"Now that doesn't look to appetizing."  Chakotay joined B'Elanna at the small corner table.

Her plate had several greenish cracker things on it.  "It's as appetizing as anything else right now."  B'Elanna's stomachs were doing their usual flip-flops.  "Come on big boy, try one.  Neelix made them special for me."  She held her plate under his nose.

"No thanks, it's much too late in the day for such a treat."  He took a generous sip of his tea and smiled, "but I'll get you some of this if you'd like.  Tea is much better on an upset stomach than… moldy crackers."

"They're not moldy you big baby."  She took his cup inhaling the aroma.  "Thanks, don't mind if I do."

Chakotay could only continue to smile.  "Any time."  He went and poured another cup bringing it back to the table.  "So where is Neelix?"

"I assume he's with Tuvok."  A hint of concern crossed Chakotay's face.  "So what's up with him anyway?"

"I'm not sure, but the captain has relieved him of duty.  All she said was he wasn't feeling well."  Chakotay had his suspicions it was much more than that.

"Well, according to Tom, 'his cheese slid off his cracker,' well something like that."  B'Elanna finished off the cup of tea.

"Where does your screwball husband come up with his expressions?  I don't think Tuvok is the only one who's lost his cheese." 

"Oh, I'm sure of that, Chakotay, but that's just one of his special… charms."  B'Elanna enjoyed her husband's charm, most of the time.

"Speaking of charms, we may finally have found the lucky one.  I just checked with the Doctor, so far so good.  No sign that Casper is rejecting the captain's blood samples."  Every hour that passed brought more relief to Chakotay.

B'Elanna looked annoyed.  "I can't believe she took that antidote herself.  Hell I can't believe you let her."

"Let her?  I did everything I could to stop her, short of knocking her out with my cane."  Unknown to him Chakotay wasn't the only one who had thought about using the cane.

"Maybe you should have.  Talk about sliding cheese, Janeway's has made it to the Alpha Quadrant by now.  She is the most stubborn person I know."

Chakotay's smile was back.  "I just happen to know a certain half Klingon who gives her a run for her money in the 'stubborn' department."  B'Elanna's response was a trade of the teacups.  She downed the rest of Chakotay's tea in several gulps.  "She's also a pig."

"Ha, ha, I'm eating for two now, well, if I'm eating anything at all that is."  B'Elanna took another cracker hoping she could force it down.

A shadow of concern crossed Chakotay's wrinkled face.  "How are you really feeling, B'Elanna?"

"I guess it depends on the moment.  There are good and bad days."  She looked as though she was in the next galaxy in thought.

Chakotay reached out and took her hand.  "This fiasco is almost over.  As soon as the Doctor gives the go ahead for the antidote this will be just another tale to tell to my little Godchild."

B'Elanna couldn't help the big smile.  "Your Godchild ha?"

"No question about it."  Chakotay looked as much the proud father as Tom.  "I've got a good feeling about this.  The antidote will work and we'll all be laughing about this whole thing soon."  He silently threw in a little prayer to whoever would listen, just in case lady-luck was not on their side.

"Thanks for the little pep talk.  I'm sure you're right; we always seem to make it through every disaster that comes along.  I think this one has just put a whole new meaning to life, for all of us.  I know I'm going to have more respect for the elderly from now on."

"We all will.  This has been an experience I'm not looking forward to repeating anytime soon."  Now it was Chakotay's turn to look deep in thought.

"Hey, I didn't mean to be a downer.  Are you ok?" 

Before Chakotay could answer, Voyager did as she jolted suddenly and the lights in the messhall flickered.  Chakotay only managed to save one teacup as the other crashed to the deck.  "Hmm, looks like Voyager can read my mind."

"If so, she didn't like what you were thinking."  B'Elanna stood up to go check on her ship.  "Just what were you thinking by the way?"

"Just that I hope the antidote will work on the ship as well.  We haven't tested it at all on Voyager."  Chakotay joined her as she headed for the door.

"Maybe we should.  I hadn't thought of that either.  Voyager doesn't have blood to test it on, but maybe we better get a sample from the jell packs and see what Casper will, or won't do."  They continued down the corridor.  "I'll check on engineering first and then grab a sample.  I think Tom is still on shift with Casper so he can help."

"Just make sure he does the testing.  I want you to stay as far away from Casper as you can."  B'Elanna just smiled at his fatherly concern.  "Let me know as soon as you get the results.  I better go catch a couple hours of sleep."

"Yes Dad."  B'Elanna remarked just before she entered the jefferies-tube.

Chakotay made his way to his quarters with a smile and renewed conviction that they were about to turn back the hands of old father time.

=^=

The musty stale odor assaulted her senses as she brushed at a dangling cobweb in her path.  "God, what is that smell?"  She put her hand over her nose all the while keeping an eye out for whatever kind of creature had left that tangled web above her. 

It took a few more moments for all of her senses to kick in to reveal her surroundings.  The creaking of the old deck plating as she walked matched the rhythm of her pounding heart.  The combination in her ears was an eerie and frightening melody. 

The utter feeling of empty loneliness made the icy-air almost unbearable.  Shivering violently she quickened her pace through the long misty corridor.  "This can't be happening again.  Where is everyone?  I can't be the only one left, it's not possible." 

Ignoring the horror of the impossible being possible, and the retched smell, she hastily looked through every door calling out names as she went.  "Chakotay, Tuvok, Seven!"  Her cries went unanswered as she moved faster. 

Groaning with every step she took, the dilapidated ship held on to its deadly secrets.  Its life giving force as empty as her soul.  Despair and anguish were her only companions as she drudged along with unknown, but compelling fear as her only guide.

"I should just turn back, get out of here!"  Somehow though her feet kept going forward and her heart kept up the quickened pace.  All along her path were signs of death and destruction.  Signs of a bone-chilling horror that her mind dare not imagine.  A fear so deep, yet eructing with every breath she took was heavy in the frigged air.  "I don't want to see, I don't want to know, please, God, help me!"  Her beseeching cries were of no use.  There would be no one to hear her, no one to help, no escape from evil's clutches.

The stench of death intensified with every step.  Misty fog was thickly accumulated around the door up ahead.  A door she knew her unwilling legs were headed.  A nightmare in that room she couldn't stop and couldn't escape.  "I don't want to see, PLEASE NO!"  She closed her eyes from the impending sight but it was of no use.  The eyes of evil could not be shut.  The creaking door opened without a touch and she found herself on the other side of hell.

The chalky-white fingers of fog swirled almost playfully around the iceberg crypt.  Like faces in the clouds, they mimicked those of her lost crew.  Mocking, laughing, they whirled into formations of those she loved most.  Dancing a devils waltz across her very soul.  She knew she was screaming, she could feel it from deep within her throat, but her ears only heard their haunting laughter as the images evaporated like a magic act.  Her irrational mind thought nothing could be worse than the scene she'd just witnessed, however, she soon knew how wrong she was.  "NO!  I WON'T LOOK" That too was a futile attempt.  Try as she might, she could not get her own lifeless body to turn from the repugnance before her.

Decaying bodies lying in dilapidated coffins filled the room.  There was no covering on them to keep the grizzly sight from her.  Only one remained empty, one that beckoned to her.  One that she knew without doubt would be her final resting place.  Her tears felt like scalding-acid on her frozen cheeks.  Her cries answered only by the laughter of the dead. 

Kathryn Janeway crumpled in a heap of anguish and despair at her own failure and the certainty of her own fate.  Arctic fingers closed over her arm, pulling her back up.  With every last bit of life in her she followed the boney arm with her eyes to the face of her once handsome first officer.  Only it wasn't his face, it couldn't be.  "It's not you, Chakotay, I know it can't be you.  This is only a dream, it's only a dream!"  Janeway cried out, refusing to look but seeing with her mind the monster in front of her.

"It is me, Kathryn, you know it's me, and you know what you have to do."  It was Chakotay's voice in her mind but it would never be the one in her heart.

"NO!"  She screamed as she pushed the skeletal remains away from her.  "You're not real, this is not real, I won't do it!"  She tried to run, she felt like she was running, but the fingers of death held her captive.  "Please, let me go, let me wake up!"

"You are awake, Kathryn.  Now come with me, we've all been waiting for you.  We're all here."  The skin hanging in shreds from Chakotay's hollow face made her want to retch.  The evil she felt emanating from him took what little breath and fight she had left.  "It's your destiny, your fate as well as ours."  He pulled her toward the empty coffin.  "We've been waiting for you for too long.  The captain must go down with her ship."

"NO!  Please don't, STOP!"  She was being dragged toward the open tomb.

"You have no choice, you are one of us.  There is no escape."  The words echoed through her mind and before she could refuse she found herself lying in that deadly grave.  "Welcome to hell, Kathryn."

"NO!"  The clear cover slid closed trapping her for eternity.  "HELP, PLEASE, NO, NO!  Kathryn Janeway screamed.

"What the…" the Doctor spun around at the horrific screaming.  Janeway was clawing and flaying her arms in the air.  She continued to scream as if the demons of darkness were after her.  "Captain!"  He ran to her side trying to hold her down.  "Captain, stop!  Wake up, your having a bad dream, wake up!"  He had to shake her hard to get her to stop screaming and open her eyes.  "It's ok, it's only a dream."

The Doctor didn't release his hold on her while he watched her off the scale rapid heartbeat slow to a less life threatening level.  Janeway's breathing slowed as well, and the screaming stopped as comprehension and recognition of a friendly face sunk in.  "Doctor."  The tears trickled down her face.

"It's ok, Captain, I'm right here.  You were having a bad dream, you're ok."  He helped her to a sitting position.  Her reaction came as a bit of a shock to him.  Janeway threw her arms around his neck in a vice-grip squeeze.  "It's ok, you're safe, it was only a dream."  He just held her letting her calm down.

"That was not just a dream."  She said in a muffled voice then relaxed her hold on him.  Her haunted eyes were the only proof he needed to believe that.  "It was a nightmare, and one I don't think I could live through again." 

The Doctor handed her a glass of water that had been sitting there on the table by her.  She drank it as though she'd been lost in the desert sun for weeks.  "I guess I don't have to tell you to drink this it will make you feel better." 

The color in her face was returning to normal.  Her haunted eyes had more life to them than a moment ago.  She handed him the empty glass.  "I guess not."

"Would you like more?"  He was clearly very concerned about her.

"No, I'm ok now, thank you."  She didn't look ok, and he knew she wasn't.

"Would you like to talk about it, maybe I could help?" 

"No, I would rather just forget it."  Although she knew there was less than zero chance of that, "but you could help by telling me the antidote is working and this will all be a distant nightmare soon."

"The antidote is working fine so far.  We still have a few hours left yet, but it looks good."  The Doctor had just gotten the last results from Lieutenant Paris a few minutes before that blood-curdling scream.  "Every blood sample has been positive.  Our little foggy friend seems very accepting of your blood now."

Janeway had her doubts, but she just chalked it up to her more than vivid nightmare.  "Can you tell yet if it's starting to reverse the aging?"

"Not yet.  It could take as long to… un-age as it has to age.  I don't believe it will happen overnight."

"It can't happen soon enough for me.  I just want this whole thing over with so we can dispose of that cloudy monster and get out of here."  Janeway felt ready to climb the walls just to get rid of her nightmare filled mind.

"Well, for now no one is going anywhere, and that includes you."  The Doctor had a feeling she was about to bolt from sickbay.  "How about I give you something to help you relax?  You could use a bit more sleep anyway."

The death glare was upon him.  "How about… hell no!  The one thing I do not want to do is go back to sleep and back to that horrible nightmare."  Just thinking it made the color drain from her face.  She took her cane and started to pace around sickbay.

"Ok, at least let me get you something warm to drink.  You don't look so good."  He was of course concerned for her health, but more for her piece of mind at the moment.

"You wouldn't either if…" she didn't finish the 'if' but her expression did.  "How about you let me off the hook early?  I promise to go right to my quarters, maybe a nice hot tub would help."

He didn't want to let her leave, but seeing the state of mind she was in, how could he not.  "Fine, but you'd better not go to the bridge or anywhere else.  We still need to take a few more blood samples just to be sure.  This isn't over until the fat lady sings."

Janeway didn't know whether to laugh or deactivate him, she chose laughter.  "And I thought I had lost my mind.  I don't even want to know who, or where you came up with that one."

"That's too bad, I was all ready to tell you the story."  The Doctor's bedside manor was much improved.  He got Janeway to smile, if only a bit.  "Let me get one more sample from you first then you can go to your quarters until further notice."

"You drive a hard bargain, but ok."  She exposed her neck to him.  "I'm starting to feel like the Bride of Dracula."

The Doctor put the hypo to her neck.  "I wont to suck your blood.  I got that one from…"

"Please spare me the details."  Janeway interrupted.  "It's much to early in the morning for such enlightenment."

