Kathryn was dutiful in fulfilling her work. She was almost grateful in that it gave her something to pass the time and also hope that while Seven needed her she could eventually find a way out herself or get a signal out that wouldn't endanger her family. Odds were that Seven would slip eventually with her elaborate cover stories and the longer Kathryn was away, the more likely it was that someone would miss her.

As for Seven's part, it was almost too easy to keep up appearances. Most people knew of Kathryn's penchant for independent work and had schedules so full themselves that remarks and messages of 'sorry to have just missed you' were not as uncommon as they might have been elsewhere. Only Admiral Paris seemed intent on seeing Kathryn in person at some point and he was becoming a problem.

"I don't understand it." He paced at Seven's doorway and said, "It's almost as if she's avoiding me."

"I'm sure she's just been busy," Seven replied.

"It's funny how you seem to always run into her. You haven't missed her once, have you? The next time you go, find me. I'm going with you. For someone who is always here working, she's certainly hard to locate. Do you know I had the computer scan for her the other day? It told me she was in her office but she was nowhere to be found. I found her combadge lying in her desk drawer. She and I are going to have a chat about that once I do see her. It's not like her to be out of uniform. I'm all for working hard but sloppiness is unacceptable."

"Yes, sir." Seven watched him shake his head in frustration and leave her office.

Admiral Paris walked across the academy grounds back to his office. He found an incoming message from his son and was hopeful an update about his granddaughter should help clear his foul mood.

It was Tom's face that popped up as the message opened. He looked just as frustrated as he did. "Hey, Dad. I don't mean to be informal but this is a personal call. I can't believe I'm interfering in all this but, after watching it for seven years, I think they both need a good swift kick to finally end it, for all of us, one way or another. I know you and Admiral Janeway have a good rapport and Chakotay is pretty upset that she hasn't responded to him at all after their fight before we left. Even her orders and status requests are pretty impersonal and cold. It's not like her. She must really be hurt. It didn't sound like much when Chakotay described it but I guess women…well, you've had enough practice with Mom. Anyway, if you could just get her to let him know she got his message, I think it would go a long way to improving morale around here not that this is any kind of official report. I trust you to take it for what is. A concerned friend. Thanks Dad and we miss you. See you soon."

Admiral Paris switched off the screen and sat back in his chair reviewing Kathryn's past behavior in his head. Her absence had gnawed at him for the past several days and it now grew even stronger. After a few moments, he called on the computer. "Computer, tell me the location of Admiral Kathryn Janeway."

"Admiral Kathryn Janeway is in her office."

Admiral Paris glanced around. He thought of the lone combadge in her desk and said, "Where else has Admiral Janeway been today?"

"Admiral Janeway has been in her office since 0700 hours."

"She hasn't been elsewhere today?"

"Negative."

"Computer, over the past week, where has Admiral Janeway been other than her office?"

"Admiral Janeway has been in corridors A and T and Turbo lift 2."

"The entrance and exit. So you are telling she has walked in and walked out of the offices for the past week straying no where but to her own office?"

"Please restate the question."

Admiral Paris leaned across his desk. A thought entered his mind and he said, "Computer, tell me when coffee was last dispensed from Admiral Janeway's replicator."

"Coffee was last dispersed seven days ago."

The Admiral shot up from his chair and asked the computer to repeat. The computer restated the confirmation and Admiral Paris slowly sank back down in his seat. Tapping his hand on his desk, he said, "Now I know there is something very wrong. Computer, send a priority hail to Captain Chakotay aboard the USS Voyager. I want to speak to him now."