| Roses for B'Elanna By Voyagetostars
"And stay out."
Ensign Tom Paris grimaced rubbing his jaw as he faced the closed door to the chief engineer's quarters. The crashing noises on the other side of the door continued. He heard a couple of snickers as he turned away. +When will I ever learn?+ He headed for holodeck one where Sandrine's was running. +Maybe a game of pool will help me relax. This has been a terrible ending to terrible day.+
It was just as well that he didn't notice Seven of Nine making a note on a data PADD or the day might have become even worse.
"The female expelled the male from her quarters at 1400 with a directive to stay out. It appears she also struck him on the face, perhaps in prelude to initiating mating behavior. Based on previous study I predict the male will not return for at least one duty cycle."
In Sandrine's Tom ran the table and considered the past two days which had started in the least promising way possible.
"EMH to Ensign Paris."
"Yeah Doc?" he asked rolling over in his bed but not opening his eyes.
"You were due in sickbay twenty minutes ago."
"What?" He grabbed for his chronometer. "Sorry Doc, I'll be right there."
It took the man only a few minutes to dress and arrive in sickbay. Unfortunately Captain Janeway also chose the same time to arrive from the other direction looking for something for a serious headache.
"Ensign Paris," her tone was icy with emphasis on ensign.
"Good morning captain," he answered politely stepping to the side for her to enter first.
"Are you just reporting for duty?" she asked stepping into sickbay.
Paris saw no way to avoid a direct answer. "Yes captain."
"I hope you have a good excuse."
"I overslept?" he answered hopefully as the EMH approached.
"That is not a good excuse."
"No Ma'am."
She frowned as she rubbed her temples. "Report to Commander Chakotay at the conclusion of this shift."
"Captain, I'm scheduled for the helm on beta shift."
"Not today ensign. Now resume your duties."
"Aye captain," he answered with a sinking feeling. Piloting Voyager was one of his favorite activities.
The EMH directed him to the inpatient area with a head gesture. "Good morning captain, what seems to be the matter?" He waved the diagnostic scanner and frowned.
"I have a headache."
"Wrong you have a severe headache. Up you go." She lay on the diagnostic bed obediently. He frowned, for her not to protest she had to be in dire straits. "Any other symptoms?"
Paris missed her response as he went to Ensign Ayala who was the only inpatient. "How are you doing?" he asked as he used the medical tricorder and was pleased to see the other's improvement after a severe allergic reaction to Neelix's latest leola root surprise.
"Better. Think the doctor will let me have something to eat?"
"Sure, if you feel up to it. The Doc has approved you for bland foods."
"Bland!"
"Bland," answered Paris firmly. "I'll get you a tray." He ordered the prescribed diet and brought it back to the security man. He raised the head of the bed and moved a table nearby.
"Come on Paris, how about some hot sauce for these eggs?"
"Sorry Jorge. Remember your digestive track has had enough exercise over the last few days. Let's reintroduce it to food gently. Do you need a hand?"
"I think I can manage."
Paris watched until he was sure the other could feed himself then retuned to the outer sickbay area. He began restocking the carts and general straightening until the EMH came over. "Mr. Ayala is eating the prescribed diet. Sorry I was late Doc."
"Once you get done here I want you to work on your next lesson. After lunch I have reserved holodeck one for practical exercises."
"Okay. Is the captain all right?"
"Mr. Paris, we do not gossip about our patients, however she is fine."
"I would never gossip about anything that happens in sickbay," he answered seriously.
"I know that Tom. Back to work now."
At lunch time Tom hurried to the mess hall data PADD in hand. The doctor had made it clear he expected Tom to complete the simulation on the first attempt and Tom still didn't feel comfortable with the material. He sat down with his tray and tried not to notice what he was eating.
"Hey helm boy, where have you been?" asked B'Elanna with a grin as she sat down next to him and began eating the purple and green concoction quivering on her plate.
"Sickbay," he answered distractedly.
"Are we still on for tonight?"
"I'm scheduled to work beta shift." He thought it would be better not to mention that instead of piloting Chakotay would be directing some other duty.
"I know that, I'm pulling a double myself. We'll both need some unwind time though." She was almost purring.
"Why don't we meet at holodeck one, say 2230?"
"Sounds good."
At the end of alpha shift he had gone to Chakotay's office where the commander was working on the never ending duty rosters.
+Might as well get it over with+ "Ensign Paris reporting as ordered."
