Learning Human Nature
folder
S through Z › Star Trek (2009)
Rating:
Adult
Chapters:
11
Views:
4,835
Reviews:
2
Recommended:
0
Currently Reading:
0
Category:
S through Z › Star Trek (2009)
Rating:
Adult
Chapters:
11
Views:
4,835
Reviews:
2
Recommended:
0
Currently Reading:
0
Disclaimer:
I do not own these characters, the Star Trek fandom, nor do I receive any financial compensation for them or for the stories about them.
Things work out for the best
Summary: Spock has noticed Cadet Uhura and wishes he knew more about how human inter-act "romantically."
Rating: NC 17- nudity, sex
Pairing(s): Spock and Uhura
Feedback: reviews welcome.
Characters: Original characters - Uhura's father, Vernon Uhura; her sister, Kendra; her sister's lover, Max; a friend, Gabriel and the Vulcan, Sunval.
Author’s notes: This is my first fanfic. I hope you enjoy it. Story takes place 2 years before the movie begins.
Disclaimer: I do not own Star Trek, Star Trek fandom or any of the Star Trek characters portrayed in this story nor did I receive any financial compensation for writing this story.
Learning Human Nature
Chapter 11- Things work out for the best
The craft hovered above the landing pad in San Francisco and gently dropped down till all four legs rested on the tarmac. The large door on the side opened and the ramp extended. Passengers began disembarking down the ramp. Among them a young Vulcan carrying a shoulder pack walked gracefully toward the terminal, head up, gaze level.
Spock had intended to return to San Francisco at the end of the conference in France, but not alone. The thought of Uhura entered his consciousness and he banished it immediately.
Logically things had turned out for the best. He would go back to his work and his career and Uhura would seek her own path with someone of her own kind. He had never forgotten that he was bonded to someone of his own kind, though it had been arranged when they were very small children and he had only met her one time. But again he thought, “things work out for the best.”
If he and Uhura had gone further in their romance, eventually he would have had to either dishonor his family by breaking a bonding contract or compromise his relationship with Uhura.
He entered his quarters and noted that the time was 0100 as he put his bag down by the bed and removed his shoes. He didn’t feel sleepy but he was fatigued. First he stepped to a panel on the wall by his bed and spoke, “lights, low.”
He saw a cup he’d left on the counter in the galley and he picked it up and put it in the recycler, pressing the button to disintegrate the vessel. He had left word with the building valet to discontinue housekeeping services while he was away for there was even less for the domestic staff to do in his quarters if he was absent.
He lay on the bed without removing his clothes. He turned back the coverings and lay down on the sheets, stretching out full length and rolling over on his stomach.
The smell of jasmine and sandalwood rose to meet his nostrils. It was her smell, left on the sheets from their night of lovemaking. He reached for the pillow on which her head had rested and pulled it to him, burying his face in it. Something like a sob began from his throat but he pressed it down. His sleep was empty, dark and dreamless.
Spock awoke just after the sun crept in his window. He opened his eyes and stared at the ceiling fully awake but in no hurry. He decided he would dress and go to work. He felt hungry and thought he’d stop at a vendor’s kiosk in the lobby and purchase some fruit to eat. The first contact he made was to housekeeping. A woman’s voice answered the comm.
“This is Commander Spock in the Titan Tower complex. I have returned from hiatus and would like to have someone service my quarters today.”
“We can do that sir,” said the pleasant voice.
“And make sure they change the sheets on the bed please.”
“I’ll make a note of that sir. Thank you for contacting us,” then she added, “I hope you had a nice break Mr. Spock.” He was silent. “Sir?”
“Yes, thank you,” he said and ended the transmission.
The part of him that was Vulcan was usually able to compartmentalize thoughts or fractions of thoughts and process them simultaneously. As he dressed he started the litany of work related thoughts, lists, tasks, actions, blotting out of his mind those things about which he did not wish to think. Like Nyota. Her name floated in front of his temporal lobe like a neon sign, forcing him to see it before pushing it aside.
He spent most of the day in his office doing necessary but unimaginative tasks. He spent a great deal of time going over rosters for graduate students who were scheduled to assist in the linguistic lab, his pet project and more of a hobby than a duty. He filled in the semester work schedules for everyone including Uhura and himself, making sure they were never in the lab at the same time.
His regular classes in tactical warfare were already posted and he checked to see who had signed up to take advanced battle tactics. He saw one familiar name, a second year student, James T. Kirk. The rest were third year students.
