Title: Trial Run
Author: Ky (venom69)
Fandom: Star Trek: Voyager
Rating: Teens & Up
Summary: “They want you immediately put on trial.”
Character/Pairing: Janeway/Chakotay
Spoilers: None… the shows ended!
Warnings: Language.
Prompt Number for fic101: 11 - Change
Author’s Notes: Song belongs to Cold Chisel. I actually started writing this all the way back in 2003, originally for divinejoker but then it fell into the abyss of my incessantly unreliable hard drive and wasn’t heard from again. I changed computers and that sealed the fate of this being forever lost. But I found it in an e-mail I had sent and decided to open it. I remember how it was going to end (I think I actually sent DJ a completed version with a completely different ending) but I decided that I liked this better.
Disclaimer: Usual guff. Not mine, promise to put them back where I found them.
Date Completed: 26/12/06

***

I’m just savoring familiar sights
We’ve shared some history, this town and I
And I can’t stop that long forgotten feeling of her
Time to book a room and stay tonight

***

She had always been known as a bit of an insomniac, but this was getting to be ridiculous.

For the second night in a row, Kathryn Janeway lay awake, staring at the ceiling as opposed to getting some much-needed sleep. Instead of sheep, thoughts of reports, her family and the crew danced before her eyes, leaving her wide awake.

Her brain was too active, she finally decided as the chronometer clocked over to 0200 hours. As she slipped out of the cool sheets of her bed, she hoped that a walk would calm her restless mind enough to allow the arms of sleep to embrace her in their warmth.

She could hear mild shuffling of feet outside her door and assumed that Owen had sent a guard to watch over her.

If nothing else, they were all celebrities.

But she didn’t want fame, she wanted to settle down, get married, have children, a life.

All of the things that she didn’t allow herself to have on Voyager.

The air was slightly chilly as it touched the bare skin of her arms and she donned her robe to ward of the cool night. She walked silently to the window, looking out through the glass at the expanse of nature before her. The full moon reflected on the streets below her and she watched as shadows danced on buildings and sidewalks.

She watched the miniscule traffic as people walked the dark streets.

Very few people ventured out this late at night – thought she did not doubt the safety of those that did – and the people that she could see were mostly workers, finishing their late shifts and heading home.

Home.

It was a foreign concept if ever she’d heard one.

Voyager had been home for so long, the bulkheads of her ship had become comforting.

The crew had been her family and she had come to take comfort in the fact that no matter what time it was, there was always someone about, working diligently to get them home.

And here they were.

Kathryn hated to admit it, but she felt more lost in her quarters at Starfleet Headquarters than she ever had in the Delta Quadrant.

She could remember, in their first year, how she had come to realize that life in the Delta Quadrant, while certainly exciting, wasn’t as bad as she had first thought. The memories of knowing that she could quite happily live the rest of her life on Voyager had both scared and excited her.

Sighing, she pulled her robe off again and pulled on a pair of loose pants and a thick, warm sweater, exiting her room.

The halls were mostly silent as she walked them and the deserted corridors only served to make her more uncomfortable.

She missed the excited buzz of her ship, the hum of the engines as they glided through space like the boat in her Holonovel of Lake George. She missed the little things most of all. The smile Neelix would always greet her with as he handed her the morning cup of coffee – or his ‘better than’ substitute that was never any good but always presented with a hopeful expression. She missed the way that the Bridge smelt, the comfort of her chair.

Things that she couldn’t replicate.

With a small sigh, she headed towards the turbolift.

Behind Starfleet headquarters was a beautiful garden that she had spent many a day in when she was a Cadet. Hoping that the serenity of the lush grounds would calm her, she waited for the arrival of the turbolift.

As the doors opened, she saw a member of security step out.

The tall young woman had short, dirty blonde hair and Kathryn recalled seeing her when Voyager had docked the day before.

“Ensign.” She nodded.

The woman stopped, blocking her path. “Ma’am?”

“Excuse me.”

“I’m sorry ma’am, I’m not allowed to let you leave this floor.”

“What? Why not?”

The Ensign shook her head slightly, her posture screaming of tense nerves. “I’m sorry ma’am. Please just remain in your quarters and Admiral Paris will come to see you in the morning.”

Kathryn thought about arguing, pushing her way past the young Ensign before her, but she decided against it, choosing instead to nod slowly and head back to her quarters. It took her little more than five or six steps to realize that she - Ensign Schut? - was following her.

The young woman seemed to sense her question even before she had the chance to ask it and they continued walking as she spoke from behind her. “I’ve been assigned to stand guard ma’am. Reporters have been attempting to enter the building since your return.”

“We’re famous.” Kathryn summarized, shaking her head at the idiocy of her and her crew being famous.

They’d merely been trying to get home, not achieve great heights. But the public didn’t seem to see it that way. She had a feeling that her dream of a peaceful life would be a long way off. At least until the novelty of their return dissipated.

“No ma’am, you’re famous.”

“Me?”

Schut smiled slightly, having heard stories of the modest Captain Janeway. “Yes Ma’am.”

Kathryn sighed. “I’d ask why, but I don’t think I want to know.”

Schut couldn’t help but grin, lowering her head as she reached the door to the Captain’s quarters. “I’ll be out here if you need anything ma’am.”

Smiling her thanks, Kathryn walked back into the dark room.

She still wasn’t tired, but the questions that bubbled around the surface of her mind were enough to bring on the telltale signs of a headache.

Shedding her sweater and pants, she climbed back into the cool sheets, her head resting on the pillow and her eyes focusing on the bright light of the moon.

***

Kathryn opened her eyes slowly, the last tendrils of sleep still within her.

The sun was up, shining brightly and the bustle of activity could be clearly heard in the halls.

She sighed, not particularly happy to be awake. Debriefings started today and she had no doubt that they would run for several weeks before she had any chance to get to work on her peaceful life.

The chime on her door sounded and she hurriedly rose form the bed and slipped into her robe before calling out. “Enter.”

As the doors slid open, Owen Paris was visible, a smile lighting his tired, weathered features. “Katie.” He grinned, moving forward to embrace her as the doors slid shut behind him.

“Owen. It’s nice to see you in the flesh.” She smiled, returning the hug tightly.

“You too, my Dear.” He pulled back, grasping her forearms tightly. “I’m sorry I wasn’t there to meet you when Voyager docked, Katie. One of our Treaties with the Cardassians is falling apart.”

“One of?” She repeated.

He smiled kindly. “We have quite a few now. You seem to have missed out on a lot since you left.”

“So it seems.” She agreed with a small smile. “But we’ve had our fair share of excitements.” His face became hard, a mask slipping down to replace the gentle features of the man she knew so well. “Owen?” She asked, puzzled as he stepped back from her and stood to attention.

