Disclaimer: The characters, setting and Universe belongs to Paramount, I'm only taking Voyager out for a spin around the Delta Quadrant in a story of my own. I promise to return them in one piece and in the same condition I borrowed them in. Oh, and I'll have them back by 12...

Hmm...anyone out there remember Give and Take? (Sees a few hands waving...Hi Tera...Hi Margaret...Hi people in the back row!!! :) Well...after putting it off for SO long, I finally decided it was time to put out a sequel. YEAH!!! Yes...I finally figured out a way to put our favourite boys on Voyager together once again. Hope it was worth the VERY long wait! :)

Please send any feedback you have at all on this story to me as well. I usually write P/T which, as you probably can tell, is quite a difference than writing C/P. So...any suggestions, praise, comments, requests, or polite letters telling me I should stick to P/T and forget about trying slash can be E-mailed to the addie above. Any flames will be sent directly to the trash and ignored.

Oh...one more thing. In case you haven't figured it out yet or missed the romance code in the summary line. This is C/P work meaning slash, meaning a relationship between two men. Don't like the idea? Don't think C/P were meant to be linked romantically? Don't think sex on Star Trek is a good idea period? Then PLEASE don't read this story. Oh...and if you're under the Magic-18...sorry, but this story isn't for you...it's NC-17 from here on in. Does that leave anyone else? (Yes Tera...I see you...you can sit down now! :) Okay then...presenting...

Running on Emotions - (September 1997)
by Keikimo - (Keikimo@hotmail.com)

Chakotay walked into the Briefing Room, only minutes from being late. He was usually one of the first ones there, after the Captain of course. But, after getting only 3 hours sleep...and not very restful hours at that, he just didn't feel like getting up when his alarm went off, just so he could make it to the briefing his usual half hour early.

Janeway looked up at him curiously when he walked in. Taking a quick glance around the room he noticed that Kes, Neelix and Tuvok were already there but that the three Junior Officers were nowhere to be found. Janeway quirked her mouth up slightly as she noticed Chakotay's confusion.

"I'm glad you're here Commander, I was beginning to wonder whether I scheduled this briefing for 9 by mistake." Janeway deadpanned as she checked the chronometer. "We're cutting it a bit close this morning, are we not?"

Just then, the Briefing Room doors opened again and the three missing officers came tearing into the room at high speed, Tom in the lead. He barely managed to screech to a halt, just in time to avoid hitting Chakotay, but B`Elanna and Harry didn't have quite as good reflexes as Tom did, plowing right into the two other officers.

Muffled snickers could be heard from Kes and Neelix until Janeway shot them a look which shut them up immediately. Turning her attention back to the four officers, standing awkwardly in front of the door she forced herself to look disapproving, even though she too was practically dying of laughter inside. "Mr. Paris, Mr. Kim, Ms. Torres. You were all about 15 seconds from being late. Would you care to explain how all three of you managed this same accomplishment?

"Perfect timing?" Tom muttered wryly, not intending for the Captain to hear.

"Mr. Paris, you are in enough trouble already. Smart remarks won't help your case any." Janeway glared at him and he instantly shut his mouth.

As she sat there, lecturing the other three for being late and disrupting a staff meeting, Chakotay was getting more and more uncomfortable. Tom was practically pressed against Chakotay's shoulder, nearly pinning the bigger man to the table. As it was, if Chakotay wanted to move to his seat, he was going to have to physically push Tom away...causing a bigger scene than if he just stood there. However, it probably would have been easier on his nerves...and his hormones.

He forced himself to breath normally, reciting Starfleet regulations in his head to try and will away the erection that was forming. Starfleet uniforms, while practical, were unforgiving...his slight *problem* would definately be noticed when he finally got the chance to walk to his seat. And that was definately the last thing he needed right now, Captain Janeway publicly lecturing him for getting turned on in the middle of a briefing.

"Chakotay?" Her voice instantly snapped him out of his musings. Looking up he saw Janeway staring at him, and he just *knew* everyone else in the room was doing the same. Frantically trying to focus, he realized that she had probably just asked him a direct question...and he had no idea what the hell she had even been talking about.

"She asked you if you had anything you wanted to add..." Tom shifted even closer to Chakotay and whispered into his ear. "I'd suggest you just say no and save us all a little grief here."

"Sorry...no Captain." Chakotay automatically repeated Tom's suggestion without even thinking. As soon as the words were out of his mouth, he briefly wondered if Tom was setting him up by telling him a fake question. That would just make his day really perfect, trying to explain why the hell he said no if she had done something like give an order.

He breathed a sigh of relief as the Captain nodded slightly and relaxed her angry glare. But Tom was still pressed uncomfortably close to Chakotay, the younger man hadn't moved at all after offering that little bit of help. Chakotay silently wished she would just put the four of them out of their misery and let them sit down. Before Chakotay did something really out of character like shove Tom away. Of course, as he thought about it more, that would probably be a better thing to do than the alternative idea Chakotay had floating around his head. Where he would turn around and...

*Oh Spirits...please just let us sit down now...* Chakotay chanted silently in his head. *Please, please, please, please...*

Almost as if she were reading his thoughts, Janeway sighed. "Since it seems we have this matter settled, would you care to take your seats?" She paused, then smirked slightly. "Before someone else decides to race through those doors and knocks all four of you over?"

