Captain Janeway is immersed in one of her holonovels - another of her favorite 18th century romances. After it plays out for a while, she rings for the butler as part of the story. The door opens, and the butler arrives with a tray of afternoon tea. As we reveal the face of our old friend Q, he says, "You rang, madam?" Janeway, unaware of what Q looks like, thinks nothing of the menace that has invaded her holonovel. In fact, he plays along so well that she suspects nothing. It is only when she leaves the holodeck and he follows her out that she realizes that something is amiss. She and Tuvok interrogate him, and despite being his usual acerbic self, she stands up to him pretty well. He finally reveals his identity, and Janeway of course has read reports on him from Picard and Sisko. She asks him what he wants with them, and Q says he's here to help them. Based on what she's read, she doesn't believe a word of it and orders him off the ship. Q, of course, refuses and continues to harass Janeway and the crew, insisting he's only here to help them. Janeway, in frustration, tells him the only way he can help is to send them home. He asks if that's really what she wants, and she says yes - being stranded in the Delta Quadrant has taken a great toll on them - it should have never happened. So, Q snaps his fingers and SENDS THEM HOME, but..... .....the events in the badlands from "Caretaker" never happened. And Janeway realizes he took her words " it should have never happened" literally - the past has been changed... Her original first officer and CMO are still alive - in fact, many people who are supposed to be dead are now alive. She quickly checks her databases, and with the help of Q, she finds out that the Maquis ship was eventually destroyed by the Kazon - Chakotay, Torres and Tuvok dead..... Kes was killed by the Kazon on the Ocampa's planet.... Neelix is still aimlessly roaming the Delta Quadrant all alone..... Paris, after the unsuccesful mission in the badlands, was sent back to prison, where he's had a very difficult time, both physically and mentally. And, for reasons only Q knows, Janeway is the only one who realizes there has been any change. She also realizes that, with the exception of Kim, all the people she has come to love and admire over the past year are either dead or in a much worse situation than being stranded on Voyager. However, things are very well for her - she's back in the Alpha Quadrant near her boyfriend and her dog. In fact, she and Kim are the only ones who have benefitted from Q's intervention. And this leaves her with an intense personal conflict -- should she leave things the way they are and live her life the way she has longed for, or should she ask Q to change things back, saving the lives of her friends, but putting her and, sadly, Kim back in the Delta Quadrant. It is tempting to stay, but eventually she asks Q to send them all back to the way they were. He complies and Voyager is back... She asks Q to send them home they way they are now, but he refuses and disappears, promising to visit again.... Janeway is the only one who remembers any of this, and the others can't quite understand her sudden sadness, especially Kim, whom she apologizes to for no apparent reason...
Braga's comments: This was a great example of bad timing. As soon as I'd finished the pitch, Brannon said, "that's a good story. In fact, it's airing Monday! Alas, the episode "***," where Kim wakes up and thinks he's home, indeed was airing the very next week. He also said they were planning a Q episode, so I struck out on both counts. If only I'd had the idea six months earlier...