Harry sighed heavily. "Do you really think that will be enough?
I said some pretty unforgivable things to her."
"If they were truly 'unforgivable' then it won't matter what you
say," the first officer said simply. "If she's willing to forgive---
then I'm sorry is a good place to start."
Ensign Kim looked much happier than when he'd arrived. "Thanks.
I'll get to work on those chocolates. I want to settle this."
"It's getting late, Mr. Kim," Chakotay reminded him.
Harry nodded his agreement. "This can't wait another day, sir. I
want to settle this tonight!"
Chakotay watched the ensign leave with a spring in his step and
felt that perhaps he wasn't doing too badly as Ship's Counselor. He
debated calling the captain to come back and work on the reports,
checked the chronometer, and decided against it. It was 2400---the
ship's Alpha and Beta crews were settling in for the night. Let the
captain enjoy the peace and quiet.
***********************
Ensign George Natwick had built up quite a head of steam by the
time he found Ensign Harry Kim in the corridor. His encounter with
Malista had left testosterone surging through his veins. It was
pounding through his bloodstream, screaming for some form of release-
--and since he had turned down the possibility of a sexual release---
violent action would have to be an adequate substitute. For now.
Harry, his mind on other things, was barely aware that George
was bearing down on him. He was totally unaware of the expression on
Natwick's face---or he would have been on guard.
The first thing Harry knew of a problem was when he found his
path blocked by the massive Natwick. Harry looked up---and up. He
frowned. "What's the problem, Natwick?"
"You are, you little---" Natwick's right arm went back.
Harry had the presence of mind to duck under that swing, but was
caught on the right side of the face by a follow-through blow from
Natwick's left hook. The punch straightened Kim up and sent him
crashing into the wall. He was dazed momentarily and shook his head
in an effort to clear it. That just made his head hurt and his vision
blur.
Tom and B'Elanna came rushing out of Tom's quarters in time to
see Natwick latch onto Kim's shoulder and spin the smaller man,
preparing for another blow. The big man drew back his fist.
Later, Torres swore to Chakotay that it was over so fast, she
didn't even get to see it clearly. Torres had every intention of
going for Natwick herself---to keep him from hurting Harry any
further. The usually slow-moving, easy-going Tom Paris moved so
quickly she missed the whole thing---almost.
Tom left arm swept her behind him--- then he stepped forward ---
and this was the part she missed---probably due to blinking! It was
that fast!--- then Tom had Natwick pinned to the wall, the big
ensign's right arm bent up behind him, his left arm pinned by his own
body. Tom's arm was around Natwick's throat, his foot had kicked
Natwick's legs apart so that he was off balance and couldn't get any
leverage to break free.
Ensign George Natwick! The self-defense expert of the Security
detail. Pinned in less than three seconds---by the ship's pilot! It
was unfortunate the Security vidcams were not in a position to catch
the exchange. Many crewmembers would have paid replicator credits for
a copy of the tape. Especially Natwick's former students.
"Harry? You okay?" Tom panted, firmly holding the squirming
Natwick who stopped squirming when he found he couldn't break the
lieutenant's hold. That was another first. Several crewmembers in
nearby quarters, attracted by the noise, came out to see what was
going on.
Ignoring the gathering crowd, B'Elanna went to steady Harry Kim.
He was leaning against the wall, holding his already swelling jaw, a
slight cut above his right eye trickling blood down the side of his
face. His lower lip was puffing up and bleeding where it had been
forced against his teeth by the blow.
"I'm fine," Kim snarled, wiping the blood from the corner of his
mouth with his fist. "But I don't know what the hell is going on!"
Torres spun on Natwick. "What is going on, George? You better
have a damn good reason---"
"Ask your little friend about Malista!" Natwick growled.
"What does Malista have to do with this?" Paris demanded,
pushing the man more forcefully against the wall.
"You can let go now, Lieutenant Paris! We'll take it from here,"
announced the familiar voice of Ensign Mikel Hudson. The Security man
appeared around the corner of the corridor with his partner, Ensign
Ethan Simms.
They moved into position to watch the three officers, making
mental notes they knew they'd need for their reports. No one moved
for a moment. Simms took a step forward and stood next to Paris.
The lieutenant stepped back, cautiously releasing his hold on
Natwick. He was ready for the ensign to make a charge at him. He
almost would welcome it---for the release of adrenaline if nothing
else. It had been an---aggravating evening.
George turned slowly, shaking his head. He eyed Lieutenant Tom
Paris with a new sense of respect as he discreetly rubbed his
shoulder. "You want to show me that move sometime?" he requested, his
professional interest suddenly kicking in as his unexpected burst of
temper cooled.
