Title: Hats and Cats
Author: S.A.S and Kitty
Email: tilbrook@fairlead.freeserve.co.uk
Size: 11K
Rating: PG
Codes: H; T, P
Summary: A little piece about, guess what? Hats and cats!

This is mine and my sisters first attempt at fanfiction so please
be kind, send all comments to tilbrook@fairlead.freeserve.co.uk
constructive critism welcome. Hope you enjoy the story, smiles
and sunshine Kitty.

Disclaimer: none of the charactors in this story belong to me, I am
making no money out of them.

 

Hats and Cats

It was 8.30 in the evening, B'Elanna was in bed 'tucked up' under
her quilt - in fact nearly her whole head was covered by the quilt,
her face alone showing. Georgina, B'Elanna's black cat, was on top
of the hat stand. B'Elanna had many hats (not that she would admit
to it) so a passer by could well mistake Georgina as one of her
hat collection.

Later that evening about 10.00 Tom had just finished his last
drink, he told himself he had not had too many, there must be
another reason why he was swaying. So because of his somewhat
blurry vision the number 30 moulded into the number 80, his
quarter number.

At that moment B'Elanna was dreaming the new student was knocking
at her door a cry of 'come in' was let out.

Tom was baffled - 'why has someone said come in to my own quarters?'

but he went in anyway. Georgina, awakened from her sleep, leaped
onto the stranger's head and did not move, fixed to it. Tom
screamed, one from pain and one from surprise at seeing a face
lying in his bed. B'Elanna rudely woken from her dream screamed
too, seeing what looked like one of her hats on his head and
shouted, 'what are you doing Tom?'

By this time Tom's vision had cleared, it was not any old face it
was B'Elanna's he replied 'you have the cheek to ask me that.'

B'Elanna raised her eyebrow.

From down below Kes had heard the screams and had come up to see
what the problem was. She herself was only half asleep so when she
saw Tom wearing one of B'Elanna's favourite hats and B'Elanna
apparently lying naked in the bed Kes decided quickly to return to
her own quarters, she winked at B'Elanna and said 'Good one girl'

B'Elanna was still wondering why Tom was in her quarters wearing
one of her hats when Georgina let out an earpiercing meow which
made Tom scream again. He realised that something was on his head
and that he wasn't in his quarters. B'Elanna insisted 'what have
you done to my pussy - what are you doing here?'

Tom reluctantly replied 'I don't know, I came for a lie down, I
needed to get some sleep.'

'and what do you mean by that?' screamed B'Elanna

'oh no, no, no/' said Tom realising he had made a bad situation
worse 'you have got it all wrong.'

'oh have I,' demanded B'Elanna

'yes, you see I thought these were my quarters,' he explained

'oh did you now, and how did you get in,' she asked

'well you let me,' said Tom confused

'I did not, this was some stupid prank, who was your partner in
crime, it was Kes wasn't it, she kept laughing at me all day, I
never want to see you again especially in my quarters and if you
breathe a word of this I will personally arrange your funeral.'

'there's nothing to tell, at least on my part,' said Tom

'you are the one who went into someone else's quarters and tried
to hurt their cat,' said B'Elanna in an annoyed tone

'well at least I didn't illegally smuggle one into my quarters, I
wonder what captain Janeway will say about that.'

'leave now or this will be the last place you see,' growled
B'Elanna

Tom quickly left. B'Elanna grinned, she really knew how to handle
men. Georgina was now curled up on B'Elanna's bed. That was the
last time she would ever sleep in the hat stand. B'Elanna checked
her watch it was now 10.30

'don't worry Thomas there's hours to dawn,' and she went back to
sleep.

The next morning B'Elanna was on her way to the mess hall for
breakfast when Kes passed her and nudged her arm

'we are having a girls night in tomorrow, if your free to join us
you are very welcome, but you better ask Tom first you might have
made plans.'

B'Elanna scowled, her Klingon forehead was even more creased than
ever. 'I'll be there, you can count on it.'

Kes grinned  'rightio then, must dash the Doctor is waiting, oh
and thanks for that last night gave us something to talk about,
and tell Tom that hat looked better on you than him.'

'no you are mistaken he was there for a reason,' insisted B'Elanna.

'oh and don't we know it,' replied Kes

Seeing Captain Janeway coming round the corner they broke up the
discussion. Captain Janeway approached B'Elanna and B'Elanna went
ever paler than normal.

'B'Elanna this evening come to my quarters with a rule book if
you're not to busy that is, we can join Kes and the others later,'
asked Janeway.

B'Elanna's scowl had grown even more by the time she reached the
mess hall, Tom and murderous thoughts were mingled in her mind.
She came and sat down at a table by herself trying to ignore the
knowing looks she was getting. Tom came over, everyone looked up
and a chuckle spread around the mess hall. he said 'may I join you,
nice morning isn't it, get much sleep last night?'

'I don't see the funny side of this Tom, and why are looks being
directed at me?' she asked

'oh I don't know, I'm getting them too.'

B'Elanna suddenly became very aware of all the turned heads in the
mess hall all trying to eavesdrop. She saw Chocotay walking
towards them he said 'the captain needs us all on the bridge now.'