He made a notation to inquire if Lt. Cadet Kirk had all the pre-requisites for the class, which, he expected, he did not. The man operated under a sense of entitlement and arrogance that was amazing to Spock. But, he surmised Kirk had kept his word not to report Spock and Uhura to Starfleet command for violating the rules.
Only a few colleagues were back at work already, but from the pleasant reception he received from them, Spock knew his father had been right about no one at Starfleet caring overmuch about his affair with a junior grade. He refused to say her name to himself. About dusk he closed his PADD and packed it into his bag and left work.
On the way home he pondered his situation as it stood. With Uhura otherwise involved he knew he ought to consider changing his own plans. He believed he would be welcome into the Science Academy on Vulcan but only if he resigned his Starfleet commission. But that five-year commitment to Starfleet was complete at the end of this coming semester.
It was a logical path to choose. An alternative to his original plan but one he knew would allow him to leave the Academy. He felt an obligation to offer his best effort and he didn’t think that Starfleet Academy was the place where he could do that now.
He considered asking Starfleet for an early assignment on a galaxy class ship. It had always been his intention to pursue starship duty but the assignment to teach at the Academy had suited him well. Most of the new galaxy class vessels were in the completion stages of construction and would be test-flight ready by next year.
As he turned to leave campus he saw a familiar face coming toward him. The sincere smile on Captain Pike’s face was welcome.
“Commander Spock! It’s good to see you. Are you back from break already?” he asked when they were close enough to talk.
“Yes. I returned yesterday, Captain.”
“I hope you rested up but knowing you I suspect that you worked the entire time you were away. Am I right?” said Pike laughing.
“I do not require ‘vacation’ in the same way as humans do Captain,” Spock replied.
“So when are you going stop harassing students and put in your request for an assignment on a starship? I’ve got a feeling you’d enjoy it.”
“I believe that as well, sir. But I do have commitments to fulfill here.”
“I’d take you as my number one any time, remember that.”
“I will Captain. Thank you.”
“Well good night,” said Pike. He turned and walked on toward his destination and Spock continued to his quarters.
Uhura had to make several excuses to get out of going to town with Kendra and Max the evening following the party. Gabriel had voice messaged her twice but she wasn’t in the mood to talk to him and her head hurt from the champagne. She had drunk too much. She didn’t really remember much about the evening after she and Gabriel left the party except the haunting image she saw standing on the drive.
It had been constantly on her mind since last night. She really thought she had seen Spock. But the reality of it appeared to be that she only imagined seeing Spock there. She couldn’t think of any other plausible explanation.
Early in the evening she drug out her PADD and decided to check her messages, which she hadn’t done in nearly a week. The most recent was from her father, sent early the previous morning. It read:
Nyota,
I met a friend of yours in Paris. He said he was looking for you so I told him where you were. I hope that was the right thing to do.
His name is Spock.
Love,
Papa
PS – I like him.
Uhura sat open mouthed and re-read the message. She had seen Spock. It had been him in the drive. But why had he vanished into thin air? Suddenly the entire scene between her and Gabriel played back in her mind. She had drunk a lot of champagne, they had been laughing, she fell asleep in the shuttle, they couldn’t get the gate key to work, they had kissed… they had kissed.
“He saw us,” she said aloud. Then she screamed and without stopping to consider anything but going to him she got up and started packing. Frustrated with the delay it would mean to gather her things she pulled on a clean shirt and skirt. She pulled on a pair of soft boots, grabbed the PADD and her backpack and left the villa on foot.
At the foot of the driveway she met Max and Kendra in their shuttle coming back from dinner. She flagged them down and breathlessly started talking to Kendra before she could open the hatch.
“Kendra, hurry. Open the hatch, I have to get to Rome. Take me to the shuttleport.
“What are you doing? What’s happened?” asked her sister.
“It was him. Last night. It was Spock. He came for me but he saw me kissing Gabriel.” She climbed in behind Kendra through the hatch and hunched forward. “Come on, I have to get to Rome. I can catch an intercontinental transport from there if I get there before midnight.”
“You kissed Gabriel?” she looked across at Max and shrugged. “I thought Gabriel was gay,” and then to Max. “Didn’t you think Gabriel was gay?”
“Who cares?” Uhura shrieked. “Come on! Max let’s go.” Uhura pushed on his arm and he turned the shuttle around banking it as he sped away toward the shuttleport in Porto Torres. It was just after 11 am. He hoped they could make it in time because he was pretty sure he didn’t want to be around Uhura if they didn’t. This Spock guy must have it was all he could say.
