Hello from the Dominican Republic! I'm on holiday, but had a few minutes to update this story! I hope you like it!

Adjusting to life on the Enterprise after accepting the Klingon wasn't easy for many, there were some who found themselves unable to accept the Klingon, and some who decided because Alex had kept him alive, that she was the problem. It was when she tried to join Laura, Mindy and Mahasri at a table one evening and Laura and Mahasri stood up and left that she realized just how much people were blaming her for the situation. "They're just scared," Mindy sighed as she watched their friends leave and then looked back at Alex. "They have never known a Klingon before- no one has, and then you came back with one," she explained and then looked over as said Klingon walked into the room.

"Thal is more than just a Klingon," she told Mindy softly as he walked over.

"Not to them," she replied softly.

"Hey," someone said loudly and the two girls looked over as a young man from operations stormed up to Thal who held his tray and stared down at the young man. "My father was on the Grace," he said and Alex looked at Mindy.

"It was a ship that the Klingons blew up," she whispered and Alex nodded before standing up.

"Your people slaughtered my family," he continued as he looked up at Thal. "Do us all a favor and shoot yourself out of the airlock,"

"Your people's ship crossed into the Klingon empire," Thal said simply. "If they were willing to break their own laws, they were willing to face the consequences,"

"You didn't have to kill them!" He shouted and Alex moved over to the two.

"Hey, hey," she said gently. "I'm sorry for your loss, but Thal had nothing to do with that- did you?" She looked at Thal and prayed that he didn't have anything to do with it.

"I did not," Thal replied. "I remember the invasion of the Grace, the humans were warned many times that they had come into Klingon territory, they were warned that to continue would cause death. They stayed on their suicide mission, and we complied," he said easily as he looked down at the young man who looked like he was going to do something stupid. It was then Alex noticed the phaser in his hand and she slowly stepped in front of Thal.

"Put it down," she said softly as tears filled the boy's eyes.

"You don't know what it's like, his people killed my dad,"

"I lost everyone and everything," Alex said and he looked at her again. "I know how you feel, but you cannot take it out on Thal," she told him sternly. "Thal is a member of the Enterprise now, you need to get over it,"

"Why should I?" He asked as he turned the phaser towards her. "How do we know you aren't a Klingon supporter in disguise? How do we know you haven't working with him this entire time?" He demanded and Alex held her hands out to show she wasn't holding anything.

"Because until just recently I had no idea what a Klingon even was," she said honestly. "What's your name?"

"Matt," he said shakily.

"Okay Matt," she said slowly. "Matt, give me the phaser," she could see people watching the interaction and she heard the door open to her left, but she didn't pay attention to that, she just kept her eyes on Matt.

"I can't," Matt's voice was thick with Emotion. "I'm sorry Alex, but I- I can't," he said as he glanced back at Thal.

"Put the weapon down boy," Thal ordered him. "Your father was warned what would happen- he knew he was flying to certain death,"

"Shut up!" Matt shrieked at Thal.

"Hey, Matt," she said slowly. "Look at me, this is just you and me,"

"Everyone would support me," he told Alex as he kept his eyes on Thal. "They would thank me,"

"They would not," a voice said to Alex's left and she looked over to see Spock standing there with Jim. It was then she realized that Mindy was standing near the computer on the wall and that she had likely called up to the bridge to explain the situation.

"Put the phaser down Son," Kirk said and Matt glanced at him before looking back at Thal.

"I'm sorry- I can't-" he said shakily and then looked at Alex. "Move," he gestured her away with his phaser and she shook her head.

"No," she said without hesitation. "If you want to shoot him, you need to shoot me first."

"I will!" Matt shouted before Spock's hand shot out and he placed it on Matt's shoulder and Matt collapsed to the floor. Thal watched with amusement as Alex kicked the phaser out of his hand and Kirk picked it up before he looked at Mindy who was still standing by the communication panel.

"Call down for Dr. McCoy," he said.

"Yes Sir," she agreed and then called for Dr. McCoy while Spock knelt down to check on Matt.

"He will wake up in a few hours," he reported to Kirk who sighed and then looked around the mess hall.

"Go about your meals," he said and people resumed eating, while watching the situation. "Thal," Kirk said and then gestured to the table that Alex had been sitting at. "Eat your dinner,"

"Until next time," Thal said to those around and then sat down while Spock stood up and looked at Alex.

"Are you alright?"

"I'm fine," she assured him before holding out her two fingers as he often did. He reached out, brushing his fingers against hers lightly before he glanced at Thal.

