Disclaimer: Paramount owns them...but I like to play.
If one accepts that nothing=noting and refers to eavesdropping.
Tom looked around carefully...The place was empty. Good, the computer hadn't lied about that. At this hour Neelix was probably asleep. He nervously glanced around again and smiled as he found the object of his search. He walked over to the large glass container and smiled. Another of Neelix's *fish* had died...Tom sighed. Neelix was a good friend...But his cooking skills...Tom rolled his eyes as he reached in to grab the strange green and purple fish. Well, it was as close to a fish as one was likely to find in the Delta Quadrant.
Neelix was right. The several aquariums he had traded for on Quiral certainly were fascinating to watch. The other fish looked at Tom with disdain as he fished their dead comrade out of the tank. "Sorry," he said to them quietly as he stuck the body in a bag. This was the fifth one to die...and the rumors were rampant that Neelix wanted to use them in a souffle or in a rice casserole.
Tom turned quickly when he heard laughter in the hall. There was an answering laugh and Tom dove for cover, dragging the body with him. The doors of the dining room slid open.
He hid behind the counter and hoped no one would look. He still held the evidence...He tightened his grip on the bag...perhaps he could hide deeper in the kitchen.
A feminine laugh stopped his movement. Tom froze, he was in real trouble if he was caught--that sounded like the Captain.
"Well, Commander. That was a rough night."
Tom heard the Commander's quiet laugh. "I hope you don't plan on doing this too often..."
She laughed again. "I do believe it was you who wanted to do this tonight."
"Yes, blame it on me..."
"But of course."
Tom nearly panicked, when Chakotay responded, "Shall I see if there are some leftovers in the kitchen." The young pilot was now in a very dangerous position.
"No, a cup of hot chocolate is all I want."
Tom's sigh of relief was almost too loud.
"Kathryn, what do you think the crew will say?" Chakotay's voice said from near the replicator.
"I don't know. They must have been expecting this for a while."
Tom smiled slightly at that as he leaned against the cupboard. He was safe, odds are they wouldn't be here long...And boy did he have some interesting information.
"It still may be a shock to some..."
"Not as much as certain admirals..." She laughed. Tom had to admit that her laugh was quite musical.
"Any regrets?"
"No. Of course not...Well maybe--I should have agreed to this a long time ago."
There was a long silence, Tom resisted the urge to peek over the counter. He had to let his imagination work overtime...well maybe not that hard--the few noises from the other side of his refuge gave him plenty of ideas.
The slurping noises nearly drove him crazy, but Tom realized that to get caught now, would probably cost him a trip out the air-lock.
"Chakotay?"
"Hmm."
"What are you doing?"
There was a quiet laugh. "You can't tell?"
There was a moan, then another laugh. "Yes, I can tell...But Chakotay..." She didn't continue.
Tom gritted his teeth. It was driving him crazy. He just had to know. He started to shift his position into a kneeling position...A yelp interrupted him.
Tom's face turned beet red. They were--he couldn't believe it...He closed his eyes...He would never be able to block the image of the two of them...
"Are you OK???" Chakotay asked.
"Fine, just surprised me. It was wonderful."
Tom near gasped with shock, surprise...He briefly wondered what B'Elanna was doing. This whole experience was becoming very uncomfortable and...He shifted his weight. He looked toward the back. Maybe he could slip out the Jeffrey tube...He grabbed the bag and headed toward the back.
"More?" Kathryn asked.
Tom was working on opening the covering, but still heard the commander's affirmative answer. He grinned quietly as he slipped into the tube. The last thing he heard was both officers laughing.
#
#
Neelix rubbed his eyes as he entered the dining hall. "Captain?"
She laughed. "Neelix. Just enjoying the last of the olarian melon balls." She looked at the Commander. "Well, Commander shall we continue the promotion review tomorrow?"
"Aye Captain. Until tomorrow, see you on the bridge."
"Commander, Neelix." She left still holding the large seed that she had bitten into. Chakotay followed seconds later. Leaving Neelix to begin work on the Rilian Spice Rolls for breakfast.