The BLTS Archive - Nightmares
#10: Changes: The Crew's Reaction
by Leone (tarrashenna@yahoo.com)

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Disclaimer: Paramount's, not mine. No infringement intended. No money 
being made.

Archive: Fine, just tell me where so I can brag about it.

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In the early afternoon, Tom and Chakotay sat in the shuttle, preparing
to return to Voyager, since they had finished collecting everything
the ship needed.

After the pre-flight check of all systems, they took off and flew
through the planet's atmosphere. It was a slightly bumpy ride, but
nothing difficult, and they were soon back in space.

As soon as they were free of the planet, Chakotay contacted Voyager to
inform them that he and Tom had finished their mission and were on
their way back. That done, Tom engaged the autopilot and the two men
headed to the back of the shuttle to get lunch. It would be about an
hour before they were back with Voyager.

---

An hour later, Tom docked the shuttle in Voyager's shuttle bay. As
soon as Tom and Chakotay exited the shuttle, Neelix, B'Elanna and a
few other crewmembers started unloading it, while the two men walked
to the nearest turbolift.

"Bridge," Chakotay ordered when they were inside. Then he turned
towards Tom. "We better tell the Captain about us as soon as we've
given her the mission report."

"Get it over with immediately, you mean," Tom half-teased, then turned
serious. "You're right, of course. Wouldn't do to have her hear it
through the grapevine."

"My thoughts exactly," Chakotay agreed.

They were silent for a moment, then Tom turned to look at Chakotay.
"I'm nervous," he confessed quietly.

Chakotay met his eyes. "About the Captain's reaction?" he asked.

Tom sighed. "Yeah. Not to mention the rest of the crew," he answered.
When he saw Chakotay's questioning look, Tom elaborated. "They all
respect you very much, and I'm not exactly the most popular person
around. *And* I have a lousy track record in the relationship
department. There's bound to be some problems when word gets out that
we're together."

Before Chakotay could answer, the turbolift halted and the doors
opened to the bridge. With a brief look at Tom, indicating that they
would talk about this later, Chakotay walked out onto the bridge. He
headed toward the Captain's ready room, followed closely by Tom.

Chakotay sounded the door chime, and when the Captain answered, the
two men entered the ready room. They walked over and stood at
attention in front of her desk, waiting for her to look up from her
PADD.

After a moment, Janeway put the PADD down and looked up at her First
Officer and Senior Pilot. "Gentlemen, please have a seat," she said
with a slight smile. When they were seated, she noted, "You're back
early. Did you get everything we needed?"

"Yes, Captain," Chakotay answered. "And since it didn't take as long
as we predicted, we decided to return to the ship. We figured that you
could use our help with the repairs," he explained.

Janeway smiled. "You're right, we could use an additional pair of
hands with the repairs." She looked at Tom. "You didn't experience any
problems on the planet?"

"No, Captain," Tom answered, then, anticipating her next question, he
added, "And we didn't have any problems getting along either. I didn't
annoy Commander Chakotay... Much." The last was said with a wry smile,
making Janeway chuckle and Chakotay snort.

"He's right, Captain," Chakotay said. "Lt. Paris didn't annoy me. On
the contrary, he managed to worry me with his silence and the lack of
smart-ass remarks the second day."

At Captain Janeway's lifted eyebrow, Tom explained. "I was thinking. I
can't think seriously and make smart-ass remarks at the same time.
I've tried. It just doesn't work."

The Captain nodded in understanding. "Very well, gentlemen. If that's
all, you're dismissed," she said.

Tom and Chakotay exchanged a look, then turned back to Janeway.
"Actually, Captain," Chakotay started. "There is something else we
wish to tell you."

Janeway cocked her head slightly. "Yes?"

When Chakotay hesitated, not sure what to say, Tom jumped in.
"Captain, the Commander and I have become lovers," he said bluntly.

Captain Janeway was quiet for a long time. Remembering back over the
years, she realised that it shouldn't have surprised her. The
attraction between Tom Paris and Chakotay had always been there. The
signs had been subtle, but obvious, if you knew what to look for.

