Starting Again
B'Elanna held her breath as she watched Paris pilot the Maquis ship Liberty into the Badlands. They were under heavy attack from a Dominion vessel, and the Liberty had sustained heavy damage. Their only hope was to seek the safety of the turbulent space known as the Badlands. B'Elanna had every faith that Tom could pilot the ship through the storms, but the question was if the Liberty would be able to hold together long enough for him to be able to still have control over her. The ship jolted as they passed through the threshold into the Badlands.
"Report on the Dominion ship!" Chakotay barked. Yezeri looked down at his console.
"They're not following us in…they're retreating!" he said with obvious relief. B'Elanna let out the breath she had been holding, and beside her, so did Paris. He shot a small smile at her over his shoulder, than returned his attention back to the difficult job of piloting the Liberty.
"Torres, Report," Chakotay yelled. She glanced over her console, though she knew what it would tell her.
" The warp core is off-line, impulse power down to 68%, our shields are at 52% and falling, the SIF is down to 38%, decks 7-10 don't have life support, there is a hull breach on deck 13 and the main reactor is off- line," she said. Chakotay only frowned.
"I'll have the shields back to you in two hours, as long as we don't hit any specifically rough pockets of space."
"I can't guarantee that you won't," Paris answered.
"Than I suggest we find a calm pocket and stay there until I can get our shields back up. Without them the Liberty will be torn apart in these storms. I'll have a crew on the life support problems and the breach right away," B'Elanna said. Chakotay only nodded, and Torres hurried off the bridge.
*
Chakotay watched Torres leave the bridge, than turned to Paris at the helm.
" Tom, find a place that is fairly calm to lay low in for a while."
"Aye," Paris said, and began to look over the short-ranged scans, looking for a calm place. He could feel Chakotay's eyes burning a hole in the back of his shirt. Did he know? He couldn't. He couldn't have seen the fleeting smile; his attention had been centered on Yezi and his report. Hadn't it been? Oh, God, he couldn't find out. Not now. That was the last thing B'Elanna needed. The last thing he needed.
*
Torres sunk into her bed, exhausted. She had spent the last 18 hours working on the repairs nonstop. She had almost collapsed from exhaustion when Chakotay had ordered her to bed. A small smile touched her lips. It was usually Tom who ordered her to bed. And it was usually only him she would comply to. It had actually been Tom's idea to keep their relationship a secret. They both knew how high of an opinion Chakotay and many other of the Maquis had of Tom and how they would react to him and B'Elanna being together. He decided not to put either of them through the stress theimpending arguments would cause if the news got out. There was enough stress on the ship already. And enough arguments. Neither of them regretted their decision.
The door swished open, and Tom walked in, looking exhausted.
"Well, speak of the devil. What are you doing here? It's 0300. I thought you'd have long been asleep," B'Elanna said. She rose from her bed, every muscle in her body complaining as she did so.
"I wish. I just got relieved of piloting duty until 0800 tomorrow," Tom said, running his hand through his unruly hair. B'Elanna smiled and leaned up to kiss his cheek.
"I figured I'd bring you some dinner, since I'm sure neither of us have eaten yet," he said, bring a large picnic basket out from behind him. B'Elanna smiled and led him to the couch. Tom stretched out onto it as B'Elanna set the food out onto the small coffee table. Then she crawled up to lay beside him.
"Did anyone see you come in here?" B'Elanna asked.
" I don't think so. But Chakotay was shooting daggers at me after you left the bridge," B'Elanna sat up with a start, looking Tom in the eye
"Does he know?" She asked, worried. Tom put his hands on her arms, then pulled her against him.
"No. I don't think so," he whispered trying to sound more reassured than he actually was. He didn't want B'Elanna to worry. B'Elanna sighed and relaxed, pressing closer to him.
"Good. There's already a storm brewing outside the ship. The last thing we need is one inside the ship."
