Chapter 17 ( already I can't believe it.)
A light and silly chapter as there has been so much drama in the last few. And I've been wanting to do a chapter where I just relentlessly torture Spock for weeks.
It was really hard to imagine Spock singing anything, in the end I went for Gordon Haskell how wonderful you are, but his voice is a little deep so still not too sure. So...
Disclaimer: I do not own Star Trek or the song How Wonderful You Are, and am not making any profits off of them.
May 14th 19:30
" Oh it's you." Galia said as she opened the door. She leaned out and looked down the hallway.
" Get in, quick." She stepped aside and Spock entered, there was nobody else in the room.
" Where is Nyota?" He asked.
" She's not back yet. Her birthday is a surprise."
" I believe Nyota knows it is her birthday."
Spock heard the swish of a door open, he turned around to see a woman coming out of the bathroom. She was tall, almost as tall as Spock, with olive skin and short black hair. Her amber eyes were very familiar but they looked at him with suspicion and a hardness that was decisively unfamiliar.
" I prefer to see Vulcan's as experts at deadpan humor rather than irritatingly literal." She said.
" You are Nyota's sister." Spock said, he did not need confirmation, the woman in front of him shared quite a few features with Nyota though she was slightly taller slightly curvier and was no where near as aesthetically pleasing.
" Yes, Nyonda."
The door buzzed.
" In the bathroom." Galia said in a hurried whisper. Nyonda turned and walked back into the room she had just come out of.
" Pardon?" Spock asked wondering if the cadet really meant for him to go stand in the bathroom.
" Get in the bathroom, Commander." Galia said adding his title as an after thought.
" For what reason?"
" It might be Nyota and she doesn't know that I planned a night out or that her sisters here and I want everybody to jump out of the bathroom and shout surprise when she comes in like they do in the films." Galia explained quickly her voice filled with irritation.
" Why would Nyota ring the bell?"
" Oh. Right." Galia blushed a dark shade of green. She went and opened the door, Spock saw Chris standing at the entrance to the room, a large bottle of some liquid in his hands that he assumed was some form of alcoholic drink.
" Hello Galia, Spock." He nodded to him as he entered.
The wooshing of a door notified Spock that Nyonda had come back into room, Chris's eyes drifted straight to her.
" Whose this lovely young lady?"
" Captain Pike this is Nyota's sister Nyonda." Galia introduced them, Spock watched as they shook hands, Galia was leaning out of the doorway again as she had when he had entered.
" She's coming." She said, "Bathroom!"
" I fail to see..." Spock started.
" Get into the bathroom Spock that's an order." Chris interrupted him.
Spock tried to remain dignified as he entered the tiny bathroom with Nyonda, Galia, and Chris, but he doubted he managed it. The closeness of so many people in the little room led him to stand in the shower, quickly turning the automated shower head off before it started , narrowly avoiding getting his new clothes wet.
" Lights out." Spock heard Galia say before the bathroom was plunged into darkness. He could make out the four sets of breaths four heartbeats along with his own. The he could hear her footsteps entering the next room. Galia in front of him was moving around.
" Whistle or banger?" She whispered to him.
" Banger?" Spock asked matching her volume. Galia must have taken it to be his answer because she pushed what felt like a small tube with a string coming out of one end. Before Spock had a chance to ask what he was meant to do with it Galia started whispering again.
" Three, two ,one go!"
Nyonda was closest to the door, she pressed the button and the moment it had opened far enogth to get through her and the others burst out. Spock was carefully stepping out of the shower when he heard the shout of 'Surprise" followed by a series of whistles and a loud startling bang.
Spock hurried to the doorway to see if there was any danger, there was a smell of smoke and a cloud of one millimeter pieces of multicolored reflective paper falling to the floor. He looked over Chris's shoulder and saw Nyota sat on her bed, she appeared to have stopped in the process of unzipping her boots. Her face was turned towards them, Spock watched as her face turned from a startled look to a wide grin.
" Nyonda!" She jumped up off the bed and flung herself at her sister, they hugged each other closely. She pulled back looking at her sister.
" What are you doing here?"
" I wouldn't miss your birthday."
Nyota looked away from her sister with a hesitation that suggested reluctance.
" Captain Pike?"
"Happy Birthday Uhura." He handed her the bottle . "Your first drink has to be champagne."
" Thank you Captain."
"Call me Chris, for tonight at least."
" Thank you Chris."
