Holidays, thus it takes me forever to crank it out. This is a long chapter! Yay!

I don't own Star Trek, past or present =.=

Kirk was on the deck, running over a few statistics with Sulu, as well as playing cards. The morning was boring and the captain yawned.

Hikaru smirked, "Tired?"

Kirk shook his head, refusing to admit defeat. "Not at all."

Sulu laid down a few cards and Kirk just about dropped into the floor. Hikaru never made a comment, but kept on smiling. "So … what happened yesterday? With that girl."

"Man, I don't even know where to begin. I do not want to have to deal with that at Command." Kirk folded and Sulu reshuffled the cards.

"I don't blame you. That's not something listed in the Prime Directive though, right?" Kirk shook his head. "Hope not." Kirk was sure that the Prime Directive doesn't mention anything about time travel coordination or fringe science.

At that moment Spock stepped onto the bridge. "Good morning Captain, Sulu." The half-Vulcan sat down beside Jim and raised an eyebrow to their game. Hikaru was about to sputter and excuse but Jim shrugged. "We're running stats Spock. How's the song bird?"

Spock couldn't fathom why Jim insisted on calling Miss Kholer song bird. There was no reason for such code names. "I have not seen Ms. Kholer since yesterday's incident. She is probably still in her room."

"Mid-day sleeper huh?" Kirk was playing a new hand with Sulu, who dealt Spock a hand, only to have them shuffled back into the deck. Everything was silent for five minuets, in which Sulu was able to give Kirk a miserable defeat.

"Sulu, I thought you only played with swords, not cards! Gah …"

He chuckled and stood up. "Captain, I hate to say it, but I have many undiscovered talents." Both laughed and he formally dismissed himself from the pair. Spock and Jim looked at each other. Jim nodded his head towards the lift and Spock nodded. Once in the lift Jim rested against the wall and rubbed his hand over his face.

"So what can we do about her?"

Spock himself was not sure. "What would be the best thing to do?"

"You're the smart one, you tell me. I mean, do we leave her at Command?" Kirk honestly couldn't say left or right on this one. Spock was on that same side of the fence.

No matter where they put her, on the ship or back on Earth, she would have to be in someone's care. Kirk wasn't sure how to approach or handle the situation. It was a female, and from experience these kinds of issues made them very temperamental. Those kind of women tended not to like him. Sure he found her attractive, but he'd rather not, plus, he didn't care much for blondes.

"I suggest that we leave her at headquarters. With our mission it would only be a hindrance to the mission if we have someone who is not a crew member or of benefit." Spock saw the logical side until Kirk had a light bulb.

Normally his ideas, his ones with potential brilliance, also had potentially dangerous side effects. With a lopsided grin he placed his hands behind his head. "I changed my mind, lets ask her what she wants to do. Maybe she'll stay! I mean come on, she's smart! Who'd she work for?"

Spock felt the need to roll his eyes but suppressed it. He realized that Kirk would want to keep around any available female. Especially one who could work on the ship. "She stated that her firm was NASA, a now unused organization. They set the foundation for space travel."

Spock could almost hear Kirk's enthusiasm and flirtatious comments. But he had a point. If this woman was intelligent as she led on maybe she would be a useful addition. Then again that was against regulations. And on that note, she wasn't necessarily a regulation case since she was not within the legal standards due to her birthplace.

Spock found himself thinking into the situation too much. They left the lift and Kirk's stomach growled. "Wanna catch some breakfast?" He thumbed down the hall.

Spock shook his head. "I'm not hungry." Kirk shrugged.

"Suite yourself. I'm going for an omelet. I really like them when there's a bunch of cheese and ham and pepperoni and hot sauce and peppers! Cajun makes them even better."

"It sounds as if you are a chef rather than a womanizing Starfleet captain." Spock received a playful glare.

"Was that an attempt at a joke Mr. Spock?"

"My apologies Captain, but I was merely stating a fact."

"Hmph."

A few moments passed, but being the person Spock was, he couldn't quit focusing on Miss Kholer. She was an enigma on their ship and there were many more things they had not addressed.

It had been a month and a half since the Nero's interference with the time stream. Then this happens.

Spock was thinking about the time travel the Enterprise keeps encountering. How had Miss Kholer come across a blackhole? He remembered. She claimed to have created it from compounds and materials she had access to close to two hundred years ago. It was something Starfleet was working on, but there were no breakthroughs yet. His hand cupped his chin in thinking. Kirk noticed the look.

"Spock, if you're bored you don't have to sit here and watch me eat. I mean, you've probably got something study in the lab."

Spock appreciated his friend and his odd affection. Nodding he stood up. "I think I shall check on our guest and see if she is in need of assistance."

