Commander Spock had had a long day and all he wanted was a rest; he'd had to put up with Kirk moaning about a girl who dumped him and Scotty saying how much he'd missed the Enterprise. Now their five-year mission was over and they were awaiting a new assignment.
He'd decided to take the long way home; the scenic route. His relationship with lieutenant Uhura had been strong for over four years, apart from going through a slightly rough patch during their encounter with John Harrison.
Spock had been sharing a small house with Uhura on Earth for a few months, since the mission ended and they needed somewhere they called home. Spock had decided to move in with Nyota when he'd had to live with James Kirk for a couple of weeks. That was an experience he didn't think he'd forget anytime soon.
It didn't take Spock long to walk to the small house in San Francisco. Many Starfleet personnel lived in the area, because it was so close to the headquarters. He passed many of his colleagues on the way and had greeted them accordingly. He felt as though his relationship with Uhura had brought his human side out further. His mother had always told him to embrace his mixed heritage instead of view it as an obstacle, and now he finally was. He wished she could have seen him now. He was a successful and revered Starfleet officer, the first officer on what was perhaps the best ship in the fleet; the Enterprise. In addition, he'd made many human friends and has settled down with Nyota Uhura. He was now a father.
Finally, Spock reached the front door of the bungalow, but before walking in, he glanced to the side; the bedroom curtain was closed. Strange, he thought. It was the middle of the day and the sun was out, blazing in a hit summer's day. Why on earth did Uhura close the curtains. He thought no more of it and opened the door. It was extremely quite inside, but Spock homes in his Vulcan hearing and noticed very faint giggles. He was almost certain that the sound was coming from the room to the right of the hallway; their bedroom. He knocked on the door and heard some scuffling. He was sure there were more than two feet in there. The worst thing he heard was moaning.
He reached out and pushed the white door open. He did not like what he saw, not only was Uhura's head in the covers, but someone else's was aswell. It was a man. Spock stood there, openmouthed, as stiff as a rock.
"Spock!" Uhura exclaimed, shocked. "Wha... What? I thought you weren't back for a few hours?" There was a look of embarrassment and much shame in her eyes.
Spock shook his head. "No, Nyota, who is this man?" He gestured to the blond man who was adjacent to his girlfriend in the bed.
"Hey, I'm Kurt!" The man spoke up, proudly.
"What?" Spock tried very hard to cover his anguish, but he could not. He was outraged. His human side was getting the better of him, much to his shame.
"I said, 'I'm Kurt'." The man repeated.
Spock went pale. "I... I know." He was silent for a long time, not knowing what to say or how to react. He'd walked in on Kirk under similar circumstances, but this was different; Uhura wasn't just his friend, she was his partner. They had a child together. Suddenly, Spock's temper got the better of him. "Get out!" He yelled at Kurt, his previously gritted teeth not able to contain his shame. His anger. Anguish. Despair.
"What? Why?" Kurt asked with a measurable amount of cheek. "How'd you bag a girl like this, anyway?" He smirked.
"Get out!" Spock repeated, even louder, this time.
"Alright, jeez, I'm going!" He got up and pulled in his top and jeans. He hasn't even out his shoes on when Spock practically kicked him out.
The Vulcan walked into the sitting area, not speaking. Once Uhura had put the remainder of her clothes, she followed Spock into the lounge.
"Spock..." She began.
"Nyota?" Spock asked. "Why? I don't understand. Why?"
"I don't know. I just... I don't know."
"Why?" He turned around and looked at her, straight on. "I need to know. Tell me."
"I... I don't know. You've done stupid stuff right? It was only once, I promise." She'd known him so long, and they were so close, she knew asking that was a mistake.
Spock said nothing.
"I don't know, alright?" I don't know why I did what I did. I just wanted some excitement." She looked down and shame filled her facial expression. "It's not easy, living... with you. I don't meant that in a bad way, but, even though I know you love me, I'm not sure if I can actually feel it. I know you're Vulcan, and I absolutely understand that, but part of me wants your human side more. I need it more."
"I'm leaving." Spock said simply. He go up and walked out of the front door. He sighed and closed the door behind him. As he walked down the sidewalk, he saw Uhura staring at him with tear filled eyes from the window.
Spock walked for what felt like an eternity. He still didn't understand why Uhura did what she did. They seemed so... happy together. They had their son, James, to worry about. Why did she do it? He was no longer sure if he could trust her.
He'd been trying to remember Jim Kirk's address and he got it right. He walked up to the entrance of the apartment complex and talked into the communications panel that Kirk had educated him on previously.
"Jim? I was wondering if I could ask you something."
"Yep?" Kirk asked. "What is it?"
"I'm afraid, I may have to stay with you."
"What? Again?" Kirk paused. "I'm just joking, of course you can stay with me." Although Spock couldn't see it, the captain smiled.
"Thank you." Spock then walked up the two flights of stairs and knocked on Kirk's door.
"You can come in. It's open." Kirk said.
Spock did so and walked into Kirk's mess of a flat. There were cans and pizza boxes everywhere. Nevertheless, Kirk, himself, looked as tidy as usual.
"Spock? What is it?" Kirk saw his comrade's eyes where wet and his cheeks were too.
"I... I can't tell you." Spock tried to answer.
"Spock, sit down." He gestured to the leather sofa and he and Spock sat down.
