Chapter3
Revised for grammar.
Meet the Brass
Janeway walked down the ramp, Chakotay on one side and Tuvok on other. There was so much noise from all the people that had come out to greet her and her crew; she could barely hear herself think. Thirty seconds later, the rest of the senior crew exited the starship. Off to the side as Admiral Paris was vigorously shaking her hand, the rest of the crew emerged, in pairs of four. As she looked around, she tried to control a feeling of light headedness.
She had a hard time focusing to Admiral Paris, as she was feeling overwhelmed. There were dozens of Starfleet officers, many admirals, press, and members of the crew's families as well friends.
"Welcome home Katie. You did it. You have done the impossible." He winked past her and joked. "You are proof that resistance is not futile."
She did not look back for her instincts told her that Paris had winked at Seven as she was approaching the colossal crowd. As Seven of Nine patiently waited to speak to her Janeway, Irene Hansen hugged her niece.
"I am so happy to see you! It has been almost decades."
Irene Hansen was so excited she gave Own Paris a hug and a peck on the cheek. Janeway just gave the elder Paris a wink as he hugged back Ms. Hansen.
Before her mentor had time to do anything else, B'Elanna Torres handed a squealing, wriggling bundle to her father in law, as she hugged Janeway and then Tom again. Owen Paris's eyes widened with sheer joy as he held up granddaughter to get a better look at her.
Tuvok and his wife TPel caught Janeway's eyes and nodded in understanding. Tuvok and his wife were surrounded by two dark skinned Vulcan men who both had a woman and a toddler standing next to each of them. Janeway returned the gesture, with no hint of jealousy as she took in what she knew to be Tuvok's grandchildren.
Meanwhile, Harry Kim ran not so gracefully and launched himself into the outstretched arms of his mother. His dad hurriedly backed out of the way so that his son would not knock him over. Standing next to his dad was an elegant looking Asian whom Janeway assumed was his old girlfriend, Libby. She was holding what she assumed was Kim's old clarinet case.
She turned around in time to see Irene Hanson pinch Chakotay's cheeks. His response was to shrug at his best friend. Janeway just nodded a moment before she was overwhelmed by the combination of twenty voices screaming her name. As if the press was not enough, she was simultaneously suffocated with several admirals who tried to compete for her attention all at one time. Admiral Paris had to cut interviews so that Gretchen, her mother, and Phoebe, her sister, could finally approach their relative. After a long moment of tears and hugs from her family, she turned her head to search for Chakotay. But Irene Hanson had her arms around her niece and Chakotay. Janeway mentally searched herself to see if she felt anything and found she felt nothing.
Her mentor chose at that moment to announce that pictures with the press would have to wait till later and invited the crew and their families and friends to a Starfleet banquet that was to be held in two hours.
Chakotay managed to get himself free from Seven's aunt and held up a finger to them as he approached Janeway. But she had closed the door on him or he had closed the door on them, she could not decide. She reminded herself that she had closed out all possibilities with him the moment she had exited the ready room. She shook her head and wrapped her arms around her mother and sister and left.
Chakotay's heart sank and he swallowed very, very hard.