Okay, this one took a little while to get the way I like it. I'm not entirely satisfied, but it moves us forward baby! Enjoy.

Spock had to admit, he was…anticipating playing chess with the captain later. They had begun playing several months ago. Captain Kirk had suggested it as a way to learn more about each other and develop a better relationship as captain and first officer and as people in general.

Spock had agreed if only to try and work through what remained of that uncomfortable awkwardness the captain still had around him. When they played however he was pleasantly surprised to find that the captain wasn't wholly inept at playing. Though he lost the first game (in a matter of minutes) he immediately asked for a rematch. When they played again, though there was still notes of his typical "leap first" attitude, Spock could almost discern a method to his madness. This intrigued him and they began to play a couple times a week, the captain's so called strategies varying every time. When Spock first lost he had been shocked, and though Jim did a little victory dance, he offered Spock a handshake. He declined of course, but nodded his head that it was a good game. A very good game. The games picked up frequency until they halted at the captain's sudden transformation. Since then Spock had been busy looking for a reversal and the captain…well, she was busy learning to be a woman along side her captain's duties.

When he was on his way to her quarters that evening though, he was surprised when a message came to his padd.

Spock,

Meet me at the upper observation deck.

Jim.

Spock blinked but redirected his route and into the turbo lift. Going up to the observation deck, he was surprised to see Jim there already sitting on the bench, the chess board in front of her with plenty of room for him to sit on the otherside. She had a blanket around her again and was smiling at him.

"Hi there. I thought this would be a nice change of pace when I noticed no one was using the deck this evening."

Spock felt a small bit of peace at the idea and walked in, sitting down across from her. "Indeed…are you cold, Captain?"

"A little, but mostly it's just nice to snuggle up in the blanket." She shifted, showing she was wearing only her black under shirt and pants. "And before you ask, I felt over dressed in my golds so I just opted for black. No telling me it would be better to wear it, I like the blanket."

Spock nodded slightly. "Very well captain."

Jim smiled and they settled down to play.

A few minutes into the game, Jim paused and looked up at him. "Uh…Spock?"

"Yes Captain?"

Jim pouted. "Call me Jim. But that's not the point." She took down his knight. "I, uh, was doing some thinking earlier, and…I realized there's something else I need to apologize for…"

Spock blinked, moving his rook to take one of her pawns. "I can think of nothing to which you must apologize for."

"Well, I think I need to apologize for this. I should've apologized a long time ago, but you know, things kept happening and it seemed like everytime I thought it would be a good time, we'd end up in peril or something. Oh, but if you still don't want to talk about it, that's fine, I would totally understand and you would just have to say so. Just say the word and –"

"Captain, please, focus."

"Right sorry. I…" She sighed and squared her shoulders, looking at Spock directly. "I'm sorry for what I sad that day on the bridge to get you to loose control." He stiffened and stared. "I really am, Spock. I know it's not true, I knew it then, but I also thought strong enough that I needed to get in control of the ship and everything so…but I'm sorry. I…" She seemed to be loosing steam under his stare and clutched the blanket closer. "I know you loved your mother…a lot. Even before you tried to choke me for that. And…I can't imagine…what all that must've been like…It hurt me to see it happen, to know how much was lost, how…how hard it was…" She took a deep breath and looked at him, not with pity but with sympathy and the wish to understand and be understood. "It wasn't even my home…I can't imagine what it was like for you, and I'm sorry for making it harder. I'm not sorry for taking control of the ship, going to kick Nero's ass, and thinking you were a jackass at the time cause…you were." His eyebrow twitched but he didn't object. "But…going after your mom was low. I know you loved her. For saying otherwise, I'm sorry."

There was a moment of silence as they stared at each other and Jim started to fidget under the gaze. "Uh…you going to just stare at me?"

Spock seemed to come back to himself from wherever he had been and look out the observation window at the stars. "You…did not need to apologize for such a thing. I understood you did what you felt was necessary, and in the end your method yielded more desirable results than my own. For that, I was already able to forgive you in some way and attempt to put the past behind me when I came aboard the enterprise as your first officer. However…"

Jim looked a little worried. "However?"

"…It is…agreeable that you would attempt to still make amends. For that I accept your apology and thank you for it."

She smiled a little, looking relieved and happy with a bright smile. "Oh thank god! I was scared bringing it up again was going to piss you off or make you sad or…."

