Chapter 7 Breakup and a Friendship Begins
Spock went back to his office after the visit with Chekhov. Now he had to face Nyota. She would be finishing her shift as his assistant. After what he had found out from Chekhov, he could no longer bear to be in her presence. Yet he did want to hear her side of the story. But he also felt that Chekhov was telling the truth. He had no reason for lying.
When he walked in Nyota hugged him but he remained standing stiffly. He could not put his arms around her.
She backed away from him in alarm. "What is wrong, Spock?" she asked with a worried tone in her voice.
"I have just come back from the hospital. I was visiting Ensign Chekhov." He watched her reaction to his words.
Nyota's face looked anxious as she took this information in. She walked over to his desk and started sorting the graded papers.
"I can handle the papers, Lieutenant. Please sit down. We need to discuss this incident with the Ensign." Spock commanded.
Spock sat behind his desk. Uhura took the student chair sitting opposite the Commander . She was mortified. They were no longer lovers in a serious relationship. They were not professor and graduate
assistant. Spock had now assumed the role of her superior officer. She sensed that the end of their relationship was near. Well she would show him. She refused to cry. She looked defiantly at him. He stared at her with his fingers steepled in front of his face. His black eyes looked venomous.
"Are you aware that Ensign Chekhov is in the hospital because of a suicide attempt,Lieutenant? "
Spock began.
"No, Spock." she replied in a calm voice. "What does that have to do with me?"
"According to the Ensign, he approached you because he wanted your assistance in talking to me. He was afraid that I blamed him for my mother's death and wanted my forgiveness. He thought that as one of my close friends you might be willing to help him. . Then out of your misguided jealousy you thought he was trying to seduce me. After he grabbed your hands to beg you to help him you then threatened to charge him with sexual harassment and you also told him that I would probably be court martialing him because he dared to approach you in such a manner. Have I left anything out Lieutenant? Is there anything you would like to add?" Spock's tone became frigid with every word he uttered. Uhura shrank back in the chair.
She took a deep breath, calmed her raging feelings and answered. "He tried to give me a velvet rose to soften me up." Even to her own ears the comment seemed utterly ridiculous. "Other than that what he said was true." There was no point in lying to Spock.
"The Ensign is a very fragile teenage boy. He was very depressed and torn with guilt about my mother's death. He came to you to ask for help and you had to threaten him with a court martial. I am not surprised that it drove him over the edge. You are responsible for causing his suicide attempt, Nyota. You used your position and your relationship with me to commit this act. I cannot even look at you anymore, Nyota. Your jealousy has poisoned our relationship. I did not think you could be this cruel." Spock sighed as tears welled in his eyes.
Uhura got up from the chair and came around to face him. She reached out her hands to touch his shoulders but Spock pushed her away. Then he got up and faced her.
"Leave me Nyota." he said in a raspy voice. He fought for control. "Our relationship is over. Your duties as my assistant are no longer needed."
"Spock, I love you," Nyota cried. "Don't end our relationship because of Ensign Chekov. What is he to you anyway?"
"You do not understand. Nurse Chapel and I found him after he made the suicide attempt. If we had come an hour later he would have died. I cannot continue seeing you Nyota. You are too unstable. You have to get rid of your poisonous jealousy. You will destroy anyone you love. You have almost destroyed me. Please leave because I will not be responsible for what I will do next. I do not want to have another injured officer on my conscience."
"All right Spock. I will go," Uhura whimpered.
"One more thing Nyota. This incident will not go unpunished. You will be charged with conduct unbecoming an officer." Spock stated. "You must leave now."
With a sob Nyota ran out of the office and shut the door behind her. She ran across the campus until she reached the botanical gardens. She tripped over a rock and her face hit the dirt. She lay there on the ground and sobbed because her heart ached. Her whole career was over and she had lost Spock. She had caused a young teenage boy to commit suicide.
Dr. McCoy found her there. He scooped her up in his arms and took her to his quarters. He placed her on the couch and held her close.
"Nyota, what is wrong?" Dr. McCoy asked. Between sobs she told him about the incident with Spock and her coming trial.
"You should be so lucky that that green-blooded popsicle let you go. You were too intelligent for him anyway.," the doctor stated.
Nyota laughed. "But I am still worried about the trial." she told McCoy.
"Maybe if you are willing to seek counseling we can minimize the effects of the trial. I will say what a good officer you are. I will also talk about Chekhov's depression. I think I can help you out. Starfleet will not want to lose you. You are the best communications officer in the fleet. And you are not an evil person. Just misguided. Please let your kindly doctor help you. Let me also be your friend."
Nyota hugged McCoy and he hugged her back. She felt she could face the trial because he was such a good friend.