**************************************************** Disclaimer time once again!   Sixty-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 sex 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.  :) Yes, another series.    Sequel to 'Ssst', 'Growl', 'Chuckle', 'Sob', 'Grin', 'Sigh', 'Smile', 'Yawn', 'Whisper', 'Groan', 'Hover', and 'Waffle'. 'Comfort' by Amirin **************************************************** I find I'm only listening to the gossip with one ear.  I think I just like the sound of Neelix's voice.   Nice smile, too.  He has one of those smiles you can't help smiling back at.  Huge and wonderful and it makes his eyes crinkle up when he does it.   What was that he said?  Oh, dinner a few days back.  He served roasted malnosett with herb stuffing.  Roasted, huh? I'll have to try that, sometime.  I know I like it grilled, with vegetables.  Glad it went over well for him.  I think the spiced rotari with kubaso sauce is still my favorite, though. Sort of a cajun kick to it.  Neelix always has a bowl of it warming over a low flame when he's making something he knows I don't care for all that much. I keep telling him he doesn't need to make me something different, but he just waves it aside and says he knows he can either make me something else or watch me not eat. I don't think he does that with anyone else, or he'd need about another twenty burners to handle the others.  Huh.  He doesn't have to spoil me. Not that I don't enjoy it, mind you, because I do.  That little bit of extra effort can go a hell of a long way to brightening an otherwise miserable day.  So, why the hell haven't I ever bothered to tell him that? "Tom, what's wrong?"   "Sorry, Neelix.  I was just thinking."  "Oh?  About what?" "About how much I take all the things you do for me for granted.  I've never told you how much I appreciate them . . ." "Yes, you have." "No, Neelix, I haven't . . ."  "Yes, you have. Every smile is a 'thank you'. Every time you include me in something outrageous and entertaining, instead of shutting me out, like the others, is a 'thank you'.  Every day you sit and talk with me when I'm cleaning up the mess hall is a 'thank you'.  Your friendship and camaraderie and . . . support are all 'thank you's. Besides, I *like* doing things for you.  I mean, I know I can't do *much*, but I like to feel that I'm helping, in some small way . . ."  "Oh, Neelix.  You do more good than you realize. Honestly. It's because of your efforts, a lot of nights, that I can walk into my quarters with a smile on my face instead of a scowl.  Shit, I can't *believe* I haven't told you this, before. Well, yeah, I guess I can.  I know I'm not the *most* egocentric person in the Quad, but I'm damned close."  "Stop that.  It isn't true.  And I won't let you talk about yourself that way.  You *always* make time for the people you care about, Tom.  *Always*."   "Tom, I've heard some of the things people have said about me over the years.  Some have been rather . . . uncharitable.  But, you never tolerated it, not in your hearing. Not about me, and not about . . . Kes . . ." "I wasn't the *only* one defending a friend, here, Neelix. Every time someone mentioned to you how rotten a person I was, or how much of a lowlife, or, and this is my *personal* favorite, what a 'lousy excuse for a human being' I happened to be, you and Kes always stood up for me.  Always. You two didn't buy into the 'Tom Paris, designated whipping boy', routine that so many other people did.  You were both so precious to me. You have no idea . . ." "She knew something was up, you know, when you left for the Talaxian convoy." "She tried to keep me from making a fool of myself with that broadcast about you being the traitor aboard Voyager.  I thought she was just trying to protect you . . . for other reasons . . . but, she knew.  Somehow.  And when I helped Seska and Jonas betray you . . ." "Neelix, no.  You didn't." "Yes, I did.  I played right into their hands. Stupid, stupid . . ." "And you proved my innocence.  You made a mistake and you fixed it.  You saved the ship, Neelix.  And you had to take a life to do it.  Damn, I don't want to think about how awful that must have been for you . . ." "I was sick about it.  But, I had no choice.  For Voyager. Just like you had no choice, when you left, knowing you'd get taken by the Kazon." "I was so glad to have you back with us again.  The ship wasn't . . . *whole* without you.  Just like when you were in the coma.  Oh, everything was wrong, then.  It was horrible, just horrible." "And you were with me, every day." "You seem to find that surprising, for some reason." "Tom, I - I just wanted you to remember that you had a friend here, someone who missed you quite a lot and wanted you back.  That's all."  "No, that's not all.  Not by a damned sight. You were there for me, like you've *always* been there for me.  And I didn't realize it. Again.  Hell, Neelix, I've been in a fucking coma for the last *five years*, where you're concerned.  And I'm sorry.  *So* sorry.  I really am." "You have nothing to be sorry for, Tom.  Not a thing.  I didn't realize how much you meant to me, until you weren't around.  I came by every day to see you and . . . and *talk* to you because I missed your presence.  And you in a coma is far better than no you, at all." "Thanks, Neelix.  You know.  For everything." "You're more than welcome, Tom.  For everything." ************************end