"Fine, have it your way."  He took the blood sample.  "I'll have Tom, or whoever is around to help come and collect the next couple of samples from you.  Just make sure they don't have to hunt the ship for you or the deal's off and you get another twenty four hours with me."

"A rather harsh punishment, I'll be good."  She headed for the door.  "Let me know if there are any changes, and when we can start giving it to the crew."

"You'll be the first to know."  The Doctor smiled as she walked out the door. 

=^=

"Again, doesn't Dracula ever get enough blood."  Janeway grumbled to herself at the sound of her insistent door chime.  "Come in already."  The chime sounded again, and again.  "Good grief, stupid door."  She complained again tossing the blanket aside.  The chime continued to annoy.  "I'm coming."  She called out to no one as she realized the corridor was empty when the door opened.  She received one more chime for her efforts.  Making sure that no one was on either end of the corridor she stepped back and let the door close.  The chime was silent once again.  Giving the door her annoyed death glare she grumbled her way back to the sofa and her nice warm blanket.  "Voyager, you have a vexatious sense of humor."

Just as she got comfortable the annoyance chimed again.  This time Kathryn Janeway chose to ignore it… unsuccessfully, however.  "Damnit, stop already."  Now the chiming was replaced by a loud thump on the door.

"Kathryn, it's me, open your stubborn door."  Chakotay's muffled voice filtered through.

Janeway couldn't help smiling this time as she made her way back to the door, which opened at her approach.  "This better not be a game of hide and seek, Commander."

Chakotay walked in.  "I beg your pardon?  If I was hiding from you I wouldn't stand here and ring the door chime would I?"  He asked a bit confused.

"Either that, or Voyager is playing games with me."  She made her way back to her blanket.

"I'm afraid I can't take credit for the games this time."  Chakotay followed her to the couch.  "Guess Voyager gets all the fun."

"It would seem, she likes to think so anyway."  She shot a stern look toward the door. 

Chakotay just smiled.  "I think she's been playing games with everyone in one way or another."  Janeway briefly glanced at him then looked away as if she couldn't stand the sight of him.  "I know I'm a bit more… creased now, and maybe a few strands of hair are missing, but I'm not a walking corps yet."

"That's not altogether true."  She looked at him with those haunted shallow eyes he'd seen all to often lately.  "At least you were last night."  She still found it hard to look at him, but managed to do so.

"I was a walking corps last night?  Hmm, maybe that explains why I'm so tired this morning."  Chakotay wasn't sure if she was joking, or if he should be.

Finally her smile broke out.  "Serves you right.  You really shouldn't wander around my ship scaring people like that."  Chakotay was still a bit puzzled, but he now knew she must have had another nightmare. 

"Must have been a pretty bad one."  She only responded with a nod.  "I take it I wasn't a pretty sight, and not too nice either."

Her smile brightened.  "Let's just say you wouldn't win a beauty contest."

"I almost hate to ask, but… do you want to talk about it?  I know I must have been horrible, but you know it wasn't real, it wasn't me."  He was concerned as always.

"I know, I really do, but these dreams are getting pretty intense.  I hate the thought of even falling asleep."  She put her hand over his.  "Thanks for the offer, but I don't really want to rehash the nightmare by talking about it.  I know everyone has had some pretty crazy dreams lately, even you."

"It kind of reminds me of those Dream Aliens a few years ago.  Only this time we are awake, well unless we are sleeping."  He smiled.

"That makes so much sense, Commander."  Janeway was laughing now. 

Chakotay joined the musical tones.  "Yea, I'm a wealth of intelligent information."

"I'll say, what would we do without you?"  She had completely forgotten the nightmarish image of him.  "At least we're not all having the same dream, or every night."

"That's something to be grateful for, and I'm sure this is just another side effect of aging.  Maybe the mind just can't keep up without the crazy dreams."

"If the Doctor would hurry, maybe we can put an end to all this craziness."  She was getting very impatient waiting through all the testing he insisted on doing.

"Speaking of the Doctor, that's why I'm here."  Chakotay stood up.  "He sent me to get you, he's ready to get underway."

Janeway stood as well.  "Why didn't he just contact me.  I'm not too feeble to make it to sickbay by myself."  She grabbed her cane.

"You, feeble?  Never."  They hobbled together to the door.  "He tried but the com-link is on the fritz."

"Along with environmental.  This ship is starting to feel like a drifting iceberg."  She reluctantly left her blanket behind as they left for sickbay.

Chakotay put his arm around her, walking toward their destiny of life, or death.

=^=

Sickbay was a bustling place this time as Janeway and Chakotay walked in.  The first thing they heard was Lieutenant Torres cursing the modified replicator for not obeying her orders.  Icheb stepped back from the one sided debate between machine and angry chief engineer. 

Chakotay whispered in Janeway's ear.  "A wise move on Icheb's part."

"I'll say."  Janeway answered as they made their way over to the Doctor.  "Thanks for sending an escort after me."

He looked up from the testing monitor.  "Didn't have much choice, and he insisted when he found you weren't here.  It's nice to know you stayed put for once."

Janeway's eyes gestured her annoyance at his lack of trust.  "Just tell me we're ready and this is going to work."

"We are ready, as soon as Lieutenant Torres can get the replicator working.  It will take a bit of our power supply to make enough antidote for everyone, and the ship."  The Doctor held tightly to the one small vial they had.

"Captain."  Harry Kim walked toward them.  "The testing we did on Voyager's jell packs look good.  The antidote worked on it as well as our blood samples."

"Great, then we're all set to go.  Can you tell if it will reverse the aging of the ship as well?"  She asked Harry, but got her answer from the Doctor.

"That is as inconclusive as the blood test results.  Time is the only way we'll know for sure, but I'm convinced it won't harm the ship or any humanoid life."

"Ok, Doc, the beast is as ready as she's going to get."  B'Elanna called from across the room.  "Let's make some antidote before we're too old to enjoy it."

"It's your show, Doctor."  Janeway pointed towards the replicator.  They all congregated around it.  "How long before we have enough for everyone and Voyager?"

It's going to take a few hours to get enough replicated, that is if Lieutenant Torres can keep it running."

"Don't worry about me and my friend here, just replicate."  B'Elanna shot back.

"You two are friends now ha?"  Chakotay laughed.  "A moment ago you wanted to kill the poor thing."

B'Elanna smiled back.  "Oh yes, best friends now.  It just took a bit of… persuasion."

"That's what you call it then.  I always wondered."  Icheb joined in.  He received a…'don't push it' look from B'Elanna.

"I want the rest of the senior staff to get it first."  Janeway looked around the room to see just who was or wasn't there.  "Where's Seven?"

"I sent her to regenerate, she's been getting worse with the shaking, she'll be out for awhile yet."  They had all been slightly worried about her, the Doctor most.

"We'll make sure she gets one of the first doses then."  Janeway turned her attention to Neelix.  "It might be best for you or I to give it to Tuvok, he seems pretty calm around you."

"No problem, he'll be my first stop.  I always suspected Commander Tuvok really did like me."  Neelix's grin was as contagious as this aging had been.

"Tom, you and Harry head up the inoculations for the crew.  Take it personally to those who don't feel up to the hike through the ship.  The rest can come to sickbay in shifts."

"Aye, Captain."  He answered as they started to collect some of the replicated vials.

"B'Elanna, I think you should stay here and keep your best friend in working order.  Chakotay and I will start on Voyager.  The sooner we get this stuff pumping through everyone and thing, the younger we'll all feel."  Janeway happily put a hypo of youth to Chakotay's neck.  "Now, don't you feel better already?"

"Immensely, how do I look?"  Chakotay turned a circle to give them the full view.

"You look like my grate grandpa who's been dead for years."  B'Elanna got him back.

Chakotay pretended devastation by turning his back on all of them.

"Ok, enough with the 'old' jokes, we have some youth to spread around the ship."  Janeway was ready to get this done and over with once and for all.  "I want everyone and everything inoculated by the end of the day, and with any luck we'll all feel a bit younger by morning."

"It will work, Captain."  Neelix called back from the door.  "Icheb and I were starting to feel like rug rats around here."  Neelix left for Tuvok's quarters.

Janeway look slightly puzzled.  "Dare I ask what he meant by that?"

"You know, rug rats, curtain climbers, crumb snatchers, kids, Captain."  If anyone would know it would be Tom Paris, the master of stupid sayings and soon to be father.

 Chakotay tried to stifle his laughter.  "Sometimes you're alright, Paris."  Janeway just shook her head.  There were times when she knew she couldn't compete with the two of them.

"It's his endless charm."  B'Elanna spoke up for her husband.  Tom just smiled on his way out the door with Harry right behind joining in the laughter.

"Doctor, keep the antidote coming, we'll be back for more."  Janeway followed on the heels of the others out of sickbay.

=^=

"This is ludicrous!"  Seven kicked herself mentally.  She bent down and picked up the tray of empty vials that the Doctor had demanded she bring.  She was tired, feeling older than dirt, and she couldn't stop the shaking in her left had.  Not to mention the right hand was starting to do the same.  "It's been two days since we got the antidote and the only difference is…  I'm getting worse."  Seven was becoming as mentally weary as she was physically.  "Maybe I need more of the antidote than the rest.  Maybe being part Borg is making it worse."  She had collected all of the vials as her mind tried to collect a viable reason she wasn't getting better.  "I'll just make the Doctor give me another dose.  What can it hurt anyway?"  Her distressed thoughts were interrupted.

"Hello, Seven."  Tuvok sashayed in as if he was on top of the world.

"Commander, what are you doing here?"  Seven looked at him curiously wondering if he had been there all the while listening to her ramblings.

"Do I need a reason to come and see my favorite person?"  Tuvok stood too close for Seven's liking.  A big grin plastered across his face.

She backed up a step.  Her look was more aghast now.  "I'm not your favorite person, and you never come to the cargo bay to see me.  I believe you're not feeling well.  Should I contact the Doctor for you?"

Tuvok's look turned from… well, something Seven didn't dare believe to anger at her suggestion.  "I do not need the Doctor, why does everyone keep asking me that?"  He stepped closer again, and for the first time she noticed his attire, or lack of.

"Commander, why are you out of uniform?"  She didn't quite know what to say to his appearance. 

The only thing he had on was a pair of baggy pants and black socks, no shoes and no combadge.  "I'm not on duty, why else?  You act like you've never seen a real man before."  He added a sultry smile to his wardrobe.

Seven was beginning to panic now.  "Maybe we should get you to sickbay, Commander.  There is definitely something wrong with you."

"There is NOTHING wrong with me."  Tuvok shouted and grabbed her arms, holding tightly.  "I'm just trying to be…"

"Get your hands off of me!"  She yelled right back and pushed him away.  "I don't care what you're trying to be, or do.  You have lost your mind, Commander."

Tuvok's next reaction was even a bigger shock to Seven.  He looked as if he were about to cry, which in fact he started to do.  Stepping back like a child being scorned she could see fear in his wet eyes.  "I'm sorry."  Tuvok blubbered and quickly moved towards his escape. 

And I thought I had seen everything.  Seven was quicker, however, and blocked his path.  "Commander, wait, you need help, let me contact the captain."

"No!  I'm fine."  His reaction again shocked her.  "I need to get out of here."  He pushed past her almost knocking her down.  Seven tapped her combadge while holding her ground.  Commander Tuvok wasn't going anywhere.

=^=

Captain Janeway was on the bridge, the only one on the bridge.  It had been two days since they had all received the antidote, and still there was no sign of the ship coming back to life.  As far as she could tell there was no sign of her wrinkles and sore bones coming back to life either.  It felt and seemed quite the opposite even, but Kathryn Janeway was determined and not about to give up hope.  This had to work, and they all knew it.

She continued to check the ship's systems while hoping they would come across someone in this empty, vast region of the Delta Quadrant.  Sure they had stars, even a few planets, but not a sign of significant life.  Not that they were even moving fast enough to find it if it was out there.  The ship had been reduced to ¼ impulse power.  At this rate they would make it to the Alpha Quadrant in… Janeway dared not venture a guess.

Come on old girl; show me just a bit of improvement here, anything.  Her silent plea was met with the ready room doors flying open and then closing again.  Janeway had to smile.  Guess that's better than nothing.

"Neelix to Captain Janeway."  The morale officer broke into her reverie.

"Janeway here.  What is it, Mr. Neelix?"  She hoped he could hear her through the garbled static.

 "We've got a bit of a problem, Captain."

A bit, we're neck deep in them.  That thought she kept to herself.  "Well are you going to share it, or do I have to guess?"  She had the feeling the answer wasn't going to be pleasant.

"I… well, I can't find Commander Tuvok."  Poor Neelix didn't want to admit to losing their chief security officer, and his friend.

"What do you mean, you can't find him?  He's a big guy, dark skin, wears a uniform and a dour expressionHe's pretty easy to spot, Neelix."

"I mean, he's not in his quarters where I left him, and so far, no one has seen him."  Neelix sounded panicked.

