24

Shore Leave

Spock patiently waited for Doctor Boyce to patch his superior officer and friend back together.

The CMO never failed to be predictable and admonished the captain for his reckless behavior, then pointed out that he needed a drink. After that he ran the medical tricorder over the captain once again, noted a few things on a data tablet and huffed.

The captain would then ask about the away team, the scientific expedition and the rest of the crew to make sure everyone was all right. The doctor would reply the best he could and then the captain would try to escape the hospitality of his CMO.

Spock watched from a distance with hidden amusement how Pike gingerly moved closer to the edge of the bed, his feet dangling, ready to stand. He estimated it would take four-point-two-seconds before the doctor gently but sternly stabbed a finger at Pike's chest and told him that if he didn't take it easy for the rest of day, he would not be reinstated the next day – not even for light duties.

What wasn't a regularity in this show was the sudden appearance of Number One, tightly followed by Nurse Giles.

"Una," Pike acknowledged with relief and then turned to Phil. "Is she all right?" he asked.

"She'll be fine; she'll just need a little rest-," he trailed off and waved at them. "Now, get out. Both of you."

Una jerked her head around in surprise, the look on her face priceless. If Spock was to be honest to himself, Chris did look quite surprised too.

"What's the matter with him?" Una wondered aloud.

Chris bit his lower lip, looking tired as he gently placed his hand over his healing ribs. "I think we've cadged his hospitality a little too much lately. Let him have some solitude and a bottle of brandy, he'll be right as rain."

The trio, Pike, Spock and Una, excited sickbay together and began to walk toward the bridge.

"We have returned to Circusia," Una filled him in. "Louvier says the chancellor is happy."

"We have downloaded everything recorded on Trehelios safely to the Enterprise," Spock reported. "The shuttles are stowed and secured on hanger deck. Lieutenant Lesley does estimate that the Columbus will be out of service for at least a few days."

Chris nodded as they stepped into the turbolift and was greeted by Mann. "Bridge," he commanded.

"Sir, ma'am, Spock," the chief of security acknowledged with a smile. "Our archaeologists successfully covered the gateway before we left Trehelios. They are confident no one will find it unless they specifically search for it."

"Thanks," Pike replied softly as the turbolift doors opened on deck one.

"Captain on the bridge," Nicola stated.

"Commander," Pike called sternly as he saw Louvier's finger hover over the communication's button situated in the armrest of the captain's chair. "What Doctor Boyce doesn't know won't hurt him," he reasoned.

Matthieu smirked. "Yes, sir," he replied. "In that case; may I leave the ship in your hands, captain?"

Una narrowed her eyes suspiciously at a duffel bag next to his feet. "Going somewhere in a hurry, Louvier?" she asked curiously.

"Actually, Amin challenged me on night track orientation. Apparently, she thinks she'll win," he replied cockily.

Una nodded cunningly. "Why do I get the feeling you are of another opinion?"

"Off you go then," Pike suggested and then glanced around the bridge; most of the officers still present belonged to the alpha shift; a shift which had ended long ago. "Nicola, Mann, Caruso, Spock and Number One. What are you doing on the bridge?" he chided lightly. "I thought this crew was about to have shore leave."

OOOOOO

"Trina," Vicente Nicola called jovially as he spotted the chief of security, bare foot and dressed in lounge wear, with a bowl of chips in her hands. "Aren't you going down to the planet?"

She laughed and shook her head as her eyes darted around the large and empty mess hall. "Maybe tomorrow," she admitted.

"Where is your sense of adventure?" the communication's officer asked with a grin.

Mann huffed. "As the head of security, I don't need any more adventures than I already have," she remarked dryly.

Nicola shrugged. "So, what had you planned on doing then? Sitting cooped up in your quarters with an old-fashioned book?"

She made a face. "Actually, that sounds like a dream coming through."