Breathing a collective sigh of relief, the four quickly scattered to opposite sides of the table. Chakotay and Tom on one side, Harry and B`Elanna on the other. Janeway watched them carefully as they took their seats, the tensions running between the four officers were fairly easy to detect, even underneath the masks of embarassment and relief all of them wore as well. Harry looked worried as he took his seat, probably because B`Elanna kept glaring in Tom's direction. That was to be expected, Janeway knew the two of them had been having problems for a few days now. But the tension between Tom and Chakotay, that was an entirely different problem. One she had no clue about...

Chakotay paid very little attention to the meeting, just enough to answer any questions Janeway might send in his direction - the close call just an hour before had taught him that lesson. But the rest of his thoughts were focused on Tom. He had spent most of the night pondering what Tom had said...if he really meant any of it, if it was just some elaborate plan at torturing Chakotay for the rest of Voyager's journey home or if it had something to do with B`Elanna and Tom's rocky relationship.

One good option out of three...not very good odds. But then again...even if it was some elaborate plan, just having sex with Tom once probably would have been worth it...if that kiss last night was any indication. But still...after a lot of soul- searching and sitting in the empty holodeck for hours, Chakotay had finally come to the decision, that the best solution would be to just get over Tom...and fast.

Of course, that had been before he had nearly gotten an erection just standing close to the man. And the *lovely* fantasies his mind had conjured up last night before he went to sleep still floated through his mind every now and then. It seemed that no matter how much he tried to convince his mind that it would be a good idea to forget all about Tom, his body had a mind of it's own...one much more difficult to ignore.

He slid his glance briefly towards Tom who was still glowering at B`Elanna across from him. Chakotay really wished he knew the entire story between the two of them, whatever it was, it must have been messy. They both looked like they wanted to kill each other. And that was one of the biggest doubts Chakotay still held about the truth to Tom's statements the night before.

"Does anyone else have anything they would like to discuss?" Janeway was closing the meeting...finally. Chakotay sighed with relief internally, hoping that Janeway didn't catch that. She would probably ream him out if she heard. "No? Commander, if you wouldn't mind, I'd like to discuss the latest crew reports with you. Everyone else...dissmissed."

Chakotay silently groaned...she was going to drive him mad! The way she worded it made it sound like some sort of request...but he could just tell from the look in her eyes and the tone of her voice, it wasn't an option...it was an order. He glanced up enviously at the three junior officers who were trying to beat a hasty retreat, appearing to get off their infraction with little more than a lecture.

"Oh...Tom, Harry, B`Elanna. Before you leave for your stations..." Janeway spoke up again and all three officers hovered in the open doorway, looking both anxious and nervous at the same time. "I'm a little busy this morning, but I'd like to go over the modifications you've been making on the shuttlecraft today. How about at noon?"

Lunch...she was going to make them work through their lunchbreak! Chakotay grinned slightly. So she was planning on punishing them after all.

"Captain, not that I would mind working through lunch...but Ensign Parker would probably know more about the modified shuttles than I would." Tom's voice and facial expression were carefully calculated, not too innocent to appear unnatural but not too cocky to make her mad. If it had been anyone *but* Tom, even Chakotay would have found himself believing the excuse. "He's the one who actually made the changes along with B`Elanna and Harry. I just fly them."

But Janeway wasn't going to be fooled...either she was smarter than Tom thought she was or being pissed off made her catch these things a lot easier. Either way, she wasn't about to buy Tom's weak attempt to get out of working. "Well then, you should be able to give us an adequate reading on how these changes are going to affect flight. And you shouldn't need to bother Ensign Parker...I'm sure B`Elanna and Harry can tell me enough about the shuttles *without* having to call him in."

"Aye Captain." Tom sighed and turned to leave, Harry and B`Elanna almost pushing him over in their haste to leave as well.

Chakotay watched the three, amusement lighting his face. Spirits knew he hadn't had much to laugh about that morning.

"You find something amusing about all of this?" Janeway turned and asked him in an indecipherable tone.

"Uh...no Captain." Chakotay mumbled, quickly wiping the grin from his face.

"You're smiling...you obviously found something amusing about the fact that Tom Paris is being forced to work through his precious lunch break." Janeway said, still in that straight tone of hers.

"I thought I was the only one being punished here in the group...and I wasn't even late." Chakotay admitted, shrugging his shoulders. "And I knew Paris deserved it more than I did."

"And I thought you three were acting like schoolchildrn before." Finally, for the first time that morning Janeway's face broke into a hint of a smile. "Now you're whining about the unfairness of my ideas of punishment?"

"Well...Paris was late." Chakotay felt he had to point it out...even though it did make him sound like a pouting child. "And I wasn't."

"And you aren't working through lunch." This time Janeway actually smiled as she reminded Chakotay of that fact. "I just wanted to have a little talk with you."

"About?" Chakotay found himself wishing he could have worked through lunch instead. He really didn't want to have a talk with Janeway...especially since he just knew what she was going to want to discuss.

"You and Tom." Janeway sighed, leaning her chin against her hand and giving Chakotay a thoughtful look. Chakotay sighed and tried to think of depressing thoughts, hoping his face didn't look any differently than it always did. "Is there some sort of problem between you two?"

"Problem?" Chakotay repeated stupidly, realizing that, while trying to not give out any incriminating information, he now sounded like a dumb parrot. *Like Janeway isn't going to pick up on the fact you're acting stupid...Subtle move Chakotay.*

"Now both you and Tom seem to have gotten this idea that I'm an idiot." Janeway just confirmed what Chakotay had already figured out with a slight smile. "Yes...a problem. The tension between you two earlier was so tight it probably would have snapped if I hadn't let you sit down."

So she had noticed Chakotay's struggle to remain in control...but did she know the reason?