"I thought I told you to keep an eye on him."  Janeway said a bit too harshly.

"I can't be a full time nanny to Tuvok and still keep up with all my other duties.  I'm sorry."

Janeway took a deep breath.  "No, I'm sorry, you're right.  Have you tried his combadge?  Surly he would respond."

"I've tired that.  All I get is the computer's static filled reply of…  'Commander Tuvok is in his quarters,' but he's not."  Neelix had even looked under the bed, twice.

"Computer, locate Commander Tuvok."  Janeway had to try.

Commander Tuvok is…  That was all she could make out from all the interference and static.

That's just great!  Her frustration level was climbing.  "Round up a posse to look for him, I'm on my way."

"Aye, Captain, and I'm sorry I lost him."

"It's not your fault, Neelix.  He has to be somewhere on the ship."  Janeway made her way to the turbolift then stopped short of the doors.  I hope you're working; I'm in no mood to climb.

The door didn't open at her approach.  She stepped back and then tried again, nothing.  Damnit!  Her frustration level continued to climb.  "Janeway to Torres."  She tapped her combadge.

"Torres here."  The chief engineer sounded every bit as frustrated, and even more tired.

"Is the turbolift from the bridge online?" 

"Negative, Captain.  We're having a hell of a time just keeping any power to the bridge."  B'Elanna and her team had been working non-stop keeping the ship going.

Janeway looked forlornly toward the Jefferies-tube.  "Figures."  She grumbled.

"Do you want me to scrap enough power together so you can use it?"  B'Elanna had her doubts she even could, but she also didn't want Janeway climbing through the ship.

"No, I'll manage.  Janeway out.  Damnit Voyager."   She cursed while climbing through the hatch.

"Seven to Janeway.  I need your help."

The frustration level was reaching its maximum.  "Not now, Seven.  I've got my hands full with my own problems."  She scooted along through the narrow crawl space.  "Commander Tuvok is missing."

"As do I, Captain.  Commander Tuvok is not missing, he's right here with me."  However, Seven wouldn't have minded if he really was missing right now.

A sigh of relief shot through Janeway.  "Great, where did you find him?"

"I didn't, he found me.  I think you'd better come down here, he's… well he's not himself."  Seven didn't know how to explain what she had, and was witnessing.  "You should… hurry."  She was trying to keep him from running out the door.  In his condition Seven didn't dare imagine where or what he would do next.

"I'm moving as fast as I can on all fours.  Just keep him there and keep everyone else out."  I can't believe this, move grandma!  Janeway continued her mental tirade as she crawled.

"Understood."  Seven stood watch over the emotional Vulcan.

=^=

The ready room was dark and quiet, just the way Janeway liked it.  A bit too cold perhaps, but she had worse things than a chill in the air on her mind.  An empty coffee mug twirled in her hands, as she lay stretched out of the sofa.  All replicators were offline now, but holding a cup somehow seemed to make her feel better.  Her thoughts continued to twirl in her mind, as aimlessly as the mug did in her hands, and so she didn't notice she wasn't alone in the room anymore.

"So, this is where you've been hiding."  Chakotay walked in.

Janeway visibly jumped.  To her, it felt like she'd jumped right out of her old, saggy skin.  "Damnit, Chakotay, quit doing that to me."  She sat up still holding the mug.

He chuckled softly and joined her on the sofa.  "I didn't sneak in.  The door was open."

"I hardly think that matters.  The door has a mind of its own, as does the rest of this ship."  The door that had been open all afternoon closed as if it knew Janeway was talking about it.  "See what I mean?"  She matched his smile.

"I think that Voyager just wants us to be alone."  Chakotay was hoping to keep the mood light.

"Chakotay, if you didn't notice, we were alone."  Janeway could only smile more.

"You know what they say… 'Anything could happen behind closed doors.'  Besides, Harry is on the bridge," he laughed now, "but I think he's asleep." 

Janeway chuckled herself now.  "I dare say that's not the first time."  Her brief moment of humor was gone with the glazing cloud of deep thought in her eyes.

"I know what you're thinking, we all do, but we can't give up yet, it takes time to grow younger."  Chakotay held on for the sake of his captain and shipmates, but he had some strong doubts of his own crowding his thoughts.

"I just think we should have seen some sign of improvement by now.  It's been four days and the only sign I can see is… older.  My whole body is complaining.  My ship is complaining, and I look like a gnarled old tree."

"I do know how you feel, but believe me, you don't look anything like a tree."  He kept trying.

"Gee thanks."  Janeway's moods were always hanging in the balance.  "So, why were you looking for me anyway?"

"Well, two reasons really."  He kept his smile in place.

"Do I get to chose which reason first?"  She was quite certain she wasn't going to like at least one of them.

"I'm afraid not.  I always start with the less appealing."

"Fine, let's get it over with."  She sunk further back into the couch cushions.

"I just came from a shift with Casper.  While we may not be sure if the antidote is working against Casper, it seems to be working against us."  This really had him worried.  Janeway didn't say anything hoping it wasn't going to be as bad as she feared.  "I don't know how, or why, but its expansibility is even faster than before."

"How so?"  Janeway hadn't had a shift with their unwanted guest since before they had gotten the antidote.

"The thickness of the cloud was so dense inside the container it looked about ready to bust out.  We had B'Elanna rig up another container so we could connect it to the original giving Casper more room.  She was none too thrilled to do so either.  I'm a bit worried about her."  Janeway could see that in his eyes.

"We all are.  Do you think this extra container will hold it?"

"I have no idea.  I was hoping that by now we would have been able to just get rid of the stuff.  Dump container and all out an airlock."  He knew she had been hoping the same thing.  "Maybe we still should."

"I'm half tempted to agree to do just that, but something keeps nagging at me that it would be a mistake.  Not to mention I wouldn't want some other unsuspecting ship to run into the stuff.  I don't know how, but we have to find a way to get rid of it altogether, and I still think the secret to our cure is in that damn container."

Chakotay nodded his head in agreement, although he hated to admit she was right.  "I hope this extra container will hold it.  I don't know what else we can do if it doesn't.  As it stands now it's taking a lot of our power supply to keep it behind the force field."

"I know, and I know B'Elanna has her hands full keeping the ship running at all without the extra burden, but we really have no choice, yet."  The tired concern in her eyes was almost as painful to Chakotay as his stiff sore joints.  She slowly stood up needing to stretch her cramping legs. "Chakotay, what if this doesn't work, what are we going to do?  None of us will last much longer at this rate, except for Casper.  I just don't understand why it's not reversing yet.  The Doctor said all the blood test still look good."

"Kathryn, we'll do what we always do, find a way to beat the odds.  There's no evidence it's not going to work either.  Not even the Doctor can predict that."  Janeway just continued to hobble around the room.  "Would you stop and come back and sit down.  You're making me tired just watching you."

"Old poop!"  She teased but sat next to him again.  "Would you like to borrow my cane as well?"

"A tempting offer, but then I wouldn't have an excuse to sit on my butt and complain."  Janeway slugged him on the arm.  "Ouch!  I'm breakable you know."  Even as old and haggard looking as he was starting to look his smile was still captivating.

"We're all entitled once in awhile."  The mug once again became her focus of attention.  "So, what's the second reason I've been honored by your presence?"

"Is there a particular reason you and your mug have become so friendly?"  He had to ask before answering her question.

"Yea, it makes me feel better.  You got a problem with that?"  She almost looked angry, but it was hard for him to tell.

"No, no problem at all.  I might have a good substitute to offer though, reason number two.  How about I buy you a real cup of coffee, well, a Neelix substitute anyway?"  

"You'll buy ha, always the gentleman.  I'd be happy to take you up on the offer.  I can never refuse a good cup of… whatever we can find."

"Torres to Janeway."  The interruption was neither timely, nor sounding of good news.

Janeway rolled her eyes.  "What now, B'Elanna?"

"I need to talk to you, it's important."  B'Elanna sounded frazzled, tired and ready to bite someone's head off.

Janeway sighed.  "My place or yours?" 

Chakotay just smiled and shook his head.  You're tempting fate, Kathryn.

You could clearly hear the deep sigh through the static.  "You better come to engineering, Captain."

"Great."  Janeway scowled.  "B'Elanna, I know I've asked this before, but is the turbo-lift from the bridge online?  I'm so not in the mood to play mountain goat."

 "I don't blame you, neither I am.  I'll try to swing enough power for a one way trip."  The quicker you get here the better anyway.  B'Elanna kept that to herself.

"Then start swinging, we'll be there in a minute."  She looked at Chakotay.  "I guess we can be grateful for the little things at least."

"It's a start."  Chakotay stood up as well.  "Looks like we'll have to postpone our coffee date."

Janeway looked at the cup still in her hand for a moment.  Then suddenly, without warning she threw it across the room.  It shattered into pieces.  "Let's go."  Her frustration was vented slightly.

Chakotay was a bit shocked at her reaction.  "So much for the mug making you feel better."  He followed her from the ready room.

"On the contrary, it made me feel a lot better, you should try it."  They walked to the lift.  "Harry, wake up, you have the bridge."  Janeway smiled again, as the doors closed. 

=^=

"Thanks for the lift, B'Elanna."  Chakotay spoke, as they walked in.  The place was more hectic than sickbay had been lately.

B'Elanna walked towards them.  "Sure thing, but I expect a big fat tip for my services."

Chakotay smiled.  "Anything I have is yours."

"Oh goodie.  That leaves me with a big fat… nothing then."  B'Elanna was trying hard to keep all her worries and building anger from exploding to the surface.

Before the conversation had a chance to unleash such emotions, Voyager unleashed a wild two-second coaster ride as the ship momentarily lost attitude control.  Everyone was thrown roughly to the deck before the ship regained an upright position.

"Damnit to hell."  Janeway heard someone curse although she herself had been thinking the same thing.  They helped each other to their feet.  "B'Elanna, are you alright?"  She asked the chief engineer while looking toward Ensign Vorick.  "Report Ensign."

Vorick was doing his best to collect himself and give her the details.  B'Elanna had joined him wanting to see for herself the damages.  "There was a temporary fluctuation in the ships inertial dampers, and we've lost power to impulse engines."

"Fluctuation?  It felt more like a nice, hard kick in the ass."  Chakotay's hands were rubbing his.  Apparently the aging process had robbed him of any cushion to that region.

Janeway had to bite her tongue to keep from commenting.  She joined B'Elanna and Vorick at the computer station.  Her next thought being much more serious in nature.  "Is the forcefield still holding?"  Just thinking of Casper escaping was almost too much.

"It seems to be fine."  B'Elanna's first thought had been the same.  "Casper is fine too, however, I can't say that about the ship."

Janeway heaved a sigh relief mixed with frustration.  "Let's talk."  She nodded toward B'Elanna's small office.

Seeing that engineering was under control for now B'Elanna followed the command team to her office.  Vorick just gave her a slight nod knowing his job all too well.  "I'd offer you a seat, Chakotay, but…" B'Elanna's eyes glanced at his throbbing derriere.

"Very funny."  He was not amused.

Janeway wisely held on to her comment again.  "Let's start with why you needed to see me, Lieutenant."  The captain was all business.

"I wanted to tell you that we needed to take impulse engines offline, but I guess Voyager beat me to it." 

"So it would seem.  I take it there's no chance of getting engines back online?"

"Not a chance in hell.  Sorry, Captain."  No one was more upset about it than the chief engineer herself.  "I hate the idea of us just drifting in space too, but there is nothing I can do now.  It's going to be all we can manage to keep shields at a minimum and the ship upright.  Not to mention life support and environmental systems going."

"Have you got any good news?"  Chakotay asked.

"That was the good news.  Look, there's no sugar coating for any of this.  Voyager is falling apart.  Everything is dying.  We've lost warp engines, impulse engines, navigation, weapons, and communication, hell even gravitation on several decks.  We don't have the power to run replicators, turbolifts, and sonic showers.  We've rerouted power and patched this and that until I don't know if we can even put it all back together if we have too."  B'Elanna sat on the edge of her desk feeling slightly faint.  From the baby, her aging health or total frustration she couldn't tell.

"Definitely not sugar coated."  Janeway muttered looking as faint as her chief engineer.

"Captain, our priorities have switched from keeping the ship going to just keeping us alive.  If this antidote doesn't work soon, I don't even know if we can do that."  B'Elanna looked and sounded more tired and defeated than either Janeway or Chakotay had ever seen her.

Janeway wouldn't let them see that she was just as worried about that as anyone.  "Keeping this crew alive has been and always will be my first priority.  I don't know how, but I will not lose one single crewmember to this aging monster.  If this antidote doesn't work, we'll keep looking until we do fine one.  Don't count us out yet, Lieutenant."

Chakotay knew Janeway was every bit as scared as anyone, but it did his heart good to see the fire of determination Kathryn Janeway always found in the face of impossible odds.  He almost hugged her, but instead just put his hand on B'Elanna's shoulder.  "B'Elanna, you've been running nonstop for days now.  You need to take care of yourself and that baby.  Go get something to eat and then a good nights sleep."

