Chapter 13: Finding Common Ground

"Friendship is born at that moment when one man says to another: "What! You too? I thought that no one but myself . . .""
― C.S. Lewis, The Four Loves

Lieutenant Layla Pike and Doctor Leonard McCoy were both silent as they left the privacy of the curtained off medical bed and approached the exit. However as they approached the tall figure of Hawke emerged from the medical centre's bathroom, tugging on the plain black long undershirt of the Starfleet uniform.

In spite of her irritation at the young man, Layla could not help but blush as she caught a glimpse of his strong, muscled, v-shaped, six packed waist and his perfectly toned chest.

No-no! Layla he's a jerk he's not worth your time or your effort.

A voice that sounded eerily like her father's echoed in the depths of her head.

Yeah well for a jerk he's still is damn hot!

A voice that sounded like hers wolf whistled loudly as Hawke's head popped through the neck of the shirt. His face was flushed slightly pink, and his hair was damp and mussed up all over the place so that occasionally a drop of water slid down the side of his head and down his neck.

It was one of these droplets that Layla did her best to avoid watching as the fine specimen of a man before her ran a hand through his hair to neaten it up.

He smirked as he caught her surprised face.

It was the perfect tilt of the lips. Sweet, polite and yet still devilishly alluring, and his grey eyes were stormy and mysterious.

Layla had seen Jim use that smirk countless of times on both her and other women, and had not felt a damn thing save exasperation or amusement.

Now however, seeing it on Hawke's face was…was…

She could feel her cheeks flush deeply as he gave her a tiny wink and said.

"Liking the view short stack?"

Somewhere beside her she felt Leonard stiffen, like he always did whenever a boy made a pass at her. Close friends though they were, Layla always found the doctor's strong paternal protectiveness of her quite irritating sometimes. She already had one father who did a fine job at chasing off boys…or rather she had until this morning.

It was strangely scary, she couldn't help but think to herself. Not having her father close by. Even if she could look after herself knowing that his presence was there when she needed him was comfort enough.

But either way she was grateful for the doctor's presence now, for it gave her the strength to shrug coldly and say.

"meh! I've seen better"

She was trying to stay nonchalant, though for some reason she could not tear her eyes away from him.

And neither, so it seemed could he.

His smirk widened appreciatively as he looked her uniform up and down.

"So have I…but I have to admit the red becomes you quite well…as does the black" he added his eyes resting on the black pants fitted tightly around her behind.

"Y'know it's a real shame that Jim friend of yours hasn't tapped that yet" he murmured enjoying the way the girl before him flushed even pinker as anger flashed in her icy eyes.

However when she spoke her voice was calm. If a little bit cold.

"It might astonish you to know, but men and women can be friends without any sexual agenda."

"Oh I am well aware of that short stack" Hawke purred softly his eyes still roving over her form "No bath huh?"

"No" Layla clipped "Earth is going to be destroyed and my father possibly killed so I'm not going to waste a second of my time, even if it means remaining dirty till this is over"

"And you'd know all about being dirty wouldn't you Layla?" Hawke's eyes smouldered as he looked over Layla's face as she flushed again.

"Look I hate to interrupt your very inappropriate commentary of my friend -" Leonard glowered hard at the young man as he made to stand close beside Layla, looking more like a guard dog than a doctor "-But Jim I-I mean Captain Kirk has requested your attendance on the bridge and I suggest we get moving"

And with that he made to grab Layla around the shoulders and steer her away quickly down the corridor.

"thank you" she murmured to the doctor who growled back irritably, his southern accent growing stronger with every grunt.

"Sweetheart, I've said it before and I'll say it again. If any ass like that ever talks like that to you I'll sort him out faster than a dog catches a fox."

"Whilst I'm sure I could probably beat the crap out of him even faster than that, thanks" Layla smiled widely only to still in her spot as a familiar tall figure in blue stepped out of a corridor.

"Oh great what does that pointy eared hobgoblin want now?" Leonard muttered under his breath for only Layla to hear, only to cringe as she stepped on his foot.

