"PERILS OF A MATCHMAKER"
SUMMARY: Tom Paris helps Pablo Baytart win the affections of Sue Nicoletti and endangers his own pursuit of the Chief Engineer in the process. Set during late Season 3.
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Part 2
"Where in the hell were you?" Sue Nicoletti demanded, as she glared at Tom, inside Voyager's Engineering Section. "We were supposed to work on your holoprogram, together! Instead, I nearly got electrocuted by that klutz, Baytart!"
In his most persuasive voice, Tom begged forgiveness. "Since it was a training program for pilots, I thought Baytart could take my place. Besides, I didn't think you would be this upset."
"Upset? I nearly died!" Sue's voice nearly rose to a shrill, attracting stares. Looking embarrassed, her face turned pink. Tom's eyes fell to the floor, avoiding the stares of others.
"For God's sake, Sue!" Tom hissed through clenched teeth. "You merely suffered a few burns! There's no need to exaggerate!"
Cold blue eyes stared pointedly at Tom. "If that's the way you feel, Paris, I'm sure you can finish your program all on your own!" Sue turned her back on the pilot and stalked away.
"Sue . . . Sue! Dammit!" Tom rushed after the engineer, ignoring more stares. He followed her to a console on the upper level. "I'm sorry, Sue," he said, after catching up with her. "Look . . ."
"I have work to do, Lieutenant Paris," she replied icily. "Do you mind?"
One glance at that haughty expression and Tom knew he was facing defeat. Dammit! Cold Hands, Cold Heart Nicoletti!. He had forgotten how cold and stubborn Nicoletti could be. As far as Tom was concerned, Pablo was on his own.
* * * *
Later that evening in the Mess Hall, Tom broke the news to Baytart. The latter responded with uncharacteristic panic. "You can't stop! Not now! What am I going to do?"
"Why don't you take a chance, Pablo?" Tom wearily suggested. Hours of flying Voyager and fielding off curious stares and questions about Sue had left him exhausted. "Ask her out. You don't need my help."
Panic filled the ensign's dark eyes. "I can't!" he cried. "I can't face her like that! Please Lieutenant! I can't do this on my own! Not after what happened in the Hololab." The young pilot stared at Tom with beseeching eyes.
A long sigh escaped Tom's mouth. If only Pablo could face Sue at this moment. He would have broken the engineer's defenses within seconds. "All right," Tom conceded with great reluctance. "I'll help you. I still say you should be up front with Sue. But, if you're that reluctant . . ."
"Thanks a lot, Lieutenant!" Pablo was all smiles. "I won't forget this."
A familiar voice asked, "Won't forget what?"
Both Tom and Baytart glanced up to find two newcomers standing before them. Both Harry and B'Elanna held lunch trays. "What are you two talking about?" Harry continued.
Tom opened to mouth to answer, but Pablo spoke first. "It's nothing, Ensign Kim. We were talking about a personal matter. Uh, see ya!" The pilot stood up, flashed a quick smile and beat a hasty retreat out of the Mess Hall.
B'Elanna and Harry stared at Tom. Who indicated the two empty chairs, opposite him. "Have a seat," he said. The pair quickly filled the seats.
"Did Baytart say something about a favor?" Harry asked. He took a sip of his juice. "Has this anything to do with Sue and the Hololab?"
Tom shrugged. "Somewhat. He did a favor for me by working with Sue. So, I'm doing a favor for him in return."
"Which is?" Harry insisted.
Aware of Pablo's desire for secrecy, Tom merely replied, "A favor." Relief appeared in the form of Sue Nicoletti. Who had just entered the Mess Hall. Tom rose to his feet. "Excuse me, guys. I have a personal matter to deal with." And he headed straight for Sue.
* * * *
Two pairs of dark eyes followed Tom, as he strode toward Nicoletti. B'Elanna struggled to fight back a wave of jealousy. "I guess Tom wants to apologize for what happened in the Hololab," Harry commented.
