The BLTS Archive- Reactions:
A Healing Hand
by Joanne Collins (luchenbackoutlaw@gmail.com)

---

Disclaimer:  Everything Trek belongs to Paramount/Viacom.

Please do not distribute, archive, etc, without my permission.	May be
archived on the ASC archive, the CPSG archive, and R'Rain's Slash
Archive only.  Please do not link to the story without my permission.

This story is a prequel to my C/P story, A Heart In Need Of Care,
which takes place just after Hunters.  This story takes place between
Year Of Hell and Random Thoughts, just after Tom and B'Elanna ended
their relationship in this universe.  If you haven't read A Heart In
Need Of Care, this story does foreshadow some events in that story,
but can be read first or independently.

As may be apparent, this story is not a C/P story.  It is mostly an
Ayala/Jerron story, with hints of C/P to come.  It also includes a
sexual encounter (*love* that phrase!) between Tom, Ayala and Jerron.
Please do not read further if you have any problem with any of the
above.  Oh, and it does not take place in the same universe as my
Paris/Ayala story, Friends In Low Places, even though, as in all of my
stories, Ayala's name is Miguel.  I take the spelling of Jerron's name
from Jeri Taylor's novel Mosaic.  The D'Klow is a Bajoran blood
fever, similar in some instances to the Vulcan Pon Farr.  I invented
it for my Tuvok/Seska story Cycles, and it was based on Sophie Masse's
Cardassian Changing, which appeared in one of her Garak/Bashir
stories.

Dedicated to Cathy, who made it necessary for me to write this story
and to give Jerron a happy ending.

---

Gossip.

It was a fact of life on Voyager, and there were a couple of
particularly juicy tidbits going around the ship, which were fun for
those not directly involved.

After a volatile, passionate relationship, Tom Paris and B'Elanna
Torres had mutually decided to end their association.

And Vorik was considering approaching the young Bajoran, Jerron, to be
his bond-mate, to alleviate the problems he had faced when he had gone
into Pon Farr.  Interestingly enough, the two gossip items were
distantly related, as the Pon Farr had been a major factor in Tom and
B'Elanna's coming together.

All of this left Miguel Ayala cold.  He was not particularly concerned
with Tom and B'Elanna, Tom was a good friend, something he would not
have said three years ago, but Tom had proved himself worthy of trust
and friendship, and he was also one of the few people Miguel was able
to beat at pool. Having been assured several times by both parties
that the break-up had been completely mutual, Miguel had not pressed
the issue.

The Vorik situation left him cold in a different way.  The coldness of
fear and the coldness of his lonely bed.  Loyalty to his wife was all
very well, but she was on the other side of the galaxy, and he was
lonely.  He knew he didn't just want sex, he could find that easily
enough if that was all he wanted, and that was a large part of the
problem.  Miguel believed in relationships, not flings, and he wanted
a relationship.  But who could he find to love and respect, for those
were the tenets he felt a relationship should be built on?  He only
knew that he did not want Vorik, Vulcans had never appealed to him
sexually, but at least Vorik had a reason to ask someone to mate with
him, and, if the relationship proved satisfactory, to make a life with
him.  Miguel didn't think that Jerron would be happy with a Vulcan,
though.  The kid was too full of life and movement to be happy with
someone who repressed their emotions the way a Vulcan did.

"Feel like losing a few replicator credits?" a voice broke into
Miguel's musings.

"Not tonight, Tom.  I just don't feel like playing."

"Something wrong?"

"No, just not in the mood."

"Would you mind some company?"

"Not at all, but didn't you want to play?"

"Not especially.  It's just that people expect it of me, and...it
doesn't matter."

"What is the matter?" Miguel asked, sensing that the need for company
was what had brought his friend to him.

"I *miss* B'Elanna.  Not so much B'Elanna herself, but being with
someone."

"You mean sex?"

"No, I miss...being with someone.  Waking up before she does in the
morning, just watching her sleep, or spending time with her."

