Disclaimer: I don't own STYoyager or DS9 – mores the pity, I just play with them. No profit, just the fun of sharing. Original characters belong to me and a friend.
Recovery
Chakotay stood in the main lounge of Professor Fen's home contemplating the view his dark eyes sorrowful, when he felt a tug on his pant leg and looked down to see a small dark haired head tilted back looking up at him.
"Up, Tay?" she asked, holding up her little arms. Smiling he bent down and lifted her up into his arms. "Higher!" she giggled, putting her arms around his neck and resting her head on his shoulder. "Miss you," she added softly.
"I'll miss you too, Miral," he told her, walking over to where her father waited close to the bottom of the stairs. "All of you. I've really enjoyed our time together," giving Paris a soft uncertain smile.
"Likewise, Chakotay," he sighed. "Unfortunately we have jobs to continue with back on Earth. And of course the owner of this house is returning."
"With his sister," Chakotay added.
"If my memory serves me right, Professor Fen said they never really got on!" he grinned half heartedly. "I don't think I want to be in the firing line if that is still the case," trying to make light of the situation.
"If what is still the case, Cadet?" asked a new voice, coming from the region of the main door.
"Professor Fen!" Chakotay greeted startled yet warm, as the male Trill came towards them.
"Chakotay," he acknowledged. "You haven't answered my question!?" he said giving the fair haired man a lop-sided grin.
"Morning, Professor Fen. What question was that, Sir?"
"Still the same cheeky rascal, I see!" all three males grinning at each other. "And who is this?" reaching out a hand towards the shy girl nestled against the tattooed male's shoulder.
"My daughter, Miral," Tom said, his tone proud.
"Really?! Are you sure?!" he teased. "I wouldn't have said such a pretty little girl could belong to you!"
Up on the top stair B'Elanna sat and listened to the banter coming from the males below her, her heart heavy that they were leaving. Over the last month and a half, she and Tom Paris had built up quite a rapport with Chakotay, their daughter and – more importantly she felt – a stronger relationship with each other. The strain of bringing up a newborn child would have tested their marriage bond, but arriving as they did back into the Alpha Quadrant had added to that strain, possibly to breaking point; coming to Trillus Prime to be with Chakotay had helped both her and Tom to build up a routine around their daughter and each other. Now returning to Earth they would be adding a works routine to the mix – she hoped – without to many problems. She watched as Miral seemed to cling to Chakotay; she could discern the anxious worry in her husband, over that clinging attitude. But no matter how they looked at it, they had to return to Earth.
A second person walked down the hallway and put her arm around the Professor's.
"Hello!" she smiled; B'Elanna grinned to herself, as the two human males stared at the young slim gorgeous Trill female, dressed to entice.
"Ah, this is my niece," Fen introduced the young woman.
"Er... nice to meet you," Tom said finding his voice first. Chakotay just held out his free hand to her, which she took hesitantly, her brown eyes looking him all over, making him retrieve his hand quickly and very visibly take a step away from her. 'Predator,' B'Elanna thought to herself and decided to join her friends. The visibly relief on the faces of both male's as she came down the stairs and stood between them had her defences going up.
"Hey; Sis! Where do you want all this stuff?" asked a puffing male voice, loudly. The young woman's face changed dramatically from gentle interest to obvious annoyance as she turned away to deal with the male her tone of voice abrasive.
"Just like her mother," Professor Fen said quietly resigned. It effectively broke the spell over the two human males, who exchanged understanding looks with the elder Trill.
"Well we'd better be going," Tom said resigned. "We have a flight to catch."
"Back to Earth?"
"Not directly. My father has arranged for a science vessel to pick us up at the border station."
"Ah, I see. And you Chakotay?" walking with them to the main entrance.
"I've already moved back in with Hoon."
"Good, good," he muttered. "I hope you've all enjoyed your stay?" he asked, standing inside the main entrance, whilst they stood on the front doorstep, to avoid the Trill siblings and their luggage.
"Yes, thank you, Professor Fen," B'Elanna told him and gently kissed his cheek.
"You'll be more than welcome to come again," he offered and then rolled his eyes at the abrasive call from his niece, before going back into the house and closing the door.
