A Past Long Forgotten

Kathryn Janeway followed Laura Jenkins and her daughter back to her quarters. Janeway waited patiently while the other captain put her daughter to bed. Laura returned to the living room and fell back onto the couch across from Janeway.

“Captain Jenkins...”

Laura cut her off. “Please, it’s Laura. I hate formalities.”

“Laura.” Janeway continued. “I know we just met, but you look a little...frazzled.”

Jenkins laughed. “That’s exactly what Learra’s been telling me for months. She’s one of my best friends, but she’s also unfortunate enough to be my chief medical officer. I’m too stubborn. I like to be busy, but lately it’s just become too much. She keeps telling me to take it easy and rest.”

“She’s exactly right. I heard the same thing for the past five years.” Janeway comforted the younger woman. “Want to talk about it?”

Laura sighed, feeling odd about opening up to a woman she had just met less than an hour ago. “I have a five year old daughter who drives me insane. Starfleet offered me a position at the Academy teaching third year quantum chemistry and warp core basics, but I declined it for my own command. At this point, I don’t know which I’d prefer. I’ve been loaded down with first contact and diplomatic missions, but all I want to do is go down to engineering and fix something. I’m not saying my chief engineer isn’t fabulous, because he’s far from that...it’s just...” She buried her head in her hands. “And, as much as I’m thrilled to see Voyager, your timing couldn’t be worse.”

The older woman gave her a sympathetic grin. “Laura, if there’s anything we can do...”

She shook her head.

=/\=Whitney to Jenkins. Laura, Admiral Paris needs to speak with you.=/\=

Laura rolled her eyes and smiled. “Put him through down here.”

=/\=Very well, Whitney out.=/\=

Jenkins stood up and walked over to her desk. “Hope you don’t mind Captain.” She motioned for Kathryn to join her and the other captain shook her head. Jenkins turned her monitor on and smiled at the sight of the gray-haired admiral.

“Laura.” He greeted. “How’s my little Princess doing?”

“Okay. She had a tummy-ache earlier this evening at the party. That’s why I’m not there.”

Owen laughed. “I’m sorry. Tell her that I have a surprise waiting for her when you guys finally decide to show up at Headquarters.”

Laura lowered her head in mock embarrassment. “I will...” Her voice trailed off.

A couple seconds passed before the admiral became ‘all-Starfleet’ and stiffened. “I assure that you and your crew are throwing the proper welcome for Captain Janeway and her ship.”

“Admiral...” She had never been able to get used to calling his Dad, like he so many times requested. “Why wouldn’t we?” She smiled as genuinely as she could.

His face softened. “Are you sure? I know it was an unexpected arrival and I’m hoping that you’re handling it alright.”

She shook her head, trying to drop the subject. “Don’t you trust me?” She stopped, frowning. “Do you need to talk to Captain Janeway?”

He nodded. “That would be nice. Talk to you soon Laura.”

She stood up and turned her chair over to Captain Janeway, who had been silent throughout the conversation, letting all that she’d heard sink in. Just what is the relationship between Captain Jenkins and Admiral Paris? She thought as she accepted to seat.

“Katie.” Admiral Paris greeted. “Welcome home!”

***

“Tom!” Learra Kasct, chief medical officer of the Shakespeare, shrieked, running into his arms.

“Hey Learra.” He smiled, returning the hug. “I thought you didn’t like starships.”

She shrugged. “Doesn’t really matter.” Her blue eyes twinkled merrily. “Gods, we could have a reunion! Shelly’s at Utopia Planetia and Tessa’s stationed at Starfleet medical. I think Aria’s ship just came back from a deep space assignment in the Beta Quadrant. She has a bunch of shore leave...” She stopped to take a deep breath. “Wow!”

Tom shared her enthusiasm. “That would be fun.” He pulled Harry and B’Elanna up next to him; everyone else had scattered themselves throughout the room. “Learra, this is the love of my life and the best engineer in the galaxy B’Elanna Torres and my best friend Harry Kim.” Learra winced slightly at the title he had used and the affection in his voice.

He used to say that about Laura. She thought sadly.

“And this.” Tom motioned to Learra. “Is Learra Kasct, the finest doctor this side of Borg space.”

Learra faked a smile and shook both Harry and B’Elanna’s hands. “Pleased to meet you.”

Heather met up with the group after gossiping with some of Voyager’s junior officers. “Hey Tommy, is it true you committed the perfect crime?”

Tom’s blue eyes clouded over, but he maintained his mask of emotions. “Not entirely perfect.”

Heather punched him in the arm. She rolled her eyes. “Do you guys want to have a picnic in the holodeck with me and Learra?”

Harry nodded, excited at the chance to spend time with this intriguing friend of Tom’s. “That would be fun. What do you think Tom?”

His best friend shrugged. “Sure. We have a lot of catching up to do.” He silently pleaded to his friend that Laura not come.

Before anything else could be said, a new voice spoke up somewhere behind Learra and Heather. “Why, if it isn’t Heather Whitney, princess of practical jokes.”

Heather spun around to come face to face with Megan Delany. “The one and only!” She smirked before throwing her arms around her friend’s neck. “I suppose you kept Tom on his toes the past five years.”

Megan thought for a moment, formulating an answer. “Jenny and I tried. He had other plans.” She cast a look in the direction of B’Elanna and grinned. “Where’d Laura go? I was hoping to give her my deepest sympathies about having you as a first officer.”

Whitney rolled her eyes.

***

Laura helped Casie off of the horse. “Wonderful job today sweetheart. Pretty soon we can start trotting. You’re getting very good.”