"I know what you mean.	I miss my wife like that.  In fact, that's
what I miss more than Claudia herself.  I'd love to think we're going
to get back to the Alpha Quad and have everything the same, but I know
it's not going to be the same.  It wouldn't be the same if we got back
tomorrow, Tom, because I've changed so much over the last few years.
I think I've even fallen out of love with her.	If we *did* get back
tomorrow, then I could probably try again, but being here, now, today,
I don't love her.  I consider myself to be a single man, and I want to
find someone."

"Well," Tom grinned, "B'Elanna's free."

Miguel smiled, "Uh, Tom, I don't have a very high pain threshold.  I
think she'd find me a total wimp.  She needs someone with a bit more,
uh, stamina. Actually, if she hadn't been so completely against the
idea, Vorik would have been perfect for her."

"You know, you're right.  A Vulcan and a half-Klingon would balance
each other out pretty well.  Pity she'd never consider it.  And I hear
that Vorik's considering approaching Jerron."

"That's an even more weird thought than Vorik and B'Elanna."

"Why?  Because Jerron's a man?"

"No, of course not.  It's just...the kid has so much joy and light and
movement in him, I think he'd be...smothered by a relationship with a
Vulcan."

"You don't have a problem with male/male relationships, then?"

"Not at all.  Love is love, and gender is irrelevant.  I've had
relationships with men in my life."

"Have you ever considered any of the men on Voyager?"

"Not really.  I think the ship considers me to be het, because of
Claudia and the boys.  So I'm not considered 'fair game'."

"People can still be *so* narrow-minded," Tom agreed, "I've been with
men in the past, sometimes it was the only way to survive, and there
were more fulfilling relationships.  Back at the Academy, after Susie,
I didn't want to *look* at another woman, and there were men.  Like
Julian..." Tom smiled, remembering his medical student lover, then
continued, "But after B'Elanna...it'll probably not even be
considered."

"Well," Miguel smiled, "You *do* have a...reputation."

"It's extremely exaggerated.  I've had sex with *two* women on this
ship. Megan and B'Elanna.  Oh, and the Captain, I guess, if you count
that."

"What about men?"

"Not on Voyager.  Not since just before Caldik Prime.  He...was one of
the officers who..."

"Did you love him?"

"No.  He didn't love me, either.  But we were good together.  His name
was Adam, he was...not attractive in the conventional sense, but there
was something about him..."

"Sounds interesting."

"The strangest thing is...when I was on DS9, just before we started
off, I *swear* I saw him there.  Oh, of course it had to be someone
who looked like him, but the resemblance...even though the glimpse I
got was fleeting, it was uncanny.  The strange thing was, the guy who
he was walking with, who I saw more clearly...he looked a lot like
*me*."

"Maybe that's why you thought this other man looked like Adam.	If the
other guy looked like you, you could have seen...what you wanted to
see."

"Yeah, maybe.  I guess I'll never know now.  So, what about you?"

Miguel opened up the same way Tom had, and the evening passed slowly.
People began to file in, B'Elanna and Kathryn Janeway playing a game
of pool, Harry Kim greeting Tom and Miguel, but far more interested in
the movements of Seven Of Nine, Tuvok sitting at a game of Kal-to.

"You know," Tom mused, "There are a lot of people on Voyager we could
at least explore the possibilities with.  I just can't get...enthused
over anyone.  Not anyone I'd have a real chance with, anyway."

"There is someone?"

"Yes, but he wouldn't ever..."

"Who?"

"I'd rather not..."

"I wouldn't tell anyone."

"I know, but...not now.  I have to...process it myself first.  I only
recently realised that I didn't resent him any more, and I want to
build bridges slowly with him, if I have a chance at all."

"It's not me, then?"

"That would solve things, wouldn't it?	No, Miguel.  You're a good
friend, and a very beautiful man, but I can't see myself with you in
fifty years.  I can see that with him, though.	Maybe."

"Well, if he doesn't reciprocate, maybe we can explore the
possibilities," Miguel grinned.

Tom was almost tempted to accept the offer.  Miguel had a beautiful
smile.