“Katie… we’ve got to talk.”

“What’s wrong?”

“Perhaps you should get changed,” He suggested kindly. “Your uniform would be appropriate for this.”

“Owen, tell me what’s happening. Now.” She demanded firmly, arms folded over her chest.

The old man sighed. He was far too old for this. “Since you’ve been gone, we’ve had some… problems within Starfleet.”

“Problems?” She repeated, moving to sit on the small couch under her window.

Owen followed suit, taking a deep breath before continuing. “Starfleet has been divided into factions. Two main ones and they’re waging a small war against each other to win control of the Federation. It’s caused a lot of turmoil in the ranks and the higher members of Starfleet are battling to keep their positions. As such, they’re trying to keep both factions happy, trying to find a balance.”

Kathryn felt a tightness in her chest. She could well imagine what this could mean for her crew. If Starfleet were divided, the public would, no doubt, also be divided in their loyalties. “How did this happen?”

“When we signed the most recent treaty with Cardassia, a lot of people disagreed with the terms of the agreement. There was a lot of bad press and you can imagine how the Senior members felt about that. But, a compromise was eventually reached.”

“What was the treaty for?”

Owen shook his head sadly. “About a year ago, DS9 was attacked by an unknown race. They managed to board the station and kill several members of both Starfleet and other races. By the time the Federation reached the station, Cardassia had gained control from the original aggressors. They had decided that, without the Federation to intervene, they could reclaim Bajor and they began attacking. People were killed, Bajor’s rebuilt cities were destroyed… it was complete and utter chaos.”

“I can imagine.”

“We convinced the Cardassians to sign another treaty, to stop attacking. But you know them; they always want something in return. Hesitantly, the Federation agreed to give the Cardassians what they wanted.”

Unconsciously, Kathryn held her breath, afraid to ask the question. “And what did they want?”

“The Maquis Liberty crew.”

God, no!

A million thoughts ran through her head as panic gripped at Kathryn’s heart. Chakotay… B’Elanna, the baby, Tom… so many people who would be handed over to the Cardassians on a silver platter and sent to prison to endure tortures unknown.

She couldn’t, wouldn’t, let that happen to them.

Not after everything that they had done for her, for her ship, for Starfleet.

“No, I won’t allow it!”

“Katie, you have to understand, we had no choice! We thought that Voyager was still over forty years from Earth! The plan was to subdue the Cardassians before you were even close to the Alpha Quadrant. That way, when you returned home, Starfleet would have ironed out its wrinkles, Bajor would be safe once again and the Maquis crew would be untouchable. We know how much they’ve done for you and the crew. Believe me, before the situation with DS9 exploded, literally and figuratively, the Maquis had all been fully pardoned for the crimes they committed previously.” He sighed, rubbing his forehead wearily and Kathryn suddenly noticed how tired he looked.

The whole situation with the Cardassians, the divided Federation and the worry for Voyager’s safe return had obviously taken its toll on her old teacher and friend.

Kathryn grasped his hand awkwardly, hoping to bring him some small measure of comfort. “I’m sorry, I know how hard this must have been to you.”

Regardless of the fact that Owen and his son didn’t get along very well, Owen had a newly found deep respect for his once wayward son. The Data streams that he had received from Voyager had told of his sons achievements. To send him to his possible death… it was unthinkable for a father.

And a Grandfather, his conscience reminded him none too gently.

“When you came through the wormhole… well, the half of Starfleet that are ready to send the Maquis to their deaths were overjoyed. I, on the other hand, have spent the last eighteen hours talking to one of the Cardassian representatives. I managed to convince him that the Maquis were worthless to them, of no tangible gain. Needless to say, I’ve refined the terms of the treaty.”

The tightness in her chest was easing, slowly. “The Maquis are safe?” She asked, her breath hitching in the back of her throat.

“They’re safe.” Owen confirmed.

She couldn’t help it. A happy squeal escaped her lips Kathryn she threw her arms around the surprised Admiral sharing her couch. She hugged him furiously, thanking whoever was listening for keeping her crew safe.

Owen pulled her off him, holding her at arms length, looking at her sternly. “Katie.”

“What?” She asked, a huge smile gracing her features.

“There’s more.”

“More?”

He nodded slowly and she saw the sadness in his eyes as he spoke. “The Cardassian representative that I dealt with… well, he agreed that the Maquis would be kept safe on one condition.”

“What is it?”

“They want you immediately put on trial.”

***

Chakotay walked across the vast landscape, headed towards the lush green hillside.

Voyager had been back on Earth for almost three days now.

Debriefings were to start in fifteen weeks, giving the crew a chance to readjust to life in the Alpha Quadrant. He, like many of the others, had scattered virtually the second that they’d been cleared from Starfleet Medical.

Even before his thorough medical had begun, Chakotay’s bags had been packed and waiting. When the Starfleet doctor had declared him fit and clean of viruses, he’d only remained in the building long enough to collect what little he had and get on the first transport to Dorvan V.

He’d briefly thought of returning to Trebus to see his sister, but had decided that his first priority was his father’s grave. He had to make peace while he could and from there he would head to the location of his sister.

Trudging up the hill, Chakotay pulled his pack into a more comfortable position on his shoulder. He’d brought only the bare essentials with him. Some rations, water, clothes and everything that he’d need for the vision quest he would embark on.

Graves were covering the hillside and he walked carefully, mindful not to tread over the resting-place of anyone’s father, mother, sister, brother, lover, friend.

He sent a silent prayer to the Spirits, wishing all of these souls well in their afterlife as he searched for his father’s final resting-place.

Chakotay was ashamed to admit it, but he had never been here before. He’d never been to visit his father after they parted ways last. He recalled his father telling him that he would never fit into either of the worlds he so desperately longed to belong to.

His father had been a wise man and Chakotay was just realizing that.

The hill wasn’t steep, but it was wide, littered with hundreds, perhaps thousands of graves and he searched each one, deep in thought.

Over the last few days, since he had left Earth, he found that his thoughts had only drifted to Seven occasionally. He hoped that she was well, even though they hadn’t parted on the best of terms. She didn’t understand his need to make peace with his father. She didn’t understand his need to commune with nature once more after so many years spent in the recycled air of a Star Ship.

She didn’t understand him.

They both knew that and while it stung a little, they still parted as something akin to friends. He had wished her well in finding a place on Earth that would accept her and she had wished him well in his relationship with The Captain.

Kathryn.

Chakotay snorted.

He didn’t have a relationship with Kathryn and he knew now that he never would.

The last time he had spoken to her had been in her Ready Room on Voyager. She had tersely told him that she was happy for Seven and himself and she hoped that they had a wonderful life together. He in turn had merely nodded and left, unable to disguise the hurt in his eyes.

