Author's Note: Chapter 7 is the first part of a two-part scene. In Part I, Spock's sexuality is explored and Uhura reluctantly reveals she is interested in something more than his mind. A more explicit M-rated version of the first section is posted as a one-shot, under the title – What's Love Got to Do With It? Your comments are always welcome.

They had taken their traditional sexual position. It was not their first time, but never had he been so rough. She took pleasure in this new intensity. And, just as she felt the waves of emotion overtake her, she heard him call out. It sounded like a name, but it was not hers . . . it was something she did not recognize. What is Nyota?

Washed and dressed in civilian clothes with hair neatly in place, Spock sat down at T'Lau's table as she poured the tea. His impassive face contained no remembrance of the heated activities he had taken part in such a short time ago. Although it would be highly unlikely for him to impregnate her outside of Pon farr, he always assumed the responsibility for ensuring there would be no unintended consequences resulting from their occasional need to engage in acts to relieve carnal impulses. When necessary, consenting partners could experience intercourse, but adultery was strictly forbidden in such a society where order and harmony were paramount.

Since this was T'Lau's home, the Vulcan bio-systems consultant had no reason to get fully dressed. Although only clothed in a robe, the bulky and heavy material revealed little of the slender, but shapely body which she had let Spock use until he had enough. After having sex, there was no "pillow talk" for he never lay down in her bed. Instead, they would meet at a table to partake in the Vulcan obsession for tea.

She sat down beside him and picked up her teacup, letting the warmth of the container quiet her ordinarily active hands.

Despite their earlier sexual activities, as usual Spock chose business as the primary topic of their conversation with T'Lau, one of the project managers of the latest model of the Enterprise. Although six years older than Spock and an acclaimed expert in her field, T'Lau knew him to conversant with the technology and engineering specifications of the ship. No matter how significant or minute, any issue related to the building and operation of the Enterprise would be subject to his scrutiny. Spock charged, "The air purification system continues to be a problem, especially on the bridge."

"I gave a full report earlier today during the oversight committee meeting. We need not take the time to speak on it at this time."

"T'Lau, you seem to be confusing me with Admiral Jennings, who would not know a pattern buffer from a patter enhancer. Remember to whom you are speaking."

Relenting, "All life support systems will be ready for the Enterprise's first test run in March. There should be no delay in her maiden voyage scheduled for May."

"Captain Pike and I are far less concerned about meeting the starship construction deadlines, as we are with making sure each aspect of the Enterprise functions as intended at optimum efficiently."

"The product will meet Starfleet standards."

Sternly, "Then you will miss the mark. Most humans may be satisfied with something being just good enough, but that is not the measure you should use. You must satisfy Captain Pike's criteria and it is my duty to see that is accomplished. After two years on this project, you should be fully aware of this."

Two beats. "The admiral is the one who authorizes payment for my work. It was quite difficult to secure this assignment, because of their mistrust of our people. Do you believe I would jeopardize future contracts by not ensuring the work meet the expectations of all the significant parties?"

Studying her, "I watched you during the meeting and there seemed to be something . . . unspoken."

"Have you now developed a new talent as an empath? Is your mother human or Betazoid?"

"Our families have known each other for many years. Before my father joined the diplomatic corps, your father and mine served together in the Vulcan Academy of Sciences for over four decades. I think I know you well enough . . . "

" . . . to expect sex upon demand?"

"If you will recall, the first advance was yours, not mine. I had just turned 16 and you had just graduated from the science academy."

"Soon to undergo marriage to a man I did not want."

"I do not criticize your actions or your morals. I was a willing participant until you completed the bonding ritual with Sarin."

"I had no choice."

Two beats. "Tell me, T'Lau, what troubled you during the oversight committee meeting?"

"It concerned Karl Jorgenson's report from Palmer Industries on the warp drive. I cannot prove anything; however, there was something odd about the format used for the presentation."

"The format?"

"More precisely the EFM software used for the presentation. Four years ago I remember there was an aberration in version 7.0 which caused underlined text to appear unevenly spaced. I noticed it during the presentation and thought it odd if PI were still using that version, since a patch had been available for several years." Two beats. "It may be nothing."

"Or, it could be . . . I will need to look further into this, tomorrow." Looking at her directly. "Thank you, T'Lau. I owe you so much."

T'Lau reaches over to touch his ear, but he stops her hand.

He rises and reaches for his jacket at the back of the chair. "I need to return back to campus."

"You could remain here for the night."

"No, I cannot."

"Why not? Sarin died of Rigellian Fever over five years ago."

"There was to be no emotional attachment to our arrangement."

"You have not, yet, completed the bonding ceremony with T'Pring. Although your father is an extremely important man, your mixed heritage may be the key to finding a way to break the agreement before the time of the Pon farr."

"I will not discuss such private matters with you."

