We interrupt this story to bring you the disclaimer. The author of this little fanfic does not own Star Trek, any of the canon characters, nor does she make any money. If she did, you would have been instructed on how to make your payment. We now return you to the story.

Interruptions

Spock was interrupted by Christopher Pike.

"Whatever you've got reservations for, kid, you'd better cancel them. Somebody has breached the Academy's main computer security systems. Your expertise is needed."

"Understood. I will be with you in a moment, Captain."

Pike gave Spock and Nyota a bit of space.

"Nyota, we will have to postpone your reward dinner until after the start of the new term. It seems that I am quite likely to be occupied for the next few days. I apologize for this."

"It's okay, Spock. I understand. You couldn't help it. I'll see you on Monday."

"Yes. Goodbye, Nyota."

Spock met Pike by the door and the two made their way to the Academy's main computer room. Pike kept giving Spock curious looks all the way there.

"So, Junior, you're not falling in love with your assistant, are you?"

"Captain, that would be highly inappropriate."

"Right."

Pike smirked. Once upon a time Spock would have said "I am a Vulcan. Vulcans do not fall in love."


Gaila returned to their shared dorm room several hours after the party had ended, minus the mistletoe hat and wearing a sweatshirt at least three sizes too big for her. Nyota just smiled. At least her roomie had not brought big, old whoever back to the room with her.

Gaila flopped down on her bed with a happy sigh, grinning from ear to ear.

"So, how was it?"

"How was what, Gaila?"

"The kiss, doofus. You finally got to lock lips with Lt. "Hot Stuff." I hope you appreciate my efforts on your part. I had to kiss Jim Kirk in order to get that hat."

"Like you really minded!"

"So, how was it? Does he taste good?"

"Gaila! Yes, I enjoyed kissing Spock. I'd like to do it again sometime soon, but it's not going to happen. You know the rules against fraternization, and Spock is a stickler for the rules."

"The rules are stupid. He's only what, three or four years older than you?"

"That's not the point. He's both my instructor and my superior. That means that the relationship stays professional, even if we both wanted it to be otherwise."

"Honey, I'm an Orion. I'm good at reading body language. Lt. Spock is definitely interested in you in a nonprofessional way."


It took three of Starfleet's best computer programers, Pike, Spock, and Ensign Nhegmi, four days to trace the breach to its source. Arliss Merton, a low-level civilian employee in the Academy Admissions Office had introduced a sophisticated spyware program that had gone undetected for weeks. Data was being fed back to a third party.

After intense interrogation, Merton revealed that he had been hired by a private firm on behalf of a defense contractor. They wanted advanced notice as to the types of weapons systems Starfleet was looking to buy. The Academy mainframe was a backdoor to the Starfleet master computer system.

Sophisticated equipment and truth serum revealed that Arliss Merton believed what he was telling them. However, certain details didn't sit right with either Pike or the top brass.

Deposits made into Merton's account were traced to a private consulting firm. However, it proved to be a sham corporation on Risa registered to an Orion named Harlesk. Harlesk was a known mercenary, selling information and services to the highest bidder. In the past, he had done business with both the Romulans and the Klingons.

The Risan authorities arrested Harlesk and seized hours of data transmissions. Fortunately, they found nothing that would have been of value to an enemy of the Federation. A crisis had been averted.


Nyota was a highly competent Instructional Aide. She gave the final exams for three of Spock's courses in addition to sitting for her own. Spock had been unavailable to give them himself. Tracking the hacker had put him way behind, so the two spent several late evenings together grading exams and final projects.

The evening before her trip home to Kenya, they finished up their work and ate delivery Chinese food in Spock's office.

"Thank you, Nyota. I was concerned that I might not make the deadline for turning in the semester grades."

"You're quite welcome, Spock. However, I should get going. My shuttle leaves at 0600 hours tomorrow."

"As it is so late, I shall walk you to your dormitory."

"Thank you."

Spock helped Nyota with her coat before putting on his own. The walk across the campus was brief. Spock made sure Nyota got safely inside, but he did not enter the building with her. Before she closed the door, Nyota gave him a quick hug. Spock did not return it, but he also did not pull away.


Spock's detective work may have postponed his dinner with Nyota, but it also got him promoted to Lt. Commander. Now that he was on a first name basis with her, Spock felt no hesitation about sending her a message to share the good news.

She texted him back with a synopsis of the lecture Dr. Bowen had given on tracing linguistic origins.

He sent pictures of the snow-covered Sierras, where he spent a week with his cousin's family.

She responded with images of elephants walking in an African sunset...

Somehow the semester break passed faster than it had the previous year.


It was the Saturday night before the spring semester began. Nyota had just returned to the Academy that morning. Spock checked his black dress trousers for lint and then put the gray tweed jacket on over the black silk shirt. He was almost ready to leave when his door buzzer rang. It was Christopher Pike.