She jerked away from him like his touch was burning her.  "I'd rather jump out the nearest airlock." 

"I take it you've had some unpleasant dreams lately."  Janeway knew that feeling of wanting to never sleep again more than anyone.  She suspected that most on the ship felt the same.  "I know the nightmares I've had seem entirely too real, but they aren't.  It's just hard to shake them, but you have to sleep for the baby's sake as well as for your own."

B'Elanna seemed to respond more to Janeway's gentle caring attitude.  She had to fight hard to keep the tears back.  "I know I need to eat and get some sleep, but everything I try to eat makes me want to barf, and forget sleeping.  The nightmares are only getting more intense.  If this antidote doesn't start working soon I may never sleep again.  That's if Casper even is the reason for the nightmares."

"I don't know if it's the sole reason, but I'm convinced Casper has something to do with it.  Aging itself is a nightmare and we have all been under a lot of stress and not sleeping well.  I'm sure that once the antidote starts to reverse the aging the nightmares will stop, or at least lessen in intensity."

"It won't be soon enough for me."  B'Elanna couldn't shake her latest nightmare no matter how hard she tried.  She unconsciously rubbed her hand over her flat tummy.

"I know it's not easy, but do you want to talk about it?"  Chakotay's concern for his friends was always evident in the way he treated them, and it seemed as though that was the question he most asked lately.

She quickly removed her hand.  "Not particularly.  Let's just say the baby wasn't half human, or half klingon."  She refused to elaborate further.

Janeway just nodded in understanding.  She couldn't bring herself to talk about her nightmares either.  She knew that B'Elanna's nightmare about her unborn child must be even harder.  Janeway's maternal, loving instinct kicked in and she pulled B'Elanna toward her, embracing her in friendly bear hug.  "We're going to get through this, and the baby is going to be fine, I promise."  Janeway spoke softly.

Once again Chakotay was touched by this tender and caring side of Kathryn Janeway, determined captain, and just as determined friend to all of them.  "B'Elanna, how about I walk you to your quarters and tuck you into bed?  I'm sure old Tom won't mind."  He tossed that one in to lighten the mood a bit.

It had the effect he was hoping for.  B'Elanna stepped back from Janeway with a smile on her face.  "As long as you don't flop in beside me, I'm sure you'll be safe."  She took his outstretched arm.

"No problem then, I've got a coffee date to keep anyway."  Chakotay smiled back at his date.  "I'll meet you in the messhall as soon as I get this young lady to bed."

Janeway was laughing.  "Ok, take your time.  I'm going to talk to the Doctor about plan B anyway."

Chakotay and B'Elanna both stopped and turned back looking expectantly at her.  "We have a plan B?"  He was hopeful.

"Not yet, but we will have, and we'll have a plan C, D and E if need be."  Janeway brushed past them leading the way out of engineering.

=^=

Janeway found sickbay to be just as hectic as engineering had been.  The scene of her ailing crew was disheartening to say the least, but she greeted them with a smile and encouraging comments while making her way to where the Doctor and Tom were working.  "Any good news gentlemen?"

"Captain, we didn't hear you come in, are you alright?"  Tom Paris asked, as if he was chief medical officer.

"How could anyone hear anything in this place?  It's like a hive of really angry bees in here."  She glanced around the room again.  "I'm fine, but I take it some of the crew didn't fare well from Voyager's little tantrum."

"Most just bumps and scrapes, they'll live."  The Doctor answered. 

"Captain, have you seen B'Elanna, is she alright?"  Tom was worried, with good reason.  He hadn't been able to contact her through the malfunctioning com-system.

"I just came from engineering, she's fine Tom.  In fact, she's being safely tucked into bed as we speak."  She gave Tom her 'don't worry' smile.

He looked a bit confused.  "How did you manage that, and who's doing the tucking?  I've been trying to get her to rest for days now."

"Someone with more charm than you apparently."  The Doctor always had an opinion.

"You're a real show stopper, Doctor."  Tom remarked while still looking to Janeway for the answer.

"Don't worry, Mr. Paris, no charm was needed this time.  Your wife went voluntarily.  Besides, Chakotay's charm doesn't work on B'Elanna."

"Lieutenant Paris."  Tom was summand from across the room.

"Thanks, Captain.  I better help get some of these injuries fixed up."  Tom walked off to lend a hand.

"I take it this isn't a social call."  The Doctor spoke while giving most of his attention to the screen in front of him.

"Not even close.  I want to know now if this antidote is working, or going to work."  The serious tone in her voice left no doubt she wanted answers NOW.

The Doctor gave her his full attention.  "No, it's not working, and I can't tell you if it will, I can only guess."

"And your guess is?"  Janeway felt the first sting of panic hit.

"Best guess is… our chances of it working are pretty slim."  He hated to be the pessimist and even worse, he hated that he failed in finding the cure.

Janeway took a deep breath to calm her growing fear.  "Have you found a reason why it's not working?  If we can pinpoint it, maybe we can change the antidote just enough to fix the problem."

"That is the problem.  As far as I can tell it should be working, but it's not.  Over the last few days we have been running blood test on the crew to see if there has been any change.  In every single test Casper accepts their blood samples.  Not one has come back with a negative result, and yet it appears it hasn't slowed down the aging process.  If anything it's accelerated it."

"That just doesn't make sense, Doctor.  How can the blood tests say one thing and the outcome be totally different?"  Something wasn't adding up.  If only she could figure out what is was.

"No, it doesn't make sense.  I have been running every test and theory possible, even the impossible, and I can't come up with the answer.  All of the crew's blood samples work the same with Casper as does Neelix's and Icheb's.  There is no difference now.  The antidote worked as far as Casper knows.  Maybe there is just no way to turn back the hands of time."  The Doctor could see the tirade coming like a summer thunderstorm.

"I will NOT accept that, Doctor.  There is a reason, and we are damn well going to find it.  There has to be something we're overlooking here.  Some smidgen of something we have missed."  She tried her best to keep her voice down so as not to panic everyone in the room.  "If we have to, Doctor, we'll start from square one and make a new antidote, the right one this time.  I will not let this crew die of old age out here.  Is that understood?"  The question was asked through gritted teeth and unyielding passion.

"I'm not saying we should give up, Captain.  What I'm saying is… there may not be time to find a new antidote.  It took weeks for the first one, and we tried every single way we could think of to even come up with the one we have.  The antidote itself may be working, but it's very likely it's already to late for it to stop, or reverse the aging."  Janeway remained silent and beet-red from anger.  The Doctor was glad at that moment he wasn't a living, breathing humanoid.  He was sure he'd lose that privilege very quickly if so.  Before he could find out just what she could do to him, he continued.  "Captain, the thing is… I've also been testing the cerebral fluid and brain activity of some of the crew, and so far there is no sign of the same, or even close to the same genetic markers, or coding if you will that's in Icheb and Neelix.  It's just not showing up."

"Then that has to be the key.  The question now is… how?  Didn't you say you came up with the antidote using some of their cerebral fluid as well as blood samples?"

"Yes, not directly, but the components from both the fluid and blood is what we used to come up with the serum.  Which is why I'm not so sure it is the key.  If it was, why isn't it working, and why does Casper seem to think it is?"

"I don't know, but I do know it is.  There is something we just can't see, some vital connection between that and Casper."  Janeway was silent for a few minutes trying to sort through the mixed up puzzle in her mind.

"Captain, I may have an idea, but I warn you it's dangerous, it's not likely to work and I wouldn't recommend trying it."  Saying it that way the Doctor wondered why he had even brought it up.

"I'm listening."  He had her full attention again.

"Well, consider this… we came up with an antidote using the blood and brain fluid.  We took that and injected it into everyone on the ship, and the ship.  Then we take samples from the crew and inject them into our ghost."  He paused for a moment.

"I'm with you so far, now what?"

"Well, as far as Casper knows, those little blood samples could be any humanoid life.  It attaches itself to it and finds the antidote, or genetic markers, and thinks it's fine, a Delta Quadrant original."

"I don't see where this is going, Doctor."  Janeway tried to make sense of it.

"It's simple really.  We've been injecting us into Casper, well most of us.  Maybe we should be injecting Casper into us like we did when testing the antidote.  I know a little blood sample is not the same as a human, but it did start to un-age the tinny blood droplets.  Just maybe that is the real key."

Janeway was surprised to say the least.  All this time they had been trying to keep Casper away from then.  Now the Doctor was suggesting otherwise.  "That sounds more like suicide than the means to a cure."

"It may well be, but think of it this way.  When Voyager first came in contact with that thing it surrounded the entire ship and then evaporated.  Well, it's obvious now that it didn't just evaporate until it had seeped into everyone and everything on the ship.  Somehow, and I have no clue as to the how, but as far as anyone has been able to determine it's not even alive.  Somehow though it sensed or just knew this wasn't a Delta Quadrant original, and whatever that stuff is it got into everyone and everything and the aging, maybe even the nightmares started."

"Ok, I understand all that but…"

The Doctor interrupted.  "Now everyone has the antidote in them.  If we let Casper out it will probably seep in again and this time determine that everyone is a Delta Quadrant product.  Maybe, and just maybe mind you, it will then reverse the damage and we can all be on our way."  The Doctor wasn't sure he had gotten through to her.  Her expression looked blank.  He let her process it for a few minutes.

She walked in a slow circle around him puzzling over what he'd just said.  "An interesting hypothesis, Doctor."  She continued to mull it over a bit longer.  "It's significantly risky, but it does make sense."

"It's more than significantly risky, Captain, it could kill all of you instantly."  Even though this was the Doctor's idea, he hated it.

"I'm well aware of that, but the risk doesn't have to be to the entire crew at first.  If we decide to try this, it will be on one person.  There's no sense in killing everyone if we don't have too."  Janeway had every intention of being that person.

The Doctor, however, was determined to make sure she wasn't.  "Captain," he made sure he had her full attention.  "I'm only going to say this once.  IF we decide to try this, under no circumstances will I or anyone else on this ship allow you to be that person."  She opened her mouth to protest, but he stopped her before she could get a word out.  "Don't even try to argue about it.  If I have to I'll determine that you are mentally and physically unable to make such a decision.  You'll be relieved of duty so fast it will make your head spin."  Janeway had never heard quite that kind of demanding passion from him.  This time she couldn't even form the words to protest.  "Are we clear on this?"  As far as the Doctor was concerned it was crystal clear.

Janeway said the only thing she could.  "Yes." 

"For the record, Captain, I'm not condoning this plan.  It may have been my idea, but I sure don't have to like it."

"Noted, but at least we have a plan now, or a plan B that is."

"I'd feel better if this was plan Z, but until we come up with a better one, or until the antidote itself starts to work, it will have to do." 

"Well, let's give it a day or two more before we start jumping the gun.  There's still a slight chance the antidote will start to work, isn't there?"  She knew in her heart, however, that there wasn't.

"There is always a chance.  I wouldn't wait too long though, it may already be too late anyway whether we do or not."

Tom walked back over to join then.  "I've got most of the booboos bandaged up.  Is there anything else you need me to do?"  He directed the question to the Doctor.

"Yes, but for now go check on your wife."  There was always something that needed to be done, but even the Doctor knew Tom was needed more elsewhere.

"I'll be in touch, Doctor."  Janeway had a lot to think about.  The Doctor just nodded.  "Come on, Tom, I'll walk with you."  They started to head for the door.

"Captain."  The Doctor got her attention again.  "I have one more suggestion."

"That would be?"  Her trepidation over another suggestion was obvious in her expression.

The Doctor joined them at the door.  "I think we should consider putting some of the crew into stasis."

Janeway and Tom both glared at him, then at each other, and then simultaneously said…"NO."  They both had good reason for hating the thought of that.  It totally freaked Tom out to be trapped in one of those things, and Janeway's nightmare left her with no doubt that would be the end of all of them.

"Look, all I'm saying is if we can't stop this aging in its tracks soon it might be the only way to save anyone.  There are quite a few crewmen who are reaching that critical point now.  Your wife, Mr. Paris, being one of them."

Tom felt a mountain size knot form in his stomach.  "Is she that bad now?"

"Not her as much as for the baby.  I don't know how much older she can get without causing permanent harm to the child and to her.  The only way I can see to do that is either a fast cure or a long nap."

"I don't like this at all."  Tom felt sick.

"Nor do I, Lieutenant, but maybe the Doctor is right.  We'll keep that as an option, a plan C if you will."

"It's just something to keep in mind.  Several would benefit right now, if only temporarily.  B'Elanna, Tuvok, Seven, just to name a few." 

"Understood."  Nothing more was said, as Janeway took Tom's arm and they walked out leaving the hologram on the other side of the doors.

