Silence in the room hangs in the air like a wet sheet. He knew? He knew all along? Paris looks guilty, I note, but still seemingly proud of his deception.

"You knew?" He hasn't spoken much this afternoon, which makes Jean Luc's enraged baritone all the more piercing.

Paris, though, says nothing but to hold his hands up in surrender.

"You knew!" I can feel his increased temperature radiating off his body as he moves to stand in one swift effort. "You knew," his deepening tone sets the heavy, pregnant silence in the room. I don't have to see his face to know that the vein over his left eye is bulging. I don't need to look at him to confirm the angry red flush on his neck and cheeks. I can hear him, though – his breathing is heavy, laboured as he tries to quell the fury bubbling within.

Everyone feels the malcontent, the youngest here included. As if on cue, Aaron starts to fuss, his face becoming red with hunger and anxiety. Saoirse too, nestled against Kathryn, becomes increasingly disquieted. I'm so focused on Jean Luc , though, that I barely register Wesley leave with Kathryn into the kitchen.

"How dare you, Owen?" The octave in his voice keeps rising. "We trusted you!"

"Jean Luc," The older man moves to rise, his posture and the placement of his hands set in appeasement. "What was I su-"

"To do?!" He cuts off as the anger bubbles, seething at the surface. "He was my best friend – Beverly's husband! Wesley's father! And you didn't think to tell us!?"

Owen rises, slowly, keeping his distance as his hands remain held out in rogation. "It wouldn't have done any good to tell you! What would you have done?"

"What would I have done?! Done? I would have damn well protected my family, Owen!" His voice rises with every syllable, his fingers curling inwards into whitened fists. "You should have damn well told us! But you didn't Owen! You lied!" His voice cracks in a display of emotion that I haven't seen. "You lied and my wife…" He's struggling, the words and the possibilities dying on his tongue. "My wife nearly died!" The last syllable dies on his tongue. "And my son was kidnaped and.. tortured!" His firmness is disintegrating, being taken over by the stronger force of grief, duplicity, and remorse.

In the pregnant lull, I raise myself. "Jean Luc," my hand sets itself on his shoulder. To say that I'm not disconsolate, betrayed would be a deception in and of itself. "Owen," my hand slides down his trembling arm to twine our fingers together. He's shaking, volatile. "Jean Luc," I move closer.

"No!" He turns to me, jaw set, eyes bleary and fixed in anger and desperation. "How could he?" He shoots back, stuck in a feedback loop of anguish. "How could you Owen?" He repeats, not gaining and not expecting a satisfactory answer. "All those years we thought you were trustworthy! Of everyone, we confided in you, goddammit!"

Owen is beside himself, shuddering and at a loss of what to say; Jean Luc hasn't lost his power of intimidation. I remember how one look, one slant from Jean Luc – the Great Captain Picard – could settle a negotiation and bring alien heads of state into submission.

"Jean Luc," I whisper, tugging at him again. "Jean Luc," I draw his gaze to me. "Please." The hand enclosing mine tightens, as if to confirm that I'm here – that I'm still with him.

"Owen," I look back, my own gaze firm. "Truthfully, why didn't you tell us? You must have known…" Known what? Known that he was going to try and kill me? Torture and manipulate his son? How could Paris have known any of that? "You must have known that his presence was, if anything, suspicious. Don't you think we deserved to know – if for no other reason than our previous relations to him?"

"I thought," He sinks back into the sofa. "That I was protecting you. I thought that… telling you and involving you might have been worse than just getting rid of Wesley." He meets our eyes. "He was going to be safe here with you. I had no idea…and then when I..." He rubs his face. "I'm so sorry…"

"What, Owen?" I ask when Jean Luc doesn't have a voice.

"I want to make it right; I want to help you – that's why I came here." He concedes honestly, I believe.

A loud breath is released from the man next to me and a warm breeze warms and tickles our joined fingers. "Well, I'm still in Starfleet; I still have a fair amount of access. And, there's a lot of information that I, and a few others, are willing to help uncover."

"You realize," Jean Luc calms. "That the information might incriminate you as a member of the organization."

He nods solemnly. "I know. But, certain things can't stay hidden – and they will if we don't uncover it."

"I don't know how to trust you, Owen," He breathes. "You must have known what was going on in the coming months after you discovered Jack… and still you said nothing…" He pleads, "Not even to warn us!"

"You don't realize it, Jean Luc, do you?" He laughs cynically. "You just don't realize it!"

"What?!" His voice rises to his previous octave – his unoccupied fist clenching again. "What's going on Owen? Be honest!" He shouts, "For once be honest!"

"Everything I said, everything I did – it was all being monitored," He looks over his shoulder as if scanning for an unseen specter. "My home was being watched, my whereabouts trailed. The same with Brandt, Smith, Kathryn and Chakotay once they returned…. Everyone. Jack and the others were going to get what they wanted regardless. They still are. They're still looking, and they're coming back if we don't stop them."

Thanks as always to Linds and Martin, without whose nagging and pestering I would not have gotten this up today. I had to tutor in Neuro and after that I just kind of died... neuro does that!

Martin: I know - you toats mcgoats called this one! Can't wait to see how this develops so your comments are AS ALWAYS needed and much appreciated.

Linds: I know I know - not a lot of sucker punching - but I won't skimp on it in the later chapters - promise! Thanks a million for the reminders and the pointers. You know how direly they're needed!

Meg: As always I smile when I see your inbox! Thank you. I have plans for some of your favourite scenes when I sit down tomorrow - just you wait. I will dedicate el chapitre to you. But, that does not mean I don't get to hear from you :)

Reagan: Why thank you thank you for all the pointers and reminders. So many rabbit trails you've given me. I don't even know - I am bursting with all the possibilities. Can't wait to hear more!

Bekkah: here ya go! I can't wait for this story to develop more. It's honestly as much a surprise to me as it is to you! More tomorrow - when I am not staring at the circle of willis and the skull foramina for hours! ( kill me)

Headboyprongs: Good to have you with us! Thanks for reading and reviewing. Much appreciated

Sasha: Sorry again for my lateness in posting. Hopefully tomorrow I'll get like two of three up as this puppy progresses! It's a lot of work - though. I'll have to percolate on my AM run... so many possibilities. So, opinions? suggestions?

Lydia: How the feck are ye? Good to have you back! Glad that you're liking it! This is turning out to be like the most out of control summer adventure that I somehow have to wrap up soon! I will answer all questions and MORE!

Love you all. Can't wait to hear from you! Thanks guys. :)