"Spock, where the hell have you been?" Spock closed the door behind him and strode into the office. Chris stood up, crossing his arms. Spock glanced up at the clock as he approached Chris's desk. 10:47.
"I apologize, Captain."
"Apologize? Spock, what is wrong with you? You've never been late to anything." Spock stayed quiet. He couldn't tell him that he was late because Nyota joined him in the shower, and then distracted him again when he was trying to get dressed. Chris raised an eyebrow at his silence.
"Spock? You just aren't going to answer?" Chris paused a moment, giving him one last chance to answer. Spock stayed perfectly still, managing to look him directly in the eye. "I don't know what is wrong with you. You're acting like a completely different person, Spock." Chris moved from behind his desk and began slowly pacing. "If you keep acting like this, I may have to rethink your position on the Enterprise, but I know what I've put you through." Chris stopped pacing for a moment and turned to look at Spock. "That being said, I can't keep giving you free passes. That is why I moved ahead without you."
"Captain-"
"No, Spock. I gave you a chance, Spock. I didn't have to give you any say in Cadet Uhura's reassignment. I was being nice, but you blew it." Chris stepped behind his desk and sat down. He pushed a PADD across his desk to Spock. Spock picked it up and turned it on, scrolling through the file. "I think Professor Zell is a fine reassignment." Spock put the PADD back on Chris's desk.
"No."
"No? Spock, I wasn't asking. It's already done. You gave up your say when you didn't show up at 9." Chris got up, leaning forward on his desk.
"But Captain-"
"No, Spock!" Chris said, raising his voice. "We're done here. She's already been assigned and she should be reporting for her first shift after her classes are finished." Spock was silent, looking down at the PADD on Chris's desk. He straightened his jacket before meeting Chris's gaze.
"Anything else, Captain?"
Chris walked around his desk to stand next to Spock. Chris clapped Spock's shoulder. Spock looked away to keep his face free of emotion and nodded. Chris frowned. He knew Spock was taking this pretty hard. Spock cleared his throat and raised an eyebrow at him, as if asking the question again.
"No, Spock. You're dismissed." Chris let go of his shoulder and turned away, returning to his seat. Spock nodded his head to Chris, turned, and exited the room.
As he walked down the hall with his hands clasped behind his back, he passed several officers that whispered as he passed.
"I can't believe a Vulcan would be insubordinate."
"I didn't even think that was possible."
"Do you believe that's the full story or is there more to it?"
"Well, have you heard the rumors about him and his TA?"
Upon reaching, the end of the hallway, Spock turned back and looked at his colleagues that were staring at him. He assumed he must have scared them because they jumped when he looked back at them and began scurrying around. Spock turned back and continued his on his way. If his fellow officers were talking about rumors, Spock could not conceive what the students were saying.
He exited the building and began descending the stairs. Hearing laughter, Spock looked over to a set of benches. There was a group of female cadets sitting together. The cadets were staring him up and down. One leaned in closer and whispered something that made the group snicker. Spock reached the bottom of the steps and turned in the opposite direction of the group. Going in this direction would take him approximately 15 minutes longer to reach his apartment, but he would run into fewer students. He walked along the sidewalk, passing fewer and fewer groups of students.
"Commander!"
Spock looked up, and saw Nyota's roommate, Cadet Gaila. She held a PADD against her chest with one arm and her other arm was on her hips.
Gaila sauntered over closer to him and smiled politely at him.
"Cadet."
"I haven't seen Nyota all weekend and I was wondering if you had seen her. You know, with work or something."
Spock glanced at a student passing them that was watching them intently. "Cadet, you should be well aware by now that Cadet Uhura is no longer my teaching assistant. Therefore she has not been working for me over the past weekend."
Gaila nodded, considering his words. "I was just a little worried. It's not like her to not come home. Although, I guess she may have just been in the library the whole weekend. Or maybe she met someone!" She squealed with excitement before realizing that Spock was still there.
"Oh Commander, I'm sorry. I'm sure you were well aware for her crush on you, but-"
"Cadet, that's highly inappropriate." Spock said in a hushed tone and looked around. He was comforted by the fact that there weren't any students in earshot.
"But I always told her that she didn't have a chance with you. You are so by the book. Prim and proper. So I would always encourage her to let go of her silly school girl fantasy and get a boyfriend. Maybe she finally has one!" Gaila giggled.
"Cadet, I am positive you will find her. If you do not, please contact the Cadet Housing board." Spock said and walked by her, but she followed him.
"Sir, wait!"
Spock turned to face her again. "What, Cadet?"
"Did you know that she liked you? Or did I just put my foot in my mouth? Can you not tell her that I talked to you? She would kill me."
Spock looked at Gaila. Her bright green skin made her red hair stand out. She had a nervous smile.
"Cadet, I am not adept at reading human emotion. Whether Cadet Uhura possessed feelings for me or not, she never acted upon them." Spock said. He felt that was true enough to say. All of their encounters at the beginning of this had been initiated by him. "As for telling her, I have no plans to speak to her, but I doubt that Cadet Uhura is capable of murder."
Gaila laughed. "Alright, thank you, Commander." She waved at him and bounced away.
Spock continued walking. He knew Gaila meant well, but she often didn't know when she needed to stop. Spock shook his head once, looking forward to getting to his apartment.