Fic: Kitchen Consequential (18/18)
Jan. 28th, 2010 06:28 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
withthepilotTitle: Kitchen Consequential (18/18)
Rating: PG-13
Word count: 4,191
Pairings/Characters: Kirk/McCoy, Chekov/Sulu, Spock/Uhura, Scotty/Gaila, Chapel/Rand, Pike, Riley
Disclaimer: Do not own or claim to own.
Warnings: AU set in New York City, 2009, with flashbacks to five years prior. Many references to the ST: XI canon. Includes het.
Summary: All paths lead to the kitchen for the staff members of Enterprise, the newest critical darling on the New York restaurant scene. It's here that they come together as a team and find out just where they belong. Chapter 18: The staff of Enterprise has quite a lot to celebrate, mainly because they all know the best is yet to come.
A/N: Apologies for crossposting this, uh...everywhere. Thanks again to![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
starsandgraces for her excellent beta work on this story, and thanks to everyone who's been reading, commenting and reccing, for your utmost kindness. If you've been waiting for the end to tackle this, please use the link below to start things off.
For a comprehensive list of series pairings, links to prior chapters and author notes, please visit the master post.
When the last pair of customers leaves the restaurant, Spock accompanies them to the large glass doors and then locks the exit securely behind them. He dims the lights by the entrance so that no one can mistake Enterprise for being open, now that the dinner service is over, and then nods to Pike as he makes his way over.
"Sir, the restaurant is officially closed for the evening and the entire staff has been asked to stay for the festivities."
"Great, Spock. Say, have you seen Jim around anywhere?"
"I assume he is busy with post-service prep. Failing that, he might be fooling around with Chef McCoy in one of the stock rooms."
"Probably the latter." Pike smirks and walks with Spock to the staff break room, loosening his tie. Spock's remains immaculate and tightly knotted against his throat, as always. "Were you able to get all the decorations we needed?"
"Indeed. Nyota, Gaila and Mr. Chekov procured balloons and streamers, and I saw to it personally that a specialty banner was ordered for the occasion."
When they walk into the room, Pike sees it: a sparkly silver and blue banner that reads CONGRATS in large letters. He decided that was the best catch-all sentiment, considering that this is a party to celebrate a whole multitude of happy events: Kirk's extraordinary Rising Chef Award; Spock and Uhura moving in together; Kirk and McCoy signing their new lease; Sulu's decision to pursue the Starfleet restaurant management program and, belatedly, Chekov's one-month anniversary as an Enterprise staff member. In any case, it's a chance to raise morale and give everyone a night to eat, drink and be merry.
Speaking of Sulu and Chekov, they're busy working on hanging the last of the streamers, Sulu perched high on a stepladder and laughing with Chekov, who stands below him, giggling, with confetti in his hair.
"Oh, hello, Mr. Pike! Mr. Spock!" Chekov says exuberantly. "Do you like the decorations?"
"Looks like you got a little decorated yourself," Pike points out, smirking. He motions to the spangles in Chekov's curls and Sulu laughs, shrugging sheepishly.
"We got a little carried away with the confetti," he explains.
"Indeed," Spock says, hands clasped behind his back as he surveys the now extremely sparkly floor of the break room. He lifts his foot and finds confetti sticking to the sole of his shoe. "I'll remain hopeful that someone will assist me in clean-up duties, once the party has come to its end."
"Keenser will help," Pike says, patting his shoulder.
"I will help, too, Mr. Spock," Chekov assures him, smiling broadly. "If I am needed."
Spock nods, his expression falling somewhere between quietly impressed and pleased with Chekov's eagerness to help. It puts an amused smile on Pike's face.
"Oh, my god! It looks so good!" Gaila exclaims, walking in with Uhura and Rand. "You guys did a great job with the confetti! I want some for my hair!"
"That can be arranged," Chekov says, walking over and sprinkling some silver, pink and blue flecks over her curls. Rand sighs and goes to the fridge to procure one of the many Diet Cokes sitting in there, waiting for her. She pops the tab and takes a swig.
"Anyone wanna go out for a cig real quick?" she asks.
Sulu nods to her and crosses the room, patting Chekov's shoulder along the way. "I'll join you," he says. Gaila frowns and places her hands on her hips, staring after them as they leave with a disapproving look.
"Pavel, you have to talk Hikaru into quitting smoking. You're the only one he'd listen to, I think."
