"Red Alert, Captain to the Bridge!" Chakotay called out.
"Report!" she ordered stepping out of the turbolift a moment later.
"We have detected a special anomaly 200 thousand kilometers ahead. It almost has the properties to be a wormhole."
"Wormhole?" she asked in shock. "Mr. Paris set a course, warp 3." Kathryn took a seat and studied the screen of the command console on her left. Twenty minutes later they were in visual range. "Onscreen"
"That's not like any wormhole I've ever seen before" Harry piped up from Ops. His console started beeping and new data ran across his screen. "Captain the anomaly is moving directly towards us".
"Shields up, evasive patterns Mr. Paris".
"Aye Captain"
"It's changed direction again, it's following us!"
"I can't outrun it. Evasive pattern Beta 6 Gamma…it's no use. Interception in 10 seconds…5 seconds…"
"Brace for impact!" The lights on the Bridge went out, sparks flew as consoles blew out, and people were tossed around like toys. One minute later, it was over. Janeway looked around and surveyed the damage. "Hull damage on decks 9, 11, 14, and 6. Repair crews are on their way. EPS conduits blown on every deck; minor injuries reported; no fatalities; warp core is offline but we do have thrusters" Tuvok reported immediately.
"Ensign Kim, do we have visual?" Janeway turned to find Harry holding his right arm protectively. "Ensign, report to sickbay and have the doctor look after that" she said as she walked up to his console, punched some buttons and got the viewscreen operating again.
"I'll be okay Captain, you should have the doctor check you over though, make sure the baby is okay". Before they could discuss the matter further, Tuvok announced that they were being hailed on a Federation signal. "On screen". Kathryn thought it was a joke when she saw the face on the viewscreen in front of her. "This is Captain Jean-Luc…"
"…Picard of the Starship Enterprise D" Kathryn finished.
"Captain Janeway? Ensign hail Starfleet. Let them know we're escorting Voyager back to DS 9".
-----
Kathryn opened her eyes and realized it had been a dream. "Computer state our position"
"USS Voyager is in the Delta Quadrant on a heading of 312 mark 6 traveling at a speed of warp 3.6"
"Computer what time is it?"
"The time is 06:12"
"Good morning Kathryn, sleep well?"
"Not really, did you?"
"Never better." They laid in silence for another minute before Kimberley and Naomi walked in the room.
"Merry Christmas mama…daddy"
"Merry Christmas Captain…uh Commander"
"Merry Christmas girls" they answered in unison. Seeing them in the same bed together didn't phase Kimberley a whole lot but she noticed that Naomi wasn't sure what to make of the situation...
"Are you getting up or are you going to sleep the day away?" Kim asked teasingly. "We'll be out in a minute once we've changed". Kim nodded her head once and turned to leave.
"Okay that was awkward" Naomi said once they were out of hearing range.
"What do you mean?"
"Seeing the Captain and Commander together – in the same bed."
"I've told you about it happening before, that's why I let you come in with me"
"Ya but to actually see it with my own eyes…I don't know. I just felt a tad uncomfortable".
Everyone was gathered around a beautifully trimmed tree surrounded by gifts and wrapping paper. They were admiring each others presents and B'Elanna and Kathryn were talking when Naomi and Kimberley entered carrying a large gift. "Captain there's one more gift for you to open" Naomi announced.
"There is? Where?" she looked around eagerly but couldn't find one.
"Right here. This one is from Naomi and me". Inside was a handmade patchwork quilt. "Oh girls, this is absolutely beautiful, thank you".
"Look closer at the pieces. We talked to all the parents and kids on board and everyone gave us a square from the baby blanket that you sewed for them when they were born and we put them all together to make this one for you".
Kathryn was speechless. Wiping her eyes she placed a trembling hand on each of their faces and kissed their cheek. "Thank-you, all of you". She ran her still trembling fingers over each square, remembering the love and time she had put into each of those blankets. All the squares had the child's name and their birth date on it. The middle square was left blank for the new baby. "Look everyone, it's snowing! Captain can we replicate snowsuits and go play outside?" Janeway nodded her head in approval and smiled wide.
-----
Kathryn watched as the children built snowmen and forts, went sledding, started a snowball fight and had a great time in general. Of course Tom was right in the middle of the fight, along with Harry and some other members of the crew. "Chakotay, take a walk with me?" she asked turning to the man standing beside her. Reaching over Chakotay took her hand and was relieved when she didn't pull away. They walked along in silence for awhile, each lost in their own thoughts.
"You're awfully quiet. What did you want to talk about?"
"I've been thinking about last night." Kathryn stopped and turned to face her First Officer, "I'm sorry for the way I acted. I don't know what came over me"
"I know what happened – you got scared." Kathryn looked up at him in confusion. "When I kissed you, something stirred inside and you enjoyed it. That feeling of enjoyment scared you so you did what you do best…put up a wall and hide behind it."
"You're mistaken" Kathryn turned her back on Chakotay and began walking away.
