Janeway: Generations Part 7
Title: Janeway: Generations (7/?)
Author: vicar_dibley
Rating: G
Fandom: Star Trek
Character/Pairing: Admiral Nechayev/Phoebe Janeway, Gretchen Janeway/Admiral Pulaski, Captain Janeway/Seven
Disclaimer: I do not own any of them.
Summary: Certain Starfleet officers take a certain interest in the females of a certain family.
Author's Note: It’s a different timeline and I took a lot of liberties with the characters, especially Admiral Nechayev. I can’t help it; I always kind of liked her. Hope you enjoy it. Comments are very welcome.
Janeway: Generations
7
There was one more person Lwaxana had to talk to. She instructed her driver to take her to the other house on the Janeway estate. No time like the present.
The youngest Janeway was surprised to find Ambassador Troi on her front steps when she opened the door.
“Lwaxana, is there something you need?“
“Only your patience and your time, dear. May I come in?“
“Of course.“ Phoebe stepped aside to let the older woman enter.
“I have heard there will be a new exhibition in Paris, next month. I hope to receive an invitation.“ Lwaxana said lightly.
“Certainly, but you are not here because of the exhibition.“ Phoebe had her arms crossed over her chest, trying to figure out why the woman was here.
“Humans. Always so impatient.“ The Ambassador chuckled, taking in the younger woman´s no nonsense pose.
“My daughter has the same annoying attitude.“
Gliding over to one of the comfortable looking chairs Lwaxana sat down and waited for Phoebe to take a seat herself before she went on.
“The good Admiral is scared.“ Lwaxana cut to the chase.
“Oh, please“, Phoebe snorted. “That woman isn’t afraid of anything.“
“But she is, dear. She is scared to death because you make her feel. All those years she had tried so hard to bury her feelings and all it took was one young fiery artist and they are back with vengeance.“
When nothing was forthcoming from the younger woman, Lwaxana leaned forward in her chair, looking into Phoebe’s eyes before she continued.
“She intrigues you and you do like her. You find her attractive and I know you are falling for her.“
“How?“
“I´m an empath Phoebe, I felt your presence outside the study.“
Blushing furiously Phoebe nodded her head, not trusting her voice.
“And like I said to Alynna, I can feel the tension between the two of you. She is a hard case our Admiral. Given her past, it is not surprising though. But trust me when I say, once you have earned her trust and won her love you will find nobody more loyal, loving, caring and gentle than Alynna Nechayev. When she loves, she loves without reserve. I envy the person who will own her heart because it will be hers completely.“
“But she doesn’t believe she deserves to be loved.“ Phoebe was desperate.
“Then make her!“ Lwaxana´s tone was insistent but not unkind.
“How?“
“Patience and insistence. You are already half way there, Phoebe. She just doesn’t know it yet.“
“You make it sound so easy“, Phoebe sighed.
“I never said it was.“ The Ambassador smiled ruefully leaving a bewildered Phoebe standing in her living room not knowing what to do.
Approaching the unapproachable woman was easier said than done. Given their shaky truce, Phoebe was at a loss how to proceed. True, she was intrigued by the Admiral even more so now that she had gained some insight on the older woman’s life and how it had affected her personality. Most astonishing was the fact that Alynna Nechayev found herself unworthy and undeserving of Phoebe’s affection.
Underneath the rough exterior there was kindness and warmth. And after the incident with the would-be assassin Phoebe had also gained a better understanding of Alynna´s conduct of her role as a Starfleet officer. Without a moment of hesitation the Admiral had put herself between Phoebe and the perpetrator. The way she had disarmed the man also spoke of a well trained soldier not a mere bureaucrat.
After a lot of thinking and weighing her options Phoebe came to the conclusion that if she wanted to become more than friends with the other woman she should mend fences. Because in all honesty she had to admit that it had been her, who had attacked and accused the older woman every given chance. Which in turn had caused the Admiral to react the way she had.
Sighing at her dilemma, Phoebe was determined to talk to Kate at the next opportunity hoping for more information and advice.
The next morning brought a contemplative and monosyllabic Admiral Nechayev downstairs. Gretchen knew better than to prod for information deciding that the right moment would present itself. After Alynna´s return from her walk Gretchen joined her on the porch with a cool glass of lemonade. Sitting down next to the other woman on the stairs, they enjoyed the silence. Waiting to broach the subject of her daughter Gretchen glanced sideways at Alynna and was surprised to find so many emotions on her face and a raging storm in her eyes.
