by Cinder
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Feedback: yes, please.

Disclaimer: If they were being treated right I wouldn't have found them shivering in my closet, now would I?

Warnings: Angst, cheesy plots, hot sex, raging Klingons, kissing Ensigns and happy endings.

Notes: The final installment of Captain Proton has been a long time in coming. Thanks for being so patient and not tearing my innards out if I didn't get to it soon like you threatened.

Also, thanks for all the support. My migraines are getting better. I'm down to only the half the time being incredibly impaired. But, oh, the darvosette. . . Can I just praise darvosette for a few seconds? (drifts off into a dreamy haze) Anyway, I'm seeing a specialist at the end of the month. Hopefully he'll be able to get me on some kind of prevention medication. After all I can predict the damn things within about an hour on a monthly cycle. Enough blathering from me. On with the story:

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When last we left our intrepid heroes, Harry Kim had declared his undying love for the handsome pilot, Tom Paris, before fleeing into the bowels of the ship.

Tom sat, jaw to chest, until the door burst open. Commander Chakotay strode in, looming over the stunned pilot. "Mr. Paris, some people are waiting for the holodeck. Since your allotted time has been over for fifteen minutes, would you mind vacating?"

"He loves me."

"Excuse me?"

"I need to talk to B'Elanna." Tom shoved himself up and ran out the door. As he fled through the corridors people kept looking at him strangely, but he ignored them. He had to solve this and he had to solve it now.

The lift seemed to take forever. That was just like Harry, no ultimatums, no sobs or drama, just a calm, well, mostly calm decision. And it was up to Tom to make it right.

He stepped out into Engineering and found B'Elanna right where he expected to, next to her beloved warp core. Who's cheating on who, he thought to himself, but out loud he said, "B'Elanna? Can we talk?"

"Tom? Is there a reason why you're not wearing a shirt?" She prowled around him. "What have you been doing? You're covered in marks."

"Umm, look, maybe you could take a little break and we could talk in my quarters?"

"I don't have time for this kind of thing. I have diagnostics to run, I have phase inducers to fix and the Captain has some pet project she wants to discuss with me at noon." She crossed her arms, daring him to object.

"It's not what you think. We just need to talk."

"So, talk."

"And I need a shirt."

She lifted a dangerous brow, but preceded him to the lift, her hips almost snapping in her agitation. Tom hoped he could get this over with soon, preferably with all of his bones intact. Then again, a couple of bruises might help him get in Harry's door. His friend always loved to "comfort" him.

"So," B'Elanna rounded on him as soon as they were in the lift, "where did you get those bruises?"

"Harry and I were playing on the holodeck."

"Were you? Did you enjoy yourselves? I don't suppose Miss and Miss Delaney joined you? Or was this just a hologram?" She flicked her nails over his kiss swollen lips. "You really should have had the safeties turned on."

"With all the time you have for me I'll be all healed by the time you notice!"

"What's that supposed to mean?"

The lift doors swished open, surprising a crewman, but Tom kept right on yelling, leading the way to his quarters. They hadn't been voted most volatile couple for two years running for nothing.

"I mean that whoever I might decide to kiss, at least I'm not having an affair behind your back!"

"And I am?"

"Yes, you are! With your work!" They stomped into his quarters. Tom went looking for a shirt and B'Elanna followed him into the bedroom.

"Just because I care about whether we get home or not does not make me the villain!"

"I care!" he growled. "Just because I don't spend night and day working doesn't mean I'm not a dedicated member of this crew!"

B'Elanna leaned back on the bed, one brow raised for effect. "You're trying to get to me, aren't you? Trying to arouse my inner Klingon? Does this stunt have anything to do with today being our anniversary?"

"Anniversary?"

"Oh, come on, Tom! You're the one who always makes a big deal out of these things." Practically purring, she stood up and stalked him across the room.

"As usual, you're not listening to me." Tom went to pull the shirt over his head, but B'Elanna ripped it away with a grin.

"You are making me so hot." Shoving him up against the bulkhead, she trapped our wayward hero with the sinuous length of her body. "You're so clever, Tom." Her long fingers tangled in his blonde curls. "You know just how to get my blood boiling." She kissed him hard.

"B'Elanna!" He shoved her away, but he was prey now.

"No more games." She leapt for him and they tumbled onto the bed together.

"This isn't a game!" He pushed back, trying to untangle himself from her arms and get to his feet again.

