************* Mental Images Part 4 Author: Mac Disclaimers in Part 1 *************

To the readers: Sorry for the delay. I went out of town and then the old writer's block set in... Thanks for the reviews! ~Mac

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"What did you give him?" B'Elanna asked.

"It's a neural suppressant. If everything goes according to plan, it will be much stronger than the previous one I gave him. Alice should be out of his mind forever now."

She nodded. "What if it doesn't work?"

"He may suffer serious brain damage," the Doctor replied solemnly. He knew it would be his fault. Holograms weren't supposed to make mistakes but he had the first time around when he 'cured' Tom.

"Doc?"

He looked up. "Hmm?"

"I don't blame you," B'Elanna replied. "And Tom won't either. It happens to the best of us."

"You don't understand, I'm a hologram, I'm not supposed to make mistakes like that!" the Doctor protested.

"Maybe, but you're no ordinary hologram. To me, you're a sentient being. And sentient beings make mistakes. It's how we all learn and grow." B'Elanna gave him a small smile. "I know it's not very comforting."

The Doctor nodded. "It's not, but I'll have to live with it. However, Mr. Paris is quite stubborn so I think it's very likely he'll be all right."

"With you as his Doctor, I have no doubt."

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Captain Janeway looked around at her bridge crew as she stepped off the turbolift. There was one person missing: Tom Paris. The bridge was exceedingly quiet as the crew looked at their Captain.

She smiled warmly at them. "Mr. Paris should be back on the bridge in two weeks." Everyone cheered and Janeway held her hands up to quiet them down. "I want him to take it slow, ease him back into the swing of things."

They nodded in agreement. "Captain," Harry said.

"Go on down, Harry." She faced her crew. "Lets get back to work, people. We have a starship to get home."

Janeway sat in her seat and glanced over at Chakotay. He smiled at her. "Feel like a little holodeck excursion later?" he asked.

"What did you have in mind?"

"A couple rounds of Velocity," he replied.

She laughed. "So I can wipe the floor with you again? Are you sure you wouldn't rather play tennis?"

Chakotay crossed his arms. "Well, if you're going to be mean about it."

"Did I hurt your feelings? All right, I'll play, but it's your funeral."

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Two days later, Tom stood with B'Elanna in front of the mess hall doors. "Are you sure you're ready for this, Tom?"

Tom shook his head. "I don't think so. Can we just eat in my quarters?"

"That's fine," B'Elanna responded. She took in his appearance. He seemed a little pale and shakey. "Maybe I should take you to Sickbay instead."

"No!" Tom said. "I don't think I could stand anymore of Doc's singing. I just want to lie down for a while."

B'Elanna nodded and led him to the turbolift. He stopped five feet away from it. "Tom?"

"Can we take the jeffries tubes?"

"Why?"

Tom took a breath to calm himself. "I know she's gone, but that's where she convinced me to leave the ship and I... and she..."

"Tom, you were just in the turbolift earlier," B'Elanna said.

"I know, I don't understand it either."

She looked thoughtful. "I'll humor you this time, but you can't keep crawling through the jefferies tubes all the time."

"I know, and I will, but right now I can't."

B'Elanna stepped up to the tube access door and opened it. "After you, Lieutenant."

Tom smiled at her. "I love you."

*************** What did you think? Don't worry, it's not over yet! ^_^