Chapter 4
After another few days, Voyager was officially out of commission, firmly ensconced in space dock at McKinley Station. The crew took their leave one by one. They were all granted leave until they were to report back for a series of debriefing meetings. Some had chosen to stay with family, some had requested immediate resignations from StarFleet, which had been granted, debriefings not withstanding, and were left to find their own housing, and some, those career officers, were put up in officer housing throughout the city while they made decisions about careers and new assignments or were given new orders. Chakotay had been assigned decent quarters on campus, as had Tom and B'Elanna. The Captain had been offered a nice apartment nearby in the city.
There was to be a formal reception that Friday evening. Crewmembers and officers only and their immediate family. No press, no publicity, just the crew and all the StarFleet officers of significance that could wheedle themselves an invite. Formal attire was expected, and for a crew that had just spent 7 years being shot at, held hostage, starved, and otherwise abused during their travels, finding formalwear wasn't exactly as easy as opening up the closet. Many had no closets left to raid, and even if they did 7 years had changed bodies and styles enough to make things challenging.
"ABSOLUTELY NOT," Kathryn announced loudly to her sister as the latter brought out yet another gown, each one more ostentatious or too low cut than the last. "I am way too old for this, I'm not going to prance around in that."
Phoebe Janeway rolled her eyes. "There HAS to be something here that you don't hate." She eyed the women who owned the shop her gave her a knowing look. "You've still got the goods, and there going to be officers climbing the walls at the place to get a look at you. You never know what you may find."
"Phoebe. I haven't had my feet on the planet for more than 3 days. I'm a wreck. Stop trying to romanticize this and find me a dress that doesn't make me look like I'm trying to hard." Kathryn sighed and tried not to roll her eyes. She hated this and wished she had an excuse of something better to do, but the truth was she didn't. Everyone was banned from Voyager as soon as it went into lockdown on space dock and was on leave until the briefings started next week. They hadn't even restored her access to StarFleet computer systems yet so she couldn't even read any information that wasn't already public. She had three days of nothing to do except find something to wear to the reception tonight. She wasn't even dreading the reception itself, at least she'd have the crew and her family there. That made anything bearable.
The shop owner reappeared with something that rustled loudly and Kathryn let out another sigh.
--
Later that night, the steps to the entrance of the ballroom were scattered with officers of varying ranks, with well dressed civilians scattered in between. Tom and B'Elanna in formal wear, not dress uniforms, stood jiggling a small stroller cot with a sleepy baby inside it. They were trying to get her completely settled before going in. As they stood there, Tom recognized Naomi Wildman standing at the door, talking with the person checking everyone in. She was animated and not very pleased. A tall man, obviously not human, stood behind her also looking a little unsure.
Tom shared a glance with his wife and then stepped forward. "Naomi! It's wonderful to see you. Is there a problem, officer? He asked to the Ensign assigned to the door.
"Sir, there are no children allowed. It's right on the office guest list instructions, even minor children of officers from Voyager." He looked around nervously, and then added an additional "Sir," for good measure.
"I suggest you check your crew manifest and guest list again. I think you will find a Crewman Naomi Wildman on your list. I think, in fact, that her commission might predate yours. And mine actually. By the time she graduates the Academy, she'll outrank both of us." He gave Naomi a quick wink.
The baffled ensign checked his list again. "Crewman Wildman is listed here sir, as is a Lieutenant Wildman, and family member one Greka--" his voice tapered off at his failure to pronounce Naomi's fathers name.
"Ah see, everything is in order then," a quiet gruff voice replied from behind Naomi.
"Shall we?" Tom asked, offering Naomi his arm and giving her father a small smile. He nodded back and the two entered the room even as the Ensign continued his protests. "But sir! I must object. It clearly says no children!"
"Crewman Wildman isn't a child, she's a member of the crew. As is my daughter. I suggest you don't try the same move on my wife. She's much less fun than I am," Tom replied barely looking back at the ensign. He gave Naomi a devilish grin. "I hear there is an Ice Cream Bar, Ms Wildman."
Tom escorted Naomi and her father inside, finding the room already busy but not yet full. Familiar faces gave him a sense of relief. Less than ten minutes later he saw his wife enter the room with the carriage and then saw Captain Janeway.
His wife came to join him and they whisper conspiratorially as they watched Janeway work the room. "She is turning A LOT of heads," Paris whispered.
