Spock was once again glad that his assistant was not human. They were trapped on the surface of an uninhabited planet surrounded by high trees and other plants. A thunderstorm was gathering and made contacting the ship impossible.

He knew enough humans who would have freaked out by now, but Lieutenant Meunier just kept working on the improvised shelter they were building out of branches and leaves.

They had just taken a seat underneath the leafy roof as it started to rain. "Not a moment too soon", the woman next to him remarked with a look up at the dark sky.

"Indeed", he agreed and suppressed a shiver from the chilling night air. He hoped she hadn't noticed.

Her fingers went to the fastening of her black cape – she had said that no vampire went anywhere without his or her cape – and undid it. She pulled it off her shoulders and handed it to him. "Here, take it. It will keep you warm."

"That is not necessary. I am quite alright, Lieutenant. Besides, you are only wearing a short dress and tights."

She gave him a stern look. "You are suffering more from the low temperature than I am. Put it on. Arguing with you is Bones' thing to do, not mine."

He raised an eyebrow, but took the cape and wrapped it around his shoulders. He had to admit that he felt a little warmer.

"Better?" she asked.

He nodded. "Yes. Thank you."

A barely visible smile played around her lips. "You're welcome."

It got colder and colder and soon the cape was no longer sufficient. "Commander?"

He looked at her. She, too, was cold and tired. Just as him. "Yes?"

"As we both are cold, I would suggest that we share our body heat by doing what humans would call cuddling. I know it's much to ask, but I see no alternative."

Spock nodded. "I agree. It is the only logical way."

The lieutenant nodded. She stretched out her arms which turned into large grey-black bat wings and wrapped them around him, pulling him against her.

Hesitantly his arms encircled her frame and her head came to rest against his chest. "It's good that your heart is further down your ribcage. It's better for my ears."

He raised an eyebrow again, but before he could say something, she fell asleep.

He looked uncertainly down at his subordinate. He admitted to himself that he liked Lieutenant…no, Rina. She was intelligent, calm and good to work with. She didn't mind pulling extra shifts in the laboratory with him if necessary. And most importantly, she understood how it was to be an alien among humans. Sure she'd been raised on earth and her father had been a human, but she still understood it best.

He wondered, and not for the first time, why Rina always kept on this stoic façade. He doubted that it was only to keep her powers in check. What had she suffered in her past that she was so overly guarded?

His thoughts were interrupted by a small whimper. It took him some time before he realized that the sound had come from Rina. He looked down and what he saw made him stop short. Tears were running down the girl's cheeks and her features were twisted in pain. Obviously she was having a nightmare.

He lowered his mental shield slightly, but quickly reinforced them as he felt a wave of pain, fear, despair, hatred, shame and anger wash over him, making him feel slightly sick.

He decided not to further invade her privacy and did what he had seen do Dr. McCoy in this kind of situation. He pulled her closer and gently stroked her hair. Then he did what she had done to him in the conference room during the Psi-incident. He took her hand and sent her some of his calmness.

Rina relaxed and fell into a deeper sleep. What had happened that she had those feelings? He felt her clinging to him, but he didn't mind it. He considered her not only an excellent assistant, but a friend as well.

Her breathing quieted and she stopped crying. He closed his eyes and finally fell into a light sleep.