Disclaimer: CBS owns Star Trek Voyager. I'm just putting them to good use. No infringement intended.
A/N: This story was part of VAMB's 2012 Secret Santa exchange, written for Cheshire who wanted a story where Janeway is rescued. I had most of this story already drafted (I can't write THIS much in a month) and decided to finish it for her.
Summary: In every divorce, even one in the 24th century, the couple must divide their community property (possessions held jointly by husband and wife). What happens when that property is the friendship of a single individual? In their divorce, can Chakotay and Seven find a way to share Kathryn Janeway without having to cut her in two? Or will one of them have to give up her friendship forever?
Community Property
By mizvoy
"There are three things to remember about being a starship captain: keep your shirt tucked in, go down with the ship, . . . and never abandon a member of your crew." Captain Kathryn Janeway, Dark Frontier Part 2
Part 1.1 Community Property
December 16, 2378 One year after Voyager's return
Kathryn Janeway's Quarters, San Francisco
"This damned divorce has been tougher than the marriage was," Kathryn Janeway complained as she served Tuvok his tea and then sat down on a sofa across from him to sip her coffee. "And I didn't think anything could be worse than the marriage."
"It's never easy when one is caught between two people who are going through emotional turmoil," the Vulcan agreed with his usual equanimity. "You understand the difficulties and disappointment both are facing, and yet there is nothing that you can do to resolve the conflict."
"Even worse, instead of helping to diffuse the animosity, I feel like I've made it worse." She placed the steaming mug on the coffee table and then leaned back to study the coral and blue clouds that were visible through the windows of her high-rise apartment. "I care deeply for both Seven and Chakotay, and I want to help, but I find myself trying to be the peacemaker in a war in which neither side wants peace. The process is painful, Tuvok, and it isn't getting better with time."
"If anything, it will get worse. You may be forced to choose between them, to 'take sides,' before all is said and done." His expression contained a hint of sadness about her dilemma. "There's a well-known adage that says it best: friends are part of the community property that is divided between the spouses in every divorce."
"What a depressing thought, and yet I think you might be right. I'm being pulled in two directions at once, and I'm struggling to remain neutral."
"Is it possible to remain neutral?"
"I'll have to get back to you on that," she chuckled, shaking her head. "I can't help but blame the way they rushed into this marriage. I thought at the time that Chakotay was being too impulsive, and I was certain that Seven had no idea about the emotional demands that marriage would make upon her. It isn't easy for her to stop and think about her husband's wishes and needs when she makes a decision—so much of that seems 'irrelevant' to her. When I told her that she has to stop and talk to him before making choices, she always answered that he would 'adapt.'"
"And you talked to them about this in advance?"
"Oh, yes, I'm afraid I did. I told her that committing to another person brings about a loss of independence—as well as the right of the other party to impose their will upon you." She rolled her eyes. "Let's just say that they were not receptive to my advice and leave it at that."
Tuvok arched a brow and replied, "And now? Are they receptive to your advice now?"
"Not really. Chakotay accuses me of taking Seven's side, probably because she came straight to me when she moved out of their apartment. He thinks that I'm helping her avoid him and has come right out and accused me of wanting them to break up."
"Why would he think that you want them to divorce?"
"I've tried to imagine a reason." She sighed and absently rubbed her temples with her fingertips. "Maybe because I warned them that they were getting married too soon, and their divorce proves me right."
The Vulcan frowned. "Such a conclusion is illogical. You warned them because you wanted their marriage to succeed, and therefore you would be unhappy that it fails."
"Logic has nothing to do with something as emotional as this. All Chakotay hears me saying is 'I told you so.' And Seven. She's upset if I mention Chakotay's name in her presence, much less suggest that she talk things out with him. She thinks I'm trying to force her to stay married to him. Every time she finds out that I've talked to Chakotay, even briefly during an official meeting or a chance encounter at Starfleet Headquarters, she goes on the offensive to 'keep me' from trying to force her to reconcile with him against her will."
A shadow of amusement shone in the Vulcan's eyes. "One thinks you want them to break up and the other thinks that you want them to stay together."
Janeway laughed. "Isn't it ridiculous?"
"Their discomfort will lessen in time."