"Are you going to tell me that these kiss swollen lips are real this time? Not just some Tom Paris bid for attention like when you told me that Nicolleti had mauled you in the Jeffrey's Tube? You know how it gets my blood boiling to claim you." She growled playfully at him.

"Yes, they are real."

All semblance of play drained from her body. "Who?"

"Harry. Look, we were playing Captain Proton on the holodeck and -" Before he could say anymore she off the bed and out of his room. "Oh no."

Grabbing the tattered shirt, Tom pulled on the remains and raced after her down the corridor. Gone. Damn! But he knew where she was going, so all Tom had to do was get there first. "Computer, location of Harry Kim?"

"Ensign Kim is in his quarters."

"Computer, site to site transport. Take me directly to Ensign Kim's quarters." Tom shimmered out and reappeared in Harry's living room.

"Tom?" Harry put down his clarinet and stood.

"Harry, I messed up."

His friend shot him a lopsided grin. "So, what else is new?"

"No, I mean it this time. See, I was talking to B'Elanna and. . . well, she's on her way here to beat you up."

"Beat me up?"

"Well, yeah. See, I sorta told her about us."

"Why?"

"You said I have to choose. I accept that." Tom smiled, his blue eyes shining. "I've chosen you."

"Oh, Tom." A second later Harry was in his arms and they were kissing passionately, as passionately as anything they had done during their holodeck time, but more passionate, more beautiful. This time they knew they were in love and nothing could stop them, not any danger in the universe.

But B'Elanna seemed determined to try.

"Beep!"

Harry squared his shoulders and prepared to admit her.

"Wait," Tom protested.

"What?"

"I just... I have to tell you something first." Pulling his best friend back into his arms, Tom stole another kiss from those luscious lips. "I love you."

"I know." Parodying his friend's famous grin, he pulled away again, straightened himself and turned to the door. "Come!"

B'Elanna stormed in with all the rage of a Gorthian blood beast.

"B'Elanna!"

"Site to site transport, Tom? Very clever, but you can't stop me! I fully intend to give both of you a piece of my mind! How dare both of you do this to me! And Tom, I've been asking for months if everything was all right. Should we break up, hint, hint. Seven has a really nice ass, hint, hint. And Harry, you! You! I came to you for advice and you said nothing! Nothing!"

"We're so sor-" Harry started.

"Shut-up! I could have won the betting pool on you two months ago, but nooooooo, Mr. Lambert the Sheepish Lion Paris - "

"Who?" Harry interrupted.

"We were watching cartoons on our television," Tom began, but B'Elanna interrupted.

"I'm in the middle of rant here. Can this wait?"

"Uh, yeah."

"Good. Where was I? Brutus here has to be a shaking in his boots coward! At least you could have LEARNED something from Captain Proton, considering all the time you spend portraying him on the holodeck."

"Wait a second," Tom interrupted. "You mean to tell me that someone on this ship was running a betting pool and I didn't know about it?"

"You didn't know?" Harry's jaw all but dropped. "I was positive you knew and that you were just playing me for replicator credits."

"Right now?"

"Well, no, but before."

Tom frowned. "Did you win any from that that little scene we had today?" Harry blushed incriminatingly red.

"That's just great," B'Elanna complained. "Everybody is winning in this little triangle but me. I oughta' rip your head off, Tom Paris!"

"Now, wait just a minute. What exactly is your bet?"

"You're not - "

"Oh, yes I am. I intend to see that all three of us win and handsomely too. Last time someone on this ship doesn't inform me about a bit of harmless recreational wagering." He smiled, rubbing his palms together. "This is gonna be fun."

"What's your plan?" Harry asked, grinning despite himself.

"And it had better be good," B'Elanna warned, "or I'll rip your arms off!"

---
LATER. . .

As nonchalantly as possible without whistling Harry strode up to the turbo lift, waited for it to come, and then stepped in. Perfect, the Delaney sisters. "Morning," he greeted and then turned around to face the door.

"Morning, Harry," Jenny choked out. Megan on the other hand was completely speechless. The turbo lift stopped at Deck 4 and Harry stepped out, winding his way to the Mess Hall. Inside he stepped up to the counter to talk to Nelix and get his breakfast, his back to the rest of the room. Behind him, conversation stopped. He turned nervously. Everyone was staring at him.

"Harry," Neelix asked thoughtfully, "is there a reason why there's a huge, purple bite mark on the back of your neck?"

As unobtrusively as possible, Tom strolled into the room hand-in-hand with B'Elanna.

"What?" Harry yelped as convincingly as possible in answer to Nelix's question, hand slapped to the back of his neck.

