A/N: Thank you for all the reviews, alerts and favorites, and special thanks to Kitty243, EdwardElirLover22, Random Redshirt, PassionateSoul and JASPERHALEFOREVER for your wonderful reviews on the last chapter.

Plant Love

Tonia Barrows stared out of her hotel window, watching the primitive cars drive by. She didn't like the vehicles in this time; they were loud, ugly, and noisy pollutants. But she was going to have to get used to them, like she was going to have to get used to slow weak computers, archaic science, and a planet filled with war she would never be able to leave. She pushed her red hair out of her face and tugged on her ill-fitting clothing. Janice and she had put off buying different clothing, out of prudence for the money that wasn't theirs, and the hope that they would be returning home soon. But after decoding that message from the Enterprise she knew they couldn't put it off any longer. Just like they couldn't put off trying to find a place in this world. Spock had several suggestions for them, ones they planned to explore.

"Are you ready?" Barrows nodded. Rand had come out of the bathroom ready to leave. They had packed the belongings that were not theirs and were preparing to get on a plane, they had found the tickets in their wallets. Though both of them were wary of the ancient flying machines, there was no other way to get to their 'homes.' They were going to see the family's of the girls they had replaced. They weren't sure what they were going to say or do, but they figured they should know their daughters weren't coming back. It was going to be a difficult talk, and they probably wouldn't believe them, but they believed they had the right to know. After that, well, who knows? They took one last look around their little hotel room and walked out the door to the taxi waiting outside. What they were about to do was more frightening than any mission they'd been a part of on the Enterprise.

Lia had never been happier to be on solid ground. Life in the Enterprise had some down sides she hadn't counted on. Kirk's attraction to her aside, she was terrified that at any moment the ship would malfunction and she'd be dead in space, or she'd be kidnapped by some crazy alien, or should lose an arm when she transported somewhere…. And then there was the fact that she had never done well in confined spaces, and the Enterprise was very confining. She had started missing the sun the third day she was there, and the lack of it was making her skin near vampiric paleness, something she was really pissed about, and something Maddy wouldn't stop teasing her about. And then there was the lack of fresh air.

Needless to say she was very pleased to be on a planet, especially a planet with these things in abundance. She had finished calculating the planet's gravitational constants, something she was rather proud of, and had been given leave by her superior to enjoy the surface until she had to report back to duty the next day. They were going easy on her, partially because the human colony Spock claimed they came from was apparently not all that technologically advanced, which worked out well for her. And since he phrased it a certain way, he was not telling a lie. He was damn smart. She daydreamed about him for a moment, before a movement out of the corner of her eye startled her.

"What?" She peered curiously at a plant with a large purple flower, which seemed to be shaking. She got into a crouch, ready to run if it suddenly sprouted tentacles or something, but then…it sneezed.

"Achoo!" She stared. Pollen flew into the air and the flower sniffled. She inhaled the pollen and sneezed back at the plant. It recoiled just as she had. She moved forward and it moved forward. She moved her left arm and it followed suit with its left leaf. She stood up and the plant seemed to grow taller, she squatted and the plant shrank.

"Fascinating." She pulled out her communicator to contact Spock, he'd probably be as interested as she was, or at least she hoped he would be. Unfortunately the plant had different ideas. Before she knew what happened or how it happened the plant had somehow eaten her communicator.

"That's not normal." It crunched contentedly and if she had to guess, was rather thankful for the snack. For it now stood at attention, and if it had eyes, she would swear it was staring at her. She moved away, intent on finding another crewmember with a communicator, but to her surprise the plant hoisted itself up and its roots came free. She walked backward, not taking her eyes off the plant as it followed her, its roots bent and moving like little feet. It radiated a sense of obedience, not unlike a dog or something similar. She kept walking backward, and eventually intersected several people on shore leave. They stared at the plant as it followed her. She cleared her throat.

"Ummm, can someone call Spock-I mean Commander Spock and tell him I have-a dog plant?" They just nodded and contacted Spock, eyeing Lia's dog plant. She stepped closer, holding her hand out, trying to see how close she could get, when she heard Maddy's voice.

"Dang it we can't go anywhere without you adopting something!" She walked over to her side with McCoy next to her, both keeping a respectful distance away from Lia's plant dog. "I bet it doesn't even use photosynthesis, it probably eats blood like in Little Shop of Horrors."

"It ate my communicator."

"See!"

"It was made of metal." That didn't faze Maddy.

