Chapter Three-Stranded

B'Elanna Torres woke to the sound of fire crackling, and the smell of boiled plants. She opened her eyes to see Tom stirring something in a small black pot. She sat up and sniffed the air.

"I didn't know you could cook," she said, looking in the pot.

Tom looked at her and smiled slightly, "There's a lot of things about me you don't know."

"Like what?" B'Elanna asked innocently.

The pilot shook his head, and continued stirring the leaves. He didn't see the upset expression on her face.

He's closing himself off again, B'Elanna thought angrily. Fine, if that's how he wants to play it.

She watched as he spooned some of the soup into a bowl. Tom handed it to her as well as a ration bar.

B'Elanna ate the soup quietly. She watched him eat as she pondered why he wouldn't answer her question. She came up with some good ideas; from thinking she didn't want hear it to the idea that she'd think less of him.

Maybe it's best, she thought, but she shook her head. He'd tell her sooner or later.
~~
Chakotay piloted the shuttle Chamberlain through the inky blackness of space. Captain Kathryn Janeway was in the co-pilot's seat while Ensign Harry Kim took inventory in the back of the shuttle. They had managed to get some supplies before they evacuated Voyager. Most of it was medical supplies and food. Finally, Kim went to the front of the shuttle.

"Well, we have plenty of leola root to last us a month," the ensign reported, noticing the looks the two made, "We also have two medical kits, complete; five ration bars, and six water containers."

The two nodded and Janeway thanked him. Kim sat back down at the tatical sation of the shuttle, and began to scan the area for anything; planets, alien ships, escape pods, other shuttles. Anything.

I wonder if Tom and B'Elanna are out there, Kim though as he read the negative results, I wonder where they are.

Chakotay was also thinking of his friends, but mostly B'Elanna. He was worried that the half-Klingon was out there on her own; alone in an escape pod or shuttle. Unlike, Harry, the commander expressed his concerns.

"I wonder if B'Elanna made it out all right."

Janeway looked at him. She understood his concerns. She was having plenty herself. She offered him a small smile, "I'm sure, she's all right, Commander. She is very resourceful and can handle herself. She also might not be alone. Someone is more than likely with her."

Harry piped up at the wrong time, "Tom might be with her."

Janeway saw the Commander's eyes darken and wished Harry had kept his mouth shut. She knew of Chakotay's dislike of the young pilot, and was not afraid to voice his opinions about Tom.

"If they are together," Janeway tried to soothe, "I'm sure Tom is taking care of her."

She winced when she realized how that might have come across. She looked at him, and was relieved to see him relax.

"He has taken care of her before," Chakotay admitted, "I've noticed that he cares about her; about all of us. B'Elanna might believe she doesn't need to be protected, but she does. She can be so vunlerable at times. She will need someone to confide in, like she did me. I hope she let's Paris take care of her."

Janeway smiled. She knew he was more concerned about the well being of B'Elanna, but hearing him say that he accepted Tom protecting her told the captain a lot. It told her Chakotay trusted Tom at least as far as protecting B'Elanna.

Someday, Chakotay, Janeway thought, You'll trust him completely with B'Elanna.
~~
Tom and B'Elanna walked into the forest, phasers in hand. They kept their ears and eyes opened for any sound that alerted them to nearby prey. They didn't know what they would find, though they hoped it would be edible.

Suddenly, B'Elanna heard a twig crack to her right. She stopped, grabbing Tom's arm to stop him. He looked at her, and she put her finger to her lips, then pointed toward the bushes. He nodded and the two headed in that direction.

They had only gone a few feet when they heard a growl coming from in front of them. They froze and listened intently. The growl came again, followed by more twigs snapping. Tom lowered to his knees and B'Elanna followed suit. The two waited; listening for any sounds. They were soon rewarded with a roar and a furry creature flying over their heads. The two leaped to their feet, and turned to face a strange creature standing before them.

"What is that?" B'Elanna asked, staring at it.

Tom didn't answer. It stood three feet tall at the shoulder, and was covered in grey-brown fur. It's beady black eyes glared at them as it beared its fangs.

"I guess it's dinner," Tom finally answered.

The creature growled and scratched the ground as if it was ready to charge them. Tom aimed his phaser at it. At that, the creature leaped at them, but B'Elanna fired her weapon, and the animal fell at Tom's feet. He stared at it, stunned.

"Didn't they tell you to never hesitate?" B'Elanna asked, humorously.

Tom nodded, still shocked. The animal had reacted faster than he had exprected. He shook the surprise away, and looked at B'Elanna.

"Help me carry it back to the pod," he said as he bent down to pick up the creature.

The two carried it all the way back to the clearing and the pod. It was late afternoon and they were hungry. They wasted no time in skinning it and cutting up the pieces. They dried some of it for later, and boiled the rest.

The taste was definitely different. It had a light sweet flavor that reminded Tom of veal. Along with the dried plants, the two had a nice dinner.

"That is the best meal I had ever had," B'Elanna said,several minutes later, "Where'd you learn to cook?"

Tom smiled around his food. He swallowed then answered, "My mother. Sometimes, she would treat us to a real home cooked meal. I would watch her cook, and when I was older, she let me help. She even let me cook a couple meals."

B'Elanna smiled. He was slowly opening up to her. Her smile faded when she realized that she would have to open up to him as well. That's how it went with these kind of conversations.

"I didn't learn to cook. I never thought about it really."

There, she thought,that's all I'm telling you. For now.

Tom stared at her. He knew she didn't like to talk about her mother. He then looked at his plate when he realized how familiar that sounded.

Two peas in a pod, he thought. He then smiled slightly when he realized they where just in a pod.

"I think it's time to get off this rock," Tom said, finishing his meal.

B'Elanna couldn't agree more. She helped him gather their things, and the food. They piled them into the pod then climbed into it. They sat down and Tom powered up the pod. Just then, the lights in the pod went out. The two stared at the consoles, confused.

"Oh, wonderful," Tom said as he tried again.

"I think pods weren't meant to launch after they land," B'Elanna mentioned as the pod refused to compy to Tom's commands.

Tom slapped the console and tried again. He began to curse, and B'Elanna was reminded of herself when a console wouldn't work for her. She smiled inwardly as she tried her engineering skills.

After an hour, and many failed tries to get the pod to work, the two gave up. They looked at each other, both mentally exhausted.

"We're stuck," Tom said, rubbing his temples.

B'Elanna wasn't about to give up, "We can send a distress signal."

Tom looked at her, "What if thoe Jharen pick it up?"

"It's better than nothing, Tom. We have to try."

Too tired to argue with her, he let her send a signal. He just hoped one of Voyager's crew would pick it up before the aliens did.

B'Elanna finished the message and sent it. She looked over at Tom, who was already asleep. She smiled and went to get the blankets she had grabbed from her quarters. She draped one over Tom's sleeping form then sat down in the other chair and covered herself with her blanket. She looked at him for a while. He always seemed so innocent when he was asleep. She remembered a couple times, she went into Sickbay, and saw him on one of the biobeds. He looked so peaceful and angelic that she almost forgot what a rogue he was. She had to laugh now at her previous thoughts she had about him. She still wasn't sure about him, but she knew that he would take care of her whether she liked it or not.

B'Elanna finally fell asleep as the first stars of the night dotted the sky.

On to Part Three
Back to Paris, Voyager
Return to Fanfic Page