Chapter Text
“We did it” Kathryn breaths, turning to look for her first officer, expecting to see him by her side, instead she has to search for a few seconds before she sees him, not at her side but staring into Sevens eyes, hatred and jealousy burns low in her stomach but she pushes it aside and turns back to the helm.
Laughter and cheers are echoing around the corridor and before they’ve even been back five minuets she excuses herself to her ready room. There are few bridge staff left now, Tom was excused and sent to sickbay to see his wife and daughter, Tuvok was excused to meditate and that only left Seven, Chakotay and Harry.
Kathryn gazes out the window towards the earth, growing slowly larger in front of them then picks up a PADD, there are already hundreds of messages from StarFleet command, family members, crew members. She addresses them one at a time, telling StarFleet command that yes her and her crew members will be able to attend debriefings.
She sends out a group message to all the next of kin of her crew members confirming that they are indeed back in the alpha quadrant and that their family members will be free in a matter of hours for a reunion, and another message to all her crew members, briefly thanking them for their extraordinary and exemplary service over the last seven years and confirming that they are back home.
She has just sat down with a hot cup of coffee when the com blips and Toms chirpy voice rings out. “Captain, fancy coming down to sickbay to meet the newest member of your crew?” He asks. Kathryn smiles for the first time since they burst out the Borg sphere.
“I’d love to Tom I’ll be right there” she says softly. She walks out her ready room and stops for a second to survey her bridge. Chakotay and Seven have vanished, Harry is sitting in her chair and some of the junior Night Shift crew have taken the helm, tactical and ops. Harry makes to stand when he sees her but she motions him to stay.
“I’m just passing through, besides you’re more than capable enough” she says. Harry smile at her, a childlike smile full of happiness and wonder. “Thank you ma’am” he murmurs. Instinctively Kathryn knows he isn’t thanking her for the compliment so she just smiles gently and enters the turbolift.
“Deck five.” She deliberately looses herself in thought to avoid thinking about Seven and Chakotay and instead her mind wonders to her mothers last letter.
“Phoebe says hi, she said to tell you to get your ass back for Christmas. The kids are always asking about you. Matt, often says he remembers you, he’s almost eleven now, he would have been four when you left so it might be possible.”
“Amy pretends she can remember you but I don’t think she truly does, she loves looking though all the pictures of you though, her favourite game to play at the moment is Voyager, she dresses up in her little uniform and pretends to be you, Matt humors her and pretends to be Tuvok and Lila is too young to play, she spends most of the time asleep.”
“We all miss you Katie and we can’t wait til you’re back”
The turbolift doors slide open and Kathryn steps out and walks down the corridor towards sickbay, pasting a smile on her face as she greets various crew members. She exhaled heavily when she enters sickbay then with a real smile on her face, approaches the happy couple on the first bio bed.
“Oh B’Elanna she’s adorable” Kathryn breaths, gazing at the newborn baby in her mothers arms. B’Elanna is positively glowing and Tom is grinning wider than she’s ever seen him grin before. “Captain I’d like you to meet our daughter Miral” he says proudly.
“She’s the most adorable thing I’ve ever seen” Kathryn whispers. B’Elanna frowns slightly. “I’m gonna go out on a limb here and hope you won’t throw me in the brig because I’ve just had a baby” she says bluntly. Kathryn cocks an eyebrow at her. “What’s up with you and Chakotay. Tom told me he was with Seven” she spits the name like she doesn’t want it in her mouth. “Not you” she finishes.
Kathryn sighs. “He’s dating Seven” she murmurs. “I knew it” B’Elanna hisses. “Want me to slap him for you?” She adds. Kathryn chuckles mirthlessly. “Won’t do any good. You know as well as I do how stubborn he is” she says. “We’re home now anyway, he doesn’t have to put up with me any more.”
It’s Toms turn to scowl. “Not so fast Captain” he says. “For the past five years, ever since we picked you two up from that planet, you’ve been dancing around each other, we could see it even if you couldn’t and you’re telling me that as soon as we get back to the Alpha Quadrant he’s suddenly with Seven?”