*
Chakotay gave a heavy sigh and landed hard onto the small couch in his quarters. He had been noticing a slight change in B'Elanna's attitude around Paris lately, and vise versa. He wondered if B'Elanna's hatred with the drunken pilot had diminished. Chakotay shook his head and quickly dismissed the absurd idea the she and Paris had become involved. B'Elanna was smart, and knew better than to involve herself with a man who will just treat her like another notch on his bedpost. But then again, he thought, I did hear him deny a couple of date offers lately. That wasn't at all like the drunken Paris he had found in Sandrines a year ago. Again Chakotay dismissed his idea. It was crazy. Paris could not have changed his "who cares?" attitude that quickly and B'Elanna couldn't have fallen from someone like that. Right?
*
B'Elanna felt a hard pain run down the length of her body. She jerked up in the darkened room, startling the sleeping Tom who was lying beside her in bed.
"'Lanna? What's wrong?" he asked groggily. B'Elanna didn't respond, she just sat there, her whole body trembling. Tom quickly sat up and placed a hand softly on her arm. It felt cold and clammy and Tom could fell powerful tremors raking through her. He quickly pulled her against him and started to rub his hands up and down her back in an attempt to calm her. After a couple minutes her shaking subsided to a few small tremors. Tom got up and quickly went into B'Elanna's closet, where he had left a medical kit. He grabbed the medical tricorder and scanned B'Elanna. He frowned at the readings. It looked like she had a virus.
"B'Elanna, I'm going to take you down to Sickbay," he whispered in her ear. She barley nodded, then attempted to sit up. A wave of weakness overtook her and she fell back onto her bed. Tom went over and gently picked her up into his arms. Trying to decide what story to tell Seska when he got to Sickbay he left.
*
Seska was less then pleased when she heard someone enter Sickbay. She sighed heavily, grabbed her shirt and pulled it on, then gave Chakotay a quick kiss before standing up and heading to the front to see who had interrupted them. She saw Paris lower Torres onto a biobed. She thought back to the conversation she and Chakotay had had earlier. They had discussed the possibility of a relationship between the pilot and engineer, but had quickly and easily dismissed it with a simple expectancy that the two had to learn to be a least civil to each other. Seska half-listened as Paris described how he had been in his quarters when he heard something out in the hall. Then found B'Elanna, lying on the floor outside her own door. Seska only nodded, and caught sight of Chakotay coming up from the back, his clothes back in place. She scanned B'Elanna, asked her a few questions, and then ejected her with a hypo.
" You've just got a virus. Take it easy for a few days. You may feel moments of weakness, dizziness, and nausea." Seska said.
" Take off work for about three days," Chakotay said. B'Elanna nodded her understanding.
" Thanks, Seska" she said and slowly lifted herself off the biobed.
"Here, let me help," Tom said. B'Elanna jerked away.
" I can get to my quarters without the help of you, pig," she spat. Tom, taken aback hesitated before realizing what B'Elanna was doing.
"Well, I'm going the same way you are. There's no getting away from me," he said, a cocky smile on his lips. B'Elanna didn't say anything; she just turned and quickly walked toward the door. Tom shot a look at Seska, then followed her. Seska turned to Chakotay.
" What do you think?" She asked. He shook his head.
" I don't know. I see something that makes me think that maybe they are together, but then one of them goes off and says something like that…I just don't know," Seska only smiled, pressing her body against his and locking lips with him. All thoughts of Paris and Torres and an impending relationship were lost as they returned to their previous activities.
*
When Tom got outside sickbay he saw B'Elanna, leaned up against the bulkhead. He quickly went to help.
"You alright?" He whispered. She nodded, putting out one finger. Tom just nodded and put a hand on her arm. After a moment B'Elanna stood up from the wall. Tom lightly placed a hand on her elbow for support, as he led her back to his quarters.
*
Two weeks later Chakotay laid on his couch, thinking. His suspicions of a relationship between Paris and Torres were put to rest after the volatile half-Klingon broke Paris's jaw in three different places that morning. He had, apparently, made a comment to her in passing in the hallway, which she responded to quickly and efficiently.*Now maybe he'll watch his mouth a little more closely* Chakotay thought, but then shook his head. Tom Paris would never learn to watch his mouth. Never.
