The Inevitable Truth
by: AW
Chapter 14
Rating: MA
Pairing: J/C
Summary: The Consequences of 'The Killing Game'.
Disclaimer: Paramount/Viacom owns the series and the characters that are related to Star Trek: Voyager, but the story is mine.
Length: 1,180 words
Date: January 2018
[THREE DAYS AFTER PART 13]
Three days, it had been three days and still Kathryn was not awake.
Chakotay worried. He saw her multiple times in a day; but he still worried.
He saw her stomach growing with the children she carried, it had now been three weeks.
Chakotay had ordered all stop until Kathryn awoke and then they would make their way through the wormhole.
They had not seen even a glimpse of the Cardassians and for that Chakotay was grateful, but he knew the fight was not over.
On the fourth day she opened her eyes.
He was there watching her, the Doctor had called him down stating she had cycled out of REM sleep and would awaken soon.
Chakotay didn't know what he'd find when she finally did awaken but he would be there for her.
[SICKBAY]
Kathryn's eyes fluttered open and she looked into the face of her husband.
She wanted to throw herself into his arms and know that everything would be okay.
She wanted to but she didn't.
She could not show weakness and she was sure by this point they all knew what she had been through.
Her voice sounded rough even to her own ears, "Chakotay. How long?"
He smiled at her, "Four days. The Doctor refused to wake you and wanted to let you wake up on your own."
She pursed her lips and asked for a glass of water. "It was horrible Chakotay." She tried to regain her composure. "Everything they say about the Cardassians is true. They won't change."
She slowly sat up and let Chakotay put his arms around her frail body. Frail was one way he would never have described Kathryn Janeway before; but all he could see – even though the Doctor had fixed her bruises and beatings – was the way her body had looked when she came back. "People try to change Kathryn, but they have to want to. I don't think that the Cardassians ever wanted to."
He felt her tears soaking his uniform shirt and brought his hand up to rub her hair.
"I knew you'd come for me."
He laughed, "It wasn't me who came for you. I'll give Tom and Harry your thanks."
Kathryn drew away from him and covered her face with her hands. "They saw me."
Chakotay nodded sadly, "That they did. Tom is doing okay but I think that seeing you like that shattered Harry's view of the indestructible Captain."
She drew in a deep breath. "Are we back in the Alpha Quadrant yet?"
Chakotay shook his head, "We were waiting for you to wake up. We wouldn't want you to miss the final moment: The Captain who brought Voyager home."
Kathryn blushed at the praise. "I hardly did it by myself."
"But you were the driving force." He gave her a uniform. "You might want to put this on before we go through the wormhole."
Kathryn nodded and went into the sickbay bathroom to change. She looked at herself in the mirror, the uniform was getting a little snug. It wouldn't be long before everyone knew.
She walked out to the main area of sickbay. "I think I'm ready if you are."
Chakotay nodded and took her hand leading her to the bridge.
[BRIEFING ROOM]
Tom stared at Harry. "You have to get over this. She's fine. She's back and she's going to be back on duty today and we're going home."
Harry nodded, "Did you see what they did to her?"
Tom drew in a deep breath. "Yes I did. Why do you think that Chakotay sent the two of us down to get her? He knew what kind of shape she would probably be in and he trusts us with her safety and her life."
"I will never forget the bruises, the bumps, the erasure of her dignity that they did to her. When I see that I have to think that the Maquis all those years ago were more right than anyone knew or believed."
He sighed, "You have to let it go Harry. She is going to be back on the bridge today, we are going home."
Harry smiled and Tom patted Harry on the back as they went to their posts.
[TURBOLIFT]
Kathryn and Chakotay rode in silence. Finally Chakotay spoke. "Halt turbolift."
He turned Kathryn around to look at him. "Are you ready for this?"
"Do I have a choice?"
He shook his head, "Not really. Resume."
[BRIDGE]
The turbolift doors opened and out walked the Captain.
Harry's voice rang out. "Captain on the bridge."
Janeway smiled and put a hand on his shoulder. "Thanks Harry."
Harry nodded and watched the Captain make her way to her seat.
"Well people, we've lost time with this. Now it's time to go home."
Chakotay's voice rang out. "Tom set a course for the wormhole."
"Aye sir."
They made an entrance to the wormhole. Kathryn had been through the wormhole many times before but every time it took her breath away.
She stared at the blue mystery of the wormhole around her and the beauty of made the blue in her eyes sparkle.
She turned to Chakotay. "We did it."
He looked at her and smiled, "No, you did it."
She blushed under his praise and he kissed her head. Never had they shown that type of affection before to others, but they all knew.
They knew the love and companionship the command couple held for each other, and they were glad for it.
]DS9 – ops]
Major Kira turned to the Captain. "Captain, there's an unscheduled ship coming through the wormhole."
"Is it Federation?"
"Yes sir, I believe it's Intrepid Class."
Benjamin stared at the wormhole. "Let's see what comes through."
The Wormhole opened and Voyager shot through. "I'm reading it as the U.S.S. Voyager."
Sisko shook his head, "That ship disappeared almost five years ago."
Kira stared at him, "Let's see what happened to them and how they ended up at that end of the galaxy." She paused, "We're being hailed Captain."
"On Screen."
Janeway's bridge showed up. "This is Captain Kathryn Janeway of the U.S.S. Voyager calling to Deep Space Nine."
Sisko shook his head. "Welcome home Voyager. I'm sure you have a great story to tell."
"Soon enough."
Sisko stared at O'Brien; and brought up 2 fingers. O'Brien nodded.
"Sisko to Voyager, please dock at docking bay 2. We'll see you soon."
Janeway nodded and closed the channel.
[VOYAGER – BRIDGE]
Janeway turned to Tom, "You heard the man. Let's go."
Tom deftly steered the Voyager into the docking clamp and head the clamps take over Voyager's momentum.
Soon they were making their way into the docking bay and Kathryn felt a relief she hadn't felt in a long time.
"Welcome home everyone."
END CHAPTER 14
TBC IN CHAPTER 15