B'Elanna gave her friend a pointed look and grumbled, "I wouldn't be surprised if he had a lot more to apologize for than Sue getting electrocuted by Baytart."
"What else could it be? You don't think Tom would ask Baytart to take his place during a date, would you?"
B'Elanna sighed. "Of course not, Harry. Maybe Tom had hoped it would become a date. I don't know!" Her last sentence came out in an angry outburst.
Harry's next question threw B'Elanna into a fix. "Why are you so upset?"
"Wha . . .?" Shock immediately became annoyance. "What are you talking about? I'm not upset! Do I look upset?"
"Well, to be hon . . ."
B'Elanna continued to growl, "Kahless, Harry! If you must know, I don't give a rat's ass about anybody's social life! Including Tom Paris!"
A knowing smile curled Harry's lips. "Whatever you say, Maquis."
B'Elanna glared at her friend.
* * * *
"No!" Sue continued eating her pleeka rind casserole.
Tom let out a sigh. "C'mon Sue. How many times do I have to apologize?"
"As far as I'm concerned, you're wasting your breath," Sue snapped.
Ignoring the curious eyes around him, Tom fell to his knees. "Look at me, Sue. I'm no my knees. Begging for your forgiveness. Please?" He blasted her with every ounce of emotion his blue eyes could muster.
Not even "Cold Hands, Cold Heart" Nicoletti could resist the pilot's pleading eyes. She sighed. "All right! I forgive you." She gave him a slight smile. "When do you want to resume working on the program?"
Tom smiled with relief. "Tonight would be just fine. At 20:00?"
Sue nodded. "Okay, 20:00, the Hololab. But if you're running late or unable to meet me, just let me know. I don't need anymore surprises," she added. "And that includes sending Ensign Baytart in your place."
Tom's smile disappeared. He had no intention of repeating his earlier mistake. Yet, Sue's words hinted that she wanted nothing to do with his second-in-command. Silently, he realized he would have to take the gloves off. Try something a little less subtle. Like the old "stuck-in-the-turbolift" trick.
* * * *
Baytart stared at Tom with confused eyes. "I don't understand," he said. The two pilots stood inside the Shuttle Bay, where Tom had just completed a staff meeting for the Conn Division. "You want me to get into Turbolift One on Deck Ten and head for Deck Two?"
"That's right," Tom calmly replied. "At 13:03 hours, to be precise. Tomorrow."
"Why?"
In preparation for his latest scheme, Tom had spent a least a week observing Sue Nicoletti's daily habits. He explained one particular habit to Pablo. Unless a special project, a battle or any other special situation made it impossible, Sue always left Engineering at 13:00 hours and boarded Turbolift One for the Mess Hall. "Only tomorrow," he added, "you will join her when the lift reaches Deck Ten. Somewhere between Decks Six and Seven, the turbolift will stop."
"Stop?" Pablo frowned momentarily, until realization lit up his eyes. "Wait a minute! Is this the old "stuck-in-the-turbolift" routine? Is the best you can do?"
Tom gave him a cool stare. "Well, I had better ideas, but they didn't exactly work. Gee, I wonder why?"
Baytart had the good grace to blush. "I'll be in Turbolift One at exactly 13:00 hours, tomorrow."
"Good," Tom said, nodding. "Now, if something happens to prevent Sue from leaving Engineering on time, I'll let you know." He gave the young pilot a friendly pat on the back. "Don't worry, Pablo. If everything goes according to plan, you'll soon have Sue Nicoletti in your arms."
* * * *
Everything went according to plan. At precisely 13:00 hours, the following afternoon, Lieutenant Nicoletti interrupted work on the magnetic constrictors and left Engineering to have lunch. The minute she headed for the doors, Carl Ashmore contacted Tom.
The Chief Helmsman then alerted Pablo Baytart to head for Turbolift One. The junior pilot followed his chief's orders. When he stepped inside, he was relieved to find the object of his desire, alone. The dark-haired engineer took one look at Pablo and immediately stiffened. His heart sank at the realization that Lieutenant Paris' participation in this scheme was easy - getting him and Sue together. He had the more difficult task of wooing the haughty engineer.
