By the end of her third week on Quarra, B'Elanna finally felt as if she'd settled into a comfortable routine. Most of her social interactions were limited to a brief discussion with Amina at shift change, and of course, with Tom when she stopped into the restaurant. Tom usually had more time to talk to her in the afternoon, when the restaurant was less crowded, but late night, he would check in with her often, but given Umali's watchful eye, he usually didn't linger at her table long.
And if she was being honest with herself, B'Elanna preferred the afternoons; her favorite table, the one right in front of the bar, was almost always available. Tom had even stopped asking for permission to sit down at her table; he just did.
She learned he was from Earth, and his stories were the same as everyone else's: that world was crowded and riddled with crime and unemployment was high. He had two sisters, he said, and his father had been a high-ranking member of a space exploration force.
"He wanted me to follow in his footsteps," Tom said one afternoon, "but I got space-sick during my first semester of Basic Flight and had to drop out." He shrugged as he sipped his coffee. "My decision frustrated him, of course, and I don't think we've talked in a long time." He sighed. "It's probably better that way."
B'Elanna shifted in her seat. "I don't remember the last time I talked to my parents either," she said. Then she laughed self-deprecatingly. "Maybe I disappointed them too."
Tom's eyes had a faraway look in them. "I guess that's something we have in common."
He told her he used to live in the Employee Housing, but that was before his argument with the efficiency monitor. Now he lived in a one-room apartment in thirty-story concrete tower about twenty minutes away.
"I have a mattress on the floor, and I managed to find a chair and table that another tenant left on the curb. I keep meaning to get more furniture, but it's a small place and I don't need much. I'm used to living in cramped places." He acted nonchalant about the situation, but B'Elanna thought his living conditions sounded dreadful.
"It doesn't sound like a home," she said hesitantly.
Tom shrugged. "It's just a place to sleep, to be honest. And besides, I spend most of my time at the restaurant," Tom added. With a suggestive smirk, he added, "The company is better here." He nudged a plate of cheese and bread in B'Elanna's direction. "You have to eat something."
B'Elanna picked at the cheese, took a bite because she knew it would make him happy, and then put it down as her stomachs lurched. Tom's expression turned anxious.
"You don't like it," he said worriedly. "I can get you something else. What about peanut butter toast?"
B'Elanna blanched at the unappealing suggestion. "No, that's all right. I'm not really hungry."
"When was the last time you ate?"
B'Elanna considered. "When I woke up. Around ten."
"It's been hours then. You have a long shift in front of you and you have to keep your energy up."
The genuine concern in his tone caught B'Elanna's attention. Not for the first time, she wondered why Tom seemed so interested in her. Once she'd made it clear to him that she wasn't interested in a romantic relationship, she assumed he'd move on to one of the other women who frequented the restaurant. And yes, there were occasions when she saw Tom flirting while taking or delivering an order, but he always returned to her.
"I really don't feel like eating right now," B'Elanna told him, placing her hand lightly on her stomach. "I've just had a hard time keeping food down for the last day. Everything looks and tastes awful."
"You should ask your doctor—"
"I don't want to go back to that hospital," B'Elanna said with an expected burst of anger. And then she frowned in confusion. Where the hell had that come from? Tom watched her carefully.
"What is it?" he asked.
"I don't think I've been—I mean, I don't remember, but I have the feeling I shouldn't go there," B'Elanna said. She shifted uncomfortably in her seat. The baby had decided to place a foot right underneath her ribcage. "It's ridiculous, right?"
"I don't like being poked and prodded by doctors, so I understand where you're coming from. Plus, they seem to have such egos, don't they?" Tom's eyes narrowed at the edges, his brow furrowing in confusion. For a moment, he seemed lost in thought, and then he added, "But I- I had a short stint working in a clinic back on Earth." Tom's lips turned upwards into an uneasy smile. "I guess I wasn't any good at that job either so here I am. Quarra, a world of second chances." He caught sight of Umali giving him a warning look. He sighed and got up from his seat. "I ought to get back to work, but you're pregnant, and can't avoid doctors indefinitely. If it will make you feel better, I'll go with you."
"Thanks, but you don't have to do that," B'Elanna said. She genuinely appreciated the offer, but she also didn't want to ask more of Tom than he wanted to give. After all, he wasn't the father and it wasn't fair to push him into a role that wasn't his.
