The BLTS Archive - Nightfall by Cheile (CelticKira@hotmail.com) --- References/spoilers: post-fourth season implied. Legal B.S.: Star Trek Voyager is owned by Paramount. None of it's mine....except for my muse's sometimes batshit ideas. Author's note: This is more of a fragment than a story, but call it what you like. Caution--I wrote this while suffering from a serious cold -- it was the only thing to distract me from my coughing till the Nyquil kicked in. Dedication: To PJs for her wonderful poem and allowing me to borrow it and to Kim (aka Fever) just 'cause. :) Disclaimer: I'll quote Em Wycedee - Paramount owns the franchise, the characters, and more of my soul than they should. Warning: Paris angst alert. Those of you who hate seeing Helmboy suffer, stop here. --- It has been four years since we have been out here -- four years trying to make it back home. Over time, the days have become easier. I have true friends now and being around them makes the time go by faster. I don't mind the days at all anymore. It is the nights I dread. --- The tears in my heart are flooding my soul All the years of pain are washing over me Dark moods I have tried so hard to shed Creep slowly from the abyss of my life --- During the day, there's always something to occupy my mind. But at night, the darkness presses in on me. The demons of my past return to haunt me. People who pretended to be my friend, only to abandon me when I needed them. Those who hated me and delighted in seeing me suffer. My father, whose respect and love I longed for and never got. My mother, who was forced by my father to stand by and do nothing, who cried for me, her only son. --- False friends who could not wait to discard me Enemies who celebrated my fall Shunned by the father I disgraced Mourned by the mother who loved me --- The darkness presses in, haunts me. There's no escape. I struggle alone, desperate for respite, never getting it. Sometimes, I want to die, for I feel it could be the only escape from this hell. No one is there to help me, no one understands, or even cares. No one. --- In my sleep the darkness surrounds me Each night I fight the battle all alone When will my very being surrender Forsaking this life to seek final rest --- We'll teach the admiral's brat to cross us.... You're a failure, Thomas -- nothing but a failure. You're not even worthy of the Paris name.... "No!" I cried in my mind. "Go away!" But they showed me no mercy, continuing to mock me. "No! Leave me alone!" You're a failure, a worthless failure.... "No!" I cried again. "No!" "Tom!" The nightmare began to recede. A warm pair of arms circled me, pulling me against something soft and warm. "Tom, don't be afraid. I'm right here." The beloved voice began to drive away the demons. As I grew closer to wakefulness, the voice and the warmth became familiar. My eyes opened. Dark chocolate eyes gazed back worriedly into mine. "It's all right. I'm here. I won't leave you." Letting out a sigh, I allow her to pull me closer. I wrap my arms around her. "Go back to sleep, Tom. I won't leave you." A hand brushes over my hair. A kiss is pressed against my forehead. As I drift back to sleep, I realize that someone is there for me now. Someone to hold me close. Someone who will help me drive the demons away for good. Someone who loves me. That someone is B'Elanna. --- As I struggle against the night demons Two warm arms pull me close and comfort me Holding me safely through the long cold night Brown eyes that promise to love me always --- The End Copyright March 3, 1998, by Cheile.