A big thanks to my beta and all of my efriends, not just those that help with the story but in this crazy real world I call my life.

I do not own… I crave…..

Let us continue..

Intro

Spock couldn't move. He watched as her eyes slowly open. He could hear sounds of someone and the Doctor speaking to him but the words were just soft background noise. Standing as close at the bed would allow he wanted to hear her voice.

"Spock?" she said weakly. It was the first word he heard come from her precious lips. "I need my father…" were the last. His brain went fuzzy and he felt Doctor McCoy help him out of the room.

"Nothing to hide from Commander. After all, he is her father." Doctor McCoy said, before closing the door and leaving Spock in the cold, lonely hallway.

Spock understood this could be the outcome. He understood that he would have to reestablish her trust in him. It still felt unnatural to be on this side of the door. He turned and walked down the hallway. He turned past the nurse's and doctor's offices, and out the front door. He didn't know where he would go so he went where he felt closest to her, the greenhouse.

It smelled of fresh soil and rain from the greenhouse irrigation system. New flora had been added since he had last visited but still paled in comparison to his Nyota's loveliness. Looking around, it was harder than he thought to 'center' himself. Would she ever choose him again? he wondered trying hard to suppress the emotion of loss. But as if by magic or fate or destiny, none of which Vulcans believed in, he received his answer in the form of a very weak signal. Before he turned to leave, he noticed the butterfly, her butterfly. Yes, she would be pleased to see it and he turned and headed back to the medical bay area.

________

The fray - look after you

A very weak summons, but one none the less. Making his way quickly back to the medical building, walking inside was torture. Although the summons from her was a step in the right directions she had initially chosen her father to stay, correct? The Vulcan pondered for just a few seconds before he swallowed hard and concluded that any step back into her life was worth taking.

He moved quickly through the hallway, now active and busy with other nurses and doctors, who for the most part, paid little attention to him but for a glance or two. Spock turned the corner and entered into the hall where his Nyota lay awake but weak.

Spock stopped short, straightened his uniform and attempted to walk into the small room but was stopped by Doctor McCoy. "Spock, can I speak with you please" the doctor asked pointing at the far wall.

A look of confusion and worry showed in the Vulcan's eyes "Has something happened to Lieutenant Uhura, Doctor?" he said as he followed him

"No, no she is fine. She is resting right now" the doctor responded to his inquiry, as he glanced back at the room "I wanted you to know what happened after you left. You need to know what this little girl gave up for you."

"Clarify Doctor." Spock's words were urgent as he looked over the doctor's shoulders and then back to him.

"Well, we thought that she had wanted her father. You were there, you heard her but she wasn't finished with her statement. It was hard for her to get her thoughts out clearly. The whole sentence was, I need my father… to understand that….. you are mine and I…. am yours. Daddy, I love you but if you….. make me choose,….. I choose Spock." Dr. McCoy reported, breaking the sentence up to show how the misunderstanding has taken place.

"And then she asked for you. When I opened the door, you were gone. By the time I had turned around, she closed her eyes. It was like she was concentrating so hard and then fell back into a restful sleep."

"Commander, her father and mother are still in the room. What you say and do right now, could set up how they feel about you and cause strain to your fiancé well beyond this illness. I guess what I'm trying to say is, you are officially in charge of her care. Do the smart thing." He spoke plainly and he turned to head back to his office.

Spock stood still for 10.5 seconds and thought clearly, logically about the doctor's words. He walked to the door and opened it with such care you would have thought he was touching Nyota. Spock slowly walked in; he nodded towards Mrs. Uhura and Mr. Uhura.

He quickly located what he wanted as he moved to the other side of the bed. "Mrs. Uhura, I would like your assistance in helping to bathe your daughter." He turned and pointed to the door. "Mr. Uhura would you come with me sir? Nyota always likes fresh linens on her bed at home and I have been complying with her wishes. Could you assist me please?" Spock spoke without a hint of animosity against them.

