Chapter 6

A/N: Thank you Rachel, all of you that reviewed AND last but certainly not least; the girls from the Dutch Kate Mulgrew group! Hope you enjoy this chapter !


Right after the doors had closed and the small group had left the bridge, Tom requested permission to be excused from duty for a moment.

"Granted, Lieutenant," Tuvok said without looking up from his work.

The pilot rushed out and headed straight for Engineering. He had to find B'Elanna, she'd been right all along.

He almost ran inside and saw his wife standing near the warp core. "B!" He walked over. "We have to talk."

"Can I help you Lieutenant?" she asked dryly. Obviously, B'Elanna had not forgotten or forgiven him for this morning.

"You were right. Something is wrong here. There was a strange incident on the bridge, but I'm not telling you that here." He lowered his voice, not wanting any other crew members to overhear their discussion.

"Fine," she said and led him to a corner of the Engineering room. She folded her arms. "So, what's going on?"

Tom looked around; he really didn't want to be overheard by anyone on this. "Okay," he whispered. "Q paid us a visit."

"So? He does that all the time."

"Junior Q also stopped by."

"And then what! Tom if you don't get to the point right now, I suggest you go back to the bridge because I have work to do!"

"B! Wait! I wasn't finished yet!" He grabbed her arm. "That Q kid said he was going to be a brother!" Tom hissed.

That last comment stopped B'Elanna dead in her tracks. "A brother? What the hell did he mean by that?"

"Your guess is as good as mine," Tom shrugged. "But I just came by to tell you that and say I'm sorry for not taking you seriously last night. You were right." He smiled a little.

B'Elanna chuckled. "I see you're finally started making sense."

"Hey, I told you I was good at that." He grinned.

"Alright you made your point, but I should go back to work now, and that goes for you too." B'Elanna kissed him quickly.

"Yeah, I know," he nodded. "Oh B?"

B'Elanna turned around. "Yes?"

Tom walked back up to her. "Better not mention this to anyone."

"What do you think?" she smirked, and resumed her duties.

"Good, see you after shift." He turned around and headed for the door.


In the Captain's ready room, the two Q's and her first officer were all staring at her, while she was leaning against her desk, face flushed.

"Will someone please explain what's going on here?" Junior Q asked. "I'm still going to be a brother right?"

Kathryn rubbed her neck with one hand, then sighed. She felt she had to explain it to him. After all, he seemed too oblivious to it all. "Q, listen to me. Technically, you are right. You're going to be a brother. But the crew doesn't know you're going to be a brother."

He was confused. "What do you mean, you said it yourself! Anyone can see you're pregnant!"

"It's my fault," Chakotay cut in. "I told them I was the father."

"What? You did what? Why? Father?" He spun around, staring at the other Q.

"I wasn't too pleased with it either at first." Q shrugged. "You see…..Kathy's pregnancy was an accident. I'm still not quite sure how it all happened but…. You see, I thought um…mating with a human would have to be done the… um… traditional way…"

Junior rolled his eyes. "I know how human children are conceived. I'm not two."

Q nodded. "Yes, well. I did want to have a child with Kathy. Badly. She refused, the ship made a wrong turn or something and we fell."

Kathryn in return rolled her eyes at Q's 'wrong turn', but remained silent.

"And then," Q continued, "Kathy put up her hands, to prevent me from…crushing her and I put out my hands to prevent me from falling face down… our hands touched and probably… so did our index fingers… And since having a child with Kathy was the only thing on my mind at the time, I think I may have… exceeded myself and…."

"You got her pregnant by mistake?" Junior's eyes widened.

"I did. And we," Q gestured at the others in the room as well, "decided that is was best to let the crew think the baby was Chakotay's. It would spare Kathryn a lot of... ordeals, for now."

Junior shook his head. "But she's yours! And it's not like you to give up something you've set your mind on. I know you've always wanted a baby with Aunt Kathy. She would've been my mother too if you got it your way!" his son retorted.

"Yes…well…technically you're right, but really… it's better this way. You can help design the nursery for your sister if you like?" Q tried.

"I don't believe this!" The younger Q raised his voice. "I come here to offer my support and congratulations to aunt Kathy, and you try to bribe me because you don't want this stupid story to see daylight!" He got up and marched to the door. "Everyone deserves to know the truth…especially my unborn sister!"

