The BLTS Archive- Consequences by Joanne Collins (luchenbackoutlaw@gmail.com) --- DISCLAIMER:  Everything you recognise belongs to Paramount/Viacom.  They keep refusing to come up with an arrangement about Tom or Chakotay . All original ideas and characters are the sole property of the author. The genesis for this story is all the discussion on the CPSG list of this episode, and the thoughts of C/P or other versions of the ep, and Cam's suggestion on ASCEM of a story pairing Tuvok and B'Elanna.  So, I thought...hmmm, could work.  The story splits from canon when the away team assembles to beam down to the planet, when Tuvok replaces Tom.  After that, it's almost nothing like the episode.  I'm a bit nervous as this is my first m/f story (aside from a little J/C in a P/K story).   Feedback, comments, *constructive* criticism, etc are *very* much appreciated, and always answered.  Flames however are *not*.   Don't waste your time or mine. ASC archive:  Yes. BLTS:  Yes. Anywhere else (except personal use, sharing with friends, etc):  Ask first! I'll probably say yes. Dedication:  For Cam, for giving me the inspiration.   --- B'Elanna was distracted.  "*Damn* Vorik!" she thought, unable to get his proposition off her mind.  She wasn't interested, of course, she just didn't think of him in that way.  He'd totally shocked her when he'd proposed marriage to her, or whatever the hell it was that he'd proposed, she didn't think she'd *ever* understand Vulcans or how they thought. Although...if it had been Tuvok...  B'Elanna shook her head, she did *not* want to go there again.  Aside from anything else, Tuvok was married, and B'Elanna did *not* believe in violating marriage vows under most circumstances. Although...surely the situation they were in qualified as definitely *not* most circumstances?  Tuvok, however seemed not to be interested in pursuing a relationship with *anyone* on the ship. "And I suppose when Pon Farr hits, he'll use the holodeck, or approach Captain Janeway," B'Elanna thought, sadly, seeing even that chance slipping through her fingers. She didn't know when she'd started thinking of Tuvok as more than her commanding officer.  It had been after the time they were imprisoned together on the Mokra homeworld, for that was the first time she'd noticed how calming his influence was.  Then he'd given her counsel over that whole thing with the androids.  She remembered wishing she could help him during that awful time with Lon Suder....that might have been the beginning.  She'd first realised that she had feelings for him during the time that he'd been Acting Captain of Voyager, when the crew had been forced to leave Captain Janeway and Chakotay on that beautiful isolated planet. She'd felt such sympathy for him, with the lack of support he'd received from the rest of the crew.  Oh, she had done all she could to help get the Captain and Chakotay back, but she'd *never* not supported Tuvok as Captain, and, if she had been required to accept him as Captain for the remainder of their journey, she would have had no problem with that.  "Although, I'd have had even *less* chance with him as Captain than I do now," she thought. She smiled at the rumours that flew around the ship linking her with Tom Paris.  She was one of the few people who knew that Tom would never be interested in her as more than a friend. He and Chakotay had decided to keep their relationship private, except for their closest friends, until they felt able to cope with the gossip and speculation that the ship seemed to delight in with each new relationship that formed. Of course, Tom and Chakotay would cause *more* speculation and gossip than most, because of their formerly adversarial relationship, and neither of them was ready for that just yet.  So Tom and B'Elanna continued to flirt in public, with B'Elanna being seen with Harry just enough to confuse the issue completely. If only she could fall in love with Harry, B'Elanna thought, but he just wasn't right for her, much as she loved him as a friend, and she suspected that he was on the verge of developing an interest in Samantha Wildman, if all the attentiveness he was displaying toward her at public gatherings was an indication. Her chronometer beeped, and she realised that she had to get ready for the away mission. The readings of gallasite on this planet were very high, and she was hopeful of mining a large quantity, which would be invaluable to the ship.  Sighing, she got up from her bed, The Doctor's orders notwithstanding, she hadn't managed to get much rest.  Luckily, she hadn't been injured badly in the incident with Vorik in Engineering, and she suspected that The Doctor had given her orders to rest more because he *knew* she had stayed in Engineering for far longer than her duty shift the day before.   "*Damn* that holographic emitter," she thought, remembering the time when she had been able to simply ignore The Doctor's calls from Sickbay to Engineering.  Now, of course, it didn't matter whether she ignored the calls, he could come down to Engineering and see for himself whether or not she was there, so unless there was a genuine emergency, or if she could justify it to The Doctor, which was *not* easy, she had been forced to cut her hours down to what The Doctor considered the absolute maximum, which she considered not much more than the bare minimum required to keep the ship running properly. After a shower, B'Elanna dressed in the grey away-team uniform. Gods, was it hot in here, or was it just from the shower?  