Title: Before The Night is Over
Author: Briana L. Wright
Rating:
Codes: C/T; non-canon.
Author's Notes: Challenge response.  Story also includes lyrics from the song "Sign on the Door" by Edwin McCain. Revised as of March 11, 2003.
SUMMARY: B'Elanna's father has passed away and Chakotay helps her grieve.

 

Tom Paris entered the bar. Usually, he was the only one at Sandrine's at four in the morning. He came to play pool when he couldn't sleep. Sometimes it was just for amusement. Sometimes he was actually practicing, hoping to hone his skills enough so that he could finally beat Kathryn in a game. But tonight was not one of those nights.

The lighting was so dim, he almost didn't notice the figure at the other end. He walked over from his table to the second patron nursing a drink at the bar. Once he got there, he saw the familiar colorings of an engineer's uniform. "B'Elanna?" She took another drink from her glass, but didn't acknowledge him. Her silence said a lot to Paris. Quiet rage was rare for her. If she was using that now, he had plenty of reason to be concerned. There was no telling if she would lash out at him, verbally or physically. With caution, he kept a safe distance and an even tone. "Do you come here often?" It was a stupid question, but he wanted something to break the ice.

"her eyes are screaming and her lips are pursed"

Again, she gave little response. Her lips were pursed. Despite the lighting in the room, he suspected that her eyes were red. She couldn't have just arrived there. She must've been sitting at that same spot for quite some time.

He heard her mumble something under her breath, something he thought was a curse. He watched as she took another drink from her glass. Obviously, she'd been drinking for quite some time, too. He tried to communicate with her again. "Are you all right, B'Elanna?" She didn't look at him. He didn't know if she even knew that he was there. This looks bad, he thought. Granted, Torres was an adult and could take care of herself. Tom also knew that she was prone to depression. In the few moments he had witnessed her terribly down, it was often difficult for her to get herself out. If I can't get her to talk to me, Tom thought, I know someone who can.

He strode to the other side of the room where he knew his voice was out of earshot. Tom tapped his badge. "Paris to Chakotay." A pause. And then a groggy response came from the commander. "Chakotay here."

He continued to watch B'Elanna as he spoke. "I'm sorry to wake you, Chakotay, but I think you should get down to holodeck two fast. B'Elanna's here. I know something's wrong, but she won't talk to me. It looks serious."

At the mention of her name, Chakotay was wide awake. "I'll be right there."

Once Chakotay arrived, Paris took a hint and gave them some privacy. "I hope she's okay," he said on his way out.

"this ain't her first heartache, but it feels like, it feels like the worst"

Chakotay took a seat on the stool nearby, watching Torres as she took a sip from her glass. He smelled the bitter stench of alcohol. "How many drinks have you had tonight?" He was gentle, but stern. B'Elanna lazily turned her head. "Get off your high horse, Chakotay. You can't tell me how much I can and can't drink." His jaw tightened. "The hell I can't. Friend or not, I'm still your superior officer, Lieutenant. I can easily order you to the brig for insubordination."

B'Elanna gave no reaction to his words. Instead, she stared blankly at the counter. "Son of a bitch."

"What did you say?"

"That p'tak known as my father. I hate him."

Paris had been right. This was serious. B'Elanna didn't talk about her father for the very reason she said: she hated him. If she was here, drowning that hatred in alcohol, something was very wrong indeed. "Tell me, Chakotay. What kind of man walks out on his wife and daughter to pursue some worthless dream? What kind of man could be so selfish as to put his own needs before his family?"

"Not any man I would want to know," he said solemnly.

"Were we not good enough? I mean, sure, my mother was never exactly proud of me for anything...but at least I respected that. I didn't disown her." She finished her drink, and ordered another. Chakotay put his hand to hers. "I think you've had enough."

She tore her hand away from him hotly and got up from her seat. "I needed him. All my life I've needed him, and you know what? He was never there. Never. He just walked out on me...just like that. And what was I supposed to do? Pretend like everything was okay! Was I supposed to be okay without a father? Jesus Christ! Like being tormented as a half-breed wasn't bad enough..."

She was venting. In her inebriated state, Chakotay knew it was best to let her. "She took her frustration out on me--blamed me for everything. Everything! Now this!" B'Elanna picked up her stool and threw it across the room. "I suppose she'll blame me for that, too.  If she had any sense, she'd thank me!" Another chair flew. 

Chakotay sighed to himself. He was well familiar with her behavior. After she had exhausted whatever energy she had left, her defenses would come down. And that's when he would step in. She shouted curses--some of which he'd never heard of--over and over. He let her. She destroyed more furniture in the bar. He let her. Until finally, he saw her fall to her knees, not far from the pool table Paris had visited.

He went to her, and knelt down beside her. "B'Elanna." Chakotay brushed her hair away from her face. "It's all right."

"He's dead, Chakotay."  She gave in to her anger and let the tears come.   Dreadfully--mercilessly--she cried. Her body shook with violent sobs against his embrace. Her cries began to escalate to stifled screams. "He's gone," Chakotay heard her say. "He's gone..."

"Shh," he whispered. He rocked her over and over. So much damage had been done.

"Can someone tell me how this can happen?
I guess that God only knows.
My heart used to be a sweet shop of love
But now the sign on the door says sorry we're closed"

Her father was dead and her heart was broken.