Seven flew the shuttle out the of the shuttle bay. B'Elanna took a breath as they left the ship. B'Elanna looked at the ship one more time, her family was on the ship. If things don't go well, she might not be seeing her family again.
Once the Delta Flyer was under way, B'Elanna made her way down below to check on the supplies. "Everything, okay Commander," B'Elanna looked up to see Neelix there.
"Yeah," B'Elanna mumbled. She took a seat on one of the chairs.
Neelix took a seat in the chair next to her. "I don't think so," B'Elanna turned and looked at him. "You have a lot on your plate," B'Elanna gave him a strange look. "You are running your department, you are a mother of four, and now you have to find us a planet to live."
B'Elanna knew that Neelix was right. She did have a lot on her plate not only what Neelix said, but her relationship with Tom and her friends, finding time to see them. She knew that the captain had trusted her with this. "This is hard," B'Elanna admitted to herself and Neelix.
"If it helps, I believe in you," Neelix wrapped an arm around B'Elanna.
"Commander Torres, we're almost there," Seven's voice came over the comm.
B'Elanna patted Neelix on the knee. "Let's go see what this planet holds," B'Elanna stood and headed out. Neelix followed her.
B'Elanna stood behind Seven and looked at the planet. "Set the shuttle there," B'Elanna pointed out of spot. Seven set the Delta Flyer down.
B'Elanna took a breath as she stepped out and found the air humid. It was hard to breath at first then it became easier. She looked around the plot of land. She didn't see one tree on the planet, only shrubbery. It was quiet, all B'Elanna could hear was water from a stream not far from them. B'Elanna could also hear animals not far from them.
"Let's make camp," B'Elanna said to the others. They got the camping gear off the Dela Flyer and made camp.
Later, after everything is set, B'Elanna stepped away from the others. B'Elanna glanced up and saw two suns. One looked like it was in the distance and older. The other sun was closer and newer. She wondered how it was going to be at night. B'Elanna took a breath before heading back to her team.
They couldn't start a fire with what they had, so they spent the night eating rations. They needed the power of the shuttle to do tests on the planet tomorrow. Before heading to bed B'Elanna looked up at the sky again to see the older sun acting like a moon. She took a sigh before heading into her tent and trying to get some sleep.
The next morning, B'Elanna moaned as she got out of the tent. She was getting too old to sleep on the ground. It was uncomfortable. She found her team having breakfast and waiting for her. Neelix handed her some rations.
"Neelix and Seven take the shuttle and gather samples around the planet, so we can see how this planet is," B'Elanna looked at Lt. Wildman. "We will gather samples around here and set up the tests we are going to need."
Everyone nodded. Seven and Neelix flew off in the shuttle while B'Elanna and Lt. Wildman got things ready here. After they collected samples, B'Elanna and Lt. Wildman started on tests from what they had. Seven and Neelix returned that evening with samples from around the planet. They spent the next two days doing tests. At the end of their trip, they gathered their things and were in the shuttle ready to go home.
Seven was in the air when B'Elanna looked at the planet. "I don't think that this planet is going to work for us."
"I agree," Seven said. "There were no trees, and we would need trees to live."
"Also, nothing would grow in the soil," Lt. Wildman said.
B'Elanna nodded. She would have to tell the captain that this planet would not work for their crew. She didn't think the captain would mind too much. They still had time to find a planet before their ship stopped working. They might find a way home or a planet that will work for them.
It was late by the time they reached Voyager. Seven called to the bridge and the shuttle bay doors were opened. Seven flew them in. They opened the doors and stepped out to the doctor waiting for them.
"I have to check you all out before you have free range on the ship," The told each of them.
B'Elanna nodded. All she wanted to do was go home, take a shower, and climb in bed next to her husband. She had a feeling the others felt the same way. The doctor scanned each one of them and found nothing.
"We'll clean out the shuttle tomorrow morning," B'Elanna told her team. She saw they were relieved. "Get some sleep," The team didn't have to be told twice as they left the shuttle bay.
B'Elanna left the shuttle bay and made her way home. She really wanted a shower and to sleep in a bed. Her quarters were quiet when she entered. B'Elanna needed to check on the children before heading to her room. She checked on the boys first and found them sleeping. She checked on the girls next and found them sleeping peacefully, too.
B'Elanna went across the living space and entered her bedroom to see Tom sleeping in the middle of the bed. B'Elanna shook her head because he couldn't make it three days without taking over their bed. She went to the bathroom, stripped all her clothes off before stepping in the shower. She washed all the dirt off and felt refreshed. She got out and put on fresh pajamas and headed to bed. Tom was still sleeping, she wondered how it was the last three days without her. B'Elanna made her way around the bed to her side. Tom's face was facing her. She hit him on the arm. Tom let out a moan.
"Tom," B'Elanna hissed his name.
Tom let out another moan before opening an eye. "B'Elanna," He said in a quiet voice. "You're back."
B'Elanna nodded. "Move over so I can get in bed," She gave him a look. Tom moved over and B'Elanna got in bed.
"It's good to have you home," Tom wrapped an arm around her.
