Hey guys, author here. I'm really sorry that it's taken so long to get this posted. November was exam time and then in December we had an unexpected death in my immediate family. I've been in a rough rollercoaster of emotions but I'm finding strength to keep going and I'm really grateful to you guys for staying with me and for reading this story.
"What are you doing here?" The Doctor's sharp tone cut through his shock. Junior's eyes left the Captains lifeless body and focused on the holographic man.
"I-I--" he what? What could he say? He was disobeying his father's orders to keep his distance from Voyager. He was here because he heard Aunt Kathy was hurt. He was here for her. That was probably the truth, he was here for his surrogate mother.
"You-you-? Well, it doesn't matter now. You're here and you will help." The doctor was no longer looking at him, his attention was fully on the Captain. The Doctor gestured for Junior to come forward.
"I need to grab my Hypospray to administer the Captain with a dose of Cortical analeptic. But the Captain has fainted at an angle, if I let go, she will fall. Come over here and help me rearrange her."
Junior rushed to the Doctor's side and placed his hands under Aunt Kathy's shoulders, the Doctor laid her down against Junior once he saw he could support her. Then he grabbed her waist and counted to three. On three both lifted the Captain and shifted her to the middle of the medical bed. Once she was secure the Doctor quickly rushed to grab the hypospray.
Junior kept one hand on her, reassuring himself that everything would be fine. She had only fainted; fainting spells were a dime a dozen. His mere presence made a few species faint. And yet, he just wanted to hear the words from the doctor himself.
"You'll need to move aside for a moment, Junior."
The doctor was back and gently nudged Junior out of his way. He held up the metallic hypospray and pressed it against the Captain's neck. One soft click filled the air, followed promptly by a hissing release as the drug was injected into her system.
Five, painful beats of his heart passed before her eyes began to twitch. Her breathing became more labored and she groaned. Junior felt like weeping when at last her eyes opened. Her blue eyes ghosted across the room, she saw the Doctor first and sighed in relief. The doctor gave her a pat on the shoulder, telling her that she had only fainted and would be expected to make a full recovery.
Her lips turned wistfully at the Doctors jab towards her weak constitution due to never coming to her scheduled checkups. Movement from the corner grabbed at her attention and she turned her head slightly. She narrowed her eyes as she took in Junior standing behind the Doctor. A sigh escaped her but for all her exasperation she knew she could not put this off any longer.
"Doctor, we may have a bigger problem on our hands." She folded her arms in a self-protest against this new weakness but continued as the Doctor listened.
"I've been having hallucinations recently, hence why I'm having trouble sleeping." The words sounded hollow, but she needed help, she trusted the Doctor to not judge her misfortune. She knew he would never take her for weak even as her illness had ultimately brought her to sickbay.
"Hallucinations? What, may I ask, are you seeing?" The Doctor grabbed a seat and scooted in close but Junior took a small step back, not entirely sure if he was supposed to hear this conversation. He should probably leave and give them some privacy but after witnessing his Aunt Kathy's limp body only minutes before. He set his back straight and planted himself down, he would not be leaving her side anytime soon.
"It's always the same people, but as of right now, I see Junior." Both men in the room stilled at her words.
The Doctor arched an eyebrow and opened his mouth only for a few odd noises to come out. He tired again but this time only silence proceeded. Finally, he turned to look at Junior, silently asking for help. Kathryn followed the Doctors gaze and gasped. Both men turned to look at her and she started from one set of brown eyes to another.
"You can see him." Kathryn blinked as she processed this and then set her eyes back on the teenager who was trying too hard not to hover.
"Are you really here Junior?" She felt a slight itch in her throat and the blinking got worse, the last thing she needed was to cry in front of her God son. But she hadn't seen Junior in so long.
Junior felt strange as well, his chest felt tight and his eyes were beginning to itch horribly. His vision was beginning to cloud but once he blinked, they would clear only to cloud over again. He raised his fist towards his face and rubbed against his eyes. Oh, his hand was wet, he was crying. But why? Tears usually only proceeded horrible things. Right now, staring down and Aunt Kathy, he felt so incredibly happy.
He couldn't voice his affirmation to her question, so he nodded and as his human form breathed in fresh air his nose sniffled. Kathryn smiled and her own eyes began to shine with unshed tears. She threw her arms open and with her fingers she gestured for Junior to come to her. Junior practically pushed the doctor out of the way just before launching himself into his God Mothers arms.
Kathryn closed her eyes and leaned her head atop of Juniors and his slight frame shook with sobs. She knew the shoulder of her uniform would be soaked but she didn't mind. She had one arm tucked around him to keep him from falling off the bed. Her other hand was brushing the hair at the back of his head.
She took a deep breath and then let her own tears fall. She breathed him in once more and knew for certain that this really was her son. Even the best of her imagination could never produce the same exact scent both father and son held. It was like smelling a breeze off a spark of fire, this scent once gave the sense of danger wrapped tightly beneath a feeling of warmth and security.
The doctor left quickly thereafter, allowing the small tender moment between mother and son. The tears would soon fade and they each held onto the other as tightly as possible. Junior was so scared that his Godmother may get up and walk out the door if he let her go. Kathryn held tight for fear that her boy would vanish into thin air again.
Time went on and soon both had fallen asleep. The Doctor returned to check on them an hour later and fond Junior tucked into Kathryn's side. Each held faces completely as ease, for the first time in a long time they would both rest. The Doctor couldn't help smiling down at the pair. He grabbed a blanket from off one of the other beds and draped it across Junior and then retreated to his office.
Not even two hours later The Doctor heard a soft beeping before the voice of B'elanna torres.
"Torres to Doctor" The Doctor pushed against the comm on his chest and responded, "Doctor here, what can I do for you B'elanna?"
"How's the Captain handling things Doctor? Do we have an estimated time for when she can be back and running the Ship?"
Doctor couldn't help overhearing the slight agitation in B'elanna's tone. She was worried.
"Captain Janeway is doing much better. I've fixed the bruising on her ribs but she's currently resting."
Silence answered his response, and he could almost physically see B'elanna cursing to herself.
"What's going on Ms. Torres? Where are you?"
"On the bridge. I'm the 'acting authority' since Chakotay and Tuvoc decided to jump ship on this little revenge mission."
"Well, I'll inform you as soon as the Captain or our new guest wakes." Doctor cast a glance to the jelly like being still resting under a force field.
"Understood. Torres out." The badge beeped twice more and then The Doctor was left to finish his written notes.
He heard a slight whimper and stood immediately, Junior had began to whine and move about in his sleep. He strode forward, out of his office, but before he made any contact Captain Janeway had taken control of the situation.
He watched as the still sleeping Captain lifted her hand from the boys back and began to stroke his head gently and slowly, all the while she hushed him in a calming manner.
Junior quieted and returned to silent slumber and soon enough captain Janeway followed suit. Nice to know now after all these years of trying to get the woman to sleep all he needed to do was give her a child to care for.
Doctor returned to his seat and his paperwork with a smile.
A gasp ripped through the silence and their 'guest' tried to shoot up from his sleeping position only to hit the field and what could only be described as a scream filled the room as the force field took charge and stopped the creature from getting out of the bed.
There goes his paperwork.