Disclaimer:
This story is based in the "Star Trek" universe. The use of anything related to "Star Trek" in this series is not intended to infringe upon the rights of Paramount Pictures. The author is in no way associated with the owners, creators, or producers of any media franchise.
All other content or otherwise are works of my own imagination. All events are fictitious in nature.
Any similarities to persons living, dead, or otherwise are purely coincidental.
This story contains strong themes of homosexual content, if this offends you in any way, please refrain from reading further. If you are not of legal age to read this, please leave now.
Ok as well before we start this is based on the series Star Trek Voyager but with a twist from the original story line and i hope you like it.
Chapter 11: Messages from Home
"This is Starfleet command calling the USS Voyager, if you are receiving this message please study it carefully, we have information..." said a man over the comm. I looked up for my console and looked over at the captain. Even though the message was garbled and very fuzzy we all heard the words Starfleet Command. Was this for real. Just as quickly as the message had started it stopped. "What happened?" asked Janeway. "I'm not sure, the transmission just stopped" replied Kim. Oh god please don't say we lost the entire transmission. If it's from home they may have found a way to bring us back. "Locate the source see if you can get it back" ordered Janeway. "It looks like... Captain the transmission was sent along the same network of alien relay stations we used to send the doctor to the Alpha Quadrant." reported Kim. "Starfleet command must be using the same way we did" said Chakotay. It was the same relay stations we used a few weeks ago to send the doctor to earth. I was jealous of him for actually getting the chance to go home. "Harry can you clear the interference from that message?" asked Janeway. "Yes Ma'am" replied Harry and went right to work. "They said they wouldn't stop until they found a way to get us home" commented Paris. "None the less we shouldn't assume that they have been able to devise a plan this quickly" said Tuvok bringing a low point to the mood. Why did he always have to do that. "Their communicating with us, that's a big step" said Janeway re-lifting people's spirits. "Okay, I've reprocessed everything we received and managed to clear out most of the interference. Here it comes." said Kim. He activated the message and it replayed but this time a lot less garbled. "This is Starfleet command calling the USS Voyager, if you are receiving this message please study it carefully, we have information which we ..." "That's all we got, it looks like the bulk of the transmission is lodged in one of the relay stations." reported Kim. God I hope it's a close one and not light years away. We knew the stations extended all the way to the Alpha Quadrant, I just hope we don't have to wait months to hear the rest of that message. "Can you tell which one?" asked Janeway. "It's about 3.8 light years from us on a heading of 274 mark 13." Said Harry smiling. Oh thank god it wouldn't take too long to get there. "Set a course Tom." Janeway ordered. "Aye Captain" he replied. "The last time we used one of those stations the people who built them weren't too happy" said Chakotay. Why were people being so negative, we were hearing from home. "Oh we'll deal with that if we have to, but I'm not going to miss this opportunity. We're going to find out what the rest of that message says" said Janeway. "Maybe they've figured out a way to get us home." said Harry. He was right. "How could they get us home from 60,000 light years away?" asked Paris. Sceptic. "Who knows what kind of technological advances Starfleet has developed while we have been gone. They may have discovered a whole new way of travelling through space." I said. "You two are desperate to get home." Said Paris. "Since it was technology that brought us to the Delta Quadrant, it is a reasonable assumption that technology could get us back." Said Tuvok. "Thank you. And yes Tom I am desperate to get home, as I'm sure Harry is." I said sticking my tongue out playfully. He and I had gotten a lot more friendly since he and B'Elanna had started to date. "Starfleet found a stable wormhole to the gamma quadrant. It's possible they found one that leads here." Said Chakotay. That was a good point. "This kind of speculation can be intriguing, but be careful about setting yourselves up to be disappointed." Said Janeway pointing to me and Harry. I smiled at her. "I'm just happy my parents know I'm alive." I said. "I agree" said Harry. Tom turned in his chair "What is it with you two?" he asked. "It comes with being an only child" I replied. Harry laughed and nodded. "I imagine there were quite a few celebrations when people got the news." Janeway said. "Probably, but I can see how it could make things difficult for some. I guess people had given up on us. Done their mourning, gone on with their lives, found some kind of resolution. Now they get the news that we're alive, but so far away we may as well be dead." Said Chakotay. "Some people may think that, but not my mom and dad." Said Harry smiling. "Well at the very least we know the relay stations extend almost all the way to the Alpha Quadrant, if Starfleet has found a way to use them to transmit messages we'll be able to keep in constant contact with people at home. That has to be comforting." Said Janeway smiling. ""I'm sure it is, but I think it's more comforting to believe that Starfleet is actually going to get us home. If nobody objects that's what I'm going to do." Said Harry. He looked at me and said "Right Jack?" I smiled. "Absolutely" I replied and went back to work.