"Ooh, look at you! Got a date?"

"It is not a date. It is a social engagement. I am taking Cadet Uhura to Jacey's bistro. We have rescheduled the end-of-term dinner that I had to cancel last month."

"Well, have a good time, Junior, but don't make any plans for this summer. You and I will be aboard the Excalibur, participating in battle exercises."

"Battle exercises?"

"Yep. We need the experience for the following summer, when we go to the Enterprise, Mister Science Officer. It seems that the top brass was very impressed with us. Well, I've gotta run. See you later. Have fun on your not-a-date!"


Spock found himself wishing that it was a date. Nyota took his breath away in a red silk dress that stopped just above her knees. Jacey's served excellent vegetarian French cuisine, including a fabulous crème brulee, which they enjoyed with a glass of sauterne.

The jazz band was excellent, playing some of the best fusion that Spock had ever heard. The intended purpose of the evening was a reward for Nyota's excellent skills as an Instructional Aide, so Spock had followed her lead in regard to dinner and dessert. However, afterward she had insisted upon dancing.

Spock had danced with Nyota a few times before, at various Academy functions, always in well-lit rooms and surrounded by friends and colleagues. But here at Jacey's they found themselves in a dark corner and among strangers. Spock held Nyota a little more closely than was absolutely necessary. She did not seem to mind as she rested her head against his shoulder. In fact, she seemed to relish the contact. Though Spock's mental shields were at maximum strength, he was sensing that Nyota still had a definite fondness for him. He certainly had a fondness for her.

However, Nyota's graduation was over a year away. Spock would not even entertain such thoughts, at least not yet. He did not even dare ask Nyota to wait for him.

Suddenly, both Spock and Nyota recognized another couple on the opposite corner of the dance floor. Lucia Olmes, the Klingon instructor, was kissing Henri Bouchard, her Instructional Aide rather passionately as they danced. There was no mistaking their encounter for an end-of-term reward. When the music stopped, both opened their eyes, only to realize that they had been caught. Olmes and Bouchard left the club immediately.

Nyota looked at Spock.

"They could get in so much trouble. Should we report them?"

Spock considered this for a moment. Olmes was headed to the Constellation at the end of the term. Bouchard would be graduating.

"I am unwilling to do so. It is preferable to merely encourage them to be more discreet."


On Monday morning, Spock and Nyota sat enjoying a leisurely cup of tea in their shared office. They had over an hour before the lecture. Just as they were getting comfortable behind their desks, Lucia Olmes knocked on the door.

"Might I have a word with you, Lt. Commander? Actually with both you and the cadet?"

Spock looked at Nyota, who merely nodded.

"Yes, this is agreeable to both of us. Perhaps we should insure privacy."

Olmes shut the office door and took a seat opposite Spock, looking very nervous.

"I haven't heard from the Faculty Disciplinary Board yet. Do you intend to report me and Henri?"

"Lucia, I would prefer not to do so, as you will both be leaving the Academy at the end of the term. Instead, I would advise discretion. Perhaps you should have a chaperone when socializing with Cadet Bouchard."

"Okay, Spock. Now, may I ask what you and Nyota were up to at Jacey's the other night? You two certainly looked cozy."

"Cadet Uhura and I were merely enjoying her end-of-term reward dinner. It had to be postponed due to the security breach of the main computer."

Olmes laughed.

"Whatever. You two looked like you were in need of your own chaperone. Hey, that's a great idea!"

Spock was obviously confused, but Nyota understood perfectly.

"Spock, she means that we can chaperone each other."

Spock could spend more time in Nyota's company without it appearing improper. Olmes and Bouchard would behave themselves in front of witnesses.

It was a most logical solution.


The semester passed quickly, with Spock and Nyota spending much of their free time in the company of Lucia Olmes and Henri Bouchard. They took meals, attended concerts, and went to Academy-sanctioned functions together. Often they were joined by Gaila and Leo Castellano.

At an awards dinner for the Xenolinguistics Department, Admiral Nogura made an interesting comment to Captain Pike as they sat sipping Scotch. The three instructors were all dancing with their own aides.

"Dr. Peng heads the happiest bunch at the Academy. These kids spend all day working with each other and then still want to socialize at night. It must be chemistry."

"Yes, Admiral I think that's exactly what it is."

They may have pulled the wool over Nogura's eyes, but Pike wasn't fooled one bit. He waited for Nogura to get himself a refill, then walked over and tapped Spock in the shoulder, whispering in his ear.

"Your plan would be a lot more effective if you all changed dance partners occasionally. I'll dance with Cadet Uhura for a while. You go cut in on somebody else."

Spock had no choice but to comply, so he tapped Bouchard on the shoulder. However, the entire time he danced with Olmes, Spock was glaring at Pike.

Pike merely smiled as he thought to himself "Junior, you are so busted!"

TBC