Title: Fire, Wind, and Water: The Debussy Suite 1, What the West Wind Saw
Author: Wildcat
Series: TOS
Rating: M
Codes: S/U, Saavik
Summary: Two months after Uhura's transfer to the Lexington, she and Spock meet on Gamma Cygnus for a visit with Saavik. This takes place after the events described in the following stories:
A Woman's Touch
The Taste of Snow
Almost a Kiss
You Could Even Say She Glows
The Flame Within
This is part one of Fire, Wind, and Water: The Debussy Suite.
Disclaimer: Paramount owns Kirk, Spock, McCoy, Uhura, and company. I have just borrowed them for a while, and I will not profit from any of this.
Also, thanks to the immortal Claude Debussy for his piano prelude, 'Ce qu'a vu le vent d'Ouest,' from which I took the title.
Fire, Wind, and Water: The Debussy Suite won 1st place for "Best S/U Story," 3rd place for "Best TOS Story" and Honorable Mention for "Best Overall Story" in the 1998 Golden O Awards. This particular story also tied with "Dialogue of the Wind and Sea" for 1st place "Spock Romance" in the 1998 ASC Awards.
Feedback is desired.
What the West Wind Saw, chapter 1
"Are we there yet?"
Spock glanced over at Saavik, who sat next to him in the front of the flitter. She could hardly remain still, but he did not comment on her lack of proper decorum. Indeed, he was experiencing a rather un-Vulcan sense of anticipation, himself.
"No, Saavikam. Even if the traffic were not heavy, we would not reach the spaceport for another sixteen point three minutes. As it is, I cannot predict the exact time of our arrival."
Saavik turned toward the little girl sitting in the back seat.
"You will like Nyota, Elizabeth. She is very pretty. And smart! She told me once that when I come aboard the Enterprise someday, I can call anyone I wish. I will have to ask her if I may call someone from the Lexington instead. If she agrees, I will call you!" Saavik paused for a moment. "What are you eating?"
The voice that came from the vicinity of the back seat was muffled, presumably by a mouthful of food.
"I found a box of chocolate-covered graham crackers under the seat. Want one? They melted a little bit in the sun, but they're not too bad."
Saavik reached back, but when Spock saw the gooey parcel exchange hands, he frowned. "Saavik! Surely you do not intend to eat that."
She placed the whole thing in her mouth. Talking around it, she asked, "Why not?"
The voice from the back seat piped up. "They're good! Do you want one?"
Turning around briefly, he saw that Elizabeth's mouth and fingers were covered with chocolate.
"No thank you, Elizabeth, and I would prefer that you and Saavik do not eat them, either. They are much too sticky. Your mother will be displeased with all of us if you get chocolate on the seats of her flitter."
Saavik held out her hand for another. "We eat in here all of the time. Margaret does not mind."
"That's right! Mommy doesn't mind. She eats them, too."
Spock changed tactics. "You will not wish to greet Nyota in such disarray."
Elizabeth leaned forward. "We'll clean up before we get there. It'll be okay."
Nodding wisely, Saavik said, "Yes, it will be okay. Are we there yet?"
"No, Saavikam. Only two point eight minutes have elapsed since you last—" He was interrupted by the sound of something landing on the floor behind him.
Elizabeth was quiet for a moment before she spoke.
"Oops. Spock, Mommy keeps napkins under the front seat. Can you hand me some?"
Deciding that he would prefer not to know the details of what had happened, he rummaged under his seat until he had located the napkins, and handed them back without comment. He sighed in defeat as the girls continued to crunch on their snack.
...
Trying her best not to actually lean across the person seated next to her, Uhura peered out the window of the shuttle. There it was! The spaceport. It was nestled securely in the middle of what appeared to be a congested city. The sun reflected off flitters as they swooped and circled below, and the buildings were relentless, tall and shiny and sterile everywhere she looked. If she studied the horizon, though, she could see just the promise of green, a hint of the farms and fields that she knew were out there. This city might be a sprawling giant, but the colonists had come here for the rich soil and mild weather. Once out of the confines of the metropolitan area, she would find nothing but small farming communities and beautiful countryside.
The shuttle landed at the edge of a large paved area. Obviously they weren't going to disembark at a terminal, but that was fine with her, because when the shuttle door opened and the warm breeze pushed away the stale air of the cabin, she suddenly couldn't wait another moment to be outdoors. She grabbed her duffel and awaited her turn to climb down the shuttle steps.
When she reached the door, she took a moment to look around while an elderly man descended. She had come in on a fairly good-sized shuttle, and a crowd had gathered to greet the passengers. Businessmen paired off and walked quickly away from the landing site. Families exclaimed and hugged, gathering around loved ones and making no move to leave. Several people standing close to the walkway were already looking behind her, waiting for others who had yet to exit. And there, his hair mussed by the wind, moving forward from the back of the crowd...
She smiled and waved, her heart leaping into her chest as Spock herded two bouncing, nearly identical dark-haired girls in her direction. All three of them looked so good, and she was struck anew by how lucky she was to have such a devoted, intelligent, beautiful man gazing at her with undisguised affection, hurrying to see her after what seemed a lifetime's separation. Had it really only been two months? She rushed down the steps and wound her way through the crowd to meet them.
