Well here we are, the last Grand Canyon writings lol.

Please let me know if Spock acts really strangely in this chapter. I mean, he's not all stoic for my version, but i want to stay as true to the real Spock as I can...

urg it's hard to explain.

please enjoy :)

We returned to Earth, and it was the last I would see of my favorite ship for a while. Heavens knows what Star Fleet intended to do to reprimand Kirk.

Two days after arriving back, there was a bombing at a Star Fleet archive, taking many innocent lives. I knew that at a time such as this, all present Captains and their First Officers would be attending a meeting in the conference building across from my room. If I looked out, I could see the lights through the tinted glass.

What was I going to do with myself? I couldn't let myself turn into a blubbery mess whenever Spock was in danger, it would compromise the entire crew. And that's another thing, I was referring to him as Spock now, not Commander, not anything at all formal. And I had let it slip from only calling him that to myself, to saying it out loud, right to his face.

A bright flash of light outside my window caught my attention. I looked out, and began scrambling for my comm. Someone was piloting a jumpship, and they were firing on the conference room that Spock and Captain Kirk were sure to be in.

I alerted emergency services, and then tried contacting Spock directly via communicator, regulation be damned. All I received was static. My heart leapt into my throat, and I attempted to contact Kirk. Again, I got nothing but static to reward my efforts. I gave an exasperated huff, throwing my comm across the room. I could only hope that they made it out alive.

The enemy ship, a marked Federation vessel, went down, taking out a lower chunk of the building with it. Emergency vehicles hovered up to put out the fires that had been started, and I could just make out paramedics inside the building, working to save the wounded.

In a few minutes, I could read An official report, and it would tell me who survived, and who didn't. But those few minutes dragged out like hours. When I couldn't take waiting any longer, I looked for the report on my PADD. I found what I was looking for, and the answers both relieved and surprised me.

Spock and Captain Kirk had lived, but Kirk was no longer Captain, it said. Kirk was First Officer aboard the Enterprise, and the now late Admiral Pike had been Captain. Spock was now First Officer aboard the U.S.S. Bradburry, the Captain of said ship also recently deceased.

My heart stopped, and my PADD fell from my hands. I would never see him again, now. I didn't even know what I would be doing. Would I replace Spock? Would there be a new science officer for me to shadow?

If there was a bright side to this situation, I suppose it was that I wouldn't have to hide my emotions any longer. I would feel whatever I felt, without the risk of offending the Vulcan Officer.

The next afternoon, I was called to board the Enterprise, that we would be leaving asap. I gathered the few things I needed, and headed directly for the shuttle docks. The official call wasn't until two hours from then, but I had nothing better to do.

The only shuttle leaving was one for senior officers, but I managed to get aboard. It was empty, save a few seats, and it was relatively easy to get my small bag in the overhead cargo hold. When I turned back, I froze. He was there, standing right in front of me.

Spock seemed surprised to see me, but I wasn't paying attention to that. I was trying to figure out how to quickly cover up my emotions before I did something irrational. I wasn't supposed to have to cover up any more...

I lost it. I stepped up to him, whispered, "Spock.." and wrapped my arms around him, forgetting all about protocol and regulation. He didn't push me away, which was heartening, but neither did he respond in kind. I could feel my tears getting his uniform wet, and I was brought back to reality.

I backed away, sputtering an apology, And sat in my window seat, refusing to look at him through my tear-blurred eyes.

If he intended to speak to me, he was interrupted by Kirk coming aboard, and speaking to him. Kirk wad followed closely by Dr. McCoy, tricorder in hand. I was almost too unstable to notice that Kirk had sat in the row in front of me.

McCoy took one of the seats next to me, and was still scanning Kirk, muttering under his breath. Spock sat directly in front of me, leaving one seat between Kirk and himself. They were talking about something, but I wasn't paying attention to what. Kirk snapped at McCoy, who stopped scanning reluctantly.

A female voice piped up, and I glanced up, tears now dried but my attitude unchanged. A blond woman stood in front of Kirk, explaining that she was a science officer sent by Admiral Marcus.

