BoB-F: So...It's been awhile...

Rath: You only have yourself to blame, laziness and procrastination are your forte.

BoB-F: Don't be like that, at least I updated.

Rath: Yes, but you should probably make this short.

BoB-F: Yes! Um, I don't own Star Trek or Pilot (a chain of truck stops/gas stations).

Rath: But she owns Missouri, all her damn siblings, and the fictional parents that spawned them.

BoB-F: Yup, so enjoy, and I do apologize for the delay.

Chapter Four: Sour

Missouri's ass was thoroughly numb by the time she finally pulled off the interstate for her second break since beginning her journey. She parked next to a silver Mark 20 Corvette, it was a nice car, but Missouri's eyes passed over it disinterestedly; it reminded her of her Starship. She briefly wondered if she would ever get over losing her Captaincy, her crew, and her ship.

Missouri took her helmet off and swung her leg over her bike, resisting the urge to rub at the soreness of her inner thighs; she wasn't used to riding such long distances anymore, not since she started serving in space. Swinging her keys around her finger she walked into the sleek Pilot truck stop, she stopped herself from winking at the cute cashier and kept walking to the women's restroom to relieve herself. When she exited the bathroom she glanced at two men who were gazing into the soda cases, then did a double take.

"Monty, Maine?" She asked as she approached the two men. They turned to address her with confusion, but realization quickly dawned on all three of them. Grins spread across their faces and the two men were quickly wrapping Missouri up in a crushing embrace.

"Sis!" They both cried, clapping her on the back as they drew away. Missouri examined them closer, they were both sporting similar clothes to herself, blue jeans, t-shirts, boots, and leather jackets. The similarities continued on to their dark brown hair and their light brown eyes, but the ever growing beards was where it ended. Monty, or Montana, was her eldest brother and had a nice thick beard covering the lower half of his face, Maine however was just beginning to grow his and it appeared much redder than Monty's.

"I didn't know you were already this far west, we could've met up awhile back." Monty gestured with his thumb to the highway behind him.

"Yeah, we caught up to Virginia and Arizona, but they're convinced we're in some kinda race and refused to stop with us." Maine added, rolling his eyes at the antics of their sisters. Missouri couldn't help the grin that spread across her face.

"What about Wash and Georgia?" Missouri asked, she should have known what time her siblings were arriving, but her bad mood had interfered into yet another part of her life, she kept herself from sighing out loud.

"George is already there, with Missy, Mom, and Dad. Katar is flying in with the kids. Georgia said she 'wanted some time away from the kids', and Wash…well, Wash is being his usual prick-ish self; he's coming in late, something about 'damage control', but he wouldn't elaborate." Monty said all this while picking out a soda and gesturing with his hands, he was always good at keeping tabs on everyone, being the oldest and all.

"What about your crew of wife and kids?" Missouri asked, knowing that Laura couldn't be far behind with their five boys. Missouri felt sorry for the woman, having to make the trip with that wild bunch. Monty grinned at the mention of his family.

"They're catching the same shuttle that Katar is. I kinda feel bad for all the other people…" Monty's continued grinned spelled out his glee despite his minor guilt.

"What about you, you got a girlfriend coming?" Missouri raised her eyebrow, making Maine squirm under her gaze.

"Well?" She coaxed, stepping out of the way of an alien man with heavy facial ridges. Maine pretended to be interested in the various labels on the beverages.

"I..uh…I've got someone coming down, but it's a surprise, so all I'm going to say is that they'll be flying in tomorrow." Maine finally choose a drink and made for the candy aisle. Missouri and Montana watched him go with curious eyes.

"He's been acting like that the whole ride, he wouldn't even tell Ari. D'you think he got someone knocked up?" Monty asked as Missouri went about selecting her own drink.

"Maybe he's just worried we won't approve? You know how mom acted about the last one he brought home." Missouri and Montana made their way to the counter with Maine to pay for their stuff. Monty and Missouri silently decided to drop the subject so they didn't upset Maine, he was probably the most sensitive of the eight of them.

"I've estimated another two hours since we have to detour through Chaplin, is that what you guys have?" She asked as she swiped her card, this time she did wink at the cashier. Her brother's rolled their eyes at her antics.

