Date: 	Saturday, June 20, 1998 12:20:24From: 	Tom LoverSubj: 	Challenge- "Alone"To: 	PTCArchiveSummary: A memory from Tom's teenage years results in his worry about the stasis chambers. Rated PG.ALONEBy: Lauren TaylorThe stasis chamber looked so small, like a coffin. 16 year-old Tom Paris couldn't understand how his mother could have agreed to get into that thing when he first heard about it. But his sister Amanda, and the doctor, had explained to them that the chamber could help perform certain scans that might help them to cure his mother's heart problems. These heart problems had been going on for about a year now, but they had never been as severe as the day Tom, Amanda, and their other sister Molly, had found their mother collapsed on the floor of the living room. "Is she in yet?" 18 year-old Molly asked as she ran up to the viewing."No, but she's asleep. Did you talk to Dad?" Amanda asked. Her and Tom had been at the hospital for the past few hours, but Molly had to take a physics exam."Yeah." she said as she rolled her eyes, "He says 'he'll be here when he can'." she said, sighing. That was their father's staple excuse, which was what he used when he usually ended up missing important things, such as Amanda's starring role in the school musical, Tom's winning soccer goal in a city-wide championship game, and Molly's first prize in the science fair."Don't bother with him." Tom muttered under his breath. No one heard him. "We're ready to put her in." the doctor told them as he walked into the waiting room. The three of them nodded, and the doctor left. They followed him in, to watch. Their mother was going to stay in there for at least a week while the scans were performed. She looked so pale and lifeless through the glass. Tom could clearly remember two weeks ago, his sixteenth birthday, when mom still had the energy to have a party for him. He'd called off a party with his friends, because of his mother's condition, but she still made a cake and got presents, and he had a nice dinner with her, Amanda and Molly.A young female doctor set the controls on the chamber, and the doctor they'd talked with earlier began the scans.Tom gripped Molly's hand as a buzzing noise emitted from one of the monitors."Not to worry, that's just a normal sound." the female doctor informed them.Just after she said that, a much louder, ear-piercing buzzing began."What's that?" Amanda yelled over the noise. "I don't know, there's some problems!" the male doctor said, a bit panicky, as he checked some of the controls. He paused, and looked up at the children."I'm sorry." he whispered. "Mom..." Tom said to himself. Molly dropped Tom's hand and ran over to the chamber."What did you do to her?!" she demanded."She wasn't getting enough oxygen, and her heart stopped. I'm sorry, there's no way we could have known." he informed them.A tear slipped down Tom's cheek as he looked at his mother, dead, and already in her coffin.*"If I have to take a nap for a month I really would rather do it in my quarters." Tom said, more to himself. These chambers were the exact things his mother had died in. He'd already kept B'Elanna from getting in as long as he could, saying his goodbyes."Everyone's being relocated here to Deck 14 so we can monitor you more easily," the Doctor explained, "Hop in.""Come on, Tom. Sleepy time." Harry chided from the next chamber over.Reluctantly, Tom climbed in, "What if we...had to get out in a hurry?""You can unlock the unit from inside, Tom," Captain Janeway explained to him."Do I detect a hint of claustrophobia, Lieutenant?" the Doctor asked, with a bit of a smile."Why do they have to design these things like coffins?" he asked.Janeway smiled, but, inside, felt a little worried for him. "Should we replicate you a teddy bear?" Harry joked. Janeway shot him a glare, but with a bit of a smirk in it, and closed the stasis door.Tom's stasis door closed, with him looking scared to death.*Mom...**"Perhaps you dislike being alone." Seven said. There was an uncomfortable silence at the table, as Harry noticed that Tom did want to be alone, with B'Elanna. "Seven, I think we should leave." he said as he stood up."Ensign?" she questioned, not quite understanding. "Trust me." he said as he pulled her up. B'Elanna laughed at the little exchange, but Tom was unresponsive. She took his hand from across the table."Tom, what's wrong?" she asked. He said nothing. "Tom, this worries me, what Seven said. Why did you leave those things?""Can we go back to my quarters?" he asked. She nodded.*After a bit more coaxing, Tom finally told B'Elanna the story of his mother's death. He found a picture of her, and showed it to B'Elanna. "You two look so much alike." she told him as she looked at her blonde hair and blue eyes."Yeah, all three of us took after her in looks, except that we all are tall, like my father.""Did your dad ever show up after that?" B'Elanna asked."He was on a ship at the time, with Captain Janeway. He showed up a few days later, and was almost late for mom's funeral."B'Elanna placed the picture on the table, and took Tom's hand."Tom, I will never leave you. None of us will. We all made it through being in those chambers, we can make it through anything." she whispered to him. He pulled her close, and kissed her. Seven was right, he hated being alone.THE ENDComments may be sent to tomlover@aol.com or bwayshows@angelfire.comLegal disclaimer:Paramount owns 'em, I don't.