Hey guys! Thanks for responding to my question! It was nice to see who everybody was inclined towards but this chapter shows a little more Spock for those of you guys rooting for him. Please keep telling me who you'd like her to end up with!
Also to Kgirl: I know that Bones' eyes are hazel but for my story I decided to make them grey.
Anyways enjoy guys! Read and review please!
Audrey met Nyota standing in front of the pub waiting for her dressed in a dark violet dress revealing not too much but leaving a lot to lead on men's imaginations. She was stunning as usual. "Ny, you look absolutely stunning." Ny laughed twirling to show Audrey the full dress.
"Not like you aren't. I think we'll both be making quite an entrance don't you think?" She had an impish smile on her face that reminded her oh so much of Jim. "With that dress, I'm sure you'll be making an impression on a certain grumpy doctor, hmm?"
"Oh stop it! You've been going on nonstop about it!" Ny looked at her skeptically but didn't say anything more as she pulled Audrey through the doorway laughing. The two of them saw the entire crew of the Enterprise the moment they walked through. It was a classy joint for sure and everybody seems to have dressed nicely for the night of debauchery. Saying hello to Pavel, Audrey kissed the adorable Russian on the cheek. "Never got the chance to say it but you're brilliant Pavel. Keep up the good work." She winked at him and the poor Russian boy blushed bright red thanking Audrey for the compliments.
The next person she spotted was Hikaru Sulu, the pilot of the Enterprise. Audrey had met Sulu before in a class of hers when she taught weapon systems and tactics at the Academy. He was a talented cadet then and now an even more impressive pilot now. "Hikaru!" Audrey gleefully hugged Sulu and kissed him hello on the cheek. Being both Asian, the two just seemed to click when Audrey asked him to tell her a little about his culture. Not knowing much about her heritage, she loved having the chance to converse with someone who knew the culture intimately. Giving a charming smile to Audrey, he bowed slightly.
"You look beautiful, Professor. Just like the girl I hoped to sweep off her feet in my dreams."
Shaking her head slightly, Audrey smiled softly. "It's Audrey, Hikaru. You haven't been my student in a long time and thank you, you look dashing yourself." Kissing her hand, Hikaru relinquished his hold on Audrey and she wandered away saying hello to all the people there.
The next person she happened upon was Scotty the new addition to the Enterprise. "'Evening, lass. Ya've been creating quite the commotion with that dress of yours."
"Just trying to spice up the party, Scotty!"
"Indeed lass! Now when ya going to tell meh how ya come up with those ingenious weapon upgrades? Wheneveh ya touch that equipment they just purr like a kitten for ya. Neveh seen anything like it." Scotty shook his head as he raised his glass.
"Do I hear a little jealousy?" Audrey teased.
"Ya damned right, lass! An Aye thought Aye was the expert!" Mock angry, Scotty couldn't keep the expression on his face for long. Laughing, he pulled her to him in a tight hug and said, "Ya better expect to be in the engineering often. Ah could use a brilliant mind like yours."
Giggling at Scotty, Audrey blew Scotty a kiss as she walked away. It was then that she saw Spock standing with his hands clasped behind his back near the bar.
"Spock! I'm glad you came. I didn't think you come." Audrey kissed his cheek as she usually did and smiled at him.
"On the contrary, Audrey. I am aware that this was meant to be congratulatory in nature and it would be lessened if not everybody was here." As he said these words, his eyes drank in her appearance. Her dark wavy hair framing the round face reached to the middle of her back and he found himself wondering how it would feel to run his hands through it. Would it be as silky as he imagined it to be? Mentally, he reprimanded himself but Audrey had caught his eye and found him looking at her dress. Innocently, she spun around to show him the back.
"Isn't it a pretty thing? First thing to catch my eye at the store." At that moment, all of Spock's reservations broke down. Spock felt a sudden desire to run his hand down her bare back and feel the silky skin underneath his fingertips. It awoke desires in him that he found hard to suppress. She was gorgeous and in full sense of the word, exquisite. He found himself compelled to express it.
