Disclaimers apply as usual.

A/N: I combined two chapters into one, that finishes up reposting Phage.

Kathryn stepped into the transporter room with Tuvok, Sarah, and two armed security officers as the transporter beam was initiated. She watched as two humanoid beings materialized out of the blue beam onto the pad and felt her knees go weak. There standing on the platform was quite possible the two most deformed beings she had every seen. Their skin was pink and raw in places, covered in skin graphs of varying shades and patterns. The hair that they had was stringy and fallen out, and one of them had a completely white eye.

She gestured for the security officers to force the aliens off of the transporter pad and have them sit down. They did so and moved away from the aliens so they could have a sight line to her. Kathryn placed her hands on her hips, trying to keep her composure. "You're on the starship Voyager. I'm Captain Kathryn Janeway of the United Federation of Planets."

"I'm Dereth," the one of the left said, "Of the Viidian Sodality."

"You attacked one of our crew members, and you lured us into this asteroid, why?" Kathryn demanded. She felt Sarah squirm at her side and took the fidgeting as her being uncomfortable with how she was handling this first contact. But she didn't care, she was tired, and one of her crew members had been viciously attacked. She wasn't in the mood to make nice. And to be bluntly honest she didn't think that these aliens deserved her being nice to them.

"We are gathering replacement organs and suitable biomatter," Dereth answered her. "It is the only way we have to fight the phage."

At least they were being forthcoming with information, even if it was information that was not particularly what she wanted to hear. "A virus? Some kind of disease?" Oh god have I just infected the crew, myself, the children? No, Kathryn calm down, the bio-filters would have picked something up.

"Yes," the other Viidian spoke up. "It attacked our people over two millennia ago. It consumes our bodies, destroys our genetic codes and cellular structures."

"So you harvest the bodies of other beings to replace your own tissues as they're consumed by this…phage?" Kathryn said, her voice raising in disgust.

"Our immunotechnology cannot keep up. The phage adapts. It resists all attempts to destroy it. Our society has been ravaged. Thousands die each day. There is no other way for us to survive," the Viidian replied.

Kathryn glanced at the empty transporter pad for a moment, trying to gain her bearings. She felt…sympathy for what their people were going through, but that did not give them the right to harvest organs from perfectly healthy beings. That was murder in her book. She turned back towards the Viidians. "I have a great…sympathy for what your people have endured. But I cannot allow you to keep the organs you removed from one of our crew members. We need them back immediately."

"I'm afraid that isn't possible," Dereth replied. "I have already biochemically altered the air breathing organs and grafted them into Motura's body. They are a part of him now."

Suddenly she felt like she couldn't do this on her own. Kathryn turned her head, looking for some support and found both Tuvok and Sarah looking at her with sad eyes, well Sarah's eyes were sad, Kathryn didn't know how to explain Tuvok's, concerned perhaps?

Sarah took a step towards her. "Captain, our options are limited here. They've committed a serious crime against the Federation, protocol would clearly dictate that we hand them over to the proper authorities."

Kathryn knew this to be true. However, they were seventy thousand light years from their nearest authorities and she didn't have the man power to keep two prisoners on board for the duration of their trip just so they could either die along the way, or be tried in a Federation court. But what about Neelix? Didn't he deserve some...justice?

"He is my honatta!" Motura suddenly called out, catching her attention. "His task is to find the organs I need for survival. We… try to extract them from the dead…"

"But sometimes," Dereth continued, "when the need is immediate more aggressive actions are required."

Kathryn tried taking a calming breath, but it failed. "So now I'm left with the same choice you made— whether to commit murder to save a life or to allow my own crewman to die," she glared at Motura, and then snapped, "while you breathe air through his lungs."

"It must be impossible for you to understand," Motura said. "How any civilized people could come to…this. Before the phage began, we were known as educators and explorers— a people whose greatest achievements were artistic. I, myself, am a sculptor of note on my world. All I can say is that when your entire existence is at stake…"

"You don't have to explain yourself Motura," Dereth snapped, interrupting him.

