Reunion
Disclaimer - Paramount and Viacom own the characters from Voyager, although they didn't often treat them right. The story line belongs to me.
A special thanks to: My friend and editor of all my stories, Mill3rs.
Chapter 2 – Looking Back
As the turbolift doors slid shut, Harry returned Tom's grin. He knew that Tom was headed to sickbay to meet his daughter. He wiped his eyes as he thought of finally seeing his parents after seven long years. Were his parents in such awe when he was born, as Tom had appeared when he heard his daughter's first sounds? Harry was an only child and knew that his parents had spoiled him, giving in to his every whim as he grew up. He remembered happy childhood parties and how proud they were when he played a clarinet solo at the Starfleet winter concert in his junior year at the Academy. He also remembered the raw pain when he realized that Voyager was stranded over 70,000 light years from home. Harry never thought he would see his parents again and now they were only a few hours away. He had spoken to them through the Pathfinder project and felt their love for him across the great distance. He remembered back to his first day on Voyager…..
* * * * *
Harry had thought of himself as quite professional and mature as he waited on Deep Space Nine to join Voyager's crew. Then, in a dark little bar run by a Ferengi, he had almost been taken for quite a lot of credits. Quark, the bar owner, had shown him some crystals and had gotten quite upset when Harry told him that they had been warned at the Academy about the Ferengi. Badgered by Quark into buying something, Harry had offered to buy the entire tray of crystals when Tom Paris stepped up. "Dazzling, aren't they." Tom picked up one of the Lobi crystals from Quark's tray. "As bright as a Colladian diamond."
Quark snatched the crystal back, snapping. "Brighter."
Tom continued. "Hard to believe you can find them on any planet in the system. You know, there's a shop at the Volnar Colony that sells a dozen assorted shapes for one Cardassian Latinum." Tom watched as Harry closed Quark's case and stood up to leave. As they walked out of the bar together, Harry thanked Tom. Shouldering his bag, Tom turned to Harry with a sly grin on his face and asked. "Didn't they warn you about Ferengi at the Academy?"
Once onboard the ship, Harry had seen the reactions the Fleet crew had towards Tom. Even though he was told the worst about the 'Observer', he decided that Tom Paris needed a friend as much as he did. He appointed himself Tom's first friend on Voyager.
* * * * *
They had been through so much in the past seven years and Tom had always remained by his side. When the two crewmembers had been thrown down to the bottom of the chute in the Akritirian prison, Tom had kept him safe from the other prisoners. Then when Tom had been stabbed, Harry was forced to keep him from harm while he tried to neutralize the power in the chute to escape. They had barely been rescued in time; Tom lay close to death on the floor and Harry had been surrounded by angry inmates. He thought fondly of the race with the Delta Flyer when Tom and B'Elanna had returned dirty, battered, and eager to have the Captain perform a wedding ceremony. His two friends had found love on the long journey home and now were in sickbay welcoming their daughter as they returned to the Alpha Quadrant.
Harry also thought about Libby and knew, from her letters that she had not married while he was missing; he wondered if they might be able to get back together. He realized that he was a much different man than the one who had left for a two week mission so long ago. Would Libby accept the man he had become? Would he accept her?
* * * * *
Harry looked up as the captain approached his station. He had been so deep in thought that he hadn't heard her voice.
"Are you alright, Harry?" Janeway asked, taking in his confused expression as she lightly touched his shoulder. "You didn't answer me."
Harry blushed as he straightened up at his console. "I'm sorry, Captain. I guess I was just lost in thought." He glanced quickly at the view of Earth on the viewscreen and looked back at Janeway.
"What I said, Mr. Kim, was that I needed to meet with Commander Tuvok in my ready room and, with Commander Chakotay at the helm, I asked if you could take the bridge." Janeway gave him a big smile as his eyes lit up at the request.
Harry had been in the command chair during both Beta and Gamma shifts but never on the Alpha shift, especially when a senior officer was on the bridge. "Yes, Ma'am, I would be proud to take the bridge." He said as he headed for the command chair.
The captain shook her head slightly in amusement as she watched him move down the steps. He has certainly grown in the last seven years. If we hadn't gotten pulled into the Delta Quadrant, he would have been a Lieutenant Commander by now.
Stopping at Tuvok's station, Janeway requested that he join her in her ready room. The two senior officers left the bridge, having taken one more look at the beautiful site on the viewscreen.
* * * * *
The captain moved slowly into her ready room with Tuvok behind her. She indicated that he should sit on the couch as she moved towards the replicator. "Coffee, black." She ordered, and then looked at her oldest friend. "Would you like some hot tea, Tuvok?" She asked with a tired expression on her face.
"Tea would be fine, Captain." Tuvok replied as he sat on the edge of the couch. He watched as Captain Janeway carried the two mugs towards him and sat down. He accepted the mug from her and took a sip of the hot spiced beverage.
After handing Tuvok his tea, Janeway inhaled the deep, bitter scent of the hot coffee. "We actually did it. We're home." She took a sip of coffee and leaned tiredly into the back of the couch.