As I sat on the bridge and people were still talking about the possibility that Starfleet could get us home, my thoughts turned to my mum and dad. They were so proud that I got into Starfleet and my dad always said I would go far, I bet he didn't imagine just how far. Both of my parents were in Starfleet and were both commissioned officers like me, which meant they attended the academy. My mum was the deputy director of Starfleet Strategic Operations at the rank of Vice-Admiral and my dad was the deputy director of Starfleet Intelligence also at the rank of Vice-Admiral. Many people would think with my parents holding such high positions in Starfleet meant that my childhood didn't really include my parents. They couldn't be more wrong. They spent all the time with me. I mean sure, we had security procedures in my house because of their jobs. For instance whenever either or both of them had to work I couldn't disturb them unless it was important and anything I heard in the house couldn't be repeated. Also I had to understand that if Earth was ever attacked we would all be taken to a secure location and I had to be ready for that as well. My parents used to teach me about it and do practise tests so I was ready. Growing up in my house as well meant I met a lot of high ranking officers. In particular the Director of Starfleet Intelligence Admiral Ive and also my mum's department director Admiral Hayes. But other than that they were the most relaxed people you could find. When I decided to join Starfleet they didn't pressure me into going into a certain department they left the decision entirely up to me. I can just picture what the house would have been like when they got the news, all my aunts and uncles and cousins would have been there helping my mum and dad celebrate. While I was in deep thought the ship suddenly began to shake "Report." Asked the captain. "We're encountering some kind of gravametric distortions" reported Harry. "Source?" asked Chakotay. "It seems to be coming the relay station we're headed for" reported Harry. But it was still so far away. "That station is still 2 light years away, how can it be projecting a gravametric field this far?" asked the captain. "It would have to have an incredibly powerful energy source." Commented Chakotay. Harry worked the controls and suddenly the ship stabilised. "I've compensated for the disturbance, we should be alright. At least until we get closer" reported Kim. "I'm detecting a ship captain, 800,000 kilometres off the port bow." Reported Tuvok. "On screen" ordered Janeway. The appeared on the viewscreen and I could see that it was on fire. "Its adrift, no propulsion, no weapons, no life support." I reported. "I'm picking up one male humanoid aboard, he's dead." Reported Harry. "As soon as we're close enough beam the body to sickbay. I wanna know how he died." Said Janeway heading for the turbolift.
