Let's Go Thataway!
Chapter Thirty-six - Back to Normal
Enterprise
Early November 2267
Spock
When they stepped out of the turbolift onto the bridge, there was a ripple of movement all around. Everyone turned to them, for just a moment, smiling or nodding, acknowledging their return, and then returned immediately to their normal tasks. It did not last long enough to be tremendously uncomfortable. He was not entirely composed about the fact that everyone knew what had happened to him, but he was as content as possible about the way that it had been handled. On Vulcan, no one would have commented, the occasion would have been ignored as completely as possible. But this was not Vulcan, and these were not Vulcans, and these people were, for the most part, his friends. He had not had friends on Vulcan. And on every level of his being, he knew that this was better. Here he felt accepted for himself, with no apologies, and this very slight acknowledgement highlighted that acceptance, those friendships. He settled himself down at his console, relaxed and ready to work, confident that those around him did not fear him or what had happened to him. It was oddly comforting.
Nyota
When they stepped out of the turbolift, Spock hesitated just for a second as everyone turned in their direction. But as people smiled or nodded, and turned back to their work, she felt his sense of intense relief. With his hand resting lightly against the small of her back, he headed across the back of the bridge towards their stations. She settled down at her console and lifted the silver earpiece, adjusting its fit firmly into her ear. It felt so right, being back here. Almost instantly, there were messages coming in, and she turned her attention fully to her duties.
Kirk
When he stepped off the turbolift, they were already at their stations, totally absorbed in their work. He breathed a big sigh of relief. Things were back to normal. They had not sustained any damage from the ordeal they had been through. Even though Bones had assured him that that was the case, until he saw them here, where they belonged, working normally, he had still worried. Now he could relax.
Bones
By the middle of the morning, he could stand it no longer, and made his way to the bridge to observe. Nyota's fingers flew over her console as she spoke quietly into her mike, one finger occasionally tapping against her earpiece to adjust the fit or the frequency. She was her normal, efficient self, working flawlessly, as usual. Surreptitiously, he ran his small tricorder over her, from beside the command chair. Still some fatigue and slight dehydration, but otherwise fine, although there was something odd about her readings. Nothing he could pin down, but he would analyze them when he got back to sick bay.
He turned to observe Spock, speaking to Jim at the same time, so that his observations were not so obvious. Not obvious to anyone except Jim, that is. Jim knew exactly what he was doing, and supported the tenuous conversation to help him cover his actions. Slight fatigue and dehydration there, still, as well. There ought to be a source of fluid on the bridge. Perhaps he needed to find a way to stash some electrolytes up here. Another thing to think about. He continued his conversation with Jim for several more minutes and then headed back to sick bay, to analyze those slightly-off readings.
The Usual Cast of Characters
At lunchtime, the table was crowded. Everyone wanted a chance to speak with Spock or Nyota, to let them know that their absence had been noted, and their return welcome. Fortunately, most of them were discrete and did not linger on these statements. Noticing Spock's increasing discomfort, Kirk began to warn people away. When looks did not prove enough, several of the officers rose from the table and paced out a warning line, moving people back away from the senior officers, giving them space to eat in peace. Eventually it registered, and apologetically people moved away, remembering that the Vulcan was uncomfortable with so much expression. Things settled down, and the discussion at the table lost its strained quality.
***
Suppertime was better. Things were settling down. Most people now knew that no damage had occurred, that the event had progressed to a normal, satisfactory end. The gossip came to an end, with nothing more to feed it. The curious, hoping for something exciting, had nothing to see. Only a calm, controlled Spock, sitting with his wife and friends, chatting over his dinner. And a very obviously happy and content Uhura, sitting by his side, laughing and talking with everyone.