TRYING TO GET IT RIGHT
By: tayryn
March 18, 2000
DISCLAIMER: You’ve heard it all before…
WARNING: This story is rated NC-17 for consensual sex between two mature adults. If you are under eighteen (or whatever is legal in your little corner of the net) or if you are offended by graphic descriptions of the oldest dance of love there is, please read no further. You have been warned and I take no responsibility.
AUTHOR’S NOTE: I’ll tell you now, before you get into the story. I know absolutely nothing about time travel or any of the technobabble they use in Star Trek. What I’ve written, I’ve written to the best of my abilities and I just hope it makes sense. Even just a little. Besides, it’s the story itself that’s important, not the technobabble. Now that I’ve bent your ear with my babbling…I’ll let you get to the story.
TRYING TO GET IT RIGHT
**the present**
"Captain!" Harry called out. "I’m receiving a distress call."
"Source?" Asked Janeway.
Harry looked up from his console, a beguiled look on his face.
"A small ship and it’s got a Federation signature."
"Location." Janeway said. "Can sensors pick it up?"
"Two light years away, heading two one four point three." Harry replied. "And, oh this is weird."
"What is weird, Mr. Kim?" Chakotay asked.
"According to the sensors, it’s the Delta Flyer. But the Flyer’s still in the shuttlebay."
"On screen." Janeway said, standing and moving forward.
The passing starfield changed to show the Flyer, a blue fiery light dancing all over it.
"What’s happening to it?" Chakotay asked joining Janeway at the railing.
Harry checked his console.
"The shuttle appears to be caught in some sort of temporal flux."
"Best speed, Mr. Paris." Janeway ordered.
"Yes, ma’am." He said, his hands flying over his console.
Seconds later, the ship shot into a higher warp.
Janeway turned towards Harry.
"Harry, contact the Flyer. Tell whoever’s on it, that we’re on our way."
"I’ve already tried, Captain. No response." He said. "All I’m getting is an automated message, repeated over and over. Different from the first one."
"Anyone you recognize?" Chakotay asked.
"No, sir."
"Let’s hear it." Janeway said.
"On speakers." Harry replied.
"Voyager. Come in voyager." Came a young woman’s voice. "Aw shit! Look guys, I need a hand here. This old tub Tom calls a shuttle is malfunctioning. I seem to be caught in some sort of…I don’t know…null space or some shit that messing with the Flyer’s engines." There was a pause then the voice resumed. "So swooping in here and saving my ass would be greatly appreciated."
"It keeps repeating that message over, Captain."
"Colourful." Chakotay commented.
"She certainly is." Janeway agreed. "Harry, let’s hear the first message."
"Delta Flyer to Voyager! Voyager come in. I’m in serious need of
help here. The Flyer’s systems are frying and I’m losing control. Immediate
assistance is required."
"Captain!" Came Tom’s voice. "We’re in range."
"Lifesigns?"
"One." Said Tuvok. "But very faint."
"Harry, lock onto her and beam her directly to sickbay." Janeway said.
"Chakotay to sickbay. Prepare for an incoming patient."
"Aye, Commander." Came the Doctor’s reply.
"Tuvok." Janeway said, turning her head slightly. "Get a tractor beam on the shuttle and bring it into the shuttlebay."
"Yes, Captain."
"Harry?"
"Transporting now, Captain. Had to cut through the interference." He said and paused. "She’s in sickbay."
"Good." She turned to Tuvok. "Status?"
"I’ve locked on with the tractor beam and I’m towing the Flyer into the shuttlebay as we speak."
Janeway nodded.
"Tom, once the shuttle’s secure, back us off to a safe distance and hold position."
"Aye, Captain."
"Harry. You and Seven go over the Flyer. Find out what you can about what happened and why we now have two Flyers in our shuttlebay. Get B’Elanna to help if need be." She said.
"Yes, Captain."
"Tuvok. Run scans on that disturbance." She said and then turned to Chakotay. "Shall we go and greet our guest?"
"Lead the way." He said.
=/\= =/\= =/\=
"Report Doctor." Janeway called out as she and Chakotay entered sickbay.
Without bothering to look up from his patient the doctor spoke.
"Well, another minute on that shuttle and she would’ve died from asphyxiation." He commented. "Aside from burns on her lungs, she’s sustained a mild concussion, which I’ve treated."
He paused and picked up a dermal regenerator.
"She also has multiple cuts and burns to her arms and face. All minor."
Janeway nodded.
"What else can you tell us?"
"From what little scans I’ve run at this point, she’s a human female. Approximately twenty-six to twenty-eight years of age." He said, finishing his treatment. "And that’s all."
"Is she sedated?"
"Yes."
"Wake her. I’d like to speak with her." The Captain said.
"Captain. If I may." The Doctor said. "I believe Commander Chakotay should be the first face she sees."
"Why’s that?" Chakotay asked.
"Because of this." The Doctor motioned to his patient.
Janeway and Chakotay moved closer and looked to where the Doctor was pointing.
"Interesting." Janeway commented.
On the young woman’s left temple, the same tribal markings that adorned Chakotay’s temple were present.
"Have you run a DNA scan yet?" He asked.
"Not yet."
"Wake her first, and then run the scan." Janeway said, walking around to the other side of the bed. "Chakotay."
He nodded and moved closer, resting his hand on the bed by the girl’s head.
The doctor injected the hypospray. Seconds later, with a low groan, the young woman’s eyes fluttered open.
She looked into Chakotay’s face then closed her eyes again.
"I must be dreaming." She muttered.
"You’re not dreaming." Chakotay said.
"Then I’m dead." She replied.
"Why do you say that?" Chakotay asked.
"Because the only time I see you is in my dreams or on a spirit walk." She said, opening her eyes again. "And I know I’m not on a spirit walk. So I must be dead." She paused. "You picked a hell of a place to greet my soul."
"I hate to disappoint you." He said. "But you’re not dead either."
She scowled.
"Where am I then? In limbo?"
"No. You’re on Voyager." Janeway said.
The young woman’s head whipped around at the sound of Janeway’s voice.
"Mom!" She exclaimed as she quickly sat up and threw her arms around the startled captain. "Oh thank god! For a minute there, I thought I was… that I saw fa…" she paused and released the captain, sitting back slightly.
It was then that she noticed that Janeway was looking over her shoulder at someone else.
She slowly turned and looked right at Chakotay, her face paling.
She reached out a hand and when it came into contact with Chakotay’s chest a sob broke out from her throat.
"Daddy?!" She whispered and then threw herself into his arms. "Oh, daddy!"
Not sure what to do, Chakotay wrapped his arms around the sobbing girl.
"Doctor?" Janeway asked quietly.
"According to my scans, this young woman is yours and Commander Chakotay’s daughter."
Hearing this, the young woman pulled herself from Chakotay’s embrace.
"What do you mean from your scans?" She began. "Of course I’m…"
She stopped then and looked harder at Janeway then at Chakotay.
"This isn’t my Voyager." She said softly and turned to look at Chakotay with sorrow in her eyes. "And you’re not my father."
"Not yet anyway." The Doctor said.
Everyone turned to look at him.
"Explain." The captain said.
"Genetically, this young woman is your daughter." He said gesturing to her and Chakotay. "But I’m also detecting a temporal signature in her genes."
"You mean I’ve traveled back in time?"
The doctor nodded.
"Lovely." She murmured.
"Thank you, doctor." Janeway said and turned to the young woman. "What’s your name?"
She looked up.
"Tayryn." She answered. "Tayryn Janeway."
"Beautiful name." Chakotay said.
Tayryn smiled at him.
"You thought of it." She told him and then chuckled. "Or rather, you will think of it."
"Well, Tayryn." Kathryn said. "Why don’t we get you settled and see if we can’t figure out how you got here and how to get you back."
"Can’t wait to get rid of me, eh?" Tayryn commented as she slipped her legs off the bio-bed and shakily got to her feet. "Well, let’s go."
Kathryn and Chakotay exchanged a look.
Tayryn took a couple of steps and stumbled. Chakotay caught her arm.
"Thanks, dad." She smiled at him.
He looked back at Kathryn who shrugged.
"Come on." He said. "I think Kes’ old quarter’s will do for now."
He looked once more at Kathryn who nodded and followed them out.
=/\= =/\= =/\=
After having replicated a new jumpsuit and a cup of coffee, Tayryn settled down on the couch, curling her legs under her.
"I’ve always liked Kes’ quarters." She said as she sipped the hot liquid.
"So you know about Kes?" Kathryn asked.
"Of course." Tayryn mumbled. "In fact, you guys named me after her. Tayryn Kes Janeway."
"I bet Neelix was tickled about that." Chakotay commented.
Tayryn smiled over at him and nodded.
"Well," Kathryn said. "We need to find out how you got here and just how far back you’ve come."
Tayryn’s smile faded as she turned to look at her mother.
"That’s easy enough." Tayryn said. "What’s the date?"
"February, twenty-three eighty." Kathryn answered.
"Well I was born in November of this year." Tayryn said. "Just over nine months from now. And before you ask again, I’m going to be turning twenty-seven."
Chakotay and Kathryn glanced at each other.
"That’s a start." Kathryn said, turning back to Tayryn. "Now what were you doing when this anomaly came upon you?"
"I was returning to Voyager after having spent the day on a spirit quest." She paused and looked over at Chakotay, a strange look on her face. She shook her head and continued. "This anomaly just appeared out of nowhere. I tried everything I could to break free, but it was useless."
She paused and took a swallow of her coffee.
"The last thing I remember is the Flyer lurching, banging my head on the console and then waking up here."
"I’ve got Tuvok running scans on the anomaly to see what we can find out."
"That’ll be helpful." Tayryn commented dryly.
Kathryn looked at Chakotay, who shrugged.
Just then the computer beeped.
"Seven of Nine to Commander Chakotay."
"Chakotay here. Go ahead."
"Your presence is required in the shuttlebay."
"I’m on my way Seven. Chakotay out."
He stood up and moved towards the door.
"Dad."
