AN 1: An update! Thank you for following!
AN 2: Some difficulties with formatting. I wanted to change text size for some of this but ffn wouldn't let me. Le sigh.
It took three days after the Artemis docked before Harriet was able to meet up with the Vulcan. Apparently it was standard procedure for a ship's Third to stay back with the Captain and other high ranking crew to ensure the ship was properly installed and undergoing the correct repairs. But what was three days after just over eight months?
… which, by the way, was three months longer than she had planned for!
For a moment, Harriet had been worried he wouldn't receive 'shore leave.' The worry had ultimately been needless; Spock had been granted up to two weeks to 'take care of his personal business' on Earth. Harriet figured that generally meant he had two weeks to catch up with friends and family. As it was, she knew for a fact that Amanda wasn't on Earth and that Spock didn't have friends as such. So, she arranged her schedule to fit his and planned on making him spend some non-Starfleet time with her instead. Spock, gentleman that he was, hadn't tried to dissuade her. Much.
Now, here she was, waiting for him in front of the Spacedock connector terminal, like an errant schoolgirl.
'Calm down already. It's just Spocky.'
Harriet nervously ran a hand over her Vulcan inspired beige tunic, smoothing wrinkles that weren't there before taking a deep breath and stilling herself. It was Spock. Just Spock. It didn't matter that he wore a Uniform (yes, it still deserved to be capitalized!). It didn't matter that she'd made a near profession out of avoiding said Uniform. What mattered (and what scared her) was that somehow everything was ever so slightly off without him. And now he was back.
Harriet exhaled.
It was just Spock.
[… wait for it…]
Oh, who was she kidding. It's Spockity Spock Spockit! Spock was BACK! [why are you so excited?] Naturally, they'd been communicating via PADD for months now but SPOCKY POCKY was home! [coffee?] Now they could have proper conversations, with a proper 'cup of joe' as they say. [this soo isn't about coffee partners, you know that right?] NO MORE strange video letters! [you're hopeless, stop avoiding the topic!]
Right. Well. Now that she'd gotten that out of her system… The inner-maybe-there-maybe-not-voice had a point. Why was it such a big deal that Spock was back planet side?
Harriet waved as Spock came into sight, bouncing on her toes, black leggings peeking through the slits at her sides.
They exchanged the traditional Vulcan greeting, as Spock preferred. Then:
"Welcome back. It is good to see that you are safe and whole."
"The voyage was successful."
"So you have stated. Still, I worried for what you did not say. Do you want to drop off your gear first or go directly to the shop?"
"I will go to my quarters first."
Harriet nodded her head, tucking a stray black curl behind her ear and Vulcan rock earrings. This felt right, this, whatever this was, felt natural, even if she was dropping into some Vulcan speech patterns.
Plan in place, they headed toward the exit and the waiting hover car.
The last thing she heard as they walked off together was a slightly disbelieving: "She does exist."
"I'll wait downstairs while you go up."
They had not said much during the short trip as both understood there would be plenty of time for talking when they were settled at the shop. Harriet herself was perfectly content to sit and enjoy the passing scenery. Spock, naturally not inclined to speak when there was no need, was equally content to not engage in the human habit of 'banter' or 'small talk.'
When they arrived at Spock's quarters, Harriet made a mental note of its location. The knowledge would certainly be of use, particularly seeing as it was surprisingly not located on the Starfleet campus. She wondered who took care of the apartment when he wasn't home. Amanda never mentioned…
Maybe she could look after it for him?
'Merlin and Morgana! Where had that come from?' Harriet stilled in her moment of panic. Thankfully, Spock wasn't around to notice. Still!
[Did I not say this about more than coffee partners?!]
'Hecate BLESS, what is this?'
[So now you admit there's a thing?]
'Calm down, think rationally.'
[There's nothing rational about this]
'Analyze the situation.'
[This is soooo beyond 'a situation' it's almost sad]
'Spock and I are friends. Well, as close to friends as a Vulcan and a human can be (Am I human?). It's perfectly natural that I would worry about his living situation. Merlin knows, he often inquires about mine (does he inquire for my sake or Starfleet's?) I'll ask if he wants my assistance and leave it at that.'
[But will you?]
Spock re-entered the car. Harriet didn't ask.
Sometime later, they arrived at Mrs. Thurston's shop. As Spock took a seat at what Harriet still fondly labeled 'their table,' she absently prepped a service of his preferred tea. The familiarity, even after so long, was soothing.
And, no, she was not acknowledging Mrs. Thurston's raised eyebrow and knowing look, thankyouverymuch.
She was, however, lightly considering what it was about Spock that made it easy for her to look past the Uniform. Intellectually, she knew that he was first and foremost Spock the Starfleet Science Officer with a heavy dose of Spock the Vulcan. Yet her magic welcomed him in a way that she still didn't quite understand. In fact, she had found herself more than once mildly disturbed to find that it was Death, of all beings, who was nudging her toward… something with him. She just wasn't sure what, if anything, that something really was and honestly wasn't sure she wanted to know.
She placed the tray between them and picked up her coffee (as if she'd succumbed to tea! Pffft!).
