(Spock romance in the next chapter)
"Two of a Kind"
Star date: 2276.5
One year later…
Jeanine walked through the halls of the USS Enterprise carrying files to review for the Captain about the area of space they are about to enter.
She was about to enter the turbo lift when the doors suddenly opened as Dr. McCoy walked out and they bumped into each other. But this time he caught her before she could drop her papers, and he smiled widely while holding on to her tightly, "Well, now. Haven't we already met like this before—Mrs. McCoy?"
She gave him a coy smirk in return and said, "Why, yes we have. But that's just my act to reel the men in," she whispered as she winked. He playfully scowled when she continued with the little charade, "And whattya know! I got a Doctor," she half smiled while giving him a quick kiss before gathering her papers and getting into the lift.
He said, "Oh really?" once she left his embrace and he turned around to face her in the turbo lift.
She smiled and added, "It worked didn't it?"
She waved as the doors started to close, and he managed to add while walking away, "Like a charm, dear." He had a little skip in his step and kept smiling as he rounded the corner to enter sick bay.
Jeanine entered onto the bridge when Captain Kirk spun around, "Simmons, report."
"Sir, We're in the farthest part of the Lorentian system. All of my reports indicate that there should be no disturbances in the vicinity—"
"Sir!" Lt. Uhura interrupted.
"Yes, Uhura. What is it?" Captain Kirk looked alarmed for a second.
"Captain, I am receiving a distress call from an incoming…" She paused as she looked up at the Captain and finished, "federation shuttle craft." She seemed really confused.
Mr. Sulu also seemed puzzled, "There were no authorized federation shuttles to be in this area."
"Who is it?" the Captain wanted to know exactly who, and if they posed a threat.
Lt. Uhura listened and looked shocked before continuing, "Sir?"
The Captain started to grow impatient, "Yes, Lieutenant. Who is it?"
"Why, it's Laura McKenzie, sir—Isn't that—?"
"Doctor McCoy's ex-wife, yes," the Captain answered for her, "She walked out of his life more than twenty years ago."
Everyone immediately looked at Jeanine.
She finally spoke, "I have never had the pleasure to meet Leonard's ex." She put on a face that seemed delighted, but she was terrified.
Kirk turned his attention back to the matter at hand and said, "Mister Sulu, turn on the tractor beam and pull that craft in. I'm going to go welcome our guest. Mister Spock, would you come with me?" Then he turned on the intercom communicator to sick bay, "Doctor McCoy, please meet me outside the hanger deck immediately." He switched it off and turned to Jeanine but spoke softly, "Jeanine, please join us."
She obliged, and followed the Captain and First officer.
They walked down the long hallway after they exited the turbo lift, and found Dr. McCoy pacing in front of the hanger deck doors with his hands behind his back waiting. He straightened up when he saw the Captain and Spock coming "Jim, what the devil—?" but he stopped when he saw Jeanine following.
"Jeanine," he smiled. "What are you doing down here?" His expression turned to confusion.
"I asked her to accompany us, Bones," the Captain answered the Doctor's question for her, and he smiled coyly, "This concerns her as well."
"Jim, what's going on?"
Captain Kirk put his hand on McCoy's shoulder, "Let's just say that you are going to have your hands full, Doctor."
"Whattya mean by that?" Dr. McCoy looked confused and slightly frightened by the Captain's manner and then he looked at Jeanine.
She answered this time, "Leonard, we received a distress call from a federation shuttle craft. So we grabbed it in the tractor beam and here we are." She tried to smile because everyone knew that Dr. McCoy wasn't on good terms with his ex-wife.
"Yeah? So what do you need me for?"
He looked at the Captain for help on trying to understand the situation when Jeanine came up to him and put one hand on his shoulder. He looked at her and she said, "It's Laura."
He went rigid and he stared at Jeanine as if the world were going to end right then and there.
"Leonard, don't worry about it. It'll be alright."
"Yes, I know. But you never lived with Laura. She is clever, ruthless, and downright crafty."
"But you were married to her. You had a daughter with her." Jeanine was confused.
"Yes I did. But I was really young at the time. I am a man after all, dear. There are some things that go unnoticed until you're faced with it later."
"Don't worry, she'll see how happy you are now and she won't bring up anything that you wouldn't want."
He put his arm around her, "I sincerely hope you're right. No wonder why I married you," he smiled at her and then looked at the Captain, "Go ahead, Jim. I'm ready. Bring the monster aboard."
