The screen surrounding the bridge of the space craft USS Enterprise was a blinding red. A high pitched siren rang out to alert all those who were sightless of the screen's message. "Fuel Reserve: Empty."

"I'm never wrong, "said Captain James Tiberius Kirk, almost calmly, seemingly unaffected by the screen's noise.

Lieutenant Nyota Uhura continued to watch her screens, rolling her eyes at the captain's comment. Several months with Kirk on the Enterprise had trained her to recognize the beginning of a useless narrative tangent and she was instantly prepared to ignore her narcissistic captain.

Next to her, the Vulcan Spock turned and gave his full attention to the Captain. Spock did not particularly enjoy the companionship of his captain as Spock Prime had insisted he would but he did respect the young man. And since there was nothing occurring at his station, it seemed reasonable to pay attention to the captain rather than stare at an empty screen.

"I'm never wrong," insisted Captain Kirk, repeating his point, "But I specifically remember sending Lieutenant Uhura and First Officer Spock to collect supplies on our last shore leave. And supplies which I'm sure I discussed with them, includes fuel."

Uhura's mind wandered to the last shore leave and instantly she crossed her legs tightly. She didn't remember anything from the shore leave except convincing Spock to rent a room together. And the sweaty, tangled-limbed mess on that wide clean bed that quickly resulted with the beautiful Vulcan.

"Apologies, Captain," said Spock, showing absolutely no humiliation, "I take full responsibility for the error. I was given the supply list and I was the one who misplaced it." Uhura looked explicitly at her work knowing her lover was doing the same.

There was a charged silence after that. Uhura could feel her neck burn as Kirk looked from her to Spock and back repeatedly, delighting in their distress. The rest of the crew's eyes wandered awkwardly, vainly looking for a suitable spot to rest their focus. Uhura knew without doubt she was having more trouble with this than Spock. Not only was he able to mask his discomfort but he, unlike Uhura, was not slowly becoming very warm in certain unfortunate areas.

Uhura was muttering a silent prayer in her mind for a distraction. Not simply to alleviate the mortifying situation but also so that certain memories would retreat to the back of her mind where they would stop bothering her.

Thus, when the transmission came through, Uhura was almost fanatic. She pressed on her ear piece and leaned towards her screen and away from the crew. It was an unnecessary move. The bridge was deathly silent but Uhura would have taken any reason to hide at that point.

The frequency carried a strange language. The dialect was similar to other languages so Uhura was able to pick up a few words but the message was basic and clear enough that she understood it completely. "Medical emergency. Need assistance," she said aloud.

"For what planet?" asked Kirk.

"They don't give a name. Just coordinates." Uhura scribbled the numbers down on a piece of paper and rose to hand them to Chekov. Analyzing the data for a moment, Chekov handed it to Sulu. Both men looked to Kirk for orders.

"Well?" asked Kirk, "Can we make it there?"

"Just barely," said Sulu.

Kirk leaned back in his chair, his fist against his chin, "We don't have enough fuel to get us back to a planet in alliance with the Starfleet. This planet not only seems friendly but they may be able to give us fuel or at the very least, hold us up until fuel can arrive from another source."

"Shall I set a course for this planet then, captain?"

"Sure why not?" Kirk leaned back on his throne, "I think I will personally take charge of the shore part this time. Just to make sure nothing is lost again. "

*****************************

The bottom of Spock's tunic was askew.

Knowing he disliked looking disheveled, Uhura reached over and straightened it. Spock tensed visibly and Uhura froze. She was suddenly keenly aware of how close her hands were to him.

"Nyota, this is not an appropriate area for that kind of activity," he said, his voice strangely coarse.

"What are you talking about?" she scoffed. "I wasn't thinking about that. I was just fixing your tunic."

"Just as, I'm sure, you wanted that room on in Ursi for sleeping." Spock muttered.

"I thought we decided not to do anything sexual during working hours. Doesn't that agreement include not talking of previous encounters?" she bantered, "I was under the impression it did, despite how incredibly satisfying such interludes were."

