Starting Again
"It took you long enough. " Harry whispered. B'Elanna carefully turned around to see three people coming up the staircase toward them.
"How could I let down the only friend I've got?" One of them said. B'Elanna's head swam. That voice. It sounded familiar. But she couldn't think. She was so tired. She vaguely realized that someone took a hold of her arm and began to lead her up the stairs.
*
B'Elanna's eyes slowly opened to focus on a familiar face.
"Hey. 'Bout time you woke up. " The man whispered.
"Tom? Tom is that you?" She whispered. He only nodded.
"Oh, god. " She whispered as he pulled her into his arms.
"We thought you were dead. I was so afraid. " She managed out.
"I'll explain everything later. I promise. " He said, lowering her back to the bed. B'Elanna went to say something more, but Tom bent down and captured her lips with his. B'Elanna's arms snaked up around Tom's neck and held him in place.
"Tom, how? We thought that you were dead. We found the remains of the shuttle..." B'Elanna asked when the two finally stopped to catch their breath.
"I was captured. " Tom said simply. B'Elanna went to say something else, but Tom put a finger to her lips.
"Before you say anything, I'm sorry. I betrayed you. " Tom whispered. B'Elanna's eyes widened in shock, she went to say something, tell Tom exactly what she thought of him, but he cut her off.
"Not another woman, 'Lanna. Gods, no. I...I led Starfleet here. So they could capture you. I'm so sorry. I prayed that you weren't still on the Liberty, but..." Tom's voice trailed off as he stared down at the floor. B'Elanna reached up and gently laid a hand on his cheek.
"Tom- it doesn't matter. None of it matters. You're alive, Tom. That's all that matters. That's all that will ever matter,"
"Oh, B'Elanna..." Tom whispered, bending down and kissing her.
"Glad to see you two know each other all ready. " A voice said beside them. Tom broke away to see Harry smiling at them from his bio-bed. B'Elanna turned and smiled at him.
"Good morning Starfleet. Now go back to sleep. " She said, a smile on her face.
"No thanks, I'm enjoying the show," Harry shot back, giving Paris an amused look that he didn't dare give to Torres.
"So am I," Torres, Paris and Kim all spun at the voice to see Chakotay sitting up on his biobed across the room. Torres and Paris both swore under there breath.
"Report!" Janeway yelled, entering sickbay, saving both Paris and Torres from Chakotay's wrath.
"They'll be fine but-" The doctor's report was cut off by a voice over the commbadge. The Kazon were moving in. All thoughts of Paris and Torres's relationship were forgotten in an instant.
"We need to get back to our ship," Chakotay said, getting up. Tom helped B'Elanna off the bed and she hurried to follow.
***
"Come in," Tom Paris called from the couch. It had been a long couple of days, but finally the crew of the Voyager had seemed to calm down. Some. There was still tension between the Maquis and the 'Fleeters, which could be expected. Of course with one major exception- Tom and B'Elanna.
Again the doorbell rang. Tom frowned and stood up, going to the door and manually opening it. There in the corridor stood a P.O.ed Chakotay.
"Chakotay. What a.... Surprise,"
"Shut up, Poocuh. We have a problem," Chakotay said, stepping into the room.
"Do we now? Huh I didn't realize that,"
"Watch it, Paris. This is serious,"
Tom staid silent for a moment, waiting for Chakotay to start the argument, praying it wouldn't last long. B'Elanna got off duty in ten minutes.
"How long?" Chakotay demanded.
"15 months," Paris answered now strictly business.
"15! She was dumb enough to trust you for 15 months?"
"Watch it, Chakotay," Paris said, his eyes narrowing.
"How? How did you ever convince her to go out with you?"
"It's a long story,"
"I have time,"
Tom sighed. He didn't want to tell Chakotay how he proved his worth to B'Elanna. It was too personal. But the alternative was to refuse, which would start a physical fight. And Tom was too tired to beat the tar out of his superior officer that night.
"Have a seat," Tom waved a hand toward the couch. Chakotay didn't move. *All right, fine. I'll play your way. * Tom thought. He sighed, racking a hand through his hair.
"Remember when you sent B'Elanna and I down to Tornos II? To get supplies?" Chakotay only nodded.
