Series: Voyager
Paring: C&P
rating: PG
Disclaimer: No, they don't belong to me
Standing Up For A Friend.
By Synbou
Summary: Tom walks the line of insubordination once again
Commander Chakotay and Lieutenant Tom Paris materialized on Voyager's transporter platform. The moment the older man felt whole again, he purposefully stepped down without saying a word.
"Now, that did not impress me," Paris called from behind him. Chakotay tried to control his anger as he turned to face him. "What the hell did you think you were doing down
there?"
"Careful, Lieutenant," the Commander warned, not liking the tone of the younger man. Paris was walking the line of insubordination and Chakotay did not want to hear anything of what he had to say.
"Careful? Now, lets hear your definition of careful, Commander, because careful was not what you were down there."
"Paris, I would refrain from making any comments if I were you," Chakotay said, coming closer to the man. He did not like his own tone either. It was resentful, even a bit hateful. It was unbelievable just how much Paris could bring out the worse of him.
"Well, I'm not you and like hell I'm going to shut up! That stunt you just pulled was right down stupid."
"I don't think that you're the one to talk. If there's someone onboard who should be locked up because of his reckless behaviour,it's you, Paris."
"At least, I know what I can and cannot do. I already died twice, Commander. I'm pretty sure that next time I will stay that way. So I do my best to remain alive. Now, if you want to get me killed, I'll step back on that platform and let you space me yourself. Just don't put me through this kind of stuff again. I lost enough friends as it is."
Chakotay blinked. Had Tom Paris just called him a friend? "I don't want to get you killed," he told Paris, a bit at dumbfounded.
"That's good to hear," Tom said with mock relief. "Now, when you'll find yourself wandering the Spirits Plains because you got killed doing a stunt like you just did, I hope that Spirit Guide of yours will tell you that you should have listen to that man who risked being put in the brig for insubordination. He might just have been right."
"You care," Chakotay said, somewhat bemused.
"And you're surprised?" Tom replied, shaking his head, as if him caring had been obvious all along. Maybe it had, Chakotay granted.
"Tom, thank you."
"Forget about it," Paris dismissed. He started making his way towards the doors.
Chakotay stopped him by putting a hand on his shoulder. "No, I won't. You were right. What I did down there was reckless and stupid. It could have gotten us killed."
Tom shook his head again. "Chakotay, with Harry gone on that one-week mission and you going AWOL, who else's going to be here to teach me how to be careful? I already know that I can't count on the Captain for that," he finished with a small grin.
Chakotay could not repress his chuckle. "I can see your problem."
"Good," Tom said, still smiling.
"Let's report to Captain Janeway before she comes looking for us," Chakotay suggested.
"What are you going to tell her?" Tom asked.
"That you just dressed down your superior officer as you stood up for a friend," Chakotay replied leading them both out of the room.
"Who said we were friends?" Tom asked him.
"You just did."
"Oh, it must be true then."
The transporter chief allowed himself both a sigh of relief and a small chuckle as the doors closed behind his two superior officers. Had he not been there, he would never have believed what had just happened.
THE END
April 2002