"If the consequence of this act is a death sentence, so be it," Motura lamented. "At least it would put an end to my suffering."

Kathryn felt helpless. More helpless then she had felt when she had made the decision to destroy the Caretaker's array. "I can't begin to understand what your people have gone through," she said, as she started pacing back and forth. "They may have found a way to ignore the moral implications of what you're doing, but I have no such luxury. I don't have the freedom to kill you to save another! My culture finds that to be a reprehensible and entirely unacceptable act. If we were closer to home I would lock you up and turn you over to my authorities for trial, but I don't even have that ability here! And I'm not prepared to carry you forever in our brig!" Kathryn yelled, feeling her temper rising. She tried to catch her breath for a moment before continuing, it was proving to be difficult. "So I see no other alternative…but to let you go."

The two Viidians breathed a sigh of relief. Dereth looked like he was about to say something, but she stopped him, pointing a finger at him. "Take a message back to your people; if I ever encounter your kind again I will do whatever is necessary to protect my people from this…harvesting of yours. Any aggressive actions against this ship or its crew will be met by the deadliest force! Is that clear?"

"Quite," Dereth replied.

"Wait," Motura said, standing up. "I want to see this crewman of yours."

"That can serve no useful purpose," Dereth said.

"Maybe it can. Our medical technologies maybe superior to theirs," Motura replied, looking at Dereth.

"I can tell you, from what we've observed of them, they are considerably superior," Kathryn said, feeling her temper cooling down a bit.

"She spared my life—our lives," Motura argued with Dereth. "We owe it to them to see if there's anything we can do to help him."

Motura looked at her, and she nodded her head. "I'll take you to him."

Kathryn led the group out of the transporter room, Sarah on her heels. She felt the young woman pull up besides her while Tuvok and the security detail escorted the two Viidians behind them. She could tell, just from the anxious movements of the counselor that Sarah had something to say to her. "Something on your mind, Lieutenant?"

"Is this such a good idea, ma'am?"

"You heard what they said, Neelix's lungs are apart of Motura now," Kathryn replied. "We can't take his life to save another."

"I understand that Captain, but should we be allowing them more access to the ship? What if this is all some elaborate scheme, to get more organs from this crew?"

The question that Sarah had just posed had been one that Kathryn had wrestled with since they had first taken off after the alien ship and entered the asteroid. She had known at every twist and turn that her decision to follow the aliens could result in more people getting hurt, including herself, however, she was not about to let them get away with what they had done to Neelix. "I've thought about that Lieutenant, and we're just going to have to put our trust in these people."

"Trust?" Sarah rasped, her nerves obviously frayed from the story she had just heard in the transporter room. "These people are dying from a deadly disease, if that doesn't make someone desperate I don't know what does. And in my experience desperate people are the most dangerous."

Kathryn turned about on her heal in the turbo lift. "Your opinion is noted, Lieutenant, you're dismissed. Report back to the bridge."

As Tuvok and the security team entered the turbo lift with the Viidians, the Captain noticed her counselor's face pale at the tone of voice she had used, and the young woman sputtered, "But, Captain—."

"Now, Lieutenant," Kathryn said angrily. You wanted her because she stepped on toes, she suddenly reminded herself. However, there was a time and place for everything, including stepping on toes of commanding officers; now was not one of those times. Her temper had already been raised by the Viidians and their lack of compassion for other beings, and here was an upstart young officer questioning her decision to allow them on her ship. Now, who does she remind you of Kathryn? You weren't exactly a humble young officer. "Tell Commander Chakotay I no longer require your services."

The doors to the lift shut in the surprised young woman's face and Kathryn snapped out, "Deck five."

The lift whirred to life and began its trip to the designated deck. As if she wasn't already in a bad mood, when she stepped into sickbay, Tuvok and the Viidians, and security on her heels, she was greeted with a loudly crying Michael. She wasn't expecting him to be there, just like she wasn't expecting the fierce pressure his arms around her legs was going to cause as he clung to her tightly, sobbing.

She even stumbled a little from the impact. "Doctor! What is going on?"