"Bite mark, on the back of your neck. Looks rather nasty too." Leaning close, the Talaxian smiled, poking Harry knowingly with his elbow. "And looks like it was mighty fun getting if I might say so."

"Tom!" Harry screamed, turning on the blonde pilot. "You! You!"

"What, Harry?" While trying to jerk his chin unobtrusively to indicate B'Elanna beside him.

"I don't care anymore! This is it! The last straw! You bit me!"

"Tom?" B'Elanna asked, oh so innocently.

"I have no idea what he's talking about, dearest." Calmly, Tom tried to steer B'Elanna to a table, but Harry grabbed his arm.

"I'm talking about last night, Tom. You know the date he ditched you on? Hmmm, B'Elanna? He was fucking me. And he bit me!" He turned to show off his neck.

Gasps echoed around the room.

"Tom Paris!" B'Elanna exploded, whirling around and slapping him.

"B'Elanna no, I - "

"Are you going to deny it," Harry hissed.

Everyone in the room held their breath.

Tom straightened up, facing them both. "No, I don't deny it. I'm sorry B'Elanna, I should have told you before it happened, but Harry and I are in love. We're getting married."

"We're what?" Harry yelped.

"You!" B'Elanna snarled, turning on Harry.

"You can hurt me if you want to, B'Elanna, it's your right, but we never meant to hurt you. We never meant for this to happen at all. I'm so sorry and I wish we could still be friends."

"Awwww," cooed the crowd.

"I can't stay mad at you, Harry. I never could." Smiling, she hugged him. Turning to Tom, the furry came back. "But you, Tom Paris, stay out of my way." Then she stalked out of the Mess Hall. Smiling, Tom led Harry over to a table.

"Married?" Harry asked.

"Uh, yeah. So, uh, will you marry me, Harry?"

For a long moment Harry Kim just stared, his jaw dropped. Finally, he shook himself and dug into the breakfast Neelix had so thoughtfully slid under his nose.

"Will you?" Tom pressed.

"No."

"What?"

Harry put down his fork and gave his now official lover a long, level look. "How many replicator credits do you win if I say yes?"

"I can't believe you would think me capable of - "

"I know you, Tom. And I also happen to know that Gregor Ayala has a bet on us getting hitched, odds 12 to 1 according to Seven." He picked back up his fork, all but dismissing his companion.

"But - "

"Fine!" Harry exploded, his bangs falling into his eyes. "Just tell everyone we're getting married, get your replicator credits, and we'll just not set a date. . . unless. . . unless there's a bet on that too! Hi, Mom, got married. Yeah, won a ton of replicator credits doing it," he sneered, then stormed out.

For a moment, Tom Paris was completely frozen. It took Jenny Delaney to kick him out of his daze... a hard one, right to the shin.

"Ouch!"

"Go after him, you boob!"

"Got a bet on us, Jenny?" Tom snarled.

She leaned close, her little foot tapping impatiently. "Harry is my friend and if you hurt him I'll do some very unladylike things to you. Now go!"

Nodding, Tom leapt out of his chair and barreled down the corridor after his love. Harry was already in the turbo lift when he caught up. Lengthening his stride, he barely caught the doors before they closed. Alone. Good.

"Go away," Harry ordered.

"No, I won't. This is important to me."

"Then stop treating it like a game."

"Look, I know I probably moved too fast for you and - " Harry moved to interrupt, but Tom held up his hand for silence. "I understand. I really do. The whole marriage idea is fast and at least today it's a mistake." Taking a deep breath, he stepped into Harry's personal space. "But it won't be a mistake sometime in the future and that's good enough for me. This is it for me, Harry. You're that special _the one_ that everybody talks about. That scared me for a long time, me, Mr. Bachelor Paris, but I'm ready to admit it now. I love you."

Helpless to do otherwise, Harry wrapped his arms around his lover and kissed those soft lips. "I love you too, Tom. I've wanted this for so long."

Scattered kisses along Harry's jaw dotted Tom's next speech. "I still owe you, you know."

"We have to be on duty in ten minutes. We'll be on the bridge any second."

Maliciously, Tom rubbed himself against his love. "I guess this will have to wait until after shift then." Giving Harry's earlobe a quick suck, he whispered, "whatever you can think up I'll do for you. You only have to ask. I want to hear you ask."

The turbo-lift arrived and Tom stepped away, giving Harry a jaunty grin before disappearing to his post.

"Curse you, Tom Paris," Harry muttered, trying to will away his erection as he walked to his own station. "I _will_ get you for this."

