Spock

(Alien Species:

Halthor-Appearance: Tough, alabaster white skin and black birthmark designs upon their face and chests. Braided black haired, often reaching their waists and luminescent eyes that can see in the dark

Average height: 5'7

Life expectancy: 95)

I remember a time when I enjoyed being alone. A time where I felt happy in the company of my own silence. When the only comfort I required was a warm bath and a look in the mirror.

But then I got involved.

He seemed so perfect at first. He made me happy in a way I'd previously not known. It was as if I'd discovered a new part of myself. Him and I were together for almost a year until I came home early from an off world mission to find him sharing our bed with another.

It had hurt.

And in the time since, I'd been searching for a replacement. There'd been many trials but none could fill the hole I felt. The crater in my chest that was hollow.

My occupation aboard the USS Enterprise was one of the few things that could suppress the hollow. As head of Security, it was entailed that I was always level headed and about my wits. And I always was. But when I wasn't working, the hollow returned.

"Hey, Officer Sterling!" A familiar voice rang out from beside me. "Evenin' Bones."

My eyes opened groggily, alcohol blurring my senses. I looked up to see Captain James and his second in command, Spock, approach. I sighed, lifting my head off of the table top as Bones shifted beside me. Him and I often shared drinks together and more often than not, our drinking turned into alcohol induced therapy sessions.

I brushed the bangs from my eyes. "Can I help you Jim?" I asked, not all that pleased to be woken up.

"Ouch, is that anyway to greet an old friend?" He asked, taking a seat beside me but Spock remained standing. The Vulcan's dark gaze watched me closely. Spock and I were work associates but only decent acquaintances otherwise.

I straightened my posture and sat up right. "My bad, I meant, can I help you captain," I reiterated.

Jim gave an accepting nod, obviously satisfied with the switch. "Well, since you weren't answering your com," The Captain noted, gesturing to my disabled comlink that I turned off while off duty. "I came by to inform you that there will be a procedural inspection tomorrow morning."

"Thank you for the heads up," I said and willed my expression to be as sober as possible. "I'll be ready Captain."

He nodded. "Good," He said. "But I won't be there tomorrow, I have a meeting with Admiral Pike."

"And I have a medical conference," Bones added from beside me.

"So that means it'll just be you and Spock tomorrow," The Captain explained.

I nodded dutifully and shared a quick exchange with Spock whose expression remained unchanged.

"Looks like it's me and you bud," I said and lifted my hand up in a fist. It was an old fashioned gesture but one of my favorite TV characters from the classical era had done it frequently.

The Vulcan glanced down at my extended fist before meeting my gaze again.

"I misunderstand how the contact of fists represents a unity," Spock said, causing Bones to chuckle quietly while taking a sip from his glass.

I lowered my arm back to the table, slightly downhearted. "It's a physical metaphor," I said, leaning back in my seat as my eyelids grew heavy once more.

Jims blond brows furrowed. "You sure you're up for tomorrow?"

I looked at him sharply. "Absolutely."

He only nodded once, knowing full well of my capability.

"Make sure to get some rest," Jim added kindly, giving my shoulder a squeeze and standing up.

I snorted. "I was until you interrupted."

"Would your quarters not be a more suitable place for rest?" Spock asked with a quirked brow.

I shrugged.

"She doesn't like sleeping alone," Bones said and I glared at him from the corner of my vision. I'd grown so used to the feeling of a warm body beside me that I now found it difficult to sleep without one.

"Shoot, I'll volunteer," Jim said with a wide grin.

The corners of my lips lifted in a wane grin. "A tempting offer Captain but I must respectfully decline."

The Captain didn't relent. "Are you still upset about that one guy?"

"Which one?"

Jim shrugged. "That one Halthor from command? He was the last one right?"

The only reason he knew anything about 'the Halthor from command' was because his girlfriend at the time had been the one he'd cheated on me with.

"Sure," I replied blankly. "Thank you for the update Captain, have a good evening."

Jim took the hint and offered a farewell.

Spock dipped his head respectfully, his curious brown gaze lingering. "Until tomorrow, Officer."

They left, leaving me and Bones in our stupor.

The doctor watched me closely.

"Are you sure you're ok Harper?"

I offered a faint grin. "I'm good Bones. I'll be fine for tomorrow."

I drifted off a few minutes later into an unkind slumber.

---

As promised, I arrived at the inspection on time and was even a little early. My red shirt was finely pressed, not a wrinkle in sight, and my dark hair tied up into a tight, sophisticated bun. My steps were calm and confident as I entered the hangar where we were meant to meet with the small group from command that would be directing the inspection.

The chasm in my chest had closed for now as my mind focused upon the upcoming examination.

I quickly spotted a familiar head of black hair and pointed ears inside the hanger.

