Part Six-Anger

B'Elanna Torres slowly woke to find Tom Paris sleeping next to her. She rose to a sitting position in surprise. She looked around to see that they had ended up on the floor wrapped in the bed covers. She looked back at Paris' sleeping form. She reached out, and brushed some blonde hair off his forehead. He stirred, but didn't open his eyes. She touched his cheek where she had bitten him, and a twinge of excitement over came her. He was hers.
Of course, I'm his as well, she thought, smiling.
She touched the bite mark on her cheek and she sighed happily. She then bent down and kissed Paris on the forehead.
Paris slowly opened his eyes to see Torres hovering over him. Her eyes were dancing impishly and he smiled.
"Morning," he whispered dreamily.
Torres smiled, "Morning, Tom. The floor was quite comfortable."
"Floor?" Paris asked. He answered his own question by looking around the room. He looked over to his right and saw the bed. He stared back at Torres, who was still smiling.
"Think anyone heard?" She asked, teasingly.
"No," Paris said as he sat up, wrapping his arms around her, "or they would have been banging on the door last night."
He kissed her as she wrapped her arms around him. Torres gently pushed him back down on the floor, and stradled him. She ran her hands over his chest as she kissed his chest. Paris closed his eyes and let the sensation take over. Suddenly, there was a knock on the door. They stared at each other, stunned.
"Tom?" Chakotay's voice came to their ears, "Get up. Janeway wants to meet with all of us in the dining area."
"Be right there," Paris called back.
Torres sat up, gathering most of the blankets around her. She ran a hand through her dark hair as she cast a worried look at Paris.
He smiled, "Don't worry about it, B'Elanna."
He gathered their clothes, tossing Torres' to her. She went into a smaller room as Paris watched her. When she shut the door, he got dressed.
Torres came out of the room just as Paris was tying on his cloak. He looked at her and smiled. She walked up to him and stared into his eyes.
"To my people, we are mates," she mentioned, placing her hands on his chest, "We have bonded. We belong to each other for as long as we live."
Paris smiled brightly as he wrapped his arms around her. His eyes sparkled like the stars as he spoke, "I'd love to be your mate for life, B'Elanna."
"Good," Torres said, "I'd hate to have to kill you if you said no."
Paris laughed then kissed her. She touched his face as she returned the kiss.
The two parted then left the room to join the others.
"Now that you two have finally decided to join us, we can begin," Chakotay said as Paris and Torres sat down at the table.
The ranger then looked at lady Janeway and nodded.
"There are some men among Danion's guards that might be willing to betray him and help us stop him."
"Danion?" Paris asked ,"Is that who Tuvok suspected of taking over your castle?"
Janeway nodded, "I want my castle and my people back. He won't stop with just my castle. Right now, he could be planning his conquests."
"So, we sneak back into the castle?"
"They probably put up guards to watch that corridor," Chakotay mentioned.
"It is the only way to get into the castle unseen," Tuvok reminded, "We will use the secret door again."
The group ordered their breakfast and continued to discuss their plans to stop Danion. The first person Janeway knew they could convinse was Danion's Second-in-Command Nyle. If they could convinse him then he could rally the other guards to switch loyaties back to Janeway.
"I should be the one to talk to Nyle," Janeway said, "He might believe the plans if they came from me."
"I suggest we start out this evening," Tuvok suggested, "Nyle retires to his room at night. That's when Janeway should be able to talk to him alone."
Janeway nodded in agreement, "Danion usually has someone watching those that he believes might betray him. Though, he can't have them watched all the time."
Later, the group seperated and took in the sights of Darkiston. The weather was calm and the sun shone high in the sky. The merchants were out selling anything and everything.
Tuvok and Janeway stopped at a merchant, who was selling herbs. The wizard was running low on some healing herbs, so he decided to restock on some.
Chakotay was not really seeing the sights as he wondered the streets. He needed time alone to think. He had noticed that Paris was getting more interested in the warrior woman. He had seen the rogue's eyes constantly roam toward her. He had even seen them sparkle when she talked to Paris or look at him.
Last night, when he was heading for his room after talking to Janeway and Tuvok, he had heard something hitting the floor when he passed by Paris' room. He was about to knock on the door to ask if he was all right when he heard another sound coming from the room. He had stared at the door in shock as he listened to the sounds of escasty coming from behind the door.
Damn woman, Chakotay had thought then and thought now, He's going to screw up and she'll kill him. I have to talk to him. Convince him... He stopped walking and shook his head. No. She has him now. She'd kill him if he even thinks about leaving. Damn it! I warned him about her! Why doesn't he listen?!
