"Christine."
"Mister Spock." Christine said. Spock walked alongside her.
"May we speak?"
"I think you might be busy-the Vulcan students leave tomorrow morning, don't they?"
"I've said all I have to say to T'Pring if that's what you're referring to. But I have things I've left unsaid with you."
"I don't want to hear them."
"Christine." Spock grabbed her hand. "...please."
"...come to my room tonight. Eight." Christine said before pulling her hand out of Spock's grip and walking away.
"Spock can we talk? Just for a sec?" Kirk stopped Spock when he came home that evening. "...It's about Bones."
"I am uninterested in discussing anything about him-"
"-Spock he's really sorry. He wants to apologize. To you and to T'Pring. Accept the consequences even but you have to let him." Kirk told the half-Vulcan.
"Intriguing."
"So you'll talk to him?"
"No. My having minimal contact with him is the most logical-and best-choice."
"Oh come Spock!" Jim grabbed him loosely by the shoulder. "I was mad too! He screwed up bad but he's your friend! He's our friend! Doesn't that mean anything to you? Doesn't that shared history at least earned him a chance to apologize?!"
"..."
"Well say something!"
"Unhand me and I'll speak."
Kirk let go.
"Do you know what Date Rape drugs are?"
"Yeah..."
"How would you perceive someone caught using them even if they were a friend?"
"That wasn't what he-Spock you know he was-"
"-The effects were the same whatever result he intended. He humiliated T'Pring and me and risked causing T'Pring serious physical harm for a selfish purpose. He can say it was to help Christine but the fact of the matter is She would never have done what he did therefore he had no right or reason to do it in her name." Spock said. "I repeat: It's is most logical I avoid him. Excuse me." Spock disappeared into his room.
"T'Pring..." Bones heart was pounding. This was a bad idea. oh this was a really bad Idea oh no...
He had to do this.
"What?" she said, not pausing as she walked to look at him. "I have things to complete before I leave Earth."
"I do too! Like telling you I'm sorry and that I really hope you don't humanity based on me because what I did was a horrible sampling." Bones said, practically running to keep up with her. "I am so Sorry-I will do whatever it takes to make it up to you-Heck I'll go to Vulcan to stand trial if you want!"
She finally stopped walking and faced him.
"I won't hold you to that. If you can convince me of why your actions were justified."
"They weren't." Bones said. "I was trying to help my friends but I was wrong. I'm not going to defend myself." Bones told her.
"Friends?" T'Pring said. "I was under the assumption you believed yourself defending the honor of Christine Chapel."
"Well yeah. And Spock."
"Spock?"
"Spock...Spock is something new and incredible. Human and Vulcan. And I think he was just being Vulcan despite that for a long time...I don't think he's as much just Vulcan as he likes to think he is anymore." Bones tried to explained. "I mean, he cares about people. He has friends...and It seemed wrong to me he had to choose you over those friends because of choices his parents made. But I guess all our parents make choices for us...I should've respected his right to respect you and tradition."
"Even though you saw it as him disrespecting the...emotions of his...friends in the process?" T'Pring questioned
"...Basically." Bones said. "That's what I thought-but what I'm saying was it's not my job to make those choices! I'm always gonna have my thoughts on other cultures-I'm a blind, judging, old fashioned southern idjit and that ain't changing! But that doesn't mean I have the right to say it aloud or put what I think over what other people want and do! I'm gonna be a doctor that means 'Do No Harm'. I'd like to think I can live that outside of my sick ward." Bones took a deep breath.
"So. I'm sorry. I was wrong and I will do whatever I need to do to make it up to you."
T'Pring was silent.
...Oh god say something. Bones thought.
"...I accept your apology. You've given me quite a bit to think about." T'Pring said. "Live long and prosper." she walked away.
Communique from T'Pring Daughter of Solok to Christine Chapel
I apologize for how I treated you it was unbecoming for someone acting as an ambassador to your planet. I also do not hold you responsible for the actions of Leonard McCoy. Peace and Long Life
Communique from T'Pring Daughter of Solok to Spock.
the following is an exact transcript as I remember it of a conversation I had with Leonard McCoy. I strongly encourage you to read it and deeply consider his words. Peace and Long Life, Spock. We will meet again.
MCCOY: T'Pring...
