Trust

Star Trek Voyager Fan Fiction
Season 5/6
Captain Kathryn Janeway had one goal – get her crew and ship back home. The Captain puts her mission above everything else, but would that also stop her from falling in love?
No copyright infringement intended. Purely for fun.
Written by LaughingLee (First fan fiction :)

CHAPTER 10

Captain Janeway was at her desk in her ready room, reviewing the data from Voyager's recent slipstream test. They had been so close. The new drive had functioned perfectly - except for the phase variation which they couldn't seem to adjust for. It was decided to scrap the project and revert the warp drive to its previous configuration. Janeway shook her head. She had told herself not to put her heart on this project getting them back to the Alpha Quadrant, but hope springs eternal. I had even started thinking what I was going to say once I saw my mom again, Janeway thought with a rueful smile.

Captain Janeway frowned as a message suddenly popped up on her screen. It was classified as personal and had been programmed to be delivered at this specific time. The Starfleet Captain couldn't contain the grin spreading across her face when she saw who it was from. Will that woman never stop surprising me, Kathryn thought, getting up and settling on the couch to read the message.

Dear Kathryn,

As I'm writing this, you're lying next to me fast asleep. We've just had dinner in my quarters and we were talking about the new warp drive. With the project starting in earnest tomorrow, I'm glad we could spend the evening together. It'll only get busier with all the extra hours we'll be putting in.

By the way, you know how most people describe their sleeping partner as adorable and so on? That doesn't apply to you. Even with your eyes closed you look ready to jump up and charge into any crisis situation. You're frowning slightly and you're probably dreaming about whether this slipstream drive will work or not. So, not adorable, but definitely very beautiful. And I like the way you curl up against me. I've really gotten used to sleeping with you.

I've timed this letter to be delivered to you after we use the slipstream drive which is only happening a few months from now. We've still got a lot of work to do with the design and endless testing before we can even get to replicating the parts and remodelling the warp drive. This letter can find you in one of two places. Either you're sitting in a nice chair at your mom's house or you're still in the Delta Quadrant on Voyager. Let's address the first scenario: Woohoo! Congratulations! I can't believe we've made it back to the Alpha Quadrant. After everything we've been through, all the battles and near-death experiences, all the hard work and late nights, you've gotten us back. Didn't I tell you you'd do it? You can thank me later.

You've probably noticed that I don't say home. I talk about the Alpha Quadrant. Don't get me wrong, I'm glad we're back, but it doesn't feel like home to me anymore. If there's one thing I've learnt from my time on Voyager (and don't laugh, I can be quite wise if the situation calls for it), it's that home is relative. You're my home, Kathryn. I know it sounds very cliché, but that's how I feel.

Now, let's consider the second scenario. Perhaps the slipstream drive completely fails. Or it only works for a few light years and then something goes wrong. Or it explodes and removes Voyager from existence. I hope it's not the last one. But, if you're reading this and you're sitting on your couch in your ready room, I have only one thing to say: Woohoo! Congratulations! You've done what no-one else has been able to accomplish before. You got this crew to pull together once again and work on a new and experimental technology. Technology which can probably be perfected in the near future. You've given this crew even more hope that we can get back to the Alpha Quadrant, the slipstream drive is perhaps just not the way to do it. Again, you've proven that anything is possible. Kathryn, I am proud of you and you should be as well. I hope you're not brooding about the test. It's not a failure, only a minor learning curve.

One last thing before I fall asleep – I love you, Kathryn. With everything I have, I love you.

Yours always,

Lee

Kathryn looked up from her padd and wiped the few tears from the corners of her eyes. Checking the duty rosters, she quickly got up and walked to the bridge. Chakotay was in his chair and Janeway greeted him as she headed to the turbolift.

"I'm finishing my shift earlier today, Commander," Janeway said, not stopping.

"Yes, ma'am," Chakotay replied, smiling at the auburn-haired woman. He had been worried that the Captain would be disappointed and despondent after the failure of the slipstream drive. But, as the Commander watched Captain Janeway make her way off the bridge, a large smile gracing her features, he knew his fears were unfounded.