Inhale, sip, sigh. Harriet relaxed bonelessly into her chair. The time to engage in some Spock style light conversation would come soon enough.
"You said the voyage was successful. Is there much that needs to be done while the ship is docked?"
"There are a few necessary repairs that must be completed."
"None too great, I'm sure."
"No, they should be completed with minimal difficulty."
"Good, then you will be able to spend some time away from the Fleet." Spock, still holding his cup, raised an eyebrow: a silent inquiry.
She took a deep breath, then plunged off the deep end. "I wanted to ask you about possibly taking some classes at the Academy. I have a few in mind but require a Sponsor to complete the necessary procedures in person. Also, a guide. I find that I don't much care for the idea of getting lost on campus."
As if she'd provide the Uniforms more of an opportunity than she was already presenting. Hopefully, Spock, and by extension the Uniforms, would take it as it was meant to be: an honest good faith exchange, one in which she would ignore her better judgment and walk in the open where they could more readily keep tabs on her and where she would get the hands on practical she needed to grow, and become licensed, in the medical field.
"You did not mention a desire to study at the Academy previously. Is it your intention to join Starfleet?"
"No." Would a Slytherin take an oath of friendship at face value?! [or: Helllll no.] "However, it seems Starfleet is the only place where I can further my study of xenobiology at an acceptable level. I have managed to get rather far on my own but I need some practical experience." As it turns out, Death's lending policy was only so lenient.
"I am not certain your…expertise will be well received. It is probable that you will need to submit to a battery of tests."
"So I have been made aware. I am prepared to sit the exams. I can take them as early as next month if the necessary forms are filed." She was as prepared as she was ever going to be.
Spock, as ever, was patient. There was no rush. He knew her well enough by now to know his patience would be rewarded.
'A true chess master indeed.'
She capitulated.
"I do not require any academic accolades to know that I am good at what I do. I only require the classes to become better at what I do." Gryffindors, after all, could have just as much pride and overconfidence in their own self worth as any respectable Slytherin. The difference, at least in this, was that magic and years of studying magical and muggle healing made it more a statement of fact than arrogance.
Inhale, sip, savor, repeat. Wait.
"I understand." And, perhaps, he did.
To some extent, Spock did understand. Learning, and furthering one's understanding for the sake of increased knowledge, was considered by Vulcans to be a very respectable pursuit.
Still, he was learning what it meant to be 'conflicted.'
Over the eight months and twenty two days that he had come to know Harriet, he had learned of her distrust for anything resembling a government entity. He still did not understand why it was so deeply engrained into her behavior patterns but he did comprehend the extent to which it both influenced and induced her actions. This request to be sponsored at the Academy was therefore significant.
Somehow, he needed to foster this new interest.
Somehow, he wanted to foster this new interest.
Decision made, Spock wasted no time in reviewing the forms Harriet had prepared for him on her PADD. He immediately noticed that she had provided no new information and he did not know how she had appropriated birth records and a vehicle operator's license. Logic dictated she had made use of her various 'connections' to acquire them but he knew better than to make overt inquiries.
He did, however, notice that she had provided no physical home address. He would have to rectify that.
"Why should I support your decision to sponsor her, Lieutenant Spock?" Honestly, he should have expected this. Captain Daniels had known for months now that Spock had been growing more attached to the girl. "Are you aware that she is currently on Starfleet's watch list?"
"I am Captain. I am also aware that she wishes Starfleet no harm."
"And I am aware that she has all but evaded all Starfleet attempts to engage with her for the last near year. Except for you – a point which you have failed to address I might add."
"Captain, I thought it prudent to maintain her trust. I do not know the root of her distrust of government entities but her aversion appears to be in direct relation to her belief that Starfleet will not uphold its commitment to the Prime Directive."
"Then you believe her to be of an alien race?"
"I am inclined to believe she is either a human or a betazoid. She has exhibited traits of both. However, I can confirm neither."
Captain Daniels sat up straighter. This was new information. "What else has she exhibited?"
"She has exhibited many traits of interest. Amongst them is a reliance on caffeinated liquids, an ingrained hyper awareness of possible threats within her environment, a reluctance to engage in non-professional relationships, a commitment to the medical profession, and a unique ability to understand physiological difficulties at the molecular level without the aid of scientific instruments. She is also able to move freely from one location to another without use of her legs, a vehicle, or aid of any other observable device." ('She can also influence a human's perception and manipulate her surroundings' but Spock did not think those points would aid his argument.)
A caffeine fix? Of all the things to pick up on … "How do you know she is not using, or planning to use, these abilities against us?"
"She has avoided all contact, or actions that would result in contact, with Starfleet until recently. She has also indicated that she maintains regular, peaceful contact with the community. Respectfully, Sir, this is an opportunity to engage with her and more closely monitor her actions."
"Or, it is an opportunity for her to gain access to additional resources." Captain Daniels sighed. "I will consider your proposal. Dismissed."
Spock, already at attention, nodded, then left Daniels' office.
Prompt: An alien and a Gentleman (PRI's Selected Shorts)