"You requested another science officer?" Spock asked, "It seems unnecessary with myself and Miss Turner aboard."

"I wish I had." Kirk said quietly, and I almost snorted. "Welcome aboard, Miss Carol Wallace."

From what I had gathered, Kirk was Captain once more, and it appeared that Spock had been placed in his previous position as well. I wondered what the presence of this new science officer would mean for me. Would she be my superior? Or were we equals?

I lost my train of thought when she sat in between the Captain and Spock. I felt a pang of jealousy jolt through me, but I was focused on burying my emotion again before I did anything else that could get me in trouble.

When we arrived at the Enterprise, I went directly to my quarters, instead of following the Captain and Spock to the cargo hold. I would go directly to the bridge afterwards, as to not appear to be shirking my duties.

When I arrived on the bridge, I felt myself able to breathe a little easier. Formal settings made it easier to control myself. Before I had any real chance to relax, though, Spock walked onto the bridge, taking his normal spot next to me. I stiffened slightly, but otherwise made no outward reaction to his presence.

"Commander." I greeted formally, and I admit, rather stiffly and quietly.

"Lieutenant." He responded, his usual, stoic self.

The Captain came on bridge minutes later, followed by Uhura. Kirk assigned Chekov to engineering, a replacement navigator taking his chair. In a few minutes, the ship was ready for departure.

When we entered warp, the Captain had Uhura open a ship-wide channel.

"Attention, crew of the Enterprise," he began, "as most of you know, the former Captain of this ship, and our friend Admiral Pike, is now dead.

"The man who killed him has fled our system and is hiding in the Klingon home world - somewhere he believes we are unwilling to go. We're on our way there now." He paused for a moment, sitting back in his chair. "Per Admiral Marcus, it is essential that our presence go undetected. Any direct provocation could lead to all-out war. We will carry out our mission in secret and as swiftly as possible. These are our orders."

Kirk paused a moment before adding, "Alright. Let's go get this sonuvabitch."

Now that some of the excitement had dissipated, I was feeling more and more uncomfortable sitting where I was. I needed to step out and clear my head.

"If you'll excuse me.." I said, rising from my chair and leaving the bridge. I stepped out, trying to rationally sort this out in my head. There was no way he would ever reciprocate feelings for me, I told myself, as a dedicated Vulcan, he wouldn't allow such a lapse in logic. Tears began to well in my eyes, and I struggled to keep them at bay.

I found myself pacing back And forth, sorting through my thoughts. I was startled to turn around and see Spock standing there, watching me. I scrambled to put together an apology for my earlier actions.

"I'm sorry for what happened on the shuttle...sir." I said, wincing at my struggle to address him properly. "It was an unforseen and unwise lapse in both my logic and self-control-"

I was shocked into silence my a hand on my shoulder and a finger on my lips.

"My father once told me," he said in a low, quiet voice, "That what is necessary, is never unwise."

With those words, he wrapped me in a hug. My emotional wall burst, and I was quietly sobbing into his shirt.

"I was so scared," I breathed, "When you were in that conference room, that you had died. Your comm wasn't working, and I could see nothing but destruction. When I read the report, I was relieved that you were alive, but heartbroken that you had been reassigned. I told myself that since I wouldn't be seeing you again, that I no longer had to hide my feelings. When I saw you on the shuttle, I was totally unprepared."

There was only silence for a moment as he rubbed small circles into my back.

"Perhaps unpreparedness has its advantages." He murmured. "How long have you felt this way?"

"Probably since you saved me after finals." I breathed, no longer crying.

"You do not know how much longer i have longed for you." He said, "For me it started as protectiveness after seeing you, my best student, be hurt by someone. Over the course of the semester, my feelings changed, leading to my pursuit of you after testing. I am rather amazed you hid such a thing as well as you did, for I know that it could not have been easy."

Just then, a terrible shaking struck the Enterprise, causing us to fall to the ground.

"What the hell was that?!"

Well well well! Finally some action! of both kinds haha.

Please let me know what you guys think, it is really precious to me!