Well, damn. For being a terrible episode you really turned it into something worth reading and I never considered the idea that Tom might not wanted to leave all the little lizards behind.

Given Tom and B'Elanna's relationship at this point in the series, I can easily imagine this conversation taking place between the two of them.
"He can hear his heart beating beneath the shroud of his skin ... he can still remember the way the texture of his skin felt: slimy, sticky, and eerily smooth."
These lines capture the surreal nature of Tom's experience - alienated from and trapped inside a body that was no longer his own.
"You know, you can't expect things to get better if all you hold on to are the bad things ..." Hard for some people to accept, but good advice nonetheless.

This is beautiful. As you probably know, I’ve done a post-Threshold story for Janeway, so it’s wonderful to see the other side here. The way Tom tries, almost against his will, to analyze what he went through and find a way to live with the encounter is very moving. I also like the fact that it’s B’Elanna who seeks him out, and the nod to their shared experiences in “Faces” is much appreciated. Well done!

What a great opening paragraph, and then it gets even better from there. Beautifully written throughout.
I really like how you brought in a mention of the events of "Faces", where B'Elanna had a comparable (sort of) experience to Tom in "Threshold", if not anywhere near so dramatic. DNA alteration.
There are so many good lines in this, but I'll mention a few:
"The soft hum of the piano overlayed with the clap of billiard balls almost drowns out the faint croaking echoing in his ears." and
"he didn't process the true alien sensation of the experience, the havoc that his physical metamorphosis had wrought on his mind" and
"He feels as if he had been granted something too early, only for it to be snatched away just as quickly."
and Sandrine's being a "sanctuary among the stars".
I just might like "Threshold" a little better now, if I watch it again with this in mind as the aftermath.

I like your mature, early-season B'Elanna. What a perfect bridge for the more rounded woman we (suddenly) saw in later seasons. Well handled, CP7!

"Threshold" was one of my favorite episodes because of all Tom character stuff (not thrilled with the gross stuff like his tongue coming out). I love the way you look at the experience from Tom's POV and discussing it with B'Elanna is fantastic. I especially liked the discussion of whether he would have wanted to keep the kids. Great job! Thanks for writing!

Funny thing I always missed that episode, so I cannot tell if I like it or not. But I heard about the events in that episode...

I really like your story here, it,s really like it could have happened. It's nice to see that B'Elana cares for Tom and offeres him comfort.

That was perfect. The characterization, Tom's thoughts on the matter, the fact that it was B'Elanna who showed up to help and their whole conversation...it was just perfect.

So perfectly in character, and very well written. The almost universal dislike for this episode is probably why little is written on it, but the potential for emotional fallout from it is epic, and you showed that perfectly. Love that B'Elanna was the one to help him,and her reference to him seeing her two sides as the reason is just so spot on. Thanks for this wonderful should-have-been-in-the-episode moment!

You already know how much I love this story, and how honoured I feel that you wrote it for me. Like Delwin, I actually LIKE this episode - not for the grotesquerie of the last few minutes, but for the genuine character moments that precede it, and its overall arc: Tom Paris, in search of redemption, failing to find it until he starts to look for it within himself.

You captured that arc, and Tom's character beautifully here, right to the point at the end where he picks up that cue again, despite having "already had my ass handed to me once". So Tom, in words and deed. That B'Elanna was the one to be there for the ride was just icing on the cake.

PS: Everything gets better at Sandrine's. :-)

Oh, I love it. After hearing about it for so long, I couldn't wait, but it was worth it. Worth every second of waiting. A beautiful story, so different from the few post-Threshold pieces I've read. Of course I love how B'Elanna is such a large part in this, how we get to see a steelier, quieter side to her that the show doesn't give us until later seasons. I really love it, because, with "Faces" behind her, it makes sense, that she would do this. For Tom.

As for your fears that you couldn't get B'Elanna down - well, my friend, this sealed it, for me: "Her mouth makes a slight twinge that tells him something is bothering her, but she doesn't give him the chance to ask what." That little twist of her lips is so *very* B'Elanna. You got her.

And I love this little exchange, how it bites deeper than banter but still remains light.

"Pity," she says, picking up a cue. "I suppose that that just gives you all the more reason to try and beat me."

Tom raises an eyebrow. "Now what kind of man would I be if I did that?"

"An honest one," she retorts.

Well done, my friend! Well done.

This almost makes up for that danged episode. I liked it, thanks.

"I can't help but feel like I've left something behind back there. It's like I left a part of myself on that planet. Three perfect little fragments of myself that I'll never get back..."

I believe you may have just redeemed the lizard babies for me. I am actually one of (what seems to be) the few who actually like most of "Threshold" - this conversation may have just converted me to the rest. I love the idea of Tom and B'Elanna having this conversation; now having read it, I can't imagine them not having it at one point or another.

Thank you so much for this!