by Kadith
wallace@koyote.com
She sighed as she lowered herself into the hot steamy water. She slid low in the tub and sent a silent thanks that this day was finally over. Leaning back she closed her eyes, allowing the heat and bubbles to soothe her. She’d worked toward this day for most of her life, the day she’d graduated from Starfleet Medical Academy. The last few weeks had been the hardest, with finals and an honors thesis, and finally her Salutatorian speech to write. What was even harder was that the one person she’d worked so hard to please, wasn’t even there, she was dead. It was difficult in the beginning, at first she’d only been missing, and then they’d given her up for dead. She’d cried herself to sleep on countless nights, dreams of nights spent talking on her bed, a hand stroking her hair, the memory of her mother’s soft perfume, all of it was still with her to this day, but for years those memories had only made her hold out on the hope that perhaps her mother was alive after all. But one year turned into three, then four, then five, and finally she had to accept the truth, she was alone. It wasn’t a completely accurate description, she had of course been raised by her grandmother, and she had her aunt, uncle, and cousins. But she had no parents. She had no father, well, she did, but she’d never met him and as far as she was concerned he didn’t exist. Kristan, the elder of her cousins, was practically her sister, but it wasn’t the same. No one could replace the one person in her life who had been her world, her mother.
Tears threatened her eyes as she thought about this day and who’d been missing. She knew her mother would have been proud. She lost her while she was still very young, they were very close then, and she liked to think they would have remained so. There were so many things she’d needed her for: her first crush, her first disappointment, her first date, her first broken heart. Her grandmother had done her best through those times, as had her aunt, but no one could ever hope to fill the void that had been left in her soul. Even now she still longed for her, it wasn’t just the way her mother’s voice could soothe her troubled spirit, or the way her hands seemed to be able to smooth away the pain when she fell, sometimes she just wanted to sit and be held. The way her mother used to do, lying next to her on the bed, whispering softly to her until she fell asleep, or just brushing her hair while they talked.
Sometimes when she tried hard enough she could still hear her mother’s voice, and when she least expected it she would feel a gentle breeze against her face, as though someone were softly caressing it, and for an instant she could smell her mother’s perfume, the scent that was so uniquely Kathryn. But then, she’d wake up, and it was over, and she’d realize it had all been just a dream. So she’d close her eyes and try to go back to sleep, only to toss and turn uncomfortably because her pillow had been dampened by tears.
She shifted in the tub, leaning against the wall, she reminded herself that she couldn’t dwell on these thoughts. She should have been prepared for today, it was like every other special occasion in her life, it just brought back all the hurt and abandonment she felt due to her mother’s loss. Now was the time to stop thinking about the past and to begin to look to the future. She had so many things she needed to do before she left, and so little time to do it. Upon graduation from the Academy she’d been granted a junior grade commission of Lieutenant, her grades and standing at the Academy had allowed her a high number of possible postings. It had been difficult, but she’d finally chosen one. She’d be serving as the Chief Medical Officer aboard the USS Atlantia, under the command of Captain Jase Morray. It was a fairly new ship with a fairly new crew, it had only been out of space dock for three years, and it was Morray’s first command. The ship had been built for speed and size, and was more than capable of defending itself. She’d been lucky, the current CMO was taking a teaching position at the academy, the position was opening up for her in 3 weeks. Until then she’d been given leave, and a chance to get things into order before she left earth.
She sighed wearily, it wasn’t going to be easy, saying goodbye to her friends, and those who didn’t want her to leave, mainly her grandmother. It was hard explaining to her grandmother this need she had for Starfleet, it was in her blood, she couldn’t bare the name of mother and grandfather and not serve. Besides, she felt she had something to prove, even if her grandmother believed it was a suicide decision, she could go through the rest of her life ignoring what would make her happy. She couldn’t sacrifice her chance at a brilliant career because her grandmother believed that Starfleet had cursed their family. It wasn’t her fault two members of her family had died untimely deaths in the service of Starfleet, all she wanted was to prove that her family wasn’t condemned to a life of sorrow, and that she could hold her own. She wanted to prove that she could make it in the ranks, just as her grandfather and mother had. She shook her head and closed her eyes, that was enough of those thoughts tonight. She was going to finish her soak, then she was going to go to bed. Her future looked bright, so she was going to focus on that. She began to drift off, the steam of the bath nulling her into a dreamy haze. Her eyes were heavy, her breathing deep, her body grew slack, relaxed. She was just about to slip into peaceful oblivion...
"Damnit," she jumped, someone was ringing her doorbell. She sighed heavily and climbed out of the tub, "So much for peaceful oblivion," she muttered to under her breath. "Just a minute!" she called to the person at her door. She pulled on a robe and walked into the living room. She opened the door, "Yes? Can I help you sir?" The man at her door was not one she recognized, and she cursed him silently for interrupting her one way of relaxing.
The man smiled, he was middle aged, over fifty, she guessed. His hair sandy colored hair was graying, and he had an odd look in his eyes as he moved them down and then back up her body. "Brianne?" he asked gingerly. "Brianne Janeway?"
She frowned, pulling the robe closer to her body. "Yes, can help you."
He nodded, a smile broadening his face. "Yes as a matter of fact you can. My name is Mark Johnson, I’m your father."
She froze immediately, she knew the name, and she knew the relation. Her body stiffened, and her blood began an involuntary boil. "What do you want?"
"May I come in?" his voice was timid, hopeful. She stepped aside, motioned him to enter, but didn’t speak. "I was at the ceremony today, you’ve done very well. Your mother would be very proud."
She stepped past him, walking toward the small bar in her apartment. "Can I get you anything?" She didn’t want to discuss her mother with this man, she didn’t want to discuss anything with him. Well, that wasn’t entirely true, she would have liked to discuss throwing him out on the street, but she’d try to remember her manners.
"No thank you." He sat in one of the large chairs in her living room. "You’re the image of her you know. The same hair, similar build, and your face... the two of you could have been sisters rather than mother and child. The only difference is the eyes. Yours are green, hers were blue. I suppose you get those from me."
He noted the way she bristled at that, they also had similar personalities.
"Actually," she turned to face him, struggling to control the urge to throw him out on his rear, "I’ve always been told by everyone, including my mother, that I had my grandfather’s eyes." With that she turned from him once more, busying her hands with the drink she was making herself.
He watched her for a moment, frowning at the brandy she poured carefully into a glass tumbler, "You know, you really shouldn’t drink that stuff. Especially not this late at night."
Her hands stilled for a moment, then she glanced at him, her face beginning to flush with growing anger. "I’m 25 years old, I’ve been living on my own for 6 years now. So I don’t need anyone, especially you telling me what I can and can not drink, and when I can and can not drink it." She added a bit more of the liquor to her glass before adding, "Besides, it’s not as though you’re my parent or anything."
He inhaled sharply, he deserved that. "Brianne, I came here because I wanted to get to know you before you left."
"Oh?" she said, her voice was hard, indifferent. "Well don’t you think you’re a bit late for introductions. Oh say, twenty-five years too late." She was looking at him now, her eyes blazing with green fire. He started to speak again but she cut him off, putting her drink back on the bar with a loud clang, the impact causing some of the liquid to escape its confines of the glass and moisten the smooth surface of the bar. She crossed the room to the door, opening it she pinned him with a dangerous glare, "I don’t really care why you’re here, and frankly I want you to leave. You severed all ties to my life when you told my mother that you cared nothing for the family she was offering you. It’s been a very strenuous month, I’ve had a very long day, and if you don’t mind, all I really want right now is to sleep."
He stood, nodding slowly, he’d been correct, she had her mother’s fire. "Alright," he said, "but I will be calling on you again, you can count on that."
"No you won’t. I want nothing from you, I want nothing to do with you." With that she slammed the door in his face. How dare he, she thought, how dare he come strutting into her life as if he had a place there, as if he was even wanted. She walked back into the bathroom and began to drain the tub, so much for relaxing, she mused. She was fuming, there was no way she’d be able to sleep now. She tossed the robe aside and decided to go for a walk, the cool night air would soothe her temper, she hoped. And failing that, this was San Francisco, there were any number of clubs she could hop into, to drink away her temper.
The walk helped to soothe her raging blood, but she opted for a drink anyway. She told herself she’d only have one or two, then she’d head back to her apartment. She walked into the Night Spot, it was a place she’d been to often, and one she rather liked. It wasn’t very crowded, most of it’s clientele were cadets, and most of them had already gone home for the summer. She sat at the end of the bar and ordered an Irish Whiskey, she drank it slowly, savoring the burn as it made its way through her body. She fingered the half-empty glass, now that her temper had cooled, she regretted her actions. She’d been quite rude to Mr. Johnson, she had no plans to contact him, or let him into her life, but she could have handled the situation differently. She began to think about how her mother would have handled the situation, and what her mother would have thought of her tonight. Tears stung her eyes, she knew Kathryn would not have been pleased with her behavior. Frankly, she wasn’t very pleased with her behavior.
A voice beside her made her jump, she turned to it, quickly wiping the tears from her eyes. "Hasn’t anyone ever told you you’re not supposed to drink alone, and never when you’re upset." The voice was gently, the smile kind, the eyes compassionate.
"Yes, actually, I think I heard my mother say that once, when she was alive." She looked away from him for a moment. Turning back she held out her hand, "Brianne, and you are..."
He smiled, his dark eyes twinkling with silent laughter, "Tayib," he took her hand, "My friends call me Tay." His hand lingered on hers for a moment, before finally releasing it. "May I?" he motioned to the bar stool next to her.
She smiled, "Please." She looked him over, her physician’s eye catching every detail. His skin was bronzed, his features very handsome, and he was very tall, were she standing her head would have barely grazed his shoulder. She guessed he was about 5 years her senior, and she didn’t know why, but there was something about him that made her want to trust him.
"If you don’t mind my asking, why the tears?" his gaze was one that told her he could peer into her soul.
She shifted her eyes back to her unfinished drink, "I don’t mind, but it’s a long story."
He looked around him, people were exiting the nightclub, and the bartender looked as though he were ready to close up. "Why don’t we go for a walk, you tell me your story, I’ll tell you mine."
She looked uncertain, actually she was ready to refuse him, but there really was something about the way he smiled. And, after all talking about it could be a good thing, what would it hurt? She nodded and stood. As they exited the club she said, "There really isn’t all that much to tell."
He smiled, his eyes twinkling as he spoke, "Why not just start at the beginning, that’s always a good place."
The strolled down the deserted sidewalk, nightlamps lighting there way. She thought for several moments before she spoke, trying to get her thoughts in order, "Well, my mother was in Starfleet, and when I was ten she was reported missing in action. It was difficult enough that we thought she was missing, but when they never found her or the ship she was on, they gave her up for dead. I didn’t accept that until I was almost 14. I couldn’t, I felt that if I did, I’d be betraying her somehow. So I held on for a few years, my grandmother was concerned that I was either in severe denial or severe shock." She looked around her as they walked, she loved this part of the city, especially at night. It was so soothing to the weary soul.
"What happened next?" He was watching her, mesmerized by the way the moonlight danced on her long auburn hair. She had it pulled into a pony tale at the nape of her neck, and he longed to know what it would look like flying wildly about her face.
She smiled, his eyes on her causing her to grow unusually nervous, not because she was afraid of him, but because it sent a hot sensation up her spine to have him looking at her so. "Eventually I did accept that my mother was dead, and when I had, I knew what I wanted to do, and I knew to get there I had to stop living in the past. So, I moved on with my life. A few years later I entered Starfleet Academy on an honors scholarship. I had two passions, I wanted to be in Starfleet, but I also wanted to be a doctor, so I enrolled in Starfleet Medical after academy graduation. It hasn’t been easy." She trailed off, her voice almost to low to for him to hear the next part, "And tonight didn’t help matters."
He frowned, "What happened tonight?"
"Until tonight I’d never met my father, he’d chosen not to be in my life as a child. But now he wants in, I don’t know exactly why, and I don’t exactly care." She sighed, "He came by my apartment tonight, and I didn’t handle things well, I lost my temper. When we met in the club, I was thinking about how ashamed my mother would have been were she alive. "She looked away, watching the ground as they walked along.
"If it helps, I know how you feel. I had a similar encounter with my brother, before his death. It was about fifteen years ago, I was 16 years old, and I wanted to join Starfleet. My brother of course, had other ideas. He’d been in Starfleet, but had resigned when our father died during the annexation of our home world, Dorvan V, by the Cardassians. He blamed it on Starfleet, and he called me a fool for defending them. I told him it was our people’s fault for not listening, they’d been warned about the Cardassians, but hadn’t listened."
