"Naomi, where are you off to?" Samantha Wildeman asked her daughter.

Naomi smiled and looked up at her. "I'm going on a date," she replied, matter-of-factly.

"Oh?" Samantha said. "And just who is this lucky man?"

"Tom Paris! He's soooo cute!" Naomi gushed.

Samantha knelt next to Naomi. "Sweetheart, you do know that Tom is going out with B'Elanna, right?"

"I do, but that doesn't mean we can't go on a date!" Naomi stated. "I've got to go or I'll be late. Bye!" With that, Naomi was out the door.

Naomi headed to the mess hall where she was to meet Tom. They were going to have dinner and then he was going to take her to the holodeck.

"Hi Tom!" Naomi exclaimed. Tom smiled and waved her over. She glanced down at the tray of Neelix's dinner. "What is it?"

"Neelix broke down and made pizza. I told him that you invited me to dinner and I really wanted you to try it. Of course, it's not going to be the same because it doesn't have real cheese."

Naomi smiled brightly. "That's okay! It looks great!" she exclaimed, taking a seat. She bit into a slice. "Mmm! I love it. Do people eat this a lot on Earth?"

"It's one of the most famous foods from Italy. When I was at the Academy, my friends and I used to order pizza when we had to stay up late cramming for a test."

Naomi nodded, taking another bite. "Tom, did you have a girlfriend when you were at the Academy?" she asked.

Tom nearly choked on a slice of pepperoni. "I-I had a few."

"Were they pretty?"

"Not as pretty as you," Tom said with a smile. Naomi blushed. He didn't realize that he was setting Naomi up for disappointment. "Almost finished? We have the holodeck in ten minutes!"

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

The past three days for Naomi had been great. Tom had treated her to dinner and two great holoprograms. She never had so much fun in her life. Now she was going to repay him by giving him a gift she replicated.

It was a model of a 1969 Chevrolet Camaro. Tom had taken her for a ride in one on the holodeck. "Computer, locate Lieutenant Paris."

::Lieutenant Paris is in Jeffries tube 15::

"That's odd," she thought, heading to Jeffries tube 15.

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

Tom Paris thought it was odd too. He had gotten a call from B'Elanna while he was on his way to the mess hall for lunch. She said she had a surprise for him. It was a picnic. "Any reason why we're eating in a Jeffries tube?" he asked.

B'Elanna poured him a glass of wine. "No one will be able to find us unless they ask the computer and Chakotay and Harry know better than that." She watched as Tom took a bite of the fried chicken. "Well?"

"Excellent replication, my beautiful fiancé," Tom said, leaning closer to her. "However, I'd rather taste this."

B'Elanna closed the gap and soon they were kissing passionately. They didn't hear the small footfalls coming down the ladder, or the small gasp that escaped Naomi's mouth. "I love you," Tom murmured to B'Elanna.

Naomi couldn't believe it. He was in love with B'Elanna? How could that be? She was so... so Klingon!

Naomi raced up the ladder and to her quarters. *That's not fair, Naomi. You're only half-human too, remember,* she thought to herself.

"That doesn't make this any easier to handle!" she screamed, throwing the car against the wall. It smashed into pieces, but she didn't care...

From now on she would hate B'Elanna Torres.

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

Tom and B'Elanna were sitting in a quiet corner talking when Naomi arrived in the mess hall. She was supposed to help Neelix with dessert. Her eyes almost started watering at the sight of them. *Don't let them know you're upset!*

"Hi, Neelix!" she said, plastering a grin on her face.

Neelix smiled. "How's my favorite goddaughter?"

"Neelix, I'm you're only goddaughter."

The Talaxian nodded and handed her an apron. "Hence the reason you're my favorite. Shall we get started?"

Naomi glanced over at Tom and B'Elanna. They were holding hands. *Ugh, that mean Klingon!*

"Naomi, sweetheart, are you all right?" Neelix asked, concern written on his face.

"I'm fine, why do you ask?" Naomi replied, giving an innocent smile.

Neelix cleared his throat. "You broke my wooden spoon."

"Oh," she giggled. "Sorry, Neelix."

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

Things were going well between B'Elanna and Tom. That is, until she found a PADD in his room... from Megan Delaney. B'Elanna was staring at the offensive object in disbelief. How could this be? Why would Tom cheat on her like that?

