Thank you, everyone, for your comments. This is my first attempt at a full fic and 'it is most gratifying' to hear that you are enjoying it.
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Chapter 5 – "You're Outta There!"
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"Please, Doctor, contain yourself. If she looks over this way, she will certainly notice me." Spock warned him. "And then you will not have the opportunity to signal him 'out'."
Spock had understood those signals? Huh. Then McCoy looked at him suspiciously. "I don't get it. You're looking at her with as close as I've ever seen to a smile on your face, but it sure sounds like you want to avoid her."
"I only wish delay to our reunion until after Lt. Uhura arrives."
"And why exactly is that?" McCoy demanded.
Spock looked away. "If she sees that Nyota is with me, she is unlikely to do anything too…embarrassing."
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Kirk mentally lined up for another pitch. "If you don't mind my saying so, that seems like kind of heavy reading for a Starbase lounge."
"My visit was arranged at the last minute and it appears my quarters are not ready."
"Really? Well, if you're looking for a way to pass the time, I could give you a tour of my ship." Kirk offered.
"I am already familiar with most classes of star vessels. It would not be an efficient use of our time."
She'd said;'our'! Yes! She might talk like Spock, but then he'd watched Uhura and the Vulcan play this game before...
"Well, what would you suggest would be an efficient use of our time?" he said giving her a sly look.
"Forgive me for presuming that your time might be better spent. I do not know you. But in my case, efficiency would dictate finishing my reading."
Kirk deflated slightly. He glanced over at McCoy, who was signaling 'Strike Three'. Jim glared and made a tiny shake of his head. This was not over.
"Well, if you'd just like a quieter place to read, I could at least offer one of the lounges on my ship." he smiled invitingly.
"A polite offer, but unnecessary. As Ser Motras and I are of long acquaintance and find each other's company agreeable, I content to read here until my room is available."
Kirk looked again at the bartender. If he recalled correctly, 'Ser' in its language was a feminine honorific. He sincerely hoped that meant the insectoid was a friend in the strictly friend sense.
"So you come to this Starbase often?" As soon as he said it, he mentally hit himself over the head with his imaginary baseball bat. 'Hey, baby, you come here often?' had to be the lamest and most hackneyed of all bar pick up lines. No man who uttered it deserved to get laid. Four weeks on the bench (not to mention that a sexy woman making him think of his first officer sort of weirded him out) was seriously throwing his game.
Fortunately, she was looking away and seemed to be saying something the bartender, who replied in a buzzing language that sounded suspiciously like laughter. Well, at least maybe she hadn't heard that pathetic line.
He glanced over at his friends. Spock was saying something to Bones and seemed to be making more than his usual effort at keeping a straight face. Bones looked up at Kirk in astonishment and signaled 'You're Outta There'.
No way! No way that they could have heard that. He looked at Spock who was watching him almost expectantly. Then he remembered. Damn! When Spock had said that Uhura was teaching him to read lips, he'd meant it literally. (How sad was that?) Fine. Under other circumstances, he might – just might – decide to look around for a more promising prospect, but he was not going down in flames in front of Len and, especially, Spock. He had specifically dressed in civvies because he wanted to be able to pick someone up without the help of his rank and reputation. But this situation called for every resource at his disposal.
"Are you sure you wouldn't be interested in seeing my ship? I'm pretty sure you haven't seen anything like her before." He paused for effect. "She's the Enterprise."
"The Enterprise?" she replied, turning to look directly at him. "I did not realize the Enterprise was scheduled to dock here."
Ah-ha! That had gotten a reaction! Was that a brief flicker of emotion on her face?
"We weren't scheduled. Had a little trouble with some Klingons and had to come in for repairs." he said casually taking a sip of his drink.
"I hope there were no casualities?" she replied. He had her full attention now. Awesome!
"Nothing serious - at least on our side." he bragged.
"That is fortunate." She looked away for a moment. "Tell me…"
"Yes?" Kirk interrupted leaning closer.
"Does Commander Spock still serve aboard the Enterprise?" she continued with a slight lift of her perfect eyebrows.
Damn! What was it with hot chicks and his Vulcan XO?
The expression on Jim's face did it. McCoy guffawed so loudly the whole lounge looked over to his table. The woman at the bar spotted Spock and for a moment an actual human smile graced her lips. "Spock!" she exclaimed. Then her face went hard and she raised both eyebrows at him.
Spock glanced hopefully over at the lounge entrance for a moment, then shrugged slightly in response and raised his as well.
to be continued...
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Yes, I am evil and I am drawing this out.