He stopped and turned back.
"Yes?"
"Mind if I tag along?" Tayryn asked, standing.
"Actually, I need you to stay." Kathryn said. "I have a few more questions."
"I’ll come back later and see how you’re doing." Chakotay said and then left.
Tayryn plopped down on the couch dejectedly.
"Tayryn? Are you all right?"
Tayryn glanced at her.
"Like you really care." She snapped.
Kathryn sat back in her chair.
"I beg your pardon?"
"You heard me." Tayryn snapped again.
"Why wouldn’t I care?" Kathryn asked. "I’m… or rather I’m going to be your mother. You are my daughter, despite all this."
Tayryn jumped up.
"Oh, don’t give me that concerned mother bullshit! It’s a little late for that." Tayryn ranted. "Not after all these years."
Just as quickly as she had snapped, Tayryn sank back on the couch, cradling her face in her hands.
"I’m sorry." She mumbled into her hands. "I’m forgetting that you’re not her yet."
"What do you mean?" Kathryn asked quietly. "Not her yet?"
Tayryn looked up at her.
"As you may have guessed, you and I aren’t exactly close." She said sadly.
"I wouldn’t have thought that after your reaction in Sickbay when you first saw me." Kathryn smiled softly.
Tayryn gave a small chuckle.
"You are still my mother. And, I do love you." She said. "Despite all that’s happened between us since dad died."
"What?!" Kathryn exclaimed, hoping she hadn’t heard right.
Tayryn’s eyes closed as her head fell into hands again.
"Damn!" She swore. "I can’t believe I just said that."
"Is it true?" Kathryn asked quietly, her voice trembling. "Is Chakotay dead?"
Tayryn raised her head, tears in her eyes and nodded.
"Oh, god!" Kathryn gasped, then moved to sit beside Tayryn on the couch and put her hand on the young woman’s shoulder. "That at least explains your shock at seeing him."
"I thought I was dreaming."
"When and how’d it happen?" Kathryn asked.
"A couple days after my sixteenth birthday." Tayryn said. "We were coming back from a trading mission when our shuttle was attacked."
"Who attacked you?"
"The Ynaree." (pronounced wi-nar-e) Tayryn replied and then hissed. "The bastards!"
"Why did they attack you?"
"I don’t…" she stopped and looked at Kathryn. “I shouldn’t be telling you this."
"Why not?"
"The timeline." Tayryn said. "I could be changing history." She paused and let out a coarse chuckle. She continued without malice. "Then you’ll have yet another thing to hold against me."
"Are you saying that I blame you for your father’s death?" Kathryn asked.
Tayryn nodded sadly.
"You’ve never come right out and said it. But I know you do." She said. "It’s in your voice when you talk to me and in your actions."
Kathryn regarded her daughter as tears now welled in her eyes.
"Oh, my sweet girl. I’m so sorry." She whispered.
Tayryn smiled at that.
"I haven’t heard you call me that in years."
Kathryn smiled and was about to respond but was interrupted by Chakotay’s voice.
"Chakotay to Captain."
"Go ahead, Commander."
"Can you and Tayryn come down here?" He asked. "We need her help."
Kathryn looked at her.
"Do you feel up to it?"
Tayryn nodded.
"We’ll be there momentarily, Chakotay."
"I’ll be waiting." Came the reply. "Chakotay out."
Kathryn placed her hand on Tayryn’s.
"I have one thing to ask of you, although I know I don’t really need to ask."
"Don’t mention to dad what I told you about his death." She nodded. "I won’t."
"And if any of the crew approach you, curious…"
"I’ll just tell them to wait and see." Tayryn smiled.
Kathryn smiled and nodded.
"Well, we don’t want to keep your father waiting now, do we?"
"No, ma’am." Tayryn quipped and stood up with Kathryn and followed her out of the room.
=/\= =/\= =/\=
"Oh good, you’re here." Chakotay said as Kathryn and Tayryn entered the shuttlebay. "We’re having trouble accessing the sensor logs."
"Because of the modifications I’ve made to the Flyer." Tayryn said.
"You guessed it." Chakotay said. "Care to give Seven and Harry a hand?"
"I’d be glad to." She said and began to move away.
"Tayryn."
She turned back as Kathryn called her.
"Yeah, mom?"
"When you finish here, would you mind stopping by my quarters?"
Tayryn smiled, nodded and then headed to the Flyer.
"Anything to report as of yet?" Kathryn asked Chakotay.
"No." He replied, watching their daughter disappear into the shuttle. He shook his head.
"I know." She said. "Hard to believe."
"You can say that again."
Kathryn chuckled.
"Come on; let’s go see what Tuvok’s found out." She said.
They left the shuttlebay and headed for the turbolift.
"So what did you and Tayryn talk about?" He asked. "Whatever it was, it seemed to have helped."
"Oh, she just told me about a disagreement we’d had." Kathryn lied. "That’s why she was acting the way she was."
Since dad died. The words echoed in Kathryn’s head.
Chakotay looked at her curiously as she fell silent.
"Kathryn?" He called her name softly as they entered the lift and she still hadn’t spoken. He called out their destination then turned to her. "Are you all right?"
She looked up at him and suddenly wanted nothing more than for him to hold her in his arms and never let go.
"In less than twenty years I’m going to lose him." She thought. "He’s going to die and leave me."
"I’m fine, Chakotay." She said smiling. "Just pensive, that’s all."
"And would you be thinking about our daughter and your conversation with her?"
"How well he knows me." She thought.
"As a matter of fact I was."
He placed his hand on her shoulder.
"Don’t worry about it, Kathryn. Mothers and daughters have disagreements all the time." He said. "Besides, for all intents and purposes, you haven’t had that argument yet."
Kathryn tried to smile, but couldn’t. Chakotay noticed this and called out for the lift to stop.
He grabbed her shoulders and turned her so that she was facing him.
"All right, Kathryn, enough. Tell me what’s bothering you."
She looked up at him.
"How do I tell him he’s going to die in sixteen years?"
"Is it the fact that our twenty-six year old daughter is on board and we haven’t so much as even kissed yet?" He asked. "Is that what’s bothering you? Knowing now that we actually give in to what’s between us?"
She shook her head.
"No. That’s not it." She said quietly. "Oh, Chakotay, I… I wish I could tell you."
"Then tell me." He said. "Kathryn, you know you can talk to me about anything."
She looked deep into his dark eyes and saw the love he normally kept hidden and also saw his concern for her.
"I… Tayryn told me…" She stammered and then shook her head.
Then, in a move that startled him, she moved against him, locking her arms behind his back.
"Kathryn?"
"Just hold me, Chakotay." She whispered against his chest.
His arms went around her and he held her in his warmth. After a few minutes, he pulled back slightly and lifted her face to look at him. She read the question in his eyes.
"Ask me later? Please?" She asked quietly.
He nodded.
"After our shift ends, I’ll meet you in your quarters."
She nodded her agreement and went to lay her head back on his chest but he stopped her.
Very slowly, he lowered his head and brushed a soft kiss against her lips.
"Remember, Kathryn. I will always be here at your side. Always," he said softly.
She nodded and buried her face in his chest, squeezing him tighter as she closed her eyes against the tears that threatened to fall. A few moments later, she extricated herself from his arms and straightened her uniform.
"Computer, resume lift." She called out.
=/\= =/\= =/\=
"As you can see, Captain." Tuvok said as Janeway and Chakotay stood with him in Astrometrics. "The anomaly is actually a temporal wormhole."
"Is it stable?"
"Negative." Tuvok replied. "However, because it is a temporal wormhole, there is a possibility that it is fixed on the other end. In the future."
"Almost like the Barzan wormhole." Chakotay said. "How one end jumps from this quadrant to another."
"Similar." Tuvok said. "Except this particular wormhole shifts through time."
"How long until it jumps again?"
"Approximately four days."
Janeway and Chakotay looked at each other.
"Then we should have enough time to devise a plan to return Tayryn to her own time."
"I will need to see the data collected from the duplicate Flyer to form a usable plan."
"I’ll make sure you’re sent the information." Janeway said.
"Thank you, Captain."
=/\= =/\= =/\=
Kathryn settled onto the couch with a sigh, her hand wrapped around a hot cup of tea. As she sipped her tea she thought back on her conversation with Tayryn.
"You are still my mother and I do love you. Despite all that’s
happened between us since dad died."
Kathryn felt a cold chill pass through her body.
"But it hasn’t happened yet." A voice said in her head. "You can still prevent it from happening."
Kathryn shook her head.
"No." She said aloud. "I can’t alter the timeline just because I don’t want the man I love to die."
She stopped suddenly and couldn’t help the sad smile that came to her lips as she realized what she’d just said.
"Who are you fooling, Kathryn?" She told herself. "You’ve been falling in love with him a little everyday since he stepped foot on this ship."
"So how can you knowingly stand by and let him die when there’s something you can do about it?" The voice asked.
"No!" She said again. "I can’t do it! To alter the timeline could affect so many things."
"But who would know?"
Just as that thought entered her head, the door buzzer sounded.
"Come in."
"Ensign Janeway, reporting as ordered Captain." Tayryn said with a grin as she breezed through the door.
Kathryn smiled and shook her head.
"I see you have your father’s sense of humour."
Tayryn laughed as she sat on the couch.
"Dad always said I have yours."
They both fell silent.
"I’m sorry." Kathryn said.
"Don’t be." Tayryn said. "Everyone has always assumed that it’s so painful for me to talk about dad. But in reality, it’s infinitely more painful to act like he never existed."
"I know exactly what you mean." Kathryn said, thinking back to her own father.
"Because of what happened to Grandfather and Justin."
Kathryn’s eyes widened and Tayryn smiled.
"I know all about what happened." Tayryn said. "I even know about Mark."
"Did I tell you?"
"Mmhmm." She said. "We used to have lots of late night heart to heart talks. That is until…"
Her voice trailed off.
"Until your father died." Kathryn finished quietly.
Tayryn nodded.
"Tell me how he died." Kathryn asked.
