Dinner was tense that evening. Harry was still trying to comprehend why Voyager's crew was being put on leave and could not be consoled. Tom and B'Elanna wanted nothing more than to be left alone. They enjoyed having family around but the change was too sudden and hard to adjust to. Owen Paris was attempting to exist outside of his role as an Admiral, but was failing to evade Harry's persisting questions. John Torres, the only civilian at the table, had gotten over his space sickness and was excitedly recounting all the things he had seen that day around the station. Voices clashed, Harry was nearly coming out of his chair to get in the Admiral's face, and John was matching his volume to that of the room babbling about a space phenomena he had witnessed outside the station. Miral made some small coos and stirred in the next room. Even through the noise, B'Elanna motherly instinct allowed her to pick up on the noise. She could tell Miral was simply waking up from a nap and didn't require any immediate attention, but took the opportunity as an out. Tapping Tom on the leg, she motioned toward the door to their sleeping quarters. As eager to leave the degrading situation as his wife, Tom and B'Elanna wordlessly slipped away from the table. The whoosh of the automatic doors behind them muffled what must been the booming voice of Admiral Paris finally retorting to Harry's barrage of questions.
"Not the welcome back we've dreamed of," Tom lamented while leaning against the doorway, head leaning on his forearm. Lost in his own thoughts he realized B'Elanna had never responded. Looking over as his wife, he saw her sitting on the bed, knees to chest, head down in her knees. Tom knew this position, it was the only time B'Elanna would cry. "B'Elanna, hey!" he called, learning down beside her and placing a hand on each of her folded up knees. "We're okay. Everything is okay. We're not in our zone right now. We have each other and our daughter is perfectly healthy. We just have to get through the next week or so."
"And then what?" B'Elanna snapped, pulling her head up and quickly wiping away a tear, "Next week we get to Earth and realize how little Starfleet actually cares about us? We get to stay with your parents while we attempt to find jobs with out of date skills? Voyager was OUR HOME and it has been pulled out from under us at the time when we need it most".
Tom knew B'Elanna didn't want to be lied to. He could continue to tell her that it would all be alright. He could lie and tell him he was sure Starfleet would be quick to pardon a Maquis. That Starfleet wouldn't throw him back into the penal colony on a technicality. None of this was certain. He wrapped his arms around her and held her tight. "No matter what happens, I will fight to stay with you and Miral. No one will separate us without a fight. I've not always been a man of my world, but you have changed me," B'Elanna's body began move in a rhythmic motion as she began to cry. Tom had only seen her cry like this a few times, the last being after being convinced to refrain from genetically altering their child. "Shhhhh. Shhhhh," he whispered in her ear while stroking her hair. "We're together and safe. We will build from here". He continued to hold her tight, letting her tears soak the red of his uniform.
Minutes later, B'Elanna's slowly stopped crying. "I'm supposed to be strong right now. You heard Harry, I should be fighting warriors on the battlefield. Not crying in bed".
"This is when you are going to start listening to Harry? Now? You know your metabolism, while heightened due to your Klingon DNA, can be imbalanced easily. I know you want to stay as strong as your Klingon side, but you are obviously struggling right now. You shouldn't have to struggle, let's talk to Bashir".
"I am NOT talking to that petaQ!"
"Okay. Okay. Well, how about the Doc?" B'Elanna's lack of rejection made the decision. "Why don't you go take a shower. I will talk to the Doctor". He gave her another tight embrace. "I am so happy you are you. Don't hate yourself for being vulnerable". Tears welled up in her eyes again and she nodded to affirm Tom's statements. She ran a finger tenderly over Miral's small ridges and headed to the shower.
After the couple minutes of back and forth communications, Captain Janeway's face occupied the screen in front of Tom. "I-I-I'm sorry," Tom stammered, noticing the Captain was in her pink satin robe.
Janeway dismissively raised her hand. "No worries, Tom. I had a long day and retired early. I was simply reading some Vulcan philosophy. Dry stuff, I know. I just needed some clarity and logic". She took a step closer to the screen and pulled the front of her robe tight. "You said B'Elanna needs the Doctor. Is Miral okay?"
