by Nikita
---

Author's Note: This is 'not' slash! It's a genderf*ck fic. This means there is het scenes, but I've omitted actual sex. PG rated. I find it important to note that if you want to know what Tom looks like when recovered I pictured Charlize Theron. Tall, blonde bombshell that I feel would be more than able to pull off Tom's personality.

---

It should have been a routine mission, but as Harry well knew. . . weird is part of the job. So it wasn't completely unexpected when Tom's shuttle first disappeared. The events that followed that. .. well, they proved just 'how' weird life in the Delta Quadrant could be. . .

---

Harry gripped the edge of his console hard, his knuckles white. Tuvok cast him an assessing glance and Harry straightened, his mask of professionalism in place once more.

"Scan the area once more, Mr. Kim. Replay the last transmission on the screen, Mr. Tuvok."

The main view screen flickered as Tom's last message appeared. His face filled the screen and he began to relay his latest coordinates and acknowledge their rendezvous point and time. ". . . I anticipate no problems. I'll see you all in three days. Paris out."

That was four days ago. There was no contact and no sign of the shuttle or debris.

"No change, captain" Kim stared at his screen and avoided looking at Janeway, though he could feel the weight of her gaze.

"Very well, Ensign Bateheart, set coordinates to those last reported by Lt. Paris and set course to follow his designated flight path. . . "

---

"Captain, picking up ionic traces around the planet. . . "

"Scan the surface, did he manage to land?"

Harry studied the new readings. "Found it! The shuttle is intact, but severely damaged. Scanning for human life readings. . . found one, 15 meters from the shuttle. . . "

"Voyager to Lt. Paris"

There was no response. Janeway opened her mouth to try again but was interrupted by Tuvok. "Combadge signals aremost likely interrupted by the planet's atmosphere."

"Relay the coordinates to the transporter room."

<< Transporter One, Captain. I'm receiving the coordinates. . . readings confirm human life sign, but I'm not sure about the identity. . . >>

Janeway stood and looked at Harry as she spoke. "What do you mean, Ensign Lanne?"

<<Readings are only 65% compatible with Lt. Paris's records. . . >>

Tuvok looked up from his own readings, "Possible interference with the readings; the life form is definitely human." The captain nodded.

"Beam him up, Ensign."

<<Aye, Captain. . . What the - Captain!. . . >>

---

Janeway, Harry, Tuvok and three security guards entered the transporter room. Standing on the transporter pad surrounded by a glowing containment field was a tall blond woman in a ragged looking Starfleet uniform.

"Captain! Finally, would you please tell Janet to release the containment field? She's overreacting."

Janeway stared hard at the form before her. "Tom?"

The blonde laughed and shrugged, "Who else? I take it I'm looking different?"

"Um, yes. . . Tuvok?" Tuvok scanned with his tricorder.

"Readings are conflicting, but does not rule out the claim."

Janeway nodded, "All right, I think we'd better get you to sickbay, then. . . Tom. Ensign, release the lieutenant."

The transporter tech turned off the field and stared open mouthed as the group left the room. 'Wait 'till I tell the rest of the crew. . . '

Harry walked besides the woman, sneaking peeks at her as they went. She glanced at him and grinned. "Yes, it's me, Harry. I guess I look odd, huh? It feels weird."

"What happened, Tom?"

"Let's save it for the doctor, Ensign Kim." Janeway led them into sickbay and activated the doctor.

"Please state the medical - Oh. . . "

Several minutes later, the doctor had confirmed that the woman 'was' indeed Tom Eugene Paris, but now female. ". . . It's quite interesting. The DNA itself has been altered in such a way that it's almost impossible to determine how it was achieved or how it may be reversed. Was there any indication of how it occurred?"

