Disclaimer and A/N see chapter 1.
*****
Well, looks like I spoke to soon Tom thought as he remembered his ridiculous notion that maybe, just maybe, he might be able to enjoy one peaceful night of oblivion.
But no, instead it had been worse than all the previous ones, and, to top it off, he was being marched into the Captain's ready room. With Chakotay.
"So Ensign, would you care to explain to me why you're over an hour late for your shift?" The Captain asked with raised eyebrows.
"I'm afraid I can't offer you much of an explanation, Captain. I overslept, all I can do is apologise and assure you that it won't happen again." Tom replied as smoothly as possible.
"You overslept." She repeated in a flat tone of disapproval. She allowed a brief pause before continuing. "The conduct you have displayed this morning is not acceptable from anyone, especially a bridge officer."
Chakotay, who had been silent since their journey to the bridge, suddenly stepped forward. "Captain, I think perhaps you should be made aware that Ensign Paris has only supplied part of the explanation, that is to say, he hasn't told you why he overslept."
The Captain looked at Tom expectantly. Tom merely clasped his hands behind his back and continued to stare somewhere just to the left of the Captain. He wanted to ask Chakotay what the hell he thought he was playing at. However, he managed to restrain his response to the straightening of his back and the clenching of his jaw.
After a moment's pause, when it became clear that Tom was going to remain silent, Chakotay decided he would have to inform the Captain himself.
"When I entered his quarters, I found him experiencing what appeared to be a very violent and distressing nightmare. It took me several minutes to rouse him, and then a substantial amount of time for him to recover. I also know the same thing, but to a lesser extent, has occurred many times in the past, in fact, close to every night that I have spent with him on away missions."
The Captain was silent for a few minutes whilst she absorbed the information she had just received. Finally, she turned to Tom with a look of concern.
"Have you reported this to the Doctor?"
"No, Captain." Tom knew the way to get through this was to keep the answers as short as possible. Unfortunately, Tom realised that Chakotay wasn't going to let it drop so easily when he heard him begin to speak again.
"Captain, if I might make a suggestion?"
She gave Chakotay a curt nod.
"From the little I've witnessed, it's clear that these episodes cause Ensign Paris a substantial amount of distress, it is my recommendation that he receives counselling to discover what is causing them so we can prevent their occurrence. I would like to volunteer my services as unofficial counsellor."
Tom's head snapped round to glare at Chakotay. No way! There was no way in hell that he was going to spill his guts to Chakotay of all people.
"Captain, there's really no need for that, I'm perfectly fine, I just have a little trouble sleeping now and then." Tom insisted.
"Ensign, if what Commander Chakotay says is accurate, then you have done a good job of managing, up until now. However, it's become apparent that it's started to affect your performance, as we have seen this morning. With that in mind, I'm inclined to agree with Commander Chakotay." She held a hand up to silence Tom when she saw his mouth open, ready to protest. "I need everyone at peak efficiency, Ensign. You will begin after your shift today. Dismissed."
Tom spun round and strode out of the office in silence, not trusting himself to speak. He sat down at his station and fumed away the rest of the shift, dreading its end but also eager for the chance it would give him to ask Chakotay what the hell he thought he was doing.
*****
Well, looks like I spoke to soon Tom thought as he remembered his ridiculous notion that maybe, just maybe, he might be able to enjoy one peaceful night of oblivion.
But no, instead it had been worse than all the previous ones, and, to top it off, he was being marched into the Captain's ready room. With Chakotay.
"So Ensign, would you care to explain to me why you're over an hour late for your shift?" The Captain asked with raised eyebrows.
"I'm afraid I can't offer you much of an explanation, Captain. I overslept, all I can do is apologise and assure you that it won't happen again." Tom replied as smoothly as possible.
"You overslept." She repeated in a flat tone of disapproval. She allowed a brief pause before continuing. "The conduct you have displayed this morning is not acceptable from anyone, especially a bridge officer."
Chakotay, who had been silent since their journey to the bridge, suddenly stepped forward. "Captain, I think perhaps you should be made aware that Ensign Paris has only supplied part of the explanation, that is to say, he hasn't told you why he overslept."
The Captain looked at Tom expectantly. Tom merely clasped his hands behind his back and continued to stare somewhere just to the left of the Captain. He wanted to ask Chakotay what the hell he thought he was playing at. However, he managed to restrain his response to the straightening of his back and the clenching of his jaw.
After a moment's pause, when it became clear that Tom was going to remain silent, Chakotay decided he would have to inform the Captain himself.
"When I entered his quarters, I found him experiencing what appeared to be a very violent and distressing nightmare. It took me several minutes to rouse him, and then a substantial amount of time for him to recover. I also know the same thing, but to a lesser extent, has occurred many times in the past, in fact, close to every night that I have spent with him on away missions."
The Captain was silent for a few minutes whilst she absorbed the information she had just received. Finally, she turned to Tom with a look of concern.
"Have you reported this to the Doctor?"
"No, Captain." Tom knew the way to get through this was to keep the answers as short as possible. Unfortunately, Tom realised that Chakotay wasn't going to let it drop so easily when he heard him begin to speak again.
"Captain, if I might make a suggestion?"
She gave Chakotay a curt nod.
"From the little I've witnessed, it's clear that these episodes cause Ensign Paris a substantial amount of distress, it is my recommendation that he receives counselling to discover what is causing them so we can prevent their occurrence. I would like to volunteer my services as unofficial counsellor."
Tom's head snapped round to glare at Chakotay. No way! There was no way in hell that he was going to spill his guts to Chakotay of all people.
"Captain, there's really no need for that, I'm perfectly fine, I just have a little trouble sleeping now and then." Tom insisted.
"Ensign, if what Commander Chakotay says is accurate, then you have done a good job of managing, up until now. However, it's become apparent that it's started to affect your performance, as we have seen this morning. With that in mind, I'm inclined to agree with Commander Chakotay." She held a hand up to silence Tom when she saw his mouth open, ready to protest. "I need everyone at peak efficiency, Ensign. You will begin after your shift today. Dismissed."
Tom spun round and strode out of the office in silence, not trusting himself to speak. He sat down at his station and fumed away the rest of the shift, dreading its end but also eager for the chance it would give him to ask Chakotay what the hell he thought he was doing.