"Computer, seal all doors." He heard Chakotay's voice before he reached the exit.

Junior turned around and faced the three adults. "What? Are you going to change me into an amoeba again?" he asked sarcastically. "With just a flick of my fingers, I can be on the bridge, so why waste-"

"No." Q shook his head. "But I want you to listen to me. That is, if you don't want to loose your powers again."

Kathryn's eyes widened and she looked at Q in surprise. He'd certainly become a better father but she never thought he'd use that old trick again.

"Q, no." She walked past Chakotay and Q and stopped in front of Junior. She put a hand on his shoulder and smiled at him. "You know, you've grown into a formidable Q. And I'm so proud of you."

Junior looked at her in shock. That was the last thing he'd expected to hear. "...Um… thanks."

Smiling warmly, she patted his shoulder then turned around to face the other two men. "And even though our little plan only lasted a couple of weeks, it's been great and very peaceful. But we can't keep this up." She glanced at Chakotay. "No matter how much… I've enjoyed it."

Her first officer remained silent, but nodded and gave her a small smile.

"But Kathy…really?" Q couldn't help but smile.

"Yes. This hasn't been a fair situation. Not to Q…and Q, not to the crew, not to this baby. And I'm sure everyone will understand eventually. I just needed some time to…accept this all. But, I mean it, Q. This ends here. Thank you for doing this for me. I do want you to play an active role in our daughter's life."

Q simply beamed and so did Junior. He grinned at his son. "Hear that, Q? Come on, boy, we've got a nursery to design. And…" he lowered his voice to a soft whisper, "I apologise for my behaviour."

Junior's eyes widened again. "Really? You apologise? Wow. Okay, accepted. And I'm sorry for causing trouble. I had the best attentions, honestly."

"I believe you." Kathryn smiled.

The two Q's waved at the Captain and her Commander and then disappeared.

Kathryn sighed and shook her head. "That was…something else. I have the feeling my life will never be the same now that the Qs have had such a permanent role in it."

Chakotay nodded and followed her as she walked to her couch. "And, thank you too Chakotay." She leaned back and closed her eyes. "What a day."

He sat down next to her. "It was fun while it lasted. For three weeks."

Kathryn reached out a hand and patted his shoulder. "Even though our scheme is over and you're not a fake father anymore…that doesn't mean…that-"

"I know." He nodded, then softly stroked her knee. "Well, I should be going. And you should get some rest."

She smiled. "Aye, sir."

He chuckled, offered his hand and gently pulled her up from the couch.

"Goodnight Captain," Chakotay nodded at her and turned to leave.

She nervously clasped her hands together. "Chakotay…?"

He stopped and looked at her hopefully.

She took a deep breath. "I really can't thank you enough for your kindness these past five weeks…"

He looked at her with a pained expression then quickly averted his eyes. "It had nothing to do…with kindness."

She tried to meet his gaze but failed. After a long moment of silence, Kathryn replied, "I know."

After a final polite nod, he left her ready-room.


The next day...

"Morning Harry." Chakotay nodded at the sleepy looking Ensign who was barely able to nod back.

"M'ning, Commander." He yawned, then slowly shook his head in an attempt to appear more awake.

Chakotay softly chuckled to himself, greeted a few other crewmembers, then walked over to his chair and sat down.

The sight of the bridge, the crew and the empty chair next to him reminded him of last night's events however. Soon his good mood (too) was spoiled. He knew it would only be a matter of time before Kathryn would announce to everyone that the baby was Q's. And that Chakotay and she hadn't been truthful.

It wasn't the crew's reaction to this news that he feared though. It bothered him that he'd loved pretending so much. He'd loved spending time with her; he'd loved being a couple, even though they weren't. And he feared he loved it a great deal more than Kathryn did.

He cleared his throat and glanced over his right shoulder. "Tuvok? Where's the captain?"

The Vulcan frowned and answered, momentarily looking up from his console, "I believe the Captain is attending her doctor's appointment at the moment."

Chakotay's eyes widened and he was already pushing himself up from his seat, when he suddenly realised he no longer needed to do that. No more pretending to be the father to Kathryn's child. He frowned, still not completely out of his seat.

"Commander?" Tuvok arched an eyebrow at him and Tom too had turned around in his seat.