"It is decidedly not as beautiful as the person wearing it."
Audrey's face expressed shock at Spock's statement and then she blushed bright pink. He never complimented peopled for he found them unnecessary and illogical. "Did you just compliment me, Spock?"
Spock decidedly found the bright pink color on her face appealing and wanted to behave in such a way that she would react again in that fashion. "Yes I believe that I did. Vulcans, while they find compliments illogical, still appreciate beauty, Audrey. I am also attempting to use your human vernacular. Are you not pleased?"
"I am incredibly pleased, Spock." Audrey said a grin growing on her face. "It's not every day you get called beautiful by a Vulcan," she teased.
"I will endeavor to not make it my last then if it pleases you that much." Spock replied trying to making it seem as though he was doing it for her when in reality it was more similar to a guilty pleasure. He enjoyed the flirting so to speak despite what others would regard a stone faced expression that graced his face. The way she reacted to his words brought him enjoyment.
"I'm not going to wake up to a Spock that suddenly showers me in compliments am I?" Audrey teased.
"If you mean showering by a continuous stream of compliments, I certainly will not be doing such a thing. If you recall Audrey, I said that Vulcans do not lie and appreciate beauty. Speaking such words without evidence would be illogical."
"Guess I'm not beautiful all the time," she shrugged but said it in a joking manner. Suddenly however, Spock was overcome with the need to rectify his statement. But he felt a little more at ease when he saw her laugh happily. "Then again who would when I look like a grumpy pumpkin at 0500 hours?"
"A grumpy pumpkin?" Spock inquired. He had never thought that Audrey had ever appeared like a grumpy pumpkin but was also curious about how an inanimate object could be grumpy? However, before she could respond, Jim had found Audrey.
"Prof! Let me see you." He wolf whistled in appreciation. This disturbed Spock strangely as he watched the lust fill his captain's eyes. "That's a fine dress you have on there, prof. But not as fine as you!"
Audrey rolled her eyes. "Lay off Jim, that's no way to treat a lady," she heard from behind her. Turning, she saw the familiar handsomely rugged face of Leonard McCoy.
"Bones! You made it." Jim exclaimed.
"'Course I did. Have ya ever seen me pass up a free drink?" He grunted at Jim. Leo then turned his attention to Audrey and let her kiss him hello. "Hello there beautiful." Twirling Audrey around, a smile made its way to his face as he looked at her dress and at the gorgeous smile that adorned her face as she spun. Spock recognized that smile Audrey had on for the doctor and it set an uneasy feeling in the pit of his stomach. She used to smile at him that way once he realized but it had been a very long time since he had last seen it. It made him jealous of the doctor.
"I'm glad you decided to come," Audrey said looping her arm with Leo's.
"Gotta keep my promises right?"
"Hell yeah!" Jim butted in. "Bones! Let's drink!" He ordered a round of drinks for everyone. A glass of bourbon for the good doctor, a Cardassian Sunrise for Audrey, and a jaggerbomb for Jim. All three drinks reflecting very well each of their own personalities Spock thought. Toasting to the future all three cheered and drank. Spock watched on in interest as he did not drink but still he found enough amusement in the humans' antics.
After schmoozing and drinking for a while, Jim who had just finished his eighth drink yelled, "SPIN THE BOTTLE TRUTH OR DARE!" Most of the Enterprise crew simply just shook their heads and ignored the obviously drunk captain but some, those that the captain knew personally were forced to play. This included Audrey, Leo, Spock, Nyota, Scotty, Pavel, and Sulu, but of course there weren't enough girls for Jim's taste so a couple other female cadets were forced to join. A fiery redhead named Claire joined, a blonde with striking blue eyes named Elle joined, and a quiet but yet had an almost hidden jewel beauty named Heather joined.
Spock leaned over to Audrey and asked her what the game consisted of and what its purpose was.
