Disclaimer:  Yeah, like anyone *doesn’t* know that Paramount owns 
all things Star Trek.   (Except what I add.)

Copyright 1997 by JoAnna Walsvik; all rights reserved and most of 
the lefts, too.  :-)  Distribute, archive, etc. to your heart’s 
content, but please keep my name and the disclaimer attached.

Author’s note:  This is a sequel to my story “Thoughts”.  A few 
people have requested a sequel, so, here it is!  You have to read 
the prequel, “Thoughts”, for this one to make some sense, so if 
you haven’t e-mail me and I’ll send it to you.  This is dedicated 
to Claire Daniels, who has requested a sequel many times.  Here ya 
go, Claire!  Also, big huge tremendous thanks goes out to Serena, 
the posting fairy,  who has been so kind to post for me 
because my server refuses to cooperate.  THANKS, SERENA!! :-)  Oh, 
and feedback is requested at my address, 
jowalsvi@sendit.sendit.nodak.edu 

Questions (Voy; P/T; PG)
by JoAnna Walsvik 

     “Come in,”  Tom Paris called, the grin on his face as big as 
Voyager herself.  *Probably another well-wisher,* he thought 
jubilantly, heading for the door.
     In the twenty-four hours since he and B’Elanna had officially 
announced their engagement, they had been swamped with messages of 
congratulations from the entire ship.  At first, they had been a 
bit overwhelmed, but Tom had to admit he was enjoying the 
attention.  It wasn’t often he was fussed over, for B’Elanna was 
not the fussy type.  Not that he minded, of course, for constant 
attention would quickly become annoying, but for now he was 
enjoying himself.
     To Tom’s surprise, however, it was Commander Chakotay who was 
standing at the door.  Chakotay had already offered them quiet, 
slightly subdued congratulations when they had told the senior 
officers their happy news.  
     “Where’s B’Elanna?”  was the first thing the commander said.
     “Hello to you, too, Chakotay,” Tom responded.  “She’s in 
Engineering, finishing a project of hers.”
     “Can I come in?”  Not even a trace of a smile was on 
Chakotay’s lips or in his eyes.  
     “Sure, I guess.”  Chakotay walked through the doors with the 
stride of one who has something unpleasant to say.  *Uh oh*, Tom 
thought, desperately trying to remember if he had committed any 
serious breach of regulations lately.  He couldn’t remember even 
any minor ones; his future wife was very strict about removing 
that ‘bad boy’ reputation of his and kept him solidly in line.  
Not that he minded, of course.  B’Elanna was cute when she was 
determined.  “Have I done something wrong?”
     “No.  Paris, can I ask you a personal question?”  Chakotay 
asked bluntly.
     “Go ahead,” Tom replied warily, eyeing the commander with 
some suspicion.  *What is he up to?* he thought.
     “What first attracted you to B’Elanna?”
     Paris blinked, startled at this abrupt and unexpected 
inquiry.  He didn’t know why he answered, for he could have told 
Chakotay to mind is own business, but for some unknown reason he 
decided to reply.  “Well, I guess -- I guess it was the Vidiians.”
     Now it was Chakotay’s turn to act surprised.  “The Vidiians?”
     “Yeah.  It’s kind of hard to explain, but -- “  A dreamy 
expression crossed Tom’s face as he spoke.  “When we were captured 
by the Vidiians, and B’Elanna was split into two halves, her Human 
half was so -- so delicate and gentle and sensitive, yet 
vulnerable, and scared, and sad.  It -- I don’t know, it made me 
want to take care of her, to protect her, you know?  And then, 
later, when I met her Klingon half -- she was so brave, and 
strong, and powerful -- it was like watching a black panther.  I 
was actually kind of disappointed when B’Elanna returned to her 
old self, because both of her halves were so interesting that it 
made me want to know them more -- individually.  But then, I 
realized that all of the qualities I had admired or noticed in 
both those halves existed in B’Elanna herself.  She was still 
gentle, and sensitive, and still kind of vulnerable and scared, 
but it was covered up by the brave, strong, powerful Klingon side.  
It made me want to -- to know her better, so I could know all of 
