Disclaimer:I do not own these characters. I also do not own Ramen Noodles. However, I do own Niburan and it's inhabitants, the Joremur, Zesthu, Abrigon, Rhododensalvus, the Niburan language, and all that other stuff. So no stealing, please!

Thank you so much for the wonderful reviews and subscriptions.

And yes, there are Ramen Noodles in the future! You have to admit, they must be very handy in space...

After this I have atleast 2 comedy oneshots, a fluffy multi chapter, and I always put out fluffy oneshots... So watch out once I finish this!

Also, I just released a oneshot about the mentioned Bolian Flu incident... So feel free to go check that out! (Fic is called The Bolian Flu)

R&R

The first person I saw when we beamed up was Chekov. I smiled at him, purely happy that I lived to see him again, but his face was cold - something was wrong.

"Perhaps you should accompany Dr. McCoy to the sickbay to treat your injuries," Spock said, capturing my attention once more. I thought about this, my hand instinctively going to the burn on my abdomen, but I shook my head.
"Those beds should be filled with people who need more help than I do. I'll get some ice later."
McCoy agreed with me, "You should come in later, though, once more patients are stabilized." Then, after thanking Scotty for his good job beaming us aboard, he left for the sickbay to help Nurse Chapel.

"It is imperative that I speak with you," I heard Chekov whisper to Spock. 
Spock turned to look at me. "Perhaps you should go rest, you have been through many difficulties as of late."
"No, I would much rather do my job," I told him. He relented by beginning to walk through the automative door with Chekov and me in stride.

"The Chief contacted us again to check for progress," Chekov began as we walked through the long corridor to the turbolift, "When not met with you acting as Captain, we were told there would be serious consequences for your actions."

"I had anticipated that would have been the case," he responded softly as we stepped into the turbolift. His face was calm as always, but I felt the feeling of dread seep into my heart - the Enterprise might have been my dream, but I didn't want to be here without him.

The doors opened to the bridge and Chekov walked out in front of us, but I held Spock back.

"You disobeyed orders?" I asked him in a whisper.

"It was the logical thing to do."

- - -

When I stepped out of my bathroom, still wrapped in a towel from my sonic shower, I was met by Spock sitting at the table, his fingers steepled in front of his face, something he often did when deep in thought.

I tightened my towel around myself instinctively and cleared my throat, walking over to his side. When I was finally forced out by the rest of the bridge to rest, it was obvious he did not want to leave, so I was curious.

"Changed your mind?" I asked him, running my fingers through his straight, symmetrical hair.

"Not by choice - I nearly had a mutiny on my hands. They forced me out for the same reason they forced you and Lieutenant Sulu - they thought we all needed our rest," he told me, leaning into my touch ever-so-slightly.

He eyed my dripping hair with concern. "If your hair drips water steadily at the rate it has been since you exited the bathroom, it is very likely you will slip," he warned me, and I smiled.

"Thanks for the warning."

I walked past the small screen that separated my living area from my bedroom area.

"I should get dressed," I said as an excuse.

"You are not required to work."

"I know, but..." I trailed off. He was right, of course, plus they probably wouldn't let me - as he said, there was almost a mutiny when it was obvious we wanted to work.

Something had been gnawing away at my brain, a curiosity that wouldn't be satisfied, so I asked him, "How did you find us, anyway?"

He stood up to reach for my tattered uniform that had been carelessly discarded when I entered my room and slipped his hand into the pocket, pulling out my silver earpiece.

'Thank God for my carelessness,' I thought with relief.

"I must have accidently brought it down with me."

He nodded in agreement, placing my little savior on the center of the table.

"Have you eaten?"

"No, but neither have you," I countered, dropping my towel to the floor.

I was momentarily distracted by the milky white burn the chemical had left on my stomach - my uniform took most of the hit, but there was still there, a permanent reminder of what had happened. There was another on my wrist, but much dimmer - a curving line about two inches long from the knife that was held there. I was hoping that one would fade away, since the chemical was in solid form when held to my skin, but I supposed it wasn't likely.

I slipped on the black undershirt that everyone wore under their uniforms, but didn't bother with the red uniform - I wasn't allowed to work, anyway - so I opted for the small privacy shorts I often wore under my red skirt.

"You can check my minifridge, but I know how you don't always like my food," I said, walking out from my bedroom area, "I'm going to have Ramen."

He reached the small package before I did - Vulcan reflexes, I guess - opening it up and already started boiling water.

"You should rest."

I raised an eyebrow, a lame impression of his trademark gesture. I recognized that tone of voice - the last time he used it was when I came down with the Bolian Flu...

"Oh-kay," I said, walking to the ice generator. He gave me a look.

"What?"

"Rest."