"I can help you, Spock."

" Good-night, T'Lau."

"What is Nyota?" T'Lau said it so calmly as if asking for the time of day, but she could tell from the tone of his voice that she had struck a nerve in Spock.

"How do you know that name?"

"So, it is not a what, but a who? Being unfamiliar with the name, I could not identify it. You said it as we were experiencing orgasm. Not very flattering, was it? Who is this Nyota?"

"She is no concern of yours."

"It is not my concern?! Do you really believe I have the capacity to disengage myself from the knowledge you are thinking of someone else, while you are having sex with me?!" Spock turns away from her unable to respond. Like a wounded animal, T'Lau now wants to cause him pain. "Nyota – what type of name is that? What species? Could it be, yet, another Terran? In disgust, "Humans! Did you not learn from the ill-fated affair you had with that Hawaiian woman? If I remember correctly, I believe she left you when you proved incapable of expressing your love to her . . . " She adds harshly, " . . . as though that really matters."

Turning to her, his words unequivocally stated, "How foolish I was to have shared that precious memory with you. As a young man, I trusted you with far too many matters close to my heart. I will not make that mistake, ever again." Spock moves toward the door, but T'Lau moves quickly to obstruct his exit.

"What of Nyota? Is she now close to your heart? Is that where you warm yourself when you are not with me?"

Unable to contain his rage, he takes T'Lau by her wrists - his tight hold causing her pain. "You will not hold her name in your mouth! Do you understand this, T'Lau?!" No response. He tightens his grip. "Answer me!"

As tears come to her eyes, she can only whisper, "Yes, yes . . . I understand."

Spock forcibly moves T'Lau from the door and leaves her with her own thoughts filled with anger, jealousy and confusion. She struggles for control, trying to calm her breathing to bring it back to its regular rhythm. Spock, what have you done to me? . . . Bringing me down to their level . . . You are making me think like them . . . behave like them . . . You will never be mine if I try to win you by acting like a human . . . Vulcans are the superior species . . . If I approach this as a Vulcan, Spock will need me as much I need him . . . It is only logical.

Earlier that day, Uhura went into Dr. Greeley's desk drawer to retrieve her advisor's eye drops and, surprisingly, found an envelope nearly two years old addressed to her from Spock. For a moment, she thought about how easy it would be for her to slip it in her bag. It's been this long. Dr. Greeley probably will not even miss it. Yet, she found herself placing the envelope back where she had found it. She moved quickly back to the conference room where her doctoral committee was meeting to discuss her upcoming comprehensive exams.

During her meeting, she had to continually direct her attention to the proceedings. She probably took more notes on her PADD than necessary, but the act helped her to retain her focus. After all, your objective is to become a Starfleet officer and earn a PhD in xenolinguistics. Fixating on that envelope in Dr. Greeley's desk won't get you any closer to that goal.

After the ninety minute meeting, Uhura became upset with herself for not confronting Dr. Greeley about the envelope. She grabbed her bag and PADD, and then headed out the Communication Sciences Building. Looking at the time, she realized she could only take a quick break for lunch before she would need to report to Mr. Spock's office. Mr. Spock. She felt a knot growing in her stomach. She had spoken fairly harsh words to him earlier that day. While she believed she was justified, she regretted the choice of some of her words and tone of voice. It would be difficult to face him this afternoon, but she wanted a chance to apologize.

At one o'clock, Uhura entered Spock's office having rehearsed her apology in her mind. However, he was not at his desk. She should have been relieved, but she wanted to speak with him while the issue preyed on her mind. At her workstation, she checked his calendar and saw he had an Enterprise Oversight Committee Meeting that would take up his entire afternoon. She then focused her attention on grading papers and checking on the RSVPs for the upcoming symposium on Ensign Slovich's research project. However, toward the end of the work day, her thoughts returned to the envelope in Dr. Greeley's desk.

It was unlike Uhura to be ambivalent, but she couldn't decide how to handle the matter. She decided not to speak about it to anyone at the Academy, not even Gaila. Then she remembered, one of the precious ones – one of her three closest girlfriends – was performing in a musical in Seattle. For privacy, Uhura would go to a telcom center off-campus, where there were nclosed booths. After attending her Academy choir rehearsal and eating dinner in the cafeteria with Gaila, she changed into her civilian clothes and headed down the city streets. She was anxious to speak with Shaniqua (yes, her name is Shaniqua).

Uhura met Shaniqua, a girl from Michigan, at a summer performing arts camp when they both were fourteen. Uhura's maternal grandmother - Afua Owusu - paid for the camp after convincing her Baba – "It's time for Nyota to see other parts of the universe, besides Africa." An intergalactic trader, Afua wanted to send her only grandchild to a program on Earth colony Cestus II. However, her father – who doted on his motherless child – would agree to send her no further than a land called Manhattan on the east coast of the United States. Headquartered at a college, the camp housed the teenagers in dorm rooms.