Gretchen was caught off guard by the softly spoken words from the Admiral.
“I intend to return to duty next week.“
“What? Does Kate know about it?“
“No“, Alynna had to admit, “but I’m going to speak to her this evening.“
Gretchen didn’t mean to ask but the words were out of her mouth before she could even think about it.
“Why are you running away?“
“I beg your pardon?“
“You heard me“, Gretchen was getting frustrated, it showed in her tone and volume of her voice. “You are running, from my daughter and from yourself. Why do Starfleet officers always have to be so stubborn? Is it a job requirement or something?“
“Don’t get me wrong, but what the hell are you talking about? Your daughter doesn’t even like me, so what is there to run from? And why should I be running away from myself? I know who I am.“ Alynna was indignant.
“She does like you, a lot actually. Otherwise she wouldn’t react the way she does. As for yourself, you believe there is nothing you could possibly give to Phoebe and therefore think it’s ridiculous to even consider the question. But it should be Phoebe’s decision, don’t you think?“
“How do you...“
“I heard, we heard“, Gretchen interrupted, hanging her head in shame. “I am sorry, we didn’t mean to eavesdrop on you and Lwaxana. It just happened.“
“We?“
“Phoebe and I.“
“So that’s why she wasn’t at the dinner.“
At Gretchen’s affirmative nod, the Admiral got to her feet and wandered off. Without a word or explanation she left Gretchen on the stairs needing some time and space to think.
Not paying attention to her surroundings Alynna ended up at Phoebe’s house. She knew she should be angry at the younger woman but she couldn’t bring herself to even feel upset. Although a decision had been made on her way. She would leave the Janeway farm tomorrow, her wounds have healed and for the rest of the week she could stay at her house in San Francisco, which was easier to guard than the farm. Should there be another attempt at her life nobody would be in danger. Besides there was no point in pretending that there could be anything between herself and Phoebe, no matter what anybody else thought. Pondering if she should say her good-byes to the younger woman, the Admiral decided otherwise and turned around to walk back to the farmhouse.
From her studio Phoebe had been watching the Admiral for some time. She had seen the other woman coming to her house, she seemed to be deep in thoughts and when she had stared at the building with confused eyes Phoebe knew that it had been unintentional. Wondering what was going on, Phoebe had watched as Alynna stood outside, some inner fight obviously going on inside the Admiral, wondering if the older woman would knock or not. The artist thought Alynna would knock but was surprised when she finally turned and walked away without looking back.
Upon her return to Gretchen’s house Alynna used the comm link in the study to inform HQ of her plans to return to San Francisco and to be back on duty at the beginning of next week. Another call was made to Kate to get a clean bill of health for duty, it took some convincing but even Kate had to admit that her health was restored enough to be back behind her desk. When everything was arranged Alynna climbed the stairs to her room to pack her bags and get everything ready to leave early next morning. All that was left to do was talk to Gretchen and thank her for her hospitality.
The Admiral knew where to find her hostess. At this time of the day she would be behind the house tending to her flowers, herbs and vegetables.
Gretchen was weeding a flower bed when she saw Alynna walking towards her. Shielding her eyes from the sun, she could sense a change in her guest’s demeanour. The Admiral’s eyes were icy and her back was straighter, her whole body language was more rigid and distant than it had been over the last few weeks.
Sitting back on her heels Gretchen waited for Alynna to come near and tell her what was going on.
“I wanted you to know that I am going to leave tomorrow morning.“
“But you said it would be next week.“
“Yes“, the Admiral nodded. “But I´ve thought about it and I have already overextended my stay. I will spend the rest of the week in my own house in San Francisco. My driver will be here early in the morning.“
“It’s because of what I said earlier, isn’t it?“ Gretchen knew without asking that it was true and she also knew that Alynna would deny it.
Avoiding the question without blinking the Admiral simply played another card.
“You and Kate will be grateful of the additional privacy. It’s important at the beginning of a relationship. So please, I’m glad to be able to help with that.“
With that the Admiral turned and left to return to the study for some work on the Dominion situation.
At 0600 hours next morning the Admiral’s driver was already waiting for her in front of the house. Dressed in her uniform, Alynna stiffly said good-bye to Gretchen and Kate. She left with her bag in hand and without looking back.
