The BLTS Archive - Breathe Again by JanitaMB, a.k.a. Blackcat (janitamb@aol.com, blackcat66@email.com) --- Postings: CPSG, BLTS, R'rain's Archive Disclaimer: The characters are the property of Paramount. I just like playing with them a little. Neither I nor Paramount are making any money off of this story. WARNING: This is a C/P story, involving sex between two men. If this doesn't float your boat, don't read it. Simple ain't it? If you are under the age of 18, leave now while you still can. Virtual hugs and kisses to Britta for beta reading for me. If you find any errors, they're not her fault. I take full responsibility. --- "Oh my God, Tom!" Chakotay shouted as he entered the battered shuttlecraft that was tractored into Voyager's shuttle bay. He ran over to where Tom lay, bleeding from a gash on his head. Chakotay quickly scanned Tom's broken body. Tom's breathing was shallow and his heart rate was dangerously low. Chakotay hit his comm. badge, "Chakotay to the Bridge, two to beam directly to sickbay!" Several hours later, Chakotay was in his quarters pacing angrily. Dealing with him could be so frustrating at times, and this has been the last straw. Tom Paris was constantly crossing the line, taking matters into his own hands, ignoring Starfleet protocol and doing exactly what he wanted, instead of what is expected of a Starfleet officer. What made it so bad this time was that he almost got himself killed in the process. This in itself angered Chakotay beyond reason, because it seemed that Tom had so little regard for his own life. He could hardly breathe he was so angry. "That's it, I've had it," Chakotay said to himself. "Computer, is Lieutenant Paris still in sickbay?" "Negative, Lieutenant Paris is in his quarters," replied the monotone female voice of the computer. Chakotay bolted out the door and headed directly for Tom's quarters. Once he reached the Lieutenant's quarters he pressed the door chime and was allowed to enter. Tom moved further into his living area and said "Okay Chakotay, let's hear it," obviously prepared for a dressing down by his senior officer. Chakotay was prepared to let him have it when he took a good look at Tom. He was wearing a white T-shirt with gray sweat pants and no socks, toweling his hair dry while standing there looking at Chakotay. He apparently had just stepped out of the shower and was getting ready for bed. He looked so sexy that Chakotay almost forgot why he had come to his quarters in the first place. After a momentary pause, he quickly recovered. "Just what the hell were you thinking of pulling a stunt like that?" "Actually, I don't really know what possessed me to do it," Tom replied, "but we got what we needed..." "And that's supposed to make it ok?" He shouted and began pacing the floor again. He was so agitated he could hardly think straight. "I can't believe you did that!!" "Okay, this is the part where I tell you I'm sorry and it won't happen again, so I might as well get it over with. Commander," Tom said in the most sarcastic voice he could muster, "I'm sorry, it won't happen again." Tom was becoming irritated with Chakotay's tone of voice. "Now, if you'll excuse me...sir," Chakotay was completely oblivious to Tom's sarcasm. He was just too angry to notice or care. "And look what happened to you! Broken ribs, a concussion and internal bleeding..., it's nothing short of a miracle you're still alive!" Chakotay knew he was on the verge of sounding irrational but he didn't care. He'd almost lost him. Even though he had never shared his feelings for the handsome pilot with anyone, he couldn't bear the thought of losing him. "Chakotay calm down!" Tom shouted back, "I said I was sorry okay? What else do you want me to do? I can't take it back. It's been done already. All I can do is promise not to do it again. Isn't that enough?" Tom was amazed at how angry Chakotay was. This conversation, yelling match to be more accurate, was not going along the lines of proper Starfleet protocol, which also surprised him. Tom knew he did certain things intentionally to get the Commander's attention. Some attention was better than none, since he felt he could never have a relationship with him. He never liked it when Chakotay was angry with him though, and he definitely crossed too far over the line this time. "I realize there are times when following orders requires us to put our lives on the line." Chakotay said attempting to regain some control over his emotions. "I don't think there is a Starfleet officer alive that hasn't done that at least once in their career, but if you had followed my orders in the first place..." "It would have taken us days to get what we wanted. My way, it took us a few hours. So what? I'm here, I'm alive, and we got what we needed. He plopped himself down on his sofa while continuing to towel dry his hair. It fell in curly blond wisps across his forehead. "Personally I don't see a problem." Tom voiced with that cocky flyboy attitude. "The problem is," Chakotay managed to reply through gritted teeth, "you took matters into your own hands again, and almost got yourself killed." He was growing more and more frustrated as