Authoress' Note: Sorry this is taking me so long. I thought perhaps I'd sit down and write a few chapters before posting another one, and it turns out that's probably the best idea. I should be able to get the next 5 or so chapters out over the next week or so. Things are definitely going to pick up from here. Thanks to everyone who has reviewed! You all keep me grounded. :D Lol. Sorry for Spock being a bit uncharacteristic at the end. It's just hard to get that character right all the time.

One Step Is All It Takes

Kirk watches his young starship shrink into the distance and darkness of space as the shuttlecraft makes its way back to Earth. His time aboard the Enterprise has been some of the best and most satisfying days of his entire life, and he hopes that as they hurtle back towards San Francisco that they will not be his last. He cranes his neck in a last attempt to steal a glimpse of his ship but finds that it has already been swallowed up by the mass of stars in the heavens surrounding it.

McCoy nudges his companion in the ribs to get his attention. Kirk snaps his head away from the opposite window and follows his friend's pointed finger fixed upon the skyline. They are finally home for some much needed rest. Despite this fact, Kirk somehow feels that his home is not here on the ground anymore, but up there in that abyss called space within the safety of his ship. As they exit the shuttlecraft he glances wistfully upward one last time, and decides that in some way he knows how Spock feels losing Uhura. He too feels as though he has lost a lover and close friend.

Realising he's fallen behind from the group, Kirk jogs a bit to catch up. Doing so seems to lift his spirits, and he throws an arm around McCoy from behind.

"Two weeks of shore leave, Bones," he states, and his friend raises an eyebrow, "What're we gonna do in all that time?"

McCoy puffs up slightly and looks his friend straight in the eye. "I'll tell you what I'm gonna do as soon as this debriefing gets done."

"What's that?"

"I'm sure as hell gonna high tail it to the nearest bar and get me some real hard liquor to drink."

Kirk laughs and asks, "You want me to join you?"

McCoy gives him a look that says do-you-even-have-to-ask, but he replies anyway. "As long as you don't decide to cozy up to every girl in that bar and ditch me like you usually do."

Kirk looks affronted and throws up his hands in front of his chest as though he cannot believe his best friend would accuse him of such a thing.

"I wouldn't do that, Bones!"

"You sure as hell won't if I have anything to say about it."

---

The debriefing goes on for much longer than expected, and Kirk is finding it harder and harder to concentrate. He yawns once and looks up at the astronomical clock on the wall. McCoy shoots him a look out of the corner of his eye, but Kirk ignores it and gazes about at the rest of his crew instead. Every single one of them, he concludes, would rather be somewhere else at this moment. Even the pointy-eared bastard seems to have other things on his mind. Finally, the Starfleet officer begins his conclusion, and Kirk straightens up.

"You and your crew, Captain, will have two weeks shore leave here in San Francisco after which time you will be shuttled back to the Enterprise. We do not wish for you to leave on a deep space mission just yet. There are, however, a few maintenance type jobs on planets nearby that will need to be taken care of. We trust you can do this in an efficient manner. As such, we will expect your arrival back on Earth within the next month or so at which time further missions will be discussed. That will be all."

Kirk's jaw drops. He closes it sharply and looks about at the rest of his crew to see their reactions. None seem to be at all upset by the fact that they will not be going on a deep space mission right away. In fact, they all seem positively indifferent. Kirk furrows his brow and sets his mouth in a line of indignation. He stands up abruptly, just as the officer is writing something into his PADD and preparing to leave.

"Sorry, but I don't think I heard correctly," he says, coolly, "Did you say that we will not be going on a deep space mission?"

"That's right, Captain." The officer fixes Kirk with just as cool a stare, perhaps thinking that the young captain would back down.

"Is there a . . . a reason for this sudden change in plans?" Kirk splutters, gesticulating wildly.

"It was specifically requested that you gain more experience in command before being committed to deep space missions. We will judge whether you are ready based on this voyage."

Kirk opens his mouth to speak, but McCoy kicks him hard in the leg. He sits down hard and shuts his mouth, his hands curling into fists by his side.

"Is that all?" the officer asks, a smile curling across his lips.

Kirk nods mechanically, and the officer exits the room without another word. As soon as he's gone, Kirk rounds on McCoy.

"What the hell was that for?" he snarls.

"It was for shutting you up, that's what," McCoy replies gruffly, matching Kirk's hard stare. He softens slightly and puts a hand on his friend's shoulder before gesturing around at their fellow crewmembers who are watching the scene intently.