"Penny for your thoughts?" Tom asked brightly, pulling on his uniform jacket. B'Elanna immediately put down the PADD. "You okay, B'Elanna?"

Tom noted that if looks would kill, he'd be dead right about now. "Tom Paris, I never want to speak to you again! I hate you!"

"What?" B'Elanna glared at him again, picked up the PADD and lodged it at him. He ducked just in time. "What the hell was that for?"

B'Elanna walked closer to him so he could see how angry she was at him. Instead of yelling, she whispered, "Why?"

"Why what?"

The feigning innocence wasn't going to cut it for B'Elanna Torres so she punch him in the face. The sound of bones cracking brought a smile to her face and a brief sense of satisfaction. "Have a good day, *Lieutenant*!"

Tom was in too much pain to stop her from leaving. He needed to find out what happened, but first, Sickbay.

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

The Doctor was grinning as he repaired Tom's broken nose. "Mr. Paris, might I suggest a calmer way to engage--"

"Shut up, Doc!" Tom growled. "I didn't get it that way!"

"Oh, and how did you get it?" he asked curiously.

Tom closed his eyes. "I don't want to talk about it right now," he replied.

"Very well," the hologram said. "You're going to be a little sore for a few days, but it healed nicely."

"Great, can I go now?"

The Doctor sighed. "I can never keep you here anyway, go on."

Tom nodded and decided to go back to his quarters. His head was killing him. Plus, he wanted to see what PADD B'Elanna had thrown at him. Maybe it had something to do with her behavior.

"Tom, wait up!" He turned to see Naomi bounding up to him. Her smiled faded when she saw his face. "What happened?" she cried.

"Long story," he replied.

Naomi kept trying to think who would dare hurt his beautiful face. "Are you all right?"

"I have a headache so I'm going to lay down. Was there something you needed?"

"I just wanted to see if you were interested in a game of checkers," she said. "But we can play another day."

Tom nodded. "Thanks, I appreciate that. See you later, Naomi."

"Bye, Tom. Feel better!"

Tom was beyond feeling better when he arrived at his quarters and read the PADD. "'I'm so glad we're together Tom. I love you so much! We're going to have a beautiful future together. The other day was fantastic, the night spectacular. Come to my quarters at 2400... I'll be waiting. Love, Megan'"

Blood pounded in his ears. Would Megan Delaney really stoop that low? There was only one way to find out...

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

He found Megan on the Holodeck enjoying Neelix's resort program with her sister, Harry, and Ensign Baytart. He walked over to them and Harry glanced up. "Hey, Tom!" His eyes widened. "What happened to you?"

Tom groaned. He completely forgot about that. It was still bruised and would be for a few days. "Harry, could I talk to you for a minute?" he asked.

"Sure," he replied, getting up. He threw a quick apologetic shrug and they nodded. "What's going on, Tom?"

"Not here," Tom said cryptically. Harry followed Tom to a quiet corner of the resort. "Read this," he ordered, shoving a PADD into Harry's hand.

Harry did so, then looked up at Tom. "This isn't true... is it? That's why you're nose is black and blue."

"The PADD's not true, but yes, that's why my nose is black and blue. B'Elanna found that in my quarters."

"Ouch."

Tom snorted. "Tell me about it. I thought Megan was over me," Tom said, running a hand through his hair.

"She is, Tom. She just told me that she's seeing Baytart." Harry pulled Tom towards Megan. "Just come out and ask her about it."

"With my luck, B'Elanna will see me in here talking to her and kill me," Tom replied. "No, thanks."

Harry shook his head. "Let me talk to her then. You have to somehow convince B'Elanna that what's on this PADD is a lie." As an afterthought he added, "Before she kills you."

"Easier said than done, my friend."

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

Everyone in Engineering could tell that their boss was in a rather bad mood. So, instead of risking life and limb, they chose to stay away from her.

"Senior staff, report to the briefing room in ten minutes."

B'Elanna sighed. She didn't want to see him... not so soon after. She glanced at the chronometer. No wonder she was so hungry. "Carey, I'm going to grab a quick lunch, you're in charge."

"Aye, Sir." Carey sounded professional, but inside he was quaking. If something went wrong while he was in charge... He shuddered, not even wanting to contemplate it.