B'Elanna smuggled into Tom for his heat. "It's good to be home," Tom kissed the side of her head. "Can you get the kids off to school tomorrow. I have a meeting with Janeway in the morning."
"Yeah," Tom mumbled before B'Elanna heard his snores.
B'Elanna woke to the sounds of her kids in the living area. She knew that they were getting ready for school. She sat there listening for a moment. She had missed the voices of her children. She lied in bed until she heard them leave.
B'Elanna got out of bed and went to shower. She had a meeting with a captain before she went to check on Engineering. She put on a clean uniform before going to the captain's ready room. B'Elanna got to the captain's ready room and rang the chime.
"Enter," B'Elanna entered to see the captain behind her desk. "Good morning, B'Elanna," The captain smiled.
"Good morning, Captain," B'Elanna made her way to the desk.
"Please take a seat," The captain pointed to one of the chairs in front of her desk.
B'Elanna took a seat. "As you know, we came back last night from the planet and I have to say that the planet is not going to work for us," B'Elanna handed her a PADD with all their findings.
Janeway took the PADD and looked over it. "To say that I'm not happy about it is an understatement," She put the PADD down. "As you said we have a few years before we have to settle down on a planet," Janeway sighed. "We'll just have to find another planet."
"Yes," B'Elanna said.
They talked for the next twenty minutes about what was wrong with the planet and what they needed out a planet. As they were done, B'Elanna headed for Engineering. She found that everything was okay. She checked her workstation to if she had anything that needed to be dealt with right away. There were only a few things she had to deal with before she left. She went to the shuttle bay to find her team there and they were already working on getting the shuttle clean.
After the shuttle was cleaned and everything put away. B'Elanna was ready to see her family. She told the others she would see them later as she left. B'Elanna made her way to her quarters.
B'Elanna stood outside the door and heard the laughter of her children. Her heart ached because she had missed them over the last three days. She opened the door and walked in.
"Mom," "Mommy," She heard the children yell. Before she knew it, they were all over her. She hugged and kissed them. Three older ones started to tell her all that happened to them while she was gone.
"Okay, enough," Tom laughed at the children. "Give your mother some space," The kids threw their dad a look before backing away from B'Elanna. Tom came over and kissed her. "Welcome home, love."
"Gross," B'Elanna and Tom turned to their oldest son, Dexter. B'Elanna rolled her eyes at him. Dexter laughed.
"Why don't we sit on the couch, and you tell me all about what happened here while Dad goes and gets dinner?" James held out his arms for B'Elanna to take while the older children piled on the couch. She threw Tom a smile as she settled between the children. Tom shook his head as he walked through the door.
B'Elanna turned to the children and heard everything about school and their friends. They told her how Tom took care of them. B'Elanna loved every moment. It didn't take long for Tom to return with dinner. B'Elanna and the kids went to take seats at the table.
"Did the planet turn out to be what we need?" Dexter asked after everyone was settled at the table.
"No," B'Elanna sighed. "It's not going to work for us."
"What happens if we don't find a planet or a way back to Earth?" Dexter asked.
B'Elanna didn't know what to say. "Dex, I honestly don't know what we are going to do. It is something we are going to have to talk to Captain Janeway and Commander Chakotay about."
Dexter nodded. "Okay," B'Elanna didn't like the look on his face. Before she could question it, James decided that he needed to be heard. B'Elanna knew that she was to have to talk to him. B'Elanna knew she was going to have to talk to him.
Later that night, B'Elanna caught her oldest son alone in his room. Miral, Gabby, and James were in the living area watching a movie with Tom. B'Elanna stepped in and took a seat at Dexter's desk. Dexter looked up at his mom. "Do you want to tell me what is really going on?"
"Will we have to live somewhere else if we don't find a planet? Where are we going to stay?" Dexter asked.
"We will figure all this out," B'Elanna didn't want to worry her son. He should be a kid.
"Do you have to be the one who finds us a planet?" Dexter asked. "Can't the captain get someone else?"
B'Elanna sighed. "I was the one who brought it up to the captain. So, it my responsibility," B'Elanna waited a moment. "Where is this all coming from?"
Dexter looked away for a moment. "While you were gone, I had a dream that you were gone forever, and Dad forgot about us."
"Oh, Dex," B'Elanna took him in her arms and gave him a hug. "One, I will never leave you in here," She touched his heart. "Two, your father would never forget you guys he loves you very much and even if I was gone, he would be there for you," Dexter nodded. "Are we okay?" He nodded again. "Why don't we go the living area and finish the movie with everyone," Dexter stood and B'Elanna followed him. They left the boys' room.
"Is everything okay?" Tom asked after the kids were in bed and they were alone in their room.
"Yeah, Dexter had a bad dream while I was gone that I didn't come back, and you forgot about them."
"Wow," Tom took off his comm badge and set it on his nightstand. "How could I forget we have four children, and I don't think they would let me forget them," Tom unzipped his uniform and took it off. B'Elanna laughed before getting into bed. Tom followed her. Tom leaned over and kissed her. "Let me show you how much I missed you," Tom ran a hand down her body.