Tayryn shook her head.
"I can’t. The timeline, remember."
Kathryn took a deep breath.
"I’m not asking you to tell me when. Just how," Kathryn said and then continued, her voice choking on the next words. "I need to know."
Tayryn regarded the woman who was and yet wasn’t her mother. The look in her eyes was one Tayryn had come to associate with her mother. A desolate look of loss.
Tayryn nodded.
"Okay, I’ll tell you how it happened but not when." Tayryn said. "Okay?"
"When and how’d it happen?" Kathryn asked.
"A couple days after my sixteenth birthday."
"That’s fine." Kathryn said.
Tayryn stood and Kathryn watched with a hidden smile as Tayryn began to pace back and forth, trying to find the right words.
"She is most definitely my daughter." She thought.
"Well, dad and I had just finished negotiating for some supplies from the Ytilitu… (pronounced wi-til-i-too)
=/\= =/\= =/\=
**the future’s past**
"Have a safe journey, Chakotay." First Minister Yram said, shaking his hand.
"Thank you, Yram." Chakotay said. "And thank you for the supplies."
"You are most welcome."
"DAD!"
Chakotay and Yram turned to see Tayryn standing at the door of the shuttle.
"Everything’s loaded. We’re ready to go."
"Thank you,
"Yes, sir." Tayryn said, giving him a quick salute.
"Your daughter seems anxious to leave." Yram commented with a smile.
Chakotay nodded.
"She is." He said. "She misses her mother."
"It is understandable." Yram said. "My daughter is close to her mother as well." He paused. "Well, Commander, I hope you and your ship make it home."
"Thank you, First Minister." Chakotay said and then turned to walk to the Flyer.
"Oh, Commander." Yram called out. Chakotay turned back. "Be careful on your flight through our system. The Ynaree have heard you are here and will no doubt try to intercept you."
"Thanks for the warning."
"Safe journey."
Chakotay nodded and entered the shuttle.
"Well," He said as he sat down. "Are we ready to lift off?"
"Yes, sir."
"Well then, let’s head home." He said. "I don’t know about you, but I’m quite anxious to see your mom."
"Yeah, me too." She said.
Once the Flyer was in space and on a rendezvous course to Voyager, Tayryn turned around to look at her father.
"What was the First Minister warning you about?"
"A neighboring race called the Ynaree." He answered. "It seems they aren’t too happy that the Ytilitu were trading with us."
"And Yram thinks they might attack us?"
"Yep. So be on the look out."
"Okay." She said as she turned back to her console and then quickly whirled back to look at Chakotay.
"Dad?"
"Yes?"
"Thank you for bringing me with you." She said. "I know mom didn’t want me to go."
"She was just being cautious. She is your mother and your captain after all. It’s her job."
"I know." Tayryn said. "But thanks for talking her into it."
Chakotay smiled.
"You’re welcome, honey." He said. "I’ve enjoyed spending this time with you, too."
Tayryn smiled and went to speak when the red alert klaxons went off and the shuttle rocked.
"Enemy ship detected off the port side." She called out.
"Well they didn’t waste any time." Chakotay said. "Evasive maneuvers. Get us out of here, kiddo."
"Yes, sir." Tayryn replied as she punched the controls. "Evasive maneuvers."
The shuttle dipped and turned.
"They’re firing. Hold on!" Chakotay called out as the shuttle suddenly shook. "Shields down ten percent."
"Evasive maneuvers, omega four." Tayryn said, her fingers flying over her console.
"Enemy vessel. This is the Ynaree warship Ekim. You are ordered to cut your engines and surrender
your ship."
Tayryn turned to look at Chakotay, a worried look on her face. Chakotay looked up at her, smiled briefly as he shook his head slightly. She returned the smile.
"Evasive maneuvers, pattern zeta two." Tayryn called out as she performed the intricate maneuvers. "Should we return fire?"
"No." Chakotay said. "I want to try talking to them first. And while I’m doing that, send a coded message to Voyager. Apprise them of our situation and tell them to get here A.S.A.P."
Tayryn nodded.
"Ynaree vessel. This is Commander Chakotay of the Starship Voyager. We are on a peaceful trading mission. Please hold your fire."
The Flyer rocked again as another weapons barrage hit the shuttle.
"So much for diplomacy." Tayryn offered.
"Doesn’t hurt to try." Chakotay said. "Phasers charged and ready. Fly close; I just want to knock out their weapons."
"Yes, sir." Tayryn said and then her eyes widened. "Dad, I’ve got another ship… whoa! Make that two more Ynaree ships. Closing fast."
"Damn!" Chakotay said. "Okay, forget that idea. Just get us out of here, anyway you can."
Tayryn nodded and punched the controls.
"Chakotay to Voyager. We are under attack. Repeat, we are under attack. Require immediate assistance."
"Hang on, Dad." Tayryn called out. "Gonna try something."
"As long as it keeps us out of their weapons range, do whatever you have to." Chakotay said as the shuttle suddenly went into a diving spin.
"They’re firing!" Chakotay said as the shuttle banked to the right. "Good move. They missed."
"Voyager to Delta Flyer."
"Good to hear your voice, Captain." Chakotay said, grinning at Tayryn as she turned slightly to look at him. "Any chance you’re going to swoop in here and rescue us? I wouldn’t want to be responsible for the loss of another shuttle."
He heard Kathryn chuckle softly.
"We’re on course to intercept you now and should be there in fifteen
minutes."
"Sounds good to me." Chakotay said. "We should be able to hold out till you get here."
"The lead ship’s firing again." Tayryn called out. "Hold on!"
The Flyer rocked again and this time consoles blew in the cabin.
"Chakotay?" Janeway called her voice sounding distressed. "Tayryn?"
Tayryn straightened up in her chair, her hands moving over the console again.
"Flyer? Come in Flyer. Chakotay? Tayryn?"
Tayryn looked back to see why her father wasn’t answering.
"DADDY!" She cried out. "Computer, engage auto pilot, evasive maneuvers beta five. Continuous fire with the phasers."
"Tayryn? Tayryn, what’s happened?"
"Dad’s console exploded. He’s down." Tayryn answered.
"How bad is he?"
"He’s… oh, god!" Tayryn cried. "He’s unconscious, barely breathing and oh… the blood."
"Tayryn, calm down." Janeway said. "Now, grab the med-kit and stabilize him."
"What?"
"Tom, how much longer?" Tayryn heard her mother ask. "Tayryn, honey, hold on. We’re almost on top of you."
"Hurry, mom. Dad’s hurt really bad." Tayryn said through her tears. "Oh my god… he’s stopped breathing! Oh god, mom! What do I do now?"
"Calm down,
"Hurry mom! Hurry!"
The next thing Tayryn knew, the Doctor was down beside her.
"Help me get him to the diagnostic bed." The doctor said. "Ensign!"
Tayryn looked at him through her tears.
"Help me!" He said.
Tayryn nodded and helped the doctor lift her father’s body onto the bed, as the ship rocked.
"What happened?" The doctor asked as he closed the diagnostic scanner and began working on Chakotay.
"When the Ynaree weapon hit the shuttle, his console exploded."
"Mmhmm." The doctor murmured. "His neural pathways have been interrupted." He paused as he worked around him. "I’ll need your assistance."
Tayryn nodded and moved closer.
"Hand me the cortical stimulator."
Tayryn handed it to him.
"He’s not responding." The doctor said a moment later. "Increase to forty."
The monitors beeped suddenly and Tayryn heard her father take a deep, strangled breath.
"I’ve got him, but his pathways are still not stabilizing."
Chakotay lifted his hand to his daughter.
"
"Commander, I advise you to save your strength." The doctor said.
"No…
"Daddy!" Tayryn sobbed.
"Shhh, honey. Listen to me." Chakotay said hoarsely. "You’re our catalyst, always remember that. I want you to tell your mom everything."
"What?! I don’t understand."
"You will when the time’s right." He said and managed a small smile up at her. "I love you so much my little one."
"Oh, daddy, I love you too." Tayryn cried. "Now stop talking and save your strength. Mom will be here shortly and you’ll want to be strong for her."
Chakotay’s eyes lit up at the mention of his wife.
"My beautiful Kathryn." He said with a smile. "Tell her
"His vitals are growing weak." The doctor said, still working. "Damn! I’m losing him!"
"Daddy! Fight, daddy! We need you." Tayryn sobbed.
"My Kathryn." He said breathlessly. "I love you."
And then sickbay was filled with the whining trill of the cardiac monitor.
"I’ve lost him." The doctor said sadly, opening the scanner.
"NO!"
Tayryn whirled around to see her mother standing in the doorway, her face contorted with fear and disbelief.
"I’m sorry, Captain." The doctor said. "I did all I could."
"No! Chakotay!" Kathryn cried and ran over to Chakotay’s prone form. "No, Chakotay! Don’t you dare leave me!"
Tayryn moved towards her mother.
"Mom." She said softly, putting her hand on Kathryn’s shoulder.
"No." She sobbed, pushing her daughter’s hand away and dropping her head onto her husband’s chest. "Oh, god, noooo!"
The doctor pulled Tayryn aside.
"Give her a few minutes." He said quietly.
"Come back to me, Chakotay. Come back." She wept. "You said this wouldn’t happen to us. You promised me we’d be together forever."
After what seemed like forever to Tayryn, she watched her mother sit up slowly. Kathryn reached up and removed three of her rank pips, then leaned over and pulled off Chakotay’s rank bar, replacing it with her pips. She then affixed Chakotay’s rank bar on her collar beside her one remaining pip.
She leaned over him then and placed a gentle kiss against his lips.
"I love you, Chakotay. I always have and I always will." She whispered. She straightened up and ran her fingers over his tattoo. "Till we meet again, my love."
Slowly Kathryn turned to face Tayryn and the doctor. She opened her arms and Tayryn flew into them with a cry.
"Sssh, sweet girl." Kathryn said. "We’ll get through this."
Tayryn nodded against her mother’s shoulder.
Kathryn pulled back and caressed her daughter’s cheek.
