Uhura followed the sound of weeping ... that's when she found her, hugging her knees to her chest as she huddled in the overstuffed chair in the observation lounge. She was hardly recognizable as the woman Uhura had been introduced to just a few short days ago ... but then, she had been through a great deal in those few days.

Upon their first meeting, Amanda appeared to be a strong, intelligent, and independent woman, who had proven herself to be every bit the equal of her Vulcan husband. But her nearly forty years of marriage to him had almost come to an abrupt end this day ... an end that potentially could have also taken the life of their only son.

She had apparently fought with Spock, whose loyalty to his Captain was in opposition to his duty to his father ...but Amanda endured the ordeal, and according to Chris, remained calm while the battle raged, and the surgery proceeded. She even found a moment of happiness while her husband and son, estranged for nearly eighteen years, found a moment of peace with each other, in the wake of the emergency. She held up well through it all, but it was bound to catch up to her, now that the crisis had passed.

As Uhura approached, she cleared her throat, not wanting to startle the older woman. Amanda looked up, just as Uhura knelt before her ... their eyes locked ... and as recognition came, Uhura opened her arms in a gesture of comfort.

Amanda fell into the others arms ... until that very moment, she had not been aware of how much she had missed the touch of another human being ... or another female. It had been far too many years since she had experienced this type of emotional release ... and even then, she had been on Vulcan, there had been no comfort for her other than her tears.

Her long years on Vulcan had been full of love, of a sort ... whether Sarek ever admitted to the emotion, or not ... but not comfort. Comfort was something that Vulcan's just did not grasp. Comfort needed understanding ... and understanding emotional responses was not logical.

This woman understood. Amanda did not know how, but she knew that she did. Whether from personal experience, or that innate sense that some women have about each other, Uhura *understood* what Amanda was feeling. She offered her comforting arms, her soft voice ... whatever Amanda needed to soothe her nerves, and ease her heartache.

They remained in each others arms for some time, shifting position once, so they were sitting, leaning against the chair, with Amanda's head on Uhura's ample bosom. She hummed softly, as she gently stroked the hair out of the older woman's eyes.

Eventually, Amanda's wracking sobs subsided. She sat, soothed by the beautiful voice, and aroused by the comforting touch. She reached to stroke Uhura's cheek, as she turned her tear-stained face to kiss those humming lips. She meant to keep it light ... a kiss of thanks ... but her body betrayed her.

She felt the slightly parted lips beneath her own opening to her exploring tongue ... the humming stopped as the kiss deepened ... yet it was still there, in her mind and soul ... an anchor ... a lifeline ... a reminder of all she had left behind, when she became the wife of a Vulcan.

Thinking of her husband, she pulled away from the intimate kiss ... flustered by the sensations she was feeling, thinking they had been well buried. "I'm sorry, Ms. Uhura ..." she started to say, but Uhura silenced her with the touch of her finger to her lips.

"No need to apologize ..." she said, and with a smile that lit up the room, she added, "and please, call me Nyota."

"Nyota ... what a beautiful name," and with a rather shaky smile of her own, added, "... for a beautiful woman. Thank you ..." she began, but seemed lost for words. She pulled out of Uhura's comforting arms, and made to get up off the floor, but Uhura could see she was having some difficulty.

Standing herself, she offered a hand to the older woman, and easily helped her to her feet. Sensing a bit of unsteadiness, she lightly placed her arm around the slender shoulders, asking as she did if she were alright.

"Yes ... I'm fine," Amanda assured her, "just give me a minute ... I've got a bit of a cramp in my foot."

Uhura helped her back into the chair, where this encounter started. She once again knelt in front of her, and looked into the troubled face, asking, "which foot?"

Amanda held it up slightly, and Uhura took it into her hands, removed the soft slipper, and proceeded to massage the delicate appendage. She started at the base of the toes ... moving her thumbs in steady circles on the ball of the foot. Her touch was strong and sure ... and moved slowly, but steadily up to the thin but well muscled calf.

Looking up once again, she could see the relief wash over Amanda's features ... as if all the stress of the past few days had concentrated in her foot, and was being released through this one small act. Uhura, having sensed Amanda's earlier attraction and arousal, used this opportunity to show that the attraction was not one sided.

Continuing to massage the strong calf, she lifted the delicate foot to her lips, and lightly kissed each toe. When she was done, she ran her tongue along the line of the arch, and could feel the shiver this produced as it made its way up the calf. Hearing a slight sound, she looked through her lashes, to see the arousal once again in Amanda's eyes.