this conversation continued. "So what? It's not like I would be missed anyway," Tom replied. "I'm the most expendable person on board so..." Chakotay stopped dead in his tracks. Had he just heard Tom say he was expendable? With a look of disbelief he shouted, Tom, do you listen to yourself when you speak?" "What the hell is that supposed to mean?" Tom snapped. "Tom are you..., is tha..." Chakotay couldn't get the words to form as a result of his rising tide of emotions. *Get a grip Chakotay* he told himself as he took a deep breath and said "Tom, not a single person on this ship is expendable! You're a very valuable part of this crew and..." "Yeah right," Tom quipped, "if I died tomorrow, there would be someone else to replace me. You don't need me Chakotay. Besides, half the ship's crew, Starfleet and Maquis alike, would love to see me anywhere else but here and you know it as well as I do." "Oh, okay I get it. Just forget about all the people you'd leave behind to mourn your death, all those who care about you, who would be devastated if you were gone!" He said while stepping closer to Tom, "No one else matters to you huh?" Chakotay was shouting again. He didn't know exactly where he was going with this, but once he started, the words wouldn't stop. "What about the people who love you?" Tom was amazed that this conversation had progressed this far. He had never argued with Chakotay before because he had risked his life. "No one loves me on this ship." Tom answered. "You are so wrong..." Chakotay began, but was quickly cut of by an exasperated Tom Paris. "Oh yeah? Well let's see," he said, lifting himself off the sofa so that he was face to face with the angry Commander, "the few people I've been out with on this ship just wanted a good luck, nothing more. None wanted anything close to a relationship. The only person that I know of who actually wants a relationship is Harry, and frankly, he's not my type. Not because he's a man, mind you, but because he's... Harry!! He's my best friend. Besides, he's attracted to B'Elanna or Seven, it's hard to tell which these days. So Commander, who else is there? If you know something I don't please tell me!" "Who? Spirits Tom, don't you know?" Before he could stop himself, he grabbed the pilot, wrapped his arms around him and held him in a tight embrace. "You scared the hell out of me. I couldn't stand it if you died," he whispered in Tom's ear. Startled at first, Tom returned the embrace, realizing for the first time that the one person on the ship that loved him, that he loved, was in his arms trembling at the thought of losing him. "Chakotay," he replied while softly caressing his back, "I'm sorry, I didn't know," He pulled away from him and looked deep into Chakotay's eyes. He saw something there that he never thought he would -- fear, but not just at the possibility of losing him, fear of being rejected by him. At that moment, Chakotay had left himself completely open to Tom. Open and vulnerable to any acceptance or rejection Tom might throw his way. With this new-found revelation, Tom gently placed his hand on the side of Chakotay's face and watched as his eyes closed at the feeling of the warm touch. "Well this explains a lot," he said. Chakotay opened his eyes. "What do you mean?" "This conversation. I've never seen you this worked up before." Tom admitted. "Well Commander, I know you didn't come here intending to tell me you loved me, but I'm glad you did. I wish I had known sooner, I could have saved myself a lot of anguish." Chakotay's eyes looked hopeful as he said "Are you saying that.." "You know, it's ironic," Tom began while caressing Chakotay's arms, "All this time I've loved you and wanted to be with you, and all I had to do was tell you. But I never said anything because I thought you hated me." "I never hated you Tom," Chakotay replied. "You sure had me fooled," Tom voiced. "There were times when I thought you would actually send me flying against a bulkhead." "How else was I supposed to hide my feelings from you and the rest of the crew?" Chakotay replied. "Especially since I didn't think you would ever consider being in a relationship with me. I couldn't risk exposing my feelings." "There's no need for doubt any longer." Tom said, "I love you Chakotay. I always have." Tom gazed deeply into Chakotay's eyes and this time saw love, accompanied by longing. He leaned in and captured Chakotay's lips in a gentle kiss that quickly turned passionate. The next few moments from the living area to the bedroom passed rather quickly with neither one know exactly how they ended up naked and in Tom's bed. Chakotay settled between Tom's legs, looking deep into his incredibly blue eyes, while slowly caressing his chest. He then captured Tom's lips for a searing kiss that became more and more urgent as their lips parted allowing access to the other's mouth. Chakotay reluctantly pulled away from Tom's mouth, then began kissing a slow trail from his lips to his neck, up to his ear tracing it with his tongue, and back. As he reached Tom's lips once again, he gazed at him, enamored by his beauty. "You are so beautiful," he said before closing