By Karahkwa Ross

Codes: ST Voy, C/Pish

Summary: Chakotay reacts to Tom’s being kidnapped by Seska during “Investigations”. Spoilers to “Investigations”.

Disclaimer: See Main Fan Fic Page

Chaktaoy chalked his pool cue methodically. He’d come to Sandrine’s for a shot of real liquor. He’d didn’t indulge often and when he did he wanted to get his buzz from the real stuff instead of that syntha-carp all the ‘Fleeter liked. His grandfather’s homemade corn whiskey would always be his favorite.

Halfway through his third bourbon, which had been proceeded by four whiskey shooters, B’Elanna Torres had come in to join him. “Hey, Big Man, how are you doing?”

“’M ha’ dunk; ‘m ‘oin’ great.”

“Drinking, huh?”

“Oooh bet.”

“Well, you’re much easier to beat at pool when you’re drunk. I’ll rack them.”

Chakotay stood looking at the pool table, Paris’ pool table. Damn, the man was everywhere on this boat even when he wasn’t.

“Hey, do I have to break, too?”

“I need another drink,” he responded heading back to the bar..

“How many have you had?”

“Whiskey, Sandrine, with a vodka chaser.”

“Hey,” B’Elanna said as she came up behind him. “How many have you had?”

“Frew.”

“Sandrine, how many?”

“Well, this is his first vodka, but his fifth whiskey. He’s also had three bourbons.”

“Chakotay!”

“Whiskey with bourbon almost tastes like Soaring Eagle’s homemade hooch. I miss his hooch. Gate suff.”

“Okay, Big Man, what’s this all about?”

“Not ‘alkin’ ‘bout it.”

“Chakotay, you know, we’ve been through a lot together. You can tell me anything.”

Chakotay shook his head violently and then thought better of it. It wasn’t even the next day and he felt hung-over all ready. He looked at his best friend and saw no sympathy. She’d torture him before she’d give him a hangover hypospray. Better to spill his guts not and claim he didn’t remember later. “’Aris.”

“What? Did you say Paris?”

Chakotay nodded miserably. “He ‘it me.”

“I know, I was there, remember?”

“No… Not in Mess Hall.”

“What are you talking about?”

Chakotay sighed and grabbed the bottle of whiskey. Unfortunately, B’Elanna took the bottle. “No more of that. At least not until you tell me.”

“I went to see him before… when started. I tried to tell him that he wasn’t alone. That we… I… would help him.”

“And he hit you?”

“No… He kissed me. We… and then he pushed me even farther away… I… He hit me…”

“Chakotay, I don’t understand. What did Tom do beside hit you?”

“’Ove me. Make me ‘ove him.”

B’Elanna stared at him. Her fingers loosened on the bottle and Chakotay snagged the bottle. He took to long drags before she stole it back. “What the hell are you talking about? You can’t be that drunk if you’re making up these stories.”

“It’s not a story, Leuitenent. He told me the same thing on his first bourbon. I think he’s telling the truth. I didn’t even ask. He said it along with the comment about his grandfather’s whiskey.”

Chakotay put his head on the bar. “I’m such a fool. How could I fall for such flirt? And when he was leaving me… Idiot. Idiot.”

“Commander, no. There was something wrong with Thomas before you ever got together. Despite appearances, he doesn’t sleep with just anyone. If you made love, then he must have had feelings for you.”

“Funny way of showing it.”

“Hey, doe in’ult the man I ‘uv.”

“Sorry, Chakotay.”

“’S ‘tay. He left me… Should be mad at ‘im.”

“Are you?”

“Just sad he gone. Miss ‘im sooo much. And worried. The witch, Peska, has him… More man… Why’d he leave me?” Chakotay rubbed his head on the bar. “’Lanna, will ‘oo take me ‘ome? Don’t want to see his place anymo’e.”

“Sure, Chakotay.”

As the pair made their way out of the holodeck and then down the corridor to the turbolift, B’Elanna looked at her friend. She’d known him a long time and she’d never seen him like this. I don’t know what he sees in you, Tom Paris, but you’d better live through this.