Chapter 11

One day near the end of the semester, Spock is surprised to find himself summoned to a meeting with his immediate supervisor, Dr. Abram Sheeva.

"Good afternoon, Dr. Sheeva," Spock says as he enters his supervisor's office at the designated time. There is another woman in the room, someone he has seen here and there over the years but never really made formal introductions with.

"Commander Spock," Dr. Sheeva says, standing as he motions towards the woman. "This is Gail Webster. She's from the, er, human resources department."

Spock can guess why she has come and he's grateful for his ability to conceal any sign of panic. He nods at the petite brunette woman. Mid-forties. Pale eyes and a thin mouth. No makeup. She's all business.

"How are you today, Commander?" Ms. Webster says. She holds her hand out towards the chair next to her. "Please, sit."

Spock obeys, waits.

She clears her throat and throws a tight smile around the room. "Well, this is the sort of thing you just jump right into," she says. "There have been some allegations of indecent involvement with one of your subordinates, a Cadet Nyota Uhura. I believe she is currently your teaching aide, correct?"

Spock blinks, unmoving. "She is." He quickly tries to calculate if he and Nyota have engaged in any activity on Starfleet grounds that would warrant suspension—he can think of none. They have only kissed in his apartment, they have never held hands or embraced anywhere near his office or Starfleet grounds, from what he can recall. He would not have been so stupid. Would he? When it came to her, it was difficult to be rational.

"Listen, you both have outstanding records and I'm not saying either of you've done anything wrong. To be frank, I hate to even approach you like this, but it's just that anytime someone comes to us with information about the possible involvement of an instructor on staff and a student, we have to investigate."

"Someone? Who has accused me of wrongdoing?" Spock asks. His chances of coming away from this meeting unscathed increase significantly. Hard evidence—photos or video footage, would have been more difficult to deny or talk around. But someone coming forward to accuse him of breaking code, well, that could easily boil down to his word against theirs, whoever 'theirs' might be. He straightens in his seat.

Ms. Webster glances at her PADD. "I'm not allowed to give names, but I can tell you it was another cadet. A male who may or may not have been involved with Cadet Uhura at some point during the year. His statement accused you and Cadet Uhura of, you know, seeing each other. He claims to have followed her a few nights ago and reported that she was seen entering an apartment building where he believes you reside. It says in his statement that he...well...that he camped outside the residence and waited for her to emerge, which wasn't until the next morning. Again, this is what he reported. He...let's see here...goes on to say that you two are sneaking off together around campus, that sort of thing. The statement sounded very…resentful in nature. His accusations may be his way of trying to get back at her. She's perfectly within her rights to file a complaint, in fact, due to him following her. However, that's another issue. I'm here to make sure you understand that any kind of intimate relationship with a student is strictly forbidden according to Starfleet regulation. Grounds for dismissal."

Spock nods. "Of course I understand the regulations. I studied them thoroughly when I was made Commander."

"Good, good. Like I said, I'm not accusing you. I believe you know better and you're an integral addition to the school. We've checked the surveillance feeds and nothing's come up at all. As far as your apartment, of course we're not allowed to invade your private space or time, but just be aware that someone is keeping a close eye on you two. Should this individual come to us with any hard evidence, we'd have to take additional measures. I'd hate to see that happen, especially over some, you know, fling you may or may not be having with a young girl."

Fling. Spock's nostrils flare at the notion that Nyota is just a plaything to him, but he knows he cannot reveal his offense. It would give everything away. So instead, Spock says in all honest, "This was not common knowledge, but there was a time when I was engaged. She terminated our relationship, and it has been very difficult for me to trust females since. I would never consent to a causal affair with Cadet Uhura, or any other student for that matter. I do not engage in any relationship lightly. It is not the Vulcan way."

Ms. Webster and Dr. Sheeva give him a sympathetic look. "I am sorry to hear about your broken engagement, Commander," Ms. Webster said, clucking her teeth in consideration. "I truly am. I'm sure you will find a satisfactory relationship again when the time is right."

"Of course I am hopeful. When the time is right," Spock echoes.

She stands, brushing her hands off on her neatly pressed pants. "That will be all. I know Cadet Uhura's your aide and of course working hours occasionally overlap into personal life. And I know, also about her invention, the machine to pick up subspace signals. Very impressive. As I said, just be aware of the time you spend with her, with any cadet, for that matter. When accusations are made—"

"These matters must be investigated thoroughly. I understand," Spock interrupts.

Ms. Webster puts a bright smile on her face, nods. Spock and Dr. Sheeva stand to see her out.

"You have a wonderful rest of your day," she says.

"You as well."

He has covered for her, for himself, for them. Its significance is alarming to him in the sense that he almost doesn't believe what just occurred. Under normal circumstances, he would have immediately confessed and turned in his letter of resignation. But his only thought was to protect Nyota. He didn't even care if he was released from his position, but for Cadet Gilesboro to try and ruin her reputation, well, that was unacceptable. He would not let that happen. He would never let anyone hurt her if he had anything at all to do with it.

"I cannot believe he stalked me and then tried to report you! Us!" Nyota fumes later that night in his apartment. She is up, pacing back and forth, her fists clenched into tight balls. "I could fucking kill him!"

"I was not given an actual name. It could have been another cadet," Spock says.

"No, don't! I know it was that asshole! He was coming down the hall when I was leaving on my way to see you last week. He wanted to work things out and he started asking me all these questions about where I was going. I blew him off. I had no idea he would stoop so low as to follow me! I know that's exactly what he did, that bastard fuck!" she screeches in anger.

"Perhaps I should have said nothing to you," Spock says, going to her and leading her to the couch. He wants to calm her.

"I'm glad you did! I'll never speak to him again! I'm sorry for getting this upset, but he had no right. He's the one who ruined everything, not that it would have mattered because I was in love with you, but still. It's just a dirt bag move."

Spock kisses her neck, brushes her hair back over her shoulder. "Between your stellar academic record and my standing with the academy, I doubt either of them were willing to believe we are capable of any wrongdoing," he reassures her. "Still, it would befit us both to be mindful of our affections for a while."

She looks at him, her eyes suddenly bright with tears. "So stop seeing each other? I guess that makes the most sense, though I hate that Philip is able to do this and get away with it!"

"I did not say cease our interactions," Spock tells her. He puts a hand on her leg. "I said be mindful of our affections."

"But I feel like everyone's going to be watching us now, trying to find something—"

"People have been watching us for quite some time, in case you have not noticed. We have given none a reason to suspect that we are lovers."

Nyota takes a deep breath before collapsing against his chest. "You're right," she murmurs. "I would have felt awful if you had gotten in trouble over seeing me."

"Even had it been so, you are worth it to me," Spock tells her, kissing her forehead.

"Don't say that. You've worked too hard. We won't mess up. We won't. I'll just stop coming over during the week. When I'm in your office, I'll try not to even look at you. I don't want to have to hide and sneak around for another year, but I'd rather do it than destroy our careers," Nyota sighs unhappily.

"Once you become Lieutenant, we could register with the federation as a couple. They would try to place us on the same star ship."

Nyota sits up, frowning. "But…registration…that's only for couples who are…who are engaged, I thought. Or married."

He looks into her eyes. "Then at that time, we should become engaged. Or married."

She gasps, though a smile breaks across her pretty face. "You're serious? Spock, are you sure? How do you know you'll still want me?"

"Because I have told you how much I want you, always," Spock says. "And Vulcans do not lie."