CHANGE OF COMMAND
Part 14: Together
By: Lauren Taylor

Illie stood outside of the doors of Tom's quarters, waiting for them to open.
Of course, it only took a few seconds, but, for her, it seemed like an
eternity. She didn't want to run into Quinn while she was waiting. After
they'd kissed, she ran off quickly without saying a word. The doors opened,
and revealed Tom sitting on his couch, head back and hand on forehead. He
looked up when he heard the doors open, and stood up quickly.

"What took you so long?" he asked her sternly. She was surprised, Tom had
never once yelled at her. He walked over to her and hugged her.

"Look, I'm sorry. I just... I don't know what's going on right now. I just
need to get everything together." he apologized.

"It's all right, Tom." she said, her voice a bit shaky. His behaivior was
scaring her, he'd never acted this way. She wasn't born when Captain Janeway,
Chakotay and Tuvok had been killed, but, from what she heard, Tom had taken
it hard. She was worried about how he'd handle this.

"Look, Tom, maybe you need some time to yourself. I'm going to be in the mess
hall if you need me." she told him. He gave her a kiss on the cheek, and then
walked over to his couch, where he picked up a picture of him and B'Elanna's
wedding day.

*********************************************************

"Ileana Kathryn Kim!" Illie heard her friend Michelle call out sternly when
she entered the mess hall. Illie walked over to the table where Michelle was,
and sat down. 

"What?" she asked, not really concentrating. Michelle could get a little
annoying, always blowing things out of proportion. She didn't want to mention
B'Elanna to her, knowing Michelle, she's get Illie off of Voyager headed back
to Earth.

"What is this I hear about you and Ensign Matthews lip-locking after work?"
she asked with a grin on her face. Michelle had an obvious crush on Quinn,
along with the four other students on Voyager. 

"What are you talking about?" Illie asked her. She wanted to deny what had
happened, to forget the whole thing. Everything that had happened today.

"Don't try to deny it, Illie. Josh saw the two of you outside the turbolift.
What I want to know is how you get so lucky!" Michelle exclaimed. 

"What do you mean?" Illie asked.

"I mean, getting to kiss Ensign Matthews, and getting to live with Tom
Paris!" Michelle explained to her. She also had a crush on Tom. 

"Look, Michelle, I've told you countless times already. I don't see Tom that
way. He's like an older brother to me." Illie told her friend. Before
Michelle could think of a reply, Quinn walked into the mess hall. He looked
around, and noticed Illie. He walked over to them, and Michelle looked at
Illie, with one eyebrow raised.

"Illie, can we go somewhere to talk?" he asked her. She nodded, and stood up.
Michelle had a huge idiotic grin on her face, and Illie just gave her a stern
look. The two of them walked over to a corner table, and sat down across from
each other.

"Illie, what do you want to do about this? About what happened." he finally
said.

*************************************************************

Harry sat by B'Elanna's bedside, silent. The room was dark, and the only
sound was the beeping from a monitor letting him know that she was still
alive. It was late at night, but he wasn't really sure what time it was. He'd
sent Kes home a few hours ago, ordering her to get some sleep. He'd bet
anything that she wasn't asleep right now, just nervously awaiting any news
on B'Elanna. Harry took her hand and held it, staring at her.

"Look, B'Elanna, you've got to make it through this. All of us, me, Kes,
Illie and Tom, we're all worried as hell about you. I was scared to death
when I found you this afternoon unconscious in the lobby. B'Elanna, what
happened? We've lost people before, you of all people should remember that.
But we made it through that together. And together includes you. You've got
to fight this, whatever's happening to you. I know that you were my captain,
and I was the first officer, but, the command's changing now. I'm ordering
you to live. Follow that order, B'Elanna. Please. I'm begging you. For us.
For the baby." Harry told her, with a tear in his eye.

TO BE CONTINUED

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