"When the night has come, and the land is dark, and the moon is the only light we'll see. No, I won't be afraid, no, I won't be afraid, just as long as you stand by me."(4) IV. I waited in the mess awhile longer, but neither Harry nor B'Elanna showed up. Sighing, I decided to return to my quarters -- maybe I could get the computer to tell me what had gone on the last six months. I exited the mess, but noticed absently Neelix was nowhere in sight. Hesitating outside the turbolift, I tapped my commbadge. "Paris to Kim." "Kim here. What, Tom?" "The turbolifts," I ventured, "are they working?" There was a brief pause, then Harry returned, "For now." I didn't ask what he meant. "Thanks, Harry." I tapped my commbadge once more to close the link, then stepped inside the turbolift and called out my deck number. Something was nagging at the back of my mind, something I knew I should be remembering, I tried to concentrate.... The doors swished open, startling the figure waiting outside. My eyes widened, as did hers. "Mel?" "Tom?" Then Melanie Bristow was in my arms, hugging me enthusiastically. "Tom! I can't believe it's you!" I held her at arm's length. "Mel, you're looking good. You're looking...." My voice trailed off suddenly, and she grinned. "Pregnant?" "Uh, yeah, that would be a good word -- Mel....congratulations! And to Freddie, too," I stammered. Wow. I couldn't believe it. Mel and Fred had been married for about a year, now, the first of Voyager's crew to marry. But so far, no one else had followed suit, at least that I knew of. Mel beamed, displaying her stomach proudly. "Thank you," she gushed. "We're so excited." "When are you due?" I asked. "About another three months or so," she replied. "How are you, Tom? How are you feeling?" I paused, adjusting to the subject change. "I'm okay. I don't know what everyone's so upset about -- six months really isn't that long." Melanie laid hand on my arm, and I was suddenly uncomfortable. Something terribly serious must have happened in the six months I was out. "Mel, what is it?" I asked quietly. "What happened?" She shook her head. "B'Elanna wanted to fill you in, get you up-to-date." My eyebrows rose. *B'Elanna* wanted to fill me in? "Okay, Mel," I said softly, worried. Impetuously, she hugged me again. "Don't worry," she whispered. "Things will be okay." That left me really worried. I stood in my quarters, trying hard to remember what was nagging at my mind. The rooms smelled, musty, closed, and I guessed not too many people had been here during my....absence. The plants looked okay, though, which meant someone, probably Kes, had been in to water them. Hmm, what else? I examined the near-empty shelves and was grateful to note someone had also dusted in here recently. The water and food bowls on the bathroom floor were empty....That was it! My head snapped up and I slapped my commbadge. "Paris to Kes." Her reply was instantaneous. "Kes here. Tom -- " "Kes, Dice?" I interrupted urgently. *Please don't let anything have happened to her.* She was my sanity. There was a smile in the pretty Ocampan's voice. "Is fine," she finished for me. "She's been going stir-crazy without you, but B'Elanna and Harry have been taking care of her." "I'll be right down." Kes was waiting for me when arrived. "Harry and B'Elanna told you?" she inquired gently. "About being out for six months?" I nodded. "Yes." "Are you okay?" was her next question. "Yes." Impatient, I asked, "Where's Dice?" Kes led me to a smaller room in the back. "She's been staying here," she explained, and a sweet smile graced her face. "I think the Doctor's grown quite fond of her," she confided. Kes pressed the doorpad. Instantly, I was greeted by an enthusiastic, slobbering mass. "Dice, whoa, down girl," I chuckled, happy for the first time since waking up in Sickbay. "She's missed you," Kes observed, smiling. I calmed Dice down and stroked her back lovingly. I would never forget the day I'd gotten her, a present from Harry and B'Elanna. She was the sweetest, prettiest Dalmatian I'd ever had the fortune to see, and I never knew -- nor wanted to know -- how they'd sneaked around the rules and Tuvok to get her for me. Harry had been confused when I'd named her Dice, but B'Elanna had explained the name to him. The crew loved her; especially Captain Janeway. She played with Dice almost as much as B'Elanna and I did. And I suspected even Chakotay had a soft spot for the lovable puppy. "Torres to Paris." I tapped my commbadge, still cradling Dice in my arms. "Paris." The