Don't freeze, Pablo, he said to himself. For once in your life, get your thumb out of your ass and talk with the woman. You've already done it, twice. Before dumping a plate of dim sum on her lap and electrocuting her. Pablo took a deep breath. Think positive thoughts. Remember, you're a Starfleet officer, not an idiot.
Pablo turned to the engineer to speak. Before he could open his mouth, he realized that the turbolift had failed to stop between Decks Six and Seven. Instead, it continued on, until it stopped at Deck Two. The doors slid open and Sue Nicoletti stepped out, leaving behind a flabbergasted pilot.
* * * *
Tom watched the entire debacle from his monitor on the Conn Station. Once again, fate, this time in the form of an unstoppable turbolift, came between Pablo Baytart and Sue Nicoletti.
"What the hell happened?" a stunned Tom muttered under his breath.
Another voice broke him out of his reverie. "Did you say something, Mister Paris?" Captain Janeway asked.
Tom's heart nearly leaped out of his chest. He took a few deep breaths and managed to subdue his rapidly beating heart. "Everything's fine, Captain," he calmly replied. "Just a little problem with the navigational relays."
"Oh. Perhaps I should summon someone from Engineering."
"Don't bother, Captain. If you don't mind, I'll just head down to Engineering, myself. I'm soon due for my lunch break. That way, I can kill two birds with one stone." He flashed the red-haired captain his most reassuring smile.
Fortunately, Janeway nodded her assent and Tom immediately headed for the turbolift. His first stop - the Mess Hall on Deck Two. Tom popped his head inside the doorway and spotted both Pablo and Sue - sitting yards apart. The young pilot immediately saw the older man and sprang toward the doorway.
"What the hell happened?" Pablo demanded, once the pair retired to the corridor, outside. "The turbolift was supposed to stop between Decks Six and Seven! It didn't!"
Tom retorted, "I know what the damn thing was suppose to do! Something must have gone wrong the programming."
"Now what do I do?"
There were times Tom wondered how Baytart ever managed to become a Starfleet officer. Hell! Even Harry Kim has shown more boldness in pursuit of other females. And he was two years younger than Pablo. And less experienced. An impatient sigh left Tom's mouth. "Why don't you just ask her out, Pablo? At least try to strike up a conversation. You were doing great at the party and in the Hololab."
Pablo cried out, "Until I dumped food on her and nearly electrocuted! I just can't do it on my own, Lieutenant! I can't!"
"Then why in the hell did I even bother to plan that little turbolift scheme in the first lace? Surely, you didn't expect me to hold your hand all the way to Deck Two?"
A little shrug from Pablo's shoulder reminded Tom of himself at the age of twelve. "I almost said something in the turbolift," the younger man mumbled. "But it continued on to Deck Two before I could."
"Look," Tom said, "I'm heading down to Engineering. Maybe Ashmore can help me find out what went wrong." He paused. "And hopefully, we can try again."
Hope brimmed in Pablo's eyes. "We will?"
Tom reassured the pilot that they would make another attempt to trap Nicoletti in the turbolift. Smiling, Pablo returned to the Mess Hall. And Tom continued on to Deck Eleven. Upon reaching Engineering, he found Ensign Carl Ashmore working at a console on the upper level.
"What happened?" were the pilot's first words to the engineer, repeating both himself and Baytart.
Ashmore's light brown face puckered into a frown. "It didn't work?"
"The damn thing didn't even stop. What went wrong?" Tom watched as the other man punched in a few codes into the console.
"According to the computer," Ashmore continued, "there's nothing wrong with the program. So, it must be . . ." He punched in a few more entries. "Oh, here it is. We've been having problems with the computer's relay circuits."
A crewman appeared out of the blue, startling the two officers. "Excuse me, Ensign Ashmore?"
Ashmore glanced at the crewman. "Yes, Soltay, what is it?"
