*-*-*
Five years, Lina mused, was a long time. She had almost forgotten what it had been like to talk with Spock. She had grown up. She had graduated well and was now a Lieutenant who occasionally went on scientific missions. However recently she had been back at the academy taking a command course to improve her skills.
She had almost forgotten that the Enterprise would be returning from its mission, almost. As she was a Lieutenant she had a room to herself and every now and then she would find herself missing Skie. But now she was twenty-two and had easily found the balance between Vulcan and human inside herself. She used her real name far more often and only allowed close friends to call her Lina. Too everyone around her she was Lieutenant Saavik, the Vulcan girl; to her friends she was Lina, a far too human person to be completely Vulcan.
Occasionally she described herself as completely illogical, which was nearly true. Until she remembered that Spock would be coming back with the Enterprise that day, then completely illogical was the most fitting description.
As the ship docked and the crew were beamed down to Earth Lina waited patiently for her mentor, and friend, to step off the platform. Slowly he frizzled into existence and she allowed herself a small smile. It was clear that he too had grown. He seemed taller, wiser and more emotional than when he had left.
Then James Kirk appeared next to him, clapped him on the shoulder and followed him off the platform. Somehow this friendship didn't surprise her. She didn't know what had made Spock change his mind and join the crew of the Enterprise but it clearly been a good choice to make. She watched the two friends leave the hall amidst cheers and applause. Quietly she left the room.
*-*-*
"Hello Commander." She greeted calmly.
"Hello Lina." He replied gently as he let her into his office. It hadn't been sued for some time but no one had moved anything out for the fear of an angry Vulcan when Spock had returned.
"I couldn't help but notice that you and Kirk seem to be friends."
"We reached an agreement." Spock admitted.
"What? That you'd keep scientific comments to a minimum and he'd make no random comments whilst in your prescence?" Lina was surprised to find that her sense of humour had returned so quickly. She was also surprised by the ghost of a smile that briefly flashed across Spock's face.
"Something like that." Spock replied and Lina noted that he had gained a sense of humour. "But I heard that you were taking courses in command." He said changing the subject.
"I wanted to expand my range of skills." Lina said and then added with a small shrug, "It's only logical." Spock gave her a look that she didn't quite understand.
"I have learnt that logic may not be the answer. That many things expand far beyond logic. I have seen many things that even I cannot understand or explain. At first it frustrated me but I believe it has made me wiser." He fell silent, staring out at the golden gate bridge over the buildings of San Francisco.
"Do you miss it?" She asked quietly, he didn't need confirmation as too what 'it' was.
"Sometimes, then I remember that I am surrounded by friends." Again silence filled the room. Lina looked up at the time and made a decision.
"I have a simulation to attend in ten minutes." She informed him.
"The Kobayashi Maru?" He questioned. Lina nodded, knowing he had programmed the simulation.
"In ten minutes." She confirmed allowed, turning to leave.
"Good luck." He said quietly and she glanced back in shock. It wasn't until afterwards that she understood why.
*-*-*
Lina's command courses progressed well over the following weeks and she often visited Spock for advice. Sometimes he was alone but usually Nyota was there talking with him. Although more than once Lina suspected that they had been doing activities far more than talking and she had interrupted by pressing on the door chime.
She had learned quickly that it was best to ring the chime before you entered any room at the academy and she had learned to hard way, so to speak. She had learnt many things the hard way.
*-*-*
"I was wondering why you have chosen to do so many command courses." Spock asked her as they walked around the campus. The conversation had started off innocent enough but Spock seemed to have taken a particular interest in her career choices.
"I don't mean to be offensive Spock, but why are so interested in me?"
"I thought that would be obvious, you are the only other Vulcan in Starfleet."
"Oh," She said quietly, "Is that it?" Spock seemed to think for a few moments.
"I knew you had excellent potential from the start but I came to realise over the last few years that sooner or later I will leave the Enterprise to go to new Vulcan. Jim and I discussed this possible future and he said that if I were to leave he wanted the officer that took over from me." Lina thought over the words for a few moments.
"You mean you want me to take over from me?" She asked bluntly.
"Yes. That is exactly what I mean."
"So that is why you are suddenly so interested," Lina was hardly aware she was thinking out loud, "You want me to take over the science station on the Enterprise rather than follow a command career."
"Precisely," Spock began but Lina interrupted.
"But that's not fair! You can't tell me how to live my life!" She shouted and turned to run away before Spock could even begin to formulate a response.
*-*-*
Lina sat in her room. It made been a long time since she had last cried but Spock's words had brought all of her emotions to the surface. How dare he? How did he even know that he would leave the Enterprise? No, he wasn't going to ruin her career for nothing, she wouldn't let him.
Ten minutes later she applied for three advanced command courses and one advanced science. It would satisfy Spock for now and she could follow the path she wanted. Command, tracking towards Science, rather than the Science career Spock wanted for her. She wouldn't let him ruin her life because of his precious captain.