Disclaimer: as in first part
Part 7:
The Doctor had commed them not much later, disturbing the quiet relaxed embrace they had found themselves in, to inform them that the Captain had taken Tom off duty until further notice and that Chakotay had the day off too, in order to be present for the hypnosis. Tom had tensed at his removal from the helm, but she had added to tell Tom that it was only a temporary measure and she wanted him back on the bridge as soon as the Doc cleared him. Chakotay had felt Tom relax under his hands.
They hadn't moved out of the embrace they had found themselves in somehow, both reluctant to end the magic of it. Tom had relaxed in Chakotays hold, resting his head in the hollow between neck and shoulder, his one hand resting on Chakotays chest the other around his waist. Closing his eyes he took in a deep breath, inhaling Chakotay's scent, musky and warm and peculiarly familiar. Oh he could stay here forever.
Chakotay looked down at the figure in his arms and inwardly sighed. He didn't ant to move but he knew that they woul have to, the Doc would be waiting. He wasn't sure he really wanted to know what was happening. Thought the other part of him was curious and wanted to know why he felt this strange yearning to be with the young man in his arms, to be near him and holding him and touching him. It made no sense, not given their past and what had happened, or *not* happened.
He felt Tom shift and relax further into his body. Gods he could stay this way forever, just the feel of Tom's long slender warm body against his - and he *just* didn't know when his feelings had changed so drastically. It seemed to have happened over night but he knew that wasn't true. This had been gradual, he just hadn't noticed until now.
"Tom?"
"Hmmmm?"
"We have to go." He brought his hand up to Tom's head and gently stroked the soft blond hair he found there.
"I know. I just don't want to move."
"You and me both, Tom."
Tom rose up gently and pulled back to look into Chakotay's eyes. "I'm not sure I want to know whats behind these.....dreams. I just...before it was just like...well, they didn't exist if I ignored them you know?"
"I know. But we have to find out, Tom. We can't let this go any further, we have to know. Both of us, because for some reason I'm caught up in this and I want to know why."
Tom pulled back out of Chakotay's arms and rose quickly, heading over to the opposite wall and leaned there looking at him. Chakotay sat up straighter, his concern rising slightly. "Tom?"
"You know, you don't have to come with me if you don't want to. I mean I can cope with this okay on my own." He pushed himself up from the wall and headed into his bedroom. "Its silly both of us going."
Chakotay stood up and followed Tom into the bedroom. "Tom, what the matter?"
"You know, just because we *cuddled* for a bit and....and...'smoothed things over' slightly and ...well it doesn't mean anything okay? I mean....." Tom faltered from his sudden outburst and hesitated. "Well, things don't change overnight, you know."
Chakotay stood still and watched as Tom hurried around his bedroom picking things up and throwing them in a corner in a futile effort to tidy. He eventually walked past Chakotay to the replicator and asked for a new uniform. Looking pointedly at Chakotay, he carried it over to the bed and started to undo the top buttons of his shirt. Chakotay taking the hint turned round and walked back out to the living area.
He wasn't sure where that had come from but he knew what Tom was saying. He himself was feeling it. The sudden realisation that while some things had changed, things that they didn't understand at the moment, other things were exactly as they had been before. Before any of these strange emotions had overtaken both of them. Strange emotions that had made him want to stay and watch further when Tom had started to undo his shirt. He had felt his heartrate quicken and the way his eyes had been drawn to Tom's fingers as they had started to reveal the pale skin of his chest. He took a deep breath and sat down on the couch to wait.
Inside the bedroom Tom had also sat down, trying to calm his own beating heart. Just seeing Chakotay there watching as he had started to undress had been enough to send his pulse racing. He'd noticed the way Chakotays' eyes had dropped to his chest and had felt a blush starting to rise up his fair skin. He'd been very relieved when Chakotay had turned and gone out when he did.
Five minutes later Tom emerged from the bedoom and walked over to Chakotay who was still sat on the couch. “You ready?”
Chakotay looked up into Tom’s blue eyes and nodded. Side by side they silently walked out the cabin and into the corridor.
As they walked into sickbay, Chakotay sensed Tom drop rather than saw him. Turning he saw a flitter of fear cross his face quickly before it was gone replaced by a mask of neutrality.
“Ah Lieutenant Paris, Commnader Chakotay, you’re here. Good. Lieutenant, if you wouldn’t mind coming through to my office, I thought we might be more comfy in here.”
Chakotay saw Tom hesitate again and gave his hand a wuick squeeze. Tom turned and seeing the reassuring smile, returned a slightly weaker on of his own.
Tom slowly walked forward and into the Doctor’s office, where he stood hovering, standing next to the desk.
The Docto looked at Tom and took in his nervous behaviour, his body language and his hesitance.
“Take a seat Lieutenant,” he gestured towards the chair and sat down in his own. further up the desk, but not behind it. That he had decided would be too formal and disruptive to the roight atmosphere. He looked up at the Commnader hovering in the doorway where Tom had just been and sighed inwardly. The young pilot wasn’t the only one who was demonstrating nervous behaviour.
“Tom, would you like the Commadner to be present?”
Tom nodded and looked back up at Chakotay, apprehension shining in the piercing blue depths. Chakotay swallowed.
“Commander?”
Chakotay nodded his own affirmative.
“Okay, pull up a chair and lets get started.”
Ten minutes later Tom was sat, his eyes closed, the Doc in front of him and Chakotay away to his right, looking nervoulsy on as the Doc continued to talk Tom through the session.
When the Doc had askesd Tom to access the recent dreams he had been having the look of pure horror that had crossed his pale features had made Chakotay gasp quietly. The Doctor quickly told Tom that he was an observer whilst he was here, nohing that was happening that he could see could hurt him.
Tom’s body lost some of the tension but the tightness of his features remained, a furrow creased his brow.
“Tom, where are you?”
They could see his brow crease even further as he seemed to concentrate, before answering.
“I’m...I’m in a room. My room.” The last was said with sudden clarity.
“Your room?
“Yeah.” A sound of bitterness crept into his voice. “Its dark and cold.”
“Where’s your rooom? Is it your cabin on Voyager?”
“No.” Sarcasm tinged his voice now. “I haven’t seen that place for ages. No this is my room, in the Caltha compound.”
“Where’s that?”
“Caltha? The workers sector. The mine. Chak and I have been here for....well, it seems like years now...although it probably has been.” His voice trailed off towards the end seeming to turn into thoughts.
“Is there anyone else there?”
“Workers. Loads of us. Well prisoners really.” He laughed humorlessly and added on the end quietly. “Slaves.”
“Are there any more Starfleet officers there?”
“No.” Tom’s voice seemed to catch and he paused. Chakotay could see his adam’s apple bobbing in his eck as he swallowed. “No.” He said more firmly. “There’s no one else here. We’re the last two.”
The Dcotir glanced at Chakotay, whose eyes had gotten gradually wider the more Tom had said. The Commander glanced back at the Doctor who turned back to Tom.
“What do you mean when you say the last two, Tom? Were there others there with you before?”
The expression on Tom’s face sent shivers up Chakotays spine.
“Yes.” He seemed to hesitate, shifting in his seat. “There were others. The whole crew of Voyager was here.” His voice was now blank, devoid of any emotion, his mouth set tight, the muscles in his jaw working.
“What happened to them, Tom?”
The muscles in Tom’s jaw seeemed to work even harder. “They died.”
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