He paused for a moment, "I remember exploding at him, telling him I hated him, that it wasn’t his place to tell me what kind of life I could or could not have. Then I left him, and joined Starfleet, just like I told him I would. Later I felt ashamed, my father would have been furious with me, with us both actually. My brother and I were very close, in a lot of ways, he was like a second father. I suppose that was just the age difference, and the fact that he felt responsible for me. Our mother died from complications shortly after my birth."
Compassionate green eyes met deep brown, "I’m sorry, what happened with your brother? Did you two make up?"
Tay’s handsome face grew sad, "I received a letter from my brother, telling me that he was sorry, that I’d been right. He said I had to choose my own way, and that it wasn’t for him to interfere. He died in an accident a few weeks later. I never got the chance to reply."
Her eyes filled with tears for him, "I am so sorry." Then she smiled, "Well, then we have quite a bit in common, we’re both a couple of orphans." He laughed at her and they walked on. She told him more about her family, about her grandmother, and her aunt and cousins. He told her about his career, and she spoke of her plans for the future. At one point they were laughing so hard they were crying.
Eventually they ended up at Brianne’s door, they were still laughing and she leaned against him, trying not to fall over as she attempted to open her door. She smiled at him. "Well, I guess this is the end of the line. Its funny, I only met you tonight, but… I feel as though I’ve known you my whole life."
Tay smiled at that, "I feel the same way." He eyed her for a moment, "I’d really like to spend some time with you again, perhaps we could get together for dinner, or a drink, but coffee next time, instead of whiskey."
She giggled softly, "What’s the matter, you don’t like my whiskey," she started laughing again and was soon joined by Tay, "Or are you afraid I’ll drink you under the table." When they were both able to control their laughing she smiled at him, "I’d really like that."
He wiggled his eyebrows, "Alright then, it's a date." She laughed softly, and taking a chance he leaned forward. He had only intended it to be a brief exchange, but the kiss had ignited a raging fire. The next thing Brianne knew, she was waking up next to him.
He was still asleep so she climbed out of bed and began to dress. She paced the length of her apartment, not knowing what to do. She ran her hands through her long hair several times, she’d never taken a complete stranger in to her bed before. She’d never taken anyone into her bed before, for that matter. It wasn’t like her to be so impulsive, she’d been very careful with her life since she’d lost her mother, she did not let people get close to her. It was one of the reasons she’d always done so well in school, she had very few friends therefore she spent most of her time studying. Not knowing what else to do, and afraid to face the man sleeping peacefully in her bed, she grabbed a padd, she quickly scribed out a note for him. Then after placing it on the pillow next to his head, she left her apartment. Hopefully, when she returned he’d be gone.
Tay rolled over, his arm searching for a form that he expected to be lying next to him. All he felt was a cool, hard, object. He opened his eyes, blinking back the sleepy haze. He saw that it was a note, picking it up he read....
Tay, please forgive me, last night should not have happened. We were both drinking and feeling vulnerable. I should have known better. As you may have guessed, taking men I don’t know into my bed is not something I’ve ever done before. I truly enjoyed your company, and you’re a wonderful person, but there is no future for us. I’m going to be gone most of the afternoon, I would very much appreciate it if you were gone when I returned. Sincerely... Brianne
Shaking his head, he tossed the padd aside. She was right, last night shouldn’t have happened, last night should have occurred with someone she’d known for more than a couple of hours. And not someone she’d met in a bar. Angry with himself, he got out of bed and began to dress. As he did, he only grew angrier, his clothes smelled of her. He could still feel her on his hands, the softness of her creamy skin, the way her hair had felt in his hands as he’d held her head between them. He could also still feel the way her hair had felt fanned out across his chest, and the way she had looked as she flung it back. He closed his eyes tightly, the images in his head were sending a surge of white hot desire through his body. He knew if he didn’t leave her home now, he wouldn’t be able to later, he’d end up waiting for her, and in the end he’d have her under him again. But what made him feel worse, was that he knew she’d be more than willing.
Pulling on his boots he decided that she was correct, they had no future together. She was a doctor on her way up the ladder of success, he was just a security officer, and it didn’t look like he was going anywhere, anytime soon. Besides, in a week he was leaving the planet, he’d been posted to DS12, and it was going to take him three months just to get there. No, he’d never see her again, never speak to her, they had absolutely no connection. He left her apartment, and he didn’t look back.
Brianne paused nervously outside her apartment door. Her hand trembled as she reached for the knob. She’d spent the better part of the morning at various markets in down town San Francisco trying her damnedest not to think of the man she’d left sleeping in her bed. Her conscience kept screaming at her that she should have faced him, that leaving him the note had been underhanded and cowardly. But her heart, and her body told her otherwise, they told her to run and not look back, because she could very easily let him into her life, she could very easily lose herself in him.
Taking a deep breath, she stepped timidly into her apartment. She closed the door quietly behind her, her stomach fluttering with the fear that he might still be there. She placed a bag carrying fresh herbs and vegetables on the bar, then slowly, and very quietly walked into her bedroom. It was empty, quickly she checked the bathroom, it was the same. She leaned heavily against the door frame connecting the bathroom with her room and sighed loudly. The better part of her was relieved, but another part was greatly disappointed. This particular part of her had been hoping he was still there, waiting for her. Walking into the outer room she told herself one more time, this was for the best.
She tossed in her sleep, her dreams haunted. She moaned as a hand traveled slowly up her leg. It was joined by another and her thighs were slowly parted. The hands slid up her thighs, then around to cup her hips and lift them off the bed. Her back and neck arched, and she cried out as a mouth closed around one of her nipples, the other aching for the same attentions. She clutched at his shoulders as his hard arousal began to slide into her wetness. Abandoning her breasts he buried his head in her thick auburn hair, whispering her name he---
Brianne bolted upright in bed, her chest heaving, strands of hair clinging to her neck and face. It took her a few minutes to realize where she was: in her quarters aboard the Atlantia. Slowly she sank back down in the bed, she was actually beginning to grow used to these dreams; why shouldn’t she have, she’d been having them every night for eight weeks. With a loud sigh she rolled over to go back to sleep, she still had an hour and a half before her alarm would go off, but a sudden, and very strong wave of nausea sent her hurrying to the bathroom. She crouched down before the toilet just as her body began to wretch violently. She was like that for several minutes before the wave finally subsided. Slowly, cautiously she stood; she moved to the sink and leaned heavily against hit. She rinsed out her mouth and brushed her teeth, then she stared at her reflection in the mirror. The doctor she saw starring back at her knew the exact cause of her illness, it was the woman that was scared and unsure. The woman had no idea how she was going to deal with it. There was really only one thing she could say she did know. For the first time in her life, Brianne knew exactly how her mother had felt 25 yrs ago. However, she didn’t know if she was as brave as her mother had been.
She exhaled loudly and decided it was pointless to try to go back to sleep. Instead she removed her nightshirt and climbed into the shower. The heat of the spray worked to soothe her body. She finished her shower and pulled on her uniform, she didn’t bother with breakfast, it would only come back up later, and she couldn’t have coffee any longer, so she gathered a stack of data padds and went down to sickbay. There she could sit in her office, drown her self in her work and not think about how scrambled her life was at present.
Days turned into weeks, and when Brianne finally decided to acknowledge her life, she realized she’d allowed 3 weeks to pass. That left her only a week to decide what she was going to do with herself. But when she really forced herself to think about it, she only had one alternative. What was really troubling her was if she should inform the other person involved in her current condition. Brianne had finally acknowledged the fact that she was pregnant, she knew what she was going to do about it, in her heart she’d known that all along. But what she didn’t know is if she was going to inform Tayib that he was to be a father.
She hadn’t the slightest idea what she would tell him were she to contact him. She wasn’t really sure where he was, so that posed a problem as well. She knew that he’d mentioned being posted to Deep Space 12, but she wasn’t sure when he’d been scheduled to leave Earth. Damnit, it took three months just to get to the damned thing, and for all she knew he was already in route, if not there already. Brianne groaned and stood up from the desk in her quarters, why was this happening to her? She felt as though the turmoil would never end, just as she reached one decision, another more difficult one would come up. She’d already resigned herself to the fact that in a few months she may have to leave the Atlantia, not because it was required of her, she was more than capable of having her child aboard ship with her, several crewmembers did. She just wasn’t sure that she could manage a career and take care of a child, after all everything was so completely new to her. Sighing loudly she wished one more time for someone she could talk to about this. She had friends aboard, that was not a problem, the problem for her was that the one person she needed to talk to was forever lost to her, dead for 15 years now. Brianne turned to plop down on her sofa, maybe just once she’d allow herself the luxury of wallowing in self pity before was forced to push the hurt away. But, her thoughts were interrupted.
Brianne’s combadge chirped, "Morray to Janeway, report to the bridge at once." His voice sounded urgent, clipped.
Already heading for her door she struck her combadge, "On my way Captain." It took her only a few moments to get to the bridge, but she frowned upon stepping off the turbolift. It was in an uproar, everyone hustling back and forth between consoles, orders were barked left and right. She looked toward the Captain, hoping to find an answer.
Morray looked up just as she’d stepped off the ‘lift, with a curt gesture he motioned her toward his ready room, what he had to tell her, she needed to hear in private. He proceeded her into the room, turning around once they’d entered, a smile playing on his face. "Lieutenant, do you remember that Spacial Anomaly we’ve been tracking on sensors for the last four days."
She nodded curtly, a bit baffled, "Yes sir."
"Well we’ve finally discovered what it is, its a small wormhole, unstable, but it’s there." His smile seemed to grow as he spoke.
She shook her head, "I’m sorry sir, but I don’t see how this is relevant to my duties aboard this ship."
He chuckled softly, "It’s not, or it wouldn’t have been. A small ship came through it about fifteen minutes ago, from the Delta Quadrant."
Again, his gaze met baffled green eyes, "The Delta Quadrant?" her voice was barely above a whisper. "Sir, I’m afraid I’m still not clear as to why this concerns me."
"Lieutenant, Brianne, this concerns you because it is a Federation Vessel, and because they had quite a bumpy ride, like I said earlier the wormhole was quite unstable. I doubt it will last much longer. I’m sure that ship has a few wounded on it."
She as really confused now, "What was a Federation ship doing in the Delta Quadrant?"
He raised a brow, "It’s a long story, and one you can hear later, I’d like you to volunteer to go aboard and help with their wounded and sick. Their EMH program is off-line, and they haven’t had doctor for several years. That ship has been stuck out there for fifteen years."
Brianne shook her head, "Sir, if I may, why are you asking me to volunteer, why not just order me?"
Morray beamed, "Because if you don’t want to go over there it will be completely understandable. Brianne, that’s not just any ship, at least not to you. It seems, Voyager has finally come home."
She stared at him, eyes wide in shock. She attempted to open her mouth to speak but couldn’t. She sat down in a near by chair and looked up at him. "Wh... what did you say?"
He knelt down in front of her, "It appears that Starfleet was a bit premature when they recorded the destruction of the starship Voyager fifteen years ago. Apparently she wasn’t lost in the badlands as originally thought, somehow they got pulled into the Delta Quadrant. And they’ve been fighting for fifteen years to return home. Today they did."
Brianne’s head was instantly flooded with thoughts, would her mother recognize her? Did she even remember her? Was she even still alive?
Morray must have sensed her unasked question, "Yes, if you’re wondering, your mother is aboard. And she is very much alive. That’s why I wanted to tell you in here, I knew this was going to be a shock to you." He watched her raise a hand to her mouth, and he could see the tears that threatened to spill down her cheeks. Gently, he placed a hand on her shoulder, "I don’t want to rush you, but they really need a doctor now. I understand if you don’t wish to go, you can choose someone from your staff."
Brianne stood and walked around the ready room. With her body trembling, her stomach churning, and her heart pounding so hard it threatened to escape her chest, she turned to face Captain Morray. "I’ll go."
"You’re sure?"
She nodded slowly, it was something she needed to do, and if she was lucky she’d be able to get her thoughts and emotions in order before she even faced her mother.
"Alright then," Morray stood, "Gather the necessary supplies and beam over, I’ll let them know our Chief Medical Officer is on her way."
Brianne nodded curtly and turned to leave, stopping just as she reached the door. She looked over her shoulder and smiled, "Thank you sir." Then she exited the room and headed for sickbay.
