Here is the poker game I promised. Kirk finds out a little more about the other people of this universe, while trying his hardest to keep away from Spock.
This chapter was really hard to write and I don't consider it my best, but I can't figure out any other way to make it better, so I'm posting it.
Thanks to my beta T'Arrah for being so supportive.
Star Trek isn't mine
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It is just after beta shift commences that Jim wakes. Knowing that Spock is off shift during this time, Kirk decides it would be best to stay in his quarters. The less time he spends outside of it when he is not working, the less chance he has of having to face Spock.
'It's best of I just pull away completely. Keep away from temptation and all that.'
After he has eaten, Jim uses his PADD to reserve one of the smaller rec rooms for the poker game tonight. Once he gets the confirmation, he sends a message to Chekov, informing him of the time and place of the game. He also reminds him to invite Sulu.
After that is done, Jim uploads the duty roaster to find out if McCoy is free for the game. He is and so Kirk send a message to the doctor, inviting him to the game. This Bones may be more professional and just generally nicer than his own, but Jim is sure that the man still enjoys a stiff drink and a good game of cards. The response he gets 5 minutes later confirms his suspicions.
I'll be there with bells on. Be prepared to lose all your credits, kid.
-Dr. McCoy
The first smile in hours appears on Jim's face at the hint of the man that was/is/could be his best friend. The smile, however, slowly slips from his face when he realizes that he still has a 3 hours until the start of his shift and he has nothing to do.
He strolls over to the comm unit on the sparse desk and takes a seat. After scrolling through the ships digital library and finding nothing of interest, Kirk decides to go through the archived news feeds that give him more details about to the slow disintegration of Earth.
By the time he pulls his eyes away from the horror on the screen (that he wishes he never looked up), he actualizes two things; one: he has about 30 minutes until the start of his shift, and two: he really need some hard liquor right now.
That his the moment his eyes widen as he remember something.
'Fuck! I promised Chekov and Bones drinks. If I was on my own ship it wouldn't be a problem. I have a shitload of stuff I collected on shore leave, but this isn't my fucking ship, so I have squat.'
He begins pacing the room, running his hands through his hair and licking his lips like he always does when he is flustered.
"What do I do? Where can I get alcohol 30 minutes before my shift? Who would be willing to share for a small..."
Jim stops in the middle of the room as he trails off. He chuckles to himself as he runs for the door, knowing that if he leaves now and he sprints all the way to Engineering, he will make it to his shift on time.
'Some things will be constant in any universe and Scotty having a still is one of those things.'
Kirk, in the end, doesn't have travel all the way to Engineering to speak with Mr Scott. As he is sprinting past the communication labs, Scotty steps out of one of them and right into the blonde's path. Jim manages to stop just before he ploughs into the Scotsman and grabs him by the shoulders instead.
"Scotty! Just the man I was looking for. I need to ask you a big favor."
The slightly startled look disappears from the engineer's face to be replaced with one of curiosity.
"Sure, Captain. Ask away."
Jim has always appreciated Scotty's trusting nature (even though it would sometimes border on naïvety) and it always feels good to be on the receiving end of that trust. Even more so now when this version of Scotty doesn't really know him.
"Well you see, my Mr Scott had a still," Scotty's begins to look nervous, so Kirk quickly continues, "and he would trade some refreshment whenever a group of us got together to play cards. I want to invite you to a game tonight and see if you would be willing to make the same arrangement."
Scotty is trying keep his face serious as he continues to stare at Kirk, but the small grin tugging at the corner of his lips give him away.
"What exactly do I get in this trade you're proposing, Captain?"
Kirk starts rubs his chin and pretends to think for a moment before he gives the man in red a huge, smile.
"Not many people know this about me, but before I joined Starfleet, I worked in a deli. My job was to make the sandwiches. Not to blow my own horn, but I was good at my job."
Scotty's eyes light up at the mention of sandwiches and Kirk knows he's got the man hooked. He watches as the brunette holds out a hand in invitation.
"You've got yourself a deal, Captain. I'll bring the booze as long as you bring the sandwiches. I'm so excited!"
Jim takes his hand and shakes it firmly before letting go to glance at his watch. He quickly tells Scotty where and when the poker game will be held and then start running in the directions of the computer labs, hoping that he can get there before his shift starts.
With one minute to spare, Kirk bursts through the lab doors panting, but quickly composes himself when he realises that every single set of eyes in the room are staring at him. Just within his peripheral view, he can see that Spock is making his towards him and so he all but yells Gaila's name and flees to his workstation.
He sits down and faces Gaila. The Orion is looking him as if he were insane. He can't really blame her.
"Ah, hi Jimmy. You seem awfully eager today."
Jim just shrugs. "The sooner I get started, the sooner I can finish and then head to the rec rooms for the poker game. You're still coming right?"
Gaila seems a bit uneasy as she glances over Kirk's shoulder before looking back at him.