"Now I half expected that to happen between B`Elanna and Tom..." She paused...noticing Chakotay's abrupt change in expression at the mention of the pair. "Is this about B`Elanna?"

"What? No..." Chakotay made a little white lie. Technically, the problem wasn't with B`Elanna...it was with Tom and B`Elanna...

"But you do have a problem." Janeway smiled and settled back into her seat. "And I'm pretty sure it isn't about Harry. Therefore...I'm forced to conclude it must be about Tom."

"Captain..." Chakotay sighed and rubbed his temples. This was getting a little too close to the real problem...something he didn't want to discuss...ever.

"I can take a hint Commander." Janeway said lightly as she stood up and leaned over the table. "However, I can't allow scenes like this morning to happen again. Whatever your problem is...with Tom or whomever else it happens to be with...I want it solved. Now!"

"Captain..." Chakotay tried to protest once again. It wasn't like it was a problem that *could* be solved that easily in the first place. At least not without risking compounding the problems further by talking to Tom.

"Chakotay...that wasn't a request." Janeway warned him. "I don't want to see another display like this on duty again. I'm running a starship, not a Kindergarten class."

"Yes Ma`am." Chakotay sighed and stood up to leave. He had just about made it to the door when she spoke again, forcing him to stop.

"If it makes you feel any better...I'm giving the same lecture to Tom and B`Elanna this afternoon." Janeway gave him a sympathetic smile, then sighed once again. "Those two...even while I was rooting for them to get together, the Captain side of me dreaded it. Two Senior Officers...getting together in more than just a professional relationship...it's just asking for trouble."

"Really? Why?" Chakotay tried not to sound too interested. But with that simple statement, she had just made everything so much more complicated...and she was the one who wanted everything fixed. In a way, it was probably a good thing though, it just confirmed his ideas that he should stay as far away from Tom as possible. Now, if only his body would listen...

"Because there's a very fine line between personal and professional lives...especially on a ship this size." Janeway shrugged her shoulders and let herself smile wryly. "And that line is *always* crossed in the middle of big, messy, emotional scenes."

****** Part 2 ******

Chakotay sat in the back corner of the Mess Hall, staring at the water in his glass. It was actually kinda pleasant in a way, he didn't have to think about anything. He could just focus his thoughts on something totally useless like water for a few seconds, watch the surface of the water ripple, watch the reflections as people passed in front of his table...

...gods he was getting philosophical. About water. The depths his mind would sink, just so he could avoid thinking about *him*. A wry smile crossed his face for an instant as he picked up the glass and downed the water - so much for philosophising at dinner.

Grabbing his tray he was just about to leave when he spotted a familiar figure walking into the Mess Hall...and he didn't look happy. *Damn it all! I should have left the water alone!* Chakotay thought to himself as Tom weaved his way through the tables, obviously intent on talking to Chakotay.

"What the fuck did you tell her?" Tom asked accusationally, not even bothering to sit down but standing across from Chakotay angrily.

Of all the things Chakotay *thought* Tom would say to him, that wasn't one of them. He had no idea what Tom was talking about...and why in spirit's name he was so angry. "What are you talking about?"

"What do you think I'm talking about? The weather on the holodeck? Jenny Delaney's latest exploits?" Tom asked sarcastically, not noticing that everyone in the Mess Hall had now turned to look at the two officers in the corner. "I want to know what you told her about me."

"Her?" Chakotay asked, trying to think of a way to get Tom to keep his voice down and to quit making a scene. That was the last thing both of them needed...

"Janeway!" Tom announced exasperated. "She kept me in her fucking Ready Room for a hour, giving me lecture after lecture after lecture."

"And she's going to give you another one if you don't stop yelling." Chakotay finally decided on the direct approach and grabbed Tom's sleeve, hauling him into the seat directly across. "Now will you just tell me what your problem is tonight?"

"It is *you* that's my problem!" Tom whispered furiously. "*You* and the little games you and B`Elanna keep trying to play with my life."

Him and B`Elanna in the same sentence when Tom was pissed. Not a good sign. Especially considering the circumstances. Of course, he still wasn't sure exactly why Tom was so angry with him yet. "Tom, what game?" Chakotay asked patiently. "What are you talking about?"

"No one invited you to the holodeck yesterday...and no one ordered you to stay once you were there!" Tom's voice was getting dangerously loud again as his anger rose.

*Gods...where was a glass of water when you needed one?* Chakotay thought to himself. He didn't want to have *this* discussion with Tom in the first place...and he really didn't want to have to have it in the middle of the Mess Hall. Especially since people were already watching the two of them raptly, dying of curiousity.

"Lieutenant, I think we should continue this discussion somewhere else." Tom rolled his eyes at the suggestion and made no motion to move, looking as though he would be perfectly content to sit there for eternity. Chakotay sighed deeply, beginning to lose all patience with the angry young man. "Look, do you want to talk about this or not? If you do, we're moving right now, otherwise, this issue is closed...permanently!"

"Oh...you can't get rid of me *that* easily...Commander." Tom practically spit out Chakotay's rank, he put so much emphasis on the word. "I'm just dying to find out what your fucking problem with me is...yet again."

"Fine..." Chakotay suppressed another sigh as he walked out of the Mess Hall, not even bothering to check if Tom was following behind. Like Tom wasn't going to follow...only in parallel universes did improbable things like that happen. Of course, there was still a tiny, irrational part of Chakotay's mind, that was still hoping that Tom wouldn't still want to talk about this...that all he was interested in was making a big scene in a public place. But of course that wasn't going to happen anytime soon, fate was probably laughing it's head off right now at the fact it was making Chakotay's life miserable. And he actually thought staring at a glass of water was going to eliminate the problem...