*
Tom was sitting on his couch nursing a whiskey when his door rang.
"Come in," he mumbled. The door slid open to reveal B'Elanna.
"Hey," she said quietly.
"Hey yourself. Did you come here to break something else of mine too?" he said his voice holding none of the anger that his words implied. He had a small smile on his face and a twinkle in his eye which was in part to the strong whiskey.
"Tom, I came here to apologize. I guess I took the acting thing a little too seriously. Does it still hurt?" She asked, coming over to the side of the couch, her dark eyes reflecting her worry.
"It's a little sore, but I'll live."
"Yeah, I bet that whiskey is definitely helping it 'feel okay.'"
"You want one?"
" No thanks," B'Elanna studied Tom closely for a moment, searching his cerulean blue eyes.
"Tom, I really am sorry. I never meant to hit you that hard," B'Elanna said.
'But you did intend to hit me,' Tom thought, but decided to keep his mouth shut.
"Don't worry about it, 'Lanna. Now Chakotay has no reason to expect anything," he said, reaching out for her hand and pulling her over to sit on his lap.
"But still, to break your jaw…Is there anything I can do to make it up to you?" Tom's eyes brightened a little and he got an evil grin on his face.
"The "making up" might have to wait until my jaw feels a little better." Tom said. B'Elanna only leaned back against him, as Tom pulled his legs up onto the couch, moving them both into a laying position. Soon the two fell asleep.
*
"Sir-I'm detecting a Starfleet vessel on an intercept course," Tuvok called from his station.
"Fleet? What the heck are they doing in the Badlands?"
" Unknown," replied the Vulcan.
"They're hailing!" Yezeri yelled from Ops. Chakotay hesitated.
"Ignore," he said.
" Aye," Yezeri replied automaticly as the ship rocked under the fleet's weapons.
"Evasive actions!" Chakotay barked. Paris was quick to respond, sending the Liberty into a series of loops and dives. Chakotay thanked the Spirits that the stabilizers were working as the ship again rocked.
" Return fire!"
"Aye!" Twin beams of light flew from the Liberty and made contact with the Starfleet vessel. The vessel responded by firing torpedoes.
"Chakotay! We've lost phasers!" B'Elanna yelled, and again the ship rocked under them, sending B'Elanna flying forward. There was a large thud as she hit her head against a console. Paris looked up startled. It took everything he had not to go to her. The lights went off and the dim illumination of the emergency lights came onas yet another volley hit the ship. All around the bridge hanging cables spewed sparks everywhere.
"Shoot!" Chakotay yelled, kneeling by B'Elanna, "A concussion Yezeri! Take a shuttle, go back to that planet. Tell them we need help. " Yezeri nodded and started off the bridge.
"Wait! You'll need a darn good pilot to get back to the planet. Let me go," Paris yelled. Chakotay shook his head, there was no way he'd let Paris go to the Bolian colony for help.
"He's right, Chakotay. You know he is," B'Elanna whispered.
"Fine. But if you run out on us Paris, I swear I'll hunt you down and kill you like the Poocuh you are."
"I'll bring help," Tom said, then with one last look at B'Elanna he ran off the bridge.
*
Chakotay watched as the Starfleet vessel, the Bradburry veered off and chased after the shuttle that Paris was flying.
" Hold position here and wait for the Bolian's help," Chakotay ordered, then helped B'Elanna to her feet and escorted her to sickbay.
*
Damn him. Damn him! B'Elanna Torres thought as she passed the floor of her quarters. It had been two weeks since the battle and two weeks since she had seen Tom. But Paris wasn't the one she was upset at. He had saved her. He had gotten the Bolian's help. It was Chakotay. B'Elanna felt as if she would explode if she heard Chakotay call Tom one more awful thing. He had saved them! And for what? B'Elanna didn't know. She wasn't sure if he had escaped and was looking for them, if he had been killed, or perhaps even worse, had been captured. She prayed he was all right. That he was looking for them. For her. But B'Elanna feared the worse. He was gone. Maybe for good.
