Blink. A second blink. Eyes flick toward the science station. Eyes front once more. Always the same pattern; blink, blink, check ships status, stare pointlessly at the viewer then repeat, over and over and over and oh shit! Eye contact!

"Mr Sulu have you nothing productive to do?" Spock asked in his usual flat tone, eyebrow raised. Sulu sighed and looked back down at his station, halfheartedly pressing a few buttons until Spock looked away, before continuing his observation of the ships first officer.

It was 0300 hours Terran time and Sulu had pulled the short straw and landed a nightshift. The Enterprise was headed for an Earth colony through an area of apace known for, as far as Sulu could tell from his post, containing unparalleled amounts of nothing. No ships, no planets, no space junk to navigate around, nothing. This was not the exciting first mission he had hoped for.

Sulu hummed tunelessly.

"Mr Sulu, may I suggest that if you intend to be unproductive all morning that you

refrain form disturbing my concentration also? Some of us have work to do." Sulu rolled his eyes inwardly and turned to face Spock.

"And what is it about interstellar nothingness that requires your concentration?" Without looking away from the viewer Spock answered

"I am scanning a near by star that has shown some atypical radiation patterns." Sulu groaned and rested his head on the console. What he wouldn't give for some excitement.

0400 hoursnTerran time. Sulu squinted angrily and the clock blinking away indifferently on his console. The com buzzed. Sulu fumbled to answer it.

"Bridge" he answered

"This is the Captian, could you tell Spock it's almost time for our morning debriefing?" some how Sulu got the impression the Captain was grinning.

"Yes sir, will do. Bridge out." He turned to the first officer, "The Captian says"

"I heard lieutenant. You have the bridge." Sulu thought he saw the Vulcans lips twitch into a smug half smile. Trick of the light. With that Spock strode into the Turbo lift, face blank as ever.

0500 hours. Spock returns, walking from the lift to the science station swiftly, hands held behind his back. He stood stationary until the Ensigns returned their concentration to their posts, before letting his eyes dart his monitor, long fingers tucking a strand hair back into place. Spock looked up at the viewer with a small but unmistakable smile on his lips.

What's he so pleased about? Sulu noticed the first officers shirt was slightly untucked and the back of his hair was ruffled. Maybe he and the Captain were… No. That was absurd. Vulcans would never; then again he's only half Vulcan. Aagh, Sulu shook his head, this wasn't something he needed to be thinking about.

Well, Sulu thought, it would certainly give a new meaning to 'morning debriefing'. He laughed to himself.

"What amuses you Mr Sulu?"

"Oh, I, er," Sulu looked away from Spocks shirt and glared at his monitor for inspiration "the gravimetric patterns Sir." he finished lamely.

"In the future try to contain yourself lieutenant." The was a pause, and then smoothly, discreetly, Spock tucked the edges of his shirt back into place, his face flushing a subtle green.

Yes, thought Sulu. This was defiantly something to keep an eye on.