B'Elanna and I waited at the door to the Medical Research Labs. The EMH had insisted that, in the interests of Tom's health, we refrain from dropping in unexpectedly on Tom Paris, and meet with his doctor first to discuss how best to handle the situation. Torres had reluctantly agreed to his precautions.
I'd watched her grow increasingly anxious during our trip to Earth. I could only imagine how nervous she must feel. As we waited for the doctor to let us in, she ran her hand agitatedly through her short hair. The new style had grown on me. I had decided it suited her, as did the low-cut crimson tunic she wore, matched with the tall leather boots she had become accustomed to wearing. But today she looked worlds away from her out-law appearance in Dartesia. She looked clean, modern and stylish. She had tried unsuccessfully to get Miral into a matching dress this morning. In the end the four-year-old had insisted on choosing her own clothes – dark brown pants, brown boots, and brown tunic. The only bit of colour was the small blue stripes on the sleeves and neck. In a strange way the plain outfit highlighted her exotic looks, especially her wide blue eyes set, as they were in her tanned skin. Her blonde curls had been brushed until they shone.
Finally the Doctor let us through into his laboratory. B'Elanna was about to explode. "So where is Tom and when can I see him?" she demanded.
"Shhhhh!" the Doctor appeared panicked. "B'Elanna, Miral, you're both going to have to get behind this screen. Now!" He pulled a privacy screen around one of the beds.
"Excuse me?" Torres was affronted.
"He's here." The Doctor explained. "Please keep your voice down."
"Where?" Torres glanced around the room, as the Doctor practically grabbed her by the arm to drag her out of sight. Miral stayed close to her mother, although she too was looking around wide-eyed, taking it all in.
At that moment we heard Tom's familiar voice call out from around the corner. "Who's there Doc? You got company?"
"Tom!" B'Elanna breathed, her hand on her chest. "Was that daddy?" Miral whispered.
"Of course not Mr Paris. You're imagining things!" the Doctor called out to Tom, who must have been in the laboratory's small adjoining bathroom. "You need to concentrate on your presentation!" Then to B'Elanna: "I understand this must seem an outrageous request. But you must stay here and stay quiet until he leaves…"
B'Elanna was incredulous. "You're going to have to lock me up Doctor if you expect…"
The Doctor clapped his hand over B'Elanna's mouth. "Tom cannot see either of you right now. There is no time. You could ruin his career! Is that what you want?" With that the Doctor pulled the screen shut.
"Who's there? I thought I heard…"
The Doc and I turned to see Tom Paris standing before us looking extremely dashing in the latest Starfleet elite pilot uniform with navy blue panelling.
"Heard what?" the Doc asked innocently.
"I think I must have been imagining things." Tom said uncertainly. "Are you sure I'm okay? How do I look?" he asked the Doctor tentatively, attaching his three pips to the silver-lined collar.
"Not bad," I answered for him. "Not bad at all." The colour and style of the uniform suited him and I was overwhelmed to see him looking so well.
"Chakotay?" Tom exclaimed in obvious surprise. "I knew I heard the Doc talking to someone! I can't believe you came."
"Well, your new uniform appears to fit," the Doctor interrupted. "And how do you feel now? Any better?"
"I feel a little better, I guess. Thanks for giving me that shot, Doc."
"Well, your readings are satisfactory. I suspect your nausea is simply due to nerves - which will not be helped by running late. I suggest you head to the lecture theatre immediately. You do not want to screw up this speech. You know how important it is."
"Speech?" I asked.
"He means my presentation at the Academy," Tom explained. "That's why you're here right? I'm speaking about the new piloting course to academic staff, prospective students and their parents. It will be broadcast live on the Starfleet channel too."
"When?"
"In… shit, in ten minutes! You're right Doc, I need to get a move on. Are you sure this is just nerves Doc? I feel real uneasy right now. I don't know if I can get through this today."
"You'll be fine, Tom. I know you will," the Doctor smiled encouragement.
"I hope so. The Starfleet designers won't be happy if I puke or faint at the first public showing of this new uniform they've given me. It's supposed to inspire confidence. Are you sure it looks okay? It feels kind of tight…" It was. In fact it highlighted how well-toned Tom's arms and chest were. And his freshly cut hair (sideburns neatly trimmed into Starfleet points) looked classy and distinguished. He had certainly recovered well since his relapse. The Doctor, his family – and Janeway too, I guessed – they had been looking after him well I had no doubt. Aside from appearing a touch pale, no one would suspect he'd been so ill recently.
"Tom, honestly," I grabbed his shoulders. I couldn't help smiling, I was so happy for him. "You look… the way every pilot wants to look. Damn it Paris, you look sexy. I'm sure the Academy will be proud."
"Shucks, Chakotay," Was Tom Paris blushing? "I'm speechless."
"That's rare!" The Doctor scoffed in mock annoyance. "But I'm sure your lack for words will not last long enough to interfere with your presentation. Chakotay, why don't you go with Mr Paris and we, I mean I'll, meet you afterwards, hmm?"