THE END OF PART ONE
B'Elanna held her breath as she watched Paris pilot the Maquis ship Liberty into the Badlands. They were under heavy attack from a Dominion vessel, and the Liberty had sustained heavy damage. Their only hope was to seek the safety of the turbulent space known as the Badlands. B'Elanna had every faith that Tom could pilot the ship through the storms, but the question was if the Liberty would be able to hold together long enough for him to be able to still have control over her. The ship jolted as they passed through the threshold into the Badlands.
"Report on the Dominion ship!" Chakotay barked. Yezeri looked down at his console.
"They're not following us in…they're retreating!" he said with obvious relief. B'Elanna let out the breath she had been holding, and beside her, so did Paris. He shot a small smile at her over his shoulder, than returned his attention back to the difficult job of piloting the Liberty.
"Torres, Report," Chakotay yelled. She glanced over her console, though she knew what it would tell her.
" The warp core is off-line, impulse power down to 68%, our shields are at 52% and falling, the SIF is down to 38%, decks 7-10 don't have life support, there is a hull breach on deck 13 and the main reactor is off- line," she said. Chakotay only frowned.
"I'll have the shields back to you in two hours, as long as we don't hit any specifically rough pockets of space."
"I can't guarantee that you won't," Paris answered.
"Than I suggest we find a calm pocket and stay there until I can get our shields back up. Without them the Liberty will be torn apart in these storms. I'll have a crew on the life support problems and the breach right away," B'Elanna said. Chakotay only nodded, and Torres hurried off the bridge.
*
Chakotay watched Torres leave the bridge, than turned to Paris at the helm.
" Tom, find a place that is fairly calm to lay low in for a while."
"Aye," Paris said, and began to look over the short-ranged scans, looking for a calm place. He could feel Chakotay's eyes burning a hole in the back of his shirt. Did he know? He couldn't. He couldn't have seen the fleeting smile; his attention had been centered on Yezi and his report. Hadn't it been? Oh, God, he couldn't find out. Not now. That was the last thing B'Elanna needed. The last thing he needed.
*
Torres sunk into her bed, exhausted. She had spent the last 18 hours working on the repairs nonstop. She had almost collapsed from exhaustion when Chakotay had ordered her to bed. A small smile touched her lips. It was usually Tom who ordered her to bed. And it was usually only him she would comply to. It had actually been Tom's idea to keep their relationship a secret. They both knew how high of an opinion Chakotay and many other of the Maquis had of Tom and how they would react to him and B'Elanna being together. He decided not to put either of them through the stress theimpending arguments would cause if the news got out. There was enough stress on the ship already. And enough arguments. Neither of them regretted their decision.
The door swished open, and Tom walked in, looking exhausted.
"Well, speak of the devil. What are you doing here? It's 0300. I thought you'd have long been asleep," B'Elanna said. She rose from her bed, every muscle in her body complaining as she did so.
"I wish. I just got relieved of piloting duty until 0800 tomorrow," Tom said, running his hand through his unruly hair. B'Elanna smiled and leaned up to kiss his cheek.
"I figured I'd bring you some dinner, since I'm sure neither of us have eaten yet," he said, bring a large picnic basket out from behind him. B'Elanna smiled and led him to the couch. Tom stretched out onto it as B'Elanna set the food out onto the small coffee table. Then she crawled up to lay beside him.
"Did anyone see you come in here?" B'Elanna asked.
" I don't think so. But Chakotay was shooting daggers at me after you left the bridge," B'Elanna sat up with a start, looking Tom in the eye
"Does he know?" She asked, worried. Tom put his hands on her arms, then pulled her against him.
"No. I don't think so," he whispered trying to sound more reassured than he actually was. He didn't want B'Elanna to worry. B'Elanna sighed and relaxed, pressing closer to him.
"Good. There's already a storm brewing outside the ship. The last thing we need is one inside the ship."