"Well, we found two different people who could get us what we needed. I went to meet with one while B'Elanna went to meet the other. We were going to meet back at the hotel later that night. It was two days before you were supposed to pick us up,"
"Okay, "
"I waited for B'Elanna, but she never came back. I went out looking for her. It took me three and a half-hours of searching the city until I found her in an alleyway. Her clothes were in shreds. She was bleeding from cuts all over her body, her arms and legs were covered with bruises,"
"What happened?"
"On her way back to the hotel some men...she said they were Romulans, jumped her. Stole the parts she had just gotten. They raped her, beat her, then took her to an alley on the other side of town and left her there,"
"Let me guess you took advantage of her, did the same thing as the Romulans. You raped her,"
"No. I helped her. Took care of some of her wounds, then carried her back to the hotel. I got a doctor, and called the police. I stayed with her until you came back,"
"Don't lie, Poocuh. B'Elanna would have told me if she was rapped," Chakotay stood almost nose to nose with Paris, his voice dangerously quiet.
"Would she Chakotay? Think about how proud B'Elanna is, do you think she'd tell you?"
"YOU LIE!" Chakotay shouted, grabbing Tom's collar.
"He's telling the truth, Chakotay. Put him down,"
The two men spun to see B'Elanna standing in the doorway, her arms crossed. Chakotay let go of Tom, and he fell to the floor. B'Elanna rushed to his side.
"Are you all right, Tom?"
"Yeah, yeah. I'm fine," Tom groaned, slowly getting up. B'Elanna stood back up, turning on Chakotay.
"What the heck is going on in here, Chakotay?"
"I think you know, Torres. I want you to stay away from that Poocuh,"
"Give me one good reason to do that,"
"I'll give you 50,"
"Wow, wow, wow you two. Hold on now, Chakotay. Before you get into that I'll give you a reason to forget them," Tom said, standing close to B'Elanna protectively.
"What?"
Tom took a deep breath and put an arm around B'Elanna's shoulders, pulling her close as he spoke.
"Because I love her, Chakotay. Because I'd rather die than see her hurt. I'd rather die a thousand times before I was the one to hurt her. I'd give my life for her,"
Chakotay just stood, bewildered. He didn't want to believe Tom, but some how his words just sounded true.
"And I feel the same way, Chakotay. I love him. More than I thought was ever possible. No matter what you say, nothing will change that," B'Elanna said, her voice soft. Chakotay shook his head.
"Just- be careful Torres," And with that the Commander turned on his heel and left the room. Tom and B'Elanna watched him go in silence.
"Well, that was.... Interesting," Paris broke the silence. B'Elanna only shook her head and slowly walked toward Paris, throwing herself in his open arms.
"I love you, Tom," She whispered against his chest.
"I you too, 'Lanna. I love you too,"
***
"Torres! You're late!" Lt. Joseph Carey's harsh voice bellowed through Engineering.
"Shut up, Carey. She is not!" Someone yelled from a console. B'Elanna glanced at the chronometer. 05:58. Her shift started at 06:00. She wasn't late; Carey was still giving her a hard time. Without looking at the acting Chief Engineer B'Elanna went to a console, pulled up that day's assignment, and went to work. Carey stood in the corner, fuming. He hated her. HATED her. She was smart. Too smart for an ex-Maquis. And she was a better engineer. If Carey didn't watch his back she'd replace him. The ship already had a Maquis in the first officer seat and a traitor at the helm. They didn't need a half-breed Maquis as the Chief Engineer.
***
"B'Elanna? Are you in here?" Tom called, walking around the empty quarters.
"Right here, Tom," B'Elanna said, coming out of the bedroom. She had changed out of the uniform and was clad in red sweat pants and a red tank top.
"I heard what happened. Are you all right?" Tom whispered, stepping close. She gave a small smile and allowed him to pull her against him.
"You're the first person to ask me that,"
" I heard Chakotay came to see you. Should I be worried?"
B'Elanna gave a small laugh and shook her head.
"No, you shouldn't," Chakotay had stayed away from both Paris and Torres since the argument almost a week before. Although he did shoot Paris death looks on the bridge.
"What happened?" Tom asked, afraid of the answer.
