A/N: This was chapter three. Due to slight changes, it is now chapter four, and has been altered to fit the additions. Probably wouldn't hurt to scan it, even if you read the original posting.

Chapter 4

Tom sighed for the fifth time that morning. Since Harry had been…miniaturized…he'd gotten in less trouble, if only because he didn't want to drag the kid along. He was glad to be off the Captain's worst side, but he wasn't sure the trade off was worth it. He now had an audience to everything he did. He knew Harry wouldn't leave his side, but the girl?

Naomi Wildmen wasn't bad. For a little kid, she was downright angelic. But she followed Harry everywhere the boy went, and since Harry followed Tom everywhere… She didn't do anything though. At least Harry tried to be helpful, handing Tom things when he asked for them and asking questions that didn't have endless "why?"s tacked onto them. Seven of Nine had spoiled Naomi, answering all the kids questions.

The three of them were in the cargo bay Tom had converted into a workspace for Alice. He thought he was almost done with her repairs a while ago, but apparently not. The few days he'd taken off to help Harry get reacquainted with the ship had cost him time as well. And Alice's incessant complaining about how much time he wasn't spending working on her was enough to make Tuvok cranky.

But now he was back and she'd calmed down again, at least somewhat. Harry was sitting nearby, passing him tools as he asked and generally being quiet. Naomi sat across the room, doing something with the latest PADD Seven had given her. Something about warp theory, or something like that. Maybe he could pawn her off on B'Elanna. Of course, that would mean going to Engineering and getting yelled at again, so there went that plan.

"Seven of Nine to Naomi Wildmen."

Tom heard the girl jump, dropping her PADD. "Yes?"

"Please report to Sick Bay. The Doctor says you are late for your make up lesson."

"Right away!" Picking up the PADD, the Naomi's feet wondered into Tom's view. "Harry, do you want to come with me? The Doctor's going to teach me about meiosis today." Harry's face peeked under Alice, seeking Tom's.

"Go on; I'll probably still be here when you're done. Alice isn't as finished as I'd thought." Harry nodded, then disappeared as he stood up. The tool box was pushed closer to Tom, then the boy wondered over to the door with Naomi. There was a hiss, and they were gone. "Hope it really is that interesting."

Does it matter? He's gone, you can get back to work.

"I've been working in here all day, and we were here yesterday too. Geez, Alice, lay off."

It's taking too long Tom. You know we only have a little time left before we have to go.

"Yeah, yeah, I know." Reaching for another tool, a conversation he'd had with Harry the other day floated back to mind. "Hey Alice, where are we going?"

What?

"You keep telling me we have to go, but you've never said where."

What brought this on?

"Harry was curious. It's a valid question."

Would you let it rest if I told you it was a surprise?

Tom sighed. He'd forgotten how irritating Alice could be. With Harry trailing around, he could see why people were getting so mad at him lately. If he was really channeling any part of Alice, he had to be getting on people's nerves like crazy! "Never mind Alice."

...

Alice frowned as Tom went back to work. Things were getting worse the longer the kids were around. The girl wasn't so bad. She'd probably be helpful if she kept dragging the boy away. But the boy was even harder to shake then his friend had been. What was his name? Harry? Funny that both kid and friend had the same name.

She ran another diagnostic on her systems. Tom was getting there, but if someone else wasn't assigned to look out for this kid, Tom wasn't going to finish in time. Harry was going to have to go, that was for sure. She couldn't influence both of them, and a child wasn't going to be of any help anyways.

Tom, can't someone else look out for the kid? There have to be plenty of people who would willingly do so, and you could work so much faster without him here.

"He's helping, and it's nice having Harry around. It gets lonely in here."

You never said anything about being lonely. Aren't I company enough?

Tom didn't reply, adding to the ship's annoyance. Everything had been so much easier. Apparently, children didn't realize when they weren't wanted. She knew she was losing her grip over Tom. There was only so much more she could do without damaging him, and she couldn't fly herself.

Maybe, if she pushed hard enough, they'd get there. The kid didn't seem to be impeding progress, Tom just felt like doing other things so the boy didn't get bored. If she could just keep Tom here and focused, perhaps Harry wouldn't matter. Tom would never be so far under her control that she could force him to abandon or harm the child, but she could more than likely make him care less for the kid's entertainment and more for her. That would have to do. They only had a little more than a day left.

...

Harry yawned again. Tom stifled a sigh and shoved out from under Alice. "What's up? You tired?" Harry nodded. "What time is it anyways?"

Almost midnight.

Tom grabbed a chronometer to check. So it was. "I'm sorry Harry, I didn't mean to work so late." The kid shrugged and yawned again.

But we're ready! Just a few last checks, and-

"We're not leaving tonight Alice. There's no way we could explain a trip out to…wherever at this hour. No way, no how. Besides, I'm tired too." Tom stood up and packed his tools back into their case. He knew Alice was right - they were so close, and a part of him wanted to test her out right away. But it was late, and with a yawning Harry in front of him, he really couldn't find it in him to break a rule like that. Tomorrow would be soon enough.

Barely. We're pushing it Tom.

"Come on Harry, let's go get some sleep." The boy nodded and reached for Tom's hand. Harry didn't look like he'd make it all the way back, so Tom picked him up instead, settling him against his shoulder. "How about this Har?" A sleepy nod was his only response.

Dropping the tool box on the bench, Tom made his way out of the cargo bay and back to his room.

...

Alice glared after Tom's retreating form. A few hours wouldn't hurt, it would probably help in all honesty, keep him alert, but again this concern for the kid. She just hoped Tom would remember what was important tomorrow. She'd be putting her all into convincing him, but if he really fought her, she would lose. No matter how much she'd…changed…over the years, she was supposed to be helpful, an assisting AI, not the pilot.

Regardless, she couldn't do anything until tomorrow. Tomorrow, she'd end this. It was time to go home.

TBC

A/N: Not too many changes, more tonal that anything. I haven't re-watched the episode yet, so there will probably be rewrites in the near future, but there is good news! The story is outlined through chapter eight! I'm pretty sure that'll be the last chapter, which means we're half way there! Only took...two years?