Chapter 4: Beginning

A/N: for all those who have waited and read this story so far. This is where our story truly starts. This chapter has been redone

Their first month as a crew went better than any of them expected. Then again their first mission was to take out Nero so there wasn't anything much worse than that, or so they thought. The hardest thing that the crew had to do was taking the Vulcans to their new plant. It was going to take the month to get to the new planet, get the Vulcans set up and to make sure everything was going to plan.

Jim was grateful that their ship was one of 16 ships taking all 9,672 Vulcans to their new home. Most of the other ships had limited crew because after this was over they were headed back to Earth for finishing touches and to get crew for them, The Enterprise was the only one to have full crew and a limited number of Vulcans on board. Every single Vulcan was heading to the new planet that they were going to call home, everyone except Spock.

It was on the way to New Vulcan that Jim was walking the halls of the Enterprise after his shift that he heard low voices coming from one of the smaller conference rooms.

"No you will not." a deep masculine voice said.

"Father I have already made up mind. It is Illogic to continue this discussion when it will not change my mind about this situation" a small feminine voice said stubbornly. As soon as Jim heard this voice he knew who the occupants of the room were. He was about to leave and let whatever argument they were having play out when he heard Spock's father speak again.

"Spock this is not up for debate you will come to New Vulcan and you will help us in whatever way is required of you." He said harshly but he was not finished. "It is illogical for you to do anything else. Your place is with your kind not on earth and not with humans. It is also illogical that we are having this discussion at all."

"There is something we can agree upon. Father I have made up my mind, I will stay with Starfleet and on the Enterprise. I will help on New Vulcan until we leave but only until then. I will not leave my obligation to either Starfleet or this crew." She said behind the door that separated her and her father from Jim. "Besides my mother was human and they have shown me something I have never witness before them. Father they have shown acceptance and respect that no Vulcan has ever done. I understand where you come from but first there are few Vulcans my age left and even fewer that can or would bond with me. You do not need me on New Vulcan and my place is and has never been with them, my place is with Starfleet. No, father this discussion is over." She said just before the door open and Spock stepped out followed by her father giving Jim only seconds to find a hiding space.

"Spock" Sarek said.

"Father I will see you tomorrow for breakfast we can, if the need arises, finish this discussion then, though I do not think the results would be any different." She said dipping her head to her father.

Sarek seem to think for a moment before he spoke again. "Very well Spock we shall met tomorrow but do not think this discussion is over." Then Sarek turned and headed for his room on the ship.

Spock sighed shaking her head allowing a few strands to fall from the tight bun she had on top of her head. "Captain you may come out now." She said barley audible.

"How did you know I was here?" Jim asked as he came out from his place behind a corner not far away from where Spock stood looking at him.

"I saw you before you hid Captain but my father did not." she said.

"How many times do I have to tell you Spock? When we aren't on duty it is Jim." He said with a smile as she turned around to walk the opposite way her father went.

"Very well… Jim." She said walking away from him.

"So what was that all about? I mean the 'discussion' with your father." Jim said wanting to know about his first officer.

"He wishes for me to return and stay on New Vulcan as you probably over heard." She said.

"But you want to stay here with us." Jim said happily he would hate to lose her after only such a short time together.

"Yes. My father does not see the logic behind my choice though." She said turning into the receation room, which was deserted at this time of night. "May I inquirer something Jim?"

Jim laughed but nodded to her giving her permission to speak her mind.

"Why are you up at such a time it is almost 2 in the morning? You should be in deep sleep by this point yet you are walking the halls."

"I should be asking you the same thing Spock. But to answer your question I don't sleep much all the time and I hate to take the sleeping pills Bones gives me so I can."

"Oh. Well to answer your unasked question I am up because I like this time of day. Most of the crew are asleep and it makes the ship almost quite. My mother use to say that my sprit wanted the peace the night could give me that it could not find in the day." She said softly looking out the window before looking back at Jim from their position beside said window. "The other reason I am up is because we, Vulcans that is, do not need as much sleep as our home world had a much shorter night than earth does. We also must mediate for a short period of time which helps us center, relax and restore ourselves." She explained.

Jim nodded and relaxed in his chair this was the first time the two really got to talk and they both were learning about the other. He wondered what else she hide from the others even Nyota. Maybe just maybe he could help break down that wall between her and everyone else. Besides it was nice to be able to talk to someone that seem to have much of a home life as he did, after all Bones didn't understand and probably would kill him if he woke him up at this time of night.

Spock could not help but wonder how much he did not let others know about him and that if by him telling her things about himself he was letting her in or just needed someone to talk to. Either way what they were to talk about would remain between the two of them. Jim did not know much about her but he was smart and did not seem to hold anything against her.

"Jim?" she asked softly

"Spock?"

"I wished to apologize for my actions when we first met and the mission after that event."

