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THE LINK

CHAPTER 21

NEW YEAR'S EVE

Music, chatter and laughter filled Kathryn's and Chakotay's lodge as their friends and family gathered together to welcome in the new year. This was the first party they were hosting as a couple, the first party to be held in their home, and Kathryn and Chakotay had gone to considerable lengths to make sure it met expectation. Twinkling fairy lights adorned the snow covered lodge, festive decorations graced every room, and in the lounge a magnificent Christmas tree stood tall. On top of the tree was a sparkling silver star, and covering the tree were wonderful baubles and beads, tinsels and trinkets, candle-lights and chocolates. Only a week earlier, a mountain of presents had sat beneath it, but Kathryn and Chakotay had opened them on Christmas morning. It had taken them a long time, as there were so many, but they had enjoyed every moment. Their first Christmas together truly had been the best Christmas ever. After opening their presents, they had gone to Kathryn's mother's for dinner, a dinner that was also attended by Aunt Martha, Phoebe, and Phoebe's new boyfriend, Maurice, and they had celebrated Christmas with them until late evening, when they'd gone home and snuggled up with a box of chocolates to watch a festive movie. Nothing very out of the ordinary, but after years of living the extraordinary, the day was all the more special for its normality.

While no one could beat Aunt Martha's cooking, Gretchen Janeway was also a good cook, and both women had contributed food to the party. As over fifty people were invited, a lot of food was needed, and Kathryn wanted to offer homemade as well as replicated. She had even baked a cake herself, a victorian sponge that required only basic cooking skills, and to her great joy it had turned out a treat. Aunt Martha had praised it to the hilt and the cake was now on display amongst the others in the dining room. The upper lounge was the center point of the party, as it was the largest and most attractive room in the lodge, but the dining room was the chosen place to house the buffet. The room was just off the lounge, entered by an open archway, and was just big enough to hold all the food. Naomi had also baked a cake for the occasion, a chocobana one, and it too was on offer. Naomi was thrilled to be at the party, especially as Tessi was invited too, but was under strict instructions to keep the animal on a leash at all times. There weren't any other children at the party, but as she was used to being alone amongst adults, Naomi didn't even notice. She was in her element talking to all the guests and, while her mother was on Tessi duty, helping Gretchen in the dining room.

"Do you know," she asked the old lady as they placed newly replicated plates of sandwiches on a table, "that when we were on Voyager I was captain's assistant?"

"Yes," Gretchen smiled, "I know that. Kathryn says you were a great help."

"I was. I used to help her with all kinds of things. I don't think she could have beat the borg without me, because I would get her coffee, and she's always said she couldn't have beat the borg without coffee. I used to clean her shoes too, because a captain must always have clean shoes, and I would take messages from her to people. Mostly by padd, but sometimes by mouth too."

"Sounds like you worked hard."

"I did. I would go to her ready room twice a week after lessons and help out until Mom finished her shift. Sometimes I even stayed longer and we'd have dinner together. I loved having dinner with the captain. It made me feel special because hardly anyone, except Chakotay and Tuvok, got to have dinner with the captain."

"Well, I'm sure Kathryn loved your company."

"I hope so. I sure loved hers. She's the bravest and smartest person I've ever known. The kindest too. Mom says she was just born that way, that some people are just born clever and brave, but I think you must have had a hand in it because you're her mother and you raised her. So, I want to thank you for giving us such an awesome captain and lady."

These words moved Gretchen and tears filled her eyes. So often over the years she had wished that her daughter had never joined Starfleet, that she was less brave, less clever, so that she would be leading a more ordinary life, but these words reminded her just how much Kathryn had achieved in her life and how much she meant to so many people. All the heartache, all the years of grieving, the years of worry, seemed insignificant then. Kathryn was a heroine, and she was a heroine because of what she had accomplished, and that could only fill any mother's heart with pride.

"Bless you, dear," she said.

Naomi smiled and then put down another plate of sandwiches.

"Do you think," she said, "that now we're home, and Kathryn is no longer a captain, that I can be Admiral's assistant instead?"

"It's got to be worth an ask," Gretchen replied. "So, run along and ask her. I'll take care of the sandwiches."

"Ok, Mrs Janeway," Naomi smiled. "I'll go right away."

With that, she abandoned the table and made her way into the lounge. The room was full of people and more were arriving by the minute. They were all arriving by transport and Kathryn and Chakotay were greeting them. Kathryn's long hair was half up, half down, and she was wearing a gorgeous gown of blue velvet that hugged her figure and kissed her knees. As she was now only two months pregnant, there was not as yet a bump. Chakotay was smartly dressed too, but as it was very warm inside the lodge, he was wearing only a shimmering black shirt over black pants. As the people they were greeting left them, and there were no more at that moment to be greeted, Naomi took her chance and approached Kathryn.

