AND NOW -- PART 20 by KayTrek
"Hmm . . . does p'pil'lay HAVE to be done right away?" The Doctor asked. "I assume that it can be done at any point in the relationship -- or otherwise Vulcans could not end their marriages after many years."
"The longer the bond, the harder it is to perform the p'pil'lay," Tuvok said, "but it does not have to be done during the blood fever."
"Then," said Harry, grinning, "we could just let them mate, and it turns out they hate each other, Tuvie can just separate them later."
B'Elanna, grinning, added, "and we could sell ring side tickets in the meantime . . ."
"These are senior officers we are talking about here," Kathryn said from her sick bed, shoulders back straight, blue-grey eyes glaring. "We are not talking about some dogs in heat."
"That depends on your definition," B'Elanna interjected, only to be elbowed by Harry.
"But Captain," Harry started, not wanting his best friend to lose out on the joy he was currently experiencing, "how can we take the chance that Tom and Chakotay AREN'T having a relationship? How can we let Tuvok separate them with the p'pil'lay and deny them any relationship at all, ever?"
"I hate to argue for true love, Captain, but Mr. Kim's argument has a certain logic," the Doctor offered, seeing Tuvok's eyes begin to glaze over, and sure that the Vulcan couldn't begin to offer his usual sort of advice. "Nor am I sure," the Doctor continued, noting with clinical detachment how Tuvok was beginning to stalk his mate, "that Tuvok is capable of performing the p'pil'lay right now. I'm not sure he is over his blood fever."
The Captain, turning her head towards Tuvok, noted the quickly detoriating situation. And it seemed that young Mr. Kim wasn't resisting much, either. "Fine," she sighed. "Tuvok, go molest Harry in your own room, would you? I don't really think I need the floor show. B'Elanna, Doctor, go and release Tom and Chakotay and lock them in somewhere. Perferably NOT next door, I'm liable to hear Tuvok and Harry from two doors down, and I don't need the headboard thumping keeping me up all night. B'Elanna's snoring is bad enough."
B'Elanna snorted in indignation, but for once kept her mouth shut.
"Then, B'Elanna, find someone to watch the bridge. Ayala maybe. Man never speaks a word, should be able to keep things quiet up there. Doctor, I expect you to monitor BOTH couples, and if it becomes medically necessary, to separate them."
"I could supervise . . . " B'Elanna offered hopefully.
"All I need, B'Elanna, is you bonded to one of them too. GO WATCH THE ENGINES! And send Sam Wildman up here. I need someone sane to talk to." With that, Kathryn dismissed all of her insane crew. She sighed. Once in five years, she got a chance to sleep in for a few days, and all the eligible officers on her ship had to go humping each other. What was next? She thought of Neelix, and just shuddered.