"You just wait, it'll go for people next." Lia had leaned toward it so that her fingers were just inches away from the leaves, when the plant closed the distance, rubbing itself against her hand. Maddy sighed.

"I am so not surprised right now." She sat down on the ground and the plant reared around and snapped at her. She quickly got back up.

"See! Why do your pets always hate me?" At that moment Spock appeared in the clearing. He pulled out his tricorder and watched as Lia scratched the petals of the flower, which were much thicker than the petals of any flower on Earth.

"Fascinating, it seems to have some sense of awareness, and is reacting to Ensign Acacia's pheromones." Lia pulled her hand back and Maddy's face twisted in a rather comical expression.

"Say that again Spock?" He looked up from his tricorder.

"The plant identifies her as a female of its species, thus-" But Lia's eyes widened and she quickly darted behind Spock. That thing was male? Maddy burst out laughing.

"Oh this is good, looks like you've got a new boyfriend Lia!" The plant waddled over to Spock, and hissed. Spock raised an eyebrow.

"Interesting, it seems it sees me as competition." Maddy really had to restrain herself here, or Lia would never forgive her. Lia just danced nervously behind Spock, while the other crewmen moved on, casting amused glances at the plant. McCoy was taking his own tricorder readings.

"This thing's leaves have medicinal uses! Do you think we could clone one so I could study it further?" Spock nodded.

"We must have a sample in order to do that Doctor, and I don't believe any of us will be able to get close enough to get one." Maddy glanced slyly at Lia.

"Maybe if Lia asks nicely…." The blonde glared at her friend.

"No way!" Spock crossed his arms.

"Ensign Flint does have a point; you may be able to get close enough to get a sample." Though Lia was now wary of the plant that was standing in front of Spock, puffing itself up to look threatening, she didn't want to go and rip a leaf off. It seemed cruel.

"I don't know, can't we wait until it drops a leaf? Oh, I know! I'll show you where I found it, maybe it left something there." Spock nodded.

"That will be agreeable." Lia carefully walked around Spock, the plant mirroring her, and began quickly walking back to where she found it. It waddled as fast as it could after her, Spock following more leisurely while fiddling with his tricorder. Maddy smirked at McCoy.

"So….do you want to tell Kirk or should I?"

"Be my guest." She grinned, and pulled out her communicator.

"Oh goody. Maddy to Kirk, you there Captain?"

"Kirk here." Maddy tried to repress her grin as she talked to Kirk, trying to sound concerned and failing miserably.

"Ah Captain, I'm afraid I have some distressing news. It seems you've got competition for Lia's heart. You might want to get over here soon. He keeps on putting the moves on her." By the end Maddy was trying her hardest not to start laughing. McCoy was having a similar problem.

"I….see. And I guess that you do not approve?" Maddy tried to sound convincing.

"Not at all! They're an awful match, but I'm afraid of his temper." Kirk was beginning to get concerned. "And he's so forward. I'm afraid for her safety really, he seems very dangerous."

"…I'll be right there. Kirk out." Maddy flipped her communicator closed and let out the laugh she'd been holding in. She was out of breath by the time she finally regained her composure. She wiped a tear from her eye.

"Oh god that was great." She let out another chortle. "My sides hurt from laughing so hard." She clutched her sides and felt McCoy's hands on hers.

"I can help with that. I'm a Doctor after all." She grinned at him.

"That's very kind of you Doctor."

"The least I could do. Now would you like to see how your friend is doing?"

"More than anything." He gave her a suggestive look.

"Anything?"

"Weeell, Almost anything." Meanwhile, Lia led Spock to where she had found the plant rooted, and there was indeed a leaf on the ground. Spock picked it up and put it in a bag.

"The Doctor will be most pleased with this." The plant's attention diverted from Lia for the first time since she'd seen it and latched onto Spock's boot. Spock gently tried to shake it off but it was obvious now that it intended to eat it.

"Take it off!" Spock did and the plant happily munched on the boot. And as it did, it seemed to grow slightly…..larger.

"It ate my communicator, and your boot. It certainly has a strange diet." Spock nodded.

"I agree." It finished and puffed itself up again, turning to Lia as if to say 'well, what do you think of me now?' Lia cleared her throat nervously.

"Oh my." Spock watched with interest.

"It appears to be trying to gain your favor with a show of its abilities." It puffed itself larger and did an odd shuffle. Lia was growing more and more concerned.

"I don't want to mate with him!"

