Title: The Other Woman

Author: Wildcat

Series: TOS

Rating: K+

Codes: S, U, Saavik

Summary: Saavik, now a cadet at the Academy, calls Uhura for help during a crisis.

Disclaimer: Paramount owns Kirk, Spock, Uhura, and company. I have just borrowed them for a while and will not profit from any of this.

This story is a part of my continuing Spock/Uhura universe. It follows The Adventure.

This story won 2nd place for "Best S/U" in the 1999 ASC Awards.

Feedback is desired.

The Other Woman, chapter 1

Slinging her duffel onto the bed, Uhura pulled out an armful of clothing and carried it over to the drawers. It was so good to be back on board the Lexington. Although she loved teaching at the Gibraltar Communications Technology Institute, sometimes the long trips between Earth and the ship got old. Right now, all she wanted to do was unpack her things, take a hot shower, and curl up with a book. Maybe she'd even open that bottle of wine she'd been saving...

She looked up at a signal from her computer. Who could be calling? Maybe it was her friend Carolyn, checking in to see how her trip went.

She seated herself at her desk. "Computer, accept communication."

The screen brightened to show Hikaru Sulu's smiling face, and Uhura grinned in response.

"Hikaru! What a surprise. How are you doing?"

"I'm fine, Nyota. How about you?"

"I'm doing great. I just got back from a trip to Earth."

He hesitated. "Uh, see anyone I know?"

She narrowed her eyes curiously. "No one but Saavik, and I didn't even get to see her for very long. Did you know she's a cadet at the Academy now? She's so busy that I was lucky to get twenty minutes for lunch one day. Why do you ask?"

"Oh, no reason. I don't suppose she told you anything, er, surprising, did she?"

This time, she frowned. "Hikaru, what's up?"

He paused reluctantly. "I have some interesting news about one of our friends that I thought you might want to hear."

She laughed. "Gossip, Hikaru? I've never known you to be afraid to pass on a little gossip."

"This is about Spock."

Her laughter faded as she raised both eyebrows in surprise. Gossip about Spock? Maybe it was because of his natural dignity, but for some reason he just never seemed to be the target of gossip. Really curious now, she asked, "Is he up for another promotion already? Does it have something to do with the Enterprise? Is he getting recognized for something? C'mon Hikaru, spill it."

He studied her, then said, "I hear he's seeing someone."

At first all she could do was open her mouth, but finally she said, "Spock? Seeing someone?"

"Er, yes. She's the curator of the museum at the University of Mexico. Evidently, he met her about three months ago at a lecture, and they've been an item ever since."

"Spock?" she echoed.

"Uh huh."

Wow. Evidently, Spock wasn't just seeing someone, he was openly seeing someone. He was always so private that she found this hard to believe. Maybe Sulu was wrong. "How do you know about this, Hikaru?"

He shrugged. "They told me."

She took a moment to digest that. "Well. You've met her, then."

"There was this get-together at Dr. McCoy's, see, and she was with him."

"That's... incredible. Are you sure it wasn't an impostor? That just doesn't sound like Spock at all." She shook her head and smiled. "So tell me all about it."

He smiled back at her in apparent relief, and suddenly she wondered just how much he knew about her and Spock. Had he actually been nervous about telling her this? How silly! If Sulu knew that she and Spock were involved at one time, he also knew that they split up ages ago. If Spock had found someone, it was good news. Yes, he deserved a little happiness. And Uhura had to admit to herself that she was glad to know that his bad experience with her hadn't ruined him on relationships forever. Not that he'd had a bad experience with her, not at all—actually, it had been very good, hadn't it?—but it hadn't worked out, and he could easily have just withdrawn forever. Yes, it was definitely good to learn this. Definitely. No doubt about it.

She was so busy convincing herself that she almost missed Sulu's description of the evening.

"...just a small group at Dr. McCoy's: Admiral Kirk, Scotty, a few people from Starfleet Medical. I can't remember their names. Anyway, Spock came late and brought her. Admiral Kirk and Dr. McCoy clearly already knew her, and I'd even say that she'd been to Dr. McCoy's house before. She seemed pretty comfortable there."

