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Date: Sat, 12 Jun 2004 23:57:58 -0400
Subject: [ASC] NEW: TOS Motivational Maneuvers 2/2 (PG-13) Humor
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Forwarded by the ASC-VSO 
Posted: 11 Jun 2004 21:14:11 -0700  
In: alt.startrek.creative 
From: djinn@djinnslair.com (Djinn) 
 

TITLE: Motivational Maneuvers
AUTHOR: Djinn
CONTACT: djinn@djinnslair.com http://www.djinnslair.com
SERIES: TOS
RATING: PG-13
CODES: HUMOR
PART: 2/2
SUMMARY: Is there anything worse than mandatory training? Only if
making them act silly. <EG>
Thanks to Rabble Rouser and Trekki for the beta!



Chapel pushed at the food on her plate.  She was being charitable
calling it food.  It looked more like a science experiment gone
horribly wrong.  She lifted the fork to her nose, took a tentative
sniff.  No smell.  None of it had any odor at all.

She put her fork down.  "I don't know about the rest of you, but there
is a snack shop in the basement that sells all kinds of processed
foods.  Any of which is probably more healthy than this.  Who's game?"

Both Kirk and Spock followed her out.  In fact, a steady stream of
people seemed to be fleeing the ballroom in which the lunch tables had
been set up.

They hurried downstairs.  Kirk and she helped themselves to
pre-packaged food that had no nutritional value but at least tasted
good.  She sensed someone next to her, looked up to see Spock.

"I am at a bit of a loss," he said softly.  

She noticed his hands were empty, took pity and led him to a
refrigerator tucked in the back of the small shop.  "Every snack shop
has one of these.  The last bastion of health.  Remember that, all
right?"

He nodded.  "It is generally hidden?"

"Damn straight.  Hell of a lot less margin on these."  She opened the
door.  "Fruit sound good?  Hey, look.  Even salad."  She bent down,
found one that actually looked fresh and handed it to him.  "You like
dressing?"  She studied the choices, finally handed him the simplest
one.

He nodded approval.  "Thank you."

"Oldest of four kids.  I'm good at putting lunches together on the
fly."

"My brother used to make me lunch..."  Spock looked down.

"I was so surprised to hear about that.  All those years, and you
never mentioned him."

"It is complicated."  

"It seems like everything Vulcan is."  She smiled.  "Did you miss him
when he went away?"

He nodded.  "But it was not something that I allowed myself to dwell
on."

She smiled.  "I understand."

He looked up at the counter where Kirk was buying his food.  "Do you
understand now what I was saying about him?"

"I'm seeing a little of it."

Spock shot her a look that could only be considered amused.  "You are
seeing some other interesting aspects of him as well, I think."

She laughed.  "Now who's the yenta?"

Spock nodded.  "I would like to see him happy.  He is a man of deep
emotion.  Emotion that has very little outlet."

"I'm not sure I'm the proper outlet, Spock.  I will be working for
him."

"I am aware of that.  But you have, without question, grown into a
strong personality, one who will not be subsumed by him.  Moreover,
you are in an almost independent role on the ship.  You and McCoy are
the only two who can relieve him without prior authorization."

"Spock, aren't you putting the cart before the horse?  We're just
having fun."

He nodded.  "Of course, Doctor.  However, if your equine should
appear, then you will know how I view this."

She chuckled.  "He's the captain.  He may not be my boss, but he can
influence my boss."  She thought about McCoy.  "Well, he can try to
influence my boss."

"I doubt that he would get very far.  With either Doctor McCoy, or
with your section head."

"That would be you?"

He nodded.

"Why are you doing this?"

"He is lonely."  For a moment, Spock seemed to drop his barriers, and
Chapel saw the naked concern on his face.  "Very lonely."

"And you think I'm the ideal fix?"  She shook her head.  "I could
really do with two less yentas."  She touched his hand.  "But I
appreciate your concern for him."  She walked up to where Kirk stood.

He was eyeing the pork rinds.  "Which food group do those fit into?"

