Disclaimer: TPTB owns all my little characters, but Shannon is all mine as well as the fact that J&C are together. Well actually that belongs to all the J/C fan fiction writers out there. Author's Note: Sorry I took so long, I've been having very busy weeks.

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MESSAGES FROM HOME

~Homeless~

"What?" asked Tom Paris as Shannon quickly explained how she had come to Voyager, "No one could be that smart.? Heck, I'm not even that smart."
Shannon grinned, "Let's just say it was something I ate," she muttered, sharing a knowing look with her mother.
"What?" asked B'Elanna this time.
Shannon glanced as her mother, signalling it was her turn to take over the storytelling.
"Uh," Kathryn started uncomfortable, she had never been really comfortable talking about her love life, "For some time, I dated a man called Justin Tighe; he died in a shuttle crash with my father. He worked for Starfleet Intelligence and I often went to visit him at the labs. Children weren't allowed, of course, so whenever Shannon came with me, I left her outside. Now she though not as smart as you think she would have been when she was young, judging by her present state, she was still extremely bright and she managed to sneak into the labs. She was fascinated with all the equipment, but it was a childlike curiosity, touch, smell, feel, taste, that sort of thing. She picked up something Justin was working on when he wasn't looking and ate it. I though she was going to die, it was supposed to be highly acidic and created for a cloaking device, but a few days later, despite her young age, she had started using big words and long sentences. I took her to see Justin, and though he didn't know how, he did know that it had made Shannon a whole lot smarter."
"Wow," said Harry, "I wish I could get my hands on that chemical, what was it called?"
Kathryn shrugged, she did know what it was called, but no way did she want her crew experimenting with dangerous substances, besides Justin had tried to run more experiments, one man had died in consequence. The research had been given up then. No one knew why Shannon was so smart other than Justin, Shannon and herself. She knew if Starfleet had gotten hold of the news, Shannon would be their guinea pig forever and she hadn't planned on losing Shannon.
She studied the girl, which sat in the Captain's chair, twisting it round and round. It was true, the girl did look very much like she did and nothing like Phoebe, even the smile was the same. Kathryn grinned. A deep warmth filled her heart, but suddenly, it turned into a cold feeling. Kathryn shivered and looked away from Shannon.
Suddenly, there was a thud, "Shannon Janeway!" snapped Kathryn, staring at her daughter who had fallen of the chair and was sitting on the floor.
"I'm alright," said Shannon sitting up. She glanced around the room at the people staring weirdly at her, "Hey," she said defensively, "Just because I'm smart, doesn't mean I'm no clumsy."
Chakotay chuckled. Shannon reminded him of his Kathryn. His Kathryn? Where had that come from? Boy would Kathryn be angry if she knew he was calling her his Kathryn.
"I told you not to do that a long time ago," muttered Kathryn, as she helped her daughter get up.
Shannon looked away, "No one has been there to tell me many things for a long time," she said quietly.
Kathryn looked away, "I'm sorry," she said, oblivious to the stares of her crew, "I'm so sorry." Then realising that everyone else was there, she said, "Dismissed."
As they filed out, she heard Harry tell Tom, "That's a side of the Captain, I've never seen before."
Only Chakotay remained behind, "How about some dinner?" he asked.
Shannon stared at him greedily, though she had had a bowl of soup almost and hour ago, she was still hungry and the thought of dinner had deepened that desire for food.
"Should I wrestle the replicater, or should you?" Kathryn asked Chakotay as they followed him to his quarters. Shannon was lagging behind, by this time, the crew had been informed of her arrival and were all pausing to look at her as she walked by.
"Hi," she waved at the cheerfully. Some waved back, but most of them were embarrassed to be caught starring.
Another reason why she was left behind was because she was looking about, pausing to look into every room which the doors would permit her to enter.
At last, they made it to Chakotay's Quarters, where someone was waiting for them.
"Q," said Shannon happily, when she say the omnipotent being.
"Q," snapped Kathryn angrily. "You know him?" she asked her daughter.

