Disclaimer- I don't own Star Trek :Voyager and I don't profit from this in any way.
A/N: I know this chapter is very short so please forgive me, I posted another kinda short chapter to make up for it.
also any suggestions for the next couple chapters I would greatly appreciate I'm kinda stuck at this point. Thanks so much.
Chapter 12
Kathryn Janeway sat in her dark quarters looking out into the stars. In her hand was a letter Seven had brought to her an hour ago. The letter was the last to come through the array, and was from her family. Her mother said they were all well. All including her daughter, who was indeed named Shannon, and was living with her mother. Kathryn reached up and wiped her cheeks when the chime sounded. She smiled, calling for the person to enter, knowing just who it would be.
"Do you have some sort of sixth sense, Chakotay?" she called in the dark. "Computer: light to 50%."
"Not really. I just thought you could use a shoulder to lean on. Seven mentioned to me that she got the last letter out," Chakotay said, walking over to the view port where she was sitting.
"Really? Sometimes she surprises me how she can read human emotions so well. And so...not at times." She smiled a crooked smile at him.
He just chuckled.
"So, I'll tell you mine if you tell me yours," He waved the PADD in his hand. One she never noticed he was caring.
"It's from my mother. Here, you can read it, I don't mind." She handed him the letter.
Dear Kathryn,
You can't imagine the joy we felt finding out you and your crew are alive. Owen says to try and keep it short, so I will try! The first thing I will say is everyone is well. Molly included. The most important thing is about Shannon. Well, there is no easy way to say this, but Mary and Ken Alvarez were killed in a shuttle crash last year, and Shannon came to live with us. It was a true miracle. Not that death is happy. But finding Shannon helped to ease the pain of you being gone. She looks more like you now than the day she was born -if you can believe that. Her personality is more of a combination of you and Phoebe's. It has been interesting and challenging for all of us, but it has been most definitely worth it.
I hope someday we will be able to speak to you, or even to hear how you are, and how you are holding up. Just remember, Katie, we love you. And there will be a candle in the window for you. Be safe and happy.
Love Mom, Phoebe, and Shannon
Chakotay reached over and grabbed her hand.
"Kathryn, that's great I mean, wow."
She nodded, wiping her eyes again.
"My mother was right: it was some kind of miracle. Or if I believed in them it would be," she said.
He smiled, and then remembered his letter.
"I'm afraid my letter doesn't have good news though," he said.
She squeezed his hand
"I know: the Maquis. I'm so sorry, Chakotay." She reached forward and pulled him into a hug, and let him cry on her shoulder like she had done so many times with him. "It's okay, let it out," she whispered to him, rubbing his back.
The next morning, Kathryn was seated at her work station in her quarters trying to write a letter to her family, or more like the daughter she gave up. She had gotten as far as "dear Shannon", when a snore caught he attention, and a head with black hair popped up on the couch.
"Hey. I thought you might sleep through you shift!" she said as Chakotay got off the couch and rubbed his palms in his eyes.
"Urgh. What time is it?" he asked
"A little after 0700," she said, putting the PADD she was working on down. "Wanna go get some breakfast in the mess hall? I think Neelix maybe making something remotely edible." She stood up and brushed her uniform pants.
"Yeah, just give me 15 minutes to hop in the sonic shower and change," he said, walking out the door. He stopped mid-step and went over to hug her.
"Thank you for last night," he said.
She waved him in dismissal
"Don't worry about it. My policy is to let at least one crew member snot on my uniform a month. Keeps me human," she joked, patting him on the shoulder.
"I didn't snot your uniform up!" he said defensively.
She gave him a "yeah right" look
"Okay, maybe I did a little. Would you like me to replicate you a new one?" he asked looking sheepish.
She shook her head
"Nah, it already had a coffee stain on it," she called over her shoulder going into her bedroom.
"I'll meet you in the mess in 15," he called. He heard a muffled response that he took for an OK.
Thanks for reading and PLEASE , PLEASE REVIEW and let me know if you have any suggestions. Thanks so much!