"No I'm not Kathryn, but if you want to keep denying it that's up to you. I'll quit trying to stop you. There's one thing, however, that I won't stop doing". Chakotay pursued her and when he caught up to her he grabbed her arm and turned her around. He saw her eyes had turned almost a slate-gray colour and she had hardness to her look. "And what's that?" she asked coldly.
"I won't stop looking out for you. As long as you have love in your heart, you're not alone". He watched her face and saw the different emotions wash across it as she struggled to keep her composure. Placing a hand on his chest for reassurance she removed herself from his embrace and walked back the way they had come… in silence.
------
Kathryn Janeway sat in her ready room feeling numb and blindly staring at the words on the screen of the data padd in her hand. Lifting the coffee cup to her lips she frowned as she discovered it was empty. In the back of her mind she always knew this was a possibility, but to actually read that it had really happened, that was hard. "I'm sorry I wasn't there for you mama" she softly whispered to the passing stars outside her windows. She was so deep in thought that she jumped and bumped her leg against the coffee table when her door chime rang. "Damn it, come in!" she called out sharply as she rubbed her shin.
"Captain you are needed"
Standing up she asked, "Why didn't you just call me over the comm system Commander?"
"We did, you didn't respond Captain". Giving Chakotay a disapproving look she nodded his dismissal and followed him onto the bridge.
Kimberley stormed into her quarters and threw her bag towards the nearest chair but missed and hit the bulkhead instead. "Do you want to tell me what's going on or do I contact Lieutenant Jackson?" Chakotay asked hot on her heels. Kimberley silently walked past him to the replicator then sat down on the sofa and grabbed a padd that was lying on the coffee table. "So now you're not talking to me? I asked you a question and I expect an answer Crewman. What was going on in the Observation Lounge?"
"Why should I have to explain anything to you? You completely embarrassed me earlier and it's between me and Lieutenant Jackson what we were doing Commander." The sarcasm in her voice when she used his title wasn't missed.
Hearing a noise they turned to find Kathryn standing in the doorway with a questioning look, "Commander will you excuse us please" Janeway asked quietly.
"I'll be on the Bridge if you need me. Crewman, Captain"
Kathryn held up her hand to silence Kimberley who had begun to defend herself. "There's something I need to tell you." Leaning up against her desk she proceeded to tell Kimberley about the letter from Phoebe. Although Kimberley didn't really know her Grandmother at all she took the news hard anyway. Jumping up she clung to her mother as sobs wracked her body hard. Wrapping her own arms around Kimberley she rocked back and forth as silent tears slipped down her own cheeks. When a sufficient amount of time had passed, Kathryn pulled away and wiped her eyes. "Now, let's talk about the conversation between you and Commander Chakotay that I happened to walk in on" Kathryn said as she pointed to the kitchen table indicating that they sit. Easing herself down into a chair with a grunt she continued, "What did you mean by 'between me and Lieutenant Jackson what we were doing'?"
"It's nothing sexual if that's where you're going with it" Kim started defensively. "It's a surprise for someone and I needed his help. While we were working together today he hit his head pretty hard when he tripped on something. I was checking for signs of a concussion when Daddy walked in saw us together and immediately started raising his voice at us before I got a chance to explain what happened. He was being totally unreasonable and it was really embarrassing so I left, then he got mad at that and followed after me."
"Sounds to me like the Commander was just doing his job. He walked in and found an officer and a crewman in a compromising position. I would have done the same thing. What's your excuse for dismissing and disrespecting Chakotay's authority?"
"I didn't"
"When an officer asks you a question you answer them with due respect, especially if they are a Commanding Officer. It's no different than dealing with me". Kathryn gasped then waved away Kim's look of concern, "the baby shifted position. I expect you to apologize to Commander Chakotay for your attitude by tonight."
"Only if he apologizes to me and Lieutenant Jackson for treating us the way he did". Kimberley was shocked that she was the only one in trouble. At the tone of her voice Kathryn immediately went into her "Captain" mode. Standing tall she gave Kim "the look". "You will apologize to the Commander by this evening, that's an order!" Kimberley stood and matched the Captain's glare with the traditional "Janeway glare", before finally giving in with a resounding "FINE!"
"Your bag belongs in your bedroom, not on the floor against the bulkhead it bounced off. Dinner will be in the mess hall at 18:30 hours, I'll see you then." Giving a nod Kathryn watched Kim pick up her back and storm off into her room. Taking a deep breath to calm herself down Kathryn then headed out the door.
"Please state the nature of the medical emergency"
"Doctor, did Lieutenant Jackson come in to be treated earlier this afternoon?"
"Yes Captain he did. I was going to give you my report later tonight but I can give you a summary version now"
"No, that's all right Doctor. I just needed to know if you treated him today. Thank you"
------
After Kimberley had finished her dinner she made her way up to the Bridge to apologize. "Sir, I'm sorry for the way I spoke to you earlier. Even though I'm mad at you it was inappropriate".
"Apology accepted Crewman Janeway, you're dismissed. Oh Kimberley, has the Captain had dinner already?"
"She wasn't feeling well so probably not". Kimberley left to go in search of Naomi, while Chakotay turned the Bridge over to another officer and went off in search of his Captain.