Yay! Another chapter! Many thanks to TheWindowView who helped make this possible.

Read and enjoy!

What. The. Hell? Nia groggily thought as she attempted to roll over. The small couch made that difficult. She glanced toward her bedroom. Who is in the room? The events from the previous evening filtered in to her sleep deprived brain. Oh. Oh I'm so going to get even with her for this. Wena was sleeping in Nia's bed.

The captain had sent her to Nia's quarters when it became obvious the doctor was in desperate need of sleep. Kirk had never expected to meet someone who could compete with McCoy in grouchiness. He figured, and hoped, sleep might fix that.

Nia had discovered someone sleeping in her bed when she finally returned to the ship, and after recognizing the scattered brown curls Nia decided to just sleep on the couch.

Currently, Nia was realizing just how bad of an idea that had been. Not only was the couch uncomfortable and too small, but her friend was snoring. Loudly.

When did she get a chain saw? Nia asked herself as she valiantly tried to muffle the sound with a pillow over her head.

It didn't work.

Finally, Nia had enough and decided to go to the one place she knew there wouldn't be any noise at this time of night. Or night shift, really.

Grumbling, pillow tucked under her arm, Nia made her way down the hall. She passed only a couple crewmembers, each double taking when they realized she was wearing her lab coat over her pajamas.

All she wanted was some peace and quiet.

In the morning, Spock was informed that Nia was in her lab and had been for several hours.

Expecting to find her working, he fully planned on giving her a stern lecture on the importance of rest and recuperation. Instead, he hesitated in the doorway to the lab. The empty lab.

He checked her position on the PADD again. According to it, she was still in her lab.

He walked carefully around the edge of the center counter top to find Nia. Whether she meant to be hidden from the doorway or not, she had picked the perfect spot to not be seen. She had a pillow under her head and was using her lab coat as a blanket. Where her legs jutted out from beneath the coat, he could see that she was still in sleepwear.

Letting out a small breath, Spock knelt next to her. "Dr. Sargent? Dr. Sargent?" He sighed and gently shook her shoulder. "Nia? Nia, wake up." His voice was quiet, but firm.

Still fighting the pull of consciousness, Nia rolled from his touch. She pulled the pillow with her and groaned as her head collided with the hard floor.

Blearily she opened her eyes and blinked until the Vulcan leaning over her came into view. "What?" She whined.

"Is there a problem in your quarters that prevents you from taking rest there?" Spock asked.

She blinked slowly then told him "Have you ever heard a chainsaw?"

"No, and neither have you."

"I wouldn't be so sure of that." She quipped.

Spock merely raised an eyebrow and stood.

Nia looked up at him. "I have to get up now, don't I?"

"Affirmative."

With a long suffering sigh, Nia sat up. She used the countertop to haul herself to her feet. "Do you know where I can get some ear plugs?" She asked and then rambled without letting him answer. "Actually, I think I could make chloroform. Not that I would use it, but the threat might keep her awake enough to keep from re-enacting the Cretaceous Period."

"One would not expect Doctor Verde to have the lung capacity of a tyrannosaurus." Spock commented drily.

Nia stared at him, waiting for the light bulb to click. He just said something, and that meant it was important.

When it finally clicked, Nia started shaking her head. His humor was definitely something she would have to get used to. It was also something she wanted to get used to. "How did you know Wena was the one I was talking about?"

She was surprisingly slow this morning. "The captain informed me he sent her to your quarters."

Smooth Nia, real smooth. Definitely should have guessed that one. Nia blushed when her stomach growled. "I think I am going to get breakfast. Would you like to join me, or have you already eaten?"

"I have already partaken of the morning meal." He informed her. Regrettably, he had eaten earlier in expectation that she would be eating with Nurse Chapel, as was the scientist's routine. When she was not there, he sought to find her. However he expected to find her, asleep on the lab floor was not it.

Disappointment pinched at her, but she nodded in acceptance of his answer. "Oh, well. Did you need something from me, Spock?"

