The BLTS Archive - A Call To Armistice
third in the Festive Occasions series
by Sasscat Bu-to-y (fitchett@netaccess.co.nz)

---

Disclaimer:  Paramount own the folks over in the Delta Quadrant, we
just play with them from time to time.  No infringement intended.

Archiving:  ASC and JuPiter Station

And in Festive Occasion tradition:  This story took thirty seven
minutes to write.  How long I spent *planning* it, of course, is a
different matter. :)

Feedback welcome.

(c) Sasscat Bu-to-y 1998

---

Kathryn took one look at the person who entered her ready room and
frowned.  "This better not be about what I think it's about."

Tom couldn't quite hide a smile.  "That depends, Captain.  What do
you think it's about?"

"These obscure holidays you keep wanting to celebrate."

"Just because I have some pride in our heritage--"

"Just because you want an excuse for a party every few days," she
retorted, and sighed.  "I suppose you have the whole day all planned
out so it'll be 'no extra work'."

"Not really," Tom admitted.

Kathryn looked up in surprise, and raised an eyebrow.  "Somehow this
makes you think I'll be willing to agree to the third party in two
weeks?"

"Not really," Tom said.

Kathryn blinked and blushed slowly.  "Oh.  So... what did you want,
then?"

"I thought maybe you'd like to have dinner with me Tuesday evening,"
he said with a grin.  "Of course, the fact that it happens to be
Armistice Day is completely coincidental."

She laughed and nodded.  "I'd like that."  Tom shot her one last smile
and left.

---

The meal was replicated, the drink was champagne, the cutlery silver.
About the only thing missing to make this a date were the candles, but
Tom seemed not to notice the setting so Kathryn had ignored it, too.

He'd kept her laughing all evening, taking a wicked delight in
catching her up on the gossip a captain usually never got to her.
Some things *everyone* knew, even her, like Harry fumbling around
Seven and not noticing the looks B'Elanna was shooting his way, and
B'Elanna oblivious to what probably passed for similar looks on
Vulcan that Tuvok gave her from time to time.

Some things she'd had no idea about, like the Delaney sisters locking
poor Freddie Bristow in the holodeck without any clothes and the
replicator's hidden.  Kathryn had thought everyone seemed a little too
amused that week.

But before she knew it, it was twenty-three hundred, and she had
morning shift the next day.  "Damn," she sighed, "I should probably
go.  Thanks again, Tom; this was..." she gestured vaguely at the
remains of their dinner, "wonderful."

Tom smiled and rose to escort her to the door.  "Well, Armistice Day
is supposed to commemorate the signing of the treaty after World War
One - the first step towards a new kind of relationship."  He shook
his head as she shot him a wary look.  "Just the first step.  Did you
know," he added, warming to his topic, "that the eleventh of November
is also the day the Berlin Wall first began to come down?"

Despite his analogy of the treaty-signing, he seemed not to notice the
significance of barriers beginning to drop, but Kathryn didn't bother
to point it out to him.  She really did have to go, and now wouldn't
have been the time for a historical debate anyway.

"Tom," she interrupted quietly.

"...Or was it the eighties?"  He looked thoughtful for a moment

"Tom," she repeated, and lifted her hand to his mouth.  He stopped in
surprise and looked down at her, while she tried to remember what
she'd wanted to say in the first place, feeling his lips move ever so
slightly under her fingertips with the movements of his breathing.

Hell.  She tore herself away at the last moment and kept her gaze
averted.  "It's getting late...  I should go..."

"Yeah," Tom agreed.  She looked up again and quavered at the look on
his voice, watching her.  He must have sensed her hesitation, because
he took her arm and led her out into the corridor.  "Goodnight,
Captain," he said with a faint smile.

She nodded, wanting nothing more than to melt into his embrace, but
held back by his words.  Which, undoubtedly, he'd done on purpose.
"Thank you, Tom.  Goodnight," she added, still not moving.

Tom hesitated for a moment, leaning forward so slightly she wouldn't
have noticed if she hadn't been looking for it, then looked away.
"Well," he said awkwardly.  "Goodnight."

She smiled despite herself.  "You've already said that."

"Have I?  Oh, yeah, I did."  He let go of her arm, suddenly, as he
became aware that he was still holding it.  There was a pause, and
she almost leaned towards him despite herself, but he pulled himself
away abruptly and walked into his quarters.

Kathryn stood in the corridor for a moment longer, remembering the
feel of his body so close to hers, the light touch of his breath on
her face, the look in his eyes...  "Oh, stop it," she muttered to
herself.  She glanced at his door, took a breath, and rang the chime.

It opened almost instantly, Tom looking down at her in surprise.  She
smiled sweetly.

"Just thought I'd remind you; no more parties until next year, at
least.  And I mean it this time."

Tom laughed and nodded, shifting his hand slightly as if she could
make out the Thanksgiving plans on the PADD he held.  "Understood,
Captain."

"Good."  She smiled warmly at him.  "Goodnight, Tom."

"'Night."

---

continued in the fourth story in the Festive Occasions series 'Dead Turkey Singing'