Tom had been quiet since arriving to sickbay, finally addressed directly he/she shrugged. "I don't know. . . I landed, barely made the landing itself, there was a malfunction in the thrusters. When I exited the shuttle it felt. . . I don't know. . . strange. The sensors were messed up; they would only tell me there was no dangerous gases or minerals nearby. The air seemed okay. . . the plants nearby smelled kind of sickly sweet. I tripped and fell into one of them on the second day. Cut my hand on the thorns. . . the next day I woke in a cold sweat. . .my body started changing. . . "

The doctor scanned him again. "Possible that it entered your bloodstream. . . but how. . . " he muttered to himself.

The captain grinned ruefully. "Well, at least you made it back in one piece, Lt. We're all relieved to find you. . . despite your condition. Ensign Kim, retrieve the information from the shuttle's computers and have the report ready for tomorrow's meeting. Tom. . . I 'll leave you in the doctor's hands for now. Inform me of any progress, doctor."

---

Kim rang the door chime again. No answer, but Harry 'knew' that his friend was in there. He was beginning to become very concerned. It had been a week since Tom had returned. The doctor had worked nonstop to reverse the change but so far. . . no luck. Whenever he found a possible cure or treatment, Tom's own body would counteract and mutate to negate it. It was by far the most challenging and puzzling medical mystery the doctor had discovered in the Delta Quadrant so far.

Kim held his finger on the door's panel. . .the chiming would be continuous inside the quarters. He grinned at himself. . . let Tom ignore 'that'!

"Godamnit! Fine! Come in!" The voice might be female. . . but the cursing was anything but feminine. Harry entered the room to find it darkened, a candle flickered on the table, but otherwise the room was shrouded in shadows.

"Tom? Computer, lights 100%" The lights came on full force and he saw Tom sitting in a chair in the corner of the room, wincing.

"No! Lights 10%." The lights dimmed to only slightly better than they were before. Harry walked carefully to the couch and sat down.

"Why are you sitting in the dark, Tom?"

"Because I don't want to see myself. Or anyone else. What do you want?"

"I'm worried about you. Everyone is, actually. You haven't been out of your rooms except for Sickbay since you got back."

There was a pause and then a weary sigh. "I can't stand it. I was okay. . . before I beamed up. . . and even a little afterward. . . but now. . . I'm - I'm scared."

Harry leaned forward towards the chair. He could just make out the form, but couldn't see Tom's face. "What do you mean?"

"I mean - I knew Voyager would come. . . I was scared when my body started changing. . . but it wasn't too bad. . . I was still 'me'. . . and I knew that the doc would be able to fix it. . . if I just hung on. But now. . . it's been a week. . . and he's not making any progress. . . And I can't face the crew. Not like this."

"Tom, I can't imagine what you're going through. . . it's a scary thing. . . but. . . you have no reason to be afraid of the crew. We're your friends."

"But they'll 'stare' at me, Harry! I'm a freak! I've been the laughing stock of the ship all week, I'm sure."

Harry was suddenly glad that it was dark. Tom wouldn't have been confident if he saw his face, the rumors 'were' getting a little out of hand and the jokes were becoming raunchy. "That's exactly why you 'should' get out. Let them see you. All they've got is the word of the few people who saw you. But besides that. . . you need to get out of these quarters for yourself. It's not healthy to stay locked away like this."

Another sigh. "I know. . . I just. . . I couldn't do it by myself, yet."

Harry let out a relieved sigh of his own, "That's fine. You don't have to do it on your own. Let's go out together. Play some pool. I've missed hanging out with you Tom. I haven't seen you since you got back."

There was a long pause and Harry worried that Tom was going to resist some more. "Tom?"

"OK. . . You're right. I'm acting like a moron, hiding out in my room like this. . . I'm an adult, time I acted like one. Computer: lights 100%." Tom stood up; she was wearing loose pants and an oversized top, and her hair was a mess of reddish gold curls. She squinted in the light, shielding her eyes and smiling tiredly at Harry. "Hey" she said quietly.

"Hey. You look fine, Tom. . . but...maybe you could put some real clothes on.Those p.j.s look like you've been wearing them all week."