"Ensign Paris. Can you explain to me why you are reporting to me instead of assuming your duties on the bridge?"
Paris looked confused. "Sir, the captain . . . "
"I know what Captain Janeway directed. What I'm asking you is why did she direct it?"
"I overslept and was late on duty."
"Why did you oversleep?"
"I have no excuse commander, I must have forgotten to set my wake up."
"You must have. What else have you forgotten?"
"I don't think anything else."
"Are you sure?"
"Chakotay, you can check with the doctor. He'll tell you I've been on time except when I've been delayed on the bridge for the last two months."
"And late on the bridge?"
"Ah well maybe a minute or two once or twice."
"Hmm. Anything else?"
Paris was truly puzzled. "I don't know commander."
"I suggest you give it serious consideration. Now the question is what to do about this incident? I'll accept your comments."
"You're not turning this over for the captain's action?" he asked with some surprise.
"Do you really want to face formal disciplinary action? That's what it will become if I do."
The younger man cringed. His last taste of formal discipline landed him in the brig for thirty days and got him busted to ensign. "She'd go to formal?" he asked in disbelief.
"She most certainly will, however if that's what you'd prefer . . ." He watched the play of expressions over the pilot's face.
"No commander. How about I report 15 minutes early for each non consecutive duty shift and stay an extra 15 for the next two weeks."
"Not bad but I think thirty minutes on either end for three weeks would be more appropriate, since you were thirty minutes late this morning. And for that time you won't earn any holodeck time."
"Commander." He clearly bit off the protest realizing that if it went to formal he wouldn't earn any privileges including replicator and he might just lose what he had already accumulated. "Yes sir, that seems fair."
"I don't have to remind you of how important it is for you to be on time."
"No commander."
"Now as to the balance of your shift." He lifted up a PADD. "Maintenance reports that the Delta Flyer has picked up some low grade omicron radiation contamination. You've got decontamination duty until end of shift. If you get done before then let me know and I'm sure there will be something else for you to do."
"Aye sir," he answered with a sinking feeling as he considered all the other necessary but unpleasant duties required to keep a ship like Voyager operating.
"And Tom, if your shift ends prior to getting the decontamination completed - well your shift is not ended."
"Aye sir."
"Dismissed."
Tom walked to the shuttle bay. Depending on the extent of the contamination, decontamination could take days. Yet he suspected the level wouldn't be that bad. Chakotay wasn't likely to assign him a task with no clear cut end without being fairly sure it could be accomplished in a reasonable time.
"Good afternoon Tom," greeted Joe Carey cheerfully. "Commander Chakotay said you'd be along to give me a
hand on the decon."
"Happy to help," he answered glumly.
"Safety gear is in the lockers. The worse section is on the port side. If you'd get started there, I'll work on the rest."
"Okay." He dressed in the cumbersome garment and got out the equipment which if anything looked like an old fashioned mop and bucket and hose. Seeing no point in delaying it, he began swabbing down the side of the trim craft. Periodically he vacuumed off the fluids. The chime signaling change of shift sounded as he began the final section, the port nacelle.
"How's it coming Tom?"
"About another hour."
"Same here. Might as well finish before going to the mess."
"Yeah, might as well." +Especially since Chakotay had made it very clear that the duty was to be completed before he could call an end to the shift.+
Tom finished the last bit as Joe came around the back. "Great timing, thanks for your help."
"No problem."
Tom checked the time. He had barely enough time to go to his quarters to shower and change before he was due to meet B'Elanna in Sandrine's.At 2235 he stepped into the holodeck. The program was in full swing as alpha shift was just starting to leave while beta was getting off duty. He spotted B'Elanna seated near the pool table.
"You're late," she said hotly.
"Sorry, just got a little tied up." He bent over and kissed her quickly then slid into the chair opposite her.
"And not on the bridge either."
"No, Chakotay had me cleaning the Delta Flyer from the omicron contamination."
"Why there? - Carey had volunteered to take care of that."
"Huh?"
"He missed the contamination when you brought it back from the last dilithium recon. You know how omicron particles can spread."
"Oh."
"That still doesn't answer the question on why you weren't on the helm."
"I was late on duty. Just my luck that the captain was on her way to sickbay when I got there."
"She pulled you from the helm?"
"And I got a lecture from Chakotay too." He watched her temper rise. "Hey, it was my own fault. I got a bit of extra duty and I really need to watch my duty times for the next few weeks but I'll survive. "
"Still pulling you over something so minor."
