Path: newsspool2.news.atl.earthlink.net!stamper.news.atl.earthlink.net!elnk-atl-nf1!newsfeed.earthlink.net!newsswing.news.prodigy.com!prodigy.net!news.glorb.com!postnews.google.com!news2.google.com!newsread.com!newsstand.newsread.com!POSTED.newshog.newsread.com!not-for-mail Newsgroups: alt.startrek.creative.erotica.moderated Approved: ascem@earthlink.net Organization: Better Living Thru TrekSmut Sender: ascem@earthlink.net Message-ID: From: "djinn_fic" MIME-Version: 1.0 Mailing-List: list ASCEML@yahoogroups.com; contact ASCEML-owner@yahoogroups.com Subject: NEW: TOS In the Fullness of Time 3/3 (R) S/Ch Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1 Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit Lines: 660 Date: Thu, 30 Dec 2004 05:55:06 GMT NNTP-Posting-Host: 209.198.142.218 X-Complaints-To: Abuse Role , We Care X-Trace: newshog.newsread.com 1104386106 209.198.142.218 (Thu, 30 Dec 2004 00:55:06 EST) NNTP-Posting-Date: Thu, 30 Dec 2004 00:55:06 EST Xref: news.earthlink.net alt.startrek.creative.erotica.moderated:86479 X-Received-Date: Wed, 29 Dec 2004 21:55:11 PST (newsspool2.news.atl.earthlink.net) TITLE: In the Fullness of Time AUTHOR: Djinn CONTACT: djinn@djinnslair.com http://www.djinnslair.com SERIES: TOS RATING: R CODES: S/Ch PART: 3/3 SUMMARY: This is a sequel to "Nexus." Healing will happen--in time. Christine looked across the negotiation table at Spock. He seemed to sense her eyes on him and looked up, his expression lightening enough for her to see his tenderness for her. Smiling, she bent back to her padd. "You two need anything else?" Rand asked, peeking into the conference room. "We are fine," Spock said. "Okay then. We'll be at Caviosta in twenty-two hours." She grinned. "I'm hoping you'll be ready for a break before then? I'd like to steal Christine away from you, if you don't mind?" "You will give her back?" Spock asked, his eyes bland as he looked back at Rand. She didn't seem to know what to say. Then she burst out laughing. "I promise." "Then I do not mind." He went back to his padd. Christine turned to look at Rand, winking at her. Rand mouthed, "Oh, my god," to her, then left them alone. "If you didn't want her to know about us, I'm not sure that was the way to keep the secret." "Why would I wish to keep our relationship a secret, Christine?" He did not look up at her as he spoke. She smiled. If he did not feel the need to look at her, it was an issue he considered not a problem. Just a statement of fact. "No reason," she murmured. "Did you wish it to be a secret? Perhaps you wanted to forego sharing a bed tonight?" His tone was light but there was something else there--something just a little bit uncertain. "You mean I might want to throw you over for Hikaru?" He didn't answer, but he did look up at her. "I think I'll stick with you." "You have not grown tired of our relationship?" She smiled broadly. Was it possible to get tired of several months of astoundingly good sex with a man she was crazy about? A man who appeared to be just as crazy about her--even if he expressed that a bit more diffidently than she did. He seemed to almost smile and looked back down. "I shall take that as a no." "You do that, Spock." They read in silence for a while. Then he said softly, "Have you read the section on Caviostan agriculture?" "Yep." Caviosta was one hell of a fertile planet. Their grain production alone could feel half the quadrant. "What did you make of it?" She took a deep breath. "I only know what I've learned from you-- and picked up from the experts we had in ops, but..." "But...?" "But I'd call that a bargaining chip, wouldn't you?" He nodded, a look of deep satisfaction on his face as he met her eyes. "I would indeed." She grinned. "I'm getting good at this." "You have been quite skilled at this for some time. You are becoming confident." She shot him a leer. "Wonder why that is?" He appeared to be blushing slightly, and she was charmed. Just when she thought she knew him, he'd do something else that would make her heart melt. "I would not know, Christine. Why is that?" But he subjected her to a very thorough once-over, at least of the parts he could see. She felt herself blushing. "Stop it or we won't get any work done." "I did not start this." She laughed, found herself channeling his mother--Amanda was incredibly adept at refereeing between Spock and Sarek. "But you can be the one who finishes it." He shot her a glance, and she laughed. "I think Janice is with Hikaru now." Christine smiled at his expression--it was almost relieved. "Then I wish them every happiness." "I bet you do." He looked up at her. "You doubt my sincerity?" "Not at all. I doubt your motives for that sincerity." He nodded, looked pleased again. "You see, another diplomatic skill evidencing itself. Assessment of motive." "Don't try to distract me, Ambassador mine." He smiled slightly at the unexpected endearment, then forced his lips to curve back down. "Christine, you must concentrate." "I know." She studied him as he went back to the padd. He seemed happy with her. Not that anyone else could probably tell. There was nothing in his posture, or his expression, to give it away. But she just felt it. He was happy. With her. Even months later, it still struck her as ironic. ------------------------- Spock watched Christine walk along the beach, the sun shining on her hair. She looked tired; he imagined he did