The Love Bug

Ok, I've been gone for a minute but this story is not abandoned. I had a lot of stuff going on this past year. I bought a house, moved in, had drama with the house, drama with my job, drama with my family, drama with squirrels... but I was always writing. I'm going to wrap up Beyond Antares in the next few chapters and start another story based around Spock and Uhura's married life. Tentatively titled The Vulcanians. I've already written dozens of scenes from their life together. The saga continues...

Christine was shocked to see Spock standing outside of her cabin door presumably waiting for her arrival. She was just getting home from a long and tiring shift in the sickbay and she was not looking forward to another night dining alone in her cabin so anything different was welcome.

"Mr. Spock, this is a pleasant surprise," Christine smiled up into his handsome face nervously. "Were you waiting for me?"

"Miss Chapel, I believe you and I must have a talk," Spock said in his serious manner.

"Okay..." She said unsure of where this was leading. Nyota must have blabbed about their fight.

"Do you mind if we adjourn to your quarters for a private chat?"

"Of course," She punched in her lock code and waved for Spock to proceed her inside.

He stood just inside her sitting area. "Miss Chapel, it has been brought to my attention that you are at odds with Lieutenant Uhura."

"At odds? Is that what you call it? Did she tell you about our discussion?" Christine asked defensively.

"Indeed, Nyota told me that you know of our marriage and that you are unhappy about it."

"That's an understatement. So what? Are you here to reprimand me?"

"On the contrary, I am here to make amends."

"Amends? Why? How?"

"Nyota and I are the cause of your pain and I wish to try to alleviate it."

"The only way you can alleviate my pain is to tell me it isn't true, that you are not married to Nyota and that you don't care anything for her."

"I cannot do that as it would not be the truth," Spock said earnestly.

"Then why are you here? To rub your marriage in my face?"

"Nurse, I am not here to hurt you. I would like to explain my actions so that you no longer feel slighted."

"Okay then explain," she said crossing her arms over her chest.

"Nurse Chapel, what do you know of Vulcan marriages?"

"I don't know much, there isn't much in the media that Vulcan shares."

"Are you aware that when a Vulcan male reaches a certain age of maturity he undergoes a transformation? We contract an untreatable fever which I believe you have witnessed me suffering from."

"Yes, I know you had a high fever twice."

"And once a Vulcan male contracts this fever he has to return to Vulcan for the cure."

"Yes? So?"

"So, once on Vulcan, a male suffering from the fever must be married," Spock said. "This marriage is needed to relieve the fever."

"So what does that have to do with me or Nyota?"

"You are angry at Nyota for marrying me but she had no choice in the matter. I required a wife and she accompanied me to Vulcan to fulfill that duty."

"How wonderful for you both," Christine said feeling angry all over again. "But forgive me if I don't congratulate you."

"The marriage was necessary Nurse Chapel. My life depended on it." Spock tried to explain.

"Mr. Spock, if as you say your life depended on your obtaining a wife, why did you seek out Nyota? I was in the sickbay with you that day, I would have happily volunteered to help you."

"I know that you would have but I did not want to burden you with my illness."

"But you had no problem burdening Nyota?" she accused.

"Nyota is my friend. She was available, she knew of my affliction, and she agreed to assist me. It was very generous of her."

"Yeah, I'll bet she is very generous."

"Nurse, I detect a note of hostility. That is why I am here. Nyota was kind enough to marry me in my time of need. She did not marry me to anger you or hurt you. I would ask that you take your anger out on me and not her. She has done nothing wrong."

"Nothing wrong?! Mr. Spock, you don't know what you are saying. She is using you. If you needed a sympathetic friend to help you, you could have come to me. I would have been happy to assist you in your time of need. I am a nurse, I could have cared for you better than Nyota ever could have."

"Nurse Chapel, as you say, you are a nurse. During that time, a man does not need a caregiver he needs a willing woman. He needs the kind of assistance only Nyota could provide."

"Oh, and just what kind of assistance is that?"

"That is of a personal nature," Spock said.