"And you won't have to." Kirk appeared from behind a boulder and jumped down to stand beside her. He took her by the shoulders and held her close.

"Spock, where is this man that's making unwanted advances on one of my crew? Is he a crewman himself?" Kirk scoured the area, looking for any sign of the unknown male.

"Right there Captain." Spock pointed to the plant, and Kirk did a double take and stared at the flower.

"This is trying to mate with you?"

"YES!" The plant didn't seem to like Kirk holding her and jumped into the air, trying to attack him. It took everyone by surprise and Kirk was barely able to block his face with his arm, before the plant's attack landed and he bit into Kirk's elbow. Spock took out a phaser, but Lia waved her arms.

"Stop right now!" Her tone had effect, and the plant looked at her curiously. This gave Kirk enough time to shove it off of him and leap to his feet. Lia kept her eyes on the plant.

"That was not nice! Bad!" The plant seemed to understand it was being scolded and shrunk down on itself. Lia crossed her arms. "Oh no, don't you try that with me! You don't do that again, you understand?" She looked at Spock. "Do you think you could locate a female for it? So that it will stop fixating on me?" Spock nodded and reset his tricorder.

"Hey guys! Oh-" Maddy and McCoy walked around the bend to see Kirk holding his elbow and Lia glaring at the plant like it was a puppy that just chewed her favorite pair of shoes. Maddy paused, but McCoy went into medical mode and was examining Kirk's elbow.

"Huh, I'll be. Though it may have injured you physically, whatever was in its….bite actually did you some good." Kirk looked at McCoy incredulously.

"You've got to be joking Bones." McCoy shook his head.

"Even now, it's strengthening your immune system." They all stared at the plant.

"So….it's bite heals?" McCoy nodded at Maddy.

"Seems to, Spock, did you manage to get a sample?" Spock nodded and handed McCoy the bag with the leaf inside it. McCoy looked ecstatic.

"I need to get up to the lab and examine this further, if you don't mind." Maddy shrugged.

"Go for it." He walked away and Kirk moved toward Lia, only to have the plant hiss at him again. Lia rounded on it.

"Oh no, we just talked about this!" It shrunk back down and she sighed.

"I have located a female of its species three kilometers west of here." Kirk eyed the plant warily.

"Beam it over here Mr. Spock, so that my crew can work in peace." Spock nodded and flipped open his communicator. Kirk nodded to Lia and himself.

"And tell transport to beam us up, I'll not risk her here with that thing." He glared at the plant and it seemed to glare back at him.

"Ah, but they're such a cute couple." Now Lia and Kirk were glaring at Maddy.

"Maddy, have I ever told you you're a bad person?"

"Once or twice. So did it get to first or second base?" Lia picked up a rock and tossed it a Maddy's head. She dodged and before she could say anything else, Kirk and Lia had beamed up to the ship. Lia sighed.

"That was….unwelcome." Kirk took her arm and led her out into the hallway.

"Do you need to go to sick bay?" They stopped and she shook her head.

"No, I'm fine, just confused." Kirk nodded.

"You and me both." She gave him a pleading expression.

"We're leaving soon, right?" He smiled.

"Yes, I believe we are."

"I don't think I want to go back down anytime soon." He smiled at her and led her to her room. Once there, they stood in silence for a moment before locking eyes. He began to lean down and Lia's eyes started fluttering closed. Their lips were about to meet, when the unfortunate happened. Maddy interrupted them.

"Lia! I'm sorry to say, but you've been dumped by a purple flower with an attitude problem for another purple flower plant thing. I know this breaks your heart, but you have to think about the children. The ugly, blonde, plant children the two of you would have had." She patted Lia on the shoulder. "Be strong. It's for the best." She either ignored or actually didn't notice the murderous look Kirk was giving her, and pranced off. She successfully ruined the moment, and brought Lia back to her senses. She was about to kiss him! Granted, he was very gallant, coming to her aid like he did, but she didn't kiss every guy that saved her from purple flower plants! She smiled at him and keyed in her code.

"I'm going to….lie down, I'll see you later?" He nodded, still looking dazed and she disappeared into her room, the door sliding closed behind her, leaving Kirk standing and staring at the place she had just occupied. He was going to get Maddy for this.

"Lock in course Mr. Sulu." Kirk lounged in the Captain's chair, his eyes on the view screen.

"Course locked in sir."