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

B'Elanna entered the mess hall to see Harry and Megan discussing something rather intently. She didn't want to deal with Megan... yet.

"Hello, Lieutenant!" Neelix greeted cheerfully. "Would you like some leola root soup before your staff meeting?"

"Um, no thanks, Neelix," B'Elanna replied. Seeing Megan made her appetite disappear. She turned to leave the room and ran straight into Tom. "Why don't you watch where you going?" she growled, stepping around him and out the door.

Tom sighed as he watched her leave. Seeing her upset at him like that made his head pound even more. "Tom, are you all right?"

"What, Neelix?"

"Your nose."

"Oh, that," Tom tried to laugh, but it didn't come out. "I ran into a door."

Neelix stared at his friend. That was definately not what happened. "Tom you can tell me. It's quite obvious that she's not very happy with you."

"You'd be pissed to if you thought the woman you were dating was cheating on you."

"She is?" Neelix asked astonished.

"No, Neelix!" Tom replied in exasperation.

"You are?!"

"No!" Tom sighed. "I'm sorry. She THINKS I cheated on her. Look, I gotta go Neelix."

Before the Talaxian could say another word, Tom was gone. He had a job to do and it wasn't preparing for dinner.

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

Janeway took her seat at the head of the briefing table. She glanced over at Tom. "Mr. Paris, what happened?"

Tom saw B'Elanna glare at him. "Um, I ran into a door."

Tuvok raised an eyebrow and Chakotay was trying not laugh. Harry looked at him with sympathy. "I trust you'll be paying closer attention," Janeway replied, trying not to laugh herself.

"Of course."

"Okay, first order of business. B'Elanna." The Chief Engineer was still facing Tom. "B'Elanna!"

"What?!" B'Elanna growled. She turned to the Captain. "I'm sorry, Captain. I'm just not in the best of moods."

Janeway let it go for now and asked B'Elanna what the status of their deuterium was. "We have enough for about two weeks."

"Then it's a good thing we found a class M planet with plenty to spare. Why don't you take an away team down and start collecting some?"

"Captain," Tuvok said. "With the ion turbulance, we won't be able to beam the away team to the surface of the planet. I suggest you have Lieutenant Paris pilot a shuttle."

Janeway nodded. "Good idea, Mr. Tuvok. You all have your orders. Dismissed."

B'Elanna glared at Tom again and stormed out of the briefing room. Tom meet Harry at the door. "I'm dead," he muttered to his friend.

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

Naomi stopped in the mess hall to look for Tom. She didn't see him anywhere. She did spot Neelix talking to Harry Kim. She knew the two were friends with Tom. Maybe she could find out from them how he hurt his nose.

She was about to say hello when Harry banged his fist on the table. "Neelix, we have to convince B'Elanna that Tom is not cheating on her. I have a really bad feeling about this away mission. She broke his nose... If he gets her pissed, even by accident." Harry shuddered. "I don't even want to know."

"You're right, Harry, but I don't think there's much we can do unless you can convince the Captain to let you go with them."

Harry sighed. "I just might have to."

Naomi was shocked that B'Elanna was the one who hurt Tom. If she truly loved him... *Wait, it's your fault Tom got hurt! You planted that PADD in his room for B'Elanna to find! You're such horrible person, Naomi Wildeman!*

She had to do something before the away team left. "Harry!" she called, rushing to the table. "When is the away team leaving?"

"In 20 minutes, why?" he asked, glancing up at Neelix. The Talaxian only shrugged.

"I put that PADD in Tom's room," she said, looking at the floor.

Neelix stood up and took her hand in his. "Come on, we have to get to the shuttlebay before the away team leaves."

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

Tom had just finished the pre-flight sequence. "Paris to the bridge, we're ready."

"You're clear to go, Lieutenant."

B'Elanna watched Tom's back as he flew the shuttle out into space. She was so angry and hurt by his actions. How could he just cheat on her like that? With Megan Delaney no less?

"Lieutenant Torres, are you all right?" Sue Nicoletti asked, coming up behind her.

She jumped. She had forgotten that Sue, as well as Vorik, were with them. "I'm fine, Sue," B'Elanna replied. "I actually feel quite liberated at the moment. Nothing to tie me down. No stupid holodeck programs to deal with."