She turned to look at Spock, they looked at each other for a moment.
" Spock, I'm glad your here." She said, and Spock felt as if she meant it.
" Happy Birthday Nyota."
Galia grabbed her arm.
" Come on, we have to get you ready."
"Ready for what?"
" Your night out."
" Night out?'
" You have to it's your birthday." She gave a small nervous smile.
" Why don't we open the champagne so the boys can have a drink while we get dolled up." Nyonda said.
Nyota turned the bottle around in her hands. Chris went to the small replicator and had replicated five champagne flutes. There was a loud bang as the cork flew out the end of the champagne bottle and bounced off the wall and under the bed. Chris hurried to catch the bubbly liquid in a glass as it poured out of the bottle. He took it off of Nyota and filled the five glasses. He lined them up on Nyota's desk and then handed them out, giving the first to Nyota. The girls all gathered around Chris. Nyota looked over at him and then moved closer to Galia making room for him next to her. She waved him over, he joined them and followed their lead as they clinked their glasses together and said 'cheers." Nyota gave a small cough and Spock felt himself reaching out to her.
" Bubbles up my nose." She explained.
Chris gave a short laugh.
" Come on, bathroom." Galia said grabbing Nyota's arm.
" I have to choose a dress."
" What do you think I got you." Nyonda replied pushing her sister towards the bathroom. " Chris, could you put some music on?" She shouted as the door behind them closed leaving Spock and Chris alone.
" I'm on it." He looked around the room.
" The music is in the wardrobe." Spock informed him, Chris turned to him and raising an eyebrow in a silent inquiry, Spock did not care to explain. Spock watched as Chris opened the wardrobe selected a card from one of the shelves and slot into the small music player built in next to the door. A strange music with a strong beat came on, their was a female voice singing in English in the background.
" They're going to be a while." Chris said, he sat on the bed, Spock felt a twinge of some emotion he could not name but he suppressed it and sat on the chair next to Nyota's desk.
" New clothes?" Chris asked, Spock assumed he was making small talk. He had indeed brought new clothes for the occasion, gray trousers and waistcoat over a white shirt, no tie, he had thought it appropriate.
' Yes, I needed a forth formal outfit, the others do not always meet the requirements of the event."
" I'm sure that's the only reason, looks sharp though."
"Sharp?"
" Just accept it as a compliment."
Spock listened to the music, it was not to his tastes but he accepted there was nothing else he could do while he waited. High pitched giggling came from the bathroom every few minutes, he found he could make out which was Nyota's though noting when he felt a slight tightness in his stomach. After fifteen minutes Galia ran out of the bathroom.
" Forgot the lip gloss." She routed around on her messy overloaded desk, picked up a small tube and rushed back into the bathroom. Exactly twenty- two minutes and thirteen seconds after Nyota had entered the bathroom she stepped back out again.
She was wearing a red sequined dress that stopped a few inches short of her knees, the color was slightly darker than that of her uniform but it dipped down in a dauntingly low V- neck. Spock starred at her. Galia and Nyonda followed her out.
" It's a bit.." Nyota said looking down. Spock never did find out what adjective she was going to use.
" It looks fabulous." Galia said.
Nyota looked up at Spock.
" Do I look like me?" She asked timidly.
Spock considered the question, he did not wish to tell Nyota that although he found trouble keeping his eyes off that low dip where the material showed part of the curve of her breast he did not think she looked entirely comfortable in it and it did not look similar to anything else he had seen her wearing before . Instead he avoided a direct answer.
" The color is becoming on you."
" It's almost the same as my uniform."
" Indeed, though your uniform is not reflective."
" Something's missing." Nyonda said scrutinizing her sister. " Jewelery." She said and headed for her sisters draws.
Feeling a slight apprehension Spock stood up and reached into his pocket he took out the small black velvet box and held it out to Nyota. Her eyes met his with a flash of curiosity as she carefully took it from him avoiding touching his hand. He watched her face closely as she opened the box, her eyes widened, her fingers reached up to brush along the earrings and then she smiled widely. She looked up at him, her expression more open than he had seen it in weeks.
" I hope that they are appropriate." He said.
" They're beautiful." Her voice was laced with happiness.
He nodded, if they were alone he would have said he was glad.