"Well, it's just like it sounds like. You spin the bottle and whoever it lands on is asked the question, 'Truth or dare?' If the person picked says 'truth' then the one who spun the bottle gets to ask any question and gets the truthful answer to the question. If the person picked says 'dare' then the one who spun the bottle gets to 'dare' the other to do anything the one who spun wants him or her to do."
"And it's purpose?"
"It's just a good way to get to know each other and watch each other make a fool of themselves."
"I see. That seems highly illogical. Why would one want to 'make a fool of themselves' as you put it?"
Audrey pouted and slightly tugged at his arm in a childish fashion. "Play with us! It'll be fun I promise. You get to observe human interaction too and it's also a great way to make memories with the people you care about."
Spock looked at Audrey and felt that there was no way that he could deny her anything. If he had to speculate he would say that he felt the way Audrey did those many months ago when she wanted to make special memories with him. Memories for him to keep of her laughing and having fun. There was no way he could deny her request. "I.. will play. It is illogical to pass on the chance to do more research on human interactions."
Smiling without abandon Audrey led him to the table where they waited for the others. It took a while because of the incessant whining and grumbling from the majority of the players but eventually Jim got everyone a drink and spun the bottle first. It landed on Scotty and although Jim was a little disappointed it mattered not. "Truth or dare, Scotty?"
"Truth," the Scotsman bellowed over the loud music. "Ah ain't drunk enuff to do ya any favurs."
Spock seemed a little puzzled by what Scotty had just said but before he could ask Audrey laid a hand on his thigh seemingly having read his mind. "You don't want to know Spock. Trust me." Amused by her words and her seeming boldness, he found himself excited by her touch but then disappointed when the warmth of her hand left as quickly as it had come. Nyota then grabbed his hand and smiled at him. It seemed to be impossible for him to stop feeling such excitement at the simplest of touches from Audrey but for Nyota it was becoming harder and harder since the incident with Nero. Forcibly he gave her his best Spock-like amused expression back.
"Have you ever been turned on by an inanimate object in the engineering bay of the Enterprise?"
Scotty turned bright pink as the silly grin plastered on Jim's face grew wider. Silently Scotty drank as everybody laughed out loud. Audrey grabbed Leo's hand and leaned in whispering, "Let me guess, when he strokes the Enterprise, she must purr like a kitten for him." Leo laughed heartedly at the joke.
"Give meh that stinkin' bottle, lad."
He spun it quickly and we all watched carefully as it landed on… Nyota! "Shit!" Nyota looked at herself surprised that he had made such an outburst. Spock raised his eyebrow and looked at her.
Never in his presence had she ever cursed.
"Truth or Dare, lass! Make yer pick." He said taking another swig of his scotch.
"I'll take a dare. I don't really care to tell you guys more about my private life."
This is when Sulu chipped in his two cents. "You know, I've always noticed this strange chemistry between you and the captain. Just sayin'."
Audrey laughed aloud at the ridiculous face Jim was making. He obviously wanted to fool around with Nyota. It was common knowledge from the beginning that he was attracted to her but knowing that even in Spock Prime's universe there was chemistry in between those two just made it even more hilarious. "Make them dance together!"
"Audrey!" Nyota nudged her with a look that clearly screamed 'No!'
"Oh come on Nyota, it's just a dance! But then again I can understand if you're just not on my level." Listening to Jim made Leo face palm and Spock's eyebrow rise higher in amusement. While the thought of Nyota dancing with Jim left a little of a bad taste in the back of his mind, he found that it did not last long. Another thought to carefully assess during mediation he mused. With no remark or disapproving look from Spock, Nyota let Jim have his way.
She wouldn't ever admit it to another but the Captain had charisma and a sharp wit to match. His humor made her laugh in ways that Spock had never done so but that wasn't Spock's fault she told herself. She loved Spock and this was just for fun. What could happen? "It's not wise to underestimate, Captain."
