Getting to Know You

Chapter Thirteen : When Will I See You Again?

Spock

Cadet Uhura burst into his office, waving a piece of paper in the air, clearly excited about something. She was practically dancing. "Look, look, I got it!"

"What is it that you have, Cadet?"

"I made the team - the Oxford Linguistics Invitational! I'm going to go to ENGLAND!" She was so excited she could not stay still. With little twists and wiggles, she twirled around the room. "I studied so hard for those exams, and I MADE it!"

He watched her excitement. Although nothing showed on his face, inside he exulted with her. He knew how hard she had worked for this. She had talked of almost nothing else for the past three weeks. During conversational practice, during the message array construction sessions, it was practically the only topic of conversation. Instead of poetry, she had requested pronunciation, grammar and syntax drills. He had been happy to comply. He was even happier to watch her enjoy her success.

"Congratulations, Cadet. You have worked hard to achieve this. But it will require many hours of further study between now and the competition later this semester."

"Yes, I know." She stopped her excited movements and dropped down into the chair in front of his desk. "You're going to continue to help me, aren't you?" She stopped in confusion. "I mean, you were such a help while I was getting ready for the exams. If it's not too much trouble, could you continue? I know it's an imposition..." She was getting flustered.

He quickly reassured her. "It would be my pleasure, Cadet. Assisting excellent students in their endeavors is the part of my position that I enjoy the most." For some reason, his words did not seem to have the desired effect. She seemed almost upset. Humans could be so illogical, and the females were much worse than the males in that regard.

"Do you have the list of required languages? Perhaps we could assess it to determine whether you have any deficits? " Her face took on a very strange appearance. Perhaps deficits had not been a good word choice. "If there are languages on the list that you have not learned yet, we should begin immediately." That had seemed to mollify her, her expression was much more normal.

"No, I don't have any of the particulars yet. There's a meeting tomorrow evening where they're going to hand out all the details."

It appeared that she meant to continue, but at that moment, the department head appeared in his doorway. "Commander Spock, could I speak with you for a moment? You need not leave, Cadet, this will be brief."

Spock nodded his assent and the department head took a few paces into the office. "One of the instructors selected to chaperone the Oxford Invitational team to England has just been involved in a accident and broken his leg, along with other injuries. We need a replacement. As you have not participated in this event since your own undergraduate days, I thought perhaps you might replace him."

Startled, Spock's thoughts raced. Go to England with her? Of course, it would not be just her, there would be several other team members. And it would be his duty to ensure correct behavior of all members of the team. However.... "It would be acceptable to me, sir. What do I need to do?"

"Well, there's a meeting tomorrow evening you need to attend. Cadet Uhura can tell you about it. I'll get back to you with more information as soon as I have time. Need to round up replacement instructors for the time he's going to be out until he heals enough to return." With that he turned and left the room.

****

When their conversational practice was over and she was preparing to leave his office, he thought of something. "Cadet, the meeting tomorrow evening will take place after dark. I shall escort you to and from the meeting."

Although he thought perhaps she had given him a slightly odd look, she quickly nodded in agreement before she left.

***

He arrived at the door to her quarters. He was early. He was nervous. There was no reason for him to feel this way - it was highly illogical. Straightening up even more than normal, he tapped the touch plate beside the door. In response to the computerized voice, he announced himself. The door did not open. He waited for two point three minutes, then tried again. Still no response. She was expecting him -- perhaps there was some problem. He fidgeted. He NEVER fidgeted. He tapped the touch plate again, gave his name again, still no response. Then he did something that he did not plan, something that he had never considered doing, certainly something that he had no explanation for. He used his code to override her door and entered her quarters.

The lights were dim in the study area where he stood. Through the door into the bedroom, he heard her voice. Without thinking about what he was doing he took a few steps into the bedroom.

She had left the bathroom door ajar. From where he stood he could see her reflection in the mirror through the clear shower door.

She was rinsing the shampoo from her hair, back arched, head thrown back, arms raised and bent. This position threw her breasts up in sharp relief. Dark rosy brown nipples jutted upwards.

She was singing softly to herself, something with a happy lilt to it.

He could hear nothing except the sound of the water drops hitting her skin and her lovely voice. He could see nothing except her. He could not breathe. Something coiled low in his abdomen - something unknown - with a feeling like an electrical charge, poised and ready to strike. Was this lust?

