A Past Long Forgotten Part 3

“Admiral Gerhart.” Captain Jenkins greeted. “What can I do for you?”

The older man maintained a stern expression. “Captain, I need you to do some things for me. First, I need you to intercept any and all transmissions to and from Voyager. And I need you to gather all, personal logs included, log entries from Voyager’s crew and get them to me as soon as possible.”

“Admiral...?” Jenkins asked, eyebrows raised.

“No questions Captain. You have your orders. Gerhart out.” The screen returned to the United Federation of Planets symbol and Laura sat back in her chair.

After a couple of seconds, she tapped her commbadge. “Jenkins to the bridge.”

=/\=Mitchell here captain, what do you need?=/\=

“Please hail Voyager and let Captain Janeway know that I need to speak with her as soon as possible.”

=/\=Will do captain. Mitchell out.=/\=

***

Tom Paris walked onto the bridge of the Shakespeare, already back in his uniform. He acknowledged the crew members and headed toward Laura’s ready room. He hit the button outside the door and waited.

“Come in.” Jenkins sighed. Tom sighed too as he remembered hearing her speak for the first time all those years ago at the Academy. She sounded exactly the same.

She looked up as the door opened, then back down at the padd she was studying when she realized who it was. “What can I do for you Ensign?” She asked monotonely.

Tom approached her desk. “Captain...Laura...we need to talk.”

“I have nothing to say to you ensign.” She answered, not looking up.

He took a deep breath, realizing this was getting him no where. “Then just listen to me.” He shot out. His voice softened. “Permission to speak freely captain?”

She sighed, something she seemed to do a lot of lately. “Permission granted.”

“Stop doing this to me Laura. Shutting me out. It’s been five years!” He started. “The least you could do is address me as a friend.”

“A friend who I loved dearly, but who walked out on me when I needed him the most?” She retorted, not looking up at him, and knowing the comment had a double meaning.

He paused. “That hurt Laura. You’ve changed.”

She finally gave up on the padd in front of her and looked at him. “It’s been five years Tom. Of course I’ve changed. And you’ve changed. I don’t know if it was for the better either...”

He gasped. “Damnit! I spent four years with you and a fifth engaged to you. And you were too afraid of intimacy.” He rose his voice. “You obviously got over that fear once I was gone.”

Laura’s face filled with anger and she jumped to her feet. “Thomas Eugene how dare you!” She gasped. “You know perfectly well that the only man I ever slept with was you.” He gave her a puzzled look and she threw up her hands in defeat. “I was the one that was wasted Tom, not you. You only had a few drinks and God knows you can hold your liquor.”

He stared at her, a wave of memories flooding over him. “What...?”

“February 4th, right before we left for our first postings. We were celebrating at your parents house and snuck down to the boathouse. I spent half the night in the bathroom and I can tell you it wasn’t exactly how I anticipated doing it for the first time.” Tears ran down her cheeks and she sobbed. “I was so scared Tom. Once I found out. I decided that I should tell you in person instead of over the comm. Then when you came to pick us up, there was the accident and you just left. Practically no good-byes, nothing.” She glared at him angrily. “I still haven’t forgiven you.”

Tom looked at her, shock and realization written across his face. “Oh my god...I didn’t think anything happened that night. I woke up and you were in the bathroom and I didn’t think you and I...Laura...” He started to put his arms around her, but she pushed him away.

“Don’t touch me!” She held her hand up to her head an cried, letting out everything she had been holding in for years.

“Casie...she’s my daughter, isn’t she?” Tom whispered. Laura wiped her face and took deep breaths, nodding. He closed his eyes and thought hard. “Laura, baby...please...” He caught her hand in his. She looked up at him and silently pleaded for him not to come closer. But he did. By that time, he had both of her hands in his and his face was inches from hers. A tear fell down her cheek and she bit her bottom lip. Tom inched even closer and his lips brushed hers softly. She gave in, relishing in the feel of him against her again. It had been so long since he had done this. So long since she had felt this. It was then that her rational and realistic side kicked in.

She placed her hands firmly on his chest and pushed him away. “Tom, don’t do this. You have B’Elanna.”

He sighed and looked at her, knowing she was right. She always was. “What about Casie?”

“She doesn’t have to know.” Laura insisted. “It would be better that way...Tom please.” She abruptly turned away from him and headed back behind her desk. “This discussion is over. You may leave ensign.”

She was all captain again. “No.” He said plainly.

“That wasn’t an offer.”

He shook his head.

“I outrank you Tom.” Laura ordered, immediately stiffening. Before Tom could respond, the door chimed. “Come in.” Laura barked.