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AFTER THEIR SHIFT. . .

"Well, Harry?" Tom asked.

Relaxing against the side of the turbo lift, mild-mannered Harry Kim was the picture of graceful elegance, arms braced against the sides, one leg crossed casually over the other. His sweet voice whispered its bitter-sweet promise. "I'm going to fuck you, Tom."

"That's all?"

"We're going straight to my quarters and when we get there you are going to strip out of your uniform and bend you over the arm of the couch so I can get at that gorgeous ass of yours." He waited for an answer, but Tom could only stare. Grinning, Harry lent in close to whisper in a pale, slightly-pink ear. "And when I'm done you're going to go into the shower so we can wash each other off. Do you understand?"

Hoarsely, "yes."

"But you haven't come yet and we can't have that." One of those blessedly long fingered hands cupped Tom through his slacks, rubbing up and down. "So, then I'll kneel on the bed and present my ass to you and you'll pound me until we both come in a screaming, heaping, sweaty mess."

"Whatever. . . " Tom took a deep breath to clear his throat. "Whatever you want, Harry. I belong to you."

"Only in the best way, love." Hooking an arm around Tom's neck, Harry dragged him in for a long, passionate kiss.

"Harry," he groaned, "I can't wait. Do me now."

"Just a little longer, love." Kneading and pulling hard at that beautiful ass, Harry undulated against his lover.

"Now! Computer, stop turbo lift."

"Computer, resume!" Harry frowned. "No, Tom. You said I get what I want. I want you in my bed."

"Harry, please!"

"Your rules, Tom." He pressed up against the blonde, teasing mercilessly, just as he had been teased before. The turbo lift suddenly stopped and the doors opened. He checked the corridor to be sure they were alone, then, grabbing hold of Tom's erection, and giving it a squeeze for good measure, he led the way to his quarters. Ensign Paris followed his dick.

Inside, finally having reached the end of any sane man's patience, Harry started ripping - Tom's clothes that is. Tom ripped back, shrugged off shredded fabric and kicking off his boots as they stumbled through the living room. "Couch," he finally mumbled semi-coherently.

Harry tugged. "Bed. Changed mind. Bed. Stomach. Now." So saying, he shoved Tom down on the bed and then yanked out the bedside table drawer in search of lube.

"Harry."

"Quiet."

"Harry!"

"What?" he growled, turning on his quivering victim.

But Tom was quivering with passion, not fear. "I already," he swallowed. "Right before shift ended I went to the fresher and lubed - "

Harry didn't let him finish. Instead he shoved his lover over on his stomach and traced the shadowed cleft. He slid a finger in just to be sure. Tom moaned. Very slick and a bit loose. "You really want me, don't you?"

"Yes, yes! Now, Harry!" Tom shoved himself back to his knees.

"Just now?"

"Now, in an hour, tomorrow, next year, next lifetime and every moment in between! Now fuck me already!"

Harry lifted himself and slowly pushed into his lover, moaning at the tight heat. Wrapping himself around his lover, he pressed Tom back down into the mattress again, covering as much of his lover as he could. Little thrusts followed, staying deep. Now that he finally had Tom where he wanted him, Harry didn't want to let go, not for any reason.

"Harry!" Tom finally pleaded, unsuccessfully trying to get his partner to speed up.

"Shut up, Tom."

"But - "

Harry bit the back of his lover's neck, an instinctive warning older than the human race. Then he pulled back far enough to slam himself inside. Tom scrabbled for purchase, arching back into the thrusts. Suddenly, Harry pulled away. Tom mewled in protest.

"Turn over."

"What?"

Harry gently maneuvered his lover onto his back. "I need to see your eyes." Bracing his arms on either side of Tom, he thrust into his lover again, over and over, their eyes locked together. A nearby star went nova, the warp core breached, phasers fired. Tom and Harry collapsed to the bed together, panting.

"Wow," the blonde whispered.

"Yeah." Harry grinned. "I love you, Tom."

"I know. Do you think I would have risked life, limb and breaking up with B'Elanna for anyone else?"

Smiling, Harry shook his head and then captured Tom's lips in another, long, leisurely kiss.

And so our intrepid heroes lived happily ever after, safe in one another's arms. For, nothing could defeat the combined might of Captain Proton and his sidekick, Buster Kincaid. So, evil beware! Da ta da- da ta da da da - da da da daaaaaaah dah - da da da daaaaaaaah dah - da da da daaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah da da da da da!

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End