Author's Notes: I apologize for not only the long delay but revised edit of this Chapter. I was trying to get a chapter out as fast as possible so I just threw a bunch of ideas together randomly. And I am sorry for that. I am going through the episodes and other fics to give me ideas. So please bear with me.

Chapter Six

Kathryn was going through reports in her ready room. Tuvok's last report disturbed her a little. He was looking a murder investigation. Yes, that's right. A member of her crew was murder by possibly of their own. Resting her elbow on the table, she rubbed her forehead.

"Why would someone want to do this? We are a family." Kathryn said to the silence in the ready room.

There was a chime at the door. She pulled herself out of her thoughts to slam her command mask on. However, the one who entered wasn't just any order crew member. It was Tom. He had two PADDs in his hands.

Tom tilted his head ever so slightly. He noticed his Captain was hurting. Time to go into boyfriend mode.

"Are you alright, Kat?"

Kathryn smiled. Tom knew her longer than anyone else. Even longer than Tuvok did. It then faded as she shook her head. Tears were ready to fall, but she held them back.

"Is this about the murder?" Tom asked.

She winced at the question. "I don't know what to think about this. We are a family, Tommy."

"Oh Kathryn. Come here." Tom placed the PADDs on the desk before he went over to Kathryn's side. He pulled her into his arms, holding her tightly.

Kathryn couldn't hold back anymore. She let herself break down in her pilot's arms. Then again he wasn't just her pilot anymore. Tom and her were a couple again. In secret though.

She wasn't ready to tell the crew. Yet.

They stayed like that for a good bit. Tom waited till Kathryn was fully well before he let go. He wiped the tears from her eyes with his thumbs.

"Thank you for being here, babe. I don't know if I could get through this without you."

Tom smiled. He then pecked her on the lips.

"I'm alright." Kathryn smiled.

She reached for the PADDs that Tom brought in with him. She needed a distraction anyway. One was his pilot's report. The other was his report from his covert mission.

Bracing himself on the desk, Tom stood. "I actually had something to ask of you."

Kathryn turned her attention to Tom. She raised an eyebrow.

Tom defensively held up his hands. "It's nothing too bad. Honestly."

"Now why do I find that hard to believe?" Kathryn teased.

Tom smiled. "I was wondering if I could start a betting pool."

"You know how I feel about gambling, Mister Paris." Kathryn said, narrowing her eyes.

"Yes, but…."

It then hit Kathryn. "You are doing this for the mission."

Tom nodded his head. "Yes ma'am."

Kathryn smiled and shook her head. "Let me guess….you'll be betting replicator rations."

Tom chuckled. "You know me so well."

"What's this?"

Kathryn asked about the picnic in one of the shuttles. Tom set up a blanket on the floor. He had a picnic basket next to him. However it was just for show. There was two plates with a bowl on top of each with what looked like soup. Her favorite soup. There was also some cheese and crackers, whine, and a smaller bowl of what looked like coffee ice cream.

"I won the betting pool. So I had enough replicator rations for us to enjoy a lovely picnic." Tom explained.

Kathryn shook her head. She forgot that she approved for Tom to do the betting pool. She just wasn't expecting him to win 3 times in a row. He had enough replicator rations to last for at least a month.

"You know, I thought about joining the betting pool." Kathryn joked.

"Oh really? What about your image?" Tom said, nuzzling Kathryn.

Kathryn chuckled. "Just promise me something, babe."

"Yes?"

Kathryn met Tom's blue eyes. "Don't do anything that will compromise your career. I can only do so much, honey."

"Yes ma'am." Tom said.

"No ma'am. I am Kathryn or Kat right now."

Tom smiled. "Does that mean I can kiss you?"

Kathryn didn't say anything. She leaned in and kissed Tom passionately.

"Does that answer your question?" Kathryn asked when she broke the kiss.

Tom grabbed the back of her head to kiss her once again. The food was ignored as they kissed.

"I was thinking…" Tom's fingers moved down Kathryn's side, making her shudder. "We could just go right to the desert."

Kathryn was ready to give Tom whatever he wanted, but then her communicator chirped.

"Sickbay to Janeway."

Tom growled. He decided to attack Kathryn's throat so she could talk to the Doctor.

Kathryn swallowed. "Janeway here. Go ahead Doctor."

"I suggest you come to Sickbay. We have some things that we need to discuss."

Janeway sighed. She reluctantly pulled Tom off of her.

"I'll be right there." Kathryn said.

She quickly bid Tom bye before leaving.

After Tuvok insulted her in Sickbay, Kathryn felt heart broken. The rational side of her knew it was because of the Meld, but the emotional side of her wanted to hide away and cry. She practically ran the whole way to the turbolift.

Only when she was in the safety in her quarters did she break down. Pulling her legs to her chest, she hid her face in her knees. She needed to calm down. Tuvok didn't mean anything he said. Did he?

Tom was on the holodeck. Chakotay just confiscated the pool and said that he was going on report. However, after getting in his commanding officers' face, he got a weird feeling. A feeling that he didn't like. Thankfully he didn't have to think about it for too long.

"Janeway to Paris. Please report to my quarters!"

Kat? She sounds like she's crying.

Tom slapped his communicator. "Paris here. I'm on my way, Captain."

Chakotay grabbed Tom's arm, stopping him from going to comfort Kathryn. Tom glared at the first officer.

"Are you alright, Kathryn?"

"I just need our pilot, Commander." Kathryn said.

"Don't worry Captain, I am on my way. Once Chakotay lets go of my arm."

Reluctantly, Chakotay let go of Tom so he could tend to Kathryn. There was nothing but anger and pain in the back of his mind though. And he will do whatever it took to find out what was going on between his girl and the precious pilot.