"Do not allow yourself to be harmed for him,"

"I'd let myself be harmed for anyone on this ship," she said simply. "That's my profession,"

"I understand," Spock agreed before he brushed his fingers lightly over her cheek. She smiled lightly before noticing him glance at Thal who was doing a good job of pretending like he wasn't watching them. "I will see you tonight," Spock told her and she nodded.

"I will see you tonight," she agreed before she stepped back to the table and sat down. Thal simply chewed his food, making a slight face of disappointment as he chewed. "No good?" She asked and he shrugged.

"It is not my chosen food- but it will be sufficient," he reported. Mindy slowly returned to the table, her food was next to the place Thal sat at and she slowly sat down next to him and picked up her fork, giving him a sideways glance every now and then but not saying anything.

"Thal," Alex spoke up after a few moments. "This is Mindy, Mindy, this is Thal," she introduced the two. Mindy looked up at the Klingon who looked down at her and nodded before taking another bite of his food.

That evening Alex and Thal walked into the recreation room and found a table towards the back of the room, Alex went to get them each a beer and when she got to the table he leaned forward and looked at her. "Why do you insist on bringing me amongst those who have no interest in giving me the time of day?" He asked and she looked at him as she sat down.

"Because I've had enough of racism," she replied as she slid a beer over to him.

"Explain,"

"I've had enough of people deciding to hate one another because of their race,"

"Your people were subjected to this as well?" He asked and she nodded.

"Oh yeah," she said as she lifted her beer and sipped it. "I'm Hispanic, my family came from Cuba to the United States and we're treated like shit, I became a soldier, and the men still treated me like shit for being a woman and for being Hispanic," she explained as she looked at Thal. "It's been over two hundred years, and I'm sick and tired of racism," she told him before taking another sip of her beer.

"So it is your plan to single handedly change the mentality of the people aboard this ship?" He asked and she shrugged.

"Well, not single handedly," she replied as she gave him a look and he scoffed before giving her a slight grin.

"What do you think I can do to change their minds?" He asked and she shrugged.

"I don't know," she said. "But them getting used to you being around is a good start," he gave her a slight nod and then took a drink of his beer in agreement.

Alex wasn't sure if her plan would work, getting the people aboard the Enterprise used to their new crewman wasn't going to be easy, and she knew that, but it didn't hurt that Spock seemed to understand what she was trying to do, because when he came to the rec. room later that evening he looked around before walking straight over to their table and joined them.

"Vulcan," Thal said when Spock sat down. "Tell the woman that as mighty as she may be, human minds are not changed so easily," Spock gave Alex a sideways look before glancing back at Thal.

"She comes from a time where humans were much more stubborn," Spock replied. "I would not try to dissuade her from anything she has set her mind to,"

"Thank you," Alex said, sipping the start of her second beer.

"No matter how unlikely her ultimate plans are," Spock added and she narrowed her eyes at him.

"Did humans immediately take to Vulcans?" She asked and he looked at her.

"They did not," he admitted. "But we came to them with a message of peace, not war like the Klingons did," Spock explained. "And that aside, not all humans are as open to my race as it would seem. Even aboard the Enterprise, some still see me as an uncomfortable reminder that Humans are not alone in the Universe," he said as he laid his hand over Alex's, surprising her with the forward for him gesture.

"He is not wrong," Thal nodded to Spock as he looked at Alex.

"Well it's been two hundred years," she said simply. "Time to grow up,"

The three ended up sitting together and talking amongst themselves until Mindy came over and sat down with them as well, Alex smiled when she did and the four continued to talk, with Alex and Monday doing most of the talking while Spock and Thal would occasionally interject with their thoughts and comments. After some time Spock stood and laid his hand on Alex's shoulder and she looked up at him with a smile.

"Is it that time?" She asked and he nodded, so she stood up and smiled at Thal and Mindy. "Good night,"

"Night night," Mindy smiled.

"Thal, you remember where your room is?"

"I'm sure if I have an issue, this one will be willing to help me find my way," he commented as he looked at Mindy who smiled at him and nodded.

"Yeah, I can help him find his way," Mindy assured Alex. Satisfied with the answer Alex nodded and walked with Spock to his room.

When they got to his room Alex started to undress while Spock closed the door. She had her uniform zipper halfway down before Spock took it and lowered it the rest of the way. She looked over her shoulder at him and smiled as she lifted her arms up, letting him pull her uniform over her head.

She turned around and accepted the kiss that Spock pressed to her lips, moaning softly against them while his hands moved to her waist and he pulled her in closer.

The next morning Alex didn't have to be on shift until the afternoon, so while she had time to kill, she headed to the gym. Is was on her way there that she found Thal, and she smiled as she approached him.

