Here we go with what I fondly call the 'Cutlery Incident'. You'll see why in a minute. Things are getting harder to manage, and Christine and Spock need to find a way to cope.

Arriving at the mess hall, Spock instantly regretted their decision the moment the door opened. There were people seated at almost every table, people were laughing, eating loudly, and the sounds of cutlery and the murmur of conversations were ringing through the room. He found this atmosphere an unwelcome change from the calm of Christine's quarters or even the lab.

"Are you alright?", asked Christine, having noticed his discomfort. And although Spock wordlessly assured her that he was fine, she decided that looking for a table away from the worst of the noise was the best option. She didn't like the commotion too much herself.

But first, they needed to get their lunch.

"What are you in the mood for, Spock?", she asked, already collecting cutlery.

"I have no preference."

"That's rubbish, Spock. Everybody's got a preference. Do you want to choose yourself?"

"I do not need to eat."

"Yes, you do Spock.", Christine insisted firmly. "I need to eat something, so you do as well. Besides, I'm still your medical professional. Now, do you want to choose? There's a line forming behind us."

"Alright, I will."

"See, you do have preferences."

Spock took a step forward and promptly dropped the cutlery. The next person in line, who turned out to be Uhura, bent down with him to pick it up.

"Spock, are you alright?", she asked, touching Christine's arm.

Spock flinched at the physical contact.

"Now why don't you two go over there, and I'll get you your lunch, alright?"

Uhura pointed towards an empty table on the outskirts of the room, and Christine was grateful for her calm presence. Other people had stared mildly interested, but that was enough to leave her more than mildly embarrassed as she didn't usually have a habit of dropping things in public. She made a mental note to both of them to refrain from holding fragile objects while handing over control of her body.

Spock began to walk towards the indicated table and stumbled. Uhura had wisely retained the cutlery.

"Spock, what's going on all of a sudden? Tell me!"

"I am fine."

Christine did not need to share her mental space with him to know he was lying. But thankfully, the table wasn't too far away and Spock soon sunk into one of the chairs.

"What's going on, Spock?", she persisted.

"I do not fare well controlling your body. The proportions and sensory experiences are entirely different from what I'm used to."

"And you notice that now?"

"I did not have to, before now. At least not to this extent. This situation is more complex than what we've faced so far."

"Alright, there's Uhura with our lunch. Do you want to eat?"

"I'd prefer it if you took over."

Uhura arrived at their table at that moment and Christine took one of the trays she was carrying from her, thankful that she did not mention the cutlery incident.

They started to eat quietly and Christine noticed that it was almost silent in her head as well, as Spock had put up his mental barriers as soon as she had taken over control. Only all around them, the chatter of their crewmates persisted.

She had almost finished her meal when Uhura spoke at last. She had given Christine a couple of concerned glances while eating but had apparently chosen to address the matter on her mind at a more opportune moment.

"You look tired, Chris. And Spock seemed positively spooked when he dropped the cutlery. That was him, wasn't it? Is something wrong?"

"You mean apart from the obvious?" Christine laughed grimly. But then she huffed defeatedly and looked at her friend. "I am tired. Don't get me wrong, this situation isn't that bad, generally, but it takes a lot of energy."

"Hm yes, I can see that. And what about Spock? He hasn't said anything since he dropped the cutlery."

"He isn't talking right now. He said he'd prefer me to take over for now because he wasn't feeling comfortable with my motor functions."

"You seem annoyed."

"I'm concerned.", Christine sighed. "From the moment we arrived in the mess hall, he seemed uncomfortable. And he usually doesn't have such a strong reaction to being touched. And now he's distancing himself."

"Distancing?"

"Well, he's putting up barriers, I suppose against all the sensory input."

Christine groaned in annoyance as the realisation hit her.

"What is it, Chris? Are you in pain?", Uhura asked, looking very worried.

"No, I'm just slow. I never should have forced him to go through this, I could have thought he would be uncomfortable. I could have just had lunch in my cabin! I'm sorry, I'll have to cut this lunch short, I need to talk to him somewhere quiet."

"Of course, dear. And please, if you're worried about your health, go to sickbay!"