Moving through Voyager’s sickbay Brianne quickly unpacked the supplies she’d brought with her. It had been a good idea that she’d thought to grab instruments and medicines for every possible injury or illness. She also tried very hard to remind herself that the small sickbay she was working in was part of a 15 year old ship. But, she couldn’t help but wrinkle her nose at the archaic instruments that dotted the shelves. It was difficult holding back her comments, she found herself biting her tongue on more than one occasion, and not just about the medical instruments.
My god! she thought, these uniforms are horrid! She couldn’t believe Starfleet had ever forced its officers to wear such awful, ill-fitting, inconvenient uniforms. There were too many pieces to it, she noted as she worked on a patient with a severe gash in his arm. She hadn’t really bothered with his name, but she believed it was Harry something… and she really wanted to tell Harry that he was wearing way too many clothes. In contrast to her uniform he was wearing a uniform jacket, the gold stripe at the shoulders denoting his field of expertise. Under that he was forced to wear a turtleneck and a tank top, the pants were a given. Uniforms now were so much simpler, Brianne wore a simple, blue-green tunic, it was comfortable and loose fitting, and it tucked nicely into the form fitting, high waisted, black pants that were also a part of her uniform. Other than her boots, pips and combadge, she wore nothing else. Well, she mused, she wore underwear beneath her uniform, that too was a given. She shook her head and finished patching up the Lieutenant Commander’s arm, then she sent him back to his post. She put away her instruments and prepared to go on to the next patient, but out of the corner of her eye she saw a tall, sandy haired man enter, a wailing child clinging to his neck. She hurried over to them, grabbing a scanner as she went.
The man smiled at her, "I found her in one of the corridors, I think she may have broken her leg." He placed her on a bio bed, stroking her hair and whispering to her, he attempted to soothe her pained cries.
"You’re right, but it’s just a minor fracture, easily fixed." Brianne set the scanner aside, and smiled a the little girl. She was an adorable child, with dark hair, brilliant blue eyes, and lightly bronzed skin that, for a moment reminded her of Tay and the child she now carried. She reached for a hypospray containing a mild pain reliever.
The man fidgeted, "Look is she going to be alright? I was on my way back up to the bridge when I found her."
Brianne looked up from her treatment of the child, "Then I assume this is not your child."
The man smiled and shook his head, "No, but she is my God-daughter."
She smiled at him, "She’s going to be fine, I’ve given her a mild pain reliever, and then I’m going to repair the fracture."
With a smile of relief he turned to the little girl, "There, I told you it was going to be okay. I have to go now, but you’re going to be just fine with the doctor. I’ll tell your mother you’re down here and she’ll come get you soon. Okay?"
The little girl nodded, a tiny hand rubbing her eyes. Brianne guessed the child was about 3 years old. Then the man turned and darted out of sickbay. Brianne smiled down at the little girl once more. "My name is Brianne, what’s yours?" She set to work on the child’s leg, if she kept her talking the little girl wouldn’t even realize the procedure had started, well at least not until it was finished.
Big, blue eyes peered up at her, "Sh... Shanna." The voice was so small that Brianne had barely heard it.
"Shanna, that’s a pretty name. Well, Shanna when I’m all done here, your leg is going to better than it was before." She worked hastily, but skillfully. She could feel those big blues starring at the top of her head. "Shanna, can I ask how old you are?"
Shanna looked up at her timidly, "Three."
Brianne smiled, "Well Shanna, my 3 year old little friend, we are all done." She stepped back from the bio bed. "Why don’t you try it out. Go ahead, you can move it." She watched as the little girl flexed her leg, then beamed at her. Brianne chuckled, "Didn’t I tell you I’d take good care of you." The little beauty nodded vigorously, then yawned. Brianne smiled, "That’s the pain medicine I gave you a few minutes ago. Why don’t you lay down, and I’m sure when you wake up your mommy and daddy will be here with you." Shanna obediently lay back on the bed, asleep almost instantly. Brianne sighed and moved toward her next patient, her hand straying unnoticed to her abdomen, she wondered if her child would be as perfect.
For hours she bustled around the small sickbay treating scrapes and bruises and the occasional concussion. Between her brief administrations she’d had time to think about what she was really doing on this ship, and how she was going to handle herself. For all the possible encounters she imagined, she really had no idea what was going to happen when she came face to face with her mother. She’d finally decided that she would have to just cross that bridge when she came to it. Her thoughts were interrupted when a crewmen came in with a compound fracture of his elbow. It would take minor surgery to repair so she’d whisked him into this ships, once again inferior by her standards, surgical bay. It took her an hour to repair the bone and the damage to the surrounding tissues. Then she’d given him an antibiotic to prevent the possibility of infection. He would need a few hours rest to complete his recovery so she left him in the small recovery chamber. Walking back out into the main examination area she shook her head, it was beyond her how these people had lived like this for so long. But then she reminded herself that they were used to nothing else, and to them she was the outcast. She walked into the Doctor’s office to log the crewmember’s injury, as she had been doing with all the injuries, so that this ships medical hologram could record them in the proper medical records.
She exited the office adjacent to the bed that held the little, dark haired angel she’d treated earlier, but something made her freeze. She was unable to move, unable to speak, and was having difficulty drawing in a breath. It was a voice, soft, hushed, soothing. She knew that voice, she’d heard it before, she heard it in her dreams. She turned to it, her eyes resting on the little girl’s bed, and two figures hunched over it. She couldn’t clearly see the owner of the voice, Brianne’s vision was obstructed by a tall dark haired man. Quickly she surmised that he must be little Shanna’s father, he had the same dark hair and bronzed skin. She took a step toward the bed, hoping he would move slightly so that she could see beyond him, hoping she was right about the voice. She was standing just a few feet away from them when he did finally move. A broken sob escaped her throat, and she quickly raised a hand to her mouth to keep from crying out more. The couple looked at her, the man was wearing a baffled and slightly concerned expression, but the woman just stared. She watched as the woman put a hand on the man’s chest, as if to steady herself. Brianne scarcely believed her eyes, it was only when the man spoke to the woman she realized what she was seeing was tangible and not a projection of her imagination. The man stood staring from one of them to the other, "Kathryn?"
The woman didn’t answer him, simply stepped around the bio bed, moving closer to Brianne.
Brianne’s hand dropped from her mouth and rested against her throat, when she could finally breath she managed to rasp out, "Mom?"
The man’s eyes widened for a second, then he frowned and he came around the bed to stand behind her mother. Brianne took a step forward, but noticed that the room had begun to spin. Instinctively she reached out for something to hold on to, but she discovered only empty air. Her vision blurred and began to grow dark, soon she had the distinct feeling that she was falling, then there was an arm around her waist, and then her world turned completely black.
Kathryn realized something was wrong and moved forward quickly, catching the younger woman around the waist and gentling her fall. "Brianne?" in her voice there was a mixture of surprise and worry. She looked up at Chakotay who was kneeling at their side, her eyes glistening with tears.
Slowly, gently, Chakotay lifted the small young woman, then placed her on an empty bio bed. Then he turned to his wife who had stood, and was now reaching for the woman’s hand. "Kathryn, what is going on?"
She held the hand to her lips, then met his gaze. She smiled even as the tears slid down her cheeks. "Chakotay, this is Brianne... my daughter."
His eyes widened and he looked down at the unconscious form, suddenly a light went off in his head. He should have noticed it from the first, the resemblance was there. "What is she doing here." He spoke softly, a hand going to rest on his wife’s shoulder.
She shrugged, "I’m not sure, unless..." she trailed off. "Captain Morray said he was sending his Chief Medical Officer aboard, but he didn’t give me a name." She looked down at Brianne who was beginning to stir. Kathryn brushed a stray lock of hair behind Brianne’s ear. She let her hand linger against her daughter’s cheek before lowering her head and speaking softly. "Brianne? Sweetheart?"
Her eyes fluttered open, with a soft moan she lifted her free hand to her head. She was only vaguely aware that someone was holding her hand. Closing her eyes once more she tried to remember where she was, and what had taken place. She remembered the wormhole, and being aboard Voyager, then there was this little girl and her parents... Brianne’s eyes opened and she sat up, bringing her face to face with her mother. "Oh gods," she whispered as she lifted a trembling hand to the slightly aged face. Other than a few wrinkles it was just as she’d pictured it in her dreams every night. Brianne felt the heat and dampness of tears as they slid from her mother’s eyes.
Kathryn covered her daughter’s hand with her own, lifting the other to frame Brianne’s own tear-dampened face. "I never thought I’d see you again," she half whispered, her own hands trembling. "I dreamed that I would, but I was too afraid to let myself really believe it," her voice broke.
Suddenly Brianne was sliding off the bio-bed and stepping past Kathryn. "You said you were coming back to get me," her voice was so low that Kathryn had barely heard her. She turned around to stare at her mother, her shoulders beginning to shake. "You said---you said you were going to come back for me, but you never did." Brianne sank to her knees, her entire body shaking as she began to sob. "You didn’t come back, and they--everyone said you were dead." She didn’t notice that Kathryn was kneeling beside her, or the hand that was stroking her hair. "They all told me you were dead. You never came back, so I--" she was only vaguely aware she was being pulled into her mother’s arms. "I gave up, ‘cause you never came back. And I was alone."
She was being rocked now, and above her own heart wrenching sobs she could barely make out the whispered plea. "I’m so sorry, please don’t hate me."
Neither woman noticed, as they sat there rocking, crying in each other’s arms, that Chakotay had moved off to sit on Shanna’s bio-bed. He’d realized the weight of this moment, and that they needed it to themselves.
Finally the tears dried, Brianne lifted her head to look at her mother, she smiled and whispered, "I could never hate you." She wiped the tears from her cheeks, noticing that her mother did the same, at the exact same moment. Then she looked over her shoulder to where Chakotay sat, playing with the now very awake Shanna. "Who is he?" she spoke softly.
Kathryn looked to Chakotay and her tears started anew. "Brianne," she began shakily, "You have to realize, the reality of our situation was that we were never going to see our homes, or our families again." She stared at Chakotay and her youngest, "I never planned it, never knew I even wanted it, it just happened. For years I held him at arms length, afraid--afraid to let anything happen between us." She returned her eyes to Brianne, "I was afraid you wouldn’t understand, that you’d think I’d given up, or that I’d forgotten about you." It was Kathryn’s turn to sob, "I was afraid you’d think that I believed you weren’t enough for me. Or that you’d hate me, for leaving you and then for having a new family." She framed her daughter’s face, holding her chin in one hand. "I need you to understand that I needed him, for a long time you were all that kept me going, just trying to get home... to you, was enough. But then I had to face reality, there was a chance we’d spend the rest of our lives out there, and I couldn’t do it alone. For years I hid behind command protocols, saying I had to think of the crew, but in the long run what I was doing wasn’t good for them, and it sure as hell wasn’t good for me." She stopped then, unable to continue.
Brianne shook her head vigorously, "If you think I could ever hate you, or be angry with you for that you’re wrong. Grandma told me I had to do the same thing. I held on to the idea you were still alive until I was 14 years old. Grandma told me I had to let go of that fantasy and start living my life, so I did. But I never forgot about you, everything I did, I did it because I thought you’d want me to. I wanted to make you proud of me." She stood and walked away from her mother. "When Captain Morray told me you were still alive I thought that you were going to be mad at me for giving up on you." She ran a hand over her face and into her hair, "I wasn’t sure what to expect, I wasn’t even sure if you were going to recognize me."
Kathryn stood and moved to her, "I would have known you anywhere, no matter how long it had been since I’d seen you." She placed a hand against Brianne’s cheek.
Brianne turned her face into the hand, needing the contact, craving more after so long apart. "If anything, I would have been angry if you hadn’t gone on with your life. You know that, all I ever wanted was for you to be happy." Then she smiled ruefully, "With me, but happy."
They laughed together, Kathryn pulling Brianne into a tight embrace, "I love you Brianne Elizabeth, nothing could ever change that." Then she pulled back and looked into her daughter’s eyes, "No matter how many other children I have now, you have never, never, left my thoughts for a moment."
She smiled, "I know that mom, it was the same with me. I thought about you all the time, even dreamed about you at times."
At that moment Chakotay decided to clear his throat loudly, reminding them that he was still present. Kathryn smiled and turned to him, "No Chakotay, I haven’t forgotten you." She pulled Brianne over to where he and Shanna sat on the bio-bed. He slid off the bed as they walked over, Kathryn walking over to put an arm around his waist, her head resting slightly on his shoulder. "You have no idea how great it is to finally be able to introduce the two of you to each other."
