Summary:  C/P, A/K;  KT's CPSG "Halloween" challenge.  Part Thirteen:  Home again, home again...
Copyright November 2001 Cassatt

"Tom, I need to sit for a minute or two," Chakotay said, pulling the man he loved to the fallen tree they'd climbed over earlier. He straddled it and rested his elbows on his thighs. The thin black fabric of his pants did nothing to shield him from the rough bark and he shifted until he felt no more bumps prodding his ass or hamstrings. He wasn't ready to see everyone, not just yet, he had some things to think about. Some things the Chosen One had shown him. Had shown them. For he knew that Tom saw what he did, there was some sort of link established between them via the boy. He laughed out loud at his choice of nouns. Link, indeed.

"Are you sure you're okay?" Tom turned and straddled the log as well, then leaned forward and held Chakotay's knees. Possessively. Tenderly.

"I'm fine, I think," he said, still chuckling. He breathed deeply, inhaling all of the scents they so rarely got to indulge in. Grass. The sweet smell of wildflowers. The dry dustiness of fallen leaves. "Hard to imagine the horrors of the city that we saw back there, when we're sitting like this, isn't it? Do you ever wonder why horrific things seem to surround us out here? I thought the war was bad, and it sure as hell was. But the DQ..."

"Yeah, I wonder that. Often. It's the only thing that makes me want to get back to the Alpha Quadrant. The thought of spending the rest of my life here. But at least we did something that might make a difference, on this one planet."

Chakotay sat up straighter and took Tom's hands in his. He studied them, the contrast of lightly freckled skin with his. "I have to trust that we did make a difference, I have to trust that. But did you notice that there was one time when the Chosen One did not show us any pictures?"

"You, too? I thought my concentration lapsed or something. When you, I mean, he was yelling at Medrich about when he died. Everything went blank," Tom said quietly.

"Exactly. Blank as an empty databank. He very definitely did not want us to know what in the world he was talking about. You were right, Tom, there's more to this than we know. Than we'll ever know..."

"Chakotay, you didn't have a choice. We did what we had to do. You know damned well we'd do it again in a minute." Tom stared intently at him. How did he read him so quickly? When had Tom developed that ability? "What are you smiling about?" Tom asked.

"You."

"Oh."

"And I agree. We'd do it again in a minute. There was no choice. So I'll meditate. Then I'll ask you to repeat what he said about my ancestors when I need to hear it. Okay?"

Tom nodded, his eyes sparkling. "More than okay. I'll take any opportunity I can to give you what you need, and I promise I won't tell a soul."

Chakotay felt another smile blossom on his face. "Discovered my secret, have you?"

"That you've got needs like the rest of us, big, strong, stoic Maquis warrior? First Officer? Healer of the entire crew? Yeah, I have," Tom said softly. He lifted their joined hands and kissed Chakotay's, so sweetly, so lovingly, that he was in awe.

"I'm glad you have, Tom," he replied, just as softly. He stood. "Let's go home."

Tom followed, and as they stepped over the log, they came together. To hold each other closely, to feel everything shift into place, to remember what they, personally, had received from the Chosen One.

The six of them materialized on Voyager's transporter pad in room one. Bags slung over their shoulders, uniforms donned again, nevertheless slightly disoriented. The sterility of the ship, the serious greeting of the crew, all of it was in such stark contrast to everything they'd been through and experienced. By some unspoken agreement, the six men stepped off the pad, but went no further.

They held a somewhat hushed conversation in the middle of transporter room one. Everyone was officially off duty until the start of alpha shift the following morning, but they all had plans. Including writing reports, the details of which Chakotay would review, and having dinner as a group later that evening. While they stood together, Chakotay took Tom's hand firmly in his, and Greg and Harry did the same, without thinking. They were blissfully ignorant of the transporter technicians' reaction.

Neelix asked Tuvok for assurance that the Vulcan was going straight to his quarters to practice the techniques of the Vulcan Masters. He got it. The other four wished Tuvok well, and told him they'd be available if he needed anything. Neelix was going to ignore his continued off-duty status. He'd be in the mess hall as soon as he could.

Greg and Harry were heading for Harry's quarters, or Greg's, they hadn't quite decided whose they'd end up in. Tom joked he'd be calling them every half hour, just to see how their adjustment to being back on the ship was going. He got a laugh only from Greg. Harry merely blushed.