Both parents looked relieved. Mrs. Uhura began to fill the yellow tub with warm water and Mr. Uhura walked out into the hallway with Spock to go find fresh sheets for the bed. When they had found the linen, Mr. Uhura turned to Spock and said "Thank you. You could have done to us, what I did to you." appearing remorseful. "But I am just so scared for her. You called in the morning to tell me she was upset with you over some woman and a few hours later she is in the hospital? What was I to think Spock? What the hell is going on?" he said in hushed tones.

Spock spoke stoically but with respect that a father was due. "Mr. Uhura, I made a mistake that I will not permit to happen again. The woman in question may be much more unstable than I had anticipated. As for Nyota's illnesses, we are beginning an investigation into how she came to have drugs in her system."

"Yes, Dr. McCoy told us these are unusual pills to come by. I am afraid for her, Mr. Spock. I know my daughter, she won't leave the academy and I can't stay here with her. We need to know that she is being looked after" he said as he placed the sheets in his right arm and reached for a fresh pillowcase.

"I will look after her. We will look after each other, sir." Spock said, remembering what the doctor had told him of her feelings.

Anita Baker – Sweet love

Mr. Uhura and Spock were making their way back to the ward when they saw Chica looking wild coming around the corner. " Mr. Spock, Nyota is awake and calling your name, hurry!" she said motioning for the Vulcan to hasten his way to the room.

Mr. Uhura started to run with him but his wife grabbed his arm. "No honey, give them some time alone. Let's get something to eat and we will come back in a little while to help him clean her and make her comfortable." She watched as her husband look at her and then nodded.

Spock moved quickly to the room and placed himself next to her bed. If he thought it logical, he would have climbed in it with her. He would have climbed in the bed and held her and never let her go. But this was good enough for now. "Nyota, Nyota I am here. I am here now." he whispered to her and placed his hands on her face as he bent to kiss her forehead.

She turned her head abruptly away from him! Spock softly removed his hands. "What can I do for you, my Nyota? What can I assist you in?" his voice almost human, not quite but just enough.

"My toothbrush" she replied coving her mouth. "Can you help me brush my teeth?" she said weakly trying to move the bed into the upright position.

Nyota couldn't see Spock's face but if she could have she would have seen the widest grin he had ever possessed. His facial muscles, not use to exercising the necessary movements, complained in the form of light pain and he retracted them before standing up to find the tool she required.

By the time the bed was up enough for her to be at the correct height to brush her teeth, Spock was standing beside her with the sonic tooth cleaner and a small amount of unscented toothpaste. Nyota leaned in and Spock gently brushed, holding her back for support. He removed the toothbrush and replaced it with a small cup of water for her to rinse and then discard the finished solution in an empty cup.

Spock then returned with a warm, wet face towel and washed her face for her. After cleaning up the room, he noticed that she had watched him without saying a word. When the room was sufficiently cleaned he walked back over to the chair, he had sat by the bed and waited. Waited for her to say something. Anything but tears, he said to himself. But no tears came, not then at any rate.

"Spock?" Nyota looked at him, biting her lip. The way she looked at him he knew she was asking him the ultimate question without saying it fully.

He moved to her and placed her hand on his heart. "Never. No! No one is worth losing you. I made a logical plan…" he said "I.." but Nyota stopped him with soft kisses.

Gently pulling from him she said, "I'm sorry for hitting…" she tried to finish but it was his turn to supply the supple kisses.

Relaxing, Nyota began to lower the bed, "Spock" she said weakly and with no hint of anger, "I'm tired, did you bring your Vulcan harp, I'd love to hear you play?" she said rolling over.

"No, but I brought some reading materials, would that be sufficient?" Spock said, as he stood up to retrieve the book.

"Yes, that would be great. Which ones?" she said as her voice became softer with sleep. The medications were beginning to kick in again.

"Romulan or Where the sidewalk ends. Which would you prefer, my Nyota" Spock asked, placing his hand on her shoulder and rubbing it lightly.

