Chapter 21

A week later, she is granted permission to leave the hospital. Gaila comes to collect her stuff and wheel her home, since it is a long walk from the Hospital Wing to the cadet dorms. Uhura winces as they go over a bump and Gaila gushes her apologies.

"You're not a very good driver, good thing you're not a pilot, Gaila."

"I know, I'm terrible, I'm sorry," he says. "I'll be super careful okay?"

They make their way across the quad. As they get to the Cadet quad, some people stare and a few tell their friends and point and murmur things between them. She notices, considers about having the ground swallow her up and wonders what they're talking about before Gaila hits the button to call the turbolift.

"So, miss everything-is-going-to-be-home-delivered," she grins. "What do you want for dinner? You have the choice between a pile of brown slop, or a pile of white slop?"

Gaila presses her hands against the door lock and the door whooshes open.

"Home sweet home," she smiles and wheels Uhura into her side of the room. "Okay, so here are your crutches, okay, you gotta get into bed now."

Gaila fluffs the pillows on Uhura's bed, stacking them up for support against her back as Uhura manages to pull herself up and out of the chair. She balances by holding the bed frame before rolling her body across and settling against the pillows. Her legs in a purple cast, Leonard had grinned and allowed her to pick her own colour and Gaila grabs a pen from Uhura's desk.

"Nothing dirty," says Uhura, warning Gaila with a waving finger.

Gaila grins and begins to write.

The … second… fun thing you did all year.

Wishing you a speedy recovery. Your best friend, Gaila. Xoxo

Uhura smiled. "Second fun thing?"

"Sex is the first," she says. "You can do that later though. But really, McCoy can't know all the positions - I mean I know heaps that don't even involve your legs!"

Uhura rolls her eyes. "Of course."

"I loaded up some TV shows you might like on your PADD," she says. "And a few movies that I just got off the internet. They're all new releases. Do you have any work to do?"

"No. I've been cleared and passed for my time on the Feratta," replies Uhura. "I've been given a high distinction with the highest honour and I've passed my semester. I don't have any work to do until next semester. Maybe I'll start a research paper…"

"Of course you will," laughs Gaila. "Anyway, I gotta go to class, one of us at least has to, so I'm sorry Nyota, I have to run."

"It's fine. Thanks for the TV and movies. I'm sure you picked some good ones."

"I'll bring you some food when I finish class, okay?"

Uhura nods and settles into her bed. She takes a few pain killers and scrolls through the films Gaila has loaded onto her PADD before selecting an action thriller she'd downloaded herself but never gotten around to watching.

She watches it, calls her parents and they fuss over her health and her injury and she spends half an hour assuring her she's being looked after well and was well enough to leave the hospital.

Gaila comes back to the apartment half way through the discussion of such and Uhura quickly changes the subject to how Maleka's pregnancy is going - she's eighteen weeks and currently living on the outskirts of Istanbul, though she and Alec plan to move back to the United Kingdom during the Summer and purchase a house. Uhura smiles and tells them of her time in London, how dreadfully cold and how it rained almost every day and how Vulcans don't like the cold very much apparently.

Gaila gives passes Uhura her dinner as she says goodbye to her parents and Nyota smiles.

"I got you the brown slop."

"Ah," she laughs. "I see. I guess I won't be going off campus for a while, so brown slop and fake food will have to do for now. Did you get the white slop? Yes?"

"Yeah, tastes as good as it looks," Gaila complains. "Maybe I'll go out and get take out tomorrow and bring it back."

"You don't have to do that, Gaila," she says as the Orion sets up to eat her dinner at Uhura's desk.

"It's okay. Really."

Gaila then helps Uhura shower. It's a good thing the Orion is so comfortable with nudity - Uhura isn't sure she'd be so at ease allowing anyone else to shower her, but Gaila is not at all worried by showing a little skin. She's thankful for that at least.

Uhura dresses, combs through her wet hair and then Gaila dries it for her.

"I can't believe they finally fixed the light in the bathroom," she says, getting out the hairdryer from under the sink. "How long did it take them?"

"Eight months."

Gaila nods. In the mirror, her eyes are shining, "You're probably right you know. So," the hairdryer whirls and Gaila begins to methodically dry a section of hair. "When are you seeing the Commander next?"

"He won't come to the Cadet dormitories, we have to be discreet," she says. "I guess until I feel up to going to his office, or going out. My leg still aches and I can't walk on the crutches very well, and I don't expect to be pushed around on a wheelchair for our date."

"Ah, that is true," she says, finishing on the section of hair and smoothing it out. After Gaila is finished, she runs the comb through the mass of hair once again - frizzy and still warm, before tying it up in a messy bun.

Uhura takes some medication before going to bed, she checks her COMM for messages - still messages wishing her good health and a speedy recovery and turns it off. She begins reading a new book, finishes a crossword puzzle before she finally resigns herself to the fact he is not calling her, or seeking to contact her in anyway before the medication makes her sleepy and she turns out the lights.

When she wakes up the next morning, she is in agony and is bedridden, only being able to get up for a short time to go to the toilet. Gaila worries and but McCoy says it's normal to experience some pain and advises Uhura to take some painkillers. She does. They make her sleepy again and she dozes for the rest of the day.

