Not Mine, Never Mine, Usual Disclaimers.

Kirk was confused when Spock told him that Uhura was not joining them, she always stayed after dinner, it was just what they did, it had become a part of their normal routine. He tilted his head to let Spock know that he did not understand.

'I am unsure if she wishes to remain in a romantic relationship with me. I believe her to be quite jealous, as she announced to the entire mess hall that everyone believes me to love you more than her, then told me she wanted to spend more time with me.'

Kirk stared then puppy face-palmed, he was going to give them both a kick up the arse for this, but he needed to know what Uhura felt at the moment. He walked over to the door, and barked, Spock opened it for him.

'She will not listen, you know that.'

Kirk ignored him and raced off. Uhura's quarters were on the same level, but on the other side of the deck. He was panting when he arrived, but he didn't care, he would stay outside her door all night if he had to. He barked, scratched and whined for at least ten minutes before she finally opened the door.

'Go away, this is your fault,' she snapped at him, tears on her face.

He whined and butted his head across her leg.

'I said go away,' she yelled, grapping an object and throwing it at him.

It missed, as did the second object she threw, but the third one didn't. It smacked into his left shoulder and sent him tumbling into the wall, bashing his head in the process. Kirk let out a yelp of pain, only to receive a sob and a shut door in response. Jim was dizzy when he stood and there was a shooting pain through his left foreleg, increasing the dizziness when he put weight onto the limb. Limping, Kirk made his way back to Spock's, whimpering when he had to put weight on his injured leg. The bark he let out to inform Spock of his arrival was weak at best, but Spock still heard him and opened the door.

'Are you alright?'

Kirk ignored him, he wasn't hungry anymore, he just felt sick, he wanted to curl up in his own misery and sleep. He slipped into the closet and curled up, letting out another whimper as he did so. He hadn't taken to sleeping in the closet recently, preferring to sleep out where there were people, where it was less lonely. For now all Kirk wanted was to be left alone. He looked up as Spock opened the door and crouched down to talk to him face to face.

'You are hurt.'

It wasn't question and Kirk looked away, not wanting Spock to know how much it hurt. Spock evidently didn't want to intrude, as he shut the door again, leaving it open just enough that Jim could get out again if he wanted. Jim began whimpering to himself, feeling the misery well up within him, until it burst forth in a howl.