Star Trek Voyager characters are the property of Paramount Pictures.

Way The Wind Blows

Chapter Thirty One

FOUR MONTHS LATER

In a sunny bedroom in the large house Kathryn and Chakotay now owned in San Francisco, Kathryn slept soundly in a luxurious bed of blue satin sheets. She was now heavily pregnant, her bump visible through the thin sheet, and her now long hair tumbled onto the pillows. From beside the bed, holding a tray on which was a lavish breakfast, Chakotay gazed at her. He thought she looked more beautiful now than ever, even though with her sun kissed face of freckles she would be the first to disagree, and he didn't have the heart to wake her. So, he put the tray down on the bedside table and then grabbed a notepad and pen. He'd been called into work unexpectedly, so he quickly scribbled a note to inform her. That way, she wouldn't wonder where he was when she woke to find him gone. But, just as he was finishing the note, Kathryn stirred awake. As she did, Chakotay put down the notepad and sat on the edge of the bed.

"Good morning," he smiled.

Kathryn's sleepy eyes looked into his. "And to you."

Chakotay kissed her forehead and then took her hand in his. "How are you feeling?"

"Like I've just woken up," she teased.

Chakotay laughed softly.

"Ohhh," she groaned. "And junior has too."

"Playing soccer again?"

"Right on my ribs."

Chakotay put his hand on her abdomen and smiled as he felt the baby move. "Quite some action. I swear Junior's boxing too."

"I can quite believe it. But fist and feet? It's got to be a boy!"

"Oh, I don't know about that," Chakotay smiled. "I'm sure little Miss Janeways can kick and punch with the best of them."

Kathryn smiled back and then sat up. As she did, she noticed that Chakotay was in uniform. "Been called into work?"

"Unfortunately," he answered. "Commander Velrik is ill and there's no one but me to teach his summer classes. I might be home by noon, but as his classes for tomorrow will most likely be rescheduled for this afternoon, I probably won't be home until this evening. I'm sorry. I know how much you were looking forward to spending this weekend at our cabin."

"I was. But so were you. These things can't be helped."

"We'll go next weekend, I promise."

"Then next weekend it is."

Chakotay gestured to the breakfast tray. "I've made you breakfast...pancakes, cereal, toast...all your favorites."

Kathryn smiled. "Thanks, honey."

Suddenly, the computer spoke. "Incoming transport request: The Doctor."

Chakotay responded. "Accept."

In seconds, The Doctor materialized before them.

"Good morning, Admiral, Commander," he smiled. "How are we both today?"

"Very well, thank you, Doctor," Kathryn replied.

"I'm glad to hear it. I am, of course, here for your weekly check up."

"And here was me thinking this is a social call," Kathryn teased.

"If only I had the time," he answered. "My services are so in demand that I haven't had a rest in twenty hours. Twenty hours, Admiral! Not that I suffer from fatigue as a hologram, but twenty hours of whining patients is mightily monotonous!"

Just as he finished speaking, a female voice spoke through his commbadge. "Nurse Mandi to The Doctor. Emergency house call. Debra Manks."

"You see?" The Doctor exclaimed. "I beam in only to beam out!" He hit his commbadge. "Emergency acknowledged, Nurse. I'm on my way." He then addressed Kathryn. "I'll call back tonight, Admiral. Just don't go into labor in the meantime. Junior will have to stay put today. I simply cannot accommodate him." He then bit his holographic tongue. "Drat, I've done it again! Oh well, no time for regret!" He hit his commbadge. "The Doctor to HQTS. Beam me to the Manks mansion! Doctor out."

Almost immediately The Doctor disappeared.

When he was gone, Kathryn turned to Chakotay. "Did The Doctor just let slip what I think he did?"

"If you're thinking what I'm thinking, then yes."

Kathryn's eyes sparkled. "I knew it. I knew it was a boy."

"Happy?"

"Absolutely thrilled. You?"

He smiled. "The same."

They gazed happily at each other and then hugged joyfully.

"The only trouble now," Kathryn said as they drew away, "is that we're going to have to start thinking of names."