"Detour? No, we were just going to drive straight through." Maine said as they exited the store.

"Dad told me that they were still doing construction on the road, so we've gotta go through Chaplin. Do you think Virginia and Ari know?" Missouri asked as they stood around their motorcycles. They each took a drink from their sodas.

"Doubt it, they looked pretty smug." Monty replied and sat his drink on the seat of his bike. Missouri pulled her phone out and was about to press her speed dial for Virginia when Maine stopped her.

"If it's a race then shouldn't we wait a bit?" He asked with a wicked gleam in his eyes, one that was now mirrored in both his siblings.

"It's all in good sportsmanship…" Monty agreed. Smiling, Missouri put her phone away and took another drink of soda.

"Alright, but we call 'em in an hour." Missouri said and pulled her helmet on. Her brother's followed suit and they each swung onto their bikes. They let Maine walk his bike out first, then Missouri, and finally Montana.

"Remember, one hour." Missouri said, letting them know she was serious. It would be funny to hassle their sisters, but she really didn't want to explain her bad news more times than necessary, so she'd prefer that all her siblings be present when her mom started in on her.

It would be just like old times.

~One Hour Later~

"You're already in Moines? Well, dad said that you'll have to cut over into Chaplin…Well, you should've talked to him before you left. Hey…don't get an attitude with me…I'll hang up on you…Virginia…Damnit, Virginia, shut up! Just take I-35 down to Indianola, then stay on 95 till you get to 218, and head North to Iowa City." Missouri rolled her eyes and held the phone away from her ear. Her sister's voice echoed out of the device, making her brother's choke back peals of laughter. Once the yelling had calmed, Missouri cautiously put the phone back up to her ear.

"Do you need me to send you the directions?" Missouri made the universal gesture for getting your neck slit to her brother's, a clear warning to them if they continued to make noise. It didn't faze them in the least.

"Alright, I'll see you in a few hours. Give Ari my love. Yeah, you too…bye." Missouri finally flipped the little device shut and turned her narrowed eyes on her brothers.

"Didn't I say to be fucking quiet?" She kicked dirt and gravel at the two of them. The three were on the side of the highway, having stopped at the hour mark to call their sisters.

"They didn't catch on, so no worries. Stop being so sour." Montana said, pretending not to notice Missouri's obscene gesture with her middle finger.

"Grow up Montana." Missouri didn't bother to wait for her brothers, instead climbing onto her bike and putting her helmet on simultaneously. They tried to talk her out of driving off, but she studiously ignored them. She knew that she was being unreasonable, but that nickname always set her blood on fire.

It was a glaring reminder of all her failures rolled up into one four letter moniker.

Missouri sped down the highway, rapidly approaching a possible exit. The lanes split, two continuing onward- the direction of her home town, the other would lead her away. Away from her parents, away from her siblings, but she wouldn't be able to escape herself.

That was her real problem, that she couldn't change herself to suit the needs of her family. She had tried many times, but she always turned sour. In her deep thinking Missouri swerved to avoid a merger and realized she'd already drove past the exit.

Her chest tightened up and she gripped the handlebars harder. It was funny to think that she was having a harder time visiting her family than she did fighting Klingons. She sucked in a deep breath and focused on the road ahead, she had no desire to become a mark on the vast expanse of asphalt. No doubt that her tombstone would read something along the lines of "Here lies Missouri Daniels, the last time it went sour".

~Time Lapse~

Spock had been at his desk reviewing numerous accounts from the incident involving former Captain Daniels and Captain Absure when a pair of supple coco arms circled him from behind.

"Spock…come to bed." The request was spoken into the nape of his neck. He paused in his furious typing to indulge in the sensations of his lover. He had ward her off briefly not thirty minutes ago, but he found he could not do it a second time. He leaned away from her trailing lips to quickly finish his sentence.

"I find that your persistence is in need of a reward." He knew there was a subtle shift in his expression, one that Nyota responded to with a sensual smile. She led him from his chair, to his sparse bedroom, and just before her legs touched the edge of the mattress she pulled him down by his neck for a kiss she had been longing for.