*
Chakotay gave a heavy sigh and landed hard onto the small couch in his quarters. He had been noticing a slight change in B'Elanna's attitude around Paris lately, and vise versa. He wondered if B'Elanna's hatred with the drunken pilot had diminished. Chakotay shook his head and quickly dismissed the absurd idea the she and Paris had become involved. B'Elanna was smart, and knew better than to involve herself with a man who will just treat her like another notch on his bedpost. But then again, he thought, I did hear him deny a couple of date offers lately. That wasn't at all like the drunken Paris he had found in Sandrines a year ago. Again Chakotay dismissed his idea. It was crazy. Paris could not have changed his "who cares?" attitude that quickly and B'Elanna couldn't have fallen from someone like that. Right?
*
B'Elanna felt a hard pain run down the length of her body. She jerked up in the darkened room, startling the sleeping Tom who was lying beside her in bed.
"'Lanna? What's wrong?" he asked groggily. B'Elanna didn't respond, she just sat there, her whole body trembling. Tom quickly sat up and placed a hand softly on her arm. It felt cold and clammy and Tom could fell powerful tremors raking through her. He quickly pulled her against him and started to rub his hands up and down her back in an attempt to calm her. After a couple minutes her shaking subsided to a few small tremors. Tom got up and quickly went into B'Elanna's closet, where he had left a medical kit. He grabbed the medical tricorder and scanned B'Elanna. He frowned at the readings. It looked like she had a virus.
"B'Elanna, I'm going to take you down to Sickbay," he whispered in her ear. She barley nodded, then attempted to sit up. A wave of weakness overtook her and she fell back onto her bed. Tom went over and gently picked her up into his arms. Trying to decide what story to tell Seska when he got to Sickbay he left.
*
Seska was less then pleased when she heard someone enter Sickbay. She sighed heavily, grabbed her shirt and pulled it on, then gave Chakotay a quick kiss before standing up and heading to the front to see who had interrupted them. She saw Paris lower Torres onto a biobed. She thought back to the conversation she and Chakotay had had earlier. They had discussed the possibility of a relationship between the pilot and engineer, but had quickly and easily dismissed it with a simple expectancy that the two had to learn to be a least civil to each other. Seska half-listened as Paris described how he had been in his quarters when he heard something out in the hall. Then found B'Elanna, lying on the floor outside her own door. Seska only nodded, and caught sight of Chakotay coming up from the back, his clothes back in place. She scanned B'Elanna, asked her a few questions, and then ejected her with a hypo.
" You've just got a virus. Take it easy for a few days. You may feel moments of weakness, dizziness, and nausea." Seska said.
" Take off work for about three days," Chakotay said. B'Elanna nodded her understanding.
" Thanks, Seska" she said and slowly lifted herself off the biobed.
"Here, let me help," Tom said. B'Elanna jerked away.
" I can get to my quarters without the help of you, pig," she spat. Tom, taken aback hesitated before realizing what B'Elanna was doing.
"Well, I'm going the same way you are. There's no getting away from me," he said, a cocky smile on his lips. B'Elanna didn't say anything; she just turned and quickly walked toward the door. Tom shot a look at Seska, then followed her. Seska turned to Chakotay.
" What do you think?" She asked. He shook his head.
" I don't know. I see something that makes me think that maybe they are together, but then one of them goes off and says something like that…I just don't know," Seska only smiled, pressing her body against his and locking lips with him. All thoughts of Paris and Torres and an impending relationship were lost as they returned to their previous activities.
*
When Tom got outside sickbay he saw B'Elanna, leaned up against the bulkhead. He quickly went to help.
"You alright?" He whispered. She nodded, putting out one finger. Tom just nodded and put a hand on her arm. After a moment B'Elanna stood up from the wall. Tom lightly placed a hand on her elbow for support, as he led her back to his quarters.
*
Two weeks later Chakotay laid on his couch, thinking. His suspicions of a relationship between Paris and Torres were put to rest after the volatile half-Klingon broke Paris's jaw in three different places that morning. He had, apparently, made a comment to her in passing in the hallway, which she responded to quickly and efficiently.*Now maybe he'll watch his mouth a little more closely* Chakotay thought, but then shook his head. Tom Paris would never learn to watch his mouth. Never.