Jerron entered the holodeck, just as Miguel was smiling at Tom.

"Ah, Mr Jerron, I have been waiting for you," and Vorik was ushering
him to a table.

Jerron gave one last look in the direction of his friends, and
reluctantly allowed himself to be led away by Vorik.

"Mr Jerron, I wish to become your bond-mate," Vorik said, with logical
straightforwardness.

"I'm sorry, Vorik, but I can't.  My heart and my mind are not free to
bond with you," he finished, in the formal Vulcan way.  It was true,
of course. Jerron was in love with Miguel, who he thought could never
love a man.

"I am sorry too.  Thank you for not allowing me to hold out false
hopes.  I will look elsewhere."

Jerron was relieved that it had gone so well.  Vorik left him
politely, as always, and walked to join Tuvok in his Kal-to game,
observed intently by Harry Kim, who joined the Vulcans soon after.

Meanwhile, Jerron joined Tom and Miguel, who were still discussing the
fact that none of the men on Voyager would consider them, simply
because their only relationships on board ship had been with women.

Jerron couldn't hide his surprise.

"You would consider loving a man?" he asked Miguel.

"I would consider loving anyone who loved me," he replied simply.

"Miguel," Tom had seen the look in Jerron's eyes, "Perhaps the love
you seek is closer than you realise."

"Jerron?"

"I thought you could never love a man.  I thought you were still in
love with your wife.  And I thought you considered me a child.  How
could I have said anything?"

"Jerron...I loved my wife deeply, but it has been too long,.  I do
feel some loyalty to her, which has been why I have not pursued anyone
before now, but I am lonely, and I want someone to share my life with.
I could love a man, I have before.  And I don't consider you a child.
I consider you my dearest friend, and I think I could fall in love
with you."

"And on that note," Tom broke in gently, "I think I should leave.  You
two have a lot to talk about.  The holodeck is free.  Would you like
to stay here, or use one of my personal programs?  It might be more
comfortable for you to talk alone."

"Thank you, Tom, we'd love to borrow one of your programs."

"I'll start it from outside.  And I'll see you tomorrow.  Good luck,"
Tom smiled as he hugged each of the other men in turn.

Miguel took one of Jerron's hands in his, and raised it to his lips,
kissing the tips of his fingers.

Suddenly, their surroundings changed.  Instead of being in a rustic
French tavern, they were in a beautifully furnished room.  The carpet
was soft and plush, there was a beautiful four-poster bed, as well as
an overstuffed couch and chairs in front of a roaring fireplace.
Miguel and Jerron gasped in amazement.

"Like it?" a voice came through the holodeck communicator.

"Yes.  Oh, yes," Miguel whispered, unable to do more in such a lovely
place.

"Thank you, Tom," Jerron whispered, before turning to his lover.  He
was slightly shorter than Miguel, so he had to angle his face up to
meet the full lips of the older man.	Jerron sighed as Miguel began
to kiss him, slowly, deeply, expertly.  Jerron sighed as his lips
parted, allowing Miguel's tongue to duel with his own.

Reluctantly, Miguel left Jerron's lips, and began to kiss everywhere
he could reach, his cheeks, his ears, his eyelids, until he reached
Jerron's ridges. Miguel had never had a Bajoran lover before, and he
had never known anyone else who had one well enough (Chakotay and
Seska sure didn't count) to trade intimate details on non-human sexual
physiology, so he was rather shocked when, on his tentatively licking
those enticing bumps, Jerron gave a deep, carnal moan, and nearly
threw him across the room.  Miguel picked himself up from the floor,
breathing hard, almost stopping at the interesting bulge in Jerron's
uniform, but deciding that he had other things to concentrate on for
the time being.

"I take it that is a button for you, lover?" Miguel asked, soft, low,
and with an edge.

"No one's ever done that before, Miguel.  It was...I can't describe
it."

