August 2403

"How's he doing Doc?" The young lieutenant smoothed down her uniform as she walked the medical ward. Her older brother was out finishing his thesis on a distant planet; it would be up to her. "It's bad isn't it?"

"I didn't randomly pull you off assignment Lieutenant Hansen." The doctor looked at her. "He's not doing well. He's been asking for you."

"Of course he's been asking for me." She shook her head and blinked back the tears; it was her father they were talking about not some random patient. "Is it possible to page Dr. Henley, I'd be more comfortable if she reviewed his file?"

"We can do that, she's in the hospital today so she'll be here in a few minutes." The nurse managing his case placed a caring hand on her shoulder. "Hopefully you'll cheer him up."

"I hope so too." She quietly entered his room. Hansen fluffed up her father's pillows. "You're giving everybody a scare Dad."

"I know." He put on a small smile. "Do you have any clue how much they overreact here?"

"They're not overreacting." She took the authoritative tone. "I got a briefing on the way in--you're not exactly 100 percent healthy."

"I'll be fine." The former officer gave his daughter a stare. "I'm not exactly a young man here anymore--health setbacks are expected with how I've lived the last sixty years."

"Get some rest Dad. They're getting Aunt Riah for me. Should I be bugging Ben to come home?" She sighed. "I'm not going to make that call, but if you want him here, I can lay on the guilt."

"See how much more field time he needs." Chakotay paused to think. "It all depends on how far along he is with his research. I don't want to drive him away from his life; it's just not necessary Kor."

"Dad, I got pulled off ship I don't think you're in here for trivial reasons." Hansen ran a hand through her short layered hair. "I'm going to find out what is going on try not to cause too much chaos."

"Okay." He smiled at his daughter. "I haven't caused chaos in over thirty years Kori."

"And Ben and I were always perfectly well behaved children." She let a smile escape from her worried face as she left the room. Henley looked up as her visibly shaken goddaughter came out to the desk. "He's terminal isn't he?"

Henley reached to keep her goddaughter from collapsing. "I have Uncle Harry tracking down Ben. He's not going to recover but he still has a few months."

January 2404

Henley stood protectively next to her goddaughter. It was what she needed for the memorial service. "It's going to be ok Kori." She soothed the young officer who was near tears. "You're going to go in there, hold your head high and be the dignified daughter."

"It's still a shock that he's gone." The Lieutenant sighed. "I just expected him to recover fully this time."

"We all did." Henley was doing the best to comfort the usually pulled together officer "I'll be honest with you, a huge part of him died with Seven. He's not been the man he was for a long time."

"So I've heard, what was he like before she died?" The anthropologist snuck in next to his kid sister. They always wondered what it would have been like to know her mother. "The respect he commanded even when we returned was not the respect a wanted man should have commanded."

"He stuck by his principals no matter what." Henley smiled at the thought of her mentor. "Even Uncle Harry as green and by the book as he was always had a respect for him. You and I both know he was the backbone of the crew. Most of the crew is here, do you two want me standing there with you?"

"Please." The officer was not her usual confident self; she had allowed her vulnerable side to escape. "It's going to be tough facing some of them."

"I know." She led her towards the auditorium. Henley whispered to her god-daughter. "Uncle Harry wishes he could be here."

"We'll see him in a few weeks. I didn't expect him to travel days for a two hour service. It just wouldn't be practical." The three stood at the edge of the auditorium. She gripped her godmother's arm and whispered. "Aunt Riah, thank you."

"He was my family too Kor." The Captain's wife nodded as Janeway approached. "Admiral."

"Mariah." Janeway acknowledged her. "I'm sorry for your loss Ben, Kori Ann. He was a great officer and a great friend."

"Thank you Admiral." The son put on a sincere smile. "It was only because he served with a wonderful crew." They watched as Janeway quickly rushed inside the auditorium.

"Well at lest she expressed some sympathy." He muttered.

"She could've not shown." His sister nodded. "At least she had that respect."

February 2404

"Admiral." Miral Paris slipped into the booth across from Janeway at the officer's club. "Sorry I'm late. You know how they can be."

"I know." Janeway smiled at Paris. "So what do you think of my proposal?"

"Give me a few weeks I'll convince him." The Ensign smiled, the briefing on the assignment had made it sound exciting. "Are you sure you still want it?"

"I'm sure." The Admiral was excited about the prospect. "You understand why I want it right?"

"Do you have an idea to around when you want to go back?" Paris sipped her tea. "I mean would I have the luxury of growing up without Jon being around to make me look like a consistent under achiever?"

"If I'm successful it would just be you, Naomi, and Baby Borg, the time when the doctor still had Zuxia in sickbay. It would mean no Hansens, no Paris boys, it could change a lot." Janeway paused thoughtfully. "I wanted to give you heads up, in the small chance we are not successful, and both of our careers will be gone."

"It'll be worth the risk." Paris made her decision. "I mean I'm not going to say anything to Mom and Dad, but it's worth the risk. When do I ship out?"

March 2404

Standing there with her arms crossed, waiting. She was simply waiting, the diligent Captain's wife with her ten year-old daughter in tow waiting for her husband to return home. Mariah Henley wanted terrorist and murderer--respected Physician and doting mother patiently waiting at Starfleet Headquarters for her husband--the perfect Starfleet officer to return home. It was funny the way things could change. She smiled as he beamed down in front of them. "You always have to cut it close don't you?"

"I made it back with plenty of time." The Captain picked up his wife and spun her around. He kissed her in the appropriate matter, before embracing their daughter in a hug. "I've missed you both."

"I'm sure you did." The doctor smiled coyly. "We have time to catch dinner before the reunion. Please tell me I'll have you home for at least a couple of weeks. The last 18 months have been impossible."

"You will." He looked at his wife. "Did I ever tell you how beautiful you are?"

"Not in a long time." The reformed rebel led her husband off the parade grounds as their daughter trailed behind them. She lowered her voice as to not worry her daughter. "Zu's going to make sure she has a consistent eye without her knowing, but I need you to run interference tonight."

"She's still not doing well, I take it." He whispered back, having gotten his wife's reports he knew about their goddaughter and her grief. "Who are we protecting her from this time?'

"Janeway." She had taken most of the late night visits and phone calls from the stressed young officer. "You would not believe how she was cold to Ben at the Memorial, and it was warm hearted compared to the looks she gave Kori. I don't want her hurt tonight." The mother in her fought to keep composed. "It's the maternal instinct kicking in."

"It's your heart kicking in." He reached for his wife's hand. "You know your passion is why I fell in love with you. Of course I'll run the buffer. So Hannah how are the drums coming along? You driving Mom nuts with the noise yet?"

"Totally." The young girl caught up with her parents. "But I'm performing my first Bach next week."

"Massive accents and all." Her mother smiled and rolled her eyes. "I think your project is going to be installing a sound proof room. It's impossible for me to get any work done when the whole house vibrates."