"Who's coming?"
Jim takes a mental head count in his head before answering. "Me, Chekov, Sulu, McCoy and now Scotty."
The Orion's surprised eyes snap over his shoulder again before they meet Jim again and she leans closer to him conspiratorially.
"What about Spock? Isn't he invited? I thought you two were being all buddy buddy."
Kirk sighs. He tries to think of an excuse that will get Gaila off his back, but all he can come up with is a partial truth. He decides that will have to do.
"I just think it would be best if I don't get too close to anyone since I'm going to be leaving soon. He understands. I spent time with him last night." 'And that was a total clusterfuck.'
Gaila leans back in her chair, crosses her arms over her ample chest while giving Jim her 'You are so full of crap' look.
"Ah ha... if Spock is so okay with your decision, then why is he looking at you like you just kicked his shelat, while using Surak's name in vain?"
Jim risks a quick glance behind him to discover that Gaila is right. Spock is making no effort to hide the fact that he is openly staring at him. He has to look away because the pain shining in the Vulcan's eyes is creating cracks in his resolve.
Jim turns to Gaila with a neutral expression and shrugs.
"Not my problem. Now, lets get to work."
Jim pulls his seat closer to his workstation and makes a show of being totally absorbed by the computer screen in front of him. The Orion watches Jim for a few more seconds before turning to her own console. Spock, on the other hand, barely lets his eyes drift away from Kirk for over an hour.
Kirk tries to remain focused on his work during the shift, but his hyper awareness of every movement Spock makes keeps him on edge. By the end of shift he is ready to explode. He jumps out of his chair and, not even caring if Gaila is finished closing up her station, grabs her hand and begins dragging her towards the door.
Out of the corner of his eye he can see Spock heading to cut them off, but a yeoman steps into his path to request a signature. Jim takes this opportunity to pick up the pace and finally escape into the hallway, where he continues to power walk all the way to the rec rooms.
Jim bursts through the door or the private rec room he had booked, with Gaila stumbling in behind him. She rips her hand free of his grasp, glares at him and moves towards the table where everyone else is waiting for them. The Orion takes a seat next to Sulu and snatches the shot glass from the pilot's hand and downs it in one go. Everyone stares at her in disbelief as she refills the glass and gulps it down without hesitation.
"What? I'm thirsty. Some crazy man dragged me at breakneck speed through the ship for no fucking reason."
Everyone turns to Kirk in sync. Jim just rolls his eyes.
"Don't be such a drama queen, Gaila. I wasn't going that fast. Now where am I sitting?"
McCoy kicks out the chair next to him and points to it.
"You're with me, kid. I wanna keep an eye on you."
Jim strolls over to the doctor and takes the seat next to him. He grabs one of the empty shot glasses in the middle of the table and fills it with Scotty's ship-made concoction. He winces a little at the burn he feels when it travels down his throat, but it isn't the worst stuff he has ever had. He slouches a bit further in his seat and then looks to McCoy with his most innocent expression.
"You don't trust me, Bones?"
The older man's eyebrow goes up at the nickname but he doesn't seem angry. If anything, he looks amused.
"With those baby blues... not a chance in hell."
Kirk lets out a laugh and then scans the table to see what the other are up to. Scotty is happily eating the sandwiches Jim ordered from the galley during his break (he will make them himself next game when he actually has time to do it). Sulu and Gaila are animately discussion the new VR games that have just entered the market. When he spots Chekov, who is staring dishearteningly at his untouched drink, he frowns. Kirk decides he has to make it up to the disappointed ensign.
"Chekov, I know I promised you vodka, but at the time I sort of forgot this isn't my ship. All of my booze is in another dimension. I'm gonna put an order in tomorrow and hopefully we will have some for the next time we play."
Chekov smiles understandingly and nods. Jim picks up the deck of cards and throws them at the 18 year old. Pavel catches it just before it hits him in the face, his expression one of confusion.
"You can deal first, boy genius. No card counting though."
Chekov responds with an enthusiastic "Aye, sir." and begins shuffling. The others at the table glance between the ensign and the young captain with kind eyes.
Chekov's again speaks and manages to pull the occupants of the room from their good hearted thoughts.
"You know, poker was inwented in Russia."
After a beat, the room explodes into laughter.
After 2 hours and numerous games of poker everyone decides to call it a night. McCoy claps Jim on the back with a warm smile on his face, before saying goodnight to everyone and disappearing through the door. Chekov and Sulu are next to leave. The young navigator is practically carrying the Asian to the door. Jim asks Pavel if he needs any help. He just shakes his head.
"I hawe done this many times. Hikaru cannot hold his alcohol, but I do not mind."
By the way Chekov is gazing down at Sulu, Jim can see that the boy really doesn't mind at all. He tells himself that when he goes back to his universe, he will have to take a better look at the interactions between his pilot and navigator.
