Red 18

They wasted most of the day in the hotel room before boarding the tube back to San Francisco. When Sam stepped off the last step of the platform she was absurdly grateful to be home. They parted ways in the commons and Sam headed for her dorm room. As she passed by some of the dorm buildings she couldn't help but notice the empty rooms. She wondered briefly what they did with all their stuff. Was it sitting in some recycle bin or in some thrift store? Did some of it get shipped home to parents?

What would they have done with her stuff? She shook her head to dispel those morbid thoughts. She didn't really want to know what they would have done with her things had she died out there. She didn't even want to think on how close she had come to dying at all.

She climbed the dorm steps and walked into the lobby. No one was in the lobby and the vid screen in the lounge was off. It was somewhat eerie because it usually was on this time of the day. She pushed the button for the lift and debated walking into the lounge long enough to turn it on. The bell chimed for the lift and she walked onto it rather than into the lounge. She hit the button for her floor and the lift began to rise. Her floor was likewise deserted and Sam hoped it wouldn't stay that way for long. She quickly entered her room and dropped her things by the door. She kicked her shoes off and flopped down on her bed. She was exhausted and glad to be home at least partially anyway.

They would be going to the memorial tomorrow and the ceremony was supposed to follow it. She assumed it was a little bit of good news to lighten the horrible news that they had nearly lost everyone in Starfleet. Sam rolled sideways and looked at the empty bunk in her room. Maybe Lela was the lucky one getting kicked out when she did or else she could very well be dead too.

Sam sighed and rolled off the bed. Shrugged off her jacket and picked up her violin case. She opened the lid and pulled it free. Spread some rosin on the bow and set it to the strings. She had no set song in her head but it gradually became a rendition of radioactive. She played it through one more time and then just played whatever popped into her head. She channeled all her rage and frustration into the music, letting the smooth tones calm her jangled nerves. She had never really stopped and reflected on what had happened up there when she was on vacation with Kirk. With the music it all came flooding back along with the emotions she had been suppressing.

Tears filled her eyes to the point she could no longer see but she continued to play on until every bit of emotion was laid bare to the world. Then she took a deep breath and abruptly stopped. With shaking hands she returned the instrument to its case and then just collapsed at the foot of her bed and wept. Eventually she was so exhausted she fell asleep. By the time she woke up the sun had set. Yawning she headed to her restroom took a quick shower, with the massage setting up on maximum because she had a kink in her neck now.

Changed clothes and made her way to the mailroom for her dorm. Several of her packages had been mailed a few days before they had come back so they should have been here by now. The lone worker in the mailroom handed her a stack of mail and three of her packages. She took those back to her room and opened them up to see which ones had arrived. One of the packages was something she didn't recognize so she looked at the front label. She frowned it was her name but not her handwriting.

The post mark was England which was the last place she did souvenir shopping and the last place she mailed anything from. She didn't recognize the box either. She slowly opened it and stared at the contents in shock. Nestled inside was the charm bracelet she had admired in the museum. Did Kirk go back and get it for her and if so when?

He was with her most of the time so he would not have had the opportunity. Still it was just the sort of thing Kirk would do. She had never seen Kirk's handwriting to know if he had indeed written the address on the box so she assumed that he had. She slipped the bracelet out of the box and put it on her wrist.

She glanced at the clock and swore, she was supposed to meet kirk for dinner a half hour ago. She groaned and quickly slid her shoes back on.

Kirk was standing and talking with Spock and McCoy when she walked up. She walked up to him wrapped her arms around his neck and gave him a quick kiss on the cheek. He gave the bracelet on her wrist a quick glance and then got this confused look on his face. It confused Sam but she let it go for now.

"Nice bracelet where'd you get it?" said McCoy

Sam gave a glance in Kirks direction and he shook his head no in denial.

"Hey babe, thought you'd never come out of your room, what's up?" said Kirk

"Oh nothing much just took a bit of a nap, seems they can improve travel all they want but they still can't get rid of jet lag" said Sam

"Actually the concept of jet lag refers to the changing of time zones not of geographic locations" said Spock

"Glad to see you too Spock" said Sam

She laughed and it sounded a bit nervous to her ears. Kirk gave her a concerned look and for some reason McCoy was mirroring it. Sam was confused if kirk had bought it he would have owned up to it, just what the heck was going on?

"Is everything all right lieutenant, you seem a bit ill at ease" said Spock

"Actually it's just nerves and an overly quiet dorm" said Sam

She leaned into kirk and whispered into his ear.

"can we talk?" said Sam

"Now that you mention it campus is just a bit on the eerie side with so few people here" said McCoy Spock frowned at the doctor and glanced in Sam's direction as if he had heard her. Sam silently cursed Vulcan hearing.

