Symbiosis – an adult fanfic – by Cassandra Espinoza

A/N: Be advised of the graphic language and sexual content. If this makes you uncomfortable, I suggest you view something else. I do not own any of Mr. Roddenberry's characters, places, weaponry, etc.

I. Distractions.

Captain James T. Kirk sat with his hands on his thighs, the tips of his fingers rhythmically pounding against the stiff material of his black Federation issued pants. While the chaotic twitching of his phalanges did not bother the rest of the bridge and officer congregation all seated around the large oval table in the conference room as Spock spoke about something – what was this meeting about again? Oh yes, they would be docking at a space port in two days – the dock at Trill – Jim's attention was being overrun by autonomic beat. And this distraction was keeping his thoughts, only slightly, in the opposite direction of a more overwhelming force. This force coursed through his veins, amply pawing at the firm muscular highway that wrapped its way around and down his pulsating heart; rippling over a chiseled abdomen and anterior superior iliac spine, and electrifying with childlike anticipation into his groin. The result was an unprecedented compulsion of speedy finger tapping and the blatantly annoying spasm of his right foot; this was a beat that continually got glances, particularly testy ones from across the table from the hawkeyed Nyota Uhura. The force between the heel of his boot and the smooth floor only made a quiet clicking nose that lasted half of a second individually, but Uhura's Vulcan-esque hearing capabilities made it seem like Jim's heels were the drum major of a marching band ushering in a world of noise. He tried to make the shaking stop when her dark eyes would narrow at him; he succeeded only until she looked away at Spock, and he returned his gaze at Spock as well. It would only take a few words from the Vulcan's dangerously educated mouth before the restraint became too insatiable to bare, and Jim's leg would explode with a wave of pent up aggression towards the floor. When Uhura gave him another threatening look, Jim merely widened his eyes at her and tightened his lips.

James T. Kirk could not help that he was hornier than hell.

Spock placed his hands behind his back, his posture as magnificent as usual. "Captain, are there any other essential elements to which you may see fit to include in this agenda with the Trills?"

Clasping his sweaty hands together on top of the table and managing to straighten himself up, he glanced around at the rest of the table. Dr. Leonard McCoy was on the opposite end of the oval, his arms crossed over his chest as he stared across the way at Spock, neither interested nor lost by the lengthy terms of commerce laid out by Mr. Spock. He caught Jim's gaze briefly, his arched eyebrows almost an incredulous whisper at the captain's gaze.

"I've got nothing to add, Jim," Bones said as if he had been prompted to say something per Jim's glance.

On his left, Lieutenants Amelia Takashi and Hikaru Sulu, and Ensign Pavel Chekov had their notepads out and had slowly stopped writing as their gazes lifted in various directions. All three of them were always on their game regardless of how little they paid attention to Spock whenever a conference was called, and Jim was okay with that as long as their attention was fully on them when he talked. But it always humored him when he caught a glimpse of a Spock-centered cartoon on one of their notepads. To Bones' right sat Chief Engineer Montgomery Scott and Lieutenant Skylar Pike. Scotty's chair was leaned back as far as it would go; his eyelids hung open with an exertion of force so great that it could potentially be harnessed to hold open a pair of turbo lift doors.

Between him and Jim sat Skylar, whose full lips were pursed, her arms crossed over her chest and her brown eyes narrowed in Spock's direction. Jim was considerably familiar with this look. It was the look of 'I'm completely immersed on what you have to say on the outside, but my mind is as far away as Sulu and Chekov on the straight side of the heterosexual scale.' Jim had used this look often in the Academy on his instructors when his mind would be sifting through his internal file cabinets of bars to check out, bets to settle, and curves to explore for the evening. Even when he was called on by a suspecting instructor, he was a clever enough to bullshit his way through an explanation or to pull an answer out of his ass. However, if Spock would have been his instructor, he probably would have met his match – though he'd never verbally admit that. Even though Skylar was using the same card as he'd so frequently used, Skylar would get off easy; after all, she had Spock wrapped around her finger. Or perhaps it was the other way around; Jim did not know for sure. Their relationship was a conundrum to anyone who sat outside of its boundaries – and that was basically everyone, especially him. If anyone knew anything about the dynamics, it would have been Amelia, Skylar's female best friend. A second insider would probably be Scotty or even Bones (though he could have easily scored access to such classified information from his crafty chief programmer girlfriend, Amelia, who was exceptionally brilliant in both directives).