Kirk smirked, "Spock, if I didn't know better and if you were half the flirt I was, I would say you … fancy her. Yeah, fancy, that's a good word."

"Jim, I assure you I fancy no woman, not at this moment in time." There was a look saying that he was far from being over Uhura.

Kirk grimaced and mumbled an apology. "Don't worry. You were merely trying to open my options. I just do not think this is the time for such." Jim nodded. Spock had his own way of opening up, but he knew.

Spock left Jim to his breakfast and commenced to visit Miss Kholer.

- - - - -

Trinity jerked up. Her eyes were wide and she looked around. It took her a second but she stood up and figured out that the abrupt buzzing was a door bell. It was the most annoying door bell. "I'm coming … I'm coming."

She yawned and shook off the sleep and rubbed her face. She wondered who it was and more importantly, what time was it. She fumbled around in her mind. She had no idea how to get the door open. "Ohh … Um, whoever's out there, I'm not sure how to open the door!"

Too many damned buttons.

Soon it whooshed open and light flooded in. Squinting she stepped back then turned her head to see who it was. She wanted to be surprised, she really did, but she wasn't. It was First Commander Spock, the pointy eared half-Vulcan.

He nodded to her and raised an eyebrow.

It took her a moment, she was still half asleep. Embarrassed at her reaction time she waved him in.

Spock latched his hands behind his back. "Good morning Dr. Kholer. I am here to see how you are fairing and to assist in misconceptions and curiosities you may possess. Forgive me, though, for waking you, I had no intentions of such."

She was taken back a little to see someone so polite. No one, except the men in her family was so courteous. She was pleased to see that, despite a few hundred years into the future that humanity really had changed.

She gave him a weak smile and motioned her hand out, "Please have a seat." She felt awkward offering him a seat since this was his ship.

"And no worries about getting me up. I need to anyway. If you don't mind to let me change first, then I'll be right out with you." She smiled and gave him an awkward wave then dashed into the adjacent bedroom. Trinity only had a few articles of clothing sadly. Damn her oath to never over pack again.

She only had half of what she had brought: a black button up shirt, a white blazer, a pair of pumps, the sneakers she had on yesterday, her jeans, her white lab coat and their pants, a couple pairs of under wear and the clothes she had on now.

Trinity sighed and pulled on her lab coat, rolling the sleeves up to her elbows, pulled on her jeans and sneakers. Then she twisted her hair and placed it into a clip, something she discovered to be a complete necessity with lab work.

Walking back out, she grabbed her glasses off the table. Her contacts, sadly, were not one of the items to be flung in with her. Currently the only pair she had was almost shattered in one eye, a long crack in the other. She could only sigh and place them in her coat pocket. "Sorry about that."

Trinity sat on the small couch across from Spock. "You mentioned something about my questions?"

He nodded from his seat. Trinity noticed how proper he sat and he noticed how she sat with her legs folded under her. "Yes, the captain and I saw it fit to answer what questions you have immediately. however, there are a few more matters of your's that we must see to."

She blinked.

What kind of matters? She was stuck in a different era! There couldn't have been any other matters then that. That was until he presented her with one.

"We cannot send you home, to your time. We currently do not have such technologies. Captain Kirk has seen fit to offer you a position amongst the crew, seeing as we are on a mission, or to let you stay on Earth."

A nod came from the blonde. That was an issue. "Thank you Commander, I appreciate your offer and I would be more than happy to stay on this ship, if that is alright with your Captain. What kind of position would I be agreeing to?" He had no idea.

"I'm unaware of that. It is logical to assume that you will be placed within your own study, science." She smiled, things were looking up awfully quick for her, and she was in no mood to argue with it.

"That's amazing, thank you. You honestly have no idea how much this means to me. Though I have a concern." She seemed wary now.

Spock raised an eyebrow, wondering how humans could never do anything with countering it. She continued on.

"Commander … Spock," he heard his name off of her lips and wanted to ponder it, his name seemed different on her lips. Then again, it was an illogical though.

"I'm capable of the sciences of my time, not yours. I've barely been here and I wouldn't know where to begin. I wouldn't be of much help."

That was very logical, especially for a human. He noted Vulcan-like aspects about this new woman. Even her eyebrows, the way they were shaped, identified either crooked eyebrows or Vulcan heritage. The latter, though, was impossible.

"As logical as that is, you would be of one benefit. You had mentioned experimenting before you were transported through the void Dr. Kholer. I must congratulate you on being the first person to successfully create a black hole without devastating aftermath." Technically she was the first considering her original time period, but with so much time travel, it was hard to keep a record.

