If Jim had learned one thing from his academy days, looking pathetic for long enough would get you almost anywhere with Leonard McCoy and this evening it got his ass out of the hospital. Granted, it was only for one afternoon and he had been given a curfew of twenty one hundred but hey, a few hours of freedom were better than none. Spock had walked in on the tail end of the debate at which point Jim asked if he was interested in accompanying him. Receiving a yes from Spock and a nasal snort and an under-the-breath 'well of course' from McCoy, which Jim ignored, Jim began the task of figuring out the best way to spend the evening.

Around sixteen hundred, the duo departed the hospital. Just outside, Jim threw his head back and greeted the sweet afternoon breeze like a long-lost friend. His eyes fluttered closed and he inhaled deeply, reaching his arms towards the sky in a full-body stretch. The feeling of the evening sun and the smell of the fresh air was a stark contrast to the temperature neutral and highly sterile atmosphere of the hospital and Jim was making sure to drink every second of his temporary reprieve. Standing silently at his side, Spock watched and a subtle feeling of contentment flowed from Jim and settled in Spock.

If he had to describe the precise moment when he was aware that the relationship between the captain and himself had changed, he would forever reflect upon the fiercely blue eyes looking up at him from the floor of a sealed containment chamber. Upon the normally bright eyes darkened with death and the wildly expressive face frozen still. The void that suddenly filled him when Jim's conscious no longer filled a space within his own was overwhelming and consumed every logical thought left in his mind as he hunted down the man responsible for the act. How long such a relation had existed, Spock was still meditating upon but based upon what he had discovered so far, it had begun sometime in that first year of acquaintance with Jim. For now, he was contented to have his captain, his Jim, returned.

Dinner was in the plans for the evening but before then, Jim desperately needed a head-clearing walk. Over the past couple weeks, his reason for needing such a walk had evolved. Initially, it was because of the nightmares that death had planted in his head but now it was of feelings he had developed for a certain pointy-eared first officer. Feelings which Bones informed him had been on display for the world to see for years, half the crew had bets related to the pair. How was it that someone as brilliant as him could be so stupid and blind about something as simple as attraction towards another? It bothered him that it took a raw emotion and a glass wall separating the two for him to realize his feelings. Jim hoped that he could confront Spock in a less dramatic manner this time.

Two silent hours later, Jim was done wandering the streets of San Francisco and the pathways of his mind. Spock was still only steps behind him and had graciously allowed him both the time and space to do so.

"I'm hungry, want to get some dinner?" Jim tossed the question over his shoulder and Spock picked up his pace until he matched stride with Jim.

"If you are currently requiring nourishment, I would not be opposed to stopping for a meal, my only request is for a location which offers vegetarian options."

"While I was on my PADD earlier, I found a little place you might enjoy. They're famous for serving dishes from all corners of the galaxy, their menu even had a section of Vulcan dishes." Jim smiled with pride at the findings of his research.

"I was unaware that such a place existed in this city."

"One of the perks of being a city with a Starfleet headquarters I suppose. It has rave reviews so I hope it's something you like." Turning another corner, they faced a bright array of signage telling them that they had found the correct place. They had to wait only a few minutes before being seated near a large window at the back of the restaurant looking out onto the water. The sunset cast a brilliant display of reds, purples and oranges upon the cityscape.

"Damn, I wish my room had awesome views like this. Sure would be a change from all the silver and white."

"It reminds me of the sands of Vulcan." Spock looked longingly out the window in mourning of his lost home. Though it had been approximately four years since the incident, he did not think the pain would ever fully dissipate.

A curvaceous Andorian with silky blue skin and a long braid of shimmering silver hair took their order. Jim ordered the biggest steak they had and Spock ordered a Vulcan soup with a name Jim would have to have repeated to him later. Jim was in a talking mood and was trying to think of the best way to approach a few questions heavy in his thoughts.

"How are things with Uhura? I haven't seen her around much and I know you've really only left your room to attend to meetings with the higher ups." Jim carefully questioned, not too impressed with his lack of tact in broaching the subject.

"Lieutenant Uhura and I are no longer in a relationship and she has not spoken with me in weeks over the matter. She claimed that everything was satisfactory between us and we could continue on as friends rather than as something more intimate. However I have noticed that she has been making an effort to avoid my presence. Human women are most illogical in these matters." Spock ponders these words for a minute and Jim could do nothing but chuckle at Spock's confusion over the matter.

"Furthermore, I was under the impression that it was rude to talk about previous relationships during the human activity of 'going on a date' or at least that was what Nyota explained and how she had described an event such as what we are currently engaged." Jim choked on his drink and Spock was certain he had somehow made a grave error in his analysis of the situation. "Are you alright captain?" Jim raised his hand as an offering that he was fine. A few non-productive coughs later and Jim found his voice, albeit hoarser than usual.

"I'm fine, just surprised. I shouldn't be though, you're highly observant and I should have known that Uhura would explain some human customs." He cleared his throat once more, voice returning to its regular timbre. "I'm just surprised at you considering this as a date. I had not thought you would be so...accepting? You're ok with this being considered a date?" It was Jim's turn for confusion.

"I am indeed accepting of this evening as a date." Jim could have sworn he saw tips of Spock's ears flush a darker shade of olive green but the lighting in this room could be deceiving his vision.

"Good. That will make the rest of this evening much less awkward. I have a few questions and topics I want to talk about and now I won't feel so strange speaking honestly and openly about them."

Their conversation was interrupted by the arrival of their food. They came to a mutual, wordless agreement to eat quietly, each man finding themselves lost in his own thoughts of what had just unfolded and where the evenings discussions had yet to explore. Maybe, just maybe there was hope for something more between them.