Uhura fumbled in her bag and checked to see if she had her ID and then turned on her PADD to see if her card had enough credits on it to purchase her ticket. Max flew past slower shuttles and wove his way around whatever obstacle stood in the way of his getting to the shuttleport quickly.
He pulled up to the departures entry and popped the hatches on the shuttle. Uhura nearly leapt out and Kendra followed her to say goodbye.
“Little sister I hope you know what you’re doing.”
“I do, I do.” She kissed her sister on the cheek and giving her a quick hug she was off through the terminal doors.
She hoped Spock was back in San Francisco and hadn’t jetted off to parts unknown. She decided to go back to the Academy and hope he was already there. She looked at the time; it was 11 pm local time. Depending on what flight she could get, straight over or connecting, she might get there in anywhere from 3 to 7 hours.
She wasn’t able to get a direct flight after all. Rome Terraport was swamped and most flights with destinations outside Italy were heavily booked. She bought a standby ticket for San Francisco via London and sat down to wait. She would be there by 10 pm at the latest. Sub-space travel had confused the time calculations even more with people arriving at destinations the day before they left.
Her shuttle touched down in San Francisco at 9pm Pacific time.
Spock touched the panel outside his door and went inside. He removed his uniform and placed it in the refresher. Then naked, he walked into the bathroom, turned on the sonic shower with, “sonic on,” and stepped inside.
After a few minutes he changed his mind and spoke into the panel on the outside of the shower stall, “water hot.” At once water started streaming from jets built into the walls of the shower from several angles and heights. In seconds he was soaked and stood in the steaming water leaning his forearms on the wall of the shower, his forehead against the cool ceramic tile.
The hot water did what his mind and the sonic waves had not been able to do all day, relax the muscles in his neck and shoulders. He felt the soreness of the fatigue melt away as the heat crept into his body. He remained in the water shower for several more minutes before he cut it off by saying, “water off.”
He dried himself with a towel and stood before the mirror over the sink. He had no vanity with regard to his looks but he noted that he had lost weight and looked perhaps a bit gaunt. He also needed to remove the hair from his face but decided it could wait till the morning. He walked back into the main room and pulled a pair of soft pants from a drawer panel in the wall. He pulled them on tying the drawstring so that they wouldn’t fall off his hips.
Padding barefoot across the room to the galley he stopped in front of the replicator and said,
“Replicator: on.” When the light on the front of the machine’s door came on he said, “Spice tea: hot.” The door slid back seconds later to reveal a steaming cup of liquid. He put it to his lips testing the temperature and then walked over to the large window behind his bed that overlooked the sparkling lights of the community that was Starfleet.
For almost two miles the campus twinkled with the work lights of construction operations, the exterior lighting on buildings and transport vehicles both on the ground and in the air. He looked up and saw a few stars not faded by the light pollution of the city and wondered if he would ever get up there. He finished the tea, put the cup in the recycler, and walked to his bed.
He turned back the bedclothes and lay down on the clean sheets on his back. No scent of her remained. He lay like that for a while letting his mind wander where it wanted, not trying to control his thoughts.
He was resigned to living without her but he knew he would not ever stop wanting her or loving her. He fought himself to keep from saying her name out loud.
Uhura got out of the shuttle cab and ran up the steps to the massive Titan Tower where she prayed to all the forgotten gods that she would find Spock. She got off the turbo lift on his floor and walked down the hallway to his door.
She touched the keypad beside the door.
Inside Spock had just drifted off to sleep when he thought he heard the door chime. For a second he did not respond but when it chimed a second time, he got up and walked to the door. He pressed the keylock and the door hissed open.
For a moment he thought he might be dreaming. But when Uhura stepped inside he knew he was not.
“Spock,” she hesitated waiting to see if he would welcome her or throw her out. He stepped back and closed the door.
“I do not understand why you have come here.” he said.
“Spock, I am so sorry about Gabriel. It was nothing. He is my friend.” He raised his eyebrow.
“I do not understand why you are apologetic. I am the one who wronged you, not the other way around. If an apology is in order it should come from me, not you.”
“Is an apology in order?” she asked remembering the suffering his leaving had caused her.
“I am certain that it is,” he said, “I hope you will accept mine for the pain I have caused you.” He was uncertain if he had said the right words.
She nodded up and down, too relieved to speak, but could not prevent the tears welling up in her eyes. She took in a breath to keep from letting out a sob. He stepped to her and touched her arm. He slipped his arm around her waist and pulled her closer.
