She was strong in the loneliness, but when she heard his voice she crumbled.
The cold—it was inside her, creeping into her bones like frostbite over a slumbering infant, and she could do nothing to halt it. It was too much for her trembling limbs to take. She couldn't hold back the gasps. Cold, so cold…
"B'Elanna!" No, Tom, you can't be scared. Please, please be strong for me. I need you.
His fingers touched her arm and she clutched them, too far gone to care about her dignity. After all, he was her husband now, and she'd promised to trust him with her life, to love him…always. And for her, love meant vulnerability.
Cold, so cold—she couldn't move, could only gasp and tremble as the icy fingers snaked their way into her body. He was on his knees before her, touching her cheek, trying to comfort her through his fear. Why was she on the floor? What was wrong with her? Why was this happening?
One day. One day, and I'm already dying. Till death to us part…I guess I made it easy for you, Tom. I'm sorry.
A/N: Hindsight is 20/20 they say, and now I realize that this episode could host a series of drabbles on its own. However, I wouldn't dare touch the sickbay scene, where Tom is describing their honeymoon (oh how I wish DS9 had given such a marvelous scene to Jadzia's death!), and the wedding I've already wrung dry in "Come What May." Next up is the real wedding episode, "Drive." :)