The hologram looked just as displeased as she felt. "Ask Mister Paris, he's the one who brought them down here."

Them? It was then that she noticed Ava sitting on the empty biobed next to Neelix's bed, opening and closing a medical tricorder. Tom must have been the one to give it to her, for he was leaning against the bed she was sitting on. "Lieutenant Paris, an explanation would be nice, please."

Tom straightened his form and looked at her sheepishly. "I'm sorry, ma'am. After you left to go to the transporter room Michael came back out of the ready room asking for you. I…I told him you had gone to meet with the aliens that had taken Neelix's lungs. He…he got a little upset. I tried telling him that everything was going to be fine, that the aliens weren't going to take your lungs…I even promised."

"But you promised too, Mama, when Daddy didn't call us," Michael sobbed into her uniform. "You said everything was going to be fine!"

Kathryn glared at the young man who was doing everything he could to avert her eyes. "I…appreciate that you're trying to help out Lieutenant, however, tracking me down was not the answer. I have work to do." Not to mention I was meeting with aliens who stole organs from one of our crew members. Even though she trusted the young man, he was an exceptional pilot, he was a little too impulsive for her tastes. "And, so don't you."

"Commander Chakotay gave me permission—."

"Do I have to honestly call a briefing together just to go over protocol?" Kathryn snapped, at wit's end. Sarah's testing her in the corridor, Tom bringing the children into a potential dangerous situation, and Chakotay allowing him to do so, had finally pushed her over the edge that she was teetering on since the meeting with Dereth and Motura had started.

Tom backed away. "No, ma'am, sorry ma'am."

She took a deep breath, and knelt down, prying Michael's arms from around her knees. "Honey, I'm fine. Now, take your sister and go back to our quarters. When I'm done here I'll stop in and check on you."

Michael wiped his nose on his red shirt sleeve, looking at Dereth and Motura. "Are those the aliens that took Neelix's lungs?"

"Yes."

"Are they going to give them back?"

Kathryn bit her lower lip briefly. "That's a rather complicated story, honey. But they're going to help him, if they can." She took his face in her hands and kissed his cheek. "Now, Lieutenant Paris is going to take you back to our quarters. I'll see you soon." Kathryn stood up, looked once again at Tom, and said, "Lieutenant?"

Tom snapped to life. "Oh right. Come on squirt," he said to Ava, picking her up off the biobed. The baby fussed slightly that the medical tricorder was left behind, but as is the nature of most babies, she soon found something else to keep her occuppied; playing with Tom's sandy blonde hair.

Kathryn watched them leave, and closed her eyes briefly trying to find her center. It was barely working when Dereth spoke up.

"Perhaps we should start, Captain."

She nodded her head, opening her eyes. She noticed that Dereth was running a similar device that Chakotay had brought back from the away mission over a nervous looking Neelix. Kathryn could hear it clicking and whirring while it took readings.

"His simulated organs are primitive. It's amazing he is still alive," Dereth said to the Doctor.

The hologram let out a frustrated sigh and moved away from the biobed. Dereth held the device towards Tuvok who, not wanting to take any risks, pulled out his phaser.

"This is set to scan only."

"Proceed…carefully."

Dereth nodded his head and proceeded to scan the Vulcan, then moved onto to Kes. He scanned each of the humans in the room before stopping at the Doctor. When he did so the device let out a monotone blare. "Strange," Dereth said pulling the device away from the hologram. "According to my readings, you are not here."

"Believe me, I wish I weren't," the Doctor responded sarcastically as he crossed his arms over his chest.

Kathryn could see that Dereth did not want to try to process what the hologram had just said, instead he turned to the group. "The rest of you are healthy," he said. "You are compatible for organ transplant."

"Wait a minute," the Doctor spoke up. "We've already considered this. Talaxian physiology is very different from that of anyone on this ship. His immune system would reject their lungs immediately."

"Your surgical knowledge is inferior," Dereth replied. "We will simply adapt his immungenocity. It won't be a problem. Now, which one of you will be donating a lung?"

