Chakotay stood in the empty observation lounge in the middle of the night, staring out the view port. Suddenly a loud argument reached his ears. He recognized one of the voices as that of Tom Paris. The other voice was that of an unfamiliar female. Tom spoke first.

“I do not have an impulse control problem.”

“Yes you do.”

“No I don’t.”

“You always do or say the first thing that comes to your mind.”

“Do Not!” He protested childishly.

“Oh yeah? Well what about that time you told the Vulcan ambassador that he was a stuck up no fun prick with bad fashion sense and in desperate need of an ahem shag.”

“Well he was; and I didn’t say shag. I said fu-“

”Thomas Eugene Paris! Don’t you dare curse!”

“Yes your worshipfulness.”

“I knew letting you watch Star Wars was a bad idea.”

“It was your idea.”

“So I’m insane. What’s it to ya?” She said mock threatingly. Tom just laughed. They were coming closer. Instinctively Chakotay moved out of direct line of sight from the doorway. Tom Paris entered the room. Alone.

“But back to this impulse-“ He stopped as he noticed Chakotay. “Oh-hello Commander.” Chakotay could barely keep from sneering at the sight of the hated traitor. “Paris.” Tom stood nervously fidgeting. “Talking to yourself Paris?”

“Sir?”

“Before, you were speaking, I’m assuming to yourself because there’s no one here.” Privately Chakotay wondered where the female voice had come from but he was reluctant to admit having eavesdropped on Paris.

“Oh! Yes, yes, I was talking to myself.” His nervous tone was at odds with the heart-stopping charming trade mark Tom Paris grin. Chakotay thought he heard a muffled female giggle.

“What was that?”

“What was what?”Eyes wide, Tom radiated innocence.

“I thought I heard a sound.”

“What sort of sound?”

“A giggle.”

“Sorry sir, but I didn’t giggle and neither did you. As you pointed out earlier we’re alone.”

“Hmm.” Turning Chakotay strode quickly from the bridge. After he left the lounge Tom sighed and leaned heavily back against the wall.

“Oh Tommy, you really have it bad don’t you?”

“What do you mean?” he asked, looking over at his sometimes invisible friend. She was leaning back against the view point, arms crossed, fixing him with a sympathetic look.

“You know what I mean. You’re head over heels for tall dark and dangerous.”

“What makes you say he’s dangerous?”

“Peaceful people don’t talk like their spitting fire.”

“Unusual terminology. But he doesn’t always talk like that.”

“Ah, so only on special occasions does he act like he’s talking to his most hated enemy.”

“I am his most hated enemy.”He leaned back again, “Gods Shayna, I’m in love with a man who can’t stand the sight of me.”

“Well if it helps it’s not you looks. It’s pretty safe to say he likes ‘em. So what’s his grudge against you?”

“He considers me a low life and a traitor- did you just say Chakotay’s attracted to me?”

“Yup. Hiding it well though. I don’t think he’s even admitted it to himself.”

“Of course not. Why would he want to admit to being attracted to Tom Paris? The traitor.”He was pacing angrily now, “The screw up. The drunkard. The worthless piece of-“

”Tommy.” Shayna’s voice was gentle. He looked up. Startled out of his self-recrimination and was surprised to find tears streaming down his face.”Oh, Tommy. I know plenty of people who would be honored to have your love. And if this Chakotay got to see the real you he’d be honored too.”

“I can’t do that Shayna. He hates me. Revealing myself to him would just be asking to be hurt.”He hunched his shoulders and stared at his feet.