It is now just Jim, Gaila and Scotty in the room. He has a feeling that Gaila is hanging around so that she can walk him to his quarters (hopefully just as a friend), but he has no idea why Scotty is still here. Just as he is about to ask the engineer what's up, the door opens and Uhura walks in. Scotty bolts over to her and wraps around her in a hug. Kirk waits for her to push him off, but instead nearly has a heart attack, when the dark woman kisses the man's forehead and brushes fingers through his hair.
"Did you have a good time, Monty? Plenty of sandwiches?"
Scotty buries his face further into Uhura's neck and nods.
"Aye lass, The sandwiches were magical, but I would have had an even better time if you were here."
Uhura pulls the Scotsman closer to her and presses a kiss to one of his rosy cheeks.
"I wish I could've been here but I had to finish off some reports. I promise to come next time. Now, lets get you to bed."
Scotty pulls away from the communications officer with a sly grin on his face and a twinkle in his slightly glassy eyes.
"You planning to have your wicked way with me, lass?"
Uhura giggles as she plants one last kiss on her boyfriend's nose.
"Damn, you have discovered my devious plot. I am simply no match for your brilliance."
By this time, Gaila has managed to drag Kirk over to the enamoured couple (Jim sees it as revenge for their earlier trip through the ship). Gaila clears her throat to get the pairs attention.
"Nyota, I know that you know who this is, but I think you deserve an official introduction. This is Jim Kirk," The Orion looks to Jim, "Jimmy, this is Nyota Uhura."
Kirk holds out his hand. "Pleasure to meet you Uhura."
The woman in red gives him a blinding smile that Jim has seen his Uhura give others, but has never been directed at him.
"It is a pleasure to meet you as well Jim, but please call me Nyota."
Kirk stares at her dumbly as she releases his hand, gives Gaila a quick hug and then grabs a hold of her swaying boyfriend.
"I better get him back to our room before he passes out or starts groping the bulkhead."
She shakes her head at Gaila's questioning look.
"Don't ask. Let's just say that I have to fight this ship for his attention sometimes. I'll see you both later."
Gaila and Kirk watch as a very patient Uhura uses gentle force to get Scotty out the door and into the hallway. Jim finds himself not that far behind them as the Orion takes his wrist and begins guiding him back to his quarters. He tries to ignore the fact that the pleasant tingling sensation he gets whenever Spock touches him is completely absent at Gaila's touch. Those kind of thoughts will lead to nothing good.
In no time at all they are both standing in front of Jim's door. Gaila has yet to release his wrist and she is now looking at the blond expectantly.
"I could come in with you if you want, Jimmy."
Kirk is tempted. God knows he needs a distraction and Gaila was always good at giving him one, but he also knows that it will not solve anything. Also, he knows it's ridiculous, but he sort of feels that he would be cheating on Spock if he is with anyone one else, even thought he knows that is an idiotic thing to think.
'Jeez! That Vulcan has ruined me for anyone else.'
Jim is just about to turn her down as gently as he can, when Gaila's head snaps to the side as if she has heard something. Kirk can't hear anything, but then he remembers his xenobiology lessons about Orion's and how they have far better hearing then humans. He waits patiently for Gaila to tell him what she is listening too, but all she does is let go of his wrist as if it was on fire and takes a frantic step away from him. Her eyes are wide with fear and Jim is getting concerned.
"Gaila, what is it?"
She takes a quick glance at Spock's door behind her before shaking her head at Jim.
"Nothing. It's nothing, but I'm afraid I won't be able to come in tonight.., or any other night. Probably best if I let you get some rest... alone. See you in the labs tomorrow, Jimmy."
She suddenly flinches and amends, "I mean Jim. See you tomorrow, Jim."
The Orion is practically running down the hall as if the devil himself is chasing her. Jim watches her disappear and then examines the empty space around him trying to find a reason for Gaila's weird behaviour. He discovers nothing that can explain what had just happened, so he just puts it down to it being late and to the fact Gaila has always been a bit strange.
He gazes longingly at Spock's door for a few moments then turns to his own door. He enters in the code and crosses the threshold into his quarters. He freezes in the middle of the room when he spots his PADD, which he had left in the computer labs, lying on his bed. He spots a note attached to it, which contains very familiar writing. His heart speeds up as he makes his way over to the bed and takes the note in his hand and reads it.
Dear James,
I took it upon myself to return this to you, knowing that you may need it. I hope I have not overstepped my bounds, but I had no other way of getting it to you.
Though we do not seem to be on the best of terms at the moment, please be assured that I am always here for you.
Sleep well.
Yours truly,
Spock
The last three words of the letter has all the blood in Jim's body travelling south and he groans, which echoes loudly in the empty room.
"He's determined to kill me. 'Mine truly' indeed."
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Next chapter should be up on Sunday.
Please review.