Brianne smiled, "Commander Chakotay," she held out her hand, "Lieutenant Brianne Janeway, Chief Medical Officer of the USS Atlantia."
He smiled and shook his head, "Drop the rank, it’s just Chakotay."
She nodded, then looked at the little girl beside him, and then back at her mother, a light going off in her head. "Wait a second, you said no matter how many other children you may have now? Is she--" her eyes had widened.
Kathryn and Chakotay nodded, "She’s ours, and no she’s not the only one. She’s the youngest, technically." Kathryn smiled at her daughter, "Come with me."
Chakotay carried Shanna as the group made their way out of sickbay, she seemed a little fascinated with Brianne. She wasn’t all that sure what to make of her.
Brianne smiled at the little girl, then turned to her mother, "Oh, by the way, her leg is going to be alright. It was just a simple hairline fracture, easily fixed. In a few weeks I doubt she’ll even remember breaking it."
As the group strolled down the corridor toward the turbolift Kathryn shook her head, "Suddenly I feel so old." She chuckled, "When, did you grow up? I can not believe you’re already a doctor."
Brianne shrugged as she stepped into the turbolift, "There are a lot of things that have happened with me that I’m going to have to tell you, and that you aren’t going to believe." She looked back at Shanna and thought of her own child, what would her mother think? Brianne was suddenly afraid her mother would be disappointed and ashamed. The ‘lift doors opened and she suppressed her thoughts. She walked beside her mother, Chakotay and Shanna trailing behind them. They breezed through the doors into, she assumed, her mother and Chakotay’s quarters. Chakotay sat Shanna down on the sofa and walked into another room. He came out a few seconds later with...
"Oh my god," Brianne’s eyes widened in shock, "There’s two of them?" The second little girl bounded over to plop down beside her sister, both girls starring at her. Brianne stepped closer, they were identical, if she hadn’t known that Shanna was sitting on the left, she wouldn’t have been able to pick her out of the two. Another sound caught her attention, another door opened in the quarters and two boys stepped out. She looked at them, one was taller than the other, no doubt older. She guessed the dark haired, dark complected boy was about 10, but no more than 12 years old. The other, though he had dark hair, looked like her mother, and was around 6 or 7 years old. She looked from them to her mother, "Where," she was finally able to speak, "did you find time to have four children."
Kathryn smiled, "Well, Bryan," she put a hand on her eldest son’s shoulder, "was quite a surprise, I had never thought about having more children until I discovered I was pregnant with him." She moved around to her next child, "And this little man," she squeezed his shoulders, "wasn’t as much of a surprise, more of an unrealized whim." She ruffled his hair before moving over to the twins.
It was Chakotay who chuckled and pulled one of the girls into his arms, tossing her into the air. "And these two, were completely unplanned. And very much a surprise." He laughed as the little girl squealed, her sister jumping about, ready for her turn. The turn was as eagerly given as it was received, then both girls leaned against their father as he sat on the sofa with them. Brianne was motioned to a seat by her mother, and noticed as she sat that Bryan lowered himself to the floor in front of his father and sisters. Tristan hovered near Kathryn as she sat in the chair adjacent to Brianne’s. She felt a little uncomfortable, under the scrutinizing eyes of her younger brothers. The twins acted as if nothing was out of the ordinary.
Kathryn eyed Brianne for a minute, trying to get her thoughts in order. She wasn’t sure where to begin. Finally she cleared her throat and jumped in. "Your father and I have told you all about the Alpha Quadrant and Earth, our home. We’ve told you stories about the family members that we were trying to get home to, and you know," she concentrated on Bryan and Tristan, the twins were too young to understand, "about the wormhole we passed through early this morning. You all know that the crew is extremely pleased because we are finally back in the Alpha Quadrant. And that we are all excited to be reunited with our families." She paused for a moment while the boys took in what she was saying.
Tristan sat on the corner of her chair, and Bryan shifted his vision between Brianne and his mother.
"You’ve seen the pictures, both on my desk and in the old photo album on the book shelf, and I’ve told you the stories about the daughter I had to leave behind. Well she was just a little girl back then," she looked at Brianne, her eyes misty. "But it seems she’s grown into quite the young woman now." She leaned forward in her chair, and pulled Tristan around in front of her. "Bryan, Tristan, I’d like for you to meet your sister, Brianne."
Brianne shifted uncomfortably in her chair, she wasn’t quite sure what to do now. This wasn’t exactly the reunion she’d expected to have with her mother. Of course she couldn’t begrudge her mother a new family, a new start on life. But she hadn’t really expected this, she’d been an only child all her life, and now, suddenly she had four younger brothers and sisters. It was Bryan that was the first to approach her. He slowly rose from his spot on the floor and walked toward her, Tristan followed hesitantly. From the corner of her eye she saw her mother stand and move over to sit next to Chakotay and the twins, pulling Kayla into her lap. Her eyes shifted back to Bryan who was holding his hand out to her, "Hi, I’m Bryan, but I guess you knew that already." He looked over his shoulder at his younger brother, "This is Tristan, he’s a little shy sometimes, but he’s only 6 so that’s okay." He was rewarded with a slap on the back of the head by his brother.
She chuckled, these two were definitely a handful. "Well, It’s nice to meet you Tristan, and Bryan." The last name was said softly. She lifted an eyebrow and looked at her mother, a question in her eyes.
Kathryn as sitting with elbow propped on the back of the sofa, her head was resting on her hand. She saw the question in the younger woman’s eyes, with a half smile she nodded. She had been wondering when Brianne would get around to noticing the name similarities.
At that moment Chakotay decided to get up from his spot on the sofa, he lifted Kayla from Kathryn’s lap and took Shanna by the hand. "You know, why don’t I take the kids down to the mess hall, give you two a chance to talk privately, and perhaps you can grab something from the replicator." He looked meaningfully at Kathryn.
She smiled and stood, "That’s a good idea, but make sure this time Neelix doesn’t get the girls mixed up. The doctor wasn’t too thrilled when they were brought in for allergy shots because he forgot which was allergic to leola root, and frankly neither was I." She laughed at the horrific look on Kayla’s face, obviously the little girl still remembered the incident. She walked Chakotay to the door, Bryan and Tristan waited in the hall with Shanna as Kathryn whispered her thanks to Chakotay. "What did I ever do to deserve you?"
He chuckled as he leaned in to press a light kiss to her cheek. "I’ll show you later," he whispered in her ear and then left.
She shook her head and then turned back to Brianne who was now staring out the portal at the slowly passing stars. "I still haven’t gotten used to it. Sometimes I can become so engrossed with my work, whether it’s reports or patients, and I can walk into my quarters and the sight of stars streaking past my window stuns me." She smiled as she turned back to Kathryn, "But I love it, I knew I would when I chose the Atlantia as my first posting."
Kathryn smiled as she walked forward and retook her spot on the sofa, she motioned for Brianne to join her there. "I still can’t believe so much time has gone by. I guess a part of me was expecting that when we got back to Earth, I’d find a ten year old waiting for me."
"Well, that makes two of us that got shocked. I certainly wasn’t expecting a stepfather or brothers and sisters." But she smiled, "Though I think I can definitely get used to the idea. Gods, they’re adorable. And the boys are okay too," they laughed. Then Brianne’s expression turned serious, "I’ve only caught bits and pieces of what happened from various members of your crew as I treated them today, but I’d like to hear it from you. What happened mom? How did you end up stuck in the Delta Quadrant for 15 years?"
Lieutenant Tayib looked up from the data padd in his had, the computer terminal on the desk in his temporary quarters had beeped. It was a warning for an incoming transmission. He stood and walked to the desk, sitting down he turned the terminal on. He was surprised to find it was a message from Starfleet Command.
Incoming Transmission
Priority One From: Starfleet Command
To: Lieutenant Tayib
Current Status: Traveling aboard USS Ternova
Destination: DS12
Time spent Traveling: 7 weeks, 3 days
App. Travel Time Remaining: 5 weeks
New Orders: The USS Ternova will rendezvous with the transport vessel Vancouver. Your instructions are to board it and return to Earth immediately.
Reason: After 15 years of MIA status the USS Voyager has been found. The ship was detected by the USS Atlantia approximately 18 hours prior to this transmission. The following is a list of all surviving crewmembers aboard, the families of each member aboard alive or dead have been contacted and are asked to convene at Starfleet Headquarters in 3 days at 1300 hours. You will be reunited with missing family member upon your arrival to Earth in app. 7 weeks.
List of Surviving Voyager Crewmembers:
Captain Kathryn M. Janeway
Lieutenant Commander Harry Kim
Commander Tuvok
Thomas E. Paris
Integrated Maquis Rebels:
B’Elanna Torres
Chakotay
Natasha A. Kadith---
Tayib froze, the rest of the list passed by unnoticed, his eyes were stuck on one name, Chakotay. He stood and walked to the portal, how the hell was his brother’s name connected with Voyager, and how the hell had he gotten aboard that ship. Tayib had been told by Starfleet that his brother had been killed fifteen years ago by an accident in the Badlands. There had been no missing in action connected to his brother’s name. With a loud sigh Tayib walked over and accessed the rest of the report, he only had 3 hours before the scheduled rendezvous. With loud curse he began gathering his gear.
Brianne shook her head as she listened to the end of her mother’s tale, it all seem so unreal. She found it hard to believe that the guilty conscience of one dying being had resulted in her fifteen year separation from her mother. She believed every word of it, her mother would never lie to her, she was just finding the whole reunion overwhelming. That and the fact that every minute she spent with her mother was one closer to being disowned. She knew her mother would never forgive her for her carelessness. How was she supposed to explain to her mother the fact that she’d taken a complete stranger into her home and her bed. She was brought back by a hand on her shoulder. She blushed, she hadn’t noticed that her mother had asked her something. "I’m sorry Mom, what were you saying?"
"It’s alright, I was just asking about the rest of the family. Your grandmother and Aunt Phoebe, how are they?"
"The same as always. Grandma is appalled that I’ve chosen life on a starship, much less life in Starfleet period. Aunt Phoebe is drowning in work and kids, but of course Uncle Peter is always there to pick up the slack. Kristan is still studying Psychology at the University of Indiana, in fact she won a scholarship to study the next two years at the University of Betazed, everyone is thrilled. She’s leaving in two weeks." She smiled, thinking perhaps if she got her mother excited by her cousin’s good deeds the confrontation wouldn’t be as bad.
"I see," Kathryn was amused. She shook her head, "Don’t worry about your Grandmother, she was the same way with me. When I went back to Starfleet after Daddy’s death she threw a conniption fit." Kathryn smiled at her daughter wistfully, then placing a hand against her cheek she whispered, "Gods I want to hear everything, starting from the last time I saw you."
Brianne smiled as she took her mother’s hand and squeezed it. "There’s really not much to tell. For a long time I was in denial, I refused to listen to everyone tell me that you were dead. I buried my self in my school work, it was the only way to forget about the pain. And then later, when I had accepted that you weren’t coming back, I buried myself in further. I thought that somehow you were watching, that if I did well enough you’d be proud. I worked hard enough to earn early acceptance into the Academy, I flew right through. It was easy, I didn’t make many friends, I didn’t have any distractions. I was afraid to let people get to close. I had Grandma and Aunt Phoebe, but it wasn’t the same. In my world I was all alone. I think," She arched an amused brow, "that I always wanted to be a doctor, to heal people. So after the Academy I applied to Starfleet Medical, and was accepted." She laughed, "You know if you’d gotten home just 8 and a half weeks earlier you could have seen me give my Salutatorian address." Then she frowned, "And perhaps certain other things wouldn’t have happened." Beneath the angry frown there was a touch of regret, pain.
Kathryn caught it immediately and frowned. "What certain other things?"
Brianne frowned, it was coming, she wasn’t going to be able to hold it off any longer. "Well for starters, Mark Johnson. He showed up at my door after the graduation ceremonies, said he wanted to get to know me." She sighed and shook her head, "Actually, I’m glad you weren’t there, I didn’t handle it very well."
This brought a concerned look from her mother, "What happened Bri?" But inside, she was seething, she’d deal with Johnson in her own way.
Brianne shook her head, "I lost my temper, I was very rude. I threw him out of my apartment." She stood up and walked over to stare out the star port again. "I have no intention of ever letting that man into my life, but I could have handled the situation better."