Assigned as roommates, Shaniqua and Uhura's first meeting nearly started an international incident. When Uhura entered her dorm room, Shaniqua already seemed to have taken over much of the space with her possessions. She was in the process of taping a poster on the wall, when she saw Uhura. With little warning, the girl squealed like a pig as she wound her arms tightly about the African teenager. Shaniqua exclaimed, "A roommate from the Motherland! I have so much to ask you about our ancestors. My name is Shaniqua."

Our ancestors? Uhura thought as she extricated herself from the girl's grip. With her sandy brown hair, green eyes and olive complexion, she has more in common with Europeans than she does with me. Brazenly, "Was your education so inadequate that you need to bother me with ignorant questions?"

"Hey, I don't like that."

"Well, I don't like it when your people assume . . ."

Hands on hips, "Your people!"

"You are mzunga."

"What is that suppose to mean?"

"You are white."

"White?!"

"Calm down . . . calm down. It is not an insult to know what you are."

"Look here . . . My family tree may include some European ancestry, but I proudly identify myself as African American!"

"Calling yourself something else does not change your essence, Shaquitta."

Moving up into Uhura's face, "Sha – ni – qua! My name is Shaniqua Paulette Washington!"

Not backing down. "What kind of ridiculous name is that? I bet you don't even know what it means."

"It's not ridiculous. That name happens to have a long history in my family dating all the way back to the 20th century. Now you apologize!"

Neither one of the girls remembers who shoved who first. However, it took four camp counselors to break up the fight. They were not sent home, since the Program Director said, "In my 34 years of running this camp, I have never had to send campers back to their parents on their first day and I am not going to start with you." As their punishment, they accompanied the rest of the campers to the 79th Broadway revival of West Side Story. But, instead of enjoying the show in the auditorium, they were made to sit in the lobby where they could only hear the musical from a VidScreen positioned out of their sight.

As they sat, their anger dissipated as they focused more on the music they heard from the show. Their feet began to move to the rhythms and when the "Jet's Song" played their voices joined in.

Uhura lamented, "This has got to be one of my favorite musicals of all-time." A happier memory. "For my 10th birthday, my grandmother bought me a copy of the 1961 film version and I was hooked. I must have played it over a hundred times."

"I saw a touring show version, first, in Detroit. My mother took me when I was 12 and I loved it so much I thought about running away from home and joining the company." Two beats. "Hey, what's your favorite scene in the play?"

"That's easy. It's when Tony first sees Maria at the dance at the gym."

"Oh, yeah . . . It's so romantic. The gym is crowded with people dancing around and they look across the floor and, suddenly, they see only each other."

The two teenagers look dreamily at a spot before themselves, as if the couple is standing there. "They walk across the floor and stand across from each other. They know they are meeting for the first time and, yet, they somehow know they've known each other all their lives." Two beats. "Maria wants Tony to touch her, but he is hesitant. She is different. He says to her, You're thinking I'm somebody else." Two beats. "Maria knows what he is, who he is – but she still desires his touch. And, then she says, My hands are cold." The two girls break the fantasy with their laughter, which causes an usher to scold them saying, "You must keep your voices down, there is a performance going on."

Shaniqua tries to quiet herself as she speaks, "My all-time favorite pick-up line! Maria was working it!"

"Maria knew what she had to do. And, when Tony takes her hands in his, he is lost to her forever . . . and she knows it. Just the touch of her hands and they are one."

"So, you just left the envelope in your advisor's desk drawer?" Shaniqua asked Uhura through the telcom. "Didn't you say it was addressed to you?"

"Yes."

"And, it's from that Vulcan guy?"

"Yes, Mr. Spock."

"And, from the date you can see it is over two years old, right?"

"Right."

"So, Nyota . . . I don't understand why you called me. I thought it was something important or I would not have taken your call so close to show time."

"I called you for your advice on the matter."

"Since you didn't take the envelope when you had the chance, you either confront Greeley about it or you forget you ever saw it. Problem solved." Two beats. "Now, girlfriend, what's really on your mind?"

Leave it to Shaniqua to see through her pretense. A breath. Why was it so difficult to give voice to what I am feeling? Another breath. "I think about him . . . often."

"Somebody at the Academy?"

"Yes."

"Who is he?"

She does not respond.

Excitedly, "He's a married man! Nyota, you're having an affair with a married man?!"

"No, no, Shaniqua, of course not."

"All right, you had me worried for a moment. So, if he's not married, why the mystery?"

"We don't have a relationship. I mean . . .there's a professional relationship, but not any other kind of relationship."

"An officer? Is he one of the faculty members?"

"Yes."

"Has he ever given you any signs that he may be attracted to you?"

"I don't know." Two beats. "We are different."

