Watching the Captain Sleep 2
When the Captain did not answer the second signal announcing his arrival, Commander Spock debated the wisdom of letting himself in.
The Captain had requested that he come at this time.
But now he did not answer. Perhaps he had been called away and would return in a moment. Perhaps he had changed his mind.
In the past, the Captain had repeatedly said, "Hey, Spock, you're always welcome to come right on in." He seemed sincere. And yet, circumstances do change.
Spock hesitated for four more seconds, before reaching up one hand to enter his authorization code.
When the door slid open, the Vulcan stepped soundlessly inside.
The desktop was empty, the chair pushed back. The console was still activated; a quiet beeping indicated that it was awaiting its next instruction.
The overhead lights were on.
Spock turned.
The Captain lay asleep on his bed.
Apparently, Kirk had flung himself down: His position looked to be a very awkward and uncomfortable one. A single arm was thrown over his face so that the elbow shielded his eyes from the light.
He was dressed in Starfleet black – His gold uniform shirt appeared to have been hastily discarded: It lay crumpled on the floor.
A thick old-fashioned book lay open next to him. The splaying of the pages threatened the integrity of its hand-sewn spine. A single slip of paper had fallen to the floor beside the bed, and lay neglected, half in shadow.
The volume was too precious to risk the further damage that might befall it should the Captain shift, as he most certainly would, in his sleep. Spock reached out and carefully lifted it away from the Captain's sleeping body. Bending, he picked up the slip of paper and slid it to rest securely in the crease between the open pages of the book. Closing the volume, then, he placed it on the shelf near the Captain's head, exactly where a seeking hand would naturally reach.
He bent to pick up the tunic. With well-practiced movements, he folded it; then placed it atop the nearby bureau.
A few steps took him to the desk: He keyed in a belaying command, then turned off the computer. After lifting the chair into its customary place, he turned out the lights.
Then, he moved toward the exit. Before activating the door control, he glanced back to ascertain that his actions had not disturbed the Captain's slumbers.
They had not.
Satisfied, Spock tapped the command that would allow his egress.
The heedless sleeper dreamed on.