"So where exactly are we going?" Tom finally broke the silence, speaking in a overly polite tone.

"If you're going to start raving like a lunatic again...preferably somewhere soundproof." Chakotay muttered wryly. "And probably a good choice would be nowhere near the Captain or Tuvok."

"Oh...but why not? I was going for a record here." Tom snorted, somewhat amused. "Why not add another lecture to make my day complete."

"I'm sure that can be arranged Tom..." Chakotay said the words without thinking, then realized his mistake when the anger rose once again to Tom's features.

"Right...I'm sure *you* would happy to do it for me...tell your precious Kathryn that I'm still bothering you." Tom said in a low voice...but one that was full of anger.

Chakotay glanced up - Conference Room...not the best place. But at least it had a locking door and thick walls. And it had to be better than having this blow-out in the middle of the hall...where everybody could see. "Let's go Lieutenant." Chakotay motioned towards the door with a nod of his head.

"Here?" Tom asked incredulously but stalked into the darkened room anyways. He wasn't about to start a fight over a fucking choice in location - hell he had so much more he wanted to *discuss* with Chakotay.

"Computer, lights, half illumination." Chakotay called out and instantly the room brightened. Tom was sitting in a chair facing the wall, looking almost like a pouting child, sent to his room. Wondering why in spirit's name he was sent someone like Tom Paris to deal with, Chakotay walked through the doors and passed the point of no return. "Okay...you obviously have a lot you want to say, so go ahead. Start yelling..."

"Can I just ask you something first?" Tom asked conversationally as he turned in his chair. "Did I do something to deserve this? I mean, fuck, the first time you saw me here you almost want to kill me, it took you three fucking years to be able to tolerate me. But somewhere...out of the blue last night, you decide to tell me you're attracted to me...then I wake up this morning we're back to square one. Except this time I'm the one who wants to kill you."

"Great...maybe we should have had this conversation in the Mess Hall then." Chakotay muttered sarcasticaly.

"Don't start with the fucking sarcasm Chakotay. That's my trademark, not yours." Tom said angrily, eyes flashing deep blue. "I want to know what I did this time that made you decide to make my life a living hell."

"I'm not making your life a living hell Lieutenant..." Chakotay sighed, Tom was beginning to rant again, making absolutely no sense whatsoever.

"Oh really...I suppose a restraining order is how you greet all of your friends?" Tom asked sarcastically. "Let's just say that I've been put on such a short leash by Janeway I practically can't even breath on the Bridge anymore without permission. And that's all thanks to you and B`Ela..."

"Restraining order?" Chakotay repeated stupidly.

"Yes...Janeway gave me two. One to give B`Elanna time to cool off, pissing me off slightly...but that one I can accept. However, the other was to not to go anywhere near you." Tom explained angrily. "Because...*it's obvious that you and Commander Chakotay are having problems with your working relationship. And while it may not be *your* fault, I'd like you to try and stay away from him...at least for a while.*" Tom did an impression of Janeway as he spoke...and passable one at that. If it had been at any other time, Chakotay probably would have laughed...but this wasn't *any other time.*

"Tom..." Chakotay sighed and tried to interrupt but Tom was already off on his next rant.

"So would you like to explain this? Why the hell Janeway is now *forcibly* trying to keep me away from you? What...did you think I was going to jump you in a turbolift or something? Or maybe break into your quarters in the middle of the night?" Tom asked with a laugh. "Or...take you right in the middle of morning briefing?"

Shit...that thought again. Chakotay sighed...of all the things Tom had to say...that would be one of them. It just reminded him of his little fantasy he had dreamed up just that morning...of Tom and him in the Briefing Room...

"You did?" Tom must have seen the look in Chakotay's face because his question was punctuated with a snort. "You actually thought I might do something like that? You're more twisted than I thought."

"Tom...I didn't put a restraining order on you." Chakotay leaned up against the wall and tried not to sigh again. Spirits, Janeway was right for once. Problems with personal relationships just didn't work when you have to work with the person everyday for what may be the rest of your life. "I didn't actually tell the Captain anything."

"Sure...then where'd this magical order to avoid you come from?" Tom asked with a shrug. "The moon? DaVinci? Tuvok?"

"I don't know!" Chakotay finally shouted out, sick and tired of listening to Tom make accusations that weren't true. "I have no fucking clue where the hell the Captain got the idea...and I really don't give a fuck right now either."

Tom's mouth dropped practically to the floor as he listened to Chakotay blow up...swears and all. He didn't think he'd ever seen the big man worked up this much before in his life, and Chakotay had been known to have some pretty big blowouts during his stint in the Maquis. Come to think of it, Tom was usually on the receiving end of those blowouts as well. Must have been something about his glittering personality. Tom was going to say something to try and defuse Chakotay...before the entire thing deteriorated and Tom ended up on the wrong side of the ship. What the hell he was going to say, he didn't know, but it didn't matter anyways in the end. Chakotay wouldn't let him get a word in edgewise, just kept yelling.

"You keep accusing me of things...well let me accuse you of something. You are so fucking fickle...you drop B`Elanna one minute and the next you're doing this song and dance with me." Chakotay leaned across the table and stared right at Tom, his mere presence was imposing. "Your relationship with her hasn't even cooled yet and you're kissing me. And you tell me *I'm* twisted?"