Audrey saw the glint in Nyota's eye and saw the possibility in the two getting together as Spock Prime had said. Jim would find his match in Nyota that's for sure.
"But first let's spin the bottle a couple of more times." Nyota spun the bottle determined not to go down alone. It landed on one of the new girls, Claire. "Truth or Dare?"
Looking at Nyota straight in the eye, she said, "Dare."
"Ooooo. Seems like we've got a wild one on our hands." Jim said sizing her up.
"Puh-lease Captain. You've already got your hands full. I doubt you could handle me as well." All the members at the table began to laugh at the remark and Leo took the moment to look over at Audrey next to him. He loved the way her lips curled into a smile and the light dance in her eyes. However, unbeknownst to him, Spock was watching Leo with a dark look in his eyes, but he was pulled away from his thoughts as Nyota dared the girl to dance with young Pavel after her revealing that she was also 17.
Pavel stuttered. "Vhat? But Keptin! I cannot dance!"
Patting Pavel on the back, Jim reassured him. "Now now Mr. Chekov. You must show the girl a good time! You cannot just walk out on her can you?" Pavel looked frightened for a moment as he looked around and eventually consented to the dare. "Good man! Now spin the bottle!"
Spinning the battle, Pavel became very timid and smiled sheepishly when he realized who it was going to land on. Some cracked up while others watched expectantly to see the reaction that they would see. Howling with laughter, Jim shook Pavel's hand. "You're a better navigator than I thought you were Chekov! Landed right on target!"
The bottle had landed on Spock. Raising an eyebrow, Spock simply said, "I believe you are to ask me a question, Ensign Chekov."
"Yes, Sir. Truth or dare, sir?"
Spock thought about the choice and decided that it would be wise to choose 'truth' for Vulcans could not lie but before he could announce his decision Jim had interrupted. "He'll be doing a dare, Chekov."
"I believe it is my right to choose, Captain."
"And as long as you're calling me Captain, I'm ordering you to choose dare, Mr. Spock." Jim smirked knowing that there was no way that Spock could worm his way out of this one. Spock simply remained silent at the order and waited for Pavel to give him the dare. It would be a lie if he said that he wasn't totally disinterested in this game. In all honesty, he found the game quite intriguing.
Pavel began to stutter on the pressure. "Ko- Kommander. I dare you to dance vith… uh… Audrey!" At the sound of her name, Spock felt relief and excitement while Audrey felt surprise.
She yelped. "Me? Wait what?"
"Now wait just one min-" Leo started jumping into the discussion.
"Nope! No more discussion! Let's dance!" Jim jumped out of his chair and put his hand around Nyota's waist and offered a hand. "Well hello there," Jim wiggled his eyebrows and put on his most charming grin. Slapping Jim's chest and rolling her eyes, she willingly took his hand and allowed him to lead her onto the dance floor. They were shortly joined by Claire and Pavel who seemed so nervous he could drop dead.
Meanwhile, Spock stood and like a gentleman offered his hand to Audrey. Even though he thought himself petty for doing it, Leo glared at Spock and Spock took pleasure in knowing that he was upset. Not seeing Leo's face, Audrey took Spock's outstretched hand. A jolt of electricity shot up through his body from that single touch and her touch continued to burn but it was a burn that his body thoroughly enjoyed. Reaching the dance floor, Audrey rested her left in his right and set her other on his shoulder while Spock repositioned his other hand to the small of her bare back. The small touch threatened to send shivers up Audrey's back but she suppressed it and looked deep into Spock's dark eyes. In return, he stared back and began to lead her in the dance. It was a slow song but with a hypnotic beat.
Pavel and Claire danced awkwardly with each other stumbling over each other's feet because of Pavel's unsure lead but this soon changed once Claire took control. It seemed that what Pavel lacked was not dancing feet but rather confidence for he was a proficient dancer and his nimble body allowed him to almost float across the floor.