"Yes indeed, I would not know I have been staying in the diplomatic sector for the last few weeks" said Spock

"Helping the old man to settle in?" said kirk

Spock frowned in his direction

"If by that you mean seeing to it my father's accommodations are to his likings, then yes I have been helping the old man settle in" said Spock

"How's the old man handling it?" said McCoy

Spock let out an almost human sounding sigh.

"He has performed Zan far, and is progressing nicely through the stages. Though the dirge was a bit unorthodox" said Spock

"The dirge?" said McCoy

"Traditional funeral song" said Sam

McCoy gave a knowing nod.

"How so?" said kirk

Spock raised an eyebrow.

"My father insisted on playing one of my mother's favorite pieces in place of the traditional music" said Spock

"Which was?" said Sam

"Stairway to heaven, I believe it was by someone named Clapton" said Spock

"Led zeppelin" said McCoy

Spock nodded at the correction.

"How are you doing?" said Sam

Spock glanced in her direction

"I continue to perform admirably as I move through the stages as well" said Spock

"It helps that he's been busy" said Uhura

She walked up to the group and Spock wrapped his arm around her.

"Busy doing what?' said Kirk

The way he said it implied a who more than a what and Uhura glared at him in response. Spock was also glaring at Jim.

"Working on establishing a new colony for his people, his father is on the planning committee" said Uhura

For some reason she was staring at Sam and it was making her nervous. Kirk moved closer to her and wrapped his arms around her. He bent down and kissed her neck.

"What did you need to talk to me about?" said Kirk

Sam glanced at the others and they stared back at her in curiosity. She leaned into him and gave him a quick kiss.

"When we're alone" said Sam

Kirk gave her a curious look but didn't press for an answer. They walked as a group into the cafeteria to get some food. Sam put the note out of her mind and just focused on how good it felt to be back with her friends. About midway through the meal Alex texted her and said that she was spending some time with her dad since he got out of the hospital. She assured Sam that she would be at the ceremony tomorrow and so would her dad. Kirk looked at her Padd then at her, Sam smiled at him.

"Alex said her dad's doing great and will be there tomorrow" said Sam

"About that did they give us a time?" said Sam

Kirk nodded and finished the bite of food in his mouth before answering

"Actually it's at two and they are doing the memorial as part of the ceremony" said Kirk

"Were expected to wear our dress blues" said McCoy

He was frowning at his plate because kirk had stolen his last roll.

"I heard it's supposed to be televised" said Uhura

"It will be, my father has informed me of the same" said Spock

Sam swallowed because her speech was far from written and the ceremony was tomorrow. Kirk must have sensed her nervousness because he slid his arm around her waist and pulled her close. Uhura and Spock gave them a curious look. Kirk leaned forward and whispered into her ear.

"Relax its going to be all right" said Kirk

Uhura gave them both a knowing look, then she looked relieved by the fact they were obviously together. Sam guessed she was still worried Spock might be interested in her still. Spock gave Sam a curious look as she curled into Kirk's arm. Kirk steered her into the mess hall and they quickly grabbed food and sat down. The cafeteria like the rest of the campus was, strikingly empty and just as unnerving. Their conversations echoed just a little too much and they found themselves lowering their tones to dull the effect.

"Man I hope this place fills up again soon" said Kirk

Sam nodded in agreement her mouth full of food.

"Recruiters have been working overtime accepting pretty much anyone who applies" said Uhura

"Well I hope they start showing up soon, I never thought I would miss the crowds" said McCoy

"Indeed, me either" said Spock

"It is a bit eerie isn't it" said Sam

They all nodded in agreement.

Sam could see they would be reluctant to part ways with everyone being so unnerved so she made an excuse to get Kirk alone after they were done eating.

"I need your help with something farm boy" said Sam

Kirk smirked and followed her out of the mess hall. He was goofing around and acting playful until the door slid shut behind them. Then he went instantly serious.

"So what did you want to tell me that you didn't trust to say in front of our friends?" said Kirk

She sighed in relief so glad kirk was much more perceptive than he looked. She held up her wrist and kirk frowned at the jewelry on it.

"I checked my mail today and this was inside a package I definitely didn't mail" said Sam

"Okay so what's the big deal you obviously forgot a purchase so what?" said kirk

"Actually no I didn't buy this and I am assuming you didn't either" said Sam

"Nope sorry babe it's beautiful but no I didn't why?" said Kirk

"Okay if you didn't and McCoy was clueless when he saw it then, who else could have bought it?' said Sam

"I don't know babe, I suppose it could have been Joanna" said kirk

Sam shrugged

"yeah I suppose, I can always have McCoy ask her" said Sam

She was slightly unnerved now and hoped kirk was right and Joanna had bought it for her. If not then she didn't even know how to deal with the implications of that. She absently rubbed the chain.

"Now do you want some help with your speech?' said Kirk

Sam nodded yes into his shoulder. He guided her towards one of the tables in the quad and they sat down. She pulled her Padd out of her bag and showed him what she had so far. Three sentences.