Saavik reached her first. "Nyota! Nyota! Welcome to Gamma Cygnus!"
Uhura wrapped an arm around Saavik. "Hello, Saavik. I can't believe I'm finally here. And you must be Elizabeth. Look at the two of you! You could be sisters!"
Saavik grabbed the other little girl's arm and dragged her close. "People think that all the time, or at least they do until they take another look. The lady at the market even calls us 'the twins'!"
"I can see why!" Uhura straightened and looked into Spock's eyes. "I'm so glad to see you."
"I am pleased to see you, as well. I trust that your flight was uneventful?"
"Yes, just long. Like the last two months."
She expected him to comment on how illogical it was to perceive that the last two months had been longer than any other two months, but instead he simply nodded in agreement and reached for her duffel.
"Allow me to take this from you."
"Thanks, Spock."
His fingers brushed discreetly against her neck before grasping the strap on her shoulder, and she knew that the touch was not accidental. Spock would never accidentally touch anyone, and his simple gesture meant more to her than the most grandiose welcome she might have received from any other man. He held her eyes a moment longer, then looked down at the two girls.
"Are you ready to escort Nyota to the flitter?"
"Yes!" Saavik grabbed Uhura's hand and started toward the parking area. "Nyota, I fixed up my bedroom so that you can stay there. Margaret even let us cut some of the flowers in the back yard and put them in a vase for you, because I told her how much you like flowers. Spock had to help, though, because I could not reach the flowers on the tall bushes."
Uhura grinned at the image of Spock gathering flowers for her room, and she glanced over her shoulder to catch his eye.
"Saavikam was very precise in her instructions," he said wryly. "She would not allow me to cut any flowers that were not equal to her exacting standards."
"That is right! Spock did not know which ones were the best, but I told him."
"I can't wait to see them, because I'm sure they're lovely."
"They are," said Saavik. "You will like them very much. I even had some left over, so Margaret put them in a smaller vase and you will see them as soon as you walk in the front door. They are by the steps. Your room is at the top of the steps, across the hall from the guest room. Spock is staying in the guest room. When he got here yesterday, he offered to let you have the guest room, but I told him that you have to stay in my room because the person who stays in my room will have to share a bathroom with Elizabeth and me, and it is for girls only. Boys are not allowed! Rosa's room is upstairs, too, but she has a bathroom all her own. Would you like to go camping while you are here? The woods are very green, and it is not supposed to rain for at least five days." Saavik paused at the entrance to the parking structure. "Spock, I do not remember where we parked."
"The fourth level. Perhaps you and Elizabeth can call the lift for us."
"Yes! We will do that!"
The two adults walked slowly while they watched Saavik and Elizabeth run ahead. Shaking her head, Uhura said, "Whew! She's a bit excited, isn't she?"
"According to Margaret, she has been like this for days."
"I guess that I can't blame her. She was so disappointed when we changed our plans again."
"She certainly was. However, you must remember that I allowed her to choose between my visiting alone or postponing the trip until you could join me."
Uhura slipped her fingers around his elbow. "She made the right decision. Smart girl."
"Yes, although I must confess that I did not present her choices in an entirely unbiased manner."
"Good for you."
He regarded her for a moment. "From what I understand, I was not the only person who attempted to influence her decision."
Laughing, Uhura said, "You caught me."
They were interrupted by Saavik, who shouted from the other side of the structure. "Spock! Nyota! The lift is here!"
Uhura quickly removed her hand as they rushed to catch the lift.
...
Pretending to try the small vase of flowers on a table at the far side of the living room, Margaret Santos took a moment to peek out the window that faced the neighbors' back yard. She had to grin. Spock stood at the base of the tree and peered up into the branches at what appeared to be nothing, but what she knew was actually the well-hidden treehouse that the girls had worked so hard to build with the children next door. Nyota Uhura was nowhere to be seen; presumably she was up there with the girls. Poor woman—Saavik and Elizabeth had barely given her time to sit down and have a glass of iced tea before they dragged her outside. She hadn't seemed to mind, though. She was evidently a good sport. Margaret already liked her.
As she watched, Spock shook his head and said something. After a moment he shook his head again, more emphatically this time. She laughed, because the occupants of the tree house were obviously trying to talk him into climbing up there with them. She was sure he wouldn't do it, however. She remembered that summer so many years ago when she, herself, had done her very best to entice him into the treehouse in her own back yard. No matter how much she'd begged and wheedled, she'd never been able to convince him to join her. When they were kids, she'd usually been able to talk him into anything, but he never got over being wary of climbing up into a tree. She supposed that was understandable for a child of the desert. As an adult he was damn sure not going to want to go up there. Then again...
Maybe Nyota Uhura had something to offer that she, at the age of eight, hadn't.