Tom smiled. "Miral is wonderful. It is actually B'Elanna. You know she has battled her demons before and I think she is suffering from some postpartum depression. The stress on her body combined with the stress of the whole situation," he paused as yelling between Harry Kim and Admiral Paris became loud enough to infiltrate his quarters.
"Understood," Janeway agreed while nodding. "I can have the Doctor there in five minutes." I will also speak with Harry. His passion is invaluable but unwarranted at the time. And Tom," she said, her voice switching from that of Starlet authority to a friend, "take care of B'Elanna". Her expression immediately changed once again, "Janeway out". Her face disappeared from the screen.
Only two minutes later, the Doctor materialized a few feet from Tom. "She wasn't kidding about getting you here quickly," Tom commented.
"Well, I haven't been as useful as the Captain originally thought," the Doctor lamented. "Starfleet has a lot of interest in me, but it wasn't for my medical knowledge or ability to expand further than my programming parameters allowed. I am a simple data mine, just another piece of ship technology to be analyzed. My whole day has been spent reminding holoengineers I am in the same room as them while they discuss my program."
"Sorry to hear that, Doc".
"Enough about my woes, I will certainly survive. The Captain tells me B'Elanna is having a rough adjustment to her newest role, mother". The hologram set down his medpack and pulled out a tricorder.
"I think that is only part of it. She is taking everything hard. It's like she thinks Starfleet is moments away from taking us both to the brig for eternity".
The Doctor nodded. "Although highly unlikely, her concern is understandable. She has more than herself to think of now," he nodded to the still sleeping Miral. "B'Elanna's issues with abandonment are no surprise to either of us. Even the smallest chance her daughter will have to grow up alone is enough to be a very scary thought. The hormonal imbalances caused by human/Klingon metabolisms clashing are probably exacerbating her mood".
Tom nodded in agreement as B'Elanna emerged from the bathroom. "Well that was quick", she commented, retying her robe to cover herself more.
"I don't make many house calls," the hologram began while pulling out his scanner and tricorder. I will make an exception to the parents of my Godchild, however".
The Doctor's pride while talking of Miral brought a small smile to B'Elanna's face. "I appreciate it, Doc," she added softly. Her smile dissipated as quickly as it appeared. "I'm sorry you had to come over here."
"B'Elanna, you are my friend," the Doctor began with a warm expression. "Your well being is important to me," he paused before proceeding gently, "I know medical intervention may be a little pre-emptive, but I would like to treat you for some hormonal imbalance before you become clinically depressed". B'Elanna opened her mouth to protest, but the hologram cut her off. "Off the record," he reassured her. "This transition getting back to Earth will be rough on all of us, we might as well stick together".
B'Elanna sucked in her breath and took a long pause. She felt overwhelmed, but knew the two men standing in the room had only her best interests at mind. Losing her tough exterior, she wiped the beginning of a tear from her eye. Tom instinctively crossed the room to her and wrapped his arms around her warm skin. Not being the time for words, he let her cry once more. This was the release she needed in the moment and he was not going to talk her out of it. After a few minutes went he motioned for the Doctor to proceed with his scans. The three continued their silence while the tricorder chirped its results.
"That should do it," the Doctor commented. "Tom, I brought you an additional medical tricorder and am going to leave you ample supply of serum with adjusted Klingon hormones."
"Smuggling supplies," B'Elanna commented as the Doctor held the hypospray to her neck. "I am impressed with you, Doc. Maybe you need to stop hanging out with ex-cons and Maquis members."
"As I was telling Tom," he began while putting up his supplies, "I am not sure my welcome back will be as warm as I had hoped. I might need the ability to call in some favors here in the near future."
"Don't make me regret it, Doctor, but our home is yours," Tom responded.
"I have no intention of being a burden to anyone," the hologram retorted. "I should probably get back to Voyager".
"And we should probably go to sleep," Tom responded. "I am sure I have at least 10 more dull meetings to sit through tomorrow". The group said their goodbyes and the Doctor tapped his comm and returned to Voyager.