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From: dscully@atl.mindspring.com (D. K. Scully)
Newsgroups: alt.startrek.creative
Subject: NEW: Separate Ways (J/C)
Date: Tue, 28 May 1996 21:59:38 GMT
Organization: MindSpring Enterprises, Inc.
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Message-ID: <4og02d$274e@mule2.mindspring.com>
Reply-To: dscully@atl.mindspring.com
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X-Newsreader: Forte Free Agent 1.0.82
Status: N

This story was borne out of an idea I had some time ago about the
return of Voyager to the Alpha Quadrant. Unlike the story which has
recently been posted (which is a great plot, BTW), seven years has
elapsed on both sides of the wormhole, and the Cardies aren't really
interested in Chakotay's crew now; it's Starfleet that wants them
court-martialed. ::grimace:: 

This story *is* a J/C piece, though Chakotay does not appear in this
at all. Just consider it a scene to be added to the Voyager finale
(which will hopefully end better than the 'Forever Knight'
finale...Grrr...)...

DISCLAIMER: These characters, save Admiral de Brebant, belong
completely to Paramount Studios, though I wish Jeri Taylor were in
sole posession...Their appearance here is meant only for the
entertainment of myself and others, and is not for profit.

And, guys, this *is* a rough draft, hot off the presses....

TIME PERIOD: Four years from "now." And in this universe, they would
ask, "Seska who???" ::grin:: Nah. I just started this before all that
@#$%!!! 

P/Cers: You should like this...::evil grin::

Separate Ways
By: Heather DeLong
dscully@mindspring.com

Kathryn Janeway leant back against the arm of the thickly
upholstered sofa, her legs stretched out before her. In her
hands, she held an old fashioned, print copy of Jane Austen's
_Sense and Sensibility_ -- a "welcome home" gift from Captain and
Mrs. Jean-Luc Picard.

And what a welcome it had been! Almost as soon as they reentered
the Alpha quadrant from the wormhole, the _Enterprise-E_ had been
waiting. Messages flooded subspace, everyone pushing to know what
Picard and his crew had already learned: the crew of the _USS
Voyager_ was finally home -- after seven years in the Delta
quadrant.

The reporters were worse than Kathryn ever imagined possible,
interrupting important family reuinions, interfering in official
Starfleet business. Not that she wanted to *hear* the Starfleet
business; it was Command's wish to court-martial the entirety of
her Maquis Crew...including Commander Chakotay.

There was no way in Hell she would allow any of it.

Depositions began the very next day, led by Admirals Satie and de
Brebant. Each crew member had been "questioned" with the brisk
efficiency of an ancient west lynch mob, determined to see only
one side to the story. Soon, even Janeway found herself defending
her Maquis crew in a shouting match with Satie. Word of this
spread quickly, making headlines.

"Without their cooperation, we would not be here now," Captain 
Janeway was quoted as saying of her Maquis crew. Not an exact
quote, butit was close enough.

De Brebant and Satie had yet to make their decisions.

Amidst all of the confusion, Kathryn had found very little time
for herself. Her free moments away from the court-martial
proceedings were spent seeing to the refitting of her seven year-
old ship, or the morale of her crew, even now that they were
home. Not once, in the week since her return, had she seen
Mark.

She frowned. //Where did *that* come from?// she questioned.
Obviously, Mark had gotten on with his life, and she was no
longer a part of it. That was fine with her, for her new life did
not include him either. _Voyager_ was now her life..._Voyager_
and Chakotay.

Staring blankly at the printed titled of her book, Kathryn called
to mind every moment that she had spent with her first officer.
When had she started keeping track? Did it matter?

//Because it was Mark when you left, Kath,// she said to herself
for the millionth time, //and now it is Chakotay.// It was her
relationship with Chakotay which brough her peace. In his arms,
she had found the feeling of belonging and contentment; in his
presence, a pervading peace which overrode everything. Even now,
months after they had begun a relationship, it was hard to
describe her attraction to him. She could only say that she felt
alive, ready to burst at the seams.

Smiling slightly to herself, she opened the front of the book
where Beverly Picard had written a dedication in old-fashioned
cursive:

          To Kath:
               "Falling in love is an unspecified
                disease with an uncertain recovery,
                where as growing into love has
                limitless possibilities..."

                Welcome home, Captain.

                              Beverly and Jean-Luc

She shook her head. One day with her, and Beverly had read her
like an open book; one day, and Beverly knew Mark was obsolete.

As Kathryn settled in, there was a knock at the door. She set her
book onto the glass coffeetable, and crossed the living room to
the door, retying the sash of her robe as she did so. At the
door, she keyed the lock. There, standing on her front steps was
the man in question.

"I expected to see you three days ago," Janeway said evenly,
without emotion. Inside, however, her mind was whirling. //What
do I say? How do I tell him? Does he already know?//

"I thought you might be a bit busy," he said, giving a slight
smile. "The reporters certainly have been."

"Oh yes, we're a big story, my crew and I," Kath said with a bit
of sarcasm, smiling. "I just wish they would stop misquoting me."

Mark glanced down, noticing her attire for the first time. "If
I've come at a bad time..." he began.

"Nonsense," Janeway said, stepping aside, allowing him to enter.
"I was just settling in to read one of my 'welcome home' gifts."
She motioned toward the book on the table. "It was from Beverly
and Jean-Luc."

Picking up the book, Mark looked over the leather-bound volume.
"They always have been quite the collectors, even before they
were married," he said.

"I wish someone would have told me they were married before we
boarded the _Enterprise_," Kathryn said with a laugh. "I could
have made a fool out of myself before their crew *and* mine if
the right situation had presented itself."

"You? Make a fool of yourself?" Mark echoed. There was a touch of
mischief in his eyes. "Not Captain Kathryn Janeway." He smiled at
her, opening the cover of the book. Kathryn found herself holding
her breath as he read the dedication.

"I was wondering if you were going to appear at all," Kathryn
said, breaking the uncomfortable silence that fell between them.
"I thought, perhaps, you had gotten on with your life..."

"...the way you have with yours?" Mark looked up, nodding. "I
have. I haven't asked her to marry me, though," he answered,
giving a laugh. "I keep chickening out."

Kathryn felt her eyes begin to glaze over. He was going to make
this easy for her, wasn't he? Damn him! "I didn't expect you to
wait for me," she said, "not after three years passed. Especially
not after seven."

"I tried," he said. "I tried waiting. But after a while...
Starfleet had declared the crew dead, held a memorial service,
even. I couldn't keep mourning you..."

Mark cleared his throat. "I heard in the news you were going to
bat for your Maquis crew," he said. "I -- ahem -- hope things go
well. I understand their captain, Chakotay, is a good man."

A smile crossed Kathryn's lips. "He is," she said, her voice
breaking under the strain of emotion. She knew Mark could hear
the ardor in her voice; it was audible, even to her.

Without looking up, Mark placed the book back onto the
coffeetable. He struggled with his own expression before meeting
her eyes with his. "Kathryn," he said, taking her hands in his,
"I wish you and Commander Chakotay the very best."

"Thank you, Mark." Her voice was almost a whisper. Leaning
forward, she planted a kiss on his cheek, then drew back. A
single tear rolled from her right eye, dropping onto the lavender
robe she now wore. "Best to you, also."

"Good bye, Kathryn." Mark gave her hands one final squeeze, then
released them. He brushed past her, striding quickly to the door.
With one last glance over his shoulder, he stepped quietly out of
Kathryn Janeway's life and into his own.

The End...?