Uhura's Hero

"Are you injured?" Spock asked Nyota. He was seated on the side of her biobed still holding her in his arms. She had finally stopped sobbing and now he only heard a sniffle every once in a while.

"No," she shook her head.

"What happened?" He asked her gently.

"He touched me," Uhura said, her voice breaking.

Spock immediately felt rage roil through him but he tamped it down. He could not afford emotion. His wife needed him to remain calm.

"How did he touch you?"

"He grabbed my arm." She said sitting back on the bed and looking up at Spock with big frightened eyes. "He shouldn't have touched me like that. I warned him."

"No, he should not have done so." Spock agreed with her assessment.

"And I just lost it. I am so sorry. I didn't mean to do all of that but I just got so angry-"

"Shh," Spock stopped her before she let her emotions get the better of her again. "You were within your rights to defend yourself."

"But why couldn't I stop? I didn't mean to keep hitting him but I just couldn't stop."

"I do not know," Spock said. "Would you permit me to join with your mind?"

Uhura didn't even hesitate. She sat up and leaned forward for Spock to touch her face. It reminded Spock of the other mirror Uhura when they melded. She also seemed quite comfortable with Spock sharing her mind. Back then Spock never imagined that there would be such an intimate relationship between this Uhura and himself. And now she willingly gave herself over to him. He was humbled by her trust and he vowed that her faith in him would not be in vain.

He touched her psi points and easily joined their minds. He was there with her inspecting the communications array. He saw the landing party move on and one engineer, Chief Rogers stay behind to ask questions. And then Spock witnessed the incident. The Chief was looking at Uhura as a hungry wolf would eye a lamb. Uhura noticed it and tried to steer the conversation back to the communications array but the Chief wanted to have dinner with her and when she declined he became aggressive and grabbed her arm. How dare he touch a Vulcan woman!

Spock didn't know if the thought belonged to himself or Nyota but the sentiment was shared. Rogers had crossed a line. Spock saw through Nyota's eyes as she deftly maneuvered Rogers and laid him out flat on his back and then kicked him repeatedly. Spock broke the meld when he felt Nyota becoming distressed.

"That is enough Lieutenant," Spock said, taking an official tone.

"You did what you felt you had to. I will request Rogers be brought up on charges for assault."

"But I attacked him."

"No, he had no business touching you. Nyota," Spock said calmly. "I know you do not understand this, but on Vulcan to touch another uninvited is a grave offense especially someone else's spouse. As we are sensitive to touch it is a personal affront. I believe you were picking up on this from me somehow. As our bond grows stronger I am sure you will pick up on my stray thoughts. I have been remiss in my duty to you. I should have taught you how to shield your mind from me."

"It's not your fault," Uhura said hugging Spock. "I've been distracting you. You were going to teach me telepathy, remember? We just haven't had time with all of this er... um... bonding."

"Yes, quite true," Spock agreed. He was just glad to have her safe in his arms. He wanted to take her back to his cabin and ensure she wasn't harmed and then he wanted to make her forget all about that idiot Chief Rogers.

"Aham! Ahem!," Spock heard Doctor McCoy clearing his throat dramatically outside of the divider. "You two okay in there?"

"Yes, come in Doctor," Spock said while never letting go of Uhura.

He heard the doctor enter. "Well, we've run a few basic tests and everything checks out. I can't find anything wrong with you Uhura. I suspect it is stress but I can't sign off on that until I run some more thorough tests. I'd like to take a blood sample and run more lab work if you don't mind."

"Of course, Doctor," Uhura said. She reluctantly released Spock and sat back on the biobed. McCoy approached her bedside with a hypo.

"Now, this won't hurt a bit," he said as he administered the hypo and drew her blood. "There now, that didn't hurt did it?" McCoy said gently.

"No, it didn't. You have an excellent bedside manner," Uhura assured him.

"Thank you, my dear. Now I want you to get some rest." Normally McCoy would have patted her on the shoulder or arm to comfort her but he didn't dare with either Spock or Uhura liable to toss him across the sickbay.

"Doctor," Spock said, "I'd like to take my wife back to my cabin."

"Oh, um, sure Mr. Spock. I guess that's okay. These tests results will take some time. Make sure she gets some food and plenty of rest and she's off duty until further notice. I officially release her into your custody."

