DOUBTS



Thanks for all the input on "Fathers".  Once I realized that I
still had some holodeck time remaining, I decided to run another
program.  This picks up where "Fathers" leaves off.  Time: 1900
hours, Place:  Sandrine's Bar (Holo-Program Program Paris 3) 
Don't worry, I asked Tom, and he said that I could borrow his
masterpiece for a while.  Sorry about the one word titles.  I
think that watching Voyager is getting to me.  Besides, I don't
think that I could come up with a more appropriate title than
this one.



I figured that if I couldn't think up at least one scene with
Tom, Harry, and B'Elanna in the holodeck together that I should
run screaming for the lurkers closet.  Here is what I came up
with--Katie.



Disclaimer:  Paramount owns the Star Trek universe and all items
associated with it.  I just like to borrow them once in a while.
 All characters not owned by Paramount are a product of an
over-active imagination.  Further disclaimer:  My knowledge of
pool (as in billiards) is limited.  If any mistakes appear,
please ignore them.

*****

	"I think one of the tables is free, either of you care to shoot
a couple of racks?"  Tom Paris asked his two friends sitting at
the table.  It was still early, and the bar had just started to
fill up.

	"Tom, there are three of us.  How are we suppose..."

	"Well, Harry, if we need a fourth person, I can always call
over..."

	"No, Tom, I'd rather not play pool with your holographic shark.
 If you and B'Elanna want to play, I'll sit out."

	"Harry," B'Elanna interrupted, "you don't have to sit out, I
will."

	"B'Elanna, it's all right, I volunteered.  Besides, this way, I
can play the winner.  Agreed?"

	Tom jumped up and grabbed the nearest pool cue.  "Great,
B'Elanna, do you want to break, or should I?"

	"Go ahead and break Tom, I need to talk to Harry."

	A brief look of jealousy flashed across Tom's face and quickly
disappeared.  Slowly, he walked over to the free table and began
to rack up the balls.  *Harry, why does she want to talk to
Harry?  Earlier today I would have sworn...*  Paris lifted the
rack from the table leaving the familiar stripe--solid triangle
pattern visible.  He then walked to the other end of the table,
chalked his cue and pulled back for the shot.  A smile crossed
his face as he made the shot scattering the balls across the
table.  *Thomas, you're beginning to sound jealous.*  His first
shot sent the stripped three ball into the far corner pocket. 
"Hey Torres, you've got solids."

	"Thanks Paris."  she called.  Turning to Harry she began,
"Starfleet, we need to talk."

	"Sure B'Elanna, what's on your mind?"

	"Well, it's about Tom," she answered.

	"Oh, well, I would like to ask you about that."

	"What?"  *He can't possibly know about...I mean, no one knows
that Tom, and...NO!  He does not know.*

	"How did he manage to convince you to show up tonight?  With
the mood you were in today..."

	*Oh, that.  Then he doesn't...* "What mood Harry, my mood has
been perfectly fine all day."

	"Well, I..."

	"Forget it Harry."  B'Elanna looked up for the first time only
to see Paris miss his shot.  "We'll talk later."

	"Hey, Torres, it's your shot."

	Torres got up and took her cue as Paris walked over to the
table where Harry was sitting.  "Solids right Paris?"

	"Since you mention it, it's perfectly fine by me if you want to
sink a few stripes."

	"In your dreams Paris."

	*Don't I wish.*  Paris watched as B'Elanna leaned over the
table to make her first shot.  Seeing her sink the solid two
ball, he turned to his friend.  "So, Harry, what did you and
B'Elanna talk about?"

	"Don't you think that that's a little nosy Tom?"

	"Maybe.  Depends on the topic.  If you were discussing
something like, warp core alignment, then it wasn't a nosy
question at all."

	"Tom, with the way that you play pool, we didn't have much time
to talk."

	"Harry, are you saying that I'm a lousy pool player, or are you
just telling me to mind my own business?"

	"Both."

	B'Elanna Torres surprised a growl as she surveyed the table. 
*There's not a single shot I can make.*  Deciding on the best
shot to make, she sent the cue ball flying across the table.  It
bounced off the far side of the table and came to rest next to
one of Paris' stripped balls.  *Great, he leaves me with no
possible shot at all, and what do I do?  I set up the perfect
shot for him.*  She walked over to the table and sat down next
to Harry Kim.  "Okay, Paris, your shot."

	Paris walked over to the table with cue in hand.  He took one
look at the table and a wide grin spread across his face.  "Why,
Torres, this was very generous of you."

	"Any time Paris."

	"So, B'Elanna, what was it you wanted to talk about?"

	"Earlier today, when we had the power failure, I was stuck in
the turbolift..."

	"So..." he interrupted.

	"...with Tom Paris."

	"Oh.  B'Elanna, we both know that Tom isn't..."

	"Exactly what he wants people to think he is.  I know that." 
she finished for him.  "But today, there was something
different.  I'm not sure quite what it was but, he didn't
act...normal."

	"B'Elanna, do you think that there is something wrong with him?
 If there is, we need to tell the captain."