"I would try but I find the smoking rather sexy," he laments, shrugging his shoulders. Spock gives him a curious look from where he stands, between Pike and Uhura.
"I find it illogical to attach sexual attraction to an activity that is medically proven as harmful to one's health, Mr. Chekov. Could you explain?"
Chekov goes a little red in the face as Pike snorts into his palm. Gaila, naturally, is completely in her element. "It's the oral part of it, Spock," she says, grinning. "You know, the constant..." She mimes the act, pretending to hold an invisible cigarette between two fingers, lifting them to her mouth. "See?"
Spock doesn't appear to see, but then Uhura leans up to whisper in his ear and a light flush appears on his pointed ears. He clears his throat and nods. "I...understand the attraction aspect now. Thank you."
"Welcome!" Gaila chirps.
Just then, Scotty strolls into the room with Chapel and Riley trailing behind him. "All right, you fine lads and lasses," he declares, removing his chef's hat. "Just point me toward the liquor and I'll be ready to start the evening properly."
"We can't start yet," Pike says, though he nods at Chekov to go turn on the music. "Jim and Len aren't here."
"Well, where are they?" Riley asks. Chapel scoffs beside him and folds her arms over her chest. She's probably the closest person to McCoy on staff besides Kirk. They make each other laugh and McCoy seems to appreciate her spunk and the fact that she's never afraid to sass Kirk when he deserves it.
"Where do you think they are?" she says, her voice laden in sarcasm. "Probably feeling each other up in one the back rooms."
"Those two just can't control themselves," Uhura sighs. "Hopefully they won't scar poor Cupcake for life this time."
"Why do you all call him Cupcake?" Chekov asks, wandering back from the iPod.
"Jim's nickname," Pike explains, shrugging. Then he furrows his brow. "Pavel, what is this music?"
"Ghostface Killah," he replies innocently. Gaila giggles but everyone else stares blankly at him. Chekov throws up his hands. "He is one of my favorites! You don't like it?"
"Whoa, you guys started the party without the Fresh Prince?"
Everyone turns and there's Kirk and McCoy, coming in from the back entrance. Kirk's carrying a large piece of audio equipment and he puts it down to lift his arms and shimmy his hips around to the beat. Uhura rolls her eyes and makes a beeline for the booze.
"Jim, you look like a damn fool," McCoy tells him, but there's a fondness to his voice, the same one that's always reserved for Kirk.
"I look awesome," Jim says dismissively. "Check it out, everyone—we rented this sweet karaoke machine!"
Scotty goes over to inspect the machine with Gaila and Chekov, who both seem quite excited by the prospect of doing karaoke. Spock, Uhura and Pike seem fairly disinterested, to no one's surprise. Chapel steps up beside McCoy and pats his shoulder, smirking.
"And here we all thought you two were off necking somewhere."
"Necking?" McCoy repeats, giving her a sly smirk. "Like teenagers at the drive-in?"
"Okay, fucking," she corrects herself, grinning. Kirk gapes at her.
"Hey, don't besmirch my honor, Christine! We thought it'd be fun, since Checkers isn't old enough to get into a real karaoke bar."
"That's true," Chekov says, looking sad as he peers up from his crouch on the floor, in front of the karaoke machine. "I can get in, but I cannot drink alcohol. They kick me and my friends out if we try to bring in drinks of our own."
"And that's just un-American." Jim shakes his head. "Your family didn't come to the land of milk and honey to be kept out of our country's finest karaoke establishments, after all."
McCoy laughs and kisses Kirk's temple. "I think the land of milk and honey is Israel, actually."
"Spock, is that true?" Kirk asks. Spock ignores him and drinks red wine, leaving him to shrug haplessly. "Oh, well, you know...streets paved with gold. Whatever."
"Hey, what's going on?" Sulu asks, walking back into the break room with Rand, an invisible cloud of cigarette smoke trailing behind them. "Oh, hey, Jim. Done making out in the supply room?"
"We were not making out!" Jim exclaims, huffing. He gestures to the karaoke machine. "Look! We can do karaoke now! I bet you're probably awesome at it, Sulu, being Japanese and all."
"While I resent the slightly racist implications of your assumption," Sulu drawls, then smiles smugly, nodding, "I actually am. Totally awesome."
