The Next Chapter is here!!! Please review if you can because I love REVIEWS!!! And of course your feedback is much appreciated!!! ^_^
In Uhura's Quarters…
Spock entered through the door and watched as she packed hurriedly.
"May I ask why you are taking shore leave?" he asked bluntly.
She wiped away some tears.
"I just need time alright?" she snapped.
"What happened?" he asked confused and she stopped packing.
"I need to get away," she finished and Spock was confused.
"Please explain," he asked a little hurt.
"I see the way you look at Olivia and I don't want to see it anymore!" she wiped at her tears again.
Spock furrowed his eyebrows.
"Nyota, she was my closest companion. Three years ago I lost her and I do not believe you will ever understand what that did to me. But she is here now and I feel it is only right that I am allowed to look at her. As illogical as it may sound, I feel like if I do not look at her occasionally…she will disappear again. It has been three years. I thought she had perished. But she is here and alive. You are mistaking the look for something it is not," he finished as firmly as he could.
She took his cheeks in her hands and he held her wrists lightly.
"I love you Spock. I can say that and not feel for anyone else. What about you? Can you say that?" she asked quietly.
Spock stared at her for a moment.
"What I feel for you, I feel for no other," he said hoping that she would accept that pathetic answer.
She stood there staring up into his eyes and didn't move. Spock decided he should act. He took her cheeks with his hands.
"Nyota, this mission is going to be…difficult for me. It will be the first time I see the New Vulcan colony and my father will be standing there without my mother beside him. Please stay. I-I need you," he said softly, his voice cracking slightly.
Uhura stopped for a moment. He needed her. He was begging her to stay. She bit her lip.
"O-Okay…I'll stay," she said quietly.
"Thank you," he replied in a whisper.
"But I want you to set Olivia straight," she added quickly.
Spock furrowed his eyebrows.
"Excuse me?" he asked confused.
"I want you to tell Olivia your feelings for me and make it clear to her that she is only your friend," she said firmly.
Spock thought about it for a moment.
"She understands that we are friends—" he said but Uhura shook her head.
"—remind her," she said her voice low and deadly.
In the Sickbay…
Olivia was finishing up something on her PADD when Spock walked in. She waved and he reluctantly walked over. He did not feel right. They had both said their goodbyes to Pike when he left via shuttle and then returned to their duties. Him being here was not what he wanted.
"What's going on? Is everything okay?" she asked concerned.
"I wish to clarify a matter," he said quickly.
"Okay," she said softly.
"I am…different from the person I was three years ago," he started and Olivia could already feel the knot in her stomach.
"I care deeply for Nyota but she seems to believe that you think otherwise. I want to make sure you understand that we are only friends Olivia. What we had years ago…I no longer have those feelings for you as I am sure you no longer have them for me. It is only logical that both of us have moved on after so long. Can I assume you know this?" he said quickly.
She stared at him wide eyed. Her whole body was numb. She was sure he didn't mean it the way it sounded but she was devastated. If her heart wasn't beating so fast she'd swear she was dead. She never had the chance to move on dummy! Hello? Klingon Prison Planet ringing any bells?!
"Of course," she smiled and nodded.
Spock seemed relived. Olivia wanted to die.
"I did tell her that you knew this information already. She did not believe me. Thank you, Olivia for your time. Nyota will be relieved. I will see you later," he said and she didn't even manage a nod as he turned and walked off.
Olivia stood there for a while in shock. Her hands that held the PADD were shaking terribly. Then they stopped shaking. She could do this. She was no weakling. Three years in a Klingon prison camp was proof of that. No tears fell from her eyes. They were friends. She'd take it.
In Olivia's Quarters….Later that Night…
Olivia was writing up a report on the potential antidote for Le-matya poisoning. She had to be prepared for when she arrived on New Vulcan. She was scribbling down some material when there was a knock on her door. She frowned because of how late it was and figured it was Nia having a bad dream. She walked to the door and pressed the button. As the door whooshed open her eyes widened some.
"Hey," she whispered.
"Hello. I realize the time. Did I wake you?" he asked quietly.
Olivia shook her head.
"No I was writing the report for the Le-matya antidote. Do you want to come in?" she asked kindly.
Spock hesitated for a moment before he walked in. The doors shut and Olivia resumed her position on the bed and picked up her PADD.
"Would you care to read this? It's been a while since I've done a report and I'm not sure if I did it correctly," she extended the PADD to him.
He took it slowly and his eyes scanned over it. After a few moments he looked up.
"It is well written and the format is clear and concise," he said softly.
Olivia grinned and took the report back.
