Ghosts and Shadows
Story: Andra Marie Mueller
Authors: Andra and Christina

As expected, Chakotay found B'Elanna in Engineering, rechecking the new engines and making notations on her PADD.

"Trying to find out who's been naughty or nice?" he asked lightly.

The half-Klingon glanced over her shoulder. "Excuse me?"

"Never mind," he demurred. "If you can tear yourself away from your new toy long enough, I need to show you something."

"Can it wait?" B'Elanna requested. "I really need to double check the engine calibrations before we do the second test run on the Zornon cloak."

Chakotay gently pulled the PADD out of her grasp and placed it on a nearby console. "The calibrations can wait until later," he said. "Right now, you're coming with me."

"But Chakotay…"

"Do I need to make it an order, Lieutenant?" he asked sternly.

B'Elanna did not respond aloud but her expression made it clear she was not pleased about being pulled away from her project. "Do I at least get to know where we're going?" she asked irritably.

"You'll find out when we get there. After you."

The First Officer gestured for her to precede him and casting him an annoyed glance, she headed out of Engineering, not seeing the smile that spread across Chakotay's face as he followed her.

Epilogue

Inside the holodeck, the officers present for B'Elanna's shower were chatting amongst themselves as they awaited the arrival of the guest of honor. While Neelix and Tom did a last minute check of the decorations and hours de oeuvres, Janeway hovered near the door, smiling faintly to herself as she watched her crew interact with each other.

Chakotay was right, she mused. The crew does seem content with their lives here, and none of them has ever expressed any real desire to settle off ship. Maybe I just needed to hear someone else state the obvious in order to alleviate my fears.

"Are you all right, Captain?"

The question derailed Janeway's train of thought, and shaking off her wayward thoughts, she shifted her attention to the person who had posed the question.

"I'm fine, Icheb. Why do you ask?"

"You seemed to be lost in thought just now," Icheb said. "I thought perhaps something was troubling you."

Her smile widened. "I appreciate your concern, Cadet, but I am actually better than I've been in a long time."

"I'm glad."

Neelix chose that moment to join them, practically bubbling with excitement. "I just received word from our sentry, Ensign Jenkins, that Commander Chakotay and Lieutenant Torres are on their way," he told them. "I need you two to join the rest of us so we can turn off the lights."

"Of course, Neelix," Janeway said.

The Talaxian ushered them over to where the rest of the guests were huddled in a group facing the door, and someone called out for the computer to turn the lights off just as the sound of muffled voices reached the entrance to the holodeck.

"You took me away from Engineering to show me your new holodeck program?" B'Elanna could be heard protesting.

"Just have a little faith in me, B'Elanna," came Chakotay's response. "I promise you it will be worth your time."

On that note, the doors swooshed open and the two stepped inside.

"Computer, lights," Chakotay instructed.

The lights came on and the assembled crew immediately chorused, "Surprise!"

"What in the world?" B'Elanna muttered.

Pushing his way through the crowd, Tom walked over to greet his wife. "Welcome to your baby shower, Honey."

"Baby shower?" she echoed. "No one told me about any baby shower."

"That's because it was a surprise."

B'Elanna glanced sideways at Chakotay. "So this is the real reason you practically dragged me out of Engineering?"

He nodded. "Your husband recruited me to get you here on time and unaware of why you were coming."

She returned her attention to Tom. "This was your idea?"

"Guilty as charged," Tom conceded. "But I had a lot of help."

B'Elanna glanced around at the lavishly decorated clearing and the stack of presents on a large table beside the buffet. "This is amazing…"

"It's our way of welcoming our newest crewmember, and thanking her mother for all of her efforts in keeping Voyager ship shape," Janeway replied.

The engineer was clearly overwhelmed and took a moment to gain control of her emotions before speaking. "Thank you all, so much. This is incredible."

Having worked her way to the front of the crowd, Naomi approached B'Elanna and took her hand in hers. "Come on, Lieutenant; let's get started on your presents."

B'Elanna flashed her a warm smile. "Lead on, Naomi."

As Naomi pulled her toward the table of gifts, B'Elanna flashed Tom an adoring smile and mouthed 'I love you' before turning her attention to the gifts. As the other crewmembers wandered over to join Naomi and B'Elanna, Janeway made her way over to stand beside Chakotay.

"You did a good job of getting B'Elanna here without giving away the surprise, Commander," she said. "Obviously some of those skills in covert operation you honed while in the Maquis aren't as rusty as they should be."

Chakotay chuckled. "I don't know if I should be insulted or flattered," he replied. "You were rather quiet on the Bridge today. How are you?"

"Better," Janeway allowed. "I gave some though to what you said, and I realized you were right. Settling on a planet here in the Delta Quadrant isn't a guarantee against more casualties, and the crew seems happy enough to call Voyager home until we get back to the Alpha Quadrant."

"And what about your ghosts?"

"They're still around, but they aren't speaking quite as loudly as they once were, and my shadow named guilt is fading a little bit as well."

"I'm glad. You had a right to fear what the future holds, Kathryn, and to mourn what the past has cost us. But life happens, and trying to hide from it only keeps you frozen in place as it passes you by. We've made it as far as we have by confronting what ever the Delta Quadrant throws at us together, and we'll make it home the same way."

The captain gave him a warm smile. "Have I ever told you that making you my First Officer was the second best decision I've ever made?"

He smiled back. "Only the second?' he asked with mock offense. "What was the first?"

"Making you my friend."

Finis