Chakotay continued walking. He had to come up with something to convince Paris to forget about Torres. Something that didn't end up with her killing him. To his disappointment, not many ideas came to mind.
B'Elanna had bought herself another dagger from a nearby shop. She now headed back to the inn. She didn't really care to explore the town. She was more of a nature person and tried to stay away from towns. Of course, on days like today, she would venture into a town to stay at an inn. She was also heading back to the inn cause it was getting colder, and she dispised the cold.
She entered the lobby and headed up to her room. She stopped at the door to Paris' room. She noticed that he had went back up to his room when the group left the inn. She smiled, for she believed what happened last night must have taken more out of him than he led on. She quietly rapped on the door.
"Who's there?" His sleepy voice floated to her ears.
"It's B'Elanna," she answered, "May I come in?"
The door opened as she said "in". She stared at him, a little surprised by his quick response. She regained herself and smiled.
Paris stepped aside to let her in. He closed the door as Torres made her way to sit on the bed. She sat down and looked at him. He smiled and sat down beside her.
"How was Darkiston?" He asked, staring at her dark hair. He almost didn't hear her answer as he imagined himself running his hands through the silky tresses.
"I don't care much for towns, Tom," she answered, bringing him out of his thoughts, "I went to a shop and bought a dagger."
Tom's eyes lit up, "Really? Let me see."
B'Elanna stared at him. She saw delight in his eyes, and she gave in to him. She smiled and drew the dagger from its sheath. She heard him gasp in surprise at the large weapon.
"Beautiful, isn't it?" She asked, seeing the awe in his eyes.
The blade was made from dwarven metal, the strongest on the continent. The hilt was a deep red color and carved to resemble dragon scales. The blade itself was curved as if it was the tooth of a dragon.
"It's gorgeous," Paris breathed, "I've never seen anything like it. Not even in the richest lord's house."
Torres smiled as she sheathed the dagger. She then looked back at him. He was still in amazement at the rare weapon. She knew, though what could bring him back to reality. She took his face in her hands, turned him to face her, and kissed him on the lips. Almost at once, he returned her kis, and wrapped his arms around her. He gently leaned forward, causing her to fall back onto the bed. He then kissed a trail from her cheek to her collarbone. She growled softly as she ran her hands through his hair.
Torres suddenly rolled him over onto his back. She began nibbling on his neck as she slowly untied his cloak. She stared into his eyes as he untied her cloak. She let it slip off behind her as she bent down to kiss him passionatly.
Paris ran his hands through her dark hair as she ran her hands under his tunic.
"Damn!" He gasped, "You're hands are freezing!"
B'Elanna started to laugh, "That's why I put them under your tunic."
She laughed harder and Paris joined in a moment later. After awhile, Torres bent down and kissed him again. She growled in his ear as she slipped his tunic up his body and over his head. She tossed the shirt across the room where it landed under the window. Paris wrapped his arms around her, and brought her closer to him. She began kissing his chest, causing him to sigh with pleasure.
Chakotay walked into the inn with the idea that he was just going to tell Paris to leave Torres alone. He noticed that Paris didn't leave the inn when the rest of them did, so he knew the rogue would be in his room. He went up the stairs and stopped at Tom's door. His hand stopped two inches from the door as he heard sounds coming from the room.
Not this time! Chakotay thought angrily as he rapped on the door.
The two sat up and stared at the door, startled.
"This is starting to get annoying," Paris grumbled.
Torres smiled as Paris asked who was at the door. Her face changed to one of fear when they learned it was Chakotay.
"Great," Paris said, leaning over and grabbing his pants off the floor, and quickly pulling them on, "Just a minute!"
"Now, Tom!" Chakotay shouted through the door.
Paris cursed under his breath as he hastily put on his tunic and grabbed his cloak. He went to the door as he tied on his cloak. He opened the door to find the ranger standing before him.
"I want to talk to you, Tom," Chakotay said, trying to keep his anger from his voice.
And I bet I know what about, Paris thought angrily.
"All right," he said outloud.
Chakotay headed down the stairs as Paris looked back toward Torres, who was getting dressed. She smiled weakly at him, for she was still getting over the shock of Chakotay's interruption. He smiled back at her, and quietly shut the door behind him. He then headed down the stairs.
Paris found the ranger in the dining area. He noticed that it was empty save for a couple sitting in a booth agains the far wall. He went to the ranger's table, and sat down in front of him. Chakotay was staring into a mug, his expression glum.
"So, what's this about?" Paris asked, even though he knew what it was about.
