Harry was in the mess hall at half past five the next morning, avoiding
everyone and having been unable to sleep. Neelix wasn't up yet, thankfully, he
couldn't face unnecessary cheerfulness at that precise moment. He had tried
playing his clarinet but the soothing music just irritated him further. Watching the
stars didn't help either. Tired, pissed off and with his expected happy face pasted
on top of it all he headed for astrometrics two hours before he was supposed to
be there. Whoever had decided on the duty rota had an unpleasant sense of
humour.  

Seven was, unbelievably, late. She walked through the door in unobtrusive
brown, eight minutes after her shift was scheduled to start.

"I apologise for my inefficiency, Ensign, I miscalculated the amount of time it
would take me to get here from my new quarters." She picked up a Padd and
began to work with no further comment. Harry responded in a like manner.  
In fact his quietness, efficiency, and indisputable attention to his duties bothered
her. It was not that he was not usually efficient, but he hadn't spoken to her,
other than to make some necessary comment.

     When it was almost time for lunch she made a small decision and asked
him  "Ensign. I am going to eat. Would you care to join me"

He took some time before he answered,  "Do you think that's a good idea?"

She looked puzzled. "Yes. We often eat together. We can discuss the progress of
our work"

"I'm not hungry, thanks. Anyway, the doc will be waiting for you" He turned
back to his data.

     "Have I offended you?" Her voice was quiet.

He sighed, not looking at her. "No, Seven. You haven't done anything wrong."

"Then why are you behaving in this manner?" If there had been anyone else there
they would not have detected the note of very real concern in her voice. If there
had been anyone else there, then she would not have asked.

"Because." He stopped, appalled at his childish sulkiness. "It's not important. All
right, I'll come and see what inedible goop there is today" He turned towards the
door and Seven and they walked to the mess hall. 

     The doctor was waiting for Seven at a table. She headed for it, her fingers
gripping her tray ever so slightly harder. Harry, with a 'now or never' attitude,
followed her.


     "Seven, sweetheart. I hope you weren't too late this morning" he said,
with a knowing leer. She shook her head and sat down. "Ensign" he nodded

"Um, hi doc" he put his tray down and sat down. "I've been meaning to-"

"Apologise? No need. You're probably still out of sorts from that last little fling.
Everyone knows that nothing, well, improper, or impolite would have happened."
He dismissively turned from Harry to Seven and said "We sorted everything out
last night, didn't we, Seven?"

She gave a stilted smile, and began to eat.  

"So, what are you doing in astrometrics, honeybun?"

That grated on her nerves a little. "Sweetheart I will tolerate. Honeybun I will
not. My designation is Seven of Nine. Please address me as some appropriate
variant."

"I called you that last night and you did not object."

"I was occupied. I would have mentioned it had I the opportunity."

"Pillow talk" said the doctor, casually, to Harry, who was studiously trying not to
contemplate that very thought.

"We have been reviewing simulations of the apparatus we hope to install in the
shuttle" said Seven, diverting that topic of conversation.

"It is a shame I cannot come with you, some time away together would be
appropriate." said the doctor smoothly.

     Harry wasn't even tasting the food. In itself this was no bad thing. He
hadn't dared ask Neelix what it was. He moved suspicious lumps around the
bowl.

"Did you see that oddball sector, Seven? I haven't been able to figure out what its
composed of yet" He tried to act normally.

"It was most unusual. Perhaps closer examination will reveal the source of those
wavelengths." She seemed grateful that he had joined in.

     "Nothing in the old Borg databanks?" He quipped, a touch of normality
entering into the conversation.

     "I have seen nothing like it before, I recall no references to it. The Borg
either never encountered it, which I find odd, or they found it of no relevance."

     "What would you like to do tonight, Seven?" said the Doctor. "Do you
want to socialise, or would you prefer to stay in and snuggle?"

"I am uncertain. I will consider the matter and inform you" she said.

"Women!" he said in mock exasperation. "I'll see you in our quarters later then, I
must get back." He dropped a kiss on her lips, ignoring the stiffness of her back
or the slow response. Then he practically sashayed out of the room.

     "Is that an unusual fork, ensign?" Seven asked with the merest hint of
humour in her voice.