He sensed that others were watching their exchange but he did not look away from her as her hands reached up to put the earrings in, the pearl white contrasting perfectly against her black hair. It filled him with an unexpected pleasure to see him wearing his gift. His view of her was suddenly obscure as Galia stepped in front of him, leaning in close to Nyota to see the earrings.
" They go perfectly."
" We'd better get going." Nyonda said loudly, Spock did not know why but there seemed to be a note of disapproval in her voice.
21:13
The meal had been adequate, the restaurant quiet enough for conversation. Though he had tried to engage Nyonda in a conversation about her work he had found her answers to be lacking in information her actions and demeanor were starting to indicate that she did not appreciate his presence. He did not see her reasoning as he had acted polity to her but Humans are essentially illogical. He was content to drift in and out of conversation based around the food provided and the weather with Nyota and Christopher and listen to Nyota and her sister talk excited about home their niece and plans to go on holiday together during the summer.
He had carefully watched Nyota, she had giggled twelve times during there meal. Previous to that night he had only heard her giggle twice, she tended to laugh deeply rather than giggle. He thought the causes of this new behavior probably lied in the fact that she had consumed three glasses of alcohol. He had often heard said that when Humans were first introduced to alcoholic liquids they were affected by it quickly. Though he believed the food that she was eating would counteract some of the effects.
When the everybody had finished their deserts a waiter had brought over a bottle of wine and decanted it into glasses for them all. Nyonda stood up, she winked at her sister and then started to talk.
" Eighteen years and one week ago."
" I thought your birthday was today, did I get it wrong?" Galia interrupted turning to Nyota.
" No."
" Eighteen years and one week ago My great grandmother Tahira died."
Spock thought it was a strange thing to talk about a death on the celebration of a birth.
"Grand Nana had served on the Enterprises maiden voyage under captain Archer. Before she died my mother went to her and told her she would be naming the child she was carrying Tahira, after her. Grand Nana said no, call her Star because she'll wish to travel amongst them. She predicted that she would become a captain and be a star freedom to many species. So here we are eighteen years on and our tiny star of freedom has grown quite brilliant."
" And radiant, wouldn't you say Spock?" Chris said. Spock hesitated.
" I would." He answered, he notice Nyota blush.
" And at eighteen years old it turns out part of Nana Tahira's prediction was true, cause my sisters following in her footsteps and has taken the first step in a career in Star Fleet and her family couldn't be more proud. So, if you would, raise your glasses and drink a toast to Nyota."
Chris, Galia and Spock raised there glasses up to Nyota, Spock had seen this tradition performed before so he knew what to do.
" To Nyota." He said.
" To Nyota." Chris said.
" The best friend a girl could have." Galia added.
10:10
The pub was crowded and noisy. Spock noticed that the vast majority of customers appeared to be cadets. There was no music but they still had to raise there voices to converse. Spock sat quietly drinking his ginger beer, Chris seemed to be absorbed in the conversation that Nyota, Galia, and Nyonda were having, it seemed to consist of Nyota listing every male Cadet she had seen Galia flirt with. Spock failed to see how her roommates promiscuity was so amusing to Chris and Nyonda, Galia kept intercepting with unnecessary comments on the men. Her comments were such that Spock started to feel the tips of his ears burning, he knew that they had blushed bright green but the others seemed not to notice which he was grateful for. Spock looked out into the crowd, it took him a moment to make out a familiar face coming towards him.
Nyota looked up as Doctor McCoy reached the table.
" Len."
The doctor stepped behind Spock he bent down next to Nyota and kissed her on the cheek. Spock felt the jealous rise up in himself, he battled to keep his face neutral.
" Happy Birthday Uhura."
" Thanks Len, sit down talk to me."
" I would darling but I'm looking for Jim. He's being particularly Jim like tonight."
" Oh come on Doc." Galia said.
" Alright then." The doctor sat down at the free chair next to Spock, he shot him a look as he sat then turned to talk Chris.
" Good evening Sir."
"Doctor." Chris nodded politely in return.
" So, Uhura as your doctor I feel I should warn you on the health risks of drinking vast quantities of alcohol. As your friend I have to say can I buy you a whiskey?"
Everybody laughed, except Spock. Nyota held he glass of light bubbling green liquid up.
" I'm okay with this at the moment thanks." She said.
" Some other time then."
" Yes." Nyota said, Spock felt his hand clench slightly at the idea that Nyota was agreeing to go out for a drink with this man.
" So your a doctor?" Nyonda said, she was sat next to him and Spock curiously noted that she leaned in closer to him as she spoke.
