There's a saying about chains and weak links

"Remember; upon the conduct of each depends the fate of all"

- Alexander the Great

With Spock as McCoy's prisoner for a few days, Uhura became hyper-efficient. Her clearly unsettled Vulcan maintained a light mental touch — more to anchor himself in the here and now than to truly communicate, but she shielded him from much of her efforts. Not all her Vulcan study had been focused on diplomatic courtesies and P'lthin politics; she intuited all was not well. Absent her relationship management duties, the Comm Chief accomplished a near miracle setting up the negotiations. Kirk was the first to check out the result and commend her efforts, brilliant as always.

In the Captain's conference room she debriefed him on their new "friends" — the P'lthins:

"Culturally the P'lthins could be considered peaceful. Their small cities and towns see little in the way of crime; the local constabulary provides important community services such as grocery carrying, argument arbitration at the local barbershop and refereeing sporting events at the local schools.

"P'lthins are happiest in family units of 5 to 8 members; they marry young and for life. As a society, they distrust unmarried adults; compassionate pity compells P'lthin citizens can be relentless in removing the bachelorhood of any unmarried adult. They cherish their children in a way seldom witnessed on most Federation planets. 'Village' childrearing ensures children receive the time and care necessary for healthy bodies and minds. School and community activities involving youth draw support from entire towns — businesses close and work stops. When tragedy strikes a young person, the P'lthin nation mourns with the families. This societal emphasis on children's welfare results in an educated society capable of reasoned thought.

"As with most educated cultures, P'lthins appreciate humor; their wit could be described as sharp and quick.

"P'lthins are not cursed with height. Taller than Hobbits but shorter than most Federation citizens, P'lthins feel uncomfortable when surrounded by tall people. Their usually friendly nature can be quickly turned by a poorly placed comment regarding height."

Laying the PADD down, she made sure to capture her Captain's full attention before providing her opinion.

"Captain, I have to tell you... I'm not sure Sarek's strategy will work here."

"Is there a problem, Lieutenant?"

"I think the Vulcans have misread the P'lthins; their strategy doesn't match up with the circumstances. Look at this — "

Tapping on a second PADD, Uhura pulled up New Vulcan's debrief beside her own. Virtually identical outlines stared back at them, a by-product of her deep knowledge of Vulcans (especially the one on the Enterprise).

"See here? There's no mention of P'lthin social behavior. What they'll give up - and what they'll defend to the death — is crucial to communicating with them and winning the negotiations; critical to getting inside their heads. That information is inside their culture and the Vulcan debrief missed it completely."

Kirk's Spidey sense told him she had found a hole in Sarek's game plan. No many could've caught it.

"What next, Captain?"

"Let's get Sarek on board the Enterprise and we'll discuss it here. I'm guessing the New Vulcan diplomatic staff is pretty thin right now. We'll beef up their analysis and help 'em out. Can you send — "

The smile that broke his heart every time she flashed it told him she had, once again, anticipated his unspoken request.

"Already done, Captain."

His quick sniff and sudden movement announced a decision.

"Come with me, Uhura," he said abruptly as he stood up, flashing his version of her smile.

"What are your intentions, Captain?"

Her body language said it all — arms crossed over her breasts and one eyebrow raised.

"Will you please, Uhura!? Stop! I'm not always trying to seduce some woman... you... Just — trust me a little."

Extending a hand towards her in a gentlemanly fashion had no impact on her expression; she rose under her own power — ignoring the chivalrous hand. Chuckling through a sigh of frustration, Kirk motioned for her to follow him and set off with his Comm Chief following at a safe distance.

"You're gonna give me a complex, Uhura." he tossed over his shoulder at her.

The remark caught her off guard; her response revealed her surprise.

"With your ego!?"

He laughed at her spontaneous outburst and sped up the pace. Ahead of them the corridor traffic thinned as skeleton crews on Gamma shift occupied their work locations throughout the ship.

"Where are you taking me, Captain?"

"Captain, Captain... What's with the Captain? We're off duty. Look — will you just trust me 5 minutes?"

Before she could compose a suitably sarcastic retort as to why that wasn't a good idea, they arrived at the transporter room. Handling the controls himself, Kirk coaxed her onto the transporter pad and beamed them both to a remote storage area on the ship.

