Compromising Positions
"What can I do to assist you, Mr. Spock?" McCoy said jovially, he rarely had occasion to see Spock in sickbay unless he was gravely ill.
"Dr. I believe I may be emotionally compromised."
Bones eyebrows rose to the ceiling in shock.
"You Mr. Spock? Emotionally compromised?"
"That is what I just said."
"But how? Why? I don't understand what I can do for you."
"You are the ships doctor, I wish to ascertain if there is a physiological cause for my condition."
"Oh, do you think it could be... I mean do you feel...'it'."
'It' doctor?" Spock asked.
"You know, that fever you Vulcans get but refuse to name."
"No Doctor I do not feel 'it' coming on again but I do not know what else could be causing my current condition."
"Well, Spock why don't you sit down and explain to me exactly what you are... ah, feeling."
"I cannot sleep the full cycle that I usually complete, I find I have no appetite, I'm finding it difficult to concentrate during even the most menial tasks, and most importantly I am not able to reach my center during meditation."
"And that is unusual for a Vulcan?"
"It is indeed Doctor for a Vulcan there is no more important practice than meditation in aiding one in controlling emotion. Without proper meditation, I am compromised and grow more so every day."
"I always wondered how you always acted so unemotional even under the direst of circumstances. Meditation huh? Ok well lay back and let me examine you."
Bones noted that Spock was in top physical condition, not a hint of hormonal imbalance, no fever, no inflammation, no infection, no nothing, and he informed Spock as such.
"If it is not an illness what is causing these symptoms?"
"I'd say it is stress," McCoy said.
"Vulcans do not feel stress, that is what meditation is for."
"And your meditation is failing. Spock, you've said you tried the Vulcan way of coping with stress but has it ever occurred to you that you are only half Vulcan?"
"It occurs to me every moment Doctor, I see no reason to reiterate it."
"What I mean is, did it ever occur to you to employ human means of coping with your emotions?"
"No."
"Well?"
"Well, what Doctor?"
"Well, are you open to trying the human way?"
"And just what does the human way entail."
McCoy was surprised to hear Spock going along with this scheme, he must really be upset to take advice from him.
"Usually we lowly humans cope with excess emotion by venting; some use physical exertion, but most often it is simply talking."
"Talking?"
"Yes, we talk about our feelings and share our troubles and that helps us cope."
"Doctor Vulcans do not talk about our feelings, we control and master them."
"But humans do, and you concede Vulcan techniques aren't working, so I prescribe a session with the ships new counselor."
"Negative Doctor."
"Damn it, Spock, why come to me for help if you won't take my advice."
"I presumed, incorrectly it seems, that you could find a cure that did not involve beads and rattles and unscientific 'sharing'."
"Spock, now that you've reported your condition to me I have no choice but to file my findings and report them to the captain. Now, I am ordering you to-"
"Fine Doctor," Spock cut him off, "I will try your suggestion of physical exertion."
"Ok then," McCoy grinned finally winning against Spock. "Exertion consisting of what exactly?"
"I will practice a form of Vulcan martial arts which may aid in centering my mind."
"Good, good, you know I recall that you and Jim used to spar all the time, you might want to grab him."
"I would prefer to practice alone if I am to regain my center."
"Of course, Spock. See it's not so hard taking doctors orders, is it? I'll tell you what, I will even help you out. I will request reassignment of your next shift with the captain and schedule you right away for a private gym. I'll send you the details."
"That will not be necessary Doctor. I can practice on my off hours."
"Nonsense, if you thought it necessary to visit me then this must be serious, no backtalk either Commander, that is a medical order. Let me make the arrangements and I will send the details of your prescription to your console."
"Alright, Doctor, I will follow your order."
Spock left sickbay and left McCoy speechless. He'd noticed that Spock was a little more uptight than usual but he had no idea that it was this serious if Spock was seeking medical treatment.
"Stubborn elf," Mccoy said as he went to the computer to make Spocks r&r arrangements.
The real reason Spock was out of sorts was so obvious. He was displaying all the symptoms of a man in love. It would be funny if it were not so sad. Spock was experiencing something that most humans went through in their teens. McCoy wouldn't wish this on his worst enemy, well maybe he would. "Serves Spock right," he laughed.
As he went to schedule a rec-room for Spock he noticed they were all booked but as the ship's chief medical officer, he had the authority to bump somebody if he chose and as he scanned the list of reservations he noticed Lt. Uhura's name.
"Well, well, well 'cherez la femme'," he thought. There was the root of Spock's problems right there.
Before he could think better of it he scheduled Spock for the rec room that Uhura had reserved.
He was meddling, there was no way around it, but those two were as stubborn as Aldebaran mules.
/*-/*-/
Thanks to Sulu, Uhura no longer felt comfortable exercising in the ship's public gyms. She was still being called by her new nickname 'Champ'. You would think people would find something more interesting to do than to tease her. These people were supposed to be professional adults, yet they behaved like a bunch of high schoolers. Uhura was over it. She swore she would never gossip ever again. Spock and the Vulcans were right about one thing, gossip was highly illogical.
But she was still tense and stressed. Her attempt at relaxation in the spa had failed as well, so now she would have to relax and workout by herself in a private gym.
She got right to work, stretching out her sore tense muscles. She hadn't had a chance to really move her body since the failed sparring match with Sulu. Every time she replayed that punch in her mind she cringed. She had not meant to hurt Spock. She was just in some sort of zone, she had just needed to punch something, and Spock's face just happened to be there. But that was no excuse. Violence solved nothing, it only exasperated things which was the case now. She had apologized to Spock and hopefully now that she had a chance to cool down things could go back to some semblance of normalcy.