Casie looked up at her with her sparkling blue eyes and realized just how much alike she and Tom were. “Thanks Mommy.”

“For what?”

She shrugged. “For keeping your promise. With the Voyager people onboard, I thought you’d be too busy.”

Laura bent down so that she was eye level with her daughter. “Honey, I’m never too busy for you. Please remember that.” Casie nodded. “I love you.” She wrapped her arms around the little girl and kissed her soft hair. They backed away and Laura took her daughter’s hand, leading her toward the exit.

“Computer, end program.” The barn and field disappeared to reveal the familiar holodeck grids. Before they made it to the door, it opened, and Heather, Learra, Tom, Harry and B’Elanna walked in. Laura stopped short.

Casie looked up at them and grinned. “Hi.” She said excitedly. “Heather, Mommy said that next time she would let me trot!”

Heather gasped. “Really? That’s wonderful.”

Casie nodded enthusiastically. “Yep.” She glared at everyone else suspiciously. “Who are they?”

The three others laughed. Laura introduced them. “This is Ensign Paris, Ensign Kim and Lieutenant Torres. They’re from Voyager.”

Casie understood. “Okay.” She put out her hand. “My name is Casie Michaela Jenkins and I’m five years old.” She shook everyone’s hand, very pleased with herself.

Wonder if she’s named after Mike. Tom wondered, wincing at the memory of his best friend.

“C’mon Casie, let’s go. Heather wants to use the holodeck. It’s her turn.”

Learra stopped them again at the door. “Why don’t you two stick around? We’re just having a picnic.” She was oblivious of Tom and Laura’s silent pleas.

B’Elanna agreed. “Captain, we would love for you and your daughter to join us.” She offered, not sensing the uncomfort of both Tom and Laura.

Jenkins shrugged and looked down at a begging Casie. “Why not?”

***

Captain Jenkins’ heart fell as she watched Tom Paris and Harry Kim entertain Casie in the lake near their picnic sight. Tom was so at ease with the girl and all three seemed to be enjoying themselves tremendously. Heather had been going on for the past hour about all of the practical jokes she had played on Tom and the Delany’s back at the Academy. Laura sighed and almost didn’t hear Learra’s question.

“Excuse me?” She asked her medical officer.

“I asked if you remember that ski trip we went on over Christmas break your senior year. Laura, we need to include you in these conversations. You were there too hun.”

B’Elanna looked at her. “You were in the ‘group’ too?”

“Unfortunately.” She replied sarcastically. She looked at one of the two half Betazoids. “Of course I remember. How could I forget?”

Torres looked at the captain expectantly. “Well?”

Laura shifted uncomfortable, sending an evil glance in Learra’s direction. “We all went. And everyone brought someone, if I recall correctly. Heather dubbed the weekend as a ‘Pre Marriage Nightmare’, didn’t you?” Heather bit her lip but nodded. “Mike and Tessa were together at the time...”

“Tessa?” B’Elanna inquired. “Tessa Curtis? She was my roommate at the Academy and during our freshman year she asked if I was interested in going on a ski trip with her and her friends. That was you?”

Laura held up her hands. “Guilty as charged.” B’Elanna was smiling in realization, but she nodded in an attempt to get her talking again. “Shelly and Brian went together and Learra had Sean.” The doctor nodded. “Heather, you invited Justin, right?”

“Yep.” She smirked.

Laura was about to continue when Tom, Harry and Casie came racing up the hill. Casie won by a mile and Tom came up panting and out of breath. He collapsed next to Laura and looked up at her. “It’s been a while since I’ve done that.” He joked. “What are you guys talking about?” He flashed Laura a gorgeous smile, almost forgetting that B’Elanna was there.

It was just like the old days. Tom and Laura and Heather and Learra. The doctor had been right, they could have a reunion. He was still looking at Laura. Casie crawled onto Laura’s lap and reached for the bag of potato chips in front of her mother. Laura glared down at Tom. “B’Elanna.” She stressed her name, realizing that Tom had forgotten about her. “Had asked about the ski trip our senior year.”

Tom’s smile faded as he heard the engineer’s name and he had soon joined the half-Klingon on the other side of the blanket.

=/\=Evans to Jenkins.=/\=

Laura tapped her commbadge. “Yes Keith?”

=/\=Captain, there’s an incoming transmission from Headquarters. Admiral Gerhart needs to speak with you immediately.=/\=

“I’m on my way.” She replied, silently thanking the lieutenant for the interruption. “Jenkins out.” She stood up. “Come on Casie. Mommy needs to go to work.”

Tom grabbed Laura’s arm and both gasped slightly at the jolt of electricity that was sent through them. “She can stay here with us. Don’t worry about it.”

Laura looked to Heather for help. “I’ll make sure she gets to bed Laura.” Her first officer insisted.

“Please!” Casie pleaded.

Laura hesitantly agreed before heading to her quarters to put on a uniform.

After Laura left, Casie scooted over to sit next to B’Elanna. “Whatcha doin’?” She asked the half-Klingon.

B’Elanna smiled half heartedly at the girl. She never saw herself as the motherly type. “I was just about to have an apple, do you want a bite?”

Casie shook her head. “No thanks.” Her blue eyes sparkled. “What do you do on Voyager?”

“I’m the chief engineer.” B’Elanna answered.

Her eyes brightened. “Really? My mommy was the engineer on some other ship before she got captain. Granddaddy always says that she’s the best engineer in the whole universe. And Mommy always tells me how much she misses her warp core, but my eyes remind her of it, she says.”

Tom’s head shot up at the comment. Learra swallowed hard and looked at Heather nervously.

End Part 2. Go to Part 3.