"Hey," she said as she stepped alongside him. "Have you been given any principal duties?"

"Not yet," he replied. "Kirk has been trying to decide what talents I may offer the Enterprise to keep me here," he explained and she nodded.

"Well I'm going to train if you'd like to join me," she offered and he looked at her with interest.

"Your people train?" He asked and she shrugged.

"I do," she said and Thal followed her to the gym.

The workout equipment was not something Thal was used to, but she found he enjoyed it as she explained it to him. The Klingon warrior had a knack for working out, but it was when the two began to spar that others in the gym took notice.

Being a human, Alex had no real hope of defeating Thal, but being a soldier, it gave her the training she needed to keep up with him. As the two sparred more people from the gym watched, and when Thal let out a loud laugh Alex grinned before ducking his swing at her. She was standing back up, trying to make a move to tackle him around the waist but his other hand came out of nowhere and clipped her in the side of the head, knocking her on her ass.

A few people gasped and more than a few clapped as Thal held his arms up in victory. He then turned to Alex and held a hand out to her. She took his hand and let him hoist her to her feet before she smiled at him and he slung his arm around her shoulders for a moment and then let go of her as someone approached. He spoke with the man for a moment and then nodded and looked at Alex who was stretching.

"What's up?" She asked as she walked over.

"This man wants to train with us," Thal told Alex who smiled at him.

"That sounds good," she agreed. "Thal, are you open to that?"

"I am," he agreed and she looked at the boy.

"When do you want to train?" She asked.

"I'm free most mornings," he told her and she nodded.

"Tomorrow morning?" She asked Thal who nodded in response.

"Tomorrow morning," he agreed.

The next morning when Alex woke up Spock was in the shower and she smiled to herself before she undressed and climbed in after him. "Good morning," she said as she wrapped her arms around him from behind and kissed his shoulder.

"It would seem so," Spock commented as he turned around and cupped her face. After pressing a searing kiss to her lips, Alex smiled and moved her hands to run over his chest. "I hear you and the Klingon are holding some sort of lesson on fighting today," he commented and she quirked an eyebrow.

"Is that what people are saying?" She asked and Spock nodded in response.

"It is,"

"Huh," she said. "Well, we'll see if anyone actually shows up."

"Is learning how to fight like a Klingon so important to you?" He asked and she shrugged.

"I think it would be a stupid thing to turn down the opportunity to learn something new," she explained and he seemed to think about that as he ran his hands up her waist.

"Would you like to learn to fight like a Vulcan?" He asked and it was her turn to lift her eyebrow.

"I thought Vulcans were peaceful," she commented and he nodded.

"As a whole, we are," he said, moving his hands down her waist as he spoke. "But we do fight, and we fight well," flashes of memory, of him fighting Kirk crossed her mind and she thought about that before she nodded slowly.

"Well, then yes," she told him. "I would love

To learn to fight like a Vulcan,"

"I will put some time on our schedules to begin training you,"

"I look forward to it,"

"Do not think because you are my t'hyla I will go easy on you," he warned her and she smiled as she looked up at him.

"Do not assume that I'd want you to," she told him and enjoyed the way the corner of his mouth almost curled into a small smile.

She ran her hands up his chest, hooking them over his neck before she pulled him down into a kiss. Spock readily accepted the kiss and she parted her lips, allowing him to deepen their kiss.

His hands moved behind her, gripping her ass firmly before he lowered his right hand to her thigh and lifted it up while he pressed her back against the wall.

"Mm," she moaned against his lips, and he began to kiss along her jaw.

"You know what to do," he told her and she bit her lip as she ran her hands through the back of his hair and then brushed her thumbs over the shell of his ears. She felt him bite down on her jaw and then slowly, ever so slowly, she ran her thumbs over the pointed tips of his ears, eliciting a groan and a shudder from Spock.

His hips jerked slightly as the second pass she made around the tips of his ears and Alex felt him press his hips to hers, his hardening length pressing against her belly. She moved her hand down between them and wrapped it around him, stroking him slowly as he tilted his head to start sucking at her neck.

His hips moved in rhythm with the pace her hand set while she gripped his hair with the other hand, his hands moved from her thigh and her hip up her body, to cup and squeeze her breasts before he looked down at her. "We do not have much time," he pointed out and she nodded.

"I'll make it up to you," she offered and he leaned in to press another searing kiss to her lips.

"That was just what I was going to say to you," he told her against her lips before he pushed her hand away from him. He pressed both of her hands to the wet, steamy, shower wall and then held them there with one hand while the other wrapped around himself.