Meanwhile, Jim and Nyota danced passionately as if they were leaving flames in their footsteps. Looking deep into each other's eyes their passion grew as Jim held her tighter and spun her quicker while Nyota responded with fiery and confident dance moves that screamed sex. The two fell farther and farther into the depths of each other's eyes and the all-consuming passion that grew with each breath.
Spock briefly saw Nyota and Jim dancing with such passion and although he felt a moment of jealous and sadness it was quickly replaced with excitement as he turned back to his own partner. Taking the liberty of holding her tighter after seeing his captain's dance with his own partner, Audrey allowed it and leaned into his touch. Spock remained tense, Audrey noticed, but after a few moments of spins and twirls, he seemed to be relaxing. Sweet vanilla filled his world as they twirled around the dance floor as if they were in a fairy tale. Spock was a fantastic dancer with his fluid movements and elegance and while Audrey was not a great dancer she found that letting him take the lead was comfortable. "You're an amazing dancer Spock! Why have you never told me?" What she didn't realize though was that his mind had been attempting to connect with hers ever since they had touched.
Spock felt a warm wash of contentment when his mind first connected with Audrey's. There was happiness and excitement in her mind that for reasons unknown comforted him. 'The topic never arose, Audrey.' Her face crinkled in puzzlement.
"You didn't say that aloud."
'Correct.' Spock's eyes were now filled with amusement and Audrey felt it slightly in her mind.
'You're in my mind!' Audrey looked at him incredulously. It was absolutely exciting. She had always wanted to experience such a thing but never had the opportunity for most Vulcans were highly reserved and unwilling to participate in such an act with a stranger.
'Correct once more. Is the experience what you hoped it would be?'
'You can read my thoughts as well! This is amazing. It is as if we are one.'
'In a sense, we are. Our minds are now connected and have, to a certain extent, familiarized themselves with the opposite's mind.'
Audrey smiled at him softly as he twirled her. 'Your mind is so calm and serene. It's like looking out at the calm deep blue sea. I like it. I wish I could stay here forever.'
'I am pleased. It would not do if your first experience was unpleasant.'
'What is my mind like?'
'It is… fluffy. That is the way I believe you would describe your mind.'
Audrey giggled at Spock's words. Where did he pick that one up? "Fluffy? Like clouds or cotton candy?'
'Comparably. It is also bright and… comforting.'
Audrey giggled once more. 'Well I'm glad you like my mind too.'
'It.. is a place that I would like to visit again if you would consent to such an action.' Spock admitted.
'I would be happy to do so but why?'
'Your mind is comforting and lends understanding. There are times which have been occurring more frequently since the loss of my mother and planet in which I have needed such help.'
Audrey saw the brief flashes of overwhelming grief and sadness in his mind. 'You told me once that emotions run deep within Vulcans. These emotions… are sometimes beyond your control?'
'It is shameful… but yes. At times they are.'
'Why ask me and not Nyota?'
'I…' Spock fell silent and Audrey felt confusion, embarrassment and guilt.
'Tell me honestly Spock. Has something happened? Or does it have to do with the day Jim had provoked you?' She had picked up on the w
'You are correct in your assumption. I have been unable to forget that moment. Nyota, while she has been very supportive, expressed…'
'Fear and horror in her eyes that day. She was afraid of you. Of what you did and could do.'
'… Yes. My lack of control frightened her that day and I cannot seem to forget her eyes that expressed so much in that small moment.'
'It haunts you to this day. Every time you see her, doesn't it?'
'… Truthfully? Yes it does. The only person who was understanding and held no judgment or fear in their eyes that day was… yours, Audrey. It is for that reason that I made my request.'
Spock felt a great wave of understanding, comfort and gratitude from Audrey. 'Thank you Spock for opening up to me. I am and will always be there for you thick and thin until the end. That's what friends are for.'
Just before he could respond however, at the thunderous sound of applause, the two were brought out of the intimate connection and quickly realized that the song had ended. Letting go of each other, both instantly missed the warmth of each other's mind and the connection they shared. It was over just as quickly as it had begun.