"Captain, thank the stars you're alright."

B'elanna practically jumped away from the command seat.

She was much more comfortable in Engineering, there she was allowed to scream and curse and have a fit when things went wrong. Up here on the bridge? It was all fake smiles and… words of encouragement. She shuddered.

Kathryn was pale, her usual neat bobbed hair was a mass of volume, and was that blood under her ear? What a mess this day had turned into.

"What's going on B'elanna?"

Kathryn took her seat, she needed to focus on the situation and all this standing was making her ears ring.

B'elanna's shoulders seemed to slacken, her frown deepened and her jaw clenched.

"Commander Chakotay and Tuvok have gone missing."

Kathryn froze. Was it possible to die from exasperation? She would probably die today from exasperation. Why did she agree to let them go back down, again? Oh. That's right. They had a Globulin in captivity.

They had gone with a small group to check out the area, find out why she'd been attacked.

Kathryn had a momentary flash back to the Sickbay, the ragged last words from the jelly being. He'd asked for help. It attacked her, but had the audacity to need her?

"When was the last time we had contact with the away team?"

"Over an hour now. They had found ruins near the scene of your attack and went to investigate"

Kathryn took her seat and took deep breaths. They'd lost contact with a group of officers. Not just any officers either, her second and third officers.

Help us.

Why did she keep hearing it inside her mind? If these people really needed saving, why attack them? Junior said they were pacifist, it hadn't felt like that one of them had almost broken her ribs.

Something was sitting strangely in her stomach. She had to figure out what was going on. And the only way to do so would be to either talk to their friend in sickbay or return to the surface.

Kathryn mulled over her options and flinched slightly when she noticed a body sitting down next to her. She relaxed when she saw only Junior. B'elanna had taken refuge by the Engineering station, no doubt wanting to return to engineering as soon as possible.

Junior seemed so troubled, his brow was furrowed and she could see his eyes glazing over as he focused on his own inner thoughts. She had to take care of this problem, and their guest was currently unconscious.

"B'elanna I'm going to need you to stay in command for a little longer. I'm going back down."

She was glad her words were strong because inside she was still conflicted. Was it better to just leave this planet? Voyager already had a mission, they needed to get home. All of this was just a way to distract them, another problem to keep them stationary.

But she couldn't leave them, not while there was a chance to get her crew back home together. Her stomach was churning but her mind had decided.

"Captain, with all due respect, that's a ridiculous idea. You almost died once, we have security officers for a reason!"

B'elanna was correct. What made this decision even more difficult was that Starfleet regulations were clear on this, the Captain was to remain with the ship.

"Whatever is going on down there didn't start until I was on my shore leave. No other officer had a problem, received injury, in fact they enjoyed every minute down there. Something is telling me that all of this, whatever this is, is happening to get my attention."

Junior's bottom lip trembled but he didn't voice his concern. Kathryn ruffled his head and gave as encouraging of a smile as she could. She stood and began to make her way to transportation but was stopped by a blinding light.

Kathryn blinked against the sudden offense and looked around her bridge. All were still, not a movement from anyone. Frozen in their moment of time. Junior stood abruptly and Kathryn suddenly knew exactly who had caused this.

"You can't go down there Kathy."

Kathryn clenched her hands into tight balls at her sides. Her shoulders stiffened, her teeth clenched and for a moment she felt as though every muscle in her body would tighten until she became one giant cramp.

She followed the voice and found him, standing in the doorway, blocking her exit. Q.

He looked just as he did any time he'd come to visit in the past. The ridiculous red, commanding uniform of a Starfleet admiral. His tousled curly brown hair. The only difference was that his usually polished grin was replaced with a thin mouth and a stern gaze. He looked like nothing had ever happened. Like he hadn't just up and disappeared more than half a year ago.

Her feet were moving and her right hand was unclenching at the exact same time and she knew that he could feel her intent, could see what she was about to do, but it didn't take away any of the satisfaction as her palm made contact with his cheek.

The slap reverberated around the room and the sting on her hand could be nothing compared to what her heart was feeling. He left. He had run away like he always did, leaving as much damage as possible behind him

"How dare you. You- you- you son of a --"

Q caught her wrist, and tugged her to him. She froze as his arms wrapped around her and for a moment all she could smell was that impossible scent of him.

She pushed him away.

"You think you can come back here after all this time and try to tell me what I can and cannot do? Who do you think you are?"

Her face felt flushed but it was only because of the anger she felt, the adrenaline pumping through her, and NOT because he'd embraced her so suddenly.

Q's cheek was red and splotchy from where she'd left a mark, in fact, if she looked close enough she was sure she could make out the imprint of her fingers.

"Kathy, I can't explain myself now, but please know that I can't let you go down to that planet again. If you do, you'll die."

He wasn't laughing, his usual mischievous eyes were sober. He didn't even try to deny her claims. She stepped away from him.

"Move, Q, now. I have people who need me and I won't abandon them."

He flinched and she felt pride at hurting him.

"I won't let you die." He stood firm, his arms crossing over his chest. The tension was mounting and Kathryn wasn't sure if she wanted to shoot him with a blaster or just beat him with her bare hands.

"Ok, maybe we should all take a breath."

Junior jumped in between them and stared back and forth between his parents.

"Junior, You shouldn't be here, you promised the Continum you would stay away."

Junior sunk at his father's proclamation but Kathryn scoffed.

"Junior does not belong to the Continuum, if he wants to come visit Voyager he will always be welcome. If he wanted to live here, his quarters are ready."

Both men snapped their heads to her, Q's face blank, but Junior was a mix of shock and joy.

"You would let me stay?"

Kathryn gave him a smile, "Absolutely I would, you're my son."

Junior rocketed himself into her arms then, tears flowing down his cheeks.

"Mom!" He yelled into her shoulder. She latched onto him and patted his head, but she never took her eyes off of Q.

His jaw clenched and she could see unshed tears building in his brown eyes. Kathryn had a sudden notion and it may have been a long time ago, but perhaps Q had left that link between them open. Maybe he could still hear her.

"What's gotten into you?" She projected her thought, hoping he would hear and sure enough his eyes twitched just slightly. She had him.

"Junior and I are in trouble. A council formed, a trial was held. We were banned from visiting humans. You and every being aboard this vessel are in danger every moment we are here."

Kathryn gaped openly up at him. How could this have happened? When did this happen? The Continuum despised humans that much? To keep her son and her -- Q away. This was ridiculous.

"Did they force the Globulins to attack us?" Kathryn voiced her question out loud. Junior lifted his head to glace at his father, he wanted to hear the answer as well.

Q sighed and shook his head. He strode forward slowly, his hands held up for Kathryn to watch. Once he was only a foot away he stopped. His eyes flicked to the side, just next to her face.

"They didn't attack you. Someone worse is at work here." His hand stretched out and Kathryn would have slapped him away if she wasn't still holding Junior. Q rested his hand against her head and a flash caused her to close her eyes.

The ever growing pain in her head was gone. She bit her lip to stop the soft groan she wanted to release. His fingers left her head and she could see the red liquid on the tips of his forefinger and middle finger.

Q's brow furrowed at the sight and his lip curled slightly, baring his teeth ever so slightly.

"She'll pay for what she has done here." He practically growled inside her mind once more.

"Who?"

Q glanced up at the view screen.

"My ex wife."