“Pretty much” Kathryn says flatly, stoking Mirals tiny clenched fist. Tom and B’Elanna exchange looks. “Do you want me to talk to him?” She asks. “There’s no point” Kathryn repeats. “You know it won’t change anything.” B'Elanna sighs. “Yeah i know” she says.
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A few hours later, Tom is landing them in front of StarFleet command headquarters to fireworks and unheard cheers. Even Kathryn, as emotionally distraught as she is cant help but crack a smile. Harry is grinning from ear to ear and Tom executes a perfect landing.
As soon as the engines have cut and the warp core has powered down StarFleet crews start to assemble to overhaul the ship and get her back up to spec. “Before we all leave to be generally debriefed I want to see all the senior staff in the conference room in ten minutes for a quick debrief and plan of action” Kathryn says to the room in general.
Tom catches her eye and she nods. “Bar Lieutenants Torres and Paris who can stay in sickbay but we will need your input so I’ll have the doctor patch us through over coms” she adds. Tom stands, satisfied and leaves the bridge shooting an icy glare at Chakotay. The commander doesn’t notice, already deep in conversation with his new lover.
Kathryn turns away bitterly and walks across the bridge to the conference room. She taps her comm badge. “Janeway to the doctor. Tom is on his way back to you and Im going to set up a remote link to the conference room, im debriefing the senior staff, you included doctor” she says.
“Aye captain, shall I send mister Tuvok up to you?” The doctor asks. “What’s his condition?” Janeway replies, anxious for the well-being of her old friend. “He’s not as good as he could be but he’s improved slightly now he has talked to his wife and son who are on a transport from Vulcan, they should be here in a matter of hours” the doctor says, his voice betraying just how worried he is about their stoic head of security.
“Acknowledged, let him know I’m debriefing the senior staff if he feels up to attending, if he doesn’t then it isn’t and issue and we can fill in at a later date” Kathryn says. “He heard you captain, he’s on his way.”
“Acknowledged, Janeway out.” Kathryn sighs and buries her face in her hands for a second or two before the doors slide open and she composes herself. Chakotay walks in and she struggles to stop her hurt and anger showing on her face. She must have failed because Chakotay raises an eyebrow and walks towards her.
“Right what on earth is going on with you Kathryn. You’ve barely said three words to me since we arrived in the alpha quadrant.” Kathryn sighs. A part of her is begging her not to listen to what her head is saying but she ignores it.
“If you really want to know, Commander” she emphisises his rank sharply then sighs sadly. “Seven, Chakotay, really. After all these years? I thought you were better than that” she says so softly that he has to strain to catch it. “Wait-“ Chakotay starts, walking towards her but the rest of the senior staff stream into the room and he breaks off, taking the seat to her left.
Seven sits next to him and glances at his face before suropticiously sliding her hand into his. He stares at it for a few seconds before raising a resigned look to the surface of the table. Neelix takes a seat next to seven, Tuvok sits to Janways right and Harry along from Tuvok. Before he takes his seat, Harry joins their end of the link and the doctor, B’Elanna and Toms faces appear on the screen.
They all coo over baby Miral and Kathryn gives them a few minuets to enjoy the novelty of another baby before she clears her throat. “Sorry to be the bearer of bad news but I need your attention for just a little while” she says.
Her senior staff immediately turn to face her and she allows herself a moment to be proud of what she has achieved. “Firstly I would like to thank you for your exemplary service for the last seven and a half years. I couldn’t have asked for a better senior staff and I hope that whatever happens in the future I will get the chance to work with you all again.”
Kathryn pauses to accept their mingled thanks and promises to let her know if they ever get the chance to work with her again.
Kathryn tells them what is going to happen to Voyager and they all acknowledge her statement. Voyager will be refurbished up to the latest StarFleet technology, however the engineers are planning on leaving all her Delta quadrant technology built in, especially the Borg tech.
