OK, Y'all kept asking why don't the Vulcans just come and get Spock? Well...

By The Time We Get to Vulcan

"Captain, the deflector shields just snapped on."

"Thank you, Mr. Sulu." Captain Kirk turned to the science station. "Mr. Chekov, what's out there?"

Chekov was gazing into the scanner. "Keptin, two ships closing in fast. Looks like... Wulcan cruisers?" he ended the sentence with a question in his voice.

"Vulcan?" the Captain asked? "What are they doing out here?" he wondered.

"Mmm Captain, we are being hailed."

"Open a channel and put it on the main viewer please, M'Ress."

"Aye sir, on main viewer."

"This is Captain James Kirk of the Federation Starship Enterprise. Please identify yourself?"

A beautiful Vulcan female with a stern expression appeared on the screen. "Captain, I am T'Lann of the Vulcan Space Ship Syrran. We have orders to escort the Federation ship Enterprise to Vulcan Prime expeditiously."

"Ordered? By who?" The captain demanded.

"I received orders from the Vulcan space command."

"The Vulcan space command has no authority over Starfleet vessels," Kirk said.

"We have orders to escort you to Vulcan. If you have further questions, may I suggest you contact your superiors and file a protest?"

"I will take it under advisement," he replied. Then to M'Ress he said, "Cut transmission. And contact Mr. Spock. Have him meet me in my briefing room on the double."

"Aye, Captain," M'Ress said. She watched the Captain rush onto the turbo lift and wondered what Mr. Spock had done now.

*/*/*/*

"You wanted to see me, Captain?" Spock said as he entered the briefing room.

"Yes, commander, I am very interested in your opinion. Why are two Vulcan cruisers intercepting us and insisting they escort the Enterprise to Vulcan?"

"Vulcan cruisers, Captain?" Spock raised his brows at the news.

"Yes. Know anything about it?"

"No Captain. I do not know why Vulcan cruisers are escorting us to Vulcan."

"Do you think your family has something to do with this?"

Spock made a rare expression of annoyance before he composed himself again. He was quiet for a very long time thinking of the answer. If Amanda had commanded the Vulcan fleet then yes, his family was involved. But Amanda was not the head of the Vulcan fleet.

"Captain, as you know, I have not been in close contact with my family for many years until very recently. I hardly think Sarek or T'Pau, who were hardly pleased with my decision to join Starfleet, would send cruisers to escort us to Vulcan. Especially considering the strained relationship between the Federation, Starfleet, and the Vulcan high council."

"That's not an answer, Mr. Spock. I have two Vulcan cruisers on my tail and I want to know why?" Kirk slammed his hand down on the conference table.

Spock calmly said, "Did you ask them why, Captain?"

"They said Vulcan space command ordered them. And we both know Vulcan space command takes orders from the Vulcan high council, and the Vulcan council is T'Pau."

"Captain, were we not on our way to Vulcan?"

"You know we were. But that's not the problem."

"What is the problem, Captain?"

"The problem is, I don't like it. We don't need an escort and I don't want an escort. This stinks of bullying and intimidation."

"Bullying Captain? How so?"

"Yes, bullying! Someone bigger picking on someone smaller. I'm sure you're familiar."

"Vulcan cruisers, even two of them are no match for the Enterprise if it came to a fight," Spock pointed out.

"It will not come to a fight Spock, and you know it. It's the principle of the thing. Vulcan flexing its muscle to Starfleet. I didn't think your people were capable of such posturing."

"Captain, I don't know what this is all about. But I can tell you that Vulcans do not posture. Poker is your game, not ours."

"Poker Mr. Spock? What has that to do with anything."

"Vulcans never bluff and we do not blink."

"No, you don't do you, Mr. Spock. And if you're anything to go by, Vulcan's don't give up easily."

Spock nodded. "Precisely. Thankfully, our worlds are allies. Otherwise, I think you would find us formidable foes."