For the umpteenth time Margaret wondered just how close those two really were. It had been a long time since she and Spock had exchanged messages regularly, but through the years they'd always managed to keep up with each other, and she'd heard the name 'Nyota Uhura' often. And recently she'd been hearing it much more often. Saavik obviously adored the woman, and although Spock seemed to be pretty fond of her, too, it was impossible to tell just how deep his feelings ran.
As she picked up the vase and carried it back out into the hallway, she glanced at the chrono. Phillip would be bringing Rosa home from soccer practice soon, and he'd finally get to meet the 'Nyota' that they'd all heard so much about since the first day Saavik had come to live with them. It would be interesting to hear his impression of their guests' relationship. Too bad he had to go off-planet tomorrow for that teaching seminar. With the school on break between semesters, the rest of them were going to enjoy a fine vacation.
A child's brilliant laugh drifted in from the yard. Deciding that she was missing out on the fun, Margaret quickly put down the vase and headed for the back door.
...
"Tell me, Nyota, how long are you going to be able to stay here?"
Uhura smiled at the tall man who sat in the comfortable chair across from the sofa, his sandy blond hair so different from the dark, glossy manes of his wife and daughters. He was one of those people who put you at ease just by being near you, and his quiet personality contrasted with the bright energy of the rest of his family every bit as much as his fair coloring contrasted with their striking dark looks. He was also a darn good cook. Uhura was finding it hard to stay awake after her long day and the sumptuous meal he had put on the table.
"Four nights. You and Margaret were so nice to invite me to stay longer, but I'm still too new at my job on the Lexington to be away more than six days."
Margaret took a sip of her coffee. "Spock told us that you were just recently promoted. Congratulations."
"Thank you. It's been interesting. Fun, challenging, and something new every time I turn around." She glanced over Saavik's head at Spock, who sat at the other end of the sofa. "As much as I like it, though, I sure do miss the Enterprise."
"I can assure you that you are most sorely missed aboard the Enterprise," he said. "While Lieutenant Feinstein is a capable officer, the overall efficiency rating of the communications department has dropped by five point two percent."
Spock paused for a moment to watch Saavik. Uhura smiled; obviously bored, the little girl had kicked off her shoes and was dangling them on her toes.
He continued. "The decrease in the communication department's morale rating is even more dramatic. In addition, although we have not been able to measure it objectively, I am quite certain that bridge operations have also suffered."
One of the shoes fell off. Saavik squirmed until she could just barely reach it with her outstretched foot and started trying to pick it up using only her big toe.
Spock sighed and looked back up at Uhura. "I have also noticed that the senior staff does not gather as frequently for social events as they did prior to your departure. Indeed, just two days ago I overheard Mr. Scott complain that his life had become 'dull' since you left. He attempted to organize a gathering for—"
Saavik perked up. "A party?"
"Of sorts."
"Was it someone's birthday?"
"No, Saavikam. Nothing so interesting as that. He wished to introduce a new member of his engineering staff to the senior officers, but the event was less festive than he had hoped."
"Oh."
Saavik slipped further down in her seat and tried to pin her shoe between her feet. When they had all come in here after dinner, she had been full of enthusiasm and eager questions. As the conversation drifted from tales of recent missions to topics that could be considered more mundane, however, her interest had waned accordingly. Rosa and Elizabeth, sitting on the floor next to their mother, were also apparently running out of patience, because as Uhura watched they had begun to bicker. She couldn't actually hear them, but she could tell by their expressions exactly what was happening over there.
Margaret rolled her eyes. "All right girls, outside! Go play soccer. Rosa needs the practice."
Glad to make their escape, Rosa and Elizabeth jumped up and started for the door. Saavik, though, looked up at Spock and didn't move.
"Saavikam, you will not miss anything," he said.
"Will you tell me more about the Enterprise later? Something new that I have never heard before?"
"I will."
"All right. I will go outside with the others, then."
She ran out of the room. Uhura heard the back door open and close, and the house was quiet. An instant later, the back door flew open and Elizabeth's loud voice broke the silence.
"Daddy!"
Phillip sighed. "Yes?"
"The soccer goal fell apart. Can you fix it?"
Coming to his feet, he said, "No rest for the wicked."
Margaret chuckled. "But we love you anyway, dear."
Margaret walked to the sofa as soon as he left the room. Not giving Uhura time to object, she took the empty cup out of her hand and said, "You need some more coffee. Be back in a minute."
Uhura watched Margaret walk around the corner to the kitchen, then grinned at Spock.
"Alone at last."
"Yes, however brief it may be."
Scooting just a little closer, she said, "I'm really enjoying myself, but we have got to find some time alone. You don't know how badly I want to just throw my arms around you and feel your body next to mine. Right here, on this sofa. Think they'd mind?"
The corner of Spock's mouth turned up. "Perhaps this is not the best time or place for a reunion. Would you care to go for a walk later? It would not be the most private of settings, but we would be able to talk undisturbed."
"That's a good idea, assuming I can stay awake that long. Maybe after the girls have gone to bed."
"Very well. It is a date."
She laughed. "Wonderful!"
He straightened, and a moment later Margaret walked into the room with two fresh cups of coffee.
End chapter 1