The BLTS Archive - The Food series
#5: The Purge
by Kiff (Kiff47@yahoo.com)

---

Disclaimer: Voyager and all the folks within are the property of 
Paramount. I'm just taking them out for some fresh air.

Spoiler Alert: Some spoilers for "Parturition" and the novel 
"Pathways" by Jeri Taylor

Archiving: Permission granted to Sileya to archive at TSU. All 
others, please ask first.

Feedback: Positive comments: on or off list. Critical comments: 
please send privately.

Sequel to "Food for Thought," "Ruminations," "Ingredients," and
"Simmer." The action begins five days after the end of "Simmer."

Alert: This story does take some unappetizing turns. If you're 
squeamish about bodily functions, be forewarned.

---

"Standard orbit, Mr. Paris."

"Aye, Captain." I guide Voyager into position around an uninhabited 
M-Class planet. Scans indicate it should have some edible plant life. 
The Captain is anxious to replenish our food supplies.

"Commander, assemble an away team. Take Mr. Neelix with you."

"Acknowledged."

I turn around and look at Chakotay, hoping that I'll be chosen, but 
he beckons to Tuvok instead, and the two of them leave the bridge.

I swallow. "Captain, request permission to serve on the away team."

She looks at me. "Sorry, Tom. Not this time."

I guess I can't quite be trusted outside the ship yet. I glance at 
Harry and he shrugs as if to say, "hey, they didn't pick *me* 
either." Well, I'll be a good sport and do my job.

Our orbit is stable, so I take a few moments to check out the planet. 
Very Earthlike, with two large oceans and six sizable continents. 
Chakotay's party will beam down to one of the southern continents, 
where there seems to be the largest concentration of vegetation.

Ordinarily, I'm not crazy about food-gathering missions, but there's 
nothing more I'd like to do right now than take a long quiet walk 
with Neelix.

The two of us have certainly come a long way since our first away 
mission together. I can't help chuckling to myself, remembering how 
Neelix and I had shown up in the Captain's ready room covered in 
Alfarian hair pasta after our fight in the mess hall. We came back 
from that mission without the food we needed, but with a new 
friendship that has nourished and sustained both of us through some 
very difficult times.

So when does friendship become something else? Have Neelix and I 
crossed that line or are we just approaching it?

All I know is that I've found better and better excuses to spend more 
and more time in the mess hall these past few days. It's like a 
little game. I show up later than usual for the meals, wait out Harry 
and B'Elanna and everyone else, and sit with a cup of coffee until 
they've all cleared the room. Then Neelix pulls out dessert and we 
eat it together. We don't talk much, just enjoy each other's company. 
Then we say good night, and I go back to my quarters.

Last night I almost asked him to join me. I'd like to sit and talk 
with him, maybe play some music, show him some Earth dance steps. 
Part of me is afraid he would just laugh at me, part of me is afraid 
he would come anyway. The mess hall still feels pretty safe -- I 
mean, it's a public place and anyone could walk in, but if I was 
alone with him in my quarters, I wouldn't have that security blanket.

I can't explain what's happening. All I know is that last night he 
looked into my eyes as I was ready to go and I felt as if I wanted to 
sweep him into my arms. He's so lonely since Kes left. He loves Naomi 
and Samantha but there's really no one else close to him. Except me, 
now.

What would it be like to hold him, kiss him, feel his skin under my 
fingers, to lie down next to him in my bed?

The Captain breaks my reverie. "How's our course, Mr. Paris?"

I'm glad she can't see my face. "Orbit is stable, Captain. Engines 
are functioning normally."

"Very good. Janeway to away team. Proceed when ready."

"Aye, Captain," comes Chakotay's voice.

The transporter room does its job, and the away team is beamed safely 
onto the planet. I sit back in my seat, hoping that, somewhere in all 
the reports from the surface, Neelix's voice will cross the miles 
between us.....

---

This is a pleasant enough planet. The temperature is quite 
comfortable, and there is a slight breeze blowing. I might recommend 
to the Captain that the crew have a day or two of rest here.

