Disclaimer and A/N see chapter 1.
*****
"Look, Mister Paris, my decision is final."
"But Captain, you don't understand, if there were anything wrong, which there is not, the last man on this ship I would want to share it with would be Commander Chakotay."
"I'm well aware of the somewhat...strained relationship that the two of you share, but I'm sure that the Commander won't treat you any differently than he would any other member of this crew who needed to talk over a problem with him."
Tom couldn't prevent a small sigh of frustration escaping his lips; he did however manage to refrain from holding his head in his hands, as he was very tempted to do. He'd been trying to persuade the Captain for the past ten minutes and they were going round in circles. He couldn't understand how the Captain couldn't see that there was no point in counselling if he wasn't comfortable with the counsellor.
"Captain, surely there is someone else..."
"The only other possible candidates would be Tuvok and the Doctor. Tuvok already has enough on his plate as it is dealing with other crew members and that leaves the Doctor."
Tom remained silent, but evidentially the look of disapproval on his face was enough to inform the Captain of his thoughts, so she carried on.
"Exactly. So I take it that's decided, it will be Commander Chakotay. And besides, it might even help you two to get on a little better, because to be quite frank, mister Paris, if the relationship between you two doesn't improve soon, I'm going to be very tempted to knock your heads together."
"I hardly think this is the time, place or situation for bonding sessions."
The Captain studied him for a moment and then said in a quiet, shrewd but not in any way unkind voice,
"I thought it was nothing, Tom. I thought you were perfectly fine, and it was just that you have a little trouble sleeping."
"Exactly, like I said, nothing's wrong." He replied, but a little warily, he knew that tone of voice she was using.
"Then you shouldn't have any difficulty talking about 'nothing' with the Commander. If there's nothing wrong, surely you won't have any qualms about talking things through with him."
Again, Tom was merely silent; she had a point.
The Captain leant forward with a small compassionate smile,
"I know it's not ideal, but if it helps you then it'll have all been worth it."
Great, that was all he needed, sympathy from the Captain.
"Yes, Captain." He replied tersely as he stood and strode toward the door. Just as he was leaving, the Captain called after him...
"And try not to kill each other."
*****
"Look, Mister Paris, my decision is final."
"But Captain, you don't understand, if there were anything wrong, which there is not, the last man on this ship I would want to share it with would be Commander Chakotay."
"I'm well aware of the somewhat...strained relationship that the two of you share, but I'm sure that the Commander won't treat you any differently than he would any other member of this crew who needed to talk over a problem with him."
Tom couldn't prevent a small sigh of frustration escaping his lips; he did however manage to refrain from holding his head in his hands, as he was very tempted to do. He'd been trying to persuade the Captain for the past ten minutes and they were going round in circles. He couldn't understand how the Captain couldn't see that there was no point in counselling if he wasn't comfortable with the counsellor.
"Captain, surely there is someone else..."
"The only other possible candidates would be Tuvok and the Doctor. Tuvok already has enough on his plate as it is dealing with other crew members and that leaves the Doctor."
Tom remained silent, but evidentially the look of disapproval on his face was enough to inform the Captain of his thoughts, so she carried on.
"Exactly. So I take it that's decided, it will be Commander Chakotay. And besides, it might even help you two to get on a little better, because to be quite frank, mister Paris, if the relationship between you two doesn't improve soon, I'm going to be very tempted to knock your heads together."
"I hardly think this is the time, place or situation for bonding sessions."
The Captain studied him for a moment and then said in a quiet, shrewd but not in any way unkind voice,
"I thought it was nothing, Tom. I thought you were perfectly fine, and it was just that you have a little trouble sleeping."
"Exactly, like I said, nothing's wrong." He replied, but a little warily, he knew that tone of voice she was using.
"Then you shouldn't have any difficulty talking about 'nothing' with the Commander. If there's nothing wrong, surely you won't have any qualms about talking things through with him."
Again, Tom was merely silent; she had a point.
The Captain leant forward with a small compassionate smile,
"I know it's not ideal, but if it helps you then it'll have all been worth it."
Great, that was all he needed, sympathy from the Captain.
"Yes, Captain." He replied tersely as he stood and strode toward the door. Just as he was leaving, the Captain called after him...
"And try not to kill each other."