Building Anew

When he showed up on the Enterprise, at the behest of what she could only imagine was some fantastical outside force, she wasn't surprised.

She knew that he hadn't undergone a change of heart and shown up because of anything involving her. They hadn't even spoken since she'd said goodbye to him and her doomed affections, but all the same, she wasn't shocked to see him.

After all, she was the leading expert (okay, the only expert) on Spock and love, and, really, it was painfully obvious to her that it was lying in wait for him on the Enterprise.

He'd strode onto the bridge, and the frantic activity stilled. Though her eyes were typically locked onto him, this time, she found herself watching the captain. With the way he was looking at the Vulcan, she seriously doubted that anyone else existed for him in that moment.

"Permission to come aboard, Captain."

"Permission granted."

"As you have yet to select a first officer, respectfully, I would like to submit my candidacy. Should you desire I can provide character references."

"It would be my honor Commander."

The sheer joy she felt emanating from each was of such a degree that she wondered how no one else seemed to realize that they had just been witness to a momentous exchange. It had been as solemn and binding as a wedding. Neither man could go back now; they were linked together for life, as surely as if they had exchanged rings, she was certain of it.

It still hurt her, but she remembered her indignant thoughts upon being placed on the Farragut; wasn't real love about supporting each other? And though she was no longer exactly in love with Spock, she did love him. He and the captain would have a hard enough road ahead of them without her petty enmity.

So it was hard, and she had to struggle with it nearly every day, but she was working on getting over him and moving on with her life.

Shit, she even managed to play a casual game of chess with the captain without once thinking of smashing his overly pretty head into the table (well, okay, maybe once, but seriously, the man was still insufferable.)

Thus reaffirmed in her resolution, her reflections came to an end and she passed into Engineering, where a certain elusive Scotsman was long overdue in helping her find a way to make the handheld communicators more efficient and less prone to interference.

She searched all over the department, finally finding him lying on his back, working on some wiring beneath an electrical bay. Grinning, she approached and stood next to him, watching him work and listening to his soft mutterings of mixed cajolings and curses.

An impatient hand appeared, and waved about demandingly. "Damn it. I'll be needin' that wrench now Keenser, ya bloody bastard."

Amused, she asked, "Who are you calling a bloody bastard?" in a perfect imitation of his accent.

Through her inner giggles, she admired the way he slid out from the bay so quickly without busting his head open. He sat up, and came face to face with the mid-thigh length hem of her skirt. His fair face flushed and his eyes leapt to hers, but not before she caught that stare.

"Well, uh, if it isn't Lt. Uhura. Still on about the comms then?"

He was favored with her sweetest smile.

"Why yes, until the crew of this ship receives the best we have to offer, then I am. Don't worry, the Captain cleared you some time and wished us luck."

"I'm sure he did," the disgruntled Scotty mumbled.

Sighing, he stood up anyway. "Lead away m'lady."

Triumphant, she walked ahead of him over to a small workroom she had already set up with supplies and plans. Thinking himself safe from her notice, his eyes drifted to her legs and stayed there. But she could feel them with each step, almost as if they were actually touching her skin.

The small grin on her face widened.

Maybe the miniskirt hadn't been such a bad idea after all.

Woo-hoo! My first multi-chapter fic is done. I just had to add this chapter, so that everyone could have a happy ending. I didn't want the sure-to-be-long-suffering Uhura left all alone! And Simon Pegg has plenty of charm. :)

Thanks so much to everyone who read, reviewed, favorited, alerted, and any combo of the above. Awesome readers are what make writing worthwhile.