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DISCLAIMER: I Don't Own Star Trek. And I'm not making any money from this.

Walls of Glass

Uhura switched to the common lingua franca and said just loud enough for him to hear, "This will go on for another two hours or so," She nodded in Brian and Gaila 's direction. "She likes to form a deep emotional attachment with her...before she..." Uhura said awkwardly. "I'm sorry; I know Vulcans don't like to talk about such things."

"At least they are not being terribly physically demonstrative in public," Spock replied relieved. Gaila did have one hand on Brian's shoulder, and Brian had one arm wrapped around her waist, but Spock, though he found such displays distasteful, had become somewhat inured to them in his time with humans.

Uhura bit her bottom lip, and said tentatively, "Well, not yet anyway..."

There was more uncomfortable silence, "Cadet, I don't know the protocol in these situations...do we stay or leave?"

"Well, it depends...I mean, she might still decide she's not interested. Patriotic duty only goes so far. She can be weirdly selective in her own unfathomable way." She sighed. "And I did hear your friend's comment about our intellectual capacity. He really might be just dumb enough to blow it."

"So?"

"To be humane we should probably wait it out a little bit longer."

Spock was deeply uncomfortable with the situation. He tried to be sympathetic to human and other alien life forms' customs, but he preferred that some of these customs did not intrude upon his immediate vicinity. On the other hand, there had been the episode with the comlink. Brian had been quiet about it…

Uhura was obviously as uncomfortable as he. Her jaw was still set. Her arms were crossed over her chest. She had turned and was now facing Brian again. She actually looked almost angry, Spock thought.

There was another long silence. Finally, Uhura looked sideways at him and said in a voice that sounded almost annoyed, "Isn't that sweater awfully warm on a night like this?"

And then it struck him. Brian and Gaila had eyes, ears, and he strongly suspected hands beneath the table, only for each other. Someone had turned on the music. The bar wasn't so loud shouting was necessary, but all conversations beyond him and his Cadet would be muffled. In a way, he realized, they were effectively...alone.

He could safely attempt to make her laugh.

"Only if you are a cold blooded human," he replied looking at her sideways.

Uhura's jaw unclenched, her arms relaxed a bit, the start of a smile began to slip across her face. She turned to Spock and shook her head slightly. "You are one mad Vulcan, you do know that don't you?"

He wasn't sure he knew anything of the sort, but she seemed more relaxed. And she was smiling -- albeit a little bit.

"And what are you drinking tonight, Lieutenant?" She asked.

"Anchor Steam."

"Anchor Steam?"

"You have never heard of it? It is a beer that has been made right here in San Francisco since 1896, traditionally brewed from an all-malt mash in a copper brewhouse." He said.

Uhura looked genuinely surprised. "Wow! I had no idea you knew so much about beer."

"I do not," he replied. "I read the bottle."

Spock pushed the empty bottle towards her across the table so she could have a look. She took it in her hands and looked at it. She was grinning ear to ear now and shaking her head, "You really are mad."

Spock had no idea what brought this on, or even what it meant. She seemed to be happy. Still.

"Please clarify, Cadet. Mad as in insane, as in enraged, as in ill-tempered, as in frantic? I've already ruled out mad as in wildly merry."

She looked up at him. They were very close, nearly as close as they were under the signal transmission array, and yet, strangely, this wasn't as unnerving. They were alone, but not alone. The ingrained Vulcan distaste for public contact removed any temptation Spock might have had to act out on his attraction to her. But he found he could still enjoy being close to her. It was like there was a glass wall between them, one he could talk through and look through, but never physically cross. Spock decided he liked the glass wall.

"Are you putting me on?" She asked laughing.

Spock raised his eyebrows. "I assure you, I am not teasing you. I am merely looking to clarify the exact definition of the madness of which you speak." This was, of course, all true.

"You're joking with me, aren't you?" She said. "Isn't that insanity coming from a Vulcan?"

"I assure you, I am not insane."

"Isn't that what the insane always say, Lieutenant?" She asked with a smile.

Spock tilted his head and considered. "I do not believe I know anyone personally who is insane. And apparently if I did, you inform me they would tell me that they were not insane -- which would make them very difficult to identify." Apparently, circular logic repeated back to its originator could be amusing, because she smiled again.

"In any event," Spock continued, "I merely wish to speak your language, Cadet. Have you not told me that you make jokes to cut tension? I am trying to do the same."

She gave him a strange look, and then said, "If your intent is to improve human-Vulcan interactions I accept your assurances of non-insanity. And as for my declarations of your madness...I meant it as in 'funny' or 'humorous', so you attained your objective."

"Those definitions are not in my dictionary," He replied checking his mental database.

She clenched her jaw, "Just take it as a complement."

He tilted his head. "Very well. Thank you."

He paused. Was there some human nicety he was forgetting? Ah, maybe. "Cadet, would it be appropriate for me to offer you a drink?" Then he added, "I assure you my intention is only to be polite, not to get you intoxicated."