"Commander" she nodded stiffly as Spock paced to stand before her, his pale face impassive as he looked down on her with his searching dark brown gaze.

"Cadet Pike, I understand if you and the doctor are in a hurry, but I was wondering if I could have a word with you?"

"Um… a private word or" Layla gulped nervously and Spock nodded.

"Yes. However if you are uncomfortable with the arrangement Doctor McCoy is welcome to-"

"No-no! it's ok" Layla glanced towards Leonard who rolled his eyes with a nod and a sigh.

"I'll tell Jim you'll be up in five. Come on Dawkins-Bawkins or whatever your name is!" he waved back to Hawke who scowled. However he did not argue with the doctor as he made to follow him into the turbo lift which shut quickly and zipped away.

Once they were out of sight Layla backed away from Spock to lean against the wall of the now very empty corridor.

"So, Mr Spock. What is it that you want to talk about?" she didn't know how she managed to do it, but she was able to keep the nasty snap out of her voice as she narrowed her eyes upon the half-vulcan commander before her who only blinked once before stating quietly:

"I wished to express…my apologies to you."

Layla blinked.

"…Come again?"

"I wish to apologise-" Spock's eyes quickly darted downwards but otherwise there was no inclination of any embarrassment on his behalf as he continued to speak. "-For not taking responsibility for your capture in the call of duty and for my treatment of you on the bridge. It was illogical and unfair to turn your input away especially after the events you had to experience. Though I denied it then, I now realise I was letting my own emotions rule my own sense of logic"

Layla was glad Spock waited patiently for her to answer, though at the same time she was a little unnerved by having his full attention on her.

It was only after a good minute that she finally was able to cough out:

"Yeah, anger tends to do that to you."

Wow that was smooth!

She cursed herself as Spock quirked a brow slightly as he thought her statement over. After a moment of quiet deliberation, he nodded.

"And yet it does not excuse my behaviour-"

"No it doesn't" Layla cut across him firmly though her gaze was no longer as harsh as it was before "but even so… You lost your family and your planet all in one fell swoop. And whilst it doesn't seem that way, it was both natural and logical for you to feel conflicted and frustrated. You are still half human after all" She added when Spock opened his mouth to say.

"Does this mean that you forgive my actions?"

Layla glanced up at the Vulcan and was surprised to see that though he was doing his best to keep his face blank, his eyes glimmered with worry.

"I guess I do" She couldn't help but quirk an eyebrow up at him. "You don't say this kind of thing too often do you?

"I admit…I am unused to adhering to my more human side," Spock nodded slowly and Layla smirked softly.

"Compassion is a muscle that gets stronger with use, Mr Spock" she said as she peeled herself off the wall to begin walking slowly down the corridor. "And I think you'll get the hang of using it just fine if you allow yourself to"

Spock seeing her unsaid request quietly joined her to step beside her into the turbolift.

Once the doors shut Layla allowed herself a long heavy sigh.

"Oh man…" she shut her eyes as she stretched out her arms behind her back

"Miss Pike" Spock asked as he stood stock still beside her in parade rest.

"Hmm?" she grunted glancing at him with a pair of sharp icy eyes.

"May I ask a personal query?"

"Yeah, what about?" Layla snorted as she straightened up.

"Andrew Hawkins. What is your current connection with him and on what grounds do you permit him to roam freely about this ship?"

"to start off with, Hawke and I do not have any real connections whatsoever" Layla rolled her eyes once more "we only met today when Nero chucked me in the brig cell. He helped me escape and in accordance to that debt I have provided him with assistance. As for why he's being allowed to roam around freely…"

She chewed her lip hard, doing her best to avoid the Vulcan's searching gaze.

"Ok…I admit, his situation seem far too coincidental to not be suspicious" she mumbled "but given what's happened today I'm giving him the benefit of the doubt. There were so many times he could've killed me when my use to him became obsolete. But he didn't. And I want to know why-"

"And so you wish to gain his trust to find his motives?" Spock murmured and she nodded. "It is…a logical move given the circumstances…however it is also risky-"

"Pardon my interruption Commander, but everything we do has a risk." Layla's eyes narrowed on the Vulcan beside her. "Especially when people like us are responsible for the lives and safety of others"

Spock nodded silently again before saying softly.

