OK, here's my first story for the P/T page. It takes place just after
B'Elanna left the turbolift and was going to be called "Be Careful What
You Wish For" but Erin stole that from me!

BLOOD FEVER PT II
by Lauren E Taylor 

He couldn't believe it. His friendship with B'Elanna was gone. Sure, they
were still friends, but it would never be the same. He wanted to be more
than friends, but he couldn't tell her that, not now, and not for a
while, either. The turbolift doors opened and Tom walked out onto deck
two. He went straight to the mess hall, got a cup of coffee from Neelix,
and was prepared to sit at a table in the corner when he noticed Harry.
He had to go sit down with him. He couldn't just not notice that Harry
was there. Tom walked over to Harry's table and sat down. 
"Glad you're back. I was getting worried about you and B'Elanna ever
since I heard she was sick. What was wrong with her?" Harry asked,
concerned.
"It's nothing"
"Come on, you can tell me."
"Harry, I mean it. It's nothing, alright!" Tom yelled.
Harry got up from his seat and looked directly into Tom's turquoise eyes.
"Fine. I'll be on the holodeck if you decide you can trust me" he said
and started to walk out.
"Harry, wait!" Tom called out after his friend, "A lot happened down
there, and I'm not sure if B'Elanna wants anyone to know about it. You
need to talk to her and she'll tell you if she wants to."
"OK, well, I'm going to be on the holodeck, like I already said. Want to
join me?"
"No thanks. No offense, but I really need to be by myself right now." Tom
explained to Harry. 
"Alright. See you later." he said, and turned around and walked out.
He hated making Harry feel this bad. He wanted to tell him, but it
wouldn't be right. It was amazing that just one away mission could do
this much damage.
"Tom, we need to talk" a voice said from behind him.
He looked up to see B'Elanna, looking directly at him.
"You're right. Sit down"
"No, we need to be alone. Let's go to my quarters." she suggested, with a
look in her eyes that she meant buisiness.
*****************************************************************************
The walk to her quarters seemed to take forever in the odd, uncomfortable
silence. Finally, they had made it. 
"Do you want anything?" B'Elanna asked him when they got inside.
"No thanks"
She walked over to the couch and took a seat right next to him. They both
looked at each other, blue eyes to brown, for a few seconds, and then
B'Elanna spoke.
"Tom, I haven't been able to get this out of my mind. I'm so sorry for
everything I did down there."
"You don't have anything to apologize for, I do. I was the one who
refused to help you, because I didn't want to ruin our relationship.
Thank god Chakotay got us out and I realized that you would die if I
didn't help. I'm the one who should be sorry"
"Tom, that's not all I wanted to tell you. Ever since we got back, I've
been thinking so much about you. I don't want this friendship to die. I
love all the time we spend together, away missions, the luau, dinner in
the mess hall. I was always so happy when I was with you and I don't want
to lose that."
"I don't either. I want us to be together, too. I have never felt worse
in my life than in the turbolift. I know we agreed to forget about this,
but face it, we're not going to. Let's try to work this out. Join me for
dinner tonight? Just the two of us, in my quarters."
"I'd love to. I'll be there in an hour. Now leave so I can get ready."
she told him. He leaned over and gave her a little kiss on the cheek. 
"It's a date."
As he turned his back to leave, B'Elanna wiped a tear from her face.
Everything was working out perfectly.

3 MONTHS LATER

Harry walked over to B'Elanna and gave her a kiss on the cheek.
"Congratulations! May I have this dance?" he asked her.
"Sure." B'Elanna told him. They walked out onto the dance floor where
everyone was. She looked around at everyone that had come for the
wedding. Chakotay and the captain talking and laughing as he pulled her
out onto the floor. Tom and Kes dancing. Tom looked over and caught
B'Elanna's eye. Blue eyes to brown. He blew her a kiss. B'Elanna had
never been happier in her entire life. She wiped away the tears from her
face and smiled as she danced with one of her closest friends.
THE END

Paramount owns these characters, but the story is mine. Please send all comments to 
lauren35@juno.com