He looked at Uhura, "Don't worry Mrs. Uhura you're in good hands with your husband here." McCoy assured her and smiled.

"Mrs?" Uhura questioned him.

"McCoy grinned. "Yeah, Jim and I debated what to call you two. Are you the Uhura's or the Spocks's?"

"Neither," both Spock and Uhura said in unison.

"Well, you'll have to choose something, its traditional to call a married couple by their family name."

"We are a non-traditional couple," Uhura said.

"Yeah, I can see that," McCoy said looking at the two of them.

"Look, the Captain will discuss all this with you two but Jim and I feel its time to let the cat out of the bag."

"What cat doctor?" Spock asked.

"Its a figure of speech, it means you two are still keeping your marriage under wraps."

"Our marriage is our business Doctor." Spock started.

"Now don't go getting ahead of me. I told you the captain will discuss it with you later when you're more uh...settled down. Right now just take your little wife on home and I'll call you when I have the test results." McCoy turned and left the cubby.

"Okay, Doctor," Uhura said to McCoys retreating back. When McCoy closed the divider she took Spock's hand and rubbed it, distracting him from McCoy.

"You heard the doctor take me home," She said to Spock.

"Yes." Spock looked around her area and collected her gear. In the meantime, Uhura had hopped off the biobed and was waiting patiently for Spock at the cubby entrance.

"I think this is everything is it not?" Spock asked holding her tricorder, phaser, and communicator.

"Yeah," she said quietly. She turned to the entrance but did not exit.

"Nyota?"

Hmm,

"What troubles you?"

She bowed her head. "I'm so embarrassed Spock. I don't know how I'm going to walk out there and face everyone."

"You did nothing wrong, there is nothing to be embarrassed about."

"Easy for you to say. You didn't flip out on a mission."

"I have, as you say 'flipped out' several times aboard this very vessel as you know very well."

"Yeah, but you're Vulcan, things like that don't bother you. You just stick up your nose and look down at us silly humans for noticing your emotional lapse," she joked.

"You are also Vulcan, my wife. And these 'silly humans' are our friends and colleagues. They likely only want to know that you are well." Spock touched her chin and tilted her face up to his. "So show them that you are well and that they do not control your emotions, you do."

Uhura smiled up at her husband. "That was a lovely pep talk."

"Did it accomplish its goal?"

"No. But there is an old Earth saying, fake it until you make it. I feel as if I've been faking it all my life. Can't stop now, right?"

"Nyota you do not have to fake anything. You are in control. You always have been."

Uhura hugged Spock and absorbed some of his warmth and strength. "Okay if you say so. But just in case, here's the plan." She pulled back to look in his eyes. "You hustle me out of there as if you're in a hurry. If anyone stops me or tries to chat and ask questions you just command me to attend you, okay?"

"I thought you did not want to be commanded by your husband?" Spock said in confusion.

"Oh Spock, if you don't know me by now..." Uhura shook her head. "That's a conversation for another time. Just do as I ask, okay? Command me!"

"Won't people find it strange that I am commanding you to attend me? Will, it not 'let the cat out of the bag?'" He asked.

"I'm sure I sound very illogical, but I can't think straight right now so that's the plan. Unless you have a better idea?"

"Why do you need a plan? Why not just walk out of here without fear or shame because you have done nothing wrong?"

"That sounds very logical but I'm not there yet. Please, just back me up here? Let me behave illogically and just have my back?" She pleaded with him.

"Nyota, I will always, as you put it, have your back. I hope you will never doubt that or me? I will never allow any harm to come to you if I can prevent it. I only want what is best for you. Do you believe that?"

"I do."

"Good, then we will implement my plan."

"What plan is that?"

Spock swept her up into his arms.

"No!" Uhura protested, "This is not the plan," Uhura whispered tightly holding on to his neck and burying her face in his chest. Spock did not hesitate a moment before he took her out into the open sickbay and purposely strode towards the door.

Uhura missed the looks of surprise and amusement on the faces of the doctors and nurses. But no one dared approach Spock as he carried her out. When they made it out of sickbay to the lift Uhura finally lifted her head as they waited. "Spock put me down now. I can't believe this was your plan! What were you thinking?"