Finally, Janeway looked back at the two officers who were seated
across from her. "Well, there isn't much I can say. Just, keep it off
the bridge, no PDAs. You know the drill," she said.

"Yes, Captain," the two men chorused.

Janeway nodded. "All right, gentlemen. Dismissed."

Tom and Chakotay rose and moved toward the office door when the
Captain's voice halted them. "Oh, and it's about time," she said with
a smile. When the two officers stared at her in confusion, Janeway
elaborated. "I don't know why I didn't realise it sooner, but the
attraction between the two of you has always been very strong," she
explained. Then she shooed them out and returned to her reports.

---

A few hours after Alpha shift ended, Tom, Chakotay, Harry and B'Elanna
were in Chakotay's quarters. B'Elanna and Harry had been invited to a
"let's tell our friends about us" dinner. It had been Tom's idea to do
this, and he'd volunteered Chakotay's quarters for the event because,
as he said, "Your quarters are bigger. I don't think I have enough
room to seat four people at my dinner table."

Faced with this piece of logic, Chakotay had sighed and invited their
two friends to dinner. Now, as it neared 2000 hours, dinner was over
and the four people sat around Chakotay's coffee table. They were
making small talk, mostly shop, while Tom and Chakotay tried to decide
how to broach the subject of their new relationship.

Before they could make up their minds, Harry spoke. "So, you two
finally got together," he said, shocking Tom and Chakotay. They looked
at each other. A brief glance at B'Elanna revealed that the Chief
Engineer was sitting there with a smug smile on her face.

The two men looked back at Harry. "How did you know?" Tom asked.

Harry snorted. "Oh, come *on*, Tom. I'm not blind."

Before Tom could say anything else, B'Elanna spoke. "You're both very
subtle about it, but it *is* quite obvious that you're a couple." At
Tom and Chakotay's questioning looks, she elaborated, "The way you
look at each other, the shared smiles, the 'accidental' touches. All a
dead giveaway."

"I just have one thing to say," Harry told them. With a slightly
devilish smile, he said, "It's about time." B'Elanna nodded in
agreement.

For a moment Tom and Chakotay were speechless. First the Captain, and
now these two. Had they really been that obvious?

Harry and B'Elanna laughed at the men's stunned expressions. It was
clear that they had both been blind to the other's attraction.
Interpreting the question in Tom's eyes correctly, Harry smiled gently
at his best friend. "I've known from the beginning of this voyage that
you were attracted to Chakotay. The signs were subtle, but clear. It
took me a bit longer to notice Chakotay's attraction to you," he said.

This time it was B'Elanna who snorted. "You two have *always* been
attracted to each other. It was obvious from the day you met," she
said, much to Tom and Chakotay's shock. B'Elanna sighed and decided to
get all the surprises over with while they were at it. "Kahless, even
Seska knew. Why do you think she betrayed Tom?" B'Elanna asked, then
answered her own question. "She was jealous as all hell, and wanted to
get Tom out of the way."

Tom and Chakotay sat in silence for a moment, digesting this news.
Finally, Chakotay nodded. "That explains it," he said.

Tom cocked his head slightly. "Explains what?"

Chakotay sighed and ran a hand through his hair. "Seska always had
something bad to say about you, even after we got stuck out here," he
explained. "I admit that I was angry when I first saw you on the
bridge after the Caretaker brought us here. But, after a while I
started to let go of my anger and began to wonder what had made you
agree to Janeway's offer." Chakotay paused and took a sip of his tea
before he continued. "Seska noticed, and started reminding me how you
had betrayed the Maquis, and how you couldn't be trusted. That it was
only a matter of time before you did it again," he finished.

Tom studied his lover intensely. His instinct told him there was more.
"What else did she say?" he asked quietly.

Chakotay frowned and met Tom's eyes. "It doesn't matter. Let's just
say it wasn't pleasant, and leave it at that," he answered, equally as
quiet.

Sensing that Chakotay didn't want to repeat what Seska had said, Tom
nodded. Then he turned back to Harry and B'Elanna. "Well, the Captain
knew about our attraction to each other. You two knew about it. Does
anyone *else* know?" he asked in a slightly sarcastic tone.