Miguel suddenly wondered at his lover's phrasing.  Did he mean no one
literally?  He realised suddenly that he had no idea of Bajoran sexual
practices.  He didn't even know if what they were doing was
technically forbidden.  He decided that now would be an excellent time
to ignore the throbbing in his nether regions and to *talk* to the man
he wanted to make love with.

He stepped back as Jerron moved to take him into his arms again.

"Jerron, baby, much as I want to pull off your clothes and sink into
your beautiful body right now, I think we'd better talk a bit more
first."

Jerron didn't protest more than half-heartedly, he knew that he needed
to get some things clear between them as well, and he allowed himself
to be led over to the couch.

More to keep busy enough to forget how much he just wanted to take the
other man, and no matter how much Miguel thought of him as a kid,
Jerron was a man, hardened more than he should have been by the
circumstances that had led to his joining the Maquis, Miguel moved to
the replicator for some drinks.  He decided on Bajoran spring wine,
and wondered again about how Jerron had come to the Maquis.	Miguel
didn't know the details, he himself was from Chakotay's own homeworld,
they had grown up on the lush M-class planet, playing together as
children, never knowing that their second home for life would also be
the same.  The replicator buzzed softly, and the bottle and glasses
appeared.  Miguel made his way back to the couch.

"What do you want to know?" Jerron asked.

"What made you join the Maquis?" Miguel replied, his mind still on
that.

Jerron looked haunted for a moment, and began talking, almost too
softly for Miguel to hear.

"I never knew *not* to hate Cardassians.  I was born almost at the end
of the Occupation, and the attitudes to Cardassians by then was utter
hatred, with no mitigating compassion or reason to feel it.	My
parents were killed when I was twelve, and at that time I was old
enough to join a resistance group. The man who led that group changed
my thinking forever.  He taught us that even though what the
Cardassians *did* was horrible, we should not hate them all, just as
they did not hate all of us.  When the end of the Occupation came, I
didn't know what to do, all my life I'd had something to fight
against.  I drifted around Bajor for a year or two, getting into more
pointless fights than I want to remember.  A couple of years later,
the DMZ was formed, as were the Maquis.  I knew that I wanted to keep
the fight, if not the hatred, so I went looking for the fight that I
had lost when the Occupation ended.  I landed with Chakotay's group,
and found another man I could respect and be led by.  What about you?"

"Chakotay and I grew up together.  When our home was threatened, there
was nothing else we could do but defend it.  Did you spend all those
years alone?"

"Well, I was very young during the Occupation, and, luckily, most
Cardassians weren't particularly interested in a scrawny boy child.  I
managed to deflect the few that were.  Later, there was a
woman...Laren.  She took me through my D'Klow when I was seventeen.  I
don't know what happened to her, she's probably still in the Maquis
back home.  Like Chakotay, she was 'Fleet.  And there were a few other
women over the next couple of years.  Then when I was nineteen, I saw
the man that I'd served with in the resistance again.  Only now...now
he was campaigning to be the Bajoran First Minister.	He wanted
me...I loved him.  He didn't want anyone to know about us.  He taught
me about loving a man, all the pleasure that can be found.  But...he
didn't want his political career to be interfered with by our
relationship becoming public knowledge.  He wanted to keep seeing me,
while he cultivated a public relationship with a Bajoran woman, Kira
Nerys.	I didn't want that, so he chose his political career over me,
and now he's First Minister.  Then I saw Laren again, and joined the
Maquis.  You know the rest."

Miguel didn't know whether to be relieved or disgusted.  He decided
that he was equal measures of both.  He was relieved that his young
lover wasn't a virgin in any of the ways of making love, but he was
disgusted that his experiences with another man were so...cold.  At
least he seemed to have known a form of love with Laren, if he had
been able to trust her again.

"Jerron, my beautiful one, has anyone ever loved you?"

"I know *he* didn't, but he didn't pretend that he did.  Laren and I
connected, but we weren't meant to be forever.	I think my parents
loved me."

"But no one has ever kissed you or held you just because they love you
and want you to feel loved?"

"Only Laren, and my parents."

"Then I will be the first man to do this for you?"

"And the last."