She obviously didn’t care anymore, if she ever had.

Reaching his father’s grave, Chakotay sat down at the foot of it.

His eyes traced the engraved words that read his fathers name, his date of birth and death and a phrase in his native tongue that translated to ‘Loved by all.’

Opening his bag, Chakotay pulled out the small medicine bundle that he used for his vision quests.

Laying the items on the earth beneath him, he began to chant softly, hoping to commune with his father and make his peace.

***

Kathryn paced her cell.

When Owen had said that they wanted her on trial immediately, he hadn’t been kidding.

Almost as soon as he had left the room, Schut had entered with four men behind her. One of them had been holding a set of handcuffs.

Schut had looked guilty, obviously hating to have to be the one sent to arrest the infamous Captain Kathryn Janeway and she had apologized profusely before allowing the man to step forward with the ‘cuffs.

A young Lieutenant had placed the electronic handcuffs - complete with tracking devices - onto her wrists in front of her and led her from the temporary quarters that she had been assigned to the brig, where she had spent the last two days.

Meals were regularly passed through a small opening in the force field that confined her and she had a feeling that Owen had been in the ear of the guards; Coffee was regularly delivered to her.

She was thankful for that much.

Kathryn had also been given a PADD so that she could finalize her report. She certainly wasn’t being treated like a criminal, excluding the cell, but all she really wanted to do was walk in the sunshine of Indiana and see her family.

Owen had promised to do all that he could to arrange a supervised visit from her Mother and Phoebe, but Kathryn didn’t think that even he could manage to achieve that one.

Her old friend had come in to see her sporadically throughout the previous two days.

Mostly he sat and listened to her talk about some of their adventures on Voyager and sometimes he would tell her about the things that had happened while they had been stranded.

Owen had advised her to get a lawyer, but Kathryn wasn’t sure she wanted one. She was a Starship Captain, a decorated officer and a scientist, she could defend herself thankyouverymuch.

The doors to her cell slid open and Kathryn stood as close to the force field as possibly, watching as Ensign Schut stepped into the room with a cup of hot coffee in her hands.

Kathryn grinned as the coffee was passed through the small opening to her and she took a grateful mouthful. “Did I ever tell you that you are my new favorite Ensign?”

Schut smiled. “Thank you ma’am. Admiral Paris said to tell you that he’s been delayed in a meeting, but he’ll be here as soon as possible to go over your list of… crimes.”

“Would you care to keep me company for a while?” Kathryn offered, gesturing to the chair that Owen had brought in.

Schut smiled shyly. “I’d like that, thank you ma’am.”

“Call me Kathryn.”

“Yes ma- Kathryn.” The young woman grinned as she sat down.

“So, Ensign, what’s your name?”

“My friends call me Dani.”

“Well then, Dani, what do you do when you’re not guarding evil Starship Captains?” Kathryn smiled, trying to ease the tension that was so obvious in the other woman.

Dani blushed a little, her fair skin reddening. “I’m the Second in Command for Security team Beta. I patrol the grounds and I protect Admiral Paris.”

“Owen needs protection?”

“Yes. There were some attempts on his life a few months ago, so he has security with him at all times to ensure his safety.”

Good God!

It would seem that the situation with the Cardassians was a lot worse than Owen had let on, not that Kathryn was surprised he hadn’t told her. “Do you enjoy working with him?”

“Yes ma’am.” Dani smiled and Kathryn didn’t push about the name. “The Admiral is a very kind man and he knows how to follow orders when it comes to his safety.”

Kathryn smiled, it certainly sounded like Owen. “Can I ask you something Dani?” She waited for the woman opposite her to nod before continuing. “Have the press gotten wind of this yet?”

Dani stood up, backing away slowly. “I… I’m not allowed to talk about that ma’am. I’m sorry, I have to go, I have duties to attend to.”

The young woman had fled the brig before Kathryn could open her mouth to protest.

The door had barely closed when it reopened to reveal Owen Paris.

His kind smile warmed her heart and he came to sit in the chair that Dani had just vacated, PADD in hand. “I hear you’ve been terrorizing my security officers?” He grinned.

Kathryn dipped her head as a blush rose up her cheeks at his words.

Owen had always been a sort of surrogate father to her, ever since he was impressed with a fiery young cadet in his class.

"I wasn't terrorizing the woman Owen, we were talking.” She protested.

“Katie, you can’t ask too many questions while you’re in here,” He warned sternly, all teasing gone form his voice. “You need to keep your head down and work on your defense.”

“Owen, I trust you, you know that, but there’s something I have to know.” Owen nodded once, giving her permission to speak. “You said that the Cardassians are willing to let the Maquis go free if I’m put on trial.” The old many nodded again, keeping his eyes on the PADD in his hand. “What happens if I’m found innocent for my crimes? Whatever they may be.”

“I have a list of your crimes here Katie and we’ll go through them in a moment. The representative that I spoke to said that they weren’t interested in the verdict, they just wanted to see you put on trial.”

She knew what that meant.

If she were to be tried, which she was going to be, then it would be on her record permanently. She would never advance past Captain - assuming that she wasn’t stripped of her rank - and the chances of her ever commanding again were slim to none.

“Do they have a personal grudge against me or something?" She asked, puzzled.

“I honestly don’t know. But this is the only option that we have, Katie, you must see that.”

“I do.” She wouldn’t let thirty-two good men, women and a baby, be sent into the hands of the barbaric Cardassian.

Kathryn knew first hand what went on in those prisons, she couldn’t stand to see them - him - sent there.

Moving his hand to the control panel next to her cell, Owen keyed in the command to remove the force field.

Kathryn eyes him speculatively. “Are you sure that’s a good idea?” She asked, nodding towards the deactivated force field.

“You’re not going to try and run on me Katie, I don’t see why not. Here, this is a list of the crimes you’re being tried for.” He handed her the PADD and she read the list allowed.

“Violation of the Prime Directive on several counts. Violation of the Temporal Prime Directive.” She looked up at Owen sharply. “When did I violate this one?”

“Admiral Janeway?”

“She wasn’t me!” Kathryn protested. “I didn’t, won’t, do the things that she did. You can try me for another woman’s mistakes! That is absurd!”

“Katie, genetically, she is you. And regardless of the time differences, she, you, committed this crime.” Owen patted her hand reassuringly. “If it makes you feel any better, I don’t think you should be tried for that either. But we have no choice.”