Kathryn wasn't surprised to hear Kes say that she would. Neelix on the other hand was not happy with it. He immediately told her no. Kes moved to stand next to the biobed. "I want to do it, Neelix. I'm willing to take the risk! Besides you've done so much for me. Let me do this for you."

Neelix relented. "Alright."

Kathryn waited until the Doctor had taken Kes away to prepare her for surgery before she went to lean down to speak to Neelix. "I look forward to sampling your cooking Mister Neelix."

"You mean I can keep my kitchen?"

"Well," she replied with the first heart felt smile she had managed all day. "At least until we get the replicators back online."

"Thank you Captain."

Kathryn nodded her head and turned to go.

"And Captain," Neelix called out. "I'll see you at breakfast."

Captain's log, supplemental; the aliens have successfully transplanted one of Kes' lungs into Neelix. The dampening field has been deactivated, and I have allowed them to beam back to their vessel. We are resuming a course home. In the meantime I have asked to see Lieutenant Paris and Counselor Barrett in my ready room to discuss a more personal problem.

Tom Paris was a little surprised to see Sarah Barrett enter the turbo lift with him. It was Wednesday, her day off the bridge and in her office. In fact, on those days, the bridge officers hardly saw her at all. So it was with that thought that he was not only surprised by her presence, but surprised by her appearance. She wasn't in uniform, opting to wear a navy blue jumpsuit and matching boots. Her hair was down, clipped at the temples with silver barrettes and he had not been aware of how long it was. It was well past her shoulders, coming to the middle of her back, and in thick, dark curls.

"Deck one," Sarah told the computer and it resumed its ascent. "I didn't think you worked Alpha shift on Wednesdays Tom."

"I ah, don't, Captain Janeway requested to see me at zero eight hundred hours," he replied.

She blinked, large thick eyelashes over blue eyes, "She asked to see me at the same time."

Tom grinned. "Well, I heard that you got her pretty riled up yesterday during the first contact with the Viidians. And I know I didn't win any brownie points upsetting her kid like that, perhaps she's relieving us of duty for a few days. Or better yet, maybe she's putting us in the brig together alone."

Sarah glared at him as the doors swished open. "Keep dreaming, Lieutenant Paris."

Was that a waver in her voice he detected? Usually when he teased her she answered back in a firm, sarcastic tone. That had been a little…on the reserved side. Maybe things were changing and he had not been aware of it.

They stepped out into the corridor and headed towards Janeway's ready room. "Either way, you have to admit that it's strange that she wants to see the both of us at the same time," he said.

"She could have just gotten her scheduling messed up," Sarah pointed out as they stopped at the ready room's door. "Right?"

"Highly unlikely," Tom said. "Well, are you going to do the honors? Or am I?" He asked after several seconds of both of them staring at the chime. Hesitantly Sarah reached out and pressed it.

Janeway's voice on the other side didn't sound gruff or harsh, she actually sounded like she was in a good mood. That boded well for Tom and Sarah, he thought as they stepped through the doors and into the room.

The Captain was sitting at her desk enjoying a cup of coffee thanks to the Viidians offering them some dilithium in exchange for Janeway sparing their lives. It seemed like a weird deal to Tom, but it got the replicators back online for a little while to say the least. He had heard rumors that morning that the Viidians had also pointed out a planetoid that really did have dilithium that they could mine and B'Elanna Torres had been working on her refinery all night. But they were just rumors and he didn't know how much merit to put to them.

"Lieutenants, have a seat."

Tom looked at the two chairs that Janeway was gesturing too. Slowly both he and Sarah took a seat opposite the Captain. She was smiling at them, softly. What is going on in that head of hers? Tom wondered as he settled into the chair.

"I'm sure you're wondering why I asked both of you here at the same time," Janeway started, reaching for a PADD that must have purposely been set aside for this meeting. "The reason I asked you here is that I have a question to ask, no, correction, I have a favor I need to ask of you both."

"A favor?" Sarah replied, arching a perfectly tweezed eyebrow. "What kind of favor ma'am?"