"I will admit Lieutenant, when I first became aware of Lieutenant-Commander Giotto's decision to make you his deputy I was…sceptical. Not because I doubt your skills" He added when said lieutenant's body tensed up slightly.

"No I have seen reasonable evidence of your proficiency in many areas. But it was because of your age. For before I came to Earth I had barely had any contact with a human below the age of adulthood. I surmised that there would logically be vast differences in emotional intelligence between the children and adolescents of Vulcans, to those of Terran Humans"

"Well you aren't wrong there" Layla smirked, but Spock ignored her as he continued to murmur over the top.

"So you can imagine how…surprised-" - and as he said this the Commander looked strangely uncomfortable "-I was to find that the youngest student in my classes has been perhaps one of the most mature in mindset. Both back then… and now."

"I'm not mature Mr Spock" Layla shook her head softly down to her feet. But even as she rolled her eyes Spock could see the slightest gleam of sadness and fear, flicker over her icy orbs as she mumbled.

"I thought I was, but now after getting out of that mess I know what I really am, and that's a spoiled brat. I pick fights that aren't mine to fight because I know I can win them. I talk big, shout and boss people around because I know I won't get in trouble for it. I yell at my friends and I take my parents for granted because I assume they will always be there and they will always forgive me. Even when I have done something that cannot be forgiven"

"If you are implying that your actions aboard the drill platform above Vulcan Miss Pike, were acts of murder, then allow me to disagree" Spock's voice was calm, but steady, his brown eyes hard with…was that determination. "It was clear from the recordings and from Mr Sulu's account that the Romulan in question was intent upon maliciously hurting you, and that you killed him only out of self-defence. And it is of my personal opinion that even if the defence itself was violent, the fact that you show remorse for your actions and wish take responsibility for them, proves to me that you are just as mature, if not more so, than I have thought beforehand. Which brings me back to Lieutenant Commander Giotto's decision; a matter on which I now stand corrected as it were. A matter of which I am sure, your father Captain Pike, would be most proud"

Layla opened her mouth to speak, but shut it hastily. But then again it was only natural. Her mind was blank of what to say. But what could she say to such a declaration.

Commander Spock giving compliments? Jim's words must really have shaken him up a bit.

She was glad when the turbo lift doors both opened onto the bridge, and several raised voices suddenly blasted into her ears.

"Wow…gone for only half an hour and already they're going at it" she muttered more to herself than to Spock, though the Vulcan quirked an eyebrow and tilted his head in a nod of agreement.

And thus, those moments of shared amusement and irritation began between Commander and Lieutenant, though they would not know it yet.

"-whatever the case, we need to get aboard Nero's ship undetected."

"We can't just go in there guns blazing Jim, not with their technology, I'm telling you the math doesn't support what you're suggesting."

In spite of the small gruff argument between the newly appointed Captain Jim Kirk and his Chief Medical Officer Leonard McCoy, Ensign Pavel Chekov couldn't help but grin as he darted from his tactical station to stand between them.

Around them in a huddle, lieutenant's Sulu and Uhura were also pouring over data they had in front of the sandy haired captain as a tall pale blonde haired man stood behind at a slight distance, listening with quiet but steely determination.

He was standing so still he could've been made of stone, and when added to his equally grim grey eyes he almost seemed like a soldier standing on the front line of a battle field awaiting the order to charge. Normally the presence of such a stern person would've frightened Ensign Chekov. But he was too excited about his new findings that he didn't pause to think twice of the stranger as he brushed passed, his face alight with the eager energy of a puppy that had just discovered a treat hidden accidently in a corner.

"Keptin Kurk! Keptin Kurk!" he called out tapping Kirk on the shoulder.

"Yes Mr Checkov. What is it?" Jim barked, doing his best to keep his nerves in check.