her -- not just the side she let everyone see, but herself.  So, I 
tried -- and the person I found was one whom I grew to love very 
much.  She -- I don’t know.  It’s hard to explain.  I’m not making 
much sense, am I?”  Paris laughed ruefully.
     Chakotay was silent for a long minute.  “Actually, Tom, I 
think you made perfect sense.”  He paused slightly.  “Had you said 
anything else, I think I would have blown you out the nearest 
airlock.”  Chakotay began to pace nervously, to Tom’s amusement.  
“You see -- B’Elanna’s my best friend.  I care about her.  I don’t 
want to see her get hurt.  She’s been -- disappointed -- before, 
if you catch my drift.”
     “I see,” Tom said seriously, although he was a little 
uncertain as to what Chakotay was saying.  The gist of it, 
however, did not escape him:  Chakotay was playing overprotective 
father.
     “In the Maquis, I always tried not to get involved in the 
personal lives of my officers, but I felt like I had to look out 
for B’Elanna.  When she first joined the Maquis, she was young -- 
young and inexperienced.  And some men had shown an interest in 
her only because they wanted to see what it would be like to -- to 
be with a half-Klingon.  I wanted to protect her from that ever 
happening again.  I guess there’s no reason to be doing that now, 
but I can’t help it.  It’s kind of instinctive.  The bottom line 
is, I don’t want her to get hurt again.  And had you said 
something -- something superficial, like her looks or her body, in 
response to my question, I -- well, I don’t know what I would have 
done to you, but Tuvok would have been impressed.”  He grinned 
half-heartedly.
     “I can assure you, Commander,”  Tom said slowly, “that I love 
B’Elanna with all my heart.  And I would never do anything to hurt 
her.  Never.”
     “I know you wouldn’t, Tom.  But I needed to be sure.”  He 
held out his hand in a formal gesture of respect.  
“Congratulations, Lieutenant.  I’m sure you and B’Elanna will be 
very happy together.”
     Tom shook the proffered hand.  “Well, thank you, Commander.  
I’m -- “  he hesitated slightly.  “I’m glad we have your consent, 
if not your blessing.”
     “You have both,”  Chakotay confirmed.  “Especially my 
blessing.”
     “Just promise me one thing.”
     “Anything.”
     “Don’t show up at the wedding with a rifle in your hand, 
okay?  I might get nervous.”
     The two men laughed together.  “I promise,”  Chakotay assured 
him.  “No weapons.”
     “Well, I don’t know...we could have a Klingon ceremony.”  Tom 
grinned wickedly.
     “Don’t tell B’Elanna that,”  Chakotay smiled.  “She’d rip out 
your liver and shove it down your throat.”  
     “Tell me about it,” Tom agreed.  “She’s already threatened 
to.”
     “Well, I’d better be going.  I’m meeting Kathryn for dinner 
in a few minutes,”  Chakotay said, stepping toward the door.  
“Thanks for listening, Tom.  I wasn’t trying to be rude, however 
offending I may have seemed.”
     “No problem, Commander.  You were just trying to protect 
B’Elanna.  I respect that.  See you on the bridge tomorrow?”
     “See you tomorrow,” the first officer nodded, and was gone.
     Tom shook his head in amazement.  Of all the things he had 
expected Chakotay to say to him, the actual conversation had been 
anything but.  And...somehow...it was kind of comforting to know 
that someone other then himself would be there to look out for 
B’Elanna.  Not that she needed too much looking after, but...it 
was comforting.  
     And something had changed between him and the commander, in 
the scant minutes they had spoken.  An unofficial truce of sorts 
had been called, and Tom had actually gotten a feeling 
of...respect...from Chakotay in his farewell.  It felt good, to be 
respected by a man he held in somewhat high esteem.  *Ha, ha, 
Dad,*  he thought for a moment.  *I’m respected by the first 
officer.  What do you think of that?*  
     Tom instantly berated himself for those thoughts.  He 
wouldn’t let images of his father spoil his life.  He was about to 
become happily married to an incredible woman.  Life had once been 
full of questions, and they had all just been answered.