NEW: (VOY, "New Life" Series) "Turbulent Inception" 3/11 (J/P) [PG]
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Author: George Padovan
Series: Voyager, "New Life"
Part: 3/11
Rating: PG
Codes: J/P, K/T, C
Summary: As Janeway and Paris' relationship progress, not all the crew accepts
them as a couple.
--------------------------------------
Disclaimers: Same as part 1.
This part is rated PG.
Voyager: New Life
Turbulent Inception (3/11)
By George Padovan
The Mess Hall was busy and near full with people since it was
lunchtime. Crewmembers sat at tables as they ate and talked
about the latest rumors and gossip going about Voyager.
Gossip was about Paris' date with the Captain last night on
Holodeck 3. Nobody knew for certain what the couple did, but rumors were
flying around every which way on what they did.
As the diners gossiped, some were glancing over to the far corner
table, where the very blonde Helmboy, who they were gossiping about, was
eating lunch. With him were his best friends, Ensign Harry Kim and Lt.
B'Elanna Torres, who the gossip mill had virtually abandoned since the
Janeway/Paris relationship had started.
At the moment, Lt. Paris was ignoring the glances being tossed his
way with an air of professionalism and indifference which didn't show
anything of his true feelings. The `Paris Mask' has been known to
everyone ever since he had came aboard, but only his closest friends who
knew him could breach the mask sometimes.
Harry and B'Elanna could tell that Tom's mask was complete this
time for not even his light-blue eyes provided any hint of what he was
thinking. They were as curious about his relationship with Janeway as
everyone was and thought the Chief Conn Officer would share details about
his dates easily to them. But the opposite had been the case, as Paris,
much to their surprise, wouldn't budge much on the subject, just telling
them that everything was all right and there was nothing for them to be
concerned about.
Tom thought his friends would accept his answers and just leave
him alone since he would like to keep anything about his new-found
relationship private. His refusal to tell Kim and Torres just made them
more curious and persistent than ever.
"Tom?" B'Elanna began awhile after the three of them had talked
about meeting together at Sandrine's tonight after the shift. "I just
don't understand how you could be so calm about what the onboard gossips
are saying about your off-duty relationship with the Captain. Are you
even a bit concerned about it? I mean if you tell everyone the truth
about what the two of you are doing, it'll quench much of the false
stories and set the record straight about the two of you."
She and Harry had heard the rumors presently circulating that Tom
and the Captain had engaged in something `wet & wild' last night since the
pair had been spotted with tousled damped hair wearing clothing that
seemed to hide swimwear underneath.
Some said the holoprogram the couple used had a hot tub where the
Captain and Paris engaged in some *hot* activity. After all, everyone
knew, ever since New Earth, how much Janeway liked taking baths.
Others said they were swimming in fun competition. Both were
excellent swimmers according to the personnel records, plus the fact
each was spotted, once in awhile, at the gym's pool working out by
swimming. It made sense if Janeway and Paris did something both enjoyed
in common.
After swallowing his food, Tom tapped his chin in mock
concentration before answering Torres' question. "Me concerned?" He
stabbed another fork of food. "Not particularly."
Harry couldn't believe it as he watched his friend ate. "I
don't believe you. You should be concerned about it. For God's
sake, Tom, the *entire* ship is talking about you and the Captain."
Talking about ideas and stuff that made the rumors about last
night's date seem tame. Some went way over the hill with ideas that
Janeway had been seducing the men of the Senior Staff over the past three
years. They believed she had already went through Chakotay, Tuvok, Kim,
and even the Doctor, which had some laughing about holographic lovers, so
she had decided to start seducing Paris recently to add him to her list of
conquests.
Of course, the same gossipers believed it could be possible the
other way around - that Paris was seducing Janeway to be added to his
list of conquests.
Tom smirked and acted bit amused. "Really? Why should I be
concerned? It's between Kathryn and I during our off-duty time. We're
not allowing it to interfere with our on-duty relationship any more
than you two."
Voyager's Operations Chief was chastened but not the Chief
Engineer as she leaned over the table to the helmsman to set things
straight with him. Gossiping may be fun but could also lead to dangerous
emotional situations.
The whole 'Janeway seduction' rumor had been easily tossed out the
airlock, since Janeway wasn't the type to do such a thing. However the
gossip mill was still thinking that the helmsman was a highly possible
playboy. The few women like Megan Delaney and Patterson, who had gone out
with Paris, stated that he had never advanced further than kissing despite
their willingness to find out about Paris' lovemaking skills. Even with
these facts, the "Paris Playboy - Ladies' Man" rumor kept some thinking
that Thomas Paris would never settle down for the rest of his life.
"Why?" Torres began. "Because the crew will accuse the Captain of
`favoritism' toward you due to the relationship. If the crew loose faith
in you as a member of the Senior Staff, they'll loose faith in the Captain
as well since she's *your* girlfriend. Plus some people are questioning
whether the Captain could give you orders that could prove *fatal* now
she's intimate with you.
"Not only that, the 'Paris Playboy' rumor is still in circulation.
If you're serious about your relationship, Tom, it's best to quench that
rumor once and for all.