Tom grinned sheepishly and smoothed down the front of the shirt, Harry quickly averted his eyes from her chest. "I have been."

Harry laughed and pushed him towards the bedroom. "Go put on some pants and a clean top. You'll feel better."

Tom resisted as they reached the bedroom door, "I don't have anything that fits. . . my hips. . . my. . . chest. Nothing else fits." Tom started to look panicked again.

Harry held out a hand, "That's nothing. The doc's got your new measurements in your files, right? Just pull them up and program your replicator for some new clothes."

"Oh. . . you're right. That'll take a bite out of my rations. Good thing I'm about to win a bunch of you. . . " she grinned weakly and went over to the replicator.

---

Sandrine's was crowded as usual on a Friday night. Tom had been all right in the corridors, there were very few crewmen out and they had walked quickly so Tom could avoid the stares. But now, at the doorway of the holodec, Tom was balking again.

"Uh. . . maybe tomorrow would be better. . . " she ran a slim hand through her short blonde curls and started to turn away.

Harry grabbed her shoulders, "Oh, no, you don't. You said you were going to take all my credits. . . how can you do that from if you don't come in? You've got to do this sometime, Tom. Better to get it over with."

The music didn't stop and there was no immediate reaction, but people 'did' begin to stare a little. Harry guided Tom up to the bar and ordered them a few syntheholic beers. Tom kept his eyes on the countertop. "Tell me when they stop staring."

Harry glanced around and became irritated. Glaring at everyone within eyesight he got most of them to back down and look away sheepishly. "All right, you can look up now."

Tom grabbed his beer and turned around, head back defiantly. 'Let them stare. . . ' Tom thought, 'I'm not going to let it intimidate me. . . ' Harry was right, most of them weren't staring, a few guys from engineering in the corner were, but B'Elanna walked up to them and they quickly looked away. She sneered and came over to Tom.

"Hey, Harry. Tom, finally decided to quit hiding, hm? The doc made any progress, yet?"

Tom shook her head, "None. And he's still working on it, but he told me not to hold my breath."

The three of them talked until the pool table opened up. "All right, Harry. Prepare to be whupped!" Tom cackled grabbing a cue stick. Harry followed and tried not to stare at Tom's rear. Tom had selected a pair of dark blue jeans, white top and his new Starfleet issue boots. A rather bland choice, but on Tom's new curvy form. . . it was enough to make Harry drool. 'Stop it! This is Tom. Your best friend.'

Tom leaned over to break and Harry looked away into the crowd to avoid looking, as he did so he saw that just about every other guy 'was'. He felt an irrational surge of jealousy and shook it off, focusing on the game.

---

As they strolled back to their quarters, Tom slung an arm around Harry's neck. "Thanks, Har'. . . I needed that!"

Harry felt the back of his neck heat up from the contact; keeping his eyes on the floor ahead of them he shrugged good-naturedly. "My credits? You're welcome. Now you can buy yourself another outfit."

Tom laughed and then removed her arm, thumping him on the back as they reached her quarters. "Yep! Maybe even some shoes! Jenny was telling me that I need some more feminine footwear! I'm thinking of some running shoes, though. Wanna go for a jog, tomorrow morning? I've got some holodeck time scheduled."

Tom jogging next to him? Certain body parts jiggling and moving with every step? The idea was distracting. "Um, okay. Good night."

---

Harry watched Tom enter the mess hall and get in line for breakfast. Neelix was as helpful as usual, but Harry could see that even Nelix was affected by the change.

Tom had gotten more comfortable going out. But never alone. He went with either Harry or B'Elanna. The looks he got didn't necessarily fade in time. . . they just became a bit 'different'. The men continued to stare, most with lust, a few with a star-struck look of puppy love. Tom found those unnerving and occasionally wanted to punch those that got a little too close.