// time to find a more private locale // Uhura thought to herself as she returned the soft slipper to the lovely foot, and released it to once again rest on the floor. Sitting back on her heels, she placed her hand on Amanda's knee in invitation. "I know it is the middle of the 'night', but you never know when someone might walk in ... why don't we continue this 'conversation' in my quarters?"

The smile on Amanda's face was answer enough ...

The short trip between the Observation Lounge and Uhura's quarters was uneventful ... the corridors virtually deserted, as it was the middle of 'gamma shift'. Uhura was also grateful for the fact that she was currently on 'beta shift', as she was hoping for a few hours rest before duty called.

But first, she was anticipating a bit of shared pleasure. Amanda was a beautiful woman ... and was in remarkably good shape. Obviously, her years on Vulcan had toned her body ... and in spite of her gray hair, she looked like a woman of half her years.

They had made their way into the bedroom, and removed their clothing in silence. A smile ... a glance ... an appraising look ... there was no urgency behind their actions, as if neither wanted to appear too eager, for fear of scaring the other off.

Uhura turned to place her earrings on the small dressing table, and saw Amanda take a step toward her in the mirror ... saw the look in her eyes as she raised her hand, running her fingers along the strong back before her ... from shoulder to waist, then lower, to caress the firm curve of the hip.

The touch was maddeningly light, igniting the smoldering embers deep within her core. She leaned back into the caress, feeling the small, but firm breasts press against her back. Amanda's hand circled around Nyota's hip, to lightly stroke her lower abdomen, as she brought her other hand around to fondle a breast.

She could feel a slight shift in Nyota's position, and saw in the mirror that she was fingering herself. The sight of her fingers parting the delicate flesh was as intoxicating as her scent ... reaching down, Amanda lightly rubbed the swollen nub with her index finger. The moan that escaped Uhura's lips was matched by her own. The time had come to get to bed.

Releasing the breast she had been fondling, she shifted around, so that she was nearly face to face with the younger woman ... kissing her, she urged her to the bed ... fondling and caressing all the way. As her leg brushed the edge of the bed, she gave Nyota a slight push, lying her down across the bed, with her feet still on the floor.

Grabbing a pillow to cushion her knees, she knelt between her lovers thighs ... she could see the moisture glistening on the dark curling hair as she spread the lips to expose Nyota's sex.

Uhura writhed, as Amanda flicked her tongue across the tender nub. She moaned, as a finger probed her depths. As a second finger joined the first, and her clit was sucked and nibbled, she felt the spasm growing deep within her ... she was so close, but the final release continued to elude her. She whimpered as Amanda removed her fingers ... thrusting her hips upwards, in search of fulfilment.

Amanda was close to coming, herself ... the taste of Nyota's pussy brought back such lovely memories of her youth. She had enjoyed bringing Nyota to the brink, but it was time to make her come ... after all, she needed a bit of attention, too.

Removing her fingers, she heard Nyota whimper, as she thrust her hips upward. Amanda shifted slightly, probing Nyota's depths with her tongue. She knew her tactic had worked, as she lapped up the sweet juices, while Nyota writhed and clutched the sheets, lost in the throes of her orgasm.

It seemed an eternity, but eventually Uhura's breathing settled into a more normal rhythm. It was time to give her attention to Amanda ... sitting up, she reached down to the head resting on her thigh. Amanda looked up, smiling, "I'm getting too old for this," she said, as she tried to get up off the floor.

Although the position was awkward, Uhura managed to lift the petite woman to her feet, then shift, so that they could lie on the bed in the ususal fashion. Uhura rolled over onto her side, head on hand. She bent over to kiss Amanda ... tasting herself on the older woman's lips. Pulling back, she idly traced a circle around one erect nipple, then the other. Her tongue followed her hand ... licking ... sucking ... nibbling.

As she suckled her breasts, her hand roamed ever lower ... tickling her navel, then moving on to part the creamy thighs. Uhura was on her knees now, following the path of her fingers with her tongue ... licking the cleft between her breasts ... dipping into the recess of her navel. As the thighs parted, she knelt between them, burying her face in the soft, gray curls.

Breathing deeply, she took in the scent of the older woman ... then parted the nether-lips to taste her. There was something exotic in the flavor ... something unique to Amanda, that renewed Nyota's arousal. She couldn't get enough, as she lapped and sucked ... probing her tongue into the surprisingly tight vagina, then sucking on her clit, as she finger fucked her.