"What's she like?"

"Uh, her name is Helen, and she's tall, very tall. Almost as tall as Spock. And skinny. She's very reserved. Really, you could say cool. Aloof. I suppose that she's pretty enough, in a cool, aloof sort of way. She, er, has straight blonde hair, about shoulder-length, and I guess I didn't really notice anything else about her."

"Human, I take it?"

"Yes, although you'd think she was Vulcan by the way she acted."

"Did you like her?"

"Oh, yes, I suppose I liked her all right. She's so cool, though, aloof, really."

"Yes, I know. You already said that."

"Uh, okay. And very brainy. Sometimes I felt like I wasn't talking on her level."

"Like Spock, would you say?"

"Oh no, Spock has a lot of warmth and charisma, at least compared to her, he does. But she's probably just about as smart as he is." He glanced down at his chrono. "I'd better be going. I'm on duty in just a few minutes."

"Okay, Hikaru. Thanks for calling. It was good talking to you! Keep in touch."

"I will. Bye, Nyota. Sulu out."

Uhura stared at the darkened screen, and shook her head in amazement. Spock, with a girlfriend? Someone who was his intellectual equal, someone tall and lean like him, someone he would openly escort to parties? Which brought up the next question...

Why hadn't Saavik told her about this?

...

The screen brightened to show Saavik's serious face.

"Nyota! I did not expect to hear from you so soon. Are you back on board the Lexington now? Is everything well?"

Uhura smiled. "Oh, yes. Everything is fine. I made it back to the ship without any problems at all. It sure was good to see you the other day, Saavik."

"I was pleased to see you, too. It was unfortunate that I did not have much time. Perhaps we can spend the weekend together next time you come to Earth."

"I'd like that." Uhura paused, then casually said, "I just got a call from Commander Sulu. Turns out he was on Earth recently and met someone interesting."

Saavik froze, obviously trying to interpret the tone of Uhura's voice. After a moment, she asked, "Who was it?"

"A woman by the name of Helen." Uhura wilted slightly. "Why didn't you tell me about her, Saavik?"

Saavik pressed her lips together, then said, "Because I had hoped that she would be gone before you heard anything about her. She is not right for Spock. I do not like her."

"Why not?"

"She is simply not right. I do not care for her, yet she persists in trying to become my 'friend.' Indeed, one might say that her attempts are an illogical exercise in futility. It is clear to me that Spock has not examined all of his options closely enough."

"She sounds as if she's ideal for Spock. It also sounds like you haven't even given her a chance."

"But she is not right for Spock! She is—"

Saavik stopped in mid-sentence, so Uhura prodded gently, "What's wrong with her? She's intelligent and reserved. She sounds perfect for him."

"But she is not like you!"

Uhura raised both eyebrows and took a heavy breath. "Please, Saavik, let's not go through this again. Spock and I aren't a couple, haven't been a couple for years, and will never be a couple again. You can't hold the fact that she's not me against her."

"Yes I can."

Uhura shook her head at Saavik's stubbornness. "If you do that, you're not only hurting her, but yourself and Spock, too. Has it occurred to you that he might want the two of you to be friends?"

"We have not discussed it."

"He might not say anything about it, but I guarantee you it's true. Will you at least try to have an open mind?"

A shadow of a scowl crossed Saavik's face, but Uhura didn't look away. Finally, Saavik said, "Very well, but it will not be easy. She is simply not right for him. She is too cool and reserved, and I have noticed that he acts differently when with her. Nevertheless, I will try."

"That's all I ask. And maybe you'll even discover that she's not so bad after all." Uhura smiled again. "I'd better go finish unpacking. Please, just keep me posted, will you?"

"Yes. I will. Goodbye, Nyota."

"Bye, Saavik. I'll see you soon."

Saavik's face vanished, and Uhura grinned as she thought about the conversation. Poor Helen! Saavik wasn't going to make it easy for her. She laughed, shook her head, and rose to take a shower.

End chapter 1