Ch 26: Progress

The sight in the mirror that Kirk was greeted with in his bathroom put a smile on his face. The last month had done wonders for him. Per McCoy's orders, Rand had put him on a strict diet and had him going to the gym regularly each week. Naturally he complied only after kicking and screaming like a five year old, but he was finally seeing the results. His time in the gym allowed him to tackle some of his more mundane tasks as captain while doing something good for himself at the same time. He found it odd that Rand would always accompany him when he went to work out, but he shrugged the thought off and chalked it up as her simply ensuring his adherence to the doctor's orders.

The flabbiness and lack of muscle definition were quickly eliminated and Kirk was finally pleased with his appearance again. His old confidence had returned and he was now more alert than he was before. In addition, having a personal assistant taking care of many of his usual tasks allowed him to have more free-time. With Spock gone, he found himself spending more time with his crew members, Sulu in particular. The two of them had gotten along from the start, but their schedules prevented them from building a friendship. With less to do now, he was finally getting to know his helmsman.

Sulu's favorite pastime seemed to be fencing. Whenever he looked for Sulu after his shift had ended, he always found him practicing his fencing moves. He even tried fencing with Sulu a few times and found it very enjoyable. On a couple of occasions, Sulu even went up to Kirk to discuss personal matters with him. His current predicament involved Ensign Chekov and Ensign Montalban. There was a rather unsatisfactory love triangle going on between the two of them that he didn't approve of, but unless things reached a fevered pitch, he could only give Sulu advice and pray things worked out.

As he promised, every night he visited with Spock using their mind link. It always excited him to be able to see his fiancé every night, but when the time came for them to part, the sadness always returned. Fortunately his new regimen kept him from getting too down; as soon as he awoke the next day and began his normal routine his sadness was overshadowed by the excitement each new day brought.

Giving a final smile at his reflection, he walked out of the bathroom. He was just about to start getting dressed when the door opened. The towel he had begun unwrapping from around his waist was quickly rewrapped as Rand walked into his room, scribbling on her PADD. When she looked up, she gave a cry of surprise at the Captain's state of undress and stopped in her tracks.

She spun around and stuttered, "Oh my God! I-I'm so sorry! I, I didn't know you were still getting dressed!"

Irritated by her unannounced entrance, Kirk spat, "Well you could've knocked you know! If you had you'd never be the wiser!"

Rand remained rooted in place as she continued to stutter, "I'm sorry! I'm so, so sorry! I wasn't paying attention and, and, and I just assumed that-"

"Quit your yakking and get out so I can get dressed!" Kirk yelled.

"Right! Sorry!"

She rushed out of the room and stood in the middle of the hallway clutching her chest. Her heart pounded in her ears painfully as she struggled to catch her breath. When she looked at the time on her watch, she saw that she had wandered into his quarters at precisely the same time she always did. He knew she came by at precisely 07:15 each morning to give him more than enough time to wake up and prepare for his shift, so why wasn't he ready on time today?

The image of the near naked captain brought a flush to Rand's face. The uniforms Starfleet had designed for their officers left little to the imagination as each was tailored specifically for each person. Such attention to detail was necessary as not all of Starfleet's officers were of typical human proportions and nothing looking looked less impressive than a uniform that didn't fit correctly. Because of this, it was easy to tell if someone gained or lost weight or was chunky, scrawny, or built. Rand already knew that the captain had been getting back into shape with the regimen McCoy prescribed for him, but getting a chance to see what his body looked like underneath all that clothing…

Rand stumbled backwards and propped herself against the wall next to the captain's door before her legs could give out from under her. A couple of medical officers that passed by her eyed her suspiciously, worried that she might be ill. The way she was breathing and as red as her face was, it was easy for them to make that mistake.

She swallowed hard. Why oh why did she have to be the one to be assigned as his personal assistant? If anyone had known how she felt about her captain they would have deemed the choice wholly inappropriate. And yet here she was with visions of her captain doing the kind of things to her that would make her mother blush if she ever knew…

"Janice!" Kirk called from inside his room. "You can come in now! I'm decent!"

Oh, she thought to herself, you're far better than decent…

Blinking the naughty thoughts out of her head, she straightened out her uniform and walked back into the room. The captain was now fully dressing in his uniform and looking both embarrassed and irritated. Frowning, he said, "I know you've gotten rather comfortable with coming into my room in the morning to get me started with my day and all, but do me a favor and knock from now on please? Every once in a while I tend to take my time with getting ready and if you walk in on me while Spock is here, I can't imagine the result would be good for anyone."

