Gravity

2

*1 month later*

"So?" Uhura asks.

"So what?" You ask back

"You are finally back in San Francisco and rumor has it that Jim's trying to get you back up on the Enterprise." She says after placing her mug on the kitchen counter. "You'll have to eventually give him an answer, Liz."

"Eventually." You say while taking your gym bag and heading for the door with Uhura following behind.

"Like a place back on the Enterprise?" Jim's voice sounds serious this time, his question catching you off guard.

"More like my life depending on it." You say, sounding more defensive than you had intended.

"That's not the word around Starfleet." Jim says, somewhat more cautiously.

"They don't know shit." You just about spit out the words making him cast his gaze away. "I thought that Pike knew better than to use you two to lure me back." You add before sipping your coffee.

"They. Don't. Know Shit." You mutter out every word while hitting the punching bag harder and harder every time; the chain it was hanging from threatening to break.

"Easy tiger." Bones' voice makes you turn around only to find him giving you his familiar 'you'll end up hurting yourself' look. "You okay?"

"Yes. No." You take a deep breath before talking again. "'It's fine." You say with a smile before giving him a quick hug. "Long time no see."

"It must be that I haven't had to patch you up lately." You roll your eyes at his statement and he lets out one of those full-body laughs you liked so much.

"Here I thought that's supposed to be a good thing." You say with a smile. "But seriously though, it's great seeing you again." You add patting him on the shoulder.

Spock's voice calling for Bones made you both turn to look in his direction; he was wearing a pair of grey sweats and a black t-shirt. You let out a sigh before resuming punching the bag.

"Doctor, the captain was looking for you just now." He informs, stopping beside the both of you.

"Thank you, Spock."

A hand on your shoulder made you stop and turn.

"See you around kiddo." Bones says and you smile.

"May I have a word, Elizabeth?" Spock asks you after the doctor leaves and you just give up continuing your workout, walking towards a bench and sitting down while picking up your water bottle

"Go ahead."

"You seem irritated." You look up, slightly narrowing your eyes at him.

"Spock, I'm seriously not in the mood." You reply with a tired sigh and his brows furrow for a split second before he looks at the wall behind you and then back at you.

"Why Vulcan?" You run a hand over your face to cover up your frustration.

"Why does the sun shine? Why do birds sing? Why won't you fucking drop the subject already?" You say standing up and putting your stuff in your gym bag before walking away. "Research, that's the fuck why, Spock." You yell while turning to look at him without stopping, earning some curious looks from some of the people present in the room and no reaction whatsoever from Spock. "Right." You sigh with a shake of your head in annoyance while turning and walking towards the exit.

"Elizabeth, I hope your flight was free of incident."

"Indeed Amanda. Thank you very much for receiving me." Amanda squeezes your hand before letting go. "Ambassador Sarek, I highly appreciate your affirmative answer to my request, and I apologize in advance for any inconvenience my stay here may cause."

"Nonsense." Amanda's voice is tender as Ambassador Sarek only nods his head in reply. "We're beyond delighted you're here." A beautiful smile spreads across her face and you mirror it in return.

"I expect you to find the answers you're looking for here, Lieutenant. If you'll excuse me." Ambassador Sarek excuses himself before leaving, and Amanda leads you into the house.

You decided to comm Bones as soon as you were outside the gym.

"Hey, are you up for a drink tonight?"

"Everythin' alright?" You smile at the always worrisome doctor.

"Yeah, it's just that I could use some booze instead of owing Starfleet another punching bag." You hear him laugh.

"Sure will, Liz. See you on that bar off campus tonight at eight." He says once he's done laughing.

"It's a date." You say before hanging up and checking the time.

"What just happened?" Uhura aks coming out of nowhere.

"You scared the crap out of me, Ny." You call her out.

"Yeah, sorry about that." She apologizes and you shake your head with a smile. "What was that?" She asks again and you sigh.

"Save yourself the trouble and don't date a vulcan, Ny." You say in a weary tone before shooting her a kind smile and walking away, leaving behind a confused and slightly worried Nyota.

Once you were back at the apartment, you dropped your bag by the door and walked right into the bathroom to take a shower.

"It is the first time ever I meet a human that wants to engage into Vulcan emotion purging rituals." Amanda's words did not surprise you.

"I don't intend on engaging into the Kolinahr ." You explain. "That would be illogical." You add and Amanda chuckles. "I like to think of it like more of a first-hand research than anything." Amanda nods at your words, mirroring your smile.

"Well, I think you're in the right place then, Elizabeth." She says, ever so sweetly. "Plus, it'll be great to have someone from Earth around for a while."

"Look at that, how you doin' sugar?" Bones greets you making you smile as you sit opposite of him.

"I'm great actually. I kinda missed this." You say looking around the bar, Starfleet cadets gathered here and there.

"Well, I bet they didn't have any of this in the East Coast." he adds just as a bartender places two shot glasses on the table.

"Do I wanna know I'm drinking, or I just trust you implicitly?" He just smiles and raises his glass in your direction before downing it at once. You roll your eyes and smiled before doing the same. "Jeez." You say pulling a face and placing the glass on the table making him laugh. "Still worth the burn." You add laughing too.

"So, tell me." He says as you raise two fingers at the bartender asking for another two shots.

"Didn't Jim tell you?"

"He did, but you know how Jim can be sometimes."

"There was no actual need to drag Spock with him to ask me such a simple thing." You say. "And the rumors going around Starfleet..." You scoff.

"I know better, Liz." He says while the bartender places another two shot glasses on the table. "But no one rejects an offer like that to be a teacher."

You thanked the bartender with a smile and downed yours without missing a beat.

"Not someone with your credentials whatsoever." He points out and you look at him while toying with the now empty glass. "You were one of Starfleet's best students." He starts and you simply listen" Two doctorates at once? No one does that."

"I did." You say looking away.

"That's what I'm saying." His hand wraps around yours to stop you from toying with the glass and make you look back at him. "You don't just give everything up, not when you're one of Starfleet's best assets."

"I fell in love with the wrong person and it fucked me up real good." You say holding his gaze. "I'm sorry for wanting some peace and quiet for a little while."

"Liz..."

"No, I'm- I'm sorry, I shouldn't be taking my frustration out on you." You apologize and lean back into the padded booth. "So, are we gonna get drunk or what?" You ask, making him laugh. "I'm back honey, so keep a biobed free cuz you never know when I might show up at medical." You add making him roll his eyes.

"Will do, sugar."