"Yes. How does Zefrazoonki sound?"

"Like some Klingon shampoo."

Chakotay laughed. "We could always shorten it to Zefra. It means special one in our ancient language."

"I don't care what it means. We're not calling our son Zefra. Think again, Mr Chakotay."

"Karzvinliski?"

Kathryn poked his stomach. "Never, Sir."

A voice suddenly spoke through Chakotay's commbadge. "Leston to Chakotay."

Chakotay reluctantly responded. "Go ahead."

"You're running late. Is there a problem?"

"No problem, Sir. I'm on my way."

"Ok. See you shortly. Leston out."

As the connection terminated, Chakotay put his hand on Kathryn's shoulder. "I'd better go. See you when I see you."

Kathryn nodded. "Have a good day."

"You too. But don't hesitate to call me if you need me."

"I'll be fine, Chakotay."

"I know. But with Junior due any moment..."

"Not for another two weeks. You get going. We don't want to keep all those eager students waiting."

Chakotay gazed deep into her eyes. "I love you."

Kathryn smiled. "I love you too. Now, get going."

"Yes, Ma'am." He kissed her lips and then got to his feet. "See you later."

"Later."

Chakotay then requested a beam out and in seconds was gone.

The late morning sun was warm and hazy. In blue dungarees over a white t-shirt, Kathryn sat in the garden of her house enjoying an early lunch with Phoebe. With Chakotay gone, Kathryn had invited her sister over for a couple of hours, and they'd spent the morning decorating the nursery with cute transfers designed for baby boys.

"I do wish you'd let me paint on characters instead," Phoebe said. "The transfers are nice and everything but I could do so much better."

"I'm sure you could," Kathryn replied, "but we don't plan on staying here so it would be a wasted effort. As soon as we've found the right house, we're moving."

"But why? This house is everything you could possibly want. It's fabulously big and close to everything that San Francisco has to offer."

"It certainly is big," Kathryn answered. "And that's the problem. We want something smaller, cozier."

After seven years of living in relatively small quarters, both she and Chakotay were finding it hard to settle in a house that had six ensuite bedrooms, three living rooms, two bathrooms, a huge kitchen, a music room, a library, and a study.

"But you could make this place cozy," Phoebe argued. "Decor makes all the difference. Use warmer shades instead of the clinical white you have everywhere and you'd soon see a difference."

"Maybe, but we'd still have half a dozen rooms that we don't need. As Seven would say, it's an inefficient use of space."

Suddenly, a white ball of fluff that was lying under the table raced down the lawn in pursuit of a ginger cat.

"Topsy!" Kathryn cried, getting up from her very comfortable chair. "Get back here!"

The animal ignored her and darted into a bush.

"I said get back here!"

Phoebe laughed as the animal defied her again. "Looks like you're losing your touch, Kath."

"Don't bet on it," Kathryn answered. "Topsy! Here, now!"

At this "don't you mess with me" tone, Topsy jumped out of the bush and bounced up the lawn to her mistress. The dog's thick coat was covered in leaves and mud, and a red ribbon holding her long hair above her eyes was hanging unevenly over her face.

"Oh honey," Kathryn said as Topsy reached her, "look at the state of you!"

"She needs a bath, for sure," Phoebe laughed. "Want me to do it?"

"No, thank you," Kathryn replied. "I'll manage."

"Are you sure?"

"Positive."

As Topsy curled up at Kathryn's feet, Chakotay's voice spoke through a small gold commbadge fixed to her dungarees.

"Chakotay to Kathryn."

Kathryn responded. "Hi, honey."

"Hi. How are you?"

"Just fine. Phoebe's here. How are things going?"

"Good, but I definitely won't be home until this evening. I'm not sure what time, exactly."

"That's ok. And don't rush back. Everything's fine here. Enjoy yourself."

"I'll do my best. Love you."

"You too. Janeway out."

As the connection terminated, Phoebe spoke. "If you want some company this afternoon, you can come with me and my friends to the slopes."

Kathryn laughed. "If you haven't noticed, I'm hardly in a condition to ski."

