My notes:  Like any good P/T fan, I had to write a DOH sequel.  The 
rough draft has actually been complete since February, but my computer 
decided to play hide and seek with the file until three days ago.

Thanks to Emilia for proofing and Kristi for encouragement.

Dedication:  To Vanessa of P/T Fever, who from the start has loved my 
work.

Rating:  This is NC-17 for the romance novel type content.  If you're 
under 18, or this bothers you, stop here.  You've been warned.

Timeline note:  Direct sequel to "Day of Honor".

Honor's Promise
by Lily


        "Warning.  Oxygen level at 104 millibars."
        B'Elanna had to struggle to open her eyes.  The end was coming.  But 
she couldn't meet it without facing the truth.  At least, it would be 
the honorable thing to do.
        She shook Tom's shoulders gently.  "Tom."
        "Mmm," he murmured.
        "Come on.  Open your eyes."
        After what seemed like forever, he finally did.  "I was having a 
dream...."
        "There's something I have to say."
        "Me, too," he replied, his voice becoming slurred.  "I'm glad--the last 
thing I'll see--is you."
        "I've been a coward about everything--everything that really matters."
        "Now, you're being a little hard on yourself."
        "No," she insisted.  "I'm going to die--without a shred of honor, and 
for the first time in my life, that really bothers me.  So I have to 
tell you something.  I--"
         "Warning.  Oxygen level at 71 millibars."
        "I have to tell you the truth."
        He blinked at her blearily.  "The truth about what?"
        Why was it so hard to say?  "I--I love you," she whispered.
        He stared at her, stunned.
        "Say something," she insisted.
        He blinked again, then finally found his voice.  "You picked a great 
time to tell me."
        With those words, her heart broke.  Tears burned her eyes.
        Tom sighed.  Seeing the hurt in her eyes ripped at him, but he didn't 
have the strength to apologize.  Drawing her close again, he closed his 
eyes and resigned himself to the end.
        But a few minutes later, he was brought back to awareness by a voice.  
"Voyager to Tom Paris.  Tom, do you read me?  Respond."
        "Yeah," he managed to say.  "We're here."
        "Prepare to beam aboard."
        In a minute, the stars disappeared, and for him, everything went black.

~ ~ ~ ~

        The Doctor had everything half ready when Paris and Torres were beamed 
in.  A second later, the doors opened and Janeway dashed in.
        "I assume you're here to help, Captain."
        "Of course."
        "Get Mr. Paris' helmet off and give him this."  He tossed her a hypo, 
then turned to B'Elanna.
        Tom's awareness returned when Janeway removed the helmet.  He tried to 
draw in a breath and discovered how much it hurt to do so.  Then he felt 
a hypo being pressed against his neck.  When the oxygen compound began 
to work, he blinked again and found himself staring into the captain's 
eyes.
        "Tom, it's all right," she said softly.  "You're safe."
        He managed to direct his gaze downward as she removed a glove and 
suddenly remembered.  Floating in space.  Losing oxygen.  B'Elanna....
        "B'Elanna," he gasped out.
        "It's all right, Tom.  The Doctor is taking care of her," Janeway 
assured him.  Then from behind her, she heard a panicked cry of 
"Tom--where's Tom?"
        Janeway and the Doctor both stepped back so each could see the other.  
B'Elanna stretched out her arm in an attempt to reach Tom.  Tom did the 
same, but the biobeds were too far apart.  B'Elanna cried Tom's name 
again, this time in fear.
        "Lieutenant, relax," the Doctor said gently.  "Tom is fine and he's not 
going anywhere."
        Seeing the worry in Tom's eyes, Janeway gently squeezed his shoulder.  
"She'll be okay, Tom.  Now rest."
        Eventually, they did.

~ ~ ~ ~

        When Tom awoke again, he felt a little better.  He could see clearly 
and the pain in his chest was gone.  Turning his head, he saw that 
B'Elanna was awake.  When his eyes met hers, she quickly averted her 
gaze.
        Slowly, he sat up and swung his legs over the side, sliding off the 
biobed.  She glanced up, then away again.  He wanted to say something, 
but his voice stuck in his throat.  Finally, he moved toward her.  When 
he was a foot in front of her, he stopped, waiting for her to make the 
next move.  Finally, she moved into his arms.  He enfolded her in a hug.  
A minute later, he felt her begin to shake.  He knew she was crying and 
did his best to console her.  When her sobs subsided, she slumped 
slightly as exhaustion overwhelmed her.  Tom lifted her and carried her 
over to her bed, setting her down.  Then after a minute, he crawled up 
beside her.  Biobeds really weren't built for two, but by curling his 
longer frame around her, he managed.  Pulling her close, he let sleep 
claim her once again.

~ ~ ~ ~

        The sound of a voice brought Tom out of the depths of slumber.  He 
thought it was addressing him, but he was too tired to care.  Shutting 
it out, he relaxed again.
        "Mr. Paris, if you will kindly disentangle yourself from Lieutenant 
Torres, I can scan you both and you can leave.  This is more appropriate 
behavior for your quarters--*not* my sickbay!"
        Tom blinked.  When his gaze focused, he saw The Doctor frowning at him.  
"Wha?  Oh, all right."  He separated from B'Elanna, then shook her 
gently.  "B'Elanna, c'mon.  Wake up."
        "Mmm?"
        "C'mon.  Doc says we can leave."
        She slowly rose, rubbing her eyes.  "We can leave now?"
        The Doctor humphed, but after scanning them, released them both.