also. But he had promised to bring her here if they were successful in their latest-- and most arduous--mission. And they had been, so here they were. Even though they were both exhausted. It was impossible to tell from where they were standing that halfway around Kappa Upsilon, a terrible war had raged for decades. A war they had just helped the combatants end. With talk that had led to arguments and walk-outs and finally--after two months of histrionics and posturing--to understanding and peace. He walked out to join her by the water. She didn't turn but held her hand out for him. Taking it, he felt her squeeze gently. "Are you as tired as I am?" she asked. "I am." "No, you're probably more tired. This time, you did all the work." It was not true. She had supplied him with vital information-- facts, figures, and some data he'd been surprised she'd found for him. "Did you call in favors for the order of battle information?" Her data had varied considerably from what either side or his initial Starfleet contacts had provided. She smiled. "Maybe." "Ops?" She smiled again. "Maybe." He touched her hair. "Thank you. It was crucial." She didn't wave him off, just nodded. "I know. I was glad I could help." She leaned against him, and he wrapped an arm around her, not caring if anyone saw. "Wow," she said, "you must be tired if you're going in for public displays." Turning to look at him, she kissed him. "And you are not above leveraging that for your own nefarious purposes, are you, Christine?" He kissed her back. "I am not." She seemed to sag against him. "As much as I'd like to take advantage of this new spirit of openness, do you think we could go back to our rooms and sleep?" "Yes." He held her hand as they walked back to the shuttle, let her go only when he had to pilot the little craft back to the capital. "You know, with this work, you're doing something good, Spock. Truly good." "We are both doing good." She did wave him away this time. "But I was thinking of you for a reason. You're still young. You have a lot of life ahead of you." He looked over at her. They had never spoken of this. She smiled, the expression both proud and sad. "I like thinking that you'll go on doing good things. That you'll go on making a difference." He reached over. "I will do them with you in mind." She smiled, squeezed his hand. "That's nice." Then she sighed. "I'm going to get old, and you won't." "I will age also." "But not as much. You'll still be vital. Just like Sarek will be, even as Amanda gets older." He did not like to think of his parents this way. Found it more unsettling for some reason than considering the same fate for him and Christine. "I'm sorry. This is depressing on our victory day." He shook his head. "It is the way things will be between us some day. It is good that we talk now. Because you must understand that I will never stop loving you." "Right till the end, huh?" She smiled but the expression was off. "Yes." He put everything he felt for her into the word. "I love you, Spock." She leaned over, kissed him. "I thought you were tired." "I am. But parts of me are interested." Smiling, she touched his hair, smoothing it down in the way he found soothing. "Maybe before we sleep...?" "If we must." He said it as if she was asking a great deal of him. Then he looked over at her. She laughed. "We must." "Then we will." He forced his attention back on the shuttle. It would not do to crash on their way back. It would make it very difficult to make love to her if they were dead. He opened the throttle up a little, suddenly in a hurry to get back to their rooms. ---------------------- "You seem happy to be back on Vulcan, Christine?" Amanda looked over from her roses. "I am happy to be here." Christine sighed, letting out any lingering stress. She closed her eyes in the slight breeze--a breeze that blew hot and dry in the twilight. "Spock and I just spent two weeks on an icebound asteroid negotiating mining rights. Believe me, this heat feels great." Amanda smiled. "My son seems very...happy." Christine just smiled and was surprised when Amanda put her shears down and walked over. Laying a hand on Christine's cheek, she said softly. "Thank you." Christine laid her hand on Amanda's. "For what?" "For loving him." "I'm the one making out like a bandit. While poor Spock is stuck with me." "You know what I mean." Amanda laughed and let her go. "Did you learn that trick from your friend Leonard? Making a joke before things get too serious?" "Like when you realize you're carrying around your best friend's katra and it might not come out?" McCoy had been full of jokes then. Of course, he'd also been half nuts, so the humor hadn't really worked. Amanda nodded. "Yeah, I might have learned it from him." "When Spock first brought you here, you weren't joking about much of anything." "No, I wasn't." Christine laughed. "I think I have him to thank for that." "I think so too." Amanda went back to her roses. "How long will you two stay this time?" "Long enough to warm up--and barely that. Starfleet wants us on Cardassia by the end of the week." Amanda frowned. "I was hoping longer." "Next time we'll come back for a longer visit." "Good." Picking up the blossoms she'd cut, Amanda walked toward the door. "Stay out here as long as you wish, dear." Christine closed her eyes. She wouldn't stay that long. If she did, she might never