"Yes, I was… " He stared at the screen in front of him, trying to make up his mind. There was no need for him to pretend any longer, then again, Kathryn hadn't officially told the crew yet either. "…Going to sickbay. Wouldn't want her to go through it alone," he smiled.


"So" The doctor started as he scanned Kathryn with his tricorder. "How has our captain been doing?"

Kathryn, who was sitting on the biobed, rolled her eyes at him. "Fine, I suppose. But why don't you ask her yourself?"

The doctor stopped and curiously glanced at her over his tricorder. "I beg your pardon?"

She waved it off. "Forget it. I've been great."

"Hm hm?" The EMH circled around her, tricorder still beeping.

"I'm serious. I'm fine. Can I go now?"

The Doctor sighed dramatically. "Captain, captain…why you hate being in sickbay so much I'll never understand. Very well, you may go if you answer a couple of my questions."

"Al…right…" she said slowly.

The doctor glanced down at his tricorder. "Have you been experiencing anymore nausea?"

Kathryn sighed. "…Yes."

"Backpains?"

She pulled up her legs. "… Maybe."

"Captain!"

"Alright, alright." She waved a hand at him, "YES."

He arched an eyebrow in return. "Have you been taking your vitamins?"

"Of course I have!"

"Have you been getting enough rest?"

Kathryn hesitated. "Plenty…"

The Doctor inhaled deeply, exhaled loudly and arched an eyebrow at his patient again. "Have you been relieved of some of your duties? A simple yes or no will suffice."

Janeway opened her mouth, but was cut off, when the doors to sickbay suddenly opened. "No, but she will be."

A smiling Chakotay nodded at the doctor and the 'patient' as he stepped into sickbay. "Has she been giving you any trouble, Doc?"

"Plenty," the EMH answered sarcastically.

Annoyed, the Captain tried to push herself of the biobed. "So I'm not the galaxy's best patient. Can I go now?"

"A few more tests, Captain. To see how your child is developing," the Doctor answered and helped her back on the biobed.

He went back to study his scans, leaving the Captain and her first officer alone.

"So," Chakotay approached the biobed carefully. "How have you been?"

She looked up and knew what he meant. "Fine. Bit of a downer yesterday evening though."

"Really?"

She shook her head and smiled. "Fathers and sons."

He nodded and smiled in return. "So I've heard. When are you going to tell everyone?"

She sighed and averted her eyes. "I plan on telling the senior staff before the babyshower Neelix has planned for me. And that's in three days, so…"

"I see." He placed one hand on the biobed and cleared his throat, but said nothing.

Her legs were dangling over the edge of the biobed and when the Doctor returned, he found a very silent command team, one staring at her feet, the other staring at his captain.

"Well, Captain. You're as healthy as ever. And the baby is doing great as well…."

Kathryn pursed her lips together and nodded. "Thank you Doctor…but?"

"Well…" The doctor looked a bit uncomfortable. "The baby is half Q and my previous predictions about the due-date, well…I was mistaken."

Chakotay frowned. "Just how 'mistaken' were you?"

"You're in your fifth week right now, Captain."

"That's right. And you told me this pregnancy would probably last four to five months."

"That's where I was mistaken." The Doctor glanced at his tricorder again and nodded. "It's….weeks."

Chakotay's eyes widened and he was glad he was holding on the biobed. Kathryn on the other hand let out a strangled noise as she gazed at the Doctor. "Weeks? Four to five weeks!"

"Yes."

She dropped her head in her hands and Chakotay put a hand on her shoulder, though his attention was still directed at the doctor. "And you're certain about this?"

"I am. Her lungs have almost fully developed."

"Doctor," Kathryn looked up. "Could you please give Commander Chakotay and I a few minutes?"

The doctor nodded. "Of course. Computer, deactivate EMH." He slowly faded away, leaving the command-team by themselves.

"Chakotay, I'm in my fifth week now. I think…I need to transfer command to you."

He was surprised but nodded. "I understand. And do think it's best. Especially because…" he trailed off.

She arched an eyebrow. "-I could go into labour any second now?"

Despite the shocking news they'd just received, he couldn't help but chuckle. Her sarcastic sense of humour never failed her.

With his help, she slowly got off the biobed. "You know what? I'll transfer command right now."

He walked behind her. "Are you sure?"

She glanced over her shoulder. "Just…. don't get too comfortable in my chair."



TBC?