When they all finally left the transporter room, Chakotay kept his hold of Tom's hand and the reality of what they were doing finally sank in to the younger man. As he had within a couple of hours of their first kiss, Tom sent the commander a questioning look.

"I told you then, Tom, maybe in ten years I won't need to, but now I do," Chakotay said simply. "Let the gossip travel as it will."

"Indeed," Tuvok said directly behind them, "nothing anyone can do, or say, will change your mind, Mr. Paris, correct?"

Tom turned his head. "No."

"Very good. If any of it gets nasty, report it to me. It may be a security concern." Tuvok's tone of voice clearly indicated he was attempting some Vulcan humor.

The other five all darted glances to each other, smiling.

"Thank you, Tuvok," Chakotay said sincerely.

"Simply performing my duties to the best of my ability, Commander," Tuvok replied.

Chakotay's smile increased. "Indeed."

Greg and Harry were the first to get off the turbolift, still hand in hand.

"Have fun, you two," Tom called.

They ignored him, and once the doors had swooshed shut again, Chakotay burst out laughing. Tom joined him. "Tom, they're gonna get you for that."

"I know, couldn't resist..."

Neelix was grinning. "I think they're sweet together."

"A fascinating combination," Tuvok said.

This time Neelix joined in the laughter, though they all tried to tone it down. Tuvok raised his eyebrows in their direction, but none of them saw the slight curve that was fighting its way onto Tuvok's mouth. It lost the battle and disappeared.

Neelix walked into the mess hall, after dropping his bag off in his quarters and giving the place a quick air exchange. The act didn't really do anything, other than give him the psychological reassurance that he'd done something. Something to make his quarters seem different from how he had imagined them while under the spell. He'd decided to stop in the airponics bay later, on his way home, and get a few flowers for the table next to his bed. As he'd left, he was smiling.

Entering his place of work, however, he finally understood the meaning of the word 'mess hall.' The kitchen was a complete and total disaster area, which actually made Neelix's chest expanded unaccountably.

Jenny and Megan were holding their own on the serving line, and the food smelled somewhat edible to his Talaxian olfactory gland. The crew didn't seem to mind the change in menu, anyway, for the line was fairly long. The Delaneys looked up as Neelix approached and actually clapped. Their sighs of relief were almost visible.

"This place is a mess, you two!" Neelix said, his heart bursting. "You stay on that line, I've got way too much work to do back here getting things re-organized to take over for you."

"Yes, sir," Jenny said, grinning widely. Megan saluted.

Neelix stood in his kitchen with hands on his hips for a moment. He couldn't stop the smile that almost broke his face. Then he rubbed his hands together, grabbed his apron, and got to work. As he scrubbed his pots and pans as clean as he wanted, he began to plan a menu for his five friends and their special dinner. Their 'farewell to Umbra' dinner. He'd work on his report after dinner was finished.

Tuvok carefully unpacked his bag, putting those things due for the refresher aside in a neat pile. After everything was where it belonged, he dressed in his purple robe and prepared for meditation. It took him more minutes than usual to calm his mind, but once he did, he felt the familiar and welcomed peace settle throughout his neural synapses. Yes, it might take him some days of work, but he would be fully Vulcan again.

Greg had tackled Harry within two minutes of entering the ensign's quarters. Their bags were left where they dropped them. The slightly taller man steered his new lover to the couch next to the music stand, almost knocking it over in their enthusiasm. He backed him down onto the soft cushions and stopped the wide smile on Harry's face with a very deep, penetrating, toe-curling kiss that lasted for at least twenty more minutes of their first hour back on board.

Tom had managed to repack his bag and arrive at Chakotay's quarters within ten minutes of being left in his. He hit the door chime with force and when it opened, Chakotay was standing there with a smile so huge, Tom thought for sure he could lose a finger in one of his dimples. His bag landed on the deck as the doors swooshed shut. He was pulled into a tight embrace, knowing deep in his heart he could never ever get enough of these hugs, of this man's arms surrounding him, of his hands roaming up and down his back, through his hair, caressing his ass.

"Hey, I thought you were going to change your clothes," Chakotay said against his neck.

"Didn't wanna take the five minutes. They're in the bag..."