We are a party of nine. Commander Chakotay has split us into three 
teams. I will go with him and Ensign Roberts. Commander Tuvok and 
Lieutenant Ayala will head the other teams. Chakotay gives each 
leader final instructions, then heads back to my position.

"Tricorders out," he says. "Let's look for edible food plants."

I flip open my instrument and follow him into a field. The going is 
fairly easy. Roberts walks beside me, intent on his work.

After about fifteen minutes, the Commander stops in front of some 
tall, thin plants. "These appear to be some kind of grain. According 
to my readings, they should be edible. What do you think?"

I scan the plants. "Yes, Commander, I agree." I pick some of the 
grain and sniff at it. "Reminds me of Juflan wheat. Very nutritious."

Roberts is already gathering samples. "This will be a great addition 
to our hydroponics bay, Commander -- assuming you approve."

Chakotay smiles. "I'd like some tests run on it in a controlled 
environment, Mr. Roberts, just to be on the safe side."

"Aye, sir."

"This is very fortunate, Commander. If it checks out, I can process 
this into flour, and we'll have a supply of bread for quite some 
time."

"There seems to be plenty of it around, Mr. Neelix." Chakotay is 
moving on. I have to hustle to keep up with him. There's a small 
grove of what appear to be fruit trees ahead of us. The Commander 
scans them carefully. "Again, we appear to be in luck. These are very 
similar to Earth pears."

"It looks like we picked the right planet, Commander."

"Yes, it does."

"Do you think the Captain might consider some shore leave for the 
crew here?"

"It's a possibility. It's been awhile since we stopped off somewhere. 
I'll speak to her about it."

Roberts is picking one of the fruits and placing it in his sample 
case. "For my part, sir, I'd like to stay here for a few days. This 
place is a botanist's paradise."

"Again, it's up to the Captain." But I know, from the sly look in 
Chakotay's eyes, that he'll talk her into it.

He's wandering off again, this time toward a berry bush. Next to this 
bush is an odd-looking plant with a long thick stem. Its leaves are 
tightly closed. Chakotay is ignoring it and is focusing on the 
berries instead. I'm curious about the thick-stemmed plant and train 
my tricorder on it.

Out of the corner of my eye, I see the plant move slightly as 
Chakotay passes in front of it. I glance up to see the leaves begin 
to pull back.

"Commander..." I begin. He doesn't hear me.

I look back at my tricorder and what I see there sends off alarms 
inside my head. I know what is inside those leaves.

"Commander!" I yell. "Look out!" I move toward him as quickly as I 
can. He's turning around, puzzled, and directly in the line of fire. 
I push him out of the way. As I do, I see the guardian plant spring 
open. Before I can do anything else, pain strikes my chest, my neck, 
and my left arm.

I drop my tricorder as the world begins to fade. Chakotay is yelling 
my name and reaching for me. I'm not sure if he catches me before I 
strike the ground....

---

It's twenty minutes until the end of my shift, and then Harry and I 
are going to run another Captain Proton adventure. I'm glad, since it 
will probably take my mind away from Neelix, at least for a brief 
time.

The Captain is talking with B'Elanna at the engineering station, 
probably about the modifications that were made to the impulse 
engines.

I check our orbit for the umpteenth time, and of course it's fine. I 
stretch in my seat.

"Chakotay to Voyager!! Medical emergency!! Two to beam directly to 
Sick Bay!"

A sickening sensation hits my gut, and my heart jumps in my chest. 
How is it that when we hear that someone is dead or injured, our own 
bodies remind us so vividly of how alive *we* are?

The Captain walks toward Harry, but he's already on it. Quick mind, 
quick hands.

I stare outside, temporarily paralyzed with fear. Who's sick? Who's 
hurt?

"Sick Bay to the bridge."

"Go ahead, Doctor," says the Captain.

"I need Mr. Paris down here to assist me. Mr. Neelix has been -- 
poisoned."

I'm out the door without even hearing her reply.