"Vulcan's do not get angry or sad."

"Uh huh, they don't like either I'm told. And when I was younger I believed in Santa Clause too."

Spock's eyebrow quirked but Jim could see a hint of amusement there and grinned at him. "Shall we continue our game?"

"Yeah. I'm gonna so beat you by the way."

"We shall see."

Spock eventually won, but Jim immediately challenged him to a rematch. They began playing again, Jim trying several new strategies at once it seemed.

"…I apologize as well."

Jim looked up in surprise. "Huh?"

"You have continually apologized for things you believe to be transgressions against me."

"You apologized too-"

"Yes, but since you have apologized for the past, I believe it is right that I do so as well. I am sorry for having stranded you on Delta Vega, placing you in danger. I had thought you would stay put, but that is not an excuse. I am also sorry for doubting you. And…attempting to…" his fingers tightened a little and Jim's smile became a little tense.

"You don't have to, Spock, really."

"It is not fair of you to wish to apologize and then deny me the chance to do so myself, Captain."

Jim laughed. "Okay, fair enough. Wait, you're not going to apologize for the Kobayashi Maru?"

"No, because that one was your fault since you cheated."

"Point of view." She smiled. "I guess we can just call it even since I accept your apologies, Spock. I guess that means everything's square between us completely now, huh?"

"It would be nice to believe so…"

"Then lets. We're friends now, no reason not to be."

"…Very well, Captain."

"Friends call me Jim," she crooned a little.

"The game, Captain."

"I will get you to call me Jim!"

Spock's lip twitched slightly and there was a glimpse of warmth in his eyes.

"Checkmate," she said triumphantly almost an hour later.

"Impressive strategy, Captain."

"What strategy?"

"I have the distinct feeling that is not a jest…"

Jim laughed and grinned. "Best two out of three?"

"It is getting late, Captain."

"C'mon, just means you'll have to try and beat me faster. Or do you think you can't do that?" She grinned in a catlike way, wiggling her eyebrows at him. Spock's lips twitched again.

"Very well, Captain. As you say on Earth, "It's on.""

Jim laughed louder and set up the board again. "You're a fun guy, Spock."

"I find that a rather contradictory statement considering what you, and others, have told me in the past."

Jim rolled her eyes. "Yeah, but we didn't know you that well at the time. After getting to know you, I've come to realize I rather like you."

Spock's ears turned a little greener as she finished setting up the chess board again. He regarded her a moment before looking down. "I…also find your company…most agreeable."

Jim looked up in surprise before beaming "Aw, you big softy."

"My consistency has nothing to do with-"

"Your move."

Spock frowned but as he looked down to consider his move the ship suddenly rocked, surprising them both. The board fell over, sending pieces scattering everywhere and Jim stood up quickly and pulled out her communicator.

"Captain Kirk to bridge, what the hell was that?!"

"Ah…ah'm sorry, captain, I was making some adjustments and-"

"Scotty, what did we say about unnecessary adjustments last time?" she growled.

"It's not mah fault, Capan! Well, not mostly…Ah was looking to try and lower the rate of-"

"Prepare a written report to send to me, Mr. Scott, and just sum it up for me now, is the crew or the ship in any danger?"

"No, sir, there was just a slight engine jump from crossing a couple of wires accidently, and I'll be keelhauling the ensign that that did it."

"No keelhauling, Scotty. Like I said, I'm not even sure if we have a keel, and I don't want people trying to haul it so no."

"Aye, Capan, I- I told you not to touch that!"

There was another sudden jolt of the ship and Jim gasped as she tripped in her blanket and started to fall forward.

Spock, with his inhuman reflexes though, caught her quickly around the waist and pulled her close. Jim looked up and blushed when she realized she was so close to him. Spock's eyes caught hers and for a moment they seemed stuck in that position. The blanket pooled to the floor around their feet. But she didn't feel cold. If anything, Spock's warmth felt like it was sinking into her skin from where his arms were around her, and from her front where she was pressed close. It made her skin tingle. She gulped, staring up at his face as if to memorize what it looked like. One hand came up and rested on his shoulder…

And that seemed to jar him awake. He let go and took a step back. "A…are you alright, Captain?"

"Um…yeah, fine…" Except…I feel cold now. "Nice catch…again…Uh, geeze, Scotty…you know?"

