Disclaimer: I don't own Trek or "Let's Give Them Something to Talk About"

This is set during the first few months of their five year mission loosely based on Bonnie Raitt's lyrics to "Let's Give Them Something to Talk About". Again, this has probably been done somewhere, some how, but this is my take on it

Hugs to my lovely reviewers Rag, Book, T'Slash, Terran and Shameless! Muah! to SpirkTrekker42 for putting this story in her community!

"People Are Talking"

Star ships are like small communities in space. They have their own eatery (the mess is not quite the most exotic place to eat, but it works), their own gym (with all the equipment needed to keep Star Fleet's finest in shape), their own clinic (Bones treats everything from sore throats to alien STDs) and their own entertainment. Keeping a crew of over three hundred males and roughly two hundred females amused and out of the brig is a unique challenge in subspace travel. There are thousands of holovids available, seven observations lounges and TenForward but, as with all sentient beings, there was also gossip.

The Resident Gossip Queen was Lieutenant Nyota Uhura, but of course the Chief Communications Officer would know the juiciest stories about everyone on the ship. From childhood injuries to current flames, no secret was safe with this crew. However, there was one story that Jim had not heard and it was the only one he truly wanted to find out: why Nyota and Spock had called it quits. While Jim might be in love with his First Officer, he was not blind to the lack of tension between the 'just-friends' now. Spock had cared for Nyota and she seemed genuinely to care for him as well, but less than two weeks in space and they had split. Of course the Captain faced a unique situation. He could not covertly ask someone what had caused the rifted because they would either see straight through his nonchalant façade or they would clam-up because it had been two officers fraternizing, which was against Star Fleet regulation.

So, Jim was left to catch tidbits of conversations before his crew realized he was present and abruptly stopped their chitchat mid-sentence, turning which ever color their species happened to flush when embarrassed. More times than not, the conversation had been about the Captain and his First Officer. Then there were the bets, which Jim had learned Chekov and Sulu were collecting, on when Jim and Spock would finally hook up. It was quite amusing, but all of it was just talk, Spock was not interested in Jim that way. However, knowing that the crew seemed to think something was happening between them, and actually supported the idea, gave Jim a small flicker of hope. With every new rumor or bet Jim happened to learn of added just a tiny bit more fuel to his fire.

To be honest, Spock was always on his mind. Just because he was now his First Officer did nothing to stop his constant center stage projections that overwhelmed Jim's mind, dreaming about him every night, thinking about him every day. All Jim could do was hope one day that Spock might return his feelings. But that hope was like a candle in the wind, it hadn't a chance to survive.

Within the first few months of their expedition, the Captain and Commander had settled into a normal routine. Jim had spent the first week apologizing profusely for the incident on the bridge during Nero's attack, now that he had been given the opportunity, until Spock had finally told him he understood. Spock had been the first to offer friendship after their newly formed armistice, and Jim been so excited he had hugged the Vulcan before returning to his facilities and jumping back grinning like a bobcat. After that, they were inseparable. They spent nearly every waking hour together. They ate together, worked together and relaxed from the day together. Jim enjoyed each second he was in the older man's presence, he would take any scrap Spock would throw him.

As was customary for Jim and Spock, they were strolling leisurely, well Jim was, towards the gym for their daily exercise routine. Before they could round the corner, Jim heard several female voices saying both his and his Vulcan's name. Jim stopped Spock so he could assess the situation better before they walked in to an ambush. Spock nodded his understanding.

"Spock loves him! Can't you tell by how close they walk down the halls?" A shrill female voice was squeaking. Jim and Spock unconsciously took a step apart.

"Jim practically drools over him. They are always staring at each other. It's like they are having eye sex!" A more relaxed voice giggled. Jim glanced over at Spock, but turned away when he saw the Vulcan was already looking at him.

"They make the most adorable couple. They are probably already lovers and we just haven't caught them yet." A familiar male voice had joined the conversation. The couple stood just a fraction straighter.

"Yea right, but if Spock doesn't make his move soon, someone else is going to gobble up that handsome Captain." A sultry voice cooed. Jim restrained Spock with an arm across his chest as he moved towards the door.

"It's a shame they can't see how in love they are with each other." The shrill voice sighed once more.

Jim abruptly dropped his arm and led Spock into the gym. Coy smiles and little waves greeted them. "I am glad to see my crew is trying to stay in shape." Jim put on his best shit-eating grin. Spock merely lifted an eyebrow.

Sulu, who had been wrapped up in the female's conversation, smiling while he slowly raked his eyes up and down Jim's body in his tight gym clothes and then Spock's in his standard blacks. "Yes sir. Star Fleet officers are known for their mouth-watering physique." With a wink and a wiggle of his eyebrows he was gone taking the giggling gaggle of girls with him.

Jim chuckled nervously. "Who knew Sulu was such a player?" He tried to recover from the boldest attempt yet to force him and Spock together by jealousy.

When Jim turned to face Spock, he was unprepared for the sight that greeted him. Spock's face was flushed green; the tips of his ears were forest. He was actually fidgeting with his towel! Spock was acting so nervous; could he be falling for him? It took a rumor to make Jim wonder, to see the truth; but now that he was convinced Spock was going under. He smiled as he walked towards Spock; now all Jim had to do was make him show it.

A/N: Thanks for reading!

I'm trying to go through the build-up from acquaintances to friends to more through songs. Please hit the review button and tell me what you think!

Just so ya know, no Sulu was not trying to hit on Jim or Spock (he loves Pavel!) he was just trying to get them jealous, k? thx