'Maybe not,' thought Miguel, thinking of the way he really wanted to
thank Tom for this, 'but certainly the longest.'

"One more thing," Miguel said aloud, "I need to know about you, baby.
About what feels good and what doesn't.  I don't ever want to hurt you
or make you uncomfortable, and I've never had a Bajoran lover, so I
don't know all your secrets yet.  Where are you sensitive?"

Jerron smiled.

"My ridges, of course, but," winking, "You already knew that.  My
nipples, my navel, my...uh, you know, which, incidentally, is *also*
ridged, my balls, my...butt, I think humans call it, my toes, and
other areas I'll leave you to discover.  Now how about you?"

"Pretty much the same," Miguel replied, almost blushing at the images
that had come into his mind.

"Want to...start exploring the new frontier?" Jerron leered comically.

"Yes, but please, don't refer to our being together like that.	I know
that this time won't be all we can hope for, but I know it'll get
better, and it's always going to be loving.  I promise you that,
lover."

Jerron stood, ink-black eyes staring into deep brown, and slowly,
piece by piece removed his uniform.  He then did the same for Miguel,
eyes sweeping over the muscled flesh revealed slowly, by loving,
careful hands.

Miguel allowed himself to be led to the huge bed, which could, he
thought, accommodate half the crew, and almost laughed as Jerron
pulled the pillows from their haven under the comforter, only to
reveal a tube of lubricant under each one.

"I'm going to have to ask Tom about this," he winked at his lover in
all but physical fact, and even that would be a reality soon.

"I want to be there when you do," Jerron smiled as he lay on the white
sheets, his slightly bronzed body a delicious contrast.

Miguel covered Jerron's mouth in a deep, hungry kiss, one that
signalled the promises they had made, and the promises they had yet to
make, as well as foreshadowing the lovemaking that they would soon
know the mysteries of.

Miguel was drowning in sensations.  Jerron had obviously learned what
felt good from somewhere, although judging by the tentative way his
lover approached some aspects of their lovemaking, it was obvious that
some of it was only from himself.	Miguel would teach him those
things he did not know, but another time.  He would enjoy what his
lover could give him now, and Miguel lay back and allowed Jerron to
explore him as he wished.  If there were a caress or two that Miguel
might have wished his lover to continue, well, he could let him know
for next time.

Suddenly, Jerron pounced on Miguel's straining erection, taking it
gently into his warm, wet mouth.  Miguel sighed, then began a constant
moaning as Jerron sucked him slowly and tenderly.  When Jerron's
tongue dipped into the weeping slit, Miguel arched up with an
inarticulate sound in no language that was translatable, and came.

Jerron caught the fluid that spurted from his lover with his tongue,
and the look of astonished wonder on his lover's face almost caused
Miguel to laugh, but he was too sated to do more than smile.

As the lassitude that accompanied his orgasm began to fade a little,
Miguel found his voice again.

"What?"

"What 'what'?"

"What made you give me that unbelievably beautiful smile of wonder as
you tasted me?"

Jerron blushed, "Miguel, you taste...I can't even describe it."

"Is that bad?" Miguel hoped not, he'd loved what Jerron had done to
him.

"Oh, no, love, no.  It was...different, so very different.  You don't
taste Bajoran.  I don't know why I expected you to taste the same, but
I must have, because you tasted so deliciously different, it surprised
me."

"I hope to constantly surprise you," Miguel replied, pulling Jerron
into his arms.

"We're really doing this, aren't we?" Jerron  whispered.

"Yes, we are, baby.  And I'm not letting you go easily, you know,"
Miguel kissed Jerron again, tasting himself in his lover's mouth.
Jerron moaned, his erection poking into Miguel's hip, and Miguel moved
a hand between them, finding the ridged velvet over steel, almost
burning to the touch.

"What do you want?" Jerron asked between moans.

"What do *I* want?  I think the question what do *you* want, baby?"

"I want what you want, lover.  Whatever you want."

Miguel was almost shocked into stopping the caresses he was giving to
his lover.	The kid had obviously never taken the lead in his
relationships, but surely he could articulate what he wanted.

