Disclaimer: Star Trek and its world, characters and ideas all belong to
Paramount. The story belongs to me.
Thanks to Cat C for her friendship and editing abilities.
Sorry it's taken so long, work/vacation/computer problems - you know the drill. Sorry! : )
Chapter 7
Early the next morning, Captain Janeway went to the cafeteria and got a tray full of pancakes, sausage and scrambled eggs. She then found a pot of fresh coffee and took it with her to a table. She liked being up before the rest of the crew, and slowly a few crewmembers made their way in as she sat quietly and ate her breakfast. She had forgotten just how good 'real' pancakes were, and sausage that she didn't have to imagine where they came from (at least they were from familiar animals). And coffee, fresh coffee. she was in heaven! As she was savoring the taste of her food, someone walked up behind her. She could tell that the person was trying to decide whether or not to talk to her, so she turned around. Kathryn found herself looking up at B'Elanna.
B'Elanna's face looked tired. She must not be getting much sleep lately, with the new baby, but had managed to get away for a few minutes to have a peaceful breakfast. She saw the Captain turn around and smiled down at her.
"Good Morning, Lieutenant, how are you this morning?" the Captain asked. She watched B'Elanna as she sat down next to her at the table. She took another sip of her coffee as she waited for the engineer to speak.
"Good morning, Captain." B'Elanna said. "It's nice to have a quiet breakfast for a change!" She offered a small smile to her commanding officer. "I don't get much time to myself lately. I just fed Miral, and passed her off to Tom, they both went back to sleep on the bed, so I figure I've got about 2 hours to myself. I like the early mornings around here, it's so quiet."
Captain Janeway smiled, "I know what you mean, that's why I'm here. I have my last medical checkup in about an hour, and then I am going to get ready to go visit my family. Do you and Tom have plans to visit family, B'Elanna?"
B'Elanna smiled at Kathryn, "Yes, we finished yesterday. We're just waiting until tomorrow to go to his parents' house. We wanted a few calm days to ourselves, stress-free." She said as she smiled again, then she wrinkled her eyebrows, "I'm a little nervous about meeting his family."
Kathryn smiled, "You don't need to worry about them, they don't bite. I spent a lot of time with the Admiral's family when he was my mentor - I even knew Tom as a boy." She said laughing, "And he was quite an. energetic child. I'm glad some things never change!" she added, chuckling. She looked at her chronometer and excused herself, "I've got to go, I don't want to be late to Starfleet Medical. I don't want them to make up excuses to keep me longer!" she winked.
She stood up and said goodbye to B'Elanna. She had just enough time to get to the medical building and be there early, like a good officer should. She waited, reading a PADD she brought with her, and followed the nurse when her name was called.
"Well, Captain, this is your last visit with us, I see." Her doctor told her. "I feel privileged to have checked you and your crew out. You know that I can not break Doctor/Patient confidentiality, but as the commanding officer of Voyager, I just wanted to let you know that we have not found any illnesses that resulted from your extended time in the Delta Quadrant."
Kathryn let out a deep breath, one that she had not even realized that she had been holding. "I am very glad to hear that, Doctor. I didn't think that there was anything, but there was the possibility." She smiled a bright smile to the Doctor and asked, "Does this mean that we are all clear to leave the facility?"
He smiled down at her, "Yes, Captain. You were our final Voyager crewmember of the day. You are all free to go visit your families now. We just can't think of any more reasons to poke or prod any of you!" and he laughed. "I certainly can't fault your medical care." He said, then scratched his chin. "As a matter of fact, I would love to meet your Doctor. I hear that he is fascinating, and that he made some very incredible discoveries while in the Delta Quadrant. Do you think he is planning on meeting with us?"
"That is a relief, Doctor. I'm glad to hear that we can all leave now. I, for one, am anxious to see my family again! Well, about the Doctor, I am afraid that Starfleet has our Doctor and is examining his program with a fine toothcomb. We all feel that he is a sentient, unique being, but there are some that feel he is Starfleet property. I have been keeping in touch with that debate as well, trying to keep people on track. I'm sure he would love to meet all of you, his colleagues." She said with an almost motherly smile. "He certainly has come a long way from his 'Please state the nature of the medical emergency' days. He IS one of our crew, and our family." She then smiled and looked up at the doctor. "Well, if there is nothing left for you to do to me, may I go tell my crew the good news?"