2 DAYS LATER!
"Personal Log, Lieutenant Carter, Stardate 50501.4 after 2 days at high warp we're close enough to the relay station to see it on long range visual sensors. Now is the time to see what Starfleet really had to say. Tom is just as excited as I am to hear what they had to say. End log" I wrote on my padd while I was sat on the bridge. "Not exactly what I expected, it looks ancient." Commented Paris. I agreed with him on that. "Radio metric decay ratios indicate it's at least 100,000 years old." Reported Kim. "Scan for life forms" ordered Chakotay. "Negative sir looks like theirs nobody home" I reported. "Well that's good news, here we go again." Said Chakotay as the ship began to shake again because of distortions. "The gravametric field" said Tuvok again stating the obvious. "Commander if my sensor readings at right, that station is using a quantum singularity as a power source." I told him. "A black hole" asked Paris. "It a tiny one, probably about a centimetre in diameter but it's putting out almost 4 terra watts of energy." I told them all. "Then someone found a way to contain a singularity, construct a space station around it and tap it's power, that's fascinating" commented Chakotay. "Can we take the ship any closer?" asked Paris. "I wouldn't recommend it, Voyager would take a beating from the Gravametric eddies." I told him. Chakotay looked at Paris and then said "Alright Tom back us off." "Aye sir" he replied. "Bridge to Janeway, we're as close as we're going to get Captain" Chakotay said over the comm. I heard her then reply "Okay we'll see if we can download the message from here." She ended the comm. Channel and I went back to work. When I heard from Tom that the transmission included letters from home I was over the moon. I really hope I got one, not to be selfish but it really would be awesome to hear from someone at home. After about an hour Neelix emerged from the turbolift and cheerfully announced "I am happy to announce that I have the first letters from home." I smiled. "Who are they for Neelix?" asked Harry. "This one is addressed to Commander Chakotay" he replied. He handed the padd to Chakotay who sat in his chair reading it. "Who's it from commander?" asked Neelix. "An old friend, the person who recruited me into the maquis." He said. His face fell and I could tell just by looking at him he had some seriously bad news. "Perhaps I'll read this in private you have the bridge Tom" he said when he realised that everyone was watching him. He turned and walked away as Neelix headed for the turbolift. "Neelix wait, aren't there anymore?" asked Harry. "No none for the bridge crew, be patient" he replied and turned and entered the turbolift. I continued to work and soon the captain appeared. She held a padd and was heading for her ready room. "Is that a letter to you captain?" asked Harry. "Yes, seven just downloaded it. I'll be in my ready room" she said. She looked at me and then walked in. As I sat there and worked I wondered when I would get a letter. About half an hour after the captain had been in her ready room Neelix came back onto the bridge and said "I have more letters." He was carrying a box and started to pull out pads and reading off names. I looked over at ops but Harry had gone for lunch. "Carter" said Neelix. I looked up and he smiled as I went over and took the padd. "Janeway to Carter, report to my ready room." Said the captain. Not now I want to see this letter. "On my way" I said. I went down the steps and touched the panel and the captain told me to come in. "Can we talk?" she asked. I went over and sat down as she offered me some coffee. I accepted and she handed me the cup. "I wanted to talk about my letter and for some reason I feel comfortable talking to you about it." She said. "Okay, who was it from?" I asked. "Mark." Was all she let out. Her fiancée. Oh god don't tell me she got a dear john letter from 60,000 light years away. She handed me the padd and I skimmed it over. He told her about the litter of puppies her dog had, how he found homes for them, how devastated he was when he learned that Voyager was missing, how he held out hopes longer than anyone else. Then he told her that he had married a year ago and was very happy. After I finished reading I looked at her with a sympathetic look and she just broke down crying. "Oh god Kathryn I'm so sorry" I said. I hugged her and once she had stopped she said "I guess I didn't really expect him to wait for me." I smiled and said "I guess not, but there was a slim chance." "I guess my safety net is gone" she told me. "Yeah and with Mark married and happy it means that you and Chakotay can finally get together" I told her. She laughed and said "You can dream." She saw the padd in my hand and said "What's that?" I looked at it and said "My letter." She smiled and said "Well stay and read it while you have coffee" I picked up the padd and said "Will you read it for me." I said. "Of course" she replied. I handed her the padd and she spoke aloud
"TO JACK CARTER
FROM ADMIRALS MATTHEW AND JULIE CARTER.