leave. -------------------- They were just leaving the shuttle from Cardassia, when Spock sensed Christine tensing next to him. He looked over, saw that Admiral Michaelson had gotten on the spacedock lift with them. "Sir," Spock said evenly. "Captain," Michaelson said, ignoring Christine. "Ron." Her voice dipped dangerously, making two syllables out of his name. He smiled, the look full of malice and turned away. Spock gave Christine credit. She waited until the young lieutenant sharing the lift had exited on a middle deck, and the lift had resumed, before saying, "Computer, hold lift, authorization Chapel Echo-Omega-Alpha-four-five-four." The lift jerked to a halt. "What the hell do you think you're doing?" Michaelson said. She didn't smile, didn't react in any way. "It's time to talk about this." "Not in a lift." "Why? You claustrophobic?" But she moved back, as if giving him room. "I know you've had a lot of successes working with Captain Spock here. But that won't take it away." She sighed, then she looked up at him. "The taint of him? Of Matthew?" She moved closer, one step, then another. "You're right. It won't. He's all over my career. He helped mold me into what I am. And you know what, Ron?" She practically spit his name at him. "He helped mold you too. And you hate that. That you owe your career and where you are to that fact that a traitor pushed for you." "He was scum." "No! He was not." She advanced on him, and Michaelson stepped back, until he ran into the lift wall. "He was a good man. He backed the wrong cause, that's all. He hurt people, and I won't excuse that. And I don't know why he did what he did. I don't know, and I'll never know. Because he's dead, and he can't tell us why he did something so goddamned stupid as lead that conspiracy." Michaelson started to speak, but Christine didn't let him get a word in. "He's a traitor. Matthew Cartwright is a traitor. But I will not say he was not my friend. And I will not say he was a bad man at the core, or that every thing he did in his career meant nothing. And you can't make me. And you hate me for that." "That's not why I hate you." "You know, Ron." Christine smiled, and Spock was struck by how much like Jim the wolfish grin made her seem. "You need to lighten up. Take some time off." She shook her head, as if in pity. "You need to get a life. Computer, resume lift." Then she turned back to Spock. "This isn't over, Chapel." Michaelson was almost sputtering. She smiled at him sweetly. "Yes, Ron. It is. For me, it is. I'm done worrying about you. But if you want to make it your life's work to destroy me, then go ahead. I can't stop you." Spock felt this had gone far enough. "I believe, however, that my family can." Christine glared at him, but her hand bumped up against his, her fingers touching his. "Admiral," Spock said, "with all due respect, it is long past time to get a life." As the doors opened, Spock urged Christine out of the lift. "Good day, sir. May your journey be without incident." Christine led him to the transporter to Earth, not looking back. "He is not following us." "Oh, thank god. Spock, what the hell was I thinking? He could bring me up on charges." "I do not believe he will. This will not show him in a flattering light, after all." She seemed to be trying to take long, deep breaths. "Christine, it will be fine." She nodded, but she still looked a little panicked. Then she started to laugh. "As impassioned speeches go, I think I gave Jim a run for his money." Spock nearly smiled, caught the expression before it got out. "I would concur." She took another deep breath. "Let's go home, Spock." Home. Her place, or his. He was ready for it to be theirs, for it to be just one apartment to return to. He glanced over at her, wondering when, if ever, she would be ready for that too. --------------------- "Here we are again, home temporary home," Sulu said, as he showed Christine her quarters. "Not that I think you'll be using these quarters much." She smiled slightly, and Sulu grinned. "Is Janice using hers much these days?" She shot him a look and was happy to see him trying to keep his grin from getting much wider. "You're happy?" He nodded. "I'm glad." He moved closer, touching the side of her mouth softly. "This turns up a lot more than it used to. Funny to think we have a Vulcan to thank for that." She laughed. "The Christine Chapel of long ago would never believe how this is all going to turn out." "No, I'm sure she wouldn't. None of us back then would believe how our lives will change." "That's for sure." "Well, I'll let you sleep." Winking, Sulu walked to the door. It opened to Spock, hand raised to ring the chime. "Captain Spock." "Captain Sulu. Am I interrupting anything?" Spock sounded a little put out, as if he thought he might be. "Just two old friends catching up." Sulu's smile was easy, hiding nothing. Spock didn't look entirely convinced. "Good night then." "Good night." With a last smile at her, Sulu was gone. "My. You're territorial tonight." She walked toward Spock, was surprised when he pulled her close, held her in a tight hug. "Wait a minute. Are you sniffing me?" He let her go, his eyebrow going up. "Vulcans do have an extremely acute sense of smell." "I don't want to know." She moved close to him again, kissing his neck. "Do you smell him on me?" "No." "Would you if he and I had hugged?" "I am unsure." He gently tugged her chin up