"Captain." Spock began.
"Call me Jim. We're in Earth, not the Enterprise." He smiled to his friend. "What's troubling, tell me."
"I saw Nyota, in bed with... someone else." He struggled to talk.
"Ah..." Kirk nodded and didn't know what to say in return. He saw Spock had gotten more and more upset since he's arrived so he did what he thought was right and offered him a hug, which was accepted gratefully.
"Jim, I don't know what to do." Spock said, his voice muffled in his captain's shoulder.
"Well," Kirk pulled himself from the hug, "was it just a one off?"
"She told me it was only once. She did look sincere."
"That's something, I suppose." Kirk delivered a faint smile.
"I still am not sure. What have I done wrong?"
"You've done nothing, Spock. All this is Nyota's fault. It's not yours, don't think like that."
"Has this happened to you?" Spock asked his commanding officer.
"Not to me, I don't think I've ever stayed with the same girl for more than a few months, not like you p Uhura. You've been together for what... four or five years?"
"I'm not convinced. In my culture, a man stays with his woman. My father has not remarried, and said he never will, after my mother..." He sniffed again, "died."
"Spock," Kirk out a reassuring hand on his shoulder, "If you feel like you can forgive her, then don't worry. You've got little Jim Kirk to worry about. Even of you and Nyota can't work it out between you, you'll always be linked by him."
Spock considered these words, in depth. "That is very logical, however, I still feel as though I cannot undertake it."
"Spock, its up to you. If the table turned and Uhura caught you..." He thought and searched his mind for the right words "... in the act with someone else, would she forgive you?"
"In the act?"
"You know..." He tried to demonstrate what he meant by gesticulating, but it didn't work. He sighed. "Sex," he whispered.
"Ah, that." Spock was uncomfortable.
"Well?"
"I sont know. Forgiveness is a wonderful thing, my mother would disapprove if I never forgive Uhura. After all, I suppose. Everyone makes mistakes."
"Yeah, I'm sure you've made mistakes, right Spock?"
"Not many. I did engage a classmate into a fight, but I was provoked. Have you ever made a mistake?" He asked.
Kirk laughed. "Yep, a lot!"
Spock cocked his head slightly.
"Yeah, like when I cheated on the Kobayashi Maru. I sit know I'd it was a mistake, but is did piss you off pretty good, didn't it?"
"It did." Spock replied, not seeing the humour that James Kirk had implied.
"Spock, I just realised, you've brought none of your stuff. But, you can wear some of my clothes if you want."
"That is very kind. I shall, if that's alright."
"When are you gonna talk to Uhura again?" Kirk asked, out of concern.
Spock looked over at him. "Tomorrow. I shall need to spend the night here."
"Sure, you can sleep in the room you drums yes in last time you came." Kirk pointed to a medium-sized bedroom. He smiled at his Spock. He just couldn't believe that Uhura, his communications officer, and friend, would do that to Spock. He knew that living with a Vulcan could t be much fun, but over the years he'd grown very close to him and Spock wasn't as boring as he might seem. Ever since his relationship with Nyota Uhura had Nahum, the Vulcan seemed a lot more human. Perhaps more than the half-human that he was. Of course, he still strictly adhered to logic and meditated, but, still, Spock was slightly more emotional a had a greater understanding of humans and human life.
The following morning, Spock came out of the bedroom that Kirk had let him stay in and sat down on the sofa. His mind had cleared, and before going to sleep last night, he just sat there and thought, and meditated too.
"I see you're wearing the clothes I leant to you." Kirk came into the lounge area a half hour after Spock. He walked over to the kitchen area and put some bread in the toaster. While waiting for the bread to toast, he sat down best to Spock.
"Have you thought anymore? Do you think you can forgive her?" He asked.
Spock, who was wearing the grey tracksuit and football shirt that Kirk had leant him, answered, "They logical thing to do is to forgive her. I have thought about it deeply and have weighed all the possibilities."
He smiled. "Good."
"I think I should be going now, Jim." Spock was already making his way to the front door.
"Alright." Once again, Kirk smiled and walked over to the toaster that had recently pinged. His toast was done.
Kirk walked over to the window and watched as Spock walked away from the apartment complex and down the road.
Nyota Uhura was sitting, curled up on her sofa when she heard a knock at the door. She wiped her eyes and walked over to it. "Spock! I'm so sorry! Can... can you forgive me? I'm so sorry." Her tears came out in floods.
Spock walked into the house a s wiped her tears. "Nyota..."
"Where were you? I was so worried."
"I was with Kirk."
She looked at him, confused.
"I needed to talk to someone, he told me what I needed to be told."
"And what was that?" He leant forward slightly.
"He said to forgive you, and what if you and I had exchanged placed. Would you be able to forgive me?"
"Yes, yes, of course I would. I love you, Spock." She has almost stopped crying.
"And, I... love you too, Uhura. I can forgive you, but I am not sure if I can trust you. Jim said I can, and I recognise that it's the logical thing to do. But it doesn't... feel... right."
"Spock," she put her hand up to his cheek, "it was only once. I promise you, it has never happened before and it will never happen again."
Rigidly, he pulled her into his arms.
"You'd better tell Kirk 'thanks' for his advice." She managed to form a slither of a smile. "I was in the wrong and I definitely do not deserve you, and probably never will, but I do love you, Spock. I always will."