---

The lift seems to take forever. At last the door opens, and I race 
into Sick Bay like a man possessed. Chakotay and the Doctor are 
placing Neelix onto a diagnostic table.

"What the *hell* happened to him?" I burst out.

Chakotay looks at me. "A plant shot him with some kind of darts."

"A *plant*?"

"Mr. Paris." The Doctor interrupts me. "I'm going to need you to keep 
an eye on his vital signs while I attempt to remove the darts."

I stare at Neelix. His breathing is ragged and uneven, and his skin 
is unnaturally pale.

"*Mr. Paris.*"

I move to the monitor. "You can't let him die, Doc."

"I have no intention of doing so, Ensign. Now, do your job, and let 
me do mine."

I force myself to pay attention and give the Doctor the information 
he needs. Neelix's blood pressure is very low, and his respirations 
are rapid and shallow. His skin is cold and clammy to the touch.

The Doctor scans the punctures to Neelix's neck, chest, and left arm. 
"Well, that's a relief. No barbs. I should be able to remove these 
without injuring him further."

"Then do it," I say. "What are you waiting for?"

I expect some of the Doctor's usual sarcasm in reply, but he just 
looks at me sympathetically and picks up his instruments. I watch as 
he slowly pulls the darts out. Neelix remains unconscious the whole 
time. The Doctor puts the darts into a sample case.

Chakotay is still hovering nearby. "Is there anything I can do, 
Doctor?"

"I don't believe so, Commander, but thank you. Mr. Paris and I can 
handle things from here."

Chakotay nods thoughtfully and leaves Sick Bay.

"Any change?"

"He's not doing well, Doc. I really don't like this blood pressure 
reading."

"Hmmmm." The Doctor comes over to stand next to me. "It's lower than 
it should be, but I'm a little reluctant to give him any medication 
until I know what I'm up against. Cover him up. Keep him warm, and 
keep an eye on those vital signs. I'm going to take these darts into 
the lab and study them. Call me if anything changes."

"All right." I throw a blanket over Neelix, then pull up a chair and 
sit down next to his bed. The adrenaline rush is fading, and I feel 
weak and exhausted.

I *can't* lose him. I *can't.* Not when I've just started to realize 
how much he means to me. I take his hand and look into his face. 
"Neelix, stay with me, now. Hang in there. You're going to be okay. 
The Doc's going to fix you up. Trust me."

Neelix has started to sweat. I wipe his face off with a cloth. I 
check his vitals again. No change. He's holding his own.

The sweating continues, however. I don't like this. I comm the Doctor.

"Are his vital signs stable?"

"Yes, but he's just dripping, Doc. I'll have to change his sheets if 
this keeps up."

"Then do it. I should be finished in another twenty minutes."

I go back to Neelix. His body is soaked in perspiration. Gently, I 
remove his jacket and pants, dress him in a medical gown, and wrap 
him up in a thermal blanket. By the time I'm done, I'm almost as wet 
as he is.

The Doctor comes in and takes a good long look at the monitors, then 
scans Neelix from head to toe. "Extraordinary."

"What can you give him, Doc?"

"Nothing."

"Whaaat?"

"In fact, it would be the worst thing I could do. He's producing 
antitoxins at a tremendous rate. That accounts for the increased 
perspiration. His body is purging the poison from itself as quickly 
as it can."

I just stare at him. "You mean, he's going to be okay?"

"Yes, thanks to that remarkable Talaxian physiology. However, this 
will be a long and probably painful process for him. The sweating is 
only the beginning. My guess is that other bodily systems will also 
begin to react against the poison."

"You mean...."

"He will probably begin to vomit. Also -- he may lose control of his 
bladder and bowels. Remember, his entire body is focused on this 
process. He may fade in and out of consciousness. He may even 
hallucinate. It will not be pretty."

"How long do you think it will take?"

"I can't say for sure. Perhaps twelve to twenty-four hours."

"Oh, shit. Are you positive you can't give him anything to help?"

"I'm positive. It would only slow down or reverse the progress his 
body is already making. The only thing you can give him is water to 
prevent dehydration."