half-Klingon sounded tired, but not worn out. "Tom, we've finished down here. Harry's going to dinner with Kes -- " I glanced up in surprise at the Ocampan, who blushed delicately and smiled. *The more things change,* I thought. " -- but," B'Elanna hesitated. "B'Elanna," I interrupted, sparing her having to ask, "I need to walk Dice. Will you join me? I'm in Sickbay." She sounded relieved. "I'll be right there. Torres out." "So," I turned on Kes, eyes twinkling. "You and Harry, hmm? Geez, I leave you all alone for six months...." She swatted my shoulder playfully. "You're one to talk, Tom Paris. I've seen you and B'Elanna -- " "Don't you have a dinner to get ready for?" I interrupted good-naturedly. Kes glanced at the chrono and nodded quickly. "Yes. You'll be okay?" "Yeah. B'Elanna will be here in a few minutes," I assured her. "Have a good time, and don't stay out too late." Kes' lips twisted in a wry, but pretty, grin. "I won't." She left and B'Elanna Torres arrived a few minutes later, minutes I'd put to good use romping around with Dice. I wondered absently why we'd never had a dog when I was a child. I turned to see B'Elanna watching me from the doorway, and amused grin on her face. "Problem with something, Torres?" I teased. "What, you've never seen a man playing with his dog?" B'Elanna knelt beside me and patted Dice's back, ignoring my question. "Ready to go for a walk, girl?" she asked softly. Dice slobbered enthusiastically. "Here," B'Elanna said, handing me Dice's leash. I snapped it to her collar and we stood. We walked in silence for a few moments, Dice pausing to examine all passing crew members for treats. "So," I ventured finally, "what's been happening these last few months? You've gotta get me up-to-date," I told her, smiling. To my surprise, she just looked at the floor. I stopped dead in my tracks and Dice strained at her leash, but I refused to go on until I had found out what was going on. "B'Elanna." She glanced up. "What, Tom," she asked casually, trying to sound cheerful. "What's is it? What's wrong?" I pressed. Why won't anybody tell me??!! "Nothing's wrong," she murmured, looking at the floor again. I took her chin firmly in my hand and her eyes widened in surprise. "B'Elanna," I said sternly, "Everybody's been acting like something terrible has happened. I don't understand what you are all so upset about." She jerked her chin out of my hand angrily. "`So upset about?' Tom, for six months we didn't know if you were going to live or die! For six months we hung around Sickbay until the Doctor practically threw us out! We jumped at every page, Sandrine's isn't the same -- !" "Wait a minute," I interrupted. "Why?" She stopped, winded and confused. "Why, what?" "Why did you do all that for me?" I asked gently, amazed. She looked at me straight in the eye. "Because we're your friends, Tom." Slowly I felt a grin cross my face. B'Elanna looked at me worriedly, probably wondering if I'd totally lost my sanity. "What?" she groused. "What are smiling about?" I picked her up and swung her around, exhilarated. "Tom Paris!" she gasped. "What on Earth did you do that for??!" It felt great to have friends like that, and I told her so. She started laughing softly, which I joined in, and soon we were laughing uncontrollably for no apparent reason at all. Finally we quieted down, and I looked up to see Commander Chakotay staring at the two of us, displeasure evident on his face. B'Elanna blushed and snapped to attention, and I was right behind her. "Lieutenants," Chakotay said in a stern tone that hadn't been there six months ago, "the corridors of a Federation starship are no place for this type of behavior." "Yessir," B'Elanna mumbled, standing ramrod straight until the Commander had passed on. I was astounded. I'd *never* seen B'Elanna that formal around Chakotay before. "What's *his* problem?" I asked vehemently. B'Elanna just shook her head and urged Dice and I on. "He's been like this for three months," she whispered. "I don't know what happened to him, but rumor has it he and the Captain had a fight." "Three months ago?" I repeated. Ouch. B'Elanna nodded, then changed the subject. "C'mon, let's get something to eat, and I'll fill you in on what else has been happening around here." * * * * * "It's easier to believe you're in love than to accept you're alone." - Benton Fraser, due South --------------------------------------------------------- Get Your *Web-Based* Free Email at http://www.hotmail.com ---------------------------------------------------------