JACK,
WE JUST HEARD THAT YOU'RE ALIVE. YOUR DAD AND I ARE SO THANKFUL THAT YOU HAVE SURVIVED. WHEN WE FIRST GOT THE NEWS IT TOOK US SOME TIME TO GET USED TO THE IDEA THAT OUR SON WAS DEAD AND I DON'T THINK WE EVER TRULY BELIEVED IT. WE ALWAYS HELD OUT HOPE THAT YOU WOULD COME BACK TO US. YOUR AUNTS AND UNCLES AND YOUR GRANDPARENTS SEND THEIR LOVE AND WISH YOU ALL THE BEST." The captain paused and looked at me. "That's so sweet, I didn't realise you were so close with your mum and dad." I smiled a tear streaming from my eye. I could hear my mum's voice in my head as the captain read the letter. "Yeah we were always very close. I was their only son so it was inevitable." She smiled, "I know of your parents obviously being in the positions they are in, but I never actually got to meet them. But I always thought that you would have had a hard time growing up alongside two high ranking members of Starfleet. I know I did with my dad." She said. "No not at all we were practically joined at the hip." I told her. She smiled and she continued to read the letter. My mum and dad had written an essay between them. When the captain finished she smiled and looked at me. I was physically crying because all I wanted to do was rush to the house and hold them both. This time she hugged me and said "I'll get you back to them, that's a promise." I smiled and took the padd back from her. I rose and said "Well my duty shift is over. I'm only doing a half day as B'Elanna wants me to get started on the monthly engineering report." The captain smiled and said "Thanks for your support earlier." I hugged her again and left the ready room. I walked into the turbolift still reading the padd.
When I finally arrived back at mine and Tom's quarters I walked in and lay the padd down. I changed into some casual clothes and sat at my desk. I grabbed a blank padd and brought up all the engineering reports from the last month and was about to start to work when the door chimed. "Come in." I said. The door opened and in walked Tabor. I looked at him and smiled. "Hey, what's up?" I asked. He looked at me and said "Can we errr.... talk?" I nodded and pointed to the couch and he went over and sat down. "I just got some pretty seriously bad news." He told me. "About what?" I asked. He looked down at the floor and I stood up and walked over to him. As I sat next to him he looked into my eyes. "There all gone. It's over." He told me. "What are you talking about?" I asked. "There are no more maquis. They were all wiped out by a species the Cardassians formed an alliance with." He told me his voice cracking. "Oh my god are you serious?" I asked. "Yeah I'm serious. Chakotay just told me. He hasn't told many people yet and I don't think he has told Tom." He replied. It was at that moment he broke down and began to cry. I hugged him and he whimpered to himself. "Tabor it's okay, they died fighting for something that they believed in." I told him stoking his hair. He came up and kissed me. I broke the kiss and looked at him. "What was that?" I asked. "It was this." He replied kissing me again. This time I didn't fight him, not straight away. After about two minutes of kissing I finally broke off and stood up. "We can't, I'm with Tom" I told him. He smiled and lay back on the couch. "Yeah I know, but you can't tell me it didn't feel good." He replied. I couldn't deny it, that was an amazing kiss. "No I can't it was good." I replied. "See." He replied. I looked at him and gave in to my feelings. I walked back over and kissed him again. He stood up our lips still locked and we walked into the bedroom. I fell on the bed and he got on top I slowly worked my way up the bed. "God you taste so good." He told me. I could feel his rock hard cock pressing against mine through his uniform. I slowly removed his jacket, t shirt and tank top to reveal his flat, toned 6 pack. He removed my t shirt and threw it to the floor. He then started to remove my sweat pants and I arched my back and lifted my butt off the bed to allow him to pull them all the way down and off. He then got off the bed and took off his boots, socks and trousers and climbed back on top of me looking into my eyes. I traced the ridges on his nose and giggled. "What?" he asked. "Nothing, I just never noticed how cute you are with the ridges on your nose." I replied. He kissed me deeply and I opened my mouth to allow him to probe my mouth with his tongue. He slowly moved down first munching on neck before going further down and licking my chest. His tongue felt so good as it went over my abs and 6 pack. He got further down and played with my cock through my boxers. "I can see why Tom likes keeping you in bed" he said grinning. He pulled back my boxers and my 8 inch cock flopped out on to my stomach and he started to lick the tip. I was heaven. He slowly began to take more in his mouth and worked on my cock his head bobbing up and down. After 2 minutes or so he came back up and kissed me. I wrapped my legs around him and did my usual trick and flipped him over so I was on top. He smiled as I went and munched on his neck and moved