Since their first meeting at a bar near his hometown, Kirk and Uhura had developed a close, and very private, friendship. Kirk wouldn't hesitate to take it further — the woman presented beauty, brains and a body built for sin wrapped in a tantalizing package of attitude. Uhura would shut him down if he tried anything — and it would hurt over 80% of his well-toned carcass. But behind the age old game between a man and a woman already spoken for was genuine respect and affection.

So it was no real shock to her when Kirk disappeared and transported back with two chairs and a bottle of his best really old bourbon to go with the table already set up in a corner in the back of a cargo bay well off the beaten track — Captain "Frat Boy"'s own personal "Bat Cave". Pulling unseen shot glasses from his pocket, he poured both to overflowing and pushed the furthest one in her direction. Kirk downed his shooter and waited for the welcome burning of high-octane "paint remover" to subside before speaking.

"We need to talk..."

She processed the hesitation at the end of his sentence — about Spock. Drowning panic with the bourbon, Uhura composed herself inside and out before replying.

"What's going on?"

Refilling the glasses kept her eyes away from the scary answer written in the Captain's expression.

"You haven't heard? McCoy thinks Spock's having a delayed stress reaction to all the, the.." he searched through the bourbon for the right world —

"Disasters?" she offered. The word had been crashing around her head since Spock got weird.

"Disasters!" he accepted with the new pour. The burn from good bourbon almost swallowed the word. Jim poured for both of them then spoke again.

"Spock's been through hell. But you heard Sarek; he needs Spock in those negotiations."

Her gaze dropped slowly down to her glass as she slowly twisted it before she threw back that tempting mane of hair while he watched, opened her mouth and drained the glass.

"Uhura, is there something going on with you two? I'm here for you. Both."

She'd considered unloading their recent dust up on Kirk's broad shoulders but decided the timing wasn't right. Mistook her silence for contemplation (a skill Jim Kirk did not have in abundance), he tried another approach.

"What do you think McCoy should do for Spock?"

Staring squarely at him as she poured the next two shots, Uhura managed not to spill a drop.

"I am fluent in many aspects of Vulcan culture and Vulcan history, Jim, but I am neither a xeno-biologist nor a xeno-physician. I wish I were..."

"You're better. You love that Vulcan so hard he blushes when you send him telepathic love notes. Is that how you aced his courses? Because I always wondered why a beautiful woman hocked up all that Klingon — "

He paused as daggers narrowed her eyes and heat stiffened her posture.

"Wait-wait-wait-wait-wait! Don't get mad! It's true! Spock-the-Computer gets weak-kneed when you send him those secret messages. I've seen you two on the bridge; it's like the 'Thing with Two Brains'. It's creepy!"

He faked a shiver as he drank and poured again.

"If anyone knows what he's thinking, what he needs to get through these negotiations, it's you. So no bullshit, Uhura. If it were your call, what would you do?"

"This is about the negotiations"

She stated a fact. I sound like Spock.

"Yes, yes it is"

More shots. She poured.

"You're afraid he won't make it through, that he'll break down?"

"Yes, yes I am"

"Well join the club, Jim. I can't find anything in the Vulcan medical records that explains his moodiness."

So she has looked, Jim's two remaining brain cells registered. Waving her hand over the empty cup to disrupt his intent, Uhura turned her glass upside down; no more — she had two diplomatic delegations to manage tomorrow, rather this, morning. Tears dropped slowly down each cheek.

Spock - you lucky bastard... Jim thought.

"Keep him on his feet Uhura. You will keep me informed if you have a breakthrough? Privately, of course."

She looked around at their surrounding then shook her head from side to side.

"Do you take all your dates to places like this, Jim?"

Drunken chuckles punctuated their departure.

Sarek arrived first. He was his own delegation for the time being.

Sobering up, the Captain and the Comm Chief decided it wasn't a good idea for Sarek to see his hero son escorted from Sick Bay before a critical diplomatic engagment. After some brainstorming (mostly shouting at each other and regretting the bourbon), they chose to divide and conquer. Kirk would entertain Sarek and the P'lthins while Uhura started Spock's day out with happy thoughts.

Wearing her earpiece to keep tabs on her team, Uhura assisted Spock in getting his dress uniform just right. Although he knew his role to be mostly ceremonial, Vulcan perfectionism could be difficult to manage. They agreed to keep a light touch, so both could remain calm.

