Harry woke with a start as his door chime rang. He lifted his eye mask and squinted into the dark. "Computer time." He whispered hoarsely, his voice still thick and groggy from sleep.
"The time is 0231 Hours." Harry groaned and rolled back over. Something started tugging at his eye mask, Harry swatted at it, making contact. He wrapped his fingers around the object trying to figure out what it was. Warmth spread from it. 'That's a hand.' He thought to himself. He pulled his mask off and turned to look at who the hand was joined to.
"Tom! What are you doing here." Tom smiled faintly, almost sheepishly. "Never mind." Harry mumbled and sat up in bed. "So how long this time?" Tom shrugged. Harry rolled his eyes and got out of bed. "Come on then, let's go set up the couch for you." The pair dressed Harry's couch, he didn't know why they just didn't leave it like that, Tom was coming over more and more lately. They finished and Tom lay down and pulled the sheets up to his chin. "Goodnight." Harry mumbled to him and went back to his room to sleep.
***
Harry woke and stumbled to his bathroom, stripping off and stepping into the shower. He turned on the water and closed his eyes, letting the warmth flow over his naked form. His hands roamed over his body as he washed himself down. Harry stepped out of the shower and wrapped a towel around himself. He walked through the lounge room to his bedroom.
"Morning Harry." Harry jumped, almost dropping his towel in the process.
"Tom! I forgot you were here."
"Geez Har, I feel real appreciated now."
"Tom, I'm sorry, I didn't mean-"
"Har, I was joking, you know, haha." Harry looked down and blushed.
"Uh…"
"Oh go on Har, it's not like I don't know what's there already anyway. Go change. I should actually head off and get some clothes to change into as well. I'll be bringing a bag back though." Harry nodded and entered his bedroom. He started pulling his clothes on and heard his door swish open as Tom left. Harry smiled to himself and continued dressing. He stepped out of his quarters and headed towards the turbolift, Tom caught up to him, throwing his arm around his shoulders. "Thanks Har."
"It's no problem Tom. Anytime." The pair entered the turbolift. "Bridge."
"So after shift, I will go get my things and bring them to your quarters then shall we go play Captain Proton or something in the holodeck?"
"Sounds good Tom." The turbolift came to a halt and the two stepped out, separating and going to their respective stations.
***
"Dismissed." Captain Janeway said to the senior officers. Harry watched as B'Elanna stood and almost ran out of the conference room. Tom was smiling his famous Paris smile as he stepped over to Harry.
"Let's go Harry." They exited the conference room, stepping into the turbolift. They shared the ride with B'Elanna. No one said a thing. Harry could feel the tension, when the doors opened she rushed out of the turbolift. Tom strolled out, again throwing his arm around Harry and directing him to his quarters. Tom gathered his things then the pair walked to Harry's quarters. Tom tossed his bag onto the floor near the couch and sat down. "Let's hear a tune Har." He said.
"Are you ok Tom?"
"Yes Har. I'm fine. Come on. Blow your clarinet, or what ever it is you do." Harry laughed and went to grab his clarinet. He walked out of his bedroom playing a happy, upbeat tune. Tom laughed and watched Harry's nimble fingers move over the clarinet and play the tune. Tom closed his eyes.
***
"Tom, hey Tom." Tom felt Harry's body as he knelt on the couch beside him. One hand was on the other side of Tom's legs so Harry was leaning across him. Tom smiled to himself and quickly grabbed Harry around the waist, trying to scare him.
"Boo!" Harry slipped off the couch and began laughing. Tom stood and offered his hand to Harry, pulling him to his feet. "There you go. Let's go eat, I'm famished." They headed towards the Mess Hall. After ordering dinner the two sat together at a table, laughing and joking. "I wonder if a holodeck is free."
"I checked after you'd fallen asleep, one is free so I booked it."
"Excellent work Har." Tom said smiling at his friend. Harry looked around the mess Hall and spied B'Elanna sitting with Chakotay. Tom's laughter broke his thought and he turned back to him. Harry smiled. "What's the matter? Not hungry?"
"Huh? What? Oh. No, I mean yes." Harry picked up the utensil and ate th food. "Neelix has really outdone himself this time hasn't he?"
"Most definitely." The two laughed, B'Elanna turned and looked at them. Harry could sense her anger. He didn't know what Tom had done; he liked to let Tom tell him when he was ready. "Come on, let's go, it's getting a bit stuffy in here." Harry stood and followed Tom to the holosuite where Tom activated Sandrine's.
"We haven't been here in a while Tom."