"Uhm, Sidewalk" she replied slipping in and out of consciousness, "Spock!" she said quickly, waking abruptly and trying to sit up, "Don't leave me, okay?" looking directly at him, fighting the effects of the medication. She began to slip back under and slur her words. "Don't leave, ….we belong together…"

"Right here, my Nyota. I am right here" he said quickly, as he helped her back down on her side. "We belong together because we… fit." he said, as he smoothed out the blanket and opened up the book.

______________

Nothing Gonna Change My Love For You, Glenn Medeiros

Uhura's parents returned to a different mood in their daughter's room. You could physically feel the atmosphere had changed. Spock looked as placid as ever but they could tell by the way he read the books to her or helped to sit her up when she needed to eat something or the way she looked at him before going back to sleep, something wonderful had happened. They knew whatever had transpired to shake the couple up before she had succumbed to the illness, had since been forgiven.

Mr. and Mrs. Uhura stayed in the room when Spock was forced to leave to teach a class. He made sure Nyota was awake and understood that he would be returning shortly, before he would think of leaving.

Spock had just left the building and was well on his way across campus when Uhura received unexpected visitors. Lieutenant Kirk and Cadet Sherry from foodservice had come to visit.

Mr. Uhura turned towards the door, "I'm sorry but she is sleeping right now. Thank you for coming, but do you mind coming back when she is awake?" he asked politely.

"Yes sir," Kirk replied "but, she is going to be okay, isn't she?" he said as he slowly backed out of the room.

"Yes, I think she will be just fine." her father stated and then stood and motioned for Kirk to come forward and walk with him.

"Excuse me," he said to Sherry and followed Mr. Uhura to the far side of the hall.

"What is your name, son?" Mr. Uhura asked "and how do you know my daughter?"

"Lieutenant Kirk, sir and I am a friend of hers, sir. She is very, very special to me sir." he said, as his heart hurt seeing her this way. He wanted to hold her and take care of her but he didn't dare say that now. He was trying to be the friend she wanted, not the boyfriend he wanted to be.

"Lieutenant Kirk, is it? Well, someone is trying to hurt my daughter and we need as many eyes and ears as possible to help find them! Can you help us, son?" Mr. Uhura said, as he placed his hand on Kirk's shoulder.

"What? Who would want to hurt her?" he said in total disbelief, his eyes wide

Mr. Uhura lowered his hand and his head. "We don't know but someone is. I need to get back to her. Do you know oh, what's her roommate's name?" he asked out loud.

"Gaila," Kirk answered

"Yes, Gaila. She knows most of the details. Find Gaila and help her as much as you can." Mr. Uhura pleaded. He started to mention Commander Spock but thought it wise to keep this information to himself.

"You got it sir," Kirk said, as he shook the man's hand. "Don't worry sir, I love .. I mean, we love your daughter and if someone is after her we will get to the bottom of it!" He left, forgetting he had a guest with him and turned around to grab Sherry by the hand.

Once out of the hospital Sherry asked curtly, "So, are you going to go to the meeting with me?" trying not to fall, as Kirk was pulling her so fast

"Meeting, Oh no, I need to find Gaila" he said but was pulled with such force that he had to stop himself from falling.

Sherry's eyes were thin and questioning. "Gaila? Gaila the green freak?" she asked, her words hitting Kirk's ears like acid.

"No, Gaila my friend, who happens to be the most beautiful shade of green a man could lay his eyes on." Kirk said, giving Sherry the same look as she was giving him. "Why?" he asked cautiously.

"Well, it seems like you are one of them" she said with distain dripping from those ruby red lips. Her head held high, her toffee brown finger pointing at him. "You are an off-worlder loving, anti-Earther race mixer!"

"What the hell do you mean, anti-Earther. I love my planet! I joined Starfleet to protect this planet from aggressive aliens!" he said, totally confused at the girl's anger.

Sherry moved slowly around him, "If that were true you wouldn't be hanging out with the likes of anyone that was not pure human. Earth for humans, ban the off-worlders!" she sang, smirking as she continued.