“I wish I’d never put her name in my preliminary report!” She snapped, returning to the list. “Aiding and abetting criminals. The Maquis?” She asked and Owen nodded while Kathryn fought the urge to roll her eyes. The Maquis had all been pardoned, and yet she was still being tried for supposedly ‘helping’ them. “Harboring terrorists. And… fraternization with a terrorist and, lately, a Starfleet officer. You’ve got to be kidding me? Who did I fraternize with?”

“The Maquis leader. And then, when you re-instated his rank, you were fraternizing with Commander Chakotay, your first officer.”

“You don’t seriously think…” She stared at him with wide, surprised eyes. “Owen, I would never… I…”

“Katie, I’m sorry, but the evidence is there to support the accusations.”

“Who made the accusations?”

“Katie you know that I can’t tell you that.” Owen sighed.

Kathryn was ashamed to feel tears prick her eyes.

She almost wished that she had ignored protocol and taken her chances with Chakotay, especially if she knew that this was the way things would turn out.

God, should would have saved them both so much pain and saved herself the pain of seeing him with…

“Seven of Nine.”

Owen’s guilty face said it all.

“She really accused Chakotay and I of having an affair?” God, how could she do that to her? Kathryn though of all the times that she had tried to help Seven, had called the woman her friend and now she went and did this? “Why?”

“She didn’t mean to make the accusation Katie, I’m not even sure that she realized what she’d done. But during the scan of her personal logs, we came across one from yesterday. She said that her relationship with the Commander had come to and end and she had wished him well in his relationship with you.”

Shaking hands ran through her hair. “We never had a relationship, Owen.” She protested weakly.

“I’m sorry Katie.” He stood up, reaching for the PADD again. Giving her an all too brief hug, he stepped back and re-activated the force field. “I’ll send Dani in with some coffee later, if you promise not to ask questions.” Kathryn nodded sadly. “It’ll all be OK. Your trial starts tomorrow, I’ll come back in the morning to see you before it gets underway.”

When he was gone, she collapsed onto the small cot that served as her bed.

Curling up into a ball, for the first time in many years, Kathryn Janeway cried long into the night.

***

Chakotay woke with a start, on his feet and spinning around within seconds to see a woman standing before him.

“You woke me.” He accused, glaring at the figure.

“I didn’t want to hug you while you were still sleeping.” She smiled and Chakotay swept his little sister into his arms, spinning her around where they stood on their father’s grave.

“Brother, how long have you been her?” She asked when he finally put her down.

“All night. I made peace with Father.” He smiled softly, recalling his vision quest and the things that his spirit guide had told him.

“Good, it’s about time. Come, you can stay with me in the camp.” She pointed to the horizon and he could see a small settling in the distance.

“What are you doing here?” He asked, gathering his things back into the bag.

He took her hand, and they walked back down towards the base of the hill.

“I heard you were headed off Earth and I figured this is where you would come.”

“You are wise, sister.”

“Who is she?”

Chakotay came to a stop, turning “What?”

“Who is this woman that as put the sparkle back in my brothers eyes?” She smiled. “And don’t lie to me, brother, I can see it.”

“She’s… a woman that I can’t have. It’s best not to think about it.”

She nodded and they continued back down the hillside. Chakotay felt relieved that she wasn’t going to press the matter.

“She does not return your feelings?”

“Sister…” He warned.

“What? I am concerned for my brother. Now tell me why this woman is so blind.”

Chakotay sighed, knowing that he had very little chance of getting her to merely forget about it.

As they walked towards the campsite that she had pointed to from the top of the hill, he told her everything he could about the enigma that was Captain Kathryn Janeway.

***

True to his word, Owen had stopped by to see Kathryn in the morning.

He’d brought her a freshly ironed uniform, with polished pips and shoes to boot. He’d offered her one last chance to change her mind and he would bring a lawyer in, but Kathryn refused. She was on trial for her actions as a Captain and she would defend her right to wear those four pips with pride.

After he’d left, Dani had returned and led her to the women’s amenities so that she could shower.

Kathryn had found it more than a little disconcerting to have someone watch her shower, but she understood the reasoning behind it.

Despite her understanding, Kathryn showered in record time and got into her uniform even faster. Once she had deemed herself presentable, Dani had escorted her to the room where her trial would be held.

Which is where she stood now, at the entrance to a reasonably small room.

There were three tables set up, one for her, one for the Prosecutor and one for the judge. It reminded her of the Trial that she had held on Voyager for Quinn and she felt a pang of regret for her old life.

“Ma’am?” Dani’s soft voice brought her back to the present and she sighed deeply.

“I guess that’s my table?” Kathryn asked.

Dani nodded and spoke quietly. “Yes ma’am.”

She sat down at her table and it wasn’t much longer before Owen entered. Kathryn was relieve to see a friendly face but that relief was short-lived as she saw Owen sit at the table across from her.

“Owen?”

“I’m sorry Katie, I’ve been ordered to prosecute you.”

Kathryn felt her world get smaller.

She felt the walls around her shrinking, closing in on her until she couldn’t breath. It was bad enough that she was being tried for ridiculous crimes, but to have the only friend she’d known over the past four days prosecuting her? It was unthinkable.

“Who’s the judge?” She asked dryly, “Tuvok?”

“Not quite, Captain.” Her head turned to the third participant as he walked into the room. The man sat down, pulling out a PADD that Kathryn assumed was her service record. “Well, I’m Admiral Rae. I’m here to judge this proceeding.” He looked around the room, taking a good look at the three other occupants as Kathryn felt her heart clench and her stomach turn.

“Let’s get started, shall we?”

***

It wasn’t until the fifth day of the trial that Kathryn realized she was fighting a loosing battle.

Actually, it wasn't until the fifth day of the trial that Kathryn realized she was screwed.

Owen, despite being her only friend at the moment, was butchering every command decision she had ever made. If she chose to wash her hands instead of using a towel, he was questioning her reasoning.

He’d started at the very beginning, picking apart the choices she made with the Kazon, the Ocampa, Kes, Neelix. He picked at everything. By the end of the first hour, she’d been left feeling naked and alone.

Owen had ripped her to shreds, stripping her choices apart while she was forced to sit and listen. She’d defended herself as best as she could, fought him on everything that he picked at. But his answers were always the same.

“Is that Starfleet Protocol?” He would say and she would sit back like a scolded child.

She felt hopeless.

But it hadn’t stopped with just her choices involving the Caretaker.

From there, he had moved on to her choices regarding making B’Elanna her chief of Engineering. He said that it was naïve of her to trust a half-Klingon Maquis, regardless of how often B’Elanna had proven herself over the previous seven years.

And now, after five days of verbal torture, she wasn’t sure how much more she could take.

Her only salvation had been Dani. The once demure young woman had turned into quite the angel in disguise. Her intelligence had been clear to Kathryn the first morning they’d met, but her compassion and rational side had truly shown over the last few days.

