We continue

“Captain! I didn’t expect to see you here,” Uhura exclaimed when Jim stopped at a booth at Lorenzo’s Bar on Yorktown. With her was another female lieutenant, Lindy Warren, Jim recalled.

“I didn’t mean to interrupt anything.”

“You aren’t,” Uhura assured him. “Join us.”

“Actually, if you’ll excuse me,” Warren said, sliding out of the booth. “I’m going to get us some more drinks.”

“Don’t leave on my account,” Jim said.

“I’m not. Getting drinks. What would you like, Captain?”

“Just a pilsner beer for me, thanks.” He sat next to Uhura as Warren slipped away. “How are you?”

Uhura snorted. “You must have talked to Spock.”

“A little.”

“Well, I’m fine. Nobody likes to end a long-term relationship, but I’ll survive.” She reached over and patted Jim’s hand. “Spock and I will remain friends.”

Jim nodded. “He said pretty much the same thing. Close friends?”

She shrugged. “It might take a while, but we’ll get there. We started out as friends originally.”

“I thought…well, never mind.”

“What?”

“You looked like you wanted to reconcile with him. But it’s none of my business.”

“You’re right, it’s not,” she said, coolly. Then she gave another little shrug. “But I did. I thought we would. With Spock deciding not to go to New Vulcan and coming to find me, I thought that’s where Spock and I were headed. But Spock had other plans.”

Jim knew not to ask more questions. Spock had said it was a mutual decision but it sure didn’t sound like it from Uhura’s point of view.

“Okay, well. I hope I’m not going to find your transfer request.”

“Not a chance. No ex-romantic relationship is going to interfere with my career.”

Jim smiled. “Good. I’m surprised Spock is staying.”

She had just taken a sip of her very green cocktail. She puckered her lips and then shook her head. “Why are you surprised?”

“Well. I don’t know. If he wasn’t staying to continue your relationship, I guess I just wonder what’s keeping him here. I’m glad of course.”

Uhura surprised him by laughing. “Guess he hasn’t told you everything.”

“Hmm?”

“Nope, not going there. You want to know more, you’ll have to ask Spock. I shouldn’t be surprised.”

“Surprised by what?” Jim asked, confused.

She shook her head. “As I said, ask Spock. It’s not my place to say and I don’t want to anyway.”

Lieutenant Warren arrived with their drinks then, putting another green cocktail in front of Uhura and handing the beer to Jim.

“I’ll be back with mine,” she said.

Jim smiled and got up. “I’m actually going to take this and get out of here. No one wants their captain cramping their style. See you later and enjoy your night.”

Jim took his beer and was about to exit Lorenzo’s when an Orion female sitting at the bar caught his eye. She gave him a saucy look. She reminded him of Gaila, who of course was long dead now having been murdered by Nero.

He decided not to leave the bar after all, thinking at least for the night, he wouldn’t be alone.