"He wanted to ruin the ship, Tom. My way would have worked better and he knew that. He just didn't do it because the idea came form me," B'Elanna fumed, passing her quarters.
"Then what?" Tom asked, sitting on her couch.
"He blocked the console. I pushed him aside. I didn't think I had hit him that hard. Next thing I knew blood was gushing out his nose," Tom chuckled, earning him a look from B'Elanna that would have fused titanium.
"You pack a good punch, B'Elanna. Better than you think. Besides, from the way you've been stalking around the last few days it sounds like he deserved it,"
"Yeah I guess," B'Elanna said. She went over to the couch and laid down against Tom. He gently ran his hand up and down her back for a few minutes.
"Tom?"
"Hmm?"
"Chakotay said- he said that he gave my name to Janeway. As a candidate for Chief Engineer," B'Elanna said her voice soft.
"Yeah, he did that today at the briefing,"
"Do you think she'll even consider me?"
" I honestly don't know, 'Lanna. But for the sake of the ship I hope she will," He whispered to her. She gave a small smile and buried her head against his chest as he flipped the television on. The two watched an old movie for the rest of the night.
***
"Deck one," B'Elanna commanded as she stepped into the turbolift. She sighed. A staff meeting. No, a SENIOR staffs meeting. She's still considering me. She thought. But, as much as she wanted to enjoy it she couldn't. B'Elanna wasn't sure if she was right for the job. Sure, she was a wonderful engineer. The best, many told her. But she wasn't sure if it would work for her. The engineer staff was over 90% Starfleet personnel. Which means that 90% of everyone who worked under B'Elanna would resent her. Not good. Defiantly not good. She didn't care that many would resent her personally, but what bothered her was that it may interfere with the efficiency of Engineering and the engineers work. But, if there was a Starfleet officer as Chief Engineer... B'Elanna's thoughts were interrupted by the swoosh of the turbolift doors opening. She had arrived on Deck 1. Now for the meeting.
TBC...
Okay, sorry 'bout this...but I have a bunch of other fics I hafta write too!! I'll finish this as soon as I can.
"It took you long enough. " Harry whispered. B'Elanna carefully turned around to see three people coming up the staircase toward them.
"How could I let down the only friend I've got?" One of them said. B'Elanna's head swam. That voice. It sounded familiar. But she couldn't think. She was so tired. She vaguely realized that someone took a hold of her arm and began to lead her up the stairs.
*
B'Elanna's eyes slowly opened to focus on a familiar face.
"Hey. 'Bout time you woke up. " The man whispered.
"Tom? Tom is that you?" She whispered. He only nodded.
"Oh, god. " She whispered as he pulled her into his arms.
"We thought you were dead. I was so afraid. " She managed out.
"I'll explain everything later. I promise. " He said, lowering her back to the bed. B'Elanna went to say something more, but Tom bent down and captured her lips with his. B'Elanna's arms snaked up around Tom's neck and held him in place.
"Tom, how? We thought that you were dead. We found the remains of the shuttle..." B'Elanna asked when the two finally stopped to catch their breath.
"I was captured. " Tom said simply. B'Elanna went to say something else, but Tom put a finger to her lips.
"Before you say anything, I'm sorry. I betrayed you. " Tom whispered. B'Elanna's eyes widened in shock, she went to say something, tell Tom exactly what she thought of him, but he cut her off.
"Not another woman, 'Lanna. Gods, no. I...I led Starfleet here. So they could capture you. I'm so sorry. I prayed that you weren't still on the Liberty, but..." Tom's voice trailed off as he stared down at the floor. B'Elanna reached up and gently laid a hand on his cheek.
"Tom- it doesn't matter. None of it matters. You're alive, Tom. That's all that matters. That's all that will ever matter,"
"Oh, B'Elanna..." Tom whispered, bending down and kissing her.
"Glad to see you two know each other all ready. " A voice said beside them. Tom broke away to see Harry smiling at them from his bio-bed. B'Elanna turned and smiled at him.
"Good morning Starfleet. Now go back to sleep. " She said, a smile on her face.
"No thanks, I'm enjoying the show," Harry shot back, giving Paris an amused look that he didn't dare give to Torres.
