Sorry all! Just a short filler chapter to get things moving. Even though it's an in-between chapter I still love reviews!
Tishbing xxx
Chapter Twenty-Four
The month of Jamie's medical leave drew to a close and despite Spock's logic that time was constant, he felt it passed quickly. Jamie had taken to running and her PT in feverish determination to gain full use of her left leg. The muscle was still far smaller than her right and there was a jagged scar running down from mid-thigh to her shin over the knee that Dr. McCoy had been unable to remove. It caused the vulcan to feel guilt at the sight of it despite Jamie's insistence that it was not his fault.
He watched in wonder as she spent hours pouring over the schematics of her ship, often excitedly praising Spock's designs which caused a warm feeling in his chest that was almost impossible to repress with his Vulcan training. He simply did not want to.
He would even catch her climbing through jeffries tubes exploring the ship, often with Lieutenant-Commander Scott enthusiastically following; possibly even using her desperation to explore the Enterprise as a means to also hide from Dr. McCoy's ministrations. He frequently would search the ship angrily cursing and muttering about "fool-hardy childish captains" with a tricorder and hypospray at the ready. Spock did not assist McCoy as he had no wish to incur the wrath of the captain due to her attempts to avoid the doctor. It did providethe crew with a form of entertainment and improved morale at the good doctor's expense as a by-product.
He was studying the latest anthropological research completed during the away mission last week when Jamie ran into their quarters covered in the grease typically used for the impulse engine manifold with her eyes wide with panic.
"You gotta hide me!"
Frowning, Spock couldn't understand what she was so afraid of. "Jim?"
Her eyes searched the living room and settled on the couch where she see across the room and, impressively, leaped over the furniture much like a Terran gazelle. Putting a finger to her lips, she quickly lowered herself to hide behind the couch.
"Captain, what are you doing?" He asked, now very concerned.
"Shhh!" She hissed.
He stood, moving closer to her. "Jim?"
"Shh! He's gonna torture me!"
The door chimed, stopping him from further inquiry of Jamie's strange behavior.
"Enter."
A red faced McCoy stormed in with his medical kit swinging on his hip. "I know she's here, dammit!"
Ah. Now, her unusual behavior made sense. Spock forced his features to be as blank as possible, raising an eyebrow at his tone.
"Where is she?" He snarled.
The commander straightened and placed his hands behind his back as if at parade rest. "May I enquire as to the identity of the person you are pursuing?"
The doctor went, if possible, an even darker shade of red and Spock wondered about the state of his blood pressure since Jamie had returned to the Enterprise.
"You know damn well who I mean, you pointy eared hobgoblin!"
Spock raised both of his eyebrows at the familiar insult. "I was under the impression that the captain had been in engineering."
"I know she was there! She was supposed to be in medical two hours ago for her nerve stim treatment but I heard from crewman Michaels that she had been hanging upside down above the dilithium injectors despite me specifically stating that she. Was. On. Light. Duty! That means none of her usual brand of stupid, infantile behavior!" He snapped.
That caused him to pause; his sense of duty to Jamie's wellbeing warring with his desire to keep her happy. Fortunately, it seemed Spock did not have to decide quite yet as to his course of action regarding his captain. McCoy let out a deep breath to calm himself, rubbing the back of his neck.
"I'm sorry, Spock. I guess..." He laughed and shook his head. "I guess I'd better go check engineering ag-"
A sneeze from behind the couch stopped McCoy mid-word and Spock stiffened as brown eyes narrowed. "What was that commander?"
"To what do you refer to?"
"You know damn well what I refer to." He growled low and Spock stepped back and to the side to minimize being the focus of the doctor's renewed anger.
Just as McCoy took a step towards the couch, Jamie's head popped up with a large smile on her face. "Bones! Wow. Hey! I didn't hear you come in."
Spock could see a vein on his temple pulsing and he wondered if Jamie had any sense of self preservation considering the look she was getting from McCoy.
She turned towards Spock and leaned on a hand that she'd propped up on an elbow. "Man, I just cannot find that book that-" Her eyes drifted from him and towards the doctor and her coloring turned white.
"Aw, come on, Bones! Do I really need-"
"Don't." He jabbed a finger at her then stabbed it at Spock's chest two millimeters away from contact. "And you! Vulcans don't lie, my ass. You're encouraging her!"