He shrugged. "Let's talk about something more pleasant."
"Like?"
"Like how we're going to get Seven to look at Harry. He's got it bad."
The evening ended as they agreed to meet at her cabin for a long lunch the next day. Both had an early half shift before a normal duty tour at beta shift. Both promised to make sure they would get on time assuming no anomalies intervened. Paris's curiosity was raised as B'Elanna promised something special. When he made a guess she answered, "No not that you pig," and left laughing.
The next duty shift found Tom firmly behind the helm console at thirty-one minutes prior to the start of the alpha shift. Chakotay came in minutes later and relieved Ensign Kim on the conn and wished him a good night. He had just completed a review of the ship's status when the captain entered the bridge.
"Morning all," she greeted.
"Good morning captain," answered Chakotay. "All systems are nominal. We remain on course for the alpha quadrant at warp 6.5."
"Good. This morning Seven gave me a report on upgrading the astrometrics lab that I want to review. I'll be in my ready room, you have the conn."
"Aye captain."
Time seemed to drag for the helmsman as the area of space was free of all anomalies, asteroids and inhabitants. He wondered what B'Elanna had in store as the chronometer inched to the mid-shift break. He knew he wouldn't be taking it since all he had left on his tour was the thirty minute additional duty. The last minutes seemed to stretch into hours until his relief appeared. He did the changeover briefing then headed straight to B'Elanna's.
"Come," called B’Elanna in response to the door chime. Still in her uniform she was setting a bottle of champagne in a bucket on the table. She regretted it was the synthol version necessary since they both had duty later.
"Hey there," greeted Paris as he entered. He embraced her brushing her forehead with his lips. He looked at the table appreciatively. "This looks great."
"You look great," she answered returning the kiss.
"So what's for lunch?"
"Is that all you think of - your stomach?"
"Well no," he answered reaching for her.
She evaded him easily. "Or that?"
"Who me? I'm just a growing boy." He flashed her his trademark puppy-dog grin.
"I bet you don't even know what today is."
"Err Stardate 52647."
"And that day has no other significance to you?" B'Elanna's voice dropped dramatically.
Tom thought rapidly. No Terran holidays. No Federation celebrations. No Klingon holidays. No Bajorian festivals that he could remember. But with the number they had he could be missing one but then why would B'Elanna be celebrating one of them. No Voyager special occasions. He only had to look at his love's face to see he was in serious trouble. "B'Elanna, I'm sorry but I don't know."
"You don't know," she spit out. "You don't know."
"Please B'Elanna, I really don't know. Have I missed a special Maquis day? I apologize. Please tell me . . ."
"No significance. Get out."
"But B'Elanna . . . " he protested holding his hands out to her.
"Obviously I mean nothing to you. Get out." She advanced on him reaching for the bottle of champagne. Seconds later it rocketed by his head and smashed against the wall.
He backed up to the door. "Please B'Elanna," he pleaded.
"Our first kiss has no meaning to you. Obviously I was right, you're just another p'taQ." She grabbed a vase and hurled it impacting his chin then shattering on the floor.
He decided discretion was definitely the better part of valor and triggered the door.
"And stay out," she yelled as he exited and the door slid shut.
He leaned against the pool table and considered the events soberly. +Let's see the captain is ticked cause I was late, Chakotay is ticked because the captain is ticked, B’Elanna is ticked because I forgot the date of our first kiss, and I'm ticked because I just gave the rumor mill enough ammunition to last for a month. Maybe I should have taken the formal discipline, at least everyone would ignore me for thirty days and B’Elanna would have someone else to be mad at.+
He glanced at a chronometer. Damn, he had five minutes to make it to sickbay for his extended duty shift.
The shift passed uneventfully and midway through the Doctor had Paris escort Ayala to his quarters. "Remember Jorge, take it easy on the food for a few days. You've got medical replicator rations available for the next three meals so you can skip the mess hall."
"Relax Tom. I was listening to the Doctor. I'll avoid the spicy stuff for a while. Thanks for your help, I'm looking forward to getting back on duty tomorrow."
"Enjoy."
Tom returned to sickbay and halfheartedly resumed his studies.
"Mr. Paris, may I have your attention?"
"What is it Doc?"
"I've been speaking to you for the past five minutes."
"Oh."
"Well what is it this time - a new betting pool?"
"No."
"Not another Captain Proton scenario?"
"No, I've sworn those off for a while."
