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CHAPTER 11

Fighting sleepy medication, Kathryn lay in a bed at Starfleet Headquarters Sanatorium and waited impatiently for the Doctor to arrive. One moment she had been struggling with Adam, the next she had woken up in this sterile secluded room. How she had got here, she didn't know, and the young nurse on duty had only told her that Doctor Shmullus would be with her as soon as he could. The nurse had told her to try and sleep, but sleep was the last thing she wanted to do. She wanted to know what had happened...how she had ended up here...what had happened to Adam...to Chakotay's body...

At last, silver double doors leading into the room opened and the Doctor appeared.

"Captain," he smiled. "Welcome back."

Kathryn tried to sit up, but her whole body protested in pain. "What happened?" she asked anxiously. "How did I get here? What's happened to Adam?"

"Relax, Captain," the Doctor said, reaching the bed. "Everything's under control. After you called me, clearly in distress, I tracked your location and transported immediately. Thanks to my impeccable timing and holographic imperviousness to physical harm, I was able to stop Adam choking the life out of you and sedate him. I then had you both transported here, ordered your cases to be classified, and Admiral Paris gave the necessary approval. Once I had treated you, I went to treat and exam Adam. In fact, that's where I've been until now." He paused. "The tests confirm what I suspected. The brain in Chakotay's body belongs to Adam. The left lung and pancreas are also his."

Kathryn was silent a moment as she absorbed this, then she spoke. "What's his condition? The attack...was his brain being rejected?"

"Yes," the Doctor answered, "stimulating irrational and aggressive behavior. Tests indicate that some time over the past two days Adam has attempted self transplant conditioning treatment. Unfortunately, rather than preventing foreign organ rejection, it induced it." He paused. "I'm afraid his prognosis is not good. He has suffered a severe brain haemorrhage and is in a coma. It's unlikely he will ever regain consciousness."

"I see," Kathryn said quietly. As angry as she was with Adam for what he had put them all through, a part of her also felt sorry for him. In his short life he had known too much pain and not enough happiness. She wished that, somehow, things could have been different. "What of Chakotay's body?"

"In no danger," the Doctor reassured her. "However, even though we now know for sure what has happened, and can easily correct the switch, to do so at the moment would jeopardise any chance Adam has of recovery. The disturbance would most likely cause instant brain death."

"Then we'll wait," Kathryn answered. "If there's any chance Adam can pull through, we have to help him." She paused. "When can I get out of here?"

"You've suffered a serious blow to the head, Captain," the Doctor explained, "aswell as a fractured collar bone, three cracked ribs, and multiple neck and throat injuries. You're going no where for at least 12 hours."

"But I left Adriena with Tuvok," Kathryn protested, "and he's leaving for Vulcan in the morning..."

"Not anymore," the Doctor clarified. "He has postponed his trip."

"You've spoken with him?"

"Yes...or rather he has spoken with me. He tried to contact you about 30 minutes ago, but as I had your commbadge after retrieving it from Adam's apartment, he got through to me. He was concerned for your welfare, and, as I guessed you must have left the child with some trusted person, I figured it had to be him. I told him what had happened and he said he would look after Adriena for as long as need be."

"I can't have him do that," Kathryn said, trying to sit up again. "He's waited..." Her words faded into a murmur of pain as she tried to get out of the bed.

"And can wait a little longer," the Doctor said firmly. "Now, lie down and lie still. You're in no fit state to care for yourself, let alone a child."

The pain giving her no choice but to obey, Kathryn lay back down and closed her eyes. The Doctor then put a hypospray to her neck. "This will ease the pain and send you to sleep."

The medicine began to take effect immediately and Kathryn's body relaxed. "I'm sure glad I'm not one of Chakotay's boxing opponents," she said, falling asleep. "One round was enough for..." She was about to say 'me', but sleep claimed her.

Before a midnight fire, Tuvok converted the sofa into a comfortable bed. As he was unrolling a thick quilt he had just replicated, he heard Adriena hobble across her bedroom floor. Moments later, the door opened and she stood in the doorway. Tuvok put down the quilt in his hands and turned to her. "I thought you were asleep, young lady."

Adriena made no reply, just looked at him with dull, heavy, eyes.

"Is there anything I can get you?"

"I want Kathryn," Adriena replied. "Why isn't she back yet?"

Tuvok gestured to the couch. "Please, take a seat."