Kathryn smiled and moved over to stand behind her daughter, "I don’t know, I probably would have done the same." She placed her hands on Brianne’s shoulders. "There is something else that’s bothering you. Tell me what is?"
"That was also the night I made probably the biggest mistake of my life." She shut her eyes tightly, trying to ward off the tears that threatened. "I was so angry that I went out. I was just going to go for a walk to settle my temper, but I ended up stopping into a local bar as well. I met this guy who was so---I don’t know how to explain it, I felt as though I had known him my whole life. We went for a walk and talked about our families. I told him about you, Mark, and then he told me about his brother. We talked about everything and nothing, our careers, dreams, and plans." She sank down into a nearby chair, she refused to meet them, but knew her mother’s blue eyes were starring at her. "I let him walk me back to my apartment, we made plans to meet for dinner later that week, and then I let him kiss me." Kathryn knelt in front of her, she frowned at the tears that slid down her daughter’s face. "But it didn’t stop there, the next thing I knew, I was waking up beside him." She buried her face in her hands.
Kathryn smiled reassuringly, "Oh Bri, you’re not the first woman to give into the charms of a handsome man. And you definitely won’t be the last to wake up beside him the next morning. It happens sweetie, to tell you the truth, before you were born I did it a few times myself." She took her daughter’s hands and tried to look into her face.
Brianne’s deadpan eyes met Kathryn’s reassuring one, "I’m pregnant." There she’d said it, whatever happened, happened.
Kathryn froze, then her eyes widened in disbelief. "You’re pregnant?" She received a slow nod. She started to say something about understanding what Brianne was feeling right now, but was stopped by the torrent of emotions that suddenly escaped her daughter.
"I’m sorry," Brianne sobbed, "please don’t hate me, I didn’t mean for it to happen." She hugged her middle and then began to rock back and forth as the sobs shook her body. "I didn’t mean to mess up everything, don’t hate me Momma, please don’t hate me."
Kathryn shook her head vigorously as she took the young woman into her arms. "Brianne, no, I could never..." She pulled back and forced her daughter to look into her eyes. "Look at me, I could never hate you. You haven’t messed anything up. Sweetheart, believe me, I know how you feel right now." She rose to sit on the arm of the chair and pull Brianne against her. "So you’re pregnant, so what. That doesn’t mean you’ve ruined your career, or your life. I wasn’t exactly married when I had you. That didn’t ruin anything for me, and I had your grandmother," she lifted Brianne’s face, "and you’ll have me." She smiled, "And you wouldn’t believe what incredible babysitters Bryan and Tristan are." That drew a smile from Brianne. Kathryn wiped the tears from the younger woman’s face, "That is, I’m assuming you’ve decided to keep this baby?" Her daughter nodded in reply. "And the father, Bri, I know this is none of my business, don’t be afraid to tell me so."
Brianne shook her head, "No, I’m so glad you’re here, actually I was afraid to tell you. Besides me, you’re the only one who knows. The father doesn’t know yet, I’m not sure I’m going to tell him. You see, he’s in Starfleet also, and was being assigned to DS12. I have no way of knowing where he is. I don’t know if he’s still on Earth or in transit. It takes 12 weeks just to get there."
Kathryn smiled and shrugged, "This is every bit of your decision, but this man does have a right to know that he is going to be a father."
Brianne nodded, "I know."
Brianne spent the three-day trip to Earth aboard Voyager, where she got to know Chakotay and her younger siblings. She also got the chance to get to know her mother all over again, and vice versa. They learned that Brianne was indeed a lot like her mother, they had the same fondness for coffee, and the same crankiness when deprived of it, which Brianne was now. They also learned they had the same tendency to work now, eat later. Brianne was told the story of New Earth, and how her mother had fought Chakotay at first, but had finally given in to him, 5 years into their trek across the unknown quadrant. She was shown the secret of telling her sisters apart, it was a tiny mole on the girls’ faces. It lay at the corner of Kayla’s right eye, and Shanna’s left eye. Kathryn and Chakotay had discovered it hours after their birth, and now it was their personalities that separated them to the family. Brianne would learn them in time.
It took only two days for her to become integrated back into her mother’s life, it was like they’d never been separated at all. The two enjoyed ganging up on Chakotay, it was quickly becoming their favorite past time. The peak of the reunion came on the morning of the third day. The family had just finished breakfast, and Chakotay had drug a large chest out of his and Kathryn’s closet. He and the children had left shortly afterward to allow mother and daughter to open it together. Brianne had been stunned, in the chest were fifteen years worth of birthday and Christmas gifts. Several of the gifts amounted to little more than long letters, written by Kathryn to Brianne. They’d both cried as Brianne had opened each and ever gift, and read each letter. If she’d had any doubt that her mother had thought about her everyday of their separation, she could abandon it now. It was a moment both would cherish for years to come.
Those three days went by too quickly, Brianne was allowed leave as part of Starfleet’s plan to reunite Voyager’s crew with their families. However, most of Kathryn’s time was spent not with her own family, but in briefings. She and several others spent days before a contingency of Admirals, convincing them that the former Maquis members of Voyager’s crew deserved a full pardon. It took 5 weeks, but it finally happened. Chakotay and the others were granted full pardons and allowed to remain in the service of Starfleet at their current rank.
During these weeks Kathryn’s mother and sister and her family, had gotten the chance to get to know Kathryn’s four younger children, as well as learn the news of Brianne’s pending motherhood. The news was received well, though it was quite a shock. After her triumph with Starfleet Command, Kathryn was able to return to the home in which she’d been raised and celebrate with her now finally whole family.
"Oh gods, the power of a name." Brianne groaned as she slumped over against her mother. She was now fifteen weeks pregnant, her belly was just beginning to swell, and her mother, at her request, was helping her come up with possible names. "Why must I choose a name, why not just call the baby, Hey You, or better yet, Child."
Kathryn laughed, "Because I don’t want my grandchild being scarred for life," she froze suddenly, as if something had finally settled in. "Oh my god." Her eyes widened and she looked at Brianne, "I’m too young to be a grandmother."
Then they both burst into giggles, the first time Kathryn had said that, the realization had been real. It had been the second night they’d spent together aboard Voyager and they’d been having tea with Chakotay. Kathryn had nearly fainted when it had finally struck her that she was indeed going to be a grandmother. Of course Chakotay had nearly suffocated because he’d been laughing so hard, and it had been Brianne that had come to her mother’s rescue, "Don’t laugh too hard old man, that means you are going to be a grandfather, by all rights you are now a member of my family." She’d shut him up in a hurry, now it was a family joke, Chakotay and Kathryn going on and on about being too young to be grandparents.
Brianne sighed heavily, "Alright I’ll name him, or her, or whatever it is." That brought on another fit of giggles. "Let’s see, if its a girl, hmmmm. This would be easier if you hadn’t had so many kids, you took all the good names. Oww!" She rubbed the spot on her shoulder where Kathryn had swatted her. "Okay, okay, okay, but you know. It isn’t my fault that you and Chakotay didn’t know the meaning of abstinence." This time she jerked away in time to miss Kathryn’s flying hand. "Seriously though, if its a girl, I think, definitely... Kate, hmmm I’ll call her Katie. And if it’s a boy, this is the hard one." She frowned, and pretended not to notice the pleased look on her mother’s face. "Eric?" She looked at her mother for approval.
Kathryn nodded, "I like those."
"Alright, Katie and Eric it is. But you know, its still so early they’ll both probably be changed several times." She laughed at the face her mother made at her, and ducked the data padd that was being thrown at her head. At the sound of someone knocking on the door Brianne stood, "I’ll get it, might as well, if I stay here someone will kill me." There was a loud clang as another data padd hit the wall behind her and her mother’s laughter followed her into the large foyer of the huge Indiana farmhouse. Brianne giggled softly, it was great that they could be like this, it was how she’d always imagined it would be, an adult relationship with her mother where they were friends first, and parent/child second. She was still laughing as she opened the door, but soon stopped. Her eyes widened and she slumped forward.
Tayib’s eyes widened as the door opened. He had been given this address by Starfleet, it was where he was told he would find his brother, but he’d never expected the woman from his dreams to be standing on the other side of the door. He heard her small cry, and acted quickly, catching her as she slumped forward into his arms. He held her against him gently and hesitated a moment before stepping into the house. He was shutting the door with his foot as an older woman came around the corner.
"Brianne, who’s at the door?" She stopped when she saw him holding her. She stepped forward quickly, concern in her voice. "What happened?"
"She fainted." Tayib opted not to mention that it was because of him. "Where can I lay her down?"
The woman turned and motioned for him to follow her, "In here, on the sofa." She watched as he lay the unconscious form on the sofa. "Thank you, I’m sorry, I didn’t catch your name. I’m Kathryn, this is my daughter Brianne, I’m sure she will be grateful to you."
"My name is Tayib, and Brianne and I have already met." He smiled, his dimpled face wistful as he gazed at her.
"I see, was she expecting you? I should probably warn you, she may be a little embarrassed when she comes to, I wasn’t aware she was still having fits of dizziness." She smiled as she sat beside her daughter and started to bring her back to consciousness.
Tayib shook his head, "No, she wasn’t expecting me, we haven’t seen each other in weeks. Actually I was given this address by a Starfleet Admiral. I was told I might locate my brother here." Blue eyes widened as they met his.
Kathryn froze and looked up, "Tayib, I should have recognized the name. I apologize, you’re Chakotay’s younger brother." She stood, "He’s out back, I can show you the way."
Tayib followed her through the large living room, into the kitchen and out the sliding doors into the back yard. "Chakotay?" he heard her call out, and then a large figure appeared from the side of the house. Tayib stopped walking.
"Yes Kathryn?" He stopped when he saw the young man with her.
"You have a visitor, Love." She smiled at both men then turned and went back inside the house. She was greeted in the kitchen by a now fully conscious Brianne.
She frowned, her daughter was sitting at the kitchen table, her head buried in her hands repeating over and over, "This isn’t happening, how did he find me?" Brianne looked up at her mother with troubled green eyes, "How did he find me here?"
Kathryn shook her head and shrugged, "I don’t know what you mean. If you’re talking about our guest he’s out in the back yard with his brother, Chakotay."
Brianne’s head dropped back into her hands, "Oh gods!" She groaned loudly, letting her head fall from her hands to bang against the table.
Kathryn rolled her eyes as she sat beside her, "Sweetheart, what is wrong?" She rubbed her daughter’s shoulders.
"Mom, you don’t understand. That’s him, Tayib, that’s the father of my baby."
She stood and began to pace the length of the kitchen. Kathryn just sat still, her eyes following Brianne’s procession around the room. "This really isn’t happening. I can not believe the mess that I’ve gotten myself into."
Kathryn stood and moved over to stop her daughter’s babbling. "Brianne calm down, it really isn’t that bad."
"Calm down? CALM DOWN!" Brianne’s eyes widened, "How the hell am I supposed to calm down! The father of my child, is also my uncle! And you want me to CALM DOWN!?!"
Kathryn blinked, "Alright, Number one, don’t ever use that tone of voice with me Brianne Elizabeth Janeway. Number two, this is not going to be one of our infamous my life is over conversations, and Number three, I don’t give a damn if Tayib is the father of your child, but he is Chakotay’s brother. However, because Chakotay and I are married that does not mean that Tayib has any relevant relation to you. So yes I want you to calm down." Kathryn took a deep breath and then smiled at her daughter, "Bri, had Chakotay and I gotten married while still in the Alpha Quadrant this would be a different conversation we’d be having. You and Tayib had no idea that you had any connection to each other when he spent the night in your bed. You had no idea that your mother was married to his brother. If you had, you wouldn’t have slept together. But you did, and he’s going to have to be told that you’re carrying his child. But the connection you may share now through my marriage to Chakotay has no bearing on your connection with him through that child. Understand?" Brianne nodded, "Good, now explain it to me. Because I think I just confused the hell out of myself."
Brianne opened her mouth to comment but was cut off by Chakotay.
"Kathryn, what have I told you about that, you know how dangerous it is when you become confused. Bad things start to happen." He looked at Brianne, mock serious, "She once let Neelix play doctor, and then let the Doctor play with the phaser array." He began to back up as Kathryn stepped toward him, her intent very clear by the butcher knife she’d retrieved from the counter... murder.
"Kathryn," he said sweetly as his back came into contact with the wall, "please don’t kill me, it would be terrible for you to have to raise four young children all by yourself."