=^=

"I'm sorry I'm late everyone."  Harry Kim walked over to one of the only tables occupied at that late hour.  The messhall had become one of the central, if not the only gathering place on the ship.  "I had to wait for my replacement on the bridge."  Harry took the only empty seat around the small table.  From the faces around the table he knew it wasn't going to be a pleasant meeting.  The senior staff was all there, with the exception of B'Elanna, Tuvok and the Doctor.

Janeway met his questioning eye with a slight smile.  "Don't worry about it, Ensign, I just got here myself."  I would rather be anywhere but here right now anyway.  The thought extinguished the remains of her smile.

"What's this all about?"  Harry was starting to fret. 

Before anyone could answer, Neelix brought over another steaming mug of tea handing it to Harry.  "Is there anything else I can get anyone?"  He knew what this impromptu meeting was all about, and he didn't like it anymore than the captain.

"We're fine, Neelix.  Why don't you join us?"  Captain Janeway answered for the group.  Neelix just nodded and pulled another chair over to the table. 

Harry noticed the missing staff members hoping this wasn't bad news about one of them.  He kept his gaze on the captain, but remained quiet.

"We've got a decision to make, one I would give anything if we didn't."  For more than the obvious Janeway didn't like this turn of events.  It was her job as captain to protect her crew, not put them directly in harms way, or so she felt.  "I'm sure you all know by now that the antidote isn't working.  It's been almost a week now and still no sign of reverse aging."  That wasn't the bad news and they all knew that as well.  "We've exhausted all other options at this point, and that leaves us with something that is dangerous at best."

That wasn't something new to this group.  No matter the odds, Harry knew he would gladly face danger with his Voyager family.  "This isn't the first time we've faced danger, Captain."  Harry Kim said with a smile, his way of showing his 100% support.

"No it isn't, Mr. Kim, and let's hope it isn't our last."  Janeway looked at Chakotay needing a bit of support of her own. 

"It won't be, Captain.  There's plenty of danger out there just waiting for us to explore."  It was Chakotay's way of support, that and his smile.

"Thanks, Commander.  Let's just get through this disaster first before we go looking."  Janeway tried to smile back.  She knew that this disaster would more than likely end up in Chakotay's hands, and that thought made her sick to her stomach.  She looked away from his piercing eyes.  "We've run every test we could with Casper and our antidote filled blood.  In all cases the cloud doesn't harm the blood now.  In all essence it should be working, but it's not.  We have been putting us into Casper, well as the Doctor put it.  Now it's time to reverse that and put Casper back into us."

Everyone but poor Harry knew it was coming.  He looked slightly green from the news.  "But…" 

"I know old pal, it was my first thought too."  Tom tried to encourage his friend.  It makes sense though, it's the only thing so far in mess that has."

"All this time we've done our best to keep Casper away from us.  It was prudent before we got the antidote, and maybe it still is, but it's the only thing we haven't tried yet."  Janeway addressed Harry directly.

"So, we're just going to let it out of stasis?"  He was still slightly shocked.

"No, not yet, not until we know if it will work, or kill us."  Janeway let that sink in for a moment.  "One of us has to be the test subject."  She would have given almost anything for that to be her, but she knew there wasn't a chance in hell of that happening.

"I have already volunteered, Captain."  Seven stated flatly.

"You're not the only one, Seven, but it's not as simple as that."  Janeway looked at everyone in turn.

"Yes it is, I will do it."  Seven either had a death wish or she was sick of the nightmares, maybe both.  "We should just get on with it."  Seven stood up to leave.

"Sit down, Seven."  Janeway said harshly.  "This isn't over and you are not the only one who thinks they should do it."

"It's not your job, Seven."  Chakotay finally spoke up.  "As the first officer I believe that job would be mine."  He had every intention of seeing to it that it was going to be him.

Janeway's stomach felt like a rolling ocean.  "As the captain of this ship, I believe that decision is mine, Commander."  She tried her best to sound commanding.

"Don't even think it, Captain."  Chakotay growled.  "You are NOT doing this."  His warning was as unbending as an iron pole.  "I'll lock you in the brig if I have too, and you know I'll do it."

"Hey, before the two of you go to blows here, I think I'll let old Casper play with me."  Tom cut in.  "This ship needs its command team, alive and well.  I'll do it."  Tom was as passionate about it as the rest of them.

"This ship also needs its pilot, and the baby needs a daddy.  I'm the youngest of the group so I think I have the better chance of surviving it.  I'll do it."  Harry's argument was sound, to him anyway.

"If I could do it I would."  Neelix said with all sincerity.  This was hard on him to see his friends go through something he didn't have to suffer through.

Janeway tried to smile.  "I know you would, Neelix, I know any one of us would in a heartbeat.  I'm just not sure I can order any of you to do this, it's just not that easy."  It was times like this Janeway questioned her decision to ever become a captain in the first place.

Chakotay's anger and frustration vanished seeing the distress he knew she was feeling.  "You don't have to make that decision, it's already made."  He was no more thrilled than any of them, but it was his duty and he intended to see to it.

"You're making a mistake, Commander."  Seven said with conviction.  "I don't believe you are well enough to take on a ghost.  I should be the one to do it.  I'm the least likely to die from it, and I am more dispensable."

"You are no more dispensable than anyone on this ship, Seven, and what makes you think you have a better chance of surviving than the rest of us?"  Chakotay shot back.

"That's enough, all of you!"  Janeway yelled and buried her face in her hands.  "This isn't getting us anywhere!"  She had reached her limit.

"I've got an idea."  Tom broke the lingering silence.  All eyes focused his way.  "Why don't we draw straws, the short one wins a date with Casper?"

"That is the dumbest thing you've ever come up with, Lieutenant."  Janeway looked appalled.

Chakotay had an altogether different opinion again.  "Maybe it's not, Captain.  Between the four of us who can do it we can't agree on who is the best candidate, why not let fate decide?"

"Because it's ridiculous that's why."  Janeway was livid, hurt, and just sick tired of the whole thing.

"I agree with Tom and Chakotay."  Harry spoke up.  "It may sound ridiculous, but it's the only logical thing to do."

Janeway had reached her boiling point, but before she could lash out Chakotay cut in.  "Let's take a vote… all but you, Captain."  He said calmly.  "Everyone in favor of the straw decision raise your hand."  All four hands went up.  Neelix joined in, making it a unanimous five.  If looks could kill Chakotay wouldn't need Casper to do it for him.  Kathryn Janeway's expression at that moment was more deadly.  Chakotay chose to ignore her grim-reaper glare.  "Ok then.  Neelix, do you have something in the kitchen that will work?"

"I've got just the thing."  He went to grab it.  No one said another word while waiting.  Janeway abruptly stood up and walked to the large view windows.  Four pairs of eyes followed her, but four pairs of feet remained in place.  "How's this?"  Neelix brought back four long pasta types of sticks.

"That should do fine.  Neelix you break them in four different lengths, then hold them evenly in your hands and we'll all pick them at the same time."  Tom had done this before years ago, and in much different circumstances.

Neelix turned his back to take care of the task making sure they were all sticking out evenly from his hands.  "Ok, ready."  He held them over the table.

Chakotay, Tom, Harry and Seven each picked a pasta stick and pulled them out.  Janeway couldn't help it and turned around to see which of her friends she felt she was sending to their fate.

"As I said in the first place, I will do it."  Seven of Nine ended up with the short stick.  

Chakotay thought about protesting but this had been his decision and he had to abide by it.  He nodded slightly at Seven.  "I guess that's it then.  First thing in the morning we'll get started.  For now I think we could all use some sleep."  That was Chakotay's way of dismissing the meeting.  Everyone left quietly except for the two commanding officers.  Chakotay walked over to the window.  "Kathryn, it really was the only way to do this."  He tried to calm the troubled waters.  "I'm sorry."

She turned to face him, her expression almost blank with no hint of anger.  "I'm not going to say I agree with this," but thank God it's not you.  That thought remained her own.  "I know someone has to do this but…" her eyes misted over.

"I know, Kathryn, we all do."  He brushed his hand over her aging but soft cheek.  "Come on, let's get out of here."  She nodded but didn't start to follow him.  Chakotay turned back with a quizzical grin.  "Are you coming?"

This time Janeway smiled.  "Yes but…" she glanced toward the chair she'd been sitting in. "Would you mind bringing me my cane?  I seem to have… stormed off without it."

Chakotay was laughing now.  "That will teach you."  He walked back and handed her the cane.

"I doubt it."  She took it graciously.

"Me too."  They were both laughing now as they left the messhall.

=^=

"Are you ready, Doctor?"  Seven stated as if this were just another ordinary day.  If she was even slightly nervous she was hiding it well.  In fact her attitude was bordering on the side of annoying rather than nervous.  The Doctor just looked at her without comment.  "Is that a yes or no?"  As far as Seven was concerned the Doctor was even more annoying.

He continued to glare at her with his arms folded ready to challenge, or at the very least protest greatly.  "I don't want you to do this," blunt and to the point.

"You are not the only one, but that really doesn't matter at this point.  I got the short stick so I'm Casper's date.  Now are you coming or not?"  Her cold approach to this was infuriating.

"This isn't some game, Seven.  This is your life we're talking about and you act like it's just some date to the prom."  The Doctor was upset and scared.  The thought that it would end up being Seven on the chopping block hadn't occurred to him when he'd came up with the stupid idea, or so he was thinking it beyond stupid now.  "Just who was the harebrain who came up with the idea to draw sticks anyway?"  He wanted to throttle the person.

"Not that it makes any difference but it was Lieutenant Paris."  Seven didn't see the problem.

"Then let him do it."  The Doctor was acting more odd than usual.

"Doctor, what is wrong with you?  This whole thing was your idea in the first place.  As I see it I am the best candidate for this and I think you know that as well."  Deep down Seven did know why he was acting this way she just chose not to dwell on it right now, if ever.

"As I told the captain it may be my idea but I don't condone it.  Surely there could be someone else besides you?"  He didn't mean to sound quite as desperate as he was feeling.

"The value of my life is no more important than Mr. Paris or anyone else, Doctor.  I'm not Borg anymore as everyone sees fit to remind me daily.  I'm no more or less a member of this crew than anyone.  This just happens to be my duty and I intend to do it."  When he didn't respond she continued.  "One way or the other at least we'll know what we are facing.  I do not believe I will die as a direct result of this, however, I do believe we will all die if I don't.  This is a sacrifice that anyone on this ship would gladly take, I am no different."

Of course he knew all of that and he knew if he could he would make the same sacrifice.  "I just…" The Doctor was a bit tongue-tied.

"I understand that but it doesn't change the facts.  I'm going to do this with or without your help or support.  I hope it will be with."  Seven stood her ground like a pro.

"Then we'd better get going."  He never had any intention of letting her go through this without him right there to monitor every detail, both from a medical aspect and a friend.  He handed Seven the medical kit he'd put together for the occasion.  "You'll have to carry this as well."

She took the kit nodding slightly.  "I believe I can carry both."  Together they walked to the doors.  Seven walked through first then held her hand out catching the Doctor in mid air.  The trip to the cargo bay was a very silent and reflective one for Seven of Nine. 

=^=

"I don't know about you, Captain, but just looking at it gives me the creeps."  B'Elanna joined her captain who was glaring intently at Casper.  "I get the distinct impression it's laughing at us.  Just waiting for the right time to sneak out and turn us all to dust or something."

Janeway turned to her chief engineer.  "That may well be.  I just hope it's not Casper who gets the last laugh."  They both stood behind the forcefield watching their potentially fatale adversary.  The beauty and mystic of it had long since been replaced by the tireless fear that encompassed the unknown.  The misty fog not only expanded in volume but in the very essence of life on Voyager.  Draining the light from the soul, leaving a lingering darkness of hopeless doom.  "What are you, and what do you want from us?"  Janeway asked the unanswerable. 

"It doesn't look like it's in the mood to tell us."  B'Elanna was in the mood to do more than just talk to it.  "I'm really sick of this whole thing.  We're standing here talking to a damn cloud, and for what?  After all this time we're still no closer to finding out what it is or even what it wants with us.  In my opinion that's the worst kind of cowardly enemy.  There's no honor in being defeated by something we can't even define as friend or foe.  We can't be sure it's even real."

"No we can't but the side effects from it are sure real enough."  Janeway smiled slightly.  "My reflection is proof enough for me that this is all much too real.  My face is in need of a good ironing."   She was hoping to ease some of the volcanic tension building within her chief engineer.

Despite her frustration B'Elanna started to laugh, the effect Janeway was going for.  "Maybe a bit of starch as well, just to stiffen things back up."  B'Elanna made sure she wasn't within arms reach of her captain.

Janeway's smile followed her south-word gaze.  "Are you suggesting I'm starting to sag?"

B'Elanna only laughed harder.  "No.  I'm just stating the obvious, Captain."

"What's obvious?"  Chakotay walked in, at the wrong time of course. 

"That…" B'Elanna's intended answer was squelched by Janeway's glare.  She amended it quickly.  "That none of us are as young as we used to be." 

