Co-authored with the effervescent SailingAwaySoftly.
Disclaimer: Don't own it, but we're working on that.
-_-_-_
"Why don't you two head back?" Kirk said to Scotty and McCoy. "I'll be there in a few minutes."
They left without a word.
"Lieutenant?"
"I'm here to request a reassignment, Captain."
"A reassignment? Why, for god's sake?"
"I think the Enterprise is a little more than I bargained for," Uhura answered quickly. "I think I'd prefer to be somewhere a little less… dangerous."
"Bullshit. What did Spock say? What's the matter with you two?" Kirk asked.
"Not that it's any of your business, Captain, but if you must know, we're just too different," she snapped.
"Is that all? Hell, I could have told you that. Isn't part of relationships working through huge differences like race, for instance."
"Species," Uhura corrected, "and I doubt you'd know." When Kirk had nothing to say to that, she continued. "I'm sorry, Jim. I didn't mean to speak to you like that."
"Of course you did," he said, putting an arm around her. "You're upset. And since Spock is the problem, I guess it's not fair for me to try to convince you to stay… But is it really that bad?"
"When I said that the Enterprise was too dangerous, I wasn't lying," she said quietly.
"It's just that you meant you'd prefer to be anywhere but on that bridge wondering whether or not Spock's going to come back alive," he finished. "I understand. Thanks, by the way, for worrying about me," he added a little more lightly.
She smiled a bit. "You know perfectly well that I do. But you're right about Spock."
"Well, Nyota," he said, chancing her first name, "I can't very well leave him up there. He is my first officer."
"I know, I know, but we're too different, and it's just too hard. This is once challenge I don't think I'll win, Jim. So, I'm requesting a reassignment."
He sighed. "Fine, Lieutenant." He stood. "Well, I guess I'll see you at the Blessing."
She nodded. "I also have a recommendation for Admiral Pike for the Enterprise."
"Well, I'm glad I can trust your judgment. And hey – good luck."
"You too, Jim."
-_-_-_
"Lieutenant Uhura," Admiral Pike said as she entered his office, "what can I do for you?"
"I would like to request a transfer, Admiral," she said as she sat down.
He raised an eyebrow. "You want to be reassigned?"
"Yes, sir."
"If I recall correctly, I seem to remember Commander Spock telling me that you practically demanded to be assigned to the Enterprise."
Her eyes widened. "Oh, he told you that?" She laughed nervously.
"Yes, he did, as a matter of fact. Which is why I'm surprised you're asking for a transfer. Is Kirk bothering you?" he asked with a small smile.
"No, it's for personal reasons, sir," she said quickly. "I just think it's in everyone's best interest if I leave the Enterprise."
"Lieutenant, while it may be in everyone's best interest, ending a relationship is painful."
"Sir?"
"Uhura, all I'm saying is that once I reassign you, you're going to run yourself in the ground regardless of which ship you're on. I'll give you your transfer, but only on the condition that you'll take a couple of weeks furlough."
"A couple of weeks?"
"Yes, Lieutenant. You need some time to rest and think all this through. I'm not trying to pry into your personal life, but as your superior officer, I say you are not fit for duty. As someone who cares about you, I say that I'm worried you'll burn yourself out, leaving more damage – regulation aside. Do yourself a favor and have a holiday for once."
She didn't want to, but if it meant getting her transfer, she wasn't going to argue. "Yes, sir. Thank you."
Pike nodded. "Now, was there anything else, Lieutenant?"
"As a matter of fact, there was, sir."
"Yes?"
"I would like to make an assignment recommendation."
"For yourself?"
"No, sir. I trust your judgment of where to place me. It's for one of the new graduates."
"First Kirk, then Scott, and now you. I suppose you're recommending this person for the Enterprise?"
"Yes, sir."
Pike sighed. "Alright then. Who is it?"
"Beatrice Bell, sir."
Pike smiled. "You're recommendation is unnecessary, Lieutenant. Ensign Bell has already been assigned to the Enterprise. It's funny that you should recommend her though; Kirk was here to do the same for her roommate, and Scotty for her brother. As I said before, your recommendation is unnecessary, but I'm glad she has your approval. That's really saying something."
"Thank you, sir."
Pike stood, and Uhura followed. "I'll not give you your assignment until you've had you rest, alright? Dismissed, Lieutenant."
-_-_-_
The Next Day…
-_-_-_
Isla groaned as someone suddenly snatched the comforter off her. She shivered as the cold air hit her body.
"Leamelone," she growled.
"It's your own bloody fault for drinking too much last night," Bee snapped. Her voice was harsh against Isla's hung-over eardrums.
"What the hell's so important?"
"Our assignments, that's what!"
Isla shot out of bed and immediately regretted it. Head swimming, she stumbled to the bathroom, vomited once for good measure, and crawled into the shower. The hot water felt good, and it helped wake her up. When she was done, she didn't bother to dry her hair, but she quickly brushed her teeth and pulled on a uniform. Bee was ready and waiting for her when she emerged in a considerably better state.
"We're going to be late," Bee said. She was irritated.
"Well, you didn't have to wait."
"'Course I did. I wasn't going to make you walk in by yourself."
"Thanks."
They were only a few minutes late to the assembly, and Arlo had saved them seats. No one really seemed to take notice of them, and nothing important had happened yet. Admiral Pike was speaking.
"… In a few minutes, you'll all go to your squadrons to receive your assignments. After the Blessing of the Fleet tomorrow, you will report to your commanding officers and board your ships. I'll not see any of you again for several months, so all I have now to say is good luck."
They all stood and filed out of the auditorium. Bee, Arlo, and Isla were all in squadrons, so they separated and met up with their commanders outside of the hall. It was a nice day, and with officers and crewmembers of the Fleet swarming in for the Blessing, the main hangar was too busy and too crowded. They would receive their assignments on the lawn.
The commanders went down the list alphabetically, so Isla didn't have to wait long for her assignment.
"… Knight – U.S.S. Enterprise."
She was surprised. There were only a couple of ships that she would really have hated to be assigned to, but she wasn't expecting such good luck as to be assigned to the Enterprise.
She waited impatiently as her commander called out everyone else's names. When they were finally dismissed, she hurried off excitedly in search of Bee and Arlo. She spotted them heading toward her, huge grins on their faces.
"I'm assigned to the Enterprise," all three said in unison. "Wait, you too?" They laughed.
"That's odd," said Arlo. "What are the odds?"
"Someone must love us," Bee said.
"At any rate, it's great that we haven't been split up," said Isla.
"That doesn't matter so much. We'll be so busy with our separate duties that we probably won't see much of each other."
Arlo made a face. "Bee, don't be so damn depressing."
"I'm only being realistic."
-_-_-_
A/N: YAY! Boy, betcha didn't see THAT one coming, did ya?