I sighed dejectedly, going to sit on my bed. "This is completely unnecessary," I objected with a pout. He didn't pay me any heed, though, pouring the ramen into the boiling water.

He then brought over the ice I was hoping to get myself. "Thanks," I told him, placing it on my abdomen. The mark was uncomfortably hot, but had long lost the burning sensation.

"You're welcome."

I had the silly, childish inclination to stick my tongue out at him, but I internally scolded myself - if he wants to baby me, he can. I knew it must have made him feel better on some level.

"If I may ask," I started as he rounded the corner, bowl in hand, "Why did you find the decision to rescue us logical?"

I could see the emotions cloud his gaze before he masked them again and got up to retrieve the finished noodles. He then sat at the edge of my bed, placing the ramen on my bedside table, beside the holonovel my mother had given me for my birthday right before we departed on our mission. For a moment I didn't think he was going to answer.

He folded his hands in his lap. "I found it very unlikely that the crew would survive by the time backup arrived - the human body can only endure three days without water, and it was likely the climate of Niburan would cause dehydration..." He trailed off.

"I could understand that," I told him, wrapping my arms around my legs. He noticed this, of course, pulling the blanket over my bare legs before he continued.

"That, however, was the excuse I later formulated, the original being that every other seeming illogical decision I have made in my life, such as joining Starfleet, or pursuing our relationship," his hand drifted to cover mine, "I have not grown to regret. Somehow, it seemed to me that, since I do not regret them, I would not regret this decision, either. I now find that that decision in itself is both impulsive and illogical."

He fell to silent musing for a moment before picking up the bowl of ramen. "You are lacking nourishment," he told me, eyeing the ramen with disdain, before handing it to me.

He began to stand up, but I grabbed his arm, carelessly making the soup splash in the small bowl. "You don't have to keep waiting on me," I told him, scooting over, "Just sit."

He looked at me skeptically. I could almost hear his words in my head 'You have been kidnapped, starved, and harassed...' but he didn't say anything and, after kicking his shoes off, stretched out on top of the blanket beside me.

"When did you last eat?" I asked, starting on my ramen noodles.

"My body is much different than yours - I will be fine," he tried to assure me. I gave him a knowing look, before I turned my attention back to my ramen.

"Computer, what time is it?" I said, placing the almost-empty bowl on the table next to us.

"One twenty-eight AM." The robotic voice recited.

"Computer, dim lights."

I turned to him, as he spoke he pulled his ripped, uniform shirt over his head before carefully folding it and setting it beside the bed. I smiled, thinking of how I would just toss it in the general direction of the hamper.

I curled into his side as he slipped under the blanket beside me, weaving my arms through his, and closed my eyes. I now knew why he told me to rest - I was exhausted. I felt the much needed sleep pulling at the edges of my consciousness...

"I have a matter to discuss with you," he whispered into my now almost-dry hair.

I forced the impending sleep away from my mind. "Yeah?" I answered drowsily, enjoying the feeling of his warm breath on my ear.

"The matter of bonding."

That surely woke me up. My eyes widened after he said this, all thoughts of sleep out of my head. "Bonding?" I parroted, still not sure I quite heard him correctly.

I could feel him hesitate around me. "Yes."

"Computer, lights at level three."

"Level two," he intercepted. Was he... Nervous? I knew better than to question a Vulcans emotions, him having told me on different occasions that Vulcans felt emotions more extremely than humans do.

The lights became a little brighter, although not by much. I tucked my head beneath his chin, trying to help him calm and control his emotions, as I knew he was trying to do.

"Okay, shoot," I told him, wrapping my arms around him again. My heart accelerated and I took a deep breath.

"It would be, ah, a good solution to what had happened. The telepathy aspect of the bond would be a large help if you, along with others, go missing again."

I couldn't help but feel he chickened out at the last minute. My mood dampened.

"Only a solution?"

He hesitated again. I could almost hear the gears turning in his head as he tried to think of an adequate answer.

I pulled back, looking him square in the eyes. I gently reached up to caress his face.

The great Commander Spock seemed to be speechless.

"I love you. I haven't heard you say that to me since you rescued me," I told him softly, "If I was to bond with you, it would be because of that. Not for the sake of the ship."

I sighed, turning my back to him and closed my eyes. So much for a nice night with my Vulcan after being kidnapped, prisoned, bound...

I felt his hand tentatively rest on my waist. I was unresponsive - it was his turn to figure this one out, and I wasn't going to spell it out for him.

He didn't say anything, though, as he pulled his hand back to his side of the bed.

I woke up in the morning to an empty bed an tears staining my face.

That chapter ended up being the complete opposite of what I was expecting it to be! Now I can't wait to see what happens in the next chapter, lol... Please R&R!