"This is about B`Elanna...isn't it?" Tom asked quietly. "I don't believe it...B`Elanna and I have a blowout yesterday which leads to a really messy breakup. Then my *Commanding Officer* for fuck knows whatever reason, decides to tell me he's attracted to me, which then drops me right into the middle of another messy confrontation...all because of the first. Am I getting this right now?"

"Tom..." Chakotay didn't mean to blow up...but all those conflicting emotions had to be let out sooner or later. Besides...Tom did want to know what the hell Chakotay's problem was in the first place.

"No! Don't you go and start this *Tom...* bit and fucking try to psychoanalyze me and my feelings." Tom shouted out, then his voice dropped back down to barely a whisper. "I want to know...is this about B`Elanna?"

"Yes...no...I don't know!" Chakotay sighed, standing up to pace the room nervously. "I mean I can't help wondering if this is some elaborate plot to make B`Elanna jealous."

"With you? Why the fuck would I go through all *that* effort?" Tom couldn't help it, the words just came out in that incredulous way of his. "Hell, Chakotay, I could have slept with over half of her Engineering staff if I wanted to make her jealous. Actually, I could have fucked Seven...everyone on this ship knows she's more than willing to learn. Come to think of it, that would have really pissed B`Ela off. But the truth of the matter is, I respected B`Elanna way too much to go around and screw the first person I saw last night."

"Then what was all that with me in the holodeck?" Chakotay asked sarcasticall, replaying the events from the previous night over in his head. "I'd say that was a pretty interesting offer from someone who didn't intend to screw the first person they saw..."

"Quite honestly...because I felt like shit last night and I figured it couldn't get any worse if I said it. Fuck it...you were embarassed as hell and I had no clue what to say! So I said the first thing that came to mind which happened to be an offer." Tom shrugged when Chakotay shot him a disbelieving glare. "Fine...you don't have to believe me. I don't care. But you wanted to know."

"So was any of that stuff you said truthful yesterday?" Chakotay leaned up against the wall...he felt more in control of the situation now for some screwed up reason. Maybe because Tom had finally stopped yelling. Or maybe it was because he was finally learning the truth...

"Gods Chakotay, what do you want from me?" Tom asked with a sigh. "I don't have a clue. How about this...before you walked through those holodeck doors yesterday, *fucking Chakotay* wasn't high on my list of things to do last night."

"And now?" Chakotay was almost afraid to ask. A part of him wanted to know...yet a part of him just wanted to stay as far away from the issue as possible.

"I don't know...I've had some time to think about it and I think I like where this *thing* of yours is going." Tom shrugged. "But I'm not going to put my emotions out again if they're only going to get trampled on. Being rejected twice in two days and having everyone think I'm scum is quite enough for me..."

"Fine...then we're actually in agreement for once in our lives." Chakotay turned to walk out the door but Tom's voice calling him back stopped him. "Because I'm not willing to put my emotions out on the line either."

"Where the fuck are you going?" Tom asked with a small frown. "I don't think we finished this conversation."

"Yes we have. Tom...I had some time to think about *it* as well...and even though we just talked about some of our problems with *it* now, I still don't think any of *it* is a good idea. Chakotay ran his hand through his hair, hovering near the doorway awkwardly. "I can't trust you, you can't trust me, Captain Janeway wouldn't approve of this..."

"Oh...will you stop hiding behind the fucking praises of Captain Janeway for a second...?" Tom muttered sarcastically. "I just did my self-evaluation of our non-existant relationship right now...and I've been telling *you* the truth all night. I think it's your turn now."

"What are you talking about Paris?" Chakotay asked wearily and Tom shrugged.

"I'm talking about *you*...feeling this need to *fix* my problems. Trying to psychoanalyze me into telling you exactly how I feel so you know how to deal with me without any of the risks. Well it's not going to work, I already told you that." Tom sprang up to his feet and circled the table, walking towards Chakotay, confident as hell. And for once, Chakotay didn't back down, standing his ground...both men facing each other, only mere inches apart. "So let's just try something else, shall we? You want to psychoanalyze something? Psychoanalyze this..."

Chakotay was shoved hard up against the wall and for a fleeting moment, he thought Tom was going to deck him. Of course...that was up until the moment Tom kissed him once again. After that...thinking was nearly impossible.

***** Part 3 *****

Chakotay groaned as he felt Tom grind their bodies into the wall, the warm, strong feel of the younger man pressed against him made him hard almost instantly. They were still locked together in a possessive kiss, it seemed almost as if Tom wanted to claim the Commander by mouth alone. And spirits if he wouldn't be able to accomplish it, the way Tom was kissing, Chakotay could feel every resolve in his body crumbling.

They broke away suddenly and Chakotay was left leaning against the wall, panting hard. Tom had stepped back a bit, peeling himself off and giving them both some space. But it wasn't much, Chakotay could have sworn he could still feel the sexual charge between the two of them, even when they weren't touching.

"So Commander...how do you feel right now?" Tom asked with a bit of a laugh, the ever-present smirk still on his face.

Damn the man...damn it all. Tom had done it again, managed to bypass Chakotay's brain entirely until he was thinking only with his hormones. And gods was it a loud message. Chakotay needed some time to think, regain his train of thought. Hell...regaining any coherent train of thought would be enough. "This conversation wasn't about me Tom..."

"It wasn't yesterday either. Funny how things like this happen, isn't it?" Tom asked, his tone bordering on flippant. He was attempting to be nonchalant about the entire thing, trying to force Chakotay into admitting his true feelings. The stoic Indian...he could be so damned stubborn sometimes. Once he got some idea in his head, he just wouldn't let go of it.

