FOR WHOM THE BELL TOLLS
Part Eight
By: Lauren Taylor

It was hard to believe that it had been almost five months since the murders.
Tom hadn't spoken to B'Elanna since the day of the memorial services, when
he'd had a breakdown. She came and talked to him, but all he did was sit in a
corner, staring off into space. About two months ago, she'd given up on
talking to him, and he hadn't heard from her since then. 

Tom was sitting in a corner near his bedroom door when he heard a knocking on
the vent. But he didn't pay any attention to it, as usual. 

"Tom, it's me." B'Elanna said. She paused, hoping he'd say something, but all
she got was silence. "Look, I understand how you don't want to talk to anyone,
but I just wanted to speak to you. Do you realize that today is your
birthday?" she asked. She paused again, but he said nothing. "Anyways, I just
wanted to tell you happy birthday, and that I love you." she sighed, and
prayed that he would say something. But she still got the silence. "I also
wanted to tell you that... that I miss you." she added quietly. She crawled
back away from Tom's quarters, listening to the silence. 

"I miss you, too." Tom whispered after a few moments, a tear running down his
cheek.

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

B'Elanna wiped a tear away from her face as she prepared to get in bed after
another long day. She'd given up on trying to find the murderer, there was
nothing she could find to help her. And, Sam decided not to help, after the
way Naomi had acted. The little girl threw a tantrum anytime Sam tried to
leave her quarters, thinking that she'd go away just like everyone else. 

B'Elanna was just about to change into her nightgown when she heard the door
chimes ring. She walked to the door, and called out for the person to come in.
The woman walked in, with her hands behind her back. B'Elanna smiled, but
looked confused also.

"Hi." B'Elanna said, "Is there something wrong?" she asked. The woman stepped
closer to B'Elanna, and pulled her arms back from behind her back. In her hand
was a phaser, which she pointed at B'Elanna's stomach.

"You call for help, I fire this. Got it?" the woman asked.

TO BE CONTINUED

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