"I should live so long." She absently picked up the coffee mug and cradled it in her hands. "I'm not sure whether Seven is clueless about life in the Federation or whether she simply enjoys using me as a buffer for the more demanding elements of life. She's asked for my advice about every little problem that has confronted her these last few weeks, and I'm wondering whether she will ever learn how to get along on her own. She's so insecure that I have to spend most of my free time with her—which means that I have little or no time to spend with Chakotay."
"Perhaps, once she's adjusted to life in the Alpha Quadrant, you will be able to resume your normal friendship with the commander."
"Perhaps. But that's assuming he's still willing to be my friend." She frowned, slid the empty mug onto the table, and stretched her arms along the back of the sofa. "The truth is that I need Chakotay's calm presence in my life as much as Seven needs my friendship in hers. I rely on his advice as much as I rely on your level head and unflappable logic. You were really the ideal pair in the Delta Quadrant, bringing me equal measures of logic and emotional balance."
"I am gratified to hear you say that."
"I'd hoped that we could continue to work together once we were home."
"Indeed." He paused and gave her a close look. "I must say that this desire to continue in the same relationship surprises me, Captain."
"You're surprised that I wanted to keep our command team together?"
"Yes, I am. I expected that the conclusion of the debriefings would bring about a change in your relationship with Chakotay."
"What kind of change?" She looked confused.
"I assumed that your relationship would become more personal in nature—that is, until I learned of his involvement with Seven."
"Oh, that." She shook her head, a blush crawling into her cheeks. "From the moment we met, our relationship was limited and defined by our duties on Voyager, and I've learned to accept those limitations." She looked away, unwilling to face him. "But I've come to rely on his friendship, and the truth is that I need him. We've worked together well for nearly eight years, and he suits me in a dozen different ways." She glanced at him and grinned at her petulant tone. "He's the brother I never had."
"Of all the ways to describe your relationship with the commander, I never thought it resembled one between siblings," Tuvok replied, stopping short of confronting her about her true feelings. "Your connection to Seven of Nine, however, always seemed close to that of a parent and an adolescent child."
"Oh, yes, you're right about that-a rebellious adolescent and a weary parent." Janeway groaned and put her feet on the coffee table, trying to relax before a burgeoning headache became serious enough to require a visit to Voyager's EMH. "I feel as responsible for her as a mother would for a wayward child, as if I'd given birth to a baby instead of rescuing a grown woman from the Borg."
"In many ways, Captain, she's not a 'grown' woman."
"All evidence to the contrary." Janeway rolled her eyes. "If you consider her looks alone, she's a woman in every way."
"Yet, she has been deprived of many learning experiences that humans go through as they mature, experiences that are important to her emotional well-being. No matter how old or how womanly she looks, she is emotionally naïve. As a result, it is little wonder that her marriage has not prospered."
"I feel guilty about that."
"Human mothers usually feel guilty when their children experience problems."
"I was her mentor, not her mother."
"I beg to differ." He held up a hand to prevent Janeway from disagreeing. "She's the daughter you never had. She demands from you guidance regarding her social and emotional problems that a daughter usually receives from her mother. A mentor has more to do with one's career decisions and options."
Janeway laughed and gave him an uncomfortable look. "It sounds almost incestuous, doesn't it? The daughter I never had is divorcing the brother I always wanted."
"Indeed." The Vulcan displayed the barest hint of amusement. "Seven has constantly turned to you for guidance since her liberation from the collective, and she has grown used to having your undivided attention, like an only child. It's commonly accepted that only children find it difficult to share the parent's attention with another person."
"You're saying that I've spoiled her." She frowned a moment. "Perhaps I have. While we were still on Voyager, she didn't need me this desperately, at least not after the first few months, once she'd become used to her life on the ship."
"That is true, unless there was a time of exceptional stress or uncertainty. At those times, she demanded your full attention."
"Yes, but with growing infrequency as time passed." She scowled, remembering the many occasions when Seven had resisted following her advice over the years, the many times they'd argued. "If she'd listened to me when I advised her to wait a few months before she married Chakotay, we wouldn't be in this predicament."
Tuvok templed his hands in front of his face. "Humans seldom listen to advice that they don't want to hear."
