Note: all right, this one's short. The next one'll be longer, I promise.I just wanted to seperate what Shayna was planning to what actually happens, spice it up with a little anticipation.

Shayna knew that if Tommy was ever going to get his Chakotay they had to be forced into spending time only in each other�s company and they had to go through hardships that would break the barriers. She looked over at Tom�s sleeping form. He looked so peaceful. Her beautiful golden boy. She had never liked humans, which was why her ability to turn invisible at will was useful, but she had a habit of �adopting� abused children. Tommy had been her favorite for some time. No matter how much he was put down he still retained the core of the sweet boy he�s once been. �Sorry Tommy,.� She whispered, truly hating to have to hurt him, no matter how necessary, �but this is for your own good.� Then she opened herself up to the Weave of Life and began guiding some of the strings on a new path.

*****


�Voyager is low on supplies. The people of Yaki-Yaki-sagbach have some things we need badly. I�m going to send a surface party to negotiate with the Yakisagians. Lieutenant Paris will be piloting the shuttle.� Tom�s face lit up at this development. �And he will be accompanied by Commander Chakotay.� Almost simultaneous Chakotay and Tom began protesting but she ignored them. Somehow this pairing seemed the �right� thing to do.
*****

Shayna smiled in satisfaction. There, all set. Now all she had to do was eliminate some choice data about the Yakisagians from Chakotay and Tom�s PADDs, wait for Tom�s natural inclination towards trouble to kick in, and Chakotay and Tom would find themselves sealed in a cave together, for days. If anything could break Tom�s barriers that was it.


Chapter 3