Spock's voice lulled her to sleep. Just as she had in the Academy, she felt her chin sinking to her chest, only to jerk awake. "--the gravitational pull is such that--" Asleep. "--energies surrounding--" Awake. "--planets orbiting the third star are extremely--" Asleep. "Nyota?" Awake. Rubbing eyes.
"Can you talk about something else, Spock? I never did too well in Astrophysics."
"I can see why," he said, a twinkle in his eyes.
There was more light. Definitely more light. "Is it dawn, do you think?" she said.
"I doubt it. Only a quarter hour has passed."
"I know! Tell me about your music lessons, or your favorite music."
"I began learning to play the lyrette when I was three years old. My father was an expert player, and had a miniature lyre made for me. He taught me very well and very patiently for several years, then handed me off, with a full-size lyre, to T'Renn, who taught me until I departed for Starfleet Academy."
"You play piano, too; did your mother teach you?"
"For a short time. She found a Vulcan pianist with whom she had artistic sympathy, and brought me under his instruction. His playing, while perfect, was a little 'soulless,' she said, but she had faith that I would bring feeling into it if I chose to do--" Spock paused. "I do believe I hear voices."
"You stay awake -- I'll go check!" Uhura sprang up and dashed out, and there was Jim Kirk, an amused expression on his face, holding up her foil bowl to McCoy, who was smiling. He picked up Spock's uniform emblem and said, "My, this looks familiar. Is its owner anywhere hereabouts?"
Uhura pointed. "He needs you, too. He hit his head and broke a rib during the rockslide." But she was talking to McCoy's back.
Kirk took a pouch off his utility belt, mushing it with his hands so it would cool off the contents. "Thirsty?"
Uhura drank gratefully. "You know how heavy Spock is. He's going to need you and McCoy both to get him to the shuttlecraft."
With that, Spock and McCoy emerged from the cave. "Watch his rib -- I'll take that side," McCoy said as Kirk moved to help.
They made their way to the shuttlecraft, which Kirk had landed about half a kilometer away in the only space large enough. "So Uhura," McCoy asked, "You know how important it is to keep somebody with a head injury awake, obviously."
"I sure do."
"How did you keep him entertained for the last nine hours?"
"Ohh ... mostly talked and held hands, stuff like that."
Kirk smiled his goofy smile. "I can't get over how cute you two are. Honest to god. I used to be jealous, but now I just enjoy watching you."
Uhura caught McCoy's eye. He winked at her, and she winked back.
"Stay With Me" Part 6
"Can you talk about something else, Spock? I never did too well in Astrophysics."
"I can see why," he said, a twinkle in his eyes.
There was more light. Definitely more light. "Is it dawn, do you think?" she said.
"I doubt it. Only a quarter hour has passed."
"I know! Tell me about your music lessons, or your favorite music."
"I began learning to play the lyrette when I was three years old. My father was an expert player, and had a miniature lyre made for me. He taught me very well and very patiently for several years, then handed me off, with a full-size lyre, to T'Renn, who taught me until I departed for Starfleet Academy."
"You play piano, too; did your mother teach you?"
"For a short time. She found a Vulcan pianist with whom she had artistic sympathy, and brought me under his instruction. His playing, while perfect, was a little 'soulless,' she said, but she had faith that I would bring feeling into it if I chose to do--" Spock paused. "I do believe I hear voices."
"You stay awake -- I'll go check!" Uhura sprang up and dashed out, and there was Jim Kirk, an amused expression on his face, holding up her foil bowl to McCoy, who was smiling. He picked up Spock's uniform emblem and said, "My, this looks familiar. Is its owner anywhere hereabouts?"
Uhura pointed. "He needs you, too. He hit his head and broke a rib during the rockslide." But she was talking to McCoy's back.
Kirk took a pouch off his utility belt, mushing it with his hands so it would cool off the contents. "Thirsty?"
Uhura drank gratefully. "You know how heavy Spock is. He's going to need you and McCoy both to get him to the shuttlecraft."
With that, Spock and McCoy emerged from the cave. "Watch his rib -- I'll take that side," McCoy said as Kirk moved to help.
They made their way to the shuttlecraft, which Kirk had landed about half a kilometer away in the only space large enough. "So Uhura," McCoy asked, "You know how important it is to keep somebody with a head injury awake, obviously."
"I sure do."
"How did you keep him entertained for the last nine hours?"
"Ohh ... mostly talked and held hands, stuff like that."
Kirk smiled his goofy smile. "I can't get over how cute you two are. Honest to god. I used to be jealous, but now I just enjoy watching you."
Uhura caught McCoy's eye. He winked at her, and she winked back.