"Poor man!" she said, feeling Tom squeeze her hand.
/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\
Mak'ala Spaceport:
They had arrived in plenty of time to board their shuttle flight out to one of the border stations, their luggage already stowed on board; so they were in one of the small coffee lounges, silently enjoying the quiet time together.
"You'll have to come and return the favour and visit us," B'Elanna said, watching Miral hold on tight to Chakotay.
"I'd love too; if only to make sure you're looking after my little niece properly," he teased with a gentle smile. It had been a joint decision for B'Elanna and Chakotay – with Tom's consent – for the pair to legally become adopted brother and sister, thus making the Amerindian Miral's Uncle.
"Stay, Tay," she said, trying to choke the man.
"Lanna; no!" his tone calm, thus Torres said nothing realising any persuading had to come from Chakotay himself and not her or Tom. Something he had been cautioning them about for most of the weekend.
"Tom Paris!" a voice called a little breathlessly, half running over to them.
"Dr. Bashir?" he questioned.
"I'm glad I've caught you," he said reaching the man's side. "I need a private word. Very private," his tone pointed.
"We get the message, Doctor," B'Elanna sighed. She and Chakotay – who still had Miral – moved away, giving to two medics some space.
"Julian?" he asked frowning puzzled by the intensity of the man's gaze. Bashir carefully palmed a data chip into Paris' hand and spoke quickly and quietly.
"Give that to your Doctor and remind him to use the code," he instructed.
"What's this about?" holding onto the other's arm.
"The banned substance wasn't pure." It took a moment for Thomas Paris to understand what he meant. "When the Federation found and banned the drug, it was believed that it had all been destroyed. It was only discovered later that a small batch of unrefined drug was missing."
"I think I get the picture. Considering that his bully boys were in that trade...." he didn't finish the thought.
"Tom discuss this only with your Doctor. The only reason I'm telling you is because you have medical clearance.
"Tom!" called Chakotay.
"Better go. Thanks Julian," his eyes reflecting his hope that the other victim could possibly be helped also. He ran over took hold of his daughter as she was handed to him by Chakotay without any fuss this time from the little girl-child. Bashir joined the tattooed male as he watched the small family board their shuttle.
"You're going to miss them; aren't you?"
"Yes, Julian; I am," he acknowledged sadly. They waited together until the shuttle was lost to sight in the cloudless sky.
"Don't ask, Chakotay; because I cannot tell you."
"I was only going to ask if you have time for some refreshments."
"I bet," he admonished and then grinned. "Ezri's waiting at Lugi's. Shall we?"
"I'd love too," he smiled and the two males left the spaceport side-by-side.
/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\
A few days later Chakotay got an urgent call to report to Hoon's office at the hospital.
"What's all this about?" he asked on entering Hoon's office, without waiting to be asked. "Julian? Ezri?" he acknowledged, on seeing the pair with Hoon.
"I think you'd better explain, Dr. Bashir," Hoon said softly, indicating that his patient and friend take a seat; he did so and waited expectantly for Bashir to speak.
"As you might not be aware; I gave Tom Paris a data chip for your Doctor and he was to use the code to active it," he began carefully, Chakotay watched him intently wondering where this would lead; he hated it when people didn't get to the point directly.
"The chip has been activated, but not by the Doctor."
"How do you know?"
"No code and too soon," said Suaig Hoon. Chakotay frowned puzzled.
"Admiral Paris suggested the science vessel pick them up as it was in the general area also it's not due to reach Earth for another six days," said Ezri, softly.
"Something tells me there's more going on here than you're saying," he said carefully, frowning thoughtfully. No one said a word for a moment or two. "You were hoping to flush someone out?"
"That's right, Chakotay. We were hoping that someone would take the bait and they have. Now we'll just have to wait for the USS Cochrane to reach Earth."
"Why?"
"To see if Tom still has the data chip or that it's been switched," said Bashir.
"I see," Chakotay said, feeling apprehensive.
/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\
Earth: San Francisco six days later:
Tom Paris was pleased to be home and glad the trip had been uneventful for the most part, it had been keeping his two Klingons under control and out of engineering. He smiled quietly at the memory of the Cochrane's Chief Engineer's reaction to B'Elanna's sortie into the engine room.