"Small bag - how long are you staying," Chakotay teased.

Tom moved just enough to make eye contact. This was yet another light source to see those deep dark pupils by, but this was the one they'd be under from now on. Maybe for the rest of their lives. "Forever, Chakotay," he said, reaching up and tracing his tattoo. Then he dipped his head and took those soft lips with his, kissing him so deeply that he was instantly lost to sensation. Their tongues tasted familiar places, hot, sweet places. Their bodies were giving in to it all as well, beginning to move against each other, wanting more, needing more. It felt as if it had been days since they'd been under the covers in each other's arms.

Chakotay pulled back from it, breathing heavily, his hands still traveling. "Forever's good, Tom, like the sound of that...," he said, his mouth drifting to Tom's again. "But, damn it, got to give a report to the captain. She's expecting us..." He pulled Tom's head and kissed him again, a slower, more languid, intense, and just as deep kiss.

Tom was collapsing under the assault, ready to press this man back against the nearest bulk head, strip him of his off-duty clothing and take him right there. The thought of the captain waiting for them caused his lifelong Starfleet training to rear it's sometimes very ugly head. He pulled back this time. "Chak... let me go, change my clothes, unpack," he said against full, parted lips. "Then we can work on the report, go see the captain, have dinner, then we can go to bed..."

The First Officer returned for just a moment, and the Chief Helmsman saw him. Then Chakotay smiled that certain smile and let Tom go, with a deep chuckle and a pat on his ass.

B'Elanna stood outside the ready room doors, deciding on her options. She'd been trying to contact the captain off and on for at least forty-five minutes without success. The computer told her a few things - Kathryn Janeway's communicator was working, she was behind these doors, she was awake and she was healthy. Just not responding. Though not in the command track, Lieutenant Torres had been put into the second-in-command position for the duration of the Umbran away mission, as the next highest ranking member of the senior staff, and as the person Janeway trusted the most in this situation. It wasn't as though they were going to come under attack or anything, orbiting around a planet as they were. So B'Elanna had some override codes at her disposal. After tapping her foot for another 10 seconds, she opened the ready room doors and entered.

It took her a moment for her eyes to find her commanding officer, for she wasn't sitting behind her desk, where B'Elanna had expected her to be. Captain Janeway was standing in front of her viewports, hugging herself and muttering loudly to no one in particular.

"Captain?" B'Elanna walked to the couches.

Kathryn whirled around and her arms flew up in the air. "B'Elanna! Where have you been? I've been calling and calling! Why aren't we moving?"

"Moving? We're still assessing the deuterium from Umbra, which is what I..."

The captain interrupted her. "Umbra? What are you talking about? Have we been contacted by Command yet?" She hit her chest, calling for Harry, but there was only static heard.

B'Elanna felt icy fingers trace her spine. "Command, Captain? They can't reach us out here in the Delta Quadrant," she said slowly.

Kathryn cocked her head and placed her hands firmly on her hips as only she could. "Are you feeling all right, B'Elanna? We're no longer in the DQ, we're almost to Earth. Look," she said authoritatively, turning and sweeping her arm toward the viewports. "We're in visual range. Of home."

At that B'Elanna's mind almost shut down. Her heart began to pound as she was forced to consider options again. Call the Doctor? Kahless, he'll likely lock her up, and I'll have to run this ship. Damn. "Captain - let me go and find out whether Harry's contacted Starfleet Command for you, okay?"

The captain turned back to her. "Good, good. Thank you. Report back to me immediately, Lieutenant."

"I will, I promise." But by the time she'd finished the short sentence, Kathryn was already staring out at whatever it was she was seeing, once again apparently oblivious. B'Elanna's heart went from pounding to sinking in a nanosecond. Please, don't fall apart on us now. She left the ready room, and as soon as she was clear of the doors, she asked the computer for the location of Commander Chakotay. He was back on board, in his quarters. Thank you! She sprinted for the turbolift.

Neelix was putting some containers back into the cold storage unit when he heard a small squeal coming from behind. Spinning, he caught Naomi just as she jumped him, giving him a tight hug and kiss on his spotted cheek. Laughing together, he put her down gently. As she started to tell him everything that had happened to her in the prior two days, something niggled a far, far corner of his brain. He shivered, as though someone had just walked across his grave.

