Secrets of the Old Chest Part 1

In the attic of the old house, Chakotay came across a huge chest. It was one of several items that had been left there. As he looked at it, he wondered how long it had been there. It looked like an old seamen's chest from the late nineteenth or early twentieth century, but it may have just been made to look that way. There was a padlock on it. Trying to move the chest, he found that it was heavy. He was curious as to what it contained. The top was covered in dust. He used his sleeve to wipe off the dust. Carved in the top was the name 'Kathryn Kiernan Janeway'. His heart constricted. Could it really be hers? Were some of her things in it? He had to find out.

Returning downstairs, he replicated a lock cutter. Before going back to the attic, he grabbed a bottle of water from the cooler as well. The attic was hot, and he would need something to drink if he was there very long. He wondered what was in the chest. Knowing he would soon find out, he smiled. Perhaps there might be a clue in the chest, a treasure map of sorts! He could only wish.

Cutting off the lock did not take long. He felt apprehension as he raised the lid. He saw the box contained a huge pile of papers and trinkets. He lifted them out of the box, arranging them in order. He would start from the bottom as they should be the oldest. He would read the top items last. He felt that he could get through them in just a few evenings. He had no clue when the last of the items had been placed in the box. He hoped that some might have been placed there after their return to the Alpha Quadrant. He leaned back against the wall of the attic to rest. He was thinking about the house and how lucky he had been to acquire it.

Sam Wildman had given him a call. Her sister had told Sam that the Janeway homestead was up for sale. Distant relatives were selling it cheap, just to get it off their hands. They didn't want it as they lived off world. Sam gave him a contact person, Rick Richardson, who lived in Bloomington, Indiana. Rick was a lawyer for the Janeway family. He gave Chakotay what information he could, basically what Chakotay already knew. Phoebe Janeway had been killed in a freak ski accident during the fifth year of Voyager's journey. The home had been sitting empty for the last seven years since Kathryn and her mother had disappeared. That happened just a few months after Voyager's return to the Alpha Quadrant. The rest of the family had no idea where they were. The family had removed most of the furniture, selling off much of it. Only the dining room furniture and a huge desk in the study were being sold with the house. When Rick told Chakotay the price, Chakotay immediately made an offer which was within reason. The family accepted the offer. They didn't even bother to counter offer. In just a few weeks, the home and property was his.

The desk in the study sat next to the transport pad that Admiral Janeway had installed years ago. Chakotay had gone though the desk his first day in the house. He had hoped that perhaps Kathryn had left a padd or some clue that would tell him where they were. There was nothing left in the desk. He moved it out from the wall, but nothing had dropped behind it.

B'Elanna thought Chakotay was crazy trying to hold on to memories of Kathryn, and she didn't hesitate to tell him. Even so, she and Tom where the ones to help him settle into the house. They brought over, from his apartment, what little furniture he had. He decided to furnish the rest of the house one room at a time.

He thought maybe he'd find in the chest pictures of how the inside of the house had been decorated. He also hoped he would find some clues to where Kathryn and her mother might be. Some thought that they were dead. Chakotay was convinced that they were alive and here on Earth somewhere. He couldn't bare the thought of his Kathryn being dead!

After he had removed everything from the chest, he took the pile that had been on the bottom downstairs. There was a lot to go through. He would go through them at the dining room table. We had this huge dining room table at home. I often sat at it and did my homework. It was a beautiful cherry wood and had been in our family over three hundred years.

The very bottom item had been a small metal box. It was only about four inches high. It was fairly long and wide. As he opened it, he smiled seeing what was inside. This box represented newborn Kathryn. He took out a small picture of a tiny baby with a lot of hair. Turning it over, he read 'Kathryn Kiernan Janeway, age 1 hour'. He remembered her talking about this picture. You should see my baby picture, Chakotay! Even when I was born, I had a full head of hair. I also had full cheeks. Looked kind of like a chipmunk! He didn't think she resembled a chipmunk. She was a beautiful baby! Next was a wrist band for a newborn. On it was printed 'Janeway, Kathryn Kiernan; 05/20/2436; 5lbs. 2ozs. There was a hospital card that had the same info as well as: Born to Janeway, Captain Edward and Dr. Gretchen' He smiled at how she was a tiny little thing. She never did get really big, although she always seemed bigger than life when facing enemies!

There was a bag with a drawstring at the top. He opened it and dumped the contents into the palm of his hand. The bag held baby teeth along with a note which gave each date one of the little teeth came out. He wondered if Kathryn had believed in the tooth fairy. He then picked up a small plastic case which contained a lock of her hair cut when she was born, according to a small note inside. There were several old-fashioned cards congratulating the new parents on the birth of their first born. Pictures of a very tiny Kathryn with various family members came next. Each picture was labeled with the names of the people in it, the date and a brief description of where the picture was taken. He looked at those carefully before he set them aside.

Next he saw a plaque made of some kind of plaster with two small hand prints in the middle. Around the edge was the name Kathryn and age 3. Her hands weren't much bigger than that now. He remembered how his own hand had engulfed hers when they held hands. Her hands were small but strong.

There were several awards which she had won, even at a young age. He pulled out an interesting one. It read 'Little Miss 2439 Kathryn Kiernan Janeway' Attached was a picture of a beautiful three year old wearing a crown and looking regal. He had seen her look that way many times.

At age five, she had been a flower girl at a couple's wedding. He imagined it was an older cousin and her husband. The writing on the back of the pictures read, 'Rachel Janeway and John Dalton'. Kathryn looked like a little princess wearing a long blue dress, carrying a basket of white rose petals. She had some flowers in her hair. You could already tell she was going to be a beauty.

There were several pictures taken, at ages five and six, of Kathryn in various ballerina outfits. When I first started taking ballet lessons, I wanted to be a ballerina. I loved everything about it. I use to do way more than the Dying Swan! Someday, Chakotay, I will dance just for you.

There were no more items in the pile that he had brought down, no clues at all! Looking at them had been a pleasant way to spend the evening. Chakotay knew that when he slept he would dream about being with Kathryn. They would have a little girl just like the one in the pictures he had just seen. Tomorrow he would continue his quest, but tonight he needed sleep.

The next morning, he ate breakfast as usual. While he ate, he again looked over the things from the night before. He knew he had to find her. He had to bring her home. This place was where Kathryn belonged.

After he cleaned up from breakfast and dressed, he went for his morning run. Actually it was a half walk, half run kind of thing. He always took the same route around the property, stopping at the old tree next to the stream. He loved the tree because he knew how much Kathryn loved it as well. She use to call it her thinking tree.

He stopped as usual at the tree. He climbed up onto his favorite limb. He had a feeling it was Kathryn's favorite limb as well. It was a perfect hiding spot. He could see all around between the leaves but not be seen by others. He rested there awhile just thinking of her. In Indiana there was this tree on our property in the back by the stream. I always called it my thinking tree. I often went there. Sometimes I would go there to just think about my life. Sometimes I would go just to get away from Phoebe. She could be a pest! I often took a padd to read. I would climb up to my favorite limb, hidden by all the leaves. I spent many wonderful hours in that tree! I hope it will still be there when we get back.

Once he got back to the house, he took a quick shower and made a few calls. He had the summer off from teaching at the Academy. The long summer break was a nice perk for teachers.

After making the calls, he brought down the next pile of papers and items from the attic. There were many more pictures of her alone and with family members. She looked happy and carefree. He loved the pictures that showed her when she was missing her front teeth. Without seeing the pictures, it would have been hard for him to imagine her that way. Even without her front teeth, she looked cute! He laughed to himself. Cute was never a word he would have used to describe her in the past - beautiful, classy, elegant and on and on, just not cute!

Along with the pictures and the abundant school awards was a padd. He opened it and found it to be a diary. The first entries were written by a very young Kathryn. He laid it back down and went over the rest of the items in the pile. Some of the pictures made him smile. A few made him laugh out loud.

Before he picked up the padd again, he got some ice tea from the kitchen. Taking the padd and the tea, he headed for the patio. Sitting in his favorite lounge chair, he began to read the padd. He told himself that he wasn't prying into her private life. He was just trying to find clues to her whereabouts. Kathryn wrote about her frustrations over having a younger sister. She felt that her mother had little time to spend with her.

She wrote about her father being away so often. She missed him when he was gone. She wrote about some of her happiest moments with him. He called her Goldenbird. She absolutely adored him. Kathryn did every thing she could to please her father. Chakotay wondered briefly if Admiral Janeway deserved the adoration he got from Kathryn. She told about hiding under her father's desk as a small child. She spoke of how she always surprised him with what she had learned. He would question me about what I had learned. If he was pleased, I was rewarded with a trip to the cornfields. We walked hand in hand while Daddy told me stories. Often we acted them out as we went. I will never forget those times we had together.

She had been in the third grade play. She played Dorothy in, "The Wizard of Oz". She had been excited over winning the part over the others girls. When she auditioned, she already knew all the lines that Dorothy had. Mr. Randolph, the drama teacher, was delighted. The night the play was presented to the families, hers sat front row center. She played the part perfectly. She could see the pride showing on both her parents' faces.

That was the same year that she began tennis lessons. She hadn't wanted to play. She wanted to play Parrises Squares, which she was very good at playing. At first she couldn't hit the tennis ball across the net. She went home and complained to her mother. Her mom told her she had to play anyway. I never wanted to play tennis, Chakotay. I hated it at first. Finally, I made up my mind that I would learn, and I became very good at it. Still, I wanted to play Parrises Squares.

About the same time, he father allowed her to go with him to Mars. It was her first trip off-world. She enjoyed the trip very much as it was very educational for her. It was the first time that she told her father that she wanted to be in Starfleet. I have wanted to be in Starfleet since I was a little girl, Chakotay. The first time I went to Mars, I knew then it was what I wanted. How about you?

The following year the family took a vacation. This time, they did not go off world, but to a place called Oaxaca, Mexico. Kathryn thought that it was a beautiful place. It had a lot of things for kids to do. They spent two weeks there, and she cried when they had to leave.

That was all that was written on the padd which was labeled "Padd 1". He made a mental note to check out Oaxaca once he had read through all the information. He would note any places she may have visited that held her interest. Then he would check them all out one after the other.

Chakotay went back inside to the replicator and replicated something to eat. He realized that Kathryn had told him a lot about her life after all. She was just another normal child. He took his food back out to the patio to eat as he watched the setting sun. He wondered were she was and if she was alright. He tried to picture what she might look like now. He finally went in to bed as he was extremely tired. It had been a long day, but one that was good. He had learned more about Kathryn. He knew his dreams would be of her. They always were. He loved her more than anything. He vowed silently that he would find her if it took the rest of his life.

The next morning, he headed out for his run stopping by Kathryn's old thinking tree. He had grown to love the tree as well. It was a beautiful tree with its long branches gracefully stretched slightly toward the sky. As he sat on his favorite limb, he wondered at all the secrets the old tree held. Finally he headed back to the house. As he approached the house, he saw an older man walking around the house to the back door. He ran a little faster as he didn't want the man to leave. Arriving out of breath, he saw that the man had sat down on the back porch to wait for him.

When Chakotay walked up to the porch, the man introduced himself as Thomas Jordan, a neighbor and old friend of Edward and Gretchen Janeway. Chakotay invited him into the kitchen for a drink. Thomas slowly rose from the porch and followed Chakotay into the house. He sat at the kitchen table and waited quietly while Chakotay got them some lemonade.

"The kitchen seems kind of lonely without Gretchen in it! She was always in here doing something. Didn't like replicators. Liked to make everything from scratch. My Margaret use to do that up until she died last year."

"I take it, you knew the Janeways well."

"You could say that. Us Jordans have lived in the big brick house down the road for over three hundred years. I knew Edward all my life. He was a good man, well liked. But, he could be tough when he needed to be. Someone in town said that you were a friend of Kathryn's. You're one of the guys that was out in that other quadrant with her. Aren't you?"

"Yes, we were together out there."

"Thought I recognized that tattoo of yours. People around here don't usually wear them. How come you decided to buy this house? I hope you don't mind my asking."

"Kathryn and I were very close. When I found out she was missing, I tried to find her. I still don't believe she is dead. I bought the house for her. When she returns, it will be here for her."

"You loved her. Didn't you? You still do."

"Yes, I still love her. I guess I always will." Chakotay smiled thinking of her.

"I can understand. She's quite a woman. So is Gretchen. I believe that they both are out there somewhere. I just have no idea where."

"Do you know on any place they use to go that they preferred over anywhere else?" Chakotay asked.

"Can't say I do. Well, they spent a lot of time up at Lake George. Use to go to Ireland a lot. They had distant relatives there. Went to Mexico at least once a year. Gretchen liked it there. A couple of summers, Gretchen and my Margaret took our kids to Hawaii. That's about all I remember. If I think of any other places, I'll let you know. I have to get back now. I usually get a call from my older son out at Jupiter Station around 10:30. One last thing before I forget it. I bought a couple of pieces of Gretchen's furniture from some of her relatives. I have them at my house. If you want them, they're yours. I just couldn't see anyone else having Gretchen's things. There is an old grandfather clock and an umbrella stand. Gretchen had both of them in the entry. I also have her kitchen table and chairs. I can have my grandson drop them off later today if you want."

"That would be great. I will pay you for them."

"Nope. You don't owe me anything. Just find Kathryn and Gretchen. That will be reward enough!"

Chakotay walked with Thomas to the front of the house. They shook hands. Thomas invited him for a visit anytime. Chakotay knew that they would become good friends. He liked Thomas right away.

After Thomas left, Chakotay headed up the stairs to clean up. He had to go into town to get a few things. He would use the hover car as he had a few heavy things to bring back. Later he would begin working on the next pile of papers.

Chakotay got back from town much later than he planned. He had forgotten to eat breakfast, so he had lunch in town at a little café called Palutes. As he sat there eating, he thought of Kathryn. Sometimes during the summer, I would go into town. I always stopped in this little café called Palutes for lunch. It was such a treat having replicated food. I hated the fact that my mother made everything from scratch. I wanted to be like the other kids.

