Hey, all.

Gee, that previous chapter turned out to be nothing like I had expected... So I wonder where it takes me. I am totally open to ideas and critiques.

Disclaimer: I do not own Star Trek or Ramen Noodles. I do own Niburan and it's inhabitants, the Joremur, Zesthu, Abrigon, Rhododensalvus, the Niburan language, and all that other stuff. So you no steal!

I am so honored by all the wonderful reviews. Thank you so much for your time!
After this chapter, it may take me a little while to update - I have a book report due Thursday, and I haven't finished either of the books it's supposed to be on... Oops! And then I will be going on vacation. The upside to that is that I will be writing constantly, but the downside is that I may not be able to post that week... But hey, lots for you to read when I get back!

R&R

I was happy to be working again, happy to have the rush of foreign voices in my head instead of my own. I worked, fluidly typing in the translation, feeling myself get lost in the different voices of people who I may never meet.

I felt the tension between myself and Spock slip away as I lost myself in words.

He asked me to bond with him.

I looked down at my hands. It was an honor.

I thought of how it made my heart fly when he first tried to bring it up. I was ecstatic, but then...

I also thought of saying yes anyway, trying to derive some sort of happiness from the act, but knew I wouldn't truly be happy if our bonding was to only benefit the crew.

"Lieutenant Uhura?"
"What?" I snapped under my breath.
"How much time until back up arrives?"

I calculated it on my computer, knowing full well he already knew the answer. "Ten hours and thirty-seven minutes, Commander," I responded coldly before reverting my attention back to the log of alien chatter. 
"Is something the matter, Lieutenant?"
"No, Sir," I was partially insulted that he called me out on my bad attitude - he actually sounded concerned.

I was immature. I could admit that. And I was okay with that.

In a matter of hours back up would get here. Soon after that, Spock would go on trial.

I realized I didn't want to be on this five-year mission without him.

I took my earpiece out, the same silver earpiece that had led him to me when we were in trouble. I rubbed my head, gently trying to ease away the impending migraine.

"Lieutenant, you may go have lunch now."
"I'm not hungry," I lied, picking my earpiece back up. I did however, need out of this room.

"I should go check in with McCoy," I said, standing up and placing my earpiece in my pocket, much the same way I did before we beamed down to Niburan.

He said nothing as I made my way to the turbolift. I entered and waited as I passed floors. I took a deep breath, resting against the wall of the lift, closing my eyes.

I felt it come to a stop, so I straightened myself up and walked out the doors, down the corridor to sickbay. I was first greeted with Nurse Chapel, her white and gray hair in a neat bun on her head.

"McCoy said I should stop in when I had the chance," I told her. She nodded.
"Did you obtain any injuries when on Niburan?" she asked me, leading me to a spare bed. I looked at the rows of beds taking up the small room, full of crewmen. 
"Not really, only some minor burns," I told her, pulling up my shirt to show her the white burn that was still a few degrees warmer than the rest of my skin and oddly tingled.

She studied it with curiosity, telling me she had never seen anything like it.
"It was from a chemical they were hoping to blind me with."
She nodded. "I heard about that," she said, gently reaching toward it. She pulled back with a gasp. "Does that hurt you at all?" she asked me, sucking her finger automatically.
"No, Ma'am. Only when I got it, but now it's just a little warm and tingly. Why?" I asked.

She looked at it with concern. "Well, it burned me. Nothing to worry about, just a little shocking. Do you have any others?"

I nodded, showing her the one on my right wrist. She hesitantly reached for it, and didn't jump like she did when she touched my first one.

"This one is cooler than the other," she observed.

"Well, this one was made with a knife - I guessed it must have been a solid form of the chemical, whereas the other one was made with the chemical being boiled."

She studied it for a little longer. "Sorry, the only thing I can think of is ice," she told me apologetically.

I stood up. "How is the Captain?" I asked her as I walked do the door.
She frowned. "You can see him, if you'd like," she told me. I followed her into another room.

McCoy stood beside his bed, checking the machine above the sleeping form of Kirk. "What's wrong with him?" I asked.

"Well, he's in an induced coma, so he can heal faster. Three broken ribs, one of which punctured one of his lungs, a mild concussion, and a broken wrist. None are infected, which is good. Much later and he wouldn't have been so lucky," he told me. I noticed his black eye.

"How about you? Are you well?"
"Well. But don't you worry about me - I'm the doctor, not the patient," he told me with a small smile.

"I'm happy to hear it," I told him with a smile in return.

I sat down beside Jim's bed, taking one of his hands in mine, wishing he was awake to make some sort of boneheaded comment that would leave me in a jovial mood.

- - -

I walked down to sickbay after Sulu had replaced me, hoping to check on the progress of the Captain. Rumors have quickly been spreading through the ship regarding his condition and I hoped to straighten them out.

Nurse Chapel escorted me to the room where Jim Kirk was being treated. McCoy was checking his vitals as Nyota sat beside him, holding Jim's hand in hers. An overwhelming emotion flooded my core for a split second before I controlled it, an emotion I often felt when I saw them together.

Jealousy.

"Doctor McCoy, I came to check on the Captain's condition," I said, causing Nyota to turn her head to me before quickly turning away.

"He is in an induced coma," he explained to me before telling me of his injuries, which would take some time to heal. He would not need to be in a coma for long, though. This made me feel some relief, but also some trepidation - The trial would most likely be held once the Captain was better.

"Lieutenant, may I speak with you outside?"

She hesitated before standing up, reluctant to leave the room. I saw her gently place the hand back on the bed before stepping out ahead of me with dignity.

"What do you want, Commander?" she asked me sharply, turning on her heal to face me. Her words hit me like a blow to the stomach would - hard, painful, disconcerting. I maintained my calm facade.
"You appeared distressed on the bridge this morning, Nyota."
"I wasn't," she denied it automatically.
"Perhaps it is your lack of nourishment. You did not eat breakfast this morning, nor lunch this afternoon - "

She held up her hand, ceasing my words. "I assure you, Commander, I am fine. However, if you think eating would be a good solution to my moodswings, I'll take it under consideration."

I didn't speak. Neither of us did. The silence that swirled around us tauntingly pulled me apart.

"You will have to go to trial," she said softly.
"It was expected."
"You might get dismissed from this mission," she said in a small, almost fearful voice.
"That has not been established. But if that was to happen it would be well worth it," I informed her, watching her eyes change from fear to another emotion I did not recognize.

After a moment she cleared her throat.

"Are you positive you are alright?"
"Of course I am. There is no reason for you to be concerned." She then turned on her heal and walked back through the double doors, obviously opting to spend her lunch hour in sick bay rather than the Mess Hall.

"Trouble in paradise?" I heard McCoy's voice ask in the distance in the distance, eliciting an irritated silence from Nyota.

If there was no reason for me to be concerned, why did this bother me so?

Neither my best chapter or my longest chapter, but something to hold you over until I am able to write again. Enjoy!