"Have the doctor check you out. I’m going back to the bridge." She said and smiled wanly at her. "Don’t worry, honey, we’ll get through this together."
Tayryn smiled back and nodded.
Kathryn turned and began to walk away. In mid step, she suddenly crumpled onto the floor with a sob.
"Mom!" Shouted Tayryn as she ran to her mother’s side.
"She’s in shock." The doctor said, lifting his captain in his arms and carrying her to a bio-bed.
"Aren’t we all," murmured Tayryn, glancing over at her father’s prone form. "Aren’t we all?"
=/\= =/\= =/\=
**the present**
Kathryn, eyes wide and face pale, looked up at Tayryn as she fell silent.
"Oh my, god." Kathryn gasped, feeling her eyes fill with tears. "What happened after that?"
"You slowly began to pull away from all of us. You withdrew into yourself." Tayryn answered. "On duty, you were always the consummate professional, but even still you were distant."
Tayryn stopped and looked down at her with a sad smile.
Kathryn stood, walked over to Tayryn and pulled her into a hug.
"Oh, my sweet girl." She said softly. "I’m so sorry."
Tayryn relaxed into the hug and let her tears fall.
"It’s not your fault." Tayryn mumbled. "It’s mine. I was the one flying the shuttle. I should have gotten us out of there."
Kathryn pulled back and hooked her finger under Tayryn’s chin.
"Now you listen to me." Kathryn said. "It was not your fault. You did everything you could and your father knew the risks."
Tayryn opened her mouth to speak but Kathryn put her finger to her lips.
"Sssh… trust me when I tell you this." Kathryn said. "It’s something I should have obviously told you when it happened."
Tayryn smiled as she wiped the tears from her face.
"I think I’m gonna go now." She said. "I’m tired and it’s been an eventful day."
Kathryn nodded understandingly as she walked Tayryn to the door.
"Thank you for telling me." Kathryn said.
"You’re welcome." Tayryn said, giving her a quick hug. "See you tomorrow."
"Have a good sleep, kiddo." Kathryn said as she opened the door.
Tayryn smiled as she left.
"You too, mom."
The doors shut and Kathryn leaned against them with a sigh.
"Not tonight I won’t." She said aloud. "Tonight I get to tell Chakotay he’s going to die."
She shook her head and went into her bedroom to change.
=/\= =/\= =/\=
**Bree-oop**
"Come in, Chakotay." She called out.
The doors parted and Chakotay walked in.
"How was the rest of your shift?" She asked him.
"Uneventful." He said, settling down on the couch.
"Can I get you anything?" She asked.
He shook his head.
"You’re sure you don’t want anything?"
"All I want is for you to tell me what it was that upset you earlier." He said.
"And here I was hoping you’d forget all about that." She said lightly as she got up and walked over to the replicater.
"I never forget anything where you’re concerned, Kathryn."
She turned to look at him, a soft smile on her face.
"What?" He asked.
"You’re an incredible man. Do you know that?" She said as she turned back to the replicater.
"Why do you say that?" He asked as he watched her settle back on the couch.
"Because it’s true and you deserve to be told."
"Kathryn." He said. "It’s not going to work."
She looked at him and sighed.
"Can’t blame a girl for trying." She said and put her cup on the table. "It’s just that it’s disturbing news and I don’t know how to tell you."
"Just tell me." He said.
She opened her mouth to tell him and then closed it again. She shook her head as she got up and walked over to the window.
Chakotay followed her with his eyes.
"How much do you think a person should know about their future?" She asked after a few minutes.
"That depends."
"On what?"
"On the situation." He said.
"What if the information is not what you were expecting?"
He got up and moved to stand behind her.
"Does this have to do with the sudden appearance of our adult daughter?"
She nodded.
"You’re upset and bothered by the fact that you and I become intimate."
"No." She said softly. "I’ve always known it would happen one day. Or at least I hoped it would."
He placed his hand on her shoulder.
"What did Tayryn tell you, Kathryn?"
He felt a shiver go through her body and was surprised when she stepped back, pressing her back against him and pulling his arms around her.
"Someone dies. That’s what she told you isn’t it?" He asked quietly.
"Mmhmm." She nodded.
Chakotay sent up a silent prayer before speaking again.
"Please tell me it’s not you."
She turned in his arms, wrapping hers behind his back and laying her head on his chest.
"It’s not me."
He sighed with relief.
"It’s obviously someone you care a great deal about or you wouldn’t be this upset about it."
"Yes. It’s someone I care deeply about." She said, raising her head, her eyes beginning to fill with tears. "As a matter of fact, it’s someone I’m in love with."
Realization suddenly dawned on him as he gazed into her blue tear-filled eyes.
"It’s me, isn’t it?" He asked. "I’m the one who dies."
"Yes." She nodded, the tears now falling freely down her cheeks.
He opened his mouth to ask how, but nothing came out. He let her go, walked over to the couch and sat down, burying his face in his hands.
"How?" He finally managed.
"The shuttle you were in was attacked."
"Well, you know my luck with shuttles." He said flatly. He looked up at her and saw the anguished look on her face. "Sorry. It’s just… this is a lot to digest."
She walked over and kneeled on the floor in front of him, taking his hands in hers.
"I know. I felt the same way when Tayryn told me." She said. "Like someone had kicked me in the stomach."
"When is all this supposed to happen?"
"In less than twenty years."
"Less than twenty years." He repeated. "That doesn’t give us a whole hell of a lot of time together does it?" He paused. "Cause I did hear you right, you did say that you were in love with me didn’t you?"
Kathryn couldn’t help the smile that came to her lips as she nodded.
"Yes. I did say that. And I meant it."
He squeezed her hands.
"Then I guess we shouldn’t waste the little time we have. Twenty years may seem like a long time, but knowing this…"
"We’re going to have our whole lives together, Chakotay." Kathryn said.
"But you just said…" he looked at her and nodded knowingly. “You’re thinking of changing the future, aren’t you?"
She nodded.
"You can’t do that, Kathryn. You know that."
"Yes I can and I will." She said. "Oh, Chakotay, I don’t want to lose you and I don’t want to turn into that woman Tayryn described." She paused. "A woman who is cold and closed up." She paused again. "A woman who would blame her own daughter for your death."
"She told you that?"
Kathryn nodded.
"You saw her attitude towards me when she first arrived." He nodded. "She couldn’t stand to be around me."
"But you know this now; you can change what happens between you two."
"Yes, by making sure you live." Kathryn stated.
"Kathryn!"
She shook her head.
"No, Chakotay!" She said. "I can’t step aside and let you die. Not when I can do something about it."
"And what about all the lives that’ll affect."
"I don’t care." She said, dropping his hands, standing and beginning to pace. "I don’t care."
"Yes, you do." He said as he watched her pace.
She shook her head.
"That’s just it. I don’t." She said. "I could care less about what else happens as long as I don’t lose you."
Chakotay stood, walked over to her, and grabbed her arms, forcing her to stop and look back at him.
"Please don’t try and talk me out of this, Chakotay." She pleaded.
"I won’t for now." He said. "But I want you to seriously give this some thought."
"I don’t…"
"Think about it." Chakotay said and then looked at the chronometer. "It’s late. I should be going now."
She sighed and nodded as he let her go and moved to the door. She followed. He turned to her again and pulled her into his arms.
"Promise me you’ll seriously think about this." He said. "Your decision will affect more than just our lives."
"I promise." She said softly, her arms tightening around him.
Chakotay’s arms tightened around her as well as he kissed the top of her head. He slipped his fingers under her chin and lifted her face up.
"I love you, Kathryn." He said quietly. "I always have and I always will. Not even death can change that."
"I love you too, Chakotay."
Chakotay felt a warmth pass through his body at her words as he lowered his lips to hers for a gentle kiss.
Kathryn sighed and slid a hand up to the back of his head as their kiss deepened.
They moaned together at the first contact of their tongues. Chakotay’s hands moved to entangle in her hair as his tongue danced around her mouth.
A few minutes later, with reluctance, Chakotay broke off the kiss.
"I should go." He said breathlessly, placing a quick kiss to her forehead.
"Stay." She whispered.
She looked up at him and their eyes locked.
"Are you sure?" He asked. "I don’t want to rush anything."
She smiled at him.
"I don’t want to rush things either. But neither do I want to let you go." She paused. "I want you to hold me, Chakotay. I want to fall asleep in your arms."
Chakotay brought his hand up to caress her cheek.
"I’ll stay." He said. "I would love to fall asleep with you in my arms."
"Thank you, Chakotay." She said.
He leaned down and pressed a quick kiss to her lips.
They made their way to her bedroom, still wrapped in each other’s arms.
Kathryn removed her robe and climbed into her bed. As she settled back against the pillows, she watched him remove his uniform.
After placing his uniform on the chair, he turned to catch her watching him with a coy smile on her face.
"What?" He asked her, standing beside the bed.
"You just confirmed a suspicion of mine." She answered.
"And that is?"
"That you wear silk boxers under your uniform." She answered as he climbed into the bed beside her.
"Suspicion or fantasy?" He chuckled.
She blushed as she moved into his arms, cuddling herself against him.
"Well?" He asked.
She lifted her head from his shoulder and looked down at him.
"Both." She admitted with a small laugh.
He grinned up at her and pulled her down against him, holding her body tight against his.
"I love you, Kathryn." He said softly.
"I love you too, Chakotay." She replied laying her hand on his chest.
She sighed happily and fell asleep with her head on his chest, listening to the beat of his heart.
=/\= =/\= =/\=
She stood in the doorway of the darkened room, hesitant to go in further. But despite her resistance, something was pulling her in. As she slowly moved deeper into the room an object began to come into focus ahead of her.
"No." She said aloud. "I won’t go any further."
But still, something kept drawing her in and before she knew it, she was standing in front of an open casket.
She didn’t want to look in, but again something pushed her to.
She leaned forward and gasped.
"Oh, god no!"
In the casket, covered with burns lay Chakotay, his eyes closed and his breathing still.
