The Flame Within, chapter 3
Pulling up a chair, Kirk said, "How does it feel to be a Lieutenant Commander, Mr. Chekov?"
"It feels very good, Admiral, but I'm not too sure how I feel about the new assignment."
Sulu punched Chekov on the shoulder. "Pavel, yesterday you couldn't wait to begin!"
"Yes, I know, but today I am remembering the good times we've had, and it has made me a little sad. We have all been together a long time, and it is hard to leave."
McCoy glanced toward the door. "Speaking of all of us, it looks like the group is complete now."
Looking over his shoulder, Kirk saw Spock and Uhura approaching. Although they were only walking together, and he knew that they could have met in the lift or the corridor or anywhere, he was reminded of his suspicions a few days ago. He watched as Uhura leaned over to give Chekov a kiss on the cheek while Spock arranged two more chairs by the table.
"Oh, Pavel, I'm going to miss you!" Uhura gave him another squeeze before settling herself in the seat next to Spock.
Sulu, on her other side, put a hand on her shoulder. "Pavel was just telling us that he's having second thoughts."
"That is not true, Hikaru. It is just that I hate to leave everyone."
"Mr. Chekov," said Spock, "you must remember that this is a goal toward which you have worked for many years, and we all congratulate you on reaching it. We agree, though, that you have been an undeniable asset to this ship. We will find you difficult to replace."
Uhura patted Chekov on the arm. "In other words, we're happy for you but we'll miss you."
When she straightened, she met Spock's eyes and smiled. It was just a quick look, and Kirk would have missed it if he hadn't been watching for it, but it spoke volumes. Suddenly, he knew that he was right about the two of them. Spock and Uhura! How long had this been going on?
His attention was drawn back to the conversation when Scotty said something that made everyone laugh. It must have been slightly off-color, because Uhura covered her face in mock embarrassment. When she dropped her hands, Kirk couldn't help but stare at her beautiful features. She was radiant, and surprise of surprises, he saw that Spock was watching her, too, with an expression of... what? Pride? Affection? He grinned, recognizing that look. Damn, Spock had it bad. And no one could blame him. There was a time when he'd wished that he wasn't her commanding officer.
That last thought sobered him somewhat. Could it be that she and Spock had really ignored the fraternization guidelines? While HQ tended to turn a blind eye to relationships between officers who were not in the direct line of command, this was pushing it a bit. True, Kirk had been captain and couldn't even entertain the idea, but Spock was first officer and Uhura was fifth in the line of command.
Sighing, he noticed that the two of them were very subtly leaning toward one another. Well, there wasn't a rule explicitly forbidding a relationship of this sort, so they must know what they were doing. They were both level-headed officers, and he knew of instances where it had worked out all right for other people. If they didn't think it was something to worry about, he shouldn't worry about it, either. And come to think of it, there had always seemed to be a little something special between them, even back when he was certain that they had only been friends.
"Hey, Jim. You want some more?"
Kirk looked over to see McCoy holding a bottle over his empty glass.
"Sure, Bones, fill me up." He laughed and held his drink over the middle of the table. "Here's to bright futures! May we all find what we want."
Everyone raised their glasses to a chorus of agreement. He couldn't resist glancing at Spock, who nodded at Kirk before raising his glass of water. For an instant, Kirk thought that something almost passed between the two of them, but Spock looked away and the moment was gone.
When the party finally broke up several hours later, Kirk watched Spock and Uhura casually walk away together, and he decided that he was happy for them. Uhura was a good woman, and Spock could certainly use some enjoyment in his life.
But... Spock and Uhura. Who would ever have thought it?
...
As they undressed for bed, Uhura was very quiet. It was late, and she had indicated that she was too tired for anything more than sleep, but she had asked him to stay with her for a while and he had agreed. They had just come from his quarters. She was eager to learn the Vulcan disciplines, but because she had been unable to find her t'hy by herself three nights ago, he had started her on something more basic tonight. Perhaps her slow progress was the reason for her mood. He watched her as he placed his clothing neatly on her bedside chair, but he didn't say anything until they climbed under the covers and she put her head on his shoulder.
"Nyota, you are rather pensive. Is something troubling you? If it is because you did not search for your flame tonight, do not let that concern you. You will be ready to try again soon."
"It's not that, although that doesn't help. I just keep thinking about the future, Spock. I've served with Chekov for nearly ten years, but tomorrow he's going off on a wonderful new adventure and someone else will be in his place. We've all been lucky to stay together as long as we have, but his leaving seems to herald some sort of change. I just can't help but wonder who will be next."
"Logically, the person with the most seniority will be next. However, that would be myself, and I have made it very clear that I have no desire to command. Mr. Scott received a promotion recently. Therefore, the next person in line would be Mr. Sulu, and he is indeed quite deserving. Of course, Mr. Chekov had less seniority than any of us so it is impossible to predict with any degree of certainty."
"Don't you find this the least bit disturbing?"
"It would be illogical to assume that nothing will ever change, and a waste of energy to be distressed by change or to anticipate it with dread."
She pushed herself onto her elbows. "But what if it were me? Wouldn't that upset you?"
"If it were you, I would congratulate you on earning the opportunity for advancement."
"And you wouldn't be sorry to see me leave?"
"Of course I do not wish for you to leave, but you are a career officer, and I would expect you to undertake what you must to advance your career. You would do no one a favor were you to do otherwise."
She studied him for a moment before putting her head back on his shoulder. "You're right."
"Yes."
Snorting at his response, she said, "I'm sorry. I wasn't trying to pick a fight. I guess I'm just a little bit melancholy."
"I know."
She rubbed her hand across his chest. "I could stay like this forever just to listen to your voice. Say something else."
"What do you want me to say?"
"Oh, anything."
"Very well. 'Half a league, half a league, half a league onward, all in the valley of death rode the—'"
She sat up again, laughing. "'The Charge of the Light Brigade'? For heavens sake, Spock! What made you come up with that?"
"It simply came into my mind. You told me that it could be anything."
She settled back down against him. "How about something Vulcan?"
Considering for a moment, he said, "Kil sha'in, t'ha a'kom ai t'lin res, a sha'in ch'a'la k'hyl."
"Mmmm. That's better. What was it?"
"The first sentence of the Gettysburg Address."
"What? Really?"
"No, it was not."
"Oh, you. What was it? Truthfully?"
"Truthfully, it translates as 'This night, of the stars and their fires, is the night of our oneness.' Admittedly, that is a rather rough translation, for there is no Standard equivalent for k'hyl, but it is close."
"That sounds like love poetry."
"I suppose that it is the closest Vulcan equivalent, unless one goes back to pre-Reform times."
She yawned. "Tell me another one."
"A t'lin ch'er, t'lina a ch'e, t'lina a ch'a, t'lina a ch'a'la kri'ena ai ch'a'la kri'shinom."
"What does that mean?" she asked sluggishly.
"The fire within me," he whispered, "it burns for you, for us, for all our yesterdays and all our tomorrows."
She had fallen asleep. He did not know if she had heard him.
End chapter 3