Two bottles of Anchor Steam later – hers, he was still nursing his first, they were deep into a conversation about the translation of a particular verse in the T'Kai Lamana Ita. Spock wasn't sure how they had gotten there, Uhura had said she absolutely did not want to discuss the paper she was finishing up -- and then somehow the conversation had turned around and that was exactly what they were discussing.

At some point Gaila had asked Brian if he'd like to teach her to play pool. Brian had said, "Of course I would, you're really HOT!" Then he had added hastily "...at math. You're really hot at math and I'm sure you'll be great at pool."

Uhura had watched this exchange and said, "Clumsy, but effective recovery. Two compliments really, and one was actually for her brain. He might make it."

Now Brian and Gaila were off together across the room. The pool lesson seemed to involve a lot of physical contact. Spock hardly noticed though. He was too focused on Uhura; the conversation, the contrast between Uhura's warm brown skin and her white top, the impossibly delicate sweep of her clavicles -- Spock had never realized these particular bits of anatomy could be so attractive.

"You know I think that is the answer, Lieutenant. I hadn't considered it before...but that is probably it. Thank you for helping me figure it out."

Spock tilted his head, "In point of fact, I think you reached that conclusion on your own."

"Yes well, thank you for being my sounding board. You're the first person in two weeks whose eyes haven't glazed over when I start talking about this stuff."

"Does this topic generally generate something like the Pavlovian Vulcan Sleep Response then?" Spock said this looking straight at her, he didn't even have to raise an eyebrow -- she laughed easily.

Unfortunately he wasn't sure if this was because he was getting better at the game of making her laugh, or if it was just the effects of the alcohol she had consumed.

Making Uhura laugh was a game to Spock. It was an intellectual exercise like any other. It was all about twisting words in unusual and surprising ways. The rewards of this particular mental exercise were emotional though.

"I guess any topic in too much detail can provoke a Pavlovian Vulcan Sleep Response in humans." Uhara replied.

She changed the subject, "So, Lieutenant, what other beverages do Vulcans like?"

Spock was about to answer when Uhura interjected, "Alcholic beverages, Lieutenant Spock."

That did change his answer. "I enjoy many earth wines, if they are not too sweet. I like the incredible variety, the fragrance..."

"I don't think this is the place for a decent glass of wine. Anything you might find here?"

Spock thought for a moment. Actually...

A few minutes later Spock was staring at an empty shot glass in front of Uhura. His eyebrows lifted in surprise. His own glass was barely touched.

"I did not expect you to drink it so quickly," he admitted.

"How else do you drink whiskey?" Uhura asked. She had, in fact, finished the entire shot in one gulp.

Spock blinked. "It was a Glenfiddich 21 year old single malt whiskey finished in barrels that once contained Caribbean Rum -- I was surprised this establishment even carried any..."

He continued, "I always thought you were supposed to savor it. The aroma alone is wonderfully complex -- sometimes I do not actually drink it, I just enjoy the fragrance. When I do drink I like to roll a sip around on my tongue before I swallow and enjoy the burn. It is an interesting sensory experience."

Uhura looked at him. "Uh-huh...tell you what you get me another, and I'll savor it."

Spock looked at her. "Cadet, you aren't trying to get intoxicated are you?"

Uhura burst out laughing. Spock was not happy this time. Was it too late? She saw his look of concern, took a deep breath, and said finally, "You know what, maybe right now, a glass of water would be better."

Spock was immensely relieved that she was being her usual sensible self.

Just then Brian slid into the seat across from him. Gaila attached herself to Uhura's arm, giggled and said, "Come on, powder room break."

As soon as the two were gone, Brian said, "Spock, I'm....ahhh....kind of sorry about tonight. I haven't been paying that much attention to you."

"That is quite alright, Brian," said Spock. Brian's voice was a little crackily.

"You really don't mind that I ah...."

"Not at all," replied Spock. When would this conversation end?

"I think I might be leaving in a few minutes...with Gaila. You don't mind?"

"Do not worry about it. I am glad that you are having a," Spock searched for the appropriate word, "memorable last night planet-side."

"Ahhh...man, you are the best friend ever!" Brian exclaimed.

Spock sighed inwardly. He hoped he wouldn't have to do more entertaining next time Brian had shore leave.

Spock looked Brian straight in the eye, neither confirming nor denying the other man's last statement. "Have a good mission, Brian," he finally managed.

Brian smiled at him, "And good luck with your research, Spock."

Spock looked around. The bar had gotten crowded and he couldn't see the wait person. He looked back at Brian and said, "Please excuse me, Cadet Uhura requested a glass of water. I think I will go to the bar."

Brian still smiling winked at Spock in a very disturbing fashion then waved him away.

It took a while to procure a glass of water. By the time he got back to the table Brian and Galia were no where in sight, but Uhura was not alone.

A/N:

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