Crewman Soltay expressed difficulty with several ESP circuits connected to one of the ship's gel packs. Ashmore excused himself to help the crewman. He told Tom, "I'll get to you about this. How about later this evening?"
Tom sighed. All this scheming on Baytart's behalf has proven to be very exhausting. And distracting him from his own pursuit of B'Elanna. "At the resort," he said wearily. "Holodeck One, at 20:00 hours."
Ashmore and Soltay left. Tom glanced at the chronometer. It read 13:53 hours. Realizing that he had an extra seven minutes, along with an hour for his lunch break, he left Engineering and headed for the nearest turbolift. Might as well enjoy every free moment until his return to duty. The moment he stepped into the turbolift, a voice cried out, "Hold the lift!" Was that . . .? Seconds later, B'Elanna Torres dashed into the turbolift. Tom could not believe his luck.
* * * *
The moment the turbolift doors slid shut, B'Elanna barked an order to the computer. "Deck Two." Slightly winded, she took a deep breath. A familiar scent filled her nostrils. Kahless! Was that . . .?
"On your way to the Mess Hall?" Tom Paris asked in his usual soft voice. B'Elanna closed her eyes momentarily. Off all the people to find herself alone with! Dammit! "Hello? B'Elanna?" Tom continued. "Voyager to Torres! Cat caught your tongue? Or is this some new ploy of yours? The silent treatment?"
Her dark eyes flashed with irritation. B'Elanna whirled on the pilot. "Keep it up, Flyboy! And I'll give you my version of the silent treatment! Only you'll be the one unable to speak. Especially with a broken jaw."
"Ah! Nice to see that your tongue hasn't been paralyzed after all."
An impatient growl rose from B'Elanna's throat. "What the hell you want, Paris?"
Tom protested. "Hey! All I did was ask you a question! Like, are you heading for the Mess Hall?"
"I asked for Deck Two!" B'Elanna snapped. "What do you think?"
"Well," Tom leaned forward and waggled his brows lavisciously, "maybe we can share lunch. Like a bowl of Ktarian pudding?"
Only Tom Paris could make a simple lunch between friends seem suggestive. B'Elanna sighed. What did he have in mind, anyway? Ktarian pudding spread all over her body for him to lick? The idea of Paris' tongue on her body brought forth erotic visions and feelings that immediately aroused B'Elanna. Even worse, were thoughts of her licking the pudding from his body. She took a deep breath to vanquish the images and Tom's familiar scent hit her again. Good grief! Couldn't she stop thinking about the man?
"Hello? Hey, B'Elanna!" Tom's voice interrupted her forbidden musings. "Why am I having trouble in holding your attention for a few minutes?"
B'Elanna shot him a dark look. "Perhaps you haven't said anything worth my attention. And as for lunch . . ." The turbolift lurched to a stop, taking the two occupants by surprise. "What the hell? Computer, resume turbolift!"
"Unable to comply," the computer's voice droned. "Turbolift One is malfunctioning."
Irritated, B'Elanna shot back, "Malfunctioning? Where is the turbolift located now?"
"Turbolift One is located between Deck Six and Deck Seven."
Something like a gasp escaped Tom's mouth. B'Elanna stared at him. Then she tapped her combadge. "Torres to Engineering, what the hell is going on? I'm stuck in one of the turbolifts."
A voice responded. It belonged to Carl Ashmore. "Uh, sorry Lieutenant. There seemed to be some problem with the computer's circuitry. It must have affected the turbolift."
"Well, do something about it!" B'Elanna barked.
Nervousness tinged Ashmore's voice. "Uh, yes ma'am. I mean, uh, sir." A pause followed. Then, "I'll get to right away. Ashmore out."
An amused Tom commented, "Poor Carl. After the way you had applied the whip, he's probably pissing in his pants, by now."
B'Elanna glared at the pilot. "Never mind about Ashmore," she retorted. "What do you know about this?"
Blue eyes widened innocently. "What do you mean?"