She realised that she had a headache as well, nothing major, but annoying. "Probably from that altercation with Vorik.  Although, I thought The Doctor said...I guess he doesn't know everything, after all,"  and she picked up her datapadd on the way out the door. Neelix was waiting for her in the transporter room, ready to beam down with B'Elanna and Tom Paris.  They looked up as the doors opened, expecting Tom, and were surprised to see Tuvok in an away team uniform. "Lieutenant.  Mr Neelix.  Lieutenant Paris has requested to stay aboard the ship for...personal reasons.  I am taking his place." B'Elanna wondered what was going on.  It couldn't involve Chakotay, who was already down on the planet.  She decided that she would ask him when they got back to the ship. She wanted to get on with the mission, find the gallasite, and get away from this planet. She felt....strange about it.  As if she had to finish things quickly.  The transport started. "Come on," she said, fixing her rope to a handy rock, testing it just this side of perfunctorily. "B'Elanna, what's the rush?" asked Neelix. "I want to get the gallasite as quickly as possible.  Chakotay's team is in the other area, and they started first, so they'll be finished before we are if we don't get moving." "Let me go first, then," the Talaxian said. "Quickly," B'Elanna said, tapping her foot impatiently. Neelix went over the side a little more quickly than he'd intended, as B'Elanna hadn't secured the rope properly for a heavier frame than her own. B'Elanna gasped in surprise as Neelix fell the last few feet down the cliff.   She made to start down after him, but found herself pulled back by Tuvok. She reacted with a snarl of displeasure, pulling Tuvok's head down to hers, then, overcome with an irresistible urge, she bit his cheek, lightly, drawing a trace of green blood. "Lieutenant!"  Tuvok sounded as outraged as she'd ever heard him. "Oh, gods, Lieutenant, I'm sorry.  I don't know how that happened." Tuvok looked searchingly at B'Elanna. "Lieutenant Torres, what is it?  Something is wrong." "I feel all right.  Just...hot.  And I have a headache.  I thought it was lack of sleep, the extra time I've been spending in Engineering catching up with me. It's only come on since Vorik touched me in Engineering earlier today." "Ensign Vorik touched you?  In what manner?" B'Elanna explained the positioning of Vorik's hands, and how she had had to use force to get him off her. "Ensign Vorik is undergoing the Pon Farr." "The Pon Farr?  Isn't that..." "Yes.  The time of mating." "He wanted me to be his mate.  That's what he said.   Is this strange feeling involved in that?" "Lieutenant, we need to get down the cliff to Mr Neelix.  I'll explain when we get back to the ship." With this, Tuvok attached the rope, heading down the cliff first. As B'Elanna descended after her superior, she realised something. "Lieutenant, do we have time to check for the gallasite?  I know we have to send Neelix back now, but surely we should check it before we beam up." "I see no problem with that, Lieutenant.  Just allow me to call for the transport, and I will ascertain the situation." B'Elanna muttered impatiently, pacing, as Tuvok communicated with Sickbay, arranging for Neelix to be beamed up.   "Come, Lieutenant, we must do this quickly, if you insist upon it," Tuvok said. B'Elanna led the way, wondering in a vague way what this was all about.  But she wanted to get away from here, too, so she worked quickly. Both officers were working so intently to find the gallasite, that neither noticed the ground trembling at first. Tuvok realised it first, and scanned the ground with his tricorder. "Lieutenant Torres, there is evidence of impending seismic activity. We must get out of here now." "Of course, Lieutenant Tuvok," and B'Elanna started back down the tunnel they had come in by. Then there was a stronger tremor, and before she realised what was happening, B'Elanna was being pulled back from the tunnel, and sheltered under a warm, strong body.  She felt a surge of emotion warm her inside, and huddled closer to Tuvok.  Soon, the tremor stopped. "Are you all right, Lieutenant?"  Tuvok asked. "I think so, yes," B'Elanna replied, and without volition, she reached up and captured Tuvok's lips with hers. For a moment he responded, but pulled away, gently. "Lieutenant, please.  This is hardly appropriate behaviour." "I'm sorry," B'Elanna turned toward the tunnel, embarrassed, and gasped in shock. "What is it?" Tuvok asked. "Lieutenant Tuvok, the tunnel is blocked.  We can't get out.  Torres to Voyager," she tapped her combadge. "Voyager here," came Tom Paris's voice. "Tom, Tuvok and I are trapped in a cave.  Can you beam us out of here?" "I'll let the transporter room know." A few minutes later, B'Elanna's combadge chirped. "B'Elanna?" "Yes, Tom?" "Uh, unfortunately, we won't be able to beam you out of there for at least three hours. Will you be all right?" "We will be fine, Lieutenant Paris," Tuvok replied. "Yes, Tom, we'll be fine," added B'Elanna, wondering what that very slight expression of...she would almost call it trepidation in another being, she could see in Tuvok's eyes was. "Lieutant Torres...B'Elanna," he began. She was surprised to hear him use her first name, but she loved the way he said it. "Yes, Tuvok?" she replied, if he was going to be informal, so was she. "B'Elanna, when Ensign Vorik touched you, earlier, he...triggered the Pon Farr response in you." "Tuvok, Klingons and Humans don't undergo Pon Farr!" "They do if they are married or bonded to a Vulcan.  