"Hello, Kathryn," she said.

Kathryn turned from Chakotay and smiled at the child. "Hello, Naomi. Are you having a good time?"

"A wonderful time," she answered. "But I've been thinking. As you are no longer a captain, but still need someone to assist you on occasions like this, how about you employ me as Admiral's assistant?"

"Admiral's assistant," Kathryn smiled, "it certainly has a ring to it. Consider yourself employed."

"Oh, thank you, thank you! I have so missed being your assistant! But this means I will have to call you Admiral because, like Seven would say, we are in a command structure now. Is that ok with you?"

"Perfectly fine with me," Kathryn answered.

Naomi beamed a smile, hugged Kathryn, and then hurried back to the dining room. As she went, Kathryn turned to Chakotay and was just about to speak when Natalie materialized before them. The Admiral was wearing a long black velvet dress and, as always, her curly hair was loose. Beside her, looking stunning in a revealing dress of shimmering silver, was sexy Opal Reese.

"Natalie," Kathryn smiled, "I'm so glad you could make it."

"Me too," Natalie replied, "but my husband can't so I've brought along my niece, Lieutenant Opal Reese."

Kathryn turned to the girl and smiled. "It's wonderful to meet you, Opal."

"And you," the girl answered. "I admire you greatly."

Kathryn smiled again and then gestured to Chakotay. "This is my husband, Commander Chakotay."

Opal turned to him. "An honor to meet you, Sir."

"Likewise," he replied.

"Where are you stationed, Opal?" Kathryn asked. "Do you serve on a starship?"

"Yes," she answered, "The Draylor, but I'm on three months leave."

Natalie spoke now. "Which gives her time to enjoy an adventure with us. What do you say, Kathryn? Are you up for a space trip?"

Kathryn's eyes brightened. "A space trip? My curfew has been lifted?"

"Not exactly, but I've done some finger twisting and Admiral Hayes has agreed to let you accompany me on a field trip to Denma Prime. I'm going there to determine whether an ancient archaeological site is worthy of being included in my class on ancient archaeology. Hardly the most exciting of expeditions, I know, but it will mean a week in space. What do you say?"

"I say yes," Kathryn smiled. "And I say thank you!"

Natalie laughed. "I thought you'd be pleased. The down side is, we leave in three days."

"Three days? That's plenty of time! But I couldn't possibly go exploring an ancient archaeological site without my stellar archaeologist husband." She turned to Chakotay. "Because you'd love to come too, wouldn't you, honey?"

"I would," he replied,

"Then you're coming," Natalie smiled. "And I'm sure the four of us will have a wonderful time...or five if we include the symbiont."

Kathryn laughed. "Yes, but let's make that six. Tuvok should come too."

"Oh, must he? Like all Vulcans he drives me crazy with his solemnity. I'd rather you bring The Doctor."

"Why not both? The more the merrier!"

"I'd hardly use the words Vulcan and merry in the same sentence, but if Tuvok must come, then The Doctor must come to revive me when I die of boredom."

Kathryn laughed. "You're incorrigible, Natalie. But also fantastic. I can't wait for this trip."

"Neither can I. But we'll talk more later. You have guests to greet."

"I sure do. Speak to you later."

Natalie and Opal then left, and Kathryn and Chakotay greeted the rest of their guests. When everyone had arrived, Kathryn and Chakotay took a much needed drink, and then split up to mingle.

"This is an awesome party," B'Elanna said to Kathryn as they met in the dining room. "You and Chakotay have gone to a lot of trouble."

"We sure have," Kathryn smiled. "We've cleaned this place from top to bottom and have spent hours putting up all the decorations. But Mom and Aunt Martha must take credit for all the food. They've either cooked or replicated the lot. My contribution is pretty much just that victorian sponge cake over there. And, as it's the only cake untried, I'm guessing every one knows it's my contribution."

B'Elanna laughed. "Well, I'll be brave and have a slice. It looks delicious."

"Then help yourself, Ma'am."

B'Elanna cut herself a slice, a very generous one, and then bit into it. Kathryn eagerly awaited her verdict, but it was hardly the praise she was expecting. B'Elanna's face turned green and then she frantically searched the table for a napkin. As soon as she had one she spat the cake out and coughed.

"What's wrong with it?" Kathryn asked. "Too much vanilla?"

"I don't think vanilla is the problem," B'Elanna said, reaching for a glass of wine to drown out the horrible taste. "Try it for yourself."

Kathryn cut herself a piece and cautiously bit into it. As soon as she did, the cake set her mouth on fire. Just like B'Elanna had, she fumbled for a napkin and spat it out.

"Oh hell," she cried. "I must have put in curry powder instead of vanilla. Damn it!" Quickly, she grabbed a glass of orange juice and gulped it down. "Oh, that's better. I'm so sorry, B'Elanna."

