The Inevitable Truth
by: AW
Chapter 15
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: 1,350 words
Date: January 2018
[DS9 – DOCKING BAY]
Kathryn walked on to DS9, Chakotay in tow. "Hello Captain, I'm Kathryn Janeway and this is my first officer Commander Chakotay."
Sisko put out his hands to shake the hands of the people who had accomplished the impossible. "Welcome home." He stopped and looked at the couple, "I do need you whole senior staff to go to the medlab to get checked out. With the threats of the founders we need to make sure you are who you say you are; you understand?"
Kathryn nodded and took Chakotay's hand as they followed the Captain to the medlab. "I told the rest of my crew they were to stay on Voyager until we had spoken with you."
Sisko nodded, "This is Doctor Bashir. He will take over from here."
Bashir approached them, "We just have to take a quick blood sample. It will tell us immediately if you are changelings." He looked at them sheepishly, "Then we will do a quick exam to make sure you're both in good health. We're going to need to do this with every member of your crew."
Janeway nodded and put out her arm for the draw.
Bashir looked at the sample and saw a plain old blood draw. He approached Chakotay and did the same thing. Nothing showed up that was out of the ordinary.
Julian smiled at the couple. "Okay now time for a check-up, who wants to go first?"
Kathryn followed Bashir into the back.
He took out a tricorder and began the scan. He looked hard at the scans.
She seemed to be in good health overall, but she did have signs that she had a run-in with a malicious force not too long ago; and hang on she was pregnant.
"Well Captain you seem to be in good health overall. The twins are doing well."
Kathryn smiled, "I bet that surprised you."
"I just didn't expect it; but I suppose you thought you were going to be gone for the rest of your life, there had to be some concessions made."
Kathryn nodded and went to get up. "If you could tell my husband that the girls are doing great, I'd appreciate it."
He looked at the scans of the twins and their genetic make-up. "Commander Chakotay?"
Kathryn nodded, "It's his turn next anyway."
She walked out of the medical bay and tapped Chakotay on the arm. "Your turn dear."
Chakotay smiled and nodded. "You know Kathryn, you can't hide those children any longer. When they get you a new uniform, maybe ask for a maternity one."
Kathryn cringed at that. "I suppose so, but it just looks so weird. I was hoping to get the first meetings with Starfleet done before it became common knowledge."
He put a hand on her tummy, "You're not doing a very good job of hiding them anymore anyway."
Kathryn rolled her eyes, "I am going to see the tailor. I heard they had a good one on this station and see what he can come up with."
Chakotay laughed, "Probably the same thing we came up with: time for a maternity uniform."
"Go get your check-up and I'll go see the tailor."
Chakotay nodded.
Kathryn made her way to the promenade and asked where the shop was.
She made her way to the far side of the promenade and walked into the shop.
Garak came out and Kathryn just about jumped out of her skin when she realized the tailor was a Cardassian. "Hello can I help you?"
Kathryn's mouth dropped open. She stuttered, "They… they said you were the best tailor on DS9, so I was coming to see you for a new uniform."
"So I am, I think I'm the only one here. I need to do some measurements."
Kathryn got a frightened look in her eyes. "I… I have to take care of something I'll come back if I have the time." And she rushed out of Garak's shop and proceeded to the med lab.
Kathryn rushed in almost a run to the medlab just as Chakotay was exiting. He stopped his wife and stared into her eyes. "What is wrong Kathryn?"
Kathryn swallowed the lump in her throat, she hated herself for the way she reacted but he created a fear in her. "The tailor is a Cardassian."
"Let's get the rest of the senior staff down here for their screening."
Kathryn nodded and headed to the docking bay to return to Voyager and get ready to send a message out for all the Voyaers.
She walked onto her ship, for how much longer it was going to be her ship she didn't know, but for now it still was.
She grabbed Chakotay's hand and they boarded the ship. "Let's get the senior staff together and tell them what the plan is. Then I have to contact Starfleet and see what our next move is."
Chakotay watched her putting her feelings for the Cardassians to the back burner for the moment. "Yes Kathryn, let's do that and then head to our quarters for a little bit. You need your sleep."
Kathryn nodded. "Janeway to all senior staff, meeting in ten minutes please."
Janeway closed the line and stared at Chakotay. "Now all we have to do is wait; and while we're waiting I'm going to contact Starfleet Command."
Chakotay watched Kathryn walk off to her ready room to make the dreaded call while he marvelled at the woman who was all of their saviour and seemingly had the weight of the world on her shoulders.
He sighed and made his way to the briefing room.
[READY ROOM]
Janeway put in the call she wasn't even sure she was going to be able to make from the Alpha Quadrant.
She reached Reg Barclay of the Pathfinder Group. "Hello Captain Janeway, we're not scheduled to speak for another three weeks: How did you get a message to us?"
Kathryn drew in a deep breath, "We're home Reg."
Reg shook his head disbelieving. "Congratulations! I suppose all the juicy details will be in your report."
"Something like that. Tell Admiral Paris we'll be in Earth's orbit by tomorrow."
"I'll pass that along Captain; and welcome home."
[BRIEFING ROOM]
Kathryn walked into the briefing room to see if already packed with the eager senior staff. "Okay people. A lot had happened since we've been traipsing around the Delta Quadrant. There is a new enemy called the 'Founders' they're changelings." She paused collecting her thoughts. "Before we're allowed to explore Deep Space Nine, we have to all get screened. So I've set it up for the senior staff first and have put a message to all Voyager crewmembers. So as not to plug up their sickbay I have created waves that will go and get tested. When this is all done and I get the all clear from their Doctor Bashir, we can then continue to Earth."
She smiled at each of them who had been such an integral part of her life over the past five years. "Any questions?"
They all shook their heads. "Okay good. Staff meeting at 0700 all the testing should be done by then.
They all nodded and left the conference room leaving only Janeway and Chakotay. "Almost free Kathryn."
She nodded and drew in a sharp breath.
Chakotay walked over to her concerned. "Kathryn?"
She grabbed his hand and put it against her belly. "One of the twins just moved."
Chakotay concentrated trying to feel the movement that she felt. "I don't feel it yet?"
"You will soon Chakotay. Let's go to our quarters and get some sleep we don't have to be at work until 0700."
Chakotay nodded and they made their way to their quarters, the excitement of the day catching up with them.
END CHAPTER 15
TBC IN CHAPTER 16