Rand thought about the possible scenario Kirk had painted for her in her mind. She pictured herself walking in as normal and discovering the two of them both naked on his bed. She also pictured herself walking into the room instead of running out and taking full advantage of the situation. It would indeed be hard to seduce a man who was totally devoted to someone else, but seducing the two of them together? Ah, the possibilities…

"Janice!" Kirk shouted.

The inappropriate thoughts faded away when she heard her name called by her clearly irritated captain. When she focused on his face, she saw a heavy frown and steely blue eyes staring back at her. She averted her gaze and said, "I'm sorry Captain. I promise I'll knock from now on."

"Yeah, that's great," Kirk said, "but while you were spacing out, I was asking you what my agenda is for the day, not asking you if you understood what I was staying."

"Oh! Right, today's agenda!" Rand looked down at her PADD and pulled up the day's schedule for Kirk. "Okay, today's agenda is pretty much the same as always sir. Our arrival at Omicron 7 is still estimated at two full days away from our current location, so there won't be a need to prepare for that until then. Aside from a few forms, there's really nothing of note for the day."

Kirk nodded at Rand when she finished talking. "That's good; I was hoping today would be rather uneventful." Kirk paused for a moment and said, "You know Janice, I know I seem like I'm not grateful to have you as my personal assistant, but I want to tell you I really do appreciate what you're doing."

The look on Rand's face didn't come as a surprise to Kirk. He had been rather hard on the girl over the last month and abused his power somewhat. While it was indeed her duty to ensure that his work got done and that he both ate properly and took care of himself, it wasn't her job to fetch him coffee or do his laundry. On a few occasions, he even ordered her to clean his room. Hey, if McCoy was going to demand he have an assistant, why not take full advantage of it, right?

Kirk continued, "I'm not saying I couldn't do any of the stuff I've done over the last month on my own or anything, because that certainly isn't the case. I mean, before you came around I got along just fine doing everything myself!"

"Is that why you had a nervous breakdown?"

Rand had her arms crossed, her data pad in hand. Kirk stepped forward and pointed a finger at her. "Listen here, that breakdown had nothing to do with my workload, okay? It had everything to do with all the stress of being engaged to someone whose culture doesn't recognize or approve of our bond! Not to mention I had to worry about Starfleet kicking both of our asses out to the curb on the grounds of inappropriate relations between the two leading officers of the ship!"

He sighed and crossed his arms as well. "All I'm saying is that during that time, having to take care of my duties as a captain turned out to be more than I could hand. Things got better when Spock showed up, but I couldn't say having to go right back to all my duties alone would have been any easier than before he came back. You're good at what you do and you've kept my ass in check to make sure I don't lose it again."

Rand uncrossed her arms and looked at her captain. "Thank you for the praise Captain, but I didn't volunteer for the job. Doctor McCoy basically told me that he had picked me for the job and that was that. Christine put a recommendation in for me and he went with it because it meant less work for him."

"It doesn't matter," Kirk said. "Whether you chose the position or were assigned to it against your better judgment, you've been a valuable asset to me, and…" He sighed. "I want to thank you for sticking with it, even when I've been less than cooperative. I know there's still a month left until Spock returns, but I'd like it if you'd remain my assistant even after he returns."

The hard expression on Rand's face softened. His thanks had seemed like a shallow attempt at making sure she didn't feel underappreciated while still maintaining an air of superiority, but his request (not an order, but an actual request) to have her continue in her current position even after Spock came back showed that he really meant what he said. It wasn't like Kirk to admit he was in need of help, but without directly asking for it he had implied that her assistance was indeed needed by him.

She gave him a beautiful smile that would have wrapped him around her little finger if he weren't tied down. "Thank you Captain," she said. "I would like that."

Kirk gave his million-dollar smile right back to her and caused her cheeks to grow pink. "I'm glad to hear that Janice," he said in a voice that could melt butter. He took a few steps forward and put his hands on her shoulders. The pink in her cheeks deepened as he gazed deeply into her eyes. "Can you do something for me?"

Butterflies swirled madly in Rand's stomach. Could this be the moment she'd been hoping for? "S-sure…what is it?" she stammered.