"Don't you see, they are taking over?" she spat the words at Kirk. "Taking out jobs, our men and women, interbreeding with them to form hybrid things," she said, slurring the word "thing" to stress the intended insult. Soon, we will be so mixed up we won't be able to tell the good guys from the bad!" she screamed. Calming herself she walked seductively over to him "Kirk, come with me to this meeting. You'll see. You'll see the truth." she said, as she took his hand.

"Well, you're right about one thing. It's getting harder to tell the good guys from the bad." he whispered in her ear, and then pulled his hand back as hard as he could. "Get the hell away from me!" He turned and began to run backwards. "Shame on you! You work for the Federation?" shaking his head, he turned around and continued his run as he looked for Gaila.

Kirk could hear the girl continue her rant, "Terra Prime forever! Terra Prime forever!"

_________

Uhura looked much better the next day when it was time for her mother and father to leave. "I'll be fine, Daddy. Really, we've got each other. And I'll call every other night and let you and mom know how I'm doing." she said, smiling as she kissed them goodbye.

Spock walked the Uhuras to the hospital door. "I want to thank you for placing your faith back in me to take care of your daughter. I know it is difficult for you to leave her but I place my life before hers. Fully" he stated before bowing deeply.

"We have every faith in you Spock. Keep us up to date, please?" Chica asked, placing a small kiss on his cheek and moving back next to her husband.

"Spock, take care of her." Mr. Uhura bowed and took hold of his wife's hand and walked down the hospital steps making their way with their overnight bags towards the transit station.

It was Saturday and there were no classes, nothing due, so Spock could concentrate on Uhura's needs fully. The doctor removed most of the medical tubes leaving the I.V. for fluids and a heavy dose of megavitamins. "She will need to be on these megavitamins for at least a year or so" the doctor said, " And we are taking you off of the human birth control pills completely. So, you really need to be extra careful, do you both understand?" he asked rhetorically. They both nodded anyway.

Spock held Nyota's hand as the nurse began to take out the catheter. "Lieutenant Uhura, this is going to hurt. I'm just being truthful. Are you ready?" the nurse asked

Nyota was lying on her back, her eyes looking up at the ceiling as Spock held on to her hand. "I'm ready, I'm ready" she whispered and then closed her eyes, as the pain of the procedure was almost unbearable. Spock's face could not be seen as he had moved to the top of the bed, on his knees, and placed his cheek next to hers. "If I could take your place I would." he said right before the nurse finished removing the device.

As Uhura sucked her breath, Spock dug his face into her neck, and held her down with his weight, only moving when he heard the nurse say, "Okay, all done, honey. All done." Spock slowly lifted his head as he rubbed his face against hers. Her silent tears stained his face as well. Despite the pain she was in she thought it was beautiful, seeing him share her tears.

"You two make a good pair. When it's time for her to deliver, you two will do just fine. You've got a good one." she said, winking at Uhura before walking out of the room with the trashcan.

She watched the door close, turned on her side and closed her eyes. Spock responded quickly "Let me meld with you. Help you with the pain." he said, kissing her cheek softly

"I will not hide my pain or weaknesses anymore, honey. Not even from myself." she said, breathing through the pain. "Plus, you're already helping me through it. Keep holding me, just a little while longer," she said throughout the breathing, beginning to feel the pain subside.

"When you are weak, I will be your source of strength. Do not be afraid." he said resoundingly, placing his nose to her nose, leaning against the bed.

Nyota opened her eyes, responding, "I believe you when you say, 'Count on me'. I know I can. And you call on me if you need help, okay?. We seek each other first. No more outsiders coming in. Just us." Nyota spoke to him, looking into his eyes for support.

"Just us, no more discussing our matters with others." Spock said, he watched as her breathing even out.

"Well, maybe Gaila and Captain Pike. We need our friends right?" she asked, smiling as he caught her face in his hands and replaced the smile with a kiss.

"Whatever you desire, my Nyota." he whispered, as she turned to place her free hand on the back of his head to return the favor.

____

TBC

Yea, wipe, wipe

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Tondelayo