Osmosis – Chapter 17: What is Said and What is Heard

Disclaimer: I do not own the characters & do not profit from depictions of them.

Courtship consists in a number of quiet attentions, not so pointed as to alarm, nor so vague as not to be understood.— Laurence Sterne (1713-1768), novelist and clergyman.

Many Thoughts of Many Minds, ed. by Louis Klopsch,1896

Early afternoon on the beach at the edge of Port Town

Planet Alpha Cachette

Charlene looked at Stelen closely as he approached her, his footsteps striking softly against the soft white sand. It wasn't quite true, what people said about Vulcans being unemotional. Sadness shadowed his eyes despite the clear, warm beauty of the day.

Aw, the poor kid. Charlene understood that differences in planetary orbits and chronologies meant that Stelen might be older than she was, if one only counted years. However, she suspected that he was a bit younger in emotional development and experience.

"Are you all right, Stelen? Is it because of what happened at the farmhouse, or because you'll miss the Enterprise crew? We may meet again, honey."

"You do not know how much I want to hear you call me that and mean it." Stelen touched Charlene's fingers with his own shaking hand, and she drew in a breath. She felt something - not quite like an electric shock, but something that shouldn't have been there, arcing between them.

Stelen looked at her seriously. "It is not a tender way you speak to me, is it? You only call me that for friendship, like Doctor McCoy when he says sugar to Lady Uhura. I want more than friendship."

"Stelen? I didn't know...why didn't you tell me? Or ask me, before..."

"Before Engineer Scott took you?"

"Listen, Scotty didn't take me, I went to him. We knew each other long before you even came aboard the ship, and things were already changing between us." Charlene felt her shoulders go tense, but kept her composure. "I do like you, Stelen, and I care about what happens to you. But I can't stop what's already happening and I can't hurt Scotty. I don't expect you to feel kindly towards him right now, but believe me, he's a good man."

"Charlene, I do not like this." Stelen gave her an entreating look. "What you do if...what would you do if nothing between you and Scott?"

"If there were nothing between Scotty and me, I would...I'd enjoy getting to know you better, but how can we know what would happen? Feelings should come naturally, Stelen."

"Already I know my emotions for you. I make all good for you if you allow. Take you to New Vulcan, try to give you a good life. No, better than try. You will have best of all I can give."

"It's kind of you to say that, but how can I marry a man I've known for less than seven days?"

"Different for Vulcans sometimes, wanting comes like...pral, big wave in the sea. I decide after first time you talk to me."

Vulcans were strong, but Charlene hadn't realized how fast. She hadn't expected Stelen's lips to be so soft. Suddenly she realized he wasn't simply the guileless, innocent young man she'd thought he was. Rather than being awkward, his kiss was slightly erotic. It was alarming to feel herself respond.

Oh, no! I'm a terrible person. Scotty –

She put her hands against Stelen's broad chest and pushed. He didn't resist her, but he didn't move away from her either.

"I think it is better if you are mine, Charlene."

Normally, Charlene Isata Masters was a brave, sensible woman; Starfleet required it. At the age of eight she'd grabbed a hoe and neatly dispatched a large snake in her grandmother's garden during a summer visit down South in Geechee country. Neither her grandparents' guidance nor Starfleet's combat training prepared her for a determined alien suitor ready to carry her off to his home planet. Nor had she been prepared for her own feelings for two very different men.

"Stelen – I'm – I don't know what to say – we can't -"

Charlene turned and ran.

…

Outside the Starfleet Crew's Guest Beach Cabins

"Charlene, what's wrong?" Nyota's hand automatically moved towards her hip before she put a protective arm around her friend's shoulder.

"Nyota, can you please, please talk? Quickly? Like, right now?"

"Sure. Let's go to your cabin, it's closer. How can I help? Do you want me to call Medical, or the Captain?"

"No, neither one. I'm just upset over one of the Vulcan men, and - I don't do love triangles, Ny! I'm a lapsed Baptist!"

"Uh-oh. If your situation's what I think it is, prayers might be in order. Don't give up on that Baptist thing just yet," Nyota replied, closing the door. "Just a second, Charlene – let me call Spock—"

"No! I don't want my C.O. to get the wrong idea about me. I want to keep my commission in Starfleet."

