Disclaimer: I do not own any of the rights to these characters or the show. Don't sue me please!!


Tears swelled in Finnegan's eyes as he saw the all to familiar triangle-like emblem on the Captain's chest. The same symbol that he cursed only 10 years ago. Yet this time no curses came to his mouth. In fact he could hardly say anything. The only things that came from him were tears.
" This is Captain Janeway of the USS Voyager. Please state the emergency?" she asked, a little aggravated at the man who had hailed her. There really didn't seem to be an emergency. Yet when she took a good look at the man she realized what the emergency was.
"Captain Janeway," the man said, finally finding the control for words, " my name is Dempsey Finnegan, I'm sorry for the false alarm, but when is started to pick up Starfleet signatures, I just couldn't risk not getting your attention." His voice quivered, " Just please tell me that you are an actual Starfleet crew and not a figure of my imagination, " he spit this out, clearly giving up any attempt to conceal his emotion.
"Yes Mr. Finnegan, this is an actual Starfleet ship," Janeway said. It was evident in her half smile that she understood just how this man felt.
"My God, I've found my way home," he muttered to himself, trying to make it inaudible to the Captain, yet all on the bridge heard it.
"Sir, are you all alone in on your vessel?" she asked. The sensors had picked up another, simpler life form.
"Nope, it's me and Hercules," he said smiling.
"Hercules?" she asked, confused.
"My cocker spaniel," he said laughing. "Captain, I request permission to come aboard, if that would be ok with you? Oh and by the way, where in the US are you from?"
The Captain smiled," Indiana, how about you?"
Finnegan, for the first time in a while, smiled, " New Jersey, and you don't know how great it is to talk to a person who actually knows where that is."


After the transmission that Captain ordered Tuvok to do a complete report on Finnegan, while she, accompanied by the doctor went to meet their guest at transporter room 2. While Janeway had felt almost complete trust in Finnegan she was to wise to have the wool pulled over her eyes. She would have to do tests on the man, to make sure that he was actually human and that if he was truly from earth, that he wasn't some insane murderer. Yet the Captain knew, for some unexplained reason that this man was no threat to her or the crew she was sworn to protect. She knew that the report would only prove that the man she was going to meet was perfectly normal. It was strange that she trusted this man so well. Yet when she looked into his eyes, it was as if she had known him for 20 years. She felt a connection to him. The strangest part of this is that the connection was completely platonic. Not that the man wasn't attractive. She had noticed several of the female bridge members' smiles as the man's pleasant image went onto the screen. Though she found him attractive she wasn't attracted to him in that way. She just knew that Finnegan and her shared something.
When she got to the transporter room that doctor and the security team were there waiting.
"Janeway to Finnegan, prepare to beam aboard," she said after tapping her communicator on her chest.
"Ready" replied the disembodied voice of Dempsey Finnegan from his ship.
"Energize," said the Captain.
Within seconds of her command, Finnegan materialized in front of them.
" Welcome to the Starship Voyager, I'm Captain Kathryn Janeway, and this is my ship," she said.
"Hello Captain, I'm Dempsey Finnegan, and I don't believe that I have ever seen a ship as beautiful as this ship that you've got here," he replied as tears welled in his eyes.
" Well Mr. Finnegan, you say that you are from New Jersey, what part?" she asked.
" Oh, yes, I'm from a little town called Belmar on the Jersey shore. Captain I understand that you need to do a thorough background check and that you will want to have me examined by your doctor to prove my authenticity," he said.
The strangers understanding of what needed to be done pleased the Captain. She was relieved because it made it easier for her to ask him to do it, but more so because it almost proved that he had nothing to hide.
"Yes, all that will need to be done before we can go any further. We have had more then one incident of deception in our ranks and we must be cautious with our situation," she said.
" I understand completely and would be happy to comply," he said.
" All right then, this is our doctor, he will take you to the sick bay and examine you and I will meet up with you there in about a half hour," she said as she turned for the door.