Chakotay was sitting at the desk in his living area, checking up on the ship, and the crew, making sure nothing disastrous had happened while he was gone. He didn't plan on taking very long with this task, but also didn't really want to start thinking about the report he'd have to be giving soon. So he was checking the duty roster that he'd left for Kathryn to post the day before. As he'd remembered, he and Tom were on the same shift rotation schedule for the next month. Thank the spirits. His door chimed and he called for entrance.

B'Elanna came in quickly, looking extremely unsettled. "Chakotay, boy am I glad to see you," she said without preamble.

"Nice to see you, too," he replied easily, quickly changing his manner as soon as he saw her response. No one could glare like their Chief Engineer. "Sorry. What's wrong?"

"It's the captain..."

"Chak, I was thinking," Tom called as he came in from the bedroom.

B'Elanna's ridges shot up to her hairline. Chakotay felt a grin begin to form and he admonished himself. With bare feet and a shirt being tucked into his pants, Tom in no way looked like anything but what he was. At home.

"Oh, hi, 'Lanna, didn't hear you come in," Tom said, and Chakotay could see he was trying not to grin, too.

"Obviously," she said, her hands landing on her hips. "And as much as I'd love an explanation of, of this," one hand started to circle the air, "I don't have time. As I was saying, Chakotay, it's the captain..." She explained the condition she'd just found their captain in, then started to worry aloud about what the Doctor might do...

Whatever else she said Chakotay didn't hear. His eyes flew to his lovers' and again, they both knew what they each were thinking. Medrich?

"He might have, Chak, he was pretty confused about the time, seemed quite shocked when we showed up..." Tom answered his unasked question.

"Who was what?" B'Elanna said.

"But for what purpose?" Chakotay said to Tom.

"Don't know, maybe he was pissed, maybe he just really doesn't like women that much, still..." Tom shrugged his shoulders, but his eyes were sure. "Should I call everyone?"

"Who's everyone?" B'Elanna asked.

"Yes - you call Harry and Greg and I'll get Tuvok. And Neelix." Chakotay turned to the engineer. "It's hard to explain, but just give us a minute, then I will. I'll need your help, too." He went quickly into his bedroom to get his shoes, and Tom's, calling Tuvok on the way.

B'Elanna felt like her entire universe was turning completely upside-down. Just an hour before, she'd been happily ensconced in cargo bay two, running scans on her new supply of deuterium. Now here she stood...

Tom hit his chest hard. "Paris to Kim."

"Kim here, very funny, Tom." She could hear Greg Ayala's muffled voice swearing and felt even more confused.

Tom snorted. "No joke, Har, we need you both. It's the captain. She's, well, we think Medrich might have gotten to her."

"Shit, you sure this isn't yours and the commander's idea of a joke?"

"Yeah, Tom..." Greg said loudly.

Tom rolled his eyes. "NO joke," he said seriously, then glancing her way, he walked toward Chakotay's desk and lowered his voice. She followed however. "...your clothes on, and get yourselves to the ready room. Commander's orders, got it? The captain's in trouble," he hissed.

"Okay, got it. Sorry, Tom," Harry said. "Kim out."

Tom turned to her and smiled sheepishly, shrugging. "They, well, never mind." He started for the bedroom, but was met by Chakotay carrying a pair of shoes and a combadge. As she watched her friend apparently finish getting dressed, her brain finally kicked in again. Harry and Greg? Kahless...

The ready room doors opened to Chakotay's command code, and the seven of them trooped in. If the bridge crew thought anything odd in the sight of the senior staff gathering, almost all of them in off duty clothing, whispering amongst themselves outside the captain's office, they didn't show it. The talk would come later, when they had a break, or when the ready room doors closed again.

Captain Janeway turned as soon as she heard the doors, but whatever she was going to say died on her lips. Her eyes widened and her hands flew to her hips. "Where have you all been? I have been calling and calling! WHY aren't we moving?"

Chakotay, by consensus, approached her. "Captain, we are moving, we're in orbit around Umbra." They thought they'd try the truth right off the bat, see how she reacted to it.

She glared. "And what is this Umbra that keeps being mentioned? Harry - did you contact Starfleet Command yet?"

"No, ma'am," he said seriously. "I can't reach them here in the Delta Quadrant."