Amanda lifted her legs, hooking them over Uhura's shoulders, as she was being eaten out. It seemed a lifetime ago since she had felt this much pleasure ... she had almost forgotten that sex could be a joy, and not just a duty. As Nyota's fingers probed, and her tongue played with her clit, Amanda rubbed her own nipples to hard nubs.

She pinched her nipples, as her spasms started ... clamping down on the fingers thrust deep within her as her orgasm crested. She could feel her juices flowing over the hand of her lover. She gasped, as a final spasm shook her as the fingers were removed to be replaced by a lapping tongue.

Spent and exhausted, she lowered her legs, as Nyota crawled up the bed to lie beside her. She covered them both with a blanket, and they fell asleep in each others arms.

Uhura awoke slightly disoriented ... it was a rare occasion for her to have someone in her bed, and it took her a moment to remember just who was here, and why. When she did, she smiled ... the memory of the previous nights activities once again fresh in her mind. Not wanting to disturb Amanda if she didn't have to, she called out softly, "computer, quietly tell me the time."

In 'whisper-soft mode', the computer replied, "it is 0625 ... you have one hour and thirty-five minutes until the start of beta shift."

She sighed ... she'd have to get up soon if she wanted breakfast, as well as a shower, this morning ... and after last nights activity, she was famished. This would not be a day to skip breakfast.

As carefully as she could, she got out of bed. Amanda rolled over, but did not wake. Today she would splurge and have a water shower ... something she rarely did onboard. As she adjusted the temperature, the light came up in the other room.

She peeked out to see Amanda sitting up in bed, disheveled, but smiling as she saw Uhura. "Good morning," she said. "I was just going to take a shower ... you can use it when I'm done, then I thought we could go get some breakfast, before I have to go on duty."

Amanda stretched and yawned, "that sounds like a plan," she said, then went on with a smile, "and it will give me a chance to thank you for last night."

Showered and dressed for the day, Amanda and Uhura made their way to the rec area that doubled as a mess hall. Both loaded their trays with fruit, toast and coffee, and found a table slightly out of the way so they could talk undisturbed. Amanda had already expressed her thanks in a display that could have led to a morning of lovemaking, had there been time, so the conversation over breakfast was kept light and far less personal.

There was a lull in the conversation, where they seemed content to sip their coffee, and watch those around them. At that moment, Doctor McCoy entered the room, and scanned it as if he were looking for someone ... apparently he was, as he caught Amanda's eye, and crossed to where she was sitting with Uhura.

"Amanda ... I thought you'd like to know that Sarek is awake, and asking to see you."

She appeared slightly flustered, as she looked at Uhura, but composed herself at once and said, "thank you, Doctor ... I'll be there as soon as I finish my breakfast."

At this, Uhura stood, and said, "I have to report to the bridge in any case ... if you'd like, we can continue our conversation tonight, over dinner?"

"I'd like that." she said, as she stood to hug Uhura. "Thanks, Nyota ... for everything."

"My pleasure. I'll see you tonight ... how does 1800-hours sound to you?"

"Fine, I'll see you then." and with that, she sat and watched the Lieutenant leave. When she was gone, she looked at the Doctor, and asked about her husband. McCoy was pleased with his progress, and happy to announce that both the Captain and Spock had been released from sickbay that morning.

She took one final swallow of her coffee, as if to prepare herself for the meeting with her husband, then stood to go and see him. Sickbay was a much quieter place than it had been the last time she had been here. Apparently Kirk and Spock were not the only ones released that morning, as Sarek was alone in the ward.

Even the nurse had left, as if Sarek had requested a moment alone with his wife ... and for all Amanda knew, he had. After all, she knew this time would come, when she would have to explain her actions to him. There was no way around it ... she could not lie about what happened ... or deny it. He knew, as surely as she did, what had transpired between her and Nyota, as her experiences were projected along the bond they shared.

He looked well rested, and his color had improves to near-normal, she was pleased to see. As she approached his bed, his eyes opened, and he offered her his private smile, holding his fingers to her in the traditional 'embrace' of his people.

She was shocked, and pleased ... he was not going to chastise her for her loss of emotional control, nor for her infidelity. When she projected these thoughts to him as their fingers touched, his smile widened slightly, as he said, "the cause was sufficient. You are human. I sometimes forget that, as a human, you have needs I can not always serve. I am pleased you have found someone to serve you in this matter."

She smiled, and there were tears in her eyes, as she bent to kiss him. "I don't know what I would do without you, my husband."

"Nor I, without you, my wife."

THE END