"You are out of the sickbay, you were not approached by anyone, and there is no loss of face."

"You don't think being carried around like an injured child is losing face? God only knows what everybody thinks now?"

"I do not care what everybody thinks and neither should you. You are ill and I have been ordered by Doctor McCoy to take good care of you so please allow me to do so." Spock said just as the lift doors opened. A crowd of people exited the lift, but thank goodness there was nobody she knew or cared about. Spock entered the lift with her sill in his arms and maneuvered it to his deck.

"I feel pleasure radiating from you," Uhura said after a moment. "I really think you enjoy tossing me around caveman style, don't you?"

"Nyota if you do not know me by now..." Spock shook his head mimicking her words from earlier.

"Spock," she said looking up at him. She wanted to kiss him so badly but it would be breaking a Vulcan taboo against public displays of affection.

"Yes?"

"Thank you."

The lift door opened and he strode quickly to his quarters still ignoring any crewman who may have been in the hall. When they got to his cabin Spock opened the door but he stood in the doorway and hesitated.

"What's wrong?" Uhura asked after a few moments.

"It occurs to me that we have neglected a very human marriage tradition."

"What is that?"

"I have never carried you over the threshold."

"Oh. Sure you have. On Argelius, on Starbase 6..." she recounted.

"No, I have never carried you over the threshold to our home."

"Aww. Well, what are you waiting for?"

"Are you ready?"

"Spock, I don't know what you're really asking me but I told you I'm your wife, you just command me and I will attend."

"Are you sure?" he asked very seriously.

"Spock," Uhura said looking around at the crewmen who seemed to be loitering around watching them. "In case you haven't noticed, we're attracting a crowd."

"I do not care. Are you sure about this Nyota?"

"Yes, Spock. Yes! yes! yes!" She would agree to anything so long as he took her inside.

Spock carried her over the threshold and inside his cabin and the door closed behind them shutting the rest of the ship out.

"Welcome home," he said.

"Oh no!" Uhura said realizing what he meant. "I haven't agreed to move in here yet."

"Yes, you just did. I believe the tradition is to carry one's wife over the threshold of their marriage home?"

"No, Spock I don't think we're ready for that yet."

"We shall have to fake it until we make it." He said as he sat down on his bed with her still in his arms. "This is where you belong from now on."

"Is that a command?"

"No, but it is my greatest wish."

"Aww, Spock. I should have known better than to go along with any plan of yours. I forgot, you always get what you want, don't you?"

"Not always. I keep hurting you and I never wanted that."

"You haven't hurt me, not intentionally. If anything, I've hurt myself. Besides whatever this is that is going on inside my head, if you want me to be better, you'll figure out a way to make me all better. I know you will not stop until you find a cure."

"Indeed, you know me very well. Therefore, I must leave you for a while. I want to consult with Dr. McCoy. Will you rest here until I return?"

"Of course, your wish is my command."

"I wish you to be well," Spock said seriously.

"You're so bossy," Uhura teased him but she noted the serious look in his eyes and softened her tone. "I'll be fine. Go. Save the world and the girl."

"Hmmm?"

"It's a reference to a character called Superman. He comes from another planet and he is bigger and stronger and faster and smarter than humans and he can fly and he is nearly indestructible." Uhura explained. "I loved superheroes stories as a girl."

"He sounds like he should be called Impossible Man."

"Or Vulcan Man," Uhura quipped.

"Vulcans do not fit the description of this Superman."

"Maybe not precisely but you do possess superhuman qualities. And Superman was always trying to save the world, but he had a girlfriend and she was always in danger and he often had to save her and the world at the same time. Anyway, go be super." She shooed him away. "I'll be right here waiting for you," Uhura assured him.

Uhura lay back on Spock's pillow and tried to relax closing her eyes. Before he left her, Spock removed her boots and dimmed the lights. He stood by the bed and made sure she was resting comfortably. So many emotions filled him he couldn't even single one out or give a name to them. He had to find out what was happening to Nyota. She was calm now, but without knowing what had set her off she would not be allowed to return to duty. She would be considered a danger to herself and to the crew and that would devastate her. As he left his suite, he wished he was this Superman character. He desperately needed to save his wife and he didn't know if he had the strength to do so and unlike Nyota, he couldn't afford to fake it.