"Good," she mused.
There was a small silence before Spock spoke again.
"I want to apologize for my behavior in the sickbay earlier. I did not wish to say those things to you and I believe most of it came out in a cruel fashion. That was not my intent," he said uncomfortably.
Olivia smiled slightly.
"It's alright Spock no need to apologize. I know you're going through a pretty rough time with Uhura because of me. I'm sorry she can't see that we're…just friends," she said quietly.
The words rolled off her tongue and she swallowed back the bile. She hated even saying it. Spock's voice brought her out of her thoughts.
"I have something that belongs to you," he said quietly and pulled out the black pearl necklace.
Olivia's eyes widened and watered. She covered her mouth with her hands. She was not expecting that.
"My necklace," she whispered.
"I found it a long time ago and could never bring myself to dispose of it. It provided some solace in a time of endless grief," he said calmly.
"I feel that it should be returned to you now," he ended.
Olivia stared at the necklace for a moment and then got off the bed and walked over to Spock. He gestured for her to turn around and easily slipped the necklace around her neck clicking the clasp. Olivia took a deep breath and grabbed the pearl attached to it.
"I've missed it," she choked out slowly turning around.
"It suits you," Spock said quietly.
Olivia stared at him.
"Thank you," she whispered and after a brief deliberation, she hugged him.
He tensed slightly but his arms did not hesitate in returning the hug. His heart was pounding and he hoped she would not notice. When they pulled away a small awkward silence passed between them. Spock spoke.
"I must return to my quarters. I will see you in the morning," he nodded and left.
Olivia sat down on her bed. She was so confused.
Two Days Later…New Vulcan…
Olivia stepped out with the crew and onto the sandy ground of New Vulcan. She looked around wide eyed. It was so different. She followed the group to the tower. She was grateful for the dim lighting and shade from the heavy sunlight. She fiddled with the pearl on her necklace as they all waited for the elders to come in. Once everyone was settled the meeting began.
"Starfleet claims that you have a Le-matya antidote," one of the elders spoke.
Kirk stepped forward.
"We believe we do. It saved one of our own," he said calmly.
Sarek nodded.
"And the one who developed it, please step forward," he said stoically.
Olivia stepped forward with the PADD in her hand. She looked up at the council and cleared her throat.
"It is good to see you alive and well Olivia Monroe," Sarek added quietly.
Olivia smiled nervously.
"Thank you Sar—Ambassador," she corrected herself.
She looked around somewhat. Amanda hadn't greeted them when they arrived and she wasn't present at the meeting. Where was she? This was so unlike her. Sarek noticed her facial expression.
"Are you looking for someone?" he asked emotionlessly.
Olivia frowned.
"No, I was just wondering where Amanda is. It's not like her to not come to greet Spock and if she knew I was alive I would have thought she'd like to—" she stopped when everyone tensed around her.
She saw Spock stiffen and she even watched Sarek's face change only slightly. It didn't take her long to realize what had happened. Her eyes widened and the PADD fell from her hands and clattered onto the ground. All was silent in the tower. Olivia felt the tears slowly slide down her cheeks. She quietly bent down and retrieved the PADD. She cleared her throat but made no movement to wipe her tears.
"Uh, the antidote is c-comprised of nadion p-particles," she started.
She tried to get a hold of herself. She was devastated and a little angry that he thought it unnecessary to share that huge piece of information with her. She loved Amanda too. She searched for her words.
"Um, they are found in phasers commonly. It's not that hard to do. The person depending on how bad the wound is could probably administer it himself. A hypo directly into the heart full of these particles will drain the poison out of the victim within seconds of injection. It does not heal the wound but it destroys the poison," she finished quickly lowering her PADD.
All was quiet. Olivia looked up at Sarek her eyes still watery.
"I…I'm sorry for your loss," she whispered and turned on her heels and handed her PADD to Bones.
"You finish it. I can't be here," she whispered and left hurriedly.
Spock let his eyes close briefly as she left. Even the Vulcan elders were silent.
Olivia walked across New Vulcan wiping away tears. Her heart was aching and she didn't know where she was going but as long as it was away from the tower she was good. She was furious at him but also felt extremely sad for him. She came upon a small gravesite. It was for those who had fallen in the destruction of Vulcan. There were so many names. She walked through them all reading each name. She came to one that was bare. It was towards the back. She kneeled down.
It was Amanda's grave; just a stone among many stones.
Flashback…Starfleet Academy…Around 4 Years Ago…Christmas…
Olivia and Spock walked through the slightly brisk air on the lawn of Starfleet Academy when Olivia turned around suddenly and faced him. Spock stopped abruptly and stared at her.
