Military Ball

by Starsinger

This is for worriesareforsquares. Who wanted some heartwarming Uhura and Kirk friendship stories. Jim is out of the hospital, and, while not confined to a wheelchair, finds himself in it for a special occasion, Starfleet Academy's annual Military Ball. Spock is unable to attend, family matters on New Vulcan, so he asks Kirk to escort Uhura. Don't own any of them.

Kirk sighed, he knew he was stuck in the chair for the night. It didn't make it any easier, but his legs had stopped cooperating an hour ago, right after he'd gotten his pants on. At least they had waited until after his shower. He closed up his dress jacket and put his hat on his lap. This was going to be a long night. He had promised Uhura a dance, since he was her escort for the night, and it looked like it wasn't going to happen. He was actually a decent dancer, not a ballroom type, but he knew his way around a dance floor.

Jim went outside and made his way to Uhura and Spock's quarters. It was unofficial, but Starfleet was looking the other way, as would Kirk when room assignments were made back on the Enterprise. He suddenly envied Spock the easy relationship, for the most part, that they enjoyed. Uhura did have a temper. He wheeled up to their door and knocked. Uhura opened the door and looked down at Jim, her mouth formed a silent "O".

"I'm sorry, Uhura, but my legs won't cooperate, no matter how hard I try to convince them otherwise," Kirk apologized. She was beautiful and a floor length strapless black straight gown. A pair of white gloves complemented them. Her dark hair was braided into a crown with flowers scattered through it. "You look fantastic, Uhura. Spock should be sorry he missed this."

Uhura smiled at Jim as she reached inside for her clutch and shut the door. Together, they went to the auditorium where the dance was being held. Excited cadets poured in from all directions, "Remember our first ball?" Uhura asked.

"Yeah, got really drunk that night, quietly, oddly enough. I just wasn't in a mood to celebrate the end of the year." Uhura nodded, until McCoy started taking Jim home with him, he had nowhere to go during the breaks and spent long and lonely weeks on the campus. Uhura had spent it pining after Spock. Gailla had thought it was funny. She smiled, missing her old friend.

They slipped into the auditorium and found themselves in line for pictures. Jim smiled as the photographer watched, nonplussed, as he wheeled up to the screen. There was a chair, and Uhura sat demurely in it. Jim placed his hand on her shoulder as they posed for the obligatory photos. Soon, they were off again and found themselves at a table where Uhura slipped her heels off her feet with a groan. "I hate heels," she said. "This dress is long enough to hide that I'm not wearing them." Kirk laughed.

They looked around and found everyone laughing and having a good time. "Who do you think will be crowned Military Queen?" she asked. Jim shrugged his shoulders. The cadets chose their own as King and Queen. It wouldn't involve them, they were chaperones.

Archer deposited himself in a seat next to Jim, "Well, what do you think? Your first ball as chaperones."

Kirk laughed, "Really, John, are you sure I'm a good example as a chaperone?"

"Well, if you're not, then who is?" Archer asked with a laugh. Kirk shrugged as the Admiral went back to the dance. He took Uhura with him, which Kirk appreciated. Jim wandered up to the food table and began to gather edibles. A waiter was kind enough to accompany him back with his drink. McCoy would be proud, he was actually eating without being prodded. Uhura grinned when Archer delivered her back to their table. Jim was an extremely slow eater, and he was unapologetic about it. Uhura nibbled on her own dainties as she surveyed the crowd. Sulu, Chekov and McCoy were all present. Scotty was on the Enterprise, as usual, and Spock was on New Vulcan. She sighed wishing Spock was here, but Kirk was a gentleman, and one of the neatest eaters she had ever met.

"Alright everyone, the time has come, for the crowning of your King and Queen!" the emcee announced. Kirk leaned back to enjoy the show. He wasn't drinking alcohol, still too much medicine to be taken for that not to be a problem, but he did enjoy the ambience. The emcee broke the envelope, "Oh, my, everyone, for the first time since I can remember, they are not cadets! Lieutenant Nyota Uhura and Captain James Kirk!"

Jim nearly choked on the sandwich he was nibbling on. This was not the way he was planning his evening to go. He barely managed to set his sandwich down before Sulu grabbed his chair and pushed him up to the stage. He heard the applause and cheers, and vaguely remembered waving, but this was not the plan. Uhura smiled demurely as she was crowned, and Kirk felt himself wearing something that seemed way too big for his head. Then they were there, expected to dance together. He felt someone behind his chair as the music began and Uhura joined her hands with his. Somehow, with McCoy's help, they actually danced together, and that's all Uhura wanted was one dance.

Soon, they left the ball laughing, "Spock is never going to believe this!" Uhura exclaimed.

"Lieutenant, Nyota, thank you," Kirk said.

Uhura leaned down and kissed his cheek, "No, Jim, thank you, I had a wonderful time." With that he escorted her to her quarters and went home to his bed.