Disclaimer: I don't own any of the characters or the ship, or anything.

Better left uncovered-Part 2- Guilt

Lieutenant Tom Paris sat alone in his quarters, re-reading the letter that had changed his life. He had received it only a week ago, but it felt like longer. Since then his heart had been in his throat.

He had been trying to keep busy. Hell, he'd even increased his sickbay duties, which had caused both the Doctor and Commander Chakotay to question him, both concerned about his new "workaholic" attitude. It helped him a bit if he worked; it kept his mind off reality and the changes in his personal life, which he had no control over. God, was he being selfish or what, trying to distract himself when there were others suffering just as much, if not more.

The Captain hadn't spoken to Paris and he hadn't spoken to her since the last data stream from earth. It wasn't entirely his fault of course, Janeway had spent the last week locked away in her ready room when on duty, and locked away in her quarters when not. Tom hadn't wanted to intrude, and although he felt guilty about it, he couldn't face it and he guessed if she was feeling the same way he was she'd want to be alone anyway.

He put the pad back in the draw, grabbed his jacket from the bed and headed for sickbay, wiping a stray tear from his cheek on the way.

-Fin-

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