Paris was walking home from a party when it happened. A brown sack was pulled over his head and his arms and legs were bound. What was going on? Was this another prank from his dorm mates? He didn't have much time to think about it as he was knocked unconscious.

When he woke up he was in a dark cave somewhere. He could hear the rhythmic sea pounding against the walls, but he could not see anything. At first he thought he was alone, but then he heard voices. They were talking about something, but they were to far away for him to hear. Suddenly there was a light in his eyes as one of the voices shone a torch in his direction.

"Oh look, the golden boy's awake. Poor little rich shit, what is he gonna do?" to this the other voice started laughing.

"Now his father's not here he's just a stupid defenceless baby. Shall we continue with the plan now? Or after we've eaten?"

"Now I think" They turned and slowly walked towards him, until he could make out their shape, yet still not see them because the torch was still in his eyes. At that moment he tried to talk, only to find he couldn't; his mouth was taped up.

They kept coming closer, smirking wickedly before they finally reached him. He looked up pleadingly, his eyes asking for his release, but realising it was pointless as the first blow struck. After that it was just a relentless torrent of kicks to his abdomen and face, before he finally passed out.

This continued for the next few days and his captures started to get sloppy. The didn't give him any food but they let him drink from a nearby puddle. At first when they had removed the tape covering his mouth he had tried to plead for mercy, promising the kidnappers money and freedom, but it soon because apparent that they weren't interested.

After that he realised there was no point even trying to make contact with them, so instead he watched carefully from the shadows, and tried to undermine them in any way he could. At first he attempted to free his hands, but he found that they were bound with thin strips of steal, and so could not be broken without a phaser. He next tried to undo the tape across his mouth, using his tongue to pry it from his lips, only every time he got close it would then be time for his drink, so they would re-do the tape anyway.

After hours of unsuccessful escape attempts he gave up, preferring instead to try and work out why he had been taken in the first place.

He had lost track of time. He had no idea why he was there; and he didn't know how to get away. He was starving and he was losing hope. As usual his captures arrived at a time, though which time Tom had no idea. The torch was back in his eyes as prevention from him working out their identity.

They were only half way towards him when he realised something was wrong. They had been walking slower than usual, but Tom just figured that they were getting tired of beating him every day.

Before he could understand what was happening there was a cry from one of the men and a thump as he hit the ground. The other man was looking about him bewildered. At this point Tom's hunger meant he could hardly concentrate, but he though it weird that the man didn't run for cover, preferring to just stand there. Again Tom heard a cry and a thud as the second man crumpled to the ground, a peaceful look upon his face.

Tom looked about, confusion plastered on his face. A tall dark man walked into his view. He had short cut black hair and a strange tattoo above his right eyebrow. He looked about twenty years old, and was just wearing some loose fitting swimming shorts. He walked right up to Tom and ripped the tape from his face. Tom would've cried in pain, but before he knew what was happening a half eaten sandwich was shoved in his mouth. As he slowly tried to chew, the man took out a Starfleet issue phaser and shot through the wire around his limbs.

Once that was done and he had finished his sandwich he tried to talk to the man, but his throat was to dry to get a word out. He stumbled over to the puddle and took a deep drink. The man followed him over and sat down next to him.

Tom looked up at him and noticed him gazing back at him. Strangely Tom couldn't look away from the man. He looked so strong and powerful, yet his eyes had such a natural touch to them, as if they could belong to a forest, not a human. At least Tom thought he was human, he didn't really know because of the lack of light. As Tom watched the man a small smile crossed his face, and he held out his hand.

"I'm Chakotay" He said with a rich voice.

"Tom Paris" Tom replied, a slight blush crossing his face which Chakotay missed.

"Can you walk? We need to get out of here before anyone else comes."

"I-I think I can." Tom tried to stand but lost his balance. He was just about to hit the ground when Chakotay caught him. "Maybe I can't"

Chakotay give a deep laugh and, in one move, picked Tom up and held him close to him as he started to run. They emerged from the cave onto a beautiful golden beach and turned to head North. Tom didn't see where they were going as the sudden human contact and warmth, along with the food and water sent him into a deep stupor.

When he came round he was being carried into a building that he soon recognised as Starfleet Academy. People were turning and watching as they passed; many emitting cries of "Thank God he's OK" or "Is that Tom Paris? I heard he was dead". Tom wrapped his arms around Chakotay's neck and nuzzled into his shoulder, much to Chakotay's amusement.

They passed through a couple of doors and into a hall that Tom recognised as belonging to the medical department. They kept walking until they entered the sick bay, where a bunch of doctors ran over to them.

"Is that Tom Paris? Who are you and what have you done to him? Quick, someone call security and Admiral Paris!"

"Excuse me, but I did nothing. I found Mr Paris in a cave, bound and beaten. I gave him food and water and brought him back here." Chakotay was getting cross and Tom could feel it. He whispered in his ear.

"Thank you Chakotay. Thank you" Before he knew what he was doing his subtly kissed Chakotay on the cheek so no-one could notice. He then released his arms and fell onto a bed that a nurse had placed beneath them and let the doctor's crowd around him, trying to heal him and protect him from the stranger.

Chakotay didn't expect the kiss, but didn't react to it. Instead he walked over to a chair and sat down, waiting for the security to come. As the doctors inspected him they were shocked to find all the fractured ribs and bruising. They were also disgusted that he had been starved.

The doors to the infirmary were slammed open and Admiral Paris burst in. At first he looked at his son, but soon turned to glare at the man he believed to have taken him. "You son of a bitch! Why did you do this to him?" He surged towards Chakotay before he was restrained by the security men who had followed him in.

"As I have already explained to the doctors I had nothing to do with your son's disappearance. I simple rescued him and brought him back, and I'm sure he will back that statement up." At that Admiral Paris turned to go ask the doctors what was wrong with his son. After a long conversation with one of them he went and sat down.

For Tom time suddenly went by very quickly. He was healed by the doctors, and was then asked some questions. He backed Chakotay's statement up and told them everything he could remember. Chakotay took them to the caves to search them but Tom's captures were never found.

After a while Tom was released and tried to find Chakotay but couldn't locate him. When he asked his father where he was the admiral didn't know either, but didn't really care. Tom never found Chakotay.

When he went back to school he had changed. He stopped trying to impress people and working so hard. Instead he partied a lot and got a bad reputation. After a year of this he had pretty much lost all his friends and his father, but Tom didn't care. He couldn't. All he could think about was "when will they come back for me? When will he come back for me?"

And that's how it all began.