Jeanine slapped his chest as he grunted, "oof!" She scowled at him as they opened the doors to the deck.
Laura McKenzie, along with some travel companions for security, emerged from the shuttle.
"Captain Kirk! How nice to see you again," she smiled as she took his hand.
"Miss McKenzie, it is wonderful to have you aboard. You remember Mister Spock?"
She looked at the first officer who simply closed his eyes and bowed his head slightly for respect. "Why of course I do. Good to see you again, Spock."
"As you, Miss McKenzie," Mr. Spock answered.
Kirk held his arm in the direction of Dr. McCoy and Jeanine as the Doctor kept his arm tightly around his wife's shoulders. "And of course you know our beloved Doctor McCoy."
"Len, it is remarkable to see you again. I trust you're doing well?"
"Oh, yes. Yes, Laura, I'm quite well. More than you know," he smiled to himself, "And yourself?"
"I'm quite content. You know Joanna opened her own Practice now?"
He got excited for his daughter, "No kiddin'! Well it's nice to see she's following in her father's footsteps." He gleamed to himself. Jeanine looked irritated and uncomfortable while they brought up their past.
"Yes, I suppose Nursing wasn't enough for her," she smiled and noticed Dr. McCoy's companion, "And who's this, Len?"
Dr. McCoy opened his mouth to answer when Jeanine walked out of his embrace to greet Miss McKenzie herself, "I'm Lieutenant Jeanine Simmons McCoy. How nice to finally meet you, Miss McKenzie," she held out her hand to shake Laura's.
Laura looked surprised, "Oh! Leonard, you never told me you re-married."
He just stood there, "Ah, yes. Well, I meant to send a message personally but we just got so busy up here, you know."
"Don't worry about it, Len. She is quite pretty. I approve."
Captain Kirk butted in immediately, "Well now, Miss McKenzie, why don't you just follow me and we'll set you up in your quarters, and then we'll talk in the recreation room. This way." Laura, the Captain, and Mr. Spock all walked away toward the turbo lift leaving Dr. McCoy and Jeanine behind.
Jeanine turned on him, "She approves?" she snapped angrily.
"Now, don't think too much of it, Jeanine. She just thinks that everything in my life still has to be approved by her. But she doesn't understand that our lives ended together twenty years ago. See? I told you she was crafty," Jeanine just looked hurt and McCoy tried to comfort her, "she is nothing compared to you, honey. You are everything that has made me happy in a lifetime of loneliness." He smiled and she smiled slightly as he hugged her in the hallway.
"Now let us go and boast about how happy we are together," he smiled down at her.
"Alright, Leonard. You win," she smiled back, "But that's the only time you get to," they both laughed as they headed up to the recreation room with his arm around her waist.
"Mister Sulu, steady as she goes," the Captain gave his order as they headed for the next planet on their list, Gamma Alpha IV.
No one from the federation had ever visited this planet before so no one knew anything about it. But Captain Kirk had a thought. He lightly touched the intercom button on his chair and spoke, "Lieutenant Hurst."
Lt. Natalie Hurst answered, "Hurst here, Captain."
"Please come up to the bridge, and bring your history knowledge with you."
"Right away Captain."
Jeanine always got excited to hear that her best friend was coming, since they're both so busy, they barely see each other on the same ship.
Minutes later, the turbo lift doors opened to reveal Lt. Hurst walking through them as she quickly smiled at Jeanine. She went right over to the Captain as he was deep in conversation with his science officer.
"Mister Spock, I understand that humans are illogical, but they are quite smart enough to understand the concept of 'rest.' And by the looks of it Spock, you need it."
"Captain, I am perfectly capable of maintaining my diligent work thank you," he stalked away.
"Ah, Lieutenant!"
"Sir?" Natalie answered.
"Yes, I was wondering what you could tell me about this planet since our federation had not yet visited it—until today."
"Well Captain, The latest that's been recorded is that it's still in a primitive state that has not yet revolutionized. So the natives may still be hostile. You could try to communicate, but much caution must be heeded."
"Thank you, Lieutenant. That's all I needed. As you were."
She turned to go up the steps when she stopped and turned toward Spock's station, "Mister Spock," he turned at the mention of his name, "You do look like you deserve a rest considering what I heard you have done for the ship in the last few months."
