Chapter 3

Within the next week, the Enterprise came into contact with a rather hostile Romulan ship, and due to the nature of the Romulans on board, they did not surrender, even if it was obvious they could not overpower the Enterprise. There ended up being only one survivor, and she was the commander of that ship.

When she was beamed aboard the Enterprise, she did not resist arrest, but she refused to speak with anyone. Kirk informed her that she would not be treated as a prisoner during the time spent on the ship, but would be installed in one of the guest quarters during her ride over to the closest Starbase.

Kirk had been keeping away from Spock completely after their last encounter, not even asking the other for a friendly chess match like they used to do, deciding that he'd done enough damage as it was. Spock asked for time to forget, and Kirk knew he had to give it to him, no matter how much he didn't want to. Deciding to return to the bridge after speaking shortly with the Romulan Commander, he ordered Spock to make sure she got to her quarters and then to return to the bridge.

At least that would give him a few minutes without the tension he felt when he and Spock were in the same room. He was now sure that he'd only made the situation between he and Spock much worse.

* * *

The matter with the Captain was also weighing quite heavily on Spock's mind, and this did not change as he led the Romulan Commander over to the quarters she had been assigned.

On reaching the room, Spock said evenly and politely, "Here is the room you are to stay in during your time on the Enterprise. It is one of our most comfortable guest quarters, and it is stocked well with reading materials for you. Should you require anything else, do not hesitate to contact either myself or Captain Kirk at any time through our communicators."

"You are not like them. How is it that you can stand being around these humans as often as you are?" she asked, looking at Spock questioningly, seemingly breaking her self imposed vow of almost silence.

"Though humans have proved to be quite illogical time and again, I have found no better companionship than my fellow crew members on the Enterprise." Spock said, his voice softening just slightly, but most people would probably miss it.

Kirk was not likely to, but most others definitely would have. His thoughts about Kirk were shaken when he saw her raising a curious eyebrow at his statement.

"Your statement in its own sounds illogical. I do not believe humans are truly capable of understanding beings such as you or myself." she finally said, looking him over in a very appraising kind of manner.

He then wordlessly opened the quarters door for her and then he said, "I must be returning to the bridge now."

"So soon? I have much to learn of human customs, and it would be nice to have an experienced guide on the subject." She said, motioning for him to join her inside the quarters.

Spock hesitated for a moment. He could easily tell that she had ulterior motives for inviting him inside, but his current problems with Kirk left him with no quick desire to return to the bridge. He figured that perhaps this situation would provide him with a welcome distraction from his problems, so he finally nodded and enter the room.

When the door closed behind him, he spoke calmly, "I suppose I could spare a few additional moments to further your education of human customs."

She approached him with a graceful kind of gait and stood tall and proud. Spock had to admit that she was quite an attractive woman, and was of a strong personality. It reminded him a lot of Kirk in that aspect.

"One thing I was most interested in was…" her voice took somewhat of a sultry tone, "…how these humans express their regard for one another. On Romulus, one deserving of such regard is known by all…"

She looked even more carefully at Spock now, edging just a little closer, "It is in their voice, in their step, in their face…in their eyes."

Now she was just a foot away from Spock, and he found that he didn't have his usual urge to step backwards, this Romulan having a strangely alluring effect on him. He knew exactly what was on her mind now, and really…he was trying to come up with a logical reason in his head to stop her. He wanted to move on…to forget…and maybe this was just what he needed.

"What is your name?" she demanded softly.

"I am Commander Spock of the USS Enterprise. I am this ship's Chief Science Officer and First Officer." He said, standing at attention, his hands clasped stiffly behind his back, "And…you are?"

"I am N'Tarlahe. I am one of the high commanders in the Romulan Fleet. Though, I hope we may be able to interact…on a more personal basis." she said, giving him a tiny smile.

"I believe it may be possible. " Spock said, his tone getting minutely softer, but it stayed as even as it ever was.

Her smile grew slightly and her tone got impossibly more sensual, "We Romulans usually take what we want when we want it, but I do believe that we would not be harmed by having the finesse of a Vulcan on our side."

"It is a logical thought." Spock breathed back, watching intently as she raised two fingers and caressed softly down the side of his face.

He closed his eyes and controlled his instinct to blush, trying to control his heart rate. When he finally opened them again, he found her smiling seductively at him, and it caused him to take in a deep breath. He then raised two fingers of his own to meet with hers and he rubbed over the front and back of them carefully, feeling a small shiver pass up his arm at the contact.

Yes, it indeed was nice, but this still wasn't Jim. It wasn't his t'hy'la.

"You are most stimulating in…conversation, Spock." she unabashedly flirted with him now, staring him down with her intense eyes and running those fingers over his lips.

Spock let her do as she pleased, his lips parting just slightly under her attentions. Her fingers then made their way down his chin and neck to his chest. He then too raised his fingers to caress down her cheek and over her lips as well. He was sure that all of this was highly unprofessional, but he decided to let it go on a little longer, secretly liking the attention a little bit after the painful rejection from Kirk.