And because Kirk and Sulu can't resist challenging each other when they're not on shift, Kirk takes Sulu's declaration as an opportunity to step forward and point a finger at him. "Karaoke throwdown, Sulu. You in?"
Sulu arches a brow and puffs out his chest. "Pssh. You know it. You're going down, Kirk."
Behind them, Chekov sips from a glass of vodka and leans over to whisper to Gaila. "This is a side of Hikaru I've never seen."
"It's his stupid testosterone side," she whispers back. "Spend enough time with him and Jim and you'll see it more often." Chekov tilts his head in a way that suggests he'll consider it.
After a few drinks and the initial Kirk vs. Sulu competition, everyone else completely falls in love with the idea of the karaoke machine. Sulu impresses everyone with a soulful rendition of "Learn to Fly" by the Foo Fighters and Kirk tries to best him with "Born to Run" by Bruce Springsteen; Kirk has difficulty hiding his pouts when the majority of the room votes for Sulu as the winner of the face-off. He sits down next to McCoy and watches the others moodily, pulling from a beer as his sous chef rubs soothing circles over his back.
When the others get a chance to perform, Gaila goes first, doing her best impersonation of a risqué mid-'80s Madonna as she sings "Like a Virgin," during which Scotty can't seem to take his eyes off her. Janice Rand goes next, regaling everyone with a rendition of "Womanizer," mic in one hand and a rum and Diet Coke in the other. Somehow, then, Uhura convinces Spock to do a duet of "Don't Go Breaking My Heart," during which the maitre d' attempts not to appear as awkward and robotic as he usually does; he fails spectacularly and Kirk nearly busts a gut laughing at the entire display, falling off his chair completely after his third beer.
Shaking his head at Kirk's antics, Sulu takes an opportunity to pull Chekov off to the side, whispering to him. "Hey."
"Hi," Chekov whispers back, grinning. He steals a kiss, assured that no one's looking when Spock is giving them such a show. "You were right; you were very good up there."
"Thanks." Sulu waves him off but he smiles brightly anyway, obviously pleased to have his boyfriend's admiration. "You know, I never really got a chance to say...well, for one, thank you...for convincing me to be proactive with my life." He shrugs and brushes his dark hair back. "Now that I know Pike's behind me one-hundred percent, I'm actually kind of excited about trying this whole management thing...seeing how it goes."
"Hikaru, you will be great," Chekov says, kissing him tenderly. Sulu makes a small sound that he's glad no one else can hear over the music. "What else did you want to tell me?"
"Just...congrats on surviving your first month." Sulu licks his lips and kisses him one more time. "I'm glad you came back for me."
"It was not my intention, but my hope," Chekov whispers, touching his chest.
Across the room, Chapel tears her gaze away from the start of Pike's performance of "Uptown Girl" to take a gander at Sulu and Chekov, fawning over each other like kids in a schoolyard. She lightly nudges Rand beside her, causing her to look up from her bag, in which she's digging for another cigarette.
"Look at those two," she murmurs. Rand looks in the direction Chapel points out, smirking when she sees Sulu playing with the buttons on Chekov's shirt. Chapel scoffs. "They've been going out...what? Three weeks? And they can't keep their mitts off each other."
"Young love," Rand mutters. She finds a cigarette and tucks it behind her ear. "It's enough to make you sick."
"Honestly." Chapel sighs and then smiles to her, flicking a blond strand of her hair back from her face. "I thought you did a great job with your song, by the way. You have a really nice voice."
"You think so? Thanks. I really only sing in the shower." Rand smiles shyly and then reaches into her bag, pulling out another cigarette, holding it out to Chapel, who doesn't smoke. "I was thinking of going outside. Wanna join me?"
"Sure," Chapel says, quirking a grin as she gets to her feet.
A few seats away, Kirk jolts upright and elbows McCoy's side.
"Goddamn it, Jim! You almost made me spill my drink..."
"Bones, look: Christine and Jan," Kirk whispers harshly in his ear, willing McCoy to turn and see for himself. "Christine and Jan."
McCoy blinks and tries to glance over at them inconspicuously. He catches sight of the two women as they leave the room, their hands lightly brushing together.
"Well, I'll be damned," he murmurs. "I had a feeling about those two." Kirk looks at him imploringly and whimpers.
"Oh, god. I'm cursed with the hottest kitchen staff ever." He squeaks when McCoy flicks his ear. "Ow! You're included!"