"Oily air, I believe."  She laughed.  "Or is that one of the four
elements."

"Both, I think."  He laughed.  Held up his bounty.  "I haven't had
this much junk food since finals at the Academy."

She nodded.  "Last year of graduate school.  I lived on caffeine and
salt."  She sensed Spock coming up behind them.  "Our Vulcan friend
here never had that problem."

Spock ignored her, just edged her gently out of the way with his
shoulder and paid for his lunch.

"He's ignoring you," Kirk said in a stage whisper.

Chapel studied Kirk.  Was he lonely?  His eyes were sparkling as he
teased his best friend.  But he was good at hiding things.

She wasn't sure how she felt about being the prescription for whatever
sad things he was feeling.  It was a little unflattering that Spock
thought she'd be an answer just because she was in a good position to
do it.  What happened to attraction, to mutual interests?  To
chemistry?

Kirk bumped up against her.  "You going to the bar tonight?  After
dinner?"

She nodded.  "Why?"

"I thought we could dance."  He shrugged, gave her an innocent smile. 
"If you want?"

She sighed.  She did want to.  But suddenly, everything seemed a lot
less fun.  She nodded, moved away from them, suddenly feeling confined
by their bulk pressing in on other side of her.

"Chris?"

"I'm going outside to eat.  I need some me time."  She hurried out the
door, into the garden.  It wasn't until she found a hidden grotto and
settled in to eat that it occurred to her she was running away.

It had been a long time since she'd felt the need to do that.

She didn't like herself much for her cowardice.

--------------------------

The next session was only mildly boring.  One speaker even achieved
interesting for a few minutes before sinking down again into
mediocrity.

She looked over at Kirk.  He gave her a puzzled smile, then turned
back to the speaker.

At the break, she stopped at the refreshment table, then walked over
to where he stood, holding out a soft drink.  She smiled at him.  "One
glass.  Truce?"

He smiled back, took a sip of the drink.  "Truce."  He moved her away
from the rest.  "Maybe after dinner you can tell me what we need a
truce for?"

She gave a bitter little laugh.  "That'll be a fun conversation."

He shook his head, a sad expression on his face.  "It would have been
yesterday.  Today, I'm not so sure."  He gave her back the glass,
walked over to their seats.

Spock came up.

"Don't start with me," she said, giving him her best "I've been on
duty for thirty-six hours and I'll take none of your bullshit" voice.

It did not deter him.  In the least.  "I was under the impression you
could make Jim happier than he was.  Had I known the reality, I might
not have encouraged you."

"Might not?  How about would not?"

He gave her an odd look.  "That is not certain."  He sighed.  "I _am_
sorry I interfered."

"Join the club."

He stared at her for a long moment, as if trying to figure out what to
say to her.  Then he seemed to give up and went to join Kirk.

She took a deep breath.  

"Christine?"

It was Riffick.  

"Tom."

"I heard you accepted a position on the Enterprise?"

She nodded.  

"I guess supply might seem pretty dull compared to that?"  He leaned
in.  "I don't know if you know this, but I'm retiring in a few months.
 I'd love to recommend you for the post.  A lot of people think
supply's boring but it's not."

She smiled.  "Boring's okay."

He studied her.  "You're burnt out, aren't you?"

She laughed.  Nobody else seemed to realize that.  The view must be
better from supply.  "Yeah, I'm burnt out.  I'm beyond burnt out.  I'm
charcoal."

He laughed.  "That job would kill me.  I don't see how you've done it
for as long as you have.  Takes a special kind, I guess."

She smiled.  "Or a total nutcase."

He shook his head.  "You're never that.  Think about supply, all
right?  Nothing's set in stone yet."  He looked over at Kirk and
Spock.  "Although, you sure do seem to be having fun with them.  I
guess it's like old home week for you?"

"I guess so."  In ways both pleasant and not so.

She refilled her drink, then wandered back to her seat.  Kirk smiled
at her, took the glass from her and drank.  The playfulness was
missing this time.  His smile was sad.

