Disclaimer: See Chapter one

Unsettling Thoughts

As the day really started to draw to a close those with young children or some distance to travel or posts to return to, quietly took their leave making sure that they passed on messages and good wishes to those not present and agreed to another picnic get-together very soon. Janeway watched somewhat sadly as there was one person who wasn't present and probably wouldn't receive the 'Family's' good wishes or any other messages; the one person she wished was here and not missing somewhere in the wilds of the Alpha Quadrant. What she was still trying to get her head round was why; what did – Starfleet's top brass really want with him – or her for that matter, mentally recalling that question, what did they want to prove?

Her thoughts seemed to be running round in circles she realised for there was only one person who could have assisted her in sorting out this mess, wasn't there, leaving her feeling bereft of his calming presence.

'But it wouldn't be safe for him to be here!' a small voice scolded her. Her future self had hoped to get them back early in order to save those that she had lost during the longer journey. 'No-one could have foreseen this scenario,' she thought, as black as the uniforms that next caught her eye.

The elite security guard rounded up their charges and left, leaving Janeway with a bile feeling in the back of her throat as she'd watched, knowing that was something else she would have to find out about, as to why those three were being incarcerated away from everybody. As far as she knew most in Starfleet Admiralty did not view Seven, Icheb or the Doctor/EMH as a threat to Earth's security and they had all been accorded the same freedom of movement as the rest of Voyager's crew; so why lock them up now? She wondered, what had changed? – Apart from Chakotay's disappearance – nothing had changed as far as she knew. As for the proposals that her three fellows Admiral's had suggested to her, the same three who'd seem to have their own agenda about her and Voyager; they were something she'd rather forget about for now. The rest of Starfleet Admiralty were generally unconcerned about these strange events surrounding her and her crew. Fleet Admiral Necheyev had spoken to her but there was not much the high ranked woman could do unless some hard evidence turned up or someone owned up. 'Not much chance of that!' she mused to herself bitterly.

Noting that Elliot was talking quietly to Paris and Robin, about what she wasn't sure, grateful that her aide was now assisting her instead of being a thorn between her and the crew; turning her gaze away from the huddled males and took to watching the sun as it cast long shadows across the bay and their former picnic area, a fitting scenario of how she felt about some in the top brass at that moment.

Julia Paris had arrived earlier in the afternoon and took Miral home with her, along with the diaper bag, after Torres had given the growing child a feed.

"Penny for them?" asked a quiet voice beside her.

"They might be worth more than that, B'Elanna," she responded with a quiet tired smile. Torres just stood beside her gazing out towards the iconic structure of Golden Gate Bridge which now stood as a dark etched shape against the fiery sunset whilst the twilight gloom gathered around them. "I was just remembering this place when I was at the Academy as a first year cadet, wanting more than anything to make my father proud of me," she revealed with a soft sigh, knowing she couldn't really talk about her unsettling thoughts about what she'd seen and heard here today. "Ironic really, when I think about what Chakotay and I was asked in our first debriefing together."

"How so?" asked Torres softly keeping her gaze on the open bay where the lights started to twinkle at them from across the dark shadowed shore.

"Father always stressed the importance of keeping myself as close to proper protocol as possible, especially with regard to relationships with my fellow cadets, my crew mates, but ultimately with my subordinates."

"And the first question they ask is that one!" Torres said with a tone of utter contempt.

"When I think about all the major protocols I came very close to breaking or at least bending that was the last thing on my mind," Janeway said her own tone equally as contemptuous.

"Seems those Admirals thought that was how he – a known confirmed staunch Maquis in their eyes – won you over," again she snorted with contempt.

"Laughable really," Janeway said without humour.

"Yeah! Only no-one is laughing or at least not amongst his friends," Torres pointed out quietly her anger cooling with the night air.

"No they're not," she agreed softly.

"He had his principles and stuck to them," finally turning to look at the woman beside her, she added. "So did you, Kathryn," her tone gentle. "Pity those Admirals appear to have lost their!" she growled.

Janeway silently agreed with her CEO.

NB: Short I know, more to follow with next chapter which I'm writing now. Enjoy and please review Thanks.