**************************************************** Disclaimer time once again!   Sixty-fourth verse same as the first . .everybody *sing*: I don't own these characters, (chorus) Paramount does! I don't own this venue, (chorus) Paramount does! I am making no money off of this, (chorus) Paramount does not either! This story will eventually involve sex between two men, aka: slash.  If that is *not* your cup of tea, sweet as it is, then don't read it! (simple, ain't it??) Feedback is *very* much appreciated, and always answered. Flames will be passed around to friends and chuckled over.  :) Yes, another series.    Sequel to 'Ssst', 'Growl', 'Chuckle', 'Sob', 'Grin', 'Sigh', 'Smile', 'Yawn', 'Whisper', 'Groan', and 'Hover'. 'Waffle' by Amirin **************************************************** He's awake.  Back with us.  Resting in his quarters.  And he's got Neelix playing guardian.  Fine.  Wouldn't surprise me if he was doing it on purpose, just to keep me at a distance. I should go talk to him, anyway.  It's the perfect time, really. He can actually talk back, now. Although, I don't know if that's a good thing.  I just want to . . . get it all behind us.  Maybe go back to being 'B'Elanna' again and leave 'Lieutenant' by the wayside.  I want to be able to *talk* with him. Snort and snarl at the bad jokes he makes when I'm scowling, in some deliberately-lame attempt to get me to laugh, so I can threaten him with bodily harm for doing it.  I miss the 'good old days'. I'm tired of watching him watch the floor when we're in a turbolift together and the cursed thing is moving as slow as it possibly can, just to *piss* me off . . . I hate the tension, the thick, awful silences.  I *hate* it. I want the grin.  I want the laughter.  I want the teasing.  And I want him to act like he's my friend again. It shouldn't be this hard. Should it??                    <<<<<<<<<<>>>>>>>>>> He did it again.  Came back from god-only-knows where. We need to talk.   Okay, let's be honest, here.  *I* need to talk and I need him to listen. Then I need for him to try and forgive me.  For everything. How many times have I hurt him?  How much more can his heart take?  I broke it emotionally, then missed the density that jolted it into stopping, altogether.  Damned near destroyed him, both times.  Only he knows which one hurt more.  I'm just your basic, one-man disaster area, as far as Tom Paris is concerned.  Aren't I? I want my friend back.  Maybe 'best friend' is too much to hope for, anymore, but I'm so sick of being just 'Ensign'.  Not that I don't deserve it.  I know I do.  And worse.  But what I wouldn't give for him to call me 'Harry', again. He can't even look at me, most of the time.  And when he *has* to, to talk to me, his remarks are directed at some spot over my shoulder that only he can see.  I can't remember the last time his eyes actually met mine. He doesn't smile at me anymore.  Not even in my general direction. I miss him.  And I need to *see* him. Just to convince myself that he's all right.                   <<<<<<<<<<>>>>>>>>>> Dammit. How much longer is Neelix going to be *in* there? Maybe I'll try and talk to him later.  Maybe I should schedule an *appointment*, first. This is *ridiculous*.  I have to go on duty, soon. Hell with it, just . . . hell with it.  If he wants to talk to me, he knows where I am . . .                    <<<<<<<<<<>>>>>>>>>> Has Neelix moved *in*?  What on Earth is taking so long?  If he needed constant care, he'd be in Sickbay. I don't have time for this.  I've got to see Seven, try and fix things with her. I've hardly seen her for the last week.  She doesn't understand, she's not that sure of the 'practices involved with human interaction'. Heaven only knows what she's thinking . . . Tom will just have to wait . . . ************************end