"I know," Tom said, smiling in a way she was rapidly finding irresistible. "But I'd like to." He pushed his chair in and with a side-glance in Umali's direction, he asked, "You'll be here tonight?"
"Yes."
Tom grinned. "Great. I'll see you then."
The funny thing was, B'Elanna thought, was that he probably really meant it. And if she was being perfectly honest with herself, she was looking forward to seeing him too.
The next night, when B'Elanna arrived at the restaurant after her shift, Tom surprised her by greeting her at the door. He was dressed in his usual uniform of blue-grey shirt with a tan colored vest over it.
"You're right on time," he said enthusiastically, taking her elbow and propelling her into the crowded restaurant.
"What are you talking about?" B'Elanna asked irritably. It had been a long night at the facility and she really wasn't in the mood for small talk. Her back and feet hurt, and her arm ached from the inoculation she'd received at the start of her shift. Her head felt foggier than usual, and she'd made a minor error at work that had earned the wrath of the omnipresent efficiency monitor. While the mistake had little impact on overall operational conditions, the monitor had said in an ominous tone, it would likely jeopardize B'Elanna's transfer to another department.
All B'Elanna wanted to do was settle down at her usual table, attempt to eat something while enjoying the last chapter of her book. And then she wanted to go home, burrow in her bed, and pretend this day had never happen.
"Joelly and Marchin are here," Tom said.
"Who?" B'Elanna pressed her palm to her forehead. She had just the slightest of headaches; a side effect of the inoculations, the nurse had warned her earlier. She'd also been reassured the injections were perfectly safe for the baby, but B'Elanna couldn't quite shake the feeling something wasn't right. Still, she'd watched Amina queue up calmly with the others for an injection, and after a pensive five minutes, B'Elanna had joined her colleague in the line. "I don't know who they are."
"The couple I wanted to introduce you to… the ones who are expecting a baby in a few weeks?"
"Now?" B'Elanna asked in dismay. "Tom, I'm tired and my head hurts."
"Just come say hi and I think I've got an analgesic in my bag." The pleading expression on his face was so endearing that B'Elanna allowed him to lead her to a table where a couple sat, each with glass of a purple liquid topped with a blue and white streaked cloud of foam. "Joelly, Marchin, this is B'Elanna."
Joelly, a Quarran woman approximately B'Elanna's age and dressed in the familiar blue uniform of the Power Facility, smiled a welcome while Marchin rose, pulled out a chair and gestured for B'Elanna to have a seat. She obliged and it felt good to get off her swollen feet.
"We've been looking forward to meeting you," Joelly said, leaning her weight forward on her elbows, the tips of her orange hair brushing her cheeks. "Tom told us all about you."
"Joelly and Marchin met at this restaurant a few years ago when Umali introduced them. Now they're regulars," Tom said, taking a step closer to B'Elanna. He rested his hand on the back of B'Elanna's chair, and the tips of his fingers brushed against her shoulders. Just that hint of warmth caused B'Elanna to relax a little and she didn't mind that Tom didn't immediately move his hand.
"The place brings back a lot of good memories," Marchin said. "Plus, the food is decent and the service's not bad either." His eyes twinkled as he nodded in Tom's direction. "Speaking of which, are you planning to eat, B'Elanna? We already ordered our food, but we're happy to wait for you."
"Yes," B'Elanna said. She was about to reach for the green leather folder that held the menu, but Tom leaned down, his lips very close to her ears.
"I've got an idea," he said sotto voce. "Do you trust me?"
B'Elanna's lips curled into amusement. "That's a big question. I've only known you for a few days."
He squeezed her shoulder. "You won't be sorry," he said softly. With that, Tom swung behind the counter and disappeared into the kitchen. B'Elanna stared after him. I already am, she thought.
"Tom said this is your first baby." Joelly took a sip of her drink, licking away some remnants of foam from her lips. "Our baby is due in ten weeks. Tom said you had sixteen weeks left to go?"
B'Elanna nodded. "That's about right."
"Have you chosen a hospital to give birth at yet?" Joelly asked.
"A hospital?" B'Elanna couldn't help the shiver that ran down her back.
"There are four in the city. We plan to go to the Municipal hospital. It's the biggest one, plus it's nearby. If you want, I can take you there so you can look around. Of course, it helps to go to the same hospital where your doctor is."