Alex groaned as she felt him slide into her, his hand moving from his base to support her leg that he had lifted around his hip before. Feeling him sink into her was both familiar and new at the same time- it always did, especially when Spock pressed his forehead to hers and sent her images of sexual situations, and waved of his lust and pleasure that mixed and mingled and at times even overpowered her own lust and pleasure. She was getting lost in him and the things he did to her, and she didn't care.

The climax came fast for both of them and Alex cried out as she came, knowing Spock liked it when she did that. As they caught their breath he slowly slid out of her and then lowered her leg before running a hand over her hair.

"I have been thinking," he commented and she chuckled softly at the casual comment. "I've said something amusing?"

"Yes, but not to anyone but myself," she assured him. "What have you been thinking about?"

"Cohabitation," he told her and she tilted her head slightly.

"It makes sense," she said after a moment. "We either spent the night in your room or mine, we are never apart," she said and then picked up the shampoo and started to lather her hair while Spock watched. "What is the protocol for cohabitation?"

"As I am not your direct superior, we would approach our direct superiors for their permission, as well as filling out a form for a request for accommodation for the both of us," he explained as he took the shampoo when she was done.

"Okay, our superviros- that would be Jim, wouldn't it?"

"Yes," he replied. "The Captain would need to sign off on it on paper, and he would need to approve our arrangement," he explained and she nodded.

"Well, I think Jim approves of us," she smiled as she leaned back under the water to rinse out her hair. Spock stood to the side to let her and then began to wash his own hair while she rinsed hers out.

"I am quite sure the Captain will not have any issue with us cohabitating," he told her and she smiled.

"And if he does I have a perpetually pissed off Klingon who may have something to say about it," she pointed out with a teasing smile.

"I do not think that will be necessary," Spock replied as he started to wash out his own hair. "But it is a good resource to have," he added and Alex smiled in response.

When she got to the gym she was surprised to see a somewhat larger crowd than usual in the gym, and after getting through the crowd she saw Kirk standing there, talking with Thal who nodded. She walked up to the two and looked around. "What's going on?" She asked as she glanced at Kirk who looked at her with a slightly bemused smile.

"It would seem," he said. "Word of Thal's offer to teach some how to fight like a Klingon has gotten around. Everyone here wants to join Thal's class," she looked at Thal, who she could see looked rather pleased at the turn of events.

"I see," she said simply before she looked at Thal with a smile. "And how does Thal feel about this?"

"I will teach the humans," he told her with a nod. "Perhaps Kirk will have the first Federation ship who has a chance at defeating a Klingon Warbird," he commented and Kirk gave Thal a slight smile.

"Don't forget Thal, I have defeated Klingon Warbirds before,"

"Yes, but your next victory will be one earned by fighting, not trickery,"

"You whip these men into shape, and you may end up having a place on this ship indefinitely," Kirk told Thal who straightened up slightly, his face seemed clouded with anger, and Alex was sure he was remembering what had happened to the ship that had agreed to come back for him. But he didn't say anything, he just nodded to Kirk who nodded back and then looked at Alex. "And you?" He asked and she looked at Kirk.

"Me what?" She asked.

"You're here to learn from Thal too?"

"Of course," she replied. "If I'm given an opportunity to learn something new, I'm going to take it,"

"You know your…" Kirk paused, looking for the right word to describe the relationship between she and Spock before he cleared his throat. "Spock," he decided on. "Is a very talented fighter,"

"I'm aware," she said with a smile. "He and I are already figuring out some time to start training,"

"Well," Kirk looked surprised before nodding. "Good," he said and then stepped closer to Alex. "How are things with you two?" He asked and she raised an eyebrow.

"Why do you ask?"

"Well, you know, there was that moment with you two when you got back from the surface-"

"We're fine," she cut him off and he frowned. "Jim, we're totally fine," she assured him and smiled before she looked at Thal who glanced at her. "I'm gonna do this now- I'd like to focus for a bit," she told him and he nodded.

"Of course," he agreed before he stepped to the side and she approached Thal.

"He seems concerned about your relationship with the Vulcan,"

"Don't worry about it," she told Thal who smirked slightly. "Seriously, Spock and I are great," she told him.

"Well, are you ready to do this?" He asked and she nodded.

"God yes," she said with a relieved sigh and Thal clapped her on the shoulder, nearly making her knees buckle before he let out a bark like laugh and then turned to the people around them.

"So," his voice boomed and everyone looked at him. "You think you have what it takes to become as fierce as the mighty Klingon," he looked around. "We shall see,"