"I can guess. I know what she's done. I know the kind of woman Nyota is. She seduced you and made you think you needed her kind of 'care'. But Mr. Spock, she isn't the only attractive woman on this ship. I could fulfill any need you have if you would just let me."

She walked up to Spock and placed her hand on this chest. "Mr. Spock you know how I feel about you, how long I've loved you and wanted you? If you would just give me a chance to show you, I know I could make you happy. I'll be anything you want me to be. I'll do anything for you. I can do anything Nyota can do." Christine pleaded.

"Vulcans do not feel happiness..." Spock said looking uncomfortable with the turn of the conversation.

"I don't believe that. I've seen you happy, I've seen you smile and laugh. I've seen when you were glad to see the captain alive. I held your consciousness inside of me before, remember? I know you have feelings."

Spock swallowed nervously, "Nurse Chapel please, you forget yourself." He tried to push her away.

"Mr. Spock, I know you're Vulcan and you think you can't love me, but I love you enough for both of us. If you would only let me, I would love you so well." She raised her hand to touch his face. "Let me love you."

"Nurse Chapel-" he protested and grabbed her wrist.

"No Spock, listen. You don't have to say a word, you don't have to do anything, I'll do it all. Just let me love you," she took his hand and pulled him over to her bunk. "You don't need anyone but me," she said as she lay down in the bed and pulled Spock down with her.

"Only me..." she whispered.

Christine was jolted awake by the red alert klaxon. Damn! It was a dream? It had seemed so real as if Spock were really here with her. She hopped up from her bed and hastily dressed then checked herself in the mirror before she dashed out of the door for the sickbay.

Dr. McCoy had followed Captain Kirk into his quarters where he was intent on discussing their lastest vaccine run. Jim had been busy trying to secure passage for the Enterprise to Vulcan and settling the last incident involving Uhura and he hadn't had any interest in boring administrative tasks. He hadn't had much personal time for recreation either and he had just finished a self-defense demonstration in the gym when Bones finally cornered him.

They were talking in Kirk's quarters discussing the vaccine drop while Jim was busy changing out of yet another torn shirt. Normally the sight of Jim out of uniform was no big deal for Bones, it was almost an everyday occurrence, but today something was different.

Jim's skin was slightly marred by faint scars from previous encounters with various hostile aliens. Though their healing technology had come a long way, some tissue scaring was still inevitable. Those scars were barely noticeable to McCoy normally, but today every one of them stood out in relief against Jim's tanned skin.

Jim's skin was glistening with perspiration from his recent workout which had caused the torn shirt. His taut muscles flexed and stretched as he retrieved a fresh uniform shirt from a drawer, a low drawer which he had to bend down to open.

McCoy had never been attracted to men but he could see why the women on the ship went crazy for the Captain. He was a beautiful specimen of manhood, McCoy thought as he admired the view of the Captain's ass.

Jim straightened up and easily slid the shirt over his head and McCoy felt disappointed that his view of that beautiful tan skin was hampered.

Jim noticed the strange way Bones was looking at him.

"What's up, Bones?"

McCoy smiled giving Jim his old country doctor charm. "What's up? My blood pressure if you hadn't put that shirt on."

"What? Bones are you feeling alright?" Jim asked in shock.

McCoy sauntered up to him, "I don't know Jim, why don't you tell me how I feel?" He cornered the captain next to his dresser and was standing far too close for comfort when they both look deep into each other's eyes for a long moment and then they freak out.

Bones jumped back and shook himself like a wet dog.

"What the hell was that Jim?"

"I don't know Bones, I just suddenly felt-"

"Yeah, me too."

A moment ago they were gazing into each other's eyes and now they tried looking everywhere except at each other.

"Um..."

"Well..." they both started awkwardly.

The intercom sounded asking the doctor to report to sickbay and McCoy promptly left Jim's cabin without a backward glance. Jim finished changing and reported to the bridge. On his way, he noticed strange behavior from the crew in the halls. Now, the Enterprise crew were known for their eccentric behavior but never to this extent on an ordinary workday.

