The BLTS Archive - Secret Love
by Bronte (bronte62fan@yahoo.com)

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Disclaimers:  The boys belong to Paramount, etc. I'm just borrowing
them, and having a great time with them, I might add...

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Gregor Ayala sat at a table in the far corner of the mess hall,
picking at the food on his plate, waiting.  "I wonder where he is?" he
muttered.

"Where who is?" Chakotay asked casually as he joined his friend at the
table.

"What?!" Greg responded sharply, flustered that he had spoken the
words out loud.

Chakotay studied his comrade's face, trying to decipher the meaning
behind the startled expression.  "Greg, is there something you want to
tell me?" Chakotay inquired, gazing knowingly at his long-time friend.

"No, there isn't," Greg replied adamantly, "so don't even start."

"Start what?" Chakotay responded, feigning innocence.

"You know," Greg answered sarcastically, "the inquisition."

"Inquisition?" Chakotay began dramatically.  "Greg, I'm hurt!"

"Hurt, my ass!" Greg replied firmly.  "I know you all too well,
Chakotay.  You're dying to know who I was talking about."

"Well, now that you mention it...," Chakotay teased.

"Well, just forget it.  I'm not ready to tell you anything...just yet
anyway."  Greg looked down, staring thoughtfully at his food, trying
to keep his friend from seeing the loneliness he felt in his heart.

"Greg," Chakotay said seriously.  "You know that you can tell me
anything."

"Yeah, I know." Greg admitted.  "But I need a little time to work this
out on my own."

"Fair enough," Chakotay conceded. "I won't push you...unless you want
to be pushed.  Do you want to be pushed, Greg?" Chakotay taunted
gently.

"Chakotay, I'm warning you...," Greg chided.

Chakotay laughed in response to their spirited banter.  "Greg, I know
you're dying to tell me.  Just give it up already."

"No, I'm not telling you anything...and you can't make me." Greg
insisted.

The doors to the mess hall swished open.  Greg automatically looked up
to see who entered. He blushed slightly as he realized who it was.

"He just came in, didn't he," Chakotay observed excitedly.

"No, Chakotay," Greg quickly responded, exhibiting a deeper blush.
"No, it's not..."

"Liar," Chakotay stated plainly, turning to see who entered the mess
hall.  Tom and Harry were standing in line talking to Neelix.  "Greg,
it's not..."

"Gods, Chakotay," Greg stammered.  "I'm so in love it's pathetic...and
I don't have the guts to tell him."

"Greg, there is something I have to tell you...," Chakotay began, with
concern evident in his voice.

"What, Chakotay?" Greg interrupted, feeling the dread focus in the pit
of his stomach. "Gods, is he already seeing someone?"

"Yes... me.  We have been seeing each other for several months,"
Chakotay said carefully.

"You're kidding, right?" Greg asked in disbelief.

"I wish I was.  I feel just awful.  I didn't know you were interested
in him, otherwise I wouldn't have approached him," Chakotay explained
gently.

"I'm too late...I can't believe it," Greg murmured.  "Do you love
him?"

"Yes, I do," Chakotay admitted, with a shy smile adorning his face.

Greg saw the expression on his former captain's face, and his heart
sank. Mustering up all the courage he could find, he replied, "Well,
I'm jealous as hell, but I'm happy for you."

"Greg, I know how hurt you are, but thanks for giving me your support
anyway," Chakotay said honestly.  "Tom and I are very happy together."

"Huh?" Greg replied, puzzled at his friend's words.

"What?"

"Who did you say?" Greg questioned hopefully.

"Tom and I...," Chakotay repeated.

"Gods, Chakotay," Greg replied incredulously.  "I'm not in love with
Tom.  You're the one who has been in love with Tom for years, not me!"

"Then you're in love with...Harry?"

"Yes."

"Geez, that's great," Chakotay sighed with relief.

"What's great?" Tom interrupted as he sat down to join the pair.

"Greg's in love with Harry." Chakotay responded to his lover without
thinking.

"You're kidding, really?" Tom replied, looking expectantly at Greg.

"Chakotay, shut up!" Greg snapped. "You and your big mouth..."

"But Greg, that's terrific!" Tom exclaimed.

"What's terrific?" Harry asked, taking a seat beside Greg.

"Greg is in love with... oh... um...," Tom stammered.

"Greg is... what?" Harry inquired hesitantly as his smile quickly
faded.  "Greg? Are you in love with someone?"

Greg was blushing furiously as he tried to think of a way out of this
uncomfortable situation.  Finally, he decided what to do.  "Yes, I am
in love with someone," he said quietly.

"Oh," Harry replied simply.

"Aren't you going to ask who it is?" Greg asked cautiously.

"Well, um...sure, I guess," Harry responded. "Who's the lucky lady?"

"It's not a lady," Greg replied.

"It's not?" Harry asked.

"No."

"Well...then who's the lucky man?" Harry asked hopefully.

"You,"  Greg said frankly as he held his breath, waiting for Harry's
reaction.

"Me?" Harry said in awe.

"Yes... you," Greg responded, showing more confidence than he felt.

"Wow," Harry said softly, lost in thought.

"That's all you have to say?" Greg asked, wondering what was going
through the mind of his secret obsession.

"Yes," Harry replied simply as he leaned over and gave Greg a
passionate kiss.

"Wow." Greg uttered in return.

"Is that all you have to say?" Harry teased.

"No. But let's get out of here.  Too many gossips around here for my
comfort," Greg smirked, looking pointedly at his best friend.  "Oh,
and Chakotay..."

"Yes?" Chakotay replied.

"Thanks for being my friend," Greg said warmly, "and for the
inquisition, ... and for your big mouth.  But you'd better watch out
during our next game of hoverball."

"Take your best shot, my friend.  I think my big mouth and I have it
coming," Chakotay chuckled with relief as he watched Harry and his
best friend stand up and walk out of the mess hall.

"Gods, Chak," Tom said in disbelief. "I can't believe that Greg is in
love with my best friend.  I know that Harry's been pining over him
for months."

"I just found out today," Chakotay explained.  "Greg sure can keep a
secret.  I had no idea that he was interested in Harry.  In fact, I
thought he was interested in you when you two first came into the mess
hall."

"You really believed that?" Tom questioned.

"Yeah, you were the obvious choice to me," Chakotay replied sincerely.

"Gods, I love you, Chak," Tom said warmly.

"I love you too," Chakotay echoed with a smile.

"Maybe it's time that we came out of the closet about us," Tom stated.

"I think you're right," Chakotay affirmed, reaching his arm around the
younger man's shoulders.  "I think we should start now," he said as he
brushed his lips against Tom's, and then leaned in for a full-fledged
kiss.

"Do you think they'll be as happy as we are, Chak?" Tom whispered in
his lover's ear.

"I sure hope so, Tommy," Chakotay answered sincerely.  "If they are
1/10th as happy as us, they will be truly blessed."

Tom melted into the older man's embrace.  He glanced up and noticed
several sets of eyes watching their every move, smiling their approval
of the newly outed couple's relationship.  "I think we're making a
scene," Tom replied lightly.

"I think Greg and Harry had the right idea," Chakotay stated
decisively.  "Let's get out of here.  I know just the
place...interested?"

"Always...," Tom said truthfully, "but it doesn't really matter to me
where we go... as long as I'm with you."

"Then you'll be happy for the rest of your life because I'm never
going to leave your side," Chakotay promised.

"I'm going to hold you to that promise," Tom murmured.

"I hope so," Chakotay replied as he leaned in for another kiss.  "Now
let's get going so I can show you just how much I love you."

"Lead the way."

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The End.

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Copyright May 2002