"Oh, Chakotay… no." She choked on a sob.
She lifted her hand to trace what she could see of his tattoo when all of a sudden his eyes flew open and his hand snaked out and grabbed hers.
She screamed and tried to pull herself free but she couldn’t.
"Why did you let this happen, Kathryn?" He asked her. "You could have prevented this but you didn’t."
Kathryn shook her head as she continued to try and free herself from his grasp.
"No! No! Let go of me." She screamed.
"This is all your fault, Kathryn." He intoned as he began to slowly sit up in the casket. "Now our daughter is going to grow up without me."
"No! No! It’s not my fault." She cried. "I did everything I could to prevent this."
"You didn’t do enough." He said, shoving her and climbing out of the casket. He slowly advanced on her. "It’s your fault."
Kathryn landed on her backside and began to crawl backwards; trying to keep away from him, all the while trying to explain that it wasn’t her fault.
"It’s all your fault, Kathryn." He repeated.
"No!"
"You could have prevented this."
"Why are you doing this?’
"Our daughter won’t know who her father is because of you."
"No!" She yelled and then yelped as she backed into a wall. "Stay away!"
"Your fault."
He moved closer.
"Why did you let this happen?"
He towered over her, his eyes blazing with an eerie light.
"You! It’s all you! You did this!"
"No! I did everything I could, but you wouldn’t let me talk you out of it." She cried. "Oh, god I’m so sorry."
She screamed again as he began to reach for her.
"Oh, god, Chakotay forgive me! Please forgive me!"
"Kathryn!"
She continued to cry out as he shook her.
"Kathryn, wake up!"
Her eyes snapped open and she found herself looking into Chakotay’s anxious and healthy face.
"Oh, Chakotay!" She gasped as she threw herself into his arms. "Oh, it was horrible."
"Tell me."
She pulled back and shook her head.
"No." She said. "I want to forget it."
Chakotay’s hand moved up over her cheek and his fingers slipped into her hair.
"You were crying out, Kathryn." He said. "You were asking me to forgive you. Forgive you for what?"
She shivered as the image from her dream flashed in her mind. He pulled her into his lap and cradled her tightly against his body.
"Talk to me, Kathryn." He said softly. "How else can I help you if you don’t talk to me."
Kathryn snuggled closer to him, took a deep breath and began to tell him about her nightmare. When she finished, Chakotay’s arms tightened around her.
"Oh, my love." He breathed into her hair.
"Now do you understand why, Chakotay?" She asked pulling back and looking into his face. "I don’t want that to happen."
"It was a nightmare, Kathryn." He said softly.
"It wasn’t just a nightmare." She said. "It was a warning. A warning telling me not to let that accident happen."
"Kathryn…" he began.
"No, Chakotay!" She said and climbed out of his lap. "You can’t talk me out of this."
"It’s my life, Kathryn." He said quietly.
She turned to look at him.
"You’re wrong."
"What do you mean I’m wrong?"
"It’s not just your life." She answered quietly. "It’s my life and our daughter’s life too."
"But I’m the one who’s going to die." He said. "Not you. Not Tayryn. Me."
Kathryn gave a bitter laugh as she began to pace.
"Well according to Tayryn, her life grew increasingly worse after you died." She stopped and wrapped her arms around herself. "And I don’t need her to tell me how it affected me. I can tell you exactly how my future self felt."
She paused again and walked back to him. Stopping in front of him, she brought her hand up to his cheek.
"Her heart died." She said quietly. "The moment those monitors sounded and the doctor pronounced you dead, she died inside. Her life ended in that moment."
Chakotay closed his eyes and turned his face into her hand.
"Exactly how I’d feel if I lost you." He said quietly. He opened his eyes and looked up at her. "I’ll think about it, Kathryn." She opened her mouth to say something but he put his finger to her lips. "It’s a big decision. We’re talking about altering the future."
Kathryn nodded.
"Okay." She smiled and then looked over at the chronometer. "Shit! Look at the time. We’ve got to be on the bridge in less than twenty minutes and we both need to shower."
"I’ve already showered."
It was then that she realized he was wrapped in a towel and that his body was damp.
"Didn’t you dry off?" She asked, running her fingers through his wet hair.
"I had more pressing matters." He said grabbing her hand and kissing her palm.
"Oh." She said, realizing he’d run out of the shower to calm her down. "Thank you."
He stood up and brought his hands up to frame her face.
"Anything for you, my love."
She smiled up at him as he lowered his mouth to hers. After a minute or two, his lips left hers to rain small kisses all over her face, eventually returning to her lips.
"Will you stay with me again tonight?" She asked.
"I’ll stay with you every night if you’ll let me." He answered with a smile.
"I would love that." She smiled and hugged him. With a sigh, she pulled herself from his arms. "Well, I suppose I should go take my shower."
He nodded.
"And I guess I’ll see you on the bridge." He said.
She nodded and walked into her bathroom.
"Uh… Kathryn." He called out. "Can you…" he pulled his shorts off his face. “Toss me my shorts." He finished with a grin.
She popped her head out and grinned at him.
"Thanks."
"You’re welcome." She said and ducked back into the bathroom with a chuckle.
=/\= =/\= =/\=
Tayryn walked slowly into the messhall and glanced around.
"Why are you doing this to yourself?" She asked herself. "You know all these people but they don’t know you yet."
She shook her head sadly and walked over to the kitchen looking for some food.
"Can I help you? Oh, you must be Ensign Janeway."
Tayryn nodded.
"Hello, Uncle Neelix." She said. "How are you?"
Neelix smiled.
"Uncle Neelix. I like that." He said. "Yes. I like it a lot. So…"
"Tayryn." She offered.
"So, Tayryn, what can I get you?"
Tayryn thought for a moment then smiled.
"A leola root omelette."
"One leola root omelette coming up." Neelix said, reaching for the ingredients. "So, while I’m cooking, why don’t you tell me what’s on your mind."
"There’s nothing on my mind." Tayryn shrugged.
"So, you’re not finding it difficult to be here where you know everyone but no one knows you?" Neelix commented, grating the leola root into a bowl with the eggs.
"Okay, you got me there." Tayryn said with a smile. "It is a little disconcerting. I’ll see someone and want to go up and start talking and then I remember that they don’t know who I am."
She paused, reaching out to grab the stub of leola root from him and began munching on it.
"I’m also finding it strange not seeing any other of the second gens."
"Second gens?"
"Those of us born here in the Delta Quadrant." Tayryn explained.
"Ah. So we do have more children on the ship. How wonderful." Neelix said, flipping the omelette.
"Just don’t tell anyone I said anything." Tayryn said. "Mom would be very upset with me."
"Your secret’s safe with me." He said with a grin. "And, voila." He handed her a plate. "One leola root omelette."
"Looks delicious." Tayryn smiled at him. "Thank you, Uncle Neelix."
"And to drink?"
"Coffee."
"Should have known." He commented. "Well, go grab a seat; I’ll bring you your coffee."
Tayryn nodded and turned towards the tables. She hesitated as she noticed that all the tables were occupied.
"Tayryn. Come join us." Called Harry, who was sitting with Tom and B’Elanna.
Tayryn smiled, walked over and sat down.
"You looked a little lost." B’Elanna said.
"I feel a little lost." She admitted. "Everything is so familiar and yet so strange."
"Especially the whole thing with your parents." Tom said.
"What do you mean?"
"Well, it’s not like they’re a couple right now." Tom explained. "That’s gotta be weird."
"How do you know they’re not a couple already?" Tayryn asked. "After all, my birthday is in less than ten months."
"She’s got a point, Tom." Harry said.
"Yes, they could just be really good at keeping it quiet." B’Elanna agreed. "For all we know, they’ve been a couple since that time they spent together on that planet."
No one spoke as the three officers thought about it and Tayryn ate her omelette.
She was just about to call Neelix for her coffee when he appeared at her side with a steaming cup.
"Here you go, Tayryn." He said. "How’s the omelette?"
"Thank you, Uncle Neelix. And the omelette’s delicious."
"It does look good." Harry said. "What’s in it?"
"Leola root." Neelix answered.
"And you’re eating it? Voluntarily?" Tom asked incredulously.
"Yes. I love leola root." Tayryn said.
"You are one strange kid." Tom said with a laugh. "I can’t wait to see you grow up."
Tayryn blushed.
=/\= =/\= =/\=
Later that evening, Kathryn dropped the PADD with a frustrated sigh.
"What am I missing here?" She asked.
Seven, Tuvok and B’Elanna looked up from their PADDS at her.
"There’s got to be some way to send Tayryn back to her own time." She said. "And not to some other point in time."
She stood and began to pace, glancing at the chronometer as she did.
"B’Elanna, would you mind if I borrowed your office for a moment?"
"No. Go right ahead."
"Thank you." Kathryn said and walked into the small room. "Computer, locate Commander Chakotay."
"Commander Chakotay is in holodeck
one."
"Is he alone?"
"Affirmative."
She smiled.
"Janeway to Chakotay."
"Go ahead, captain."
"Chakotay, can I give you a rain cheque for tonight? It looks like we’re going to be at this all night."
"Of course, no problem. Just promise me one thing."
"What’s that?" She asked with a smile.
"That you’ll remember to eat something."
"I promise." She said. "And speaking of food, how about joining me for breakfast?"
"Messhall, eight a.m.?"
"I was thinking more about my quarters."
She could hear the smile in his voice as he responded.
"You’ve got a date." He said and then his voice grew quiet. "Are you alone?"
"Yes."
"I love you, Kathryn."
"I love you too, Chakotay." She said warmly, a huge smile lighting her face. "I’ll see you at breakfast. Janeway out."
She left B’Elanna’s office with a noticeable bounce to her step.
"Okay, people, let’s get back to work."
=/\= =/\= =/\=
Kathryn wearily entered her dark quarters and headed immediately to her bedroom. She paused at the foot of her bed to kick off her boots and smiled as she gazed at the bed. She went into the bathroom to change and a few minutes later, she emerged in her nightgown.
