Title: Betrayal's Sting
Author: Ronda Sexton
Series: Voyager-AU
Pairing: J/P
Parts: 1/1
Rating: PG13
Summary: After 30 days in the Brig, Tom knows things can never be the
same again.
Betrayal's Sting
by: Ronda Sexton
Tom sleepily turned over and stared at Tuvok. He was finally getting
out of the brig. The 30 days were up. He stood up and walked out of the
holding cell, fully intending to follow Tuvok's suggestion about shaving.
He walked solemnly down the corridors. Sympathetic looks came from the
crew
members he passed. He nodded to acknowledge them. Word had trickled in
to
him that most of the crew was not at all pleased with Janeway's
decision.
They had agreed with Tom in principle.
He entered his quarters. They were the same as he'd left them 30 days
ago.
A stab of pain went through him as he stared at her pink gown and robe
laying
on the floor by his bed. The night before his fateful mission, they had
made
passionate love, Kathryn had called his name out over and over again as
waves
of pleasure consumed her body......
He banished the thought from his mind and walked right over them as he
headed
to the bathroom to shave and shower. As he soaped his body under the
stream
of blissfully warm water, he knew he had made the right decision while
he was
in the brig. He knew he could never trust her again. Why she'd at
first
planned to destroy the Delta Flyer with him on board before she had to
destroy the charge he'd fired at the reactor. He had been devastated
upon
hearing that.
After changing into a fresh uniform, he began to pack up all of her
belongings
in a bag. He no longer loved her. In fact he could not feel anything.
A
familiar emptiness engulfed him. He still had his friends here on
Voyager. He
knew that, but he no longer had a person he loved and cherished.
Kathyrn had
killed every scrap of love he had for her.
Finally, when all of her belongings had been packed, he inquired of the
computer to find out where the Captain was. He sighed when he learned
she
was in her Ready Room. This would make it so much easier. He did not
want
to see her yet. With a firm resolve, he took the bag and headed for her
quarters.
Once he reached them, he keyed in the access code and entered quietly.
He
emptied her belongings on her desk, where he knew she would have no
trouble
finding them. Then he speedily packed up all of his belongings and left
without delay.
He had somehow managed to perform the task with no one seeing him. He
was
glad. He did not want to answer any questions at the moment. Checking
the
time, he found he had enough time to replicate a pizza for is lunch
before
his duty shift began. The steamy pizza was comforting. He recalled
asking
for a pizza while in the brig, only to be told that he could only have
basic
nutritional requirements. He saw the apologetic look Neelix gave him on
the
days he had to eat the Leola Root.
Sighing, he put the leftovers in the replicator and pressed the recycle
button. It was time to report to the bridge to fly the ship. Somehow in
spite of it all, she had not removed him as Chief Con Officer.
The turbolift doors opened and he walked onto the bridge without a
word. He saw sympathetic looks cast his way by the crew. He forced a smile to
show them he was okay. Without a word to anyone, he assumed the seat at the
helm as soon as it was vacated. He listened carefully to the report on
status and nodded.
The shift was uneventful. No attacks like the one that had occurred
while he
was in the brig. He was glad. He could feel her looking at him. He
wondered
if she held any illusions that they could still be lovers after her
betrayal.
If she did, well that was too damn bad. Hell would freeze over before
that
would happen. He was glad when his shift was over.
As soon as he had briefed his relief, he strode to the turbolift without
as
much as a glance to the Captain. He went to the mess hall to get a
tray.
B'Elanna, Harry, and Seven invited him to join them. Upon his quiet
request,
they began updating him on the happenings aboard ship while he was in
the brig.
Kathryn Janeway entered the turbolift with a sigh. Tom had certainly
done his job properly, but certainly had not been himself. She decided to
have dinner in the mess hall. When she entered, conversation lulled for a
few moments, then resumed. She saw Tom surrounded by his friends among the
crew. She knew her decision had not been popular among the crew. No matter,
she was sure Tom understood. Tonight, they'd be together again. The thirty
days had been hard on her too. She loved Tom with all her heart and did not
want to see him suffer. However, he'd brought it all on himself. Tonight's
reunion would be intense and passionate she was sure.
Deciding Tom's friends needed some time to spend with him without the
"Captain," she sat at a table and watched them. Occasionally, someone
looked at her with a disapproving stare. It did not bother her any more than
the ones she'd been getting since putting Tom in the brig.
She put her dirty dishes in the recycler and headed to her quarters. As
she walked, she planned the message she would send Tom. Tonight would mark
their reunion. She walked in her quarters and stopped in shock. There on her
desk were her belongings along with a PADD. She walked over to the desk and
picked up the PADD with shaking hands.
She activated and read the message.
It is over. I have returned your belongings and taken mine back to my
quarters. I could never trust you with my heart again.
There was no signature. She dropped the PADD on her desk as tears began
toflood her eyes.
THE END