These thoughts were going through her mind as she started her workout. She was doing her crunches and then she would do her lunges and then maybe she'd do some jump rope. She liked to work out with music and she had some soft instrumental music playing in the background as she put her body through its paces.
She felt a little lighter since her talk with Spock. No, they were not at a perfect place, but for now, she would live with things the way they were. After her talk with the counselor, she realized she was not being fair to Spock. She was a communications officer, she needed to communicate with him, air her grievances and move forward.
Someone came barging into the gym just as she was about to do her rope routine.
"Mr. Spock! What are you doing here?" Uhura asked. She supposed turn about was fair play as she barged into his space all the time.
He was dressed in workout attire as well and he and carrying a gym bag and Lirpa!
Spock looked totally nonplussed to see Uhura dressed in workout attire and sweating in the private gym. He was certain Dr. McCoy had booked this room for him.
Uhura approached him. She seemed to be fascinated by his weapon.
"What are you going to do with that thing?" She pointed to the lirpa.
"I was assigned this gymnasium by Dr. McCoy. But I see it is occupied. I will return at another time."
"Don't be silly, we can share. I'll just be in this corner jumping. I hope that won't disturb you?"
"No, you will not disturb me. I hope I will not disturb you, I planned to practice Suus Mahna." he said. See he could be friendly.
"Oh really? I haven't seen you do that before, I'd actually like to see what it's all about. Can I hold that lirpa? I saw them all over the place on Vulcan but never got to handle one."
Spock was wary of allowing Uhura to handle his lirpa. He didn't believe she would eviscerate him but then again he didn't believe she would break his nose...
"Please be very careful, the blade is extremely sharp."
"I know how to handle a blade."
She hefted it in her hands and nearly doubled over with the weight of it.
"Damn this is heavy! And you just walk around with it as if you're carrying a hollow pole or something."
"The weight is carefully balanced to the owner. I could procure one calibrated to your...dimensions."
"Like my harp?"
"I beg your pardon?"
"Amanda said you had a ka'athyra custom made just for me?"
"I did. You were an excellent student and you deserved your own instrument. One better suited to your talent."
"I had an excellent teacher. Your ka'athyra is beautiful but the one you gave me was perfect for me. I'll always cherish it. Now, this," she tried to swing the lirpa, "I don't think I'll be doing any damage with this. It's quite awkward."
"Like everything it requires skill and practice."
"I can't believe Vulcans still fight with such ancient weapons," She said shaking her head.
"Vulcans do not fight with these weapons anymore. They are mostly ceremonial. However..." he stopped speaking.
"What?" she nudged.
"They are used for traditional combat during a Kalifee," he admitted.
"Oh. Okay, then I'll let you get to it. I'll just be over here in my little corner."
Spock had not liked to stir memories of their Kun et Kalifee. It was a subject they both seemed determined to skirt. So he went to his own corner of the room and prepared to do his exercises. He turned his back to Uhura and began with simple stretching drills and then he moved on to perform the katas of the Suus Mahna, the martial arts of Vulcan.
Spock was deep into his moves when he became aware that the sound of the rope striking the floor had stopped. Spock looked up in the mirror to see that Uhura was seated on the floor in her corner sipping from a water bottle and watching him.
Knowing that she was watching him so intently made him feel...uncomfortable. For the first time in many years, Spock lost his concentration. He couldn't continue.
"I think that will be all for today." He announced and he went to collect his gear.
"Wait, Spock before you go, do you mind showing me some of those moves. It was really beautiful."
"Perhaps another time Lieutenant I am, um..."
"Chicken?" She challenged him grinning.
"No, I was going to say-"
"Scared? I promise I won't hurt you. See" She waved her hands in front of him, "no boxing gloves in sight," She teased. She was already back to her normal playful self, he observed. Meanwhile, she had him going in circles.
"Okay, but it will require that I touch you to put your body into the proper positions," he warned. Please let her say no, he hoped.
"Oooh Okay, you can position me any way you like." She said with enthusiasm. Meanwhile, Spock felt like a man going to his doom.
He showed her the basic moves and as promised he had to position her into the proper form. He was forced to touch her forearms, and then her calves. He positioned her hips into the correct position and then her shoulders. He was glad when she learned the proper stances and he could stop touching her.
Uhura was, of course, graceful and strong and a fast learner. She was able to follow a simple beginner's Kata. Next, he showed her some simple self-defense moves. Ways to evade capture, ways to break an assailant's chokehold, ways to disarm a man. She was an apt pupil.
In the last move, he grabbed her from behind and she was supposed to flip him over her shoulder but she hesitated.
"Lieutenant?" Spock questioned. He was still behind her with his arms around her throat and her waist.
"Nyota?" Spock said again. She was breathing heavily and her chest was heaving. He looked at her in the mirror and her eyes stared back at him with a strange intensity. Suddenly she hooked her leg around and swept his feet out from under him toppling him backward. Before he knew what was happening she had straddled him and had pinned him to the mat.
Now Spock could easily defend himself against her attack and throw her off but he couldn't move. He was paralyzed with indecision. Uhura lowered her head and rubbed her forehead on his, she then very slowly rubbed her head against the side of his face and neck. And finally, she kissed him. Her lips gently kissed his, coaxing him to yield to her demand and Spock was stunned. He didn't even have sense enough to kiss her back and before he knew it, the kiss ended and she sat up staring at him.
"Oh my god, what am I doing?" she looked confused as if she hadn't just done what she just did.
Spock had the good sense not to offer his opinion.
"I am so sorry," She climbed off of him and ran to her corner collecting her gear. Spock stayed where he was. He tried to catch his breath and figure out his next move.
He heard Uhura leave but he still lay on his back on the gym mat willing his body to be calm, willing himself not to do what instinct demanded. It seemed his wife had just scent marked him.
What. The. Hell?