"Oh, you don't have to. Erin and Lynne won't be skiing either. Erin because she's phobic and Lynne because she can't. You can sit on the terrace with them and enjoy the view."

"Thank you," Kathryn said, "but I'll give it a miss. I hardly know either of them and I'd like to take it easy. Maybe even do some knitting. Now I know Junior's a boy, I'd like to make a blue suit."

"Ok, but if you change your mind, just let me know."

"Thanks, Phoebe."

"So," Phoebe said, filling her glass with orange juice from a jug, "will there be a name on this outfit you're making?"

Kathryn smiled. "If that's a subtle way of asking if we've chosen a name yet, then the answer is no, we haven't. And, I get the feeling, we won't for a while. Middle names we have, of course, as we've always said we'd call Junior after our fathers if he was a boy, but for a first name we haven't got a clue. It's got to be something that goes with Kolopak Edward Janeway, but also something that we both love. But, like with a house, we'll know when it's right."

"You could always have Phoebus," Phoebe teased.

Kathryn laughed. "Thank you for the suggestion, sister, but we'll pass."

When Phoebe had left for the slopes, Kathryn cleared away the table and then bathed Topsy in the conservatory. The animal had her own pink bath, which Kathryn placed on a large silver table, and she sat miserably in it while her mistress shampooed and showered her. Kathryn worked quickly, knowing that Topsy hated the bath, and was finished in minutes.

"There, honey," she said. "All done. Now we just have to dry you."

Gently, she lifted the petite dog onto the table and began to dry her with a soft pink towel.

Suddenly, a hostile male voice boomed behind her. "Don't move."

Topsy began to bark, but Kathryn stayed calm and did what he said. "Who are you and what do you want?"

"I want justice," he said.

Kathryn heard his footsteps approach her, and then he grabbed her, holding her firmly against his chest with one arm and holding a phaser to her head with the other.

Topsy jumped from the table to the floor, via a chair, and seized the man's trousers, desperately trying to defend her mistress.

The man kicked the animal towards the hard wooden leg of the table, and Topsy yelped in pain as her body smashed against it. She then slid to the floor in an unconscious bundle.

Kathryn's heart contorted in agony at the fear that her beloved pet was dead, but mustering all the strength of the captain she had depended on for so long, she steeled herself.

"Justice for what?" she asked. "How have I wronged you?"

"By killing my sister, that's how!"

"Your sister?"

"Seska."

Kathryn swallowed. There was only one thing worse than being taken hostage, and that was being taken hostage by a Cardassian.

"I didn't kill Seska," she replied. "She died as a result of her own actions."

The man gripped her tighter. "Don't give me that. I know you're to blame for her death. You and that vile Maquis husband of yours. You and he made her life hell on Voyager, and then you gave her up to that savage species who were no kinder to her than you."

"I don't know who told you all that, but it isn't true. Seska left of her own free will."

"No, she didn't! My sister would never have gone to live with the Kazon! You gave her to them so they would leave Voyager alone. I know all about how you treated her, know all about the blackmail and the abuse. No doubt when Chakotay violated her, you watched and took pleasure in her suffering. Well, I'm not letting you get away with it. Never! Just as you took pleasure in her destruction, so am I going to take pleasure in yours!"

"Chakotay never harmed her," Kathryn argued. "Whoever told you all these things is not telling you the truth. Seska left Voyager because she wanted to."

"That is a lie! And I'm not listening to any more of your poison. You killed her and I'm going to kill you!"

"I'm pregnant," Kathryn cried. "Whatever you blame me for, my child is innocent!"

"Just like her child was innocent, but what did you care about that? What did you care about leaving her kid with that barbaric race to be abused and tormented? You sentenced her kid to a life of torture. How right, then, would it be for your kid to live a life of luxury? It's not right! It's wrong, wrong, wrong! And I'm not going to let the kid live! Prepare to meet your death, Admiral. And may you burn in the hell your people believe in!"

He dug the phaser so deep into Kathryn's skull that she was sure she felt blood trickle to her ear. Then she closed her eyes and waited for the shot that would kill her.

END OF CHAPTER THIRTY ONE