Her eyes darted from Harry's to Chakotay's to Tuvok's. "O-kay," she said slowly, "you do realize I can have you demoted and thrown in the brig for insubordination, don't you? This is no time to play a practical joke on me. We are too close to home..."

"Captain," Tuvok said, "we are still in the Delta Quadrant. I do not play practical jokes."

She stared at her oldest friend. Without another word, she spun on her heel and went back to looking out the viewport, her arms crossed defiantly.

Chakotay herded everyone to the farthest corner of the room. "Okay," he whispered, "clearly that didn't work, but it was worth a try. I think we forgot to factor in the Captain's stubbornness, combined with Medrich's power." He looked at Tuvok. "We'll have to relieve her of command, temporarily."

"We can't tell her, though, can we?" Tom said quickly. "I mean, won't that just make her dig in further?"

"You are correct," Tuvok agreed. "And yes, Commander, she is now officially relieved of duty, though only this group will know it. Temporarily."

"B'Elanna, contact engineering and get the warp engines back online," Chakotay ordered. "We'll have to break orbit at some point. I want to have the option of returning planet side, though, in case I need to go have a little chat with Medrich."

B'Elanna nodded and stepped away from the group to do as he asked.

"Commander," Neelix said, "I still think that if we keep talking to her, as a group, we'll get through to her. She trusts us."

"I agree," B'Elanna said as she rejoined them.

"But the enticement of Earth," Tom said. "It's her dream."

"And that is how Medrich got to her." Tuvok looked at each of them pointedly, then up to the captain, still staring out the viewports, seemingly oblivious. "However, it is apparent, in retrospect, that the spells had some component of fear."

"She can't get there," Chakotay stated. "She can't get the ship moving, she can't contact any of us, she probably can't leave this room. She must have tried at some point in the last hour..." He, too, turned his eyes to his friend.

"She's afraid," Greg said with assurance. Everyone looked at him. "She's where I was in the early stages. Denial." Harry took his hand and their eyes locked for a moment. "We can't let her get more deeply into it."

"No, indeed, we cannot," Tuvok said quietly.

"Okay," Chakotay agreed, "I'm going to try and break through, just a little." He turned and walked to the upper level and sat on the couch. Looking closely at his commanding officer he could see the fine lines that had developed around her eyes. She was ignoring him. "Captain," he said as calmly as he could.

She still didn't meet his eyes, but stood with her arms folded. "What, Commander? Do you have an explanation for your behavior?"

"Yes, I do. Permission to speak freely?" He patted the cushion next to him and gave her his best smile.

She cocked her head. "Very well." She didn't hear it, but the six on the other side of the room breathed a sigh of slight relief as she sat down.

"Kathryn, do you remember how we got to the Alpha Quadrant?"

Her hands began to work themselves together in her lap. Her eyes were shifting from Chakotay's to somewhere over his shoulder. Finally, she spoke. "I'm not at liberty to say."

"I see. I understand you've been having some difficulties contacting the crew in the past couple of hours. Have you checked to be sure the comm system is working?"

This time her eyes locked with his. "I've tried. But apparently it's not. The computer isn't responding to me."

"And have you tried to leave the ready room? It's okay, you can tell me, you know you can trust me," he said quietly. He hoped she would remember him saying that earlier that morning.

"Yes," she said so softly, that he barely heard her.

"You can't get the doors to open, can you? And clearly, they work, because we've all come in here, B'Elanna came in earlier."

"Yes," she hissed.

"Kathryn, there is nothing wrong with you. I need you to trust me again. Can you do that?" He reached out and stopped her hands by placing his over them. She merely nodded. "Thank you." He took a very deep breath and sent a prayer to his father for help. "We are not in the Alpha Quadrant. We're still in the Delta Quadrant. I'm telling you the truth..."

Across the room, the one person who was not a member of the senior staff was watching and thinking, remembering his experience with the hell of Medrich's handiwork. "Harry, Tom," he whispered to his friends. They came closer. "I think that maybe we're forgetting something."

"What?" they said almost in unison.

Tuvok, Neelix and B'Elanna gathered as well. "Well, the spell on me, and even on you, Harry, was sort of like this one. And one of the things that broke it was getting physically out of the place we were in. I got pulled out of the nothingness. Harry, you finally left the room."

