Disclaimer: I don't own Uhura, Spock, Pike or Number One.
Special thanks to beta Notes from the Classroom
Chapter 3
Number One expected someone, well...dour, probably older...
The woman in the holo image was older but not dour at all. She had sparkling brown eyes beneath slightly graying hair; she was flanked on either side by Tillal'a'hans -- the sandstone colored elf-like natives of Altair 25, the last planet they'd docked at. She looked to be in her late fifties, maybe...that would make sense--Vulcans aged very slowly. Spock might be in his sixties -- Number One couldn't remember.
"She's beautiful," Number One said, because it was true. The woman was beautiful with her wide smile and the evidence of laughter etched beneath her eyes. And clearly she'd taken care of her figure throughout the years. She looked willowy and graceful despite her age. "I can see why you'd be attracted to her...and you say she is brilliant, too..."
Spock made a noise that sounded like a small cough. "Sir, that is my mother."
Number One looked at Spock, back to the holo, and back to Spock again. "You got your father's nose."
"Quite." He turned back to the holo. "She visited me on Altair 25 after my bond-mate departed."
"I still think she is beautiful," Number One said.
Spock tilted his head. "Beauty is sub...sub..sub..." He sighed. "I think so, too."
Looking back at Number One, he raised an eyebrow. "And now, may I present to you, my bond-mate, Nyota Uhura."
With a flourish he pressed the advance button at the base of the holo projector. Number One prepared herself for Dour Lady...
...and instead found herself staring into sparkling eyes once again. These eyes belonged to a very young, very lithe, mocha-skinned woman wearing...not much. Just a white bikini that contrasted with her skin tone beautifully.
Number One licked her lips. Well, hello, Nyota Uhura...
"Very nice, Spock."
Staring in rapt attention at the holo, Spock began to purr.
Number One looked to the large hulk of obviously-pleased Vulcan lying next to her. "Spock, you're purring. That is so cute."
"Nyota does...does...does not think itis cute when I purr. She thinks itis sssse---"
"I'm she knows you in ways I never will, Spock," Number One said quickly.
Spock's purr increased in volume. "Yessss...."
Number One smirked. They were both lying on the floor, on their elbows, chins propped up on their hands. This was almost like being back in junior high and looking at pictures of her friends' boyfriends, or would-be boyfriends. Only better.
"Got any more pictures of the beautiful, alluring, brilliant Nyota Uhura?"
Spock pushed the button again then there was a quick holo video looping of Nyota in a bare midriff outfit with more Tillal'a'hans. She was arm in arm with two very lovely Tillal'a'han females similarly garbed doing what appeared to be a belly dance.
Spock moved to advance the holo. Number One carefully caught his wrist...making sure she didn't touch his skin. "No, no...I'd like to watch it."
Turning his head to her, Spock slurred, "Are you interested in the native dances of the Till...tilll...tillallaaaahans?"
"Why, yes, Spock. Yes, I am," she said.
"I find them...slightly...inaa...inappp...inappro..."
"Erotic?" asked Number One, watching the holo vid with interest.
He went a little green. For a moment Number One thought he might throw up, but then she realized he was just blushing.
"Fortu...Fortunately, the dancers are...seg...segregated by gender," he murmured.
"Yes, that is indeed fortunate," said Number One, eyes glued to the vid.
Spock hit the advance button. And Number One found herself looking at Spock and Nyota in casual clothes, noticeably not touching, in a strange forest with enormous, misshapen trees, flanked by several humans.
"Muir Woods has ba...ba...nana slugs," Spock said.
"I'm sure it does, Spock. Got more?"
The holo switched and she was seeing Spock and Nyota literally surrounded by what looks like wild elephants. A baby elephant was reaching up with its trunk to Nyota's nose. Spock was touching Nyota in this picture, standing directly behind her, his lips slightly quirked, hands on her temples. Nyota's face was a picture of pure delight.
"I acshully got an ele...elephant to take this holo for us," Spock said.