"Charlene, this is an unusual situation. You said a Vulcan's involved. I'm asking him to help you as a friend needing Vulcan cultural advice."

"I don't want any misunderstandings. Could you talk to Stelen or Donstelralth for me? Please? Honestly, I don't know what the right behavior is in this situation."

"Sorry, Charlene, I couldn't – bonded Vulcan mates don't have this sort of discussion with unbonded Vulcan men... this could get complicated, with both of us being humans. Let's clear this up. Are you, uh, involved with Stelen?"

"No! There's someone else...to be accurate, it's only the beginnings of something with someone else."

"Scotty?" Nyota asked gently.

"How did you know?"

"Behind all of his fast talk and jokes, Scotty's eyes and body language speak loudly. He's...softer with you. Seriously," Nyota added as her friend blinked back at her, "it's been going on for months. I wondered if one of you would ever make a move! Not that I'd ever be so unprofessional, but I even thought it might help if I asked Spock to assign you two to a graveyard shift together. Relax, I'm joking," she said as Charlene gave her a shocked look. "You're an amazing, intelligent woman but you just don't notice certain things."

"Girl, come on. You know I'm used to working around engineers. Nonverbal communication and dating stuff can get weird in that environment. Anyway, I don't usually date colleagues."

"They want to date you, though. Larry Riddle? He hates Starfleet coffee even more than you do, but he'll gladly drink it if you're there. And I know all about your tea supply from Scotty." Nyota winked, and Charlene laughed, relieved to feel a break in the tension.

"All right. So, there were a few kisses with Scotty. And some cuddling. Scotty's considerate; he said we should go slowly. I only meant to befriend Stelen. I felt badly for the Vulcans because they had that frightening experience of being stranded. He's kind, and talented, and interesting. Attractive, but I thought he was sort of immature. He came up to me on the beach just now, spilled the secret of his hidden attraction, offered to carry me off to New Vulcan -" Nyota gasped – "and then kissed me without asking, but I didn't slap him or anything. Problem is, he's not just a nice Vulcan boy."

I'm not sure that there are many nice, innocent Vulcan boys, Nyota mused, but thought it best not to say it aloud. "Stelen shouldn't have touched you. It's not acceptable within Vulcan culture. He must really have it bad for you."

"The problem is, I kind of liked that kiss," Charlene confessed. "More than I should. Unfortunately, I like Scotty's kissing too. Am I a mean, self-centered person for feeling this way? I don't want to hurt either one of them."

"Oh, no." Nyota clasped Charlene's hand sympathetically.

"Come to think of it, Ny...maybe you'd better ask for Spock's help after all."

...

Charlene Masters' Guest Cabin

Nyota whispered to Spock, who stood hesitantly in the doorway of Charlene's cabin. "Don't worry –" she switched to Vulcan- "Adun, we will have our time together. Just to make sure that we are not interrupted later, please find Stelendos and Donstelralth and let us attempt to resolve this now."

"Stelendos? Has that young man done something to Lieutenant Masters? I will see that the appropriate judicial authorities are consulted if he has."

"Calm, dear one. Stelen did not hurt Charlene. He told her he wants her for his bondmate, and she is confused and distressed. She is already...involved...with Scotty in some way."

Spock blinked twice in surprise, and then sighed. "The peculiarities of life among the Enterprise crew are seemingly infinite. I will speak to Miss Masters long enough to address her concerns and provide recommendations for the proper course of action. Then I will offer Donstelralth and his emotion-struck protégé precisely sixty minutes of my time and counsel, although I doubt it will help much. After that time, I must be alone to meditate and prepare for my private time with you. Nyota, you will also take your leave of Miss Masters and prepare to meet me."

"Thank you, sweetheart; Stelen will appreciate your listening ear. Both of those young Vulcans admire you."

"Indeed?" Spock replied in a dry tone. "I was unaware of my influence, as their social behavior did not reflect it."

"Tch! You were young once, and I know you are wild in private, which pleases me." She brushed her fingers against his hand, and they both sat down with a nervous Charlene.

Vulcan vocabulary in this chapter:

Adun = husband.

Pral = wave, as in the ocean or sea.

Thanks for your patience between chapters. Personal issues arose. Thanks very much to all who have read and reviewed. I appreciate your taking time to read!

Next chapter: resolution for Charlene and Stelen, and an intimate meeting between Spock and Nyota.