She made her way to her bed, slipped under the covers and sighed happily when she felt his hand rest on her hip.
Kathryn rolled over and smiled softly into Chakotay’s sleepy, smiling face.
"You did say breakfast in your quarters right?" He asked softly.
"I did indeed." She replied and snuggled closer to him. "I’m so glad you’re early."
He leaned in and kissed her.
"So am I, love. So am I." He said wrapping his arms around her. "How’d the rest of your evening go? Any luck?"
"We believe we’ve figured it out." She and then yawned. "Oh, I’m sorry."
"Don’t be. It’s late." He said. "We’ll talk in the morning."
He pulled her tight against him and she snuggled against him happily.
"Sleep well, my love." He whispered, kissing her hair.
"I will now." She replied softly. "You too."
=/\= =/\= =/\=
Kathryn stood in the doorway and watched him with a smile on her face.
"I do so love those boxers." She declared.
He looked up at her and grinned.
"But as much as I love seeing you half-naked, I think you should get dressed."
"Why’s that?" He asked, walking over to her and pulling her into his arms.
"Because our daughter is going to be here in fifteen minutes."
"That’s a good reason." He said. "But first thing’s first."
He lowered his lips to hers in a gentle kiss.
"Good morning, my love." He said after pulling away slightly.
"Good morning." She breathed.
"Now I think I’ll go get dressed." He said, letting her go and moving past her through the door.
Kathryn laughed and followed.
Forty minutes later, Kathryn dropped her napkin on the table and sat back in her chair.
"That was wonderful, Chakotay." She said.
"Yeah, great job, dad." Tayryn agreed, finishing the bite of toast.
"I’m glad you both enjoyed it." He said.
"So, mom, any news on getting me back to my own time?" Tayryn asked.
"As a matter of fact, yes." Kathryn said. "Seven and Tuvok are running a few simulations right now and if all goes well, you should be home tonight."
Tayryn nodded.
"And speaking of Seven and Tuvok, I think we should head down to Astrometrics and see how they’re making out." Chakotay said.
"I was just thinking the same thing." Kathryn said with a smile.
"Well, I’ll just clean up the dishes and we can be on our way." Chakotay said standing.
Tayryn put her hand on his arm.
"Why don’t you two go ahead. I’ll clean up." She said.
"I can’t ask you to do that." Chakotay said.
"You didn’t. I volunteered." Tayryn smiled. "So go. It won’t take me long and I’ll meet you in Astrometrics."
Kathryn stood and walked around to her daughter. She leaned in and hugged her.
"Thanks, honey."
"Not a problem." Tayryn said. "Now go or you’ll be late."
Chakotay patted her hand and then he and Kathryn left.
Tayryn watched them go and then sighed as she began to clean up.
"I want you to tell your mom everything."
"What? I don’t understand."
"You will when the time is right."
The words from that horrible day ten years ago and again from her dreams last night echoed in her head.
"I still don’t understand daddy." She thought as she carried the dishes to the recycler.
"You’re our catalyst. Always remember that."
Tayryn almost dropped the dishes.
"Oh my, God!" She gasped.
She quickly finished cleaning up and took off for her quarters.
=/\= =/\= =/\=
The doors to Astrometrics parted and Tayryn rushed in.
"Sorry I’m late. I got held up."
"No problem." Kathryn said. "Seven was just getting ready to explain how we’re going to get you home. Seven."
Tayryn turned to look at the former Borg as she began to explain their theory.
=/\= =/\= =/\=
Two hours later, Tayryn stood in the shuttlebay with her parents.
"Well, this has certainly been interesting." She said with a chuckle. "I want to thank you both for everything."
"Hey, what are parents for?" Chakotay asked with a small smile.
"I’m going to miss you." She said, looking at Chakotay, then quickly added. "Both of you."
Kathryn caught this and a sad smile came to her face, as it did to Chakotay’s.
"Well I suppose I should get going." Tayryn said.
She stepped over to Kathryn and gave her a hug.
"Thanks, mom. For everything."
"You’re welcome, honey." Kathryn said, returning the hug.
Tayryn let her go and moved over to Chakotay.
"Have a safe trip, kiddo." Chakotay said, pulling her into a big hug.
"I love you, daddy." She whispered against his shoulder, holding back her tears.
She pulled away and walked to the shuttle’s open hatch.
"You better get to the bridge." She said. "I’ll see you in a few minutes."
Chakotay and Kathryn watched her climb into the shuttle, then left and headed for the bridge.
"Goodbye, daddy." She said sadly, watching them leave. "I’m going to miss you."
=/\= =/\= =/\=
"Status." Janeway called out as she and Chakotay strode onto the bridge.
"The Flyer has just cleared the bay door and is heading for the wormhole."
"Open a channel, Tuvok."
"Channel open."
"Voyager to Flyer. Are you ready, Tayryn?"
"Yes, ma’am" She replied. "Thanks again."
Kathryn looked at Chakotay and they held a soft look.
"No, thank you, kiddo." Janeway said softly. "Prepare to engage your warp engines on my mark."
"Aye." Tayryn responded. "On your command."
Kathryn watched the viewscreen and called out.
"Seven, is everything set?"
"Affirmative."
"On my mark both of you." Kathryn said. She reached out and grabbed Chakotay’s hand, not caring who saw. He gave it a quick squeeze. "Now!"
A beam shot out from Voyager’s deflector dish and hit the shuttle just as its warp engines came online.
Seconds later the shuttle disappeared into the wormhole.
"Guess we won’t know for twenty-six years whether or not she made it." Tom said.
Kathryn and Chakotay exchanged looks.
"She made it." Chakotay said.
"Monitor the wormhole for another thirty minutes, then if all is well, resume course for home." She said. "I’ll be in my ready room."
"Aye, captain." Chakotay said.
=/\= =/\= =/\=
Kathryn sat down behind her desk and closed her eyes briefly. When she opened them again, she noticed a flashing light on her computer.
She tapped the console.
"Computer, access waiting message."
The computer beeped and then the message appeared on the monitor.
Kathryn began to read it.
"Oh my…" She gasped and then called out. "Commander Chakotay, please report to my ready room."
"On my way."
Seconds later, the doors parted and he strode in.
"You wanted to see me?"
"Yes." She said and gestured to the monitor. "Come take a look."
He walked around the desk and leaned in behind her to read the message.
"Oh my…"
=/\= =/\= =/\=
**the future**
The wormhole opened and the Delta Flyer shot out.
Tayryn looked out the window and a smile came to her face when she saw Voyager waiting.
"Delta Flyer to Voyager." She opened a channel.
"Welcome back, Ensign."
"Thanks, Tuvok. It’s good to be back." She said with as much conviction as she could muster. "Am I cleared to dock?"
"Affirmative. Bay doors are opening now."
"Great. See you all again very shortly. Flyer out." She closed the channel.
"Well I see nothing’s changed." She thought to herself. "Uncle Tuvok’s still the first officer and mom’s probably cloistered in her ready room."
Despite the last few days, she felt all the old resentment for her mother beginning to surface again.
"Damn you, mother!" She muttered as she manipulated the controls to bring the Flyer into the shuttlebay. "Why didn’t you listen?"
Once the shuttle was secured she gathered her few things and exited the shuttle.
"Welcome home, kid."
"Aunt Lanna." She said and rushed over to embrace the slightly older-looking woman. "It’s good to be home."
"You don’t sound too thrilled." B’Elanna said.
"Long story." Tayryn said looking around. "Where’s Owen? I was kind of hoping he’d be here."
"He’s on duty." B’Elanna said. "But don’t worry. My son asked me to tell you that he’d give you a proper welcome later."
Tayryn smiled and hoisted her bag on her shoulder.
"I think I’m going to go to my quarters and take a nice relaxing bath."
"No you don’t." B’Elanna said. "The captain wants to see you in her ready room right away."
"Figures." Tayryn muttered walking to the door. "Bet she can’t wait to chew my ass for what I did."
She walked down the corridor to the lift. She waited a moment then the entered the lift when it arrived.
"Bridge." She called out sadly and leaned back against the wall. "Sorry, daddy." She said softly.
=/\= =/\= =/\=
Kathryn Janeway sat at her desk and swiped at the now graying hair that kept falling into her eyes as she read the message on the monitor.
Just then the door chime sounded.
"Enter." She called out, not bothering to look up.
"Ensign Janeway reporting as ordered, Captain." Tayryn said in a clipped tone as she came to attention in front of Janeway’s desk.
"I’m glad to see you made it back, ensign." Janeway said, still not looking up.
"Thank you, ma’am."
"Do you have anything to report regarding your actions in your trip to the past?"
"No, ma’am."
Janeway looked up at that, meeting Tayryn’s hard eyes.
"No, ma’am?" Janeway repeated, turning her monitor so that Tayryn could read it. "And what about this?"
"What about it, Captain?" Tayryn asked, glancing down at what she already knew it would be.
"This is a direct violation of temporal code, ensign." Janeway said standing up and moving around her daughter. "What do you think I should do about this, ensign?"
"Reprimand me as you see fit, captain." Tayryn said and then turned her head towards her mother. "Permission to speak freely?"
Janeway considered it, and then nodded.
"I did what I felt I had to do." She said. "And, I did it for selfish reasons."
"And what reasons would that be?"
"I didn’t want to lose my parents again, captain. Not after what I had seen and had again." Tayryn said.
"As I recall, it was your father who died in that shuttle attack, not me."
"Yes. Daddy died in the shuttle attack and you died in sickbay when he did." She said. "Like I said, selfish reasons. I wanted my parents back."
"I see." Janeway said and then moved in front of Tayryn. "So, I ask you again. What do you think I should do about this?"
"And as I’ve already answered, captain, whatever you see fit." Tayryn said and then her expression grew harder. "Obviously you ignored it anyway. That in itself is a punishment."
"You think so?"
"Yes."
"Well I don’t." Janeway said. "In fact, I know exactly what I’m going to do."
Tayryn didn’t respond as her mother walked behind her.
"Turn around and look at me ensign."