The women stared, too. . . but mostly out of jealousy. Tom 'was' the most beautiful woman aboard the ship. Seven of Nine had held that position before the change and still was considered beautiful. . . but Tom. . . ? Harry watched her wrinkle her nose over a rather revolting green dish that Nelix was trying to convince her to try. Tom was as tall as Seven. . . just as slender, but curvy in 'all' the right places. They were both blondes with blue eyes. . . but that was where the similarities ended. Seven had a cool icy exterior that suited her icy personality. She was almost unapproachable. . . a disdainful look upon her face towards anyone and anything. Even her complexion was pale and smooth as ice.

But Tom. . . Tom's hair was more of a reddish blonde, it was still quite short, but that only emphasized her fine features. It was a riot of curls at present, obviously Tom had neglected to fuss with it today, and the natural look was even prettier than the polished one she normally used. As she leaned over to scoop some of the green gunk onto her plate, Harry found himself smiling. Tom was also more approachable. Once her nervousness was past, she was as open and smiling as her old self. Charming, vivacious. . . full of energy. . . all of these qualities made her gorgeous. . .

"Harrrrryyy. . . Voyager to Harry!"

Harry broke his gaze and looked back at B'Elanna who was eating next to him. "What?"

"Geez, Harry. You were drooling in your plate. Have you talked to Tom about this?"

"About what?" Harry quickly took a sip of his coffee and looked at his plate.

"About the fact that you're falling in love with him - her. Tom."

Harry could feel his ears burning. "B'El, it's not like that. .. "

"Sure. You just keep telling yourself that."

Harry looked up to see her smirking at him. "Please don't say anything," he hissed.

"I won't and Tom's still wrapped up in the changes she's going through. . . but even Tom will soon be able to tell. You're hopelessly obvious."

"Great" he muttered just as Tom sat down at their table.

"What's great?" she asked.

"Uh. . . the eggs. They're not bad." Harry scooped some of the green scrambled eggs and took another bite, trying to suppress the gag at the terrible taste.

Tom just stared at him, unconvinced, "Uh huh. . . "

---

"Three months! Three months it's been!" Tom was in Harry's quarters, somewhat drunk from the wine they'd replicated.

"Yes, it has been. . . so?" Harry put the bottle away, Tom had obviously had enough.

"I just - I never thought it would take this long! I thought. . . I honestly thought I'd be 'me' again!" Tom sat down with a thump and her eyes were watering. Harry hadn't seen her cry since the change. . . perhaps it was only now sinking in.

"You 'are' yourself, Tom. Just in another body, that's all. . . at least you're in a body that works. You're not crippled or disfigured. . . you're whole and healthy."

Tom nodded but then began to sob. "I know! I know. . . I just. . . it isn't fair! And. . . my body is still changing!"

Concerned, Harry sat a little closer, taking one of Tom's hands he tried to catch her eye. "What do you mean it's still changing?"

Tom swiped at her eyes angrily. "This! I'm an emotional wreck! I've got a period now! The doctor told me I'm now a fully functional female! Female! I could have children. . . "

Harry was surprised, he hadn't thought about that. . . hadn't even wondered if Tom 'had' a period before. It wasn't exactly something a guy thought about if he could help it.

"Oh. Sorry, I guess."

Tom waved him off, "You don't even 'want' to know. It's gross. I had to sit there and have the doc explain it to me. . . what to do. . . what to expect. Ugh."

Harry shuddered sympathetically. . . that had to be the worst. "So. . . does this mean the doctor has given up?"

Tom sighed and wiped off her face. "Kind of. He said that my 'condition' is not fatal. . . not a risk to my or any other crewmember's health and that it is resistant to any medical intervention. He's got other experiments and work to do. . . he told me my gender difficulties are now low on his list of important things to do. . . bastard."

"That's it?"

"That. . . and he's trying to counsel me. . . telling me to get 'comfortable' with my new body. Pfft!" She blew a raspberry and shrugged. "He actually suggested I try on a dress and makeup!"