And now that Tom was actually willing to persue this interesting...arangement with the Commander, he wasn't about to let the man get away, leaving everything that happened between them behind once again. He tried that last night...and that sure didn't work well. Of course, there was a limit to how long Tom was willing to force the issue.

"Hilarious." Chakotay muttered as he stood up straight and faced Tom once again, his control was slowly coming back. *What the hell are you doing Chakotay? You wanted to avoid this...you don't trust Paris...get out of here NOW!!!* Chakotay could hear the mocking voice in his head, trying to reassert itself. But there was still a louder voice, the one demanding to be fucked...*NOW!!!*

"You're stalling..." Tom muttered, then taking a chance he stepped closer once again. Smiling sensually, he dragged a single fingertip down Chakotay's chest, past his stomach, towards the growing bulge in his uniform pants. "I'm waiting for an answer..."

"Tom...I don't...oh..." Chakotay's words broke into a moan as Tom's wandering hand suddenly closed around Chakotay's cock. His eyes snapped shut and he leaned back against the wall, feeling his entire body begin to shake.

"Was that a yes?" Tom laughed huskily into Chakotay's ear as he received only a low moan as his answer.

"Tom..." Chakotay couldn't believe it...was that his voice, the one that sounded so desperate moaning out Tom's name? Spirits, did he really need Tom this badly?

"That's not a good enough answer for me. Fuck it Chakotay. I swear if I have to take you right here on the table to make you admit you want this, I will." Tom warned, licking his way up Chakotay's neck and tracing his ear with his tongue.

That managed to get through Chakotay's lust clouded brain...fucking on a table in the middle of the Conference Room - this was just going way too fast...and getting a little too weird for Chakotay in the process. "We aren't going to do anything on any table..." Chakotay mumbled aloud, trying to push Tom away. And surprisingly, Tom gave up without too much effort, just watching as Chakotay walked away, leaning against the table and trying to avoid Tom's gaze.

"Why? Too much like a *Briefing Room*...maybe like the *Briefing Room* on the Bridge?" Tom asked with a chuckle. "Now why didn't I think of that. Psychoanalysis through make- believe. Why don't we try that...play a little *let's pretend*"

"Let's not..." Chakotay mumbled again, and Tom's grin grew even wider.

"Oh...but why not. You obviously *thought* I would jump you during morning briefing..." Tom said silkily as he moved to stand behind the Commander, almost as close as he had been this morning. "For all I know...this is what you wanted me to do this morning."

Tom's hand snaked around Chakotay's thigh and swiftly traced a path towards Chakotay's cock again. Light fingers slowly dancing up and down it's length before closing tightly around his erection. "Okay...let's see, where to start...somewhere this morning. Hmm...well, I know Janeway can't see my hand from where she's sitting, it's practically under the table with you leaning like that. She can't see how hard you are, can't see that bulge in your uniform from where she is. But you and me, we both know the truth..."

"Tom..." Chakotay moaned, the hot, breathy words Tom was muttering into his ear were making him lose his mind. It was all a delusion, this was the Conference Room...not the Briefing Room. And there was no one else here with them, it was only him and Tom. But, when he closed his eyes and listened to Tom's husky voice, narrating that damned fantasy, he could just picture being in the morning briefing eight hours earlier...and getting jerked off by Tom Paris.

"B`Elanna and Harry are right behind us...but they can't see anything, I'm the one blocking most of the view this time. Besides which, everything interesting is going on in front of us." Tom smiled as he could feel Chakotay begin to rock back and forth, trying to increase the speed and friction from the hand still tightly clasped around his erection. "Janeway asks you a direct question...and you have no clue what the fuck is going on around you. Because you're so focused on my hand...and what it's doing to you..."

*What was Tom doing?* Chakotay could feel Tom's hand fumble with the fastenings on Chakotay's uniform pants, obviously not used to doing it blind and one-handed because it was taking forever. And damned if Chakotay didn't want Tom to hurry up, all of a sudden the clothes he was wearing just seemed too restricting.

The sudden touch of skin on skin made Chakotay gasp with surprise, Tom's fingers were freezing but they felt oh-so-good when they were running up Chakotay's cock. Chakotay's arms finally gave out and he collapsed on the table, moaning and gasping incoherently. Spirits...Tom hadn't even removed Chakotay's pants, just undid the fly and pulled the briefs underneath down far enough to get at the Commander's aching erection. And, the damned pilot was still carrying on with that damned story of his...in that seductive tone that was sending Chakotay into a near frenzy.

"Of course...you're trying to breath normally, swallowing the low moans and pleas in your throat. You can't do anything...can't say a damned thing. Not without having the entire Bridge crew know that I'm jerking you off in the middle of morning briefing." Tom leaned forward again, pressing himself back onto Chakotay's trembling form. Smiling slightly, he blew gently across Chakotay's ear and heard a small wimper from the man underneath.

"Please....oh gods please..." Chakotay murmured, his entire body trembling with the strain.

"You wanted this...didn't you?" Tom stopped the story there, practically breathing his next question into Chakotay's ear. "You wanted me to do this to you then...and this is exactly what you want from me now too. Isn't it?"

Chakotay nodded his head shakily, unable to actually get entire words out. He had been reduced to a moaning, shivering, pleading shell...desperatly focused on one objective only.

"So how do you feel Commander?" Tom asked once again with a small laugh, the hand stilling entirely for a second.

"Shit... gods Tom... I need this... need you.... please..." Chakotay murmured the words aloud. He honestly didn't care anymore if Tom knew just how deeply his feelings for stretched. He didn't even care anymore if Tom was just using him as some pawn in some master plan of his. Because right now, he was getting jerked off by Tom Paris...and loving every second of it. "Oh...please don't stop...just don't stop..."