"It's alright," B'Elanna laughed. "It's actually quite funny."

"Yes," Kathryn said, laughing too. "I guess it is!"

Aunt Martha approached now, looking very elegant in a gown of purple, and made a beeline for the cake.

"Oh, I see your masterpiece has finally been sampled. Wonderful! Now I can have a slice. I've been waiting all day!"

"And will be waiting forever," Kathryn replied. "There's only one place it's fit enough for and that's the recycler."

"Oh, nonsense. It looks fabulous!"

"Well," B'Elanna smiled, "looks can be deceptive, as I've learnt the hard way."

"But it looks so soft and fluffy," Aunt Martha observed. "What's wrong with it?"

"Let's just say," Kathryn answered, "it's Victorian sponge con curry rather than Victorian sponge con vanilla."

At this, Aunt Martha laughed loud. "Oh Katie, darling, who could do such a thing but you! Oh, what a hoot!"

"Not for my mouth," B'Elanna teased. "More like 'Oh what a hot!'"

Aunt Martha laughed again and then clutched her side. "Oh, now I have a stitch! Oh Katie, you beat all!"

Naomi arrived now. "If you are taking care of the food now, Admiral, do you need my assistance?"

"When it comes to food," Kathryn smiled, "it's better for everyone that I leave my mother and Aunt Martha in charge. But I would be very grateful if you could recycle my cake."

"Why, Admiral? Does it taste awful?"

"Worse than you could ever imagine."

"Then you should have asked me to help. My cake was so nice that it's all gone! Next time, make sure you do. Helping with cooking is a very important part of being Admiral's assistant."

B'Elanna put her hand on Kathryn's shoulder. "This admiral, certainly. But who's giving who orders here?"

"It is an assistant's job to anticipate the captain's needs before she knows she has them," Naomi replied. "Neelix taught me that and it applies to admirals too."

"I see," B'Elanna smiled. "Who am I to argue with Neelix?"

Naomi picked up the cake, which was resting on a plate, and sniffed it. "Smells ok. May I try it?"

"No," everyone said in unison.

Then, laughing, Kathryn addressed the child. "Just be a good assistant and recycle it. Admiral's orders."

Naomi saluted, almost dropping the plate as she did. "Yes, Ma'am."

Then she hurried on her way. As she went, B'Elanna pointed at a strawberry gateaux. "Safe for me to sample that?"

"Yes," Kathryn smiled. "Mom made it."

B'Elanna laughed and then helped herself to a slice.

Two hours later, the party was in full swing. By request, the holoroom had been turned into a ballroom, and many guests were there dancing, but Kathryn was sitting in a quiet corner of the lounge with Natalie.

"What do you think of my niece?" Natalie asked. "Like her?"

"Very much," Kathryn answered.

"Beautiful, isn't she? But you'd never have thought it if you'd seen her as a child. She had knobbly knees and crooked teeth. But she has a fine figure now and lips that men just want to kiss."

"How old is she?"

"Thirty three. Can you believe it?"

"No. She looks a lot younger."

"She does. But naturally so. Unlike some who flaunt it, all her assets are unenhanced. At least, that is what she says. I have my suspicions about her breasts."

Kathryn laughed.

"What about that ex-borg of yours? Were her assets made by mother nature or enhanced by The Doctor?"

"I honestly have no idea," Kathryn replied. "Like you, I have suspicions, but the less said the better."

Natalie laughed. Then she took a sip of wine and reached for her bag. "Oh no," she exclaimed. "Drat!"

"What's wrong?" Kathryn asked.

"I've lost my bag. I must have left it on the balcony. No, wait, I think I had it after that...But where? Oh, outside. I went to admire your fairy lights and must have left it on that pretty bench you have out there. Unless I left it in the dining room when I went to get this wine."

"I'll tell you what," Kathryn said. "You check the balcony and the dining room, and I'll check the bench."

"Oh no, it's such a trek!"

"My house, my trek. Besides, the exercise and fresh air will do me good. Just tell me what your bag looks like. I can't say I remember."

"It's small, round and silver."

"Ok. Should be easy enough to spot. I'll meet you back here."

With that, Kathryn left the lounge and made her way downstairs. However, just as she was about to open the back door, Phoebe caught her arm.

"Oh no you don't. The ground out there is so slippy its a neck breaker. My pregnant sister is not setting foot on it."

"Oh, but..."

"No buts. Get yourself back upstairs."

"I appreciate your concern but I'm on a mission. Natalie's lost her bag."

"Then let Natalie look for it."

"She is, but I said I'd check the bench outside. She thinks she might have left it there."

"Then allow me. You're not going out there."

Kathryn sighed. "Ok, if you insist."

"I do. Now, what does this bag look like?"

