Chapter Eight

It happened one more time the next week. It was extremely risky on either of their parts, having been in his house while Janice had gone out for an interview. Spock brought up the life and death thing again, but Kirk assured him that he was getting paranoid.


The next day, He was in the Oval Office, with a stack of bills a mile high that he had to either approve or reject, a conference at 2:30 about rising energy costs, and a trip tomorrow on his circuit for Unified Healthcare. And all he could think about was Agent Spock. The night before had been the most amazing thing he'd ever done before with anyone...and well worth the risk.

But then Nyota called.

"Kirk," she said, before he could even say hello, "You are in big trouble."


"What did I do this time?" he asked. Nyota was excellent, but she had a tendency to over-react.

"I don't know. You tell me. Why am I reading an online article titled 'CAUGHT ON CAMERA: KIRK SLEEPING WITH SECRET SERVICE AGENT?' "

Oh shit.

"Please, oh god, please, tell me these pictures are photo-shopped." When he didn't reply, she said, "James Kirk. You cannot be sleeping with that service agent." Another long pause. "If you are, we're done for. You hear me? Jim!"

"Those pictures are photo-shopped," he said slowly, painfully.

They both knew full well that he was lying.


After that, it all came in a rush.

Not surprisingly, Spock was fired the same minute that the tabloid hit the shelves. Kirk couldn't call Chris Pike to ask why; it would be giving too much away. And he couldn't do that, not now that his job was on the line as well.

It was almost funny. Spock was probably the best secret service agent that Pike had or would ever have again. He was fluent in three languages, knew three different types of martial arts, and was former special ops in the military. But an affair? Spock's resume could not possibly compete with that.

Spock was never going to work for the government again. Actually, Kirk would be surprised if Spock ever worked again. He might have to move out of the whole damned country.

It was all his fault.

Spock was so qualified. He was such a strong man. Such a stellar agent.

And Kirk? Kirk had ruined him.

He was thinking this at noon, listening to the clock as it mercilessly ticked away, when Janice came in.

She did not say a word as she handed him the envelope. Kirk didn't necessarily have to open it to see what was inside, but he did anyway.

There were the pictures.

"It's alright," she said, in a tone that could not be any more condescending. "I'm sleeping with Bill, anyway."

He winced once.

"But if it's any consolation, I'm taking this to court."

Twice.

"And, if you need any more, so is your Congress."

Three times. Nine months in office, and Kirk was being impeached.