She'd made him sad.  Spock was right.  Damn Spock, why was he right?

She followed them into dinner when the session finally ended.  The
food was actually good.  She could hear murmurs of surprise from the
tables around them.

Kirk grinned.  "Now this is more like it."

Even Spock was able to find something he could eat.  He dug in like a
starving man.

Chapel wished she had more appetite, ended up pushing her food around
on her plate.  She was glad to let the waiter take it away.

Kirk leaned over to her.  "Do you want to get out of here?"

She nodded.

He smiled at the rest of the table.  "If you'll excuse us."  He shot a
look at Spock.  "See you in the morning?"

"Of course, Jim.  Enjoy your evening."  Spock turned to her, his
expression seemed to hold a warning.  "Doctor."

"Spock."

They walked out to the garden and she led Kirk to the grotto she'd
found.  "This is where I was today."

He sat down in the bench, under the overhang that had hidden her from
the world.  "This is pretty.  I can see why you'd like it."  He seemed
content to just sit.

She knelt down in front of the pool of water, let her fingers drag
through it.  It was colder than she expected.  "I spazzed today."

"Spazzed?"

She laughed.  "It's a word we use in Ops.  An old word, but apt.  It's
when you react stupidly or inappropriately.  Maybe both?"  She grinned
at him, didn't feel as though it came out as any more than
half-hearted.  "And it's irritating because back in Ops, I have one of
the lowest spaz quotients."

He laughed.  

She laughed too.  "I'm sorry I ran off."

He shrugged, but she saw his mouth tighten.  "It's all right.  I'm
getting used to women running away from me."

She stood up, walked over to the bench.  "I wasn't running away from
_you_."

He turned red, then laughed--a short, tight laugh.  "Well, that's
embarrassing.  How egotistical am I?"  He shook his head.  "So you
were running away from Spock?"

She sat down next to him, let her shoulder rub against his.  "No.  I
don't mean that either."  She sighed.  "I think I was running away
from...me."

He didn't say anything, didn't turn to look at her.  They sat in
silence, watching a night bird as it flew across the water.

Finally, he said, "Why do you want to come home, Chris?"

She took a deep breath.  "Because I'm lonely."

She glanced at him.  He was shaking his head slightly.  

She pushed harder against his shoulder.  "And I think you're lonely
too, aren't you?"

"Yep," he said.   She wondered if that was a good sign or a bad one
that he didn't even try to hide the truth from her.

"And we're having fun.  So much fun.  And Spock is pushing me toward
you."

He looked at her.  "He's pushing you too?"

She nodded.  "And I thought you were a meddler."

He shook his head.  

She leaned back.  "This job...it's been the best thing I've ever done.
 It's challenged me and it's made me strong and made me think quicker
on my feet than I've ever had to do.  But I'm tired, Jim.  I'm so
damned tired.  I want to go to bed and not be woken up two hours later
by the next emergency when I haven't even recovered from the last one
yet.  I want to be able to plan a little bit, not just react.  Over
and over."

"That is the nature of an emergency."

She smiled.  "Oh, I know.  If you could plan for it, it wouldn't be an
emergency."  She sighed.  "I'm just...tired.  Of all of it."

"Do you have any friends there?"

She looked at him.  "Oh, I do.  But they're odd friends.  You bond
with people over whatever crisis you're working on.  But then it's
over and they move on, and you're still there.  And you bond with the
next group of people that rush in with some dire emergency."  She
sighed.  "I think some of us, after a while, just get wary.  We only
extend ourselves so far anymore.  Because we know people leave, they
move on.  They don't look back."

"Except on the Enterprise."

"Except on the Enterprise."  She smiled.  "I still see Nyota when
she's in town.  And Len.  Sulu comes by, Scotty.  Even Chekov and Jan
stop by."

"I notice two names missing from that list."

She nodded.  "I think we both know why Spock isn't on that list.  And
you and I were never friends."

"No, we weren't." 