Skylar and Jim had a quizzical relationship as well that never fully gave him permission to overstep certain lines that he knew were present but were never actually articulated. Some days he and Skylar were one in the same, best friends even (paralleled by Amelia and Sulu's relationship). Some days, he was another Uhura to her – competition. While Skylar wasn't known to start petty drama, she had no qualms with handling certain situations with a phaser. Uhura was just as resilient, but with her tongue. It was very apparent that each young woman had their sights set on being the Alpha female; while Uhura's advantages were mastered along the lines of an unmatched (except perhaps by Mr. Spock himself) astute cleverness, Skylar had the ability to take anyone down physically (her kryptonite being the Vulcan nerve pinch, also delivered effortlessly by Mr. Spock). And while Jim thought about these two women, one he was already sexually active with on a frequent schedule, a blatant clearing of the throat sounded, drawing Jim out of another wicked fantasy. He blinked and saw those congregated around the table, including a few other officers that he had overlooked, staring at him. Skylar waved her hand in front of his face.

"Captain?" she said with very little seriousness. "Do you need a hypo?"

Jim shook his head. He looked back at Spock, who still remained in his statuesque position seemingly undisturbed by the holdup. "I'm sorry, Spock. I don't think I had anything else to say in regards to our meeting with the Trills."

"Wasn't there a particular assignment you wished to give to one of our own here, Captain?" Spock questioned, raising an eyebrow expectantly.

Jim eyed him quizzically and for the first time saw a trance of obvious annoyance. Jim almost laughed out loud. Instead, he suppressed it into a chuckle. "I'm sorry, Spock, it must have slipped my mind."

"Perhaps you should have a private meeting with Dr. Mc –"

"Spock," Jim interjected seriously. "Okay, I get it. That's my business. What was I supposed to tell them?"

Spock dropped his arms and turned to Skylar. "Lt. Pike, you are being demoted to Yeoman."

Skylar's jaw dropped as a hush fell across the room. "On what grounds?" demanded Skylar as her fists slammed down onto the table top, reawakening the already alarmed wavelength that connected everyone in the room outside of Spock in stunned expressions. Jim met her height as he stood slowly beside her, his arms out to stop anyone who tried to say anything else – and to stop Skylar for pouncing.

"Whoa, whoa," Jim started, giving Skylar a reassuring nod. He turned and glared at Spock, who now crossed his arms over his chest defensively. "Thank you for that eloquent explanation."

"Well, Captain, considering that you were unable to actually recall the assignment in your present elusive preoccupation, I merely attempted to fulfill the obligation per your – be it amused – request."

"What the hell is he talking about, Captain?" seethed Skylar.

Jim turned to her. "It is a fake demotion," he explained sternly. "It isn't a secret to anyone that Senator Dorraine isn't the biggest fan of the Federation. In fact the whole plight of this landing is getting the Trills to trust us in the negotiations of a possible Federation post on Trillus Prime. This post would be considerably beneficial to both parties – which, one would think would be something the Trills would understand as far as symbiotic relationships, but that's beside the point. The point is, as Mr. Spock has already pointed out in this meeting, is that the there is a possibility of foul play, and in order for negotiations to go smoothly we all need to be protected. The Trills have little knowledge of our chain of command here, nor have they any clue as to what roles any of you play until you are formally introduced by me. Starfleet has given me special orders to have Lt. Pike act as my Yeoman in order to keep her close should any foul play become apparent." Jim looked directly at Skylar. She was beginning to loosen up in understanding. "You are my best tactical officer and chief of security. You will also be my personal bodyguard, as per the request of Starfleet. We have one shot with this colony. They are on the center of the teeter-totter on whether or not to become a Federation planet." Jim rested a hand on Skylar's shoulder. "You're going to hate me, but you are hereby ordered to wear a skant until completion of the mission, Lieutenant. You are also to have your rank reissued."

With a heavy sigh, Skylar sat back in her chair. "Yes, Captain," she murmured only audible enough for her reply to be acknowledged.

Jim looked at the rest of the table. Many of the congregation had subsided in their worries. Everyone seemed to be fully awake. He turned his head to Spock, who was now staring at the table top almost as elusively as Skylar had been during his lengthy briefing. "Is everyone clear on what is to happen in the next couple of days?"

A unified, "Yes, sir," rang out.

"Dismissed."

A din of chatter and feet took over the room as everyone stood from their chairs, gathered their PADDs and notepads, and began to make their way towards the double doors leading out to the rest of the Enterprise. One of the first out the doors was Skylar who hardly waited for them to automatically open, followed by Amelia, Sulu and Chekov. Scotty lingered for a moment, glancing in the direction of Jim and Spock while he absently engaged in a quick conversation with another officer before turning and heading out of the room. When most of the room was cleared out, Bones approached Jim who was hunched over the table, his knuckles white as they pressed onto the wood.

