Crushes were funny in the way you never could tell how or when they'd strike. You'd just gotten over an unrequited love in the Academy, and you were stepping onto the bridge of the enterprise (of all the ships to get assigned to, you got the fleet's flagship, you were ecstatic) when BAM! You were head over heels at first site.

It didn't make any sense. First Officer Spock was notorious for being cold and unfeeling, but here you were, enamoured within minutes. You had no idea how you were ever gonna tell him how you felt. Heck, you had a hard time talking to him in general.

But that didn't stop your daydreams. You spent countless hours playing it all out in your head, hoping someday, maybe, you'd work of the courage to actually talk to him.

But then he and Kirk had beamed down to the surface of a recently discovered planet, chaos ensued, and Spock was beamed back barely alive.

You were terrified. You struggled to even process it. Spock was always so cautious, how could he get hurt? much less severely wounded.

You fretted all day, but fought to hide it. You dreaded the thought of Captain Kirk finding out about your feeling on the matter of his first officer, and you didn't know if he would try to play matchmaker, or ban you to your quarters, claiming you were emotionally compromised (neither or which were good).

But within minutes of you being released from your shift on the bridge, you couldn't help but wander towards med-bay.

Finally, you broke and strode to med-bay, not trying to slow your steps or hide your concern.

You walked through the doors, and found Bones standing nearby, looking grumpy as usual.

"How's Spock?" You asked him, fighting to keep your voice level.

Bones snorted "I dunno how the green-blooded hobgoblin is still alive. For all rights he should be dead. His heart stopped for a few second when we beamed him up, but then he went into one of those freaky Vulcan-healing-trances. He's unconscious but alive... Why'd you ask?" Bone said, finally looking up from the PADD in his hands.

"uhhh... No reason" you stuttered, your face tinging pink.

Bones gave you a suspicious look, and you stared at the floor, hoping he wouldn't pick up on the fact you had a massive crush on the 'green-blooded hobgoblin' he was referring to.

Bones nodded in the direction of a bio-bed, surrounded by a privacy curtain.

"He's over there"

You nodded quickly, and tried to walk slowly enough so it wouldn't appear you were desperate. Ducking behind the privacy curtain, you nearly gasped aloud when you saw Spock.

He looked terrible. He was pale, paler than usual, and there was dark green blood matted in his raven hair. The sleeves of his uniform was slashed like something with great big claws swiped across him, and you could see dark little stitches decorating his skin underneath.

You stood next to the bio-bed in silence. You had nothing to say, even if he could've heard you (Which you weren't sure of, you didn't know the intricacies of Vulcan healing trances). You slipped your hand in his, a quiet break from your usually reserved manner. You had no idea if he would ever wake up, and if he did, you doubted he would remember this. If he didn't...

You banished the thought. He had to wake up, eventually. As you stood there, silent tears left soft tracks on your cheeks, and you swiped furiously at your eyes with the sleeve of your free hand.

Too soon, you had to leave. You didn't want Bones or one of the nurses to walk in on you crying next to Spock. As much as this was a little indulgence, you still wished for your feeling to be kept secret.

A task that was becoming harder and harder as the day wore on.

Two weeks later, you were walking towards engineering when you rounded a corner and nearly walked into Spock himself. To say you were surprised would be a gross understatement. Last you were aware of, he was still in med-bay (obviously no longer, but still)

"Lieutenant (y/l/n), I was in the process of locating you. How fortunate" Spock said.

"Uh-you, you what now?" You stuttered, blushing hard.

"I was under the impression that, whilst I was recovering in medical bay, you came to visit me, correct?" he asked.

Your mind went blank. How did he know that? How could he know that?

"I... I, uh-yes. yes, correct" you mumbled.

"I assume you are unaware of the fact that Vulcans are touch telepathic?" he said with the barest hint of a smirk.

Touch telepathic? Wait, no, it couldn't mean...

He knew exactly what was going on in your head when you'd held his hand. Every squishy, romantic thought you possessed he was now aware of.

You thought you could sink no lower in embarrassment, "I was not, Commander. My apologies for any discomfort that may have caused you" you muttered at your feet. You wanted to disappear.

   "I assume you were also unaware that Vulcans kiss with their hands?" He asked you.

   You had kissed him too?!? You suddenly felt terrible, if you had known what it meant, you never would have done it. You had too much respect for the commander to let your emotions  take over and let you do something like that.

   "I was unaware, Commander, and I offer my deepest apologies. My lack of cultural knowledge in no way excuses my behavior-" you had begun to apologize, but you struggled to speak.

Spock gave you a look that suggested he wasn't as troubled by this as you thought. It was near a smile, but more of a smirk.

"I do not find such actions to be distressing, lieutenant, quite the contrary, I find such actions amiable and would, if such a situation arose that I would have to re-experience the events of that day, not be adverse to you taking such action again"

Now this was confusing. Spock wasn't upset? But you'd thought he'd be discomfited, at least, and you wouldn't blame him for being totally creeped out or even angry, and here he was being, flirty? of all things?

You must've been interpreting him wrong, you thought. There was no way he was being flirty because you'd accidentally kissed him while he was unconscious.

While you were trying to think of how to reply, you felt a gentle touch at your hand, and realized with amazement that it was Spock.

You stared amazedly at him, and he looked to the floor, a pale green blush coloring his cheeks.

You made up your mind then. Threading your fingers through his, you pulled him closer and kissed him softly on the mouth.

Maybe you'd teach him some earthen culture now that he was awake.