" Yes M.D., Lenard McCoy." He reached his hand out to her, she shook it holding on a little longer than was warranted.
" Nyonda Uhura."
At that moment the table shook violently as a cadet seemingly fell into it. Spock stood up.
" Sorry man, accident." The blond haired young man said. " Hey Len."
" Jim." The doctor looked at him with an annoyed expression whilst mopping up their split drinks with a napkin.
The new arrival seemed to notice Nyota.
" Hey." He said waving his hand dramatically in the air. " Hey gorgeous, going to tell me your name. Or are you going to make me guess again."
Nyota gave and angry stare and shook her head.
" Mildred? Bianca? Zoey?"
" Sorry Uhura." Doctor McCoy stood up and grabbed the cadet around the upper arm.
" Ow, that kind of hurts you know."
" Time to go Jim."
" I thought you had taken a Hippocratic oath or something?"
" Enjoy your birthday." The doctor said to Nyota then turned to her sister, "It was a pleasure to meet you Nyonda. Briefly." He gave the Cadet named Jim a sour look as he said the last word and then dragged him off through the crowd. Spock sat back down.
" You are acquainted with that cadet?" He ask Nyota.
" I see him around, he's a bit of an annoyance he's always hitting on me."
" I could have a word with him."
" That's unnecessary, I can handle it." Spock nodded.
"Talking about hitting on you." Nyonda said. " Mama tells me she saw Dante last week."
" Whose Dante?" Galia asked curiously.
" You've never told her about Dante?"
Nyota looked down her face flushing with embarrassment.
" Is he somebody you've got the hots for?" Galia said excitedly.
" He's the guy she lost it too." Nyonda answered as Nyota stared down at her drink. Spock was about to ask what she had lost when Galia gave a loud high pitched squeak and turned to Nyota who was now looking at her sister with a murderous gaze.
" I always thought you were a virgin!"
Spock felt as if he had been hit in the chest with a sledge hammer, he knew that most Humans were somewhat casual about there sexual relations but he had never considered that Nyota had ever been, again he found himself fighting to control his facial muscles that seemed to wish to grimace. He looked up at Nyota, her eyes met his, she was clearly frowning.
" I never said that" She said in barely a whisper.
" I just assumed, what with how uptight you are around boys." Galia explained.
" He was a simply gorgeous footballer ." Nyonda continued to say.
"Really?"
" Yep, she told me two weeks after her sixteenth birthday."
" Can we stop talking about this please." Nyota snapped.
" Why?" Glaia asked her.
" Because he was an ass and I was stupid. I was lanky bookworm with no friends and he was popular and cute. He took me out a few times told me I was beautiful and clever and then afterward never spoke to me again."
" Git." Galia said. Spock stood up, four pairs of eyes followed him.
" I am going to get more drinks." He said walking away.
As he made his way through the crowd he tried to gain control of his emotions. The fact that Nyota had given somebody permission to touch her in such a way filled him with jealous anger and at some level disappointment. He had never considered that she had been somebody elses to touch and hold, that somebody else had been permitted to kiss her. He knew that Williams had touched her but as it had not been with her consent Spock had only felt anger and not jealousy. And the way she had explained the quality of the man she had given herself too, why? He did not wish to think of her giving that part of herself away to anybody else. He did not wish to think of another mans lips kissing the flesh of her legs as he once had or another holding her body close to him as they slept at night. He did not even wish to think of her getting angry at another man or being comforted by another man. He did not wish to remember the desire that flooded through the link between them when they had touched hands knowing that it had been felt towards another. Or that when she had ran her fingers through his hair she was merely repeating an act of affection taught by another. At the center of the hurricane of emotions was one simple thought, new experiences to him were not all that new to her. In the future he maybe able to hold her and kiss her and it would be special to him as she was the only one he had ever wished to do such things with, but would it be special to her? When it would always be echoing the touch of another.
As he stood at the bar deep in thought he felt a hand lightly tap him on the shoulder, he turned to see Nyota stood behind him.
" Are you okay?" She asked her voice full of worry but faltering slightly due to drunk state.
" I am well." Spock answered, he turned back to the bar and placed an order, remembering what the others had been drinking previously.
" I know this isn't the sort of thing you're comfortable with but thank you for coming anyway. It wouldn't be the same without you." Nyota stepped round to stand beside him. Spock didn't look at her.