"Damn right I am."
Uhura watches Kirk from the makeshift bar as he leers after Chapel and Rand, shaking her head in displeasure. Spock approaches her as she pours herself another glass of white wine, sliding his fingertips over her back. Uhura turns to him and smiles softly, pressing against his side; she feels a relieved sense of freedom in knowing they can act like a couple now, without worrying what everyone else will think. Plus, they're not nearly as bad as Sulu and Chekov, who are practically climbing all over each other in the corner.
"Nyota, you seem distressed," Spock says. He reaches up and traces the path of her ponytail with a single fingertip, a gesture she finds oddly intimate. "Is everything satisfactory?"
"Quite. I was just watching Jim ogling Christine and Janice."
Spock nods, drinking his merlot. "He seems surprised by their flirtation. I, myself, have noticed their mutual attraction for quite some time, now."
Uhura gasps, giving him a look of mock offense. "And you didn't tell me?" Spock tilts his head and appears highly amused.
"I...did not feel it was wise to encourage speculation about the evolution of their relationship, when Chef Chapel and Ms. Rand themselves seemed unaware of the logical course of nature."
Uhura grins at that. "You think Christine and Janice make a logical pair?"
"They're both headstrong women," Spock says, "each with their vices. Their personalities seem to mesh well together."
"You've got a point there." Uhura leans up to kiss the corner of his mouth. "Thanks for singing with me, by the way. I know you didn't really want to."
"I was reticent at first, but I found the experience quite fascinating."
"You can't knock karaoke until you try it," she says, nodding sagely. Spock quirks the faintest of smiles and leans down to lick her lower lip gently.
"I'll remember this advice in similar situations, Nyota," he whispers. "It's most logical."
"Like all good things," she says. She nips at his mouth and he curls his hand at the small of her back.
"Generally speaking, yes."
The two turn to watch the assigned stage area of the room again when Chekov drags McCoy there to do the Run DMC and Aerosmith collaboration of "Walk This Way." McCoy grumbles and rolls his eyes so much that it seems they might fall right out of his skull, but then the music gets going and he and everyone else in the room are completely taken aback by the sound of Chekov rapping in that strong Russian accent—and rapping well. Sure, his pronunciation is a little different than what they're used to, but the looks on everyone's faces are enough to convey that the curly-haired commis is very, very good. McCoy gets a little caught up in the moment and sings along with Steven Tyler's wail, begrudgingly at first, until he really gets into it, hip-thrusting and all. Kirk wolf whistles from his seat, leaning forward and resting his chin on his fists, obviously enjoying the show. Sulu sits beside him and watches Chekov, legs crossed lazily and head cocked, smiling like he's won the biggest prize in the room—one that's even better than the satisfaction of besting Kirk.
Another hour goes by and most of the staff is completely inebriated, resulting in heightened public displays of affection—even between Chapel and Rand, at whom Kirk keeps openly staring; he's distracted occasionally by McCoy poking his side or pulling him into rough kisses. No one even notices at first when Scotty shyly goes up to the karaoke machine and chooses a song, not until "Come on Eileen" starts to blare from the speaker and he launches into it. Then everyone perks up, especially Gaila. Scotty walks over and takes her hand when he gets to the chorus, pulling her out of her chair and spinning her around.
"Come on, Gaila! Oh, I swear..."
"Well, he means!" Sulu, Rand and Kirk drunkenly chime in.
"At this moment, you mean everything... With you in that dress, my thoughts, I confess, verge on dirty... Ah, come on, Gaila!"
Gaila's curls are down, as she turns and turns, as if she really is wearing a gorgeous, slinky cocktail dress instead of her plainclothes and chef's jacket. And when she laughs, it sounds like a thousand small diamonds spilling onto a floor made of glass. People start singing along with Scotty—Bones, with his arm around Jim, both of them raising their drinks in the air, Sulu and Chekov huddled together, and even Uhura, belting out the words as Spock looks down fondly at her. And when the song comes to an end, everyone claps and cheers for the vocalist and his lovely dancer, who he encourages to take a sweeping bow; she does, blowing a kiss as she adds a curtsy for good measure.