Adriena shook her head as tears welled in her eyes. "I want Kathryn!"

"The Captain will not be returning tonight," Tuvok said matter-of-factly. "She has suffered a head-injury and is receiving medical care. I am thus your guardian in her absence."

"I don't want you," Adriena cried. "I want Kathryn!"

"That is not possible."

Adriena's nose crinkled in anger and her eyes boiled with pain and frustration. "I want her! I want her!" She then began to slam her crutch against the floor. "I want her!"

"Please," Tuvok said, stepping closer. "Control yourself. This agitation does no good."

Tears streamed down the child's face now. "I won't stop 'till she comes. I won't! I want her, I want her!"

"Please," Tuvok beseeched, the child's behavior greatly disturbing his Vulcan calm, "this is no way for a little girl to behave..."

"I mean it," Adriena yelled. "I won't stop 'till she comes! I won't! I'll be naughty! I'm telling you, I will!"

Angrily, she raised up her crutch and in one ferocious swoop knocked everything off a nearby elegant oak cabinet. The objects crashed to a wooden floor and a couple of antique plates smashed.

"Adriena!" Tuvok cried. "Stop this!"

"No!" She screamed. "I want Kathryn, I want her! I want her! I want her!"

Then, as though she could shout no more, she slid to the floor, sobbing painfully, and lay on her front, burying her head in her hands.

Tuvok said nothing, just let her cry. Being a non-Vulcan humanoid, he knew she had exhausted her emotions and needed the release. He watched her cry for a while, then he went over to the mess she had made on the floor. One by one he put the objects back on the cabinet, and then picked up the broken pieces of plate. He lay them carefully on the cabinet and arranged them into a whole like a jigsaw.

Just as he was finishing, Adriena sat up, her eyes and cheeks red. Her little black dog was now beside her, and the child picked him up. Cuddling him, she looked up at Tuvok.

"I want Kathryn."

"You have made that abundantly clear," Tuvok replied. "But, as I said, the Captain will not be home tonight."

After putting the last broken piece in place, Tuvok went over to the child.

"It is late and I suggest you go back to bed."

Adriena shook her head. "Not until Kathryn comes."

Tuvok saw it would be futile to argue, so he humored the child instead. "As you wish." He turned away and walked back over to the sofa. "I will finish making my bed."

He carefully made up the bed and Adriena watched his every move. When he was finished, Tuvok went over to a chair and picked up a book he had previously been reading. "I will continue to read now. You may watch."

Adriena's nose crinkled again and fresh tears welled in her eyes. "I hate you," she cried. "I hate you!"

Tuvok opened his book. "I appreciate the honesty."

Adriena bit her lip as anger boiled again and she put down the dog in her arms. Angrily, she reached for her crutches and heaved herself upright. "You'll be sorry, you funny looking freak! I'll make you sorry, I will!"

With that, she raised up her crutch again and knocked everything off the cabinet for a second time. Once again the items crashed to the hard floor, clanging and breaking as they did so. Adriena then turned around and hurried into her bedroom. The dog followed her, and, as soon as they were both inside, the door slammed shut with a resonating bang.

THE FOLLOWING AFTERNOON

"I really appreciate you going out of your way to help us like this," Kathryn said to Tuvok as she arrived at the cottage, with her mother, after finally having permission to leave the sanatorium. "I can't thank you enough."

"No need for thanks, Captain," Tuvok said sincerely. "I was glad to be of assistance."

"Well, I thank you anyway," Kathryn replied. "And I'm sure Chakotay will want to when he gets back." She looked around. "Is Adriena in her room?"

Tuvok nodded. "And has been there since last night. All efforts to entice her from seclusion have failed. She is a most tempestuous child, Captain."

Kathryn frowned. "Doesn't sound like her. What happened?"

"She reacted most violently when I told her you would not be coming home. First she began shouting, then she knocked everything off the yonder cabinet with her crutch, breaking two items, and then she lay on the floor crying. Afterwards, she said she hated me, insulted me, and knocked everything off the cabinet again, breaking another item. She then disappeared into her room and has been there ever since."

"I see," Kathryn replied. "I'm sorry, Tuvok. I had no idea she was prone to such behavior."

"Given her background and heritage, it is perhaps to be expected, Captain."

"Perhaps," she considered.

"I have placed the broken items on top of the cabinet."