Kathryn had also been delighted to learn that the straight-laced Ensign had a sarcastic tongue on her when need be.

If it weren’t for Dani, she was sure that she’d be tearing her hair out by now.

As if knowing that she was being thought about, Dani entered the room, followed by two figures.

Rising from her cot, Kathryn looked at the two robed figures that stood behind her friend, pondering who had come to attack her now. “Dani?”

“I thought you might need some reinforcements ma’am.” Dani grinned and the two figures pulled back their hood to reveal two very familiar and very welcome faces. “And a little cheering up.”

“And you always say I’m the one getting into trouble.”

Unable to help herself, Kathryn felt the beaming smile radiate from her face as she looked happily at B’Elanna and Tom.

***

Chakotay glanced happily at his sister, watching the firelight dance along her face.

He knew that she was aware of his scrutiny, but she simply smiled and continued to pick at the meal he had given her.

“You do not say much, brother.”

“I’m just glad to see you.”

“And I you.” She agreed. “I apologize for my earlier inquisition. It was wrong of me to pry about Kathryn, she is obviously not a nice subject for you to talk about.”

“On that, my dear sister, you are wrong. I’m happy talking about her, but our parting words sadden me.”

Sensing the tension in her brother’s body, she moved closer to him, resting her head on his shoulder and grasping his hand. “Did you talk to your spirit guide about her?”

“I did.” Chakotay nodded.

“What did she say?”

“That I should stop being an idiot and go and talk to her.”

Chakotay watched as a smile slid onto his sister’s face. “Your Spirit Guide is a wise woman.”

***

“What are you doing here?” Kathryn demanded, watching as B’Elanna fiddled with the control panel that kept her contained behind the force field.

Tom grinned and leant causally against one of the walls. “Just helping an old friend out.”

The force field glowed and then deactivated as B’Elanna stood back with a triumphant grin. “I’ve still got it.”

Kathryn stepped over the threshold of her cell and touched the other woman gently on the arm. “B’Elanna, much as I appreciate this, I don’t think breaking me out is a good idea.”

“We’re not here to break you out Captain,” Tom intervened, stepping forward. “But Dani said you could use a friend. And friends hug.” He explained, pulling her into a comforting embrace.

“Thank you.” Kathryn whispered as she rested her head on her friend’s shoulder, breathing in the scent of familiarity. Tom pulled back so that B’Elanna could embrace her too.

Pulling back, Kathryn wiped grateful tears from her eyes. “How’s Miral?” She asked.

B’Elanna grinned proudly. “She’s doing wonderful, misses her Aunty Kathy though. Actually, we were wondering how you’d feel about being her godmother? We didn’t get a chance to ask with you everything that’s been happening.”

“I’d be honored. But don’t you think that someone not on trial and facing a possible life sentence would be a better idea?”

Tom stepped forward slightly, grasping Kathryn’s hands in an unusual display of affection. “Out daughter needs the best godmother possible, that’s you.”

“Thank you.”

“You’re welcome.” B’Elanna smiled. “Now, let’s talk about this trial of yours.”

Kathryn groaned, moving to sit cross-legged on the floor of the room with the other three occupants. “I’d really rather not. Can we talk about something else? Like the details of Miral?”

“Kathryn,” Dani interrupted. “Tom and B’Elanna are here to help you.”

“Help me?”

“Dani filled us in. You’re looking at your two new co-councils.” Tom grinned boyishly at her and Kathryn wasn’t sure whether or not to be happy or scared.

Patting him on the knee, she smiled. “That’s very kind of you, but I can’t ask you to do that.”

B’Elanna sighed. “Captain, we can’t, we won’t let you martyr yourself for us. Not after everything you’ve done.”

Kathryn felt a tiny seedling of hope begin to grow within her

***

Chakotay hadn’t slept much through the night, choosing instead to study the stars of his home planet. He could see the hillside that hosted his father’s grave from where he lay in the grass.

The dying fire crackled occasionally, it was the only sound to disturb the calm of the night.

He couldn’t help but let his thoughts turn to Kathryn. He wondered what she was doing, if she was happy. He had a feeling that, regardless of the letters she’d received through the Data streams, she would go and visit Mark. He knew that, after all of the years that had passed, she still cared for her once fiancé.

Other than that, he really didn’t know what she wanted to do now that they were back on Earth.

Maybe she’d go back home to Indiana and run through the growing crops naked like she’d once mentioned after a few drinks.

He hoped she was happy, whatever she was doing.

***

First the first time in days, Kathryn actually felt confident that the proceedings had gone favorably for her.

Admiral Rae had been happy to let B’Elanna and Tom act as her lawyers and they had fought on her behalf for nine hours straight.

By now they were still only up to dissecting the first year in the Delta Quadrant and it didn’t seem to be speeding up.

Owen was certainly nothing if not thorough, Kathryn mused as her friends assembled in her cell.

Tom sighed. “Well, today was definitely thrilling. How long is this thing going to take?”

“We were in the delta quadrant for over seven years, Tom. It took a whole day to go over our first week, you do the math.”

Dani hid a small smile at Kathryn’s words, glad that she was keeping herself optimistic - or at the very least, cynical - about the situation. “B’Elanna, Tuvok sent us a communication and said that he would be here in the morning.”

“Tuvok’s coming?”

“We’re calling in more reinforcements, ma’am. B’Elanna thought it would be a good idea. This way, you’ll have multiple people defending you.”

“That’s sweet, but my crew hasn’t seen their families in seven long years, I think they deserve the chance to have a break.” Kathryn protested.

While the idea that her crew would try to come to her rescue made her feel good, she felt guilty for bringing them away from the happy reunions that they were entitled to. As it was, she felt guilty for everything she had done over the previous years, thanks to Owen.

“Captain,” Tom scolded, giving her a look. “After everything you’ve done for us, I think that we can spare a few days to help you out.”

“A few days? Tom, my trial is scheduled to go for weeks, maybe months. I can’t ask any of you to stay for that length of time.”

“Well that’s just too damn bad, because we’re not leaving.”

***

B’Elanna sat, slumped in her chair as she watched her husband try to locate Chakotay.

They, along with seventy other crewmembers, had been fighting to save their Captain and friend for almost two months now.

After she and Tom and been with the Captain for a few days, they had contacted Tuvok to help. After that, Harry had been called in and eventually word had spread through the Voyager crew and people were turning up on a daily basis to defend Kathryn.

She had clearly been touched by the gesture and B’Elanna has seen the older woman swipe tears form her eyes as she listened to her crew defending her.

Together they were stronger and they were certainly proving that to Admiral Rae.

They’d all been moved to a bigger room weeks ago. B’Elanna would never forget the look on Owen or Rae’s faces the morning that Kathryn had walked in with fifty co-councils.

