Disclaimer: Once again, I am only boldly going where TPTB have 'almost' gone before.
Author's Note: Hey Hey Hey, It's me!!! I'm extremely sorry this took so long, but I haven't been able to feel comfortable with this chapter, but I think I might just have it down – this time. Keep those reviews comin'... HAPPY HOLS TO ALL!
Messages From Home Pt. 3
Third day of communication with Star Fleet.
"Captain Janeway, I have read your logs about the impending ceremony and I DO not thing it's a good idea that you carry on like this."
"Owen, I thought this was an informal meeting. Old friends talking as they usually would."
"It is Kathryn, but Starfleet doesn't think that you marrying Commander Chakotay is very healthy for your crew."
"So what Owen, they've been trying to get us together for years. If nothing else, they seem happier," Kathryn paused, "Besides," she trailed off, "I love him."
Owen sighed, "Kathryn I think that you're going the wrong way about this."
"Well if Starfleet is so dead against it, why haven't they said anything about it to me? Just this morning Admiral Hayes congratulated me at a informal meeting. Why do I get the feeling that it's you against my nuptials?"
"Alright, Starfleet thinks perhaps it's healthy. They've reviewed the Commanders file and he was only doing what he believed in, even thought they're slightly wary that he could turn his back on them at any moment – they believe that if he loves you. You will keep him grounded."
"But what to you think?"
"I think that your ship has become too much of a family home. What with the Captain starting a family with her Commander and her long-lost-daughter and the Chief Pilot and Engineer getting together as well as almost the rest of the crew? Your ship has turned into a travelling space station not a ship on a mission."
"This mission might just the only mission we're on for the rest of our lives, Owen," Kathryn could feel her anger boiling. It was one thing to control your anger when you were standing at the other end of the desk, but another when you were miles across the Delta Quadrant and probably wouldn't see him for the rest of your life.
They stared at each other for a moment. Only the little respect she had left for him stopped her from terminating the conversation straight away and the inkling that there was something else behind his 'bad mood' and even that was putting it mildly. Only once before had she seen him so furious and that was when he had been badmouthed in public by Admiral – Well, she couldn't remember what the Admiral's name was, but that didn't really matter. The offender wasn't even on the planet anymore. At least she hadn't been when Kathryn had left.
"Owen," she began, deciding to approach the matter.
"I'm sorry Kathryn, but I don't know what has gotten into all the Starfleet officers on your ship. They are marrying criminals."
"That aren't criminals anymore," replied Kathryn hotly. "If this has anything to do with B'Elanna and Tom."
"Tom and B'Elanna." He seemed to put his son first.
"They are of equal rank! Owen, surely you can't hold a grudge against Chakotay because your son fell in love."
"I can and I will."
"B'Elanna has made Tom a better man."
"I've had enough of this."
"Owen, Owen... listen!"
The screen went black, Kathryn slammed her hands on the console in frustration, hitting several buttons at once – almost causing the system to jam.
"And that was that – he just went off."
"Odd," said Chakotay, "He cares about Tom and he doesn't want him falling into trouble. And he still regards the Maquis as bad guys, who can blame him – we attacked his ship once."
"You did what?!?" asked Kathryn. "Chakotay!"
"Well, not me personally. He was travelling in a communal shuttle. It was an accident. We were aiming for a Cardassian spy. All he did was injure his thigh."
Kathryn's eyes opened wide, "That was when I was on my first mission ever with Justin. He said he'd been attacked, but he never said it was the Maquis."
"Maybe it never came up?"
"What never came up?" asked Shannon leading Renee into her room.
"Ship business."
"Ship business," imitated Shannon, "Geez, that's sooo not fair. First you leave us all wondering when a ship gets attacked only telling us what's happening when you have a plan or peace time in between. Don't you think the little people on the lower decks might like to know what's going on everytime they're thrown from their seats?"
"Well most people on the upper decks do know and I make ship wide announcements whenever I can or you could just ask the computer. What's important is that you get to you battle stations when we go to red alert."
"Sorry, don't have one!" muttered Shannon. "You were right," she whispered to Renee, "It's so not fair!"
"I'm not sure if that girl is a good influence on her," whispered Kathryn as the teenagers headed to Shannon's Haven (as Shannon nicknamed it – much to the embarrassment of her mother)
"Well, it's good that she has someone her age to bond with."
"I don't like her attitude!"
"It's only a phase."
"God Chakotay," said Kathryn leaning over the coffee table for a kiss. "Why do you have to be so reasonable and level headed?"
"I'm just making up for what you lack. Like yin and yang."
"Yin and Yang?"
"The Chinese believe that everything must be balanced in order to have live peacefully or in harmony. There must be enough good energy and bad energy to make the world stable."
"But I thought Feng Shui was to emphasize on the good energy uh.. chi."
"Chi and yin and yang are two different things. It keeps the balance of the world."
"Hmm, I'd like to think, we keep the balance of the ship," Kathryn grinned sultrily, moving to recycle their coffee mugs.
Chakotay hugged her close.
"Careful or I'll get coffee all over you."
"To be quite frank, I don't mind. You like coffee don't you, just this time you won't be drinking it off a cup."
Kathryn threw back her head and laughed. "Not now Chakotay. Down boy."
She walked over to the replicator, "I think I'll keep you," she whispered.
"Captain Janeway, incoming hail from Starfleet Command. It's Admiral Paris, Captain."
"Patch him through to my quarters, Ensign."
"Kathryn."
"Owen," she greeted him icily.
"Come now Kathy. I realize I was out of line. What you chose to do with your personal life is your own business. Especially out there."
"So far away, where you won't be able to throw me into the nearest convict centre. I understand."
"I thought about what you said," he went on, choosing to ignore her comment. "And maybe I am over-reacting. I agree, Tom looks much happier and Kathryn, so do you."
"Thank you Owen."
But the Admiral wasn't done. "If Starfleet thinks the Maquis no long post a threat and that they should be released of all charges I see no reason not to offer you my blessing."
"It's not me you should be blessing Owen, it's Tom and B'Elanna."
"Kathryn... the Maquis are free!"
Kathryn Janeway stared into the eyes of her former commanding officer and smiled, "I'm patching you through to them now."
"Did you hear that?" she asked Chakotay, tears glinting in her eyes, "You're free and I hardly had to do anything."
As they embraced, The Admiral made as ship wide announcement, congratulating the Captain and First Officer before going on to say that the Maquis were freed of all charges. "I wish you a speedy journey home, the crew, of the good ship Voyager."
"All we need now are the fireworks," Chakotay whispered to Kathryn.
"Oh, you'll get them alright," she said raising her lips to his.
"Chakotay, did you hear that. You're free!!!" Shannon broke her mother away from her fiancé and hugged him. "Coffee ice-cream for everyone!"
Uhum Renee cleared her throat.
"Oh," said Shannon softly, pulling away, "We can still have the ice-cream right?"
Kathryn exchanged a panic-stricken look with Chakotay, who was already marching towards Renee. "Just what exactly is going on here?"
Author's Note: I suffered a little bit of a writers block for this chapter, but I hope you guys liked it anyway. I'm still trying to increase the J/C level (cos I realise that it's supposed to be a J/C story and I'm focusing on Shannon too much) And hehe – just what is Renee up to? Tell me what you think.... KayB