Although Chakotay knew there was more to it than that he chose to leave it be.  The look on Janeway's face left no doubt he'd end up regretting any comment.  He chose the safer road and changed the subject.  "Has Seven changed her mind?"  Chakotay sure wouldn't blame her if she had.

"I wish she would but no.  She's giving the Doctor a ride."  Janeway was sick about the whole thing and more than anyone she felt it was her responsibility not Seven's.

No one wanted to do things this way but they had been left with little or no choice.  Chakotay didn't know what to say to help, not that there really was anything he could say or do.  He turned his attention toward B'Elanna.  "Are the holoemitters working then?"

"What else would I be doing here?"  The volcano was still brewing. 

"Hey, don't snap at me.  I was going to offer to help you."  The short fuse was contagious.

"Sorry.  I guess I'm not as sweet and friendly as I used to be.  Must come with age."  She gave up her biggest smile, which turned out to be contagious as well.  Both Chakotay and Janeway caught it.  "I guess we'll…" B'Elanna's sentence ended in laughter.  Janeway had put her hand over her mouth smothering her own amusement.  Chakotay quickly turned around to see what was so funny.  "It looks like he's working quite well."   B'Elanna amended her sentence.

As Seven walked in holding the Doctor in her outstretched hand he'd rematerialized leaving her hand cupped around a very precarious part of his anatomy.  The transmission from Seven's brain to move her hand seemed a bit slow.  The poor Doctor looked mortified.  "Is there no end to my humiliation?"  He complained and stepped back from Seven's hand.  She had yet to move a muscle.

"Apparently not."  B'Elanna could hardly contain herself.  "Look at it this way, Doc, it could have been Tom giving you a ride."

"Oh dear."  Janeway had tears in her eyes from laughing so hard.  "She has a point, Doctor."  This was a very un-captain like moment.  Chakotay just looked at all of them shaking his head.  He'd been outdone in the humor department again.

Seven had finally come back to life and lowered her hand.  "This is not amusing, Captain."  She stated flatly.

"On the contrary.  You could say it's just what the doctor ordered, humor wise that is."  Janeway had truly needed a good laugh.

"I said no such thing.  You've all lost your minds."  The Doctor was wishing he'd remained in oblivion a bit longer.

"Lighten up, Doc.  Laughter is good medicine."  Chakotay spoke up.  We were all in need of a good dose of it too."

"Speak for yourself, Commander."  He continued to pout.

"Can we just get on with this?  I'm not getting any younger."  Seven's party-poop attitude did just that.  The cargo bay was silent except for the humming sound of the forcefield. 

Janeway's expression became the all too familier haunting, forlorn look.  She walked up to Seven speaking softly.  "You don't have to do this, we can find another way."  This was a situation that no captain relished.  Putting a crewmember in direct harms way was a part of the job that Janeway could do without.

"There is no other way, Captain.  I'm ready to do this for all of us.  We have to find a way to stop this aging.  I'm only doing what anyone of us on this ship would be willing to do."  Seven had come a long way in becoming part of the Voyager family.  Janeway's response was a quiet heartfelt hug.  She knew her emotions would betray her if she tried to speak.  "I will be fine, Captain."  Seven reassured.

"Of course you'll be fine, we all will."  Chakotay helped out. 

Janeway had released her hold on Seven and stepped back smiling at her first officer.  "You're right, Commander.  Let's get on it." 

Without another comment they lowered the forcefield and Seven and the Doctor walked in.  B'Elanna quickly put the forcefield back in place and stepped back.  She didn't like getting too close to Casper.  In fact she didn't like even being in the same room.  "Good luck."  She turned and left the cargo bay, previous orders from the captain.  The two commanding officers remained quiet standing on the safe side of the forcefield.

The Doctor got his medical kit ready keeping the tircorder directed on Seven.  If the worst should happen he would do his best to stop it.  "Remember what I said.  The minute you feel anything at all you let me know.  Don't try to be the hero, Seven.  If the slightest thing starts to happen I'm getting you out of here."

"Understood, Doctor."  Seven sounded sure but inside she was just as scared as the rest of them, more so at that moment.  She looked over at the large amount of Casper drifting aimlessly in the containers.  It was an uncomfortable feeling to be so close to it without the environmental suit on.  She quickly glanced back at Janeway then walked over to release the valve holding Casper back.

"Not too much."  The Doctor was right beside her with tricorder in one hand and his other on her arm.

The snake like fingers of white wound their way into the air around them, their waltz like movements hypnotizing in both beauty and fear.  Seven released her hold on the valve cutting off more of Casper's escape.  Closing her eyes she stood motionless letting the vaporous monster engulf her.

"Seven!"  Janeway's concern and fear evident.  Before Seven could respond Casper had seeped into it's only available victim and was gone.  The air was once again clear around them.  The Doctor shook her slightly.  He hadn't gotten any reading of anything wrong from his tricorder.

Seven opened her eyes.  "I'm fine, Captain."  It had all happened so fast it was hard to even tell Casper had come and gone.

The Doctor hadn't taken his eyes from his tricorder.  From all the readings she was fine other than her slightly elevated pulse.  There was no sign of Casper left in the containment area, not that they could ever detect anything anyway.  "Are you sure you're alright?  Did you feel anything?"  The Doctor didn't trust his own findings.

"I'm fine.  I don't feel any different.  The only thing I did feel was a sudden chill run through me, but it's gone now."  She looked at the medical tricorder herself.  "Maybe we need to let more out.  I don't think it did anything."

Janeway wasn't so sure.  The chilling sensation could be good, or bad.  "That sudden chill means something, Seven.  There's no need to push our luck.  I want both of you out of there now." 

"I agree."  The Doctor took Seven's arm almost pulling her out.  Chakotay reactivated the forcefield as soon as they were clear.  "I think all we can do now is wait and see.  You're going to have to stay with me for awhile."  He hadn't let go of her arm.

"I surmised that long ago, Doctor, however, futile as it is.  I don't believe it worked."  Seven looked back at their menacing friend.

"Let's not jump to conclusions too fast."  Although Janeway felt Seven was right she had to play devils advocate.  "How long are we talking, Doctor?"

"It's just a guessing game at this point.  There is no timetable for reversing the aging process.  Not according to medical science that is.  All I can do is keep running tests to see if Seven and Casper are compatible now."  From the look on the captain's face he knew that wasn't a good enough answer.  "Best guess, twenty four hours."

"If nothing happens I will try this again.  Next time letting much more of it out."  Seven's determination, or death wish didn't help much.

"We'll cross that bridge if we have too.  Let's just get you back to sickbay."  Janeway wanted to get them all as far away from Casper as possible.

"I can manage on my own."  She walked off towards the doors.

"Seven."  The Doctor called out.  "Aren't you forgetting something?"

She stopped in the doorway looking back at him.  It took a moment for her to comprehend the what, or rather who.  She smiled slightly.  "Since you asked so nicely, climb aboard, Doctor."  Seven held her hand out.

"Just be careful where you put your…" his statement was cut off as he dropped into her hand.

"Hand."  Chakotay finished the Doctor's sentence.  Seven just rolled her eyes and left without comment.

"That wasn't very nice, Commander."  Janeway's smile betraying her.

"Like you weren't thinking the same thing."

"Thinking and saying it are two different things."  She couldn't suppress her building laughter.

Chakotay joined her.  "I guess that's why you're the captain." 

"Indeed.  Come on, I'll let you walk me to the bridge."

"That's an honor I can't refuse."  With canes in hand they hobbled their way out of the cargo bay and momentarily away from Casper.

=^=

"Come on, Tuvok, you have to eat something."  Neelix insisted.  "I even made you some of your favorite tea, just try it.  Captain Janeway said to tell you she'd be here in a few minutes to eat dinner with you, remember?"

The cup in Neelix's hand ended up smashed on the floor.  Tuvok was in an irate mood.  "I said I'm not hungry, Mr. Neelix, and of course I remember.  I haven't lost my mind quite yet," or so he hoped.  He was pacing around like a caged tiger.  "Now you can leave, I do not need a babysitter." 

Neelix remained calm knowing that Tuvok couldn't help this latest tirade.  His emotions had been through hell and back many times over the past few weeks.  Neelix was one of the few people Tuvok would even let in his quarters.  It was becoming very apparent that Tuvok wasn't going to be able to take much more of this.  He was bone weary and looked as though he was on his last breath.  His quarters were in disarray from all his outburst of anger.  All the meditation he'd been trying was of no use anymore.  He just couldn't get a handle on this side of himself.  The strongest of Vulcans would crumble under the strain of Bendii.

Neelix was extremely worried about him, as he was worried about all of them.  He would gladly trade places with any one of them if it would help.  "Tuvok," he tried again.  "I'm not here to just look after you.  I'm your friend, I want to be here with you."

"We are not…" Tuvok screamed, stopping in mid sentence.  His expression changed from pure hate and anger to complete sadness as suddenly as a light turning off and on.  "I do not want or need you to be my friend."  His voice caught in his throat.  He turned quickly away from Neelix.  "Now just go."

Neelix hated to see him in such distress and knew he didn't really mean that, not really.  "It's too late for that we are friends."  He tried again.  "A friend doesn't walk away when the going gets tough.  We're in this together, Tuvok.  I'm not leaving."

Dealing with emotions that Tuvok would really never understand made what happened next even more perplexing.  Turning back around he grabbed one of the plates from the tray Neelix had brought.  The plate took flight barely missing Neelix's head and continued toward the closed door, which unfortunately opened giving the contents of the plate free accesses to a new target. 

Captain Janeway stood in the doorway with an utterly aghast expression and long stringy-pasta decorating her from head to toe, the plate sliding to a stop at her feet.  Words escaped her as she pulled the pasty-pasta from her face. 

Neelix's expression mirrored Janeway's.  Tuvok just stood with a blank look honestly trying to comprehend what had just happened and that he had done it.  "Captain!"  Neelix was the first to find his voice.

Janeway had managed to wipe most of the mess from her face while her mind tried to reason with her mouth not to release the string of profanities on the tip of her tongue.  Instead, she picked up the plate with the end of her cane tossing it back from wends it came.  Neelix caught the plate before it met its mark.  "I'm not sure the punishment fits the crime gentlemen."  She followed the plate inside, pasta dropping as she walked.  "I'm only a few minutes late."

"Or quite possibly a few seconds early.  I'm sorry, Captain."  Tuvok was feeling so emotionally messed up he didn't know whether to laugh, apologize profusely or run for his life.

Neelix chose laughter as he tried to explain.  "Captain, we… I mean I… well we were just…"

"Mr. Neelix, you do not need to cover for my actions.  It was my fault."  Tuvok looked too humble even for this situation.  "I apologize again, Captain."   

The only thing Janeway could think to do now was join Neelix in laughter.  "Tuvok, I think you've managed to get away with doing something I'm sure many on this ship have wanted to do to me over the last seven years.  Maybe I should congratulate you."

Tuvok still felt mortified but the humor in the situation was sinking in.  "Congratulations are not necessary I was just doing my job then."  He couldn't believe he had just said that.  He was losing his mind and that was proof.

"Given your emotional state my friend, I will overlook that as well, but don't push your luck."  Janeway remarked with a smile as she walked to the sofa leaving a trail of noodles in her wake.  "Now if you two are finished with this food fight, I'm still hungry."

Tuvok just stood there while Neelix was half way to the door.  "Good thing we hadn't managed to toss the sauce as well."  He was still laughing.  "I'll go and get more pasta for the two of you.  Be back in a jiffy."  They could hear him laughing clear down to the end of the corridor.

"Indeed."  It was the only thing Tuvok could think to say.

"Well don't just stand there.  Come sit down my friend, let's talk, shall we?"  She was very concerned about him, even more so now.  Tuvok could do nothing but comply as they waited for their new dinner plate to arrive.  

=^=

"Did he say what this is about?"  Tom asked B'Elanna as they made their way to sickbay.  The concern in his voice felt by both of them.

"No.  He was pretty tightlipped about it.  I have a bad feeling though."  They walked a bit faster.

"You and me both."  Tom held B'Elanna's hand even tighter.  "Can't just one thing go right for us lately?  I'm really starting to freak here."

B'Elanna had reached the 'freak' stage long ago.  She was only holding on for Tom and the baby.  "You can't freak out on me, Tom.  That's my job, yours is to hold me together."  She tried a smile for both their benefit. 

He knew for her to even admit that, it was proof she wasn't holding up well.  He smiled back and put his arm around her.  "No problem.  I'll hold off on the freak show for now.  Besides, maybe it's good news this time." 

They walked into sickbay trying to remain optimistic.  The chaos in the room didn't help, however.  Sickbay had become the main hub of the ship, due in part to the sick and lame as well as the lack of resources and power throughout much of Voyager. 

Several decks of the ship were unlivable now.  The crew had been bunking up and trying to make the best out of the disaster looming.  As chaotic as it all was the Doctor did his best to keep it at a remotely organized chaos.  He was barking orders to someone from the other side of the room.