"I see," Kirk said. It wasn't a threat, just a fact plainly stated. Not for the first time, Kirk saw his friend as he truly was. Not a mild-mannered Starfleet officer, but a Vulcan warrior. And that warrior nature was most evident when he fought a lust-crazed Spock over T'Pring. This side of Spock, of all Vulcans, was chilling. This side of Spock was dangerous, like his mirror counterpart. Jim wondered if Spock's exoneration was more political and less about justice. Were these Vulcan cruisers in the starbase's vicinity "just in case" Vulcan didn't like the outcome?

The captain had a million questions and few answers. "Spock, have you ever been aboard a Vulcan cruiser?"

"No. I have not."

"Neither have I. Do you suppose they would mind if we asked to take a brief tour? Exchange some ideas. After all, we're all on the same side, aren't we?"

Spock studied Kirk's face for any clue as to what he was thinking. Did the Captain think something was amiss? "I can think of no reason why they would not allow it."

"Well then, have M'Ress contact Captain T'Lann and arrange a tour and then meet me in the transporter room."

"Aye Captain. Anything else?"

"No. That's all Mr. Spock. Dismissed."

"Aye."

When Spock departed, Kirk got on the intercom and called for Dr. McCoy.

"Bones, meet me in the transporter room and bring Dr. M'Benga along with you. He might prove invaluable on this mission."

"What mission, Jim? Where are we going?"

"We're going on a reconnaissance mission to meet the new neighbors."

"How's that?" McCoy asked with a confused voice.

"Just meet me in the transporter room, Bones. I'll explain it to you then. Kirk out."

*/*/*

Holy Shit! M'Benga thought when he learned that two Vulcan cruisers were escorting the Enterprise to Vulcan. T'Pau said she was sending transport for him, but not two Vulcan fucking cruisers. The woman did not understand subtle. Or perhaps she understood the implications of her actions and he simply did not?

Somehow, he had become a pawn in a game he didn't understand. All he could do now was keep his head down and hope he survived this clash of titans that were Starfleet and Vulcan. Hopefully, nobody suspected these ships were here for him and they were just helping to ensure Spock and his wife got to Vulcan in one piece.

As M'Benga debated the predicament in his mind, Christine barged into his office, tears in her eyes.

"Chris! What's wrong?"

"I just talked to Nyota and tried to apologize. She hates me!" Christine barely got the words out before she collapsed into M'Benga's arms.

He easily caught her and patted her back. M'Benga closed his eyes and tilted his head back, asking his creator for the strength he needed to get through this day. He had his own problems, damn it! But he tried to comfort his friend anyway. "Chris, I'm sure she doesn't hate you."

"Yes, she does. She said she wasn't ready to forgive me."

"Well then, just give her time. It took time for you to get over Spock, didn't it? Did you think you were going to be bosom buddies again after all that's happened?"

"No, but-"

"But you thought she'd absolve you of all your sins and make you feel better?"

"I just don't want her to hate me."

"She doesn't hate you, Chris. Uhura isn't like that. Besides, that would be illogical. She's just angry with you. Can you really blame her?"

"No," she admitted.

"Okay then. Just give her some time. Anyway, I thought you wanted nothing to do with Spock anymore?" He blotted her tears with tissue from his desk as he continued to console her.

"I don't. But Nyota was my friend. I miss her."

"Mmm-hmm. I wish I had all the answers to fix this for you, but I don't. I've got my own problems to figure out."

Christine lifted her head from Jeff's shoulder and looked at him. "Jeff, I'm sorry to dump all my problems on you. You've been so good to me." She wiped her eyes and blew her nose. "Is there anything I can help you with?"

"No. I'm sure there's a logical solution I haven't figured out. Unfortunately, my logic's not that great."

"Logic? You almost sound like a Vulcan."

M'Benga laughed out loud at that idea. He kissed Christine. "Thank you for that. I needed a good laugh today."

"I wasn't trying to be funny," she said with confusion.

"Don't mind me. The Vulcans have a way of driving you batty the way they apply logic."

"The Vulcans? What have they done? I thought you were leaving today?"

He shook his head. "No need. The Vulcans are taking all of us home."

"What?"

"There are two Vulcan cruisers here to escort the Enterprise to Vulcan Prime as we speak. We should be there in a few days at top speed."

"Oh? Well that's good isn't it?"