" It is interesting to see how Humans celebrate coming of age."
"There is something bothering you." Nyota said in a voice that sounded so upset that Spock couldn't help looking down into her sad eyes, he reminded himself that tonight was her celebration and she was supposed to be happy.
" Yes, Nyota there is." He admitted.
" What is it?"
" I do not like the idea of another man touching you."
" Why?" He eyes flickered down to the floor and for a moment she looked quite vulnerable. Spock did not answer.
" Say it Spock."
" Because, I have a high regard for you and he does not sound like a worthy mate." Spock answered after some deliberation.
Nyota nodded her head, she seemed disappointed. "Okay." She stood for another minute, the bar keeper started to set the drinks Spock had ordered down on a tray.
" Okay." Nyota repeated speaking as if to her self, then she turned and walked away from him.
She gave a weak smile as he reached the table, he knew it was a pretense. He set the drinks down on the table gathered the empty glasses and bottles and took them back to the bar. When he again returned to the table, Chris was rubbing his arm. Galia's eyes flickered over to him.
" What's wrong with your arm?"
" Broke it a few years ago."
Spock inwardly winced, Chris had been holding this against him for two years.
" How did you break it?"
" Well actually I didn't, he did." Chris pointed at Spock, who felt his ears warm again.
" You broke his arm!" Galia said incredibly. " Why?"
" Chris!" Spock said in a warning tone, it was a private matter ti was bad enough that Chris had accidentally found out but he had a way of mentioning it every now and again when he wished Spock to do something. He had never gone into much detail but he dropped threatening hints as if it were a joke to him. During his first Pon Farr Chris had overheard a nurse saying that she was going to take him Plomeet soup and had rushed to his apartment to intercede. Chris had seen a few emotional outbursts from Spock during the week and had some inclining that something was wrong with him. . Later, after Spock had recovered somewhat Chris had explained that he had rushed to his apartment expecting Spock to be 'seeing red' which apparently meant in an unstable and violent state. He had not been expecting to walk in to find Spock pinning the young nurse to the wall in a rush to diverge her of her clothing. Nor had he expected hie efforts to protect his young friend to be rewarded with him being thrown half way across a room and then later slapped by the extremely annoyed nurse. Spock had thanked him sometime later, the nurse would not have been a suitable bond mate, but for some illogical reason even though Chris's arm had healed well and only 'gave him twinges' occasionally Chris had never seemed to forgiven him.
" He's vicious." Spock heard Nyonda whisper to her sister, whatever her opinions on Vulcan's were she was not aware their hearing was twice as sensitive as that of Humans.
" He was undergoing a...hormonal imbalance. He had warned me that he was not himself." Chris said, Spock nodded, it was a more acceptable answer than he had expected,. But still, the evening seemed to be going down hill, as the Humans would say.
11:30
Spock was quickly learning what karaoke bar meant, he had heard the phrase before but had never actually been to such a place, and he doubted he would ever again. He sat listening to Nyota Galia and Nyonda singing at the front of the bar, Nyota was mostly in tune but that was more than could be said for the other two, for some reason they were all over emphasizing the emotional content of the song. Chris came back from the bar with two drinks and sat down next to Spock. He placed one of the drinks in front of Spock, Spock sniffed it cautiously, he had not asked for anything. There was an underlying smell of chocolate, he raised his eyebrow questioningly at Chris.
" You're going to be thankful for that in a minute."
" I do not see your reasoning."
" Those girls are going to make you sing."
" I do not wish to sing. "
" Tough."
" I believe that to sing here on this occasion would be undignified."
The girls had finished singing whilst he and Chris spoke and they came to rejoin the table, Nyota sat next to him. Nyonda sat across from him and shot him a somewhat wicked smile.
" Your turn Mr Spock." She said.
" I do not wish to."
" Ah go on." Glaia whined, Chris gave a small chuckle and gave Spock an I told you so look.
" I will not be persuaded."
" What if I ask nicely?" Nyota said turning to him, her face inches from his.
" I will not be persuaded Nyota."
" Spokh, I enjoy your voice and I know you've sung in public before. Will you not do so again, this one time? Just for me, on my birthday." She finished in his home tongue and looked at him her face tilted down, eyes pointing up and a slight pouting of the lips. He had heard this expression called 'puppy dog eyes' before a phrase that's significance was lost in antiquity but he'd never felt there effects till now.