Tom and B'Elanna looked at each other, their optimism faltering somewhat.  "Maybe we should come back later."  B'Elanna whispered only half jokingly.

The Doctor spotted them and motioned them over.  "Our escape plan has been discovered."  Tom had been thinking the same thing.  "Guess we have to face this sooner than later."  They joined the Doctor in his small office.

His dour expression wasn't a good sign.  "We need to talk."

"We gathered that, Doctor, just get on with it."  B'Elanna was at the end of her frayed rope.

"Fine.  Your daughter is in trouble."  His rope was every bit as frayed as the rest of them.

"A daughter!"  Tom said with both elation and surprise, forgetting for a moment the 'trouble' part.  "We're having a girl?" 

"Yes."  The Doctor looked at B'Elanna who remained quiet.  "I'm sorry, I guess I should have asked you if you wanted to know."

"Of course we wanted to know."  Tom also looked at his wife.  "Didn't we?" 

She didn't acknowledge him.  "What kind of trouble?"  The question directed at the Doctor.

"Your body is becoming too old to carry the baby any longer."  He sounded more caring this time.  "If we can't get this antidote to start reversing the aging the baby won't make it, not to mention the rest of you."

"But I thought you said the baby wasn't effected by Casper."  Tom started to really freak now.

"That's correct, Lieutenant, not directly, but she can't survive without a viable working womb.  B'Elanna's body is shutting down, meaning she is well beyond the child baring years now."  The Doctor didn't hold out much hope if things didn't change fast.

B'Elanna was clinging to the last thread of self-control she had left.  She was also clinging to Tom's arm hard enough to cause broses.  "There has to be something we can do."  She just couldn't accept this, not after everything they had been through already.

"Well the best thing would be for your body to start reversing itself, grow younger.  I'm sure we'd be able to save the baby and keep her where she needs to be, in the womb."  That was really the only option they all wanted.

"If not?"  Tom asked.  "There has to be some other way to save them both.  Couldn't we transport the baby from B'Elanna to some kind of bionic womb, like the Borg use?"

"I've thought of that, but putting her in a chamber is risky at best and at this point there's no way to guarantee we can keep the ship alive long enough for her to mature.  A chamber like that would be almost impossible to maintain, not to mention we don't even have the power or ability to build one."  The Doctor hated to dash any hope they might have. 

"We have to do something, Doctor."  Tom yelled in frustration.  "I'm not about to just give up.  This is my family we're talking about here."  The rope had snapped.

"Calm down, Mr. Paris.  This isn't going to help your family.  There is one other thing we can do, if we are left with no other choice."

"And that would be?"  B'Elanna sounded surprisingly calm.

"Put you in stasis."  The horrified look on Tom's face even made the Doctor feel sorry he'd suggested it.  "It's not a cure by any means, but if we can stop both mother and baby from aging further we might have a chance once we can figure out how to cure this."

"Well how long can we keep power and life support to a stasis chamber?  Isn't that just as risky?"  For Tom it sure was.  He hated this turn in bad news.

"As long as the ship is alive, and at least we already have all the stasis chambers.  It may be the only chance the baby has."  The Doctor didn't dare mention it may be the only chance any of them may have to survive.

"Is Seven showing any sign of reverse aging yet?"  B'Elanna hadn't noticed Seven even being in sickbay, "and where is she anyway?"

"As of the last blood test, no.  I sent her to regenerate for a few hours.  Icheb is staying with her to monitor her vital signs."  The Doctor looked worried.

"What aren't you telling us, Doc?"  Tom wasn't sure he wanted to know but asked anyway.

"Nothing specific, I'm just concerned.  Seven is going down hill fast.  If Casper doesn't start accepting her soon I might have to put her into stasis as well, just to save her life."

"Maybe the direct exposure to Casper only made it worse."  They had all had fears about that.  B'Elanna was silently grateful she had left the cargo bay before…

"At this point it could be."  The Doctor didn't want to scare them anymore then they were.  "However, let's not jump the gun here.  There's still a good chance things will change.  We need to give Casper some time to work.  None of you aged overnight so the un-aging processes could take some time."  He doubted it but wouldn't let them see that, not yet anyway.  "Just keep what I've said in mind.  If the time comes stasis may be our only option."

"How much time do we have, the baby and I?"  B'Elanna had to know.

"I'd say a few days at least.  By then we should all know one way or the other."  The Doctor got up ready to head back to the pack of wolves waiting for his help.  "If there is any change I'll let you know.  For now, B'Elanna, I want you to rest, and that doesn't mean in engineering.  You are under medical orders to stay in your quarters and do nothing."

"This is one time I'm not going to argue with you, Doctor."  B'Elanna wasn't about to risk making things worse for her or the baby.

"Good."  The Doctor was on his way out of the office.  "Tom, get your wife all tucked in and come back here.  We could use your help."  He was half way across sickbay before Tom could respond.

Without another word they walked arm in arm out of sickbay.

=^=

"Captain Janeway report to sickbay immediately."

"I'm in sickbay, Doctor."  Janeway had just walked through the doors into total mayhem.  She barely avoided a head on collision with Harry Kim as she tried to make her way over to the source of the summons.  We need traffic signals in here.  The thought flashed through her mind.  "What's going on, Doctor?"  She asked fearing the worst when she saw Seven laying motionless.

"Besides the obvious helter-skelter I'm losing her."  The Doctor was franticly trying to make that not happen. 

Several people had backed up so Janeway could get closer.  They'd been trying to assist in any way they could. 

Dear God, what have we done?  Janeway was mentally beating herself up for letting Seven be the one exposed to Casper.  She took Seven's hand looking at the Doctor in desperation.  "Do something, what happened?"  Janeway was watching the monitor.  Seven's heart rate had flat-lined.

The Doctor injected something into her neck then continued old-fashioned CPR.  "I'm doing everything I can."  His own desperation was obvious.  "She's in cardiac-arrest is what's happened."  A few more chest compressions and the monitor began to beep.  The Doctor stopped and checked Seven's vital signs again.  "Correction, was in cardiac-arrest."  Seven's heartbeat grew steadier and she was breathing on her own again.  "That was close."  The Doctor sighed in relief.

Janeway released the vice-grip hold she had on Seven's hand and took a deep breath.  "Tell me what happened."  She tried to sound in control.

The Doctor continued his examination and fussing over Seven as he spoke.  "Apparently the exposure to Casper didn't work the way we were hoping."  Seven started to come around and the Doctor gave her another injection, this time to put her in a deep sleep.  He didn't want to risk another close call with the grim-reaper.  "Her heart, her entire system has just aged too much too quickly."  He looked down at Seven's 'aged beyond her years' face.  "The next time we may not be so lucky.  She is going to die if we don't do something now."

Janeway was sick to her stomach as well as heart sick about the whole thing.  Their worst fears were coming true and she couldn't do a thing to stop it.  "Please tell me there's something we can do."  She pleaded.

The entire room had fallen silent watching the close disaster unfold.  They all remained mouse-quiet awaiting the Doctor's answer.  Everyone knew they wouldn't be far behind in the dying department.

"The thing we talked about before, Captain, putting Seven into stasis.  It's now not just something to keep in mind but it's reality.  Right now it's the only way to save her life, and the only way to stop further aging."

Janeway closed her eyes willing every ounce of captaincy she had left to take control.  This was not the time to fall apart, she had to remain focused and in control for her crew.  Opening her eyes she looked from Seven to the Doctor and then around sickbay at every pair of expectant eyes.  With determination they had all come to expect and respect she addressed the entire room.  "Then stasis it is, for now, but we are not beat yet.  There is a way to stop this, and we will find it.  We'll go back to the drawing board if we have too.  There is a cure out there.  Voyager and her crew will never give up."  She brushed her hand over Seven's, smiled and nodded to the Doctor then walked proudly out of sickbay leaving that same determination fueled within every person in the room.

"You heard the captain, this isn't over yet, not by a long shot."  The Doctor took charge again.  "Mr. Kim, go get the stasis unit ready, time's a wasting."  The crew of Voyager may have been knocked down but they weren't out for the count.

=^=

Walking into her quarters felt more like walking into the chilly air of a mausoleum, not that it didn't fit perfectly with her mood.  Captain Janeway was quite able to hold up a strong façade in front of her crew, but inside she was crumbling. 

It wouldn't be long at all before she wouldn't even be able to stay in her quarters.  Environmental systems were failing all over the ship.  It was either frigid cold or swelteringly hot.  The air was starting to feel heavy as the very life force of Voyager was dying of old age.

She drug herself into the bathroom needing to splash some warm water on her cold face and mood, that is if there was still hot water that is.  Looking in the mirror was more of a shock than she'd expected.  Well the reflection has changed a bit.  In fact she hardly recognized it as her own.  The image from one of her nightmares flashed through her mind.  At least I'm not to the rotting corpse stage yet.  She shook the image from her mind.

She stood a bit longer gazing at herself in the mirror.  Her hair was now completely white.  There were wrinkles upon wrinkles lining her entire face.  She removed the eyeglasses she wore constantly now.  The only thing that really still looked familiar to her was her blue eyes.  Somehow the younger, vibrant, commanding and sometimes demanding Kathryn Janeway still thrived in those eyes.  She could see it, she could feel it, but in the essence of weeks it had become a distant reality.  A lifetime accelerated over a few weeks had taken its toll on the spirit as well as body.

Forgetting the water for now she made her way back into the living room.  Out of habit she went over to the replicator.  She was just about to order a cup of…"damn." Remembering there was no coffee she walked over to her sofa and discarded blanket.  It was of little comfort but it was all she had.  Cocooning herself inside its warm folds she sat motionless, reflecting on what was happening to her crew and ship.

For once time seemed to be standing still instead of flying past at warp speed.  She contemplated over the last few weeks going over every speck of detail in her mind.  From the moment they had encountered Casper to this latest close disaster.  Somewhere in-between there had to be something they were missing, some aspect of this that Janeway felt was eluding her.

We find Casper, or rather it finds us.  The cold feeling, the fact it evaporated almost as quickly as the feeling left.  We can't detect its existence and yet it does.  It expands but only in a stasis like state.  Everyone is aging, except for our Delta Quadrant two.  We have nightmare, or most of us have.  She quickly bypassed that thought.  The ship is affected as well, aging wise.  No communications with anyone in the area.  That one nagged at her constantly.  We come up with an antidote that seems to work as far as our blood test show but Casper doesn't recognize it in our blood.  Maybe the antidote is wrong, but why?  Why didn't it start to work after we exposed Seven to Casper?  If Casper had the ability to seep into us the first time and start this whole nightmare, then why then not now?  What I'm I missing?  The answer has to be right under my nose.  God this is so frustrating.

She continued to examine every detail in her mind until she thought she would lose her mind completely.  Just as she was about to give up or go mad Chakotay walked into the room.  If he'd even tried to door chime she hadn't heard it.  Her guess was he hadn't.

"Are you ok?"  He'd just come from sickbay himself after hearing the news.

She just stared at him a moment before answering his stupid question.  "Do I look ok?"  She fired back.  Seeing his expression, however, she changed her mind.  "Wait, don't answer that, I don't think I can handle the answer."  She managed a quick and slight smile.

Chakotay sat next to her.  "What if it was going to be a good answer?"  His smile was more genuine.

"Then by all means."  Somehow her first officer could always make her smile, even under the most dire of circumstances, and these were dire indeed.

He looked her over from head to toe; well only her head was poking out from the blanket-cocoon.  "Well from what I can see you look as beautiful as the day we met."

"And you are a lousy liar, Commander."  She almost laughed.  "I know I didn't have this prune face and white hair when we met."

"Hmm, now that you mention it…" 

She reached out from the cocoon long enough to slug him on the arm.  "I also recall my soon to be first officer had a lot more hair."

"Hmm, now that you mention it."  He rubbed his hand over his chrome-dome.  "I guess we've both matured a bit." 

"Is that your polite way of telling me I look like my old great-grandmother?"  She asked in all sincerity.

"Nope, I've never seen your great-grandmother.  It is my way of telling you that you are still beautiful inside and out."  He answered even more sincerely.

"Chakotay, you are truly hopeless."  She said with only a half smile before her previous thoughts crowded back into her mind.

Chakotay noticed the instantly shadowed expression.  "I'm not hopeless and neither is our current situation, Kathryn.  Sure this is yet another setback but…"

"A setback?  Seven almost died.  I'd say it's a bit more than a setback."  Janeway unwound herself from the blanket too frazzled to sit any longer.

"But she didn't, she's going to be ok, and so are the rest of us."  Chakotay stood as well.  "I don't know how, but I do know we will figure this out and we will be ok.  Whatever this Casper is, it's a damn fool if it thinks it can go against Captain Kathryn Janeway and her crew and come out the winner.  It will never happen." 

