The Most Forgiven, chapter 4
Uhura reached into her duffel for the last few items and pulled out her favorite robe, her warm slippers, and a framed holo. She smiled sadly, gathering the familiar softness of the robe close to her chest. These were her comfort things, although she wasn't sure they'd bring much comfort this evening. Her return to the Lexington was much too bittersweet.
She put the robe and slippers in the closet, then looked around the room for a place to put the holo. One of the first things she'd done upon arrival was request a small bundle of flowers, and now they sat cheerfully on top of her dresser. It had been an expensive use of her synthesizer credits, but who said you had to eat everything you synthesized? She'd needed the pick-me-up, and she didn't regret it a bit. Deciding that she'd enjoy looking at the flowers and the holo together, she moved the vase to the side and placed the holo next to it, and then rested her forearms on the high dresser.
She loved this holo. It had been taken on a blustery day at the coast about two years ago, when Dr. McCoy had talked her and Spock into joining him on an outing with his grandchildren. Bundled up in jackets, she and Spock had walked out on the pier to look at the waves, with their hands in their pockets and their bodies close in an attempt to stay warm. Dr. McCoy, up on the beach, had called out her name, and when she and Spock had looked back over their shoulders, he had transferred his holocam from the kids to them. Spock always looked so stiff in holos, but Dr. McCoy had caught him in an unguarded moment, the color high in his face and his hair mussed by the wind. She smiled, remembering how it baffled Spock that she'd chosen this holo to carry wherever she went rather than some other, more formal shot.
That had been a happy day. It seemed like another lifetime.
...
McCoy stepped from the lift and started down the hall of the modern apartment building. When he had last called Uhura a few weeks ago she'd sounded a little more upbeat, so he'd resolved then and there that he would stop meddling. And at first it had actually been easy to stick with his resolution. Lennie'd been selected to the all-region team, and what with their trip to the Mars Invitational and all, he'd been busy. But his patience could only last so long. He had to find out how his friends were doing.
Good thing he just happened to be in the neighborhood.
He stopped and reached for the signal, and a moment later the door slid open to reveal Spock. McCoy frowned, and any thought of what he'd intended to say flew from his head. Spock's normally craggy face was even craggier, and he had dark shadows under his eyes. He'd obviously lost weight, too, and the severe angles of his brow and cheekbones were exaggerated. This couldn't be good.
Spock nodded politely. "Greetings, Dr. McCoy. Please enter."
"Uh, hi, Spock. I was just in the neighborhood and I thought I'd drop by. How are you doing?"
"Quite well, thank you. And you?"
McCoy squinted, trying to figure out if Spock was more aloof than usual or just his regular taciturn self. "Oh, I'm fine."
He waited for Spock to offer him something to drink or to invite him to sit down, but nothing happened. Finally, he decided to drop all pretense of this being merely a social call.
"Spock, I don't like the way you look. You've lost weight, and I'd venture to say that you're not sleeping. What's going on?"
Spock drew himself up, and McCoy cursed silently at that familiar old expression of avoidance. He knew what Spock was going to say before he even said it.
"I am quite well, Doctor."
"Dammit, Spock. You aren't well. I can see it. Where's Uhura? I want to talk to her."
Spock's stony expression faltered for just an instant, but it was enough.
McCoy felt his heart rate accelerate. "Where is she?"
His face unreadable once more, Spock said, "She is on board the Lexington."
"What?"
"She is on board the Lexington, Doctor. She is their temporary first officer."
McCoy looked down, aware that his mouth was hanging open but unable to disguise the fact that he was utterly floored. Finally, he looked back up and whispered, "How long has she been gone?"
"She left three weeks and five days ago."
McCoy frowned, counting the weeks. Had it really been that long since he'd talked to her? She'd sounded so upbeat, but she must have left right after that. What could have happened?
"Is... Is she coming back?"
"It is a three-month assignment."
"But is she coming back?"
"She has been assured that her position at Headquarters will be left open for her return."
McCoy turned away. "I'm sorry, Spock."
"There is nothing about which to be sorry, Doctor. This is an advancement for her career. You should be pleased."
"Is this what she wanted?"
"She is honored that they chose her for the position."
"What about you?"
"I believe that she was due the recognition. If that is all, Doctor, I have work I must do."
McCoy crossed his arms, remembering his original concern. "If I had my medikit with me, I'd give you a physical right here and now. I'm going to allow you twenty-four hours to make an appointment for a check-up, and if you don't, I'm going to be right back. Do you hear me?"
"Yes, Doctor. And... thank you for your concern."
McCoy nodded grudgingly. "Well. All right, then. You're welcome. I guess I'll be going now. Talk to you soon."