"We're tired, Jim," McCoy says nodding at a few of the men and women around him, "Everything since Nero has been non-stop. It's time to slow down and take a break. Don't get ahead of yourself. There's plenty of time in the world to go deep space exploring, trust me."

Kirk nods reluctantly and looks about at the tired and drawn faces of his crew. Even Spock, who has one hand against his temple, looks in need of a rest. He nods again. "I'm sorry," he says, and looks down at his hands, "I should've taken that into consideration."

A murmur of "That's all right" and "See you in two weeks, Captain" wash over him as the crew files out of the room some patting him on the back or shaking his hand as they go. Kirk sits in silence for a few minutes afterward lost in thought until McCoy shakes his shoulder.

"About time we got ourselves a drink," he says. It's not a question. It's an order. Kirk nods and motions for Spock, the only other person left in the room, to follow him.

"C'mon Spock, I'm sure you're in need of a drink as well."

Before the young Vulcan can protest he finds himself being swept out of the room by a very eager McCoy. The three men make their way to the nearest bar. It's crowded and dark when they arrive. The music blares loudly, and several girls from Starfleet can be seen dancing on the designated dance floor. They sidle up to the bar and take a seat, sweeping their eyes over the scene. Kirk orders three beers, which he and McCoy sip at for a half an hour. Spock sits in silence refusing to touch the beer on the counter.

After another beer and another half hour of crushing silence between them, Kirk leans toward McCoy.

"What are you gonna do for the rest of shore leave?" he asks loudly over the music. McCoy doesn't respond.

"Bones, what're you . . ."

"Captain, I believe the doctor is preoccupied at the moment," Spock states matter-of-factly, and Kirk turns toward McCoy to see what he means.

McCoy is turned the other way talking to a woman still in her blue Starfleet uniform. He's already bought her a drink, and the two are chatting away as though Kirk and Spock do not exist. Kirk stares, slack jaw, for a few minutes before McCoy stands up and turns to his companions.

He jerks a thumb over his shoulder at the auburn haired girl, "You don't mind do you?" he drawls.

Kirk dismisses him with a wave of his hand. "Nah, go for it, Bones. You deserve it."

McCoy slaps Kirk on the shoulder, an alcohol induced smile spreading across his face. "Thanks, Jim. You and Spock have fun. See you tomorrow."

Kirk nods and raises his bottle in response, "Yeah, sure." He puts it to his lips and drinks the rest in one gulp as McCoy slips out of sight. He glances at Spock.

"I guess it's just you and me now," he says and waves at the bartender to get another beer, his third (or was it fourth?) of the night.

"Captain, I do not think – "

"It's Jim, Spock," Kirk slurs as he tips the beer bottle upward and downs it all in the space of half a minute.

---

If Spock were human he would be swearing to himself as he half carries, half drags his captain back to their assigned flat for the night. Kirk's head lolls against his shoulder, and the young man smiles blearily up at him.

"I can walk on my own," he drawls and struggles slightly against Spock's grasp under his arms.

"I would not advise doing so, Captain, as you are likely to fall," the young Vulcan intones wisely and continues to stumble along with his friend by his side.

When they arrive at the flat Spock gently places Kirk on the couch before heading into the kitchen to make tea. It is something his mother used to do when he was sick or upset. Though he never showed much emotion, even when he was a child, Amanda always seemed to know when he what he was feeling. He came back into the sitting room to check on the Captain who opens his eyes slightly.

"I'm such a fool, Spock," he says, and suddenly his voice sounds more tired than drunk.

"A fool, Captain?"

Kirk nods, his head spinning. "I thought, after Nero, that everything would be back to normal. That life would go on, but look where we are now. We're a bunch of cadets running a starship. We don't have any experience whatsoever, and they expect great things out of us. I just don't get it."

He shakes his head again and looks up at the ceiling. Spock's throat constricts. He knows where this conversation is going.

"Every time I close my eyes all I can think about and dream about is Vulcan being sucked into oblivion and your mother dying. Sometimes I think that if we could have saved everyone it would be all right now."

His voice breaks slightly, and Spock looks away for a moment, ashamed of such an emotional outburst. In truth, he feels like crying as well. Crying for his broken world and his broken family, for everything that should have been. He looks back at his captain then, and sees not just a superior officer, but Jim Kirk, the man who will one day be his friend.

One day? He swallows hard. It could be today, if only he could take that first step. Spock takes a hesitant step toward the couch. Kirk turns his head slowly toward him again.

"It will be all right, Jim. Maybe not tomorrow, but it will be someday."