Sue stared at her as if she had three heads. "Um, okay..."

The ship shuttered as Tom flew them through the ion turbulance. "Sorry about that," he muttered. He didn't know why, there wasn't much he could do about it.

A huge jolt was enough for B'Elanna to burst out in anger. "Paris, don't make this a repeat of Caldik Prime!"

Tom's hands nearly froze on the console, but he shook it off and continued flying. You could cut the tension with a knife. Vorik and Nicoletti glanced at one another, but said nothing.

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

"Lets split up, we'll cover more ground that way," Tom said.

B'Elanna glared at him. "Who put you in charge?"

"It-It was a s-suggestion," Tom replied. Damn! He stuttered. He hadn't done that since he was in fourth grade!

"Lets go, Sue," B'Elanna replied, ignoring him.

Tom watched them head off towards the west. He turned to Vorik and nodded, not trusting his voice. Vorik followed, taking out his tricorder. "There seems to be a high concentration of deuterium near those cliffs, Lieutenant."

Tom continued walking, ignoring the young Vulcan behind him. How could B'Elanna, of all people, have said that to him. She knew how much it hurt. He hadn't meant to kill them. They were his fellow officers... his friends.

"Lieutenant Paris."

"What?" Tom shook his head. "Sorry, Vorik, did you say something?"

"Sir, I found a high concentration of deuterium."

"Lets go then."

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

The only sound was the steady beep of their tricorders. Sue was trying very hard not to upset B'Elanna any more than she already was. *Is that even possible?* she asked herself.

"Can I ask you a somewhat personal question, Sue?"

"Certainly, Lieutenant."

B'Elanna took a breath. "Has someone ever cheated on you?"

"Are you telling me that Lieutenant Par-- um, I mean, yes," Sue replied. "Why?"

"You were right," B'Elanna said. "Tom is cheating on me. It's never happened to me before. I mean, I've dated before, but I'm usually the one to break it off because they're not serious. But this... this is worse."

Sue nodded, steering them towards a cave. "I know. Unfortunately, the pain will take a while." Sue looked at the ground. "Especially if you really love the person."

"Sue, I'm sorry. I didn't mean to--"

"It's all right, Lieutenant. I haven't talked about it before, I might as well now. The year before I was assigned to Voyager I was dating someone. Nolan and I had so much in common. We had known each other for three years. I guess that was three years too long because on the day of our anniversary, I arrived at our apartment to find Nolan in bed with my best friend."

B'Elanna looked at Sue with sympathy. "Well, I can't say that I actually saw Tom in bed with Megan Delaney."

"Megan Delaney!?" Sue exclaimed. "But she's seeing Baytart."

"What?" B'Elanna asked, stopping. She turned to face Sue. "Are you sure? I saw a PADD that Megan wrote to Tom in his quarters."

"I was pretty sure. I guess we'll have to wait until we get on board." B'Elanna nodded. "There's some deuterium."

"Great," B'Elanna answered. "Lets transport it to the shuttle."

If she was excited about locating the deuterium, she didn't show it. How could she have jumped to conclusions like that? *If Tom didn't cheat on me, then where did that PADD come from?*

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

Naomi could not bear herself to look up at the faces of her mother and Captain Janeway. "Honey," Samantha said. "What did I remind you of the other day before you had dinner with Tom?"

"Um... I don't remember..."

The Captain knelt in front of her. "Naomi, I'm sure you do. You're a very bright little girl. Tom and B'Elanna are your friends."

Naomi nodded, tears filling her eyes. "I feel horrible! They deserve a better friend than me."

Before either could say anything more, Naomi ran out the door. Samantha sighed. "I'm sorry, Captain."

"It's not your fault, Samantha," Janeway replied, putting a hand on the younger woman's shoulder. "We all do crazy things when we're in love... Or when we think we are."

Samantha smiled. "You're right about that. The hard part about all this is telling B'Elanna what happened. I guess I should?"

"No, we're going to leave that to Naomi."

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

The away team arrived on Voyager without so much as an incident. However, two of them were still not speaking to each other. B'Elanna felt absolutely horrible. Not only for telling Tom she hated him, but the comment about Caldik Prime. It was uncalled for not matter how much she was pissed off at him.