“My beloved Spock.” She put her hand on his cheek raising herself up to meet his lips. He kissed her deeply and held her in his arms as tightly as he dared lest he crush her.
He put his face in her hair and sucked the scent of her into his lungs and whispered “k'hat'n'dlawa.” He felt a new sensation in his body and soul. He thought it might be joy.
fini
Rating: NC 17- nudity, sex
Pairing(s): Spock and Uhura
Feedback: reviews welcome.
Characters: Original characters - Uhura's father, Vernon Uhura; her sister, Kendra; her sister's lover, Max; a friend, Gabriel and the Vulcan, Sunval.
Author’s notes: This is my first fanfic. I hope you enjoy it. Story takes place 2 years before the movie begins.
Disclaimer: I do not own Star Trek, Star Trek fandom or any of the Star Trek characters portrayed in this story nor did I receive any financial compensation for writing this story.
Learning Human Nature
Chapter 11- Things work out for the best
The craft hovered above the landing pad in San Francisco and gently dropped down till all four legs rested on the tarmac. The large door on the side opened and the ramp extended. Passengers began disembarking down the ramp. Among them a young Vulcan carrying a shoulder pack walked gracefully toward the terminal, head up, gaze level.
Spock had intended to return to San Francisco at the end of the conference in France, but not alone. The thought of Uhura entered his consciousness and he banished it immediately.
Logically things had turned out for the best. He would go back to his work and his career and Uhura would seek her own path with someone of her own kind. He had never forgotten that he was bonded to someone of his own kind, though it had been arranged when they were very small children and he had only met her one time. But again he thought, “things work out for the best.”
If he and Uhura had gone further in their romance, eventually he would have had to either dishonor his family by breaking a bonding contract or compromise his relationship with Uhura.
He entered his quarters and noted that the time was 0100 as he put his bag down by the bed and removed his shoes. He didn’t feel sleepy but he was fatigued. First he stepped to a panel on the wall by his bed and spoke, “lights, low.”
He saw a cup he’d left on the counter in the galley and he picked it up and put it in the recycler, pressing the button to disintegrate the vessel. He had left word with the building valet to discontinue housekeeping services while he was away for there was even less for the domestic staff to do in his quarters if he was absent.
He lay on the bed without removing his clothes. He turned back the coverings and lay down on the sheets, stretching out full length and rolling over on his stomach.
The smell of jasmine and sandalwood rose to meet his nostrils. It was her smell, left on the sheets from their night of lovemaking. He reached for the pillow on which her head had rested and pulled it to him, burying his face in it. Something like a sob began from his throat but he pressed it down. His sleep was empty, dark and dreamless.
Spock awoke just after the sun crept in his window. He opened his eyes and stared at the ceiling fully awake but in no hurry. He decided he would dress and go to work. He felt hungry and thought he’d stop at a vendor’s kiosk in the lobby and purchase some fruit to eat. The first contact he made was to housekeeping. A woman’s voice answered the comm.
“This is Commander Spock in the Titan Tower complex. I have returned from hiatus and would like to have someone service my quarters today.”
“We can do that sir,” said the pleasant voice.
“And make sure they change the sheets on the bed please.”
“I’ll make a note of that sir. Thank you for contacting us,” then she added, “I hope you had a nice break Mr. Spock.” He was silent. “Sir?”
“Yes, thank you,” he said and ended the transmission.
The part of him that was Vulcan was usually able to compartmentalize thoughts or fractions of thoughts and process them simultaneously. As he dressed he started the litany of work related thoughts, lists, tasks, actions, blotting out of his mind those things about which he did not wish to think. Like Nyota. Her name floated in front of his temporal lobe like a neon sign, forcing him to see it before pushing it aside.
He spent most of the day in his office doing necessary but unimaginative tasks. He spent a great deal of time going over rosters for graduate students who were scheduled to assist in the linguistic lab, his pet project and more of a hobby than a duty. He filled in the semester work schedules for everyone including Uhura and himself, making sure they were never in the lab at the same time.
His regular classes in tactical warfare were already posted and he checked to see who had signed up to take advanced battle tactics. He saw one familiar name, a second year student, James T. Kirk. The rest were third year students.
He made a notation to inquire if Lt. Cadet Kirk had all the pre-requisites for the class, which, he expected, he did not. The man operated under a sense of entitlement and arrogance that was amazing to Spock. But, he surmised Kirk had kept his word not to report Spock and Uhura to Starfleet command for violating the rules.