Christine opened the door for Spock. Her emotions about this were more than a little mixed...but this conversation had to happen.
"Come in." She let Spock come in. She had a single room this year and sat down on her bed and let Spock sit on the desk chair.
"Christine-"
"-Spock I need to talk first...please?" Christine said. "...I know what Bones did...but he apologized to me...I forgave him for my part of it...and then T'Pring apologized to me and that was very strange...but anyway my point is Spock I want to tell you I'm sorry."
Spock almost looked confused for just a moment. "Why?"
"Because I've been here for three and a half years acting like maybe if I show enough interest you'll...Oh I don't know...You'll..."
"...become romantically involved with you-"
"-yes that! And That's not fair to you at all!" Christine said. "And it wasn't fair to me...But more unfair to you. I'm sorry."
"If...you truly desire to be forgiven I forgive you...I came here to apologize to you though for mistreating you and your feelings. I should've been more respectful of how you felt...as I knew how you felt." Spock said. "I...I would like to admit I felt the same way-"
"-But you didn't, right?" she interrupted, not letting him finish. "You never felt that way about me. It's alright. It really is Spock...I need to move on." Christine said. "Which is why I'm leaving the Academy."
"What?"
"Starfleet has an exchange program going with more planets than Vulcan-I'm going to go the Denobulan Academy of Medical Science for the Xenologically Aimed. Basically a school for medical personnel who want to work in space." She said. "I was supposed to go a year ago actually...and didn't...Because...of you. and other things! And you..." She glanced away then back at Spock. "this will be good for me-I wanted to go to this school for a while and when I graduate I'll still be in Starfleet and receive a commission like any other ensign, but I'll already have experience living in alien cultures."
Spock said nothing. then stood. and approached her.
"Then I wish you the best, Christine. Because you deserve the best." Spock reached out and took hold of Christine's hand and brought it to his lips, kissing it before just holding her hand for a moment.
"Peace and Long Life, Christine Chapel."
"...Live Long and Prosper, Spock." Christine whispered back, eyes wide.
Spock finally let go of her hand and left the room.
Christine sat down on her bed and just...sat still for a while, staring at her hand.
Then she got up.
And then she started to pack
"Leonard may we talk?" Spock said. Shortly after he came back to the shared apartment he went to Bones's room.
"Spock! Spock Please L-"
"T'Pring relayed your entire conversation with her to me." Spock said.
"...oh." Bones said, falling silent.
"I forgive you."
"What?" Bones said.
"I forgive you. If she chose to forgive you I have no reason to not."
Bones let out a sigh of relief. "Thank you. Look, I know things can't be the same bu-"
"-why shouldn't they be? I forgave you. I believe you humans have a phrase 'forgive and forget'? I think it would be most logical to apply that and revert to our previous social patterns and exercises where they included each other-although perhaps more socially conscious now. It works quite well for us and those around us."
"...Hold on a sec I'm translating that." Bones said. "...So, we're just...gonna say I learned my lesson and go back to how things were?"
"Yes." Spock said.
Bones actaulyl smiled at that. "Thanks. Really Spock. Thank you."
"SPOCK! Where are you?!" Kirk caleld out.
"Leonard's room!" Spock Called back.
"Did you kiss and make up yet?"
"I wouldn't employ the usage of that phrase but yes." Spock called back.
"HALLELUJAH!" Kirk whooped from the other room.
Spock left Bones's room, passing Kirk who grinned like an idiot at him.
For a second Kirk could've sworn Spock smiled back.
"We'll miss you so much!" Uhura hugged Christine tightly. "Stay in touch okay?"
"I promise I will." Christine told her friend. she was about to take the shuttle that would take her to the ship she was traveling to Denobula on.
"Anyone else coming to see you off?"
"I don't think so." Christine said. "I've said all my goodbyes-I really didn't want a big sendoff, you know that."
"I know." Uhura said. "...I'll really miss you."
"I'll miss you too."
"Last call for the the shuttle 'Xavier'." the computer chimed. in Christine's voice. they had finally finished implementing the new voice system everywhere.
"I'm never going to get used to that." Christine said. "Goodbye."
"Goodbye." Uhura hugged Christine one more time before letting her go, watching the shuttle door close and the shuttle take off, taking Christine Chapel away to different-and hopefully better-things.