An outbreak of Rigelian fever on Draylax stimulated the adrenaline response Jim needed; James T. Kirk returned to the bridge of the Enterprise after his own crisis of confidence. Vulcan immunity to the virus meant Spock spent weeks assisting the Federation response. Kirk took the opportunity to seek closure with Uhura about Tammeron and Janice Lester.
"You wanted to see me, Captain?"
The doors opened automatically at her hail. Kirk stood up at her entrance, motioning for her to take a seat on the couch in his quarters.
"Have a seat, Uhura - at ease. This isn't about the Enterprise."
Smoothing her uniform skirt under her as she sat, Uhura crossed her thighs and smiled at him. Her legs momentarily wiped Jim's memory of why he'd scheduled this talk.
"I suspected as much. You doing any better?"
Kirk sighed before responding. He took a seat facing her, to make sure she understood what he would confess to her.
"Janice Lester was a mistake -"
"You think, Jim?"
"It was my last year and I got tired of my reputation and the dating thing. I was looking to settle and Janice seemed like a good candidate."
"We were at the Academy together. Why did I never meet that psychotic puta?"
Kirk chuckled at the language switch that kept the respectable Nyota Uhura from saying the word "bitch" out loud.
"You were in grad school. We had zero classes together. Janice was a year behind us and already had her M.D. like McCoy - he introduced us. And you were with Spock..."
Her smile faded as she sat forward looking at him. Her hands searched for his and pulled them towards her. The electrical buzz stung her hands erratically, signaling his mood.
"I was with Spock before then. Why didn't you introduce us?"
"I thought I loved her. I was going to ask her to marry me."
"Okay. But why didn't I get to meet her, Jim?"
"You didn't have time to hang out anymore, Uhura. It was okay. You had accelerated your grad school work and you had Spock. I understood. I.. I.. I didn't want to interfere with your life..."
Their eyes locked as each tried to decipher the meaning in the spoken and unspoken words.
"Jim - I will always care about you. Wait! She was in the limo that took us to the Embassy, wasn't she? You brought her to the Vulcan Winter Holiday Party as your date the year we graduated."
No haze dulled those mesmerizing blue eyes today.
"Talk to me, Jim"
"I was going to introduce her to you in the limo... and then I saw you. She saw me see you... Janice doesn't like finishing second - reminds me of you. Except Janice just might be insane and you're not - unless I screw up some meaningless speech during a diplomatic mission."
Awareness softened Uhura's expression. She'd confirmed Jim's feelings during the Plthin negotiations. Jim, blinking to remain in control, couldn't decide whether his embarrassment or her pity hurt more.
"Anyway," his soft, raspy voice continued, "I'm sorry you had to go through Janice's crap on Tammeron. She resented the way I got the Enterprise."
"I gathered as much. Listen, Jim - I should've made time for you. We were friends and I didn't take care of you. How can I make it up to you now?"
At some point she'd slid off the couch to kneel in front of him. She brought his hands to her lips and kissed the back of each gently. Leaning into him she placed a soft, chaste kiss on his cheek then sat back on her heels.
"We're good, Uhura. You came and got me. I heard what you said... I don't know if I believe it but it helped. Thank you."
Their old routine kicked in. This time Jim started it.
"It was my pleasure." she replied, smiling.
"It was more than that." he finished.
"Don't be a stranger, Jim. You matter to me."
Jim felt her warmth release his hands as she rose to leave.
"You're a great captain, sir. And I'll kick the ass of any bitch who says otherwise."
Laughter's tears stung his still sensitive eyes. He heard rather than saw her exit from his quarters.