She didn't like the resignation in his voice.  "You were good to me. 
I respected you.  I liked you.  I loved serving under you.  You're a
good man.  And a great captain.  But I don't know you.  And you don't
know me."

He didn't say anything.  Not to agree, not to contradict.  He didn't
move at all.

She pushed her shoulder into him, trying to give him something back. 
"And that's what I'm afraid of, Jim.  That despite that, I'll run
right to you. And you'll run right to me.  Because we are two lonely,
burnt out people who are having a wonderful time together."  She
looked at him.  "Because you are handsome and warm, and I want you.  I
do."  She shook her head again.  "But I don't know you."

He turned to look at her.  "You're right.  You're absolutely right."

She touched his hand.  "If I thought this was just a temporary duty
thing, then I wouldn't spaz."  She smiled, saw him smile too.  They
both knew what she meant.  Sex like that was easy when you were never
going to see the person again.  What was the old saying?  What goes on
temporary duty stays on temporary duty.

"And we'd be two happy people," he said.  "If it was temporary duty. 
We're clicking here, Chris.  I may not know you, but I do like you."

She laughed.  "I know.  I like you too."  She stroked his hand a
little more firmly.  "And you're right.  It would be fun.  Only smart
people are funny, and smart people are good in bed."

He laughed.  "That's true, isn't it?"

She nodded.  

She leaned back, pulled her fingers away from his hand.

He sighed.  Then he reached over, took her hand in his.  Held it.  "I
am lonely."  He laughed softly.  "Spock made it all sound so
reasonable.  You, on the ship, not a problem."

She nodded.  "Yeah, he's quite the salesman."  She looked down at his
hand.  It felt so good on hers.  So human, so warm--a connection.  She
laid her other hand over his.  "Maybe I shouldn't take the position? 
If I go inside now, I bet I could still land a new job in no time
flat."

"I imagine you could."  His grip tightened on her.

She wondered if he was even aware he was doing it.

"Maybe it would be better." she said.

He turned to look at her.  "Maybe it wouldn't."  His expression was
calm, his eyes narrowed slightly, as if he was thinking everything
out.  "Maybe you need to come home, Chris."

"I don't know."

"You say you don't know me.  And that I don't know you.  Well, that's
true.  So, Doctor Chapel, how do we remedy that?"

"What?"

"You're acting like the only answer is to walk away.  To leave it like
that.  I think there's another way.  How do we do that?  How do we get
to know each other?"  His tone was different, the old Kirk, the
schemer, the one who never gave up.

She could feel a smile growing.  "I guess it would help if we were on
the same ship?"

He grinned.  "Yes, that would definitely be a good start."  His smile
faded, he looked at her searchingly.  "Do you really think I'm still
handsome.  I'm old, Chris."

She laughed.  "Aren't we all?  And you're not old, you're older. 
There is a difference."

He smiled, but only part way.  "You didn't answer the question."

"Oh, the handsome part?"  At his nod, she smiled.  "Well, you're more
handsome than a Tiberian bat."

He glared at her.

"Okay.  Definitely better looking than one of those Ferengi
creatures."

His expression was stern.

"Not the right answer, huh?"  She smiled.  "You've always been one of
the most handsome men I've ever seen.  And you still are."

He smiled.  Then his smile faded.  "I may be handsome, but you
preferred Spock all those years."

"Like you cared."  She laughed.  "Besides, he had that whole Vulcan
mystique thing going.  Mind melds, mysterious rituals, total
disinterest in me, that kind of thing.  What can I say?  I was a
masochist."

"I think maybe there's a part of him that is interested in you."

"Oh, please."

He laughed.  "No, I'm serious.  I can't imagine him steering someone
my way who he didn't find attractive on some level."

"He knows you well enough to know what you'd find attractive."  She
laughed.  "That's sort of funny.  I never really thought of myself as
someone you'd find attractive.  It's the smart ass thing, isn't it?"

"It is pretty sexy."

She laughed.

They sat again, silence growing around them.  A comfortable silence.