Paris frowned disbelievingly at Natwick, looking from him to
Harry Kim. He shrugged. "Maybe---if I won't have to use it on you
again. It works best when you pick on someone your own size." A
scathing look convicted Natwick of being a bully. "Now would you like
to explain why you hit Ensign Kim? And what does it have to do with
my sist---Malista Shadow?"
Simms moved between Paris and Natwick, ready to take his fellow
security officer into custody---and to deflect the lieutenant if his
apparently ragged control over his temper should slip. Hudson flanked
their prisoner on the other side.
"I want him to apologize to Malista," Natwick stated loudly. "He
owes her an apology!"
"That's where I was going when you hit me, you big jerk!" Kim
shouted. "What business is it of yours anyway?!" He pushed away from
the wall, taking a step toward his attacker, only to be body-blocked
by B'Elanna Torres.
"She made it my business!" Natwick suddenly realized they had an
audience. No matter how angry he was, he wasn't going to embarrass
Malista by telling the world she'd tried to seduce him. He genuinely
cared about her. He stopped to reconsider his next words. "I left her
in her quarters! Go see her! Right now! Before she does some other
stupid thing to try to make you happy!"
"What stupid thing did she do?" Harry said, immediately worried
by the answers supplied by the flights of his imagination. "What were
*you* doing in her quarters?" His voice rose belligerently. "What did
you do to her?"
Natwick refused to answer. He shook his head in stubborn
; silence.
"The charge is assaulting an officer?" Hudson asked coolly.
Paris nodded, dissecting Natwick with his eyes.
"We'll need a statement from you for our report," Simms stated.
Paris nodded again. Simms and Hudson gestured for Natwick to lead the
way. The three of them headed for the brig.
Harry tossed an anxious look at Tom and B'Elanna. "I'm going to
check on Malista. Thanks, Tom." He took off at a run.
Paris started to follow. Torres snagged his arm. "Tom! Let him
handle it. It's not your responsibility."
"Harry should go to Sickbay---" He started to argue.
"He's a big boy. He can find his way there by himself. I have a
question for you," she said, frowning up at him. He raised his
eyebrows.
There was another loud thunk and a yell from the corridor behind
them. "What the---Now what?"
Torres raised her eyebrows. "That sounded like---Freddie
Bristow?
"Uh-oh! Dalby must have caught up with him! I tried to tell
Bristow he shouldn't bother Diane! When is that kid going to learn to
take no for an answer?" Paris threw an exasperated look skyward.
"This has been some night! Is this some kind of a test?"
B'Elanna grinned at him as she took his hand. "That's what I
said! Let's go pick up the pieces---of Freddie!"
***********************
Malista was still cursing---in Greek. She was also cleaning her
quarters---or tearing them apart. It was difficult to guess her
intention from first impressions.
Every drawer, storage compartment, and closet had been turned out.
Every piece of furniture now held piles of her clothing and
belongings.
Harry hit the door signal. Malista didn't answer. The door was
unlocked. He took a deep breath and went in without an invitation.
"Malista?"
Her back was toward the door. He saw her spine stiffen, but she
didn't turn. She kept folding articles of clothing and rearranging
them in the drawers in her sleeping area. "What do you want?" she
said abruptly.
"Are you all right?"
She jumped guiltily. "Why wouldn't I be?"
Harry decided to leave well enough alone. Whatever Natwick had
been referring to---it was obvious Malista was fine---physically. "I
came to---tell you I'm sorry."
She didn't respond. She refused to even look at him. She kept
her eyes fixed on the tasks of folding, sorting, and putting away the
entire contents of her closet and storage facilities.
"I wanted to apologize five minutes after I left that night, but
I was afraid--- you wouldn't want to---I didn't think you'd listen to
me."
She kept her eyes on what she was doing. "Why should I listen
now?" She told herself not to get her hopes up. He was going to say
he just wanted to be friends. He didn't want to jeopardize his
friendship with Tom. She didn't want to hear the 'let's be friends'
speech again.
'Oh, gods!' she thought. ' I wonder if he's heard the rumors! Maybe
he wants to know if it's true!'
"Because I am sorry. I would do anything to make it up to you---
I never meant to hurt you." A note of pleading had entered the young
man's voice.
Her shoulders slumped as she leaned over, resting her hands on
the table for support, still facing the wall. "Then why did you?" she
asked in a very small voice.
"I don't know," he replied hesitantly. She looked so beautiful.
He'd missed her so much. His eyes were drawn to her those long, silky
legs and the curve of her bottom as she bent over the table. The
sleeve of her blouse had slipped further off her shoulder exposing
even more creamy gold skin. He fixed his eyes on the ceiling. If he
looked at her---he'd never be able to think of what he wanted to say.
He'd only want to touch her---and never let her go.
