Christmas Party

By Tracy Thurman

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(Set during the first Christmas season after "Night")

Neelix looked around him in consternation. What had happened? The
Christmas party had been a rousing success. Everyone was having a good
time, even the Captain, he was happy to say. She had worn her burgundy
colored dress with the angled neckline and looked absolutely gorgeous, in his
opinion.

The crew seemed to think so, too. Of course, ever since their experience in
the "Void" the crew had been a bit more solicitous of the captain,
himself included, but they had all tried to be very discreet about it.

She had looked so relaxed and happy at the beginning of the party. Laughing
and speaking to everyone. Tom had instructed the computer to play its entire
library of Christmas songs and the crew had danced and sung along to a lot of
them. Neelix had particularly enjoyed "Let It Snow, Let It Snow, Let It
Snow." That was a fun one! The crew had sung at the top of their lungs!
"We Wish You a Merry Christmas" was a good one, too!

Tom had put some funny looking plant with white berries over the door and
every time some couple got close the crew cheered for them to kiss.
Christmas had some strange traditions, Neelix decided. Oh, well, at least
everyone was having fun for a change.

When he left the holodeck for a few moments to fetch a new batch of
hors d' oeuvres, the Captain was dancing with Commander Chakotay to
a song called "The Christmas Song". Something about roasting nuts over
a fire. He'd have to try that sometime.

But now, now everything had changed. The music still played, but it was
very quiet in the room. Many of the crew looked close to tears. Neelix
glanced over and saw Joe Carey wipe his eyes, and Susan Nicoletti had her
head buried in her arms at her table.

Tom looked as though someone had died. B'Elanna put a hand on his arm and
said softly: "Tom..." but he didn't seem to notice.

Seven and Naomi were looking bewildered. In fact the only ones not looking
devastated were himself, Seven, Naomi, and B'Elanna. Chakotay's distress
seemed to stem from Captain Janeway's reaction.

The Captain was standing as if transfixed, her fingers to her lips and her
head down. Chakotay put an arm around her and leaned in to murmur softly,
"Kathryn...", but she put a hand on his chest to stop him and then
hurried across the room and out the door.

Chakotay shot an angry look in Tom's direction and followed her out. Tom
raised his arms helplessly and wailed: "It's just part of the database, I
didn't know!" He then dropped his head to the tabletop and buried his
head in his arms. His muffled, emphatic, "Shit!" could be heard clearly.

Neelix realized it was the song that was playing that was affecting them all.
He couldn't figure out why. A lot of slow songs had played without this
having this kind of effect on people. They'd played "Silent Night",
"Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas" (by the actress who had played
Dorothy in that "Wizard of..." something or other" vid he had seen once),
"White Christmas" and "Blue Christmas" by that Elvis fellow (Tom had
done an impersonation), but this was something different.

Then he listened to the words and realized their meaning:

I'll be home for Christmas;
You can plan on me.
Please have snow and mistletoe
And presents on the tree.
Christmas Eve will find me
Where the love-light gleams.
I'll be home for Christmas
If only in my dreams

"Oh!" he said slowly. That was it.

"Shit!" he said mildly, to no one in particular.

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