Spock stood straight, wearing his iconic blue shirt and holding a slim tablet in hand. His stoic features were focused upon the screen as he dutifully tapped on it at random intervals. He'd always been very good looking, a common heart throb amongst the female crew and even some of the males. But very few had ever gained his attention.

I approached him swiftly.

"Mornin' Spock," I greeted kindly.

The Vulcan looked up from the tablet quickly, his posture somehow becoming even straighter.

"Greetings Officer Sterling, I trust you slept well?" He asked in his monotonous tenor.

"Uh, sure."

His head tilted just slightly. "Your lack of conviction is unconvincing."

"Ok, so I didn't really sleep, but I'm fine, honestly," I shrugged and leaned against the side of a nearby shuttle.

"I would recommend seeking a nurse's assistance for your sleeping troubles," Spock suggested, his dark brown eyes lightening. Many people crumbled under his scuntizing gaze but I could hardly get enough of those eyes. They were so human but entirely different at the same time.

I scoffed, looking at him from the corner of my eyes. "Spock, no amount of pills or medication is going to fix what I have," I said with an unintentional lilt to my voice that surprised even me. "Delay, maybe even numb it, but fix? Doubtful."

The Science officer's angled brows narrowed. "Are you ill?"

I shook my head.

"Then I misunderstand," He continued and I sighed before glancing down at my old fashioned wrist watch that let me know we still had a little under five minutes before anyone from command would arrive.

"Spock, honestly, I don't think you'd understand," I said gently.

He arched a brow in stark curiosity. "Why do you think that?"

I turned to face him full on, leaving my resting place against the shuttle. I met his dark gaze willfully.

"Because I'm sad Spock," I told him simply.

His brows furrowed once more. I searched his eyes, hoping to see what was going on behind them.

"Do your emotions interfere with your profession?" He asked and my forehead wrinkled.

It was a subtle question but I understood its direction. Of all the things to ask, of course he infers if my emotional status might endanger other crew members.

"Absolutely not," I told him with a sudden seriousness. "Nothing impedes my ability to coordinate the security of this ship Mr.Spock."

There was a certain iciness to my tone that must have convinced him.

"I apologize if I made any offense," Spock offered and I quickly relaxed once more.

I nodded once in understanding before returning to my resting spot against the shuttle. I glanced at my watch once more, still two and half minutes to go.

"If I may ask, what has upset you?" Spock inquired.

"Not so much what, more of who," I began quietly, my eyes lowering. "I guess I just want someone, Spock. Someone to be with and be around that I can trust and confide in. Someone that isn't me. It's like there's a hole in my chest, a sort of hollow, that no one else can see but I feel it all day. Does that make anysense?"

The Science officer only nodded distnaly, his gaze trailing off.

I snorted softly. "I imagine human, especially human girl, issues are still forgien?"

Spock's gaze returned to mine. "Forgien? Yes. But of importance," He said. "I imagine you are still searching for someone to fill this theoretical 'hollow'."

"Right you are Mr.Spock," I replied, snapping my fingers. "It may sound pathetic but I'm sure there's someone out there that needs me just like I need them. I just gotta... find them."

"I don't think it is 'pathetic'," Spock said.

I chuckled softly and took one last look at my watch.

"Thanks Spock but we are on in less than sixty second," I told him before lifting my fist in the air once again. "Let's get it."

Spock once again looked down at my fist curiously.

"Gonna leave me hanging again? Ouch," I said lightheartedly as we began to walk to the edge of the hanger where the designated shuttle would arrive.

"I do apologize for my skittish behavior however in Vulcan custom, the touching of hands is considered an intimate act," He explained with his own hands tucked behind his back.

I paused mid step. "W-wait you - how is it intimate?" I asked curiously.

"For Vulcans, it is similar to the human equivalent of kissing."

"Oh, why didn't you just say so?" I asked with a grin that was wider than intended before tapping my elbow against his. "We can just elbow-bump."

He blinked once, the corner of his lip lifted for a split second at my antics.

"The general concept of 'bumping' is confounding," Spock told me as we continued walking.

"Well, it's like a human way to express confidence," I explained as a specific shuttle entered the bay.

My posture quickly straightened at the sight of the Command emblem engraved upon the shuttles front capsule. My expression became collected as the shuttle landed.

Spock stood at equal attention.

The shuttle doors soon opened, revealing the familiar face of Admiral Marcus followed by his daughter Carol who was an esteemed science officer herself with a specialty in weaponry.

My eyes widened as another very familiar face in a separate aspect exited the shuttle. It was a Halthor male, who'd gained weight since I last saw him, that I knew well. His amber eyes met mine in a sudden clash, causing my posture to become rigid. My heart rate spiked at the unwelcome addition to the inspection team.