"Can you go down to the mess hall and bring me some blueberry pancakes?"

She stared at Kirk blankly and blinked rapidly, as if doing so would help her process what it was he had just said. "Blueberry…pancakes?"

"Yeah," he grinned, "with maple syrup and butter please. Oh! And get me some bacon too! Extra crispy please!"

Her brain still processing what had just happened, she managed to say, "Yeah…sure."

He slapped her shoulders and grinned even bigger. "Thanks a bunch Janice! You're the greatest! Now run along! I've got forms to go over on my computer!"

Shoulders sagging, she nodded and said, "Yes Captain…" before turning around and walking out the room. As she clomped down the hall, she found herself wondering how she ever thought he really valued her as an assistant…

Sarek, Spock, and Spock Prime all sat together in Sarek's living room. They had just returned from a meeting with some of Spock's students and a few Vulcans in the Science Academy that were expressing their personal discomfort with the High Council's ruling on engagements. Judging solely on what they heard, it seemed as though the general opinion of the High Council's decisions for the Vulcan race was unsatisfactory at best. At worse, it appeared that if nothing was done soon, repopulation would be the least of their worries.

Sarek had a grim look on his face while Spock was having a great difficulty submerging his apprehension. Prime had a serene look on his face as he was unaffected by the Council's decisions on engagements and was proving to be the emotional anchor for the other two.

"The facts have presented themselves Sarek," he stated calmly. "The Council's decisions are proving to have an adverse effect on our people. Something must be done. If our people lose faith in the Council, it is likely that a civil war could eventually break out. The Council is not wrong in their decisions; they are simply misguided in their approach.

"It is easy to assume that because we are Vulcan we are able to put aside all emotion for the path of logic, but we have all lost someone near and dear to us and we all still grieve the loss of our planet. Such emotional restraint is far from easy even with our abilities. Our one solace is our remaining family and loved ones."

"Father," Spock said quietly, "in my time of need, Lieutenant Uhura was there to bring me comfort. Had circumstances remained as they were, it is likely I would have chosen her for my life mate. However, as time passed I found myself becoming more and more attracted to Captain Kirk. The captain…" he paused and corrected himself, "Jim has helped fill the empty space that was once occupied by my mother as well as the empty space that I reserved for the one person I truly love. I feel more like myself around him than with anyone else in the universe. To be unable to spend my life with him as his life mate simply because he is not Vulcan is asking far too much of me, especially when the pain of losing most of my people is still fresh.

"As you have seen, there are many others that feel the same way I do. Granted, out of those you spoke with, I am the only one who has chosen a non-Vulcan mate, but the rest are displeased that their logic is being renounced as inferior to the High Council's. Those of us that are old enough to know who we are best suited with should be allowed to choose our own mates, and those who are far too young to choose on their own should be allowed to choose when they are."

Sarek sighed heavily. "I do not wish you to believe that I disagree with your logic; however is it the duty of the High Council to preserve our culture. With our planet eradicated along with most of our race they are doing everything in their power to cling on to our old ways…"

"…but our old ways are no longer relevant in some instances such as this," Prime interjected. "What good is it to plan and regulate how and with who we mate with when there are so few of us left? I realize the importance of preserving that which makes us distinctly Vulcan, but perhaps we could learn a thing or two from our cousins the Romulans."

"Do you really think that creating a temporary alliance with the Romulans will correct that?" Sarek said, glaring at both Spock and Prime. Prime kept an even expression on his face while Spock's calm exterior began to falter, revealing his true feelings on the matter. "Our problems lie with how we proceed as a people and finding the best way to repopulate our race. Allying with our cousins, with whom we have a very troubled and distrusting history with, will not change anything. This is an internal struggle, one that will only worsen with the involvement of those who not only do not agree with our way of life."

They all sat quietly, mulling over Sarek's words. In a low voice, Spock asked, "What do you suppose we do then?"

Sarek took a deep breath and then released it. "I will approach the High Council with these concerns myself and see what comes of it. If necessary, I will call on those we have spoken with, as well as you and T'Maire. I will not pretend that this will go over well with them; it is likely they will chastise me for attempting to renounce our old ways. I could lose my position on the Council. Should that happen, all hope of our people finding a logical resolution for repopulation and re-establishing the protocol for the choosing of mates will be lost, and the civil war we are trying to avoid will inevitably come to be."