Tom ignored her as she tried to get his attention. He left the three engineers in the shuttlebay to get started on his report for the Captain. With a sigh, he decided there was something that needed to be done. "Paris to Janeway."

"Janeway here. Welcome back, Lieutenant."

"Thank you, Captain. Are you busy? I'd like to s-speak to you."

"I'll meet you in my ready room in ten minutes. Janeway out."

Tom entered the turbolift and called out his destination. By this time tomorrow, he'd be in his quarters... and maybe a memory in everyone's minds.

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

Captain Janeway was rather concerned for her chief helmsman. He seemed nervous about something. And, he stuttered. She had never known him to do that before. She finally surmised that it must have something to do with the PADD Naomi planted in his quarters.

The door chimed, signaling to her that she was about to find out. "Come in." Tom was quiet as he entered, but didn't say anything right away. "Mr. Paris, have a seat." He did so. "Would you like something to drink?"

"No, thank you, C-captain." *Damn it, Paris! Concentrate on containing the stutters!*

"What can I do for you then?"

He sat up straight and took a deep breath. "Request permission to be relieved of duty, Captain."

She stared at him. "Why?"

"Why?" Tom almost laughed. If there was ever a loaded question, that was. "I am a danger to this crew, Captain. One of these days I'm going to kill them all."

"Tom..." She didn't know what to say. "I don't know where this is coming from, but I don't agree with you. You are not a danger to anyone. You are the best pilot I have ever worked with. You've come a long way from the man you were when you entered the Acadamy."

Tom nodded slowly. "Does this have something to do with B'Elanna?" His eyes widened. How had she known? "You'll need to speak with Miss Wildeman about that."

"Sam?"

"Naomi," she replied. "And please speak to her before you ask me again to relieve you of your duties."

"But, Captain, I don't think this has anything to do with Naomi. When I was flying the shuttle, B'Elanna said... s-she said that she didn't want a repeat of C-Caldik Prime."

Tom stood up. "Captain, I c-can't do this anymore. I can't k-keep fooling myself that I'm a great p-pilot. Thank you for trying to help me, C-captain, but it's too late for me." With that, Tom left the room.

She stared after him shock. And B'Elanna. True, she may have upset with him, but that didn't give her the right to bring Caldik Prime up. "This stuttering. I've never heard him do that before," she mused to herself.

"Janeway to Naomi Wildeman."

"Yes, Captain?" The child sounded a bit humble.

"Locate Lieutenant Paris and speak with him, then have Lieutenant Torres meet you there. Your mother and I will join you in about ten minutes."

"I will, Captain. Naomi out."

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

Naomi found Tom about to enter his quarters. He looked extraordinarily sad... and she knew why. "Tom, wait!" she called. She knew B'Elanna wouldn't join her if they were in Tom's quarters.

"Hey, Naomi," he replied, smiling. She could tell it didn't reach his eyes.

"Will you come with me to the crew lounge? I wanna show you something!"

Tom nodded. He didn't want to upset her seeing as she seemed excited about something. Although, he didn't know she had put on a mask just as he had. "Okay, lets go."

She lead him to the lounge. There was no one there. "Stay here a minute, I'll be right back." She ran into the corrider. "Naomi to Lieutenant Torres."

"Torres here. What can I do for you, Naomi?"

"There's something I want to show you. Will you come to the crew lounge on Deck 3?"

"Sure, I'll be there in a few minutes. Torres out."

Naomi smiled sadly. This was the day she was going to lose two good friends. But, at least they'll be happy again. She ran over to Tom and sat beside him.

"So what is it you wanted to show me?" Before she could respond, B'Elanna entered. His heart quickened. He really didn't need this, not now. "I've g-got to go, Naomi," Tom replied.

"Tom, wait!" Tom looked at B'Elanna. He thought Naomi would have tried to stop him, not her.

"Before you two say anything more you might regret, I need to say something," Naomi said, standing between the adults. They wondered what she possibly could have to say. "It's my fault you two are fighting. I-I put the PADD in Tom's quarters so you could find it B'Elanna. It wasn't from Megan Delaney."

Silence.

Naomi didn't know what to make of it. She looked back and forth at Tom and B'Elanna. They were staring at one another. She stepped towards the door. They needed to talk, she could face them later. So, the youngest member of Voyager's crew left the lounge.

