"BULLSHIT!" Harry Kim bellowed as he exited the briefing room he had just spent the last several hours in. Several cadets walking in line beside him suddenly stepped to the side to clear a path for the angry officer. Without noticing, Harry continued his ridicule of the meeting out loud. "Complete and utter bullshit. There is NO WAY this can go on," he proclaimed as his pace quickened. Harry had never been one for outbursts but today had turned the forever optimistic ensign sour.
"Harry Kim," Seven of Nine addressed as she quickened her pace to walk beside Harry. She also had cadets staring as she marched along the hall, but she ignored their stares and quickly fell in stride. "Are you aware you are talking to yourself?"
Pulled out of his own thoughts, Harry smiled at his former shipmate. "Seven!" Glancing around at the attention the former drone was receiving, he grabbed her arm and ducked into an empty lecture hall. Closing the door behind her, the smile left his face as exasperation took over. "Seven! I just spoke to the Admirals overseeing Voyager's return…"
Seven raised a hand and cut off her former shipmate. "I have also spoken with Starfleet. They plan to put all Voyager crewmen on indefinite suspension until the ship's records can be thoroughly analyzed." She paused for a moment. "A prudent, yet rash, decision."
Harry sneered at Seven's emotionless response. "We have done so much for Starfleet and the Federation. The least they could do would be to give us a proper welcome home. Instead we are being treated like criminals."
"Not criminals, Ensign," Seven stated. "The Federation recently ended a large war with the Dominion. Resources are currently being used to rebuild our allies, not confirm Voyager's sensor logs".
"Then let us help!" Harry exclaimed, raising his arms in frustration. "We have experience that no other crew has. We can use new technology, different diplomatic techniques, all sorts of things Starfleet has not had access to."
"Starfleet has also spent considerable resources to ensure our safe passage home," Seven reminded Harry. "Starfleet is not against us. They are simply trying to maintain security protocols". The former drone turned to leave the room, but did not leave before making a final statement. "Has it occurred to you that not everyone on Voyager is as interested in returning to duty as you are? For many, this is much needed extended shoreleave".
Tom ran a hand through his hair. He was sitting in his third briefing of the day and was struggling to keep his sanity. His life had changed so much in the last year, especially the last forty eight hours. The last time he had sat in a room like this he was being court marshaled. Court marshaled for lying about another cadet's death. Guilt and remorse overcame him and he could feel his surroundings begin to spin. The admiral in front of him was discussing something about the Vidiians. The Doctor happily chattered in response. Motioning to excuse himself, Tom walked toward the door. Although he attempted to move as naturally as possible, he stumbled over his own feet. Looking over his shoulder, he made brief eye contact with the Doctor and offered a nod to communicate he was okay. Finally exiting the room, he settled on the small row of benches that lined the hallway. Images over the last seven years passed through his head as he took deep breaths. Stepping onto Voyager with the fresh-faced Harry Kim melded into early fights with Chakotay, first kisses with B'Elanna, tinkering in the holodeck, and the newest image of his daughter all swirled around his consciousness and served to calm his mind. Feeling rejuvenated, he decided to skip the rest of the briefing and return to his family.
"I love you!" Tom exclaimed as he entered their temporary living quarters. Unfortunately the gold uniform before him was not B'Elanna.
"I love you too, Tom, but we have to think about B'Elanna," Harry returned as he finished adjusting the coils under the food replicator. "You would think as honored guests they would have at least given us a replicator that works".
"Well, Harry, they don't want us getting big heads around here. Gotta keep us humble."
"Can you lovers keep it down?" B'Elanna asked while emerging from the bedroom.
"I thought you were just getting back from your briefings, not napping," Harry accused with a grin. "I thought Klingon women marched to battle after giving birth".
"I've told you before Harry. The forehead and the bad attitude are all I've kept of my Klingon heritage. This half human is tired. I've only pushed a fully formed being out of my—"
"I've got the picture," Harry interjected with his hands up. "You win."
"I would hope so," B'Elanna retorted, pushing a ringlet of mussed hair behind her ear. "But today has been boring. The Captain and Seven pushed me out of my first briefing today and Chakotay threatened me with insubordination if I didn't return to quarters for the rest of the day. Then that perky doctor from the station came in to checkup on Miral and wouldn't leave without asking me every question out there. I thought our Doctor was annoying, but that Bashir guy is nutso. Does he even have friends?"
"Alright, alright, let's be nice," Tom directed while putting an arm around his wife's shoulder. "Julian is a nice guy. A little socially awkward, but let's not re-enter the Alpha quadrant and be rude."
"You two can argue, I have a meeting with Tuvok". He grabbed a handful of PADDs from his bag and left.
"He's trying not to show it, but this is really hard for him," B'Elanna commented while sitting slowly on the couch in the common living area. "He came talking to himself before he realized I was here. Even then, he only took it to a mumble. He lives to serve and is already panicked that he will have to spend some time on land".
"He will be fine," Tom assured his wife. "Hell, he might even have a little fun. Sure Libby went on and married, but I happen to know she has a little sister who also plays the clarinet. Or there are lots of other opportunities when we get back to Earth. Plenty of fish in the sea".
"Are you just going to live vicariously through Harry Kim now?" B'Elanna retorted mid eye roll. "I'm sorry this married life has been so awful".
"Apparently Harry isn't the only one having a worse day than they let on," Tom began while stroking B'Elanna's leg. "You want to talk about it?"
"Harry may be a little naive, but I understand his disappointment. I've just finished seven years of hard work. To go from that to nothing is depressing".
"Nothing? I would hardly call motherhood nothing". Tom tried to keep from raising his voice, but failed.
"Of course it isn't, Tom. I just felt demeaned being sent back to quarters today. Even if I did need a break. It's confusing and infuriating all at the same time. You get to go back to service immediately. I'm sure your father will find you a nice cushy job, even if it isn't a Starfleet position". Seeing Tom's grimace and knowing she had pushed the wrong button, B'Elanna added, "I'm sorry, Tom. That was low. Our lives have changed so much in such a short amount of time and I am not sure I am dealing with it very well".
"Anything you get into, I am right here with you, B'Elanna. Marriage, child rearing, whatever you want. We're a team, and a hell of a team if I do say so myself".
B'Elanna sighed and laid her head upon her husband's shoulder. "Whatever I did to deserve you, I only hope I keep doing it."