Disclaimer:  I don't own the ship, the crew, or anything. Chapter 3 – Doctors Orders

The doctor was in sickbay as Lieutenant Paris marched through the doors. He looked up, "What can I do for you Lieutenant?"

"Actually Doc its more a case of what I can do for you", Tom said with a failed attempt at a smile.

"I see. I'm afraid I can't accommodate you, Mr Paris", the Doctor said grimly, a look of concern on his holographic face.

"What, why the hell not?" Tom said raising his voice, fighting a loosing battle to control his anger.

"The Commander and I thought it best if you took a few days off, you've been over working yourself recently", the Doctor tried to be sympathetic, but the look on Paris' face equalled that of the Captain's death glare.

"I'm going to see Chakotay, I thought he'd be glad I was taking my work so seriously," Tom almost yelled.

With that Tom stormed out of sickbay, maybe he had been a bit rash in his attitude towards the doctor, but working was his only source of relief for now. Out in the corridor Tom let out a long sigh, god, he hadn't slept in days. Ignoring this he asked the computer to locate the commander.

"Commander Chakotay is in his quarters" came the dull reply.

So emotionless he thought, if only he could be like that. Usually when something bad happened he'd drink his way out of it, but not this time, he was a reformed character.

Stepping into the turbo lift he leaned back against the cool wall. Closing his eyes he could see her dancing behind them, smiling, laughing, sighing he whispered "Why? Why her?" The turbo lift came to a stop and he got out, his anger had dissipated but he was going to make sure he could do both his shifts in sickbay tomorrow.

Walking stoically down the corridor his face a mask of determination and shut out pain, he lingered outside the Captain's quarters. Deciding not to ring the chime he carried on up the corridor to the door of the Commander's quarters. Taking a deep breath he rang the chime, "Well here goes nothing" he muttered.

-Fin-