Tom and B'Elanna blushed hoping it was nothing to do with them. As
Tom and B'Elanna strolled down the corridor shrieks of laughter
could be heard. Chocotay bewildered glanced at the crimson faces
of Tom and B'Elanna. Luckily just then they reached the bridge.
Captain Janeway announced  'Our friends the Taxillins are in
trouble, I am sending a shuttle craft of seven people to help
consisting of Lieutenant Torres, Lieutenant Paris, The Doctor,
Ensign Kim, Tuvok, Kes and myself'.

Tom hearing his name looked up wondering in what context it was
being used only to hear it followed by B'Elanna's, he glanced at
her but she seemed to be fine calmly talking to Chocotay.

'The shuttle will be leaving at 14.00 hours, be their in plenty of
time' continued the Captain.

'Shuttle' Tom thought aloud

'Tom pay attention'

'perhaps he didn't get enough sleep' suggested Kes.

A chuckle ran out amongst the bridge crew. Captain Janeway and
Chocotay exchanged puzzled glances, B'Elanna's face was now as red
as Tom's uniform which the captain found strange as she was
usually so pale.

'Is there a problem?' asked the Captain.

Chocotay asked 'what has been going on this morning, did I sleep
through it?'

B'Elanna was know hammering the last nail into Tom's coffin with
Thomas's help. Thomas turned to her

'he had it coming baby.'

'oh that he did,' said B'Elanna  not knowing she had said it aloud,
yet another laugh ran out through the bridge crew. The Captain
looked even more confused. 

Tom felt he should add his input to the conversation and added
quite truthfully  ' it all started with me having too many drinks.'

Harry and Kes exchanged knowing glances

Harry said 'yes you often make that mistake just this time it went
a bit too far'.

Captain Janeway said 'what did?'

B'Elanna replied 'less said about that the better.'

once again a laugh ran through the bridge and this time it wasn't
even muffled.

'Time to board the shuttle I think,' said Chocotay

Kes whispered to B'Elanna ' you can't hide it for ever.'

'but it's well behaved and I do love it,' replied B'Elanna

'well then why keep it a secret.'

'because Captain Janeway would want to take it away from me.'

'oh I see,' replied Kes, the final pieces fitting into place 'don't
worry my lips are sealed, you should have said earlier.'

'well as long as the Captain doesn't find out.'

'well quite,' replied Kes

By this time Tom had realised that people were finding a story
about a cat a bit too funny. They all got onto the shuttle and sat
down. To her horror Kes saw the Captain about to sit down next to
Tom

'a word please Captain,' she said and shoved B'Elanna in the seat
next to Tom and winked. 

B'Elanna thinking she was about to tell Janeway about the cat
grabbed Kes's arm and said 'but you promised.'

'don't worry I won't tell he's all yours,' said Kes with a wink

B'Elanna sat down puzzled. It was going to be a long journey to
Amagor 4, 6 whole hours and Harry Kim could not stop giggling and
Kes looked like she might explode. B'Elanna was pale with worry in
a sharp contrast to Tom's redness. B'Elanna kept glancing at
Captain Janeway which Kes found particularly amusing. Tom now had
a fair idea of what was going on but B'Elanna was still in the
dark so he asked to exchange places with Kes.

Kes screamed 'NO SIT THERE.'

at that Harry collapsed on the floor helpless. Tom realised that
Kes was very much on B'Elanna's side. Tuvok's face remained
straight not a smile appeared, but his eyes said it all.

The Captain asked Kes if she was alright and what was wrong with
Tom sitting next to her. Harry rolled over some more. B'Elanna
began to think why did Harry find a cat so funny? so she decided
to ask Tom what was going on

'you know as much as me, you were there,' he replied

'It wasn't that funny what did you say to them?'

'I told nothing but I did see you and Kes gossiping this morning
so if anyone is to blame it's you.'

B'Elanna was now very distressed she stood up and cried

'Kes you miss understood me I was talking about my cat.'

'cat,' repeated Janeway.

'cat,' repeated Kes

'oh cat,' laughed Harry

'yes cat,' agreed Tom

'a cat does not logically fit into the theory I had developed,'
said Tuvok.

'what has a cat got to do with any of this?' asked Kes

'my cat, Georgina, my cat,' said B'Elanna

'your cat,' repeated Janeway

'your cat,' repeated Kes

'Huh your cat,' laughed Harry

'yes her cat,' said Tom

'who has a cat?' asked Janeway

Silence fell.

'I do,' replied B'Elanna 'she fell off my hat stand on too Tom's
head when he accidentally came into my quarters'

'oh,' said Kes 'I thought that for some strange reason, that I
didn't like to ask that Tom was wearing one of your hats.'

'you wear hats,' said Janeway

'you wear hats,' said Tom

'you wore her hat,' laughed Harry

'no it was my cat,' B'Elanna screamed

'you have a cat,' said Janeway

Silence fell again.

'yes,' she replied close to tears.

Harry said 'I was never allowed a hamster and she gets a cat.'

'yes I agree,' said Tom

'I've never seen your cat,' said Kes.

By the time they reached Amagor 4 it was sorted B'Elanna had a
cat, wore hats and was not even friends with Tom.

'I have a question,' said the captain 'what, if your not even
friends, was Tom doing in your quarters so late at night?'

B'Elanna looked at the floor 'I don't know,' she said doing her
best to look innocent 'I must have forgotten to lock my door.'

Tom smiled in an you owe me way 'yes that must have been it.'

Tuvok, the Captain, Kes, Harry and the Doctor said 'uh uh' and for
the tenth time that day laughter broke loose.

The End