Owen had, naturally, declared that it was insane to have that many people representing her. Kathryn had calmly told him that “if you wish to pick apart all of my decisions over the past seven years, wouldn’t you rather have a multitude of opinions to take into account?”

For two months, they had supported her when Owen tore apart her ability to command.

It had been looking promising for them. Everything that Owen threw at Kathryn, one or more of her crew had a logical argument to throw right back at him. Sometimes it had been a race to see which of her co-councils could speak up first in her defence.

While they may have made progress in defending her command decisions, B’Elanna knew that they wouldn’t be able to account for her personal ones.

And that was where their largest battle lay.

The problem was that as soon as Owen brought up Kathryn’s supposed fraternization with Chakotay, no one would be able to defend her against it. They needed the man himself to testify that nothing had ever happened between them.

Now, if only they could find them.

“What do you mean you have no idea where he went from there?” She heard Tom demanding, glaring at the screen in front of him. “You’re his sister, aren’t you?”

“Yes, Mr. Paris, I am. But I am not his babysitter.” The woman snapped back.

Tom sighed, scrubbing his hands over his face in frustration.

They were all tired. Tired of fighting a battle that they clearly had little chance of winning without a man that appeared to have disappeared off the face of the galaxy. “Could you at least pass on a message for me? Tell him that it’s urgent he contact me?”

“I will.” She ended the transmission with a small smile.

B’Elanna rose from her chair, moving over to Tom to rest her hands on the tense shoulders of her husband. “We’ll find him.”

“But the questions is, how long will it take?”

“We’ll find him.” She repeated firmly, wishing that she felt the confidence she forced into her voice.

She’d known Chakotay for a long time.

He could go into hiding and they would never find him unless he wanted to be found. She knew that Tom knew that too, but they all had to keep spirits high. It was ironic, it was almost like being back on Voyager; they had to keep moral up.

Loath as she was to admit it, over the last few years, B’Elanna had come to the realization that it was neither here nor there to her if they reached Earth or not. Her family, her daughter, her husband, her friends, had all been with her on Voyager. She would have been quite content to continue as they were, traveling the Delta Quadrant.

The only reason she had worked so hard to help everyone get home was because she knew that it was what everyone wanted and because the Captain had asked her to.

Now that they were back, B’Elanna had to wonder if Kathryn would have been this eager to get home if she had known what would be waiting for her.

Somehow, B’Elanna knew that Kathryn would have tried just as hard to get her people home, even if she knew that she’d be strung up by her fingernails and left to die upon their return.

***

Chakotay patted the horse before mounting it.

He’d always loved animals as a child and the chance to ride bareback across the field was one that he wouldn’t miss out on.

Over the previous few months, he had been traveling around the Alpha Quadrant, catching up with old friends from before his Maquis days, spending time with them and rediscovering his love of nature.

When one of his oldest friends had offered him his horse for the day, Chakotay had jumped at the chance, smiling eagerly and taking the mare out as soon as dawn had broken.

As he found a comfortable position on Bronco’s back, he started the horse off in a gallop, eventually working his way up to an all out run.

The fierce wind cut at his skin, but it only served to heighten his enjoyment of the ride. Thoughts and feelings flew past him in a blur, and he ignored everything but the feel of nature swallowing him.

He briefly wondered if his sister was still on Dorvan V and he decided to return soon to see her again. He was scheduled to return to Starfleet Headquarters in two weeks for his debriefing, so that gave him plenty of time to see his sister first.

Until then, it was just him, bronco and his thoughts of the fiery redhead that had broken his heart.

***

Dani had managed to sneak her in a few extra PADD’s along with her mission logs, so Kathryn finally, after almost three months, have the chance to see news from the world outside of her cell.

Since they’d returned to Earth, she’d seen the space dock, her quarters, the cell, the amenities, the courtroom and the corridors in between.

Despite Tuvok’s passionate plea that she be let outside under supervision, Admiral Rae had decided that she was a security risk and declined her wish to see the sunlight.

Until they reached a verdict, Kathryn had ot be content with whatever her crew or Dani brought her.

The PADD’s had several news clippings of her in it.

People were wondering if she was a traitor, was that why she was being held? One tabloid had even claimed that she and Chakotay had been lovers for years before the incident with the Array and they had set it all up in an effort to be together, regardless of which quadrant they were in.

If that was the case, she wondered, why would they have tried so hard to get home?

It seemed that she and Chakotay had become quite the scandal over the short time they’d been back. It didn’t really surprise her - no one ever let the truth get in the way of a good story - but Kathryn wished that they could at least get their facts right.

According to one paper, her mother Phoebe and her sister Gretchen were glad to be rid of her, as it was a well known fact that she had murdered Seven of Ten in a jealous rage when the former Borg had admitted her feelings for Lieutenant Chakotay.

She found a few articles, smaller, less obvious ones, that spoke of a possible conspiracy to keep her locked up in order to save Bajor. She didn’t want to believe Owen would betray her like that, but Kathryn thought that it was beginning to look more and more like that was the case.

Her old friend had only been to see her twice since the trials had started. Both times he had apologized for having to be the one to prosecute her. Both times the conversations were strained and lasted barely half an hour.

Kathryn knew that he had been ordered to try and convict her, but that didn’t stop the feelings of betrayal from overwhelming her.

Owen was her friend, damnit, and for three months she had been forced to sit and listen to him pick away at her command decisions.

They had tried their hardest.

For seven very long years, she had tried her hardest.

Under the circumstances that they’d been forced into, Kathryn had always thought that she and her crew had done the best that they could to survive and make friends as well as follow protocol.

Apparently, Starfleet didn’t agree.

***

Dani watched Kathryn through the small window that looked in on her cell.

The poor woman looked so lost and Dani felt guilt clench at her stomach. This wasn’t right. Captain Janeway was a hero, she shouldn’t be treated like this.

Making her decision quickly, Dani spun on her heel and headed directly towards the Admirals office.

Not bothering to acknowledge his secretary, she walked straight into his office to see him sitting at his desk, reading more about Voyager’s missions, no doubt.

“Sir, this isn’t right.”

Owen looked up, surprised by the angry gleam in the normally calm woman’s eye. “I beg your pardon, Ensign?”

Forgetting her place on this world for just long enough, Dani fumed at him. “What you’re doing to Captain Janeway. It isn’t right. She’s a hero, they all are. You shouldn’t be degrading her with this ridiculous trial.”

“You have no right to question the way we do things, Ensign, you don’t know enough to question the way we operate, do you understand?” Her rank was clearly emphasized and Dani knew immediately what he meant.

Dani squared her shoulders. “I’m sorry Sir, it wont happen again.”

