Disclaimer: Still, three stories in, don't own anybody except for Rosie. No monies, nada. Just for fun :)
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"This is so stupid," Jim huffed, crossing his arms across his chest as he leaned back in his captain's chair grumpily.
"Mmm?" Rosie made a non-committal noise, never glancing away from the screens in front of her. "What's stupid?"
"This," out of the corner of her eye, she saw his flail a hand around in the air towards the view screen. "Scanning a planet."
"You shouldn't say things like that," Rosie admonished, tapping away at a keyboard. The computer chirped as it saved the data. "You're already on thin ice. Again. You're lucky we're the only two on the bridge."
"If I was lucky, you wouldn't be so focused on that computer…" Jim grumbled to himself.
"What?"
"Nothing," Jim answered. "I know, I know. I should just be glad we're on a mission. But we could be of so much more use. I mean, come on! We got rid of Nero over a year ago. You and I got over our overprotectiveness and are able to work together now." Rosie quirked an eyebrow. "For the most part, anyway," Jim added quickly. "We've been on a few actual missions, including that one with the horta, and they've all worked out fantastic. Sure, our means are unconventional sometimes…"
Rosie burst out laughing. "That's the understatement of the year," she choked out.
"Shut up," Jim began to pout even more. "All I'm trying to say is that I think we should be being put to better use. Not just surveying missions."
"Jimmy," Rosie sighed, finally taking her attention away from the screens and looking at him. "The mission with the horta did go well. That's the only one that did go without a hitch. I think you're forgetting that you've accidentally violated the Prime Directive three times, and we've all covered for you as best as possible."
"I don't know what you're talking about."
"When Spock's fake ear fell off on the planet that hadn't had any contact yet with an alien species. You got off with a slap on the wrist with that one, because it was really an accident. That weird M-class planet a few months ago where you swore the dust storm wouldn't die down, and it did, showing off the Enterprise. Those people weren't supposed to know we were there helping. You got in trouble for that one. They were going to take the ship away from you, but I think Chekov managed to convince them it was a calculation error somehow. And just last week, you dropped those blueprints for the tricorder updates Scotty is working on, and the planet's native found it. We're still hoping no one notices that one. Spock is having a really hard time holding his tongue. I've talked him out of going to Starfleet with that one a few times already."
"Those were all accidents!" Jim sighed dramatically.
"Jim," Rosie came and stood in front of him. Leaning forward, she placed a hand on each arm of the chair. "You just don't get it. This is serious." She scanned his blue eyes for any sign he was taking the information to heart. "You're way too overconfident on these 'stupid' missions. Those kinds of accidents shouldn't happen. Ever. You are going to get yourself in some serious trouble one day. The kind of trouble I'm not going to be able to get you out of, even if I erase it from the record."
"You worry too much. Nothing like that is…"
But Jim's train of thought was cut off as Spock entered the room. He quickly scanned and assessed the scene in front of him and began speaking, "Forgive my interruption, Captain. Lieutenant Commander Moure. I thought you would be watching the scanners…"
Rosie's shoulders slumped in defeat. She straightened back up and ran her hands down the front of her uniform dress to smooth it. "It's quite alright, Spock," she flashed him a smile. "I was just trying to make Jim realize something, but he just doesn't get it." And with that, she moved back over towards the screens.
Jim pushed himself up out of the captain's chair and stalked off into his ready room, mumbling about people always telling him what to do. Rosie sighed again as she resumed typing at her keyboard.
"What were you two conversing about?" Spock asked, moving over to stand near Rosie.
"Just Jim's bullheadedness and stupidity. He's really going to get himself stripped of the ship one day, and I don't know how to make him see that."
"Are you alright?" Spock reached over awkwardly, pulling his hand back a few times before placing it on her shoulder. When Rosie's only answer was a tight nod, he continued, "I do not wish to see you upset."
"I'll be fine, Spock." When she turned to face him, he perceived there were no tears in her green eyes, so he took her word for it. "I'm just frustrated. Every couple has arguments here and there."
"Indeed," Spock said much more quietly than he normally would. He removed his hand and began to move towards his post.
Rosie stopped what she was doing and turned to face the Vulcan. "Are you alright?" She emphasized the question.
"I am in adequate health. Thank you for asking," came Spock's curt reply. He never turned to face her.
"Are you and Nyota okay? If you need someone to talk to…" before Rosie could finish the statement, an alarm bell started shrieking from her console. That got Spock's attention, and he was over next to her faster than she could blink.
Another moment later, Jim burst out of his ready room, "What's going on?"
"The sensors have picked up a geological disturbance on the planet's surface, Captain," Spock answered immediately.
"A volcano," Rosie clarified. "A really big, really powerful volcano."
"What?" Jim asked again, leaning forward and squinting at the numbers and symbols rapidly flashing across the screen.
"It will most likely wipe out the planet's surface, as well as its inhabitants, Captain."
"We have to stop it," Jim answered without hesitation. He flipped the switch on the communicator console to talk across the ship. "Uhura, Sulu, McCoy, and Scotty to the bridge. Right now!"
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When Scotty finally ambled into the bridge, all of the people Jim had called for were finally assembled. However, the discussion hadn't waited for Scotty, and the other six people were in an all out argument on the bridge.
"You can't, Jim!" Rosie was shrieking. Most of the people looked at in in horror. "Look, I know it sounds terrible that I'm suggesting we sit here and do nothing as that volcano wipes out the planet and its people, but that's all we can do! It'd be a huge violation of the Prime Directive, and you're already on Starfleet's radar!" When no one seemed to be agreeing with her, she turned to the one person who was a stickler for rules. "Help me out here, Spock! Please!"
"Rosie is correct…" Spock said as the attention turned towards him. "It would indeed be in violation of the Prime Directive to help a society, especially one as primitive as this, to evade a natural disaster, even if it results in their annihilation."
"Spock! How can you be so heartless!" Uhura shouted at her boyfriend.
Rosie could've sworn Spock flinched at that. The Vulcan coughed slightly before continuing, "However, it would be a loss to science if we were to allow a society we do not already know much about to fall into extinction. Perhaps if we were able to assist without their knowledge…"
"Great!" Jim cut him off. "Spock's on board. Now, here's the plan…" Jim continued on, without giving any of Rosie's protests a second thought.
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A/N: Oh, goodness, I'm so sorry I've been gone so long! With the holidays, and then the final bits of wedding planning (I got married on Saturday! I'm now officially a Mrs!), I didn't get around to getting this typed up sooner. I hope you all enjoy it! Please let me know what you think!