Considering that this was the third time in two days someone had told her to think about visiting sickbay, she honestly considered going there this time. But first, she had to face the elephant in the room. Or rather, the Vulcan in her head.

She walked to her quarters as fast as she could, and when the door shut behind her, she lay down on her bed and closed her eyes.

"Spock? Please answer. I'm sorry I put you through that. Are you alright?"

There was a moment of silence, but then, at last, Spock answered.

"It was no fault of yours. I will be alright. I would prefer avoiding the mess hall for the time being, however."

"We're going to sickbay in a minute, I think we need a third opinion here."

"I hardly think dropping something is a serious cause for concern."

"I'm not talking only about that, Spock. Maybe you haven't realised, but you've become slightly more distant today and you don't interact with the outside world as willingly. And when you do, you seem overwhelmed by the sensory stimuli, if the situation just now was any indicator. And you're distracted. Normally, you would have known instantly that there was nothing to do at the lab. And already yesterday, you were distracted at chess. I'm sorry Spock."

"What are you sorry for?", Spock asked, taken aback by her repeated apology.

"For noticing only now. It's not like you to lose against Jim that quickly, while I win. And even today, I should have realised sooner."

"I do not blame you."

"It's not about blame, Spock. I…I'm just scared. Or maybe you're scared, I can't tell the difference anymore, and that scares me."

She didn't get a clear answer from Spock, but she felt that he was experiencing a kind of insecurity he would never admit to.

Exhaling deeply, she opened her eyes. This was her cabin, her body. She just happened to have Spock with her. And if she could forget for just one moment that she was a patient as well and that she had never felt as beside herself, maybe she could help him, in a way that only she could help him now.

She turned her attention inward again, and this time she decided to forego words but try just sensations. She concentrated on Spock, and then she tried concentrating on the most positive associations she could muster. She thought about the bridge of the Enterprise, of Jim Kirk in the Captain's chair and Spock at his science station, and tried to project with it the firm belief that it would be like that again, soon. She didn't know if Spock would take the bait, but she continued. She thought of how Jim had beamed at Spock last night, of their friendship and the comfort Spock felt in his presence. She thought of all their friends, and the stories they shared, and the home this ship was to all of them. She also thought of Vulcan, the familiar heat emanating from the suns, and the red sky and sand reflecting its light. Then, she thought of Earth, Starfleet Academy, and the hope that the young Vulcan cadet hadn't yet allowed himself to feel.

She noticed Spock becoming more present again, clinging to the pictures she sent as if they were a lifeline.

"Thank you."

His presence was as clear as it had been yesterday, but she felt his weariness and strain, additionally to her own, and still planned to go to sickbay. The fact that he agreed with her assessment was confirmation enough that her worries had not been unfounded.

"I know it's hard, Spock, but please don't retreat as far anymore. I was scared I'd lost you. And it didn't even seem to help."

"Agreed. I should not have done that.", he admitted grudgingly.

"Well, I've got an idea, Spock. We're going to sickbay now. But regardless, if you feel overwhelmed, just concentrate on me, alright? Don't retreat, just stick to me."

She didn't know if this was in any manual for coping techniques – she highly doubted it was – but Spock agreed to it and they made their way towards sickbay.

The ward was as quiet as it had been yesterday, and they walked towards the bed on the far end again, setting aside the initial reason for their visit.

Christine looked down at Spock's body and forgot for a mere second that Spock was actually in her head, so alive did it seem. There was a pulse, the chest was rising and falling, and apart from all the wires and tubes, it seemed as if Spock was only sleeping. Well, and apart from him being in her head. What a surreal experience this all had to be, looking down at your own helpless body like that.

Christine reached out to the hand lying limply on the duvet and held it in her own, allowing an old memory to surface. She had been so much younger and so very much in love when she had last held his hand like this. He had been in a Vulcan healing trance and holding his hand had been one of the few times she had allowed her feelings to influence her actions in her professional capacity as a nurse.

They were both older and more mature now than all those years ago. And Christine would not have that any other way. But the hand in hers felt too limp this time, devoid of any ability to move. And now that she paid close attention, other bodily functions seemed lacking intention as well, working unnaturally regular, being prompted by the computer instead of a living being.

"I am still here.", Spock interjected.

"Oh, I know, but you should be in there, in your body. It's so strange seeing you there, while you're in my head."