I swallow. "Okay, Doc. I'm with you."

The Doctor comes over and grasps my shoulder. His tone is unusually 
gentle. "Tom, are you sure you're up to this? It will not be 
pleasant. I can call someone else in."

"No, I can handle it, Doc. Next to you, I'm the best-trained medical 
person on the ship, for whatever that's worth. I want him to get the 
best, and that's you and me."

The Doc smiles and claps me on the shoulder. "That's the spirit, Mr. 
Paris." He starts to head for his office. "Call me if you need 
anything."

I turn back to Neelix and take his hand. "You're going to be all 
right," I say to him. "You just need to keep fighting this."

His eyes flicker, just a little bit. I wipe his face. "Come back," I 
say. "Talk to me."

Neelix gags, and, just as the Doctor predicted, he begins to vomit. I 
turn him onto his side, facing away from me, and he retches for close 
to half a minute. The smell is rancid, and I almost feel like I'm 
going to toss my cookies as well. I remind myself firmly that this is 
a good sign, that his body is getting rid of the toxin.

Finally, he settles down. I turn him back and wipe his face off. His 
eyes open but do not focus on me.

"H - H - hurts." Tears form in his eyes briefly, then he lapses back 
into unconsciousness. I secure him back onto the bed, then set to the 
clean-up. The odor is so bad that I have to put a mask on before 
starting. I can't imagine how this stuff must have burned his throat 
and esophagus as it came up.

Just as I finish, the Captain comes in. "How is he?"

"He's very sick. But the Doc says he'll be okay."

She wrinkles her nose at the odor. "I'm glad to hear that, Tom. Take 
good care of him."

"I will."

She leaves quickly. Can't say I blame her.

I sit down again and watch my patient. Time passes slowly. I feel my 
eyes starting to close.

Neelix gags again. This time I'm quicker, and I snatch up an emesis 
bucket. I turn his head and manage to catch the vomitus before it 
hits the floor. I'm relieved to see that there is less of it this 
time. I dispose of it quickly and come back to Neelix's side, only to 
see his eyes wide open and staring at me.

"Wixiban?"

I'm startled. "No, Neelix. It's Tom. Tom Paris."

"Wix? Let me up." He tries to get out of bed, but I've got loose 
restraints in place to prevent his falling. "Damn you, Wix, you're 
doing it again, tying me down. Let me up."

"Neelix, listen. I'm not Wix. I'm *Tom.*" God, I hate this.

"What did you do with my Rhuludian crystals, Wixiban? I *need* those 
crystals. Let me up, *damn* you, you stinking Kiopian carcass, you 
son of a Fretubian bitch!"

I swallow. "Neelix, Wix is gone. We left him behind *years ago.* He 
was arrested on the station outside the Necrit Expanse."

Neelix stares at me, then bursts into tears. "I *have to have* those 
crystals!!"

I do the only thing I can think of. I put my arms around him. "Shhh, 
Neelix. I'm right here. It will be okay. Just relax."

He struggles in my embrace, but he's too weak to resist me for long. 
Finally he collapses back onto the bed, shivering and crying. I 
stroke his hair and whisper to him, and at last he falls back to 
sleep.

I stand up. My clothes are soaked with Neelix's sweat and tears. I 
check to see how much time has passed since he was poisoned. About 
six hours.

I comm the Doctor and tell him what happened. "As I expected, Mr. 
Paris. He's hallucinating. Don't take it personally. You're doing a 
fine job."

"I -- I need a break, Doc."

"Of course. Get a shower and something to eat. I'll watch him."

---

Something hurts deep inside me. And I know Wixiban is responsible. He 
took my crystals away, damn him. Those crystals are the only thing 
that can take away my pain.

He's injected me with something and tied me down. I thought he was my 
friend. But he's as hard and cold as the cursed Haakonians.

I swear at him, calling him every name I know. His face blurs in 
front of my eyes. Now he's not Wix anymore. He's someone else. 
Someone I care about. And I've hurt him, whoever he is.

