Authors Note:
Thankyou all for your kind words of encouragement. I apologise for the longer update - work has been crazy!
Thank you again, to everyone that reviewed and send me messages, I hope they continue on as the story grows.
Chapter Four
Spock sat in his new captain's quarters, working away at the paper work needed in order for his new role of captain, to be official. Another week had slowly passed and although the crew of the Enterprise were unwilling to accept that Jim Kirk was no longer amongst them, they were following orders Spock had assigned to them.
A sudden buzz from the door echoed into the room. Spock didn't even need to look up to sense who it was waiting behind them. "Enter." He called out, continuing with his paper work.
The doors whooshed open and the sound of footsteps followed as the doors closed again. Spock still didn't look up from his paper work, finishing it off with a signature.
"Captain Spock." Doctor McCoy said slyly. Folding his arms tightly across his chest.
"What is it, Doctor?" Spock asked as he placed his completed paper work to the side and flicked on his desk monitor.
"Do you know what day it is?" McCoy asked, continuing with his sly tone.
"As you have access to the ship's computer, I assume that is a rhetorical question." Spock answered, looking at Doctor McCoy's body language – clearly something had upset him.
"That's progress, I assumed you would state it down to the last minute." He sarcastically said.
"As you wish. It is exactly 38.50 days since Jim Kirk's reported disappearance, is that the answer you were looking for?" Spock asked, not quite understanding the sarcasm.
"How can someone as brilliant as you, be so damn stupid?" McCoy had no fears of expressing his true feelings towards anyone. It was one thing that Jim had liked most about it, although Spock could never understand why, as Vulcans could not lie, he had no choice but to be the same. However Jim had always said that McCoy did it with attitude.
"I am a Vulcan." Spock said, as he began to run a program on his monitor.
"That's an explanation, not an excuse. You're a captain now!" McCoy slammed his hands down onto Spock's desk, watching him continue doing his work just infuriated him further. "Start acting like one damn it. Your crew are mourning a loss of someone they cared for, console them. Tell them it'll be alright." McCoy lowered his tone as Spock finally made eye contact.
"Perhaps my obvious genetic contrast, is still, even now, lost on you, doctor…" Spock started, but was soon interrupted. McCoy was on a mission to make Spock understand how the crew felt, but trying to make someone who doesn't feel, show emotion, was difficult. The only man that had ever managed this was currently missing too.
"You're half human too, damn it. Try being half human now… I know it's a stretch." McCoy started, seeing a slight change in Spock's body language as the Vulcan stiffened up at the reminder of that fact he was half human. "This crew is shattered. They need leadership… compassionate leadership."
Spock rose to his feet, he felt a wave of fury through his body, but swallowed it up inside of him. He clenched his fists tightly.
"Compassion?" he whispered.
"It means; to suffer with, Spock. You're saying you're not suffering too?" McCoy eased, noticing Spock's tight fists.
"I am in control of my emotions." Spock said, as he loosened his grip and slowly sat back at his desk. "I expect my crew to be the same."
"We all need healing, Spock." McCoy said, watching Spock continue with his program on his monitor as if he was being ignored.
"That is the job of the ships doctor." Spock said, writing things down on a new electronic clip board he kept placed next to his previous paper work.
"Wrong!" McCoy said, seeing he was losing the fight with Spocks emotions, he slammed his hand back down on the next. "A star ship's captain sets the emotional tone for his crew, and you're doing a damn poor job at it. Archer gave you command of the Enterprise, Spock. What does that tell you of the official status of Captain Kirk? I don't like it either, but we have to face the facts."
"Facts, Doctor? We have no evidence." Spock stated.
"You've taken his command! How do you think his crew feels about that? You always said you didn't want command of the Enterprise but you sure took it quick enough…"
"I took it for the mission." Spock said, feeling the surge of rage beginning to pump through his body as he rose back to his feet.
"Bullshit! You took it for command!" McCoy shouted, pointing his fist at Spock.
Spock grabbed McCoy's fist as silence ran through the room. He squeezed it tightly as the tension built between their bodies with anger. Seconds felt like hours as Spock realised his grip, allowing McCoy to retract his fist away.
"I am in command of the Enterprise, Doctor. How or why it does not matter. Is that clear?"
Silence swept over them again. The doctors scowl remained as he slowly lowered his hand down from his chest.
"Is that clear, doctor?" Spock stated again.
McCoy sighed slightly. "May I be excused… captain?" The sarcasm returning, although Spock didn't pick up on this. He didn't wait for a reply as he moved towards the doors.
"Doctor." Spock said, causing McCoy to stop in his tracks. "Schedule a memorial service for Captain Kirk."
McCoy, who stayed facing the door tilted his head. "Thank you." He said. Clearly something he had said had worked.
"I will not attend." Spock said.
McCoy felt a shiver run through his spine. He knew that Spock, like the rest of the crew, were missing Jim. Even if he didn't admit it. At least today he had made a little progress. He shook his head before marching out the doors.
Spock made his way back to his desk, continuing with his work on the monitor once again.