"I can assure you that I have done no such thing. I, also, did not lie. The captain was in engineering earlier. She is no longer in engineering and is now in our quarters. I omitted the fact that she was here."
"That's a technicality!"
"Vulcans embrace technicalities."
"Why you-"
"Hey hey hey, ladies. No need to get into a cat fight." Jamie came to stand between them. She smirked at the doctor. "Besides, I bet Spock pulls hair."
The brunette rolled his eyes and grabbed her arm, marching a protesting Jamie out of their quarters.
"Hey! Isn't there a line of the Hippocratic oath that states 'Do no harm'?"
The door closed before Spock could hear his reply but not before he heard a high-pitched yelp.
Spock's lips quirked in amusement. "Fascinating."
xXx
Jamie walked down the corridor to the transporter room in full dress uniform, her heels clicking on the floor. It didn't feel real. Today was the day she was resuming her captaincy but it was like she was in a dream. Her whole body was vibrating with excitement or possibly the remnants of Bones' nerve-stim treatment. She swore she'd seen a sadistic gleam in his eyes when she'd laid down on the bio-bed. She'd felt electric shocks for hours after.
Entering, she immediately saw her senior staff lined up and smiling. Well...almost all. Spock stood slightly apart, next to Uhura but his eyes were warm when they settled on her. She quickly took her position next to her first officer but shifted slightly away from Bones who chuckled at the action.
"Scared? Of lil' ol' me?" He whispered.
"Psht. You wish." She tried.
"Good. See you after shift for your first day back to duty check-up."
Jamie paled and wilted slightly while McCoy stifled full blown laughter at her expense.
"Shut up." She snapped.
"Aye-aye, captain."
"Asshole."
"Infant." Her heart warmed at the familiar banter.
"Just wait until your bachelor party. Payback's a bitch, Bones." She smiled sweetly at his own paling features.
The swish of the door cut off any further conversation and they all stood at attention, immediately saluting at the sight of Captain Owen Fitzpatrick in his own dress grays looking every bit the commanding officer he was. He returned the salute with crisp efficiency and Jamie marched up to him.
"Captain Fitzpatrick, I relieve you, sir."
He smiled down at her. "I am relieved...Captain James Kirk."
They saluted a second time as ceremony dictated and he held out his hand which she took. He gripped her and gave a firm shake. "One of these days you're going to have to tell me just how you came to be named James, captain. I'm sure it's an interesting story." His eyes sparkled with humor.
"It is, sir, and I look forward to it."
Stepping back, she waited as he positioned himself on the transporter pad. "She's a brand new Enterprise. Take care of her."
She jerked her head. "Energize, Commander Scott."
Once he faded from their view she turned and her crew straightened into full military attention, throwing up perfect salutes. All of them.
"Captain on deck!" Chekov's voice rang out and she could see he tried to hide his own grin but wasn't very successful. She couldn't stop her own smile.
Jamie returned the gesture. "Dismissed. I'll see you on the bridge."
She waited a minute to follow, giving herself a chance to breathe before following. A shift in the air next to Jamie let her know that Spock had waited behind the rest as he settled next to her, falling in step with her as if he had always been there and always would be there; by her side.
The trip to the bridge seemed to take a long time, or perhaps it was her excitement that slowed time down, but once there she heard a crew member, "Captain on the bridge!", followed by enthusiastic applause.
Her throat swelled with emotion and Jamie struggled against a deep breath, she moved to the center and stood in front her chair, carefully lowering herself into it. Now it felt right. Like coming home from a long trip. "Lieutenant Uhura, has the Adelphi moved away?"
"Aye, captain. Captain S'Vthus sends his regards."
"Commander Spock, our orders?"
Spock moved to her right in his customary pose with his hands behind his back. "Starfleet has ordered us to the Algoni sector to study the gaseous nebula and take samples to determine it's exact makeup."
"So, we're basically going to be a high-tech weather balloon?" McCoy moved to her left.
Spock's mouth opened to argue with McCoy and Jamie jumped in to deflect. "Chekov, plot a course for the Algoni sector. Warp three."
"Aye, keptin."
"Ready to go get us a nebula, Sulu?"
"Yes, ma'am."
"Punch it."
