DISCLAIMER: I do not own any Star Trek contents.
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AFTER THIRTY DAYS – by YANNIK
Chapter Seven – NEELIX
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„Mister Paris!" Neelix exclaimed. "Today I made a specialty – for you. It's almost tomato soup. Almost, because I had no tomatoes, but it tastes nearly the same. And I only added salt and pepper. Well and some hekkish, but that's because I had no dried chili, and it's almost the same thing. Only a pinch. You want some?" the cook asked hopefully. Paris must notice his good will! He put away all his spices when making this dish. It was ugly, but hopefully it would satisfy pilot's taste.
"I'd love to, Neelix" Tom smiled, and took the bowl from cook's hands.
He went over to an empty table near the side of the room. Neelix hesitated. There were some people around, and alpha shift was almost over, so the crowd was expected soon, but he still had a minute or two. And it was his duty to talk to Paris. After all he was a morale officer, not just a cook.
"Are you feeling all right?" he asked, sitting across from Tom.
Pilot stopped with his spoon halfway to his mouth. He put it back down.
"Why are you asking?
"Not that there is a reason. I mean there is, obviously – you just spend thirty days in solitary confinement, and… well… I must admit you're dealing with it pretty well. I was expecting you to be in worse shape, but you're Tom Paris!" Neelix patted pilot's arm. "There needs to be more to break you. Not that there NEEDS to be, it's not what I meant, just that you're stronger than that." Neelix stopped suddenly. Tom was looking at him with humorous smile. "What?"
"Do you realize, that you're babbling?"
"Don't I always?"
"Yes, but that particular bout of eloquence makes me feel that you take it worse than I do. Is that so?"
Neelix was speechless.
"I stunned you! Then it must be true. Trust me my friend." Tom touched Talaxian's hand lightly. "I'm fine. Don't I look fine? You said yourself, than why doubts? Relax. I understand your role, and everybody else's for that matter. Even the Captain's" he drifted away a bit. "You all did what you had to do, and – truth be told – so did I. But that's not an issue here" his brows furrowed, but he dismissed the thought with a wave of his hand. "Where was I?"
"Relax…, you understand…"
"Yes. I understand, I do not blame you, nor hold any bad feeling for you. You don't have to pay me any debts, by preparing special tomato soup for me."
"Does that mean that you'll eat leola root too?" Neelix's spirit rose sky-high.
"No! Don't go that far!" Tom exclaimed, and in a second they both burst out laughing.
"Speaking of the Captain" Neelix rose his eyes, and noticed her entering the Mess Hall. Her gaze fell on them as well. "I need to return to my other duties."
"Of course!"
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t.b.c.
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