"Warp factor 2, Mr. Sulu." They left orbit and the lift doors opened behind Kirk to reveal Dr. McCoy, who came up behind his chair. Kirk pretended he didn't know he was there, he was still miffed the good doctor was in on Maddy's little stunt.

"Good news Jim, you're now immune to Andorian ring worms."

"That's great Bones." He hoped his tone of voice would indicate to McCoy that he had no interest in the subject and was still put off. He focused his attention on the view screen, ignoring the good doctor.

"Aw, cheer up Jim it's not every day you're cured of arthritis and defeat your rival in love in the same day."

"I didn't have arthritis to begin with."

"And now you won't have to worry about it later in life."

"Bones, shouldn't you be in the sick bay?" Bones leaned closer and lowered his voice so the rest of the bridge wouldn't hear him.

"Now Jim, just because Maddy and I might have….misled you doesn't mean you have to hold a grudge. It was all in good sport."

"Trust me Bones, I'm going to get you back one day." McCoy laughed and silently vowed to watch his back.

"Gentlemen." Spock had joined them. McCoy gestured to Kirk.

"The Captain's still upset he almost lost his chance with Lia to a flower." He laughed and Spock raised an eyebrow.

"The plant did seem earnest in its attempt to mate with Miss Acacia." They both turned and looked at Spock. "I inferred from your tone that you did not take the threat seriously, when, in fact, it was." McCoy gaped.

"Come on Spock, it was only a flower! Surely it couldn't do much harm!" Spock put his hands behind his back.

"Need I remind you Doctor, of the plants on Gamma Trianguli and their tendency to fire poison darts?"

"Enough said Spock."

One week later saw the Enterprise heading toward Starbase 12 for a personnel change. Lia and Maddy were once again itching to get off the ship, and Scotty had promised to show them around once they got to the Starbase. During that time Maddy and McCoy had spent almost all of their off duty time together, leaving Lia to seek out Chapel for company. She had run into Spock once in the rec room, and actually managed to spend time with him. He had taught her how to play 3-D chess, and though it took her a while, she was beginning to make progress. She was heading back to her quarters one night after a particularly rousing game when the ship hit space turbulence. She wasn't actually sure if it was space turbulence, but that is what Maddy and she had taken to calling it. She was thrown off her feet and hit her head on the wall.

"Ow." She sat up and held her head and leaned against the wall, only to have the wall disappear on her. "Dammit." She fell to the floor and hit her head again.

"Hallo?" She looked up and saw Chekov standing over her, so the wall she leaned against was a door that made sense. He grinned.

"Ah, I see you couldn't stay away." He helped her up and she looked around to see she was in…his room?

"Your room is only down the hall from mine!" Another jolt sent them both flying and Chekov once again helped her up and frowned.

"I vonder vhat is going on?" Lia shrugged.

"I don't know….where are you going?" Chekov headed out the door and toward the lift.

"I am to go on shift now, vhy don't you come vith?" Lia shrugged, she was pretty curious.

"Okay, but I'll probably get kicked off the bridge." After a turbulent ride in the lift they finally made it to the bridge. Chekov rushed to his station and relieved Lieutenant Jameson. He left the bridge, obviously relieved to get out, and hurried to the lift. Lia stood to the side and watched as Kirk barked out orders and declared a red alert.

"Sulu, maximum power to shields, Chekov, evasive maneuvers." Chekov scrambled to obey.

"Keptain, vhat are ve evading?" Spock answered him.

"We are being attacked by someone with a very sophisticated cloaking device."

"Trace where those blasts are coming from, Chekov! Ready photon torpedoes!" But before Sulu could fire, they were hit directly. Everyone went flying, Spock ended up on helm control, Chekov and Sulu ended up on the floor, Uhura ended up at Spock's station, and Lia ended up in hers. Kirk somehow managed to keep in his seat and turned to engineering.

"What's the damage Scotty?" Scotty got to his feet looking grim.

"Our shields are gone Captain, another hit like that and we're goners." Lia got up and stood next to communications as Uhura rushed back to her station. A second later, she frowned.

"Captain, we are being hailed."

"Onscreen, Lieutenant." A Romulan male appeared on the view screen.

"Greetings Enterprise. Oh, don't look surprised." For Kirk and several other crewmen looked startled they knew their vessel. "We know you well Captain Kirk, and we are willing to negotiate terms of surrender." Kirk stood up.

"Why are you attacking a Federation ship, in Federation territory? Any attack on us will be considered an act of war."

