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Disclaimer time once again!   Eighty-fifth verse same as the 
first . .everybody *sing*:

I don't own these characters, (chorus) Paramount does!
I don't own this venue, (chorus) Paramount does!
I am making no money off of this, (chorus) Paramount does 
not either!

This story will eventually involve love and sex and affection 
between two men, aka: slash.  If that is *not* your cup of 
tea, sweet as it is, then don't read it! (simple, ain't it??) 
Feedback is *very* much appreciated, and always 
answered.  Flames will be passed around to friends and 
chuckled over.  :)

Thirty-second story in the Stage Direction series.  Sequel to 
'Ssst', 'Growl', 'Chuckle', 'Sob', 'Grin', 'Sigh', 'Smile', 'Yawn', 
'Whisper', 'Groan', 'Hover', 'Waffle', 'Comfort', 'Fidget', 
'Grimace', 'Sizzle', 'Glare', 'Shrug', 'Doze', 'Snort', 'Whack', 
'Stretch', 'Snicker', 'Pace', 'Hug', 'Clink', 'Wonder', 'Kiss', 
'Doubt', 'Surprise', and 'Cuddle'.

'Ahem' by Amirin <groh@iquest.net>


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Well, now.  The mess hall this morning is quite a 
contradiction, let me tell you.  I have never *seen* it so 
crowded, yet I have never heard it so *quiet*.  A roomful of 
people and they're all acting like they're afraid to make any 
noise whatsoever.

<sigh>  <grin>

And Tom thinks it's all vastly amusing, of course.  He keeps 
looking over at me and winking and I find myself laughing 
and suddenly, thirty people are watching me. It's rather 
disconcerting, I must admit.  And he's completely unfazed 
by it all.  Of course, he's used to people watching him, 
staring, even, but I'm not and part of me is sorely tempted to 
drop an armful of pots and pans on the floor, just to watch 
them all jump.

<snicker>

<murmur> "What's so funny?" 

Gracious, he moves quietly.  Hands on my shoulders, 
leaning over to see what I'm cooking, stealing small pieces 
of the sausage I've got browning at the moment. 

<crossly>  "Stop that.  You'll burn yourself.  Again."

<pause>  <quietly> "Sorry, Neelix."  <turn>

<grab hand> "No, I'm sorry, Tom.  Really.  I'm just . . . 
unsettled.  I guess."

<nod>  <gentle smile>  <rub back soothingly>  "By the 
crowd."

<sigh>  "I don't know how you can stand it.  I find myself 
wanting to yell at them and that is so unlike me, really."

<rub gentle circles on shoulders>  "I know.  I debated 
staging something involving huge amounts of smoke, just to 
get them all the hell out of here." 

<pause>  <snort>  <chuckle>  <laugh>  "Oh, my. That's 
terrible, Tom.  Goodness."

<grin>  <shrug>  "If you change your mind, just let me know 
. . ."

"Don't tempt me. Some of them have been here for more 
than an hour. I can't believe it takes anyone that long to eat 
a plateful of Zryllian spice toast with tossaberry jam."

<blink>  <deadpan>  "I can't, either."

<close eyes>  <muffled laugh>  "You are determined to 
keep me laughing through this, aren't you?"  <chuckle>

<pause>  <shrug>  <nod>  "Yep."

<put down spatula>  <turn around>  <fierce hug>

<return hug> <kiss top of head> <amused>  "Neelix, if 
you're trying to get them to quit watching us, I don't think this 
is the best way to go about it, I gotta tell ya."

<snort>  "Maybe not.  But, I feel better, nonetheless." 
<pause>  <whisper>  "Are they still watching?"

<furtive glance>  <sigh>  <nod>  <gently>  "More than ever."

<golden eyes look up>  <sigh>

<blue eyes look down>  <sigh>

<shared smile>

<softly>  "Neelix, if you don't quit looking at me like that, I'll 
be forced to kiss you."

<chuckle>  "If that was supposed to dissuade me, you did a 
terrible job of it, I must say."

<murmur> "Have it your way."  <long, tender kiss>

<sigh>  <whisper against soft lips>  "Still watching?"

<doesn't bother looking>  "Um hmm." <longer kiss>

<sniff>  "I think something may be burning."

"Tell me about it."  <even longer kiss>

<quietly>  "Ahem."  <pause>  <slightly louder>  "Ahem!"

<pull apart>  <look around dazedly>

<in unison>  "Captain!"

<wryly>  <nod toward smoking skillet>  "I don't know what 
this was, Neelix, but it seems . . . a bit well done, for my 
taste."

<think>  <pick up spatula>  "Then, allow me to recommend 
the Zryllian spice toast with tossaberry jam, Captain."

<lazy, rakish grin>  "The crew's certainly been . . . enjoying 
it."

<drop spatula>  <chortle>  "*Tom!*"


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