down playing with his nipples with my tongue. I finally moved down his body and I removed his boxers to let his 7 inch cock flop out and his low hanging balls to be released. I slowly placed my mouth over his cock and I slowly slid my mouth down his shaft wanting to make this last as long as possible. As I slowly worked on his cock my head bouncing up and down I played with his low hanging balls. He was loving this. As I let his cock go from my mouth I moved even further down and sucked on his balls. He squirmed as I did this exhaling in pleasure. I could see him tense up and stopped moving back up his body and kissing him. "Not so fast." I said. He smiled and I rolled off him and he got back on top of me. "Do you have any..." he asked. "Yeah top drawer." I said pointing to my dresser. He went over and took out a condom and some lube and came back. I rolled the condom onto his cock and he lubbed up my arse. When I was ready after him sticking two fingers inside me he worked his cock into my arse stretching my hole. When he was all the way in he slowly began to fuck me. "Oh fuck" I screamed. I smiled and really began to fuck me hard. I could feel all of his cock leave my arse and then re-enter me hard and fast. He was so fucking hot. I could see little drops of sweat on his forehead as he really began to work my arse. After about 20 minutes he announced "I'm gunna cum." I looked at him and said "Same." He came out of me ripped off his condom and began to jack off. After about a minute we both came together and I was covered in cum. He collapsed onto the bed beside me and came in and kissed me. "Wow, that was...." he said trying to get his breath back. "Yeah it was." I said. He smiled. Suddenly the door chimed. Shit! Tabor leapt off the bed and in 30 seconds put his clothes on. I went into the bathroom and wiped the cum off my chest as Tabor tidied up my bed. I heard the door chime again and I went out as saw the place looking good. I went to the door and opened it. There stood Seven of Nine. "Lieutenant?" she asked noticing I was only dressed in my towel. "Sorry I was in the shower." I said. "I did not mean to irrupt. I am leaving with Commander Tuvok to shore up the stations containment field and Lieutenant Torres said I should ask you which shuttle you want me to take as you have been working on some." She told me. "Oh, take shuttle Cochrane." I told her. "Very well, sorry to have disturbed you." She said turning and walking away. I shut the door and walked over to Tabor. "That was close." He said. "Yeah it was, listen...." was all I got out when he cut me off. "Yeah, ermm as good as this was we can't do this again. We have to work together and we're friends. Plus Tom and I go a long way back and I don't want to lose him as a friend either." He told me. I nodded and said "I agree, and we don't mention this to anyone." He smiled and said "Of course not." He kissed me one last time before turning and walking out of my quarters. I went back into the bathroom and had a shower thinking about the last half hour.
Finally emerging from the bathroom in a fresh uniform I was about to work when Janeway called me over the comm. "Lieutenant Carter to the bridge." I tapped my commbadge. "On my way." I said. I left my quarters and rode the turbolift up to the bridge as Harry was explaining to the captain "We picked up an automated distress signal from Tuvok's shuttle, sensors show no one on board." It wasn't that long ago since they left. "Jack take tactical and scan for their Lifesigns." Ordered the captain. I nodded and took over at the tactical station. I worked the controls and instructed the sensors to locate Seven of Nine or Commander Tuvok. I worked for a good 10 minutes when Harry reported "Captain, it's tricky to scan through the interference, but I think I'm detecting a ship." I checked the sensors and saw it as well. "What kind of ship?" asked Janeway. "Let me reconfigure the sensor array" I reported. ""It's Hirogen and Tuvok and seven are on it" I said again. We had only seen the Hirogen once and that was a long time ago. "Hail them" ordered Janeway. "on screen" reported Kim. "I'm Captain Janeway of the starship voyager. You have 2 of my crew on board" said Janeway to the very tall Hirogen Man. "Disconnect your link to our module and leave this space." Ordered the Hirogen man. "Not without my people" said Janeway. "They are my relics" the Hirogen said. "I'm prepared to offer you something for their safe return surely we can come to some agreement" said Janeway trying to barter. "If the rest of my group arrives, you will be taken as well, I'm giving you chance to run." Said the Hirogen. "We don't run" Janeway told him. That was true we didn't. "Captain, I've got three more ships on sensors heading towards us at warp" reported Kim. "Don't be foolish. Leave now and save yourselves" the Hirogen warned. "Give me my people and we'll do just that" said Janeway. "They're mine" said the Hirogen making Tuvok and Seven sound like property. "Then get ready for a fight. Red Alert" ordered Janeway. The bridge darkened as we went into alert.
