When the Doctor returned to sickbay he was shocked to see Captain Janeway, in uniform, waiting for him on one of the biobeds.
"Captain! Good morning." He promptly approached the biobed. "I wasn't expecting you."
"Doctor," she said, using his name as a greeting, "I'm not excited about being here, but it seemed like the place to start."
"Start?" the Doctor inquired.
"Working with you," Kathryn replied flatly.
"Oh, Captain, that is wonderful to hear. We'll begin with a physical examination, and then I have a series of psychological assessments for you to go through; from there we'll develop a plan to help you overcome this condition." The Doctor crossed the room to pick up a couple of PADDs. He asked, in a casual manner, "So what motivated you to come in this morning?"
"I decided it was time."
He returned to her side, set the PADDs down, and picked up the medical tricorder. He winced at the medical scan readings; the combination of barbiturates and stimulants still in her soft tissue disturbed him. Given their delicate relationship, the Doctor resisted lecturing Kathryn on the tricorder results, but she studied his face and easily imagined what the tricorder indicated. Setting aside the tricorder, he placed a sensor on each of her temples and began a scan of neural activity.
Curiosity won out over tact and the Doctor politely inquired, "Did your decision have something to do with a small public indiscretion, perhaps?"
Kathryn closed her eyes and clenched the biobed with both fists. "You heard."
"From the proverbial horse's mouth," he arched an eyebrow briefly to punctuate his pithy reply.
"Excuse me?"
"Commander Chakotay called me to his ready room first thing this morning to inquire about your condition. He'll be pleased to know that you have decided to seek medical assistance." The Doctor cheerily divulged this information.
"I see." Her tone was flat.
An awkward silence hung between them for a moment. Then the Doctor picked up the PADDs, and said, "Well, if you'd answer these questions, it will direct me to what symptoms I can medically alleviate."
She reluctantly took the PADDs. "You will inform me of the results of these assessments?"
"Of course, Captain. We're working through this together." He rested a supportive hand on her shoulder.
Kathryn managed to give him the faintest smile. "Thank you, Doctor." She looked down at the PADDs.
"You can fill those out here or return them. If that is all, I have some results to compile before this morning's briefing."
"Morning's briefing?"
"Commanders Chakotay and Tuvok are apprising the senior staff on the status of the negotiations."
Kathryn rose and replied, "I'll do them in my quarters."
The Doctor called over his shoulder, as he entered his office, "Oh and Captain?"
She stopped before leaving sickbay.
"Your physicals gave me plenty cause for concern when too much coffee was your only substance abuse." He swallowed hard and genuine concern furrowed his brow. "As your Doctor, I certainly hope I will not see anymore readings like this one. If you could-"
"Yes, Doctor." She smiled at his concern. "I understand and … you have my word."
He nodded and Kathryn left sickbay.
She hadn't taken two steps when a very young voice from behind her called, "Captain Janeway! Mom, its Captain Janeway."
Kathryn turned to see Naomi and Samantha Wildman. She immediately dropped to one knee to greet the small child.
Naomi threw her arms around Kathryn's neck. Naomi's soft skin and hair brushed against her cheek. Kathryn was overcome by the child's unfettered affection.
Kathryn's voiced broke as she spoke, "It is so good to see you, Naomi. I missed you."
Still the child clung to her and the small arms expressed so much love. Kathryn swallowed hard and pulled Naomi back from her just a little bit. "Let me see you. Are you well?"
She looked at the small child's adoring and completely nonjudgmental eyes. 'How could I let my pain get in the way?' she thought, 'How did I forget what was important?'
Naomi looked up to her and depended on her, but she never even checked in on them when they came back. Momentarily bewildered by love and shame Kathryn looked pale. How many of her crew has she avoided since they came back? Until now, her sense of shame and failure shielded her from their love.
"She is doing much better, thank you Captain," Samantha replied. "She suffered some malnourishment. When Ayala fired upon us aboard the Mawasi freighter, Naomi's fell from her bed and broke her arm. We didn't have sufficient medical equipment but since we got back the Doctor has done a tremendous job. I'm taking her to sickbay now. The Doctor wants to give her weekly treatments to stimulate her bone density."
"Can you stay with me? Mommy has to go," Naomi asked.
Samantha replied, "Naomi, I'm sure the captain is-"
"Its okay, Samantha. I'd love to sit with Naomi during her treatment if you don't mind?"
"Oh, thank you, Captain. That would be wonderful. I have to return to my duties."
Kathryn escorted Naomi into sickbay and sat with her while the Doctor put her under a bioscanner and set the biobed to administer her treatment. Kathryn did her assessments and smiled at the child every time she read a question that she resented. It's worth it, and Naomi couldn't be a better reminder of that fact.
The senior staff had assembled in the briefing room at 1000 hrs and Tuvok explained the process of negotiations that the Voyager crew had initiated on behalf of the Mawasi.
At 1030 Chakotay rose and indicated to Tuvok it was time to summarize his presentation.
Tuvok concluded, "In the end we discovered our primary obstacle in facilitating the treaty negotiations between the Mawasi, Zahl, and the Nihydron has come from our own differences with species of this region. In the alpha quadrant the species that formed the Federation all evolved in such a way that democracy was a common form of politics. The Delta Quadrant species of this region have developed in a monarchist/dictatorship schema. The ideological differences between the Federation and the examples we've provided were perceived as a threat to their social structure and power."
Chakotay added, "While the heads of state put on a show of openness to our negotiations and wined and dined us, the underlings they appointed were hamstrung by having to(no?) really authority to act and certainly none to invoke a democratic intergovernmental structure like our Federation."
"Sounds like you hit a gridlock," Harry commented.
"We did. That is, until Tuvok found a way around it." Chakotay gestured to Tuvok to explain.
"I proposed to each of the governing heads that they appoint a new class of people under their dictatorship. To choose from among notable families who already attend to their court or administrations. These people would become the pool from which to draw their Federation council, but the council would be without a Presidential head and ultimately accountable to their respective worlds. It is an adaptation of our model that has the potential of providing peace and stable communications in this region of space."
Tom whistled, "Sounds like a tough job."
"But it will be among the most prestigious in the Quadrant," Tuvok countered.
"Wait," B'Elanna interjected. "So what you are saying is that you passed the buck? You haven't got any treaties signed, but you've convinced these dictators to assign people to continue your efforts?"
"That isn't exactly how Commander Tuvok put it, but you could say that…" Chakotay gestured to the walls in the room, "between these four walls."
He smiled and leaned forward on the table. "What that has done is put the details of the negotiations back into the hands of the Mawasi, Nyhidron, and Zahl; where it belongs. The resources we've previously invested in providing assistance and possible diplomatic solutions can be directed fully to Voyager's needs. Our hosts are still pleased to assist us, and all are providing us access to their communications arrays to find our crewman. In exchange for this assistance, Tuvok and I will remain available advisors to each ruling government while they select their counsel representative. Our more in-depth involvement may required at a later date."
"Amazing, isn't it?" Harry said to the room.
"Ensign?"
"That we get blown to pieces in the Delta Quadrant, and this is when we make our biggest impact. Think about it. They are trying to build a 'Delta Quadrant Federation.'
Seven raised an eyebrow. "Your optimism is naïve. A Delta Quadrant Federation would be flawed and inefficient."
Harry snorted, "It's better than anything we've seen so far."
Neelix agreed, "I believe Ensign Kim is correct. You've given the delta quadrant what it needs most."
Tom pounded the table. "Here, here."
Chakotay dismissed the room over the weak applause, and the Doctor remained behind to inform him of the latest developments with Kathryn Janeway.