"Ah, Gaila," Scotty says when the applause dies down. He looks a little timid as he puts down the microphone and takes hold of her hand, stepping closer. His expression makes everyone in the break room quiet down until it's so silent that the quiet drip of a faucet can be heard, all the way from the kitchen. "I reckon this might not be the kind of thing you're looking for, but...I've been gone on you for ages, and I thought—maybe—a grand gesture, here with all of our friends, would be the best way to get your attention."
Scotty shoots a small smile at Sulu before he continues and Sulu goes still, suddenly all too aware of what's coming. He considers throwing himself at Scotty, envisioning himself charging at him in slow motion, but all he does is sit there, blinking rapidly as Chekov squeezes his thigh.
"Gaila," the pastry chef goes on, and when he bends to one knee in front of the rotisseur, a few audible gasps echo through the break room. He reaches into his pocket and presents her with a box that holds a large, sparkling diamond. "It's not quite as bright as your eyes or your smile, but it'll do. I love you, Gaila. Will you marry me, lass?"
Gaila's red mouth falls into a quiet O as the entire room hangs on her very next utterance. Sulu exchanges a quick look of despair with Uhura and he shuts his eyes, running a hand over his face. This isn't what he meant, not at all—okay, grand gesture, sure, but something like taking her to meet his parents or going out for an expensive dinner; maybe throwing in a pair of gold earrings for show. But now Gaila's going to break his heart in front of everyone because she's just not the marriage type, and it's awful and a shame because Sulu really likes Scotty and he doesn't want to see his face fall when Gaila tries to avoid any awkwardness and just brings down the hammer on him and says—
"YES!"
Sulu drops his glass right on the floor, spilling vodka and soda everywhere. Chekov laughs into his palm, his eyes wide. Gaila and Scotty, however, don't even notice; he lets out a large gust of breath in happy surprise and she bounces up and down excitedly as he slides the ring onto her finger. The cheers are thunderous when they embrace.
"Everyone give it up for Scotty and Gaila!" Kirk exclaims, jumping to his feet. Spock lurches forward, thrusting his near-empty glass of wine in the air.
"Mazel tov!" he yells, and the uncharacteristic shout has Kirk grinning like a beast.
Everyone gets up and crowds around the happy couple to congratulate them. Sulu just blinks, unable to believe what just happened. Eventually, he pulls himself up and musters the energy to shake Scotty's hand. The ecstatic Scotsman hugs him eagerly and whispers in his ear.
"Thanks for the advice, Mr. Sulu. You were exactly right!"
"I...I'm glad," he says, patting Scotty's back. "Congratulations. Wow."
When he finally gets to hug Gaila, she's all but squealing, kissing his face off. "Oh, my god, Karu! He finally asked me! Can you believe it?"
"Gaila, I..." He looks at her in wonder and laughs despite himself. "I thought you didn't want to get married."
"I didn't think I wanted to, either, but...I really do love Scotty. I guess I had that connection I was looking for all along." She smiles, and if Sulu didn't know any better, he would say she's blushing. Then she lifts a finger in warning, her eyes fierce and bright. "But this doesn't make me any less of an independent woman! Got it?"
Sulu grins crookedly and nods. If anything, he'd wager that getting engaged to Enterprise's animated, comically inclined pastry chef is the most independent thing that Gaila's ever done.
Once all the excitement dies down, Enterprise's couples all go their separate ways, nicely sloshed after the evening's host of festivities. Scotty and Gaila decide to go back to his place in Brooklyn and the Scot waves goodbye to everyone properly as Gaila admires the new bauble on her ring finger. Chapel and Rand quietly arrange for a first date and exchange a light kiss on the lips before they part ways. Uhura hugs everyone goodbye before wrapping an arm around an unusually intoxicated Spock and leading the way back to her apartment, now their apartment. Sulu and Chekov leave the restaurant and walk together, hand in hand, toward the closest N stop on Broadway.
"Well, it's just us old men," Pike says, when it's just him, Riley, Kirk and McCoy left in the restaurant.
"Speak for yourself," Kirk protests. Riley just puts his coat on and sighs, grumbling to himself.
"I can't believe Chapel and Rand are going out now," he grouses, shooting Kirk and Pike an annoyed look as he leaves. "Next time you hire someone new, make it a woman—a straight woman. I've got needs, too."
Kirk giggles as he pulls on his own jacket, motioning to the karaoke machine. "Bones and I are gonna leave the karaoke thingy here overnight, if that's cool."