*
Tom was sitting on his couch nursing a whiskey when his door rang.
"Come in," he mumbled. The door slid open to reveal B'Elanna.
"Hey," she said quietly.
"Hey yourself. Did you come here to break something else of mine too?" he said his voice holding none of the anger that his words implied. He had a small smile on his face and a twinkle in his eye which was in part to the strong whiskey.
"Tom, I came here to apologize. I guess I took the acting thing a little too seriously. Does it still hurt?" She asked, coming over to the side of the couch, her dark eyes reflecting her worry.
"It's a little sore, but I'll live."
"Yeah, I bet that whiskey is definitely helping it 'feel okay.'"
"You want one?"
" No thanks," B'Elanna studied Tom closely for a moment, searching his cerulean blue eyes.
"Tom, I really am sorry. I never meant to hit you that hard," B'Elanna said.
'But you did intend to hit me,' Tom thought, but decided to keep his mouth shut.
"Don't worry about it, 'Lanna. Now Chakotay has no reason to expect anything," he said, reaching out for her hand and pulling her over to sit on his lap.
"But still, to break your jaw…Is there anything I can do to make it up to you?" Tom's eyes brightened a little and he got an evil grin on his face.
"The "making up" might have to wait until my jaw feels a little better." Tom said. B'Elanna only leaned back against him, as Tom pulled his legs up onto the couch, moving them both into a laying position. Soon the two fell asleep.
*
"Sir-I'm detecting a Starfleet vessel on an intercept course," Tuvok called from his station.
"Fleet? What the heck are they doing in the Badlands?"
" Unknown," replied the Vulcan.
"They're hailing!" Yezeri yelled from Ops. Chakotay hesitated.
"Ignore," he said.
" Aye," Yezeri replied automaticly as the ship rocked under the fleet's weapons.
"Evasive actions!" Chakotay barked. Paris was quick to respond, sending the Liberty into a series of loops and dives. Chakotay thanked the Spirits that the stabilizers were working as the ship again rocked.
" Return fire!"
"Aye!" Twin beams of light flew from the Liberty and made contact with the Starfleet vessel. The vessel responded by firing torpedoes.
"Chakotay! We've lost phasers!" B'Elanna yelled, and again the ship rocked under them, sending B'Elanna flying forward. There was a large thud as she hit her head against a console. Paris looked up startled. It took everything he had not to go to her. The lights went off and the dim illumination of the emergency lights came onas yet another volley hit the ship. All around the bridge hanging cables spewed sparks everywhere.
"Shoot!" Chakotay yelled, kneeling by B'Elanna, "A concussion Yezeri! Take a shuttle, go back to that planet. Tell them we need help. " Yezeri nodded and started off the bridge.
"Wait! You'll need a darn good pilot to get back to the planet. Let me go," Paris yelled. Chakotay shook his head, there was no way he'd let Paris go to the Bolian colony for help.
"He's right, Chakotay. You know he is," B'Elanna whispered.
"Fine. But if you run out on us Paris, I swear I'll hunt you down and kill you like the Poocuh you are."
"I'll bring help," Tom said, then with one last look at B'Elanna he ran off the bridge.
*
Chakotay watched as the Starfleet vessel, the Bradburry veered off and chased after the shuttle that Paris was flying.
" Hold position here and wait for the Bolian's help," Chakotay ordered, then helped B'Elanna to her feet and escorted her to sickbay.
*
Damn him. Damn him! B'Elanna Torres thought as she passed the floor of her quarters. It had been two weeks since the battle and two weeks since she had seen Tom. But Paris wasn't the one she was upset at. He had saved her. He had gotten the Bolian's help. It was Chakotay. B'Elanna felt as if she would explode if she heard Chakotay call Tom one more awful thing. He had saved them! And for what? B'Elanna didn't know. She wasn't sure if he had escaped and was looking for them, if he had been killed, or perhaps even worse, had been captured. She prayed he was all right. That he was looking for them. For her. But B'Elanna feared the worse. He was gone. Maybe for good.
THE END OF PART ONE