"Yes...male cisgender heads..." his wife snorted back. The Captain, their Captain, who was known to wear a uniform almost always, tie her hair back out of the way, and was happier covered in engine dust and plasma debris, was stunning in a dark blue but not quite purple gown, with tapering straps and a conservative but flattering front. The back of the dress however, was open and sank low to the small of her back exposing delicate muscles and vertebrae. Her hair was loose, tied back out of her face but softer than her normal style.
"Whewwwew," Tom let out a slight whistle. "I don't know why I'm surprised...she can do everything else."
His wife wasn't listening, but was scanning the room methodically. She wanted to catch the look on Chakotay's face when he saw her. They hadn't talked about anything personal since the night in his quarters earlier that week. She knew he'd been assigned temporary quarters, as had been the Captain, but there hadn't been any indication of anything else regarding their relationship and she was dying to find out.
"Over there," she said to Tom. "By the doors." Chakotay was standing near the floor to ceiling doors that led to the terrace outside the ballroom. He was talking with Ayala and a couple others she didn't know. Something about their look made her think they were StarFleet, not family. Certainly not his family. The watched him, keeping an side eye on the Captain as she made her way through the crowds.
They saw it when he saw her. He paused, almost flinched and got subtly smacked by Ayala to bring him back to the conversation. The couple burst out laughing. "Oh man, has he got it bad. That was 100% worth it," B'Elanna forced out between laughs.
"What was worth it, Torres?" a gravely voice asked from behind her.
"Captain!" Tom jumped in. "You look wonderful. I almost didn't recognize you without the uniform and plasma dust on you."
She gave his a scathing look, as if he should have known better to try and a line like that on her. "Is your family coming? It's going to be a lot of fun to meet the families we've heard so much about."
She nodded quickly with a smile. "My mother and sister. They should be here any minute. Your father has already commed me twice this week to brag about his granddaughter. I'm assuming we'll see your parents as well."
Tom nodded as the Captain's attention was pulled away by another Admiral. He saw her look wistfully in the direction of Chakotay for such a brief moment he thought maybe he imagined it. Then Harry appeared with glasses of champagne and their attention drifted elsewhere.
It felt to Chakotay that they were like snowflakes spinning in a storm, coming close to each other but never actually touching. It felt like hours before he got a chance to talk to her. When they finally did meet it was quiet and professional, at least to the appearance of the others. They themselves knew.
"Did you hear from your family, Commander?" she'd asked, knowing he had been waiting to get through the jumbled communication grid to Dorvan. He rewarded her with a grin and an affirmative. "And your family, Captain? I don't think I've had the pleasure yet," he'd replied.
"They're on the terrace," she replied. "Be careful of my sister. She's been watching you," she warned. Phoebe was perceptive, and relentless. She knew her sister well. Even after 7 years of absence, Phoebe knew how to get to the heart of the things in a way that drove her older sibling mad.
"Careful?" he replied questioningly, as he parted the crowd to make way for her and her magnificent dress.
"Very careful. You'll see. Phoebe's a lot like me. Very perceptive and very stubborn, but with total disregard for social convention. She is totally incapable of being appropriate pretty much all of the time."
They entered the terrace and Chakotay saw the dignified white haired woman that could only be her mother and a taller, bolder woman who looked a little like Kathryn but with her own distinctive look. Chakotay got a hint of what Kathryn meant as soon as he saw the glint in her eye when they were introduced. She was utterly charming and was clearly thrilled to have her sister home.
As they walked away, having been called towards the stage for some announcements and speeches, two more glasses of champagne were handed to them. "I think I see what you mean, but I've spent 7 years handling Kathryn Janeway. I think I can handle her sister."
Kathryn stopped short. "Handling? What does THAT mean, Commander?" The mock outrage made him chuckle.
"You know exactly what that means, Captain."
"Don't get cocky, Commander. She may not be StarFleet but she's ruthless and she got my mother's charm where I only got my father's cunning. She's way more dangerous," she said in one last warning as she took the stage.
Taking center spotlight, she almost glowed, helped no doubt by the designer gown and heels, the spotlight, and glasses of champagne. Chakotay moved to the side and found Tom and B'Elanna, now holding an awake baby.
The speech she had prepared was brief, but served as a motivating factor for a crew she knew felt at loose ends. Grateful and proud of her crew, respectful of StarFleet and those that aided them, grief for those left behind, and steadfastness to greet the coming days. The speech was also peppered with references to experiences the crew had in such a way that reminded them they were a family, connected permanently in a way that rarely happened tomStarfleet crews. The inside jokes had the crew laughing and guffawing and the rest of the StarFleet officers perplexed. She finished with reminding the crew that if anyone ran out of champagne, they were to make sure to ask Ensign Jor, as the Captain was sure she currently had enough replicator rations to help out. The entire crowd was silent for a moment, but as they all collectively realized that not only did the Captain KNOW about the betting pools, but also knew who had won the bet about when Voyager would get home, AND that she wasn't one iota upset about it, the silence was followed by a cheer and laughter that followed her off the stage, again to the confused chagrin of StarFleet Admirals.