"Since you asked so nicely..." Tom shrugged as he picked up the pace with his hand, all his actions a little rougher...a little more frenzied now. "Come on Chakotay...come for me now. It's me here lying on your back, jerking you off. Feel my fingers running up your cock? Can you feel my other hand on your thighs...through your uniform...moving towards your balls? Or what about when I rub my hand just like this?"

Oh gods...Chakotay knew he was losing it. The tension was building up inside like a knot, ready to explode. And in his ear he could hear a faint whisper, so quiet Chakotay almost wasn't sure if he was just imagining that as well. But it *was* Tom's voice, plain as day...and for the first time, Chakotay knew he could trust the voice, trust the words that floated into his brain through the foggy haze of absolute pleasure. "You know something Chakotay? I wanted to do this exact same thing this morning too..."

Tom barely had a chance to finish his sentence before Chakotay was coming into Tom's hand, shaking and trembling so hard he thought he would collapse. Giving up the fight, he did eventually collapse onto the table, leaning face down and trying to get a full lungful of air into his heaving chest.

"Feel better now Commander?" Tom asked with a smug tone behind him and Chakotay groaned, trying to stand.

"Your arm Paris..." Chakotay muttered the first thought that came to his mind, something so totally unrelated it was funny.

"What?!?!" Tom sounded confused and Chakotay smirked slightly. Finally, he had said something that Tom didn't expect. Maybe he wasn't as predictable as everyone thought he was.

"Janeway...she would see your arm moving if you decided to try that during Morning Briefing..." Chakotay mumbled into the table and he could hear the loud chuckling behind his head.

"So we'll stand in front of a chair next time." Tom shrugged and sat against the edge of the table, gazing down at the Commander with both amusement and affection.

"I don't think so..." Chakotay muttered the same words once again as he picked himself off the table and stood up to face Tom, who was still smirking widely.

"Oh...you have absolutely no sense..." Tom teased lightly as he met Chakotay's gaze...and shivered as he was pulled into their depths. "...of adventure..."

"I was just thinking we could fuck on the table and give everyone a show instead." Chakotay couldn't help but smile again, that was the second time he had caught Tom off guard with an unexpected comment. This time, the pilot was so shocked, he didn't even realize Chakotay was undressing him until his uniform jacket was almost half off.

"Oh, no...we are *not* going to do this on a table..." Tom protested weakly as Chakotay continued to undress him roughly, the jacket falling to the table behind, followed soon after by the turtleneck underneath.

"Funny...I thought I said something to that extent a while ago..." Chakotay muttered and Tom rolled his eyes.

"You did...and I didn't listen to you. But *this* is different!" Tom tried to explain but failed miserably losing his train of thought as Chakotay began to lick his way down his neck.

"Oh really...and exactly *how* is this any different?" Chakotay asked with a grin, meeting Tom's eyes with his own in an unspoken challenge.

"Because I'm the one on the fucking table this time!" Tom finally blurted out and Chakotay just laughed.

"You are just so observant Tom...I guess that's why the Captain made you pilot. So we don't go running into huge planets or anything." Chakotay grinned and Tom just rolled his eyes once again.

He was trying to think of some smart retort but the words just evaporated once Chakotay's hand moved down to his uniform pants. "Oh fuck...you're actually serious about this..."

"Computer, privacy lock..." Chakotay spoke aloud and watched as Tom's eyes opened even wider. "Serious enough for you?"

"Actually, no! It's pretty fucking difficult to be serious when I'm sitting on a table...in the Conference Room...half naked..." Tom muttered even as he reached out to undo Chakotay's uniform jacket. Chakotay smirked, sensing Tom's reluctant acceptance of the situation and kissed him thouroughly.

It was almost as if it were a sign, everything instantly became so much more urgent, more needy. Both trying to strip, touch and kiss the other everywhere at once. It was a rush really, all the cooped up emotions and barely hidden desires finally finding a target. Of course, neither of them wanted to admit just how much they needed this, needed each other.

"Oh fuck..." Tom murmured as their erections met, he wasn't really sitting on the table now as much as he was leaning against it. He had shifted forward in order to press himself into Chakotay as much as possible. *I can't believe I want this...can't believe I'm actually doing this...*

Strong hands gently turning him around, pressing his upper body down until it was resting against the pile of clothes that had been tossed to the table carelessly earlier. It was now all a whirl to Tom now...a jumble of emotions and thoughts and feelings all tumbling into one. This had gone way beyond merely trying to make Chakotay admit his feelings, gone way beyond teasing and taunting. It was about...

"Gods..." Tom groaned aloud as one slick finger traced the outside rim of his anus. He had already lost his train of thought with that single touch, now he was just anticipating that single moment when the wandering finger would finally enter him.

"Being on the table isn't so bad now, is it Paris?" Chakotay asked in a mocking voice and he could hear the younger man swearing lowly into the table. "Sorry Tom, I didn't quite catch that..."

"I said...will you please stop with the wisecracks and just fuck me...Sir?" Tom asked, forcing out a polite tone and Chakotay laughed again.

"I don't know about that Tom..." Chakotay gently pressed the tip of his finger in, heard the sharp gasp from Tom as he arched his back with the sensation. "There's so much more I'd like to do with you before I fuck you."

One finger soon made its way to two, then three. By this time, Tom's smart-ass commentary finally subsided into low moans, punctuated at times with a swear from his impressive vocabulary. And then the fingers were gone, leaving Tom gasping aloud. "Shit...Chakotay..."