He started to say, "Lieutenant—"
But she continued before he could finish, "But you'll know when you need it," she smiled and left the bridge.
He continued to look puzzled when he muttered, "Interesting," to himself before he turned going back to his calculations with his eyebrow raised.
At that moment, Laura McKenzie walked onto the bridge, "Captain—"
She smiled as the Captain turned to face her, "Yes, Miss McKenzie?"
"Captain, I was wondering if you would be so kind as to give me a tour. Len is ever so busy with medical logs and such." Jeanine rolled her eyes knowing that she would go to him first.
Kirk looked like he knew something she didn't know since McCoy can't stand her, "I'm sorry Miss McKenzie, but I can't right now. Simmons?"
Jeanine turned in her chair, "Yes, Captain?"
"Would you please give Miss McKenzie a tour?"
Jeanine's spirits immediately faded but perked back up when Laura looked at her in delight, "Of course, sir. I'd be glad to." She got up from her station and couldn't help but notice a slight sinister smile on Laura's face. But maybe she was just looking at Laura through Leonard's eyes.
They headed for the doors when they opened and Dr. McCoy walked out. He smiled at Jeanine, "Now where are you two off to?"
Jeanine answered with a slight distaste, "I'm giving Laura a tour of the Enterprise." She smiled sarcastically.
He got a little scared, "Oh, alright. Hurry back," he winked and laughed as he went over to the Captain, "Jim?"
"Yeah, Bones."
He started to whisper, "Are you sure you wanna do that?" He pointed back toward the lift.
Kirk laughed but got his meaning, "Why Bones? Does that scare you a little?"
"Well, yeah! My ex-wife and my new wife 'getting to know each other.' They could say stuff about me too, ya know. Laura could say things about me!"
"Well someone," the Captain looked at McCoy sarcastically, "was too busy doing medical logs," Kirk smiled, "Don't worry about it, Bones."
McCoy just scowled at him and hoped that the girls weren't gossiping about him. Although, that was the least of what he should have been worried about…
Meanwhile… Jeanine and Laura were walking around the engineering section on deck five.
"This is Engineering," Jeanine said while pointing around.
"Wow, this place is amazing."
"Hey there, Jeanine!" came a familiar Scottish voice.
"Scotty!" Jeanine was always excited to see her very dear friend.
He came right over and put his arm around her, "How ya doin' Las?" He beamed.
"I'm great Scotty, and how are things down here?"
"Oh, could be better. But you know what they call me up there on the bridge," He laughed to himself as he and Jeanine both said together "The miracle worker."
Jeanine almost forgot about Laura, "Oh yes! Uh, Scotty, this is Laura McKenzie. Laura, this is Lieutenant Commander Montgomery Scott, Chief Engineer."
"Just 'Scotty' is fine." He held out his hand to shake hers when his face looked puzzled, "I know I've heard that name before."
Laura just looked awkward when she added, "I'm Doctor McCoy's ex-wife."
Scotty's shocked face made him feel embarrassed, "Oh, yes of course. I'm sorry. Very nice to meet you. But if you both will excuse me, my lady is callin'. I'll see you later, Jeanine."
"Bye Scotty," Jeanine smiled at him while he walked away and turned again toward Laura. "Shall we continue?"
Laura just had a sinister look on her face when she smiled again, "Yes, please."
They continued to walk through the hallway on deck five.
"And here's the hanger deck where you arrived on the shuttle craft."
"Yes, I remember. This is where I saw you and Len so happy for the first time."
Jeanine was confused, "Uh, yes. That's right."
"I wish I could be that happy with Len again."
"Excuse me—?"
Jeanine turned to face Laura, but before she could say anything more, Laura's fist came out of nowhere very fast. Jeanine was out cold on the floor. But Laura just gave a sinister smile looking down at her, "Now I will be." And all of a sudden, Laura wasn't Laura anymore. She was Jeanine.
Jeanine woke up and tried to open her eyes but everything was fuzzy. She looked around the room that she was in but did not recognize it as part of the Enterprise. It kept on spinning. She knew she was tied up to a chair because she was sitting and couldn't move.
She saw rows of seats ahead of her and one door on the side. She then knew that she was in a shuttle craft. She was, however, unsure about whether she was still aboard the Enterprise or not. Jeanine tried to open her mouth to speak, but nothing came out.