"We've been over this Spock I understand. You know I only did what I did to do what needed to be done."

"Yes I understood and if I had been in your position I would have done the same."

"I think the only thing I did not expect was for you to fight me like that."

"I regret I let my anger control my actions and the loss of control was put on you."

"Hey you had every right to get angry and let it out on me, after all I did provoke you." He said sitting up realizing this was going to be an important discussion.

"My kind does not often let emotion show; only under extreme circumstances do these things occur." She said looking at him. "Also I should have removed myself before it happened."

"It is okay Spock what done is done. We are now on the same side and working together. So let's leave the past behind us and move forward. Besides I think we have a lot we can learn from each other." Jim said with a smile.

"Very well Cap… Jim." Spock said.

The two were silent once more as their thoughts moved from what they were talking about.

"I hoped I had not hurt you too bad during our altercation" she said almost like she was concerned.

"No, but truth be told I don't ever really want to fight you again. You fight better than most guys I know. I know that Vulcans usually don't fight so I got to know how you knew how to fight so well." Jim said

"I was much younger a group of males constantly found some sort of satisfaction in tormenting me. One day they insulted my mother, and well it was to the similar effect as what happened to you except for one difference, you can actually fight back." A soft green flush had moved across Spock's cheeks throughout her story.

Jim couldn't help but laugh. "That makes me feel better at least I can fight better than some of your old classmates. So I guess it is a good thing you're on my side now isn't."

"If you wish I could teach you." She said so softly he almost didn't hear her.

"Really, you could teach me some of what you did."

Spock nodded. "You would not have my strength but you would be able to hold you own in a fight against me but only if you wish so…" she trailed off but Jim got the idea.

"I would like that actually and then maybe I could show you how we earthlings fight." He said with a charming smile that seemed not to affect her.

"I believe the correct term is that it is a fair trade." She said. It was with his yawn that she nodded. "It is late we both should retire to our quarters to get some rest before our shift." She said standing up.

The two walked down the corridor to their rooms which where across the hall from one another. They usually would not be in the same hall because of their gender but the safety of the ship came first and besides Jim was unorthodox about most of his ship so most of the crew had found where they wanted to sleep. It did not matter the gender as long as each person was respected as they should Jim had no problem with the arrangement. After all Spock wore the male dress code to work because she refused to wear the girls, also many of the females aboard had one in their clothing they had brought aboard for if they need it.

It was over that first week the two set up an almost rutein. If they did not mind the company they would be in the rec room if not no hard feelings were met. It was a few hours before they were to arrive at New Vulcan that Jim found himself restless, also he only had to work half the day so there was not much to do so he did the one thing he could do, he went to Spock.

Spock was in her room when Jim chimed for her. "Yes Captain." She said after she opened her door and was greeted by him.

"I'm not on duty Spock. It is after lunch and we will not be to the planet for another few hours. And I was wondering if you would like to spar with me." Jim asked with a smile, she thought for a moment before nodding.

"I will need to get ready why don't we use the one on level 3 it is smaller and is meant for sparing. We will meet in 10 minutes." She suggested with a nod her partner agreed with a smile Jim left to get ready.

Ten minutes later Jim walked in to see Spock standing in the middle of the matted floor stretching. She was in complete black and bent over with her hands on the floor. "You should let doctor McCoy know what we are doing just in case. I should not like him to jump to conclusions or be caught unaware if one of us should end up hurt." She said while she continued to stretch Jim called McCoy to let him know what was going on.

Five minutes later while both Spock and Jim stretched McCoy skidded to a halt inside the room. "What the hell are you two doing?" he practically screeched.

"Doctor I believe it is ovouse we our stretching at the moment" Spock said not noticing how the doctor was turning red.

"Bones chill we are going to spar. That's why I called you, so you would know."

Bones looked between the two before glaring at Spock's back as she stretched her arms out. "Thanks for that. If she hadn't almost killed you the last time I might not be so against it." Bones hissed out to Jim.

Spock did not let his words affect her but Jim thought they might under the surface. "Bones relaxed I trust Spock to not do it again. Besides this time I have not insulted her mother. Also she is going to be teaching me just like I will be teaching her. Bones there aren't many people here that can give me a run for my money and she is the only one that won't hold back just because I am her captain." Jim said trying to calm Bones down.

"Doctor McCoy please let us do this. The captain is restless and asked me to help with that with one of the ways I know how. We called you to let you know in case of injury to either one of us. Besides today I was going to show him how to block nothing more." Causing Jim to pout behind her back. "Also I think it is a good idea for the captain to learn to defend himself better before we have any dangerous missions. He does know how to fight but his style and thinking is more set for a bar then that of an hostile alien race that would like to sacrifice him to whatever higher power the believe in." she said.

