Kirk is lonely. That's pretty much it.

Two's Company

In a voice that was just a little too loud, Captain Kirk requested a drink from the bartender in the ship's converted canteen. "Barkeep! Saurian Brandy." He called out. He was enjoying his third, no maybe it was his fourth round of the Captain's special supply. When the drink was served, Kirk scooped up the glass and took a hearty sip like a thirsty man.

He scanned the room, looking for something of interest, something to distract him. There were beautiful women all around, but they were all seated at tables with someone else, either a date or partner. There were tables with groups of crewmen who were engaged in boisterous conversations, but he was not in the habit of socializing with his officers anymore. Over the years, he had grown apart from these men and women that he served with day in and day out.

Now they straightened up and stood at attention when they saw him and some new recruits even went as far as saluting him when they passed him in the halls. During the course of the five-year mission, Captain James T. Kirk's reputation had grown to near godlike proportions. But James Kirk was no god. He was just a man who was very much aware of his mortality and who felt it inching closer every day.

Tonight, he was just looking for something or someone to ease the loneliness he felt when the ship wasn't perched on the brink of disaster. Something or someone to while away the hours until he was back on duty on the bridge.

Usually, that someone would be Mr. Spock. But lately, Spock was nowhere to be found, and Kirk did not dare try to call him in his quarters. He'd made that mistake recently and got an ear and an eye full of Spock and Uhura on his viewscreen. After that, Kirk had steered clear of his friend for a few days until that vision was forgotten. He didn't blame Spock, though. If he were married to someone like Lieutenant Uhura, he'd be incommunicado all night too.

"Well, fancy meeting you here, Jim." McCoy climbed into the seat beside Kirk at the bar. "Drinking alone I see?"

"Not any more Bones. Join me." Kirk signaled to the bartender to bring McCoy a drink from his supply.

"Don't mind if I do. I've got a little free time on my hands. The sick bay is practically empty, which is how I like it. It means the ship is safe and so is her crew." McCoy sipped his brandy.

"It means the ship isn't fulfilling her purpose, that's what it means, Bones. I'll be happy when we finally get back to normal. We should be headed out in the unknown's direction, not headed back into the heart of Federation Space."

"We are back to normal. Spock's trial is over, he's back aboard the Enterprise, and we're just waiting for our next mission. This is a rare respite after all the stress we've been under. Enjoy it while it lasts." McCoy advised him.

"Enjoy what? We've devolved into little more than a Vulcan shuttle service," Kirk said bitterly, drawing the attention of the people seated at nearby tables.

McCoy dismissed his complaint with a wave of his hand. "Jim you're just not happy unless we're chasing Romulans or being shot at by Klingons."

"No Bones. I don't look for fights, but I won't run away from one either. I signed up to explore the galaxy. I can't remember the last new planet or civilization we've encountered. We've been in our own backyard a little too long for my liking, that's all."

"I suppose things are a little slow for you. But I'm still knee-deep in a medical mystery. I'm hoping now that M'Benga is back aboard we can solve the problem of Uhura's various symptoms and get her back on duty."

"Good. And where the devil has M'Benga been, anyway?"

"Symposium on Vulcan. We're lucky we have him aboard as much as we do. He's in high demand."

"Lucky? He's never here when there's an actual need for a Vulcan physician." Kirk complained.

"Well, he's here now and I intend to use his expertise to the fullest extent. He's a valuable asset to the science department. And I never thought I'd say this, but better him dealing with Spock and Uhura than me."

"Why's that?"

"It's not always easy to treat your friends. You lose perspective. M'Benga will be impartial and tell it like it is. And there are some things I do not want to know about Spock and Uhura. You know what I mean?"

"Yeah, I think I know what you mean. I called Spock the other day and Uhura answered the viewscreen..." a look of horror crept over Kirk's face, causing McCoy to laugh so hard he almost choked.

When he calmed down again, he said, "Spock is living his best life and I'm happy for him. Though I have to admit, I didn't think he had it in him. Not this Spock anyway."

"What Spock would have it in him? Mirror Spock?"

"Not even him. That Spock was just as stuck up as our Spock. No, I'm thinking about Spock when he was on Sarpeidon, five thousand years devolved." McCoy said.

"Spock said that five thousand years had not changed you a bit." Kirk reminded McCoy and laughed.

"Well, it sure changed him! He was..." McCoy found it hard to explain the change that had come over his friend on that ice planet. "The thing is, Jim. I don't think it changed him either. It just wiped away the thin veneer of logic and emotional control that Vulcans cover themselves with. But underneath it all, they are passionate and cunning. Dangerous. He reminded me of Khan Noonien Singh."

"Oh, I sure he wasn't that bad." Kirk defended his friend. Spock was nothing like Khan.

"You don't know, Jim. There was a moment back there when I thought he might kill me for that girl. Best advice I can give a man is not to get between a Vulcan and his woman. Remember, he almost killed you for T'Pring and he didn't even like her."

"Yeah, he did," Kirk said, thinking over all McCoy had said. Spock was the best friend Kirk had ever had. He was closer to Spock than he had been with his own brother. But it was true, Spock had tried to kill him for T'Pring, a woman he cared nothing for. What would he do to keep Uhura?

Once again Kirk wondered why he thought pairing Spock and Uhura up would be a good idea.