Johnny had left the previous day before his father could check the messages that had accumulated during the Ghostway sing. [Those fools at the central communications center told me you'd reported to the Darius! The captain of the Darius just called me back from Arcturus saying he'd never heard of you. Any idea what this is about?]
"It's about someone not paying attention," Johnny said. "I don't leave for another few days, and now I'm headed for the USS Hornet." He explained the situation to his father.
[Well, it looks like someone's looking out for you at any rate! I'm sorry that you got screwed so badly, but at least you're not letting it get you down.]
"I like the deep-exploration vessels. And being in Starfleet gives me more opportunities to serve on them. Besides, Patton was busted from lieutenant colonel back to captain, and ended up with three stars. I'll get there yet!" Johnny said. A night's rest had done much to accommodate him to his new position. I have to admit, I like the way the yellow collar looks, too! he thought upon putting on the uniform of a Security/Tactical Officer for the first time earlier that morning. Two gold pips and one black pip adorned the collar of his inner tunic where once an eagle perched.
[You'll get there, just be patient! Now, I'll let you answer that message; it looks like it's a few days old.]
"Thanks, Dad. Talk to you later tonight." Jeremiah Chee signed off, and Johnny opened the message. Jenara appeared on the screen. She looked extremely upset.
[Johnny, K'Lara was just killed today...it was terrible, just a stupid accident! Nothing we could do was enough to stop it...]
Johnny continued to listen to the message. It had been late Virgo time when Johnny had called Jenara the night before; he'd left a message, which hadn't been returned yet. More than likely she's been busy with the baby, or just too distracted. Usually she's good about returning messages, Johnny thought.
He summoned the yeoman. "Is there an available shuttlecraft headed for Ganymede?" he asked.
The yeoman consulted his PADD. "Yes, I have a shuttle headed for Ganymede Depot at 1500 hours today. It departs from Jakarta, however."
Jakarta by transporter was practically less of a trip than the one to the head. "Go ahead and book me on that flight."
Johnny stepped off the shuttle into the terminal at the Ganymede Depot. He carried with him only a small bag and an eagle feather with its shaft through a turqouise bead -- a blessing feather for Jonathan Lataro. It's not much, but it's something, Johnny thought. He looked around the terminal among the Starfleet officers and civilians milling about until he found Jenara with the baby.
She looks bad -- like she's hardly slept, Johnny thought as he went to her and embraced her firmly, seeking to offer her comfort however possible.
"I'm glad you're back," she said with a gentle smile, but her eyes always betrayed her. She could sense he was worried about her.
"Dadda!" Adrianna chirped happily, distracting the meaningful glancing between the two adults.
Jenara laughed and kissed the soft cheek of her daughter. "She's missed you, Daddy..." she said, handing the child over to her father.
"Are you okay? How's Jonathan doing?"
She looked away and took a deep breath. "I'm doing as well as can be expected, I suppose," she replied. Tears stung at the corners of her eyes. Her and K'Lara had never been exceptionally close, but they were colleagues and Jenara had considered her a friend. And K'Lara had been Jon's wife... "Jon is still taking it very hard... I imagine he will for a long time to come..." she said softly.
Johnny didn't need special mental abilities to sense his wife's distress. "He's going to need all the support he can get. Hopefully he's got family around somewhere. How about T'Lan? How's he holding up?" Johnny asked, as he was reminded not to forget little people by Adrianna pulling the combadge off his chest. "No no, honey -- not a toy!" Johnny scolded gently as he took the combadge from Adrianna and put it in its rightful place. Before the baby could start crying, Johnny distracted her by retrieving from his bag a small stuffed animal he'd picked up at the Jakarta Transport Facility.
"T'Lan doesn't understand why his mother doesn't come to him," Jenara replied. "Other than that, he's okay. He feels the loss, but doesn't have the understanding for it yet... It will be there as he grows though..." A lump had grown in her throat.
Adrianna curled up around the stuffed animal and nestled in the crook of Johnny's arm. "Yes, no matter how old he gets he's still going to feel that vacant spot. The more help Jon gets now, though, the easier it will be. Where is he now?"
"He's still on duty," Jenara replied.
"Maybe we can pay him a quick visit," Johnny thought. "At least try to raise his spirits a little."
Jenara nodded. "I just wish there were something I could do... Now I understand how helpless he felt when we thought you were dead... " The memories came to mind vividly. She remembered how the pain had torn at her heart. She thought she would never recover... At least she had gotten Johnny back... Jon would never get K'Lara back. She took a deep breath to steady herself.
Johnny put his arm around Jenara. The days he'd been marooned on Flor had been amongst the worst of Jenara's life. He could only imagine what Jon was going through. "Let's go see him," Johnny said as they walked to the transporter.
Jenara nodded and held onto him tightly.
The transporter beam enveloped the family, and in the blink of an eye they reappeared in the familiar transporter room of the Virgo. "Welcome back, sirs," the transporter chief said.
"Inform Mr. Lataro that he has guests," Johnny said.
Suddenly Adrianna began to squirm. "Momma!" she said as she reached out her arms.
Jenara smiled tenderly and took the little light brown haired baby in her arms, kissing her. "You just can't make up your mind, can you?"
"Dadda!" she laughed and pointed to Johnny, her eyes sparkling brightly.
"Goofy kid!" Johnny laughed. The game had been going on for quite some time. The door slid open, and Jonathan Lataro stepped in. "Welcome back, Johnny," he said. "How'd you end up in Starfleet?" Lataro asked, noting Johnny's change in uniform.
"A long story, involving some idiots at BuPers and Richard Wallace. Best explained over a few drinks, or a meal," Johnny said.
"I'm sorry; I'm just not in the mood right now," Jon said. "I appreciate what you're trying to do, but this is going to take some time..."
"Listen, we're here for you. All you have to do is say the word," Johnny said. "After what you did for Jenara while I was missing, it's the very least I could do. I also brought this for you." Johnny handed Jonathan the blessing feather. "It's to bring luck and protect you and T'Lan from evil."
Jonathan took the blessing feather. "The thought is greatly appreciated, Johnny. We could have used this protection a week ago..."
Jenara looked down for a moment as if gathering herself emotionally. She then looked up at him and reached out to him, taking his hand. He was surprised by this and raised and eyebrow. "I understand how you feel. Not because I'm an empath, Jon... I understand death... If you ever want to talk about it, you're more than welcome to come talk to me..."
"You're like family to us -- you're the true father of my daughter, and one of my best friends," Johnny said. "There's not anything either of us wouldn't do for you or for T'Lan. You need to talk, you need someone to help with the little one, anything at all -- all you have to do is ask."
Jonathan thought for a moment. "Maybe I could use dinner. I've already stood a double watch; Antilles can handle the bridge for Gamma Shift. I can't live my entire life up there. Days' End Lounge sound good?"
Jenara smiled. "Sounds good to me? Do we pick up T'Lan on the way or is he good at the sitter's?" she asked.
"Let's go pick up T'Lan. He's with Ensign Danvers in Sickbay. I'm sure he'd love to see Adrianna again."
Adrianna squealed in delight as she said, "Lan!" Everyone had to smile at that as they headed off to sickbay.