Hello everyone! Thank you very much for reading, following and reviewing! I totally thought I would never get that many responses for this fic.

I'm new to this fandom so if any of the really important characters seem out of character or if I'm not using the correct terminology please tell me.

Usual disclaimer and I'll get on with it.

The Lure chapter 4

For several days Enterprise and her crew languished in a calm Kirk knew all too well. The only problem he faced is discerning from which direction the storm is approaching, ever since the transmission and ensuing debate occurred Spock only spoke when absolutely necessary to his Captain whilst openly entering extended dialogue with members of the crew he would normally only exchange a few words with.

To say this irritated Kirk would be an understatement and Dr McCoy demanded that the Tribble be moved closer to the bridge since it was now becoming a menace to his patients. At the time Spock asked why the creature was still on ship the good doctor replied with a volley of curses and one fact that no one had wanted to hear.

"If this damnable tribble wasn't here then we wouldn't have a Captain!"

The bridge, the whole ship in Kirk's opinion, fell deathly silent. The look of horror on the doctor's face had said it all and Spock stood very still staring at Bones and the tribble in the same unfocused way he did when Kirk taunted him into releasing some pent up rage over the loss of his mother. It took everything Kirk had to get out of his chair take the tribble away from the Doctor and announce to those present the creature's new name Vida.

Vida had purred and was more than happy to stay quietly in the Captain's ready room. Kirk asked that if anyone had a problem with the tribble being on board then they could submit it in writing though he pointed out he would not be removing the creature from the Enterprise for any reason in the foreseeable future.

The next morning Spock had submitted a twenty-three page essay on the negative aspects of keeping a live animal on board for an undefined period. Kirk had read it four times now trying to decipher any clues the text may hold as to why Spock was so mad at him. After finding nothing other than cold words he decided to walk around his ship, chat to various crew members and generally gauge morale.

The crew is in fine spirits, there were questions about Khan, theories as to where he had been taken to, one officer even said someone may have broke him out to dissect him and his crew. It was possible but Kirk did not like the idea one bit.

A warrior of Khan's caliber deserved to die in battle or let death take him in his sleep. Shaking the morbid thoughts away Kirk continued on his journey not really paying attention to where he was until a hauntingly familiar clear door with a yellow and black sign on it. Scotty had put a tiny gold plaque below the panel that read;

Please never let such measures be taken again.

Kirk's skin itched. The heat inside had been oppressive, scratching at every part of his body, filling every cell with the energy of the Enterprise's broken heart. Kirk had fixed it and died. His only comfort knowing his quiet unemotional friend was there as beside him as the door would allow. There had not been the time or the opportune time since to tell Spock how much it had hurt him to see the Vulcan's tears. It was his only regret as the universe faded around him that he could not dispel those tears.

"Cap you should nae be here." Scotty's voice made him jump.

"Sorry Scotty I was just-"

"You do nae have t' explain yerself t' me. I know. It was a very bad day." Scotty said solemnly. "I heard about the tribble trouble from the Doc and Uhura."

"Vida's just like me. We can't help but cause trouble."

"They were pretty sure Cap that ol' pointy ears was about to eh... you know... beat the doc to a bloody pulp."

"Spock would not." Kirk assured knowing Spock had come perilously close to doing just that. "He cares about the crew a lot more than he lets on."

"He does a vera good job o' hiding it then Cap."

"He does. Maybe it's time I give an old friend a call."

"Cap?"

"It's okay Scotty. Thanks for what you did that day. And for the plaque too."

"Tis a reminder Sir. Nothin' more." Scotty looked like he was going to tear up and if he did there would be no way for the Captain to stop bawling his eyes out too.

"I know. Keep up the good work Mr Scott." Kirk put his hand on the engineer's shoulder. His actions during that time must have been very hard for his chief engineer to deal with.

"You Cap now I think about it. If I ever, EVER, catch you by THAT," Scotty wildly gestured to the door, "ever again. I will have the biggest burliest security officers on ship and Mr Spock escourt you outta here and ban you from EVER stepping foot in my engineering block ever again!"

"Aye Mr Scott!" The Captain called back before the man could chase after him. He had a call to make, he just hoped the old man wasn't too busy to pick up.

Making discrete arrangements with Uhura was a simple task over the coms before he got to the bridge. Once there Spock seemed more than happy to be distracted by having the conn for a while longer, it meant they didn't have to deal with each other more than they had to. Kirk suppressed the urge to slap his head of flick the points of his ears as he passed the vulcan. The mood on the bridge seemed good though he did hear Sulu's "Finally!" comment.

Inside the Ready Room the mess and the creature who caused it greeted him with equal enthusiasm.

"No wonder. What have we said about trashing the place Vida? I'm the only one allowed to do that."

Kirk did not have the time to lecture the tribble as the reply to his call snapped on his desk screen.

"Greetings Jim." The weathered face of the elder Spock filled his vision. He leaned forward in his seat to peer at the tribble. "Who is this?"

"This is Vida."

"A good name. I have heard Dr McCoy kept it in med-bay after the incident."

"You heard about that?"

"I visited you in hospital. You were slowly starting to wake before I left."

"Thank you. I wasn't told about that."

"I believe Dr McCoy was busy. He did not tell you?"

"No." Kirk sighed. "He still doesn't tell me anything."

to be continued...

Sorry about the cut off. It will make sense the rest of the conversation will be revealed in later chapters.