Ring-Ring~

The musical noise was drowned by the connection between the two - a slow swelling in the chest that grew to encompass the tingling in their lips. Spock gripped her arms, keeping her body from pressing into his. It was a conflicting action, one that he would forego in moments.

Ring-Ring~

A sigh that spoke of her irritation pushed Spock to retreat his lips from hers. A silent exchange spelled out what was to happen. Spock raised an eyebrow and dropped his hands from Nyota's soft skin.

"Computer, answer call." He spoke, yet still held Nyota's amused gaze.

"Hey, Spock, how's the research on Daniels going?" The voice of Jim Kirk filled the room from the well hidden speaker system. Spock had never seen Nyota roll her eyes so hard before, and was briefly concerned, but quickly realized that she was merely frustrated with this particular interruption.

"It's going well Jim. I've reviewed all the incident reports and it seems that the crew of the Reliance was rather opposed to Captain Absure's demands after being rescued. I believe we can appeal Commander Daniels suspension with little opposition regarding factual evidence." Spock's voice didn't reveal how worked up he was getting. Nyota had her hands in Spock's hair, all the while trailing warm kisses down the thick column of his neck, and nudging her bent knee against his trapped arousal.

"That's great news! Hold on and I'll patch Daniels in." Kirk's voice faded out as he pulled the device away from his face. Spock wanted to hang up on his friend, but the fiery light in Nyota's eyes told him that she was enjoying his torment. After a few seconds of the faint beeping of a call being dialed a third voice joined in.

"Yeah?" Missouri sounded thoroughly annoyed, and the noise of wind told them she was on the move.

"Daniels! It's Kirk and Spock, just wanted to give you an update on the situation. We've went through the files of the crew and all the evidence points to Absure being the antagonist. We've got a good case to get you off suspension." Kirk had a smile in his voice as he relayed the news.

"Thanks for letting me know. Admiral Mendler will back you up, I spoke to him before I left town." The rushing of air calmed down enough for Missouri's voice to be heard without strain.

"Mendler? Didn't he teach diplomacy?" Kirk asked, more for clarification than anything else.

"Planetary Diplomacy; Admiral Mendler was a fine teacher." The voice of Spock finally joined in, the barest of a crack in his voice when Nyota gave a particularly rough prod of her knee.

"I'll give him a call. When do you think we'll be ready to take this to council?" Kirk asked, he wanted to get Missouri on board the Enterprise as soon as possible.

"Within the week. I'll need time to contact some of the crew and compile the information." Spock had to block Nyota's knee from making contact again, or he was going to finish what she started with two eavesdroppers.

"Sounds good. If either of you don't need anything else, I've got to go." Missouri sounded like all the energy had been kicked out of her. If Spock wasn't so distracted he would have made several inquiries, but as it were, he couldn't bring himself to care.

"Sure thing, good luck Daniels." Kirk said sympathetically, and then Missouri disconnected the call from her end.

"I believe I too should bid you goodbye Jim. I have…business to attend." Spock and Nyota exchanged glances, and a smirk lighted across Nyota's face. There was a pause from Jim, but Spock barely noticed.

"You're with Uhura, aren't you?" Jim accused. Spock cursed Jim's intuition.

"Goodbye Kirk." Nyota called out and ended the connection before he was able to respond. After the distractions were gone, Spock finally retaliated.

BoB-F: So... I hope everyone doesn't lynch me for the SpockxNyota.

Rath: They should, he belongs with Christine Chapel.

BoB-F: Calm down, he won't be ending up with her in this either.

Rath: Oh, I know... I can read ya'know.

BoB-F: I had honestly forgotten that you could...

Rath: I'm a written fiction of your imagination, of course I can read!

BoB-F: Okay, I deserved that...

Rath: You did. Now, when is this story going to kick off?

BoB-F: In the next few chapters, we have to get through her family reunion and the repeal.

Rath: Sounds reasonable...except for the whole Christine Chapel thing.

BoB-F: -_- Please read and review, even if it's just to reprimand me about my awful updates.

Rath: As they should.

BoB-F: I'm going to kick your sassy ass if you don't shut up.