She snapped upright and marched into the living area to pick up
another stack of her belongings. "That's a lie. You know why. You
just don't want to tell me.
I don't want to play games, Harry. I told you that night at the
resort---I'm not good at playing games. So just get out of my
quarters!"
"No," he said flatly. "That's the mistake I made last time. I
shouldn't have left. I should have stayed and talked to you---
honestly---whether you wanted to talk to me or not."
She threw her armload on the bed and crossed her arms. She
leaned against the wall and studied her fingertips. "So if you want
to talk---go ahead. Talk."
He used the back of his hand to rub a trickle of blood off his
chin, stifling a moan as he brushed against his swollen lip. "Okay.
You want to know why I ranted like an idiot and accused you of being
interested in other men?"
She nodded. She refused to look at him. She didn't dare look at
him. If she looked into his dark eyes, saw his sweet smile, it would
be too easy to forget about demanding explanations and just beg him
to kiss her, to hold her.
"I was jealous. And insecure," he admitted. He sank down on her
couch without waiting for an invitation. Hitting the wall had left
him feeling a little dizzy.
"I couldn't believe you could be interested in plain, Harry Kim.
You're just so--- beautiful---and charming. What man wouldn't want
you?"
it hard to believe. Her faith in her own attractiveness had always
been shaky---and now---after her failed attempt with George Natwick--
-she wasn't ready to believe what anyone--- any MAN said. If she was
so charming, why the hell couldn't she keep a man interested in her
for more than five minutes?
"It's irrational---but it's true. I know you spent all your time
with me---but I saw the way other men looked at you---I began to
think---I couldn't compete---and I began to wonder if you might---"
She broke in, while she could still keep the tears at bay. "Why
did you come here tonight?"
"To apologize," Harry reiterated. "I've wanted to for days,
weeks---I didn't think you'd listen. I didn't know how to begin to
explain---to make you see---I know I hurt you---"
She crossed to the table, picked up another pile of clothing and
tossed it onto the bed. She came back into the living area and
walked to her desk, eyes downcast. "Okay. Harry. I forgive you. Now,
go away." She held her breath while she waited to see if he would
take her at her word. She meant every word of it. She had to know now
if he was playing games.
"Malista, let me finish," he said levelly.
She was relieved he wasn't going to give up easily. Maybe that
meant he was sincere. He really did care about her. She sank into the
chair at her desk. She wasn't sure her shaky knees could support her
weight. He sounded so calm, so rational.
He sounded funny. It almost sounded like Harry had developed a
speech impediment. His words were the slightest bit slurred. Had he
been drinking? To get the courage to come here?
She was appalled at the ide
a and almost looked at him, but she
was too embarrassed. She was afraid he'd look into her eyes and she'd
agree to anything he said, if he'd only take her back. She couldn't
do that. She'd grown too much as a person to be a doormat for anyone-
--even for someone she loved.
Harry was still speaking. "Everyone on the ship treats me like
I'm their little brother---everyone except you. I felt---insecure---
because I couldn't believe you really could be interested in me---
romantically. Other women pat me on the head and tell me I'm sweet---
or cute. You were looking to me to be the leader---in our
relationship---and I think the responsibility just kind of scared me.
Sort of like getting cold feet? And then I couldn't talk to anyone
about it. I was too shy to ask Tom---anyone about---" He stopped to
swallow hard. When he continued, his voice had dropped almost to a
whisper. "About sex. I know about Huldon III---and I---"
"You didn't want to soil yourself?" she supplied in a hard
voice.
"No!" he protested. "Malista, I didn't want to traumatize you
even more by
fumbling---I mean, to tell you the truth---the only person I've ever
slept with was---"
He clamped his lips together as he remembered Tom's warning about
bringing up the L word.
"Libby," she supplied sadly.
He got to his feet slowly, his eyes studying her as she sat
slumped in the chair.
"Malista, I've said goodbye to Libby. I don't mean to compare you---
but she's the only experience I've got to fall back on---I mean---I
don't know what I mean."
"Harry," she said, her eyes on her hands as she twisted her and
untwisted her fingers. "Let me tell you something. I should have told
you before---before we ever---got involved. When I was fourteen, my
older brothers left home to join the Maquis. Two years later they
were killed by the Cardassians. That's when I joined the Maquis,
along with two friends, Jano and Lanal. When I left, my father told
me I was a fool. Our colony was in no immediate danger from the
Cardassians. I told him I wanted to help the Maquis in any way I
could. On Huldon III, Jano and Lanal were killed--- and Niko kept me
alive---even when I didn't want to live."
She stopped to take a sobbing breath. Her face was hidden by her
hair as she bent her head. "After the rape---when I was able to get