She made her way back down to the crowd as another faceless Admiral had more words to say to the crew. She met Tom and B'Elanna and was quickly joined by both Chakotay and her mother and sister.
"That was genius, Captain," Chakotay admitted to her. "You reminded the crew that were in the together, for the long haul, that our experiences bind us together while simultaneously reminding the brass that were a force to be reckoned with, not cogs in a wheel to run through their debriefing sessions." They were all a bit uneasy about the upcoming sessions, not knowing what to expect. "As always, your mind is working 5 steps ahead of anyone else's." Tom and B'Elanna chimed in their agreement and Gretchen Janeway looked pleased with the praise her daughter was getting.
Chakotay leaned down and whispered to her, "I definitely appreciate how that mind of yours works." Kathryn have him a small smirk in return.
When Chakotay brought his head up, he saw Phoebe Janeway watching him casually. He didn't miss the slight narrowing of her eye. It was a Janeway trait for sure. It was more subtle than Kathryn's but he understood it quite clearly. He needed to stay clear of Phoebe or he'd blow their whole story. After so many years, he couldn't let that happen after just a few days of being on earth. Their little group was broken up as B'Elanna was pulled away by some Engineering professors from the Academy and she handed the baby to Tom, who went in search of his mother.
Chakotay too was pulled away by a StarFleet Academic she recognized but couldn't place.
Another hour or so later, the crowd had settled into a relaxed good time, a dance floor had opened and music played. Chakotay thought Tom Paris must have had a hand in the music being played. Hoping to avoid being pressured into the dance floor, he wandered towards the big doors that led to the terrace. He found himself intercepted by Phoebe Janeway, herself in an elegant blue gown. His features fell into a practiced neutral expression. She engaged him in a bit of small talk before saying "I wanted to thank you, Commander, for helping my sister. She always had wonderful things to say about you in her letters and I can't tell you were a...friend to her. She needed that, I could tell. She was always a person apart when she was in charge, but a person cannot live that way forever without breaking down. She must've finally figured that out or you all wouldn't be here." She toasted her glass silently towards Chakotay in thanks.
As wary as he was, he was also touched by her statement. He understood siblings have a bond that is rarely understood by others and apparently the Janeway sisters were no exception. He glanced unconsciously towards where he had seen her last, his back towards her in that infernally low-cut dress. He fought to keep the neutral look on his face as he responded.
"We all had to look out for each other out there," he replied. "There were times when sometimes I thought that was the only thing keeping us going."
She nodded thoughtfully.
"And now that you're back?" she asked.
"Now that were back what?" he replied.
"Are you going to keep that up?" she asked.
Warning klaxons were going off in his head. "Keep what up? Looking out for each other?" He gave a slight shrug that was half a nod. "I don't think the type of friendships we all developed over 7 years are likely to just end."
"Right," she replied slowly. "The type of friendships you all had." She smiled at him a glowing smile. "I am sure you'll all stay close. Now, tell me. Did you ever play my sister in Velocity? Please tell me someone managed to beat her, because otherwise she's going to be insufferable." Chakotay chuckled, understanding with the clarity of a sibling rivalry. "Luckily, while I am not that good at velocity, Lt Torres is, and she frequently gave your sister a run for her money. I do know Kathryn frequently threatened to send her to the brig for particularly challenging shots."
Phoebe didn't acknowledge the use of her first name, but she did slide that little piece of information into her back pocket for later.
Later, Chakotay escaped yet again to the terrace and was happily talking with some of the crew that hadn't yet headed for home. Kathryn made her way to the bar and sat on one of the stools, refusing to acknowledge how sore her feet were. And how sore her face was from smiling. Phoebe joined her in the chair next to her with a smile.
"I can see everything you told me in those letters," Phoebe started. "The people, the camaraderie you developed. The pride you have in them."
"I still can't even believe we are here right now," Kathryn replied.
"Mark called me today," Phoebe said out of the blue. "I think he wanted the real scoop on how you were."
Kathryn rubbed her temple. "I need to call him. It's the right thing to do."
"I told him you would, that you were just overwhelmed, and that you were doing great," Phoebe said. The sisters shared a glance of shared understanding. Kathryn might wish nothing but happiness to Mark, was pleased that he had settled in well, but that didn't mean she wasn't proud enough to want to prove the same thing to him.