"Indeed, Mr. Scot certainly tries to outdo himself often in terms of things for us to deal with…"

"Could be worse, I'm sure."

"I would prefer not to find out."

"Yeah…uh, better clean up. Guess we'll just have to call it a tie." She knelt down and began to pick up the fallen pieces of the chess set. Spock gathered others that had gone across the room as they deposited them in the box. "Hey, where's the black king?" She bent over further to look and Spock froze, eyes roaming over her backside. Those pants looked incredibly tight…

"I…am not certain." He began looking around as well, trying not to focus on her. Eventually he knelt down next to her.

They both spotted the black king at the same time under the bench. Jim grinned. "There he is!" Spock said nothing as he reached for the piece but inhaled sharply when instead his fingers pressed against the back of Jim's own when they closed around it. He looked up sharply and Jim looked up as well. Her hand was tingling in a different way then before, as if there was a current going through it. Idly she wondered if Vulcans could produce electricity like electric eels or something, but it wasn't painful. It was…very, very pleasant, possibly more than being held close against him.

Spock was staring at her more intently than ever, and she saw his throat work as he swallowed silently. He was blushing as well, full blushing in across his cheeks. Then his eyes turned a little darker and she shivered at that look. Spock's eyes had always been the most emotive part of him, the part he couldn't hide. But whatever he was feeling now was something Jim had never seen him feel. Wow…that…was Spock always this sexy?

His fingers slowly stroked up her own and she shivered again as the current seemed to intensify. On a whim she turned her hand over, tickling the palm of his hand with her own fingertips and was rewarded with his eyes darkening even further and a slight noise to his throat that made stomach knot itself pleasantly. He seems to like this…She began to trail her hand slowly over his, her fingertips brushing over his palm, his fingers, his own slender and electrically charged fingers caressing her back. The black brown of his eyes continued to hold the blue of hers, as if savoring it. I don't think anyone has ever looked at me like that…ever… Slowly she started to lean in to him.

When their fingertips touched however Spock gasped and suddenly stood, taking several steps back. Jim blinked then looked up at him. "I…I should go. I shall see you tomorrow, Captain." He quickly went to the door and left. Jim could almost say he fled, except Vulcan's didn't flee.

Looking down at her hand, she gulped lightly. They're had been no tangle of limbs, not hot mesh of lips, no naughty touches or even nudity. Yet she felt undeniably turned on, as if someone had been running their hands over her sensitive areas, but never going to the area that would bring her release. She pressed the tips of her fingers to her lips, feeling herself blush and yet very, very cold. I almost…why?

The Vulcan had practically speedwalked back to his quarters, where he locked the door upon entering but did not move away. Instead he leaned back against it and tried to organize his thoughts again from the scrambled mess they were suddenly in.

Spock couldn't deny what had just happened, no matter how much he wished to.

For months he had been getting close to his captain.

Closer than a first officer should really. On the pretense of friendship it could be seen as fine. Yet what he had just done…On Vulcan, that could've very well have been sexual assault. But that warmth…even with Nyota, that warmth had not been so ready, so willing give. Like a flame, or the hot sun he remembered still. And yet it didn't burn but felt like relief, like water pouring down a dry thirsty throat. He had felt it from her-no, even before, when Jim was a him-for a while but had shoved it so far in the back of his mind because he didn't wish to see, to know, to acknowledge. He'd promised he wouldn't give up all emotions in memory of what he had already lost, but this was too much to ask.

He looked down at his fingers and without knowing why brought them to his dry lips. She had been leaning forward before their fingertips touched...would she... She had no idea what that meant, that essentially they had kissed already by Vulcan standards. More than that, it could be called "making out". Had she really been about to add to it with the human equivalent?

She has no idea what that meant. No idea. Our hands brushed and I took advantage of that contact…It could be I even sent suggestions to her somehow through our contact…subtle, but it's hard to say what could work on the Captain as I have never tried it before…

His head thunked against the door as he brought his hand down into a fist and took a deep breath. No. I will not attempt such a thing. It would be dishonest and horrible to do so to the captain…to Jim. I must not influence her feelings. Or his feelings, once he has returned… He imagined the captain back as he was and suppressed a groan when even then he felt a faint stirring in his emotions.

Man or woman, he could not deny, he found his captain desirable.