Janeway laughed, "Watch out! You're speaking to a human, you know. But, the truth is that neither of them wanted to listen to anyone who was going to discourage them. We'd barely been back a month when they decided to make a lifelong commitment to a relationship that was just a month or two old. It was too soon after all the upheaval of our return to make such a big decision."
"Undoubtedly. However, my experience has been that humans who believe they are in love are even less receptive to advice that is contrary to their intended actions."
Janeway snorted. "Tell me about it. When I first brought up waiting, Seven accused me of being an old maid and insisted that I wanted her to be an old maid, too."
"Her words were inconsistent with her feelings."
"Really?" Janeway's tone was both amused and affectionate. "You've become an expert at reading human motivations?"
"Hardly." Tuvok lifted a brow. "One only needs to look at her circumstances to find her motivation."
"Tell me."
"She was fearful of the drastic changes that were happening in her life and hoped that marrying Chakotay would help her retain some of the 'family' she was losing. There is an undeniable logic to such a reaction."
"If she felt insecure, it's probably my fault. If I hadn't let myself become so overwhelmed with meetings and debriefings, with all the challenges of disassembling Voyager, I could've spent more time with her and provided the security she thought her marriage would supply. Maybe I could have helped all of us avoid this whole debacle."
"It's possible, but I don't think so."
"Why not? I was her sounding board on Voyager for nearly four years. Why wouldn't she continue to come to me if she were feeling insecure?"
"Because she didn't?" He raised an eyebrow at Janeway's glare. "It's possible that she resented the fact that you were busy elsewhere, or perhaps she was simply jealous of you. She could see that you were at home here on Earth, and she was afraid that you might take Chakotay away from her. Competition almost always confuses human relationships."
"Take him away from her? Competition?" Janeway sat up straight to stare at him. "You mean that she grew more serious about Chakotay because she saw me as a rival for his affections?"
"It's possible. She has always been quite competitive with you."
"She is competitive with everyone." Janeway murmured as she grew thoughtful, remembering how poorly Seven had reacted when she'd lost at velocity, or hoverball, or any other competitive activity. "I admit that Seven hates to lose, but I never gave her any reason to believe that I was competing with her for Chakotay's affection."
"Perhaps not in so many words, yet you told me just a few minutes ago that you need him," Tuvok reminded her. "And you called him the brother you never had. That implies a fairly close relationship, wouldn't you say?"
"Yes, but I never said those things to her."
"She was a keen observer of human nature."
"What she saw was friendship, but nothing more." She shook her head as her eyes slid away from his. "We settled on friendship long ago."
"Settled on friendship?" The Vulcan leaned forward, his look intent. "So you admit that at one time there was a deeper attraction between you?"
"Years ago, perhaps." Janeway felt her face grow warm with a blush. "Briefly." She took a shuddering breath. "We did absolutely nothing about it. We both knew that it would be a disaster to become involved while we had to maintain a command relationship on Voyager, and then, as the years went by, our deeper feelings simply died a natural death."
"Perhaps Seven believed that those feelings would be resurrected."
"You've heard that old Klingon saying, 'Never try to start a fire with half-burned wood.'" She sighed and rested her head on her palm, noticing that the glorious sunset had faded to grey. "I'm afraid, Tuvok, that I've finally lost him for good."
"I'm not sure I understand."
"Even though I need Chakotay, Seven needs me more."
Tuvok nodded. "And in a contest between your needs and Seven's, you will always put Seven's needs first."
She looked away, embarrassed at the tears that had filled her eyes. "That's what mothers do, isn't it? Make sacrifices? Put the children's wants and needs before their own?"
Tuvok sat back and crossed his arms, looking out the window at the lights of the city so that Janeway could discreetly wipe the tears from her eyes without his direct observation. "You're too quick to sacrifice your needs for others, Captain, too willing to bear pain rather than cause it."
"Losing him can't hurt any worse than being pulled in two directions at once, Tuvok."
"If you say so." He glanced back at her, noticing the misery in her eyes as she picked up the empty mugs and took them to the kitchen. After she had left the room, he said softly, "I'm afraid you shall soon find out how much losing him will hurt."
tbc