"Is it?" he asked, more to himself.

"Of course it is," Christine hugged M'Benga close. "You don't have to leave now. You'll get there faster than by shuttle so you can spend more time with me."

"Yeah," he said.

"You never said why you were going to Vulcan."

"That's right. I didn't." M'Benga didn't elaborate further.

"Does it have something to do with Spock?" she asked.

"Why would you think that?"

Christine shrugged. "We were heading to Vulcan because of Spock. Two Vulcan ships come to escort the Enterprise, presumably because of Spock. You had urgent business on Vulcan suddenly. I can only assume because of Spock. When it comes to Vulcan, it seems all roads lead to Spock."

M'Benga sighed. "I can't tell you anything, Chris."

"That's okay. I don't want to know. I'm out of the Spock business and minding my own business from now on."

"Very logical, Nurse Chapel. I wish I had taken that advice years ago."

Before Christine could ask further questions, McCoy called M'Benga on the intercom. "Doctor, please report to the transporter room for an away mission immediately."

M'Benga sighed. "Yes doctor, I'll be right there." M'Benga pulled himself away from Christine and grabbed his landing party gear. He knew he wouldn't need it, but he had to put it on for show.

"You're not in any trouble are you Jeff?" Christine asked with a worried expression.

"No. No trouble at all," He assured her. I'm just too smart for my own good.

*/*/*

While making final arrangements for Kirk and his crew to tour the Vulcan cruiser, Spock returned to his quarters to inform Uhura of the developments. He found her asleep in their bed fully clothed, including her shoes, which was quite unusual. She looked as if she had just fallen into bed in an exhausted heap.

When Spock looked down at her sleeping face, he couldn't help but feel a surge of emotion. It never ceased to amaze Spock that he was married and bonded to this extraordinary woman. She was everything a man would desire in a wife. He wanted to lie down in the bed and join her, wrap her in his arms and protect her from the outside world, but he couldn't. He was on duty and the Captain expected him in the transporter room.

Quickly, he removed her shoes. She didn't even wake up. He then placed a light blanket over her, and before he left, he kissed her forehead. This finally got a reaction from Uhura. Her eyes fluttered open.

Uhura looked at Spock and smiled. "A handsome prince has awakened me."

"You once said I was no prince charming."

"Did I?" She wrinkled her nose, trying to remember.

"Yes, but you are most certainly a sleeping beauty."

Uhura sat up and rubbed her eyes. "What's happening? Computer, what time is it?"

Spock explained the situation. "It is time for me to be going. The Captain has requested a tour of their ship for purposes I do not know. The captain has asked me to accompany him."

"Oh my goodness! What is this all about?"

"I do not know. The captain thinks it involves my family. I am hoping he is incorrect."

"Spock, why else would Vulcan send ships to interfere with the Enterprise?"

"I can think of no other logical explanation."

Uhura stood up and hugged Spock in a fierce embrace. "I don't think you should go. I have a bad feeling about this."

"Why, Aduna?"

"I don't know. They are clearly here for you. What if they take you away from me?"

"They have no reason or authority to take me away. I have committed no crime on Vulcan, and we were headed there, anyway. They did not ask for me. The captain insisted we tour the ship."

"I still don't like it," Uhura said.

Spock reluctantly pulled away from her embrace. "Aduna, I must not keep the captain waiting. But I promise you I will return to you unharmed. Remember, I am Vulcan too."

Uhura wanted to argue, but she knew it was pointless. Spock had a duty to the captain and the ship and she understood that sometimes the job would take precedent over her and her feelings. The last thing she wanted to do was to make life more difficult for Spock by forcing him to choose between his Vulcan and Human nature. That was something his parents had done, and it had hurt him badly.

She put on a brave face and stood tall. She suddenly wanted to tell him she loved him but she said, "Go on then, don't keep the captain waiting."

Spock stared at her face as if he were trying to read her thoughts, but then he nodded and turned to leave. When the door slid closed behind him, Uhura released a pent-up breath and collapsed back on the bed. Before, she was angry, but now she had a feeling of foreboding. First Starfleet and now Vulcans. What else could go wrong?