Through the haze that enveloped him he was suddenly aware of footsteps and giggles. Without seeming haste he whirled and took two steps out of the bedroom door and into the study area. When her roommate stumbled into the room wrapped around her current male toy, he was standing stiffly by her desk. But the something was still there.

Uhura

Gaila burst into the bathroom, closing the door behind her with a sharp click. "Hey girl, your date is here." There was merriment in her voice.

"What? I don't have a date tonight. What are you talking about?" She turned off the water and started drying off, wrapping a towel around her hair.

"Well, you may not think you have a date, but that hunky guy with the pointed ears standing out in our study area does, unless I am totally wrong, and you know I'm never wrong about things like that." Gaila smirked at her, jiggling with excitement.

"He's here already - it's too early! I didn't expect him to be here for another twenty minutes. Crap, I'm not ready yet." She grabbed the hair dryer and set it to high, fanning her hair out behind her. "Help me, please. It's not a date, it's that meeting for the Invitational team - I told you about it."

"Well, you didn't tell me that ol' pointed ears was coming to 'escort' you. How did he get inside, anyway? Doesn't look like you let him in." Gaila was helping with the hair dryer, running a comb through her hair, trying to get it dry quickly.

"You mean he was inside when you got here?" Horrified, she turned to look at Gaila. "Where was he? You don't think...." Her voice trailed off in mortification. "He didn't SEE me, did he?"

Gaila laughed out loud. "He was standing straight as a ramrod in the corner by your desk. He couldn't possibly have seen anything from there. Don't worry. But I have no idea how he got in. Maybe you didn't latch the door when you came in? Hey, what are you going to wear? I'll go get your clothes and bring them in here."

With Gaila's help, she was dry, clothed, hair up, all inside of ten minutes. Exiting from the bathroom, she grabbed the PADD she was going to use to take notes and moved into the study area. There he stood, so stiff he might be at attention. Gaila's date lounged in the other study chair, half-drunk, singing a very suggestive song. Well, they would have some privacy while she was gone and maybe be finished by the time she got back.

"Commander, sorry I wasn't ready when you got here." She struggled for composure.

"It is my fault, Cadet, I was early. Shall we leave now? I feel that perhaps your roommate would like some ... privacy."

Turning her head, she saw that Gaila had already commenced the evening's activities. She quickly turned away and fled out the door. "I'm sorry, Commander, she can't help it. She's Orion and it's just her biology."

"I am familiar with the requirements of Orion biology. You have no need to apologize." He walked beside her, his hands clasped behind him in that familiar way. He matched his pace to hers, not hurrying, striding loosely along. The night was pleasant, not as cold as it had been only a week ago. A good evening for walking.

***

The meeting did not take as long as she had anticipated. Gaila would still be involved with her current lover. She couldn't go back to her dorm yet. When Commander Spock headed in that direction, she floundered, not sure what to do. "Commander, I... I can't go back to my dorm yet."

Head cocked sideways, he looked at her. That was inquiry in his expression, surely. One eyebrow cocked up, eyes curious - yes, she was sure that there was a question he was not asking.

"Uh, Gaila has company. She, uh, it, uh, takes longer..." She stopped, embarrassed. "I don't want to walk in on them - again."

"Indeed, Cadet, I do not suppose that you would. Perhaps.... Perhaps we could walk about the campus for a while? I believe there was a language on the list that you are not familiar with - Deneb III, was it? Perhaps we could begin with that?"

"Oh, thank you so much. I can't tell you... I'm sorry, I'm gushing. It's just that sometimes.... It's difficult having an Orion for a roommate - even though I love her like a sister - sometimes it's just difficult."

Spock

Side by side they walked down the pathway, through the trees, as he began to teach her the clicks and whistles of the new language. Eventually they found themselves near the edge of the campus. Across the street lights gleamed out of the windows of a small cafe.

He considered. They had been conversing for some time. He remembered her statement that certain sounds were difficult to make with a dry throat. Surely she would not take it in other than what was meant? "Cadet, would you like some tea? The establishment across the street serves a wide variety of teas." For some reason he found himself holding his breath, waiting for her response.

She looked up at him, some strange expression on her face. He did not know how to interpret this one. "I do remember that you said making such strange sounds is difficult with a dry throat."

With relief evident in her expression, she nodded her head. "Thank you, that would be very nice."

As they approached the street, his hand placed itself gently in the small of her back, and he escorted her across the street and into the cafe.