by Suz suzvoy@tesco.net
Disclaimer - Paramount kind of own them.
It was late, I was tired, Mary W gave me a story idea...you get the idea.
*
B'Elanna threw her fork down in disgust as the sight before her; Chakotay, once again mooning over whatever Janeway was saying.
Tom looked up from his meal, slowly chewing. "What? What is it?"
She nodded to the couple behind them. "Look at him. It's pathetic! It's been six years Tom - you'd think he'd get over her."
Frowning, he swallowed the food he'd been chewing. "Can I ask why it's bugging you so much?"
She didn't hesitate, apparently all too glad to tell him her opinion. "Because he's making an ass of himself!" She somehow managed to shout and whisper at the same time. "She'll come along and say 'Oh Chakotay' this or 'Oh Chakotay' that, and he'll fall all over himself like a puppy."
Tom shook his head, trying to forget how worryingly good her impression of the Captain had been. He shrugged. "So you're telling me that when you're in love with someone you act like an ass?"
"Of *course* you do," she responded harshly, leaning towards him. "It certainly explains enough of your behaviour."
"Hey-"
"But that passes. You get though the initial 'falling in love and the Universe is wonderful' thing and you get a reality check."
"Well what's wrong with not wanting one?" he countered, getting the disturbing feeling that this was going to develop into a full-blown argument.
"It's childish."
He said nothing, at first. Carefully lowering his fork, he then stood slowly. "Personally, I think it's wonderful that he's still in love with her after all this time. It may be childish, foolish or even stupid to some...but I think that still loving someone after six years who has constantly rejected you is the bravest thing I've ever seen." He took a breath, watching her as she gaped at him. "Now if you'll excuse me, I have the urge to hit something and I can't do that it here without violating regulations. That's never bothered me before, but two senior officers are in the room." He mocked a salute to her. "See you around B'Elanna."
~FINIS