Should We Stay or Should We Go?

150 Greenleaf Street, San Francisco, 2273.305, 2207 hours. As he reclined on the bed reading his PADD he felt her sadness creep across the bond; slowly, at first and then very acutely. Setting aside his work he was about to rise and find her when his adun'a walked in the door, her large brown eyes watery with unshed tears.

"That was Pavel," she said, her voice teetering on the edge of emotion. "He apologized for calling so late but he wanted to try and reach everyone before they got the memo…"

Spock scanned his memory and could not recall a single memo out of the forty-three he had read that day that concerned Lieutenant Commander Chekov. Before he could tell her as much she said, "He's leaving the Enterprise."

Spock's eyes went wide. This news was most unexpected and distressing.

And yet, at the same time, such news was not altogether unsurprising. It was rare in Starfleet for an entire Bridge crew to remain intact after three consecutive tours; more likely then not the captain and first officer would remain stationed together while the chief communications officer, pilot, navigator, chief engineer and chief medical officers would rotate in and out. Prior to the start of their recent shore leave Spock would have thought that if any one of them would request reassignment it would either be Doctor McCoy or Lieutenant Commander Sulu, not Lieutenant Commander Chekov.

He considered Pavel Chekov a great friend and was disheartened to lose him.

"He said he just wanted to spend more time with his family. You remember how upset he was when his father had that heart attack last year and we were out on patrol in the Neutral Zone; it nearly killed him knowing he was too far away to be of any help when they needed him." She stopped and drew a breath. "Starfleet gave him his pick of assignments though, and he's going to be a guest lecturer at the Academy in Paris. I think he might even ask you for some pointers before the next semester starts."

Nyota rambled on like this—as was her way when upset—and he drew her to him, placing her across his lap and holding her like a child, giving her the comfort she craved. She was as dazed as he was by the news. Even now as he attempted to process Pavel's departure his PADD chimed with a priority one message from the Captain announcing the Navigator's leavetaking.

"I guess I'm still shocked; I mean, I wasn't expecting this. I knew we'd all go our separate ways someday but I guess I always thought we'd have more time."

This was a statement Spock felt he had to address. "K'diwa, we have served together for over fifteen years; surely you know that that is not standard operating procedure among other Federation vessels."

"No, I know, but we're different, Spock; the Enterprise is different. She's special. And after everything we've been through and everything we've done…I guess I always thought Command would have to order us apart, you know? I never thought any one of us would leave voluntarily." She shot him a look. "Don't you agree?"

He did, he truly did, but did not know how to say as much to her.

And just when he was starting to come to terms with the logistics involved in Lieutenant Commander Chekov's departure his wife added a new layer of complication into the mix.

"Would you ever consider reassignment?"

Spock quirked his head and stared at her as if she had just spoken out in an unfamiliar tongue. If the truth were to be told then he had considered reassignment several times during the first eight months of the Enterprise's maiden voyage; he had been full of doubt back then, about his decision to honor his commitment to Starfleet and about remaining with the impetuous Captain Kirk. Now, however, he could not picture himself serving on-board another vessel. It would be highly unsatisfactory.

But Nyota had asked if he would ever consider reassignment, not if he had. So he told her the truth. "If the decision were solely mine to make I would not leave the Enterprise."

She lay her head against his chest and stroked his shirt front. Quietly, she asked, "What would you say if I told you that I've considered it?" His surprise jumped across the bond with the same force as electricity and she flinched. "I've never considered it seriously before now, just briefly off and on these last few months, but hearing that Chekov won't be coming back is making me think a little bit more about whether we should leave too."

His eyebrow slowly slid back down to it's normal position. It was natural to ponder the possibilities; he too had considered at various points in their careers what life would be like for their family on another ship, or on Earth or New Vulcan. However, every time he thought of home the ship's image instantly came to mind and quelled all notions of reassignment.

She nuzzled against his neck and idly played with the tip of his ear. From the increased skin-to-skin contact he gathered that Nyota imagined they would have more time like this for one another if they were posted on planet. The likelihood of an increased chance for 'private time' with his adun'a under those circumstances was 6.61%.

"Nyota."

"Hmm?"

"Would you like to consider a more permanent posting here on Earth?"

She looked up and stared deeply into his eyes. "I think…" she lay a hand over his heart. It started thrumming at her gentle touch. "I think I'd like to think about it. It might be better for the kids, growing up here or in Kenya or maybe even New Shi'Khar, rather then be dragged all over the galaxy. Sometimes I feel like we're being selfish and robbing them of a normal childhood, not to mention putting them in danger."

Had they been having this question twenty years ago Spock would have been quick to agree but he had since been proven wrong—Nero made very sure of that. "I believe the children's lives have been enriched by our time aboard the Enterprise." He could see by the small scowl starting to form on her face that Nyota was on the verge of a rebuttal when he added, "However, they are getting older. Perhaps it is time for us to consider a more grounded lifestyle."

She turned on him in surprise. "So you're ok with us thinking about it then?"

He nodded. "That is indeed what I was implying."

Nyota once again rested her head against his chest. "Ok then. We'll think about it."

A/N: Oh no! Is our favorite couple going the way of Lieutenant Commander Pavel Chekov? Find out in our next installment...

Also, for an explanation as to why this chapter was posted late please see my profile. To those of you still on borrowed power take care and hang in there! It'll come back on soon (I hope!)!