Disclaimer: See Chapter one.
Family Picnic
The Paris family were spending a quiet weekend together lost in thought about all that had taken place over the previous week, not least the fact about the bounty and who had issued it, even the muggings.
"Tom when do you think it's possible for our friend to come out of hiding?"
"That's a long sentence for you," he quipped, then quickly added, "To answer your question Lanna, I don't really know," his tone sad at the turn of events.
"All this cloak and dagger stuff is tearing our family apart; and it begs the question – WHY!"
"Indeed," noted her father-in-law. "I'm at a loss to explain about the bounty and who issued it. Even Fleet Admiral Necheyev is puzzled and angry that no-one's owning up to the misuse of their rank privileges in this matter. Although I do know those three you met in Katie's office are known for their outspoken views about the Maquis, the treaty, even the Dominion, but nothing conclusive to really lay things at their door."
B'Elanna sighed enjoying the silence whilst her daughter slept, looking out at the sunny day outside.
"Why don't we have a family picnic!" Tom said suddenly, his face creasing into a cheeky smile.
"How will that help?" asked his father puzzled even by his daughter-in-law's growing smile.
"If we have it in a public park there are bound to be some nosey reporters about!" Paris senior and Torres grinned at the young pilot. "Ok that's what we'll do," Tom said decisively and started to make a list of those to invite, basically all the family and their loved ones.
"What about food and drink?" asked his mother concerned.
"We'll all bring our own specials and add it to the whole. All everyone needs to do is share."
"And not just the food and drink," B'Elanna said, delighted at the idea. "Be just like old times and Neelix's parties!" she commented feeling positive to be doing something constructive in the matter of why her friend had had to vanish.
=/\=
The day of the family picnic dawned bright and fair, promising to be warm and dry for their event. Owen and Julia had declined the direct invite, but assisted in getting all the other invites delivered including one to Janeway; not that Torres was aware of that, considering their last meeting.
Ayala had arrived on Earth the day prior bringing with him the two Bolian's, Dalby and Mariah Henley. Harry was granted leave of absence by his new commanding officer, along with others who were still in Starfleet. The EMH, Seven and Icheb, plus their security personnel were grudgingly given leave to attend from their secure unit by Admiral Hayes under duress from both Owen Paris and Fleet Admiral Necheyev.
The group spread themselves in a reasonably semi-open area of the Academy grounds, not shutting themselves off from other users of the park area, much to the vexation of the said special security personnel. A covered area housed the tables for the eatables and liquid refreshments; so the Family wandered in and out as they arrived, chattering amongst themselves catching up on each other's happenings and events since they'd last been together and introduced family to family. Blankets and picnic cloths were spread out on the grass in a rough semi-circle in front of the gazebo and people either stood or sat in small groups conversing with one another, greeting each other as they arrived to join the whole colourful melee.
"How is my little God-daughter?" the Doctor asked picking up the growing child from her father's arms.
"Demanding and growing!" noted Torres, Tom only grinned and cuddled his wife as they sat together, whilst the child gurgled at the Doctor.
=/\=
Meanwhile at Starfleet Admiralty, Janeway and Elliot were working quietly within her spacious office; the picnic invite lay on her desk under her ever present coffee mug, yet it kept catching her eye even when not using her mug.
"Will you?" asked Elliot softly quietly intruding on her thoughts. He had not been able to give either her or Admiral Paris any conclusive information about events surrounding Voyager and her crew, especially her XO; he'd only been given information on a need-to-know-basis; thus he became something of a double agent, keeping his former masters happy and passing on information to Admiral Paris also.
"I don't know," she responded carefully, her troubled facial expression completing her thoughts on the matter.
'Maybe that's what others want you to think. To isolate you from them,' Elliot wrote on his antique notepad and letting her read it. They'd taking to using the ancient form of communications of pencil and notepad to relay important information or use cryptic sentences rather than speak of such things, including mundane things such as routine messages sent and received to other Admiral's or to her field of operations within Starfleet. If she'd felt isolated on Voyager before she really was now, she realised with a jolt.
"It's a beautiful day. Let's work outside," she suddenly decided. Thus they both gathered up their working data PADD's and the invite and left her plush office.
Leaving their eaves-droppers open mouthed in their room just up the corridor.
=/\=
The family picnic was getting into its stride when Torres made a pointed comment to the near-by bushes.
"If you want to record; record, but where I can see you." The bushes shook. "Yes you!" she said sharply causing most of the vocal hubbub around her to quieten. The bush moved again. "Either you show yourself or I'll send in the 'boys' to drag you out and be taken to the nearest brig," she said forcefully, making her fellow Voyager's grin.
Carefully the bush moved again and then the branches parted and a smallish male stepped out into the 'limelight'. He was a known FNN reporter, but not one of their top-notch ones. He stood uncertainly before Torres' seated figure.
"She doesn't bite, you know," commented Dalby quietly in the man's ear making him jump. "Well most of the time she doesn't," he amended to her withering look.
"Oh sit down for goodness sake!" she snapped exasperated, watching as the male complied shyly with her request.
"Do you have a name?" Paris asked. The reporter nodded mutely.
"So what is it?"
"I think that's Klingon speak for you to respond verbally," Harry Kim teased sitting down also and ignoring B'Elanna's pointed glare.
"Er...Ro... bin," he stammered. "Robin Hood," he said, his cheeks reddening, eyes downcast as if waiting for the inevitable.
"Interesting," Seven noted softly.
"I'm sure you know them all," said the EMH. Robin only nodded sadly, startled by their collective silence.
"We've all been there at some point in our lives, in some form or other," said Dalby quietly.
"So, Robin, how's your recording equipment?" Tom asked biting back his own quips about this young man's legendary name; as the others were right they'd all been down that road, especially since they'd returned from the Delta Quadrant and missed the Dominion War, etc.
"Reasonable," Hood responded brightly, gulping down his nerves. "Do you mind if I ask some questions?"
"Fire away!" Tom quipped. "But keep your ammo dry!" he added as an afterthought. Robin grinned understanding what was meant, even if some of his fellow crew-mates did not.
"Naturally," he assured the pilot. "What was it really like out there?" he asked eagerly.