“Seven, StarFleet has requested that you return to the ship after the debriefings so you can assist them in preserving the technology we have discovered on our journey” Kathryn says, turning to the blonde ex drone. “I will comply” Seven says.
“That’s all I needed to cover, is there anyone else that needs to say anything?” Kathryn asks. Everyone shakes their heads, glancing around the room. “Very well then, dismissed” she says, standing to leave. The senior staff stream out the room. Chakotay lingers behind but Kathryn leaves, not in any mood to talk to him after her outburst.
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Half an hour later the crew is assembling in the cargo bay ready to depart the ship to a hero’s welcome. They walk down the lowered gangplank to cheers and applause, ready to greet their families.
Despite promising to herself that she would remain the aloof in control captain, Kathryn sheds a few tears as she runs into her mothers arms. Phoebe thuds into them also crying. “Oh Katie, Katie, Katie” Gretchen sobs clinging to her oldest daughter. Kathryn relishes the feel of being held by her mother and gives her sister a wobbly smile.
“Hey Pheebs” she says softly. Phoebe punches her lightly in the arm. “Don’t ever do that to us again” she says. Kathryn laughs shakily and carefully extracts herself from her mothers arms, trying to remain collected as she carefully wipes her tears away. Gretchen cradles her face in her hands and smiles.
“Come on Katie. Let’s go home” she says gently. Kathryn laughs and sobs at the same time. “God I’ve wanted to hear that for so long” she says. “I have to talk to the families then we can go home” she says. Gretchen rolls her eyes. “Ever the model officer” she says but there is no malice in her voice.
Kathryn laughs. She walks away from her family and mingles in the crowd. Every now and again someone grabs her and she dragged to be introduced to a family member or she is hugged by a family member. Some she recognises some she doesn’t but she just smiles and nods to their thanks for getting their family home safe.
“Captain!” Naomi calls. Kathryn turns and smiles at the girl. “Captain, come meet my father” she says. Kathryn takes her outstretched hand and is lead through the crowds towards a tall Ktarian male who has his arm around Sam.
“Ah you must be Captain Janeway” Greskredrek says in a lilting tone. Kathryn smiles. “Thank you for bringing my girls back safe” he says shaking her hand. “It’s wonderful to meet you” Kathryn says. “Naomi is a wonderful girl and her mother is a fine officer.” Greskredrek smiles. “Indeed they are, Naomi tells me you’ve inspired her to become an officer herself” he says.
“Well she will make a fine officer, she’s been a fantastic assistant” Kathryn says. Naomi smiles. She’s practically jumping up and down in glee and Kathryn laughs. “I’m very sure we’ll see you again soon” she says to the little family.
She continues mingling until she is exhausted and the the only person she hasn’t approached is Chakotay. She walks over to him with a resigned sigh. She can’t believe that he’s with seven. After they left New Earth they had made a promise that they would wait til they were home then they would redefine their relationship.
They hadn’t ever properly got together while they were on new Earth but if they had been there any longer they would have slept together. She stands silently next to her first officer and stares at him. He stares back until finally Kathryn sighs.
“I’ll see you at the welcome home ball” she says quietly. Chakotay opens his mouth to speak but Kathryn cuts him off, walking away. She approaches her mother and sister who are talking to Admiral Paris, Tom and B'Elanna. “Ah, here she comes, the intrepid Captain” Owen says, hugging her tightly.
“Congratulations on getting back home safe” he says. Kathryn smiles wearily. “Now then. Home with you, Katie. No doubt your mother will want to make you some delicious meal” Owen says patting her on the shoulder. Kathryn hesitates. “My crew Admiral” she says. “We’ll look after them Captain, you need rest just as much as they do, you’re no use to them if you’re exhausted” the admiral replies.
Kathryn finally relents and nods wearily. “Okay Owen. I’ll see you tomorrow” she says. Owen nods, squeezing her shoulder. “I’ll keep them safe Katie I promise” he says. Kathryn nods again. Gretchen takes her arm. “Come on sweetheart. Let’s go home” she says.