"Naomi." She jumped at the voice. "Sorry," Samantha said. "I didn't mean to startle you. Aren't you supposed to be in there?"

"I told them what happened. They were stunned into silence so I decided to let them talk first."

"Very smart," Captain Janeway said. "However, because of your actions, you will have to be punished."

She nodded. "I know, Captain. What is it?"

"That's not up to me, that's up to your mother," she replied.

Samantha knelt in front of her daughter. "Naomi, you know I love you very much."

"I know, Mom."

"Because of your actions, you will be confined to your quarters and will not be able to use your replicator rations for desserts. Is that understood?"

"Yes, Ma'me."

Samantha hugged her. "Good, it's past your bedtime."

"Just a minute." She looked at the Captain, then wrapped her arms around her. "I'm really sorry, Captain. Will you forgive me?"

"Of course I forgive you, dear. Now why don't you get some sleep." Naomi nodded and Janeway watched her head down the hall.

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

Tom was the first to turn away. He went over to one of the couches and sank into it. He wasn't upset with Naomi, not at all. He was upset with the fact that the woman he loved hadn't believed him.

B'Elanna wanted to be pushed out of an airlock. She'd let Tom do it himself if he had the will. Although, at the moment, it didn't seem like he did. She had no idea what she could say to him.

He couldn't take the silence any more. He stood up and looked into her beautiful chocolate brown eyes and whispered one word: "Why?"

She looked back at him. There was so much pain and despair in his blue orbs. "I read that PADD, Tom. If you found something like in my quarters, what would you have done?"

"I would have asked you about and believed every word as the truth. B'Elanna, it's plain and simple: you don't love me."

"What?" she was taken aback. "Tom, of course I do, it's just that..."

"It's just that you don't trust me! Is that it? How can you love me, but not t-trust me?" *Here it comes, the stuttering fool!* he thought to himself angrily.

B'Elanna looked to floor. Tom told her about the stuttering. He was picked on when he was little for it. When he graduated high school, he had finally learned to control it. It was back now, and it was her fault. "No, Tom, it's not that I don't trust you. I do and I love you so very much."

"T-then what is it B'Elanna?"

"I guess I was just scared," she replied. "I've never been with someone as long as I've been with you. I don't want to lose you, Tom."

He stepped closer to her. "You'll n-never lose my, B'Elanna. I'm not going anywhere. I l-love you too." He sighed, this was so frustrating!

"Tom, come here." She took his hand and lead him to the couch and had him sit down. B'Elanna sat next to him and wrapped her arms around him. "I'm very angry at myself," she said, laying her head on his shoulder.

"What f-for? Oh..." He suddenly became interested in the wall in front of him. A lone tear escaped and B'Elanna kissed it away.

"What is it, Tom?"

He continued to stare at the wall as he spoke up. "I asked the Captain to relieve me of d-duty."

B'Elanna felt as though she were jabbed in the stomach. This was all her fault! If her temper hadn't gotten the better of her, Tom wouldn't be feeling this way. She took his face in her hands. "Tom Paris, you are the best damned pilot I have ever seen! You can't turn your back on this crew, they need you as much as they need the Captain."

"But, you know what a r-risk it is having me at the helm. Just look at Caldik Prime--"

"No!" B'Elanna replied forcefully. "You were young and you made a mistake. It happens. I've made my share of mistakes as well, nobody's perfect."

He looked to the floor. "They died because of me. If I had been--"

"Tom Paris, it wasn't your fault."

Tom and B'Elanna stood up at the sound of Captain Janeway's voice. "Captain?"

"I'm sorry to have disturbed the two of you, but we were afraid you might have killed each other," she replied with a small smile. "Besides, I have something here that Mr. Paris should take a look at."

She set a PADD down on one of the coffee tables and left the room. Tom walked over to it. He glanced up at B'Elanna. She nodded and he picked it up. The color drained from his face as he read it. "Tom?" B'Elanna said, moving next to him. "What is it?"

"I can't believe it! I wasn't responsible!"

She almost didn't noticed that his stuttering was gone. He handed B'Elanna the PADD. Her eyes widened as she read it. "Tom, according to this, your shuttle was sabatoged!"

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

Kathryn Janeway watched Tom as he chatted amicably with B'Elanna and Harry. She was greatful to see everything back to normal... even if it meant revealing classified information.

