Kathryn stayed sitting in her chair as she watched her senior staff members exit from the room. She could see that the news of Kimberley's accident had shaken them but they were good officers & they wouldn't let it affect their ability to do their job.
Down in Sickbay, Kimberley felt herself slowly drifting back into consciousness. The more she awoke though, the more pain she started feeling. Her eyes were heavy and her head felt like it had been beaten against a rock. Lifting her arm took much effort for her and she gave up. When she did finally manage to get her eyes open she was assaulted with a bright light. She quickly closed them again with a groan and turned her head away. This quick movement brought on a welcoming blanket of darkness and she quickly embraced it. The next time she started regaining consciousness she heard a familiar voice talking to her. Her head still hurt but it wasn't as bright when she opened her eyes. She could feel something touching her hand and she realized she wasn't outdoors anymore. When Michael's face came into view she smiled. "Hi" she softly whispers. He smiles at the sound of her voice and answers back, "hi." He brushes her hair off her face and gazes into her beautiful eyes. The eyes he wasn't sure he'd ever see again. Leaning down he gently touches his lips to hers, kissing her ever so softly. Groggy as she is, Kimberley knows Michael's kiss anywhere. "I thought we were never going to get to do that again" he says when their lips part and they come up for air.
Kathryn is sitting on the couch of her ready room, a cold cup of coffee in her hand as she absently stares out of the window at the passing stars. She can't keep her mind off the fact that her daughter is laying in sickbay with serious injuries and there isn't a darn thing she can do about it. She is brought back to the present with the sound of the Doctor's voice hailing her. "Go ahead Doctor" she answers while setting the cup on the coffee table. "Captain I am pleased to announce that Ms. Janeway is awake." Kathryn jumps up. "Thank you Doctor I'm on my way. Janeway out." As she crosses onto the upper level of the Bridge towards the turbolift she turns control of the Bridge over to Tuvok. "Commander Chakotay you're with me." He waits until they are in the turbolift before asking "Kathryn?"
"Sickbay" she orders then gives a smile of hope. "The Doctor just informed me Kimberley is awake." They see Michael is with Kimberley when they walk in so they go to talk to the Doctor first.
"Her initial scans look good Captain" he says handing her a pad. "If she stays awake and alert, I will consider releasing her to her quarters at the end of Beta shift."
"Is she aware of the extent of her injuries?" Chakotay asks.
"In detail no, but she has also been heavily medicated and drifting in and out of consciousness since the accident. I wanted the Captain present when I talk to Kimberley."
"Let's do it then." Kathryn leads the way out of the Doctor's office and over to Kimberley's bed. "Michael will you please excuse us."
"Of course Captain" he says with a nod. Turning back to Kim he squeezes her hand and kisses the back of it. "I'll come by again later." Kathryn waits until the four of them are alone before she nods to the Doctor to begin giving Kimberley her diagnostic report.
*****
At the beginning of Gamma shift Chakotay goes down to Sickbay so he can take Kimberley back to her quarters since Kathryn is busy is Astrometrics. Just the effort alone of sitting up and getting off the bio-bed into a wheelchair seems to take most of Kimberley's energy. She is silent the whole way back to Deck 3. When the door opens she is happy to see her friends and a bunch of the other crew present also. They all visit for about half an hour then leave. The only ones who stay are Michael, Naomi, and Samantha Wildman who is babysitting Katelynn. Kimberley tries her best to stay awake for them but she's exhausted and has trouble keeping her eyes open. "Naomi, you and Michael may as well go back to your quarters now. Kimberley needs rest."
"I want to stay with her mom."
"No Naomi, you go. I'll stay with her until the Captain comes and relieves me."
"But mom…." Naomi says but catches the look Samantha gives her. She starts to argue again but realizes that trying to convince her mom now to let her stay will just wind up getting herself grounded. "You're so not fair mom!" she says with an angry glare before storming out, Michael right behind her. He walks Naomi back to her quarters then goes to his own. Samantha helps Kimberley get into bed then turns out the light. "Aunt Sam?"
"Yes dear?"
"Can you bring Katie in here? I want her to lay with me until I fall asleep. I've missed her."
"Okay, until you fall asleep" Samantha agrees. After laying her little sister beside Kimberley, Samantha closes the bedroom door and waits for Kathryn to return.