Captain, Will I Be An Ensign Forever

Captain, Will I Be An Ensign Forever?

Disclaimer: La da da, I don't own any of the characters. La da dee, I don't own the ship.

Rating: PG

A/N: This takes place during the episode 'Unimatrix Zero' when Tom is promoted back to lieutenant. It's actually during that scene, but from Harry Kim's point of view. **=Harry's thinking to himself

Enjoy! ~Katrine~

It seemed to be a normal morning on the bridge of Voyager. At least it was to Ensign Harry Kim.

**Oh yeah, everything's normal. No unusual scans, no incoming hails, no incoming vessels, I'm still an ENSIGN...**

Of course, Harry was perfectly aware of the 'joke' on Tom Paris. The 'joke' that would get him promoted, back to lieutenant. Oh, ha, ha. It would be so funny.

Harry sighed and looked at the ceiling of the bridge. Captain Janeway heard him, and turned to look at him. Commander Chakotay also heard, and looked at him from his current position at Tactical, with Tuvok.

"Something wrong, Ensign?" Janeway asked. Harry was sure she emphasized the 'ensign' in that sentence.

Harry replied, "No, it's nothing, Captain." She looked at Harry for a moment, and then looked away. Harry was relieved, and he went back to his furious thinking.

**What did I ever do wrong. Oh, of course, there was that incident with Tal. And I DO tend to be unlucky at times. People are SO forgiving. **

Harry looked at his screen, hoping that he'd see something out of the ordinary. Maybe if he were able to save the ship from being destroyed, he'd get promoted.

There was nothing there. And, even if he did save the ship from being blown into a million pieces, he still probably wouldn't be promoted.

The turbolift doors opened to reveal Tom Paris. **Oh great, joke time...**

"You're late," said Chakotay, looking at him with an 'evil eye' that he probably learned from Janeway.

Tom looks blankly at him. **Oh, what I'd give to be him. I'd have a girlfriend, and would become promoted. I've never been promoted in my life...**

Janeway turned around in The Big Chair, and looked at Tuvok. **The Cue, why Tuvok of all people went along with this…**

"According to the ship's chronometer, by 22 seconds." Tuvok replied. Tom looks at both Tuvok and Chakotay, and starts walking to the helm. "I'll make it up and the end of my shift." He says.

"See that you do." Replies Chakotay. **I have to give him credit, he sounds angry. I wish this wasn't a joke…or that it was being played on me. **

Even Harry caught the glare that B'Elanna sent Tom. **Oh, boy…he must be feeling pretty bad now. **

Tom stopped when he saw the box on his chair. Janeway was grinning by now (of course Tom didn't see.) She stood up, and walked down by Tom, as did Chakotay.

"Open it, that's an order." Says Chakotay, who still sounded angry. **Oh, how cute. Ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha. **

Tom opens the box, and gasps, and then grins. **Oh, he's gonna be cocky…**

Harry just blacked out when Janeway put the pip back on his collar, and promoted him to lieutenant. But he did catch B'Elanna kissing him, and congratulating him.

Harry suddenly got an idea. Maybe it would give them all a clue. "Hey, I didn't see a little box on my chair!"

Everyone just stared at him. **Oh well. I'll be an ensign forever. **