Shannon nodded, "Took me home sometimes to tell Grandma not to worry."
"You knew she was here and you couldn't bring her to me, let alone tell me that she was here?" she asked him.
"I didn't want to worry you," said Q, "Or mess up with the timeline."
"But your omnipotent, you could pull a string out of a sweater and not unravel the whole thing if you wanted to," said Kathryn angrily.
"It's alright mum; I'm here now, aren't I? In one piece too."
Kathryn sighed. Shannon was right, there was no use fighting with this Q.
"He did save me a couple of times," said Shannon.
Kathryn glared at Q, but her look softened a little, "What do you want?" she snapped.
"Just to see how my favourite Janeway is doing," he said, nodding towards Shannon. "I must say, I took to her just as I did to her mother."
Kathryn glared at him again, "What did you do?" she almost yelled.
"Kathy, Kathy, I'm just saying that she has her mother's fiery spirit and is exactly like her. I would never to anything to a. thirteen year old. no matter how smart. She is... you know Kathy, managed to figure out the whole continuum thing better than you did."
Kathryn rolled her eyes, "Well Shannon's fine, so you'd better be on your way."
"Thank you," said Shannon giving him a kiss on the cheek, "For everything."
"No problem," said Q, "Ta-Ta Shannon, Kathy, Chuckles," he said, before disappearing.
"Argh," muttered Kathryn, "I hate him."
"Let's eat," said Chakotay.
"Should I wrestle the replicater or should you?" she asked again.
"Not you!" said Shannon alarmed, "Him. not you."
Chakotay grinned, "The tribe has spoken."
"Shannon," hissed Kathryn, as Chakotay went to prepare the food, "Remember what you said earlier about the two of us being together."
"I was just kidding mum, I would have said the same, even if you were with Tom Paris. Are you trying to say that there's something going on?"
"No! No!," said Kathryn quickly, "Just wondering," said Kathryn, as she busied herself, helping Chakotay set the table.
"Are you alright?" Chakotay asked her softly.
"Extremely surprised, but happy. I thought I'd never see her again."
"You could have told me, Kathryn. Told me about her."
"I know," said Kathryn, "I'm sorry."
"That's alright."
"Thank you," smiled Kathryn.