"Is there a reason we stopped?" he asked wanting to get out of the cold.
"I cheated," she couldn't keep the smile off her face.
Spock tilted his head some.
"I do not follow," he stated calmly.
Olivia rolled her eyes.
"I know that you don't celebrate holidays, especially ones like Christmas, but I may have got you something anyway," she waited for the lecture she knew was coming.
"Olivia I told you—" she shushed him with a kiss.
"Just hear me out," she said pulling away from him some.
Spock nodded reluctantly. Olivia giggled and took his hand pulling him to the edge of the lawn.
"Olivia, we are going to contract sickness out here," he said and she hushed him.
She stopped abruptly again and he bumped into her slightly.
"Olivia—" she turned to face him.
"—I owe you for coming to the Christmas party with me. I know you were feeling a bit uncomfortable there but you did it for me because I asked you too and there are not many people who would do that," she whispered silencing him.
Spock waited for her to continue. He watched as her smile grew.
"Also, I think you may like this present," she grinned and turned him around.
Amanda stood a couple of feet away. She was bundled in her jacket and waving at him happily. Spock's eyes widened some. Olivia watched his every reaction.
"Mother," he said quietly as Amanda made her way towards him.
"Go to her," Olivia nudged him lightly and he seemed to snap out of his daze.
He walked to her and they hugged tightly. Olivia couldn't contain her smile.
"How I've missed you Spock," Amanda said still holding him close.
"I have missed you too mother," he said calmly but Olivia detected the hints of love and happiness in his vocal pattern.
Amanda pulled away somewhat to look him in the face.
"You look older. I don't like it," she mused and Spock let a small smile break his stoic features.
Amanda was so happy to see her son, her smile would not fade. Olivia watched the two from a distance away. She was happy to see them together. Then something caught her eyes. She looked around and realized it was everywhere and it was getting heavier. Her eyes widened.
"Snow…" she whispered in disbelief.
"It's snowing!" Amanda yelled in shock.
Spock looked up as flurries fell from the sky all around them. Olivia stuck out her tongue and Amanda laughed upon seeing her do it. Spock furrowed his eyebrows.
"What are you doing?" he asked as Olivia walked up to them.
"Catching the snowflakes," she chuckled.
Amanda stuck out her own tongue and caught a few. Spock watched in slight amazement and then stuck out his own tongue carefully. Olivia giggled watching him do this. He looked so weird.
"I cannot believe it's snowing!" Amanda said still a little shocked.
It was San Francisco.
"That's global warming for you," Olivia grinned and Amanda laughed hard.
Spock stared up at the night sky. It looked so beautiful with the white flurries speckling it here and there. He also could not have picked two better people to share it with. Olivia smiled warmly seeing Amanda watch Spock experience snow for the first time. He turned to Olivia for a brief moment.
"Thank you," he whispered to her gently before turning around to continue conversing with Amanda.
It was truly magical.
End Flashback.
Olivia opened her eyes to see the tombstone in front of her so cold and blank. It wasn't Amanda at all. Flowers blocked her vision and she jumped slightly. Nia smiled sadly.
"I picked these so you can decorate her grave. I am sorry about Ms. Grayson. Just by your reaction I know she was a great person and you held her very close," Nia said kindly.
She handed Olivia the flowers. They were so colorful. Olivia took half and let Nia place the other half on the tombstone.
"Thank you Nia. This was very kind of you," she said standing up and dusting the sand of her pants.
"You did it for me when my mom died," she whispered and Olivia looked at her.
"I know Amanda was not your mom but you grieve for her like family. It is all the same. Blood means nothing to me for I consider you my sister," she said smiling some.
Olivia felt her heart swell. She hugged the Andorian tightly. She loved Nia so much; more then she knew.
"I love you Nia," she said quietly.
Nia hugged her tighter. She had never said it out loud before.
"I love you too Livvy," she said burying her face in Olivia's shoulder.
Olivia didn't let go. She brushed her hand through the Andorian's long platinum hair and held her tighter. She needed the hug and comfort that Nia was providing. And Nia needed it too. When she pulled away she looked into the Andorian's big brown eyes. They were so human after all the years they spent together.
"When you left, Bones finished your theory. The Vulcans liked it Livvy. They want to experiment with it right away," she said on a happier note.
Olivia smiled.
"Well that's why we're here. Let's go back," she took the Andorian's hand and together they made it back to the tower just as the crew was exiting.
I really hope you loved it! I will update soon!! Review!!! ^_^