"Bridge to Torres" said Janeway. "Torres here" she responded over the comm.
"How much longer" Janeway asked. "I'm getting it out piece by piece, at least another half hour" Torres explained. The channel closed and Janeway went over to Harry. "How are you coming?" Janeway asked him. "That ship has some kind of monatanium armour plating it's scattering the targeting beam" Kim reported.
"The other three ships are closing they're within 6000 kilometres." Chakotay also reported.
"Captain those ships have massive weapons they've definitely got us outgunned." Paris told her. Maybe now was a good time to run. "Harry let me see the relay station in relation to those ships." Janeway said going over to the auxiliary engineering console above her chair. "Yes Ma'am" Kim replied "Maybe we can use that quantum singularity to our advantage" Janeway suggested. "How?" Chakotay asked her. "If we can boost the effect of the singularity, increase the gravitational pull we might be able to stop them" Janeway informed him. It was an ambitious plan assuming we didn't get dragged in with them. "The pull would increase if we could weaken the stations containment field, an anti thoron burst might do it" Kim suggested. "If we're not careful we might get pulled in as well" Paris said mirroring my own thoughts. "Don't worry, we're gunna be ready for it. Jack create a low level warp field around Voyager, sub light energy levels that should counteract the gravitational pull" Janeway told me. "If the field is too strong we won't be able to beam Tuvok and Seven aboard." Chakotay then added. "Then you'll have to find the right balance, won't you Jack" Janeway said smiling at me. "Yes Ma'am" I said. She knew I liked a challenge. "On my mark direct a level 8 anti thoron burst towards the station, have thrusters ready for full reverse Mr. Paris" Janeway ordered. "Understood" Paris confirmed. "I've established the low level warp field captain" I reported. "Anti- thoron system is online" Chakotay also confirmed. "I'm ready with thrusters" Paris announced. "Do it" Janeway ordered. "It's working" reported Chakotay. "Try the transporter lock again Harry" Janeway told him. "Torres to the bridge" came B'Elanna voice over the comm. "Go ahead" Janeway said. "The anti thoron burst collapsed the signal, I've got as much of the message as I'm going to get" Torres told her. "Acknowledged. Hail those ships" Janeway ordered. "Channel open" I told her. "This is captain Janeway agree to retreat and we will restore the containment field" Janeway told them. "Captain they're firing" Paris announced. Their weapons hit the ship. Paris was right they definitely out gunned us."Their weapons are destabilising the containment field" Chakotay reported. "This is Janeway stop firing you're putting yourselves in grave danger" Janeway told them
"The field is going the singularity is about to be exposed." I shouted. We saw the station squashed together and then destroyed as the black hole appeared.
"Captain the ship with Tuvok and Seven on it is still be pulled in" Chakotay announced. "Get a tractor beam on it" Janeway said coming up to Harry's console and grabbing the railings. "I have Tuvok and Seven targeted, but if I try to transport them now the gravity well could scatter their patterns" Harry told her. "Tractor beam is weakening, we're going to lose them" Chakotay reported. "Harry we have to risk it" Janeway announced. "Activating the transporter" Harry told us. "Do you have them?" Janeway asked him. "Not yet there patterns are distorting." Kim replied. "Narrow the annular confinement beam" Janeway told him. "Tractor beam is almost gone captain, we're losing this tug of war." Chakotay shouted. The situation was very very tense. "Re-route all secondary to the tractor emitters." Janeway told me.