"I saw the way you reacted when the computer mentioned we were stuck between Decks Six and Seven." B'Elanna stepped closer, invading Tom's personal space. "You know something about all this, Tom Paris. And I want the truth."
A self-deprecating smile touched the pilot's lips. "Okay. If you must know, I had Carl program the turbolift to stop right here."
"I knew it!" B'Elanna crowed triumphantly. "I just knew you had something to do with this! What's your game, Tom? Another half-assed attempt to get me alone? First, I'm going to tear Carl's limbs apart and feed them to the warp core. But that's . . ."
Tom interrupted, "Okay, B'Elanna. Before you go off half-cock, let . . ."
"What I'm going to do with Carl is nothing in compare to what I have planned for you! Of all the immature, idiotic . . ."
"WILL YOU PLEASE SHUT THE HELL UP?"
Immobile with shock, B'Elanna stared at the pilot. "What did you just say?" she asked in a deadly whisper. "Did you just tell me to . . ."
"Yes! I told you to shut up and let me explain!" Tom grabbed hold of the engineer's shoulder, surprising her even further. "Now, are you going to let me talk?"
B'Elanna's eyes narrowed dangerously. Tom did not realize it, but he was seconds away from a broken jaw. "Okay, explain."
He took a deep breath. "Like I said, Carl and I had programmed the turbolift to stop her for a good reason." Tom hoped that Baytart would forgive him for this next bit of indiscretion. But if it meant saving him from pain at the hands of an angry, half-Klingon, too bad. "The reason we programmed the lift to stop was to trap Baytart and Sue Nicoletti inside, for a half-hour or so."
A small frown creased B'Elanna's brow. "Wait a minute! Are you saying . . .?"
"Look, this goes no further than you." Tom paused. "Pablo had asked me to help him win over Sue Nicoletti. He's in love with her and it seems he is too shy to approach her, himself." He went on to explain his failed attempts at matchmaking - the dinner party, the Hololab and this latest attempt in the turbolift.
Comprehension hit B'Elanna like a wet rag. "That explains everything," she murmured. "The little talks with Nicoletti and why you were always . . ." B'Elanna glanced up and became aware of the blue eyes staring at her. "Never mind."
"Never mind, what?" Tom demanded. "What were you talking about? What talks with Sue?" He eyed B'Elanna questioningly.
Her mouth hung open. "I . . ." A wave of embarrassment washed over her. Kahless! When will she ever learn to think before she opened her mouth?
Tom's eyes lit up mischievously. He slowly maneuvered B'Elanna against the turbolift's walls. "You were about to say, Lieutenant?" he whispered in suggestive tones. His mouth hovered inches away from hers.
Keep hold of your emotions, Torres. Don't let it overwhelm you. B'Elanna's eyes refused to meet Tom's. Instead, they focused on his square jaw. That delicious piece of flesh that she felt tempted to sink her teeth into. She took a deep breath. Big mistake! Tom's scent, again invaded her senses. With great effort, B'Elanna ignored the scent and replied, "Actually, I meant to offer my help."
"Excuse me?" Tom's brows quirked upward.
B'Elanna continued, "I want to help. I'll have a talk with Sue. Let her know that Baytart is interested in her. And suggest that she go on a date with him."
Tom frowned. "What if she says no? I don't think Sue is in any mood to give Pablo a chance. Especially after what happened at my party and in the Hololab."
"Then he's screwed," B'Elanna replied bluntly. "And I would suggest he search in greener pastures."
A sigh left Tom's mouth. "That's what I've been telling Pablo. Only he can be such a stubborn bastard, sometimes."
"Sounds like someone I know," B'Elanna murmured. She ignored the pilot's pointed stare and tapped her combadge. "Torres to Engineering. How are those repairs coming along?"
Ashmore's voice replied, "We're almost finished, Chief. The turbolift should be back on line . . ." Before he could finish, B'Elanna felt a jolt. The turbolift began to move.
"Never mind, Carl. It's moving. Good work."
