TOM AND B'ELANNA'S COURTSHIP, page 2

#66 DISPLACED

Torres stalks out of the holodeck on Deck 6. Paris follows her. Paris: "Where are you going? You were doing great. You were in perfect position to deliver the death blow, all you had to do was follow through. Come on, let's try it again." Torres: "Don't push me, Tom." She is holding a bat'leth and he watches it warily as she is not thinking about its sharp dangerous points and edges. Paris: "I am not pushing you. I'm encouraging you." Torres: "To do what?!" Paris: "Try something new. This martial arts program is the best work-out I've ever had. No, no, it's more than that. Working with a bat'leth is an art. You have to use your mind and body, your movements-" Torres: "Look, you may find all of this Klingon stuff really fascinating, but I don't. I'm not going to waste my time trying to disembowel a bunch of holographic monsters. I only came down here because you tricked me into that stupid bet!" She refers to the bet they made very recently (in [#65 Distant Origin], the previous aired episode) during the time that two Voth scientists spent time on Voyager. Paris: "Do watch it! You could take somebody's head off with that thing!" Torres repositions her hold on the bat'leth. "I have tried this, and now I am finished. Got it?" Paris: "Look, if you don't like the program that's fine. Why do you always have to get so hostile?" Torres: "I am NOT hostile!" The argument is interrupted when an alien humanoid is mysteriously transported aboard near them.

Torres is worried by Paris' accusation that she is "hostile", and questions Kim about it. Torres: "You don't think I'm hostile, do you?" Kim, warily: "I, er, wouldn't describe you that way, no." Torres: "I know I have a temper, but that doesn't mean I'm always hostile, does it?" Kim: "No, of course not." Torres, firmly: "I'm forthright. I speak my mind. But that's very different from being hostile." Kim: "Very different." Torres: "And if someone described me that way, they'd be way off of the mark, wouldn't they?" Kim: "Way off." Torres: "Then why do you look like you're afraid for your life?"

Paris mimics Torres' body language by folding his arms during a meeting in the briefing room. Subconscious mimicking of body language indicates emotional closeness or empathy with the person mimicked.

Paris tries to apologise for that morning's argument but he and Torres end up arguing again. The Doctor's comments are not welcome and Torres disables his voice. Argument in the prison compound at night: Torres: "About the other day, I might have been a bit," she hesitates as she seeks the right word, "over-sensitive about the Klingon program." Paris: "Don't worry about it." Torres: "That should just about do it. I think we can start scanning now." Paris: "Good. I'll tell the Captain. Erm, about the program. I didn't mean to push you." Torres: "I know. You didn't, and I didn't mean to, erm, lash out at you like that." They have made up and are back to being on best terms again, when the Doctor observes: "A typical defensive reaction, using an aggressive outburst as a shield against a perceived emotional threat." Paris, amused: "That says it, alright." Torres: "Oh, that's very funny coming from you." Paris: "And what is that supposed to mean?" Torres: "Well, you're hardly one to talk about being defensive." Paris: "And why is that exactly?" Torres: "Well, you just pretend that nothing bothers you and then you turn everything into a joke." Doctor: "That's a valid observation. Defence mechanisms come in many forms." Paris to Torres: "That's ridiculous. I am an easy-going person," Torres gives a short sneering laugh, "who is just trying to be friendly to someone who is obviously terrified of having a friend." Torres is about to reply when the Doctor comments: "Fear of intimacy is a common indication of low self-esteem. Perhaps if you stopped to analyse the root cause, you might-" Torres adjusts the controls on his mobile emitter, rendering the Doctor incapable of speaking. Torres: "If you find it so difficult to be my friend, then why keep trying?" Paris: "That's a good question. I think I'll stop wasting my time."

In the icy wastes of the Argala habitat. Torres and Paris escaped into it as it was the last place the Nyrian pursuers would want to go as Nyrians like warmer temperatures than Voyager's crew. Their pursuers collapse in the cold and Paris helps Torres battle the severe cold. Klingons have less tolerance for the cold than even Cardassians but Cardassians, says Torres, complain about it more. Torres: "I didn't think we were this far from the portal. I don't think I can go any farther." Paris: "You have to keep moving." Torres: "Oh, I'm so sleepy." She sits down to rest. Paris: "No, B'Elanna. Get up." Torres: "No, you go on. I'm just going to rest here." Paris: "If you do that, you'll die." Torres: "No, I'll be fine. I just have to close my eyes for a minute." Paris hauls her to her feet: "I am not going to let you do this. On your feet now, Torres, that's an order!" Torres: "You can't give me orders. We're the same rank." Paris: "I'm a bridge officer, and I have seniority." Torres: "Oh yeah, by about two days!" Paris: "On your feet, now! Come on, you've been wanting to take a swing at me for days. Now's your chance." Torres: "You're just trying to get me moving." Paris seizes her: "You will keep moving. Or do I have to throw you over my shoulder and carry you out?!" Torres: "Don't even try it."

Paris and Torres are in a clinch to keep warm but this is not necessarily the impression they give when Janeway manages to translocate Paris and Torres back to the compound where the rest of the Voyager crew are. Their position probably just confirmed the crew's suspicions of their feelings for one another.

After the adventure, Paris and Torres on the holodeck, enjoy being warm on the holodeck. Picture order is left to right, row by row. Red alert: The picture below is 119Kb.

Torres enters the Paxau Resort holoprogram and joins Paris.
Torres: "Nice day."
Paris: "Beautiful."
Torres sighs. "Things were pretty chilly there for a while."
Paris: "I guess they were."
Torres: "Feels good to be warm again."
Paris: "Yeah, it sure does."