McCoy couldn't help but laugh at what Spock said. It was true Jim could handle himself in a bar but give him to a pissed off alien chick and he failed epically. Jim was denying everything and all it took was a pointed look from Spock to shut him up. 'Maybe' Leonard thought 'maybe having her around isn't such a bad thing after all especially considering she seem to handle him pretty well, and he listens to her… he never listens to me.' McCoy found himself back in a corner as Spock and Jim started.

It took fifteen minutes of the two fighting before Spock stopped them and presided to show Jim what he was doing wrong in order to block her attacks thorough the rest of the next 45 minutes or so Jim got better at blocking her attacks and anticipating her next move. At the end Spock stopped them both and went to McCoy for him to check them over. Jim only had a few burses on him so McCoy suspected that Spock had pulled her punches during this match.

It was after the doctor left that the two talked again. "You are a fast learner." She said.

"Maybe I just got a good teacher." Jim said before he notices something. "Hey your wearing gloves. Why?"

"Jim you know Vulcans have touch telepathy." Spock got a nod in response as she removed them and walked down the hall to the transporter. "I find it easier to considerate on what I am doing if I cannot read someone's thoughts or emotions. I thought you might also appreciate the gesture at the very least when I would be touching you more than usual." Jim nodded he understood what she was doing.

"Thank you" he said before heading to his room to shower and change before they arrive at the planet that would be New Vulcan and to help start peperations for the next two and a half weeks.

It was over the next two and a half weeks that all of the crew on the ships as well as the Vulcans helped start up what would now be home to them. Houses were built and food was started up, it would take a while but the Vulcans would soon be able to do much on their own like they use to.

It was the day before they were to leave that Jim watched as a very irritated Spock, well as much as she allowed herself to show, walked down the hall of the Enterprise. It was 3 in the morning and Jim wasn't ready for sleep but maybe that would be a good thing.

"Spock. Hey wait up." Jim said trying to catch up to his first officer. With his second command she stopped and waited for him. "Hey are you okay?"

"I am in perfect health Captain." Spock said continuing to walk down the corridor.

"You know what I mean. You have been on earth long enough to know the expression. Also I've talk to you quite-a-bit these last few weeks to know for sure that you know exactly what I mean when I ask you that." Jim said looking at Spock before remembering the few words her and her father had exchanged the last few weeks. "Would this have anything to do with you dad?" Jim asked but not demanding an explanation.

"Yes. My father wishes me to stay here. He wishes and demands I stay here to help." She said making it hard for Jim to figure out her emotions she was hiding. Over the last few weeks he had gotten fairly good at reading her but now it was like she was a closed book again.

"Ah the old, you need to stay here for the good of you kind, speech again." Jim shook his head how Spock's dad could not let her leave was beyond him but then again she was one of less than 10,000 Vulcans to live now so maybe he just wasn't seeing everything. "So what was his argument this time, your too smart to be around us, your too Vulcan to stay here, or maybe it's you are not strong enough to be in Starfleet. I can vouch for all of those. You see things that the others don't, you are way smarter than the rest of us aboard here, you help us not use our emotions to guide us, and I can personally say you are stronger than the rest of us by a long shot both emotional and strength…"

"No Cap… Jim the reasons are not those. Yes they were part of his argument but they were not his main point. Now if you do not mind I need to mediate before tomorrow." She said interrupting him.

"Oh okay Night Spock." Jim said not excepting her to interrupt him or for her to respond.

"I believe the term is Good Night Jim." She said looking at him before heading to her room and locking herself in.

Spock sighed she had not wished to take her frustration out on Jim but he had a way of getting under her skin like no other. It was not Jims fault that her father and her were on opposites sides of their current disagreement. Nor was it Jim's fault that she did not wish to discusses what this last argument was about. She would have to apologize to Jim in the morning for now she needed to meditate so that her emotions were not as transparent nor would she let them cloud her judgment any longer.

Jim sighed as he walked away from the closed door of his first officer. He had not expected her to be so frustrated and he certainly never expected her to snap at him, but then again maybe he should have after all her privet life was none of his business. He knew their friendship was tedious at best but he had hoped that she knew she could trust him. He would have to talk to Nyota if he wanted any answers the involved his first officer.

The next day Jim did not expect the apology that left Spock's lips first thing in the morning before she headed down to the planet one last time to say goodbye to her father and make sure everything was ready on the planet.

As the crew left the new home planet for the Vulcans Jim wondered if they would ever see it again. He also wondered what was up for them next as they were heading towards a star system on the opposite side of the galaxy.

None of the crew knew what was going to happen next or where their missions were going to take them next. Nor did any of them know about the adventure that was about to unfold of them all or the path that they were going to travel. None of them knew that the friendship that had started less than a month ago was going to lead them along a journey that would rewrite their futures and all their lives forever.