Harry and B'Elanna looked at each other. They had kept quiet while
Chakotay spoke about Seska. They didn't want to interfere. Besides, it
wasn't any of their business. Now they considered whether or not to
tell the two men about the betting pool.

Tom noticed the glance Harry and B'Elanna exchanged, and rightfully
assumed that there *were* other people who knew. "Okay, you two. Who
else knows?" he asked.

Sighing in defeat, Harry told him, "Most of the ship knows, or
suspects, that you two are attracted to each other." He hesitated, but
knew he better tell them. Tom would get it out of him later anyway.
"There's a pool on when you two are going to admit it and get
together," he informed the two men.

Chakotay choked, and Tom gasped. "A pool," Tom repeated in a strangled
voice. "Harry, please tell me that you aren't the one running it."

Harry shook his head. "Nope. That would be Ken Dalby," he said.

Tom choked on his coffee. "Ken Dalby?" he asked, incredulously. "The
president of the "We hate Tom Paris" club? Ken 'I'll Harass Tom Paris
Every Chance I Get' Dalby? *That* Ken Dalby?"

Harry winced and B'Elanna snickered at the nicknames Tom had given
Dalby. "Do you know any other Ken Dalby's?" she asked.

"No," Tom answered, looking slightly shell-shocked. Then he shook his
head. "Maybe I fell into an alternate universe," he muttered quietly,
unable to believe that *Ken Dalby* of all people would run a betting
pool on when he and Chakotay would get together. The man had never
made a secret of his dislike for Tom.

B'Elanna struggled to contain her laughter at Tom's dazed look. When
she was sure she had it under control, she decided to take pity on the
poor man. "There's a perfectly logical explanation for this," she told
Tom. When Tom turned a sceptical look at her, she continued. "When he
finally noticed the attraction between you two, he was not pleased, to
say the least. I heard him whine about it to someone. I don't remember
who. After listening to his whining for awhile, I dragged him aside
and told him that if he didn't shut up and leave you alone about this,
I'd rip out his intestines, and then throw him into the warp core."
B'Elanna smiled wickedly. It was obvious that it hadn't been an empty
threat.

Tom grinned at the mental image of B'Elanna threatening Dalby. "So,
what happened?" he asked, clearly intrigued.

B'Elanna's smile widened. "He stuttered a bit and then left
engineering. About a week later, he came to me and told me that he'd
started a betting pool on when the two of you would get together, and
asked if I wanted in. I agreed," she finished.

Tom grinned again. He knew that B'Elanna had a hell of a temper, but
found the idea of Ken Dalby cowering before her amusing all the same.
Before the pilot could say anything, however, Chakotay spoke. "I
didn't know that you had problems with Dalby," he said, looking at
Tom.

Tom shrugged indifferently. "It was nothing I couldn't handle," he
told his lover. "Besides, he stopped awhile back." Tom looked back at
B'Elanna when a thought popped into his mind.

Before he could ask, B'Elanna smiled ferally and answered his unasked
question. "Yeah, that's probably because of my threat," she said. She
took a sip of her coffee, then she continued. "I noticed that he
started to leave you alone for the most part after that."

Tom nodded. That's what he'd thought. "Well, in that case. Thank you,
B'Elanna," he said with a smile.

B'Elanna returned his smile. "You're welcome, Flyboy," she said and
finished her coffee. Setting the cup down on the table, B'Elanna
called out, "Computer, what time is it?"

"The time is 2215 hours," the computer replied blandly.

B'Elanna sighed and rose from her chair. "Well, guys. It's been fun,
but I have a few things to do in engineering before I turn in, so I'll
leave now," she said. Turning to look at Harry, she asked, "Are you
coming, Starfleet?"

Harry nodded and finished his own coffee. Setting his cup back on the
table, he stood up. "I'm right behind you, Maquis," he said.

Tom and Chakotay rose as well, and followed Harry and B'Elanna to the
door. Just before they reached the sensors that would trigger the door
open, the foursome stopped. "By the way," Harry said, looking from Tom
to Chakotay. "Do you two want to keep your relationship a secret?" he
asked.

Tom and Chakotay exchanged a glance, then turned back to look at
Harry. Tom smiled. "Nah, Harry. You can tell anyone you want," he
said, knowing how much his best friend liked to gossip.