"What? No. I guess I'm a little pre-occupied today. Sorry." He shrugged and
stood up. "I'll see you back in astrometrics." He left. 

     Tom caught him up in the corridor. "Harry? Are you okay, you just
walked past me and Be."

"I did?" He must have been miles away. "Sorry, Tom." but he didn't offer an
explanation. 

     "You really are hung up on Seven, huh?"

"That's got nothing to do with it" He denied flatly, lying through his teeth.

""The Doc told me the truth about yesterday morning" Tom's glance suggested
that he felt an idiot for being taken in by something so obviously impossible.

"I wondered how long it's take for you to find out. Have you had to pay up yet?"

"Harry, I wouldn't do a thing like-" at Harry's disbelieving glance he amended
that to "Well, don't take it personally, I mean, we've even gotten Tuvok's name
down there with Seven too" Harry didn't seem re-assured by this.

     "Anyway, all I wanted to know was, what do you want to do tonight?
I've got an hour on the holodeck booked for eight, and Be's busy elsewhere, so
whatever you want to do..." he said leaving it open.

"Are you the Cheering Up committee?" replied the glum Ops officer.

"Usually. Don't take it so seriously, Harry."

"Who? Me?" he gave a sarcastic laugh. "I've  got to get back to work. I'll see you
later, Tom." 

     The pilot was left in the corridor, mildly bemused. He wasn't certain he
knew this Harry very well. He shrugged and went back to locate a somewhat
amused B'Elanna, who was sitting with Seven, who was actually smiling. He
didn't dare approach. 

     "All right, Seven, What the hell is up with Harry? Every time I see him
miserable or acting weird it's because he's been near you."

"I do not know." she shook her head.

"If you're not happy, neither is he" said B'Elanna. "So what's wrong with you,
and why are you fidgeting like that?" 

"Nothing is wrong, my relationship is proceeding within the usual parameters
and" Seven shifted delicately again. "I am experiencing some slight discomfort in
sitting down. Perhaps I should stand."

"Slight discomfort? Why? What have you been doing?"

"I copulated with the doctor last night. I experienced some pain, but I had not
anticipated-"

"That was your first time?" Said B'Elanna, slightly sympathetic. A thought struck
her and a slow smile spread across her face.
 
"Does my discomfort amuse you?" asked Seven coldly.

"No, but the thought of the doctor bobbing up and down wearing nothing but his
mobile emitter does." Strangely enough a slight smile also appeared on Sevens
face. 

"That image would fit into my concepts of humorous" she said.

"I have to ask, Seven, What was it like?" B'Elanna was curious. She was aware
of the doctors modifications to his program, but had never expected him to use it,
at least not with a real person. Then she was confounded that she'd thought of
Seven as a real person. 

"It was within my expectations. The doctors performance was adequate" Seven
sounded analytical, bored even.

"Don't ever, ever tell him that." 
"Why?"

"Men are universally convinced that they are the most talented lovers in the
history of mankind"

"Even Ensign Paris?" Seven had noted that particular demeanour in the Doctor,
but had decided to ask advice before commenting upon it. She had not expected
Lieutenant Torres to be her confidante.

"Ohhhhhhhh, yes." Then "No regrets that Harry wasn't your first?" Added
B'Elanna slyly. 

An expression of annoyance crossed Sevens calm features. "The matter is
irrelevant. Why this concern for my welfare, Lieutenant?"

"I don't have any particular interest in yours, but Harry is my friend and I'm
worried about him." B'Elanna remembered who she was talking to, but the
sideways shift in the conversation had briefly fascinated her. 

"I must return to my duties. I will be late if I do not leave now" Seven stood up.

"Perhaps we may converse on another occasion" As she turned away from the
table, B'Elanna commented.

"Harry was right about your sense of humour. That stunt the other morning had
everyone. I mean, you even fooled Tom."

"Ensign Paris fooled himself" said Seven, her lips curled upwards only a hint.

"What was that all about?" asked Tom as he sat down.
B'Elanna shrugged. "Girl talk". Thinking that she had it all figured out.

Tom entered the Holodeck ten minutes early. There was no privacy lock enabled,
and the computer said Harry was in there so he stepped through the door
expecting one of his programs to be up and running, and Harry waiting.