so he could kiss her lips. "But if you and he had done other things, I would most certainly know it." "I'll keep that in mind for the future," she said with a gentle grin, hoping that he took it as a joke. "See that you do," he said sternly, but his eyes seemed to twinkle. "Let's see what we can do about getting your scent all over me, shall we?" He eyed her bed. "The bed in my quarters is infinitesimally larger." "Your place it is." She let him lead her down and across the corridor. The room was larger than hers, and it had a sitting room. The bed, however, appeared to be identical. "Spock, this isn't any bigger." He was already pushing her down. "Yes, it is. But only slightly." "Define slightly." "One point two three centimeters." "You just wanted to order me around. Drag me off to your lair and all that." "Quite possibly." He kissed her, his tongue rough and hard. She pulled away. "I never loved Sulu. Not that way." She stroked his face, holding him back when he would have kissed her again. "I am not jealous." "Uh huh." He sighed. Not an almost-sigh, a hearty, slightly fed-up sigh. "What?" "I am weary of pretending we do not share a room. I am tired of squeezing together on small beds. If we were married, we would be assigned quarters more amenable to two people." She grinned at him. "Do not make fun of this, Christine." "I'm not." She kissed him, loving the way he was handling her uniform, as if he couldn't wait to tear it from her body. Loving what he did to her once he had it off. She hoped to hell the Excelsior was as soundproof as his parents' house--Spock was definitely overachieving in bringing her pleasure...and in taking his own. When they finally lay quietly, cuddled together so that the bed would not feel so small, she said, "So, you want to marry me solely for your own convenience?" "I have other motives for wishing to formalize our union, Christine. But yes, I am finding the idea of larger accommodations to be a great incentive." She smiled. "So this isn't to protect me?" "Well, it is to protect you from falling off the bed." He moved slightly, causing her to rock backwards. If he hadn't been holding on, she'd have toppled off the bed. "No need to illustrate your point, Captain. I believe you." He almost smiled. "Could it be a small ceremony?" He shot a look at her, as if shocked she was discussing it. "It could." "I mean, virtually no ceremony. Just us and family...maybe a few friends if we're feeling daring." "That would be acceptable." She smiled. "No Vulcan royalty or peers or whatever you are." "Nobility." "Right. None of that." He kissed her, his arm going around her more tightly, as if to keep her safe from falling--ever. She sighed. "Okay. I'll marry you." He nodded. "I shall inform my parents." Kissing him, she said with a laugh, "That has to be the most unromantic proposal ever." "As the end result was most satisfactory, I am not unduly disturbed by that." She laughed. "I guess I'm not either." He touched her mouth the way Sulu had and said, "You smile often now." "You make me smile often now." His eyes were extraordinarily tender as he said, "I am...glad." "Yes, you look like the picture of happiness." But she knew her own eyes were soft. "I love you," he said, his tone so sweet she wouldn't have traded him for a thousand Romeos. "I love you too, Spock." He kissed her again, softly and slowly as if he was making sure she'd meant what she'd said about marrying him. Then he pulled her in close again. "I believe it would be prudent to marry as soon as possible." "I'm sure you do." He shot her a look--stern and not amused. She just laughed at him. Cuddling against him, she let herself go, felt herself getting drowsy. "Whenever you want, Spock," she said, her voice half muffled by his chest. "Soon." "Okay." She wondered if the old Christine Chapel had any idea of the hell she was in for. And the strange surprise that waited for her--Spock would love her. Spock would want to marry her. Spock would damn near badger her into marrying him. It was too rich. Or just rich enough to make up for what she'd gone through, what she'd lost. What she'd given up, or had yanked away from her. Or never had at all--Valeris had brought them together. Christine didn't hate the woman anymore, couldn't hate her, not when she had Spock now because she'd had Valeris first. Sighing, she turned her head so she could kiss Spock's neck, under his chin. He reached over and stroked her cheek, softly. "Thank you for rescuing me." She didn't mean just from the detention center. She could tell he understood. "You rescued me as well," he said. "I was...floundering." "You didn't look like you were floundering." "Nevertheless, I was." He moved so he was on his side, pulled her in closer, his arm and leg wrapping around her, pulling her as close as she could be. "Rescuing you saved us both." "I'm glad." She kissed him. "As am I." He rubbed his nose gently against hers, a strangely sweet gesture, one that brought a lump to her throat. She nestled more comfortably against him then let herself relax in his arms, secure and protected--not that she needed protection anymore. But it was nice to know it was there if she did. FIN ~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~ ASCEM messages are copied to a mailing list. Most recent messages can be found at http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ASCEML. NewMessage: