Reunion
Disclaimer - Paramount and Viacom own the characters from Voyager, although they didn't often treat them right. The story line belongs to me.
A special thanks to: My friend and editor of all my stories, Mill3rs.
Chapter 1 – Welcome Home?
It appeared that all hell had broken loose on Voyager's bridge as they hurtled through the transwarp conduit. Tom Paris, chief helmsman, fought to hold the ship on a steady course. As the Borg vessel grew closer, Tom's fingers flew across his console. "I can't stay ahead of them, Captain." His voice was tense, revealing the strain he was under.
The Borg vessel overtook Voyager and they were drawn inside of it. Seven of Nine announced that the transwarp network had been obliterated and Captain Janeway ordered Commander Tuvok to fire. As he launched the weapons that Admiral Janeway had brought with her from the future, the Borg vessel began to explode. Voyager emerged through the debris to the sight of 18 Starfleet vessels surrounding them. Janeway stared at the viewscreen and stated quietly. "We did it."
Harry's console beeped and he announced that they were being hailed. "On screen." Janeway ordered, and Admiral Paris and Reginald Barclay appeared on the viewscreen. After the Admiral glanced down at his son seated at the helm, he began to ask how they managed it. Janeway replied. "It will all be in my report, Sir." After the communication had been terminated, she looked down and whispered. "Thanks for your help, Admiral Janeway."
Suddenly, the communication system beeped and the doctor's voice was heard. "Sickbay to the bridge." A soft cooing could be heard in the background. Tom turned towards the captain with a confused expression on his face as Harry gave in to a huge grin. "Doctor to Lieutenant Paris. There's someone here who would like to say hello."
"You better get down there, Tom." The captain smiled at him as the entire bridge crew heard the cooing of the new baby.
"Yes, Ma'am." Tom replied softly with an answering smile, as he quickly rose from his seat. He bounded up the two steps towards the turbolift, gave Harry a huge grin and left the bridge.
Harry wiped his eyes as he watched his friend go to meet his new daughter.
Indicating the empty pilot's seat, the captain remarked. "Mr. Chakotay, the helm."
"Aye, Captain." Chakotay replied as he moved to Tom's vacant station. He glanced back at Seven with a small grin, which she returned, and took his seat.
"Set a course….for home." The captain ordered as she resumed her seat. "We really did it." She whispered as she looked out the viewscreen showing the beautiful site of planet earth swathed in clouds before them.
"Captain, we're being hailed." Harry interrupted her thoughts.
"On screen, Mr. Kim." Janeway ordered.
A tall, dark haired man in an Admiral's uniform, standing stiffly at attention appeared in front of them. "Captain Janeway, I'm Admiral Gwynn and I'd like to formally welcome you home to the Alpha Quadrant." His voice was deep and cold.
Janeway looked at the man, not recognizing him but acknowledging his rank. "Admiral, it's good to be back. I'm afraid that I don't recall an Admiral Gwynn before we left." She stood up and approached the viewscreen.
"Yes Captain, I was promoted to Admiral four years ago. I am in charge of the Cochran station here on Mars Base Two. I have transmitted headings to bring Voyager to our docking port. Starfleet requires your ship to go through a full diagnostic scanning before you will be allowed to proceed to Earth. You crew will also undergo thorough medical exams and debriefings about their time in the Delta Quadrant. We will expect you at our station in about two hours. You will of course be given a full escort as befitting your status." The Admiral gave Janeway a slight smile as he turned to one of the officers at his side.
"I understand, Admiral and we will be glad to accommodate Starfleet's regulations. Please tell me when our families will be notified of our arrival." Janeway stiffened at the rather formal greeting.
"I'm afraid, Captain that I am not in charge of notifying the crew's families. That will be handled by Starfleet headquarters in San Francisco. See you in two hours. Gwynn out."
"Not exactly the friendly welcome home, that I'd imagined." Harry's voice was heard softly from his station.
Seven turned to the OPs station. "I believe that the Admiral is expressing a needed caution considering that we could pose a potential danger due to unknown materials or viruses from the Delta Quadrant."
"I must concur, Captain. This may be nothing more than an appropriate precaution on Starfleet's part." Tuvok announced in his calm voice from the tactical station.
"Agreed, Mr. Tuvok." Janeway stated as she returned to her seat. Glancing at the helm, she ordered. "Commander, follow the headings to Mars base."
"Aye, Captain." Chakotay responded, and entered the headings into the helm control and began to move Voyager towards Mars.
