How To Save A Life- Chapter 6

Voyager

B'Elanna Torres was staring at the view screen in awe. On it was her boyfriend, Tom Paris, practically pouring his heart out. She didn't really pay much attention to what he said after "I love B'Elanna." She knew he cared for her deeply, but didn't think that he loved her. Tom never said anything and now she knew why.

"Captain, we have to get this off the view screen." Chakotay said interrupting the silence. "This is his private business."

"Agreed." Janeway simply stated, still looking at the viewscreen. "But we've been trying for several hours, and I don't think we can do it."

"Captain, maybe you, B'Elanna, and Harry should take a break, you've all been up for almost two days." Chakotay whispered to her. Janeway didn't move, didn't say anything.

"No, Chakotay, we need to help him." Janeway replied. "I want all available personnel to look over reports of different species. Get Seven up here; I want her knowledge on different species the Borg have encountered. We're going to help him, Chakotay; he'll get home faster that way."

Deep Space Nine

Tom Paris and Q were still in Jadzia and Worf's quarters. Tom was still looking over different reports on species. He and Q hadn't spoken for nearly an hour since Tom yelled at him. But Q, of course, didn't enjoy silence.

"How long were you and Jadzia together?" Q asked.

Tom had to think for a moment. "A little over a year." Tom replied. "If you want to be exact…I started dating her the summer before my sophomore year at the Academy which would be before her senior year."

"Why did you break up?" Q questioned. Tom was obviously a little annoyed that Q was asking questions this personal that he hadn't discussed with anyone.

"She was graduating and I still had two years to go." Tom answered simply. "We thought it would be best to break up since we would be apart for long periods of time."

"That's a rather poor excuse." Q said.

"And that's why we never really had closure on our relationship." Tom responded.

4 Years Ago…

Tom Paris, newly released from prison was walked out of the shuttle that had taken him to the station. Stadi, the pilot of the shuttle, had told him which Docking port Voyager was located and they split ways. He looked around at the large station, it had been awhile since he was away from prison and he was going to enjoy it to the fullest extent. Tom wasn't looking where he was going and literally ran into someone else. But Tom was able to grab the person before they fell.

"I'm so sorry." Tom started, but stopped when he realized who he was talking to. The woman stared back at him in amazement.

"Tom?" She asked; completely ignoring the man, Commander Sisko, standing next to her asking if she was alright.

"Hey Jadzia." Tom replied. "Long time no see."

"You could say that." Jadzia responded. She began to hug Tom and they didn't stop hugging for awhile. "Oh, Tom, this is Commander Benjamin Sisko, he runs the station. Benjamin, this is Tom Paris."

"Hello, I'm guessing you're here for Voyager." Sisko said. He and Tom shook hands for a bit.

"Yes, I'm the 'observer'." Tom replied smiling. There was silence among the three of them, beginning to get somewhat uneasy.

"Well, I should let you two get reacquainted." Sisko said, breaking the silence. "It was nice meeting you, Paris; I hope you enjoy your journey."

"I'll try to, sir." Tom responded smiling. Sisko left after Jadzia, also said goodbye.

"Follow me." Jadzia said, practically ordering, and grabbed Tom's hand.

Jadzia lead Tom over to the turbolift. They got into the turbolift once it arrived. There were only a few others in the turbolift also, but soon they left, leaving Tom and Jadzia all alone. The second the doors closed, leaving only the two, Tom dropped his duffel bag and he and Jadzia began to kiss feverishly.

They continued to kiss for a long period of time as the turbolift made its way to where Jadzia's quarters were. But then it stopped suddenly and the doors opened to reveal Kira Nerys waiting there. Tom and Jadzia stopped kissing and went to opposite sides of the turbolift to make room for Kira, both were obviously embarrassed. Kira herself was also embarrassed and didn't really look at either one.

"Kira, this is Tom Paris." Jadzia said a bit timidly. Kira was a bit surprised that Jadzia spoke and nodded towards Tom. There was an uneasy silence between the three. "Umm, I would prefer, if you don't say anything to anyone, yet. About what you just saw that is."

"Oh, it's no problem, I won't say anything." Kira replied hesitantly.

The turbolift stopped at Jadzia's level and she motioned for Tom to follow her. Tom nodded towards Kira and grabbed his bag and left. Before the turbolift doors closed, Jadzia said something to Kira, so Tom couldn't hear.

"I'll explain everything later." Jadzia smiled and then left.

After they got to Jadzia's quarters, Tom dropped his bag again. They made love to each other in her quarters and once more again twenty minutes later. Once, they finished that, both were getting dressed in their clothes.

"Do you want to continue our relationship, Tom?" Jadzia asked. That made Tom stop dead in his tracks.

"I…I don't know." Tom replied.

"We can talk about it once Voyager gets back." Jadzia said.

"Okay, it's due back at the station in two weeks." Tom responded. "But I still have to talk with the parole board afterwards."

"I'll come with you." Jadzia stated. "If you don't mind that is."

Tom smiled and kissed Jadzia on the lips softly. "I don't mind you being around me at all." Tom answered. They kissed again and together left Jadzia's quarters. Both were thinking of whether or not to continue their relationship…and both were leaning towards 'yes'.

Deep Space Nine (Present)

"I can't believe you and her still aren't together." Q said in amazement. "I saw what Jadzia was like when I first visited here and you and she seem to…as you Terrans say 'click'."

"Well, now I 'click' with someone else." Tom replied smiling then went back to looking through the different species the Federation had encountered.

There was silence again between the two of them. Soon an hour had passed and Q was again beginning to get fidgety. Tom had been through five more reports and was running his hand through his hair for the umpteenth time. Suddenly, Tom stopped and had his hand still in his hair.

"Holy crap." Tom whispered.

"What?" Q asked interested. Tom didn't answer. "What, what is it?"

"I figured it out!" Tom said louder.

"Figured what out?" Q asked.

"I figured out how to save Jadzia!" Tom yelled.