"Okay," I agreed.
"This way." Tom and I left the laboratory and made our way through the academy grounds and into the lecture theatre through the back entrance. I had forgotten how much taller than me my friend was. It was a totally different experience walking beside him now than if had been the first time I'd visited and found myself awkwardly walking alongside his wheelchair. It made me grin with joy to see Tom looking so healthy. And to think that B'Elanna and he would be reunited soon. The suspense was almost too much for me. It must have been killing B'Elanna!
"So, Tom, you've recovered well, I take it? I wasn't kidding, you look great!"
"Thanks Chakotay." Again he looked humble and almost bashful. I suppose it had been a while since anyone had looked at him that way. His attitude certainly was a far cry from the cocky sexually self-assured young man from the Maquis days. "I've been working out some," he told me, "trying to put some weight back on. And resting. The Doc, and my parents, they've been on my back making sure I look after myself." He grinned. "A good thing I guess, I tend to get carried away with my work. I feel kinda unprepared this morning though! I hope I do okay. These sessions have a huge influence on student enrolments, especially with a new course."
"You'll be great."
"Yeah. As long as not too many people watched that documentary last night."
"What documentary?"
"That's the answer I want to hear! But seriously, it was obviously sensationalizing the story the whole way through. They're not going to read to much into it… right?"
"Tom, I honestly don't know what you're talking about. I only arrived on Earth this morning."
"Oh, I thought you must have seen it. I thought you were just trying to make me feel better. Everyone else I've asked saw it. There was a documentary about Turellian Fever. It talked about my case – totally unauthorized, of course. Their reporter must have been a gossip columnist. God, I'm hoping nobody's gonna ask about it."
"That's why you're nervous?"
"In part. You're not gonna believe this but… I woke up this morning with this feeling that… I don't know… like something momentous is gonna happen today, you know? Something life-changing. It's making me edgy - and kinda scared. It's ridiculous, I know. It's all in my head. Like the Doc says, it's just nerves. What do you think Chakotay? Do you believe in premonitions?"
I wanted to say yes! I wanted to say 'B'Elanna's here!' But I did not. "This is an important day for you, Tom." I trod carefully. "All you need is to be open and ready to take what ever comes. But this presentiment of yours, if it's real, how do you know it won't be a change for the better?"
"I hadn't considered that. Most of the changes in my life recently have kinda been in the other direction," Tom admitted wryly. I felt a sharp pang of sympathy for him. I only just managed to keep my mouth shut. "Here's hoping," Tom held his hand up, fingers crossed. It was then that I noticed the medical device on his wrist. It was partially camouflaged because of the silver trim lining the sleeves of his uniform. If he was wearing the medical device it meant he was still on constant medication. My heart fell a little. This was a sharp reminder. His healthy appearance had made me temporarily forget than his condition was still erratic and incurable. The Doctor was right to be cautious about informing him of B'Elanna's return. I was glad I had deferred to his better judgement. I was glad I had managed not to spill the beans. It was the right thing to do.
We entered the lecture theatre as the previous session was wrapping up. Tom introduced me to the Dean of the Flight School who was waiting for him, and we shook hands. Now that I was aware of the medical band that Tom wore, I couldn't stop noticing it. I noticed it again as he shook hands with the Dean. However I assume the Dean must already have known at least a little about Tom's medical condition. I wondered if he had seen the documentary Tom had mentioned. He congratulated Tom on his appearance in the new uniform. It was an honour he had been chosen to display Starfleet's new image for the first time. "Are you ready?" he asked.
"As ready as I'll ever be," Tom replied.
"The Academy is behind you Paris, one hundred percent. Remember that. Break a leg."
It was obviously one of those old Earth phases I was not familiar with. "Thank you sir," Tom grinned.
In no time at all, the prospective students and their families, as well as interested faculty members, began filing in. I took a side seat in the front row and watched as Tom loaded up his files to the view screen. At Tom's request, the lectern was moved from the stage and replaced with a simple chair and side table. Tom wanted to be able to sit down and take a less formal approach, he said. By the time the Dean strolled onto the stage to begin the session, the room was full. Every seat was filled and still people were filing into the aisles and standing up the back. There was no way I could leave to find the Doc and B'Elanna, even if I wanted to. I had never seen a lecture theatre so well attended.
"Quite a crowd we have," the Dean commented before stepping on stage and addressing the audience. "Our next session is about to commence. Let me introduce Commander Thomas Paris, co-ordinator of our new Advanced Piloting course here at Starfleet Academy. Without further ado, I will now hand over to him. I hope you enjoy the session."
"Thank you sir." Tom stepped forward. As he surveyed his audience and his nerves appeared to fall away. He commanded attention in very natural way that I felt the young cadets would respond to well to his attitude. But as much as I wished I could enjoy listening to Tom Paris' talk, truth is the suspense was killing me. I just wanted it over with. The reunion between Tom and his wife and child, that I had laboured so hard to bring about, was so close now… so close. In fact it was to be closer than I realised.