"So am I," Torres, Paris and Kim all spun at the voice to see Chakotay sitting up on his biobed across the room. Torres and Paris both swore under there breath.
"Report!" Janeway yelled, entering sickbay, saving both Paris and Torres from Chakotay's wrath.
"They'll be fine but-" The doctor's report was cut off by a voice over the commbadge. The Kazon were moving in. All thoughts of Paris and Torres's relationship were forgotten in an instant.
"We need to get back to our ship," Chakotay said, getting up. Tom helped B'Elanna off the bed and she hurried to follow.
***
"Come in," Tom Paris called from the couch. It had been a long couple of days, but finally the crew of the Voyager had seemed to calm down. Some. There was still tension between the Maquis and the 'Fleeters, which could be expected. Of course with one major exception- Tom and B'Elanna.
Again the doorbell rang. Tom frowned and stood up, going to the door and manually opening it. There in the corridor stood a P.O.ed Chakotay.
"Chakotay. What a.... Surprise,"
"Shut up, Poocuh. We have a problem," Chakotay said, stepping into the room.
"Do we now? Huh I didn't realize that,"
"Watch it, Paris. This is serious,"
Tom staid silent for a moment, waiting for Chakotay to start the argument, praying it wouldn't last long. B'Elanna got off duty in ten minutes.
"How long?" Chakotay demanded.
"15 months," Paris answered now strictly business.
"15! She was dumb enough to trust you for 15 months?"
"Watch it, Chakotay," Paris said, his eyes narrowing.
"How? How did you ever convince her to go out with you?"
"It's a long story,"
"I have time,"
Tom sighed. He didn't want to tell Chakotay how he proved his worth to B'Elanna. It was too personal. But the alternative was to refuse, which would start a physical fight. And Tom was too tired to beat the tar out of his superior officer that night.
"Have a seat," Tom waved a hand toward the couch. Chakotay didn't move. *All right, fine. I'll play your way. * Tom thought. He sighed, racking a hand through his hair.
"Remember when you sent B'Elanna and I down to Tornos II? To get supplies?" Chakotay only nodded.
"Well, we found two different people who could get us what we needed. I went to meet with one while B'Elanna went to meet the other. We were going to meet back at the hotel later that night. It was two days before you were supposed to pick us up,"
"Okay, "
"I waited for B'Elanna, but she never came back. I went out looking for her. It took me three and a half-hours of searching the city until I found her in an alleyway. Her clothes were in shreds. She was bleeding from cuts all over her body, her arms and legs were covered with bruises,"
"What happened?"
"On her way back to the hotel some men...she said they were Romulans, jumped her. Stole the parts she had just gotten. They raped her, beat her, then took her to an alley on the other side of town and left her there,"
"Let me guess you took advantage of her, did the same thing as the Romulans. You raped her,"
"No. I helped her. Took care of some of her wounds, then carried her back to the hotel. I got a doctor, and called the police. I stayed with her until you came back,"
"Don't lie, Poocuh. B'Elanna would have told me if she was rapped," Chakotay stood almost nose to nose with Paris, his voice dangerously quiet.
"Would she Chakotay? Think about how proud B'Elanna is, do you think she'd tell you?"
"YOU LIE!" Chakotay shouted, grabbing Tom's collar.
"He's telling the truth, Chakotay. Put him down,"
The two men spun to see B'Elanna standing in the doorway, her arms crossed. Chakotay let go of Tom, and he fell to the floor. B'Elanna rushed to his side.
"Are you all right, Tom?"
"Yeah, yeah. I'm fine," Tom groaned, slowly getting up. B'Elanna stood back up, turning on Chakotay.
"What the heck is going on in here, Chakotay?"
"I think you know, Torres. I want you to stay away from that Poocuh,"
"Give me one good reason to do that,"
"I'll give you 50,"
"Wow, wow, wow you two. Hold on now, Chakotay. Before you get into that I'll give you a reason to forget them," Tom said, standing close to B'Elanna protectively.
"What?"
Tom took a deep breath and put an arm around B'Elanna's shoulders, pulling her close as he spoke.