"I will join you in your approach to the High Council," Prime said.

"As will I," Spock added. "I believe it will strengthen your argument to have the presence of those who see things from the perspective of the Vulcan people by your side when you present your argument."

Sarek gave them both a nod. "You are right. I can use any and all help in this endeavor. I hope that your assistance will not be in vain."

"I am sure that will not be the case." Prime rose from his chair and looked down at his father and his younger self. "I shall leave you two to discuss more personal things alone. I have other matters to attend to. If you will excuse me…" He raised his hand in the Vulcan salute and left Sarek's home after receiving two salutes in return.

Neither of the two men spoke for a while. Both simply sat in the silence of the room and processed things in their mind. It was not that neither had anything to say; that was far from the case. The problem was finding a way to converse about the subject without becoming overly emotional.

Sarek spoke first. "You will be pleased to know that I will not stand in the way of your relationship with Captain Kirk any longer. I see now that yours is truly a bond founded in love and respect for each other. I could not have asked for anything better for you. Neither could your mother."

Spock looked at Sarek with an incomprehensible look. So many different emotions were swirling in his heart that it showed plainly on his face. Sarek looked at his son and gave a warm smile, small, yet noticeable. It was the first time Spock had received such a look from his father and it only made the swirling ball of emotions in his chest grow bigger.

"I wish that things between the three of us had gone differently," Sarek confessed. "Your mother was not the only one that agonized over the fact that you were rebuked because of the love we shared. You have spent so long trying to belong to a race that thought so little of you for my sake, and for that, you have my deepest apologizes."

"Father…" Spock breathed.

"I am proud of you Spock," Sarek continued. He looked deep into the watering eyes of his dearest son and smiled again. "I could not have asked for a better son than you. I regret that I reacted adversely to your relationship with Captain Kirk, but I know better now. I…I do not wish for us to remain as distant as we have the entirety of your lifetime. There are far too few of us for that to be acceptable, and with your mother gone…"

Against Sarek's will, tears began to form in his eyes. He paused and blinked them away. No, he would not cry. His pain was great, but his son's was greater. Being responsible for some of the pain he had suffered in all these years, he did not have a right to shed tears. Swallowing hard, he said, "With your mother gone, our relationship is of the utmost importance. I will not ask for you to love me as dearly as you loved her, but I will ask you to turn to me when you need me. I wish to be the father that you deserve to have, one that you are not ashamed to have and are proud to share with your life mate."

Spock had to swallow the lump in his throat down. It seemed he was not the only one that was more prone to emotional reactions to various situations after Vulcan had been destroyed, along with it the bulk of the Vulcan race. At first he had simply linked it to his half-human heritage, but it was becoming clearer that it was the event itself that created a change in his people. It seemed like their Romulan cousins were not so wrong for embracing their emotions. Doing so made you stronger, not weaker.

"I have always been proud to be your son," Spock struggled to say through the lump that persisted in his throat. "I have been and always shall be."

In an extremely rare show of affection, Sarek opened his arms and pulled his son into a tight hug. It was the first time he had hugged his son since he was a young child. As he held his son against him, feeling his warmth, he wondered how he could have ever allowed himself to refrain from hugging him for so long. It was true that the gesture was a far more emotional one than a Vulcan would allow himself, but it was extremely calming and pleasurable to hold one you loved so close. His nose was filled with his son's scent, which painfully reminded him of the spouse he had lost.

Spock found himself unable to maintain control of his emotions. He felt the familiar heat behind his eyes as the tears began to fall down his cheeks. Sarek could feel his son shaking in his arms and warm wetness soaking into his shoulder. He allowed himself to shed a single tear in response to his son's sadness and said softly, "If you wish to cry my son, I will lend you my shoulder to cry on."

His father's words were all that he needed to allow his emotions to come flooding out of him. His body grew limp as he allowed his father to support him completely and cried into his father's shoulder. Sarek's shaky hands rubbed his son's back as more tears began to fall from his eyes as well. He tried to maintain some of his composure as he held his son, but soon he found himself swept away in the painful emotions he had held back for nearly two years. The two sat together, crying audibly as they held each other close.

As they cried, a second pair of arms wrapped around them and held them close. Though she couldn't be seen with the naked eye, they both knew that Amanda was hugging them both. Silently, they both regretted never allowing themselves to share a moment like that while she was alive.