"No, Jerron, you tell me what *you* want.  I want to do this for you."

"I don't know.	What you're doing feels good, you could keep that up.
Or maybe you could suck me."

"Jerron...don't you want to be inside me?"

"I've never done that before.  Miguel, I don't think I'd know where to
begin."

"Haven't you ever had someone do it to you?"

"He didn't like to do that, so we didn't."

Miguel was shocked, making love for him hadn't always included
penetration, with men *or* women, but it was one of the things he
liked, both to give and to receive.  Well, he would just have to teach
this to his young lover.  He thought that both of them would enjoy it.
And maybe later he could teach Jerron about it from the receiving end.

"Well, lover, I *want* to feel you inside me.  Unless you don't want
to, of course."

"I'd like to...but I have no idea how to do it."

"I'll take you through it.  A lot of it's just instinct, you know.
Start by touching me here..." and Miguel guided Jerron's finger, which
he first anointed with some of the lubricant that Tom had left under
the pillow to the opening of his body.  Jerron moved his finger inside
Miguel, gently and tentatively, probing just inside, then slightly
more deeply, encouraged by Miguel's whispered instructions.  As Jerron
probed, he found an unusual spot, it felt like two tiny lumps when he
brushed gently over it, and as he touched it more firmly, Miguel
almost bucked him off the bed.

"Is that a...'button', lover?" Jerron asked softly.

"Yes...I don't know if you have one, but in humans it's called a
prostate, and it feels wonderful when you touch it.  When you actually
are inside me, it feels incredible if you can hit it then.  But don't
do it too much at first, or things will be over before they start,"
Miguel explained, pointing to his renewed, dripping erection to
illustrate the last point.

Jerron continued the probing, only brushing lightly against the
sensitive organ, loving the lush moan each tentative touch of Miguel's
prostate produced.  At Miguel's softly moaned instructions, Jerron
added more lube, and a second, then a third finger, making his lover
wet and open for him.

"Stop, please, lover," Miguel whispered as he felt the stretching come
to the point just below pain.

"What now?" Jerron asked, hesitant.

Miguel lay on his back, pulling his knees up to his chest.

"Now, Jerron, you put some lube on yourself, then slowly start to push
inside me.  You've got to do it slowly, though, if you don't, it can
really hurt your lover."

"I'll never do that knowingly, Miguel," Jerron said, seriously, as he
slicked lubricant over his ridged erection, then moved over his lover,
kissing him gently.  Jerron's erection nudged at Miguel's opening,
then eased slowly in. Jerron looked momentarily confused as he met
resistance, but kept pressing forward slowly at Miguel's
encouragement.  Jerron gasped as Miguel tightened his muscles
slightly, teasing him as he encouraged him.  Jerron smiled, and
pinched one of Miguel's nipples, causing the part of Miguel's mind
that wasn't completely overwhelmed by the feeling of his lover
entering him to exult in joy at his lover's teasing, the first of his
own volition.  Miguel was going to enjoy bringing this side of his
lover out.  Then all coherent thought was lost as Jerron entered him
fully, brushing his prostate on the first try.  Jerron seemed a little
nonplussed at the roar Miguel produced, but was able to withdraw and
re-enter his lover with only a minimum of whispered encouragement.
Miguel's legs wrapped around Jerron's waist, pulling him deeper, and
Jerron began to thrust in and out of his lover in a rhythm that was
instinctual.  Miguel's pleas did not go unheard, and as Jerron moved
in and out of his lover, to barely coherent moans as to the effect of
his ridges on Miguel's sensitive inner tissues, he grasped his lover's
weeping hardness, moving on it in the same rhythm he moved his
erection in and out of his lover's body.  The sensations were too
intense for either man to last very long, and after a few strokes of
Jerron's hand on Miguel's erection, Miguel climaxed for the second
time that night, and Jerron cried out in suprised pleasure as his
orgasm was drawn out of him by the muscles that clenched around his
erection.