"Small, round and silver."

"Ok, got it. You go back upstairs and I'll follow you up."

With that, Phoebe opened the door and stepped onto the porch. It was a very small porch, just a couple of meters wide, and had several steps reaching down to the ground. Phoebe shivered as she descended the steps, as the air was icy and she was clad only in a skimpy red dress, and she made her way as quickly as possible to the bench. The ground beneath her feet was treacherous and several times she almost fell. When at last she reached the bench, she gave it a once over with her eyes, but when she saw no bag, she headed back to the porch. As she did, she heard laughter coming from a dark corner where the porch wall met the lodge, and in that corner she saw a man and a woman kissing. The woman she didn't recognize, but the man she recognized all too well. It was Chakotay. His body was pressed against the woman's and he was kissing her passionately. Phoebe found herself frozen to the spot, as frozen as the snow beneath her feet, and she stared at them in horror. And yet, hardly with surprise. Chakotay had always been a player in her mind, a charmer who would one day break her sister's heart. But she'd hoped with every part of her being that she was wrong, that he was the loyal and moral man her sister believed him to be. As she stood there, watching him make out with this woman, her impulsive half wanted to yank him from her and kick him where it hurt, but her more cautious half resisted the urge and she did not. Instead, she took one last look at the scene and walked away.

When Kathryn arrived back in the lounge, Natalie was sitting where she'd left her. The admiral's eyes lit up when she saw Kathryn, but the brightness in them faded when Kathryn walked over to her with a smile.

"I see you found your bag," Kathryn said, seeing it on her friend's lap. "Where was it?"

"On the balcony," she answered. "And, I'm glad to say, everything is still in it. Sorry you had a wasted trip."

"Not me," Kathryn said, sitting. "Phoebe. She's playing the overprotective sister again and insisted that I didn't go out in the snow. I might be able to beat the borg, but when it comes to my sister, I know when I'm beat."

Natalie laughed.

"She'll be up in a moment. That is, if she hasn't slipped on the snow she says is so deadly."

"Let's hope not," Natalie said, picking up her drink. "But where were we before my whole bag drama? Oh yes, Seven of Nine and her assets."

"A subject I well and truly consider closed," Kathryn declared.

"Then let's talk about our trip. We sure have a lot to talk about."

"We do. But unless I get a drink, I don't think my tongue will have sufficient hydration to talk about anything." She got to her feet. "Please excuse me, I'll be back as..."

Natalie stood too. "Let me. It's the least I can do. What do you want? Orange juice?"

"That would be good. Thank you."

Natalie smiled. "One orange juice coming right up."

With that she turned around and headed for the dining room. As she did, Kathryn sat back down and took a cookie from a plateful on the coffee table. They'd been made by her Aunt Martha, but instead of the usual chocolate ones that she was sick of, they were a delicious raspberry flavor. Kathryn enjoyed it so much that she helped herself to a second, and was eating it when Phoebe arrived.

"No need to say it," Kathryn said when she saw her sister, "I know you didn't find it. The crisis is over. The bag was on the balcony."

"That's...that's good news," Phoebe replied quietly.

Kathryn noticed now how pale her sister was, how she was trembling too, and she looked at her in concern. "Are you ok, Phoebe? You didn't fall or anything, did you?"

"No," Phoebe answered. "I just...Can we talk?"

"Sure," Kathryn said, getting to her feet. "I'll just wait for the drink Natalie's bringing me and then we'll go upstairs to my bedroom."

Just as she spoke, Natalie arrived.

"Hi, Phoebe," she said. "Kathryn told me you went hunting for my bag. I'm so sorry I wasted your time."

"It's ok," Phoebe replied. "I'm glad you found it."

"So am I. But thank you for looking." She held out Kathryn's glass of orange juice. "For you, Ma'am."

Kathryn took the drink gratefully. "Thanks, Nat." She then put her hand on the woman's shoulder. "I'll catch up with you later. Phoebe wants to talk."

Natalie smiled, almost smugly. "Ok."

Kathryn squeezed her shoulder and then left with Phoebe. Natalie watched her go, and as she watched her sharp eyes noticed the way Tessi was vying to follow her old mistress. The animal, tied to a strong table by a leash, was temporarily unsupervised and was almost strangling herself in desperation. This gave Natalie an idea, an idea she relished, and she looked around to see who was watching. To her joy, she saw there was no one. Quickly, she walked over to the table, untied the leash, and then backed away. As soon as Tessi was free, the animal ran across the lounge and bounced up the stairs after her old mistress. Kathryn was near the top with Phoebe and, when the animal jumped up on her from nowhere, she lost her footing and fell backwards. Down the stairs she crashed, rolling and rolling, until she landed at the bottom in an unconscious bundle.

END OF CHAPTER 21