(A/N: Kinda short chapter, but I promise more in the future. I'm just working 4 things at once, lol)
Kathryn sat at her desk in her office, reading a PADD. The room was large, about twice the size of her old Ready Room, not that it held the same place in her heart. Outside her window gleamed the Golden Gate Bridge that 25 years ago she flew over, finally ending the lifelong journey that would forever shape her life. Though she had been successful, a part of her still longed for the days in the old Quadrant of afar. The bell to her office door rang, and Kathryn straightened herself. "Come," she said. The doors opened, revealing Shannon. Kathryn shifted as uneasy heat rose through her. Shannon walked in, avoiding eye-contact.
"Before you start, I want to-"
"You need to have a seat, young lady, right now," Kathryn interrupted. Shannon eyes flew up to her mother, and her body rigidly obeyed. "I think we need to lay some ground rules before you continue your stay with me and your father. For one thing, you will not be visiting Tuvok anymore-"
"But I-"
"I know you're determined to solve the case of Seven's death, but there's no need. The case was ruled a suicide, years ago and we've all accepted it."
"You can't really mean that though. There's no way Seven would just up and do something like that, no when Voyager supported her every decision and growth in humanity."
"Seven was worried about her acceptance here on Earth. She had told me so in the past. But we're not here to argue that, and I won't let you," Kathryn said, firmly. "Tuvok is dying, Shannon. You have to let him live his last few days in peace, not with this ... unnecessary stress."
"But he knows something, I know he does!"
"Shannon," Kathryn said, her voice growing low with grave seriousness. "He thinks that I'm dead. He thinks that Chakotay is dead. He thinks Tom, B'Elanna, Harry, and everyone else is dead. His logic has slipped, and we have to accept that. There's no alternative."
"You're giving up too soon!"
"No, I'm just facing reality. Several crewmen died throughout the years, and you think I couldn't sleep at night over them? I've learned over the years that you have to take what's dealt to you and live with it. You're just too young to see that now."
Shannon sat silent, her face tight with anger, her jaw clenched so she couldn't say anything else she'd regret.
"Darling, you have to open your eyes and face the truth."
"Dad hasn't," Shannon mumbled, looking away, out the window at the bridge.
Kathryn swallowed hard. "He blames himself a lot, but he has grown to accept it."
"Don't lie to me like I'm some child," Shannon said, still looking away. "I've heard you two before."
"Look, Shannon, you've taken this too far."
"He still loves her, and you can't accept that."
"Shannon, I want you to leave. Now," Kathryn said, rising to her full height. Shannon stood up, but took a step closer to her mother, rather than one towards the door.
"You can't accept that you're second best, second place in his heart."
"Stop this immediately!"
"You're glad Seven died, and you don't care how it happened. Because if she was still with us, Kathryn and Chakotay would have never had happened!" Kathryn stood board still her eyes beginning to flood up. The words stung her, and she couldn't help but feel as though she had been winded by them. She let the moment linger, to see if she could actually break Shannon's defiant look back her, but it stayed. Kathryn grabbed her jacket and walked out of the room. The tears stung almost as much as the words as a few slipped out and fell. She passed by several of her respective colleagues, but kept her head lowered until she reached the empty turbolift.