They both laughed at that and the tension eased, Harry sat back into the couch and relaxed. Tom shifted back as well, and then surprised Harry by snuggling against him. "Hmmm. . . I'm tired. Wore myself out with that temper tantrum. . . "

Harry grunted an acknowledgement. They were 'both' a little drunk. And having Tom there. . . felt nice. They drifted off to sleep, Harry's arm around her shoulders, her head against his chest.

---

They woke hangovers, Tom sprawled across Harry on the couch. "Ughh. . . "

Tom pushed herself up and staggered over to the replicator. Luckily today was their day off, she ordered them both a hangover cure and handed one to Harry who blinked blearily at her.

As the medicine cleared her head and took away the headache, she grinned at Harry's mussed clothes and hair. "You look like you've gone two rounds with a Klingon, Ensign Kim."

Harry took his own medicine and smirked at her. "No Klingon. . . just a 5'10" human woman lying on top of me all night.

Tom felt herself flushing and hastily picked up her shoes. "Well. . . I better go back to my rooms and take a shower. See you at breakfast?"

"Lunch" Harry corrected her as he looked at his chrono.

---

Tom splurged on a water shower instead of the usual sonic; scrubbing herself vigorously she suddenly stopped. Looking down at herself she seemed to notice her own breasts for the first time. Not bad. . . in fact, her entire body wasn't bad. . . kind of nice. Squinting into the fogged mirror she decided she was actually kind of pretty. . . Maybe. . . just maybe, she could learn to live in this body. Maybe the doc wasn't completely out of his holographic mind. . .

Lunch with Harry was slightly awkward. Both seemed hyperconscious of the other. Their hands brushed as they reached for the lemongrass peppershaker. Tom let Harry use it first and found herself really noticing Harry for the first time. He was. . . cute. Rather sexy. . . she'd always thought Harry was good looking for a guy. . . but now. . .


That evening Harry went to help B'El on an engineering problem and Tom found himself seeking out Delaney twins company.

---
Two Days Later. . .

Harry rang Tom's door. She'd asked him to come over for a drink and Harry was wondering if she needed to talk again. . .

The door slid open and Tom was standing there. In a skirt. In high heels. "Hi, Harry. What do you think?" She twirled around, the skirt flaring a little, showing off her long toned legs. She wore a light blue silk blouse cut low, showing the first bit of cleavage Harry could remember seeing. A small pearl pendant gleamed in the light.

"Umm. Great. What's the occasion?"

"Experimenting. Like it? I was nervous waiting for you to come over. Don't know why. . . " she chuckled and ushered him in. "Come in, have a seat. Salanan Water?"


Harry accepted the drink and sat down on the couch. Tom took hers and sat down next to him. . . rather close. Harry shifted slightly as her knee brushed against his.

"So. . . what did you want to talk about, Tom?"

Tom smiled a little and tucked her legs beneath her; the necklace's chain sparkled as she leaned on the cushions. "Well. . . it's about me, actually. . . or rather, my 'adjustment' as the doc puts it. He tells me that I need to 'own' my body. That it was unhealthy to deny the new form it's taken. Hence the outfit and jewelry" she gestured to herself. "Jenny and some of the others came over to help me. . . it was really embarrassing and uncomfortable at first...but. . . when I looked in the mirror. . . I have to admit. . . I like it."

Harry grinned and nodded, "You look wonderful" he felt his face heat slightly and took another sip of his drink. Where was this going?

"So. . . now that I've mastered 'this' obstacle. . . I wanted your help with the next."

"What do you mean?"

Tom set his drink down and shifted closer, her entire body that much 'closer' to Harry's. The warm body pressed against him was terribly distracting.

"I mean. . . that in 'owning' this body. . . I need to explore it in other ways."

"Uh huh" Harry forced himself not to shift away. . . or shift any closer.

"I'm a virgin." Harry started and sloshed his drink. Tom chuckled and grabbed a napkin blotting the leg of Harry's uniform. "Well, the body's a virgin, anyhow. . . "

Harry grabbed the napkin from Tom's hand and finished drying the spot himself. "I see. So what are you planning, Tom?"