He had nearly three people yelling at him and one creepily watching him with a laser-like vision. The last thing he needed was someone else breathing down his neck.

Therefore he was very much relieved to see the younger man's bright excitable face brighten as he made to explain his findings.

"Based on the Narada's course from Wvulcan, I have projected that Nero will travel past Saturn. Like you said, we need to stay invisible to Nero, or he'll destroy us. If Mr Scott can get us to warp factor 4 and if we drop out of warp behind one of Saturn's moons, say, Titan, the magnetic distortion from the planet's rings will make us invisible to Nero's sensors. From there, as long as the drill is not actuated, we can beam aboard the enemy ship."

"Aye that might just work" A heavy Scottish accent punctuated the silence of the group before the ensign, as Montgomery Scott strode in wringing a towel through his ear.

However the eyes that fell upon him were sceptical and incredulous. Even Leonard McCoy was scowling harder than usual as he looked on Chekov.

"wait a minute kid, how old are you?"

"Seventeen sir" Chekov nodded only to be cut off abruptly by Leonard turning to Jim and snorting.

"Oh-oh good he's seventeen-"

"So am I for that matter." A young female voice cut across the older doctor's sharply "but you still don't question my hypotheses"

All faces in the room turned as Layla Pike strode forwards onto the bridge alongside a much calmer, more composed Commander Spock, who turned to address Leonard and Jim with his blank tones.

"Doctor, Mr Chekov is correct. I can confirm his telemetry. If Mr Sulu's able to manoeuvre us into position, I can beam aboard Nero's ship steal back the black hole device and if possible bring back Captain Pike"

Jim shook his head, though more out of concern than anger or spite, much to Layla's relief.

"I won't allow you to do that Mr Spock"

But Spock only quirked an eyebrow at the younger man.

"Romulan's and Vulcan's share a common ancestry. Our cultural similarities will make it easier for me to access the ship's computer to locate the device. Also my mother was human," the Vulcan added, in slightly softer tones "which makes Earth the only home I have left"

There was a small pause in which all the bridge crew went silent, their faces pensive and drained. All save Jim's, for his face was set with stubborn determination as he stepped forwards and said:

"Then I'm coming with you"

"I would cite regulation, but I know you will simply ignore it"

"See? We are getting to know each other"

Layla was willing to bet her entire arm that if Spock, could've, he would've smirked, much like Jim was doing right now as he clapped a hand on the Vulcan's shoulder.

But the new captain's smugness was short lived as he caught her eye and saw the gleam shine anew in it.

"No" he said before she could even open her mouth. "No way are you coming along"

"Like you'll have a choice in the matter. 'Tactical Directive 36: The Captain will not engage a hostile force without the protection of a security officer.' And seeing as I'm the only security officer that has seen the inside of the Enemy Ship I will be able to help you and Commander Spock navigate it" Layla scowled darkly as she jabbed a finger at the silver bands of her red shirt sleeve.

"As will I" everyone turned to see Hawke's eyes narrowed as he caught the captain's eye. "I remember the pathway to the brig. If Short Stack's dad is there I'll be able to track him"

There was a very uncomfortable pause in which Jim and Hawke both eyed one another up and down, assessing one another closely.

At first Jim had wanted to sneer, to question openly if the other male had any combat or tactical training taught to him. But one glance at that powerful stance told him that this Hawke was definitely more than qualified for the job at hand. Indeed, something about the other man that just screamed…soldier…and not just any soldier. No. This man was one of the elite, someone who could probably break his own neck with just a twitch of his fingers…a little bit like Layla…

No Layla's a much better officer than he'll ever be!

"Argh! Fine! Fine! Both of you are coming too" Jim growled as he shook out his head, doing his best to ignore the small smug grin on Layla's face.

Finally, they had a plan.

Finally they had a chance of winning.

Just hold on dad, we're gonna get you out. I promise.

TADAA! new chapter!

so that was a little bit of crew bonding there plus a plan coming together, hopefully this means we can get to the juicy stuff to come much sooner ;)

keep R&Ring for more