"The other morning you suggested that we find a teacher for Michael to give Tal sometime to breathe," Janeway replied. "Now, I've looked over your list, Counselor, but I'm not sure the people you recommended are the right ones for the job."

Sarah looked confused. "But, I made those suggestions on observations I made of Michael. He's comfortable around Commander Chakotay and the commander seems to have a good rapport with him as well. Lieutenant Carey has two boys of his own and Michael loves engineering, and the Delaney sisters worked childcare for years. Is there something that you were looking for specifically Captain that I wasn't aware of?"

Janeway shook her head. "No, your suggestions were good ones, and I agree with what you're saying, but I always say that the best teacher is the one that learns from the student as well as teaches the student." She paused to let the words sink in before continuing, "Now, you're both outstanding officers and in the short time that you have been serving under me I have yet to have reason to complain, however, you're both young, and in that sense you have a lot to learn. So, I'm asking you, Lieutenant Barrett, to be Michael's primary teacher, and then eventually Ava's as well. Lieutenant Paris would take them on the days that you are required to be in your office."

"Wait a minute," Tom said, finally speaking up. "You want me to teach your kid?"

Janeway grinned. "Yesterday showed me that you have a lot to learn about children Mister Paris."

Tom's face went red.

"Captain," Sarah said, "I'm not sure if I'm the best choice for this."

"You took child development and child psychology courses at the Academy did you not?"

"Well, yes, but those were required."

"You still took them," Janeway responded with a smile. "Ever since the accident Sarah I've noticed you retreating inside yourself. Chakotay is worried about you, Harry Kim has even mentioned his concerns for you, and I've also spoken to the Doctor about you. He claims that you are very close to suffering from post traumatic stress. Until yesterday I hadn't seen that step on the toes officer since you got back and even then I sensed that you were reluctant."

It was Sarah's turn for her cheeks to redden. "Captain, all the more reason not to put me with your children."

"Oh, no, this is the perfect thing for you to get your confidence back," Janeway responded. "Don't try to talk me out of this; I've already made up my mind. And I've been told on a few occasions that once I've made up my mind good luck talking me out of it."

Tom exchanged a glance with Sarah. He hadn't known she was having problems since the accident. Of course, she had been spending all that free time with Harry. He felt his jealousy rising again. Why was it making him so jealous? His best friend was moving on with his life. He should be happy for him, but he just could not.

"Where would we teach him?" Sarah was asking.

"I've approved the changes that will need to be made in a previously empty quarters on deck four," Janeway said. "Michael would report to you there from zero eight hundred until twelve hundred hours on the days you have bridge duty. It would be the same for you too Mister Paris, on the days that you have Beta shift."

He still wasn't convinced this was the right idea. "Captain, I know that Michael likes to hang out with me in the mess hall and all, but…what about my duties as medic? I'm already going to sickbay on those mornings."

Was it him or did Janeway's grin grow? "That's already been taken care of too, Mister Paris. The Doctor has requested to train Kes as a medic and I've decided that it's a good idea. He seems to think that she's very interested. More than you shall we say?"

Well the kid is certainly better than the Doctor, Tom thought, still not quite sure if this was the right thing.

"You'll both have to work closely together to determine lessons, but I have the utmost faith in the both of you," Janeway said. She was handing Sarah a stack of PADDs. "I've already worked out a few of them myself, just to get you on your way and so you know what he's capable of. But after that, you're on your own."

Tom glanced at Sarah, who was looking at the first PADD. Working with her this closely might not such a bad thing. He was beginning to like this arrangement. She was handing him the first PADD. "Here," she said. "This is for you. I don't know a thing about history. That's going to be your area."

He grinned. "Yes ma'am."

"Tal of course would be ready to take Michael if an emergency situation comes up and I require you both on the bridge," Janeway said. "I'm not going to lie, this is going to a be new experience for all of us. Michael's never been in school, expect a preschool two days a week last year, and I'm not particularly up to date on what is being taught at what grade level. Subsequently this is all new to the two of you."

Sarah looked up from the lesson PADDs. "We'll do our best, Captain."

"I'm confident that you will."

