The BLTS Archive - Still Together
by Jennifer Presley (jlpresley@aol.com)

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Disclaimers: Paramount owns them, I've only borrowed them for a short
time.

Okay to archive on ASC, if it hasn't been already!

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43 years, 2 months, 14 days.

It's been that long since I last set eyes on this world, the blues and
greens blending together in a beautiful cohesion of land and water.
Swathed with ribbons of white, this is home. After so long, the sight
of it is enough to bring tears to my eyes.

A futile swipe with a gently wrinkled hand removes some of the
moisture from my face. I never thought this day would come, that I
would be making preparations to set foot once again on the world that
I was born and raised on. Turning my head, I see the awe on the faces
of those on the Bridge, some with  remembrance, but a few others with
the look of one seeing a new world for the first time.

One of those is my daughter. She has her father's eyes and smile, with
my features and hair. An exquisite combination of two souls, merged
into one. She sees me looking at her, and walks over and puts her arm
around me.

"It's beautiful, Mother." The smile on her face is warm, her eyes
dancing with an inner light. "You were right."

Nodding, I return my attention to the screen. "Yes, it is." I grasp
her hand in mine. "I'm so happy to finally be able to share it with
you." If I were to be completely honest, there were many times when I
never thought I would set eyes on this planet again, that the final
days of my journey would end in unknown territory.

A gentle noise behind us, the sound of the turbolift doors opening and
discharging a single person. I don't have to turn around to see who it
is, after all these years, I know the sounds of his footsteps. He
stops at the sight on the viewscreen, before moving down around to
join us in front of the viewscreen. His hand strokes her hair, before
it rests on my hip. I look up, and find his gentle brown eyes on me.

He smiles, the wrinkles only enhancing his handsome features. "We made
it." Our daughter moves off to stand by her own husband.

My hand raises to his face, tracing the lines still emblazoned on his
forehead. "I couldn't have done it without you." The love in his eyes
overwhelms me, and I drop my head onto his chest, listening to the
beating of his heart. "We're finally home, Chakotay."

The quiet is overwhelmed by a piercing shrill. Sighing, I pull back
from Chakotay, shaking my head ruefully. I know that sound. "On
screen, Harry."

"Yes, ma'am." His voice has deepened over the years, though to me he
still is the young, green Ensign who came on Voyager 43 years ago.

"Captain Janeway, on behalf of the citizens of Earth and the
Federation, I extend a heartfelt welcome to you and your crew." A
familiar face greets me, sitting in front of the insignia of the
Federation.

"Thank you, Sir." I chuckle to myself at the incongruity of the
situation. "If I might be so bold, Will, how the hell did they ever
tie you down to a desk?"

President William T. Riker laughs, shaking his head. "You never were
one to bow to authority, Kathryn. I've missed that about you." He
sobers, though there are still remains of his smile in the lines of
his face. "It's been too long, but we're so happy to have you home."

"We're glad to be home, Will." I look over my shoulder at all the
expectant faces arrayed behind me, then turn my attention back to the
viewscreen. Drawing myself up into a more formal posture, I speak.
"Before we go any farther, Sir, I need to know something."

Riker cuts me off. "I know what you're going to ask, Captain. There
will be no repercussions to you or your crew. All charges against the
remaining Maquis members have been dropped."

It's as if a great weight had been lifted from my shoulders, and a
muted cheer rings out across the bridge. A blinding smile crosses my
face as I nod my thanks to Riker. He smiles, then cuts off the
transmission. I stand still for long moments, feeling Chakotay's hand
on my waist, and Nairi's gentle grip on my hand.

Finally, I turn to look at Chakotay, tears slipping down my cheeks.
The emotions visible in his face are overwhelming as he places a
gentle kiss on my forehead.

"Welcome home, Kathryn."

---

Moving slower than I did the first time I walked her corridors almost
a half century before, I make one final journey through the decks of
my ship. Our ship. I trail my hand along the wall, as if to say
goodbye to every square millimeter of the proud vessel that has
sheltered our extended family for so many years.

Chakotay wanted to accompany me, but I wanted, no, I needed to do this
alone. I've been a part of this ship since she was but a design in
Starfleet's computers. I was her first, and only Captain. What other
Starfleet officer could say that about a ship that was 44 years old?
Not even the legendary James T. Kirk, and God knows that Kirk and the
Enterprise were synonymous with each other for decades. Hell, as far
as I knew, they still were.

The old girl and I have seen a lot during our sojourn to the Delta
Quadrant. The whole cycle of the human life from birth to death, alien
species too numerous for me to recall at this time, hostile takeovers,
and we've been battered on a few occasions too. I chuckle wryly
thinking of the scrapes we had gotten into. Chakotay once told me that
he thought I was a trouble magnet. If there was any trouble in the
surrounding parsecs, it would find me. It sure did.