Arriving home, Chakotay saw the furniture setting on the back porch that Thomas' grandson brought over. He was sorry that he missed the boy. He got the furniture in through the wide double patio doors without any trouble.

He put the grandfather clock and the umbrella stand in the entry. He guessed where they had gone before. He had a feeling that he had guessed correctly because they seemed to look right where he placed them.

He removed the old table and chairs that he had in the kitchen. He put them on the patio. Later he would take them to the shed out back.

Gretchen's table and chairs were much nicer. The round table and chairs were made of a golden oak that had a fine sheen from the years of polishing and cleaning. It was a beautiful set which he guessed to be about three hundred years old. He ran his hand over the back of one of the chairs admiring the craftsmanship. He always enjoyed things that were well crafted, and the kitchen set was a perfect example. It was as well made as the dining table that had been left in the dining room.

Much later he went out on the patio and took his old table and chairs to the shed out back. As he placed them there, he looked around. It had been empty when he moved in. Now it held various tools that he had purchased to work in the yard. We had this shed behind our house. Mom and dad kept gardening tools in it. One day I was hiding from Phoebe. She knew I was in there so she locked the door. I had to climb on a box and get out through the window. I decided to jump down from the window. It wasn't very far. I landed wrong and broke my ankle. I was angry with her for days. He looked up at the window and could almost see her standing on a box trying to get out.

Back in the house, he went to the attic to get the next pile of items. He didn't plan on working on them. The pile ready for the next day. He had taken too long in town and then with moving the furniture, he had lost time as well. He had promised B'Elanna that he would be at their home later for dinner.

As soon as he was ready, he went into the study. He was thankful that the transporter pad had been left there. He set it for the correct coordinates and transported to the transporter station closest to the Paris' home. Walking to their home, he saw that a gift shop was still open. He stopped in and got a toy eagle for Miral and a toy horse for little Owen. He couldn't believe how much Miral had grown. Kathryn would be surprised that at seven years of age, Miral was nearly as tall as B'Elanna.

Arriving at the house, he rang the chime. Immediately the door was thrown open.

"Uncle Chakotay" yelled Miral as she threw herself into his arms.

Suddenly he felt little arms wrapping around his leg. Looking down he saw Owen trying to hug his leg. He bent and picked up Owen and taking Miral's hand walked into the house. Once inside he gave them each their presents. Both were thrilled at his selection, and he smiled happily at them. He found B'Elanna in the kitchen cooking dinner. They hugged tightly.

"Where is Tom hiding out?"

"He is taking a shower. He worked late today." B'Elanna said as she handed him a bowl and motioned over to the table where there was items for a salad. "Would you put the salad together? I would have this done already if Tom had been on time."

Later after dinner, Tom took the kids up and put them to bed. Miral wanted to stay up, but B'Elanna reminded her that her junior scouting group was going on a field trip the next day. Miral reluctantly went to bed. When Tom returned, they began catching up on gossip.

"Did you know that Megan Delany and Ken Dalby are expecting twins? Megan will have her hands full. Johnny is only two and Kenny is four. They are a handful enough without two more!"
B'Elanna was still amazed that Megan and Ken had gotten married.

"Mike Ayala stopped by the house the other day. Looks like there is going to be a wedding soon. He got reacquainted with an old girl friend back home. Said it was time to settle down again. I'm happy for him. He hasn't looked that good in years." Chakotay told them.

After all the gossip about the crew had been told, B'Elanna asked Chakotay how things were going. He told them about the old chest and what he had found. He also told them about Thomas and the furniture.

Tom shook his head, "I think you need to let her go. I doubt if she is alive. She would have contacted us sooner or later."

"I can't let her go, Tom. I still love her. Even after all these years, Kathryn is the other half of my soul. I will search either until I find her or until I die. There has to be a reason why she hasn't come home. I intend to find out why. I just can't believe she is dead. Not Kathryn!"

Tom and B'Elanna looked sadly at each other. They knew that he wouldn't change his mind. He had loved Kathryn almost from the moment they met in the Delta Quadrant. Those last several months on Voyager, when Kathryn and Chakotay had finally become a couple, were the happiest they had ever seen the command team.

Chakotay didn't stay much longer. He knew they would have to get up early. Tom had to be at Starfleet early. B'Elanna had to drop Miral off by the junior scouting group leader. Then she would take Owen to the nursery at Starfleet where she worked only part time hours.

Walking back to the transporter station, he vowed that when he found Kathryn, they would have a family like the Paris family. Tom was a good husband and father. Chakotay was pleased as B'Elanna had always been like a sister to him.