"Yeah?" Chakotay was finding it hard to concentrate as well. His own erection had returned full force a long time ago and just applying the lubricant was almost enough to send him over the edge again. Hearing Tom moan underneath him wasn't helping much either...

"Do you always...carry lube around wherever...you go?" Tom was breathing in big gasping breaths, almost as if he had been running a marathon.

"You forget Tom, I'm the Indian on the ship...I'm always prepared." Chakotay laughed slightly and heard a slightly more strangled laugh from beneath him. Running a finger down Tom's spine Chakotay watched the younger man shiver and tremble with his touch, the laughter quickly turning into low groans.

"Chakotay...please..." Tom murmured, spreading his legs further apart and offering himself to the older man.

"Hasn't anyone ever told you that patience is a virtue?" Chakotay mumbled aloud as he slowly entered Tom again, this time with his cock.

"No, patience was never... Oh fuck yes..." Tom swore as he felt Chakotay fill him. It was still too slow for Tom's tastes and he forced himself backwards, impaling himself on Chakotay's cock. He briefly heard an answering swear from the Commander just before he could feel Chakotay begin to slowly thrust himself in and out, it was so incredibly mind-blowing it was unbelievable. "Fuck...Chakotay...please..."

It was going to be fast, Chakotay could feel his orgasm building once again for the second time that night. And from the incoherent ramblings coming from Tom underneath him, it wasn't going to be long for him either. Reaching around with his still slippery hand he gripped Tom's erection, feeling the younger man arch his back into him once again.

"Yes...oh gods yes...Chakotay..." Tom was getting louder now as Chakotay jerked him off roughly in time with his thrusts. Once, twice...and he fell over, screaming aloud as he came all over Chakotay's hand.

The sudden tightness around Chakotay's cock, Tom's breathy screams and the headiness of the entire situation was just too much for Chakotay's brain to process. Giving his own surprised shout he came, filling the still trembling body underneath him again and again.

Then there was nothing...the echos of their exclamations had long since died. Now, it was almost pure quiet filling the large room...silence broken only with the quiet sounds of gasping breaths. Finally, after the quiet seemed to stretch for eternity a low chuckle broke the silence for good.

"Well...I know why you wanted a soundproof room now..." Tom's good humored voice brought a smile out of the older man, still sprawled bonelessly on Tom's back. Chakotay couldn't believe he had ever found that tone so annoying. When it was tinged with that of pure satisfaction it was just so perfect.

"Can I help it that you're so loud?" Chakotay replied with a laugh. "Besides, I don't think it helped much, I'm pretty sure the entire ship could hear that scream..."

"And what about you? I think they heard those shouts in the Alpha Quadrant..." Tom muttered, shifting slightly, then letting out a low swear once again. "Fuck...I knew we shouldn't have done this on the table."

"Tom...just stuff it." Chakotay kissed Tom's neck, then slid off his back. "What could you possibly have a problem with now?"

"Besides the fact that my back and ass hurt like hell, *we* just made a mess that I'm lying in the middle of." Tom muttered.

Oh...that was too funny. Much, much too funny for Chakotay's poor abused brain to handle. A mess. Chakotay started chuckling, and that grew into gales of laughter as Tom shot him a dirty look.

"Just what the fuck do you find so amusing now?" Tom asked with barely controlled annoyance.

"Something Captain Janeway told me this morning." Chakotay smirked. "About the lines between professional and personal lines being crossed in big, *messy*, emotional scenes."

"I'm pretty sure she didn't mean this...kind of a mess." Tom replied wryly and Chakotay just started laughing again. "Fuck, people think *I'm* the one who's crazy...this just proves it, you're the nutcase!"

"Happens sometimes." Chakotay shrugged and saw Tom start to smile. "Especially when your running on emotions."

***** Epilogue *****

"Mr. Paris, I find this fascinating how you can manage to arrive here only 15 seconds from being late yesterday yet can still manage to beat that time by arriving barely 5 seconds from being late today." Captain Janeway sat at the head of the table, looking decidedly unamused. "Would you care to explain?"

"What, doesn't she listen to me? I told her yesterday, perfect timing." Tom muttered.

"Lieutenant...*perfect timing* is not an excuse." Tom looked up at her in shock...gods she must have hearing like a Vulcan. "And would you like to explain how you managed to make Chakotay nearly late as well...?"

Shit...and it had been going so well. Chakotay stood against the table once again, Tom directly behind him, just like they had twice the day before. Except this time it was obvious they were trying to avoid getting near the other, there was a good cushion of distance between the two. Enough space that Chakotay could manage to not blush or smile, as long as he didn't think about the day before. But that one comment would do it.

"Stop laughing!" Tom whispered fiercely at Chakotay, then turned back to the Captain. "Not particularly Ma`am."

"Commander?" The Captain turned to him with a curious expression on her face. "Would you care to explain?"

Visions of him telling the Captain that he had been sucking Tom off only a half hour ago flittered through his mind. But the kick in his leg from Tom convinced him otherwise of what to say. "Not unless you order me to Captain."

"Alright then gentlemen...take your seats." Janeway waved them away and Tom and Chakotay scampered to their seats, Tom looking embarassed as hell and Chakotay looking like he was going to burst out laughing at any second.

Sighing, Janeway started the meeting, thinking to herself. *Gods...these morning briefings are getting more and more interesting every day...*

End Running on Emotions

Feedback, virtual cookies, virtual backrubs or money bribes are greatfully accepted at the following address: keikimo@hotmail.com