I'm sick. Very, very sick. And I don't want to feel the pain anymore.

---

I don't know if I can handle another six to eight hours of this.

I really don't mind that he threw up, or that he thought I was 
someone else. I've seen worse. You would not believe what goes on 
inside a Federation prison. The difference now is that it's happening 
to someone I care about. Someone I -- love.

I do love him. I love how his face lights up whenever he sees me. I 
love his apple pies. I love the look in his eyes when I tell him that 
I like his cooking.

I hate to watch him suffer like this. He didn't ask for it. I wonder 
what really went on down on that planet. Why weren't Roberts or 
Chakotay attacked?

I'm showered, and I've changed clothes. I swallow some tomato soup 
from the replicator without even really tasting it. I'm tired, and I 
suppose I could let the Doctor know that I need a nap, but at the 
same time I don't want to leave Neelix.

I have an idea. I head back to Sick Bay, and as soon as I'm inside, I 
push one of the other biobeds next to Neelix.

The Doctor frowns. "Ensign, there's a lot of delicate instrumentation 
on that bed. Take care."

"I'm moving in, Doc. I'm not leaving him until he's fully recovered. 
If that means I have to sleep here, I'll do it."

The Doctor considers this. "You really don't have to do this, Mr. 
Paris. Go back to your quarters and get some rest. I can call you if 
there's any change."

"I'm staying."

The Doctor shrugs. "Suit yourself." He checks the monitors. "Mr. 
Neelix is rallying nicely. The level of toxicants in his bloodstream 
has dropped forty percent. He has a remarkable immune system, indeed. 
I've never seen anything quite like it."

"Has he vomited any more?"

"Once. I doubt there's much left in his stomach at this point. The 
heavy perspiring continues. I am concerned about his loss of fluids, 
so I am going to give him a rehydration hypospray. No water by mouth 
at this point, though. If he regains consciousness and appears to be 
lucid, you can try giving him some crushed ice."

The Doctor assembles a hypospray and administers it to Neelix, whose 
only reaction is to mumble in his sleep.

"I'll leave him in your care now, Ensign. The away teams are back 
with some food samples, and I need to assist with testing them."

"Okay, Doc." I lean over Neelix and take his hand again. He's still 
sweating profusely.

I hope he wakes up soon, and I hope he knows who I am. There's so 
much I want to say.

Well, there's no time like the present. Maybe he can't talk to me, 
but I've always heard that people hear all sorts of things when 
they're supposed to be unconscious.

"It's Tom, Neelix. I had to take a little break, but I'm back now, 
and I won't leave again until I know you're going to be okay."

I stroke his face. "I know it hurts. But your body is fighting hard, 
Neelix, and you're going to win. Hang in there. We need you. The 
whole ship is pulling for you."

I pause, listening to the soft hum of the biobed. "Neelix -- I want 
to tell you something. Ever since I got out of the brig, you've gone 
out of your way to welcome me back. I appreciate it so much. And I 
don't feel like I've done much to let you know how much it's meant to 
me. How much *you* mean to me."

My mouth feels like cardboard. "You see, I -- think I'm falling in 
love with you, Neelix. Hell, I *know* I am." I squeeze his hand. "And 
it's killing me to see you suffer like this."

I look down at his hand in mine. He's so different from me in so many 
ways, yet I feel so incredibly close to him. I bring his hand to my 
lips and kiss it. "I love you." The three magic words. In all my time 
with B'Elanna, I never said them to her. But saying it to Neelix 
feels so -- right.

I lower his hand and look into his face. There's no reaction, and I 
feel a slight disappointment. I wipe the sweat away from his eyes 
again, then climb onto my bed and lie back. I'm drained, both 
physically and emotionally, but I don't regret any of what I said.

It's not long before I fall asleep.

---****

"Mr. Paris, I need your assistance."

"Huh?" It takes me awhile to realize where I am. As soon as I do, 
something else strikes me. An unmistakable odor, coming from Neelix's 
bed.