"Something wrong, Jim?" Bones asked as he took a seat in the chair Skylar had inhabited. "You seem as distant as Earth."

"I agree," Spock remarked. "You were rather vacant today. Are you feeling ill?"

Jim tapped his hands onto the table. "I'm having some manly issues, that's all."

Bones smirked. "Oh, I see. Looks like I won't need to call you into Sick Bay then, thankfully."

Spock remained indifferent. "I am unfamiliar with the unscientific term 'manly issues.'"

"I highly doubt that," said Bones. "It's a scientific, unifying biological process."

"By all means, Doctor, enlighten me."

Bones nodded, impressed by the wit in Spock's tone. "Fascinating. For a moment, you almost sounded as though you were going to show us some humanistic tongue and cheek."

"Thankfully that moment has passed."

"You emotionless 'thinkers' might call it arousal."

"I'm horny, gentlemen," Jim suddenly said, his cheeks flushed. "Plain and simple." He stood upright and ran a hand through his hair, stretching himself out, his abs peeking out from under the hem of his tunic. "It's not a fucking anomaly."

Spock crossed his arms over his chest. "By all means, it is a biological consistency. However, I do not understand what the quandary is considering that there are plenty of resources available to alleviate the current constraint on your attention span."

Jim rolled his eyes at Spock. "Forgive me, Spock, for not excusing myself from your loquacious debriefing to relieve myself."

"If arousal is such an ailment, I would have readily sanctioned your request to leave. Rather that than endure an hour of excessive, infantile patter."

"Patter?" Bones questioned haughtily.

"Yes, Doctor. The underdevelopment of your hearing range has not allowed you the capability to endure a broken chain of continual foot and fingertip tapping."

Bones gritted his teeth. "Forgive me, King of the Evolutionary Hierarchy, that I couldn't hear Jim tapping his foot in anxiety between the giggles on my left and the snoring on my right."

"It seems like I'm not the only one with the issues, Spock," Jim remarked coolly. "You also seem to be a little bit on the offensive today."

"My disposition has no relative association with this matter, Captain. With that said, I wish to take my leave."

Jim waved his hand in the direction of the doors. "No one's holding you here."

Spock eyed him. "That was not my inference."

"Go look at your scanner, Spock," Bones spat, standing from the chair.

Spock did not move. "No," he said simply. Both Bones and Jim were caught off-guard by this remark. "I intend to return to my quarters. Good day, gentlemen." Spock gave them a respectful nod and moved in a brisker-than-normal stride towards the double doors of the conference room. It wasn't until the doors recessed back together with a sigh that Bones made a "Huh!" sound and glared back at the door.

"I don't know what crawled up his ass and died, but damn," he stated angrily. "He is definitely on his high horse today."

"I'm pegging it as an off-week," Jim replied simply. "He's been rather moody lately and quiet. Exceptional for even him, though he'd never admit it. I suppose everyone is entitled."

"Well, he couldn't have picked a worse time to start bitching. I'm going to have to ask you to have me mirror whatever assignment you give him. If he'd beaming on planet with you, I'm putting in a request to stay onboard; I'm sure murder on a diplomatic mission is enough to end any and all negotiations with the Trills."

Jim chuckled absently. "If they don't murder me first." He looked at Bones who did not seem to find the statement humorous. "I'd really appreciate it if you didn't murder my first officer right now. I need him."

"He's pretty damn irrational right now, if you ask me."

"This time, Doctor, I'm not." Jim flashed him a smile. Bones could not help but reciprocate. Even though he was a man solely invested in the opposite sex, Jim had a smile that could make anyone susceptible to his infectious charisma. "Do me a favor and play nice until after the negotiations. Then you two can play cat and mouse around the bridge all you want."

Bones slapped him on the back as the pair turned and began heading towards the doors. "So, about your predicament … I recommend a certain communications officer who usually enjoys your time."

Jim shook his head. "I don't know, Bonesy. She and I have been on different planets lately. I don't really know what to do about that as of now."

"Well then I'm going to let this conversation go and leave it at that."

"Wait, no medical advice for me?" Jim smirked at him.

Bones rolled his eyes. "I'm a doctor, Jim, not a miracle worker." The double doors opened and they walked out into the bustle of the Enterprise's veins.