" I will not sing anything that lacks dignity." He said taking two sips of the dark brown liquid.
" I'll go get the song books." Nyota said jumping up.
" What happened to I will not be persuaded?" Chris asked.
" I found her argument very persuasive."
He took another sip, he did not like the taste it was too sweet. Chris was having a lot more success talking to Nyonda about her work than he had previously that night. Nyota came up behind him and placed a PADD in front of him, on the screen written in large letters were the words pre- twenty-third century music, under t were a list of song titles. Spock lightly tapped the screen and looked through the lyrics of a few of the songs. Most he had not heard before. He took another two sips of the liquid, then decided that he would leave it, he did not wish to become inebriated.
" Found one yet?" Nyonda asked him.
" No, I am having trouble seeing the logic in these lyrics."
"What's the matter with them?"
" I do not understand why this person wants to go to mars in the spring when mars is at it's most unstable during the spring, that's when the largest percentage of avalanches happen on the planet. And why does this one say he is blue when Andorians were not in contact with Earth at the time and so he could not possibly be blue."
he could not understand why the other occupants of the table were looking at him with wide grins.
" How about burning down the house?" Galia asked.
" I do not wish to sing a song about pyromaniacs."
" Murder on the dance floor." Galia asked again innocently. Nyota laughed into her drink.
" How is that humorous? I find the fact that twentieth century Earth was so violent that murders were committed in public places and then recorded in song to be quite disturbing." Spock was beginning to feel slightly dizzy and slightly less in control of his emotions, the chocolate drink was starting to have some effect.
"Oh, oh, this one." Galia said pointing to the screen of the PADD.
"My sex is on fire?" This time it was Chris who snorted into his drink and gave a short chuckle.
" Yes."
"No."
" Why not?"
"You require a reason for my refusal?"
" Yeah, it's funny."
" I am glad I amuse you."
Spock silently looked at a few more songs before he landed on one that he believed he had heard at some point and that's lyrics were understandable to him, he and Chris frequently went to a place called Harry's bar. He typed his name next to it and it was automatically added to the list, he would be singing after two more people. He returned the PADD to the bar and ordered himself a ginger beer then sat and listened to the girls giggling about catching somebody skinny dipping when they were on a survival weekend. When it was his turn he went to stand on the small raised stage, he assessed the crowd of people in front of him he recognized three of his students but as it was drawing near to midnight the atmosphere of the bar suggested that a lot of alcohol had been consumed by most, there was a 43.6 percent chance that other than Chris, Galia and Nyota nobody from the academy would remember him singing tonight, he found it slightly reassuring. The lighting up on the stage changed from a brilliant white to a dark blue, increasing the chances he wouldn't be recognized by another seven percent. The words appeared on a screen in front of him and the slow background music started up. He stepped forwards, steadied the microphone with one hand and began to sing his voice dropping lower than usual as the song required.
I go out most nights
Attracted by the lights
Listen to the jazz in Harry's Bar
And I know it won't be long
Before they play that song
Do you know how wonderful you are
It's a sentimental sound
Make me wanna fool around
With somebody who is wishing on a star
I'll pull my hat down low
Go up and say hello
Do you know how wonderful you are
Oh we struggle with the art of conversation
And there'll be those for whom this song has no appeal
But I know it works for me
And I'm sure you will agree
That it illustrates exactly how I feel
Things can happen fast
Some things are built to last
I've seen it all go down in Harry's Bar
Though we've only just begun
This sure will run and run
Do you know how wonderful you are
There was a long pause in the lyrics while a saxophone played over the speakers, Spock had been watching Nyota, he had been wondering if now that she had persuaded him into singing she actually appreciated it. Over on the table where he had been sitting Nyota had turned her chair around to face him, she sat watching him intently her eyes never leaving him. She gave him a small smile when she realized he was looking at her. Chris seemed to be nodding along to the music whereas Galia was looking rather bored. Nyonda was missing but as he scanned the bar again quickly he saw her working her way through the crowd towards the stage. The saxophone solo came to an end and he had no time to ponder why she was approaching him.