Three beats. Realizing, "The Vulcan! You have feelings for the Vulcan!"

She nods her head.

"Oh, Nyota . . . how long have you known this?"

"Just now . . . or, maybe I've always known it . . . I don't know." Lowering her head, she speaks in low tones. "There have been a few times . . . when my roommate is out late and I am alone . . . I think of him . . . I touch myself." Tears drop from her eyes.

Attempting to comfort her, "There's nothing wrong with that."

"Sometimes, I participate in sex talk with the other cadets. I make references to things I really have only read about, but have rarely experienced." Two beats. She asserts, "My feelings for a superior officer are inappropriate. It is strictly against the Academy's code of ethics."

"Nyota, your feelings are not inappropriate. And, finding a safe release for those feelings is not inappropriate."

Raising her head with a determined voice. "I want to be a Starfleet officer. I can't let these desires get in my way."

"But, what do you need?"

Three beats. "Baba would not approve."

"This is not about your father."

"Such relations . . . are forbidden."

"You mean relations with an alien."

"I am my father's daughter."

"You are 25 years old. Isn't it time you made your own decisions about such matters?"

"Shaniqua, you and I could not be any closer if we were blood sisters, but there are some things you just don't understand about my family."

Three beats. "What do you need, Nyota?"

"It is irrelevant what I need. The fact is that in the spring he will be off on another tour of duty when his new ship is ready for voyage. I have another year at the Academy and it is unlikely we'll ever serve together. To get involved now would be pointless."

"You are involved."

"But he isn't . . . " Two beats. " . . .and I could not bear to know he would not want to return the . . . affections."

"Nyota, can't you see what is happening? That's why you did not take the envelope or confront Dr. Greeley about it? You don't really want to know how he feels, do you?" Two beats. "After he is gone, you'd rather be safe in your fantasy than take a chance on knowing the truth. Nyota, girl, that is really messed up!"

Silence.

"Nyota . . .in a few minutes my show is going to begin. Listen to me . . . you can be intimate with a man without being physical. You can touch a man's heart without laying a hand on him." Two beats. "Maybe you already have and you just don't know it."

A voice behind Shaniqua. " Places!"

"Got to go. And, when you have a moment, check out 1 Corinthians 13: 4-7 for some guidance on love."

Acting surprised, "Who said anything about love?"

"You know, Nyota, sometimes you really are full of shit. I'm out."

Uhura did not get up from her seat immediately. She sat reflecting on the conversation . . . her disclosures . . . her desires . . . her fears . . . her wants . . . her confessions . . . her shame. What do you need? She took out her PADD from her bag and looked up the scripture reference Shaniqua had provided her - "Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres."

After leaving T'Lau's apartment, Spock walked quickly through the city streets. Even with his speedy pace, it normally took him 45 minutes to get to campus from this point. Although he had sex with T'Lau, he was not satisfied. In fact, he found the disconnect between what was available and what he desired was affecting him much more than he cared to admit. The cool, misty night air acted to soothe his anger directed more at himself, than T'Lau. When having sex with her, he carefully shielded his mind so she would not be privy to his thoughts. This was relatively easy to do, since T'Lau never had the patience or inclination to study or practice the mind arts. However, he had been a fool to speak Cadet Uhura's name in such a vulnerable situation and he could not be sure it would not happen, again.

And, what is this emotion I am now experiencing? . . . Is this guilt? . . . What could possibly be the catalyst? . . . Why should I feel any guilt concerning sexual relations with T'Lau? . . . It is not as if I am betraying Cadet Uhura in any way . . . She does not even know . . . I have never told her . . . I can't tell her." Two beats. In fact, after the way you stood mutely before her this morning, she probably hates you.

And, that thought, suddenly saddened him.

Uhura moved swiftly toward campus. Love is patient. Love is kind . . . It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.She could not figure out why Shaniqua had referred her to that scripture. I'm certainly not in love with Mr. Spock. We don't even have that type of relationship. Two beats. Time will cure what ails you. According to reports, the building of the Enterprise is right on schedule. You'll be able to fully concentrate on obtaining your degree and Starfleet commission after he leaves with the ship in less than six months.

And, that thought, suddenly saddened her.

At 8:13 PM, the streets were now bustling with people. Traffic and voices produced a cacophony that disquieted both Spock and Uhura.

Spock quickened his steps wanting to escape the din of the city. As he turned the corner to the main street leading to the Academy, he happened to glance across the street.

And, amidst all of the people, noise and traffic . . . suddenly he saw her . . . he saw only her.

Uhura quickened her steps wanting to escape the din of the city. As she turned the corner to the main street leading to the Academy, she happened to glance across the street.

And, amidst all of the people, noise and traffic . . . suddenly she saw him . . . she saw only him.

Author's Note: Part II will be up within the next seven days. Your comments are always welcome.