"I suppose it must be your turbulent relationship with a certain chief engineer." Tom said nothing. "Come come Mr. Paris, it's nothing to be ashamed of. What is the problem? After all I have some experience in the the affairs of the heart."
Paris snorted "Right."
"I'm serious, you're no good to me if you're mooning over your lover." He saw Tom's expression of panic. "Don't tell me you think I don't know you two are having a physical relationship - the medical logs are quite clear on that. Now what seems to be the difficulty?"
"All right Doc, but if you breathe a word of this to B'Elanna you'll have lost your assistant."
"I don't think you can dictate the duty roster," he answered with a smirk.
"I don't have to because I'll be dead."
"Hmm, I see what you mean. In any case this comes under the heading of doctor patient confidentiality."
"I forgot the date of our first kiss."
"Oh my."
"I don't even know if she's right on the date."
"Trust me Mr. Paris, whether or not it's the right date it is the anniversary of your first kiss."
"Yeah, you're right. The question is how do I dig myself out of this hole?"
"Now that is a problem. Have you considered asking for forgiveness?"
"Trust me Doc, it's going to take more than that."
"How about a gift to go with it?"
"Only trouble is I'm almost out of replicator rations."
"Well you do have a problem."
"Wait a second, I know what I can give her. It's very romantic as they say and I know she'll love it. And if she doesn't it can be placed on my casket, no waste. Doc, you're a genius."
"Just another service of the most advanced medical hologram in the Delta Quadrant, perhaps the galaxy. Now that we've taken care of your love life can we continue with patient care?"
"Sure Doc, anything you say."
As soon as he got off duty he went back to his quarters and showered and changed.
"Computer, location of Lieutenant Torres?"
"Lieutenant Torres is in main engineering."
"Notify me as soon as she returns to her quarters."
"Affirmative."
He busied himself examining the replicator's data base until he found just what he was looking for. +Perfect, and I even have a few rations left.+ He had the item wrapped.
"Lieutenant Torres has returned to her quarters," announced the computer.
"Computer, current time?"
"The time is 0100 hours."
+Perfect.+ He gathered the wrapped present and went to the hydroponics bay. It only took him a few minutes to convince Gerron who was on duty, that he had a pressing need for a dozen deep red roses. Since Gerron knew full well who the only person likely to receive the roses was and having a small crush on her himself, it didn't take Paris much effort to obtain the choicest buds.
+Mission accomplished. Now for the most difficult part.+ He stepped into a turbo lift. "Deck nine," he announced. He strode directly to her quarters, not noticing the number of people he passed nor their sometimes pained expressions. He certainly did not notice Seven of Nine as she made another note in her ever present PADD.
He rang the chime and the door slid open. "What is it Paris?" she demanded blocking the door
"B'Elanna, I'm sorry I forgot. These are for you." He passed her the dozen roses while retaining hold on the wrapped box behind his back with one hand. "May I come in?"
She stepped from the door to admit him. "They're beautiful," she said inhaling deeply.
The door slid shut.
"The male returned with a dozen flowering plant stems--species rosa rubifolia- which has caused a cessation in hostilities."
Inside the cabin B’Elanna looked for a vase. "Let me put these in water." She rummaged around the cabin for a few minutes. Along the floor by the wall Paris spotted a few fragments of several vases which had previously decorated her quarters. +Yep, the smashing sounds had been most of the breakables.+
"B'Elanna, I have something else for you."
"Just a minute, I'll have to replicate something to hold them."
"B'Elanna, trust me, they'll be okay." She came out of the bedroom, still carrying the flowers. "Let me take them for just a minute while you open this." He exchanged the package for the flowers.
She saw a small gift card envelope which she opened. On the front of the card was a small pink pig with a large tear dripping down its face. Inside were the simple words, 'I'm sorry' and it was signed Tom. She burst out laughing and gave the man a quick kiss. Then she ripped open the wrapping and removed the lid. "Oh Tom," she exclaimed as she lifted out the clear vase large enough to hold the roses. "It's beautiful."
"I thought you might need one. You should know that it's made of a polycarbonate compound, guaranteed not to break even when applied to the side of someone's head.
She laughed, "Well I'll try not to test it out right away."
She disappeared into her bathroom with the flowers and vase then returned placing them on the coffee table. She held out her hand and the two sat on the sofa and admired the flowers and each other.
Later the former Borg made the following entry: "Stardate 52648 0300 hours: intimate relations resume. . . " | |