"I was merely confirming your whereabouts after the morning meal. After the computer informed me you were in the labs, I had expected to find you working."

Nia was suddenly painfully aware she was still in her pajamas. She was standing in front of him in thin cotton pants and an equally thin oversized t-shirt… and no bra.

Oh no.

She found herself questioning why it couldn't have been one of the women who found her. She'd even take the boys over Spock. The lab was cold.

Trying to be subtle, Nia grabbed her lab coat and carefully folded her arms across her chest with the coat lying across her arms.

"I see. I appreciate the concern on my behalf." She said to him with a soft smile.

He noticed her sudden discomfort and the delicate way she had crossed her arms. Surmising that her appearance must be the source of her discomfort, Spock decided she would likely want to return to her quarters.

When he said as much and offered to escort her there, Nia was very unsure how to respond.

"Alright, Spock." She finally said. She was certain he hadn't meant to be insulting.

He handed her the pillow and together they walked to her quarters. As they walked, Nia was insanely glad to have the pillow in her arms along with her coat. It was a much better barrier.

She sighed and marveled at how out of it she must have been the previous night to not care about her appearance to the extent that she didn't hesitate to walk the halls without proper underwear on. The rest she could handle. Even the guaranteed atrocity her hair was sure to be and whatever remnants of drool that still lingered on her face were minor details in comparison.

She hugged the pillow a little tighter to her chest and upon seeing the crewmembers in the turbo lift, Nia positioned herself slightly behind Spock to block the view of her.

As was customary for them, the pair walked the majority of the way in silence. Nia was reminded of the easy peace she had found in the silent lunches she'd enjoyed at the beginning of the journey to the settlers.

Fortunately, the pair didn't come across anyone that Nia personally knew, much to her relief. Even if the others were likely to find out and tease her about her early morning escapades and sleeping arrangement, she was glad no one would be able to personally witness the occurrence. Besides Spock, of course.

And maybe Scotty. Nia wondered if he could be bribed to keep the security feeds confidential, baring a direct order from the captain of course.

At her quarters, he bid her a simple farewell as she opened her door.

His sentence was cut off when he heard the noise still emanating from her bedroom.

"I now understand your earlier comment regarding the sound of a chainsaw."

Nia chuckled, saw how his eyes were widened, and started laughing. She was loud enough that the snores abruptly stopped from the adjoining room and soft mumbling could be heard.

"Oops. It appears she might be waking up." She smiled at Spock. "I'll see you at the midday meal?"

"Should circumstances permit, yes."

"Good."

She stepped into her room and shut the door as he turned to walk away.

Carefully, she approached the bed where Wena was still apparently still sleeping. The dark haired woman was no longer snoring, but her breathing was indicative of sleep.

Deciding not to wake her, Nia quietly changed and left for the mess hall.

She was surprised to find Uhura still eating. "Hey," she said.

"Morning." Uhura responded. "I'm surprised you are awake. I hear you were one of the last to return to the ship."

Nia shrugged. "What can I say? I function well on minimal sleep."

The linguist rolled her eyes. "Yeah, right."

"Alright so there might be a possibility of my current roommate snoring."

"Ah, now it all makes sense. If you need somewhere to crash…" Uhura offered.

Nia shook her head. "I'm good. I crashed in the lab after I couldn't take the noise anymore."

"Bet Michaels loved that." Uhura said, smirking. She knew the young brunette would have a fit over finding anyone camped out in the lab.

Coughing, Nia shook her head. "I'm sure she would have, except it wasn't her who found me."

The other woman frowned. "Then who was it?"

"Commander Spock." Nia told her sheepishly.

She stared at the scientist. "Really?"

"Yep." Nia took a bite of her breakfast, while Uhura struggled to respond.

Finally, she said "I'm surprised you didn't get a lecture of regulation pertaining to acceptable activities in the labs."

Nia paused as she thought about it. "You know, so am I. Maybe he thought I was embarrassed enough as it was."