"Thanks," Harry said, and moved forward to hug Tom. "I want details,"
he whispered in the pilot's ear, causing Tom to sigh softly.

When Harry pulled back, Tom looked him dead in the eye and said, "I
know you do, Harry, but you aren't getting them from me." Tom's voice
brooked no arguments.

Harry pouted for a moment. Then he sighed, knowing that when Tom used
that tone, it was a waste of time to get the pilot to change his mind.
"All right. I won't ask any embarrassing questions," he promised. Then
he narrowed his eyes at his best friend. "But, I *do* want to know
what happened on the planet," he added firmly.

Tom sighed. "I know," he said, already realizing that Harry had
figured out that something had happened. With that settled, Tom turned
to B'Elanna. "Good night, B'Ela. Don't stay in engineering too late,
or Harry might start to feel neglected," he said with a smile.

B'Elanna smiled back. "I won't," she promised with a quick glance at
her lover. Looking back at Tom, she continued. "I just have to check
one or two things, then I'll turn in."

Harry looked at his lover and his best friend and shook his head.
Addressing Tom, he said, "One of these days you'll have to tell me how
you do that." When Tom looked puzzled, Harry elaborated. "I always
have the Devil's own time convincing her to leave engineering and turn
in early."

Tom and B'Elanna exchanged a smile. "It's a trade-secret, Harry," Tom
informed his best friend, making B'Elanna chuckle.

Harry sighed in exasperation. "You two are impossible," he said, and
looked at Chakotay for support.

Chakotay smiled. "Completely impossible," he agreed, making Tom and
B'Elanna laugh out loud.

Harry just shook his head at them. "All right. Enough, you two," he
mock-scolded. They were so much like little kids sometimes. He and
Chakotay watched the pilot and the Chief Engineer as they tried to
control their laughter. When they succeeded, Harry turned to the
Commander. "Good night, Chakotay. Tom. I'll see you tomorrow," he
said.

"Bright and early," Chakotay agreed. "Good night, Harry. 'Night
B'Elanna."

"Good night, Chakotay," B'Elanna said and hugged him. Then she went
over to Tom and whispered something in his ear. Pulling back, she
smiled when she saw the blush her words had caused. "Good night, Tom,"
she said.

"Good night, Harry. B'Ela," Tom said. "Don't stay up too late, and
don't do anything I wouldn't do," he added with a teasing grin.

B'Elanna lifted an eyebrow. "There's actually something you wouldn't
do?" she asked in mock-astonishment, causing all four to laugh. Then
she and Harry left.

As soon as the door closed behind the couple, Tom and Chakotay moved
over to the coffee table and tidied up. Chakotay took the cups to the
recycler, and Tom straightened the pillows on the couch.

When they were done, the two men went into Chakotay's bedroom,
undressed and got into bed. It had been a long day, and they were both
tired. Snuggling up in each other's arms, they soon fell asleep.

---

A week later, the rumour mill was running amok. The crew had heard
that Commander Chakotay and Tom Paris were the newest couple onboard,
but no one was sure if it was true. Everyone watched the two senior
officers for any sign of intimacy between them. There were none.

One day, on his way to the Mess Hall, Tom overheard the Delaney
sisters and Sue Nicoletti discussing the subject.

"... you, Harry told me. And he had it from Tom and the Commander,"
Megan Delaney said.

Jenny nodded in agreement. "He told us both," she added when she saw
Sue's sceptical look.

Sue frowned. "But I've been watching them, and they don't act any
different," she said. She cocked her head slightly. "If they *were*
lovers, there would be *some* sign. Looks, little touches. That kind
of thing. I mean, I know from experience that Tom is very
affectionate," she finished.

Megan and Jenny nodded. It was true. Tom was a very physical person.
He always touched his lovers in some way, showing affection.
However....

"Commander Chakotay is a very private man," Megan said quietly. "I'm
sure he would frown upon any kind of PDAs."

"And, if they told Captain Janeway, she would probably also have
warned them about it," Jenny added.

Sue thought about it. It made sense, but... "I still think..."