The Doctor smiled back at her, "Of course, Captain. Please send our warmest regards to them, as well as our well wishes for their future. We also hope not to have to see any of them again, in a professional capacity of course."
"Of course I will, Doctor. Please thank your staff for their kind treatment of all of us. We appreciate their professionalism, as well as their expediency." She said, again with a large smile on her face. "I especially appreciate the expediency, I am quite anxious to see my family." Once the doctor had left her room, she changed out of the hospital gown and went back to the barracks that the Voyager crew had been assigned.
It was lunchtime, and she asked all of her crew to meet in the cafeteria at noon. She told them all what the Starfleet Medical doctor had told her earlier that morning, including the admiration of their Doctor. "You are all free to visit your families now. Just remember we are a family, and I assure you we shall keep in touch. Starfleet will be calling many of us for debriefing, so we will be seeing each other then. I was assured that we would have several weeks before we are called upon." Then she looked at them all sincerely, meeting each of their eyes. "I have enjoyed working with every one of you, and would do it again in a heartbeat. I know you are all packed and ready to go, I am anxious to catch the next flight to Indiana!" she said cheerfully. She bade goodbye to her crew, and spoke to each of them individually before she left the room.
Kathryn was exhausted when she got back to her assigned quarters. She flopped herself down onto her regulation bed, and fell asleep. She was so deeply asleep, that she did not hear the signaling of her door.
Chakotay was standing outside of her door, and was disappointed that she didn't answer. He figured that she had fallen asleep, but had to wake her. Their transport was going to depart soon, and he had not told her that he had been able to get the 2 last seats available. He used his override codes and let himself into her room. He did not want to wake her by turning on the bright lights, so he told the computer to turn on the lights to 2% - just barely enough to see where he was going. He knew the layout of the room, since it was a carbon copy of his. He felt his way around the room, keeping his ears open for noises. Chakotay heard noises from Kathryn's bedroom and headed in that direction.
When Chakotay quietly walked into her room, he stopped in the doorway to watch her. He took a few moments to memorize her face, the one he had loved for so long. He kept his eyes on her face as he rounded the end of the bed. As he got closer to her, his left foot tripped over the boots she had just barely kicked off before she climbed into bed. He was unable to catch his balance and fell onto her bed.
Kathryn jumped awake. "What the hell. Computer lights to 50%" As she looked down the bed, she saw Chakotay sprawled across her hips and legs. He had a sheepish grin on his face, which obviously showed his embarrassment. "Um, Commander. what are you doing?" she managed to say, keeping her temper.
"Sorry, Kathryn." He chuckled. "I didn't mean to trip. If you hadn't left your boots on the floor, I'd have made it without tripping!" He smiled his signature grin at her full-force, hoping his dimples would have the proper effect on her.
It did. She laughed. "And just what were you planning on doing, Commander, that my 'early-warning boot detection system' thwarted?" she asked with an amused tone in her voice.
Chakotay grinned again, even brighter (if that was possible). "Well, to be completely honest, I was watching you sleep, and wanted to get a closer look. I also needed to wake you up to tell you that I was able to book us on the flight at 1600 hours to Indiana. I got us the last 2 seats on the transport."
Kathryn grinned, "Well, I guess I need to pack then." She said, then hesitated, "Um. Commander, you need to get off of my legs in order for me to get up."
He then knew that he had her in the position he wanted her in, but knew she wasn't ready for it, quite yet. He smiled at her, then sat himself up at the edge of her bed. He decided that he could tease her though, "But Kathryn dear, here is the moment you've been waiting for, you've got me in your bed!" he said with amusement.
She raised one eyebrow at him, rivaling Tuvok's expression. "Chakotay, if you don't get up, we'll miss the transport. You REALLY don't want me to be mad at you, do you?" She asked, with a command expression now on her face.
He smiled at her again, "Nope, seen too many enemy ships destroyed when you were mad. I really don't want to be on the business end of your ire." and laughed. "We have to leave in about an hour. Can you be ready by then?"
"Of course I can. Get out of here so I can get to work. I've got a lot of packing to do, then good-byes to say. I'll see you in an hour." She said, shooing him out of her room.