	"No Harry, that's not quite what I meant.  Well, how would you
expect Tom Paris to act if he were trapped on a turbolift with a
woman."

	"He wouldn't take advantage of the situation, I know that. 
Let's see, he would, assuming that she is available, flirt with
her, joke around, try to make the best of the situation..."

	"That's just it Harry, he didn't do any of that.  He did try to
make a joke, once, but I snapped at him, but then we just sat
and talked.  Really talked."

	"Wait a minute, I think we should tell the captain about this. 
It's a miracle.  Tom Paris actually talked to someone.  So, may
I ask, what did you talk about?"  *Great, now I'm starting to
sound like Tom*

	"That doesn't really matter right now, Harry.  It's obvious
that he is interested in me, but any time that it really
matters, on the turbolift, or in the mine shaft, he doesn't take
advantage of it.  Why?"

	"B'Elanna, if I didn't know better, I might think that you were
int..."

	"Starfleet, I'm warning you..."

	"Sorry."  *Boy, I must have hit close to home on that one.*

	"I'm the one who should apologize Harry.  I shouldn't have
snapped at you like that.  Besides, I think that I am, and
that's what's bothering me."

	"So, why should that bother you."

	"Harry, I like Tom, but I want a serious relationship."

	"And you don't think that Tom does."

	"No, I don't."

	Harry Kim looked over to the pool table where his friend stood.
 Paris had almost cleared the table of the stripped balls. 
Paris was studying the table for a good shot.  "Hey, B'Elanna,
it looks like you might actually see the pool table tonight. 
There is not a single shot for Tom to take."

	B'Elanna Torres picked up her cue and walked over to the table.
 Paris watched as the cue ball struck the side of the table and
slowed to a stop.  "Have fun Torres."

	"I will Paris."

	Tom Paris walked over to the table and sat down.  He took a sip
of his drink and turned toward his friend.  "So, Harry, what
were you saying about the way I played pool?"

	"Tom, if I didn't know you better, I might accuse you of
cheating."

	"Thank you Harry..."

	"Nobody, not even you, would be stupid enough to cheat against
a Klingon."

	"And here I thought you were giving me a vote of confidence."

	"Tom, I think you're getting slow in your old age."

	"Old, who's old."

	"You are.  Oh, By the way, I heard about the turbolift."

	"Harry, you're changing the subject."

	"Maybe so Tom..  So, what happened?"

	"Nothing happened Harry."

	"That's what B'Elanna said."

	"You talked to B'Elanna about this?"

	"Actually, Tom, B'Elanna brought it up."

	*B'Elanna?*  "Did you say that B'Elanna brought it up?"

	"She did."

	"Why?"

	"I don't know Tom, she wanted to talk, and who am I to stop a
Klingon.  What did the two of you talk about on the turbolift
anyway?"

	"A holodeck program."

	"Tom, talking about a holodeck program would not make B'Elanna
upset."

	*Upset?  But I...we, nothing happened.*  "Upset?  I had no
idea.  I didn't mean to say anything to hurt her.  Did she
say..."

	"Tom."

	"What."

	"You really do care for her don't you?  More than just as a
friend."

	"Well, I," *Never really thought about it.  Do I love her?  Can
she ever love me?*  "I, think, Harry, I don't really know."  A
single, dry laugh escaped his lips.  "Oh, who am I kidding
Harry.  Yes, I do care for her."  *But she could never care for
someone like me.  Never.*

	Harry Kim slowly shook his head.  *Perfect.  They are perfect
for each other.  They both love each other, and won't admit it
even to themselves.*  Harry Kim looked back to the pool table
where B'Elanna Torres stood.  Thanks to  Paris and Torres, the
table was almost clear.  The only ball remaining was the black
eight ball.  She drew her arm back and then forward in one fluid
movement.  The stick connected with the cue ball and sent it
rolling across the table.  It just barely brushed against the
eight ball and came to rest."

	"All right Paris, you've probably won.  I've seen you play
pool.  Now make it official, I still need to talk to Harry."

	"Tom looked up at the table.  "Why B'Elanna, I didn't know you
cared."

	"Stuff it Paris."

	Tom picked up his cue stick and walked over to the table
leaving his two friends alone.

	"Just one thing Starfleet, if you say anything to anyone about
what I told you, I'll throw you across the room."

	"B'Elanna, my lips are sealed."

	"Good."  She looked over to the table as the eight ball rolled
into the corner pocket.  "Not bad Paris.  Have fun Harry.  I'll
see you two tomorrow."  Torres handed her cue to Harry Kim and
started to walk out of the bar.

	"So, Harry, do you want to break, or should I?"

	"Tom."

	"You want to break right?"

	"Tom."

	"What?"

	"Go talk to her."

	"Harry, I can't."

	"Tom, you're making a mistake."

	"I know that Harry, but I can't."

	"Just do it Tom."

	Without saying another word, Tom Paris put down his pool cue
and walked to the door of Sandrine's to find B'Elanna Torres.

*****