"I don't have a doctor," B'Elanna said self-consciously. She'd had the mandatory physical given to all employees at the Power Distribution Facility, but she hadn't even thought of finding her own doctor until Tom had brought it up the other day. Suddenly, she was terribly, horribly afraid. What if something was wrong with the baby? She put her hand on her stomach and was relieved to feel the baby kick energetically in response.
"We'll help you," Joelly said quickly. "You're already doing so much alone; let us help you. If you're free tomorrow, I can introduce you to my doctor."
"That would be nice, thank you," B'Elanna said gratefully. "Tom offered to go with me, but—it seems like a lot to ask of him and I don't want to impose."
"You're not imposing. We want to help," Joelly said gently. Marchin nodded.
"Having a baby, it's overwhelming, we know," Marchin said. "The responsibility, wow. I'm not sure, even now, whether we're ready."
"Marchin," Joelly said in a warning voice.
"It's all right. I know what he means," B'Elanna said shakily. Tension tightened the muscles in her shoulders, and the dull thudding in her head growing stronger. Hadn't Tom promised her a painkiller? She twisted in her seat to look for Tom. Unsurprisingly, he was making conversation with a trio of women.
"Tom seems to really like you," Joelly said, noting the direction of B'Elanna's gaze.
"He's just being nice," B'Elanna said, pressing the heel of her hand against the center of her head, as if pushing the pain away.
"He's new to Quarra, like you, but he seems to fit in so easily," Marchin said. He finished off his drink and let out a satisfied sigh. "There are a lot of new people here lately. It used to be impossible to find enough workers to fill all the jobs and in the last few months, it's changed a lot. Now it's getting harder to find a job. Not," he said hastily, "that I'd change positions. The Power Facility is the best place to work. Don't you think so, B'Elanna?"
Since she had nothing to compare her current work situation with, B'Elanna merely nodded in agreement. For the next few minutes, the three of them made small talk, with Joelly and Marchin making recommendations on where B'Elanna could buy a crib and other such items. They also gave B'Elanna advice on how to navigate the personnel resources department at the Power Facility and how much leave she could expect to receive once the baby came. Their conversation was interrupted by Tom finally arriving with their food. He served Joelly and Marchin and then placed a plate in front of B'Elanna,
"Fried chicken and potato salad," Tom said triumphantly. B'Elanna eyed the pile of crispy and breaded chicken and the mound of yellow potatoes tossed in a creamy sauce and sprinkled with a dash of row powder with curiosity. "I've got a good feeling you're really going to like this." Tom's lips turned up into a boyish grin. "I promise."
After a moment of trepidation, B'Elanna bit into the chicken. The outer layer crunched exquisitely, and inside, the meat was moist and juicy, perfectly cooked with just the barest hint of seasoning. She took a second bite, and then third. Finally, after finishing off the first piece, she nodded.
"I like it," B'Elanna declared. Tom looked relieved.
"I'm glad to hear it," he said, "and oh, I almost forgot." In a smooth and quick gesture, pressed a hypospray against her neck. B'Elanna's headache eased almost instantaneously.
"Thanks," she said gratefully.
"Sorry it took me so long," Tom said. He made a slight gesture indicating the women whose table he'd been waiting on earlier. "My other customers had a really hard time deciding what to order and were taking forever. They ended up getting one of everything." He rolled his eyes.
"You'll earn your tips tonight," Marchin said, grinning. "I think you have a fan club, Tom."
Tom's eyes clouded, but then he cleared his throat. "Well, I could use the extra money. I've been thinking about moving to a new place," he said. He gave a meaningful look in B'Elanna's direction. "Somewhere that feels more like a home. I guess I should have thought about that before I picked a fight with the efficiency monitor after all, huh? I could have stayed in Employee Housing and—" he paused again, his blue eyes blinking in confusion.
"Is everything all right?" B'Elanna asked, alarmed. This was the second time she'd noticed Tom in a state of disorientation, and it made her nervous for him. And it occurred to her that like her, Tom didn't have anyone else to look after him on Quarra. "Should we call a doctor?"
"No, no, I'm fine," Tom said with a heavy sigh. He ran his hand through his hair, and the nervous gesture caught B'Elanna's eye. Clearly something was bothering Tom, but he didn't seem like he wanted to talk about it. In fact, he was watching people entering through the front door, almost transfixed. After a moment, he seemed to realize Joelly, Marchin and B'Elanna were all staring at him. "Oh, I just got distracted."
"'Distracted'? Is that what we call it these days?" Marchin asked with a grin.