Only a few colleagues were back at work already, but from the pleasant reception he received from them, Spock knew his father had been right about no one at Starfleet caring overmuch about his affair with a junior grade. He refused to say her name to himself. About dusk he closed his PADD and packed it into his bag and left work.
On the way home he pondered his situation as it stood. With Uhura otherwise involved he knew he ought to consider changing his own plans. He believed he would be welcome into the Science Academy on Vulcan but only if he resigned his Starfleet commission. But that five-year commitment to Starfleet was complete at the end of this coming semester.
It was a logical path to choose. An alternative to his original plan but one he knew would allow him to leave the Academy. He felt an obligation to offer his best effort and he didn’t think that Starfleet Academy was the place where he could do that now.
He considered asking Starfleet for an early assignment on a galaxy class ship. It had always been his intention to pursue starship duty but the assignment to teach at the Academy had suited him well. Most of the new galaxy class vessels were in the completion stages of construction and would be test-flight ready by next year.
As he turned to leave campus he saw a familiar face coming toward him. The sincere smile on Captain Pike’s face was welcome.
“Commander Spock! It’s good to see you. Are you back from break already?” he asked when they were close enough to talk.
“Yes. I returned yesterday, Captain.”
“I hope you rested up but knowing you I suspect that you worked the entire time you were away. Am I right?” said Pike laughing.
“I do not require ‘vacation’ in the same way as humans do Captain,” Spock replied.
“So when are you going stop harassing students and put in your request for an assignment on a starship? I’ve got a feeling you’d enjoy it.”
“I believe that as well, sir. But I do have commitments to fulfill here.”
“I’d take you as my number one any time, remember that.”
“I will Captain. Thank you.”
“Well good night,” said Pike. He turned and walked on toward his destination and Spock continued to his quarters.
Uhura had to make several excuses to get out of going to town with Kendra and Max the evening following the party. Gabriel had voice messaged her twice but she wasn’t in the mood to talk to him and her head hurt from the champagne. She had drunk too much. She didn’t really remember much about the evening after she and Gabriel left the party except the haunting image she saw standing on the drive.
It had been constantly on her mind since last night. She really thought she had seen Spock. But the reality of it appeared to be that she only imagined seeing Spock there. She couldn’t think of any other plausible explanation.
Early in the evening she drug out her PADD and decided to check her messages, which she hadn’t done in nearly a week. The most recent was from her father, sent early the previous morning. It read:
Nyota,
I met a friend of yours in Paris. He said he was looking for you so I told him where you were. I hope that was the right thing to do.
His name is Spock.
Love,
Papa
PS – I like him.
Uhura sat open mouthed and re-read the message. She had seen Spock. It had been him in the drive. But why had he vanished into thin air? Suddenly the entire scene between her and Gabriel played back in her mind. She had drunk a lot of champagne, they had been laughing, she fell asleep in the shuttle, they couldn’t get the gate key to work, they had kissed… they had kissed.
“He saw us,” she said aloud. Then she screamed and without stopping to consider anything but going to him she got up and started packing. Frustrated with the delay it would mean to gather her things she pulled on a clean shirt and skirt. She pulled on a pair of soft boots, grabbed the PADD and her backpack and left the villa on foot.
At the foot of the driveway she met Max and Kendra in their shuttle coming back from dinner. She flagged them down and breathlessly started talking to Kendra before she could open the hatch.
“Kendra, hurry. Open the hatch, I have to get to Rome. Take me to the shuttleport.
“What are you doing? What’s happened?” asked her sister.
“It was him. Last night. It was Spock. He came for me but he saw me kissing Gabriel.” She climbed in behind Kendra through the hatch and hunched forward. “Come on, I have to get to Rome. I can catch an intercontinental transport from there if I get there before midnight.”
“You kissed Gabriel?” she looked across at Max and shrugged. “I thought Gabriel was gay,” and then to Max. “Didn’t you think Gabriel was gay?”
“Who cares?” Uhura shrieked. “Come on! Max let’s go.” Uhura pushed on his arm and he turned the shuttle around banking it as he sped away toward the shuttleport in Porto Torres. It was just after 11 am. He hoped they could make it in time because he was pretty sure he didn’t want to be around Uhura if they didn’t. This Spock guy must have it was all he could say.
Uhura fumbled in her bag and checked to see if she had her ID and then turned on her PADD to see if her card had enough credits on it to purchase her ticket. Max flew past slower shuttles and wove his way around whatever obstacle stood in the way of his getting to the shuttleport quickly.