"Do you know how beautiful you are when you come?" Miguel whispered,
as he pulled the covers over them.

"I hope I'm one tenth as beautiful to you as you are to me," Jerron
replied, moving into his lover's muscular embrace, and they drifted
into sleep.

The next morning the new lovers awoke to find that the other had not
changed his mind drastically once he had slept on it, and they
celebrated by making love again, Miguel taking Jerron this time.
Jerron was even more beautiful to Miguel writhing under him in
orgasmic ecstacy, and Miguel was more magnificent to Jerron than ever
as he released his seed deep inside his willing body.

It took only as long as the turbolift ride from the holodeck to the
Mess Hall (or so it seemed), with Miguel's arms around Jerron, looking
deeply into the kid's ink-black eyes, for the gossip to spread.

That was until they joined Tom at his table.

"Morning," Tom grinned, "I hope you don't mind, but I kinda allowed a
head start on the gossip last night.  I happened to run into B'Elanna,
and I didn't really want the gossips talking about *us* again, and as
I knew you guys would only be a matter of time..."

"Anything we can do to help, after what you did for us, Tom," Miguel
smiled, ruffling Jerron's hair.

"It's just that people really seem determined for B'Elanna and I to
get together again.  But it's not going to happen."

"Are you sure?"

"Certain.  I care about her, but I don't love her.  I think I did, but
that alien experiment, not knowing what was *us*, that really shook
us, and I don't think we ever got back what we had before."

"I'm sorry."

"I know that part of it was that I was denying what I really wanted."

"And what's that?"

"I don't know if I can talk about it yet."

"If you can't tell your friends, who can you tell?"

"True," Tom looked around the deserted room, as if to ensure that he
could not be heard.  He whispered softly, "I think I'm falling in love
with Chakotay."

The others didn't look surprised.

"You're not surprised?"

"Tom, I thought that you and Chakotay had something going back in the
Alpha Quad," Miguel grinned.

"No, this is more recent.  I feel something...it's like we have a
deeper bond than we should, if that makes any sense at all."

"So are you going to say something?"

"No, I can't.  I don't know if he feels this bond or not, and I don't
want to risk the friendship we are forming, in case that's all it can
ever be.  I'd rather have his friendship than nothing."

With that, Tom realised he was almost late for duty, as did the
others, so conversation was curtailed as they finished eating.

---

The next few weeks passed quietly, Miguel and Jerron becoming closer,
their lovemaking becoming better each time.  Miguel kept a watch on
the status of Tom's relationship with Chakotay, who gave he and Jerron
his unmitigated approval, as did almost all of the ship, with the
possible exception of Jenny Delaney, who had apparently been convinced
of the fact that it was only a matter of time until Jerron succumbed
to her charms.  Miguel had asked seriously if Jerron had ever
considered her, and he had answered in the distinct negative. He liked
Jenny, but that was all.

Miguel was relieved.  That was the one thing he had been concerned
about, that Jerron might want a woman.  He acknowledged that it still
might happen in the future, but at least for now he and Jerron had a
loving, secure relationship. And there was more that he wanted to add
to it...

"Jerron," he began, one night as they lay in bed, "What would you
think about our thanking Tom for his help in getting us together?  If
it weren't for him, we might still be dancing around each other, and
you might have ended up bonded to Vorik instead of Harry."

"That was a surprise, wasn't it?"

"Not really.  Harry's the reliable, dependent type that would suit a
Vulcan."

"True.  So how do you propose we thank Tom?"

"Well, I thought we'd start with dinner and..."

Jerron was beet red by the time Miguel had finished, half from
embarrassment, half from the descriptions Miguel had regaled him with,
and they realised that neither of them was as tired as they had
thought...

Tom rang the doorchime promptly at 1900 hours the next evening.

After a delicious meal, Miguel and Jerron played some soft Bajoran
music.  The three men settled on the couch to talk.

"Tom," Miguel began, "We want to do something for you.  If it weren't
for you, we wouldn't be here, now, together."

"What do you want to do for me?" Tom asked, sated from the meal they
had enjoyed.