Her driver brought her to the Indiana station and from the San Francisco station straight to her house in the bay area. When Alynna Nechayev entered her empty house she breathed a sigh of relief. Walking towards her backyard doors she opened them to gaze out over the San Francisco bay. It had always brought her calm but today her troubled thoughts wouldn’t rest. All she could think of was a certain feisty artist with blazing green eyes and a captivating smile. Shaking her head the Admiral turned to her study to work on some reports and to keep those pictures at bay.
Determination was guiding Phoebe’s steps as she walked towards her mother’s house in the late morning. She needed to talk to Kate and then to Alynna. No matter what, she knew she had to try and find out what was really going on between her and the Admiral.
Hearing her mother and Kate in the kitchen, Phoebe joined them and greeted them with a kiss on their cheeks. Taking her seat next to Kate, Phoebe thought it best to cut to the chase without dancing around the issue.
“Doctor Admiral I want to ask you something.“
Grinning at the, by now, familiar nickname Kate looked expectantly at the younger woman.
“It’s about Admiral Nechayev.“
Snorting Kate knew there would be more questions sooner or later, also given the fact that both Janeway women had listened in on the conversation between Alynna and Lwaxana.
“Look Phoebe“, Kate took one of the artist’s hands and squeezed it gently. “Why don’t you ask Alynna all the questions you have. It is her life after all, you are interested in. So it would only be fair to ask her about it. I can’t guarantee though that she will answer them. She is a very difficult person, to say the least, but somehow I suspect she might let you in.“
Thinking about Kate’s advice Phoebe looked at her mother for confirmation and when Gretchen agreed on her lover’s view with a nod Phoebe knew she should do as Kate said.
“Maybe you are right. Where is she?“
“San Francisco.“ Gretchen simply answered.
“What?“
“She returned to her own house this morning.“
“Why?“
“Because she is afraid“, Kate softly smiled.
“You are the second person to say that“, Phoebe responded with confusion.
“Hard to believe, I know“, Admiral Pulaski confirmed. “The fearless Admiral Nechayev who could reduce a seasoned Captain and one or the other fellow Admiral to a quivering mess is afraid of an artist. Not that she would ever admit it, mind you. But I’ve known her for a long time and I’ve seen how she acted towards you. She is so damn frightened that the only way she knows how to react is to run, run away from her own feelings and from you.“
“But there hasn’t anything whatsoever happened. All we ever did most of the time was fight.“ Phoebe was astonished again.
“Well, call it an pre-emptive strike.“
“What should I do?“ Phoebe was unsure now what to do.
“The question is, dear, what do you want to do?“
“I don’t know. I thought I did, but I am not so sure anymore.“
Lost in her own thoughts now the younger woman left the kitchen and wandered out of the house to sit on the swing on her mother’s porch.
It was all such a terrible mess. The Admiral had left because of her and she didn’t know what she wanted. No, she did know. She wanted to talk to other woman but was afraid of rejection. Funny though, when she thought of it, rejection was the same thing Alynna feared, wasn’t it? At least she had said so to Ambassador Troi. Alynna Nechayev was a difficult woman, she was beautiful, charming and funny, but she was also loyal, strong willed and goal oriented. Her devotion to her duty was unrivalled. And if Lwaxana was right she was all Phoebe has ever wanted in a lover. What a mess indeed.
Gazing over the expand of land that stretched outside her mother’s house Phoebe didn’t hear Gretchen join her on the porch. Sitting down next to her daughter Gretchen put an arm around Phoebe’s shoulder and drew her into her body.
Snuggling into her mother’s side with her head against her shoulder the artist felt herself being calmed by her mother’s presence. Kissing the top of her youngest´s head Gretchen lay her cheek against Phoebe’s head squeezing her shoulder and willing her to speak.
“I don´t know what to do, mom.“
“I know, baby.“
“My head says stay away, she is Starfleet but my heart says go for it, it’s the best thing that could ever happen to you.“ Phoebe whispered.
“Tough decision.“ Gretchen had to agree. “I am surprised, sweetheart, you never questioned your heart. That is something your sister would do, not you. Why now?“
Lifting her head from her mother’s shoulder Phoebe looked into her mother’s warm grey eyes.
“Remember when that guy found her here and she stepped between him and myself? I was frightened to death. Not for myself but for her. This villain had a phaser, she had nothing and she just stood up to him as if it was nothing.“
“That’s who she is and that’s what she regards as her duty. Being a Starfleet officer means protecting those who can’t protect themselves.“ Gretchen knew it was a hard lessons to learn for those who loved an officer.
“I know, mom. That is what frightens me so.“
“The question is, darling, do you feel she is worth it? Because loving her will ask a lot from you.“
TBC