Women and men were holding hands, touching, rubbing, kissing one another and all in plain sight. He made it to the turbo lift and the doors opened to interrupt a couple taking things a bit too far.

"Gentlemen! Report to sickbay on the double!" Kirk ordered.

"Right away sir," The two security officers looked sheepish and hurried off. Kirk continued to the bridge and when he got there he was relieved to see his officers at their stations.

"M'Ress go to yellow alert and patch me through to doctor McCoy."

"McCoy here. Jim, what is going on? I've got people in here behaving oddly, to say the least."

"Like with us earlier Bones?"

"Yes," McCoy admitted.

"Any idea what is causing it?"

"None. People are reporting feeling extremely amorous and a lot of them say it woke them up out of their sleep where they were having graphic dreams." Bones reported.

"Could it be the area of space we're in?" he asked aloud. He looked over and realized Spock was not at his station. "Chekov, check the scanners!" he ordered abruptly.

"Again, I couldn't tell you what's causing it, Jim, I don't even know what it is yet. I'm conferring with Dr. Helen Noel for a psychological cause and we're running scans now. I'll let you know when we have a hypothesis. McCoy out."

"M'Ress locate Mr. Spock, he should be reporting in by now."

"Aye, sir. Reports are coming in from all decks."

"Reports of what?"

"Well MMM," M'ress purred, "reports of nudity, public indecency, a few fights in the rec rooms."

"Get security down there, and sound the red alert. All nonessential personnel is to report to their quarters and remain confined until we get a handle on this thing."

"Aye Captain," M'ress purred again. She slowly uncrossed her legs and then slowly crossed them the opposite way showing a glimpse of furry thigh before she did his bidding.

Kirk looked at the rest of the bridge crew. Sulu and Chekov seemed to be holding steady. Chekov looked adorable as he bent over that scanner, Kirk thought, then he shook his head to clear it. Sulu was sweating like a bridegroom but otherwise looked composed. Others at their various stations were fidgety. Kirk felt aroused himself but he tamped it down viciously and got back to business.

"Where is Mr. Spock M'Ress!"

"Unknown captain, I am hailing him in his cabin and his science lab but there is no response."

"Check with Lt. Uhura, I know she is off duty but she may know where he is."

"Aye, ai, ai," M'Ress said and giggled.

Kirk shook his head, "Keep trying Lieutenant!"

"I am sorry Captain," Spock said as he rushed through the lift doors to take his spot at his station. "I was...uh... tied up in the lab."

The apology sounded lame even to Spock's own ears but the captain didn't seem to care.

"Forget it for now. I need information about this sector of space. Crewman all over the ship are reporting strang psychological symptoms."

"Psychological?" Spock asked intrigued.

"Yeah, men and women all over the ship are acting weird... exhibiting signs of extreme arousal and amorous behavior."

"Amorous?" Spock questioned.

"Yes," Jim said with annoyance. "Amorous. Sexual arousal. Public exhibitions and displays of affection. Some jealous fights breaking out too. Its madness. Like nothing we've seen before."

"Indeed Captain? When did the symptoms begin?"

"Well let's see, Bones and I were talking in my cabin and next thing you know... let's just say we noticed something. Shortly after he was called to the sickbay. I would say about 30 minutes ago."

"Hmm." Spock hummed as he peered into his scanner. He didn't voice his concerns about the matter. Nyota seemed to be stricken with similar symptoms around the same time. It was too much to be a coincidence.

"Captain a preliminary scan of the sector shows nothing out of the ordinary. However, I believe I should report to Doctor McCoy as well."

"What for? Spock, I need you here working on finding out what's causing this thing."

"I believe I may have some important insight for the doctor as I too fell victim to the symptoms. My efforts would be better spent coordinating with the good doctor."

"Alright, Spock, I trust your judgment. Just find out what it is, whatever it is. I can't have my crew running around with this... this love bug."

"Lovebug captain?" Spock questioned the name.

"Well, we have to call it something. Right now I'd say it's pretty apropos."

"Aye Captain," Spock said as he exited the bridge.