*Please Read & review!
Thanks to Cat C for her friendship and editing abilities.
Sorry it's taken so long, work/vacation/computer problems - you know the drill. Sorry! : )
Chapter 7
Early the next morning, Captain Janeway went to the cafeteria and got a tray full of pancakes, sausage and scrambled eggs. She then found a pot of fresh coffee and took it with her to a table. She liked being up before the rest of the crew, and slowly a few crewmembers made their way in as she sat quietly and ate her breakfast. She had forgotten just how good 'real' pancakes were, and sausage that she didn't have to imagine where they came from (at least they were from familiar animals). And coffee, fresh coffee. she was in heaven! As she was savoring the taste of her food, someone walked up behind her. She could tell that the person was trying to decide whether or not to talk to her, so she turned around. Kathryn found herself looking up at B'Elanna.
B'Elanna's face looked tired. She must not be getting much sleep lately, with the new baby, but had managed to get away for a few minutes to have a peaceful breakfast. She saw the Captain turn around and smiled down at her.
"Good Morning, Lieutenant, how are you this morning?" the Captain asked. She watched B'Elanna as she sat down next to her at the table. She took another sip of her coffee as she waited for the engineer to speak.
"Good morning, Captain." B'Elanna said. "It's nice to have a quiet breakfast for a change!" She offered a small smile to her commanding officer. "I don't get much time to myself lately. I just fed Miral, and passed her off to Tom, they both went back to sleep on the bed, so I figure I've got about 2 hours to myself. I like the early mornings around here, it's so quiet."
Captain Janeway smiled, "I know what you mean, that's why I'm here. I have my last medical checkup in about an hour, and then I am going to get ready to go visit my family. Do you and Tom have plans to visit family, B'Elanna?"
B'Elanna smiled at Kathryn, "Yes, we finished yesterday. We're just waiting until tomorrow to go to his parents' house. We wanted a few calm days to ourselves, stress-free." She said as she smiled again, then she wrinkled her eyebrows, "I'm a little nervous about meeting his family."
Kathryn smiled, "You don't need to worry about them, they don't bite. I spent a lot of time with the Admiral's family when he was my mentor - I even knew Tom as a boy." She said laughing, "And he was quite an. energetic child. I'm glad some things never change!" she added, chuckling. She looked at her chronometer and excused herself, "I've got to go, I don't want to be late to Starfleet Medical. I don't want them to make up excuses to keep me longer!" she winked.
She stood up and said goodbye to B'Elanna. She had just enough time to get to the medical building and be there early, like a good officer should. She waited, reading a PADD she brought with her, and followed the nurse when her name was called.
"Well, Captain, this is your last visit with us, I see." Her doctor told her. "I feel privileged to have checked you and your crew out. You know that I can not break Doctor/Patient confidentiality, but as the commanding officer of Voyager, I just wanted to let you know that we have not found any illnesses that resulted from your extended time in the Delta Quadrant."
Kathryn let out a deep breath, one that she had not even realized that she had been holding. "I am very glad to hear that, Doctor. I didn't think that there was anything, but there was the possibility." She smiled a bright smile to the Doctor and asked, "Does this mean that we are all clear to leave the facility?"
He smiled down at her, "Yes, Captain. You were our final Voyager crewmember of the day. You are all free to go visit your families now. We just can't think of any more reasons to poke or prod any of you!" and he laughed. "I certainly can't fault your medical care." He said, then scratched his chin. "As a matter of fact, I would love to meet your Doctor. I hear that he is fascinating, and that he made some very incredible discoveries while in the Delta Quadrant. Do you think he is planning on meeting with us?"
"That is a relief, Doctor. I'm glad to hear that we can all leave now. I, for one, am anxious to see my family again! Well, about the Doctor, I am afraid that Starfleet has our Doctor and is examining his program with a fine toothcomb. We all feel that he is a sentient, unique being, but there are some that feel he is Starfleet property. I have been keeping in touch with that debate as well, trying to keep people on track. I'm sure he would love to meet all of you, his colleagues." She said with an almost motherly smile. "He certainly has come a long way from his 'Please state the nature of the medical emergency' days. He IS one of our crew, and our family." She then smiled and looked up at the doctor. "Well, if there is nothing left for you to do to me, may I go tell my crew the good news?"