She stopped inches from him, "You know, you’re right. Okay, I won’t kill you, but I do intend to punish you justly." She slid the knife across the table to Brianne, then pressed her body tightly against him. She smiled wickedly as she slid her hands slowly up his chest. "You may be wondering what I have in mind," her voice was thick with desire, "but I’m only going to say one thing." She paused dramatically, "Sofa." She placed light kiss on the tip of his nose and then stepped away from him and walked over to take a seat at the table.
Chakotay made a hurt face then walked over to stand beside his brother, his head hung slightly. He pointed to Brianne, "Well since I’m introducing them in order of importance, this is my stepdaughter Brianne."
They spoke in unison, "We’ve already met." Tay smiled, then looked to where Kathryn sat, a smug smile on her face.
Chakotay nodded his head in her direction, "And the vixen at the table used to be my wife."
Kathryn snorted, "I’m still his wife, though the reason escapes me."
Chakotay narrowed his eyes at her, "This is my brother, Tayib."
He nodded to her, "It is nice to meet you, my sister."
Kathryn arched her eyebrows at Chakotay, then stuck her tongue out at him. "If you weren’t sleeping on the sofa tonight...." she trailed off, "oh the possibilities." Then she stood and moved to walk past him.
With an evil gleam in his eye Chakotay grabbed her arm and pulled her tightly against him. He ignored the fact that they weren’t alone as he lowered his head and kissed her. He purposefully ran his hands down her back to cup, and then pull her hips tightly against him. All the while his tongue swept deeply within her mouth. Then he pulled back, and smiled wickedly, "If I weren’t sleeping on the sofa tonight we’d finish that...." then he turned to lead Tayib into the other room, "Oh the possibilities."
Kathryn growled at his retreating form, "We’ll see, Commander." She narrowed her eyes at the laughing form of her daughter. "You know, the trick is, to make him think he’s sleeping on the sofa. Then flirt with him all day, get him all nice and, ahem depressed. Then you help him make up the sofa, let him lay there a couple of hours, then go down and drag him back up to bed and discuss the possibilities." She waggled her eyebrows as she followed the men into the other room.
Brianne shook her head and muttered to herself, "She’s never punished the poor man, she can’t stand it, its like punishing herself."
She got up to follow the trio but was stopped short, "I heard that, young lady." Brianne shook her head and laughed.
Chakotay smiled as Kathryn sat on the arm of the chair he occupied, "I was just telling Tay about the kids."
She smiled tenderly at him before turning to his brother. "They’re spending the day with my sister and her family, but should be home later this evening. You will stay for dinner won’t you?"
Tay looked over her shoulder at Brianne, "I don’t know..."
Brianne smiled, "Please do. I’d like that, and we do need to talk."
He smiled back, "Alright, then I’ll stay."
"Good," Kathryn said as she stood, "My mother does all the cooking around here, but she’s currently visiting my niece on Betazed. So it’s Chakotay who’s doing dinner tonight." She looked at him meaningfully, "And he needs to get started."
He rolled his eyes and mumbled something under his breath, but he stood and followed her to the kitchen, grabbing her just before they reached the door and laughing maniacally.
Brianne rolled her eyes and laughed, "Do they never stop," she spoke to herself.
Tayib answered, "Obviously not, they do have four children." He watched her for a minute, playing with the hem of her light blue sweater. "How have you been?"
"I’ve been okay." She smiled weakly then stood and walked over to the window. "How about you?"
Tay stood and walked over to stand behind her, "I’ve been okay." He placed his hands on her shoulders, "I’ve thought about you. Brianne--"
"Tayib--"
They both laughed. Brianne turned to face him as she’d spoken his name, now Tayib brushed a stray lock from her braid behind her ear. "You go first," he whispered.
"I wanted to apologize for leaving you alone the way I did." She looked away, "I really should have stayed that morning, so we could have at least said good bye."
He nodded, "But I understand why you did it. I’m sorry, that night should not have happened. But I don’t regret it, not anymore. It shouldn’t have happened so soon, but it would have eventually." He let his hand rest against her cheek. "I know things are different now, they’re a little more complicated, but I’d like for us to get to know each other better. I don’t want us setting certain parameters, and saying we aren’t going to let certain things happen before they happen. I just want us to take it one day at a time, let it develop naturally, if it happens it happens, if it doesn’t, then it doesn’t."
He waited for an answer, his eyes were full of hope, but he had no idea just how complicated things were. Brianne closed her eyes and let herself enjoy his touch, she wasn’t sure how much longer she’d have it. "Tay, there’s too much going on that you don’t know about. I wanted to wait, tell you this after dinner but..."
"But what?" he frowned, suddenly concerned. "You mother mentioned you’d been having problems with dizziness." His eyes widened, "Are you ill?"
She shook her head, "No, Tay I’m not ill. I’m pregnant." She walked past him to sit in her favorite large chair. "I hadn’t told you yet because I wasn’t sure where you were. I knew you were supposed to be sent to DS12, but I didn’t know when." She waited as he absorbed what she was saying.
He frowned then stepped over to kneel in front of her, "You’re saying that you are carrying my child?" He looked away for a second, "Well of course you are, you’d never been with anyone before me, and you’re not the type to... well never mind." He starred at her, "That explains the dizziness, and the fainting. That does complicate things." He stood and walked around the room, "Does anyone know that it’s mine?"
"My mother does, I told her today, while you were outside with Chakotay." She snorted and rolled her eyes, "And if I know mom, she’s telling Chakotay right now."
Tayib nodded, "I’m not sure what to say. I mean, I know what I want to say, but I don’t want to make things harder on you."
She smiled at him, "Just say it, my life can’t be any harder than it already is."
"Then I will, like I said earlier, I don’t regret that night." He knelt in front of her again. "This doesn’t change anything, I still want to get to know you Brianne, now more than ever. And if you’ll let me, I do want to be apart of this child’s life, but the decision is yours, and I’ll go along with it." He waited, his happiness in the palm of her hands.
She nodded slowly, "I would never keep you from your child, I want this baby to have a father. I’d like to get to know you Tay, but I can’t make you any promises."
He smiled as he took her hand, "Well that’s a beginning isn’t it."
"Chakotay, would you stop it." Kathryn growled softly as his hand slid under the front of her blouse. Even as she admonished him she leaned back against his chest. "Please, stop, what if someone walks in?"
"What are you worried about, being seen with the enemy, or being ravished in the kitchen. Really I don’t know what you’re afraid of we used to do this in turbolifts aboard Voyager."
She moaned as his hand came into contact with her breast, "Yes, but... oh gods!" his other hand was sliding the zipper of her jeans open, then he reached inside. "Chakotay," she whispered his name as his lips moved along the side of her neck.
"Yes love?" he murmured against her ear.
She was about to say something but was stopped by the clearing of an onlooker’s throat from the kitchen door. Her eyes widened and she was suddenly thankful that Chakotay’s back was to the door, shielding her. Quickly she stepped away from him and refastened her jeans. Then she turned and smiled at Tay and Brianne, trying to ignore the knowing smirk on her daughter’s face, oh, you’re going to pay for this later Chakotay. "So did you two get reacquainted?"
Brianne smiled and stepped into the room, "Yes we did, I told Tay about the baby, and we’ve decided that we want to get to know each other better."
Tay walked over to place a hand in the small of her back, "Yes, and regardless of what happens I intend to be apart of my child’s life." He smiled at Brianne, "We’re going to start by having dinner later this week. I guess you could call it a date."
Brianne smiled and gave her mother a look that said, "Don’t start."
Chakotay put his arms around Kathryn’s waist and pulled her back against him, "Good, I’m glad you two are going to try to work things out, one way or another."
Kathryn nodded in agreement, then turned and looked at Chakotay, "I’m starving, why don’t you make yourself useful and cook."
He smiled sweetly at his wife, "Why don’t you make yourself useful and use the replicator?"
"Because I have you." She stood on tiptoe and brushed a light kiss against his lips, then pushed him toward the stove, "Now cook!" Brianne and Tay looked at each other and rolled their eyes.
Chakotay chuckled as his wife slowly straddled his lap, "You’re in a good mood this evening." They were sitting on the sofa in the main living area, everyone else was upstairs in bed, except for Tay and Brianne who were on a date. "Mind if I ask why?" He lifted an eyebrow as her hands slid up his chest, her lips working their way up the side of his neck. He smiled when her hands cupped his face and she leaned in for a lingering kiss.
She shrugged as she pulled back and began playing with the buttons on his shirt, slowly unfastening each one. "I’m just in a good mood, if you don’t know why, then that’s your problem." She smile wryly then leaned over to kiss her way down his chest, slowly pushing the shirt aside as she did so.
He shifted, moving so that she had better access to his skin. "Would it have anything to do with the fact that Tay and Brianne are on their third date in as many weeks?" His head fell back as her tongue moved slowly across his skin. Again, his answer was a shrug, "Or would it have something to do with Brianne’s doctor visit this afternoon? You know something you’re not telling me, don’t you."
She looked up then and smiled, "You could say that." She pressed closer to him, her arms sliding around his neck. "You know, I’ve been thinking, and we’ve talked about this, but I finally made a decision. I’m not going back to Starfleet. Frankly their offers haven’t been good enough. I can’t command a starship and still spend enough time with my family, and with you not going back also, it would kill me to be without you. I’m not going to accept their desk job either, you and I both know that I’d never be happy doing that. I thought about teaching, but when it comes right down to it Chakotay, I want to stay home and get to know my babies. I missed so much aboard Voyager, and the twins are still so young, I’d like to be able to raise them in a home where mom is never too busy to listen to a problem."
Chakotay smiled as he stroked a hand against her cheek, "I understand." He leaned forward to kiss her, "So this is the reason for the good mood? Kathryn Janeway makes a major career decision."
She smiled broadly, "That’s part of it." She resettled herself in his lap, so that she was lying across his legs, her head leaning against his chest. "You could also say it had something to do with Brianne’s doctor visit this afternoon."
"Oh? So you do know something you’re not telling me. What? Brianne is 5 months pregnant now, did she finally decide to let the doctor tell her what the sex was?" He waited, but didn’t get an answer. "Kathryn?"
"No, nothing like that. Especially considering it wasn’t really Brianne’s doctor visit." A smile slowly spread across her face while she waited for him to catch on. "Actually it was mine."
Chakotay stopped, and frowned. He lifted Kathryn’s face, and could see the amusement dancing in her eyes. "Why would you..." His eyes widened, Kathryn laughed at the expression. "Kathryn?"
She smiled as she sat up, "Remember when we first got back, and the Doctor’s program was still off-line? I missed my booster, and you said I was playing with fire? Because when the twins were born the Doctor told us we still had 10 years to worry about, it was the reason I went on the suppression boosters in the first place." She waited for him to realize what she was saying. "Remember, that night I said, yeah right, like that’s going to happen again? Well, I was wrong, it happened."
He stared at her, "Kathryn, are you telling me that you’re pregnant? Again?"
She nodded, "Yes." She smiled, "But it isn’t like last time, I mean, yes we have to worry about complications. I’m not exactly a young woman, but... Oh Chakotay, it isn’t like we have a ship to run. We actually have the time now to have as many children as we want, and yes we should draw the line somewhere, but please say something." She was starring at him, a frightened look on her face.
"What do you want me to say, I’m a little shocked. Weren’t you the one who said we were NEVER doing this again?" He absently played with a lock of her hair.
She shrugged, "I know but, I wasn’t exactly expecting to get pregnant again either." She pulled herself out of his lap and stood before him, "Chakotay, I really want this baby. And I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t scared witless, because I am."
He stood before her, "Kathryn," he noticed she was trembling and pulled her into his arms, "you know how I feel about our children, of course I want this baby too." He lifted her face to look into her eyes, "Everything is going to be alright, it always is." He shook his head and laughed, "What am I going to do with you?"
She smiled against his shoulder, "You could always start by taking me upstairs, and finishing what I started." Her answer was to be lifted into his strong arms, he cradled her against him for a few minutes before going up the stairs.
Brianne laughed, she and Tay were laying on a blanket under the old willow tree. It had been her favorite spot as a child, still was really. They were laughing at her mother and Chakotay, she’d just told Tay the news about the impending arrival of her newest sibling. "I don’t know where she finds the energy, I’m having a difficult time resigning myself to the prospect of raising just one child." Her hand rested against the swell of her stomach. "I can’t believe this is going to be her sixth."