Spock saw the look on her face, even though she tried to suppress it. Confidence, pride, superiority, the look in her eyes was burning. The gold flecks in the green seemed to dance, shimmer, and burn. But a permanent look was there too. It was a look that she could burst into chaos at any moment; Kirk had that same glint in his eye. Spock had an uncanny ability to find himself entangled with 'glinting' people.

"So you are simply offering the position for my research?" Her eyebrows went up and a hand went to the bridge of her nose, middle finger stopping on it. She immediately frowned.

Spock noted the strange gesture, finding it very curious.

"In a sense, but also because we could use more of those who can easily understand the study. The science division is the smallest amongst the Enterprise. Your work would have much more sufficient labs to study your formula in for black hole technology for significant and historical breakthroughs." Every scientist in the world wanted their own break through and despite her underdog position due to having such advanced technology, he concluded from her personality that she would easily adapt to the machines of his time.

"Ah, and so you reel them in. Commander, your offer is gracious, especially to have such access to the labs here. You must be highly intelligent, knowing no scientist can turn down no opportunity for a breakthrough." She read his mind.

For another two and a half hours, Spock went into detail with what he knew of Earth's history among her other questions.

"Have all your curiosities been satisfied?"

She nodded, "Yes, for now. I really appreciate you taking such time Commander, you must have a very busy schedule the way it is."

Spock nodded and came close to walking out the door before saying, "Dr. Kholer late tomorrow we will be docking by Earth, then shuttling to San Francisco while the ship is being repaired. That would be a proper time to purchase any personal items you may require. Is your vision able to with stand until we reach the city?"

Trinity was a tad shocked that he was that perceptive, not many people were. He had noticed that she was having vision problems the entire time. "Well, is there anything someone can do about these?" She pulled her glasses out of her pocket and handed them to him.

Their hands touched when she passed them to him. He noticed her flinch, he wanted to. This feeling was familiar, but he decided to shove it away, it was illogical to worry about such small issues.

Observing Trinity's glasses he nodded. He could fix that easily. There was a solution for cracked glass now. It had been invented a few decades ago and for those who were clumsy along with being visually impaired, it was magnificent. "I can if you will follow me."

"Alright than, lead the way." Trinity had a time trying to keep up with his long strides with now awkward steps. Sure, she had to stride at work, but he just wouldn't give her a moment. It was a bit agitating, but he was going to fix her glasses so she had no complaints.

Eventually they came to a lift. Oh, elevators. Trinity grimaced but stepped on anyway. No she wasn't claustrophobic or terrified of her pointy-eared companion, Trinity was just scarred of elevators. It was illogical because she knew she was safe, but she had seen one too many movies and heard one too many stories. The only time she got on were when people were with her.

Spock noticed her sudden change in behavior upon getting on the lift. One eyebrow raised up. "Dr. Kholer, are you perhaps claustrophobic?"

She chuckled nervously and shook her head. "Am I truly that easy to read?" It was a rhetorical question but Spock had confirmed it anyway. There came no answer.

"No, I'm not Commander, but elevators make me … uncomfortable." He never looked at her, but nodded, "Understood Dr. Kholer."

"Commander, you don't have to keep calling me Dr. Kholer, it's only a lab formality. Call me
Trinity please."

Trinity smiled brightly and held out her hand. Might as well start making new friends, she thought. Trinity was level headed enough to know that the idea of going home was almost impossible. Almost.

Spock raised an eyebrow to her. She seemed terrified with their first encountered yesterday, then again she was unaware of other life forms too, and she was trying to befriend him. The half-Vulcan could only marvel at the quick and odd mood changes humans went through, especially female humans. His eyes went down to her hand and frowned.

Her smiled faltered. She dropped her hand and nodded, "Right, gotcha." She clasped her hands behind her back and stared emotionlessly in front of her.

Spock caught onto her disappointment. "I ask of you to not take offense. Vulcans do not indulge in physical contact with others." Her face turned from withdrawn to curious as she looked up at him with curious green eyes. "Truly? Not even with your own people? Astounding."

The lift opened up and they stepped off. Trinity left all her discourage on the lift and replaced it with a new found interest in his culture. All the meanwhile, Spock took interest in her interests.

OKAY!

So, I know, this is slow moving and it is KILLING me. But it is necessary. I have a problem with stories where they are devoting love within the next few chapters.

Wanna know why? Well I'm going to tell you.

The only people Spock has ever loved is his father and mother and he never even TOLD them. I think a girlfriend or significant other goes below parent status. Second, he wouldn't know what it is. Seriously, the guy is ONLY book smart. Plus even Humans have to have progress, not instant microwavable stuff.

So there ya go!

REVIEW REVIEW REVIEW! Please? I love them. I miss them.

Live Long and Prosper.