He didn't care that she was doing all of this for her own reasons, and he strangely didn't care that she was a Romulan either. He came to the conclusion that part of her allure was owed to the fact that she did things in a very logical and sensible manner, unlike the previous Romulans he had the misfortune of encountering. She obviously felt that if she had someone from Starfleet Command on her side, she would fair better in what she would be facing in the future as a prisoner of the Federation.

Spock knew that his first and foremost duty was to his ship and Starfleet and this resolve would not easily be changed, even by an attractive woman who was trying to seduce him to her side. But…whatever was happening between them now…he let it happen because they both had their reasons and due to his selfish needs.

This continued for some more minutes, just tentative touches that seemed to promise so much more, sticking strictly to Vulcan kisses, and he could tell that she was breathless. He more carefully controlled his reactions, but he had to admit that he was slightly heavier of breath due to all of the stimulation to his sensitive hands.

Finally he stepped back from her and spoke in his business tone, anyone that would just walk in none the wiser to his definitely inappropriate activities with her, "I am due most urgently to the bridge now, as the Captain had ordered me to return swiftly."

She took a calming breath herself and she raised an eyebrow at him, saying, "Perhaps we may continue this conversation at a later time?"

"Yes, perhaps." Spock said, giving her a nod and then quickly vacating the quarters.

He wasn't quite sure what he was getting himself involved in, but whatever it was…it was better than thinking constantly about the way that Kirk turned him down in that almost apologetic kind of way. He halfway wondered if it was himself that was lacking in some area, but there was no way he could try changing himself it he wasn't sure what had caused Kirk's aversion.

No, it was just something that had to be forgotten with time. And this…at least this gave him something else to focus on for the time being.

* * *

In the days following the capture of the Romulan Commander, Kirk was really starting to miss spending time with Spock. Not only had he lost his proverbial 'fuck buddy,' he'd lost his good friend, and knowing that it was really all his fault was the worst. He wondered if he should try talking to the other again to repair their relationship in some way, but now Spock had also seemed to go out of his way to make himself scarce.

Kirk thought that he finally would have the chance to talk to the other when he spotted Spock in the main rec room on the ship, but he quickly saw that his First was in an apparently very engrossing conversation with that Romulan Commander.

Something about the sight just irritated the hell out of him and he couldn't say what. He figured it was the fact that his First Officer was canoodling with a Romulan that tried to destroy his beloved Enterprise. Just what was Spock playing at anyway?

He decided to crash the party and try to find out. He approached the two of them and spoke in he most polite but cool tone he could manage, "I hope you've found your stay on the Enterprise so far to your liking."

"Surprisingly so, Captain Kirk. I have found certain members of your crew to be quite engaging." she replied, an almost challenging smile coming to her lips as she shot a look over to Spock.

Kirk was a little glad that Spock gave this no outward reaction, but it also frustrated Kirk since it told him nothing about how Spock truly felt about her or the situation. He could just trust that Spock was definitely too smart to actually be reeled into whatever she was surely plotting.

So if Spock was too smart to really be manipulated by her, then why was her attempt getting on his nerves this much? Grudgingly he admitted it would probably be something he would try himself if he were in her situation, so there was no reason for him to be feeling any of this. No reason...

Kirk realized he'd spaced out for a moment and then he replied with his own challenging smile, "I'm glad to hear that. I've told the crew to treat you with the upmost respect and I'm glad to see that's been the case."

He then shot his own look at Spock and he swore he saw something flash in his eyes this time. Was it...pain? Kirk couldn't be sure since the look was gone so fast he wasn't sure it was there in the first place.

Kirk's thoughts were broken again when the Romulan Commander spoke suddenly, "I have thoroughly studied the layout of the Enterprise through he ship's library and was pleased to learn that the ship has a holodeck. Quite an impressive one at that, if records can be trusted."

"Yes, it is true. Its actually a luxury that is afforded only to Starfleet's flagship." Kirk replied proudly, not resisting the urge to show off his ship.

Her eyes then turned to Spock with her reply, "Is that right? I would be most interested in seeing it, if that is possible."

This really irritated Kirk, but he was shocked when he heard Spock's response, "As I am not on duty at this time, I believe it would be possible to show it to you. If that is acceptable to you, Captain."

Spock's voice was downright aloof and polite, and that cut straight into Kirk. He wasn't going to deny that to himself…he liked that he had gotten the other to feel more comfortable around him over time when they weren't on duty, and for Spock to revert back to the way he was months before definitely hurt. Not that he would let that show on his face, especially in front of the Romulan Commander.

"Of course." he finally said with a nod, hoping that none of his feelings were betrayed on his face or in his eyes, "Enjoy yourselves. I will see you tomorrow on the bridge, Mr. Spock."

"Yes, sir." Spock replied with a nod before standing from the chair he was sitting in and waiting for the Romulan Commander to do the same.

Kirk watched the two of them leave the room and he tried his best to ignore the disconcerting jealousy that roiled in his gut as a result.

* * *