Disclaimer:  Yeah, like anyone *doesn’t* know that Paramount owns all things Star Trek.   (Except what I add.)Copyright 1997 by JoAnna Walsvik; all rights reserved and most of the lefts, too.  :-)  Distribute, archive, etc. to your heart’s content, but please keep my name and the disclaimer attached.Author’s note:  This is a sequel to my story “Thoughts”.  A few people have requested a sequel, so, here it is!  You have to read the prequel, “Thoughts”, for this one to make some sense, so if you haven’t e-mail me and I’ll send it to you.  This is dedicated to Claire Daniels, who has requested a sequel many times.  Here ya go, Claire!  Also, big huge tremendous thanks goes out to Serena, the posting fairy,  who has been so kind to post for me because my server refuses to cooperate.  THANKS, SERENA!! :-)  Oh, and feedback is requested at my address, jowalsvi@sendit.sendit.nodak.edu Questions (Voy; P/T; PG)by JoAnna Walsvik      “Come in,”  Tom Paris called, the grin on his face as big as Voyager herself.  *Probably another well-wisher,* he thought jubilantly, heading for the door.     In the twenty-four hours since he and B’Elanna had officially announced their engagement, they had been swamped with messages of congratulations from the entire ship.  At first, they had been a bit overwhelmed, but Tom had to admit he was enjoying the attention.  It wasn’t often he was fussed over, for B’Elanna was not the fussy type.  Not that he minded, of course, for constant attention would quickly become annoying, but for now he was enjoying himself.     To Tom’s surprise, however, it was Commander Chakotay who was standing at the door.  Chakotay had already offered them quiet, slightly subdued congratulations when they had told the senior officers their happy news.       “Where’s B’Elanna?”  was the first thing the commander said.     “Hello to you, too, Chakotay,” Tom responded.  “She’s in Engineering, finishing a project of hers.”     “Can I come in?”  Not even a trace of a smile was on Chakotay’s lips or in his eyes.       “Sure, I guess.”  Chakotay walked through the doors with the stride of one who has something unpleasant to say.  *Uh oh*, Tom thought, desperately trying to remember if he had committed any serious breach of regulations lately.  He couldn’t remember even any minor ones; his future wife was very strict about removing that ‘bad boy’ reputation of his and kept him solidly in line.  Not that he minded, of course.  B’Elanna was cute when she was determined.  “Have I done something wrong?”     “No.  Paris, can I ask you a personal question?”  Chakotay asked bluntly.     “Go ahead,” Tom replied warily, eyeing the commander with some suspicion.  *What is he up to?* he thought.     “What first attracted you to B’Elanna?”     Paris blinked, startled at this abrupt and unexpected inquiry.  He didn’t know why he answered, for he could have told Chakotay to mind is own business, but for some unknown reason he decided to reply.  “Well, I guess -- I guess it was the Vidiians.”     Now it was Chakotay’s turn to act surprised.  “The Vidiians?”     “Yeah.  It’s kind of hard to explain, but -- “  A dreamy expression crossed Tom’s face as he spoke.  “When we were captured by the Vidiians, and B’Elanna was split into two halves, her Human half was so -- so delicate and gentle and sensitive, yet vulnerable, and scared, and sad.  It -- I don’t know, it made me want to take care of her, to protect her, you know?  And then, later, when I met her Klingon half -- she was so brave, and strong, and powerful -- it was like watching a black panther.  I was actually kind of disappointed when B’Elanna returned to her old self, because both of her halves were so interesting that it made me want to know them more -- individually.  But then, I realized that all of the qualities I had admired or noticed in both those halves existed in B’Elanna herself.  She was still gentle, and sensitive, and still kind of vulnerable and scared, but it was covered up by the brave, strong, powerful Klingon side.  It made me want to -- to know her better, so I could know all of her -- not just the side she let everyone see, but herself.  So, I tried -- and the person I found was one whom I grew to love very much.  She -- I don’t know.  It’s hard to explain.  I’m not making much sense, am I?”  Paris laughed ruefully.     Chakotay was silent for a long minute.  “Actually, Tom, I think you made perfect sense.”  He paused slightly.  “Had you said anything else, I think I would have blown you out the nearest airlock.”  Chakotay began to pace nervously, to Tom’s amusement.  “You see -- B’Elanna’s my best friend.  I care about her.  I don’t want to see her get hurt.  She’s been -- disappointed -- before, if you catch my drift.”     “I see,” Tom said seriously, although he was a little uncertain as to what Chakotay was saying.  The gist of it, however, did not escape him:  Chakotay was playing overprotective father.     “In the Maquis, I always tried not to get involved in the personal lives of my officers, but I felt like I had to look out for B’Elanna.  When she first joined the Maquis, she was young -- young and inexperienced.  And some men had shown an interest in her only because they wanted to see what it would be like to -- to be with a half-Klingon.  I wanted to protect her from that ever happening again.  I guess there’s no reason to be doing that now, but I can’t help it.  It’s kind of instinctive.  The bottom line is, I don’t want her to get hurt again.  And had you said something -- something superficial, like her looks or her body, in response to my question, I -- well, I don’t know what I would have done to you, but Tuvok would have been impressed.”  He grinned half-heartedly.     “I can assure you, Commander,”  Tom said slowly, “that I love B’Elanna with all my heart.  And I would never do anything to hurt her.  Never.”     “I know you wouldn’t, Tom.  But I needed to be sure.”  He held out his hand in a formal gesture of respect.  “Congratulations, Lieutenant.  I’m sure you and B’Elanna will be very happy together.”     Tom shook the proffered hand.  “Well, thank you, Commander.  I’m -- “  he hesitated slightly.  “I’m glad we have your consent, if not your blessing.”     “You have both,”  Chakotay confirmed.  “Especially my blessing.”     “Just promise me one thing.”     “Anything.”     “Don’t show up at the wedding with a rifle in your hand, okay?  I might get nervous.”     The two men laughed together.  “I promise,”  Chakotay assured him.  “No weapons.”     “Well, I don’t know...we could have a Klingon ceremony.”  Tom grinned wickedly.     “Don’t tell B’Elanna that,”  Chakotay smiled.  “She’d rip out your liver and shove it down your throat.”       “Tell me about it,” Tom agreed.  “She’s already threatened to.”     “Well, I’d better be going.  I’m meeting Kathryn for dinner in a few minutes,”  Chakotay said, stepping toward the door.  “Thanks for listening, Tom.  I wasn’t trying to be rude, however offending I may have seemed.”     “No problem, Commander.  You were just trying to protect B’Elanna.  I respect that.  See you on the bridge tomorrow?”     “See you tomorrow,” the first officer nodded, and was gone.     Tom shook his head in amazement.  Of all the things he had expected Chakotay to say to him, the actual conversation had been anything but.  And...somehow...it was kind of comforting to know that someone other then himself would be there to look out for B’Elanna.  Not that she needed too much looking after, but...it was comforting.       And something had changed between him and the commander, in the scant minutes they had spoken.  An unofficial truce of sorts had been called, and Tom had actually gotten a feeling of...respect...from Chakotay in his farewell.  It felt good, to be respected by a man he held in somewhat high esteem.  *Ha, ha, Dad,*  he thought for a moment.  *I’m respected by the first officer.  What do you think of that?*       Tom instantly berated himself for those thoughts.  He wouldn’t let images of his father spoil his life.  He was about to become happily married to an incredible woman.  Life had once been full of questions, and they had all just been answered.