The Secret, Part 2 of 4

[languid]

Title: The Secret (2/4)
Characters/Pairings: Spock/Uhura
Rating: PG
Disclaimer: I don’t own anything
Summary: Nyota finds out about something Spock neglected to mention...
A/N: Part 1 can be found here

    Nyota wandered aimlessly through the hallways. Where do I go?  What do I do?  She thought to herself, as her world crumbled around her.  How could she begin to deal with this emotional overload?  Perhaps she should try the meditation techniques she'd learned from Spock... Spock.

    She knew his shift would be ending within the hour.  The only way she could make sense of this was by confronting Spock.  Besides.. maybe it wasn't true.  How could it be?   Why would he ever keep something like this from her, as she worked alongside and befriended his supposed ex… fling? girlfriend? There had to be a reasonable explanation.  

 

 

---

    Spock's shift was over, and he looked forward to spending time with Nyota for the first time in several days.  Seeing Lieutenant Hassan had brought back memories of a time that had had its difficulties.  Considered too human on his own planet, it seemed he was not human enough at Starfleet Academy.   

    Nyota, on the other hand, accepted him exactly as he was, and without trying to, helped him become a better person.  He cherished her in ways he often found difficult to express.

    As Spock tapped in his pass code, he decided that he would shower and then seek Nyota's current location.  

    When he entered, he was surprised to see her already sitting on his bed.  She was clearly upset.

    "Nyota, what is wrong?"  He tilted his head quizzically and started towards her.

    "Spock...” she couldn't get the words out.

    "Yes, Nyota?"  He was standing above her, unable to discern the source of her distress.

    "Did you have.." Nyota swallowed, barely able to contain herself, "an affair with Christine Chapel?"   

    Spock felt his fingers turn to ice.  The look on his face was enough to answer her question--a slight grimace, a combination of shock and guilt.  

    "You DID!" Nyota shouted.  "I can't believe it!  I CAN'T BELIEVE IT!"  She struggled past him, her face hot and wet with newly formed tears.

    She turned to face him.  "How could you not tell me this?  Oh, my God--you had sex with my friend!"  Nyota clutched her temples and squinted.

    Nyota paused, then opened her eyes.  Spock's face was an expressionless mask, but his eyes betrayed a hint of conflict.  

    "Well?"  She demanded, becoming more and more agitated with his silence.  "Don't you have anything to say to me?"

    He stared at her with the full intensity of his dark brown eyes.  What he said next was delivered calmly, and carefully.  

    "What happened between Nurse Chapel and myself occurred before you and I had become acquainted.  It is private, and I do not wish to discuss it."

    Silence..  

    "Private?" Nyota shouted back.  "As in, just between the two of you?"  She was horrified.  "How can you say that to me?"

    Spock simply stared.  He could not speak.

    "That's it then?  Nothing?"  Her self-control was slipping.  "This is ridiculous!"  She shouted.  "I am so disgusted with you right now.  Apparently, it's too much to expect you to care about how I feel."  

    She spat out the following words as she turned sharply on her feet.

    "I guess you're just too damned Vulcan."  

    She was gone.

    Spock winced.  He stood still, paralyzed.  

    He breathed, centered himself, and made a bee line for sick bay.

 

---

 

    Nyota somehow made it to her own quarters.  Sitting on the floor with her knees to her chest, she simply stared ahead, seething, wanting to cry her eyes out.  

    She'd loved Spock so much, and for so long.  Why didn't he tell her about this?  And why was he refusing to talk about it now?

    A single tear trickled down her cheek.  And then there was Christine.  She's seen him naked! She's touched him!  she winced.   Does he think about her, in that way?  Has he compared me to her when we're...  

    She had to stop this train of thought.  Jealousy does not become you, Nyota, she thought to herself.

    After sobbing quietly for a time, she was able to calm herself a bit.

    There was only one way she was going to understand this situation better.

    Nyota would have to confront Christine and see what she had to say.  

 

---

 

    When Nyota entered sickbay, she found not only the woman she was looking for, but someone she didn't want to see--Spock.  At first glance, she could see him standing straight as an arrow with his hands clasped behind his back.  Christine stood with her arms crossed.  The two maintained a respectful, professional distance.  

    They both looked grave, Spock glaring at the floor, and Christine staring off into the distance.

    When they noticed Nyota walk into the room, they snapped out of their reveries and started towards her.

    "Christine,” Nyota called out, calmly but with an edge.  "I need to talk to you about something."

    "Nyota," Spock interrupted, some emotion finally seeping into his voice. 

    "NO." Nyota put on her brave face.  "I do NOT wish to speak to you."

    "Commander,” Christine pleaded with as much professional reserve as she could muster.  "She needs to know."

    Spock did not want this, but he could see that there was no way to stop it.

    Reluctantly, he replied, "Very well.  I will leave you alone."  He gazed at Nyota as he walked toward the door, and she angrily refuse to meet his eyes.

    "Nyota."  Christine spoke gently, apologetically.  "Please, come to my quarters, and let me explain."

Part 3 can be found here.