OOOOOO

He had beamed down to Circusia early in the morning so that he could watch the sun break through the veil of dusk. Spock had then meditated far into the afternoon. He sat ramrod straight, his legs folded while his arms rested calmly on his thighs with his palms up. His eyes and mind were closed to the outside world and its beauty. He didn't pay attention to the rocky beach and the lapping waves before him nor to the mountains behind him. The slightly chilling breeze didn't bother him at all as he exhaled deeply.

The Vulcan was still troubled, but he was no longer disturbed, by what he had seen through the mindmeld. For some reason, although he could not explain why, he was comforted by the fact that the Araxians had taken it upon themselves to look after Christopher Pike. Now, the human was stubborn and reckless enough to get into danger and scrapes anyway but Spock had a feeling that he could rest a little easier.

He wasn't sure he would ever forget the feelings of despair, rage and confusion or the totally unselfish sacrifice his captain and friend had made at the monastery of Boreth. However, he now understood the constant denial Pike had lived with since then and the detachment and nonchalance with which the captain sometimes threw himself into danger. Apparently, the captain's subconscious mind was convinced his future could only end one way.

Captain Pike usually reminded him that there is always a third option you seldom consider but when it came to his own destiny, he had lost faith that such an option existed. However, Spock still had that faith and he knew the Araxians had it too. Commander Una and Doctor Boyce would have been reading Pike the riot if they had known about his possible future and told him he had been fed a bunch of crap.

Spock was conflicted, he wanted them to know so that they could talk some sense into him but as he had tried to bring up the subject his superior officer had been adamant, he did not want Spock to tell them. It was as if the captain believed something horrible would happen to his friends if they knew. The request was illogical but Spock had chosen to honor it anyway.

His sweet mother, Amanda, always the emotional one. The kind and warm human who'd tried to look after her little boy and his foster sister the best she could while living on a planet seemingly devoid of feelings, had once tried to tell him that he needed to nurture both his human and Vulcan side. However, now more than ever, after what he had witnessed, he had realized what it meant to feel; what it meant to be human. He was no longer convinced he could manage that. When he was younger, a student, he had always believed it was harder to be a true Vulcan than a human, now he wasn't so sure.

Spock sighed and opened his eyes to avoid the inner turmoil he was feeling and stared out across the ocean, the azure blue water frothing against the rocky beach. He felt as unsettled as the ocean looked. He decided to further develop his skills of meditation, to lock away his inner feelings for the greater good, for duty to Starfleet. He would have to let his sister go now; he knew she had arrived safely. He would strive to be the best of both worlds for as long as he lived.

OOOOOO

"Can't you stay still?" Boyce complained lightly as he patted the large animal on the neck. "Can't you settle for a drink with me?"

Chris looked down at the doctor from where he was sitting, in the saddle. He gently stroked the fur on the Hav'rat's neck. He wasn't sure it was anything like a horse to ride but he guessed it was the closest thing to it on Circusia.

"You should know, I never certified you fit for duty," the good doctor added with a faint yet cunning smile as he looked up at his captain and friend.

Chris bent forward in an effort to get closer to the CMO. "And you should know I am on shore leave," he smirked.

"Well, your healing injuries doesn't care about that," Phil replied sourly.

"Your complaints are noted, Phil," he said softly and nodded out toward the sea. "Why don't you report me to my parasailing XO?"

"Because she is just as bad and you know it," he replied and then raised his drink. "Cheers – for the record - I am on shore leave too, so don't fall off that thing."

Chris laughed, a genuine laugh this time, as mirth sparkled in those blue eyes of his. He might not be free of his worry and fear for the future but today, hope was rising within him that perhaps his future wasn't so dark after all. He gently steered the Hav'rat toward the beach, feeling the animal's power beneath him as he galloped freely toward the beautiful sunset.

OOOOOO

The End

Note: Thank you all for following, favoriting and for bringing me lovely feedback on my work. This will be my last Star Trek Discovery/Strange New World story for the time being. I hope you have enjoyed it.