11:37 Conference Room
Senior Staff Meeting
Tom leans in close to B'Elanna, "you think this is about the Captain not showing up this morning?"
She looks down and then to the side, scanning the room and gathering her thoughts. Neelix sits quietly, looking out at the passing stars. Tuvok sits calmly, his Vulcan stoicism ever-present. Harry looks worried. She smirks: Harry always looks worried. Though not much younger than herself, Harry is still a baby – and he had baby cheeks to prove it. But, she thinks, he's come a long way in the past five years. So has she. They all have. Kathryn Janeway has seen to it. She has pushed them, encouraged them. Yes, B'Elanna thought, Kathryn Janeway is a remarkable woman and an astounding Captain. She has seen past B'Elanna's tough, rebellious and angry Klingon exterior to the frail girl underneath. She's seen what few have seen beneath the heated shell: a vulnerable girl who needs to be pressed and put through the fire. And, with Kathryn's help, B'Elanna has blossomed not only into a first class engineer, but a woman who is kind, caring, and most importantly, someone who was able to look at frailty not as a weakness, but as a source of strength. She looks back at Tom. Tom. Helm Boy. She never imagined loving someone like him. If she had met him back at the Academy she would have avoided him like the plague, brushing him off as arrogant and distasteful. Well, she smiles inwardly, that's how she thought of him during their first few years on Voyager. But somehow this tall, lanky, blue-eyed, All-American former bad-boy captured her heart and she can't imagine a day without him. His love and affection towards her are a source of vital constancy in her life. Of course he annoys the hell out of her at times and she fights with him – her fiery Klingon blood demanding no less. But, his love warms her and brings her out of herself. Loving him makes her less selfish. She leans into him, "I don't know. I think so. Do you think it's her depression again?"
Tuvok's finely tuned hearing misses nothing – even the whispers made across the table, "Lieutenant Torres, idle speculation will get you nowhere".
B'Elanna creases her brow and scrunches her distinctly Klingon ridges, sometimes Tuvok really gets under her skin, "Well, Tuvok do you know something we don't?"
"No. Commander Chakotay called this meeting. I am still unaware as to why were have been called here. But perhaps-"
"Oh no" Neelix sputters, cutting off the cool Vulcan, "I certainly hope it's not the Captain's depression again. I don't think crew morale can handle it!"
Harry remains silent, tapping his foot under the table in angst.
Just as emotions in the room are about to boil over, the doors hiss open and the room quiets. Chakotay looks around the room. Curiosity and worry war on everyone but Tuvok's slate features.
"Well," he clears is throat as he tries to keep his tone even and steady despite the anxiety and anguish he feels whirling in his gut, "I suppose that all of you might have guess by now that what I have to say concerns the Captain –"
B'Elanna is growing impatient, "what's going on, Chakotay? Is this another one of the Captain's depressions? Just tell us."
Too tired to reprimand B'Elanna for interrupting a senior officer, "Yes and no. She's in sickbay. I found her this morning feverish and near unconscious in her quarters. She was taken to Sickbay and the Doctor diagnosed her with the Tevian virus that was implicated in the outbreak on the planet."
"Commander?"
"Yes, Tom,"
"The Doctor was informed that since the Tevians had such different physiologies to our own that the virus was not a threat. I don't understand how she could have contracted it. From the scans that the Doctor showed me of the Tevians' physiology, their immune system is completely different from our own. How could the Captain have contracted the virus?"
"He doesn't know, Tom. All we know is that she did and since acquiring the virus, it's mutated. It's not transmissible, but it's adapted to her own unique physiology."
"Is it very serious, Commander?" Neelix whispers anxiously.
"Yes," Chakotay looks down, desperate to hide the emotion building in his eyes, "yes it's serious, Neelix. It's attacking her nerves. The Doctor says he might have to intubate. But," he clears his throat again and rubs his eyes – banishing his tears for a more private setting. This is a time, after all, to fix things, not to dwell on them. "But we need to turn the ship around. We need to get back to Tevian 8 or at least get back into transporter range. The Doctor needs to collaborate with the local physicians in order to find a cure or at least some way of treating the Captain. Right now, all he has is rudimentary information on the virus. So, Tom, lay in a course for Tevian 8."
Tom looked serious, "Aye Sir".
"You're dismissed, Mr. Paris." Tom begins to leave hastily to take his spot at the helm but before he is out the door, "Oh and Tom, as soon as you've laid in a course please go down to Sickbay and see if the Doctor needs any help. He's trying to do a bit of research as well as monitoring the Captain. It might greatly improve his efficiency if you could take over some of those duties".
"Aye, Sir".
The rest of the senior staff begins to get up, "not so fast everyone".
Chakotay looked at Tuvok, "Commander, send out a subspace communication as soon as we are in range of the planet. Tell the Tevians that we are returning and explain the situation. Ask for their cooperation. Make sure that a comm. and visual link can be established for the Doctor as soon as we are in range".
Chakotay turns his attention to Neelix, "Mr. Neelix I am counting on you to inform the crew and keep crew morale up. Assure everyone that we are doing everything we can for the Captain".
"Yes Sir," the boisterous Talaxian smiles weakly, "you can count on me, Commander".
"That's it everyone. Thank you. I'll do my best to keep you all informed. Dismissed."
Harry remains silent for the whole meeting, obviously worried for his Captain. Everyone leaves steadily until it is only B'Elanna and Chakotay.
"Chakotay" B'Elanna whispers.
"Not now, B'Ela" he keeps his gaze at the floor.
"I know," She whispers as she caringly stroked his arm. Yes. She knows. She knows how much Chakotay loves the captain. In fact, you'd have to be blind not to notice. Chakotay looks at Kathyrn the way that Tom looks at her. Every time she is injured it's the same. His emotions war within him. He becomes withdrawn, focused – but empty. Getting him to leave Sickbay is near to impossible. She is his greatest love. She is his greatest weakness. But yet, she is also his greatest strength. All the other times, though, she had recovered. Now, however, they tread in unknown waters. Not one of them knows if Kathryn will survive this.