I've always struggled with the art of conversation
And there'll be those for whom this song has no appeal
But I know it works for me
And I'm sure you will agree
That it illustrates exactly how I feel
Things can happen fast
Some things are built to last
I've seen it all go down in Harry's Bar
Though we've only just begun
This sure will run and run
Do you know how wonderful you are
Do you know how wonderful you are
Do you know how wonderful you are
As the song finished and the lights switched back to their dazzling white, Spock quietly stepped off the stage. There were a few claps and cheers, one of which he knew came from Chris. He began to walk back to the table where they had been sitting but felt a hand grab his upper arm. He turned to tell whoever it was to unhand him but paused when he saw Nyota's sister starring angrily at him. She spoke to him in a harsh angry whisper.
" My sister has been working hard for years to get into the academy."
" In my experience Nyota does dedicate more time than most Cadets to her studies." Her grip tightened on his arm.
" I know my parents think you're some kind of hero for saving her from that Williams guys but I know you're just as bad as he is."
Spock felt a sudden tide of anger, so unexpected he lost control for a moment.
" I am not! How dare you insinuate.."
" I know what your after, and my sister has worked to hard to throw everything away on a devil eared freak."
Spock pulled his arm sharply away from her, he stared down into those hate filled amber eyes. He did not think any reply would change the notions that Nyonda had about him. He took a deep breath and spoke calmly.
" I suggest that you allow yourself a moment to calm down before you come and join us, I will not allow you to argue with me in front of Nyota, it will spoil her evening."
He pushed his way through the crowd leaving her standing starring after him.
12:32
Spock had a headache, the loud beating of the dance music in the club hurt his sensitive ears and the multicolored flashing lights stung his eyes. He regretted those few sips of chocolaty liquid he knew he would not be this uncomfortable if he had not consumed them. He sat alone in a small booth where he could look out onto the dance floor and keep an eye on his drunken friends, Nyota was dancing enthusiastically with Galia, Chris who had been dancing with a student was now heading back to the table with a new bottle of beer in his hand. Nyonda who, thankfully, had been ignoring him since their confrontation was not in sight but he had seen Doctor McCoy over by the bar earlier and he assumed they had found somewhere to continue their conversation.
Chris sat down across from him and giving him a quick nod turned to watch the gyrating bodies on the dance floor. Spock watched as a young man approached Galia and Nyota. The man placed his hand on Galia's shoulder she turned to him and shook her head but a moment later Nyota had leaned in and whispered in her ear and Galia had turned to dance with him as Nyota walked, unsteadily to the booth.
She sat on the soft couch next to Spock, she was so close her lags brushed up against his. She leaned in close to him and tried to whisper in his ear. Even his sensitive hearing could not make out what she was saying over the loud music, he turned to her shaking his head to indicate he had not heard and she started to talk in an ordinary volume, Chris leaned over the table to hear what was being said.
" I want to bite your ears."
" I would prefer it if you didn't.
" They look tasty."
" The flesh of my species is not edible to Humans due to the high copper levels."
Spock meet Chris eyes, they were shining with withheld laughter. He raised the bottle to his mouth to hide his smile.
" You're fit, you know that Spock?" Nyota continued.
" Vulcan's are roughly three times as strong as Humans and have better endurance."
Nyota gave a high pitched laugh, Spock noted that it didn;t have any effect on him.
" No, you're hot!"
" Yes, in comparison to Humans I am, my body temperature is..."
" No, I mean you're good looking."
Chris was pointedly looking away now and Nyota had somehow managed to lean in another two inches closer to him. Spock felt more uncomfortable than he had during the whole evening.
" Thank you."
"You remember when I said your butt wasn't nice?"
" I remember word to that affect."
" Well I lied."
Nyota looked down at the empty glass before her, she had been drinking from it before she had gone dancing.
" Where did my drink go?"
" You drunk it."
" No I didn't."
Spock turned to Chris.
" Is she inebriated enough to fill the requirements of this ceremony."
" Yeah, I'd say so."
" Perhaps we should find the others and leave then."
" Dance with me." Nyota said.
" No." Spock answered.
" I won't leave until you dance with me." Nyota said poking him in the chest.
" You are drunk, you are acting in a highly illogical manner."
" I'll make it logical for you, the only way to get me to leave is to dance with me."
