Trust part 2

It's been two days since she had come back with Spock from their mission. Two days of the Vulcan being oddly quiet. Two days of not having him by her side constantly and she's missing it. She's missing him.

It's not until later on the second evening that she runs into Spock - not literally this time- she enters the mess hall and Spock happens to be the only other soul in there.

"Thank you for saving my life."

Jamie knows she had just practically shouted the words at her poor Vulcan First Officer. She had meant to thank him at the time but Spock seemed angry with her upon their return and she felt like she couldn't form more than two words together at the time - and now she's rocking onto her heels feeling completely lost because they haven't spoken to each properly for what feels like months rather than days.

She likes him. She likes him a lot if her dreams are anything to go by. Or how her body was reacting to his especially how it responded to having his strong arms pull her out of harms way and hold her like she was the most delicate being - she's aware of that now and it makes her feel ridiculously awkward. She wants more with him than what she's had in the past - but that would mean opening herself up. She's not sure she's ready for that. But she's ready for something.

"I've been meaning to get a chance in which to thank you privately since two days ago. It is not lost on me how - I know I can. I know I'm jumping head-first into dangerous situations too often Bones chastises me enough for not thinking with my head."

"Your ability to put your team before yourself is commendable Captain, please note that you are not as expendable as you seem to think you are. You do not need to put yourself in such dangerous positions T'h -" Spock stops speaking mid-sentence. Which unless he was interrupted by someone or had a sudden thought. It is very unlike him to do so. "I have been meaning to have a conversation with you as well Captain. Concerning private matters."

"Well, my door is open now," Jamie says pointing to a nearby table.

"Very well."

They sit down together - opposite each other.

"So do you need to talk to me as your Captain or is this something else?" Jamie asked. "Because I get I'm a pain to work with but if you're about to tell me you're resigning as my First Officer -"

"I have no intentions of leaving you or this ship Jamie!"

"Oh OK - sorry."

"My apologies I should not have snapped at you."

"And this isn't about the party that Bones thinks he is hiding from me is it?"

"What party?" Spock says innocently - or at least he tries to be.

"So how can I help you then?"

"There's something I need to tell you," Spock continued, his voice steady but with an undertone of something deeper, something more personal. "Something about -" Spock took a deep breath, "We share a bond, Jamie -"

Spock paused mid-sentence, his eyes flickering with an uncharacteristic hint of frustration. Jamie could tell that something important was on the verge of being revealed, but the moment was abruptly cut short by the blaring of the ship's alarm.

"Captain, we're being hailed by Starfleet Command," came the voice of Lieutenant Uhura over the intercom. The urgency in her tone suggested that this was no routine communication.

Spock and she shared a look, they were rushing to the turbo-lift together seconds later.

"Put the message on screen," Jamie shouted as they both entered the bridge.

The screen shifts to the familiar emblem of Starfleet Command. ADMIRAL NOGURA appears, his expression is stern and serious.

"Captain Kirk, we have a situation that requires your immediate attention."

"Understood, Admiral. What's the nature of the emergency?"

"We've received reports from the colony on Deneva. Their food supplies have been compromised, and they're experiencing severe shortages. The situation is eerily reminiscent of the crisis on Tarsus IV."

Jamie's expression darkens, memories of Tarsus IV flashing through her mind. She stands, her posture rigid.

Jamie couldn't bring herself to utter the name, but she did manage: "Admiral, how bad is it?"

"It's awful Jamie, The colony's governor, is handling it. We're worried about potential drastic measures being taken."

Jamie's eyes widen at the mention of a governor handling it - similar to Kodos.

"We're dispatching the Enterprise to Deneva immediately. Your mission is to provide relief and to ensure that no harm comes to the colonists. And Jamie... find out what that governor is planning."

"Understood, Admiral. We're on our way. Kirk out." Jamie said. "Set a course, Chekov. Be ready to warp Sulu."

"Course set Captain."

"Punch it!"

Jamie grips her hands into her chair, her leg bouncing. She knows she probably looks as white as a ghost, by the concerned looks are team members are giving her. She knows she should probably let Spock take over this mission. For right now she feels - she's enraged.

She cannot let this happen -

"Permission to speak openly Captain."

Right on cue. Spock did not have any sense in timing.

"I know I look angry Spock. I know I look emotionally compromised because I probably am but I swear if you try to pull rank on me taking me off this mission I will tear you limb from limb."

"Then tell me what distresses you so or I will have to."

"What do you know of what happened on Tarsus IV?"

"Not much, I know Vulcan aided and rescued survivors. I was only young but news had spread all over Vulcan."

"There was a famine," Jamie spat the information out, "a devastating one. Crops failed, and food supplies dwindled faster than anyone expected."

"A difficult situation for any colony."

Jamie nodded, "The governor, Kodos, believed drastic measures were necessary. He thought he was saving the colony by executing half of the population to preserve resources for the rest. He justified it as a necessity, but it was a massacre. Thousands of innocent lives were lost. There were nine survivors Spock. Nine eyewitnesses that was all what was left: seven of them were children."

Someone swore. Jamie had forgotten that they were not alone. Jamie looked up once more. She had to make him understand or he really would object to her carrying out this mission, she mouthed, "I was one of the seven."

"I've got to see this through," she pleaded.

"I understand. You have my support."

Well, there went her heart. So much for just liking him a little bit. She loved him right now.