Chapter Two: Lessons
Another day passed and Uhura was the only one who could see something was off with Mr. Spock. It probably had more to do with the only noticeable change in the Vulcan was his snippiness with crew members and every one Uhura asked, gave the same answer. They thought Mr. Spock was just trying to figure out some challenging puzzle or was overworked. Uhura did not believe that to be the case because, surely, the captain or Dr. McCoy would be aware of any such factors, but they seemed to be just as in the dark as anyone else.
When the day came for their music lesson, Uhura was nervous. She has never been nervous before. Not even during their first lesson. Spock was teaching her how to play the Vulcan lyre. Uhura never completely understood why he was willing to teach her in the first place. He told her that the instrument was difficult for a human to learn but he decided that she would be able to learn to play. From what the Vulcan has told her, Uhura was coming along better than he thought. It was the best way for him to tell him that he was proud of her.
When Uhura found herself in Spock's quarters, she could see that he had his lyre placed on his desk. He held hers in his hands. During their first lesson, he told her that the temperature in her room wasn't optimal for the wood of the lyre. Spock did keep his room hot, a dry heat to be exact. While Uhura liked her room warmer than most, she did not keep her quarters Vulcan hot. The dry heat was best for the lyres.
"Good evening, Mr. Spock," she greeted with a nod of her head.
"Good evening, Miss Uhura," Spock greeted and handed her the lyre. Uhura took the instrument and took her usual seat. She worked on tuning the lyre just as Spock had taught her as she waited for him to pick up his lyre and take his usual seat across from her. But the Vulcan did not.
Instead of grabbing his lyre and taking his seat in front of hers, he moved to stand behind her. Uhura tried her best to ignore the change and continue tuning her lyre.
"Begin with Aria of Mother," Uhura heard the First Officer say. His voice seemed lower than normal.
Uhura knew the Aria. It was the first piece of music Spock ever taught her. She practiced the piece over and over inside her head whenever she could. It was a beautifully composed song, a Vulcan Lullaby. She had learned the Aria in halves. It was twenty minutes long. When she asked Spock why the lullaby was so long, he answered that the melody was meant to be sung during a mind meld. A way to calm a young Vulcan child when they were too young to control their own emotions.
Uhura began with the Aria. She allowed the music to carry her way. She concentrated on her playing. She was able to play perfectly for ten minutes, then she heard a deep humming coming from above her. Uhura paused in her playing. It was her first mistake she's made since her third week of lessons. She's been having lessons for half a year now.
"You have stopped, Miss Uhura," Mr. Spock said.
"Um…" Uhura hummed. She was suddenly nervous. She was never unnerved by Mr. Spock before.
"Please continue," Spock instructed.
Uhura began to play again. This time, Mr. Spock did not start his humming until fifteen minutes had passed. She stopped again.
"Lieutenant Uhura," Spock said gently. Which was odd because she thought he was going to reprimand her. "You know this lullaby. Why do you find yourself hesitant to finish?"
Uhura looked up at Mr. Spock and blushed. His dark eyes stared into hers deeply.
"I'm sorry Mr. Spock. I find myself distracted," Uhura answered. She placed her lyre on the table in front of her before she moved her gaze downward. She found that the Vulcan's stare was far too intense for her to hold.
Spock gently cupped her chin. Uhura found his touch almost too hot to bear. He lifted her head to continue staring into his eyes.
"There is no need for an apology," he said and in that moment, Uhura saw so much emotion pass through Spock's eyes.
"I'm sorry," she gasped.
"And you apologize again." Mr. Spock said and she saw a fraction of a smile stretch his lips.
Uhura found herself standing. Her body was so close to his and she could feel his heat radiating off of him. His hand moved from her chin to sweep across her cheek. Uhura felt a range of emotion then. Longing, care, protectiveness, kindness, concern, shock, and a haze of something deeper. Suddenly, a thought crossed her mind. She wasn't just feeling her own emotions. She was feeling Mr. Spock's. Through his simple touch, he was feeding her his emotions.
"Excuse me, Mr. Spock," Uhura suddenly stuttered as she moved away. Away from him and his touch. "I cannot continue tonight's lesson. I have to go."
She rushed out of his quarters and to her own. She locked her door before she threw herself onto her bed face first. She rolled over and held her hand over her fast beating heart.
Until that night, Uhura never knew that Vulcan's felt emotions at all. She assumed that they had none. Boy, was she wrong? It wasn't that Vulcan's never felt emotions. No, they suppressed them. They did not show them.
The depth of emotion she felt from Mr. Spock was a shock to her system. All she could do was wonder what it all meant. The emotions, the humming, and the touching. And what scared her the most, wasn't Mr. Spock's recent behavior. No, what scared Uhura was her curiosity to learn more about Mr. Spock and where exactly that curiosity would lead.
END OF CH. 2