LLLLL

"Lieutenant Torres, I'm telling you I'm not tired," Ensign Lee replied, trying to keep the irritation from her voice. "I'm on a roll. Let me do a double shift so that we can get this warp drive back to normal."

"Lee, I appreciate your enthusiasm, but decommissioning the slipstream drive will take weeks," B'Elanna Torres said and gestured to the current chaos which was Main Engineering. Parts and crates and crewmen were scattered all over, some removing pieces of the slipstream drive while others started work on getting the normal warp drive components back online. "It doesn't matter if you do a double shift or simply start again in the morning."

"Exactly," Lee smiled triumphantly. "So I might as well stay on, right?"

B'Elanna sighed in frustration. "Fine. Stay. Work through the night if you want to."

"Thanks, Lieutenant. You'll see how quickly we'll get Engineering back to normal now!" Lee started to walk past B'Elanna to her console, but the Chief Engineering suddenly grabbed her arm.

"Actually, I've changed my mind," the half-Klingon said, glancing at something behind the Ensign.

"What?" Lee was confused. She was usually exceptionally good at convincing people. "I don't understand. You said it was okay."

"No, you need your rest," B'Elanna replied, grinning. "Report for your normal duty shift tomorrow. Enjoy your evening, Lee!"

Lee was left standing with a deep frown on her face. When she turned around, she walked straight into Captain Janeway. The smile on Kathryn's face immediately gave her away.

"Did you use your rank for personal gain, Captain?" Lee asked with a smile. Kathryn started walking out of Engineering and Lee fell in step next to her.

"I have no idea what you're talking about, Ensign. I simply came to walk with you to dinner. Your shift is finished, isn't it?" Kathryn smiled innocently at the blonde woman.

"Apparently it is!" Lee replied with a laugh and followed Kathryn down the corridor.

"Let me help, Kathryn," Lee pleaded from where she was sitting at the table in Janeway's quarters. The Captain had led her past the mess hall with no explanation. When they reached her quarters, Kathryn had ushered Lee in, pulled out a chair and made her sit. Lee watched with growing curiosity as Kathryn programmed something into the replicator. She had already put Lee's favourite wine on the table.

"No," Kathryn replied, turning and trying to hide what she had gotten from the replicator. "Tonight is about you. So, sit quietly and do what I say."

"So like any other night, then?" Lee burst out laughing at the mock scowl on Kathryn's face. "All right, all right. As Seven says – I'll comply."

"Good," Kathryn said and turned back to the replicator. "I hope this is all right. I wanted to do something special, but I didn't think to give myself enough time to do something proper."

Lee watched in growing fascination as Kathryn placed a large bowl in front of her. It was Voyager! It was a replica of the ship in bright green Jell-O. The details of the starship were etched into the dessert and Lee couldn't stop staring.

"It's too childish, isn't it?" Kathryn said, sitting down with a sigh. "I know you absolutely love Jell-O and Voyager so I thought maybe combining the two would be funny. I'm sorry, I'll –."

Lee stopped Kathryn mid-sentence by pulling the Captain closer and kissing her excitedly. "This is perfect, Kathryn. I love it! Thank you." Lee looked at the green Voyager and started laughing. "This is great! You can even see small people in the windows. But, why the special dessert?"

"I received your letter today," Kathryn replied. Lee looked at her blankly. "The one you wrote before we started working on the slipstream drive. It was delivered today."

"Is it that time already?" Lee chuckled. "We got so busy with the project that I'd almost forgotten about the letter. Did you like it? I thought you might need something after the test, no matter if it worked or not."

"It was exactly what I needed to hear. I loved it." Kathryn paused and Lee looked at her expectantly. "I know I don't often discuss my feelings and I love the fact that you seem to know what I'm feeling without my saying anything. But, there are some things I should say out loud. I love you, Lee. Sometimes I can't believe you're with me and I hope I'm not dreaming. I love you."

Lee jumped up and pulled Kathryn into a bone-crunching hug. The Ensign held her tightly for a few minutes and then slowly let go. "Kathryn? I have one comment."

"What is it?"

"Can I eat Voyager now?"

Kathryn burst out laughing and handed the grinning engineering one of the biggest spoons she could replicate. This got even more laughs from the younger woman who immediately sat down to decide which to eat first: the bridge or the port nacelles.