"Mixed Signals"Allyire_as@hotmail.comIt's my first fan-fic attempt, please be kind!Rated PGThis story takes place during the episode "Hunters", I am responding to the challenge. What would happen if B'Elanna managed to down load Tom's letter only to find parts of the letter where lost and what is there could be taken two very different ways.     B'Elanna growled at the panel in front of her. She had been working for over 8 hours. In that time she was able to down load 5 personal letters for the crew, although among those she had still only part of Tom's letter from his father. She really wondered what it said. Should she read it to know what Tom's father had to say? If she did read it she might be able to prevent Tom from reading anything that wouldn't be good for him. She was still debating reading the letter when she heard the doors behind her swish open. "B'Elanna?" She turned to find Tom's familiar face watching her. "Hey Tom, what can I do for you?" Tom seem to think for a minute before finally responding. "I, well, I was just wondering if you had finished down loading the letter for me?" he look like a child standing there, she had to bite her lip to keep the smile from forming.  "Tom, it should be about another hour, why don't you go wait in your quarters and I'll bring it straight to you when I get it." B'Elanna suggested to Tom. "Sure B'Elanna." Tom turned and left, but not without blowing her a kiss first. B'Elanna laughed in spite of the situation, he looked so cute when he did that. She looked back at the controls in front of her, it wouldn't hurt just to take a small look at the letter would it?, she made her choice and looked down to the padd in her hand.	Dear Thomas,	You don't know how_______  I was to  hear of  your survival in the Delta 	Quadrant. I have told the news to your  Mother and sist__. They where 	overjoyed to hear about it. I can only offer my_______   if you get home	from the Delta Quadrant.  I hope you understand what I'm trying to say.	                       Admiral Owen ParisThis was just great. Parts of the letter were broken up. The letter made sense two different way. Who knows what way Tom would take it. Knowing him it would be the depressing way. There was one thing she could do. If she filled in the letter in parts that made the letter seem positive Tom would never know the difference. She made her choice. She had to protect Tom from thinking pessimistic about his father. If he thought that his father really didn't love him Tom would be depressed for the rest of the trip.  B'Elanna set about her task of filling out the letter. In the end it made total sense. 	Dear Thomas,	You don't know how relieved I was to hear of your survival in the Delta 	Quadrant. I have told the news to your mother and sisters. They where	Overjoyed to hear about it. I can only offer my love if you get home from	the Delta Quadrant. I hope you understand what I'm trying to say.	                        Admiral Owen ParisB'Elanna saved the new letter to the padd, she was sure that she was doing the right thing for Tom and for Voyager. If the people on this ship had to spend their whole lives with Tom, it would have to be a happy Tom Paris.      B'Elanna rang Tom's door. "Come in B'Elanna." Came the tired sounding reply. Upon opening the door she found Tom Paris sprawled on the couch. "Hey B'Elanna, I take it you got my letter." B'Elanna looked to the padd in her hands. "That's right Tom, her it is." With a nervous hand she passed the letter over to Tom. She watched Tom's expression as he started the letter, then she could tell when he got to the end. A small tear had formed in his eye. She sat next to him on the couch and his arms wrapped around her. "I can't believe he feels this way, I guess he had a lot of time to think about our relationship just as I did." B'Elanna sighed relief. Tom looked so content now. Maybe the letter actually said what she had put in. Maybe Owen Paris did love his son.     Tom was slowly drifting off to sleep. He felt B'Elanna resting comfortably in his arms. He chuckled, it looked like he would be here for the night. Man, he would be sore in the morning.  He thought about the letter he just read. He wondered if that's what really came from his father. It seemed a little unbelievable. He thought about the last time he talked to his father. He had said some harsh things. Then again it had been awhile and they had both had sometime to grow up. Maybe B'Elanna had altered the letter in some way. He was really lucky to have someone that was willing to do anything for him. It didn't matter what his father had to say as long as he had B'Elanna. He wanted the respect of his father, but some how here in the Delta Quadrant 60 years from the Admiral it didn't seem to matter as much anymore. He looked to B'Elanna in his arms. She was sleeping so peacefully now, he saw now point of disturbing her to get changed out of his uniform. "Computer set alarm for 0600 hours." a beep acknowledged his request. He wasn't really tired and reached for the letter again.  It really was amazing whether or not the letter was real. It gave him a sense of hope, he knew that he was content in his life now.  He had B'Elanna and friends now on Voyager. And beyond that he had respect from his superior and his fellow officers. Yeah he though, it doesn't matter if the letter was real or not.