Discussion: I started writing this story after Deadlock, but long before Resolutions, so much of it might seem out of date at this point. But I liked the ideas well enough to finish it a year after its inception, and I think it's worth sharing. After all, it's all in fun! Enjoy.

Disclaimer: Paramount owns Voyager and all its characters. We all know and accept that, to the best of our abilities. My abilities screamed, Write this story! So I did. I own this story and all the ideas included. Feel free to distribute it, but please leave this header in place.

Ensign Harry Kim hurried down the curving corridor, attempting to hastily attach his ensign's pips to his shirt collar while not tripping over his boots in the process. He arrived at the mess hall out of breath and disheveled despite his efforts.

Harry! Over here! Tom Paris waved at Kim from a table across the room.

Harry waved back before he took his place in the breakfast line. He rubbed his eyes still blurred from the night while waiting for his turn.

Good morning, Ensign! Neelix boomed and held out a tray full of what looked like a mass of oatmeal. And how are you this fine morning?

Harry grabbed the tray with a forced smile. He took a whiff of the food on the tray, then wished he hadn't and had to hide his subsequent grimace from Neelix. He knew that Neelix was doing his best to create delicacies that would make the Voyager crew feel at home in the Delta Quadrant, but somehow the food always made their plight seem that much worse, their surroundings even more alien.

Neelix, ever on the lookout for the well-being of the crew, caught Kim's sour expression. What's wrong, Ensign? Don't you like oatmeal?

Kim was quick to mask his displeasure. No, not at all, he assured Neelix. When the Talaxian's face fell at what sounded like Harry's extreme dislike of his cooking, Kim had to think fast to fix the damage he'd done. That's not what I meant, Neelix, he protested. I mean that I like oatmeal just fine. This looks like a great breakfast. He held the tray aloft and grinned what he hoped was a convincing grin.

Neelix looked unconvinced. That's not what it sounds like to me. It sounds more like what Lieutenant Tuvok says is a slip of the tongue; you really don't like my cooking, you just don't want me to know about it.

Kim sighed. He truly didn't want to deal with something this complex first thing in the morning, but he didn't want to hurt Neelix's feelings, either. So he tried again. It wasn't a slip, honestly, Neelix. I didn't mean it to come out like that. I guess I'm just tired this morning.

Neelix's face lost the hurt look immediately. You do look a bit peaked now that I think about it. Are you all right, Ensign? Is there anything wrong that I can help you with?

Now he'd done it - Neelix was on one of his morale kicks again. Kim sighed. All he really wanted to do was sit down and eat his oatmeal before it turned cold. No, nothing's wrong. I just stayed up too late. I was reading.

Neelix's face split into a grin. Oh! Are you reading The Lands of Peril and Disappointment?

Kim's face lit up in disbelief. Yes! How did you know?

Neelix shook his head self-importantly. You'll remember that I'm not only the cook on this ship, but also the morale officer. It's my sacred duty to keep up with the goings on of the crew. Besides, I wanted to read it again and I noticed that you had already accessed it from the ship's library. So, what do you think?

Excited now, his exhaustion and breakfast forgotten, Harry plunked the tray back down on the counter and said, I can't believe how good it is! I stayed up until oh-five-hundred this morning reading it. I couldn't put it down.

Neelix leaned as far across the counter as he could without disturbing the trays he had stacked there. Have you come to the part where Latavia and Bar meet up with the curator of the ship?

Kim's grin widened. Yes! I thought sure he would turn out to be the one behind all the assassinations, but now I don't quite know. All the characters and plots are getting so mixed up, it's hard to keep everything straight. I have to keep notes and refer to them all the time.

That's what I had to do the first time I read it! Neelix exclaimed. It's a masterful story. Full of political intrigue and dastardly villains. I love it!

Kim's grin disappeared as he tried to stifle a yawn. Yeah, I know what you mean. I only got two hours of sleep last night because of that book.

I know just the thing, Neelix said and slapped the counter with his hand. I'll brew up a nice strong pot of coffee just for you.

Coffee? Harry always associated coffee with Captain Janeway and felt that it was her personal beverage. To drink it would somehow be a violation of captain's privilege. Although he admittedly thought that was a ridiculous notion, he had a hard time convincing himself not to adhere to it. He hesitated. I don't know, Neelix. I'm not a big coffee drinker....