“See that it doesn’t.” Owen snapped, waving her away with a dismissive hand.

***

Kathryn slept fitfully that night, much like the rest of the crew and her bouts of blissful unconsciousness were sporadic.

Owen had thrown every mistake at her already and they had managed to defend each and every one of them reasonably. She knew that tomorrow was the day that he depicted her ‘relationship’ with her former first officer.

As helpful as the some ninety members of her crew had been during her trial, she knew that the only one that could save her from persecution tomorrow was herself or Chakotay and no one seemed to be able to locate him.

Kathryn hadn’t said anything when B’Elanna had told her of his unknown whereabouts.

She’d merely nodded sadly, knowing what that meant for her. She could understand why he wanted to stay away. He had a chance at a life now and he deserved the chance to be happy, regardless of how Kathryn felt about it.

Sighing deeply, she rolled on to her back to glance around the darken room.

The alleged fraternization was the last charge that Owen had against her and if they resolved it quickly today, then she would be sentenced tomorrow.

Despite wanting the entire mess to be settled, Kathryn wasn’t sure that she wanted her sentence to be delivered. She wasn’t sure if she could handle listening to someone else decide her fate for her.

Kathryn snorted quietly to herself.

In hindsight, she wished that she had done something to warrant the fraternization charges. She should have jumped him when they were on New Earth, she should have demanded he take in her ready room. She should have told him that she loved him the second she’d discovered it for herself.

She should never have come back to Earth.

***

Chakotay sighed deeply as he walked back into the main foyer of Starfleet Headquarters.

His transport had broken down half way back to Earth and they’d been delayed by two days while repairs were made.

As a result, he was late for his briefing.

Walking through the drab gray corridors, he couldn’t help but wish that he wasn’t here. Starfleet had never been one of his favorite places to being with, but today it seemed especially claustrophobic.

He didn’t recognize anyone walking the halls and it wasn’t until he turned the corner that he ran into a familiar face, literally. He smiled at B’Elanna and watched in confusion as anger quickly flushed her cheeks.

“You son of a bitch.” She growled, grabbing him by the throat and holding him to the wall, cutting of his air supply.

“What are you doing?” He choked out.

“I’m going to kill you!” Her temper was flared and Chakotay had absolutely no doubt that she would have killed him if Tom hadn’t rounded the corner a split second later and pulled her away from his aching throat.

He gasped for air, doubling over as the pain in his lungs began to subside and his vision began to clear.

“It’s his fault!” He heard B’Elanna snap.

“Killing him wont change the outcome.” Tom soothed.

“Wont change what? Killing me wont change what?” He demanded angrily, glaring at the pair. “What the hell is going on?”

Her temper seemed to have been calmed, for the moment and B’Elanna stepped back towards him. “Where have you been for the last three and a half months?”

In the interest of self-preservation, he instinctively moved away from her, holding out his hands to show that he wasn’t a threat. “On Dorvan V, visiting my father and sister. I traveled around for a while, catching up with some old friends before coming back here. Why? What’s going on?”

Tom sighed and Chakotay noticed how tired he looked. How tired, how exhausted, they both looked. “We’re spent the last three and a half months defending Kathryn at her trial. They’re charging her, Chakotay. They want to sentence her to life imprisonment.”

“What for?”

“Fraternization with an officer under her command.”

Kathryn, his Kathryn, had been sleeping with one of the crewmembers? He felt his heart clench painfully in his chest. How could he not have known? How could he not have seen? “Who was it?”

“You.”

***

Kathryn paced her cell.

It wasn’t until yesterday that Owen had brought up her ‘affair’ with Chakotay.

Throwing into evidence their personal logs, crew logs, even logs of the numerous betting pools that Paris had started.

They, he, used everything that they could against her.

New Earth, the situation when she ‘died’ and an alien race had tried to convince her to ‘crossover.’ An Ensign from under B’Elanna has recorded in her personal logs that Chakotay had seemed “lost without his Captain.”

Now today was it.

Today they were going to decide her future and they were, more than likely, going to throw her in prison and loose the code to the force field.

She’d been home for over three months and this had been her welcoming party.

Dani, her saving grace and almost all of her crew had defended her like there was no tomorrow. They’d argued, they’d reasoned, they’d begged, borrowed and probably, knowing Tom, they’d stolen somewhere along the line.

Apparently it wasn’t enough.

Owen, her oldest friend, had looked pretty confident when Admiral Rae had announced his intentions to deliver the verdict at 1000 hours this morning.

Kathryn looked at the clock outside of her cell.

One hour to go…

***

“We’ll appeal.”

“Do you really think that will work?”

“It has to.” Chakotay sighed. “Kathryn and I never…”

B’Elanna nodded and took a sip of her coffee. “We know. Kathryn told us, she told them. Hell, she’s told just about anyone that would listen. Seems the evidence was overwhelming.”

Chakotay frowned. “What evidence could there be?”

“Obviously enough.” Tom shrugged. “It was a smokescreen anyway. They couldn’t get her on the other charges so they nabbed her for that one.”

“The relationship that we didn’t have?”

“That’s the one.”

“Why are they so desperate to charge her?” Chakotay couldn’t fathom how any reasonable organization could try one of their best assets like this. If it had as been as brutal as Tom and B’Elanna were telling him – and he had little doubt that it was – then Chakotay found it hard to recognize these people as the Starfleet that he had once worked for.

“We don’t know.” B’Elanna admitted. “Kathryn does though, I think. But she wont tell us.”

“Whoever is prosecuting her should be shot.” Chakotay muttered.

Tom laughed. “Ah, that’s the real kicker.”

“What?”

“Her prosecutor is none other than my wonderful father.”

“Owen Paris?”

Tom glared at him, his face hard. “I only have one father.”

“He and Kathryn are friends.”

“Were friends, Chief. I don’t think she’s likely to forgive him for the things that he’s been saying.”

Chakotay sighed. Of all the horrible things that he had no doubt had taken place in the last three months, finding her old mentor at the table opposite had to have been the one that hit her the worst. “When is she sentenced?”

“An hour. We came out to get her some coffee.”

Chakotay signaled the waitress and ordered the largest cup they had, black, to go. “I’ll take it.”

B’Elanna whistled. “Be grateful there’s a force field holding her back.”

“Why?”

“Because if I was her, I’d want to neuter you.”

Chakotay patted her hand. “You already tried to kill me, remember?”

***

Fifty-five minutes.

Watching the clock wasn’t helping but, save for staring at the walls or making more notes on her PADD – notes that were going to be rendered useless in fifty four minutes anyway – there was little that Kathryn could do.