"Does it ever occur to you to be concerned, not just for your sake,
but for *Kathryn's* as well?"
Tom blinked at her since this was the first time he had ever heard
B'Elanna referred to Janeway by first name.
Gazing down, he placed down his fork before he gave a small nervous
chuckle. Then with a sigh he glanced back up at his friends with a
serious face. "Look, I understand about what the gossip mill has been
circulating about *our* relationship and even me, it just happens that
Kathryn and I agreed that it really is nobody's concern unless it
interferes with our duties. I admit that I'm a bit concerned for her, but
she's strong enough to handle things herself regarding the gossip mill and
giving me orders on-duty. There's no way she'll be giving me `favoritism'
so that idea is spaced.
"As for losing faith with the crew, I leave that to the individual
to decide whether he or she approves of me or not. I was not concerned
about it when I first came onboard and I'm not worried about it now."
Then suddenly Tom changed the subject with an arched eyebrow and a
touch of scorn. "If you think I should be looking for people's opinion on
my relationship, I'll start now. What you two *think* of my relationship
with Kathryn? Like, don't like? Believe I'm not good enough for her?
Believe I'm nothing but a gigolo for the rest of my life?" He narrowed
his eyes and mentally prepared for any negative answers.
Harry and B'Elanna was surprised by the questions and Tom's
sudden change of mood, but they weren't going to allow their friend to
think they didn't care.
"Tom," Harry began with a calm and friendly voice, "B'Elanna and I
don't think you're shallow or the kind of person to take advantage of the
Captain. You're a good man and we know how much you respect and admire
her. Don't ever think we think you're anything less."
B'Elanna took up the charge. "If you want to know, we're rooting
for you two. We were surprised that she started dating you, since we were
expecting her to get together with Chakotay. However, since we can see
how much you two feel for each other, we want you two to be happy." Then
she gave a slight grin. "Matter of fact, according to Tuvok, the
Captain's and your performance on duty has been improving over the past
month. You and Kathryn are good for each other." She reached over and
squeezed Tom's hand. "Harry and I approve and *support* your relationship
with Kathryn."
Releasing a small sigh, Tom relaxed considerably knowing his best
friends were on his and Kathryn's side regarding their intimate
relationship. He gave a wavering smile at them. "Thanks. It's good to
know you two support us. Kathryn and I would like very much if the rest
of the Senior Staff approve of our dating each other, despite the fact
it's our private life and don't really matter if the crew disapprove or
not. It would make things feel much better knowing the `family' is behind
us."
Then Voyager's chief pilot shrugged. "But as I mentioned before,
we're not concerned about the crew's opinions about our ability to do our
duties. We're reserving our relationship for off-duty time, and despite
being a bit hard not to think about each other when we're together on the
Bridge, we're going to remain professional toward each other on-duty and
not allow our *personal* relationship to interfere with our on-duty
relationship."
Paris finished his lunch before rising from his seat. "Thanks for
the support, guys," he grinned. "I'll see you on the Bridge in awhile,
Harry, and I'll see *both* of you at Sandrine's tonight. `Bye."
After he left, everyone who had heard the conversation began talking
and murmuring on what they had heard.
B'Elanna stared after Tom with amazement. Chuckling, Harry tapped
her shoulder to bring her out of her reverie. "Your mouth was gapping
open," Harry pointed out amusingly.
The Chief Engineer smirked at him and shook her head. "I'm
amazed at how much Tom has changed in a month." She turned back to the
hall's doors, which Tom departed from. "I mean it's true that he changed
a lot over the past three years and slowly shed that `mask' of his, but I
*never* heard him so definite about being `professional' while on-duty.
He has changed a lot."
Kim smiled for he agreed with her but he had an idea *why* Tom has
changed. "The Captain and Tom, along with many others, said the same
thing about us after we professed our love last year. They stated we had
changed dramatically."
Blinking, Torres turned to him. "Are you saying that Tom and the
Captain are...?" She left it hanging.
Harry shrugged with a small smile. "It's possible."
"But they've been dating for *only* a month and a half now." B'Elanna
was in disbelief things could have progressed that fast.
Again Kim shrugged. "They've been *dating* for a month and a half
but they've known each other for *three* years. Plus they *knew* of each
other through Tom's father long before meeting at the Auckland Prison.
"Besides, we never really dated each other before Sakari, and
we've fallen in love afterward anyway, so I'm not surprised if Tom has
already *fallen* in love with the Captain by now. He certainly looks
like he's in it."
B'Elanna's face softened as a small warm smile came to her.
"Love does have a tendency to change people for the better, does it?"
Harry gave a warm happy sigh as he stared, with an aching heart,
into the dark chocolate eyes of the woman he loved. "It *certainly*
does," he whispered before reaching down to lock lips together, not
caring at that moment about `Public Displays of Affection' protocols.
As the two lovebirds kissed in front of not-surprised diners, who
knew how strongly Kim and Torres loved each other, the same diners were
taking in Kim's theory about the possibility of Paris being in love with
Janeway. The gossip mill ground on with the new `juicy' tidbit about the
Janeway/Paris relationship.
***************** =/\= *****************
End of part 3
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