The Secret, Part 4 of 4

[languid]

Title: The Secret (4/4)
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 3 can be found here

    Nyota tread numbly through the hallways, intent on hiding out in her room.  This was all... too much.  

    "Nyota!  There you are!" Lieutenant Hassan called out to her.  She was not in the mood to socialize.

    "Hey Bob," she replied flatly.

    "I'm taking off tomorrow morning. Do you and Spock wanna catch a bite in the mess hall?"

    "No thanks," Nyota responded indignantly.  The last thing she wanted to do right now was see Spock or Spock's old roommate.

 

   "Hey, what's wrong?" Bob asked her, gently.  

    Moved by Bob's sincerity, and her own pent-up feelings, she paused, then responded, "It's just..  what you told me, about Christine..  I didn't know."

    Bob's face turned ashen.  "Oh, God!" he exclaimed as he smacked himself on the forehead.  It suddenly dawned on him why he’d made her so uncomfortable before.  "I am so sorry, Nyota.”

    "It's not your fault.  They shouldn't have kept it from me in the first place."

    "Are you and Spock okay?" he asked her.

    "Well, we got into a fight about it," she replied, remembering their unhappy exchange.

    Bob looked away for a second or two, considering the situation he'd inadvertently caused.  Before Nyota had a chance to run off, he responded, "Come with me."

    "What?" she asked him.  

    "Please.  I need to tell you some things about Spock.  Just... come with me."

    Too rattled to fight about it, she followed.

 

---

 

    Luckily, the observation deck was empty.

    "As you know, I was roommates with Spock for four years," he began.  And I happen to know that Spock thought I was very… flighty.  And, compared to him, that's definitely true," he chuckled, "but I have excellent powers of observation, especially when it comes to someone I lived in close proximity with for so long."

    Nyota was curious to see where this was going.

    "There are a few things you need to understand about Spock," Bob continued, seriously.  "Even though I constantly give him crap, he is one of the best people I've ever known, when it comes down to character."

    "First of all, he always treated me with respect, he always helped me when I asked for it, and I knew that I could always trust him to attempt to do the right thing no matter what," Bob explained.  

    "Second, everybody thinks that Spock, with this Vulcanness and whatnot, never makes stupid mistakes. Yes he's strong, yes he's mentally disciplined and brilliant or whatever, but he's not perfect."

    "I know Bob, but... I don't understand why he would put me in this position.  He should have told me before."

    "Yes, probably.  But he undoubtedly kept this from you because he cares about you so much that he would do anything to protect you from being hurt.  I know that he has that Vulcan emotional control and whatever, but I could tell... The guy was lonely for a long, long time.  There he was, on a foreign planet, away from family, friends, culture and basically everything that was familiar to him.  Everyone he met here thought he was a pompous ass, or a weirdo, or both."

    Nyota softened a bit at this perspective. 

    "The third thing you should know about Spock--if you haven't noticed this already--is that he's extremely private.  Kind of like the opposite of me," Bob smiled.  "He almost never shared anything with me about himself.  It was infuriating.  The fact that he's able to maintain a relationship with a human woman is amazing to me, only because that means he's opened up, at least a little."

    Pausing for emphasis, he continued, "Anyway, Spock is just trying his best.  Always.  When it comes to science or space or numbers, or whatever, he's gonna be right on, every time.  When it comes to interpersonal relationships..." he bobbed his head a few times, "maybe not so much." 

    Nyota smiled at this.  Yes, he was right about that, she realized.

    "Spock deserves a nice girl who loves him, understands him, and knows that he would never hurt her on purpose.  And who can forgive."  Bob stopped and gazed at Nyota.

    She didn't know what to say.  It didn't matter because Bob was about to leave.

    He stood up.  "Nyota, again, I’m so sorry for opening my big mouth.  But you and Spock… you’ve got something special.  I can see that.”  Nyota bowed her head.  “I’ll catch you later, ok?"  And at that, he walked out the door.

    

---

 

    Nyota sat in silence, and allowed her breathing to deepen.  This was a good time for those meditation techniques.  She pored over the day's events: her anger, hurt and betrayal, Christine's explanation, and her conversation with Bob.
 

     It was so hard for him to relate to those around him, or to be understood.  He was so.. alien.

    The guy was lonely for a long, long time.

    

    I guess you're just too damned Vulcan.
 

    Then it suddenly came together.  Her mind was calm.  She knew what to do next.

 

---

 

    The ship's computer told her that Spock was in his quarters.  When she reached his door, she quietly let herself in.

    There he was, meditating in the dark.  Spock did not turn around.

    "Nyota," he called out, softly. 

    Spock stared down at his meditation candle.

    "I.. regret how I handled this situation.  I could not have expected you to be satisfied with my response."

    Nyota absorbed his words silently.

    "I trust that Nurse Chapel has explained the details of.. my medical condition."

    "Yes she did, Spock."

    "It is something Vulcans do not discuss, even amongst ourselves."  Spock paused for several seconds.  "But I realize that as my romantic partner, you must be made aware of certain details of Vulcan biology, especially given the likelihood that they will affect you personally at some point."

    He gave his head a half-turn, so that she could see his profile haloed in the candlelight.  "I admit that I was in error for concealing my encounter with Nurse Chapel.  I did not wish to cause you distress, and I did not wish to talk about about Pon Farr, discussion of which, as I mentioned, is a cultural taboo for my people."

    "I see."  Nyota replied, softly.  "I mean.. I understand."

    After a pause, she spoke up again, "Spock?"

    He turned his body around to face her.   They were only a few feet apart, the candlelight barely highlighting their features.  "Yes, Nyota?"

    She gazed down at him earnestly.  "About what I said earlier..  It was said in anger.  I did not mean to disparage you for being Vulcan."

    Spock stood up and took Nyota's hands in his. "Yes.  I understand this," he responded softly.

    He leaned his forehead against hers, and they stayed this way for several minutes.

    "Spock."  Nyota looked up at him with tears forming in her eyes.  "Even though I understand what happened, I just...  need some time to get over thinking about it."
    "Yes.  I know."  He held her close and allowed her tears to fall.

click here for the companion piece about Christine.
 

A/N:  I hope that this didn't seem too much like an idiot plot (Spock being the idiot in this case).    Spock was simply unprepared to talk about something that 1) was hugely embarrassing to him and 2) he never expected to be revealed, least of all to his romantic partner.  Keep in mind that this whole series takes place within a single day, possibly within a few hours.  So it doesn't take him long to realize he messed up big time.