"Indeed. As fascinating as it may be, it is quite an unusual experience."

Christine could practically imagine the expression he would make saying that and felt a pang of disappointment that she couldn't see it in the face in front of her instead. She would say she missed him, but that seemed like an unjustified expression when he was literally sharing her body. Still, she missed the sound of his voice coming from his body, and not from within her head, and she preferred seeing his expressions on his face rather than feel them on her own.

"Again, I am still here."

Christine smiled at his insistence: "Well, Spock, but I've grown accustomed to your face."

"Ah, 'My Fair Lady'."

"You know musicals?"

"I am familiar with some, yes. My mother introduced me to several cultural aspects of Earth that she deemed important."

"Something the matter?", McCoy interrupted, having quietly joined them at Spock's bedside.

"Yes, I think we're not doing as well after all. We need an additional opinion.", Christine said quickly before she could change her mind.

"Well, I'm not a trained psychologist so I can't give professional advice. Then again, I doubt I'd be able to help a lot then. So, if you want to talk to your friend, who happens to be a doctor, I think I'll be able to help."

They followed him into his office and sat down.

"Now what's the matter, Christine?"

"I'm worried, Leonard.", she began. "Spock seems to have problems adjusting, he seems overwhelmed by external stimuli and doesn't interact with the outside as easily. He seems to distance himself if that makes sense."

"Let me stop you there, Christine, I'll come back to you. Can I talk to him?"
"Yes of course."

"Yes, Doctor?", Spock said.

"Alright Spock, tell me what happened. What felt overwhelming today?"

Spock seemed to bristle at the idea of telling him about his feelings, of all things, at first. But then, slowly but surely, he recounted what had happened in the mess hall, and tried to explain his difficulties with the situation.

McCoy listened closely. When Spock had finished, he narrowed his eyes at him.

"And your meditation didn't help?", he asked. It was a rhetorical question at this point. He knew the answer.

"I…did not meditate."

"Well, then you don't need to wonder any further why you're that affected.", McCoy growled vexedly but continued in a gentler tone. "Look, I don't know how all that Vulcan mind…stuff works, but I know that Vulcans meditate regularly. You do it every day, usually, and now you forget? What did you think I was bringing you your robe for, eh? Spock, look at me."

Spock had addressed the tabletop while talking and only now raised Christine's head.

"It's perfectly normal to have difficulties coping with such a situation, Spock.", the Doctor continued. "I wouldn't be surprised if you were even more affected. Technically, you're in a completely new environment because you experience everything from a human perspective now. All the sensory input must feel different, and you don't have your Vulcan body to help. Christine's body isn't hard-wired to support a touch-telepath like you. It might not solve this, but I'd try meditating, for the sake of both of you."

Spock nodded. "You might be correct. You wanted to talk to her?"

"Yes, please."

"Alright, what is it, Leonard?", Christine asked.

"Well, you heard what I said to Spock. The same basically goes for you. You need to acknowledge how unusual this situation is and that certain circumstances can seem harder than they normally would."

"I should have realised Spock wouldn't be comfortable with the mess hall."

"That's not what I'm saying, Christine, but you're proving the point I'm trying to make. You're making it all about Spock, but you're affected, too. Otherwise, you would have decided that going to the mess hall was not a good idea, and you would have reminded Spock that he should meditate. And I can see that you're tired. My advice to both of you is to rest. I know I told you to not sit around all day, but the way I see it you've had enough action for today. Oh, and when all this is over, I want both of you here for some testing. We don't know what the neurological effects of this are on a Human or a Vulcan."

"Thanks, Leonard, we'll do that.", Christine said, getting up to leave.

"Not for that." Leonard shrugged it off, but added: "He is behaving up there, isn't he?"

"Oh, Leonard, why wouldn't he? We're getting along very well."

"Getting along with Spock, huh? You'll have to tell me your secret one of these days."

"I know you don't mean that, Leonard.", Christine smirked.

"Nah, I don't. But don't tell him. He's not allowed to know how much like him."

Christine stopped in the doorway and turned around.

"He can hear you, Leonard. And he says thank you."

"Well, damn, I forgot."

To be continued... I hope you liked it, reviews are always appreciated!