Tayryn did as she was ordered and was surprised when her mother suddenly pulled her into a fierce hug.
"Thank you." Kathryn said softly.
Tayryn didn’t know what to say or do, so she didn’t do anything.
"How do you respond when someone thanks you?"
Tayryn jumped out of her mother’s arms and spun around.
"Daddy?"
And then she fainted.
=/\= =/\= =/\=
**the present**
Kathryn entered her quarters with a sigh, her mind on the events of the last few days.
Her daughter and finally admitting to both herself and Chakotay that she loved him.
Chakotay
Just the thought of him brought a smile to her face and then a flood of warmth washed over her as she remembered how it felt to lie in his arms in bed.
"What a fool I’ve been to hold him at bay for so long." She said aloud.
"I couldn’t agree more."
Kathryn looked up at him, startled but pleased.
"Hope you don’t mind." He said, walking towards her in nothing but his boxers and carrying two flutes of champagne. "But I felt the need to celebrate."
Kathryn smiled and stood up on her tiptoes to give him a quick kiss.
"And what are we celebrating?" She asked taking the glass he offered.
"Our daughter’s arrival and her safe return to her own time." He said and then his smile grew. "And us."
"Definitely things worth celebrating." She said, lifting her glass to him.
"To Tayryn." He said, clinking his glass to hers.
"Tayryn." She echoed and took a small sip.
Chakotay watched her over the rim of his own glass and smiled at the curious look on her face.
"What’s thi…?" she held her glass up and her eyes grew wide. "Oh my."
She carefully drained more of the champagne, then reached her fingers into the glass and pulled out a simple emerald ring.
"Oh, Chakotay!" She gasped. "Oh, Chakotay it’s beautiful."
Chakotay took her wineglass and set both his and hers on the table. He then turned to her, taking her left hand in his as he took the ring from her.
He got down on one knee and looked up at her as he pressed a kiss to the knuckles of her hand.
"I know this is rushing things a little." He began. "And I know I’m being impulsive but, Kathryn, I love you. I’ve loved you for what seems like my whole life. And if you’ll have me, I want to be your husband." He paused and held up the ring. "Will you marry me?"
Kathryn’s eyes welled with tears and she opened her mouth to answer but couldn’t find her voice so she nodded.
Chakotay smiled and slipped the ring on her finger. He stood up and smiled down at her as he framed her face in his hands.
"That was a yes right?"
"Yes!" She finally exclaimed and he chuckled. "Yes! Yes! Yes! Yes, I’ll marry you."
Chakotay’s smile grew and his dimples deepened.
"I love you."
It was whispered simultaneously as their lips came together in a gentle kiss.
"I want to make love to you Kathryn." He murmured against her lips.
She pulled back slightly and looked into his eyes. She felt a wave of desire crash over her at the depth of passion she saw swimming in his obsidian eyes.
"I want to make love to you too, Chakotay." She replied softly.
"Well, why don’t we start by getting you out of this uniform." He said, his fingers already unzipping her jacket.
Kathryn chuckled softly and let him remove her clothes until she was standing before him in just her bar and panties.
"Black lace." He murmured, reaching out to trace the pattern on her bra. "I’d always hoped you wore something like this under your uniform." He breathed and then his eyes moved to hers. "You are so beautiful, Kathryn."
Kathryn felt her whole body blush.
Chakotay noticed this and smiled as he gently pulled her back to him. His mouth covered hers and his tongue darted into her mouth dancing with hers.
They slowly made their way back to the bedroom, still kissing.
Chakotay broke off the kiss when his legs bumped into the bed. He reached his hand up and undid the front clasp of her bra, and in an achingly slow pace, he slipped the bra from her shoulders.
Kathryn watched his face as he reached out both hands to cup her breasts. She smiled softly at his look of rapture.
Suddenly she gasped as he leaned over and took her right breast into his mouth, alternately teasing her nipple with his tongue and nipping it gently with his teeth. He then shifted his attention to her left breast.
He slowly kissed his way back to her mouth, kissing her passionately.
When he broke off the kiss and went to remove her panties, she stopped him, stepping back.
"Kathryn?’
She smiled at him.
"Do you think I’m going to stand here naked in front of you while you’re still covered?" She asked, her voice both sultry and filled with humor.
"I’ll do yours if you do mine." He offered.
She laughed and nodded.
"However, as captain." She stepped up to him. "I get to go first."
"Whatever you say, captain." He grinned raising his hands. "I’m all yours."
"And don’t you ever forget it."
Chakotay chuckled as she slowly tugged his shorts down. He stepped out of them and she tossed them into the chair.
She straightened up and let her eyes drift over his body. At the sight of his engorged manhood standing straight and tall from the nest of black curls between his thighs, Kathryn felt the ache between her own thighs intensify.
"You have a magnificent body, Chakotay." She told him, running her fingers up his muscled chest.
"So I take it you like what you see?"
"Oh yes." She replied with a sensuous smile.
Chakotay smiled back at her then bent to divest her of her panties. Once they were off, he threw them into the chair to join his boxers.
"I was wrong before when I said you were beautiful." He said, his voice husky with desire as he gazed at her naked form. "You are beyond beautiful."
He reached out and brushed his fingers against the auburn curls between her thighs.
She trembled slightly and a soft moan escaped her lips.
"There are no words to describe how breathtakingly exquisite you are."
Kathryn moved against him, pressing her body tight against him. She then grasped his face and brought his mouth down to hers.
As they were kissing, Chakotay turned them and then broke off the kiss, lowering her to the bed.
Kathryn inched her way up the bed as Chakotay first kneeled, then crept after her.
He grabbed her ankles and held her in place. Then, very slowly, beginning with her right ankle, he kissed his way up her leg. When he came to her inner thigh, he stopped and repeated the whole process with her other leg.
Kathryn moaned as while he alternated kisses on her thighs, he exhaled hot breaths against her curls.
He lifted his head to look into her glazed blue eyes and then with a wink and a huge smile, he dipped his head again and buried his nose and mouth in her downy curls.
"Chakotay!" She moaned as his tongue moved between her folds to find the hard, aroused flesh that housed her desire.
Her hands gripped the blanket as his tongue then moved and thrust inside her causing her to moan again.
She suddenly cried out, her body arching off the bed as he slid his finger inside her, his mouth returning to suckle her pearl.
Her head rolled from side to side and she panted for breath as the sensations caused by his mouth and finger traveled through her body.
Chakotay slipped a second finger inside her, causing her to moan again as he continued to move them in and out of her in tandem with the sucking motion of his mouth.
All of a sudden, Kathryn’s hand flew to his head, holding him against her as she stiffened and then began to thrash against him as her orgasm shattered throughout her body.
Chakotay replaced his fingers with his mouth, his tongue greedily lapping up her juices as she continued to tremble.
He then quickly moved and covered her body with his. Wrapping his hand around his aching member, he slowly eased it inside her still pulsating walls.
He groaned as he felt her close in around him and gritted his teeth to keep from exploding and ending it all too soon. He closed his eyes as he braced himself on his arms and tried to think about anything else except being sheathed inside her hot body.
Kathryn felt his body move over hers and nearly cried out again when his pressed his large manhood inside her. As it was, another smaller orgasm shot through her body and she moaned.
When the second orgasm subsided enough for her to think a little more clearly, she opened her eyes and smiled at the determined look on his face. She reached her hand up.
Chakotay opened his eyes at the feel of her hand on his cheek and smiled as he looked into her shining eyes.
She slipped her hand behind his head and pulled him down for a kiss, tasting herself on his lips.
As they kissed, she slid her legs up along his, locking one behind his knee and the other hooking over his hip. She then thrust her hips up against him, letting him know she was ready to continue.
She broke off the kiss and moved her lips along his jaw to his ear.
"Love me, Chakotay." She whispered huskily.
"Always and forever, my Kathryn." He whispered back as he lifted himself onto his arms and began to move inside her.
He slid his shaft in and out of her with long sure strokes, setting an easy but pleasurable pace.
Kathryn moaned and lifted her hips to meet his, her inner muscles tightening around him every time he pulled back.
Chakotay groaned with pleasure and she smiled up at him, her leg moving up around his hip to lock with her other one behind his back.
He pulled back, almost withdrawing completely, leaving just the head of his shaft inside her and stopped.
"Chakotay!" She moaned, tightening her legs and lifting her hips in an effort to take him back inside her.
"Yes, my love?" He smiled down at her as he slid a hand between them to stroke the bundle of nerves nestled in her folds.
"Oh, god!" She panted as the sensations shot through her body. "Don’t tease me."
He chuckled and slowly eased himself back inside her, his fingers still stroking her. He paused and lowered his lips to hers for a fierce kiss.
As they kissed, he began to thrust into her again, causing her to moan into his mouth.
Chakotay slipped his hand out from between their bodies and then grasped her hands in both of his, stretching their arms above their heads.
Kathryn responded by tightening her legs around him and arching her body under his.
Chakotay dipped his head and caught one of her nipple between his teeth, drawing it into his mouth, swirling his tongue around the stiff peak as he continued to thrust into her in a steady rhythm.
"Oh… mmm… Chak… ko…" she moaned as the intensity of the feelings grew throughout her body. "God… Chakotay!"
Chakotay released her nipple and her hands kissing her quickly as he pulled himself to his knees. He grabbed her hips and began to plunge his throbbing member deeper and harder inside her.
She whimpered his name, her hands clawing at the blankets as she rose up to meet his every thrust.
"CHAKOTAY!!" She screamed suddenly, her body going taut and arching completely off the bed. "Oh… God… Cha-kO-TAY!"
Her body began to convulse around him as an orgasmic wave of pleasure surged through her body.
Chakotay thrust into her one last time, yelling her name as he poured his seed into her with a thunderous release, then collapsed on top of her.
Their bodies continued to tremble as the aftershocks of their release continued to stream through them.
When their breathing finally slowed, Chakotay was the first to move. Propping himself up on his elbow, he gazed down at her.
She opened her eyes and smiled up at him.