"You have attained your goal, Captain. You have brought this ship and its crew home and I might add, in record time." Tuvok stated in his calm quiet voice. He did not betray any emotion although Janeway knew that he had missed his family and that his medical condition could now be treated expediently . He took a drink of his tea before looking to Janeway for an explanation of why she asked to speak to him privately.
Janeway placed her mug on the low table in front of the couch and turned to her tactical officer. "Tuvok, you are one of my oldest and dearest friends. I still remember our first meeting. You dressed me down in front of three Starfleet Admirals for failing to observe certain tactical procedures during my first command. You were right of course but it certainly damaged my ego at the time." At his subtle look of remorse, she continued. "Oh, I deserved it and you really did help mold me into a better officer." Reaching out for him, she tentatively placed her hand on his arm. "I've come to rely on you so much over the past 13 years for your logical advice and friendship. I'm so glad that we've been able to return to the Alpha Quadrant in time for you to get help. I've ordered the Doctor to send a subspace message to Vulcan, notifying your family of your condition. He will be asking that T'Pel and your son, S'ek join us at Mars Base."
Clearing his throat softly, Tuvok looked into the blue-grey eyes, shining with unshed tears and turned slightly towards Janeway. "Captain, it has always been a great honor serving with you. I'm sorry if I gave you any unrest at the beginning of your career. You were then and continue to be, a fine officer. Thank you for the order to have my family join us. I assure you that I am capable of continuing my duties until we have docked." He finished his mug of tea and rose from the seat. "If I may return to the bridge?"
Janeway nodded her approval and Tuvok walked towards the doors. Thank you my old friend for your strength. She slowly finished her coffee and headed for the bridge.
* * * * *
Chakotay carefully maneuvered Voyager on its course towards Mars Base. He felt a pang of regret as the ship turned and Earth was no longer visible on screen. Even though he had grown up on Dorvan V, he thought of Earth as home. He had good memories of his time as a cadet at the Academy and later teaching there. He felt a chill come over him as he thought of his family and friends who did not survive the Cardassian massacre. He missed his father and regretted that they had not healed the rift between them before the older man died. He thought back to his days on the Liberty with the renegade Maquis crew…..
* * * * *
Smoke billowed from the engineer's console as several sharp Klingon curses could be heard above the blare of the warning klaxon. "Hull breach in 45 seconds. Hull breach in 45 seconds." The metallic voice of the computer sounded.
"B'Elanna if you don't get that sealed, we're finished." Chakotay shouted as the young engineer pushed herself out from under the console. He had rescued the half-Klingon from a freighter when the owner-pilot had been killed and she was just about to be attacked. Although still in her early twenties, she had a way with the 39 year old engines onboard the Liberty and had pulled them through many difficult times. Now, he thought, their luck was just about to run out.
Pushing her unruly hair back from her grease stained forehead, B'Elanna smiled as she shouted into the comm system. "Bendera, try the shields now!" There was a sudden silence as the klaxon stopped and the ship stopped shaking. "All fixed, Chakotay. Now what about that Raktajino you promised me?" She gave him another smile as she wiped her hands on the brown leather pants that hugged her slim figure. Shouldering her repair kit, she slid past his chair. "I'll just grab a quick sonic shower and meet you in the mess." She left the bridge to the amusement of the rest of the crew.
Chakotay shook his head and watched her go as; once again, they were able to continue on their way to the hidden Maquis base.
His thoughts then wandered to another Liberty crewmember he had picked up; Tom Paris an ex-fleet pilot, for the price of his bar bills. Although he had a difficult time dealing with the younger man, Chakotay had to admit that his skills at the helm were worth the extra hassle of keeping the high spirited pilot out of trouble. Tom was pretty much of a loner on the Liberty but certainly enjoyed every shore leave. Chakotay regretted when Tom was captured by the Federation on his first mission off the ship and was shocked to hear that he had been sentenced to ten years at Aukland Penal Colony. He had heard about the reputation of the 'model' Starfleet prison and knew that Tom was not in for an easy time. Then, Paris had shown up on Voyager's bridge; a traitor who helped Kathryn Janeway track them down.
After both ships had been damaged and pulled into the Delta Quadrant, Chakotay knew there was no choice except to ram the Liberty into the larger Kazon vessel to aid Voyager. He withheld his anger at Captain Janeway when she destroyed the array, stranding both the ship's crews 70,000 light years from the Alpha Quadrant, and helped his crew adjust to serve under her command….
* * * * *
Chakotay grew to respect the diminutive captain with the backbone of steel. He had felt himself becoming attracted to the red haired woman with the blue-grey eyes but she was not able to return his feelings due to her sense of duty and her all encompassing need to get her ship, and its crew, back home. Once, on New Earth, as he called the small planet where he and the captain had thought themselves stranded, he thought that they might have a future together. A cure had been found, though, and they resumed their positions on Voyager.