"So you'll choose the Enterprise?" he asked.

"It'll be hard to give up a career in supply, but I'll come aboard."

He laughed.  "Good."

She turned to look at him.  His eyes looked dark in the dusky light,
not golden as they had all day.  "So, Captain Kirk, where do we go
from here?"

"Well, Doctor Chapel, we can either stroll through these lovely
gardens and talk, or we can go back in and dance.  Or mingle, if
you're getting sick of me."

"I'm not getting sick of you."

"Well, that's a relief."  He smiled, a silly smile.  Not sad at all.

"A stroll would be nice."  She started to get up.

He pulled her down, moved toward her as she fell back, his arms
wrapping around her, his lips on hers.  She was too startled to
resist, then too turned on to.

He was a great kisser.

He finally pulled away.  She laughed at the mischievous look on his
face.  The kid caught with his hand in the cookie jar--totally
unrepentant.

"And what was that?"

"That, Chris, was a kiss."  He stood, pulled her up after him, tucking
her hand over his arm.  "Surely, you've heard of those."

"I have.  I thought they came later?  Once we get to know each other."

His grin just grew wider.  "They do.  Can I help it if I wanted a
preview?  Man's gotta know what he's waiting for."

She laughed.  "And do you think it'll be worth it."

He laughed, pulled her in a little closer.  "Oh, yes."  He looked at
her sideways. "You do agree?"

She sighed.  Dreamily.   Dramatically.  Pretended to swoon.

He laughed.  "I'll take that as a yes."

They walked slowly, savoring the rich fragrances of the plants that
bloomed at night.  She heard people up ahead, and turned them down
another path.

"Feeling antisocial?" he asked.

"Don't feel like sharing you."

His soft exhalation was like a laugh.  "Wonderful answer."

"Just the truth."  She laid her head on his shoulder.  "Why do you
keep going back to the Enterprise?"

"She's home.  She's mine.  She's where I belong.  And I hate
everywhere else I've tried."

"But you have to admit, the Command parties are much better than those
on the ship."

He seemed to be trying to hide a smirk.  "Maybe."

"You know it's a legend...that dance you did.  On the bar, at the
officer's club.  With Admiral Cranston's wife."

He flinched.  "That was thirteen years ago." 

She shrugged.  "Yes, that's why it's a legend, silly. It endures."

"Right."  He smiled.  "So would I hear any stories about you if I
asked?"

"Nope.  Not a one.  I was a very good girl."

He shot her a look.

"Well, there was this incident involving a pool table and a lampshade,
but I've been advised by my attorneys not to discuss it."

He laughed.  "We have a pool table on the ship.  I could order in a
lampshade."

She laughed.  "Don't you dare."

He grinned, sighed.  It was a contented sound.  "This is nice."

"Yes.  It is."

"So, do they ever talk about an incident involving a hose from
hydroponics and vodka shots?"

She shook her head.  "I don't believe I've heard that one."

"Good.  You won't hear it from me."

She bumped up against him.  "No fair.  You can't bring it up and then
not explain."

"Sure I can.  Unless you have something just as interesting to trade. 
Like say a story about a pool table and a lampshade?"

"You drive a very hard bargain."

He grinned, touched her cheek for a moment, his fingers lingering on
her face before he let them fall away.  "I know."

She smiled. 

His expression turned stern, captain-like.  "Now spill. I want names,
dates, photos if you have them."

She laughed.  "It's embarrassing." 

"The best Command party stories are.  You want to hear about that
hose, you'll start singing."

"You do not want me to sing.  Believe me, you do not want me to ever
sing."

"Well, I guess I'll find things like that out, won't I?"

She smiled.  He was so nice to her.  So interested.  She realized she
felt the same way about him.  Interested.  And she wanted to be nice,
wanted to let him in.

"I guess you will."  

As they walked off into the darkness, she began to let him in.

It felt good.  Like coming home.  

Finally.


FIN

--
Forwarded to ASCL by:
Stephen Ratliff
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