Disclaimer: I don't own Spock or Nyota or Star Trek

Spock's Clock

Toshi was a wee bit drunk. Slipping off his shoes under the table he lazily stretched his feet. Who in their right mind didn't insist shoes be removed at the door? Still, despite the minor discomforts it was nice to be at the Commanders house. She had the best wine selection of anyone at the Academy, and impeccable taste in cuisine.

"So, I'm thinking of calling my fourteenth dimension theory the Q Theory. Technically it should be the P theory, but I don't want to goooooo there." Patrick finished in a slurred voice. Toshi burst into laughter...along with everyone else. Patrick could make even multidimensional physics funny -- and do it while nearly falling over drunk too.

Well, everyone but Spock laughed. Toshi eyed the stoic Vulcan with empathy. When he had first come to San Francisco from the remote prefecture of Aomori, Japan he missed a lot of the local idioms too.

"Don't you get it, Spock?" asked Patrick. "Ever since eleven dimensions were unified by the M theory we've always advanced the name of the theory by one letter each time a new dimension is identified..."

"Hey, does anyone have the time?" asked Uhura.

"It is currently 22:58, Cadet," said Spock not turning his eyes from Patrick. "Yes, I understand the Terran convention for naming dimensional theories. It is highly illogical."

"Hey, he didn't look at a watch. How did he know the time, Uhura?" asked the Commander.

"Our naming convention has sentimental value," said Patrick to Spock.

"He has a very good internal clock." Uhura replied to the Commander.

Suddenly an idea tickled Toshi so thoroughly he had to say it out loud. "The Spock clock!"

Spock began his rebuttal to Patrick, "It is a sentiment that makes multidimensional physics just that much more difficult for humans to understand."

Suddenly Cadet Uhura got very serious, she looked at Toshi and anger flashed in her eyes. "Hey, Spock isn't a clock!"

She said it softly, but Toshi was momentarily taken back by the defensiveness in her tone. He had known that Spock was fond of the cadet, he had seen it in Spock's eyes when Patrick had danced with her at the last conference. For the first time he appreciated how much the affection went both ways.

Toshi heard what people said behind Spock's back -- robot, machine, emotionless...These weren't words one used about Vulcans if one knew any well, which Toshi did. Although, he did not know Spock that well...

The Cadet on the other hand, perhaps did.

"Eh, I didn't mean it like that..."

And he didn't. He and Patrick both liked Spock. Since the day they'd seen him verbally defending the human race from the Vulcans Science Academy and Interspecies Council Patrick and Toshi had decided Spock was a good guy.

Maybe she knew she'd been too defensive, she turned quickly away from him and took a rushed sip of her wine.

Everyone else seemed to be listening to Patrick...including Spock.

"Respectfully, Lieutenant Commander O'Hara," Spock continued, "It would be much more logical to..."

Toshi's eyes flicked between the Cadet and Spock. They were both young, attractive and healthy. And apparently were fond of one another. It would be completely natural if this fondness developed into something more...depending on how human Spock was and if he was bonded.

...they did work well together. It wasn't a completely illogical coupling.

"I had better go if I'm going to catch the 23:30 shuttle," the Cadet said.

"Cadet, is it really wise for you to walk alone to the shuttle stop? We are in a rural area, it is dark and unlit." Spock said.

There was nothing unusual in that comment. Toshi noted. Any Vulcan would point out the illogical nature of such an action. Toshi was about to suggest that he and his wife Yuki take her home...if he could find Yuki, where had she gone off to?

"I'll be fine," said the Cadet. "I come from a semi-rural area."

"Spock is right, Uhura," said Patrick, "Katie and I can give you a lift back to the dorms when I pry the potato gun out of her hands. Probably another hour or so..."

Ah yes, the potato guns popping off in the backyard...that is probably where Yuki was. She had an interest in all forms of exotic weaponry...

"No, thank you. I'd rather leave now." Uhura said starting to stand up.

"Cadet, I need to catch the shuttle too. If you do not mind I will walk to the shuttle stop with you," Spock said.

There was nothing out of line with the words Toshi noted. But as the half Vulcan said them his hand resting on the table clenched so tightly that his knuckles turned white.

Toshi looked around at the other humans at the table. All eyes were on Uhura. Thank goodness for the obliviousness of gaijin.

A/N:
Gaijin is a Japanese word that means "outsider" -- it means anyone from outside of Japan. It has fallen out of favor, but is still used occasionally. I'm sure Toshi would mean it affectionately.