How To Save A Life- Chapter 10
Earth
"Wow." Tom's mother said quietly. "That's what that alien said to you?"
"Yep." Tom replied.
Tom Paris had just explained to his mother and his sisters, Kathleen and Moria, the pros and cons on letting Jadzia live and also letting her die. While his sisters and mother were sitting at the small table, Tom was pacing around behind each. He didn't want to sit down, for fear of falling asleep. That was why he was on his third cup of coffee…and it had only been one hour since he arrived.
"Tom, maybe you shouldn't be drinking that much coffee." His mother, Maggie, said. "It's not good for you."
"I've been awake for a long time, mom, I just need a little boost." Tom replied.
"How long have you been awake?" Maggie asked concern obvious in her voice.
Tom thought for a second. "That doesn't matter." He answered.
"Tom" Maggie started in a more forceful tone. "How long?"
"I don't know…I haven't kept track, mom." Tom replied looking at his mother.
"Thomas Eugene Paris, I know when you are lying to me. Now tell me, how long?" Maggie asked.
"Fine. I've been up for roughly two and a half days." Tom answered. "Can we get back to the point?"
"You're no good to Jadzia like this, Tom." Kathleen said. "Go to sleep, I'm sure that letter of the alphabet can wait."
Tom shook his head. "No, I want you guys to help me figure out what to do." Tom said. "Then I'm going to go back to Deep Space Nine and do it. After that, I'm going home."
"I don't think Q will let you stay here, Tom." Moria said. "He seems somewhat devious."
Tom looked at each one for a second. "I meant Voyager." Tom murmured. "Voyager's where I belong."
"You can't be serious." Kathleen started. "You're here now and this Q person is willing to take you from DS9 back to here. This is your home, you have a chance to help dad specify where Voyager is and hopefully start a communication between the ship and Earth. You could do so much more stuff here than you can on Voyager."
"But it wouldn't be fair." Tom replied. "I didn't have the best of luck on Earth. If I came back when there are people on Voyager that have husbands or wives and kids, it just wouldn't be fair."
"Tommy, life isn't fair, just come back and stay with us." Kathleen said.
"I'm not going to talk about this. We have to get back on topic." Tom said with frustration in his voice.
"I say let her live." Moria spoke up. "If you can save her, go for it."
"If saving Jadzia means her having a miscarriage and her marriage fall apart, I think you should let her die." Maggie said. "I couldn't imagine living after losing any one of you before you were born, let alone two."
The three of them looked at Kathleen who had gone quiet since her mini-spat with Tom. Kathleen looked back at the group and shrugged.
"I don't know." Kathleen murmured. "I'm stuck in the middle, I'm sorry Tommy."
Tom offered a small smile. "It's alright." Tom said. "I know the feeling. Well, I better go."
"Go? So soon? But we've barely gotten the chance to talk." Maggie said standing up.
"Mom…it's just not fair. Besides, I think I know what I'm going to do." Tom replied.
"I don't care about fair!" Maggie started with a raised voice. "You keep saying that it's not fair to your crew, well, did you ever realize that's it's not fair to us Thomas? We thought you were gone forever, but now you're alive. We just want to talk to you Tom."
"I know Mom, I know." Tom answered. "But you aren't going to remember this at all, none of you will. I have to go now, mom, I'm sorry."
Tom started to leave after hugging his sisters and his mother. Though all of them continued to protest his leaving, he waved goodbye to all of them then walked out of the door. Q appeared next to Tom after he closed the door behind him.
"I want to come back here after I deal with Jadzia." Tom said to Q as they continued to walk away from the house.
"I can't let you talk to them." Q replied.
"I know, but can I least tell her that I'm alright?" Tom asked.
"Paris, as much as you might want to, I can't let you." Q answered. They stopped on the sidewalk outside of the house, facing each other. "Are you ready to leave?"
Tom looked at the ground then at Q. "Yeah, let's go." Tom responded. Q snapped his fingers and they were back on the Promenade of Deep Space 9.