in on his lips once more. Tom pulled Chakotay's body closer to him, wanting to feel as much of him as possible. Both gasped as their erections touched. Chakotay felt Tom's legs wrap around his waist as he began kissing a slow sensuous trail down Tom's chest. He settled on one nipple, licking and sucking until it was hard, while pinching and caressing the other. Soft sighs escaped from Tom as he felt Chakotay's lips and tongue travel further down his chest, until he settled between his legs. "Oh, this is so good, you're too good at this Chakotay..." Tom murmured while threading his fingers through his lover's soft black hair. "You like this huh?" Chakotay breathed against Tom's cock, his mouth watering at the sight of it. "Yessss, uhhh," he moaned as he felt incredible warmth envelope his throbbing member. Chakotay twirled his tongue in circles around the tip of his cock, then taking his shaft deep inside, he sucked slowly, rhythmically, until Tom thought he would explode from the sensation if it continued. Not wanting it to end so soon, he reached down and pulled Chakotay back up to his face where he kissed him again. Chakotay pulled away from him and said "I want you inside me Tom, please..." Tom never had anyone express such desire for him in his life. Chakotay rolled off him and settled next to him on his stomach, waiting for what he knew would come next. Tom straddled Chakotay and began to kiss and lick his way down Chakotay's back, reveling in the beauty of his lover. The contours of his back and shoulders, the golden bronze skin that contrasted with his own pale skin. Tom felt he couldn't get enough of him as he moved near Chakotay's ear and said in a low husky voice, "I want to see you while we make love." At that, Chakotay turned over as Tom reached in the drawer of the night stand and pulled out a small container with body oils in it. He selected one of the oils, lubricated his fingers and slowly pushed one finger inside Chakotay, then two, finally three, slowly stretching while pushing in and pulling out of his lover's body. Chakotay was groaning constantly now as he felt Tom's fingers entering him. "Tom hurry, please.." he pleaded. The urgency in his voice was all the incentive Tom needed. He quickly oiled his cock and slowly pushed inside the incredibly warm, tight opening. It started slowly, with Tom going deeper with each thrust. Finally, Tom was buried deep inside Chakotay, who gasped with pleasure at the sensation. They began to build a rhythm and Tom rested his body against Chakotay's beginning to nuzzle his neck. Tom could feel Chakotay's erection between them as they moved together. Tom was pulled closer to Chakotay's body, and after taking his tongue around Chakotay's ear, he looked deep into his eyes. They gazed at each other, eyes clouded with desire as they moved together. Every nerve ending in Chakotay's body was on alert, skin on skin, eyes locked on one another as his body was rocked with each powerful thrust Tom made. Chakotay reached up and caressed Tom's face, his eyes saying what his mouth couldn't. Tom responded by slowly kissing him, and as he gently sucked Chakotay's tongue, Chakotay came so hard he thought he felt the deck move beneath them. Chakotay's contracting muscles pulled Tom's orgasm out of him immediately after thrust deeply one final time. Tom collapsed on Chakotay and they lay there as they slowly recovered. When he could, Tom eased out of Chakotay causing him to moan from the loss. He reached on the side of the bed and grabbed the towel that he'd been drying his hair with when he got out of the shower before, and began to clean himself and Chakotay. He looked at his lover with tender loving eyes. "So Chakotay, do you usually reprimand your officers like this?" Chakotay chuckled, "Not usually, but this time I felt I should make an exception." "Good, because I think you should know, I'm the jealous type." Tom replied. "Was the Captain upset with my little stunt earlier?" "Yes she was, but I asked her to let me handle it." Chakotay answered while running a finger gently down Tom's chest. "Won't she be surprised when she reads the report." Tom laughed. "I think I'll conveniently leave certain details out of the final draft." Chakotay then looked seriously at Tom. "Promise me you won't do that again, you really did scare me you know. He took a deep breath as he remember seeing Tom's broken body lying on the deck of the shuttle. "While I was waiting for you to recover in sickbay, I could hardly breathe - couldn't stand the thought of being on Voyager and not being able to see you or hear your voice every day." Tom placed his hand on Chakotay's chest and said "I won't do anything that reckless again, promise. I have something to live for now." Tom smiled at his lover as he began to trace his tattoo. "I love you, remember? I'll never deliberately hurt you Chakotay, never." "I love you too," and Chakotay claimed Tom's lips once more. He then settled into his embrace and breathed a sigh of relief at being in the arms of the man he loved. Within moments both were sleeping soundly and seemed more content than ever. --- The End FINIS (c)1998 JanitaMB