"Thank you," Kathryn said, looking in the direction of the cabinet. She saw pieces of china neatly laid out on the oak and a quick glance of the surviving objects told her that a nineteenth century vase was amongst the casualties.

"Well, I had best be leaving," Tuvok continued. "Please keep me informed of developments."

"I will," Kathryn said, going over to the front door to show him out. "And thank you again."

Tuvok joined her at the door and held out his hand to her in a formal goodbye gesture. "Goodbye, Captain."

Kathryn took his hand in hers and shook it. "Goodbye, Tuvok."

The Vulcan then left for his shuttle and Kathryn closed the door behind him.

"Your Aunt Martha is going to be devastated," Gretchen said as she went over to the cabinet. "This vase was her pride and joy."

"I'll get it fixed," Kathryn said, walking over to her mother. "She'll never know."

"This child sounds very disturbed," Gretchen said, turning to her daughter. "Are you sure it's right to keep her here like this? There are people better qualified to deal with her..."

"But not better qualified to love her," Kathryn argued. "She's lived God knows what kind of deprived, affectionless, lonely, life. All she needs is to be loved." Kathryn put her hand on her mother's shoulder. "Why don't you brew us a nice pot of tea while I tell her I'm back?"

Gretchen nodded. "Alright." She then put her hand over her daughter's. "Just be careful, darling. I know that beneath that tough Starfleet heart of yours is a soft one all too easy to break. You say you love Chakotay, and I don't doubt for a moment that you do, but the question is does he love you as much? He has a troubled past, a criminal record, and has fathered a child with a woman he clearly didn't have a quality relationship with. I don't want you to get hurt, darling. You deserve a man who will love you deeply and truly."

"And Chakotay does," Kathryn replied. "He's the kindest, most loyal, most gentle man I've ever known. No man could love me more." She squeezed her mother's hand. "When you meet him, you'll see for yourself. The only Chakotay you've met is Adam, and believe me, it would be difficult to find two different men. He would never do anything to hurt me and will be a wonderful father to Adriena. There's no need to worry."

Gretchen smiled wanly. "I can't help it. I'm your mother." Her eyes moistened. "And I've just got you back after thinking I'd lost you forever..."

"I know," Kathryn said quietly. "But you'll love Chakotay, I promise."

Adriena was lying on her bed, face down in her pyjamas, when Kathryn entered the bedroom. At the foot of the bed was the little black dog she had rescued, and on the bedside cabinet was a tray of untouched food. Quietly, Kathryn walked towards the bed.

"Having a siesta?"

At the sound of Kathryn's voice, Adriena sat up and turned to her, joy illuminating the child's face. "Kathryn!"

Still sore, Kathryn sat down slowly on the edge of the bed. There were stale tears on the child's cheek and her hair was wet. Kathryn reached out and put her hand to the child's face.

"What's all this I hear about you giving Tuvok a hard time?"

Adriena lowered her eyes at that, shame and guilt infesting every feature.

Kathryn gently brushed the child's hair away from her face. "I thought you were a good girl."

At that, Adriena drew away from Kathryn and lay back down on the bed, facing the wall.

"Tell me why you got upset, darling," Kathryn continued. "There must have been a reason."

A tear ran down Adriena's cheek. "I didn't think you were coming back...thought you had left me."

"Oh Adriena," Kathryn said quietly.

"No body wants me."

"I want you," Kathryn said. "And your daddy will want you too."

Adriena sat up again at that, infinite pain in her eyes. "I don't want him to want me. I want to stay with you. Just with you..."

The child then lurched forward and clung tight to Kathryn.

"Please let me stay with you."

The child's firm grip hurt Kathryn's tender body, but she ignored the pain and held the child close.

"You are going to love your daddy, darling," she said, a lump in her throat almost choking her words, "and he is going to love you. And your daddy and I love each other. I'm going to be here for you always." She hoped that she and Chakotay had a future together, that she, Chakotay and Adriena could be a family, but it would be cruel to build up the child's hopes when there was still so much uncertainty.

"I love you," Adriena whispered.

Kathryn kissed the child's hair as a stubborn tear ran down her cheek. "I love you too, darling."

They held each other a long while, then Kathryn drew slightly away.

"Now," she said, looking at the dog that was looking at them curiously, "how about we go and introduce you, and our furry little friend here, to my mother?"

Adriena nodded happily. "And Teddy?"

"And Teddy," Kathryn smiled.

END OF CHAPTER ELEVEN