Harry continued to monitor the communications between the ships escorting Voyager as they moved along the new headings.
* * * * *
The doors to sickbay swished open and Tom Paris moved quickly to the far end of the room where B'Elanna sat back against the raised end of the biobed with her eyes closed. A small bundle, wrapped in a blue sickbay blanket, was cradled in her right arm. B'Elanna opened her eyes when she heard Tom approach. Looking up into his cobalt blue eyes, she noticed them shining with unshed tears. "Hey." She said softly as she reached up to caress his cheek with her left hand.
"Hey, yourself." Tom answered in their usual greeting to each other. He bent down and kissed her gently on her forehead, straightened up and pushed the edge of the blanket aside to peer down at his daughter's face. She had a small cap of dark brown curls on her head and faint forehead ridges. Tom ran his thumb over the ridges and then looked back at B'Elanna. "She's beautiful, B'Elanna. Just like her mother." His voice was husky, overcome with emotion and fatigue. He leaned in and gave his wife another kiss.
Just then the doctor reappeared from his office. "Ah, Mr. Paris, it's good of you to join us. May I assume that your presence here means that we are in the Alpha Quadrant?" He asked Tom as he approached the biobed, scanner in hand.
"Yeah, Doc. We are about one light year from Earth." Glancing back to B'Elanna, Tom continued. "The transwarp network has been destroyed and we weren't followed by Borg vessels." He suddenly yawned and turned away while bringing his hand to his mouth in an attempt to hide it.
"Hey, flyboy. It must have been pretty intense on the bridge." B'Elanna teased him. She could see the fatigue in his eyes as he came down from the rush of adrenaline that had kept him going at the helm.
"Yeah, it was kind of tense for awhile but we pulled it off." He gave her a lopsided grin as he moved out of the doctor's way. Noting the scanner in the EMH's hand, Tom glanced at his daughter and then turned back to the doctor. "She's alright isn't she, Doc?" He asked in a worried voice.
"Mother and daughter are just fine, Mr. Paris." Turning the scanner towards Tom, the doctor continued. "The father appears to be in the need of some rest, though." He gave them a smile and moved off to the back room of sickbay.
B'Elanna reached for Tom's hand and held it in her own; she pulled him down towards her. "He's right you know. You look exhausted." She whispered in his ear, trying not to wake their daughter. The baby stirred in B'Elanna's arm and suddenly opened her eyes; looking straight at Tom.
Bright blue eyes looked up at equally blue eyes. "Hi, honey. It's your daddy." Tom gazed tenderly at his daughter. She blinked twice and waved one tiny fist and when he placed his finger near her, she grasped it tightly. Tom looked at B'Elanna and smiled shyly. "I think she knows me."
"Of course she does. You've talked to her enough over the past few months. She recognizes your voice." B'Elanna looked from daughter to husband and gave them both a tired smile.
"I think you need to rest, B'Elanna." Tom said as he unsuccessfully tried to stifle another yawn.
"You both need rest and that's Doctor's orders." The EMH appeared from the back room, pushing a portable biobed up against B'Elanna's. "I assumed that I wouldn't be able to get you to leave, Mr. Paris, so you might as well rest here."
Tom gave him a slight grin but shook his head. "I'm still on shift, Doc."
"I took the liberty of checking with the captain, Lieutenant, and you are officially off duty until we reach Mars Base Two. Apparently Starfleet feels we need to have the ship examined and the crew debriefed before we are permitted to land on Earth." Indicating the second biobed, he stated. "Enjoy the rest while you can. You'll both soon be up for the 0200 feedings." He smiled and turned towards his office.
Tom shrugged out of his jacket as he moved around to the other side of the two biobeds. He sat down on the portable bed, reached down to pull off his boots and swung his long legs up onto the biobed. He rolled onto his left side and pulled his wife and daughter to him with his right arm. B'Elanna placed her head on his shoulder and Tom leaned his against the top of her head and closed his eyes.
The doctor sat behind his desk and activated his console. "Computer, enter on this stardate that Miral Kathryn Paris was born. Time of birth, 1400 hours. Place of birth, Transwarp conduit – Alpha Quadrant. End log." He walked out of the office and noted the Paris family was sound asleep. Moving quietly, he approached the biobeds. He reached for the shelf under the bed and pulled out a large blue blanket. Draping it over Tom; he smiled and moved to the back of sickbay. "Computer, lights at one quarter." The lights dimmed and the room was quiet. "Computer deactivate EMH." He ordered and shimmered off.
to be continued…….