Number One looked at him worriedly...he really was obviously very, very drunk. Eh...showing her more holos might help keep him from passing out.
"More, Spock?"
They browsed through ten or so more. There were several that appeared to be taken in an apartment in what looked like San Francisco, judging by the fog outside the windows. Number One idly remembered that Spock had been an instructor before coming aboard the Farragut. He'd actually been the one to discover Captain Kalanel's transmission...
And then they came to another holo. Spock was in his instructor uniform and Nyota was walking next to him...in the Starfleet standard issue cadet uniform...it looked like it was actually an outtake from the nightly news...Uh oh.
Spock hit the advance button fast. He swallowed audibly.
Unfortunately, the next picture was also of the two of them in uniform again. Cadet and instructor...
He hit the advance button again...and it was just Nyota, in Cadet uniform, seated cross-legged, in a lab...
Spock was shaking. Number One grabbed his hand. She'd asked him to show her personal pictures while he was drunk...he'd exposed himself...she'd made him feel vulnerable once again and now she could hurt him if she really wanted to. She had to let him know she never would.
"Hey, I know your relationship began after you left the Academy." It was a lie, and he could probably feel it with his touch telepathy.
Spock said nothing, he just looked at the place where her hand touched his.
"Spock...big guy...look at me." He turned his head in her direction but stared at the floor. He reminded her of a smacked puppy.
"I don't give a damn who you sleep with, Spock. You're a damn fine officer and you've always had my back and the back of your team. Got that?"
Spock met her gaze, his eyes ever so slightly wide. Number One looked back at the holo of Nyota in the very, very, very short regulation skirt that had obviously been designed for women just like her...
"Those are some kickass boots she's got on there," Number One said...not actually thinking so much about the boots, but rather the shadow beneath the skirt. White underwear? How prim and proper...
Number One smacked her lips and swallowed...discreetly.
Spock was letting out a low rumble...she was dimly aware that her hand was still on his.
Since Spock had shared, shouldn't she share too? And really, that 'I will not be seduced' shtick had gotten a little old. Unable to suppress a grin, Number One said, "You know, Spock, Nyota could park those boots by my bed anytime."
The low rumble turned to a roar, and for the second time in the night Number One found herself in mid-air...this time suspended by a hand at the waist of her pants and one fisted on the back of her shirt.
She was laughing too hard to really care as Spock's door whooshed open in front of her.
Thankfully, Spock did not actually throw her into the hallway. Setting her on her feet, he merely pushed her, hard enough so she hit the wall, but thankfully with her body, not with her head. A new wave of hysterics swept through her as his door whooshed shut behind her.
When she opened her eyes, it was into the stern gaze of Captain Christopher Pike.
"What the Hell happened to you, One? What were you doing in Spock's quarters?"
Oh, God...did he really think? Was he jealous?
"Oh, come on!" she snapped. "You know I don't go that way! Someone got Spock drunk and I just helped him get home."
He took a deep breath and relaxed. "What else did you do, One?"
He knew her so well. There were reasons she loved the man. If she did go that way...and he weren't married...No use thinking about it.
She snickered. "I may have made a lascivious comment about his bond mate."
"Jesus, One, have I ever told you you have a death wish?"
Wincing, she struggled to stand erect. "Not today, Chris."
"Need a hand?" he asked, ever looking out for her. Well, they looked out for each other really.
"Yeah, that would be really great," she sighed.
Chris swung one of her arms over his shoulder and together they made their way down the hall.
Fin
A/N:
I might be convinced to do an epilogue with Spock drunk dialing Nyota...if I get some good suggestions.
Just posted another chapter of The Native yesterday. Its a sci-fi mystery romance building on slow burn (with angst and of course humor -- because I can't keep the humor out of my fics). If you ship any Spock ship, it is the ship that launched your ship (Sarek and Amanda). Please have a look!
Elephants are in Descartes Error - Close Encounters of Three Kinds - Chapter 45.
Happy Holidays Everyone!