"Ah Kirk, did you think we would let this opportunity pass us by? You are two days away from the nearest Starbase, and are nowhere near any Federation vessels. Now, give us the cloaking devices you have stolen, and we may spare your lives." Kirk looked at Spock, who raised an eyebrow.

"We have no cloaking devices, you have been given false information." The Romulan looked at Kirk with incredulity, and Spock turned back to his station.

"Do you think me a fool Captain? Our scanners clearly read two separate readings, you have stolen our technology and we will not let this pass." Spock walked over to the Captain and spoke softly.

"Captain, Romulan cloaking devices emit tachyon particles." Years of Captaincy had taught Kirk never to show a physical reaction to a situation, but in this instance he was having a difficult time keeping his eyes off Lia.

"Have security escort both girls to sick bay, it offers the best protection."

"Captain, our shields are down, not even the extra protection sick bay offers would be able to stop a transporter."

"Dammit Spock, I know!" He took a deep breath. "I know. Have security get her out of here." Spock motioned the bridge security guard and had him guide Lia out on the grounds she was not essential personnel. She went, staring worriedly at the screen, she needed to ask Maddy about this. They went down to sick bay and she rushed in to see Maddy sitting at a table, McCoy was busy in another room.

"Maddy!" She hissed. She hurried over to the table and bent in close to prevent them being overheard. "We're being attacked by Romulans! And they think the particles we're emitting are a cloaking device, what do we do?"

"Don't worry, I have a contingency plan for this." She paused and then suddenly looked very, very defeated. "…The notebook I keep my contingency plans in is in my room." Lia gave her a horrified look.

"No worries. Are the shields up?" Lia shook her head.

"Kirk's negotiating with them right now, but there's only so long before they attack." Maddy nodded, understanding the gravity of the situation.

"From what I remember about Romulans is that even though their ancestors are from Vulcan, they do have emotions, they're xenophobic, they're devious, and Kirk is not their favorite person." Lia blinked.

"But….do you remember any other Romulan-Federation conflicts in this time?" Maddy cocked her head to the side.

"In the show they really only interacted about three times. Skirmishes around the neutral zone were common, but all out war at this time? Nadda. But worse comes to worse go with the story Spock gave us, and as for the tachyons…I'll think of something later." McCoy appeared behind them.

"What's going on? Jim just contacted me and told me the Romulans want you two!" They shushed him and pulled him down next to them.

"The tachyons we're emitting apparently look the same as Romulan cloaking devices on scan, so they think the Federation is stealing Romulan technology!" McCoy's face paled.

"Dang blasted Romulans!" On the bridge, Kirk had failed to negotiate. He sat back in his chair and looked at Sulu.

"Mr. Sulu, on my order, fire photon torpedoes." Sulu looked at Kirk uncertainly, as did Spock.

"Captain?"

"Stand by, Mr. Sulu." Kirk leapt over to Spock's station.

"Spock, if the Romulans find…them…and find out they have knowledge of future events…"

"The consequences would be dire Captain."

"Damn." He focused his attention on the Romulan ship. "Sulu, once the torpedoes have been fired, put the Enterprise in warp five, full reverse." Sulu and everyone else on the bridge looked at him in surprise. Captain Kirk, retreating? "Well, Sulu?" Sulu turned back to his station.

"Aye sir." Kirk sat back in his chair and pressed his comm.

"McCoy here." Kirk lowered his voice.

"McCoy, how are they?" McCoy looked over at Lia and Maddy, whose heads were together in a whispered conversation.

"Fine, trying to figure this out same as us, if I had to guess." Kirk nodded.

"Alright. Sulu, now."

"Firing photon torpedoes, sir." They watched as the torpedoes were deflected by the Romulan shields.

"Now, Mr. Sulu!"

"Full reverse, warp five sir." Kirk nodded and sat back. He'd never turned from a fight before, even when he was younger it was never in his nature to let a challenge go unmatched. But the terms of this match were too high. He watched the Romulan vessel fade from sight, fighting the urge to return to the battle. But for now the Enterprise, her crew, and the knowledge possessed by two individuals were safe.

"Romulan ship not pursuing."

"Odd for a Romulan ship not to pursue when the advantage is obviously theirs."

"Don't look a gift horse in the mouth Spock. Kirk to sickbay." No answer. "Sick bay, respond." Still no answer. "Bones!"

"Sickbay here Captain." Chapel's voice sounded from the intercom.

"What's sick bay's stasis Nurse?" There was a pause before McCoy's voice came over the link.

"Jim, they're….gone."