Tom's message was at the top of the queue.

"Are you free Wednesday night? Found a pool hall you might enjoy. Let's see if you can win away from your home turf."

She laughed and moved a few things around on her calendar. "You're on," she messaged back.

ooo

"Very casual, no uniform," he'd instructed, so she changed into civilian clothes and met him at the shuttle stop on the edge of campus. She wanted to hug him, but they were in public — too much chance of stirring gossip.

"So where are we going?" she asked.

"Mission District," he replied. "I'm springing for the burritos. Do you want to eat first or after we play?"

"Pool first," she teased. "I want to keep my edge."

They chatted as they walked to the pool hall, taking in the street art and the people sitting in cafes. Finally, he pointed to a building, and she blinked in surprise. "That's a theater! A very old theater."

"It was," he replied. "From what I've read, it was built in 22nd-century style. It's changed hands a couple of times, and now it's a pool hall."

The owners had kept the retro-theater vibe. The bar sat on a stage, and holo-images of old movies blinked on the walls. She noticed Tom checking out the holoprojector placement as they waited for a table.

"Professional curiosity?" He just nodded.

They played a few games, and again, he studied Kathryn's body language as she approached each shot. He had to smile: Starfleet likely didn't expect command training to be an asset in pool, but it certainly was for Kathryn.

She won again, not that he cared; the experience was worth it.

"So," she began as they ate burritos at a small restaurant. "Was my pool playing technique that interesting? I noticed that you were watching me more than my shots."

He blushed. "Well, I did have an ulterior motive for inviting you," he said to her raised eyebrow. "I've decided on my final project."

"Don't tell me. It's a pool game."

"Yep, a multi-level pool tournament. You take on a pool shark. Win and you advance to the next level, until the final round. Each level is played in a different venue."

"How many rounds?"

"Haven't decided. Though my adviser suggests capping it at 10."

"That's great," she said, then her eyes narrowed. "Wait a minute. Am I the pool shark?"

He gave her that mischievous grin. "Well, sort of," he said to her horrified look. "I'm studying vids of champion pool players and breaking down the mechanics of their shots. But it's nice to see a real pool shark in action." He grinned again. "And I do enjoy challenging you."

Her eyes narrowed again, but this time he could see the twinkle. "Thomas, are you trying to charm me?"

"Yes, I am," he admitted. "Is it working?"

She shook her head and gave him a fond smile. "I'm afraid it is."

"So, you want to help me explore pool venues for my research? Because we're friends?"

"I'd love to," she said. "And I intend to. But you're in a delicate situation at the moment, and I'm still too much of a public figure. I don't want to jeopardize anything for you."

"I appreciate that," he said. But he could read between the lines: He may be a civilian, but she was the darling of the gossip vids right now, so any suggestion that she was dating a married man could put her career at risk.

ooo

They continued to trade messages, but it was a couple of weeks before another invitation popped up.

"Hey, Harry's back from that quick run on the Barrowman. Some folks will be at the real Sandrine's for drinks and pool on Friday. Up for another game?"

"Absolutely! I may be a bit late, though." No need to tell him that the time he set conflicted with her therapy session. "Keep a cue warm for me."

ooo

She opened the front door to Sandrine's and stopped in her tracks. Tom saw her and waved her in.

"I'd swear we're on the holodeck! You did an amazing job with that program!" she said, and he grinned in delight.

It was a small crowd: Mike, Sam and Gresh, the Delaneys and the Doctor. No matter. She managed to mingle as other folks played pool.

"So, has Tom said anything to you about the divorce?" Harry whispered. She shook her head. "Nothing. His mom told me it blew up over B'Elanna's Mars posting and his grad certificate."

Harry nodded. "I figured that; he hinted at problems when she got the post. Only thing I know is that they have a court date pretty soon."

A bit later, she talked to Mike, who had taken an assignment on Utopia Planitia. "Have you heard from Chakotay?" he asked. She shook her head. "The Doctor tells me he hasn't heard from Seven, either."

"Me neither," he said quietly. "I run into B'Elanna occasionally; says she hasn't heard from him." He glanced around the room. "She was peeved that she couldn't get here tonight. Though, maybe it's just as well. She bent my ear about Tom; I think she called him every obscene name in three languages."

He shook his head. "I have nothing against Tom, and I sure as hell don't want to get in the middle of that."

Kathryn winced as she realized she was skirting that middle. "You're right, Mike: It's just as well."