Over an hour later, while she had a break between appointments, Sarah punched in the access code to the new school room. It had been the CMO's quarters, but had not been reassigned to anyone new on the crew, since most of the Maquis had filled out the lower decks. Sarah found that most of the personal belongings of their deceased doctor had been taken away and put in storage, to be delivered to his family if they ever got home. There was a large desk in one corner and a couple of smaller, child sized tables and chairs in the middle of the room facing a fresh view screen. Sarah smiled; perhaps Janeway was thinking that later down the road there would be more children, besides Michael and Ava. It is a seventy five year trip after all, why wouldn't babies be born here.

She ran her fingers along the tiny chairs. "Computer lights at full please." The computer chirped and the lights came. She frowned at the sparse covered walls. She was going to have to do something about that.

When Janeway had first proposed the idea to her and Tom in the ready room she had to admit that she was terrified that the Captain thought she was the right person to be teaching her child. But now that she had the time to mull it over, she wasn't scared, nervous yes, but not scared. Maybe the Captain was right, maybe this would be a good learning experience for her and Tom.

Even thought this meant she had to be working closely with Tom, Sarah felt a little bit of pride that Janeway thought so highly of her to trust her with her child. It had been a long time since anyone had shown that kind of trust in her.

"Hey, I thought I might find you here," a voice said.

She glanced up to see Harry Kim enter the room with his hand behind his back. "Hi, word travels fast then if you knew I was going to be here."

Harry shrugged his shoulders. "Yeah, you know what B'Elanna says though; small ship means that gossip moves through it faster than a Galaxy-class ship at warp."

Sarah chuckled. "It certainly does. What's behind your back?"

He pulled out a red apple. "I thought the new teacher would like an apple for her desk."

"Cute," Sarah said as he placed it in her hand.

"Hey, an apple a day keeps the doctor away," Harry retorted.

"Oh, and I want to keep the Doctor away for a long time," Sarah said. "I think he's seen enough of me too in the last two weeks."

Harry plopped down into the chair at the large desk. "So, teacher, what's on the agenda for tonight?"

"Looking over these lesson plans Captain Janeway has put together, I guess," Sarah replied, lowering her body down onto one of the kids' tables. "It's been a while since I was in kindergarten; I've got to brush up on my A-B-C's."

"Care to do them on the holodeck?"

"On the holodeck? Why, what do you have in mind?"

"I've saved up my rations and I've got two hours coming to me," Harry said. "I've just finished programming a new program. You could look over those plans while we picnic in Central Park, circa early twentieth century."

Had he just asked her out on a date? Sarah smiled. "If you pack the basket I'll be there."

Harry returned her smile. "I think I can manage that."

When Kes opened her eyes after the surgery she was certain that it was the next day. She felt well rested despite the light headness and shortness of breath. She assumed it was going to take a while for her lung to adapt to being the only one that she had now. But it felt good to help Neelix, he had done so much for her. She just wished that he wasn't so jealous of Tom Paris. There was nothing going on between her and Tom, the young pilot had just been very supportive and been a good friend during the whole ordeal.

The Doctor was standing over her. "It's alright," he told her, "the operation was a success. Neelix is asleep and breathing on his own now…with your lung."

"I feel a little light headed," she said.

"That will pass," the Doctor replied. "You'll soon adapt to diminished lung capacity. I spoke to the Captain about you. She's given me permission to begin training you as a medical assistant. Apparently she thinks that Mister Paris is better suited for helping Lieutenant Barrett teach her son, why I'm not sure, but I'm going to need a replacement for him. That is, if you're interested?"

Kes smiled. "Of course I'm interested. When do we start?"

"We'll begin your lessons as soon as you've fully recovered," the hologram answered, returning her smile. He turned to go so she could rest.

"Thank you Doctor," she called out.

He stopped and looked at her. "No, thank you. You've given me… a lot to think about."

Kes watched him walk away and then allowed her eyes to drift to Neelix who was sleeping peacefully on the bed next to hers, now out of the restraint. With a faint smile, Kes drifted back to sleep, content that everything really was going to be fine now.