"The tractor beam collapsed that ship is heading into the black hole" Chakotay said before I started. "Okay I'm realigning the pattern buffer I've got one more shot at it" Kim shouted. He worked his controls. I heard a sound that suggested it hadn't worked and then one that did. "I got them they're in transporter room 2" Kim reported. "I need more power, we're being pulled in" Paris shouted. "Transfer all available power to the engines." Janeway ordered me. I worked the controls and did so. "It's not enough" Paris said. "Shut down life support" Janeway then told me. I did and transferred the power. "Structural integrity is failing the hull is starting to buckle" Chakotay said. "We're going in" Paris screamed. "Open the anti matter injectors to 120%" Janeway ordered me. I looked at her. "Captain that could breach the core." I told her. "So will that black hole now just do it" Janeway snapped back
"Yes Ma'am" I replied and did so. The ship got one hell of a boost. "We're free" Paris reported. "Resume course. I'll be in astrometrics." Janeway reported giving me a stare.
The last couple of days had been hard on most of the crew. A lot of them were deeply upset that we had lost the link with the Alpha Quadrant and I was among them. For a lot of the former Maquis crewmen there were mixed feelings of anger and remorse. I had comforted Tom a great deal and we had finally come to terms with what had happened. Neelix was organising a party to celebrate finally hearing from the Alpha Quadrant. Tom had agreed to go but he was a little of edge still. "Ready?" I asked as we stood in our quarters. "Yeah." He said walking up to me. We walked out of our quarters and headed for the turbolift. Part way down the corridor he looked at me and said "Thanks for the last couple of days, you have been a real help." I smiled as he took hold of my hand. "Hey, that's what boyfriends are for. I care about you and seeing you upset makes me upset." I told him. He kissed my hand and said "I don't deserve you." I smiled and kissed him. "Yes you do." I told him. We entered the turbolift and started the ride up to Deck 2. "So got anything you want to tell me?" he asked. Oh god he knows about me and Tabor. "No why?" I lied. "Well rumour has it, that Seven of Nine caught you at a bad time and you two talked in our door way dressed in nothing but a towel." He said smiling. Phew he didn't no. "Oh yeah, well she picks her moments." I told him. "For a minute there I thought you were leaving me for her." He said. I smiled and said "Never." The turbolift stopped and we left and walked into the mess hall. People were gathered around. Tom and I grabbed a drink each and went over to talk to Harry, B'Elanna and Paris. As we talked I noticed Tabor looking at me. I smiled as did he and he went off and spoke or should I say flirted with Crewman Garren. The captain and Chakotay came into the mess hall after Neelix summoned them and they each took a drink. I couldn't help but notice they walked in arm in arm. I looked at them and smiled. She picked up a cup and grabbed a spoon and tapped it. "Ladies and Gentlemen can I have your attention. I know the last few days have been hard on all of you, but there is one positive thing to all of this. Your family and friends know you're alive and I'm sure are eagerly awaiting your return. To the former Maquis among you I would also like to extend my apologies on hearing about your colleagues. I'm sure that many of you have a lot of grieving to do and I would like to say that for anyone who would like to talk, my door is always open." She smiled and finished. Chakotay then cleared his throat and said "As the captain said it was a great tragedy about our friends. But as someone told me, they died fighting for what they believe in. So I would like you to all raise your glasses and join me in a toast to the Maquis and maybe we can remember some of the good times we shared with our Maquis comrades. May they rest in peace." "Here here." Everyone said. The party continued and part way through the captain gestured me over. I walked over and she said "I understand Seven of Nine got a site of you she wasn't planning on." I sighed as she smiled and said "I wouldn't worry about it." I looked at her and said "But we all you saw you and Chakotay walk in arm in arm, maybe there's hope on the horizon" I smiled. She rolled her eyes and said "No, but if you want to play Cupid why don't you start with Tabor and Garren they have been eyeing each other up all night. I'll help" I laughed out loud and together with our drinks we dragged Tabor and Garren together and the rest is, as they say, history.