Disclaimer: I do not own Trek.
Bina W.
Coming Home
Chapter 30.
Phoebe to the Rescue
He was just closing the door when he heard a noise and realized Kathryn had a call. He waited to hear that his former friend was going to say she would take the call. When he did not hear anything, he ran back into the house and checked on her. She was sleeping on the couch.
He was annoyed to see the familiar face on the Admiral's view screen. The face of Gretchen Janeway appeared on his screen. Phoebe was standing behind her mother, hands on her shoulders. Both ladies were frowning.
"What do I owe the honor of this call?" Chakotay's voice was calm, but they could see that he was speaking through clenched teeth.
Gretchen's voice was soft but there was an edge to it. It sounded like the child who was denied her favorite sweet.
"Chakotay."
Her daughter was not so polite.
"Would you like me to bitch slap you back to that planet that was yours before the Fed gave it to the Cardies?"
Chakotay's face turned bright red. He knew Phoebe knew it was a sensitive issue for him.
She had fire in her just like Kathryn. He was not surprised, and secretly he was glad that
Phoebe did not disappoint him. She was a Janeway after all, and he expected no less.
"We are not strangers, and we have not done anything wrong to you."
He knew that he was wrong. He fractionally nodded his head to her.
"This is painful for us also, Chakotay. But you promised in front of Kathryn that we were just as important as she was."
"Things are not good between us."
The two women looked at each other and rolled their eyes before looking back at him. The scene was not lost on him.
"I have not forgotten."
Then stop being a stranger!" Phoebe's eyes looked like they could have cut through stone.
"You expect me to keep up a relationship with the two of you?" He shook his head in disbelief.
"I have just one question for you, Mr. Indian. Were you lying then or now?"
"Phoebe, you have no right! How dare you? I am a Starfleet officer!!"
He now stood up and the ladies could see that his fists were clenched.
Gretchen gave her daughter a glare and shook her head at her before returning to the screen.
"Your friendship is paramount to us. Surely you know that?"
Chakotay smiled, but it did not quite reach his eyes.
The sadness between the three of them was palpable.
Gretchen's voice was unsure. "You have done the impossible. My daughter and you can still…"
He held up a hand to cut her off. "It is too late."
She shook her head. Phoebe was not so quick to give up.
"You are the command team who got your ship home in 7 years. You proved that impossible is not a word, at least when it comes to Starfleet."
The Indian sighed. It took effort not to terminate the link. She was beginning to really annoy him.
"I'm coming over," said Phoebe.
Gretchen squeezed her eyes shut and then reopened them.
That shut up the two of them for a moment.
"You would refuse family? It is not like you had anyone to come back to Chakotay. What the Federation and Starfleet did to you was wrong. But can you afford this pride of yours? Is Starfleet all you want to come home to?"
Phoebe and he both lowered their heads in shame.
He looked up at Phoebe. "I would be happy to see you."
She looked suspicious. "I only want to come if you are genuine."
He gave her a lopsided grin.
"Do not let my sis know." He looked at both the Janeway's in puzzlement but nodded before terminating the link.
Meanwhile back at the Kathryn's…
Chakotay turned to his former friend. "I need to meditate and do not wish to bothered for a while."
She looked up at him as she lay back on the couch. She yawned and nodded. She was asleep by the time he peered at her closely.
A few minutes later, he heard the bell ring. He quickly strode over to the door and did not hesitate to open it.
Phoebe smiled at gave him a bear hug after he closed the door.
"Would you like some lunch?"
"I am not hungry."
He shrugged his shoulders. "I understand that this is important to you and your mother."
"I am just here to visit an old friend. After all you did for her in the Delta Quadrant, you will always be family."
"I am pleased to see you."
She looked at his eyes.
"I am serious, Phoebe. He briefly touched her hand and she nodded.
"What is in the bag?"
She looked down at little black bag and then back at him. "Just some scented salts for her baths."
He smile back at her and gestured for them to meet in the den.
I am going to fix myself a sandwich and then I will be back. "Are you sure you do not want anything?"
She looked unsure of herself. "I probably should eat. Yes. I think I would like some plomeek soup. Mom always liked fresh food so we never had a replicator in the house. Can you replicate it for me?"
He smirked at her. "You are more like your sister than your parents."
She playfully pinched him.
"I will be happy to make it for you for scratch. You are a Janeway."
She gave him a lopsided grin. "Where is she?"
He gestured her to stay seated. "She is on the couch in the family room."
He left to go prepare the soup as Phoebe went to check on her sister.
Phoebe checked her sis's pulse and forehead. She searched her face to see any signs that she was faking sleep. She gave a look across the room to the door to the kitchen. Then she quietly tiptoed and stood till she was right behind the Indian in the kitchen.
He was whistling to himself and was very much engrossed in laying an assortment of vegetables on the chopping block on the counter.
She cleared her throat and he jumped.
"Would you hand me the vegetable peeler, Phoebe?"
She smiled at him and saw her chance.
"Just a moment. I forgot to take my vitamin. She reached into the drawer for the peeler but did not give it to him. She ignored his outstretched hand.
She turned her back to him as she reached into her bag and pulled out something and cautiously put it in her deep pocket. She was handing the peeler to him, but accidently tripped on his foot. They both went down. That was when she stabbed him with the hypo spray that she has in his pocket. As he got up, he rubbed his torso. She looked at him from the floor, the peeler lying on the floor next to her. He helped her up and went to grab the peeler, but she beat him to it.
"I am so sorry. I am clumsy and did not mean to prick you with it."
He just raised one eyebrow, cleaned off the peeler and resumed his task at preparing the soup.
She opened the frig to pull out more vegetables.
He cleared his throat. She turned around and looked at him.
"It is my treat. Go do something else. It will be a little while."
She smiled at him went in the family room.
She took a empty syringe out of her bag and pushed it into her sister's torso. As soon as she was sure she had enough sample, she put it back in her bag.
Kathryn did not stir as she was in a deep sleep.
Phoebe stuck her head in the kitchen.
"I forgot. I have to go to let out our neighbor's dog. I will not be long."
He nodded and resumed his task at hand. "I'll leave the door cracked.
Fifteen minutes later, Phoebe was walking through the front door.
He called from the kitchen. "Is that you, Phoebe? Lunch should be ready in two minutes.
She yelled from the dining room. "I have to wash my hands. She injected her sister with another empty syringe, with a satisfied look on her face. "Now he will be a daddy and American Indians do not desert their own kind."