"No problem, Chief. Ashmore out."
The turbolift resumed its journey. The two occupants rode in silence. Once it reached Deck Two, the doors slid open and the pair strode out and into the corridor. "Like I said," B'Elanna continued, "I'll have a talk with Sue. And you can convince Baytart to ask her out. Who knows?" They finally reached their destination. "Maybe something will happen between them." She flashed Tom a smile and the two entered the Mess Hall. Dammit! Why did she have to smile at him, like that?
* * * *
"Nicoletti! I need to see you in my office, right away!"
The dark-haired woman warily headed for her superior's office. B'Elanna could see by the set of her shoulders that she would rather keep her distance away from the Chief Engineer.
"Yes, Lieutenant?" Nicoletti answered, once she stepped inside the glass-encased room. "You want something?"
B'Elanna hesitated. She hated getting involved in the affairs of others. On the other hand, she had opened her big mouth and promised Tom to help him with his little matchmaking scheme. "Uh . . . Sue," she began, "have you been noticing something odd, lately?"
"Odd?" Blue eyes stared at B'Elanna with one of those 'what-did-I-do-now?' looks. "What do you mean? What's wrong?"
"Nothing's wrong. I . . ." Again, a hesitation. This felt so embarrassing! Why in the hell did she allow Paris to talk her into this? B'Elanna conveniently forgot that she had volunteered. Dammit! She might as well get this over with now! "Look Sue, have you been encountering Ensign Baytart a lot? Lately?"
Slowly, Nicoletti replied, "Ye-ess-ss." She paused and blinked. Realization lit up her eyes. "Yeah," she added in a soft voice. "I wonder why." B'Elanna told her about Tom's matchmaking efforts. Nicoletti's eyes grew wide with disbelief. "What?"
"All those little encounters with Baytart - the dinner party, the Hololab and the turbolift - had all been engineered by Paris. He's been helping Baytart to get a date with . . ."
Sue angrily cut in. "Get a date with me! So, that's why Paris has been hounding me all week long! And those damn accidents with Baytart! They were all his fault?"
An uneasy feeling grew inside B'Elanna. She wondered if Nicoletti felt disappointed that Baytart was the interested party and not Tom. "Sue, calm down. Neither Tom or Baytart meant any harm."
"Any harm?" The other woman's blue eyes blazed with anger. "How would you like to be the target of some cheap, matchmaking scheme?"
Impatience and her volatile temper finally caught up with B'Elanna. "Kahless, Sue! You act as if Baytart and Tom had played some dirty trick on you! Don't you get it? Baytart is interested in you! He's so infatuated that he risked his pride and asked Tom to help him. You asked if I would like to be the target of someone's matchmaking? A part of me would say no. But another part of me would say . . ." Realizing that she was about to reveal one of her inner feelings, B'Elanna immediately clamped her mouth shut.
Nicoletti stared at the Chief Engineer. "You would say, yes?"
B'Elanna took a deep breath. She had not expected matters to get out of hand, like this. But, Sue deserved an answer. "Yeah," she murmured. "Maybe."
The two women fell silent. Then Sue asked, "Do you really think I should go on a date with Pablo?" For the first time, B'Elanna wondered if she and Sue shared a lot of traits - a tendency to become too involved in work, insecurity and a reserved nature.
"Sure. Why not?" B'Elanna replied, with a shrug. "Unless you're interested in someone else."
A knowing smile curved Nicoletti's lips. "You mean, someone like Tom Paris. Hmm." She paused, as if contemplating a decision. "Well, I have to admit that I wouldn't be the only female on this ship to consider a date with Paris. Of course, what's the point in longing for a man who has eyes for someone else?"
"Who are you talk . . .?" B'Elanna paused, suddenly aware of the mischief in Nicoletti's eyes. She growled, "Never mind!"
"Chief?"
B'Elanna grabbed a PADD from her desk and pretended to be interested in the contents. "If Baytart ever finds the courage to ask you out," she continued, "will you say yes?"