Spock looked over at Chris, he shrugged. Spock took a deep breath to stop himself from sighing. He stood up, Nyota smiling widely slid out of the booth. She grabbed his hand as he stood up and tried to pull him towards the dance floor but the moment his skin came in contact with hers he felt an overwhelming moment of vertigo, his head felt as if it were filled with some kind of liquid, there was a pressure and fuzziness. the lights flashing in front of his eyes confused him he took a step backwards and stumbled, all within a second he felt something hard come in contact with the back of his leg as he fell backwards, his head hit the floor with a loud bang and a blinding pain and something heavy landed on top of him.
is head cleared and he took a moment to work out what had happened. Through his skin to skin contact with Nyota he had experienced for the first time what it was for a human to be drunk and in his confusion he had tripped and fallen backward. Nyota was laying on top of him he looked up into her puzzled eyes, hi body seemed to have protected her from any injury. He shifted his weight slightly so she was not resting so uncomfortably against his hip. Then he raised his hand to the back of his head to check for blood. He didn't feel any abrasions, he looked left to see if there was any blood on his fingers just to make sure. Two pairs of shoes came into his view. One were polished black loafers the other were green high heels with open toes revealing olive skin and gold painted toenails. He looked up to see Doctor McCoy and Nyonda staring down at him.
" It's time to leave." He said
" Okay." Nyota groaned against his chest.
01:07
Thankfully McCoy had escorted Nyonda back to the hotel she was staying at, Spock was having trouble controlling his emotions as she had shot him hateful looks. He did not know what he had done to warrant such an attitude. He would never do anything to jeopardize Nyota's career and he would never force her to do anything she did not wish to do.
He walked Nyota through the academy grounds back to her apartment. He had to wrap his arm around her waist to steady her and keep her from falling. Chris was walking in the same fashion with Galia a few feet ahead of them. Nyota was being relatively quiet, she gave the odd moan and and had complained once that the ground was moving too much. As the drew closer to the apartments Nyota started to struggle against him.
" No." She said, she pushed against his side and stumbled a few steps away from him. Chris and Galia turned to look.
" Everything Okay?" Chris asked.
Spock nodded he approached Nyota gently taking her arm careful to block anything from coming through their bond.
" Nyota, come with me. I'll take you back to your apartment so you can sleep."
" Not here." She said pointing to the path in front of them,.
" But that is the way to your apartment." Spock explained.
" Not that way." Nyota mumbled as he wrapped his arm back around her waist.
Spock realized that the path they were taking was about to lead them through the freedom gardens. They held bad connotations for Nyota and that was why she did not wish to go that way.
" I'm going to take her the other way." Spock shouted to Chris.
" Do you want us to come?"
" No, get Galia home safely. We will join you in approximately seven minutes."
He guided Nyota around walking back up the way they had come to find the other path that led to the student apartments.
" Stop." Nyota said. Spock stopped and looked down at her, he felt concern.
" I want to sit for a moment, just a moment."
" Just for two minutes." Spock agreed. They sat down on the grassy patch next to the path, it was wet with early morning dew. Nyota flung herself back onto the grass lying and looking up at the sky. Spock was hit with how natural and free the movement seemed, he did not think any Vulcan had ever laid on the grass. Previous to a few seconds ago he would have said it was undignified but looking at the small smile that graced Nyota's lips he realized there was a certain beauty to such unrestrained actions.
" The stars are pretty." She said, her voice holding a dreamy quality.
Spock looked up, he did not say anything, he had never been able to see the Humans fascination with the burning gas forms, he could appreciate how at the right distances they gave the heat that allowed planets to sustain life but he could never see how they were aesthetically pleasing. He did not speak.
" Spock, do Vulcan's love?"
" I do not know, I have never known." He paused for a moment, he thought of his father, his teachers and the few companions he had known as a child. And of T'pring, and that coldness that he had felt through their weak bond. He remembered his mothers warm smile. He thought of the bright warm growing bond between him and Nyota.
" That is an ability I could have fully inherited from my mother." He concluded.
Nyota sat up again, she placed her palms firmly on the grass to steady herself but she still swayed slightly.
" Will you kiss me Spock?"
Spock felt his heartbeat increase, she was giving him another chance. But she was drunk. Very drunk, he had felt her mind so he knew just how drunk. She could not make a rational decision. Spock allowed himself to sigh.
" Yes Nyota, I would like that very much. But you must ask me when you are sober."
She looked down in disappointment but she nodded.
" Okay. I will ask you Spock."
" I await with anticipation my Nyota."
" I like being called yours."
Their eyes met and Spock felt his lips twitch up in a smile, he did not try to stop them, he wished to smile. Perhaps she did consider him special in some way. Nyota smiled in return and then looked down with a little frown.
" I think I'm going to be sick."
Spock sighed again.
" Get up, I shall escort you to your apartment."