Tay laughed, "I can, where Chakotay and I come from, big families were a normal occurrence, though they usually weren’t had at your mother’s age." He arched a brow, "And Chakotay isn’t all that young himself." His answer was a laugh and a nod. He watched her, her hair pooled around her head, left loose to fly in the late night breeze. He frowned when she sat up suddenly and reached for his hand.
"Oh my god, you gotta feel this." She pressed his hand against her belly, "Do feel it?" Her eyes were wide with wonderment.
Tay’s own eyes widened when he felt the fluttering beneath his hand, "It moved, I actually felt it move."
Brianne nodded and laughed at the look on his face, "I felt the same way the first time I felt it. It still catches me off guard sometimes." Her eyes shifted from his face, his hand was now caressing her cheek. He inched closer to her, leaning forward until their lips met. One of his hands buried itself in her hair as the other slid around her waist, pulling her closer to him. "Gods, do you know how beautiful you are. I thought about you every day, you have no idea how hard it was for me to walk away."
Brianne ran a hand through his hair, smoothing the stray locks away from his face. "Yes I do, it was just as hard for me to leave you that morning. I’m so glad you're here." She whispered it against his lips before parting them with her tongue.
His tongue dipped into her mouth, tasting its depths like he wanted to devour her. It was like he’d been dying of thirst and she was his fountain, he couldn’t get enough of her. Tay moaned deeply, and his hands began to snake upwards in an exploration. They slid across the swell of her abdomen, and stopped just below her breasts, only barely touching her. Brianne bit his lip in response to his tease, and her hips ground roughly against his growing arousal. Tay growled softly and pulled her tighter against him, his teeth pulling against her lower lip before thrusting his tongue back into her mouth and savagely tasting its depths again. His hand began to caress her breasts, softly, aware of the tenderness of the swollen mounds.
Brianne tore at his shirt, her nails raked roughly across his chest as her teeth grazed against his neck. She moved her hands down across his abdomen to the top of the pants he wore. She unfastened them then slid her hands inside. Tay pulled back then, looking into her eyes, "Bri, are you sure?"
Brianne nodded as she unfastened them and slid her hands inside, "I’m sure." She took his mouth again, her tongue moving along side his in an erotic dance. She moved her hands across his hips, the sides of his thighs, then she moved them around to grip his tight butt as he moved his teeth across her throat to nibble on her ear. With one hand she pushed them down his body, the other she slid inside his briefs. Tay moaned deeply as her hand came in contact with his throbbing flesh. Brianne began to tease his flesh, running her hand along its length, then she ran her nails along its length. Brianne growled playfully and pushed his pants and briefs down his body, he aided her in removing them completely.
Tay moved slowly over her body, his hands sliding beneath her sweater to gently caress her breasts before removing the offending clothing. He bent his head, and pressed his lips just above the clasp in the front of her bra. Unclasping the bra, his lips trailed lower across her stomach, pausing on the swell of her abdomen. He kissed her tenderly, silently thanking his ancestors for the gifts he’d been given. Then he moved lower, stopping just at the waist of the leggings she wore. He looked into her eyes, checking for any signs of regret, or that she’d changed her mind. Finding none, he slid the leggings and her underwear down her legs, then discarded them.
Brianne moved her legs upward against his, her thighs cradling him between them. He took her mouth against his as hand moved down her body, he slid it across her hips and down her thigh. Then he brought it back up her thigh and across her abdomen. Brianne's body arched against him as his hand slid lower. Tay's hand slid into the wet folds, his fingers sliding against the taut nub of nerves. Brianne's body arched, a cry escaping her throat as her thighs tightened against his body. Tay began to move his hand against her, sliding his fingers around, across, and against the taut bud. Shooting spikes of pleasure shot through her body, causing her to tremble beneath him. She raked her nails across his back drawing a deep moan from his throat, but his hand continued it's torturous movement.
Brianne writhed beneath him, her body trembling as she wrapped her legs around his waist, drawing his aroused flesh against her aching center. Brianne cried out as Tay teased her aroused flesh, he kept her dangling on the edge, but was not allowing her fall over it's edge. His own body ached as she thrust her hips against him, the tip of his arousal just barely slipping into the opening of her hot sheath. He moaned, as her nails bit into his back once again, her hips ground against him in impatience.
Tay slid further into her, his fingers pressing against her aroused flesh. He drew the taut nub between his fingers and squeezed it, then he began to move it between his fingers. Brianne’s body jumped as the sensations shot through her trembling body. Tay entered her fully then, her sheath holding him tightly within its heat. Brianne moved her hands to grip his butt, in an effort to pull him further into her. He began to move within her, his hand never withdrawing from its delighted torture. Brianne felt the burning ache growing stronger within her, and she began to grind her hips against him, her nails biting into the flesh of his butt. Tay rested his head against hers, he could feel the same growing ache within himself.
Tay thrust harder within her, his fingers squeezing and caressing the taut nub still. Brianne felt herself soaring higher, Tay going with her, soon she was unsure of where she ended and he began. Tay continued to thrust into her, sweat glistened on his back and brow. He began to move his fingers against the taut nub in a harder caress, moving them faster as he began to thrust faster. Brianne wrapped her arms tightly around his neck as her the ache at the center of her body exploded. Her walls began to tighten, constricting around him. His thrusts grew harder, quicker as his own release grew closer. Within a few more thrusts he was soaring with her over the edge, his release spilling into her depths. They collapsed together, their bodies completely spent, chests heaving.
Tay pulled Brianne against his chest and held her tightly, "Are you alright?" he spoke softly. She nodded against his chest, then snuggled closer to him. He felt her shiver in the cool night air. "Come on, get dressed, I’ll take you back up to the house." She nodded and smiled, then kissed him before she started retrieving her scattered garments.
The walk back up to the main house took only a few minutes. They walked slowly, arms around each other’s waists. At the back door Tay started to kiss her goodnight but Brianne shook her head. Motioning him to be quiet she took his hand and led him into the big house. They crept slowly through kitchen and the living room, and then proceeded quietly up the staircase. When the reached the top she smiled at him and then lead him to her room. The only sound made was the faint rustling of clothes being removed and discarded, then they laid down together and slept, holding each other through out the night.
They woke to the smell of breakfast being cooked. Brianne snuggled closer to Tay, her head resting on his shoulder, she smiled as his hand moved along her thigh, pulling her still closer. Her leg was thrown across his, her arm draped across his chest. With a twinkle in her eyes she began moving her hand along his chest, tracing the outline of each muscle. Tay smiled, the same twinkle mirrored in his own eyes. "How long do you think we’ll have before someone comes up here to wake you?"
Brianne grinned, "About an hour. Longer if we’re lucky." She squealed as she suddenly found herself pinned to the bed, Tay slowly lowering himself over her. Her last coherent thought as Tay began moving his hands over her body was that she could definitely get used to waking up to this, and this man.
Brianne and Tay were greeted with the sounds of laughter as they entered the kitchen. Chakotay was standing at the stove and her mother, with the help of the twins, was setting the table. Brianne smiled at the scene before her, Chakotay placing a kiss on her mom’s cheek as he sat a basket of freshly baked croissants on the table. Brianne’s eyes met Tay’s as they waited to be noticed. It was finally Kayla and Shanna that noticed them first. The two girls squealed and ran toward them. Brianne knelt down to hug Shanna tightly as Kayla was twirled around the room by Tay. Brianne giggled at the little girl’s squeals of delight.
Kathryn smiled at her husband, it didn’t take a genius to realize that Tayib had spent the night. The couple’s looks and actions told Kathryn plenty, as well as the fact that Tay was wearing the same outfit he’d worn the night before when he’d picked Brianne up for their date. Kathryn quickly set another place at the table for Tay, the look in her eyes clearly telling Brianne that they would talk later. "You two are just in time. Breakfast is ready, go ahead and take a seat."
Brianne looked around the spacious kitchen as she and Tay took their seats. "Where are the others?" Bryan, Tristan and her grandmother were missing this morning.
Kathryn grinned, "Bryan and Tristan are spending the day with Tom and B’Elanna and their kids. Your grandmother is visiting a friend in Boston. The boys will be back late this evening some time and your grandmother won’t be home until tomorrow afternoon."
Brianne nodded slowly, "Aren’t you two house hunting today?"
Kathryn shrugged and as she settled the twins into their seats then took her own. "We were going to, but I really didn’t want to take the girls." She looked over her shoulder at Chakotay, "We were just talking about postponing it until later this week."
Brianne exchanged a look with Tay, who addressed his sister-in-law for the first time that morning, "If you like, Bri and I could watch the girls for you today." He arched a brow at Brianne in question, she nodded her approval.
Kathryn looked at Chakotay who was now taking a seat beside her, "What do you think?"
He smiled at his brother, and then his wife, "I think it’s a great idea, if you two really don’t mind."
The younger couple shook their heads, "Alright then," he looked back at Kathryn, "we’re house hunting today."
Brianne grinned at her mother, "So where are you two off to today?" Kathryn and Chakotay had been searching for a home for the last few weeks. Though Gretchen was content to have them stay with her, they really needed a place of their own.
"Actually," Kathryn began, "we were going to go back to take another look at that house in Montana. I really liked it, and so did Chakotay."
"So, this may be the one?" Tay smiled at Brianne, with Chakotay and his family moving into a house of their own, Brianne would be free to go back to her apartment. This meant more privacy for their newly discovered relationship.
Chakotay grinned, he knew what his younger brother was thinking. "Yes, this could be the one, its about time. We’ve been searching for weeks, and with Kathryn pregnant again, I really want to get this brood settled some place permanent." He exchanged a tender look with his wife, the thought of their unborn child both thrilled, and terrified them.
Brianne chuckled, "I agree, you’d better hurry before that nesting instinct kicks in. Truthfully, I’ve been thinking about moving back to my apartment. I’d really like to start some time this next week. Tay has offered to help, I really just want to get settled back in there before I get too large to do anything. I’m sure the place needs to be cleaned."
Kathryn nodded, a twinkle in her eyes, "I can understand that feeling."
The rest of the morning passed slowly, Brianne and Tay offered to clear away the breakfast dishes while Kathryn and Chakotay got ready for their outing. After they’d finally gone, Brianne and Tay took the girls out for a walk through the fields. The afternoon went by splendidly. Brianne laughed as Tay ran through the fields after the twins, and teased when they’d tackled him to the ground. The afternoon ended with a small picnic under the old willow tree Brianne and her mother loved so dearly. When the group arrived back at the house they found Kathryn and Chakotay waiting triumphantly for them. It seemed they’d finally decided on a home, the house in Montana was perfect for them. It had five bedrooms, a large master suite for Kathryn and Chakotay with a smaller room next door that was perfect for a nursery. A room across the hall that they’d put the twins in, and two rooms at the opposite end of the hall that Bryan and Tristan could fight over. It also had a moderate sized kitchenette, a large dining room that would be wonderful for dinner parties, as well as a huge living room, and den that Kathryn could lock herself away in when she felt the need to get away from it all. The house truly was perfect for them, and they’d be moving in within the month.
Kathryn and Chakotay rushed through the large Starfleet Hospital, they’d just arrived and were headed straight for the maternity floor. They’d gotten the call an hour earlier from Tay, who had been living with Brianne in San Francisco for the last two months, at 8 months Brianne was in labor. The call had come in the middle of the night, the rest of the family would be informed the following morning. Kathryn and Chakotay had left the kids with her mother, who was now anxiously waiting for the final announcement, girl or boy.
They were met outside the delivery room by Tay who was waiting for them. "She’s okay, just a little tired. I only have a few minutes, she’s almost fully dilated, I just wanted to make sure you guys got here in time." The emotions he was feeling were clearly displayed on his face, excitement and fear.
"Do me a favor," Kathryn smiled at him, "Remember that no matter what she says to you, how many times she screams that this is all your fault, she doesn’t really mean it." She laughed at him, then looked at Chakotay, "Brianne has my temper, and I have a feeling she’s going to be doing a lot of swearing." Her eyes rested on Tay once again, "And it will all be directed at you, and most of it will be vows that she’s never going to let you touch her again."
Chakotay laughed, "She’s right, but the main thing to remember. Just smile and nod, go along with whatever she says. And don’t forget to duck." He grunted when his wife’s elbow found his ribs.
Tay rolled his eyes, "Thanks, you really know how to make a guy feel good. I already feel horrible, she’s been cranky and in labor all day, she just didn’t tell me until the last minute, and then it was time to bring her here."