"Now, what about that tasty dish of a Maquis Officer?" Phoebe asked, gesturing towards Chakotay who was clearly telling a story that had the group around him in stitches.
"Chakotay? What about him?" Kathryn asked, carefully steadying her voice. She'd prepared for this.
"What's his story? He doesn't have family here? Is he married? Was he married?" she pressed.
"He has family on Dorvan, his planet is on the outskirts of Federation space. They couldn't get here in such short notice," Kathryn replied.
"Family? Like a wife?" she pressed.
"A sister. No wife that I know of," Kathryn replied with annoyance.
Phoebe loved few things more than annoying her sister. Even if they were both past 40. "So...have you ever considered...?"
"Chakotay?! While he was my first officer? Come on, Phee." She snorted in mock disbelief rather than answer clearly.
"I'd consider it if I were you. Look at him!" she went on.
"Phoebe! No," Kathryn replied with a tone of wanting.
"No?" Phoebe replied casually. "Are you sure?"
"Phoebe. No," she replied again, a little more forcefully.
"Hmmm. Okay. Well, remember Claire Haynes, my friend from university? She just split with her fiancé and maybe I can..." Phoebe prattled on.
"Phoebe!" Kathryn's voice was sharped and tinged with a tone of warning Phoebe knew well. "Don't." It was a command. Her hand grabbed Phoebe's wrist as it was gesturing across the room and held it in a vice grip. "Don't."
Phoebe didn't say anything. She didn't have to. She simply looked at her sister and raised an eyebrow. Kathryn let go of her sister's wrist as if it were burning her skin. She sighed and rubbed her temples. "Don't DO anything, Phoebe. Just let us BE. Just be. ALL of us. For a little while." Phoebe patted her sister on the arm and went to find her mother. It was late and the party was wrapping up. She understood in a way that sisters just knew things. She couldn't bring it up now, but she knew.
Kathryn followed and said her goodbyes to them, promising to get in touch in the morning. The crowd was clearing out, which small groups huddled around tables, the bar, and out on the patio. Seeing Chakotay catch her eye from across the room, she made her way towards him. He met her halfway and they strolled towards an empty corner of the large terrace. She leaned against the carved stone rail and breathed in the damp air. "I miss Tuvok," she said suddenly. The Vulcan had been her friend and sounding board for years. He was currently on Vulcan getting treatment and should return to earth in a few weeks. She had felt his absence keenly in the last couple of days. Understanding and not one to fill a silence with extraneous words, Chakotay nodded.
"I saw a lot of Professors jockeying for your attention tonight," she mentioned. "Are some job offers afoot?" she asked slyly.
He nodded slightly. "It's possible. I've always liked teaching and Starfleet's in a tough position. They can't really discipline me, thanks to you and public opinion, but I don't think they want to give me a ship either." He shrugged non-commitaly. "Have you heard any-"
She was already shaking her head no. "They've been pretty silent on it all. I guess waiting to see the fall out after next week."
After a lengthy pause, Chakotay said "I think things are wrapping up. Are you anxious to make an escape?"
"Desperately," she replied.
"Can I escort you home, Captain?" he asked offering her his elbow.
"I'm a big girl, Commander, but I'll let you tag along if you want." Her voice was low and hoarse with the exertion of the evening.
They turned to make their way back to the room, realizing just then that Mike Ayala and Tom were casually standing in front of the doorway, effectively preventing anyone from reaching the two of them and interrupting their conversation. Chakotay and Kathryn shared a look and a small smile.
"Gentleman," she said gratefully as she swept passed them. Ayala's gaze lingered in appreciation for a moment longer than perhaps was appropriate and both Chakotay and Tom noticed.
"Hey, you can't tell me that isn't a pleasant surprise?" he said accusingly. "Well, a surprise to some of use anyway." He shot Chakotay a snide look. Chakotay gave him a mock glare back and patted his old friend on the back as they walked into the room.
As they made their way out of the ballroom Chakotay and Kathryn headed one way up the hilly streets of San Francisco. The other turned to head towards their quarters in the other direction.
"Do you think...?" Mike asked.
"Only the the Captain's apartment is that way," B'Elanna replied with a shrug. "Tom, think of an excuse to Comm one of them tomorrow morning. If we guess right we can catch one of them not at home."
"Yes. Definitely. Do that, but I'm staying out of it. I'm not getting accused at meddling from him," Mike stated. He turned to go and hollered over his shoulder. "Don't forget to let me know what you find out!"