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Hey Tom, B'Elanna," grinned Shannon as she sat at their table with Harry, as she had been doing for the past week. She had come to look upon the triplet as a family, her family. They had too.
"Hey kid," said Tom, ruffling her hair.
"Hi," smiled B'Elanna and Harry.
"Listen," said Tom, "I'm having a pizza party tonight, wanna come. We're going to watch old Everybody Loves Raymond reruns."
"Okay," grinned Shannon happily.
"I'm having a concert in the Holodeck tomorrow, but Lindsay is going on an away mission, I was wondering if you could take over the keyboard."
Shannon nodded, "No problem. I think. I haven't played for quite some time."
"I'm sure you'll be fine," encouraged B'Elanna.
The turned to look as the mess hall doors parted to reveal Captain Janeway and Chakotay. The threesome wondered why Shannon never dined with them. They saw her look away as her mother walked in.
"Hi Shannon," said her mother, nodding at her as she walked past.
"Hey mum," said Shannon softly.
Kathryn looked away, and not once did she turn to look back at Shannon.
"I'm sorry," said Tom, as his Comm badge chirped telling him it was time for duty, "But we need to be on the bridge."
"Okay," said Shannon, sorry they had to go.
She glanced at her mother's table. Lately, things hadn't been going as she'd planned. Her mother barely said to words to her, other then, "What would you like for dinner?" Shannon didn't even have her own room, she slept on the couch. She hadn't unpacked her belongings, which still lay in the shuttle. In fact, other then the first day, Kathryn had become extremely distant from her daughter.
Shannon didn't go to school here, her mother hadn't arranged for her to do anything. When everyone, meaning Tom, B'Elanna and Harry were on duty, she wondered around the ship, memorizing what each room contained and everything.
When Naomi finished school, they went to the Holodeck together, but Naomi was younger then Shannon and was still into Flotter. Shannon didn't like him anymore. She found herself spending less time with Naomi and more time with herself.
"Hi Seven," said Shannon, as she walked into the Cargo Bay.
"Janeway, Shannon," said Seven.
"Yup," said Shannon. She spent time with Seven once in a while. Seven was extremely smart, but not used to the ways of the world, rather like Shannon herself. Seven too, had a fondness for the girl.
"Has your mother's attitude changed?" she asked.
Shannon shook her head, "Remember," she reminded her friend, "You're not to tell anyone how she's behaving."
"I can keep a secret," said Seven.
"Good, no one will respect her if they knew she wasn't paying any attention to me. She needs to be respected, or the ship won't run."
Seven nodded, "That is not irrelevant."
Shannon nodded, "What would happen if a human stepped into your alcove. I mean a human, which hasn't been assimilated."
"Perhaps you would like to try?"
Shannon nodded and walked in, but nothing happened.
"I believe you have your answer," Seven said, returning to her work.
"Can I help?" asked Shannon.
"I can do it by myself."
"I'm not saying you can't," said Shannon diplomatically, "But I'm bored."
"Very well," said Seven, handing Shannon a padd.
Shannon grinned, "Thanks very much."
They worked together until Seven was called to the bridge. "We make a good team," she praised Shannon, "I have done more work then expected."
"I'll help you tomorrow, as well," said Shannon, exiting the Cargo Bay.
She made her way to the Paris Quarters, Tom and B'Elanna should have come off duty and hour ago.
"Hi," she said, as she walked in, after ringing the bell.
"We were waiting for you," said Tom, "You won't believe how many episodes there are, we need to start early," he said, handing a slice of pizza to her.
Shannon sat next to B'Elanna, her head leaning to the woman's shoulder. B'Elanna put her hand around Shannon's shoulder. She could tell the girl wasn't getting along with her mother. She wondered why and hoped Shannon would open up to her in due time.
At eleven o'clock at night, Shannon made her way back to her mother's quarters, they hadn't finished watched the whole series and had made a date for tomorrow, just before the concert.
Shannon rang the bell, but her mother didn't reply.
"Shannon to Janeway," she said, tapping he comm badge. Still there was no reply.
"Computer, locate Captain Janeway."
"Captain Janeway is in her quarters."
"Is she asleep?"
"Affirmative."
Shannon groaned and sat down against the wall opposite the door. "Computer, locate Commander Chakotay."
"Commander Chakotay is in his quarters."
"Is he asleep?"
"Affirmative."
But Shannon tried anyway, "Shannon to Chakotay."
"There was no response."
"Computer," said Shannon, making her voice deeper and older. "Open the door to my quarters."
"Unable to comply."
"Computer do you recognize my voice."
"Affirmative. You are Captain Janeway."
"Good. Open the doors to my quarters."
"Unable to comply."
"Why?"
"Override code required."
Shannon sighed as passing crew members shot her weird looks. Slowly, she made her way back to the Paris Quarters.
"I'm sorry to disturb," she said as she walked in, "But I can't get in to the quarters. She's asleep."
"Don't you have the codes?" asked B'Elanna.
Shannon shook her head, "She hasn't given them to me," she said as a lone tear rolled down the cheek.
Tom, turned pick, he refused to believe the Captain could be so mean to her own daughter. He simply couldn't believe it.
"I even imitated her voice and asked the computer to open the doors, but it wouldn't. I didn't want to break in; it would probably make her hate me even more."
"I don't understand why she's like this."
Shannon shook her head, "I don't know. I really don't know."
"Tell you what Baby Girl," said Tom, "How about you stay with us for a while. You can use the extra bed Harry uses when he has nightmare."
"You don't have an extra bed," said Shannon, "I'll sleep on the couch."
"How about a mattress," asked B'Elanna.
"Okay," said Shannon, "Thank you."
"I'm going to take a bath, while you ladies chit chat."
B'Elanna nodded. When he was gone she asked Shannon if she was alright.
"I'm fine. It's not different then when I was back on Earth, except here I have you guys."
"I don't know why the Captain is like this Shannon, but I don't like it. I'll make her see reason and until she does you're staying with us. Unless you'd rather your room in the Captain's quarters."
"No," said Shannon softly. "I don't have a room."
B'Elanna's eyes shot open, "No," she hissed.
Shannon grinned, "I don't understand why you care about me so much. I'm not even related to you."
"Hey, you are now. Let's just say we have a connection. We get along and we like each other, correct."
"No," said Shannon, "I love you. You've done so much for me."
"I love you too," for a moment, B'Elanna felt like a mother, but she knew that no matter how Kathryn Janeway acted, there was always that special place in Shannon's heard for her mother.
"Molly!" exclaimed Shannon suddenly. "I miss her."
"The dog?"
Shannon nodded, but she was very tired and slowly, she drifted to sleep.

Kathryn awoke to the howling of the dog. She walked out of her bedroom and tried to soothe it, but it backed away from here. She looked around for Shannon. Shannon was always on her mind, but Shannon was no where to be found.
"Computer, who was the last person to enter these quarters."
"Captain Janeway at the end of Alpha Shift."
Then she realised that Shannon didn't have the codes. "Did anyone attempt to enter these quarters, computer?"
"Affirmative."
"Who?"
"Crewman Shannon Janeway."
"Computer, locate Shannon Janeway."
"Shannon Janeway is in the Quarters or Thomas and B'Elanna Paris."
"Is she asleep?"
"Affirmative."
Kathryn sighed, she missed her daughter, but she couldn't look after her .What if it blinded her duty as Captain to the ship. Involved itself in her command decisions. If she grew close to Shannon again, in her decisions, Shannon would always come first. She couldn't have that. Besides, what would Shannon do if her mother got killed on an away mission? But most of all, what would she do, if Shannon got killed when the ship was under alien attack?
She hardly noticed as Molly was beamed out of her quarters and into B'Elanna's. In fact, she hardly noticed anything as she fell asleep on her couch.

To be continued.

Author's Note: As improbably as it sounds, Shannon Janeway is the 24th Century version of the Powerpuff Girls. Getting superpowers from Chemical X!!!! Please r/r... Flames accepted. maybe expected. (((