Chapter Text
The mess hall doors opened and Tom Paris walked through, looking like he didn't notice subtle glances and whispers that followed him as he headed for the replicator. His eyes travelled across the room and landed on Harry Kim, sitting with his back towards him, close to one of the view ports. Tom got himself a mug of coffee before heading towards the ensign.
"Hey there," Tom said quietly as he arrived at the table. "Mind if I join you?" He slid down on a chair opposite Harry without waiting for an answer. "How are you doing?" he asked, setting the mug down on the table.
"I've been better. I'm alive though. I had my doubts for a while when we were in those tunnels," Harry answered, glancing up at Tom.
"Yeah, that was a bit too close for comfort." Tom agreed and raised the mug to his lips.
Harry shook his head. "I don't know what to think about all this. We're stranded on the other side of the galaxy, we have a crew of Maquis we're supposed to get along with… Please tell me it's a bad dream!" He looked up at Tom again, who sipped slowly on the coffee before putting down the mug. "I didn't expect this."
"No one did, Harry," Tom said, lowered his gaze to the mug in front of him and traced his finger along the side of it.
"I can't believe I might never talk to my parents again. Or Libby." Harry paused for a moment. "Don't you have anyone you'll miss?" he asked.
Tom shrugged. "No, not really. I don't have a very good relationship with my family and I can't think of anyone I count as a friend either. The Maquis crew is the closest thing I have as friends go, and you've noticed how much they love me." Tom smiled slightly and looked up as the mess hall doors swooshed open. "Speaking of the devil," he muttered when he saw B'Elanna enter the room. Harry turned his head to look but quickly returned his attention to Tom. B'Elanna was not in a good mood and she made sure everyone knew it.
"She sure is upset about this situation," Harry said quietly.
"Oh, she's just her usual sunny Klingon self, that's all," Tom answered lightly, but kept his head down.
"You know her?" Harry asked, arching his eyebrows.
"Well, we've met. Briefly." Tom glanced up, but quickly dropped his gaze stare at the table when he saw B'Elanna scan the room, mug in hand. He winced when he heard her stomp towards them.
"Starfleet," she greeted Harry and put down her beverage with a thump.
"Oh, hi," Harry nervously said and glanced up at her where she stood, next to the table. B'Elanna ignored him and stared at Tom who looked up too, pretending to be pleasantly surprised.
"B'Elanna!" he called out, and smiled genially at her.
Her eyes narrowed. "Not only did captain Janeway destroy our only chance of getting home in this lifetime, but we're also stuck with you!” She threw out her hand, gesturing at him. “PataQ!" she spat.
"Nice to see you too." Tom continued to smile amiably.
"Were you Janeway's spy too?” She put her hand on her hip and leaned forward, jutting out her jaw. “I knew you were trouble when Chakotay brought you onboard!"
Tom drew a breath and leaned against the back of his chair. "I know you will find this hard to believe, but I've spent my time since we parted ways in Starfleet's penal settlement in New Zealand. Not usually the place for Starfleet spies."
B'Elanna straightened and crossed her arms over her chest. "There's only one reason why you're here, if that's the case. You were giving Starfleet information about us!"
Tom turned his eyes briefly to glance at Harry, who had shrunk back, trying to avoid being drawn into the situation. "Well, as a matter of fact,” he began, his eyes finding their way back to B’Elanna, “I didn't have much information to begin with, as I'm sure you're aware of. Janeway knew that too. However, I've been in the Badlands before and that's the reason why I was brought along. Officially not to fly this thing, though.” He paused. “Just to observe,” he added sourly. "Look, I know you hate this.” he continued, dropping his jovial and thoughtful face. “Believe me, I'm not too happy about all of this myself. I wanted out of jail, but I didn't wish for this to happen.” He picked up his coffee, but paused it on his way to his mouth. “I didn't plan on getting caught, thrown in jail, pulled out again and whisked off to the Delta quadrant." He gestured slightly with the mug in her direction. “Especially not with you guys."
B'Elanna looked even more affronted and dropped her hands to her sides. "The feeling is mutual," she snapped and then she threw her hands in the air. "I don't know why I'm bothering to talk to you!"
Harry and Tom exchanged looks.
"Because you would eventually have to since we're all one big happy family?" Tom suggested and flashed a smile.
B'Elanna snorted and shook her head. "Yeah, one big happy family.” She considered him for a moment. “That makes you the black sheep then, I guess." There was a teasing quality to her tone and it looked as if she was reigning in her temper. She took a deep breath and deflated, somewhat. "If not for this forced recruitment into Starfleet I could be reasonably okay with all of this because I don't have a loving family back home, and the friends I have are here." She glanced around the room at the other people, most of them Starfleet. In a corner a Bolian and a human member of the Maquis were talking over a meal; the Bolian gesturing intently and leaning forward, gaze pinned in the human male.
"You and me both," Tom mumbled under his breath. He sighed and leaned back in his chair. "This is ridiculous B'Elanna. You can just ignore me if you want. I'm not going to go away, though, so you just have to get used to me hanging around."
B'Elanna glared at him but her shoulders were still slumped.
"Why don't you sit down? You haven't touched your coffee yet and you look like you could use it." He pulled out a chair next to B'Elanna. She glanced at it, hesitated, but decided to sit down.
"It's raktajino," she said.
"Well then. Even better," Tom answered and raised his mug in a salute.
She put her fingers around the handle of her mug but didn’t drink. “I think it’s beginning to sink in, that we’re really stuck here,” she said quietly and it seemed like her fire had gone out completely.
Harry cleared his throat and leaned forward in his seat, looking at Tom. "What are you going to do now then?" he asked. "I mean, what assignment are you going to get?" he added, when Tom didn't seem to understand what he was talking about.
"Well, I… don't know.” Tom made a face and leaned his elbows on the table, holding his mug with both hands. “The captain needs someone at the helm and I'm the best she can get. I hope she'll let me.” He shrugged. “Seems pretty dumb to not let me do what I'm doing best."
"Wouldn't that be drinking and getting into trouble?" B'Elanna interjected with a teasing smile, glancing at him.
Tom calmly turned his eyes to meet hers. "Believe it or not, I'm not interested in either, these days." He returned to nursing his coffee.
The corners of her mouth twitched. "Good. But you're still a pig." She raised the mug to her lips and sipped on her raktajino.
He looked up at her, feigning surprise. "A pig? I'd say that's progress.” He shot her a toothy grin. “Just now I was a petaQ. If this keeps up we'll be best friends within a week.”
"Don't hold your breath," she retorted, but the smile was still pulling at the corners of her mouth. Tom gave her a genuine smile over the mug. Peace seemed to be restored.
" *Janeway to Mr. Paris.* " Tom hit his com badge and answered, "Paris here."
" *Report to my ready room as soon as possible, Mr. Paris. We have a few things to discuss.* "
"On my way," he replied, and nodded at B’Elanna and Harry. "Well, let's hope the captain has good news. See you later." He stood and walked briskly out of the mess hall, leaving the mug on the table.
B'Elanna watched him as left, then turned her attention to the mug he left behind. “He’s still a pig,” she muttered. She looked up at Harry and smiled. Harry looked nervous, but returned the smile.
“It’s a facade,” he said. “He’s been great towards me.”
“I’m sure he has,” she replied. “He has manners, when he chooses to. But he’s also a pig, when he chooses to.”
In the corner, the Bolian and the human got up to leave. Both looked over at the half-Klingon they had worked with before they ended up in the Delta Quadrant, but she didn’t notice.