"What are you grinning about?" asked the woman he was thinking about.
"Can't take you anywhere, can I?" he responded laughingly and giving her a cuddle.
"I don't know what you mean?" she responded and then smiled. "It kept him on his toes though."
"And they tell me I'm incorrigible," he laughed kissing her nose; about to get more intimate when the door chime sounded. "Who can that be?" he questioned, leaving her side with a puzzled frown and went to open the main door. "Dad!" he exclaimed, standing aside to let the Admiral in.
"Do you have the data chip?" he asked without preamble.
"Er... Yes?" looking askance at his father. "I'll go and get it," having taken in his father's determined expression.
"Owen?" B'Elanna asked as puzzled as her husband, who'd returned with the data chip.
"Not a word," he cautioned taking the chip from his son. First he held it up to the light and then let it drop to the floor where he stood on it shattering it. He then bent down and retrieved a now destroyed transponder from among the shards of the data chip. He still put a finger to his lips, stalling any sound from his startled son and daughter-in-law; he went to the main door and motioned a full security team inside. They silently went about their business and checked over the whole house thoroughly; managing not to awaken the sleeping Miral.
After about a good twenty to thirty minutes, the team leader handed a PADD to the Admiral. Owen Paris gave the man the transponder, which he put into a case that effectively rendered it harmless and inoperative completely.
"Clean, Sir," his tone as relieved as the houses occupants.
"Thank you, Lieutenant," he said and nodded; thus the security team left.
"Dad; what is going on?" he demanded whilst B'Elanna sat down in the nearest chair feeling the tension ease out of her.
"Take a seat, Son; we'll await the Doctor's arrival," was all he said, noting the frustration on his son's expressive face; but the young man complied with his request sitting next to his wife. Soon a transporter effect deposited the EMH into the main living room.
"Admiral," he acknowledged on completing full materialisation. "Mr. Paris; B'Elanna Torres," noting their shocked presence.
"Do you know what was on the chip?" Admiral Paris asked his son.
"I'm assuming it had something to do with the drug that had been used on Chakotay and that it wasn't pure," he explained frowning puzzled. "Julian told me that verbally. Otherwise in answer to your question, no I don't," he clarified. Both Admiral Paris and the EMH looked relieved at that news. The older male sat down the tension leaving him in a breathed sigh.
"Would someone like to explain just what is going on?" snapped irate female, making all three males smile at her tone.
"I suggested the USS Cochrane pick you up for a very good reason," he began carefully. "We needed to see if anyone was still looking for Chakotay so provided them with some bait."
"The data chip. Did someone bite?"
"They did, a few hours after the Cochrane left the border station."
"So whoever took the chip has the data."
"That's just it they don't."
"If I'd received the chip, I was to use my communication code to retrieve the data direct from Dr. Hoon's computer," the EMH explained.
"So that's what he meant about remembering the code. So what was on the chip?"
"Nothing. Whoever accessed the chip would have got nothing but gibberish," noted the Admiral.
"So what was all that about with security?" asked Torres, feeling she'd been personally violated along with her home.
"Considering that the chip was holding a transponder; we had to make sure that someone hadn't bugged your home, whilst you were away. And you were checked during transport."
"I wondered why it had taken longer than usual," Tom said carefully. "But why?"
"Did Chakotay ever name the other victim?"
"Not directly, but it wasn't hard to workout."
"So who do you think it is?" Owen Paris asked quietly. Something in his expression gave husband and wife pause for thought.
"It's not the obvious person then?" Tom asked softly easing his words out carefully.
"That's right. She has had round the clock security protection since Voyager arrived back on Earth; still has. Nor has she been anywhere near the family owned apartment and she wasn't visiting her mother when Chakotay first contacted her from his hideaway," the Admiral said.
"Why all this high security?" B'Elanna asked.
"She has had some death threats from persons who didn't like the fact that the Maquis had their freedom aboard Voyager, instead of being in her Brig, for their supposed crimes in the Alpha Quadrant and the DMZ."
"I wouldn't start down that road," cautioned the EMH effectively stalling their protests before they'd given voice to them. "Some of those persons are people in high places, who'd love to see any Maquis punished for their short comings and mistakes."