Chakotay looked at him, his dark eyes full of concern and foreboding. He sighed and answered, "It's about B'Elanna."
Paris sneered, "I thought so. You still hate the fact that I love her. You can't stand the idea that..."
"Love her?" Chakotay interrupted, shocked, "How can you love her? Tom, you barely know her!"
"We have a lot in common, Chakotay," Paris snapped, "I have never felt this way toward any other woman..."
"You never had the time to be with any women. You're too busy breaking into homes or stealing from vendors!"
Paris' eyes darkened. For a moment, the two didn't speak. The silence grew unbrearable as the rogue fumed inside. He couldn't believe Chakotay had insulted him. He stood up to leave, but the ranger told him to sit back down.
"Why?" Paris asked, his temper rising, "so you can insult me some more?"
Chakotay stared at him, stunned. He hadn't realized what he said had come across that way. He shook his head and asked Paris to sit down. The rogue reluctantly obeyed.
"I'm sorry, Tom. I didn't know I had insulted you. I'm just concerned about you."
"Thanks, Chakotay, but I can take care of myself."
"I know that, but I'm afraid that you might say or do something that will make her kill you."
Paris gave a small smile. Chakotay still thought that she was dangerous. He shook his head, "She's not going to kill me, Chakotay. Will you stop thinking that."
Chakotay sighed. He was going to tell Paris to stay away from Torres, but it seemed the youth wasn't going to listen. Still, he had to try before Paris regreted it.
"Tom, I want you to stay away from her."
"What!?"
"Stay away from B'Elanna," the ranger repeated.
"Like hell I will!" Paris shouted, causing the couple to look in his direction, "I love her and you won't prevent me from seeing her or being with her!"
"I know you were with her last night," Chakotay said, staring at Paris.
Tom's eyes widened, "What are you talking about?"
"I know you..mated with her," he saw Tom's eyes darkened again, but Chakotay continued anyway, "I heard something fall on the floor last night in your room. I was about to see if you were all right when I heard..sounds coming from your room. I listened a moment, thinking that I was hearing things. When I heard her..moaning your name I knew I wasn't hearing things."
Tom's face was a mixture of emotions, from anger to embarresment. He stared at the table top avoiding Chakotay's stare.
"I'm not going to stay away from her, Chakotay," he repeated, "I love her and I'm going to stay with her. You can continue to hate the idea, but it's not going to change things."
Before the ranger could protest further, Paris stood up and left. Chakotay let him go, knowing nothing would change the rogue's mind.
Damn it, Chakotay thought, I know he's going to get hurt because of her. I can feel it.
~~
The sun was begining its descent when the group headed again toward Wyvern. A cold wind blew around them, causing snow that had piled on branches of trees to fall. They gathered their cloaks tighter around themselves.
The first stars appeared in the sky as the sun sank behind the horizon. Torres looked up at them and smiled. Her mother had always told her stories about them. Why they twinkled and why some of them made pictures in the sky. She loved those stories, and could always fall asleep listening to them.
Torres turned around in her saddle and looked at Paris. He had the hood of his cloak over his head and he was glaring ahead of him. She was relieved that the dark stare was not at her, but she was concerned of why he was angry. She then remembered that Chakotay had talked to him. He was angry all day after that.
She slowed her horse's pace until she was riding along side Paris. She looked at him, but he continued to stare ahead.
"Tell me why you're angry, Tom," she asked quietly, so she wouldn't startle him.
"Chakotay," Paris snarled, "He doesn't want me to go near you."
Torres stared at the ranger, who was looking into the forest. She looked back at Paris and said, "He thinks I'll hurt you. I understand his concern.."
"But, he's wrong," Paris interrupted, "I'm not going to stay away from you. I don't care what he says or thinks!"
Paris continued to glare ahead of him as he spoke. Torres could feel the anger flow from him and it worried her.
"Tom," she began, but Paris spoke first.
"He's been listening to those damn stories too much. He practically believes them! It's crazy!"
"Tom," she tried again, "those stories are true."
Paris looked at her, startled, "What?"
"Those stories are true. The females of my race have been known to hurt or kill men. It's because, several years ago, a human male raped one of us females. After that, the women of my people have been very cautious around men. Some of them, though take the caution a little too far."
Paris stared at her then back at Chakotay. He shook his head, "You had a reason to distrust me. I understand that, but I know you wouldn't hurt me and I still believe that. Chakotay can rant all he wants, but I'm not going to avoid you just because he's afraid."
Torres smiled, "I'm glad, Tom."
He looked at her and smiled for the first time in hours.

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