There will be an introduction meeting then lunch. There's a discussion on mineral rights and transport options in the vid room that I scheduled you out of. I can keep you company if you want.

K'diwa. Your care has been excellent but I am much better now. Please do not let my recent fatigue trouble you.

You matter to me, Spock...

After a final once-over, she declared him ready and prepared to meet the delegates.

Except plans had changed. The P'lthins had been told by Sarek to arrive for lunch, not before. Sarek now wanted to meet with his son and the boy Captain (and without the P'lithins) to discuss strategy and tactics.

So much for an easy morning...

Spock, change of plans. We report to the Captain's conference room. On the double.

McCoy grabbed her arm as the two bridge officers swung through Medical's doors.

"Take care of him Lieutenant. I'm holding you responsible."

Take a number, doctor...

Stifling a mental sigh, Lieutenant Uhura walked — but did not hurry — with Spock to the meet Sarek.

Sarek and Kirk, matched stride for stride down the long corridor, approached the conference room from the opposite direction of Uhura and Spock. With their destination in sight, her thoughts drifted to the details of lunch when she felt her mind slammed into a mental wall. On full alert now, she watched as Spock approached his father. The mental walls moved — squeezing her telepathic channel painfully tight as father and son danced the choreography of the ritual Vulcan greetings. She felt unexplained aggression ramped up near her breaking point doused in panic not her own. Locking her knees she watched a father/son meeting from the outside/inside, focusing hard on the difference between what was said and what was meant.

"Greetings, son. You have been well?" It is difficult to start over.

"I am well, Father. You are managing as planned?" Did she know you loved her? Did you "control" yourself with her as you did with me?

"There are challenges. Much was lost that must be rebuilt. But the work proceeds admirably" When you have bonded, you will understand my life as it is. When she bears your child, you will know what I know.

At the thought-word "bonded", Spock slowly turned to look at, then address, Uhura.

"Lieutenant, as the P'lthins will be arriving later than expected, I will assist you in modifying the arrangements. Father, I will return for lunch; we may speak at length then. Captain."

Waiting briefly for Uhura to precede him, Spock followed as they moved away from the conference room.

Spock?...

Not now, Nyota. Patience, please.

His pace moved him past her and she found herself almost running to keep up.

Okay, he's upset. His mother's not hear to referee between them...

She eventually had to leave Spock alone in his quarters when her second in command notified her of a new P'lthin demand. They insisted on providing the food for all meals; it was a matter of courtesy and honor the Vulcans hadn't factored in.

Rushing down the corridor without running, she wondered if Engineering had any open billets...

Having handled the P'lthins food demands, Uhura rounded the corner leading to Spock's quarters on the hop. In her ear every two minutes, Kirk reiterated Sarek's "request" that Spock join them for strategy talks. Uhura's sensitive hearing, accustomed to confidence in all his actions, made out the barely hidden anxiety in Kirk's voice.

This is Kirk's first diplomatic assignment. Great! One more man on this ship to babysit.

Taking a moment to compose herself and set her own mental shields, she announced at Spock's door. "Come" aimed at the door from Spock's side allowed her to enter.

The scene in his quarters disturbed her. Spock had stripped his dress uniform and lay — in his Starfleet regulation underwear — in the middle of the floor. The uniform, neat and pressed this morning, lay rumpled on a chair. Small, empty cups sat next to his left hand with crumbs of some tidbit left over.

"Spock, you are requested for negotiation planning."

He said nothing.

"Are you feeling okay?"

He spoke even less.

"If you're not feeling well, I can make apologies."

No, k'diwa. That will not be necessary. I understand my duty to New Vulcan.

Shaky though he looked, her relief at his movements was unmistakeable. Dressing quickly so as not to draw a rebuke on her work, the edgy Vulcan moved past her. Uhura felt him straighten in preparation for his meeting with Sarek - the name a trigger for the mental image she knew meant "mother", then startled when Spock turned towards her, his face intense, and ran a finger down her cheek.

"I will love you so all will know" and with that, he left the room.

What the...! What brought that on?

The words "...for better or for worse..." took on a new meaning for her right then.

Running to keep up with him, the pair made their way to the Captain's conference room in record time.