"Still in your pj's?" Uhura guessed.

"And lacking a certain… 'support system' that is apparently key to my confidence."

Uhura laughed. "Oh, it can't have been that bad."

"Oh it was." Nia sighed. "I might have also hid behind him in the turbo lift."

Laughing harder, Uhura put a dark hand over her face.

Nia watched her for a moment, but she couldn't hold back the giggles bubbling in her chest. "It was awful. It really was. If you tell anyone about this, I will kill you."

Uhura waved her hands in front of her. "No problem. My lips are sealed." She chuckled again. "What was his reaction?"

"Commander Spock? He was a gentleman." Nia rested her head on the palm of her hand for a moment. "It seems I am no longer able to maintain any dignity around that man."

"'No longer'? Something changed?" The linguist was curious and more than a little interested in the Vulcan's affairs.

It was then Nia realized exactly who she was talking to. "Yes, actually. The Commander and I have started a relationship." When Uhura's eyebrows rose, Nia rushed to say "I know the history you two have, so if you aren't comfortable with me anymore, I completely understand, and I just want –"

"Nia."

"- you to know that –"

"Nia, stop!" Uhura held up a hand as if to physically stop the flow of words pouring out of the other woman's mouth. "I'm not uncomfortable. It doesn't bother me. I'm good with still being friends." Uhura tried to assure her in the simplest terms possible.

"Oh. Ok." Nia took a breath. "Good. I got carried away, didn't I? Sorry."

Uhura just waved it off. "Not a big deal. Besides, I completely understand where it was coming from."

"Thank you." Nia's gave her a relieved smile.

Kirk frowned as he read over the reports.

He didn't have as many as he expected, with the head of each family electing to write a single report instead of allowing each member to write a report.

Such a thing wasn't all that uncommon; however Kirk wasn't expecting the distinct lack of information contained in the reports.

Each event that led to the settlers' arrival on the desert planet was either quite vague or not addressed at all.

Even all that could be ignored, if it were not for four specific reports throwing up red flags for the captain.

It was when the last of the reports had been turned in by the midday meal, a full day after the rescue, that Kirk's suspicions had started. He requested Spock meet with him in the ready room.

When he showed the reports to his first officer, his suspicions were confirmed.

At first, the Vulcan didn't see what bothered the captain so significantly. He looked over the head of family reports and stated "While the lack of information is bothersome, it is not uncommon. It merely is indicative of a lack of trust and potentially a lack of information on their parts. Surely, the reports of those more directly involved in the events have more detail?"

Kirk shook his head. "That's just it. Spock, here are the reports of those most involved." He pulled up the four reports he had earlier flagged.

Spock frowned as he read through them at a speed slightly baffling to Kirk. "While not identical, these reports bear a similarity that is not displayed in the other documents."

"Exactly." Frowning, Kirk took back the data PADD. "Spock, do you think the other families have the full story?"

"You are implying that the four reports of those most involved have been altered from the truth, and that they are the only ones who possess the full truth of the events that took place." Spock stated.

Kirk took a barely a moment to work through all he said. "Yes." He thought for a moment. "Uhura mentioned that Dr. Verde was only willing to trust us after Sargent gave the green light. I need to speak with these four."

Spock nodded. "Indeed."

"Spock, I need to you to go down to Engineering and get a team together."

As Kirk fleshed out the details of the assignment he had for Spock, the Vulcan felt a twinge of discomfort. The four reports had been given by four individuals of whom only one was the head of a family. Two of whom, he'd spoken directly with.

Nethi, Jacek, Mig, and Wena Verde.

All four were connected to Nia. All four had written suspicious reports.

The twinge of discomfort grew.

A/N: So here is the next installment. Nia figured it was time for her to embarrass herself in front of Spock again, and who am I to say otherwise? XD Please, tell me what you think.

Thank you to forestreject and QHJumper for reviewing. I love hearing from you guys!