>--
Janeway had continued to rail against Starfleet, the whole Federation senate, the Admiralty in general and Nechayev in particular, since they'd left the house. Chakotay didn't think he'd seen her this pissed in all the time he'd known her. She had quietly raged for the whole two days since they'd received the summons back to Starfleet and by the time they'd transported to San Francisco he was surprised that everything she touched didn't burst into flames.
They'd reached the Admiral's office with ten minutes to spare, only to be told by Lieutenant Enders that the meeting had been moved to another building. Janeway had quietly listened to the directions and had turned on her heel and marched out of the office at a determined clip. Chakotay had shot Enders an apologetic smile, before trying to catch up with her.
As they approached the building they had been directed to, Chakotay reflected that Kathryn was cutting an angry swathe through the crowded Starfleet corridors and paths. Luckily, no one seemed to have recognized her as she was having the effect of making people jump out of her way as she strode towards her destination.
"Shit, Chakotay!" Kathryn skidded to a halt, and Chakotay at his usual position just at her left shoulder, stopped too. "Was that President Dorell and Admiral Presk?" She blew out a big breath and with it, her anger seemed to escape suddenly. "They're going to have me shot."
"Perhaps it's just a coincidence. They wouldn't need the president here just to shoot you."
"I'll be out of this uniform within the hour." Janeway's tone of voice was resigned.
"Excellent. I've just recently discovered that I love you out of uniform."
She punched his arm and smiled.
"You've just discovered that you like me out of any clothes."
"Ah, yes, well. Good point."
"Be serious Chakotay. I could be in prison within minutes." She shot him a very suspicious glance. "You're taking this all too well. What the hell is going on?" She rounded on him and as he was formulating a response, Nechayev's voice saved him.
"Captain, Commander. Right on time. This way, please."
The timing couldn't have been better. Janeway had been off balance when Nechayev had noticed their arrival. Once ushered into the smallish auditorium, they were faced with a bewildering array of officials, admirals and most importantly of all, Voyager's crew. At the front was a beaming Naomi Wildman and the rest of the Janeway family.
Janeway was maneuvered towards the officials and before she knew what was happening, she was shaking hands with the Federation President and several other official looking people. She was yet to give any sign that she understood what was transpiring.
"Captain Janeway, my office has received some very disturbing reports from quite a few members of your crew and I'm ashamed to say that their concerns haven't been addressed before now."
Janeway was completely off balance. Chakotay had left her to join the rest of the crew and left her on some kind of a stage with all the dignitaries.
"The subject of their concern was the dreadful treatment you had received since your return and in particular, the lack of recognition of your extraordinary achievements at the welcome home gala. After reviewing the circumstances and questioning many people about the events, I couldn't agree more. Your treatment has been appalling."
Janeway stood perfectly still. Chakotay thought she seemed stunned. She was looking towards the President, but he wasn't completely sure that she was taking in what was happening.
The President went on to explain how he had been receiving almost weekly letters from a Miss Wildman, Assistant to the Captain, asking for this egregious error to be rectified. "I only wish my assistant was as conscientious and loyal as yours, Captain, as all this has only just recently come to my attention". His speech detailed, much in the manner of Naomi's presentation in the Delta Quadrant, Voyager's Captain's accomplishments and deeds performed in the process of getting her crew home.
The address culminated in Janeway being awarded an 'official' Voyager medal followed by tumultuous applause from her crew. Janeway still hadn't spoken and the President, probably recognizing that she was incapable of speech at this point, concluded the ceremony and encouraged those present to stay for the lunch that had been prepared for the occasion.
A whoop of joy, which could only have come from Tom Paris, seemed to awaken her from her dazed state, just in time to be enveloped in a Paris family hug, before being dragged down to where the whole crew were waiting to congratulate her.
Nechayev made her way to Chakotay's side, as a group of Admirals were laughing with a now more relaxed Janeway and several of the crew.
"How was she?"
"Steamed. You're lucky to have survived."
"Now that's the Kathryn Janeway of old." Nechayev was delighted. "She'll stay with Starfleet now just to get even with me. I can't wait until she gets back from leave. I'm going to have to watch my back." She seemed to be relishing the prospect.
--<>--
The next morning Janeway joined her mother in the kitchen feeling better than she had in over six months. As the party had gone well into the evening, both she and Chakotay had accompanied Gretchen home.
Twenty four hours ago she thought her Starfleet life was over but now her whole life was full of wonderful possibilities.
"How are you this morning, Kathryn?"
"Better than I have been in months, thanks Mom."
"And you look a hundred percent better, too." Gretchen walked around the kitchen bench and gave her daughter a hug and a kiss on the cheek. "Not wearing your medal?"
"I thought it clashed with my pajamas, Mom."
"You used to love wearing your father's." Gretchen sighed and smiled at the memory.
"I'm a little older now. I've grown out of it."
Chakotay joined them a minute later just as Gretchen was putting a mug of coffee in front of her daughter. He greeted Gretchen with a cheery 'good morning' and a kiss.
"Hey, just remember who's girlfriend-in-chief, pal." Kathryn gave him a mock glare.
"Sorry Kathryn," he sat next to her. "You know I love you, but your mother can cook."
And with that, Gretchen placed an enormous cooked breakfast in front of them both.
"So, when will you be back?"
"In about two weeks, Mom. Do you think you can get the wedding plans finalized by then?" Kathryn asked, although she had no doubt that her mother had most of the finer points nailed down months ago.
"Oh yes, dear." Gretchen turned to Chakotay. "Are there any special cultural details you'd like included?"
"No, Gretchen, just a simple Starfleet or civil ceremony would be fine. We're a very uncomplicated people."
"Well, at least I don't have to get a tattoo," laughed Kathryn.
Chakotay bent over to her with a large smile on his face. He leant in close and whispered "Wrong tribe".
The End