The Doctor smiled back at her, "Of course, Captain. Please send our warmest regards to them, as well as our well wishes for their future. We also hope not to have to see any of them again, in a professional capacity of course."
"Of course I will, Doctor. Please thank your staff for their kind treatment of all of us. We appreciate their professionalism, as well as their expediency." She said, again with a large smile on her face. "I especially appreciate the expediency, I am quite anxious to see my family." Once the doctor had left her room, she changed out of the hospital gown and went back to the barracks that the Voyager crew had been assigned.
It was lunchtime, and she asked all of her crew to meet in the cafeteria at noon. She told them all what the Starfleet Medical doctor had told her earlier that morning, including the admiration of their Doctor. "You are all free to visit your families now. Just remember we are a family, and I assure you we shall keep in touch. Starfleet will be calling many of us for debriefing, so we will be seeing each other then. I was assured that we would have several weeks before we are called upon." Then she looked at them all sincerely, meeting each of their eyes. "I have enjoyed working with every one of you, and would do it again in a heartbeat. I know you are all packed and ready to go, I am anxious to catch the next flight to Indiana!" she said cheerfully. She bade goodbye to her crew, and spoke to each of them individually before she left the room.
Kathryn was exhausted when she got back to her assigned quarters. She flopped herself down onto her regulation bed, and fell asleep. She was so deeply asleep, that she did not hear the signaling of her door.
Chakotay was standing outside of her door, and was disappointed that she didn't answer. He figured that she had fallen asleep, but had to wake her. Their transport was going to depart soon, and he had not told her that he had been able to get the 2 last seats available. He used his override codes and let himself into her room. He did not want to wake her by turning on the bright lights, so he told the computer to turn on the lights to 2% - just barely enough to see where he was going. He knew the layout of the room, since it was a carbon copy of his. He felt his way around the room, keeping his ears open for noises. Chakotay heard noises from Kathryn's bedroom and headed in that direction.
When Chakotay quietly walked into her room, he stopped in the doorway to watch her. He took a few moments to memorize her face, the one he had loved for so long. He kept his eyes on her face as he rounded the end of the bed. As he got closer to her, his left foot tripped over the boots she had just barely kicked off before she climbed into bed. He was unable to catch his balance and fell onto her bed.
Kathryn jumped awake. "What the hell. Computer lights to 50%" As she looked down the bed, she saw Chakotay sprawled across her hips and legs. He had a sheepish grin on his face, which obviously showed his embarrassment. "Um, Commander. what are you doing?" she managed to say, keeping her temper.
"Sorry, Kathryn." He chuckled. "I didn't mean to trip. If you hadn't left your boots on the floor, I'd have made it without tripping!" He smiled his signature grin at her full-force, hoping his dimples would have the proper effect on her.
It did. She laughed. "And just what were you planning on doing, Commander, that my 'early-warning boot detection system' thwarted?" she asked with an amused tone in her voice.
Chakotay grinned again, even brighter (if that was possible). "Well, to be completely honest, I was watching you sleep, and wanted to get a closer look. I also needed to wake you up to tell you that I was able to book us on the flight at 1600 hours to Indiana. I got us the last 2 seats on the transport."
Kathryn grinned, "Well, I guess I need to pack then." She said, then hesitated, "Um. Commander, you need to get off of my legs in order for me to get up."
He then knew that he had her in the position he wanted her in, but knew she wasn't ready for it, quite yet. He smiled at her, then sat himself up at the edge of her bed. He decided that he could tease her though, "But Kathryn dear, here is the moment you've been waiting for, you've got me in your bed!" he said with amusement.
She raised one eyebrow at him, rivaling Tuvok's expression. "Chakotay, if you don't get up, we'll miss the transport. You REALLY don't want me to be mad at you, do you?" She asked, with a command expression now on her face.
He smiled at her again, "Nope, seen too many enemy ships destroyed when you were mad. I really don't want to be on the business end of your ire." and laughed. "We have to leave in about an hour. Can you be ready by then?"
"Of course I can. Get out of here so I can get to work. I've got a lot of packing to do, then good-byes to say. I'll see you in an hour." She said, shooing him out of her room.
*Please Read & review!