Tom flashed him a seductive smile. "What do you 'think', Harry. . . I plan to explore my sexuality."

"With who? Another woman?"

Tom shook his head and seemed to suddenly lose a little of her confidence. "No. . . I mean. . . in this body. . . I've always been hetero, Harry. And it seems I am in this body, too. I'm not really interested in women. . . I can still see them as pretty and sexy. . . but it doesn't 'do' anything for me anymore. . . "

Harry nodded sympathetically.

"And. . . well, I'm finding myself attracted to. . . men." Tom looked up at him and shrugged. "It was really disconcerting at first. . . but, I'm ready to explore that now."

Harry kept nodding.

Tom smiled again with more of the old confidence. "So. . . that's why I invited you over tonight. . . "

Harry smiled. "To tell me who you've picked out?" he chuckled a little. Which lucky guy would get the sexiest woman on the ship now? And which man aboard the ship would Tom find the most attractive? This was rather weird. . .

"In a way. Jeez, Harry, I thought it would be rather obvious by now."

Harry frowned, "What do you mean?"

"I picked you."

Harry just stared at her.

"Harry?"

"Yeah?"

"I picked you. . . well, I suppose I should have asked. Would you?"

"Would I what?"

Tom threw her arms up. "Will you stop that! You know what: will you sleep with me? As in sex. As in take my virginity. Do the nasty-"

Harry held his hands up defensively, "All right, I get it! What do you mean you picked 'me', though? You just decided you wanted to lose your virginity and I was the closest guy?"

Tom dropped his arms, "Oh. No. . . that's not it. I haven't done this well, have I? I chose 'you', you're my best friend and you're kind and. . . gentle, and well. . . I just wanted it to be you."

Harry looked away.

"So. . . will you?"

Harry looked back at her, his face serious. "Of course. . . "

Tom smiled and leaned close, her lips pressing gently against his, Harry deepened the kiss, pulling her into his lap. One hand stroked up her leg, disappearing under her skirt. . .

---

Tom flopped back onto the bed and found herself giggling. Harry turned his head and gave her a dirty look.

"No. . . no, Harry. . .it was wonderful. 'That's' why I'm laughing. . . I was so nervous. . . But it was great. I think women actually have it better."

Harry looked relieved and then propped himself up on an elbow. "Yeah?"

"Hmmm, well, it hard to explain, but yeah. . . And you were really patient. . . and well. . . I really don't get why you don't date much."

"What do you mean?"

Tom grinned evilly and snaked a hand under the sheets. "Well. . . if this got out. . . you'd never be without a date. Geez, Harry, where've you been hiding 'this'?"

Harry dropped his head and gasped, stilling her hand. "Hey!"

"I'm just saying. . . you'd be really popular with the ladies."

Harry rolled his eyes, but had a suspiciously smug look on his face.

Tom propped herself on an elbow mimicking Harry's earlier pose. She gently traced his brow. "So. . . I don't hear you saying if 'you' enjoyed it. . . besides the obvious sign, of course. You didn't just do this out of pity, did you?"

Harry reached up and took the hand that was fingering his hair, holding it to his chest. "No, of course not. Are you kidding, you're gorgeous. . . and funny. And I've had a hard-on since you beamed aboard this ship. . . "

Tom snorted. "Really? I would have socked you one if you'd told me that when I first came back. But now. . . well. . . thank you. I found myself strangely attracted to you since then, too. . . I just buried it."

Harry looked surprised. "You did?"

"Yes...I found you 'very' attractive. . . still do. You're the best looking guy on this ship. . . now that I'm not one, that is."

Harry smirked. "So, does this. . . will this maybe happen again, then? Or have you satisfied your curiosity?"

Tom trailed her fingers down his chest. "Satisfied? For the moment. . . but, I'd like it to happen again."

---

End