Gaila comes back with dinner and worries when she realises Uhura hasn't eaten all day. She says she's seen Spock in passing, speaking with a number of Captains and Admirals walking through the halls very quickly and looking very serious. Uhura nods and eats her dinner. She is too exhausted to talk, even though she's done nothing but sleep. Gaila showers her and Uhura climbs into bed, attempting to continue with her book. She finds she can't focus on the words on the screen, can't follow the storyline and so she turns her light off and goes to sleep. Spock does not call. He does not message.

When she wakes on Thursday, she feels good enough to get out of bed. Gaila has already left for classes and she manages to wash herself, dress and brush her teeth. It takes her a lot longer than usual and it's a hard process. She takes a few painkillers when her leg begins to throb and begins straightening out her hair.

She is about to open the window and let a breeze flow through the apartment when there is a knock on the door. Grabbing her crutches, Uhura makes her way over to the door and presses her hand to the security PADD. The door whooshesopen.

Spock stands there, rigidly, with his hands behind her back.

"Spock," she says, not hiding the shock in her voice. "I mean, um, Commander."

"May I come in?" he asks.

She backs up from the door a little, "Sure," she says. "Come in."

He does. The door closes behind him and Uhura makes her way to sit down on her bed. She balances the crutches against the wall and lifts her leg onto the mattress to support it. She pats the spot beside her and ushers Spock to sit.

"How are you feeling?" he asks.

"I'm in some pain, but McCoy has been good," she says. "Yesterday I think I slept maybe eighteen hours. I was exhausted. What are you doing in the student dormitories?"

"I wished to see you and I could not expect you to come to my office in your condition," he says. "Is there anything I can do for you, Nyota?"

She hasn't heard him say her name in such a long time and thinks that she doesn't ever want anyone else to say it, doesn't want to hear anyone pronounce it the way he does.

She shakes her head, "No. I'm fine. Thank you for coming." And then she pauses a little. "I want to talk about what you said last week. Or well, what you didn't say," she admits.

He quirks an eyebrow. "I do not recall…"

She takes a steady breath, looks him in the eye and says, "I said I loved you and you didn't reply. You just said I was too heavily medicated."

"You were."

She huffs and blinks a few times, trying to hold back the tears.

"Spock," she wavers, "that - that isn't how you're supposed to respond when someone says things like that to you. I really meant it, Spock."

"I did not mean to impose the assumption that I did not think you meant your words," he replies. "Only that it should have been advised you were possibly speaking more freely than you would have wished. I did not mean to cause offence nor did I mean to lead you to assume your feelings were unreturned, Nyota."

She swallows. Her throat is dry and thick.

He takes up her hand, doesn't align them to connect with her fingers, but merely squeezes it reassuringly.

"Really?" she says.

"Indeed."

She smiles then and squeezes his hand back.

"You did not use my reference letter when applying for the scholarship. Instead, you went to Pike."

Uhura swallows, "I just thought - we were getting close and I didn't want-,"

"It was a wise decision," he admits. "Pike has allowed flexibility within my working life, however, I may not offer your another teaching assistantship, or teach any of your classes for the remainder of your time at the Academy."

"And what about after that - I mean, it's a little into the future, but- I mean, I want a place on the Enterprise, you're the XO, couldn't that mean,"

"There are fewer limitations of dating within Starfleet outside of the Academy - I will not be your direct superior officer, as I will be working primarily within the Science Department-"

"He gave you the position of Chief Science Officer, as well?"

Spock nods.

"Congratulations," she smiles and squeezes his hand. "But you know, leave some jobs for the rest of us."

"There are plenty-,"

"It was a joke, Spock. Just don't go after the COMM Officer role."

"You would be a much more suitable applicant," he admits. "I would not hesitate in claiming your superiority over myself if in consideration for that role."

She smiles and leans back into the pillows, laughing softly. Her face is warm and bright and she looks healthier.

"What are you doing now?" she says. "After this, I mean, what are you doing this afternoon?"

"I have to complete paperwork," he replies. "After 1700, I am free. Would you be agreeable to spending time together? Perhaps an activity which is predominately sitting?"

She laughs "That would be great, but I can't walk on the crutches yet, let alone get to the bus stop up the hill."

"I will pick you up, Nyota. And return you to your room at the end of our date."

She quirks an eyebrow and doesn't think she pulls it off as well as he does, "You have a car?"

He nods. "It is a part of my yearly salary, along with a modest apartment overlooking the bay."

"You are a man of mystery, Spock," she laughs. "Sure. Why don't we have dinner, or go and see a film?"

"There is a screening of an award winning Japanese film at the Astor theatre at 1930, in celebration of their film festival, is that suitable?"

She nods. "Sounds great."

"And I will promptly return you to your quarters by 2300," he replies.

She laughs and notices the small twitch in his lips, which are definitely what she believes to be a Vulcan smile.

"Maybe not so promptly, but that sounds wonderful, Spock."

And it does.

Thank you guys for reading this fanfiction. I am so so pleased you've enjoyed it and have reviewed the chapters. I do apologise for the delay in uploading the last few chapters over the past month, but I have uploaded these last two instantaneously just so you guys can read and finish and not to cheat or do anything for reviews or stuff like that. So, I also have another Star Trek story uploaded on the website, which I will be updating regularly - I have been so slack lately, so please look out for that.

Thank you guys for being so patient, so kind and coming back to this story week after week. Thank you to those reviewers who pushed me a little harder to edit more, to update more often and to keep on keeping on, sometimes I definitely needed it.

Please take the time to leave a review before you go. It really helps me and I love to hear from you all. I hope you all enjoyed "A Day on the Planet".

~ Arlia'Devi