     Instead he almost jumped out of his skin as the crack of thunder deafened
him and the sky lit up with lightening. Rain poured down in a torrent, bouncing
off the increasingly muddy floor and soaking his Hawaiian shirt. He shivered as
the cold water ran down his neck.

     "What the hell?" He looked around, blinking water out of his eyes, and
located a figure further up the hill, sat on a rock, staring out in the opposite
direction. He walked as quickly as he could through the puddles towards him,
trying to identify the additional sounds he heard, a low rumbling booming noise.
     "Harry!" He yelled. He would have to get closer, and considered it rude
to end someone else's program. He was out of breath by the time he reached the
car. It was Harry, sitting on the clifftop, arms wrapped around his knees, staring
out at the sea. The sky beyond was dark and clouded, lit only by lightening
flashes. Huge waves bit at the cliff, spray flying upwards and adding to the
general wetness. 

     "What the hell are you doing?" He shouted. 

A lightening bolt earthed itself somewhere behind Tom. 

"Computer, end storm." Said Harry. The sea began to quiet, and the rain ceased,
the sky began to lighten and the noise stopped.
He slid off the stone and turned to Tom with a grin more like his old one.

     "What the hell were you doing?" Said Tom for the third time. Harry
shrugged.  "Relaxing"

"That was relaxing? That lightening damn near hit me" Tom waved his arms in
emphasis.

"I programmed it not to strike too near any people in here, don't worry" Harry
sounded amused.

"And I'm soaked" continued the complaint.

"It isn't real, Tom" Tom glanced and he was perfectly dry. 

"You don't really think I wanted to walk back to my quarters dripping all over
the place do you?" Harry pulled his denim jacket off, and knotted the arms
around his hips. "You're early."

"Do you do things like that often?" Said Tom incredulously. "What's wrong with
star-scapes or moonrises, the sea is beautiful right now, you could sit and look at
that without scaring me half to death"

"I can only take so much serenity." Said Harry looking straight at him.

"I guess I've always thought of you as the quiet type." Tom laughed, his shock
over with.

"Quiet, polite, self conscious, naive, snot-nosed, wet behind the ears, fresh out of
Starfleet?" Harry's litany was perhaps a little harsh. "Five years ago maybe" he
stopped and kicked at an inoffensive rock. "You want to play pool?"

"It depends, you're not going to start breaking the cues over my head are you?"
Tom was a little wary.

"I'll try not to." Harry smiled, obviously more at ease than he had been but still
very touchy about something.

     Snuggled up in bed that night with B'Elanna, Tom lay awake, his arms
wrapped around a beautiful woman, who suddenly said.

"I can hear you thinking, Tom, the cogs are creaking away in there"

"I tried. He still won't tell me what's wrong"

"Tom, you're going to have to face the fact that he's probably jealous" She traced
a finger around his jaw.

"Of the Doc and Seven?"

"And you and me. We just don't have the time for him anymore, or he ends up
being the gooseberry. Of course he isn't going to tell you that he's pissed off
because we'd rather see each other than him."

"I guess Harry's love life just figures into his catalogue of disasters."

"Well from what Seven said, she slept with the doc last night, and knowing her
she probably informed him this morning"

"Ow. Poor Harry. Oh well, he'll get over it eventually."

She bit him gently and he pulled her on top of him.

"Woman, you are interrupting this discussion" he laid a trail of kisses down her
neck "What can I do?"

"Nothing, and don't even think about trying to set him up again. That didn't work
too well the last time. Leave him alone." She shifted her weight slightly.

"No, I meant what can I do with you?" he leered

"Pig" She growled in delight.

"That isn't very helpful, I'll just have to make it up as I go along" he expertly
divested her of her night-gown.


     Tom joined his best friend for breakfast the next morning, sliding into the
seat opposite him with a sympathetic face.

"What?" said Harry, bluntly, putting the spoon back in the bowl and staring
straight at the blond pilot.

Better take this one carefully, thought Tom. He had appointed himself the best
person to snap Harry out of his misery. "Jealousy doesn't suit you, Harry" So
much for being tactful. To his surprise, Harry looked at him ruefully and admitted

"It's not just that, you know?" he fiddled with his breakfast.