"Maybe it's us who are the damn fools here, Chakotay.  In every other situation we have faced we have at least had the advantage of knowing who or what our enemy was.  I'm not sure I really have it in me to fight against something I don't even know is real or even exists.  Sure I say all the positive things to the crew, try to keep their spirits up.  Let them know that we will win the battle of aging, but for the life of me I can't figure out how.  Maybe this time your precious captain has met her match."  She quickly turned away from him hoping he wouldn't catch the dam of emotion that was about to break.

He saw it and more.  Chakotay walked up behind her putting his hands on her shoulders.  "Kathryn, listen to me.  I know that being the captain the weight of all this falls on your shoulders.  I know you will never stop fighting to save this crew and get them home, we all know that.  There are two reasons why you will never stop fighting, even if it's against the unknown.  First, it is simply because you are the captain, it's your duty and responsibility.  Second and foremost it's because of your love and devotion to this crew.  Your sense of duty is overshadowed only by your loving, compassionate and caring nature.  That is the driving force behind a great captain, and you are that and more.  You're more than a captain to this crew, you're their friend."  He forced her to turn around and look at him, his arms still around her shoulders.  "You're my dearest friend, Kathryn and you do not have to fight this alone.  We're all with you every step of the way no matter what the outcome will be."

The tears were freely streaming down her face now.  There was no point in trying to even stop them.  "What kind of captain or friend am I if I can't even stop a damn cloud from killing us?  I'm not sure I can keep up this faux with the crew any longer.  I'm not even sure I can with myself.  I'm not giving up, you're right about that, but at what cost is the battle too much?  How can I give them false hope when I don't honestly know if there is hope?" 

"First of all there is hope.  As long as there is a breath of life on this ship there's hope.  Kathryn, you are a strong and courageous woman.  You've battled the worst and won.  You put the lives of those you love and are in command of far above your own.  You never hesitate to take the challenge yourself, but you have one tiny little flaw."  He had pulled her a bit closer to him, holding on tighter.

There was no escape this time.  She tilted her head slightly giving him that look that always melted his heart to butter.  "Just one ha.  Do I want to know what it is?"  She bit on her bottom lip to keep it from quivering.

"Ok, maybe there's one or two more."  This time he pulled her tightly to him burying his face in her angel-white hair, her warm tears dampening his shirt.  "You know exactly what it is my friend, just let it out, let it go.  It's just you and me right now.  Let me be the one to hold you up for once.  Let me be that shoulder to lean on."  If it was possible he pulled her even closer crushing their bodies together, bringing heart and soul together as well.

For the second time in only a few minutes Janeway felt time stand still as she gave up the ghost and wept.  Chakotay just held her tight letting this overdue flood happen, his own emotions slipping freely from his eyes as well.  A few minutes in the arms of a true friend can be the best medicine for the soul there is.  For the command team of Voyager it was a life saving dose. 

Unfortunately, time resumed all too quickly as Voyager let loose another bout of hiccups, or more to the point, lost attitude control again.  Everything and everyone that wasn't bolted or secured went for a ride.  Those few seconds of pell-mell confusion ended with Chakotay sprawled on top of Janeway with a chair riding piggyback on him.  The light fizzled off and on a few more times then all was quiet except for a smothered moaning sound.

Chakotay shoved at his hitchhiker getting it to fall off.  "Kathryn, are you alright?"  He panicked.

"Ge… off… e… oh."  Janeway tried to yell, but it only came out as a choking screech.

 Chakotay was even more frantic now.  He thought she was hurt terribly.  "Kathryn, what is it, what's wrong?"  He'd managed to lift himself partly off of her.

The color slowly came back to her face as she blurted out, "I said, get off of me you big oaf!"  She shoved him the rest of the way off her.  He rolled over and started laughing.  Janeway was still coughing trying to catch her breath.  She just scowled at him.

"You scared me half to death, Kathryn.  I thought you were seriously hurt."  He tried to control the laughter but it was no use.

"No, but you're about to be."  Her own smile broke through.  "Go on a diet Chakotay, you're damn heavy." 

"Tell that to your chair it was on top of me.  I was just the middle dog in the pile."  He'd managed to sit up helping her up as well.

Making sure there wasn't any serious damage they got to their feet and had made it to the door before they were hailed to engineering, sickbay, the bridge and everywhere in-between.  The command team was back in action, Janeway two hobbles ahead ready to save the day just as any great captain would do.  Chakotay silently thanked the gods she was on their side and the best part of his life.

=^=

 "Captain, you look exhausted."  B'Elanna walked up to her as she crept her wore-out self into the cargo bay.  "I'm sorry I couldn't be any help, Captain, doctor's orders."

"Don't apologize, Lieutenant.  You were doing what you were suppose to be for once."  Janeway teased.  "I passed the exhaustion stage long ago, but I'm glad you and everyone else came out of this without too much damage."

"It's just too bad we can't say the same about Voyager."   B'Elanna knew without even needing to see a report that it wasn't good.  Her first thought of course after Voyager's latest tantrum was to run to engineering.  Fortunately she had listened to both instinct and the Doctor's stern warning.  She had done what she could from her quarters coordinating damage reports and repair work, if it was even possible to repair. 

"Do we have a few minutes to talk before…?"  Janeway gazed over to the other side of the cargo bay.  The stasis units had been going up since the first occupant had been confined.

"Of course.  I'm not all together thrilled about being the second victim anyway, and I have to wait for Tom."  They walked over to a quiet corner, well as quiet as a room full of people and Casper could be that is.  "Seven is doing alright in there, isn't she?"

"She better be.  I haven't heard otherwise."  They both glanced over at the stasis units again.  "It sure looks like the Doctor is expecting the same fate for all of us soon."  Janeway hadn't given him the order to start getting all of them ready, but it wasn't a bad idea, even if it wasn't hers.

"I sure hope not, for Tom's sake mostly."  B'Elanna and Janeway both had to chuckle at that thought.  It would be hell to pay getting one Lieutenant Thomas Eugene Paris into one of those things.  "Captain, doesn't it seem a bit ironic, if not just damn stupid to put the stasis units so close to Casper?"  B'Elanna knew the logical reason, but this was one time when logic felt more like insanity.

"When you put it like that, yes, but we're not left with any choice.  This ship is only so big and right now we only have so much power and life support to work with.  Besides, if Casper gets out it won't matter where we are on the ship, it will find us."  Janeway hated this whole thing tenfold and more, but in this case the impossible was the only possible way.  "I know this is crazy, but I don't intend to leave anyone in there too long.  We will find this elusive cure before Casper gets any ideas of making itself an unwanted room mate."

"Let's hope so or I will lose my husband out an airlock and I won't even know it."  B'Elanna was joking, but she really was worried about Tom and his reaction to being confined in one of those… 'Tin-can coffins' as he referred to them.

"I promise I'll make sure all airlocks are secured."  Janeway sat down on one of the nearest stasis units.  She was so bone-weary she almost wished it could be her who was about to take an extended nap.

B'Elanna joined her on the stasis chamber.  "Thanks, that makes me feel much better."  She smiled, but kept her focus on both ends of the cargo bay.  The forcefield holding Casper back was her greatest concern.

Janeway's eyes followed the same line of focus.  "Don't worry, that forcefield is our number one priority, well tied with number one.  Keeping enough power and life support going is always at the top."

"Then I guess we'd better take a look at the report before it's nap time."  B'Elanna now gave her captain her undivided attention.

"I'm sure you know every detail by now."  Janeway handed B'Elanna the PADD.  "No one knows Voyager better than you.  What can we expect next, and how long before we loose all power?"

"There's no way to give you an exact time frame.  A lot of variables play into this.  The best thing of course would be to get that deadly cloud off the ship and out of our lives, after we are cured that is."

"No kidding, but right now we can't so what can we do?  We could use some engineering insight here, B'Elanna."  Janeway did not enjoy having to give up her chief engineer at this stage of the game.

"Well here's the nutshell version.  Voyager is dead in the water, or space.  She is running on minimal power right now.  We have shields at twenty five percent, which is hardly enough to keep all the space particles from banging up the hull.  No communication, no weapons, no targeting scanners even if we had something to shoot at.  Since our main priority is keeping us and the ship alive we need to do everything possible to cut back on non essential power use."  B'Elanna referred to the PADD again.  "The best chance we have is to cut power to everything but the most critical areas."

"Sounds like it's time for a ship wide slumber party."  Janeway smiled as she looked over at the stasis units again.  "No pun intended." 

B'Elanna was laughing.  "Right, Captain, that's totally believable."

"Nice to know we agree.  Now, besides being room mates what else can we do?"

"Well you need to keep some power to the shields as long as possible.  Voyager can't handle much more damage."

"No she can't and we do need to keep life support on the bridge as well.  I'm not ready to give up the command center of this ship yet.  We can bunk up here/there and in sick bay which will let us cut most of the power to the other decks, except for minimum environmental."

"True, you don't want Voyager to turn to ice.  There's no reason to keep a staff in engineering either.  We're not going anywhere and they can monitor things from here as well."  That was hard for B'Elanna to admit since engineering was her baby.  "I guess every place and system on the ship that isn't life essential needs to be cut back.  The bridge, sickbay, cargo bay, the messhall, or at least the kitchen area are what's important."  Now B'Elanna was smiling.  "You know, Captain, this nap thing does have its advantages.  I don't have to eat Neelix's cooking."

"Oh I don't know, I could live off of his cinnamon rolls for a long time."  Janeway's stomach started growling at the mention of it.

B'Elanna was starting to feel sick to her stomach, however.  "Let's just skip the food talk, ok?"  She was even starting to look a bit green.

"Sorry."  Janeway continued to smile.  "Let's move on to gravitation, attitude control and inertial-dampers.  Is there anything we can do to avoid a repeat performance of today?"

"Cutting back on power should help a bit, but not for too long.  It may happen again, and worse.  I can't guarantee a thing.  Come to think of it, Voyager's behavior is like an old person who walks with a limp and bent over.  It's kind of hard to keep straight and steady.  Eventually they will fall and beak something."

"I do know how she feels."  Janeway's cane had almost become part of the uniform.  She couldn't get around without it now.

"Too bad we can't get Chakotay to make her a cane as well." 

"Someway, somehow I believe Casper is the cane we all need."  Janeway looked over at their deadly crutch.

"That's a scary thought."  B'Elanna remarked as she saw Tom walk in.  "Looks like it's about that time.  Is there anything else I can do before I'm off to dream land?"

Janeway had seen him as well.  "No.  I guess we'll just have to manage without you for awhile."  She slid off the stasis unit.  "I'll leave the two of you alone.  I need to go check up on Tuvok anyway.  Looks like he is next on the sleep doctor's list."  She put her arms around B'Elanna giving her a big hug.  B'Elanna returned the hug feeling a strong urge to never let go.  "Everything will be alright, B'Elanna, I promise."  Janeway whispered then stepped back as Tom approached.  She gave him a loving pat on the shoulder as she walked past.

"I guess I'll see you soon then, Captain."  B'Elanna called out, a single tear escaping down her cheek. 

Janeway stopped and looked back.  "You will indeed, Lieutenant."  She smiled and left the cargo bay.

Tom already had his arms around his wife as if it would be their last hug ever.  His emotions too close to the surface to talk.

"Tom, I know you love us, but you're squishing our daughter."  She tried to lighten the somber mood a bit, and the crushing hug.

"She'll get used to it because I'm not ever letting you go."  He meant it too, but the Doctor had a different idea.  He had walked up behind them.

"I hate to break this up, but your bed is ready B'Elanna."  The Doctor didn't like doing this anymore than they did, but there was no choice now if they wanted to keep their happy little family alive.

"Could you give us a minute here please?"  Tom was less than ready to do this.

"You have five to be exact."  The Doctor walked back over to the stasis unit to wait.

"Tom, it's going to be ok, really.  Besides, I could use a nice nap."  B'Elanna was concerned about her husband's reaction to this.  "You can even come visit us as much as you want."  Her attempt at humor was hitting a brick wall.

"What I want is my wife and daughter safe.  I hate this whole thing."  He protested again.

"That is just what we will be in stasis.  We'll be safe and sound until her daddy can bring us the cure and bring us all back together."  She hoped the use of 'daddy' would help a bit.

Tom couldn't help the smile.  "You just make sure she knows daddy is on the way."  He kissed her soundly on the lips.  "I'll always be here to take care of both of you."

"We know that, Tom, and we love you."  B'Elanna returned the kiss.  "Besides, in your fairytale land I believe sleeping beauty needs her prince-charming to kiss her to wake up.  You'd better be around to do so."

"My charming mug will be the first thing you see when you open your eyes."  They were both laughing a bit now.

"It better be."  She kissed him again and smiled.  The Doctor waved them over.  "Looks like our time's up.  The sandman is calling."  Tom just shook his head.  "Come on, you can take me to bed."  She bribed seductively.

"Now that's an offer I can't turn down."  They walked arm in arm towards so called bed.