Finding Their Way
by Starsinger
After writing all those post "Into Darkness" fics, I'm writing something that doesn't scream "SPOILER ALERT!" in it. I'm still a little confused when the producers of the new Star Trek movies said that there was always chemistry between Spock and Uhura. Where? Okay, I'll accept it for the new movies, but the on-screen kiss shared with Uhura was with one James T Kirk. And it kicked up a stink because it was the first interracial kiss on American TV. Okay, not rehashing that. Spock with Uhura is fine, and there's a potential love interest now on the Enterprise for Kirk if history repeats itself. I digress, this is all about Spock and Saavik, and how they got to the point of being betrothed, at least my idea of it. Had to do some research about Saavik's career as a Ship's Executive Officer. Inspired by "Vulcan's Heart" I hope to do this couple justice. Sorry fans of Star Trek 2009, this is just TOS. Don't own a single one of them, darn it.
The warm body tossed and turned in her bed. With a higher metabolism rate than a human, her body literally burned. She came up screaming for air, "Lights!" Disheveled, Saavik looked around her. Austere the gray walls were unadorned, she slept in a bed because they wouldn't move it out in favor of a pallet. She got up and walked to the sink where she scrubbed her face with water. Long dark curls fell over it, hiding her pallor, "Damn it!" she muttered under her breath. "What a bad time to get a case of Pon Farr!"
Captain Truman Howes, who had three Vulcan officers including his First Officer, called it, humorously, the seven year itch. The other two were bonded, fortunately, and could go take care of their needs when the time came about. Because their mates were Vulcan bound, their cycles actually came regularly every seven years. Unfortunately, Saavik was neither Vulcan bound or bonded. So everyone had to walk around on pins and needles until it subsided, or she found some release. Unfortunately, they weren't headed for Karid IV, where her friend, John Densor lived, who was usually more than happy to accommodate her "issues". Relativity really was a bitch.
Saavik walked out of her quarter and down to the ship's gym. A good workout usually helped calm the fires. Maybe she could find a Klingon who would fight her, they were always good for a workout. Several officers and crewmen admired her physique as she gave the punching bag a what for. The tank top and pants were thoroughly soaked as it came to an end. Not to be outdone, she ran ten laps around the course before hitting the showers.
Prompt as always, the turbolift opened to let her out on the bridge to relieve Lieutenant Commander Conyers who had the bridge. Saavik took over for the night shift as usual. About mid-way through the shift a call came in from Starfleet Command, Diplomatic Corps. It wasn't anything urgent. They were asking that the Armstrong stopped at Vulcan to pick up Ambassador Spock for transport to Kridium III for yet another meeting. She honestly wasn't sure how her mentor did it, she'd be asleep halfway through any meeting like that. But that was why he was a diplomat, and she was still in Starfleet. Truth be told, she wouldn't have it any other way.
Starfleet had tried to promote her and giver her her own command many times. She'd refused, she didn't feel she was ready, even though Captain Howes tried to steer her into that line of thinking. He was a good Captain, warm, friendly, stern when he needed to be, and tolerant of idiosyncrasies that came with a crew as diverse as the one under his command. They worked well together, which was probably Starfleet kept throwing newly graduated officers at them to learn the fine art of Ethics, or, as Sarek once said, "Looking before they leap!" The good Ambassador had actually sat through one of Saavik's classes on his way to another conference. He kept quiet through most of the class until one of the Telarite youngsters suggested a course of action that would have left millions dead on both sides of the conflict if it had been followed through. The Ambassador calmly pointed out the kid's mistake, what would have happened, and then told them what did happen: an uneasy peace that lasted about twenty years until an asteroid hit the mother planet wiping out most of the population. Starfleet helped resettle the survivors and now they were firm friends.
While Spock had been her mentor, Sarek had been a father figure in her life. He had no problem welcoming the young waif that Spock brought home so many years ago. When she stayed behind as Kirk and crew took off for Earth in a Klingon Warbird, he and his wife Amanda kept her as an aide. She had genuinely grieved Amanda's death and had been one of many who sent notes to Sarek and Spock expressing their feelings. She was, after all, half Romulan.
The USS Armstrong was not that far from Vulcan, so they made a slight detour to pick up Spock before continuing on. Captain Howes was informed of this by Saavik as she departed. After yet another frustrating hour in the classroom, Saavik headed for the gym, yet again, to try to work through the fires. She felt eyes on her back as she finished her run. She turned to find Spock standing there, observing quietly. She nodded her head in his direction before heading for the showers. To her surprise, he was still in the gym going through exercises as she emerged from the showers. She couldn't help but notice that he was in the prime of his age. Healthy and fit, muscles rippled as he applied the weight machine, it was almost as if he was trying to get her attention. She walked past him, shaking her head, before turning to face him, "I'll be in the Officer's Lounge if you'd like to join me, Spock." He eyed her knowingly before returning to his routine.
Saavik wore the turtleneck and trousers that was standard undress for Starfleet personnel on Starships. He joined her at a table and ordered water. Spock and Saavik looked at each other a long time before Saavik finally spoke, "Pon Farr too?"
Spock glanced at the table top, seemingly embarrassed. He'd actually through more of these than she had, so he didn't need to be shy. "Saavik, would it be unseemly if I suggested we took care of our mutual problem together?"
Both of Saavik's eyebrows went up, it was the best proposal she'd heard in days. She held out two of her fingers to him which he took for acquiescence. He never made it to the room they'd set aside for him that night. He awoke the next morning, nude, and in Saavik's bed. Pon Farr smashed for the next seven years. He looked at the sleeping woman next to him, she was beautiful. He hadn't allowed himself to look at a woman in this way in a long while. He gently rolled her over and into his arms. She snuggled down with a sigh as he continued to watch her sleep. He honestly wasn't sure what he was feeling. Maybe, he should… the alarm clock went off and she awoke. He looked down at her as she sat up in bed. "Would you like to take a shower first?" she asked getting up and picking up her uniforms, she usually didn't just leave them lying around like this.
"No, you go ahead, you have a busier day than I," he replied. She nodded and left the room. When she came back and started to dress, he too went into use the facilities. When he returned she was snapping shut her uniform jacket. "Saavik, I have a serious question for you," he suddenly looked very uncertain of himself, Saavik cocked her head curiously. "Would you accept my courtship?" Saavik's jaw hit the floor.