Jerron blushed, but replied, "We want to make love to you."

"What?"

"We want you to be with us, just for one night.  You need some loving
attention, and we want to thank you," Miguel answered.

Jerron didn't say any more, but started placing gentle kisses on Tom's
neck. Tom groaned as his earlobe was nipped between sharp Bajoran
teeth.

"I take it that's a yes?"

"Oh, yes," Tom whispered in agreement.

"In that case," Jerron suggested, "We should move to the bedroom.
This couch is a little uncomfortable for two, so I don't think we
should try it with three."

Tom seemed bemused at this kind of remark coming from his young
friend, but complied, standing up.  Miguel and Jerron slowly undressed
him, each kissing a different area of skin as it was revealed.

As they fell onto the bed, it seemed as if the design had not been
accidental. Jerron was in front of Tom, kissing him gently, and Miguel
was biting the back of his neck lightly, moving a hand down to caress
his buttocks.

Lubricant was found, and Miguel began a slow, careful stretching of
Tom.  It had been a long time since Tom had been with a man, and it
would not be a quick process.	In between nips and kisses to Tom's
front and back, Miguel and Jerron snatched kisses, as did Tom and
Jerron.  Miguel brushed occasionally against Tom's prostate as he
prepared him, in demonstration for Jerron of how it affected another
man, as, to his disappointment, Bajorans had proved not to have a
prostate.  Jerron still liked the feeling of Miguel inside him, but it
did not give him the mind-blowing pleasure it gave his lover.
Jerron's centre of sexual pleasure, aside from his penis, was,
interestingly, his nose ridges.  Miguel wondered if it was to do with
the ridges, but that wasn't what was important to him.

Miguel positioned Tom above him, moving in and out of the other man.
Tom found his rhythm, moving with the man below him.  Jerron climbed
on top of Tom, his erection rubbing deliciously over the human's, Tom
almost climaxing from the contact, but he held back.  It took only a
few more thrusts from all of the men, and Tom came first, shouting his
release to the heavens, Jerron following him, and finally Miguel
thrusting up into Tom, released his seed.

A couple of hours later, Jerron started teasing a nipple, realising
from the fur surrounding it that it wasn't his lover's, and they began
again, this time with Jerron in the middle.

After more recovery time, Tom began stroking Miguel, and it was his
turn in the middle.

They knew it would only be this one night, so they exhausted all the
combinations, thanking their various deities that they all had a day
off the next day, or, really, that day, by the time they were coherent
enough to discuss it.

---
EPILOGUE:

This scene takes place during Hunters, a couple of hours before the
start of my story A Heart In Need Of Care.

"Miguel Ayala," came the call.

Jerron didn't know whether to be relieved or not when Miguel said that
the letter was from his wife Claudia.

The lovers retired to their cabin to read the letter in privacy.

Jerron allowed Miguel to read it first, and to choose whether he
shared it or not.

The smile on Miguel's face as he came out of the bedroom after reading
it was enough to reassure Jerron.  He almost didn't need to read it
for himself.

Dear Miguel,

I will always treasure our relationship and the boys will be a
constant reminder of you.  But, thinking that you were lost forever, I
mourned and moved on.  As you weren't legally dead, I divorced you
three months ago, when I remarried.  I married Robert, he was so kind
to me after...and the boys adore him.  They will never forget you, and
if you get back to Earth, you will always be a part of their lives,
but our relationship is over.  If you haven't already, I hope you can
find someone on Voyager.  Good luck and much love,

Claudia.

"Thank the Prophets," Jerron whispered.

"I know.  I now have the right to say something I've wanted to say for
a while."

"What is it?"

"Jerron, I love you."

Jerron didn't answer, he just kissed his lover, then whispered the
words to him.

Later, when Miguel learned of the destruction of the Maquis, he saw an
opportunity to bring Tom and Chakotay closer, he was convinced that
all they needed was a gentle push.  So instead of telling Tom about
the destruction of the Maquis, he sent him to Chakotay.

---

The End