"Hurry up, Ensign." The Doc is unusually cranky, even for him. "Get 
some clean sheets and bedclothes."

I get up and rub my eyes. "How long was I asleep?"

"About two hours."

I'm mortified. "He hasn't been lying in it that long, has he?" I grab 
for the clean sheets and gowns.

The Doc softens his tone a little. "Of course not. I've been checking 
on him every half hour or so. You needed your rest."

I strip the bed, then proceed to remove Neelix's soiled gown and 
underwear. The Doctor begins to wash him down in a dispassionate and 
thorough manner. Neelix looks so small and vulnerable, lying naked in 
the biobed. I try to maintain a professional attitude about all this, 
while some foolish part of me wants to pull him into my arms and 
touch his skin.

The Doctor finishes quickly, and we dress Neelix in the fresh 
clothing and cover him up. I take a look at the diagnostics. His 
blood pressure is almost back to normal, and the level of toxins in 
his system has dropped another twenty percent.

"I would expect that he might regain consciousness within the next 
hour, at this rate," observed the Doctor. "He's definitely come 
through the worst of it."

"Bridge to Sick Bay."

"Yes, Captain?"

"How is Mr. Neelix doing?"

"He's improving. However, I would still recommend that he not have 
visitors at this time. Please inform Ms. Wildman that he's getting 
better, and she should be able to see him sometime tomorrow."

"Very well, Doctor. Janeway out."

"Maybe I should talk to Naomi."

"I already filled her mother in on the situation while you were 
asleep, Ensign. She'll take care of it."

"What else has been going on around here?"

"Well, aside from Mr. Neelix's unfortunate incident, the 
food-gathering mission has been a smashing success. We're going to 
stay here a few days and harvest as much as we can."

"And everyone is staying away from those dart-throwing plants, I 
assume."

"Of course." The Doctor checks Neelix's monitor again. "Well, are you 
ready to take over again?"

"No problem, Doc."

He nods at me, then goes back to his lab. I take my seat next to 
Neelix. His color is looking much better, and the sweating has gone 
down quite a bit. I wipe his face off, then take his hand again.

After about twenty minutes, he starts to stir, and his eyes begin to 
flicker.

"Neelix?"

His eyes open completely. "Who's there?"

"It's Tom."

"Tom?" He tries to focus on me. "I'm -- I'm thirsty."

"Hold on." I go to the replicator and get some ice chips. "Here." His 
hands are shaking, so I raise his head and tip the cup to his lips. 
He sucks on the ice for a few moments. "More." I give him more, and 
finally he signals to me to take the cup away.

"How -- how long have I been in here?"

"About twelve hours."

"Is the Commander all right?"

I'm puzzled. "You mean Chakotay? He's fine."

"Good." Neelix lets out a sigh of relief. "I knew -- that plant was 
trouble. I'm glad no one else was hurt."

I take his hand and squeeze it. "You scared me half to death, you 
know."

He gives me a weak squeeze back. "I'm sorry, Tom. I never want to 
cause you pain."

"Don't." I bend over him. "*Don't* apologize. For all I know, you 
might have saved Chakotay's life. That plant shot some very powerful 
poison into you."

I see tears in his eyes. "Then that makes me even with him."

My hand goes to his face. "We've all saved each other at one time or 
another during this journey. You just did what was necessary."

His hand reaches up to grasp my arm. "I'm glad you've stayed with me 
during this, Tom. I think I've been delirious a few times, and I 
might have said some crazy things. If I've hurt you, I'm sorry."

"You didn't. And I wouldn't have wanted to have been anywhere else."

He closes his eyes, forcing a couple of tears out. "Thank you."

I lean over and brush my lips against his forehead. "I love you, you 
know."

He smiles. "I know. I think I heard you say it before."

I flush a little and look away from him.

"Tom."

I look into his face and see nothing but clarity in his eyes.

"I love you, too."

He holds up his arms and I fall gently into them. It feels wonderful 
to hold him, and even though he's the sick one, I feel myself being 
healed.

---

The End

(Continued in part six, "Just Desserts")