"Marchin!" Joelly said, aiming a good-natured punch at her husband's arm. Marchin rubbed the sore spot ruefully but didn't seem to be bothered. Instead, he leaned over and placed a light kiss on his wife's cheek. Joelly's face colored prettily as she returned the gesture. B'Elanna looked away, her fingers twisting together; she hated feeling as if she was interrupting a private moment. She twisted to look up at Tom, but he still seemed to be in a daze.
"Tom," she said, placing her hand lightly on his forearm. "Do you want to sit down?"
"I would, but..." Tom gestured at two newcomers who had just come in. One man was of medium height with mottled skin and yellow tufted hair. The other was taller with black hair, his eyes set deep beneath a heavy forehead ridge. "I'll come and check on you later, okay?"
B'Elanna nodded. She watched Tom approach the two men, and they walked with him to the bar. Satisfied that Tom seemed okay for the moment, B'Elanna turned her attention back to her food.
"You must live in Employees' Housing, right?" Joelly asked, twirling her fork around some long strands of noodles.
"Yes, I'm in building 3C."
"That's on the other side of the complex from us. We're in 22D. Maybe you can move closer to us."
"As a matter of fact, I am thinking of moving. I'm on the second floor right now, but I'd like something on the ground floor. Or, at the very least, a building with a lift."
Joelly laughed. "I know the feeling. We're on the ground floor so we have a little yard. Once the baby's big enough, we'll probably put in a swing or maybe a small slide."
"That sounds nice," B'Elanna said wistfully. She imagined warm summer nights, pushing her baby in a swing, and then in a few years, she could see her child playing with the other children, kicking a ball through a pair of goal posts.
"Look," Marchin said, his expression turning serious. "Anytime you need anything, just ask. Tom told us a little about your situation. This isn't the time to be proud."
"Thank you. I appreciate your kindness," B'Elanna said quietly. "And don't feel sorry for me. Believe me, I spend enough time pitying myself and it's about time I stopped doing."
"Good for you," Marchin said approvingly. B'Elanna finished her potato salad and glanced up just in time to see Kathryn pass by with an attractive man. The two seemed deeply engrossed in conversation and didn't notice B'Elanna as they passed by her table.
"Do you enjoy your work?" Joelly asked.
B'Elanna shrugged. Enjoy was such a relative term. While she truly believed life on Quarra was better than on Kessik, she wasn't sure she enjoyed life more. "Well, it's much better than my last job but I submitted an application to the engineering department. I think it might be a better fit for me."
"Sounds like a good move to make if you can," Marchin said. "While we are blessed with good employers, some of the work can be extremely dull."
"We'll see. I had a run-in with the efficiency monitor today and if she has her way, I'll be scrutinizing the power grid for the rest of my life," B'Elanna said grimly.
"I know the supervisor in the engineering department," Marchin said. "I'll put in a good word for you during my next shift."
"I appreciate that." B'Elanna smiled at the couple, enjoying the way her facial muscles relaxed as her lips turned upward. She would have to thank Tom later for introducing her to the couple. But she was also very aware that despite the couple's offer of support, she really could only depend on herself.
After the meal was over, Marchin insisted on paying for B'Elanna's dinner over her protests.
"It's what friends do," Joelly said warmly.
That Joelly would consider her a friend was nothing short of astonishing. B'Elanna never thought of herself as someone who had friends. She quickly recovered her composure. "It was nice meeting you," B'Elanna said with the slightest crack in her voice.
"I'll call you tomorrow to arrange an appointment to meet my doctor," Joelly said. "Thanks for joining us." She gave B'Elanna a quick hug and then followed Marchin out the front door.
B'Elanna draped her coat over her arm and was halfway to the door when Tom called out to her.
"B'Elanna!" Tom called out to her from behind the bar. He quickened his step to close the gap between them. "I'm due for a break. I'll walk you to the transport."
As much as she appreciated the offer, B'Elanna craved some quiet to gather her thoughts and it would be impossible to concentrate with Tom beside her.
"Stop worrying. I'll be fine," she said.
"It's not you I'm worried about," Tom said, and she was struck by the warm timbre of his voice.
"The baby will be fine too," B'Elanna said. She contemplated telling him she would see him the next day, decided it might be presumptuous. She flashed a smile at Tom, one that she hoped was warm and showed gratitude for his consideration, before heading out into the night.