A/N: Wow. Thanks to everyone who has reviewed for this update; you guys are awesome. Your support is fantastic and I really appreciate it. I'm so glad you're enjoying the story. I know I am having a lot of fun with this and it's great to know you guys are along for the ride. :) So, here is chapter twelve. Hope you guys have a blast reading. Some well needed action in this story is right around the corner...

Previously...

I turned around, flushing horribly. Oh, this was embarrassing...I swiftly put on the trousers and shirt and turned around, the heat still apparent in my cheeks. Spock had ceased staring at me, much to my relief. There was a hint of green on his cheeks, as though he was either ashamed to be looking at me so obviously or knowing that he'd been caught looking. Or both. And there was still that glint in his eyes, something fiery and smoldering despite the relatively emotionless appearance of his face.

"Well," I said, smiling awkwardly. "Let us go to our quarters."

Spock nodded his assent, his dark eyes calculating. "Indeed."

Chapter Twelve

Upon returning to Spock's quarters, I was ready to crawl under my bed and hide. I had felt Spock's gaze on my back as we had headed back; I had to suppress the urge to turn around and glance back at him at multiple points along the trip. Now, back in the sweltering heat of his quarters, I could feel my body breaking out in a sweat underneath Spock's clothes. "God, Spock!" I complained, picking up my tattered clothes and rearranging them neatly in my arms. "If you weren't Vulcan, I would be asking you how you even manage to breathe in this clothes. They're literally sticking to my skin."

Spock did not reply at first. When I didn't hear his usual, 'it is logical to assume' speech, I turned around, curious. Spock was now standing with his hands clasped behind his back. His eyes were smoldering, however, and he was currently giving me a very intense gaze. I swallowed. "...Spock?" I questioned him cautiously.

The Vulcan wouldn't stop staring. His eyes were boring into mine and I felt my heart began to beat faster. I sent him a nervous smile, glancing down to my clothes. "Well, I better put these on so I don't soil your clothes." I said.

That seemed to snap Spock out of his...little trance. He blinked and cleared his throat, seeming to stand taller. "I am afraid I do not understand how you could have obtained soil of any kind. It is also quite illogical to mention placing the soil in my clothing. It would surely rub against my skin and become...uncomfortable."

I choked, the clothes dropping out of my hands. It had almost sounded like Spock had...well...A furious blush was filling my cheeks with stinging heat. I was shocked. Spock couldn't have meant it like that...could he?

"Oh," I said quietly. "And I thought Vulcans were used to getting dirty."

I could feel Spock's eyebrows rise.

I blushed harder. "That is...I mean...with dirt and rocks." You don't say...

"I need to put my clothes on now." I nearly squeaked as I hastily picked up my clothes. I did not dare look back at Spock's face as I turned to go to my own quarters - and smacked my face into a wall.

"Ouch!" I hissed, rubbing my nose, which had gotten the blunt of the collision.

"I believe your destination is approximately 3.5 feet to the right." Spock stated.

"Thanks." I mumbled as I dashed to the right and left for my quarters.

Once inside my quarters, I heaved a great sigh and tossed the clothes onto the bed. I ran over my face. "Fan-fucking-tastic." I growled to myself. "I really need to stop this hormonal nonsense."

To be quite honest, I just wanted to crawl in the bed and hide for the remainder of the day, but Spock probably had no idea what exactly had occurred - probably some human illogicalness - and was expecting me to be out of the room in a few minutes. With a huff, I stripped out of Spock's clothes and put on mine. Since my body was still wet from the pool, my clothes stuck to my skin and scraped against it. I sighed in annoyance as I finally got my shorts on. I threw my shirt on over my head and proceeded to fold up Spock's off duty uniform neatly.

I walked back into Spock's quarters and there he was, still standing. At least this time his face seemed to be less...well, less than it had been. I had no idea how to describe it. "Alright, Spock." I said. "Here's your off duty uniform. Sorry about borrowing it." I handed him his clothes, which he gently took from me. As he took them, our fingers almost brushed; I still felt the static of something electric. I jerked my hand back rather abruptly, astonished at the feeling. Spock seemed to freeze up, suddenly looking awkward and contrite. With some effort, he schooled his features even stonier than usual.

"There is no need to apologize for an event which could have been easily avoided. You were without clothes and yours, I must say, are not particularly suitable as swim wear. I shall inform the Captain that you are in need of a change of clothes." Spock told me.

I smiled. "I would be very grateful." The sensation of brushing fingers was still lingering at the front of my mind; I knew it was showing in my face, because my face seemed flushed and I was diverting my line of sight from his face. Again.

"What time is it, anyways?" I asked.

Spock answered automatically. "It is approximately 1700 hours."

My eyes bulged. "Five o'clock? I swam in the pool for...gosh, six or seven hours?"

"That appears to be the case." Spock said.

As if just realizing I'd been in the pool for hours on end, my stomach grumbled. Spock raised an eyebrow. "I will assume that you did not pause to acquire nourishment at 1200 hours?"

I nodded sheepishly. "I needed to clear my mind. My mind must have been pretty clear of everything if I forgot about lunch." I smiled, shaking my head.

Spock's lips quirked. "Indeed. I believe an evening meal will be taking place with the Captain and senior officers before a brief meeting. I am certain that the Captain would not mind if you, as he has often put it, 'tagged along' and joined us for the meal."

I smiled wider. "What is the percentage of your certainty, Mr. Spock? I thought accuracy was one of your strengths." I teased him gently.

The Vulcan raised an eyebrow, his eyes alight with amusement. "98.76%. The Captain seems to be...quite curious about you, Miss Vaughn."

I snorted. "Everyone is, Spock. I'm a girl from another universe who knows all about Starfleet and the Enterprise and it's crew. I cannot blame anyone if they feel that's a bit uncanny."

"I will admit," Spock said. "That your presence here is...confusing. Nevertheless, the more time I spend becoming acquainted with you, the more I realize that your presence here is not entirely meddlesome, nor unwelcome."

I raised my eyebrows, shocked. That was Spock's way of saying he enjoyed being around me! I inwardly pumped a fist in ecstatic victory. On the outside, however, I just laughed and said, "Well, thank you Spock. I am glad to know I haven't been too much of a bother."

Secretly, I was pleased and flattered by Spock's invitation for me to join dinner with him and other fellow senior officers. I was also astounded at Spock admitting, in his own logical way, that he did not completely mind my company. That, in itself, was a huge reassurance that despite the awkwardness from previous encounters, I was not screwing everything up.

There was a sudden beep at the door, and Spock and I both glanced at it.

"Come in." Spock called.

The door smoothly slid open, and in walked Nyota Uhura, with an expression on her face that guaranteed trouble.

A/N: Okay, so I am totally on a roll this week. Second update in two days, so, great! Let's see how long this lasts. Honestly, I don't normally go for Uhura bashing, just because I kind of like her character, both in ST: 2009 and the Original Series. Nevertheless, I feel in this fic, there needs to be some romantic tension between Spock, Uhura, and Vivian. Just to sauce it up a bit. I don't want to utterly bash her, but I don't want to write her as mild mannered character when, in reality, she is very sassy, intelligent, and knows what she wants. So, I hoped you enjoyed this chapter. Shorter than the other one, but at least I'm updating frequently, right? :) Reviews, as always, are extremely appreciated.