"Yeah," Harry said, "but I couldn't leave until the spell was already broken."

"True, but for Greg it was the other way around," Tom said.

"The captain, however, cannot leave this room." Tuvok spoke, but before anyone could answer, the sound of Captain Janeway's raised voice startled them all.

"NO! We are in the ALPHA Quadrant. I can see Earth plainly! I ORDER you to get this ship moving in that direction. NOW!" Kathryn stood up, wrenching her hands away from Chakotay's, and glared first at him, then out the viewports.

Chakotay sighed internally. He looked to the others and was surprised to see Tom approaching quickly. He joined him on the couch and leaned in to whisper.

"Lieutenant, did you have something to add? Why aren't you at the conn?" Kathryn barked.

"Captain, excuse me for interrupting. Actually I'm not on duty at the moment. I have something to tell the commander, if you don't mind."

Chakotay saw a slight change in her demeanor as she looked down at them. A slight change in her eyes. Some clarity. He was mystified, then realized that Tom's arm was draped around his shoulders, and he had unconsciously put his hand on Tom's knee.

"The two of you..." she said to herself. Then she turned back to stare at what only she could see.

Chakotay motioned with his head and they both got up, returning to the others.

After some minutes of further discussion, Chakotay went back to the couches. "Captain, I'm going to the bridge. I'll give Ensign Baytart the order - Voyager will proceed to Earth."

Her look of triumph was tempered with a look of uncertainty.

"Why don't you come to the doors and watch, make sure it really happens," he said quietly.

"Very well," she replied. They walked to the ready room doors together, but she didn't even try to exit the room when they swooshed open. Chakotay walked directly to the helm. Baytart was ordered to take them out of orbit and proceed at impulse power toward home.

Seven members of Kathryn's staff sat near her on the couches and the floor as she drank coffee that Neelix replicated. She perched on the edge of one section, with Tuvok on one side of her and Chakotay on the other.

Her memories were coming back very, very gradually, but everyone was hopeful that this combined plan was going to work. They were also hopeful that Medrich's considerable powers could only, actually, extend so far.

"What is the last thing you remember?" Tuvok asked again.

"Medrich leaving me with a list of acceptable crew members for the away mission," Kathryn answered, with a little glare given to the group in general.

After some laughter from the men and a comparable glare from B'Elanna, the group discussed the briefing. Greg puffed his chest dramatically to hear how he was chosen and named, bringing out an unnecessary blush from Harry and a few choice remarks from Tom.

"Megan dancing on the table at Sandrine's," Kathryn answered again.

B'Elanna made a choking sound and waved her hand at the captain. The C.O., however, laughed out loud and told a couple of tales of a women-only night at the bar. Mental pictures of a male stripper accosted by drunken Delaney sisters and a confused ex-Borg were more than the men could take. They begged off on any further description. B'Elanna grinned outright at Kathryn, who winked.

"Chakotay and Tom," Kathryn said somewhat wistfully.

"We can skip this part," Chakotay answered.

"I don't think so," B'Elanna countered.

"I do." Tom looked at her with blazing blue eyes.

Kathryn made eye contact with both her second in command and her pilot. "You're okay, aren't you? No fights? No breaking up?"

"We're fine. We'll tell you all about it, in private." Chakotay returned her gaze.

Tom crossed his arms and nodded to B'Elanna, who stuck out her tongue in response. She was told she could get details, later, if she bought the beer. She negotiated a deal, that somehow included Harry and Greg, and their 'story.' At the end of it, there was much discussion of how perhaps she might be a good person to include in future trade missions.

"Being put off repeatedly by a certain First Officer," Kathryn said, her eyes narrowing.

"We can discuss that later as well," Chakotay said.

"We'd better."

B'Elanna reminded her that the women had, again, found some way to entertain themselves, but would not go into details. The captain's eyes showed recognition, though the only word the engineer would use was 'short.' As the ship traveled further and further away from Umbra, Kathryn needed less and less prompting. Her memory was returning, though the lines around her eyes were getting more pronounced as fatigue began to play a part.

"Socks," Kathryn said with force.

Chakotay, Tom, Greg and even Harry started to laugh. Tuvok's eyebrow shot up. Neelix looked confused. B'Elanna just rolled her eyes.
 
 

On to Part Fourteen

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