Nicoletti shrugged. "Maybe. We'll see." Which meant, B'Elanna realized, yes.
* * * *
Sheer panic filled Pablo Baytart's eyes. "You told Lieutenant Torres everything?" he cried out. The two pilots stood inside Tom's quarters. The latter had just finished his shift on the Bridge. "Why? I thought this was between the two of us!"
"I had to tell her," Tom insisted. "It was either that or let her beat me to death for causing the turbolift to stop."
Pablo demanded, "What are you talking about? That damn lift didn't even stop! Or have you forgotten?"
Tom sighed. "It did stop, Pablo. Only an hour later than it was suppose to. And I ended up trapped with Torres." He sat down in one of his chairs. Baytart sank onto the sofa. "Once she found out the truth, she offered to help."
"Help?" Baytart frowned. "How?"
Here comes the tricky part, Tom realized. "Well, B'Elanna had volunteered to have a talk with Sue and convince her to go out on a date with you, if you asked. In fact, I believe they've already had their conversation."
"WHAT?" The young pilot's voice vibrated around the cabin.
Tom winced from the cry that rang in his ears. "God, Pablo! Not so loud!"
"Are you . . . do you mean to say that Sue knows everything? She'll never go out with me, now!"
"She won't if you try to avoid her like some ten year-old who's frightened of girls!" Tom retorted. He heaved another sigh. "Look, according to B'Elanna, Sue is willing to have a talk with you. Give you a chance. All you have to do is face her and ask for a date."
Baytart's face expressed uncertainty. "But, what if . . .?"
"Dammit Pablo! You can't hide from her, forever! What do you want me to do? Go on the date for you?"
Apparently, the idea did not appeal to Baytart. "N-n-no," he stammered. He sighed. "I guess not. Maybe I should face her. Do you know where she is at the moment?"
Holding back his glee, Tom shrugged. "Why don't you check with the computer?"
According to the computer, Lieutenant Nicoletti could be found in Engineering. Just as Tom had expected. "Well?" he said to Pablo.
The younger stood up and flashed an uneasy smile. "Well, wish me luck." He squared his shoulders and gave Tom a nod. "Thanks for the advice, Lieutenant. And for helping me find my nerve."
"Good luck, Pablo," Tom replied, before Baytart left his quarters. Once alone, Tom raised his eyes heavenward and allowed himself a heartfelt sigh. "Thank God!" he shouted to know one in particular. Now, he finally had the time to return his attentions to other matters. Namely, a certain chief engineer.
* * * *
FOUR DAYS LATER . . .
"I don't believe it!" Harry declared in a disbelieving tone. "I see it, but I don't believe it! Is that Pablo Baytart with Sue Nicoletti?" He pointed at a couple, sharing a table on the other side of Sandrine's, inside Holodeck One.
Both B'Elanna and Tom glanced at the couple. The former allowed herself a satisfied smile. As she had suggested, Sue accepted Pablo's invitation to a date. She learned from Tom that the pair ended up having dinner together at simulation of a Parisian bistro, created by the Chief Helmsman. Fortunately, the date turned out to be a success.
"I had a great time!" Sue had gushed on the morning, following her first date with the pilot. "The dinner was delicious and the atmosphere, fantastic! Later, Pablo and I took a walk along the Left Bank. Very romantic." Naturally, B'Elanna had not demand any further details.
Tom chuckled over Harry's comments. "Well, they look like Pablo and Sue to me. Make a cute couple, don't they?" His blue eyes danced merrily, sending shivers up B'Elanna's spine.
"Yeah, I guess," Harry said reluctantly. His eyes returned to Tom's face. "What are you grinning about? You look like the cat who just swallowed a canary." Suspicion gleamed in his dark eyes. "Say, did you have anything to do with . . .?"
Laughter poured out of Tom's mouth. "Boy, Harry! You do catch on 'fast', don't you?" Harry's face turned red. "As a matter of fact, I had everything to do with them being together."