"Because I love her, Chakotay. Because I'd rather die than see her hurt. I'd rather die a thousand times before I was the one to hurt her. I'd give my life for her,"
Chakotay just stood, bewildered. He didn't want to believe Tom, but some how his words just sounded true.
"And I feel the same way, Chakotay. I love him. More than I thought was ever possible. No matter what you say, nothing will change that," B'Elanna said, her voice soft. Chakotay shook his head.
"Just- be careful Torres," And with that the Commander turned on his heel and left the room. Tom and B'Elanna watched him go in silence.
"Well, that was.... Interesting," Paris broke the silence. B'Elanna only shook her head and slowly walked toward Paris, throwing herself in his open arms.
"I love you, Tom," She whispered against his chest.
"I you too, 'Lanna. I love you too,"
***
"Torres! You're late!" Lt. Joseph Carey's harsh voice bellowed through Engineering.
"Shut up, Carey. She is not!" Someone yelled from a console. B'Elanna glanced at the chronometer. 05:58. Her shift started at 06:00. She wasn't late; Carey was still giving her a hard time. Without looking at the acting Chief Engineer B'Elanna went to a console, pulled up that day's assignment, and went to work. Carey stood in the corner, fuming. He hated her. HATED her. She was smart. Too smart for an ex-Maquis. And she was a better engineer. If Carey didn't watch his back she'd replace him. The ship already had a Maquis in the first officer seat and a traitor at the helm. They didn't need a half-breed Maquis as the Chief Engineer.
***
"B'Elanna? Are you in here?" Tom called, walking around the empty quarters.
"Right here, Tom," B'Elanna said, coming out of the bedroom. She had changed out of the uniform and was clad in red sweat pants and a red tank top.
"I heard what happened. Are you all right?" Tom whispered, stepping close. She gave a small smile and allowed him to pull her against him.
"You're the first person to ask me that,"
" I heard Chakotay came to see you. Should I be worried?"
B'Elanna gave a small laugh and shook her head.
"No, you shouldn't," Chakotay had stayed away from both Paris and Torres since the argument almost a week before. Although he did shoot Paris death looks on the bridge.
"What happened?" Tom asked, afraid of the answer.
"He wanted to ruin the ship, Tom. My way would have worked better and he knew that. He just didn't do it because the idea came form me," B'Elanna fumed, passing her quarters.
"Then what?" Tom asked, sitting on her couch.
"He blocked the console. I pushed him aside. I didn't think I had hit him that hard. Next thing I knew blood was gushing out his nose," Tom chuckled, earning him a look from B'Elanna that would have fused titanium.
"You pack a good punch, B'Elanna. Better than you think. Besides, from the way you've been stalking around the last few days it sounds like he deserved it,"
"Yeah I guess," B'Elanna said. She went over to the couch and laid down against Tom. He gently ran his hand up and down her back for a few minutes.
"Tom?"
"Hmm?"
"Chakotay said- he said that he gave my name to Janeway. As a candidate for Chief Engineer," B'Elanna said her voice soft.
"Yeah, he did that today at the briefing,"
"Do you think she'll even consider me?"
" I honestly don't know, 'Lanna. But for the sake of the ship I hope she will," He whispered to her. She gave a small smile and buried her head against his chest as he flipped the television on. The two watched an old movie for the rest of the night.
***
"Deck one," B'Elanna commanded as she stepped into the turbolift. She sighed. A staff meeting. No, a SENIOR staffs meeting. She's still considering me. She thought. But, as much as she wanted to enjoy it she couldn't. B'Elanna wasn't sure if she was right for the job. Sure, she was a wonderful engineer. The best, many told her. But she wasn't sure if it would work for her. The engineer staff was over 90% Starfleet personnel. Which means that 90% of everyone who worked under B'Elanna would resent her. Not good. Defiantly not good. She didn't care that many would resent her personally, but what bothered her was that it may interfere with the efficiency of Engineering and the engineers work. But, if there was a Starfleet officer as Chief Engineer... B'Elanna's thoughts were interrupted by the swoosh of the turbolift doors opening. She had arrived on Deck 1. Now for the meeting.
TBC...
Okay, sorry 'bout this...but I have a bunch of other fics I hafta write too!! I'll finish this as soon as I can.