Spock offered a small side glance as he noticed my reaction and his brown eyes flickered between me and the Halthor.

Braxus Chandler.

A former engineer aboard the Enterprise that had been transferred to the Odyssey for a position as secondary officer and also my ex boyfriend.

Braxus smirked at my uncomfortable reaction at the sight of his alabaster white skinned face that was decorated with formal black tattoos. I quickly averted my eyes and instead focused upon greeting Marcus and Carol before leading them into the engineering hub.

I purposefully allowed Spock to take the lead in the inspection and he seemed to be aware of my sudden change in demeanor. I kept to the rear of the group, only making short additive comments and answering specific questions along the way and kept my hands clasped behind my back. I frequently glanced to Braxus who was all but fixated upon me like some bird of prey.

I hadn't spoken to him in months and had little interest in changing that. I intentionally kept my distance until we were led into the dilithium surveillance chamber where the Spock demonstrated the procedural safety precaution at the front of the room. Spock was focused on his task but repeatedly found himself looking at me, trying to understand what had thrown me off suddenly.

Braxus suddenly appeared by my side and a nervous tingle that was the opposite of pleasant raced up my spine.

"Long time no see Harp," He greeted in that nauseatingly nasal voice that I knew all too well.

"Fuck off," I hissed under my breath, just quietly enough that Carol, who was only a few feet away, couldn't hear.

"Don't you mean 'fuck me Braxus'?" He asked with a sneer. "I seem to recall you pleading for me alot."

My jaw clenched in agitation. "If you don't shut your mouth I'll be forced to remove you from the premises," I said in an attempt to sound confident but came off as more of a weak plea.

The Halthor snorted smuggly, his thick hand trailing slowly up the side of my hip and up the edge of my waist.

My fist clenched, prepared to bury it in his nose.

"I know you miss me," He whispered, his hot breath tickling my ear.

I breathed in sharply as his hand began to travel down the side of my thigh. All of a sudden, all I could see was red. A sense of rage forced itself through my senses.

But before I had a chance, a blue blur pinned Braxus against the wall. I almost stumbled back in surprise.

"Spock?!" I asked as the Vulxan held my ex flush against the wall in an inhumanly strong grasp.

Spock's normally composed features were now set in anger.

Marcus took a step forward. "What's going on?"

"Officer Chandler was making inappropriate remarks towards Officer Sterling," Spock replied with a noticeably tight voice, as if he were holding himself back.

The Admiral turned to me. "Is that true?"

I nodded. "Yes sir, Officer Chandler and I were formerly involved and he was making perverted comments."

Marcus looked at Braxus with clear disdain.

"Get him out of here," The Admiral ordered and Spock only released his hold on my ex when two red shirts from my security branch appeared to escort the seething Halthor away.

"My apologies for the mishap, I was unaware of your prior relationship," The Admiral claimed. "I've seen enough to know this ship is well and running, let this inspection conclude."

With that, the Admiral and his daughter went back to their respective shuttles.

I turned to Spock whose prior anger had dissipated.

"Spock? I- how did you know?" I asked.

Spock straightened his shirt. "Vulcan's hearing is superior to human senses."

"You heard him? Oh gosh all of it?" I asked, my cheeks turning pink. I hated to even think about those things Braxus had mentioned. They were all regrets.

Spock nodded.

"Great, just great," I said, bringing a hand to my temple. He probably thought I was some common tralop now.

"Why are you ashamed," Spock inquired.

"Because he's an asshole for one," I pointed out.

Spock nodded in agreement. "I was curious as to why you would be involved with someone of his nature."

I sighed slowly. "He was kind when we first met and as you know, I just wanted someone to be with. But he ended up just using me and moving along. Like everyone else."

"Perhaps you are looking for this 'someone' in the wrong places," Spock offered.

"You may have a point," I agreed before taking a step closer to him. "But thank you for intervening."

Spock dipped his head respectfully. "No need for thanks, it would have been improper not to do so," Spock said and I quirked a brow. "I also did not find the way he spoke to you at all appropriate."

"Regardless, I'm thankful," I resaid and offered a kind smile before kissing him lightly on the cheek. A girlish feeling suddenly fluttered inside my chest, near the hollow, like a hummingbird.

For the first time Spock hesitated and I noticed the tips of his ears turn faint green. "Y-you're welcome."

I smiled, my gaze flickering to my shoes before returning to his brown eyes.

"We ought' to hang out more often," I accidentally blurted out and at first thought I'd said too much.

He regained his composure. "I believe that would be suiting. I find you and our conversations to be engaging," Spock replied.

The hollow began to recede as a new feeling that was much more welcoming took its place.

"As do I."

(This was definitely inspired by another oneshot I read called 'The Lady Said No'. I don't think I made it better so much as I made the emotional and interpersonal relations more clear and reasonable.)