Chakotay nodded as he looped his arms around Kathryn’s waist and pulled her back against him, his hands resting on her swollen middle. "It happens. We’ll wait out here, go on back to Bri." Chakotay chuckled, his younger brother didn’t have to be told a second time, he’d smiled gratefully then turned and headed back through the large double doors. Shaking his head he pulled Kathryn over to a seat, at 6 months pregnant the doctors had ordered her to rest as much as possible. The doctors reported that she was perfectly healthy, but at her age anything could happen.
"Okay Brianne, we are just about ready to begin." Doctor Micheals spoke calmly, she was young and had gone through medical school with Brianne, though they’d never spent time together outside of class. "I know you are 4 weeks early, but I don’t want you to worry, this is normal for a first delivery, and every thing reads healthy." She checked a monitor, "Alright, with this next contraction I’m going to need you to push."
Brianne nodded, and with Tay supporting her back and holding her hand she was lifted forward. As a doctor she knew the drill, when the contraction began, she started to push. None of the training she’d received as a physician had fully prepared her for the pain she felt at that moment. It was as if her body were being torn apart from the inside out. A loud moan escaped her throat as she slumped back at the end of the contraction. Her thought as she looked up at Tay was, if he says one more encouraging word, I’m going to hit him. Tay knew Brianne well enough now to know the look in her green eyes, he kept his mouth shut. That’s right Mr. Perfect, keep your mouth shut. Damn! I wanted to hit him. The rest of her thought was cut off by the next contraction. "You’re doing great Brianne," the doctor reported, but was barely heard above Brianne’s pained scream.
She collapsed against the birthing table, her chest heaving as she struggled to breath. There was almost no pause between the contractions, she barely had time to recover before the next began. Brianne spent the next hour in agony as her child struggled to be born. She hadn’t been able to say anything to Tay, she’d been too busy screaming, but he was definitely going to pay for this later, she’d see to that.
Finally, with one final agonizing contraction Brianne felt her child slip from her body. Relieved she collapsed against half against Tay, half against the table. Their eyes welled as the child was lifted for them to see for the first time, "It’s a boy!" Micheals announced. The infant was tiny, and very angry. Its screams filled the delivery room and threatened to out do those of Brianne’s from a few moments earlier.
Tay pressed his lips against Brianne’s forehead and murmured softly, "I love you."
Tears slid down both their cheeks as the child was placed on Brianne’s chest, he was perfect, he was tiny, and he was theirs. He had his father’s coloring, from the hair, to the lightly bronzed skin, but his eyes were most definitely the emerald green of his mother. "Hello there," Brianne whispered to the squalling infant. Then looking over his head at Tay, she mouthed, "I love you too."
Kathryn and Chakotay looked up as the doors opened and Tay appeared with a squirming bundle. Kathryn rose slowly and walked to greet her grandchild. Tay smiled at the question in her eyes. "I’d like for you to meet, Aaron Chakotay Janeway." Tears stung Kathryn’s eyes as she looked over her shoulder at her husband. "Aaron," Tay cooed to the tiny infant, "these are your grandparents."
His eyes met Chakotay’s for the first time, and he wasn’t surprised to see the tears.
"How is Brianne?" Kathryn finally managed as she stroked the back of her finger along the tiny cheek.
"She’s perfect, tired, but perfect." Tay smiled, he knew he was wearing his heart on his sleeve at that moment, but given the situation, he figured he was allowed. "I’d better get back, they’ll be moving her to a room soon, you can see her then."
Kathryn and Chakotay nodded knowing they’d get to hold their grandchild then. Chakotay put his arms around his wife again and pulled her close. "So, care to make any bets on when they’ll be married?"
Kathryn laughed as she rested the back of her head against her husband’s shoulder, "Oh, I don’t know, something tells me that it will be within the next two weeks." She was right.
Brianne jogged through the hospital, all she’d been told was to hurry, it was her mother. Tay had remained behind with their nine-day-old child, and would be meeting her at the Montana Medical Center as soon as he found a sitter. She walked through the doors to the Emergency Natal Care Unit and found Chakotay sitting in a chair, his head buried in his hands. She went to him and knelt in front of him, "Chakotay, what happened? Where’s mom?"
He looked at her with eyes red from crying, his face was pale, and he looked as though his world had just been shattered. With a jerk of his head he motioned to the door a few meters away. "She’s in there." His voice was broken, and harsh.
Brianne frowned, "What happened?"
Chakotay took a deep breath and shut his eyes tightly, "I’m not sure, I found her lying on our bedroom floor, bleeding. She said she wasn’t feeling well and was going to go up and take a nap. A few minutes later I went up to check on her, and found her like that. Then I had her brought here. The kids are with Phoebe, and I don’t know where Gretchen is." He paused for a moment. "It isn’t good Bri. They’ve been in there with her for what seems like forever. All they’ve told me is that she was hemorrhaging, and that they had to take the baby. He’s down the hall in Neonatal."
Brianne’s face paled, "My god Chakotay, she was only 6 months pregnant. What have they said about the baby?"
Chakotay shrugged, "They aren’t sure at this point." He looked away, his eyes haunted. "You know, if this child died, I would morn, but I could move on. But if Kathryn dies, I’ll die with her."
Brianne opened her mouth to speak, but was stopped by Tay’s arrival. Getting up she took him by the arm and led him away from Chakotay, then she filled him in on what she’d been told.
Tay sat beside his brother, a hand on the older man’s shoulder. "Chakotay, she’s a fighter, she’s going to be alright." Chakotay didn’t say anything, simply sat starring at the wall across from him.
Brianne knelt in front of him again. "Look, you know how stubborn mom can be, and you know how she is about her family. She’s not going to leave us without a fight." She took his hands in her own and squeezed them.
Chakotay met her gaze, "Is that what you really think. You’re a doctor Brianne, you have a better idea of what’s going on in there than we do."
Brianne bit her lip, and nodded, "Yes I know what’s going on in there. Or at least I can picture it. The doctors are working frantically over her, their first objective is to stop the hemorrhaging, and then they’ll start her on antibiotics to prevent infection. If they can’t stop the hemorrhaging, they’ll have to perform a hysterectomy, and even then she may still die." Tears stung her eyes, she placed a hand against his cheek. "I can’t lose her either, I just got her back Dad, I can’t do this again." She looked away tears pouring down her cheeks, completely unaware of what she’d just let slip.
Tay chewed on the inside of his lip, he knew how Brianne felt about Chakotay, she’d come to really respect him over the last few months. She’d started turning to him for advice, and confiding in him as though she’d known him her entire life. She’d admitted to Tay that she thought of him as her father.
The slip had caught Chakotay off guard, "What did you say?" his voice was barely audible.
Brianne gave him a puzzled look, "I said I couldn’t lose her now, I just got her back." She frowned at Tay, who was smiling at her. "What?"
"Bri, you just called him dad." Tay’s smile broadened.
Her eyes widened and she shifted her eyes back to Chakotay. "I’m sorry, it slipped out. I--"
She was cut off by Chakotay, "No, don’t be sorry, I like it." A smile played at the corner of his mouth, without thinking about it he pulled her into his arms. The hug was given by the father, and returned by his daughter.
They pulled apart suddenly, standing as the door to their left opened and Kathryn’s doctor stepped out. He nodded politely to Brianne and Tay but his attention was on Chakotay. "We’ve stopped the hemorrhaging, we had to go ahead with a hysterectomy. She’s been started on antibiotics but at this point I’m not sure that she’ll make it through the night. She’s lost a lot of blood, and that has weakened her heart. I’m afraid that if it were to stop, we’d be unable to restart it. However, she’s definitely fighting, if she does make it to morning I’ll take that as a sign she’s going to pull through." He smiled genuinely, "But until then, all we can do is wait. I do have a bit of definite good news, I just spoke to the doctor in charge of the neonatal unit, your son is going to make it. He’s got a long way to go, but he’s going to get there." He let them take the news in, "Now, if you’ll excuse me I have another patient." With that he turned and moved down the corridor, disappearing around a bend.
Brianne smiled at Tay and hugged her father again, "I told you, she’s going to make it. This is really good news. As a doctor I can tell you that for a fact because they stopped the bleeding this soon, she’s going to pull through. Her heart may be weak now, but with rest it will strengthen." The pure conviction in her voice was enough to make Chakotay nod in agreement. Then with a half smile in her direction he entered the room in which Kathryn lay.
She looked so tiny, so vulnerable. The only sound in the room was the occasional beep of the machines monitoring her vitals. The nurse at her side smiled at him and then left the room. Chakotay moved closer to her, pulling a chair with him so that he could sit beside her bed. The paleness of her skin made his breath catch, had it not been for the gentle rise and fall of her chest, he would have thought her dead. Sitting by her side, he took her hand, then he prepared to wait, and he’d wait for her for all eternity, if need be.
Her eyes fluttered, she was sore, she felt as though someone had been holding a b’atleth tournament on her stomach. Her arms felt like lead but she was finally able to lift one and rest it against the swell of her--she stopped. Her eyes did open then, looking down her breathing stopped, her stomach was flat once more, or close to it. She looked around the room, she was in a hospital. She began to panic and noticed Chakotay sitting by her side, asleep. She shook him, "Chakotay," she rasped out, her voice weak and hoarse.
He came awake at once, "Kathryn," he leaned forward suddenly. "My god we thought we were going to lose you."
She gripped his hand, "Chakotay what happened, where’s the baby?" Her chest was heaving her eyes were wild with fear.
Chakotay moved to sit on the side of her bed, "Shh, Kathryn its alright, he’s down in neonatal, he’s going to be fine. It's you that we’ve all been worried about. I found you lying on our bedroom floor, you were bleeding and unconscious. I brought you here."
She tried to sit up in bed, but winced, "What did they do to me?"
"You were hemorrhaging pretty badly, they had to take the baby, and finally performed a hysterectomy to stop the bleeding. You’ve been here for 10 days. We weren’t sure if you were going to make it or not." He smiled and gently stroked her cheek, "Brianne and Tay were here a little while ago, but I sent them home." He held up a hand to stop her from speaking, "The kids are with your mother."
"Chakotay tell me the truth, how is the baby?" She was still gripping his shirt, her knuckles white.
"He’s fine Kathryn, he’s tiny of course but he’s going to be just fine. The doctors have assured me of that."
Kathryn’s eyes closed and she let out a sigh of relief, "I can’t believe I’ve been here for 10 days. The last thing I remember is going up to our room because I had backache." She shook her head, then her eyes widened as realization set in, "He?"
Chakotay laughed softly, "Yes, it’s a boy. 2 pounds 3 ounces. And he looks just like his mother. Well, except for the hair, its dark, like mine." His smile broadened, "And there’s something else you should know, the night you were brought in, I was talking to Bri and she let something slip. Kathryn she called me dad." He shrugged, "I like it, she’s been doing it ever since."
Kathryn’s eyes widened, a smile began to dance at the corner of her mouth, "She did?" She looked away as the smile began to broaden, she’d been hoping that would happen.
"What?" Chakotay asked, "You knew it was going to happen didn’t you?"
Kathryn shook her head, "No, but I was hoping it would. Are you sure you like it?"
"Yes," Chakotay said as he leaned over her to press a kiss to her forehead, she was still pale, but it wasn’t as severe as it had been. "As far as I’m concerned Kathryn, Brianne is my daughter. And I’d say its about time she had a father." Kathryn nodded in agreement. "On another note, we need to think of a name for our son."
She nodded, "You’re right, hmmm..." She stared off in thought, then yawned, she was still very weak. "Any suggestions?"
I’ve had ten days to think about it, and I remember when Bri was considering Eric for her child. I liked it then, and I like it now."
Kathryn thought about it for a moment, "Eric Janeway," she nodded, "Works for me." The last statement was immediately followed by another yawn.
Chakotay shook his head, "Okay, then Eric it is, but you need to rest. Once you’re strong enough I’ll be able to take you down to see him."
Kathryn nodded as she settled on her side, "I can’t wait." Her eyes were drifting shut before the words were even out of her mouth. Within moments, she was asleep, and in her mind she was already picturing her son’s homecoming. It would take place at the Montana house she shared with Chakotay. It would be a small gathering, just the six of their children, their grandchild and Tay her son-in-law. Brianne and Kathryn would argue over which infant was more adorable, Chakotay and Tay would roll their eyes and make bets on who would win. Bryan and Tristan would run around the house making all sorts of noise, teasing their sisters and causing them to squeal in delight, the thought thrilled her.
And you know something, that’s exactly how it happened.
THE END