Neelix waved the ensign's excuses aside. You'll love this, trust me. And I'll be sure to put plenty of caffeine in it to give you that extra little kick to get you going today. It's just the thing. Now you sit down and eat your breakfast. I'll be right out. He bustled back into his kitchen.

Kim sighed, but was left with little choice. When Neelix came up with an idea that he thought would help some unfortunate crewmember, all anybody could do was sit back and let the Talaxian do his thing. Hopefully his thing wouldn't have too many adverse effects.

Harry threaded his way around the other early duty personnel in the mess hall and finally managed to plop his tray on the table and fall into the empty seat across from Tom Paris.

Tom looked up. You look like hell.

Kim gave Tom a warning glance. I can always count on you to see the positive side of any situation.

Paris grinned. That's right, just call me the ship's optimist. He indicated Kim's tray of breakfast glop. What took you so long? I thought maybe you'd gotten lost.

I did, Harry answered Tom's teasing remark. Neelix snagged me.

Uh-oh. What's he doing for you now?

Kim smiled, but felt he had to come to Neelix's defense. That's not nice, Tom. He's only trying to help.

Yeah, that may be, but Neelix's help has the tendency to have lasting and not so pleasant side effects.

He's just making me coffee.

But you don't drink coffee, Tom pointed out.

He says it will wake me up. Something has to, or Chakotay will be all over me for falling asleep during a duty shift.

Tom looked at Harry more closely. Oh no. His voice denoted imminent doom.

Kim glanced at him, puzzled. What?

You did it again.

Did what?

You stayed up all night reading, didn't you?

Harry took an experimental bite of oatmeal. Yes.

You told me that you never used to read at home, Paris accused.

Harry shrugged. Well, it's different on Voyager. I read all the time here. So?

So? Tom's tone became incredulous. Harry, Harry, Harry. What am I going to do with you?

Harry's eyes narrowed suspiciously. Nothing, that's what. Absolutely nothing.

Harry Kim, how do you plan to ever meet anybody on this ship if you're always holed up in your quarters reading a book?

I like to read, Harry protested. He blew on another bite of oatmeal, which, once he got passed its unappealing smell, tasted surprisingly good. At least it was warm. And I've met everybody I'm likely to meet on this ship. It's not like we pick up new passengers every other day.

Tom hit his forehead with a hand in mock despair. That's not what I'm saying, Harry! I'm telling you, maybe you think that you know them, but you don't really know them.

Is there a point to this? Harry asked around the food in his mouth.

Yes, Tom nodded vigorously. There's definitely a point here. You need to get out more. Come to Sandrine's with me. Talk to some of the guys there -

Harry interrupted, You mean the girls, don't you? He yawned again.

Tom let his hand fall to the table and he gave Kim a look of surrender. Okay. Have it your way. Sit in your room, then. Sit there until we get back to the Alpha Quadrant, see if I care. But just don't come crying to me when all those people back home ask you for stories of life in the Delta Quadrant and all you can say is that you sat in your room, reading, and missed out on everything else. He crossed his arms in satisfaction just as Neelix arrived at their table, carrying a large carafe of steaming coffee.

Here you go! Coffee a la Neelix, with enough caffeine to stop the Kazon armada. He handed a cup to Ensign Kim, and poured it full to the brim. Drink up, my friend, and give 'em hell today! He paused to chuckle. Give 'em hell, he repeated. I learned that from Lieutenant Bklava. I don't exactly know what it means, but it sounds good! With a cheery salute, he withdrew to serve the second wave of breakfast enthusiasts coming into the mess hall.

Kim took a sip of the coffee, nearly gagged, then forced himself to take another sip. Whew! I don't know how the captain drinks this stuff.

It's an acquired taste, I'm sure, Tom said helpfully. Especially when it comes from Neelix.

Tom! Harry said, but laughed along with him anyway. He swallowed a few more gulps of his Neelix-improved potion.

Tom grinned. You know, if you didn't stay up all night, you wouldn't have to resort to measures like this.

Tom, Harry said cheerfully, shut up. Then he yawned again.

Well, Mr. Separatist, don't say I didn't warn you. Suddenly he noticed how full the mess hall was getting with newly arriving crewmembers. Hey, we better get going. We have duty in... He glanced at the chronometer on the far wall. Three minutes... Three minutes! Frak!