He allowed Spock to escort him to the door and soon found himself alone in the hallway again. As he started toward the lift, he realized that Spock had avoided answering every one of his questions. Damn, but that Vulcan was good. By agreeing to see a doctor—and actually expressing gratitude—he'd managed to completely deflect attention from what McCoy suspected was the real problem. Was Uhura's absence truly just temporary? Or was something more going on?
Well, McCoy would concede this round. But the next one wouldn't be so easy.
...
"Jim, there it goes again."
"Ignore it."
"But it must be something really important. This is the fifth time in less than ten minutes. Whoever it is obviously doesn't want to leave a message."
He tilted his head expectantly while he waited for his computer to grow silent again. "There. It stopped. See? It's not an emergency, or whoever it is would have put an urgent signal on it."
Antonia gazed across the table, her dark eyes accentuated by the candlelight. "I suppose I should be flattered that you'd disregard—"
The computer signaled again, and this time the noise was accompanied by the shrill tone that indicated an urgent override.
Kirk snorted in exasperation and set his wine glass beside his plate.
"Excuse me."
She smiled and nodded, so he pushed himself away from the table and stalked into the other room. He knew that this couldn't be a real emergency. If Starfleet was calling, they would have used the override from the start. If it was his nephew Peter, he would have recorded a message. If it was Spock, he wouldn't be so impatient. That left only...
Throwing himself down in front of the computer, he said, "Computer. Receive message."
The screen brightened to show McCoy's face.
"Jim! I'm so glad I caught you."
"Hi, Bones. You know, I'm kind of busy."
"Oh. Sorry. Anyway—"
"This really isn't a good time. Can it wait?"
"No, it can't. Whatever you're doing isn't as important—"
"For heaven's sake, Bones. Do I have to spell it out for you? Antonia is here."
"Good. Glad to hear she finally fell for your charms. Now, shut up and listen to me. I just went by to see Spock, and do you know what I found? Uhura is gone. She's gone away to the Lexington."
Kirk had inhaled in preparation for interrupting again, but instead froze, then exhaled slowly.
"So she took a new assignment," he said. "She's a Starfleet officer. It happens."
"No, Jim. You don't understand. I tried to tell you—several times—that things haven't been right between them, but you've been too thickheaded and self-involved to hear me. Well, it's come to this." McCoy's voice dropped a level. "I think she left him."
Kirk blinked. "No."
"Have you talked to him recently? To her?"
"I called him last week. He seemed to be fine. We didn't even talk about Uhura. He didn't say a word about a new assignment."
Unease stirred in the back of his mind as he remembered that conversation. They'd only talked about the most superficial things, and he'd actually been relieved that Uhura wasn't the one to answer his call. It was obvious that she was still mad, and he'd thought she was just avoiding him. It hadn't occurred to him that she might be gone.
"So you didn't notice how thin he is? That he hasn't been sleeping? That he's living alone?" McCoy scowled. "Jim, I happen to know that she's very unhappy about that business with Valeris, that she holds you partly responsible because you're the one who told him to do it, and that Spock's in denial over the entire thing."
"She shouldn't have dragged you into it."
"She didn't want to tell me anything, but I twisted her arm. She needed someone to talk to. She's been so miserably unhappy, and if you'd been paying attention, you would have known that. And her unhappiness is directly related to the problems Spock is having. How could you miss it?"
"Bones, I think you're all wrong. Spock knows that he only did what he had to do. If she has trouble accepting that, it's her problem."
Shaking his head incredulously, McCoy said, "No, Jim, you're all wrong. It's Spock's problem, too. He's not fine with what he did. She tried to tell me that, and I couldn't see it at first either. But at least I'm looking at him with my eyes open now. You... I think you're afraid to look too closely. You're afraid you might discover that you did ask too much of him."
They were both silent while Kirk considered McCoy's words. Could he have misjudged the situation between his friends so completely? Finally, he asked, "Do you really think she left him?"
"He wouldn't confirm it, but yes, I think she did."
Kirk closed his eyes and rubbed his forehead. "The maiden voyage of the Enterprise B is Monday, and they're trying to round up some of the old bridge crew for the christening. Spock has already turned them down, but I'll call him tomorrow and try to talk him into it. I'll see if I can figure out what's going on then."
"Thank you, Jim. I knew you'd come through for him. Keep in touch. Let me know how it goes."
"I will. Kirk out."
The screen faded, and Kirk leaned back in his chair. Spock and Uhura were one of the most well suited couples he'd ever known. Sure, they had their disagreements, but it was never anything major. Could it be that things really had deteriorated between them to the point that Uhura had packed her bags and left? It couldn't be. It just couldn't be. He'd have a long talk with Spock, and surely he'd discover that they were simply coping with the typical challenges of a two-career couple. Because if not...
As he started back toward the other room, he realized that the evening didn't seem quite as magical as it had only moments before.
End chapter 4