She remembered the day Admiral Paris had learned the shuttle had been sabatoged. He was not happy about it all. Who would be after their son had been dragged through the mud? The roblem was, he couldn't tell anyone.

"'This is classified, Kathryn," Owen said. "As much as I want to blow the whistle on this, we can't. Tom is going to be cashiered from Starfleet... and you have to promise me something."'

'"What's that?" she asked.

"If something happens to me, will you tell my son what happened. Tell him how much I love him and I'm proud of him. Kathryn, will you do this for me?"

She nodded and told him she would. And that's what she did. Janeway noticed that Tom's mood seem happier and he didn't look like he had the weight of the world on his shoulders.

"Hey, Captain." Normally she would have reprimanded an officer for address her so rudely, but since there was no one else in the mess hall, she let it slide.

She smiled and walked over to the table where three of her senior officers were debating on whether or not to eat Neelix's concoction of the day. "What is it?" she asked.

"We don't know," Harry replied. "It's jell-like, smells like peaches, and slightly congealed."

Janeway almost gagged. "Doesn't sound very appetizing. Whoever takes the first bite will have tomorrow off," she bribed.

B'Elanna shook her head. "No thank you, Captain, my Klingon constitution will not be able to digest that."

"Harry?"

"We all know what happens to me when I eat jell-like substances." He turned to Tom. "Go ahead, you know you want to."

Tom raised an eyebrow, making them think of Tuvok. "I don't know..."

"Chicken?"

"Captain?"

"Come on, Mr. Paris," she said. "You're the adventerous one."

Tom took a breath. "Fine..." He picked up his fork and stabbed at it. If he hadn't poked it, he would have sworn it was alive. Tom moved the fork slowly to his mouth, aware of his wide eyed friends. It finally made its way into his mouth.

"Well?" Harry said. Tom chew thoughtful. It had a pleasant taste... at first. "Tom?" he asked in concern. Tom looked like he was ready to choke. "Tom, are you all right?"

He was finally able to swallow it and grabbed B'Elanna's glass of water to wash it down. The vile taste still filled his mouth. "Oh God, I'm going to be sick!"

"Tom, lets get you to Sickbay," B'Elanna suggested, taking his hand.

"No!" he exclaimed. "I don't want to hear Doc tell me how idiotic it was to even look at that stuff. I'll be fine, just give me a few minutes."

She nodded as he drank more water. Tom's stomach finally stopped doing flip flops five minutes later. "Better?" Harry asked with a smirk.

"A little... Captain, I'm definately going to need tomorrow off."

"Granted, Mr. Paris," Janeway replied. "B'Elanna, why don't you take him to his quarters. He looks like he could use some rest."

B'Elanna laughed. "Aye, Captain."

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

Tom and B'Elanna had just arrived at his quarters when their comm badges went off. "Naomi to Lieutenants Paris and Torres."

"Yes, Naomi?" B'Elanna responded.

"Um, could I talk to you both?"

B'Elanna glanced at Tom. He looked a little pale, but still intact. "Where?" Tom asked.

"My quarters... um, I can't leave here."

"On our way."

Samantha let the couple in, professing her deepest apologies. "It's not your fault, Sam," Tom had told her as she led them to Naomi's room.

Naomi looked up from the PADD she was reading. She silently slid off the bed and walked over to the adults. She looked up at her mom, who nodded and left them alone. After a few minutes of silence, Naomi burst out, "I'm so sorry!"

B'Elanna knelt in front of her. "It's all right, Naomi. We forgive you." She glanced up at Tom. "He is a cutie, isn't?" she added in a whisper.

"He is," Naomi replied with a giggle.

Tom crossed his arms. "What are you two talking about?"

"Nothing for you to concern yourself with, Helmboy." B'Elanna stood up. "As soon as your punishment is up, we'll ask the Captain and your mom if they want to join us on a girls only holodeck adventure."

Naomi grinned. "Sounds like fun!"

"Great, we'll set a date soon," B'Elanna said. "Good night, Naomi."

"Night."

Tom followed B'Elanna out into the corridor. "What just happened in there?"

"Girl talk, Tom."

He eyed her skeptically. "Since when do you act like a girl?" There was smack and then, "Ow, B'Elanna!"