He pulled up to the departures entry and popped the hatches on the shuttle. Uhura nearly leapt out and Kendra followed her to say goodbye.
“Little sister I hope you know what you’re doing.”
“I do, I do.” She kissed her sister on the cheek and giving her a quick hug she was off through the terminal doors.
She hoped Spock was back in San Francisco and hadn’t jetted off to parts unknown. She decided to go back to the Academy and hope he was already there. She looked at the time; it was 11 pm local time. Depending on what flight she could get, straight over or connecting, she might get there in anywhere from 3 to 7 hours.
She wasn’t able to get a direct flight after all. Rome Terraport was swamped and most flights with destinations outside Italy were heavily booked. She bought a standby ticket for San Francisco via London and sat down to wait. She would be there by 10 pm at the latest. Sub-space travel had confused the time calculations even more with people arriving at destinations the day before they left.
Her shuttle touched down in San Francisco at 9pm Pacific time.
Spock touched the panel outside his door and went inside. He removed his uniform and placed it in the refresher. Then naked, he walked into the bathroom, turned on the sonic shower with, “sonic on,” and stepped inside.
After a few minutes he changed his mind and spoke into the panel on the outside of the shower stall, “water hot.” At once water started streaming from jets built into the walls of the shower from several angles and heights. In seconds he was soaked and stood in the steaming water leaning his forearms on the wall of the shower, his forehead against the cool ceramic tile.
The hot water did what his mind and the sonic waves had not been able to do all day, relax the muscles in his neck and shoulders. He felt the soreness of the fatigue melt away as the heat crept into his body. He remained in the water shower for several more minutes before he cut it off by saying, “water off.”
He dried himself with a towel and stood before the mirror over the sink. He had no vanity with regard to his looks but he noted that he had lost weight and looked perhaps a bit gaunt. He also needed to remove the hair from his face but decided it could wait till the morning. He walked back into the main room and pulled a pair of soft pants from a drawer panel in the wall. He pulled them on tying the drawstring so that they wouldn’t fall off his hips.
Padding barefoot across the room to the galley he stopped in front of the replicator and said,
“Replicator: on.” When the light on the front of the machine’s door came on he said, “Spice tea: hot.” The door slid back seconds later to reveal a steaming cup of liquid. He put it to his lips testing the temperature and then walked over to the large window behind his bed that overlooked the sparkling lights of the community that was Starfleet.
For almost two miles the campus twinkled with the work lights of construction operations, the exterior lighting on buildings and transport vehicles both on the ground and in the air. He looked up and saw a few stars not faded by the light pollution of the city and wondered if he would ever get up there. He finished the tea, put the cup in the recycler, and walked to his bed.
He turned back the bedclothes and lay down on the clean sheets on his back. No scent of her remained. He lay like that for a while letting his mind wander where it wanted, not trying to control his thoughts.
He was resigned to living without her but he knew he would not ever stop wanting her or loving her. He fought himself to keep from saying her name out loud.
Uhura got out of the shuttle cab and ran up the steps to the massive Titan Tower where she prayed to all the forgotten gods that she would find Spock. She got off the turbo lift on his floor and walked down the hallway to his door.
She touched the keypad beside the door.
Inside Spock had just drifted off to sleep when he thought he heard the door chime. For a second he did not respond but when it chimed a second time, he got up and walked to the door. He pressed the keylock and the door hissed open.
For a moment he thought he might be dreaming. But when Uhura stepped inside he knew he was not.
“Spock,” she hesitated waiting to see if he would welcome her or throw her out. He stepped back and closed the door.
“I do not understand why you have come here.” he said.
“Spock, I am so sorry about Gabriel. It was nothing. He is my friend.” He raised his eyebrow.
“I do not understand why you are apologetic. I am the one who wronged you, not the other way around. If an apology is in order it should come from me, not you.”
“Is an apology in order?” she asked remembering the suffering his leaving had caused her.
“I am certain that it is,” he said, “I hope you will accept mine for the pain I have caused you.” He was uncertain if he had said the right words.
She nodded up and down, too relieved to speak, but could not prevent the tears welling up in her eyes. She took in a breath to keep from letting out a sob. He stepped to her and touched her arm. He slipped his arm around her waist and pulled her closer.
“My beloved Spock.” She put her hand on his cheek raising herself up to meet his lips. He kissed her deeply and held her in his arms as tightly as he dared lest he crush her.
He put his face in her hair and sucked the scent of her into his lungs and whispered “k'hat'n'dlawa.” He felt a new sensation in his body and soul. He thought it might be joy.
fini