"A scapegoat!" noted Tom Paris sourly.
"The lady Admiral in question isn't happy about the situation either. And before you ask, she has not been told about Chakotay," the elder Paris said, his tone of voice telling the pair that he wanted the woman kept in the dark. "As far as she is concerned Chakotay is with Seven on Vulcan," he added.
"You are not comfortable with that; are you?"
"Of course I'm not!" he snapped at his daughter-in-law. "Sorry!"
"I shall be glad when security has caught this Teero, person," said Tom Paris his tone telling.
"You aren't the only one," said his father. "But you'll have to get in line behind the rest of us, who want to do him an injury for his manipulation of others."
"Who's first?"
"Colonel Kira Nerys. As Teero was once a Vedek, she sees him as violating everything that is Bajorian. The drug he used is something the Cardassians would have loved to have got their hands on for interrogations; had it not been confiscated by the Federation," said Owen Paris.
"Why was it developed then? What was its purpose? If it ever had one!"
"It was conceived as a therapy drug for trauma victims and those with deep seated phobias," explained Dr. Bashir to a sceptical Chakotay sitting in Hoon's office at the Mak'ala hospital the day after the Paris' return to Earth; having heard the same information that had been related in San Francisco. "It was devised after Wolf 359. But the doctor who formulated it realised it had the potential to be misused, so asked the Federation for help and they decided it was simply too dangerous to have hanging around at all."
"Even for its original purpose?" asked Hoon.
"Yes."
"This Doctor was not working for the Federation then?" Chakotay asked thoughtfully.
"No. He or she was an independent medical scientist working near the DMZ." That information caused the tattooed male to shoot a glare at the human doctor.
"Whose side?" he asked his voice tight.
"No one knows, Chakotay; just as we do not know who the scientist was or even if this person is dead or alive," Ezri said, understanding something of the emotional pain this was causing the former Maquis cell leader.
"There is one thing I don't understand," his tone thoughtful and yet confused, after a moments silent contemplation of this new information.
"Name it."
"Who did Teero use as the other victim? I'm sure it was Captain Janeway," he said.
"What do you remember?" Ezri quietly asked. Julian noted that she'd gone into her counselling mode – as he called it.
"A woman in uniform; A distinctive voice," closing his eyes trying to recall the memory.
"Don't forget, Teero used the drug to trigger a shutdown of your memory centres," Julian reminded him softly.
"I know who I saw and heard!" he snapped angrily, giving the man an accusing look.
"Do you?" Ezri Dax asked softly. "Do you really know who she was? Or is it just your memory filling in the gaps."
"I... I... just don't know anymore," he admitted, angry and frustrated, his body almost curling in on itself, feeling tears threaten.
"Chakotay; the symbionts will help if you let them," her voice gentle and calm, placing her hand on his hunched shoulder. "In fact they want to help you," she added softly.
"Question is do I really want to know the truth?"
"Only you can answer that," she told him.
"Or do you want to be forever looking over your shoulder for a sinister shadow called Teero?"
"No I don't, Julian. It's just that, I thought I knew what took place and who to blame for it, but now," he left the thought hanging, his dark eyes looking up at the young human doctor filled with sorrow and hurt. "You believe there is another trigger," he asked shuddering at the thought.
"It is a possibility," noted Hoon hissing on his es's as usual, bringing a small smile to Chakotay's face for a moment.
"Or more an instruction to remove your pain," Ezri said, her meaning clear.
"NO! I wouldn't," his voice adamant, yet his eyes fearful remembering what had happened in the Captain's Ready Room on Voyager. "No, not that," he whispered, burying his face in his hands. Ezri Dax sat close to him giving physical comfort by rubbing his back in a circular motion as he quietly wept.
"Why can't that part of my life just die a quiet death?" he asked of no one sadly, his face still hidden in his hands. The others said nothing for what could they say? For it appeared that Teero – hell bent to complete his own quest , whatever that was – was playing straight into the hands of some high powered people on both sides of the divide who were determined – regardless of who was really responsible – to have someone pay for the so-called 'crimes' of all the Maquis in the Demilitarised Zone.