Tom decided that he'd heard enough and quietly left the corridor the
three women were standing in. They never knew he'd been there.

---

Ten minutes later, Tom got his lunch, walked over to a table and sat
down. He looked at his meal suspiciously, but it was the only thing
that had seemed even remotely edible. With a sigh, he gathered some of
the bright blue concoction and tasted it. *It isn't half-bad,* Tom
thought, when he'd eaten some more of the food. *As long as you don't
chew it.*

Ken Dalby's voice interrupted his thoughts. "Do you mind if I sit
here?" he asked.

Tom glanced at the other man wearily. Then he shook his head. "Go
ahead."

Dalby nodded his thanks and put his tray on the table before he sat
down. Once he was seated, he looked suspiciously at his own meal. He
had also chosen the bright blue thing. After a moment, he looked at
Tom. "Is it edible?" he asked.

Tom nodded. "Yeah. Just don't chew."

Dalby started to eat. He followed Tom's advice and didn't chew. The
pilot had been right. It *was* edible. Whatever it was.

When the two men had finished their meals, they leaned back in their
chairs and looked at each other. Tom was wondering what Dalby wanted,
and Dalby was thinking about whether or not Tom would mind being asked
a question about his personal life.

After a moment of continued silence, Dalby finally spoke. "Paris,
would you answer a question for me?"

Tom lifted an eyebrow. "That depends on the question."

"I've heard a rumour about you, and wondered if you could tell me if
it's true," Dalby started slowly.

Although he didn't show it, Tom was secretly amused. He had a pretty
good idea what rumour Dalby was referring to. The crew hardly spoke
about anything else these days. "What rumour would that be?" he asked.

Dalby hesitated for a moment longer, then said, "It's about you and
Commander Chakotay."

Tom bit the inside of his lip to keep from laughing out loud. "What
about us?" he asked blandly.

Dalby took a deep breath, then blurted out, "Well, rumour has it that
you're a couple."

"Oh?" Tom was really amused now.

"Yeah," Dalby said. "And I was wondering... Is it true?"

Tom pursed his lips for a moment. Then he smiled. "Yes, it is."

Dalby nodded. "Okay," was all he said.

Tom studied the other man for a moment, then remarked, "That doesn't
seem to bother you."

Ken Dalby looked straight into Tom's eyes as he answered the implied
question. "It doesn't. Actually, I think it's about time you two got
together." He gave the pilot a small smile.

Tom stared at him in silence for a long moment. "Tell me something,"
he finally said. "Is there *anyone* on this ship who *doesn't* know
about the attraction between Chakotay and me?"

Dalby chuckled at the slightly annoyed tone in the pilot's voice. "I
don't think so," he answered after considering it carefully.

Tom thought about this for a minute. "So, what you're telling me is,
the only ones who *didn't* know, were Chakotay and me?"

"Pretty much," Dalby answered.

"Oh." Tom was speechless for awhile. Then he thought of something.
Harry had told him that Dalby was the one running the betting pool on
him and Chakotay. Which meant that the other man would have a pretty
good idea about what the rest of the crew thought about them being
lovers. "So, what does everyone else think about this?" he asked.

"About you and the Commander being a couple?" Dalby asked. When Tom
nodded, Ken smiled. "Well, we've all had plenty of time to get used to
the idea. I think the general opinion will be that it's about time. I
know that most people are wondering what's taking you so long," he
informed the pilot.

For the second time in less than ten minutes, Tom was speechless.
Before he could think of anything to say, he noticed Chakotay enter
the Mess Hall. The pilot made an excuse, rose and picked up his tray.
He carried it to the nearest recycler, and then went over to his
lover. "Commander, can I talk to you for a moment? In private," he
added, letting Chakotay know that it was personal.

Chakotay looked at Tom and saw the slightly dazed look on his lover's
face. "Certainly, Lieutenant," Chakotay answered. "My office?"

Tom nodded in agreement, and the two men left the Mess Hall and went
to Chakotay's office.

---

While Tom relayed his conversation with Ken Dalby to Chakotay, Dalby
was busy telling his friends the same thing. Within hours the whole
ship knew that the First Officer and the Senior Pilot were indeed the
newest couple onboard.

---

The End