B'Elanna arched an eyebrow and stared at Tom. "Excuse me, Flyboy," she said caustically. "Only YOU were responsible?"
Embarrassment quickly replaced Tom's triumphant expression. "Sorry. I meant us. I managed to convince Pablo to get over his shyness and ask Sue for a date. And B'Elanna had convinced her to give him a chance." He went on to explain the entire situation to Harry.
The Ops officer shook his head after Tom finished. "The pilot and the engineer. Who would have believed it?" His remark caused B'Elanna to nearly choke on her drink. Both Harry and Tom stared at her with concerned eyes. "Are you okay, Maquis?"
"I'm fine," a slightly hoarse B'Elanna replied. "My scotch went down the wrong way."
Harry again, contemplated the two newly formed lovebirds. "So Tom, you were helping Baytart set up a date with Sue? That explains all those lunches and dates with Sue in the Hololab. And to think, B'Elanna thought . . ."
The moment he spoke her name, B'Elanna knew what Harry was about to say. She panicked and gave him a swift kick in the shin. Followed by a menacing stare that expressly ordered him to shut up. The younger man winced in pain. But B'Elanna also achieved her goal. Harry quickly clamped his mouth shut.
Tom glanced at his friends with barely concealed amusement. "Are you okay, Harry?"
"Fine," the Ops officer muttered. "Just a muscle twinge in the calf."
Feign innocence lit up Tom's eyes. "Oh. I see. By the way, you also mentioned B'Elanna. What exactly were you about to say?" A smile threatened to quirk his lips.
He knew! Embarrassment filled B'Elanna's guts. The teasing bastard had obviously guessed what Harry nearly revealed. Dammit! She had to get out of here. In order to make her escape, B'Elanna rose from her chair. "I just remembered. I have an Engineering report to finish," she gushed. "I'll see you two, later."
Tom stood up. "Okay. I'll walk you home."
"I don't need an escort, Paris!" B'Elanna retorted. Couldn't the man take a hint? "I'm a big girl now."
An appreciative smile curled Tom's lips. "All the more reason to walk you back to your quarters."
B'Elanna speared the pilot with her deadliest glare. His smile grew wider. She sighed in defeat. "All right, you can follow me."
"Have fun you two," Harry added. His eyes danced with glee. Both B'Elanna and Tom glared at him, but he ignored their stares and continued drinking.
Once they left Holodeck One, Tom did not follow B'Elanna to Deck Nine. Instead, the pair strolled together, side-by-side, without touching each other. B'Elanna made sure of that. They finally reached her quarters. She punched in the codes to her room and turned to face the pilot. "Well, here we are. Thanks for the uh, escort." The doors slid open.
To her horror, Tom did not walk away. Instead, he brought up an embarrassing subject she long thought dead. "What exactly did you think about Sue and me?"
B'Elanna's eyes grew wide. "What?"
"Harry mentioned something about why I was having all those lunches with Sue. Then he said that you thought . . . before everything went blank and he suddenly developed a 'muscle cramp'." A smirk touched Tom's lips.
Again, B'Elanna's breathing became irregular. "Nothing," she quickly replied. "It was nothing. I . . ." Her mouth hung open.
Tom leaned closer, his mouth less than a millimeter from hers. "You what?" he whispered. The soft timbre of his voice sent waves of heat throughout B'Elanna's body.
Dark brown eyes met blue ones. B'Elanna found her resistance to the handsome pilot slipping away. 'Kiss him' her mind barked. 'Just lean forward and press your mouth against those soft, firm . . .' Voices in the corridor broke B'Elanna out of her trance. She snapped back, growled a quick "good night" and immediately slipped inside her quarters.
Once the doors slid shut, the Chief Engineer leaned against them and sighed. Her body still shook from the memory of her close call with Tom. She felt relieved that she had escaped from becoming Tom Paris's next conquest. Yet, she could not forget the disappointment that flashed in his blue eyes. Or ignore that same disappointment that refused to leave her heart.
THE END
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