Now, he felt that he needed to move on and slowly discovered the gentle nature of the ex-Borg, Seven of Nine. She was child-like in her personal dealings with the crew but was a quick study, with a sharp mind that rivaled his own, in scientific studies. She also, shyly, showed an interest in archeology. Her physical features and growing sensuality was not lost on the commander. He smiled as he remembered kissing her for the first time in his quarters, when she surprised him by beaming in with a large bouquet of flowers. He was not sure what would happen next but wished to continue their relationship on Earth. Chakotay knew that they would have to overcome many obstacles but he thought of Tom and B'Elanna. The pilot had come onboard with a large chip on his shoulder and a playboy attitude towards all of the female crewmembers, while B'Elanna had never hidden her fiery Klingon temper and her 'hands-off' aura. Now, they were married and had just become parents; he couldn't have been happier for them.
Chakotay turned as he felt someone approach him and looked up into Seven's clear blue eyes as she moved to stand by his side. They were nearing Mars Base and he easily placed the ship into a low orbit around the red planet. When Seven placed her hand on his shoulder, he gently covered her hand with one of his own and smiled up at the tall blond.
The doors to the ready room slid open and Janeway made her way to the middle of the bridge. Glancing up at her OPs officer as he rose to meet her, she smiled and stated. "Please, resume your command, Mr. Kim. I'll be in sickbay. I have a new crewmember to meet."
"Aye, Captain." Harry replied as he sat back down in the 'big' chair. Harry glanced back at the captain as she left the bridge, heading to sickbay to see the newest member of their Voyager family. He looked forward to their arrival at Mars Base so he could join his friends in welcoming their daughter.
* * * * *
As the doors to the turbolift slid shut, the captain leaned against the far wall. The past several hours had been filled with tension and now she clearly felt the fatigue that she had successfully kept at bay. "Sickbay." She ordered and closed her eyes as the lift began to move. She thought back to when she had first met Tom Paris. He had been a young child and she had gone to his house for a meeting with his father. Captain Paris was her mentor and they later served together on the Albatani. Later, she and Owen Paris had been captured by the Cardassians and he had been tortured while she was held in a cell listening to his screams. He was a changed man when they returned from that mission. She had heard about his newly harsh treatment of his young son but lost track of the family until she was given Voyager and the assignment to track down the Maquis ship Liberty...
* * * * *
Approaching the blond haired young man at the welding station in the Aukland Penal Colony, Janeway had some misgivings. He had been cashiered out of Starfleet following a fatal accident and had been captured on his first mission with the Maquis cell led by Chakotay. She had asked his father if she could take Tom along as an observer to try to track down the missing ship as well as her security chief, Tuvok. With the Admiral's warning that the boy was nothing but trouble, she asked Tom to join her mission. He came along with the promise of help at his next outmate meeting. After the array had been destroyed and Chakotay assured her that he would be responsible for the safety of her new Lieutenant, she had assigned Tom to the helm as the chief con officer.
* * * * *
Tom had proven himself repeatedly over the past seven years and Janeway smiled as she remembered the volatile courtship of Tom and B'Elanna. Now they were happily married and the new parents of a little girl she couldn't wait to meet. The doors slid open and she left the turbolift and headed for sickbay.
The lights were low when she entered the room and even though it was dark, she saw the small family on the far side of the room. The doctor shimmered into existence as she approached the two biobeds. Tom was curled protectively around his wife and daughter; a blue medical blanket wrapped around them. Janeway looked at the doctor and moved towards his office. She whispered softly. "How are they?"
"Mother and daughter came through the birth just fine, Captain. The father arrived here in a state of exhaustion and, after assuring him that they were alright, I convinced him, with your approval, that he should join them for some much needed rest." He gave her a smile as he grabbed a tricorder off of the nearest table and held it, beeping and blinking, out towards her. "I believe that you should be persuaded to do the same."
Harry's voice over the Captain's commbadge interrupted them. "Captain, I have a message from Mars Base, marked for your eyes only."
"Please route it to the Doctor's office, Ensign Kim. Thank you." Janeway answered as she headed for the doctor's office.
The doctor watched as she closed the glass door to his office and sat at his desk. He could see her talking heatedly to the person on the console. Shaking her head several times, he noted that she shut down the exchange but did not get up right away. When she did finally stand and leave his office, her face was pale and her eyes were slightly off focus. He moved towards her to be sure that she was alright.
"Doctor." She began in a voice thick with emotion. "I need to have a staff meeting immediately. Please remain here to watch over Lieutenant Torres and the baby. I would like you to join us via your desk console."
"Yes, of course, Captain." He answered and watched her move to the biobeds.
She gently shook Tom's shoulder and, as he blinked his eyes trying to awaken, she leaned towards him. "I'm sorry, Tom, but you need to come with me right away. I've received news from Mars Base that you must hear." She tapped her commbadge and spoke softly into it. "All senior officers, please report to my ready room immediately. Janeway out."
Tom pulled on his boots, reached over to B'Elanna and Miral and gave them each a small kiss before covering them with the blanket. Glancing at the doctor who gave him a confused look and a shrug of his shoulders, Tom grabbed his jacket and hurried to join the captain as she left sickbay.
to be continued….