Three minutes! Harry gulped.

If we're late, Chakotay may give us more time for reading than even you would like! Tom jumped out of his chair, bumping the table, sloshing the coffee over the rim of the cup and onto Harry's hand.

Ouch! Harry yelped as the hot liquid burned across the back of his hand. Tom, that hurt!

Not as much as Chakotay's discipline will if we don't hurry! Come on, Harry! Tom scrambled for the exit to the corridor.

But I'm burned! Harry insisted as he jumped up and ran after his friend.

Deal with it later! Tom said. Make way, everybody! Coming through! he called ahead as he and Harry dashed out of the mess hall and into the corridor. Personnel moved out of the way and the two officers barreled down the corridor. Hold the lift! he screamed before they could even see the turbolift.

You know, I never had trouble with being late for anything until I met you, Harry panted.

Well, I'm glad something good is rubbing off! Tom answered, then dodged into a secondary corridor. Shortcut!

Shortcut!? Kim wheezed in stunned disbelief.

Suddenly Tom skidded to a halt right in front of Harry, then entered into a casual saunter. Harry slammed into Paris, knocking his hand against the wall. Ow! Tom, I....

Tom put a hand on Kim's uniformed arm in warning and stepped aside to make room in the corridor. Captain, he said and nodded.

Harry's heart skipped at least three beats. Uh...hello, Captain, Kim echoed, attempting to hide his burned hand behind his back.

Captain Janeway came into full view then from around the bend in the corridor. She glanced up, taking in the the two panting officers, and eyed Kim even more closely.

Harry fought against a sudden, intense desire to blush, and succeeded.

Good morning, gentlemen, she said. First duty call?

Yes, ma'am, Paris answered stiffly. Harry didn't think he'd ever seen Lieutenant Paris stand up quite so straight before.

A tiny smile hovered around the corners of her lips. By my calculations, you have about forty seconds to get to the Bridge. Better hurry, she suggested mildly.

We're going, Captain, Kim said, and before he thought better of the action, waved at her with his burned hand.

Tom grabbed him, and they were off again, charging down the corridor. Finally the two darted into the nearest turbolift and Tom shouted, Bridge! as if his life depended on it.

Harry looked at Tom, his eyes glinting. Shortcut? he questioned sarcastically.

Tom had the decency to look chagrined. How was I supposed to know the captain would be coming down to the mess hall just then?

Harry inspected his red hand and found a blister on his thumb. If we live through this, remind me to kill you later, he said.

Tom's reply was cut off as the lift doors opened onto the Bridge. The calm scene was a sharp contrast to the mad dash through the corridors the two had just experienced, and it took Paris a second to adjust his heart rate to a slower pace. He glanced at Commander Chakotay on his way down the steps to his post at Conn.

Chakotay hadn't missed their entrance. He shifted in the captain's chair to catch a look at Ensign Kim walking to the Ops controls. Cutting it close, aren't you? he said.

Yes, sir, Kim answered, and Chakotay had the satisfaction of watching the young officer blush.

Blushing was the only reprimand Kim needed, Chakotay knew. And he was sure that Kim would give Tom Paris an earful later. If Tom knew what was good for him, he'd listen. Harry had a calming influence on the more roguish lieutenant.

Chakotay returned to the data padd he had been examining prior to Kim and Paris bursting onto the Bridge, and Harry breathed a quiet sigh of relief. They had made it without a second to spare, but if the commander was going to say more, he would have said it by now. Kim turned his attention to his post and tried to forget about his injured hand. He didn't dare ask to go to Sickbay now, with Chakotay irritated enough already. He would have to take care of it during break.

Oh, Commander Chakotay suddenly said without glancing up, Ensign Kim.

Kim looked up from his controls, feeling guilty before he could stop himself. He shot a look at Paris, but Tom's eyes were glued to his own controls. Yes, Commander? he answered.

Captain Janeway requested that you visit Sickbay immediately. Something about your hand?

Kim looked dumbly at his burned hand. It was beginning to throb again as every eye on the Bridge centered on it. Yes, sir. I'll go right now. As he entered the lift, he saw Tom Paris wink at him. The minute the door swooshed shut and he had requested his destination, Kim muttered, That's it. I'm just gonna kill him."

Contents || Chapter 2