Unfinished Business
Chapter 23 : An Evening in the Rec Room
April, 2273
He found that returning to his previous habits was becoming easier, and that he was becoming more relaxed and comfortable by assuming them. Therefore, on the night that he had normally carried his ka'athyra to the rec room, he found himself standing beside where he had it fastened down, so that it did not become damaged from sudden movements of the ship. He was very relieved when his crate of personal belongings that had been at StarFleet Storage had been transported to the Enterprise before they had left Earth orbit after the incident with the intruder. Although the uniforms in it were no longer useful, his ka'athyra, his firepot, and several other personal items had been gratefully received. He had no idea why this crate had not been shipped to Vulcan when he resigned his commission, but he would not complain in the least.
He unfastened the padded clamp, and picked up his ka'athyra, and proceeded down the corridors to the rec room where the bridge staff normally congregated. When he entered the room, there was a susurrous of sound, quickly extinguished. He found an empty place, at the end of one table, near the back of the room, and began to check the tuning of the ka'athyra, while the conversation in the room proceeded by fits and starts as they waited to hear him play. He derived some satisfaction from the fact that they were obviously eager to hear him play. He had waited to do so until he had spent some time practicing, for it had been three long years since he had held this instrument in his hands.
When he felt the tuning was correct, he began to play softly. The conversation in the room died out, and people sat quietly, watching him. It was in the middle of his second piece that she walked into the room, stopping in the doorway for a moment before proceeding on to find a chair against the wall, near Sulu and Rand and Chekov. He was aware that her eyes were on him, and he desired greatly to hear her voice intertwined with the melodious sound of the ka'athyra, but he could not bring himself to ask.
Very fortunately, he did not have to, for when the song came to an end, there were many voices in the room, urging her to sing with him, as they used to do. He steeled himself for her refusal, and raised his head, looking in her direction. She met his eyes, confusion and doubt showing plainly, and he tried to welcome her, tried to make himself appealing, with little expression on his face, only his eyes showing his desire. When she rose, and walked to the center of the room, he found that he had been holding his breath. He laid his hands on the strings, and began one of the songs that he loved to hear her sing. She recognized the opening chords, and nodded her agreement, and soon the room was filled with her lovely voice. He struggled to control himself, pouring the emotions that threatened to overwhelm him into his playing.
There was thunderous applause when the song was finished, and he laid his hands upon the strings to silence them. And then she turned in his direction and quietly spoke the name of another song, and he nodded, agreeing, pleased that she would choose to sing again. He began the song, a much livelier one, and her voice swelled with joy and laughter as she sang, and everyone in the room joined in on the chorus when she spread her hands invitingly. When the song was over, she turned again in his direction, and quietly thanked him for playing, and rejoined her friends at the far table.
He played two more songs, quieter ones now, and then he rose and left the room. But as he passed the table where she sat, he turned his head and found her watching him, and nodded slightly, acknowledging her. And she gave him a very, very small smile. He almost tripped over his own feet, it was so unexpected. And it warmed him all the way back to his quarters, and throughout his entire meditation. And when he lay in his bed, ready for sleep, it was the last thing he remembered as he drifted off.