"Oh, don't worry, Honey. You can't speak right now given that I gave you a good dose of Cannabis. But I shall make sure that your husband is well taken care of, for I love him and never wanted to lose him. And I never will again," she gave a perky smile. "But I shall return this evening to launch this shuttle craft 'accidentally' to the planet that we are about to orbit." She turned to leave, but stopped, "Oh, by the way. Gamma Alpha IV is vicious and barbaric so you'd better mind your manners. Sleep tight dear!"
She pranced out of the shuttle as the door closed behind her and Jeanine could only think of Leonard, not of her life. She was so dazed and out of it. She needed to get out of this shuttle craft, but had no idea how to do it and knew she couldn't because of the state she was in. And she had no idea how long it would last.
But the only thing she could think of was to get to her communicator and open the channel so that the crew would pinpoint her location. It was on her belt. That's one thing that Laura McKenzie had forgotten about since she was not a federation officer in Star Fleet. Communicators are homing devices.
Jeanine slowly and shakily grabbed it from her belt, almost dropping it, but she knew how important the situation was that she knew she couldn't fail. She opened it, but lost her strength again to the drugs, so she passed out and dropped it. The communicator closed…
Dr. McCoy was on the bridge standing next to and speaking to Spock. More like arguing as usual when Laura, as Jeanine, walked off the turbo lift and stopped to look around. She saw McCoy and immediately smiled while moving toward him. He turned, "Jeanine," he smiled back and held out his arm in her direction so she could stand under it as he wrapped it around her shoulder.
"Please tell Mister Spock that it's just unethical to send people down to the planet's surface without knowing the proper precautions to take against the natives," he was stern and stood by his opinion.
He looked at Spock smiling with victory already, just knowing that his wife would side with him but Laura answered, "Oh I respectfully disagree."
His smile faded instantly and Spock looked at Dr. McCoy with his eyebrow raised.
"You what?" he looked at her surprisingly, but sternly.
"I'm sure they aren't that bad, and I would know. I'm the Astro-Geographer around here," she saw McCoy's defeated look, "Oh, come now, Len. Stop this nonsense. You're the Doctor, so leave the excavation decisions to the bridge."
"Now just a minute! I am the Doctor, so I'm supposed to look out for every one of these four hundred and thirty lives on this ship!"
"Len, stop worrying about it."
Spock was looking inquisitively at 'Jeanine' and knew something was odd about her behavior.
"Yes, dear. You're right," he said as she smiled and gently put her hand on his cheek.
He lightly touched her hand and went immediately to the lift to go back down to sick bay.
Mr. Spock's Vulcan half of his mind was screaming at him to continue with his work and calculations, but the human half knew something was wrong, especially with Jeanine. So he sought out Lt. Natalie Hurst. He thought she would know something.
He found her in the History section of the ship that was full of books along with another historian by the name of Professor Hinkley.
They didn't notice Spock until he spoke, "A word, Lieutenant Hurst?"
She immediately turned around and replied puzzled, "Of course Mister Spock."
He gestured to the table where the Professor had been sitting. She sat down as he started to speak quite worriedly, "Lieutenant, you are very close with Lieutenant Simmons McCoy, is that correct?"
"Yes, Commander. We're like sisters. What's this all about?"
"I happened to have noticed something different about the lieutenant today. She did not act as herself."
"When did this start?"
"Just a few minutes ago. She was fine this morning when Miss McKenzie arrived. But now she's calling him 'Len' and just not being herself," he started to grow agitated.
"Mister Spock, I understand that it's not in your nature to notice such things and it's a big step to give in to your human emotions because of how you care for Jeanine. I have noticed that you grow irritated toward yourself for letting it out. But this is good. And you don't have to give all the way in. I studied on Vulcan for five years to understand its history. I can feel your pain."
She touched his hand on the table and just looked concerned for him. This he had not felt before. But he felt a connection with a human finally because she understood his customs.
"So you say she called him Len?"
He merely nodded, "She's never called him that before. Doctor McCoy mentioned that his ex-wife used to and he hated it."
She immediately had an epiphany, "Wait, you said this all started after Laura McKenzie arrived?"
"Yes," he then started to see what she saw.
"Then maybe our 'guest' had a little run in with her ex's new wife and didn't like it."
"Perhaps. I did feel something awfully wrong from her presence."
They both looked at each other and immediately took off out of the room toward sick bay to see Dr. McCoy.
