((The same day as last chapter))

Clad in gym clothes, Leonard sparred with Jim for only about twenty minutes before the captain gave up. "I'm just not feeling it today, Bones." He said, sprawled out on the floor. Leonard smirked and grabbed a towel from the wall to wipe himself off with. He didn't particularly enjoy having sweat all over himself. "You should get me one of those." Jim said, and since Leonard was finished, he chucked his own towel onto the man's face. Jim grunted, pulling it off. "Damn it, I want my own!"

"Then get it! You have legs!" Leonard barked back. Some people a ways away looked over at them worriedly, but he just glared at them. Worked every time. Jim always got playfully whiny after physical exertion. It's like he deserved a break or something.

"Mmh, I'll be right back." Jim grumbled, heaving himself up and setting off to the bathrooms.

"I apologize for my tardiness." Leonard jumped when he heard this, and whipped around to see Spock there, eyebrow raised and hands behind his back. He relaxed minutely.

"It's fine. I've only just gotten warmed up. I dunno 'bout Jim though. Seemed pretty tired already." Leonard said, looking in the direction of the bathroom. Hopefully nothing was actually wrong with Jim. They usually sparred for at least an hour before he was this tired. He'd have to ask him about it later. He shrugged and looked back at Spock. "We could start without him." He suggested, and Spock nodded hesitantly.

They both got into position, and began throwing (fighting/sparring). Three times Leonard was slammed to the ground, and the fourth time, he groaned in pain and rubbed his head. Spock stood above him and held out his hand. He glared back, and pushed himself up. He ain't need help from no Vulcan.

Leonard took a deep breath, and got into position. He mapped his actions out in his head, trying to think. He the logical thing to do was to try to overpower him, since Vulcan reflexes were catlike. So obviously he chose the absolutely illogical option, and swiftly charged at Spock like he was going to get around him to take him from behind. But at the last moment he changed his strategy and powerfully tackled him to the ground with a thunk.

"Finally got you, bastard!" Leonard exclaimed triumphantly on the floor before he noticed how he was on top of Spock. He swallowed and looked down at the Vulcan, closer to him than he'd ever been before. It was definitely cliché, but he felt like he could see the man's whole life in those chocolaty eyes. He glanced at Spock's lips, licking his own without thinking.

"Whoa, I leave and then suddenly there's a love scene going on!" Jim laughed, popping out of nowhere. Leonard scrambled off of Spock and stood up quickly. He glared at Jim.

"Ain't no love scene, ya dunce." He grumbled, and ignored Spock's figure standing up as well. Jim wiggled his eyebrows, which made Leonard's glare intensify.

"Fine. But it's my turn to spar with Spock now." Jim said with a new expression of determination and excitement. Right. Jim could have his damn Vulcan, for all he cared. Leonard walked off without saying a word, and went to go take a shower.

The three of them walked around the ship together, since Jim suggested that they hang out longer because he didn't want to be alone. Leonard agreed, since hell, he probably wouldn't be getting to sleep until at least two in the morning. And Spock probably agreed because he had been doing work in his quarters or in the lab all day, so maybe he wanted some time out as well.

What Leonard noticed, though, make him a little disconcerted. It was that whenever they were walking, standing, sitting, or talking, Jim seemed to always want to be in between him and Spock. It wouldn't normally upset him, since the Vulcan ticked him off, but it was becoming a bit obsessive.

They approached Spock's quarters, to where he 'retired for the night,' and it was just the two of them. Before Jim could walk into his own quarters right next to Spock's, Leonard grabbed his arm briefly to make him stay behind.

"Do you still like him?" Leonard asked quietly, frowning slightly. Jim's bright blue eyes widened as he shook his head.

"No! Why would you say that?!" He said frantically, making Leonard give him an exasperated look.

"Don't lie to me, Jim. I can see that you always want to be near him at all times. It's a wonder you haven't been fondling him this whole night, the way you've been acting." He said and Jim gaped at him.

"... Do YOU like him?" Jim whisper-yelled, and Leonard immediately shook his head.

"No. I don't-"

"You do." Jim interrupted, making Leonard glare at him. "Don't deny it, Bones! Or else you wouldn't be this worked up about it!"

"Maybe I could see him as a friend, but a romantic interest?!" Leonard said, shaking his head again. "No. Not even close." Jim didn't reply, so they glared at each other for several minutes. Leonard was beginning to feel pretty frustrated. He did NOT like Spock. At all. Ever. Jim smirked at him suddenly.

"I'm feeling a lot of sexual frustration from you. You wanna come in for a quickie?" He asked suggestively, and Leonard was about to snap at him, before he thought about it. Would he like one? He looked Jim up and down. He sure was a pretty boy.

If he was actually, really into men, maybe he'd consider it. If he wasn't pissed off, maybe he'd consider it. If he didn't have any sense of dignity in who he was, maybe he'd consider it. If Jim wasn't such a promiscuous ass sometimes, maybe he'd consider it. But this wasn't like that.

So he just walked away. Jim called after him, said he was only joking, but Leonard just ignored him. He wasn't in the mood to deal with that anymore today. He was just going to go back to his quarters and try his damnedest to sleep. So when he did get back to his place, he got dressed and performed his nightly ritual like usual. Except there was something on his computer. He frowned and walked up to it. A notification?

It was from Spock. Through that one dating website. It said that it was sent around noon. It automatically displayed their real names this time, making Leonard feel minutely uncomfortable. He sat down in the desk chair, and read the message.

"Leonard,

I presume that you will not receive this message until late tonight. However, given our time apart, I have not had the opportunity to make my opinions on our situation known.

While I am not quite pleased about how the situation resulted, it is my strong suggestion that we strive to create a friendship from it. To continue to live against each other would be a lost opportunity.

I find that a small part of me is grateful that you were the one that I have been speaking to with such trust and familiarity. Take that as you will.

Spock"

It was a short message. A short, summary of a message. And yet, it was still there. Before he could even think about writing back or not, another message popped up, almost making him jump. Almost.

"Leonard,

I must remind you that I am a touch-telepath. If you think again of performing intimate acts with me, it is advisable that you are not in contact with me before doing so if you desire to keep it hidden. Although, I must admit that I was not displeased with your sudden desire in the gym whilst we were sparring.

Spock"

Leonard's eyes were wide, and he went back to stare at the "touch-telepath" part. God damn it, he knew that the damn Vulcans were psychics! He just hasn't thought of it at the time! So Spock knew that he... he wanted to...

Did he even want to, really? Wasn't it something that any normal person would think when they're that close up to someone? Well, maybe not, since Leonard remembered being stuck in tight situations with a lot of different people, and he never wanted to kiss any of them. He never looked at their lips, and just thought how awesome they looked. Or into those eyes, and thought how gorgeous they were.

Good thing he wasn't some big sap. He rubbed a hand over his face, trying to eliminate the hotness that was there, and got up. He wasn't going to answer Spock. There was nothing he could say to help justify himself for the situation. He'd just have to go to sleep, and wait until the new day to grant him inspiration to keep trudging along.