But I have also been blessed. Finding Chakotay and falling in love
with him, our beautiful daughter, and our wonderful friends. I only
wish more of the crew had made it home with us. The Delta Quadrant
holds the remains of sixty-two crewmembers in its bosom, people that
should be here with us now, celebrating the triumphant return to
Earth. I have already written letters to their surviving family
members, the hardest to write going to Admiral Paris.

The old goat had hung on all these years, wanting only to see Tom one
last time to apologize for everything before he died. The admiral had
pulled every string to be one of the first to send a message to
Voyager when she re-entered the Alpha Quadrant. Per Tom's will, the
subspace transponder relayed the message to my terminal. The visual
feed showed a broken man, trapped by infirmity in his bed, his voice
breaking on every other word as he poured out his heart to a son who
will never set eyes on his home again. I cried while watching it, for
the young man I loved as my own, and for the old man who has been
denied the chance to die with a clear conscience.

I return to the present when my presence triggers a door, its
pneumatic hiss startling me slightly. I step into the Airponics bay
reverently, the tranquility of it as always bringing Kes to the
forefront of my mind. Walking amongst the plants that have traveled
with us, I make my way to a bench where I gratefully sit. I haven't
been up on my feet for so long in months, ever since I broke my hip
skiing on the holodeck. I never thought I would live that one down...

"Kathryn!" Chakotay shuffled into Sickbay as quickly as he could, his
panicked eyes roaming the room until he found me lying on a biobed,
the Doctor running a scanner over her. "Are you okay?"

"I'm fine, Chakotay." Rolling my eyes, I reached a hand out to him.
"It was just an accident."

"Captain, may I remind you that you are too frail to continue
participating in so dangerous a sport?" The Doctor sniffed. "You would
think that someone of your age would know better."

"Really, Doctor," Sarcasm dripped from my tones, "I had forgotten my
advanced years. Thank you for reminding me of them." Chakotay in the
meantime, was trying hard to stifle his laughter, now that he was
assured I was fine.

"Kathryn, can I ask you a question?"

I nodded, not really sure of what was going to come out of his mouth.
It certainly wasn't a great gale of laughter, as he choked out his
inquiry.

"How did you manage to break your hip in a holodeck with the safeties
on?"

Glaring at him, I stared up at the ceiling, hoping he wouldn't make
the connection.

He did.

Sobering, he narrowed his eyes at me as he thought. "Wait a minute,
you didn't turn the safeties off, did you?" His voice was dangerous,
yet soft. I had learned over the years that the angrier he got, the
quieter he was. So far, this was ranking right up there...


Laughing softly, I shook my head. Chakotay hadn't spoken to me for two
days afterwards, but after that, he never brought it up again to my
great relief.  Of course, he had the Doctor set a medical
authorization into the holodecks so I couldn't turn the safeties off
again.

"A bar of latinum..."

I turn as his voice drifts over my shoulder. "I was just thinking
about you."

He moves around the bench, to sit next to me. I grasp his hand in
mine, and we sit quietly for many moments. Finally he stirs, reaching
down to gently finger the leaves of the plant growing next to us.

"Do you remember when we first planted these?"

I nod. "Um-hmm. New Earth."

"Who would have thought that Talaxian tomato plants would have
lifespans that rival our own?" Chakotay sat back, his hand running up
and down my back, returning his attention to me. "How are you doing?"

I hesitate, not sure of what to say, and not wanting to lie to him.
"Honestly, I don't know, Chakotay."

He stares at me speculatively. "It feels odd, doesn't it?" Reaching
over, he draws me into his warm embrace, caressing my hair. "I can't
believe that our journey is over."

I close my eyes, basking in the feeling of him so close to me, even
after all these years. "Thank you, my love."

"For what?" He sounds inquisitive, and I can feel him straining to
look at me.

Drawing back, I raise my hands to cup his face, seeing the marks the
decades have left on his features. They don't detract from him
however, they add character to his beloved countenance, giving him an
air of wisdom that belongs with him. "For being here, for believing in
me. For our daughter. For loving me, and for not making me face this
alone."

Chakotay looks momentarily awed, his own hands raising to my face. "I
told you once, and I meant it with all my heart and soul. You're not
alone, Kathryn." His pronouncement once again makes me fall in love
with him.

Quirking my lips at him, I offer my response. "Forty-three years ago,
I didn't even know your name. Today, as always, I can't imagine a day
without you."

He laughs as he bends to kiss me, then I stand, offering him my hand
as he gets to his feet. Leaning on each other's strength, we make our
way out of the Airponics bay, to return to the arms of our family and
bask once again in the warmth of home.

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The End