It is a...mating ritual, that both be able to conceive a child at the same time." "But I'm not married or bonded to a Vulcan, Tuvok." "That touch is the beginning of the bond.  If you don't bond with a Vulcan, or undergo the ritual combat, the Pon Farr will resolve itself in your death." "Are you suggesting that we undergo ritual combat?" "No.  I am suggesting that we bond.  It is both more and less than the bond I have with my wife, and it is not uncommon for someone of my race in a situation such as we find ourselves in to take a temporary mate. And I would not find the prospect....unappealing." "Neither would I," replied B'Elanna, thinking of what an understatement *that* was, her heart sinking slightly at his use of the word "temporary". Tuvok placed his hands gently on B'Elanna, and began the solemn, beautiful ritual of bonding in his native Vulcan.  The words seemed to both cool and heat the fire in her blood, and when he finished, she turned her head slightly to place a kiss in his palm. He then began to gently stroke her forehead ridges, and she shivered at the sensation.  No one had ever touched them tenderly before, and it was new, and exciting for her.  She leaned into him, feeling the strength of his body, and kissed him again.  His lips parted, as did hers, and their tongues met and duelled heatedly. B'Elanna moved back, and began exploring Tuvok's jaw, trailing kisses up to his ear, tracing the point with her tongue, causing tremors of arousal to shudder through her lover's body. He slipped down the zipper of her uniform, easing it off her, then pulling the turtleneck over her head, kissing her creamy skin as it was exposed to his heated gaze, cupping a breast, stroking the sensitised flesh through her bra.  Then he moved his hands to her back, fumbling with the bra clasp, removing the lacy garment and turned his attention to her trousers. Meanwhile, B'Elanna was removing the top of Tuvok's uniform, and his turtleneck.  When she removed the layers, she began exploring his chest, lips and hands roaming over his muscular physique.  He moaned, deeply, when she found a nipple with her mouth, tonguing it to a hard point.   "B'Elanna," he moaned her name, passionately. B'Elanna smiled, he obviously liked this.  Then she gasped, as he slipped her trousers off, moving a hand between her legs, feeling the heat and dampness increase under his clever fingers, moving inside her, preparing her for him. He stood up, removing his trousers, revealing his erection, then moving, muscles moving under ebony skin, to lay their uniforms under them.  He picked B'Elanna up, as if she were light as a feather, gently placing her on the pile of cloth, on her back.  He then moved to cover her body with his, still working to prepare her for their joining. "Tuvok," she gasped, and arched against his probing fingers, feeling the Pon Farr cresting inside her, waiting for that final moment.  He removed his fingers, to a moan of protest, then entered her slowly, carefully, not wanting to hurt her in any way.  He thrust in and out of her, speeding up a little as she arched up into him, moving faster and faster until she threw her head back, coming hard, and he came too, spending himself deep inside her. She could feel the Pon Farr leave her body as he gently gathered her to him, falling asleep almost immediately. A long time after, her combadge chirped. "Voyager to away team." "Torres here," she replied sleepily.  What was that she was lying on....then she saw, it was Tuvok.  Kahless, they really had, and it had been....she became aware of a voice. "B'Elanna, we're ready to beam you up.  Do you want us to go ahead now?" "NO! I mean....just wait a few minutes, please, Tom." "Of course," the pilot replied, sounding puzzled.   Better Tom be puzzled than she and...Kahless, Tuvok give the transporter room a free show, she thought. "Lieutenant, are you all right?" Tuvok asked, still half-asleep. "Yes, but we're going to be beamed back to Voyager in a few minutes. I...suggest you get dressed." "Lieutenant...B'Elanna, we must talk." "No, Tuvok.  I was sick, you needed to...be with me to make sure I was all right, that's all that we need to talk about.  I'm fine now." "But...the bond...." "It can't be permanent, not yet." B'Elanna would swear that Tuvok looked appalled at that notion, but before he could say anything, the transport began. --- A few days later..... --- B'Elanna was in a turbolift heading for Engineering, when it stopped, and Tuvok got on. Kahless, she'd managed to avoid him since the...incident on the planet. "Lieutenant....B'Elanna.  We must discuss the bond." "Tuvok, I've already told you.  It's over." "But we are bonded." "Lieutenant, please.  I do not want to talk about this.  You helped me get through a bad time, just like you would anyone else in that situation." "It was not only the situation.  I have....cared for you for a long time.  I had just not acknowledged that fact." B'Elanna looked at him, knowing that he was not lying. "But...what about your wife?" "She is why I have not acknowledged this until now.  I did wish to remain loyal to her. But...I am not sorry." "Tuvok, are you saying.....?" "As a human male would put it, I love you, B'Elanna Torres." B'Elanna stopped fighting the voice in her head, and moved into his arms. "You know," she said as she surfaced from the kiss, "I've always wanted to make love in a turbolift." Tuvok raised an eyebrow, and replied, kissing her deeply. "Be careful what you wish for, Lieutenant," and he called for the lift to halt. --- The End