They left the lift and headed right for the door on the left that would lead them to the Dr. They both entered breathless when McCoy came out of his office and saw them. He started to laugh, "What? Did they authorize a marathon without telling me?"
He laughed and looked at his clipboard when Spock spoke first, "Doctor, we believe that your wife is not actually your wife."
He looked stern and irritated, "What do you mean by that Spock!"
"I simply mean that Jeanine isn't who she says she is."
McCoy got angry, "Spock! You don't know what you're saying! Now get out of here before I throw you out myself!" His eyes were locked on Spock with hate.
"What Mister Spock is trying to say is that we think someone is impersonating Jeanine."
Lt. Hurst stood in between the two facing McCoy, with Spock standing behind her having the same inquisitive look on his face he always does.
"What are you trying to say, Lieutenant?" McCoy answered her with a very angry low tone.
"I'm her best friend and I would know when something was wrong with her. She has never called you Len and you know it!" She grew angry as well at his stubbornness.
He backed away, "Well, maybe she picked it up from Laura. Now get out of here, both of you." He turned to go back into his office.
Spock and Natalie just stood there but she signaled to him that they leave.
As they walked the hallway, they tried to come up with a way to expose Laura for who she really is and to find the real Jeanine—if their hunch was correct.
"Can we look in the computer to find life forms anywhere?"
"No, the computer would pick up all life forms aboard this ship."
They walked silently for a few more minutes, when Natalie stopped. Spock kept going a few paces when he noticed. He turned around to look at a face that thought it had just found the cure for cancer, "Lieutenant, are you alright?"
"Spock," she was speechless but she looked at his confused face, "What about her communicator?"
He thought about it for a second, "I don't think we could talk to her, Lieutenant."
"No! I recall not seeing one on her just about an hour ago… on the fake Jeanine I mean. Laura must've forgotten to take it off of Jeanine when she took her form! Couldn't we tap into her lone communicator and it would show us the location to where she is?" He looked away but then looked back with a slight smirk, "Yes, I believe we can."
He took her hand and they bolted to Engineering.
They went through the doors and found Scotty briskly working at the controls when Spock spoke, "Mister Scott, we need your assistance."
Scotty looked at the both of them happy to see them, "Of course Mister Spock, Natalie, but what is all this about?"
"We believe that Laura McKenzie has taken over Jeanine's body somehow and is impersonating her to be close to Leonard once again." Natalie said it all in one breath.
Scotty looked utterly confused, "What are ya talkin' about Las? That's absurd."
Spock went over to the controls to try and tap into Jeanine's communicator, "I am trying to get a hold of Lieutenant Simmons' communicator signal to find out her location, Mister Scott."
"Now remember, Mister Spock, we just saw 'Jeanine' on the bridge… the fake Jeanine."
"Yes, Lieutenant, I remember," he kept hitting buttons when they started to get a beeping sound. Spock smirked again and turned around to face the others, "I have pinpointed her exact location and it is not on the bridge."
"What are ya goin' on about, Mister Spock?"
"It shows that she is in the shuttle craft that Laura McKenzie had arrived on."
Scotty looked confused once again, but Spock and Natalie took off again to the deck five Hanger. Scotty quickly followed.
When Jeanine's communicator fell and closed, it still gave off the location to where it last was.
They opened the hanger deck doors and ran through them. Mister Spock opened the shuttle craft doors and they all ran through them as Natalie, Spock, and Scotty all saw Jeanine incapacitated and tied up in the back of the craft. They ran to her and ripped off the ropes. They tried speaking to her but she wouldn't answer.
"Why won't she reply?" Natalie and Scotty were both worried as they tried to revive her.
Spock said, "Step back," and they did when he quickly became serious, putting his hands on her face in the right places beginning the Vulcan mind meld. He saw everything from the tour, to the punch, to the monologue by Laura as she left Jeanine there and the plan to send her to the surface. He whispered to himself, "That's why she agreed with me."
"What?" Natalie was on the verge of tears when Spock picked Jeanine up into his arms and said, "We need to get her to Doctor McCoy for medical attention immediately."
They followed Spock from the hanger deck as they quickly headed for sick bay.
"Len?" Dr. McCoy turned around to find 'Jeanine' staring at him with a coy look on her face.
"Jeanine, you know I'm busy right now. You never have tried to distract me from my work before," he looked at her confused.
"You always were married to your work," she muttered under her breath.