        Luckily, there weren't many crewmembers about, it being a late hour.  
Side by side, they walked in silence to her quarters.  Once at the door, 
they turned to each other.
        "Well," Tom began, "I guess we could meet for lunch tomorrow...."
        B'Elanna shook her head.  Tapping in the door code, she pulled him in 
with her, then let it close and lock.
        "I don't want to be apart from you, not one second longer.  I meant 
what I said out there.  I love you.  Stay with me.  We don't have to do 
anything--just let me hold you.  I've been a coward for far too 
long--and I refuse to be one now."
        He looked into her eyes for the longest time, then 
bent his head to touch her lips with his.  As the kiss deepened, her 
hands slid up his arms and across his chest.  She undid his 
jacket and let it fall.
        He pulled back.  "B'Elanna, are you sure this is what you want?"
        She looked up at him, eyes glowing.  "Yes, I'm sure."
        As their lips met again, turtlenecks, tunics, boots 
and socks were also removed in unison.  Tom lightly ran his 
fingertips up her sides in a caress before reaching behind her, 
undoing her bra and slipping it off her.  Sliding his hands down, 
he then removed her panties as she tugged down his briefs.  They 
broke the kiss and he lifted her into his arms and carried her 
across the room to the bed.  There, he set her down and then 
joined her, laying on his side next to her.
        To her horror, B'Elanna felt herself blush furiously and realized she 
couldn't look at him.  He gave her a gentle smile that said he 
understood.
        A minute later, she finally regained her courage and let her gaze drift 
over him.  His aqua eyes, Roman nose and full lips framed in that 
handsome face.  His broad shoulders and strong arms.  His chest, covered 
with an abundance of golden red hair.  It trailed down, thinning out 
around his stomach.  Her eyes trailed her down farther and widened at 
the blatant evidence of his arousal.  She looked up into his eyes again, 
then almost hesitantly, reached out a hand to touch his chest.
        His hand came up to cover hers, holding it over his heart, so that she 
could feel the rapid beat beneath her fingertips.  Then his eyes left 
hers to gaze upon her.  His hand moved in a caress up her arm, along her 
side and then around to her back.  A puzzled look came into his eyes.  
Knowing what he'd come across, B'Elanna quickly pulled away.
        "Let me see."
        She shook her head.  He cupped her chin in his hands and gave a loving 
look.
        Reluctantly, she rolled onto her stomach, feeling tears sting her eyes.  
She didn't want him to see, didn't want this wonderful moment to be 
ruined by her ugliness.
        Tom saw that the bumps he had felt was in fact her spine, a little more 
prominent than most, but to him, it only added to her exotic loveliness.  
He traced a finger lightly down, then, beginning at the top, showered 
soft kisses all the way down and back up.  He continued this pattern for 
a few minutes until he realized that she was shaking.  He tilted her 
face up and saw that she was crying.
        "Shhh," he whispered.  He began to kiss her tears away, then his lips 
met hers.  He moved her onto her back, his hands caressing her breasts, 
parting her legs to caress there.  His mouth descended to tease her 
breasts as he slipped two fingers up inside her.  She moaned and gasped, 
writhing against his touch.
        "Tom--ohhh...."
        "That's it, B'Elanna.  Don't hold yourself back."  Moving his hand 
away, he slipped it beneath her, lifting her in preparation for his 
entry.
        B'Elanna let out a soft cry when she felt him fill her.  A part of her 
tensed in fear--it had been a long time--and he was big.  But when the 
flash of pain passed, the overwhelming pleasure took hold of her--and 
she began to respond--returning his kisses, raising her hips to meet his 
thrusts.
        Tom tried desperately to make it last, but he was numbed by the feel of 
her and the sound of her cries.  It seemed too soon when she reached her 
peak, crying his name, her inner muscles clenching fiercely around him.  
At this, he couldn't hold back and came, calling her name.  His arms 
could no longer hold him up and he collapsed atop her.
        She closed her eyes, gasping heavily, trying to regain normal 
breathing.  When she opened them, she saw him gazing down at her with 
pure love in his eyes.
        "I love you, B'Elanna," he whispered.  He kissed her forehead tenderly.  
"I love you so much."
        She looked up at him, her eyes once more bright with tears.
        "Shh," he murmured.  "No more tears."  He rolled over, pulling her 
close so that her head rested on his shoulder.  Soon, sleep claimed the 
newfound lovers.

~ ~ ~ ~

        The next morning, B'Elanna awoke to Tom tracing the outline of her face 
with soft kisses.  She smiled and he grinned back.
        "Morning, Tom."
        "Morning, my love."
        A warm feeling filled her and she snuggled against him.  He lay back, 
allowing her to cuddle close again.
        "Did you mean what you said last night?" she asked.  "That you loved 
me?"
        For a nanosecond, he wanted to be angry with her.  But looking into her 
eyes, he knew why she asked.  "Of course I did," he said.  "In reality, 
I've been the true coward, B'Elanna.  I've loved you since Sakari--but I 
never could tell you."
        B'Elanna closed her eyes, fighting the part of her that threatened to 
bring tears again.  Leaning over, she lightly brushed a kiss at the base 
of his throat.  "I love you."
        "And I love you."
        Cradled in Tom's arms, B'Elanna felt truly at peace.  At long last, she 
had found honor--and the promise of love.

Send all comments and constructive criticism to lilymay@hotmail.com