"Harry, you haven't finished a meal in days. Eat something will you?"

"Easier said than done." To make his point, Harry stood his spoon upright in the
bowl. It remained in that position. Tom pushed his tray away in horror.

In self defence, Harry went back to being his usual self around people and
everyone heaved a sigh of relief. He did his bridge duty and wheedled Chakotay
to let Seven train someone else up in astrometrics. Chakotay accepted the excuse
with a shrug. He made the usual wisecracks with Tom, and watched Seven sink
back into uncertainty. She seemed grateful for the lack of conversation and made
no commentary about her personal life to him or to anyone. Since very few
people knew that she smiled no-one noticed that she didn't. 
     


"Well my darling, lets go to Sandrines. Put on your hmm. Red dress I think."

"To my knowledge, it is an informal gathering, Perhaps jeans and a blouse would
be more casual"

"Oh, I recycled your jeans, they didn't suit you" he said airily. "Come on, We
don't want to be late"

She submitted to his request and slid the slinky red satin dress over her head,
jammed her feet into strappy, red, spike heeled sandals and walked out into the
main room.  

"Yes, and red lipstick I think. Hmm, and just pull two bits of hair down at the
side so that-"

"Is this necessary,  This attire is not functional"

"Don't you want to look nice for me, honeybun? His voice was syrupy.
"I will wear something else." She turned her attention to the closet in which her
clothing was stored.

"I have far more experience in these matters than you, and you haven't time to
change"

"I feel as if I will attract attention in these clothes" She gestured to her clothing
with both hands.

"That is the point. Besides, isn't my opinion the only one that matters?"
She nodded dumbly, took his arm and walked towards the holodecks.

Tom Paris walked through the door in slacks and yet another brightly coloured
shirt. Actually thought Tuvok, Mr Paris could make anything look casual. If he
had turned up in formal uniform he would still have appeared laid back. The
Vulcan nodded in his direction. 

"Happy birthday" yelled everyone else in a chorus. 

"Harry, I thought you said a quiet drink with a few friends" Tom said 
reproachfully.

"Shall I ask everyone to keep their voices down then?" Grinned his dark haired
friend, who was wearing dark jeans, a white shirt and an oversized black sweater.
B'Elanna winked at him. 

They had just started on the paper streamers when the doctor and Seven arrived,
arm in arm. 

"Remember, social gatherings lesson four, sweetie" Seven's less than willowy
figure grabbed attention, clad as she was in skin tight red satin. The doctor oozed
pride as his girlfriend attracted the eyes of everyone in the room.

"Congratulations Mr Paris. You made it through another year" Said the doctor.
"Say something Seven."

     With a flash of defiance, Seven glanced at B'Elanna, then she reached
over and planted a big red kiss on Tom's face, leaving a perfect pout that
narrowly missed his lips. "Happy birthday" She said in a throaty voice that
twanged at Tom's libido, much though he loved B'Elanna. The ex-casanova went
pink, B'Elanna bit her lip and the doctor looked outraged. 

"I believe that it is a common earth practice to give the birthday boy a kiss"
Seven offered in explanation. 

"Yeah, Umm. Thank you, Seven." She handed Tom a small parcel.

"This is from us" said the Doctor with a little more of a beaming grin. Tom
opened the wrapping.

A medical text. "Well, this will be- useful" He managed.

Seven allowed herself to mingle and make small talk. At one point the doctor
encouraged her to sing as several people had. He accompanied her on the piano,
fingers tinkling across the holographic keys as she sang, with her back ramrod
straight and impressive lung capacity astounding the onlookers. The round of
applause was slightly stilted from a certain area. As she stepped away from the
piano, one of her listeners commented archly. "You must have spent a fortune in
rations on that dress, Seven" said Jenny with a closed smile. "But the replicator
has other settings than whore" Seven felt as if she had been slapped but did not
allow her feelings to cross her face. She turned quickly away, seeking to pretend
she had not heard.

     Her eyes rested on a nearby figure, apparently alone in a crowd, the back
of that neck more familiar to her than any other. She recalled with precision the
exact point at which she had struck it and heard in her perfect memory the noise
it had made. She swallowed to get rid of a bitter taste in her mouth, and wavered
in determining whether to approach or not.

