by Bingley
---
Archiving: PKSP Elsewhere, please ask me first. I'm unlikely to say
no.
Feedback: gimme, gimme
Disclaimer: Paramount owns Voyager and all who sail in her. This is just
for fun, not to infringe their copyright or make a profit.
---
Tom jumped slightly at the sound of the cheerful voice behind him.
"Here you are again, Tom. What's the matter? Can't sleep
again?"
"That's right. I just gave up. It's no use trying to force
myself to sleep. But what about you, Neelix? You always seem to be here
whatever time of day or night I come in."
"Oh, we Talaxians don't need as much sleep as you humans. Our
day's about 28 of your hours long, and we only sleep for about four
hours each of our days."
"Even four hours a night would be good. I don't think I've
had more than two hours a night for the past three or four nights."
"So, why can't you sleep?"
"I don't know, Neelix." Tom shrugged. "If I did,
I'd do something about it."
"You know, Harry had the same problem a month or so ago. He wrote
a special holodeck program and that seemed to help. Perhaps you could
borrow the program."
"Harry and Chakotay won't be back for another week. I don't
think I can wait that long."
"Well, Tom, I'm sure Harry wouldn't mind if you just borrowed
it before he gets back."
"How did Harry get to use the holodeck for nights at a time?"
"Oh, I think the doctor certified it as necessary for medical
reasons," said Neelix airily.
Tom grimaced and then sighed. He didn't really want to discuss his
lack of sleep with the doctor, but on the other hand he didn't want
the problem to start affecting his flying either.
He stood up. "I'll see if I can find this program and then talk
to the doctor," he said. "I'm desperate enough to try
anything."
"Strange, Harry didn't say anything to me about suffering from
insomnia," he thought as he walked back to his quarters. Once
he'd found Harry's program (not difficult - there it was, marked
"Insomnia"), Tom went to sickbay.
"And what brings you here, at this hour, Mr. Paris?"
"I can't sleep, Doc. I haven't for the past three or four
nights. Neelix said Harry's got a holodeck program that cures
insomnia. I'd like to try it out, but I need to get a holodeck
requisition from you."
"Let me examine you, first." The Doctor scanned Tom and said,
"Yes, there does seem to be some sort of disturbance to your theta
wave pattern. It's probably psychological in origin. I don't
suppose you'd care to talk about it?"
Tom shook his head. The Doctor said, "Very well. I'll requisition
the time for you. I will monitor your EEG readings from here and then if
the program is successful and you fall into a proper sleep state I'll
beam you back to your own bed."
"Thanks, Doc. I'll go and try it now, if you don't
mind."
"Off you go, then. I have a paper to write."
---
In the holodeck, Tom looked round the room curiously. At a guess it was
probably Harry's room in his parents' house back on Earth. If
Harry's insomnia had been caused by homesickness and this was the
cure, it probably wouldn't do him any good, but since he was here. . .
Tom got into the bed and curled up facing the wall. "Lights
out," he ordered, and lay there without much hope.
A few minutes later he felt somebody else getting into the bed behind him.
Tom froze. OK. He'd often found, himself, that a quick wank helped him
to get to sleep. Harry had taken the principle one step further, that was
all. Tom felt the figure behind him cuddle up closer, and a hand came
round to rest on his stomach right over his belly-button. He fought down a
giggle. That tickled. The figure placed a gentle kiss on the back of his
neck. The rasp of 5 o'clock shadow told him the figure was male.
"Verrry interesting," Tom thought, and waited to see what would
happen next. Nothing did. After a while the soft breathing of the figure
told him that it had gone to sleep.
Cautiously, so as not to wake the sleeping figure next to him, Tom
whispered, "Lights, 25 per cent." Slowly, Tom turned round -- to
find his own face lying on the pillow next to him.
---
Tom sat in his quarters and waited. Harry should have finished his
debriefing with the Captain and be off duty by now. As on similar
occasions in the past, Harry would be coming to tell him all about it as
soon as he could get away, and then they would go to Sandrine's. But
not this time.
When he heard the door chime, he stood up. The door opened, and Tom
called out "Come in, Ensign."
Harry looked a bit surprised, but came in and said, "What's with
the Ensign, Tom?"
"Ensign Kim," Tom barked. He was pleased to see that being on
the receiving end of so many similar barks from his father had given him
the knack. Harry snapped to attention where he was. "Is that any way
to address a superior officer?"
"No, Sir. Sorry, Sir."
"Can you tell me any reason why I should not report you for gross
violation of privacy?"
Harry said nothing.
"Are you aware that unauthorised use of an image of a fellow officer
on the holodeck is a contravention of Starfleet Regulation 97 alpha
B?"
"Are you referring to my Insomnia program, Sir?"
"I am, Ensign."
"I used a mirror routine, Tom, I mean Sir, so that anyone who used
the program would only see themselves."
"I am aware of that, Ensign. But I looked deeper into the program
code. When you use it, my image is there."
Harry paled. Tom looked at him sternly for a few minutes and then sat
down. He continued staring at Harry, who remained at attention, pale but
silent.
"Oh do sit down, Harry," he said crossly. "Of course
I'm not going to report you, but tell me why you did it."
Harry heaved a sigh and sat down cautiously, looking miserable.
"When I was little, if I couldn't sleep, my parents would always
bring me in to share their bed. I've always found that having someone
in bed with me helps me sleep when I can't. It's just having them
there that helps. They don't have to do anything. I mean, I
didn't do anything with the holodeck image of you."
"So why me?"
"Well if it was anyone from home I'd know it was fake, and it
wouldn't work. But you're here. And I didn't think you'd
mind."
"Well, I do mind, Harry. And why do I kiss the back of your
neck?" He crossed his arms over his chest and glowered.
Harry looked ev |