Disclaimer: All things Star Trek belong to CBS/Paramount. I only own my imagination.
Spoilers: Alter Ego. If you haven't seen it, this won't make much sense.
Author's Note: I have the ambition to keep these coming, but I also have a real life which can mess with me. Did anyone think for a moment that B'Elanna would let Vorik entertain her all evening during that luau? Of course not.
Tom spotted B'Elanna as she walked briskly towards him, not looking like she was particularly enjoying herself.
"So how was that table for two overlooking the lake?" he asked lightly as she stopped in front of him.
She looked up at him. "Good location, pretty views. Woody conversation," she replied and irritation seeped in to her voice. "Ensign Vorik is a capable engineer but he's not much of a conversationalist."
Tom chuckled. "He's Vulcan. What did you expect?" he asked.
"Less warp theory? I don't know. He's a decent enough colleague and I think he's trying to interact with the rest of us, but... " she blew out air. "He just doesn't have a clue," she concluded.
Tom gazed at her. She really didn't seem to see it, he thought. Vorik's attention was blatantly clear to anyone who kept their eyes on B'Elanna for five minutes, but somehow she seemed to have missed it completely. Perhaps she was ignoring it.
"Want more?" he asked as she placed the empty drink on a tray being carried past them.
"Something less spectacular would be fine." She followed the flamboyant beverage container with her eyes as it disappeared. "And with considerably less alcohol content," she quickly added and looked back at Tom.
"Of course," he said and walked over to the bar. B'Elanna slowly strolled after him looking around. The luau was in full swing and she nodded at people walking past. At a table on the other side of the open space she spotted the captain and Chakotay deep in discussion about something, all smiles and laughter. This evening the captain seemed to have left her captaincy on the bridge to become Kathryn Janeway. For Chakotay's sake B'Elanna hoped the captain would change her mind. She turned back towards the bar from where Tom now returned with two glasses in his hands.
"I got you plain orange juice, no umbrellas and glittery stuff," he said and held out one of the glasses towards her. "Nothing beats that kind of simplicity."
She took the glass from his hand, still keeping the captain and Chakotay in view. Tom followed her line of sight and discovered the pair as well.
"Look at that. That is definitely a woman in love," he exclaimed with a wide grin.
"And a man," B'Elanna said leaning closer to Tom as she said it so she could keep her voice down.
Tom looked down at her and smiled. "For his sake I really hope she will change her mind. She must know what something like this will do to him. Romantic atmosphere, them being able to forget about responsibility, civilian clothing... That could make anyone star struck," he mused.
B'Elanna peered up at him. "If it's the right person you're sharing the table with," she pointed out and made a face.
"Oh right," he said and chuckled again. "Ensign Vorik doesn't quite have the same charm as those two," Tom said and stirred the beverage with his straw before drinking.
"Not nearly," she said drily and had a sip of her juice as well.
He watched her for a moment as she was drinking. "B'Elanna, I don't think Vorik was just trying to fit in with that reservation for two," he said hesitatingly.
She looked at him. "You mean he's attracted to me," she replied. "Don't think I didn't notice. He's as subtle as a warp core breach."
"Something along those lines, though I'm not so sure he would admit to being attracted to anyone," he admitted with a lopsided smile.
B'Elanna burst out in to laughter. "What ever is he seeing in me?" she asked.
Tom raised his eyebrows. "I can think of several things actually," he answered.
"Really? I'm half Klingon. If there are any opposites in this universe, it has to Klingons and Vulcans. How could he ever think we have anything in common?" she pointed out in disbelief.
"On the surface it may look that way," Tom said. "You do actually have similarities. You are intelligent, both engineers and physically strong. And you're beautiful." B'Elanna looked away hoping Tom wouldn't notice that she was blushing. "As far as I know, Vorik isn't married. Logical as he is he has probably been looking at the female population and come to the conclusion that you are the one he should choose," he continued.
"How romantic," she said sarcastically.
"Vulcans aren't making decisions based on romance. Love is an emotion, so naturally that doesn't have much to do with it," Tom reminded her.
"Look, we're like oil and water so if it's a relationship he's after he'll have to look elsewhere," she said with emphasis.
"Tell him that, not me!" Tom laughed, inwardly sighing with relief. Not that he had been seriously worried, but the way Vorik had whisked her away earlier had rubbed him the wrong way.
She glared at him. He looked amused and pleased at the same time and she wanted to kick herself for telling him what she thought about Vorik. "I'll just ignore it. Surely he'll understand that I'm not interested if I keep treating him like a colleague?" she said and had some more of her juice.
He looked at her with amusement sparkling in his eyes. "Absolutely," he chuckled.
She sighed. "Why is this place starting to feel like the Love Boat?" she asked wearily.
"You know why," he said lightly. "Being far away from home without a real hope of coming home before old age... Life is happening here and now." He glanced at her but as she met his eyes she quickly looked away. He continued in a more serious manner. "Personally I think that because Voyager is such a small ship people will be more careful with which person they decide to pursue. There are consequences if things don't work out here, that you don't have back home. There's nowhere to hide and you can't ask to be transferred somewhere else." He tried to catch her eyes but she kept looking at people passing.
"I don't know about that," she said coolly and drank some juice again.
"Time will tell," Tom replied.
B'Elanna cleared her throat and threw him a glance. "So... ah, how's dating going then?" she asked trying to sound casual, but failing.
"That Lake Como suggestion wasn't very popular as you know, so no, dating isn't going very well at the moment," he deadpanned. In the corner of his eye he saw her blush and quickly look away. "You?" he continued.
"Ah, well, no. On the other hand I haven't actually tried to date. Yet. And I don't think I will. I'd rather not talk about it," she said and finished off her juice.
"Want more?" Tom asked.
"Actually, I think it's time to call it a night. Thanks," she said with a clipped voice.
"Sweet dreams," he said lightly.
She turned her head towards him and gave him a long look. "Thanks, I will." She turned and walked towards the exit.
Tom had lost count how many times he had seen this happen; him watching B'Elanna leave, but somehow he felt he perhaps were getting somewhere. All he needed was time and patience, and he had both. He turned and walked towards the bar to get himself something more to drink.