Spock felt his body tighten and he looked down at the lieutenant. Nothing about her stance or movement or general air was even remotely sensual and yet she had this strange effect on him.

He was mildly surprised to find he was leaning into her, "There is a ninety five percent chance we will be caught, especially since Captain Kirk promised to return quickly."

Nyota stood on her toes and kissed his neck. His smooth skin was warm to her touch and she dragged her lips over his jaw line, agonizingly slow.

Spock's hands were clasped behind his back and he had to fight himself not to touch her. He knew if he did, he would lose himself in her again.

Nyota's mouth paused on his chin. Her arms were wrapped around his waist and she was holding him close. Spock looked into her eyes and was surprised to see that beyond the obscure lust and raw ardor, there was a deep emotion.

Nyota's mouth hovered over his, their lips barely touching. She muttered his name before she took him into her mouth. Spock was wanderlust by this. His hands seized the rear of her thighs and lifted her. Nyota grabbed his neck to keep from falling, her arms holding herself against him. His last rational thought was that his hands was covering her biceps femoris

Nyota pulled away slightly, gasping, "I love you, Spock."

Spock stared at her, his eyes empty and emotionless. She waited for what seemed like hours for an appropriate response. She knew better than to expect an identical sentiment but he said absolutely nothing in reply.

He leaned to kiss her again but Nyota's arms had loosened and she slid back onto her feet.

She stepped away from him, her chest heaving and her eyes looking bright and rosy. Spock reached for her but she wrapped her arms around herself and retreated further.

"What is wrong Nyota? You seem to have become reserved."

"Nothing gets by you does it?" His chest almost burst when he saw tears stream down her cheeks.

"Why are you distressed?"

"Spock, you say you love me." This was only partly true. He'd said "I feel a deeply physical affection for you" once when the endorphins and intimacy of the situation had eroded his Vulcan nature. "But words are easy. I should know; I'm paid to decipher them and find the truth."

"I have come to accept that I can only have so much from you," she continued, "But I have been thinking of it for some time now and...I wonder that if you cannot show me your love, is it too much of an insane theory to believe there is none?"

"Nyota, I care for you very deeply."

She sobbed, hastily composing herself, "I'm the one who reaches for you. I'm the one who holds you when we sleep together. I'm the one who must initiate everything between us. Why do you never act first?"

He was silent. The utter lack of noise in the room broke Nyota's heart. Every second he said nothing, her pain intensified.

"It's almost as if you don't want the same from me."

"Forgive me Nyota. It's against my nature."

"I know all about your nature. I have tried to be accepting but I don't know if I can be with a person like you."

"I do desire…"

The moment was shattered as Kirk and Scotty burst into the room. Nyota slowly became vaguely aware that they were in the beaming room and moved to stand on one of the white domes. She wiped her eyes and forced her sadness back. Spock was already in position and was watching her.

"We've arrived at this mysterious planet. It's time to beam down to the surface," Kirk said. "Are you two ready?"

"Of course," said Spock.

Uhura was silent.

Scotty smiled at Spock and then Vulcan looked away. Scotty looked to Nyota, still beaming, but she looked away. He looked down, his grin fading, "How surprising. Drama."

Kirk stared at the two of them before taking a spot between them. "Why are your eyes so red?" Kirk looked at Spock, "What's wrong with her?"

"It's nothing," said Nyota, her voice even.

"Are you sure?" he asked.

"Please," she whispered, "I'm fine."

Kirk was taken aback by her plea and Spock felt an even deeper shame.

'Always so emotional,' thought Scotty. Back on Delta Vega, the most interesting thing that had ever happened was when his alien assistant had eaten the last sweet cake.

"Right," Kirk looked to Scotty, "We'll go down and see what's up. Chekov and Sulu are in charge. We'll make contact if we need you."

"Good Luck captain."

Scotty worked the control board for a bit and Nyota felt the itchy tickles of the energy of the beam but she was also keenly aware of how oversensitive and strange it felt on her numb skin.

Nyota Uhura wished she had chosen to be a navigator so she could stay with the ship.

A/N Please be brutal with it.