Captain Janeway walked in and felt the tension between the two officers. “Is there a problem Captain?”

***

B’Elanna sat on the couch and waited for Heather to put Casie in bed. She spotted some framed photos on the dresser. Her curiosity sparked and she headed over to them. They weren’t holo-images, but instead were old-fashioned pictures that had probably been taken with a camera and film.

The first was of Captain Jenkins and an unfamiliar young woman with light brown shoulder-length hair. The next was of a whole group of people. One she recognized as Tessa Curtis, her roommate at the Academy. Tessa was sitting on one side of a couch. Next to her was a young man with dark hair and green eyes. And on his other side was Doctor Kasct. Commander Whitney and the same girl as was in the previous photo were leaning up on their elbows in front of the couch. A woman with long black hair was standing behind the couch next to Tom. They all looked very happy and B’Elanna figured that Jenkins had been the one taking the picture.

She moved onto the next one. It was another of the captain, this time dressed in full English garb and atop a tall brown horse. A smaller picture in front of it was that of an older gentleman, an admiral whom B’Elanna thought looked very familiar, with Casie rested on his shoulders. The last was of Tom and Laura. B’Elanna gasped. Laura was wearing a sky blue evening gown; the color matching Tom’s eyes, with spaghetti straps and a flowing skirt. Tom was in a tuxedo. His arms were around her waist and her hands rested upon his. Both were smiling brightly. And B’Elanna caught a glimpse of a diamond ring sparkle on the captain’s finger.

“She’s asleep.” Heather whispered, causing B’Elanna to jump slightly.

She nodded. “That’s good.”

Heather walked up behind the engineer and looked at Laura’s pictures. She pointed to the group one. “That’s all of us.” She stated the obvious. “Except for Laura.” She pointed to each person. “You know Tessa.” B’Elanna nodded. “That’s Mike Cavit, Tom’s best friend. He died at Caldik Prime. All Tom did was blame himself.” She paused for just a second. “You know Learra. That’s Aria Nikko. She’s been posted on the Liberty for the past six months. And that’s Shelly Anderson, mine and Laura’s best friend.” She laughed to herself. “If I remember correctly, this was taken at Tom’s parent’s house, just before we all left for our postings. It was right before we got into a huge foodfight.”

The engineer chuckled. “I guess you guys had a good time.”

“The best.” Heather added softly. “At that time, we didn’t think anything could ever change. But, not even three months later, everything was changed in a matter of five seconds.”

Torres waited for an explanation.

Whitney hesitated. “It’s a really long story B’Elanna.”

She looked at the blonde expectantly. “Please Heather, I would really like to know what’s been going on. Tom’s been so distant lately and everyone’s been keeping something from me. I’m tired of it and I would like to be informed of it.” Her voice became harsh and her tone hard and cold.

Heather took a deep breath. “Listen B’Elanna...I don’t think that I should be the one telling you this. Tom should be.”

Torres glared at the half-Betazoid. “No. I’m not going to get anything out of him. I need you to tell me.”

Whitney pointed to the picture of Tom and Laura. “This was taken during the end of our senior year, at a party thrown by the Paris’. It was in honor of Tom and Laura’s engagement.” She watched as the half-Klingon’s face twisted in thought. “They had dated on and off since we were all freshmen. Something always seemed to break them up. Tom got jealous over the littlest things. They never made any sense. After a huge fight during our junior year, he took her on a month long vacation all over Earth, despite her objections. Towards the end of the trip, he proposed to her.” Heather sighed in remembrance. “I’d never seen either of them so happy.” She chuckled, looking at B’Elanna, who had remained silent. “They held off the wedding until about a year after we graduated. Laura was posted at Caldik Prime, along with Learra. Myself and Shelly had just gone on shore leave and we were heading to Earth for the wedding. Tom and Mike were taking a shuttle to Caldik Prime to pick up Laura and Learra.” She took a deep breath. “About a day after they were supposed to arrive at Caldik Prime, Shelly and I received a message that told us that Mike and two other officers, including my fiancée Justin, were dead and that Tom was responsible.” A tear fell down her cheek. “He and Laura pushed back the wedding for a month, but it never happened. He became overcome with guilt and walked out on her. She was devastated and we didn’t hear from him again until I received a letter from the Delta Quadrant.”

She looked at the engineer. B’Elanna’s expressions were unreadable. She was still silent. “Thank you Heather.” She stood up and left the room.

Commander Whitney fell back onto her captain’s couch and buried her face in her hands, letting the tears flow freely now.

End Part 3. Go to Part 4.