"What was that?" He looked at her suspiciously as he walked toward her.
"What I said was that I think you finally needed one, dear."
"Oh. I see," his suspicious look faded as she came over to him and wrapped her arms around his neck. They had started to lean in when Spock came bursting in with a phaser set to heavy stun pointed right at her. Spock was no longer holding Jeanine. He was alone.
"Spock! What are you doing! Put that down!" Dr. McCoy was furious.
"No, Doctor. Not until this fraud reveals who she really is," he narrowed his eyes at her.
"What! You've gone mad, Spock!"
"Have I, Doctor McCoy? Is that even possible for me?" Spock faced McCoy.
"Well… I… Perhaps." He tried to defend her as best he could, but Spock was prepared. He kept the phaser pointed at her and put his left hand on her face… the Vulcan mind meld.
"Spock, stop!" Dr. McCoy tried to stop him but Spock held him back.
"Please Doctor. This won't harm her, you know that. We need the truth."
Spock then uttered every word that was said between Jeanine and Laura on their tour and every action of Laura taking upon Jeanine, and every word spoken on the shuttle.
McCoy's eyes couldn't have been more wide open; his face was in utter horror. "L-Laura?" was all he could say.
Spock backed off slowly as she faced McCoy with anger written all over her face. And then she faded back to her original body, the body of Laura McKenzie. "You know that I still love you, right? You are the only one that has ever captured my heart." She tried to plead, but McCoy did not listen for he immediately turned to Spock.
"Where is she, Spock!" He was beyond worry.
"Mister Scott!" Spock never looked away from Dr. McCoy's face.
Scotty came in suddenly carrying Jeanine limp in his arms with Natalie following.
The look on McCoy's face was indescribable, "Jeanine!" He ran over to help get her on the operating table, "What happened?"
"Cannabis," was all Spock said as his eyes bore down into McCoy's.
Dr. McCoy looked up with horror again knowing it was dangerous, "Nurse! I need fifty CC's of Cordrazine! Now!" He and Spock helped get Jeanine onto the operating table, and he looked at Laura, "I'll deal with you later," he breathed out his answer full of hatred and he shouted, "Scotty, bring her to the brig!"
He continued to try and save his wife's life. "Jeanine! Can you hear me!" He was on the verge of tears. "Now, Nurse! Where's that Cordrazine!"
"Right here, Doctor," Nurse Chapel said rushing into the room holding a shot, but McCoy snatched it from her hand and injected it into Jeanine without another second to spare.
They all waited and McCoy stayed close to her, "Jeanine?" he whispered, "Can you hear me?" He was so worried for she was the only thing left in his life that was good. He gently stroked some hair off her face, cradled it with both hands and pleaded, "Jeanine, I need you. I love you more than anything in this world. I can't lose you."
He laid his head down on her arm and held her hand.
She suddenly squeezed his hand lightly and whispered, "You won't."
His head jerked up so quickly and she was smiling at him, "Jeanine!" She sat up and he hugged her so tight.
"I thought I was going to lose you," she said as they continued to hold each other.
She leaned away and added, "And I love you too. Thanks, Doc," she winked at him. He smiled and pressed his lips against hers as he held her.
Spock was walking down the hall on his way to the bridge when Lt. Hurst came out of the history section and ran into him. "Oh! I'm so sorry Mister Spock!"
"It's quite alright, Lieutenant." They stood there a few moments awkwardly when he asked, "Are you working on anything interesting, Lieutenant Hurst?" He held his hands behind his back not really looking at her.
"Oh, um, I'm working on my thesis of the processes and importance of the Vulcan Kolinahr."
Spock all of a sudden became caught off guard and awestruck as he looked at her, "Fascinating," he quietly added with a slight smirk, but it faded a second later.
"Yes, remember Spock? I told you I studied on Vulcan for five years," she giggled to herself.
"Oh yes, of course. It's a very fascinating part of my culture. You see, it all started with my ancestors—"
"Spock," she held up her hand to stop him, "how about we can talk about your history and my thesis paper later tonight when we're off duty. Let's say… in the recreation room?"
She continued to smile at him when he hesitated, but answered. "Oh, of course. I'd be delighted, Lieutenant."
"Natalie," she corrected him with a big smile as she walked away with her pile of papers clutched in her arms.
He turned to head back toward the turbo lift when, for the first time in Mr. Spock's life, he smiled slightly… but only for a moment.