Her crew was starting to arrive, each person coming to see her for a few moments before they left to begin their assembly in the courtroom. Tom and B’Elanna had left half an hour ago, in search of some coffee for her to calm her nerves as she waited.

Potentially, my last cup as a ‘free’ woman.

She was trying to tell herself to stay positive, but the chances of her actually making it out of this one were looking worse and worse.

Kathryn remembered the first morning of her trial, that sinking feeling as she had watched Owen take his seat opposite her. The final nail in her coffin had been the lack of remorse he’d shown for taking the previous seven year of her life and beating them to death with a mallet.

Forty-nine minutes now.

The door to the cell slid open and she looked up to see Chakotay standing there, holding what may have been the biggest cup she had ever seen in her life.

He smiled carefully, stepping into the room as the door slid shut behind him. “I bring coffee and an apology.”

Kathryn forced her eyes to remain hard, despite the gratitude she felt at seeing him after all of this time. “I’ll take the coffee.”

“B’Elanna told me the code to disable this thing,” He gestured to the wall pad. “If I drop the force field, are you going to kill me?”

“Not until I get the coffee.”

He nodded and keyed in the code, holding out her coffee. “Not much of a reassurance, but I’ll take it. One attempt on my life is quite enough for the day, thanks.”

Kathryn took the cup from his hands and took a large swallow, gratefully feeling the caffeine enter her system. “One attempt on your life?”

“B’Elanna wasn’t happy to see me.”

“She’s been trying to find you for a while now.”

“So I hear. I didn’t know.”

“We figured.”

Chakotay wondered if ‘we’ included her. “I hear it’s all over today.”

“Today is the day. In,” Kathryn’s eyes flicked to the clock. “Forty-six minutes, my fate is sealed.”

“They can’t charge you for this, Kathryn.”

“They can and I really think that the will.”

Chakotay sighed and sat in the chair across from her. “We never had a relationship.”

“I’m aware of that.”

“Hell, we’ve never even kissed.”

“I’m aware of that too.”

“What evidence could they have to support this ridiculous claim?”

Kathryn shrugged and took another sip of her coffee. “Apparently a lot. They’ve used all of the logs, the betting pools, holoimages from various events. They’ve used it all. And Seven’s log entry the day after we got home didn’t help.”

“Seven made a log entry on Voyager the day after we got home?”

“She was in the Cargo bay for regeneration, before Starfleet had a chance to create a portable regeneration unit. Seems she made a log entry about wishing you well in your relationship with me.”

“Ah.”

“Exactly.”

Silence fell between them and Kathryn stared at the man across from her. As much as she hated to admit it, he looked good after three months away.

Forty-one minutes to go…

***

“Captain Kathryn Janeway, formerly of the Starship Voyager, are you ready to hear your sentence?”

“I am, Admiral.”

“Admiral Owen Paris, are you ready for the sentence to be delivered?”

Owen nodded, once. “Yes.”

“Captain, do any of you co-counselors wish to say anything more?” Admiral Rae raised his eyebrow, clearly somewhat amused by all of the people that had tried to sit on her side of the room.

Kathryn shook her head. “No, Admiral, we have said all that we have to say.”

“I do.” She turned and looked at Chakotay as he moved through the throng of people to stand beside her. “I have something to soy.”

Admiral Rae looked unimpressed. “You’re a little late, son.”

“I didn’t know about the trial.”

“That is not my concern.”

“You’re trying her for sleeping with me, don’t I get anything to say?”

The Admiral sat back and folded his arms. “Make it quick.”

“I’m not sleeping with Captain Janeway. I never have. Believe me, I’ve been in love with this woman for a long time and we’ve never done anything, mostly because she’s too dedicated to Starfleet.” He shrugged. “I could care less what you all think of me, but you shouldn’t be sending her to prison for something that she didn’t do.”

“Can you defend all of the evidence that supports the theory of you and Captain Janeway being in a relationship?”

“What evidence?” Chakotay scoffed. “Logs entries made by other people?”

“I believe there was a rather large betting pool, several in fact, that speculated on the true nature of your relationship.”

“Our crew isn’t stupid. They knew that we were attracted to each other. No one could prove it, though. And I imagine that you can’t, either.”

The Admiral held his hand up to stop the tirade that everyone in the room can see coming. “That’s enough. You are quite right that there is no conclusive proof.”

“Then you can’t charge her!”

“I’ll thank you not to interrupt me, Commander.”

Chakotay stepped back a little. “My apologies Admiral.”

“Now, I’ve spent a lot of time debating my decision. I’ve listen too and considered both sides of the arguments but I think we all know that, in the end, the only charge that is worth considering at all is the charge of fraternization. To that end, it is the decision of this court that Captain Kathryn Janeway, former Commanding Officer of the Starship Voyager, be stripped of rank and discharge from Starfleet, with no prison time to serve. Full back pay for the last seven years will be awarded.” The Admiral nodded at Owen and then turned to Kathryn, nodding at her also. “You are free to go, Ms. Janeway.”

***

Kicked out.

She’d been kicked out of Starfleet.

She had been kicked out of Starfleet.

Starfleet.

It didn’t matter how many times she repeated it to herself or how many times she changed the structure of the sentence by changing the emphasis, the result was the same. She’d been kicked out of Starfleet and onto her ass.

Kathryn knew that she should have been grateful.

Owen had spent three months pushing for a life sentence in order to keep the ‘Cardassian Representatives’ happy – though she was damn sure that there was more to it than that – and now she was a free agent, able to walk in the sunlight and hug her family.

While she’d been on trial, Kathryn had asked B’Elanna to send word to her family, advising them not to come to see her, no matter how much she wanted to be with them. Reporters were everywhere, waiting to jump on the Janeway women and, while she was ’behind bars’, as Tom had said, she didn’t want her family subjected to that.

Now, though, she was out on her ass, standing in the silent courtroom.

No one had really believed that she would be able to get out of the charges. No one had really expected that, when the Admiral announced his verdict, Owen Paris would nod once and leave.

What a change a two minute speech makes.

Her mother and sister were in the back of the room. Kathryn knew that B’Elanna had managed to get them inside at the last second to witness the end of the trial. Chakotay stood beside her, still facing the place where the judge had sat. Kathryn stared with him, looking at the empty chair with a sense of bewilderment.

No one in the room moved until Kathryn turned around slowly and faced most of her former crew.

She looked at them all, watching her and waiting for something to happen. Unconsciously, she stretched her hand out to find Chakotay’s, gripping it like a vice.

“Well,” She said with a small smile, her eyes flicking quickly to look at her former First Officer before they return to her former crew. She could see her mother and Phoebe watching her from the back of the room, waiting for her next move. “I guess you should all call me Kathryn now.”

And then the room erupted.

***

End