The choice was made for her. Harry turned around, as if expecting to see her
there.

"I had the weirdest feeling" he said, rubbing the back of his neck "I'm glad you
made it."

"I was scheduled for socialisation" she stated.

"It must be Wednesday." He said with such seriousness that she nodded in
affirmation, lips curling upwards in what might possibly have been the beginning
of the intent to smile.

"Why Tom?" He continued.

"Are you referring to the celebratory osculation?"

"Did you kiss him to embarrass him or to wind up the doc?" He made no mention
of any other intention.

"A little from column A, a little from column B" she enunciated, her work on
anachronistic phrases paying off.
"And that whole messhall conversation the other day, was that-?"

"Unintentional. When I grasped the situation, I tried to inject humour into it."

"Practical Jokes, advanced theory?" He said to cover the pain he felt at her
dismissal of the situation as humorous and implausible.

"The kiss was Naomi Wildman's idea" she admitted. "I will inform her of the
expression on ensign Paris's face tomorrow." 

He grinned at her "Let me know the next time you're planning on doing that, I
didn't see his face" 

"I am aware that it would not be humorous to repeat the joke."

"I guess." He shrugged

"You would not laugh if I kissed you now, for example" she said unaware of the
effect her statement had on him. He gulped, hoping that it was a rhetorical query.

"No." He replied, trying to keep his voice under control, and then decided he had
to know "Would you find it amusing?" 

She paused, thinking. "At this precise moment, performing that action with you
would not cause me to experience levity" her voice was soft. There was silence
then for a short time.

"Would you like a drink, Seven?" He finally managed to say.

"Not at the moment. The captain would like to speak with you, dear" said the
doctor. He made no noise approaching, as silently as a cat, and steered Seven
away by her elbow. He was irritated. Seven had finished her song, and he had
been asked to play for someone else. She had not waited demurely for him but
had wandered off, as usual to talk to that upstart ensign. He had had to go
looking for his beloved. Jenny Delaney had pointed her out, most helpfully. What
had they been saying about him that caused them to go silent at his approach?
She made no protest at his taking her away. She was merely misguided. He
determined to keep her away from the troublesome ensign. Mere hints had been
unsuccessful, perhaps further persuasion would be in order. 

     Tom went to the bar, B'Elanna's order for a drink and none of that
synthetic crap, ringing in his ears. He joined Harry, who was idly chasing a cherry
round the bottom of what was probably nonalcoholic.

"You've still got lipstick on your face" said the younger man.
Tom wiped at it with a napkin from the bar. "Is it all gone? B'Elanna is going to
kill me"

"When she stops laughing, maybe. Here, this is for you" Harry handed over a
small silver cylinder.

"Are you giving me bits of the engines again? B'Elanna will..."
Tom had popped the lid on the silver canister and had just seen what was inside. 

"A wristwatch?" He removed it from the casing and slid it onto his wrist, the
silver strap clicking smoothly into place. "I don't believe this. I saw one like this
when I was on earth and..."

"I know" Harry grinned.

"A traditionally inaccurate means of measurement, somewhat anachronistic,
excuse my unintentional pun" said the Doctor, who was nearby. "It suits you Mr
Paris"

"Thanks Harry"

"Why do you think I've been eating Neelix's food for the last month. You don't
think I like it?" 

"I think that you should stay away from my girlfriend, ensign" the comment was
directed at Harry.

"This is a small ship. What sort of radius would you suggest" Harry didn't take
him seriously at first.

"You understand me. She's mine. Don't talk to her, don't touch her and don't look
at her. Or you will regret it"

He turned and walked away balancing one real drink and one holographic
representation.

"You've got medical training Tom. Do I look like a leper?"

"Beats me. I mean she kissed me so he threatened you. Did you put her up to it"

"I'm not even supposed to speak to her, when would I get a chance to do that?"

"Don't let it bother you too much. Come on. I see Megan"

"And?"
"Didn't you used to have a thing for her, She looks as if she'd be a lot more
friendly now"

"Tom."

"Come on, why don't you talk to her, I"

"It's getting kind of late, and I've got a lot of stuff to do before tomorrow. I'll be
in astrometrics if you want me."

Harry slipped out quietly.