He leaned in and gave her a tender kiss before rolling off her and gathering her against him.
She lightly traced his tattoo as they lay facing each other.
"I love you," she said, her voice deep and throaty. "So much."
"I love you too, Kathryn." He replied bringing his hand up to lightly draw the markings on his forehead on her bare one. "More than words can ever say."
She leaned in and kissed him before snuggling closer against him.
They slowly drifted off to sleep.
=/\= =/\= =/\=
**the future**
"Tayryn."
She moaned.
"Tayryn, honey, wake up."
She heard her mother calling her, but didn’t want to listen.
"Come on, kiddo, open your eyes."
Her eyes flew open at the sound of another voice, a deeper voice.
"Daddy?" She asked softly, still not believing it. "Is it really you?"
"Yes, sweetie, it’s really me." Chakotay replied, kneeling beside her. "You’re not dreaming and you’re not dead."
"But… how?’
"You know how." Kathryn said with a smile.
"The letter." Tayryn said then sat up on the couch that she was lying on.
"Well, yes, the letter. And what you told me about the accident." Kathryn said.
"Wait a minute." Tayryn said, holding up one had, while placing the other to her temple. "If dad’s still alive, how come I can still remember the accident? Shouldn’t there… I mean if he’s here, then how’d I…" she stopped and groaned. "Oh, never mind. All this quasality, time travel stuff gives me a headache."
"Definitely your mother’s daughter."
Tayryn watched with a bemused smile as her mother playfully swatted her father’s shoulder.
"Don’t worry about it,
"And I’ll have two sets of memories."
"Most likely." Chakotay said, moving to sit on the armrest behind his wife, his hand resting on her shoulder.
"I guess I can live with that." She decided and then smiled. "Especially since I got my parents back."
She got up and walked over to the replicater.
"So, who all knows that we altered the future? If anyone?"
Kathryn and Chakotay glanced at each other.
"Just the senior staff." Chakotay said.
"And Owen." Kathryn replied.
"That’s good." Tayryn said, settling back down on the couch with a cup of coffee. "At least then he’ll understand if I don’t remember all the things we’ve done."
"Not everything has necessarily changed, honey." Kathryn said. "Your relationship with Owen might not have."
"That’s true." She said then put the cup down and brought both hands up to rub her temples. "Maybe I will take your advice and not think about it."
Kathryn and Chakotay chuckled.
"Well I suppose I should go and put my things away. And I’d really like to take a nice long hot bath." Tayryn said standing up.
"And don’t worry about going on duty right away." Chakotay said. "We’ve given you a few days off to adjust."
"Thanks." She said stooping down to pick up her bag. She headed for the door then stopped to look back at her parents. "Can I ask why?"
Kathryn and Chakotay walked over to her.
"There are a lot of reasons." Kathryn said. "Your father wanted to see you grow into the beautiful young woman you’ve become." She paused. "And I didn’t want to become that woman you described to me."
"We also realized from different things you’d said and written that…"
"That it’d happened before." Tayryn finished, interrupting her father. "My time traveling."
Her parents nodded.
"And finally," Kathryn said, slipping her arms around Chakotay. "I was being selfish too. I didn’t want to lose your father."
Tayryn smiled.
"All I can say is that I’m glad everything worked out. For all of us."
She stepped closer to them and embraced them both.
"That and I love you both very much."
Chakotay and Kathryn returned their daughter’s hug.
"We love you too, honey." Kathryn said.
Tayryn let them go and left the ready room with a smile on her face.
Chakotay led his wife over to the couch, sat down and pulled her into his lap.
"Don’t you just love happy endings?" Kathryn asked wrapping her arms around her husband’s neck.
"Yes, I do." Chakotay answered, nuzzling her neck.
Kathryn sighed happily, her fingers moving through his salt n’ pepper hair.
"So," Chakotay asked shifting his position so that he was half lying on the couch, with her half under him. "When do you think we should tell her about her little brother?’
"What little brother?" Kathryn asked as he began to unzip her uniform.
"The one we’re about to conceive." He said, his hand moving to her pants.
"Chakotay!" She giggled. "We’re in the ready room."
He lifted his head, looked around then looked back down at her with a roguish grin.
"Never stopped us before."
He pulled her up, removed her jacket and began to work on her shirt.
"Besides, I’m too old to become a mother again." She said, her fingers moving to his jacket’s opening.
"No, you’re not." He said, slipping off her shirt and caressing her breasts through her tank top. "This is the twenty-fourth century after all."
"You’re incorrigible." She stated, pushing his jacket off his shoulders.
"No." He said shaking his head. "I’m encouragable. Very encouragable."
Kathryn laughed as she kicked off her boots.
"Well, why don’t you lock the door and we’ll find out just how encouragable you are."
"Computer." He called out. "Secure ready room doors."
Her laughter was soon muffled by his kisses.
=/\= =/\= =/\=
"Thank you for bringing me with you." She said. "I know
mom didn’t want me to go."
"She was just being cautious. She is your mother and your captain
after all. It’s her job."
"I know." Tayryn said. "But thanks for talking her into
it."
Chakotay smiled.
"You’re welcome, honey." He said. "I’ve enjoyed spending
this time with you, too."
Tayryn smiled and went to speak when the red alert klaxons off and the
shuttle rocked.
"Enemy ship detected of the port bow." She said.
"Well, they certainly didn’t waste any time." Chakotay said.
"Evasive maneuvers. Get us out of here, kiddo."
"Yes, sir." Tayryn replied as she punched the controls.
"Evasive maneuvers."
The shuttle dipped and turned.
"They’re firing. Hold on." Chakotay called out as the shuttle
rocked again. "Shields down ten percent."
"Evasive maneuvers, omega four." Tayryn said, her fingers lying
over the console.
"*Enemy vessel, this is the Ynaree warship
Ekim. You are ordered to cut your engines and
surrender your ship.*"
Tayryn turned to look at Chakotay, a worried look on her face. Chakotay
looked up at her, smiled briefly as he shook his head slightly. She returned
the smile.
"Evasive maneuvers, pattern zeta two." Tayryn called out as she
performed the intricate maneuvers. "Should we return fire?"
"Yes." Chakotay said. "I’m targeting their weapons array.
A soon as I fire, get us out of here. And hail Voyager."
"Yes, sir." Tayryn said. "Delta Flyer to Voyager. We’re
under attack. Repeat, we are under attack. Please respond."
Suddenly a bright beam of light flashed before the Flyer and the Ynaree vessel began to retreat.
"What the…?" Tayryn began and then smiled as she saw Voyager
pass over the shuttle. "All right, mom!" She cheered. "Excellent
timing."
Kathryn’s image appeared on the Flyer’s viewscreen,
an anxious look on her face.
"*Are you two okay?*" She asked.
"Yes, ma’am." Tayryn answered, smiling and feeling a sense of
relief she didn’t understand. "Good timing on your part."
"Yes. Great timing, captain." Chakotay said with a smile.
"I wouldn’t have wanted to be responsible for the loss of another
shuttle."
On the viewscreen Kathryn chuckled and shook
her head.
"*Come on home you two.*" She said.
"Aye, Captain." Tayryn said. "Flyer out."
She turned to look at her father.
"So how many shuttles have you lost, daddy?"
"Never you mind, smartass." Chakotay said laughing. "Just
dock the shuttle."
"Yes, sir." Tayryn laughed as she turned around and did as
ordered.
"Teenagers." She heard Chakotay mumble, still chuckling.
=/\= =/\= =/\=
"I’m fine, Doc." Tayryn insisted as the doctor scanned her.
"Dad, why’d we have to do this, nothing happened."
"Procedure, kiddo." He answered sitting on the bio-bed across
from her.
"A check up now and then is a good thing." The doctor said.
Tayryn made a face. The doctor glanced over to Chakotay. "Most definitely
her mother’s daughter."
Chakotay chuckled and then looked up as the doors to sickbay parted.
"Report, doctor." Janeway said, walking over to them.
"Both the commander and Ensign Janeway are fine." The doctor
said. "Not so much as a scratch on either of them."
"That’s good to hear." Kathryn said and squeezed Tayryn’s shoulder. "Good job, kiddo."
Tayryn smiled, straightening up under her mother’s praise.
"Thanks, mom."
Kathryn smiled at her and patted her cheek affectionately as she moved to
stand in front of her husband.
Tayryn watched as Kathryn suddenly threw her arms around Chakotay’s neck, pressing herself against him with such
force she nearly knocked him over.
"Thank you." She whispered against his ear. "Thank you so
much."
Chakotay’s arms went around her, holding
her tight.
"I told you we’d get it right this time." He replied softly.
She pulled back slightly and smiled at him through the tears that had
welled in her eyes.
"I love you." She said.
"I love you too." He smiled.
He pulled her back to him and lowered his lips to hers for a loving kiss.
Tayryn smiled as she watched her parents, sensing an aura of rightness to
the scene.
=/\= =/\= =/\=
Her eyes fluttered open and she sat up.
"Tay? What’s wrong?"
Tayryn turned and looked down at the handsome man lying beside her.
"Nothing, love." She replied softly, her hand reaching out to lightly trace the barely noticeable ridges on his forehead. "Go back to sleep."
He gave her a sleepy smile and nodded.
"I love you, Tay." He murmured.
"I love you too, Owen." She whispered as she slipped out of bed.
She walked into the living room and made her way to the window to gaze out at the stars.
She smiled.
"Everything is as it should be now." Tayryn said softly. "They got it right this time."
=/\= =/\= =/\=
**the present**
He leaned in and gave her a tender kiss before rolling off her and gathering her against him.
She lightly traced his tattoo as they lay facing each other.
"I love you." She said, her voice deep and throaty. "So much."
"I love you too, Kathryn." He replied, bringing his hand up to lightly draw the markings on his forehead on her bare one. "More than words can say."
She leaned in and kissed him before snuggling closer against him.
They slowly drifted off to sleep as their hands slipped between their bodies to entwine and rest on her abdomen, where the light of a new life began to glow. And knew that this time they’d get it right.
-fin