ONLY THE BEGINNING (By Bella)   Synosis: After "Blood Fever, Harry convinces Tom to talk to B'Elanna. Just asweet little ditty i wrote after too much sugar at a sleep over.Rated PG, just for the heck of itDedication: This is dedicated to Cap'n Kate, and Starfleet, and Kes thebestest friends anyone could ever have...! i love you all~Bella (Maquis)Any comments (good ones, i hope!) can be sent to lara@connect.ab.caThanx! ;+P        B'Elanna sighed and flopped back on her couch,tired of trying to write a report on the Sikari incident.What a joke. How could she write "full" report,and for the captain and leave out the part about her and Tom? Vorik, well that was another matter.*Everyone* knew about the Vulcan twit. But Captain Janeway want to know why two of herofficers were beaten almost beyond recognition,and her cheif conn officer was about two steps away from a complete nervous breakdown. Of course, from what the Captain had heard from the other official reports, and the proverbial ships grapevine, about the biting and the "chemical imbalance",she had probably already guessed, but Torres wasn't about to go and give her all the juicy details.        She decided to go to the holodeck.Maybe the resort program was running. ^Wait!^ she stopped herself.^Tom might be there...^She sighed even harder, and layed down on the couch. ^What a night this'll be.^        "What happened down there, anyway?" Harry said,trying to hit the 8 ball."Well, she...I...um, we, augh! She decided she wanted to mate with me, and wasn't about to take 'No' for an answer.""Ouch." Harry grimaced and hit the ball in. Tom nodded."You're telling me. The rest,as they say, is history.""Listen, You are going to have to talk to her, and let her know how you feel about her."Harry pocketed another ball.Tom gave him a dangerous look."And just what do you mean by that?""Oh, come on Tom, you don't haveto be a telepath to pick up the signals: everytime you see her, hear her name, your face lights up like a light-bulb!There;s been betting pools for months on you two! The other day, Captain Janeway almost turned green,trying not to laugh about you staring to her. I swear, her and Chakotay were passing notes about you two.""With friends like you, who needs enemies?"Muttered Tom, and then decided,"Alright, I'll go, but you have to come along as back-up"        "Ok, Harry, now, act like you've dragged me here against my explicit will...""Yea yea, from there we'll improvise the rest,it we're not in sickbay by then."Harry keyed the door chime dingy-thingy."B'Elanna, I know you're in there...""Who in the Hell is it and what the Hell do you wantand if it's the Captain, may I ask belated permission to speak freely. Who is this anyway? " Tom sliced his finger across his throat, signaling that if B'Elanna was in a Klingon mood, they'd better come back later, but Harry plowed on."Take two seconds to guess, Maquis, and let us in."  "Fine." she growled,"but I'm not sure that I like the 'us' part of that statement, but come in Harry."They entered, and Harry stifled his grin."Hi, Har--" muttered one extremelyirritable CE, who then noticed Harry's 'us'."HARRY YOU KNIVING LITTLE...!!!"The rest of her words were muffledas she rushed into her bedroom, and locked the door."Ouch." said Harry, for the second time that evening."AND DON'T YOU DARE USE ONE OF YOURFANCY STARFLEET SECURITY CODES ON THIS DOOR, OR I'LL KNOCK YOUR HEAD IN, AND YOU KNOWI CAN, JUST ASK TO--" came loud and clear through the door.She cut off mid-sentence, and Harryadopted a genuinly pained look."Tom," he whispered,"do you have the early shift tomorrow?""No...""Good. Make yourself comfortable.We're going to wait 'til she falls asleep, then, you're going to go in there and talk to her.You know she's easier to talk to when she's onyl semi-consious."Tom sighed."Alright Harry. Got any cards?""Yep. Got any replicator rashions?""Yes. I'll have alot more soon.""Don't be do sure of yourself."       After an hour, Harry decided it was time for Tom to face the music.He used a security bypass to open the door.Harry had been right. B'Elanna was curled up on a chair by her bed, sound asleep,arms wrapped around herself, shivering."Well, Tom, it's now or never. I'll be right out there if you need me."       Harry exited, and closed the door.Tom took the comforter off B'Elanna's bed, and wrapped it around her, then kneeledin front of her and shook her gently awake."B'Elanna? B'Elanna, wake up..."She came around with a start."What?! Who is it? Oh god, it's you! Go away, please!"She tried, quite comically, to hide herself under the comforter."B'Elanna, I will not go away until we talk.""What's there left to talk about? Go away!""There's plenty to talk about, now get out from under that stupid comforter!"Surprised at the authority in in his voice, she inched out."Fine. Talk, I'm listening.""Well, about the pon farr incedent..."Tom began.B'Elanna began to recede further under the blanket."Out." Tom ordered."Yes, drill sargeant sir!""I will chose to ignore that.""Good.""Will you listen to me!"They both heard a stiffled laugh and a muffled 'thunk'outside the door."Harry, if that's you, back away from the door."Tom conveyed to the giggling ensign whostood with his ear pressed against the door. "Anyway,"He started again."I just want you to know that whatever happens, I'll still be with you. I'll always beyour friend."She reached for his hand, and held it tightly.They were both very silent, and Tom pulled B'Elanna into his arms.They sat like that for a long time."Tom?" she whispered."Yea?""I'll be there for you too."He layed a light kiss on her cheek, then on her lips,and helped her up. She groaned in protest, but Tom reminded her,"You need rest. You're so tense right now, that if I poked you with a needle, you'd pop.""Just stay with me for a little while, please?"        He helped her get into bed, and tucked her in with the comforter, then just sat there and stroked her hair lightly,just talking to her.When he was sure she was asleep, he kissed her cheek again, and left.He found Harry asleep on the couch."Geez. I thought you'd nevercome out" Harry complained."Well, it was *your* idea.""Yea, well it's *your* life.Just make sure you get straight to bed.""Harry, don't mother me.""Oh, don't worry, I'll leave that to the Captain..."They walked out into the corridor, and Tom began to prepare to start a new phase of his life.One that he was going to enjoy.~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~Wow. The first story i've ever sent in. Did you like it? Please send anycomments to lara@connect.ab.ca                Bella ;-P