"Sure, that's fine." Pike pats each of them on the back. "I can't believe you two are moving. I remember the day you moved into that place in Inwood like it was yesterday."
"Good ol' Seaman and Cumming," Kirk says mournfully. Then he laughs. "Ha. Seaman and Cumming. It's still good."
"No, Jim, it was never good." McCoy sighs and slings an arm around Kirk's shoulders. "Come on, darlin'. We gotta pack in the morning. Thanks for the shindig, Chris." He shakes Pike's hand and Kirk does the same, smiling.
"Yeah, thanks. It was a blast. We'll see you tomorrow, yeah?"
"As always, Jim. See you tomorrow."
Pike stands by the glass doors of Enterprise as he watches two of the most talented young chefs he knows walk out onto the sidewalk. They exchange a quick kiss before they hail a cab and drive off toward home. Pike smiles as he heads to his office and fetches his coat. He likes to think that somehow, he played a big part in tonight's events—culminating in all those happy, loving friends and couples working together under one roof, sharing in each other's lives. But really, all he ever did was get lost on a dark road in Iowa, put James Tiberius Kirk on a plane to New York City and let him crash for a while on his sofa. Getting him here was the hard part; after that, the rest all just fell into place.
The lights turned off and the ovens at rest, Pike says goodnight to Enterprise, his pride and joy, second home to all of them. He gives the old girl one last pat on her sturdy wall as he makes his way out, the doors locking behind him with a soft, satisfying click.
Previous: Chapter 17
Rating: PG-13
Word count: 4,191
Pairings/Characters: Kirk/McCoy, Chekov/Sulu, Spock/Uhura, Scotty/Gaila, Chapel/Rand, Pike, Riley
Disclaimer: Do not own or claim to own.
Warnings: AU set in New York City, 2009, with flashbacks to five years prior. Many references to the ST: XI canon. Includes het.
Summary: All paths lead to the kitchen for the staff members of Enterprise, the newest critical darling on the New York restaurant scene. It's here that they come together as a team and find out just where they belong. Chapter 18: The staff of Enterprise has quite a lot to celebrate, mainly because they all know the best is yet to come.
A/N: Apologies for crossposting this, uh...everywhere. Thanks again to
starsandgraces for her excellent beta work on this story, and thanks to everyone who's been reading, commenting and reccing, for your utmost kindness. If you've been waiting for the end to tackle this, please use the link below to start things off.For a comprehensive list of series pairings, links to prior chapters and author notes, please visit the master post.
When the last pair of customers leaves the restaurant, Spock accompanies them to the large glass doors and then locks the exit securely behind them. He dims the lights by the entrance so that no one can mistake Enterprise for being open, now that the dinner service is over, and then nods to Pike as he makes his way over.
"Sir, the restaurant is officially closed for the evening and the entire staff has been asked to stay for the festivities."
"Great, Spock. Say, have you seen Jim around anywhere?"
"I assume he is busy with post-service prep. Failing that, he might be fooling around with Chef McCoy in one of the stock rooms."
"Probably the latter." Pike smirks and walks with Spock to the staff break room, loosening his tie. Spock's remains immaculate and tightly knotted against his throat, as always. "Were you able to get all the decorations we needed?"
"Indeed. Nyota, Gaila and Mr. Chekov procured balloons and streamers, and I saw to it personally that a specialty banner was ordered for the occasion."
When they walk into the room, Pike sees it: a sparkly silver and blue banner that reads CONGRATS in large letters. He decided that was the best catch-all sentiment, considering that this is a party to celebrate a whole multitude of happy events: Kirk's extraordinary Rising Chef Award; Spock and Uhura moving in together; Kirk and McCoy signing their new lease; Sulu's decision to pursue the Starfleet restaurant management program and, belatedly, Chekov's one-month anniversary as an Enterprise staff member. In any case, it's a chance to raise morale and give everyone a night to eat, drink and be merry.
Speaking of Sulu and Chekov, they're busy working on hanging the last of the streamers, Sulu perched high on a stepladder and laughing with Chekov, who stands below him, giggling, with confetti in his hair.
"Oh, hello, Mr. Pike! Mr. Spock!" Chekov says exuberantly. "Do you like the decorations?"
"Looks like you got a little decorated yourself," Pike points out, smirking. He motions to the spangles in Chekov's curls and Sulu laughs, shrugging sheepishly.
"We got a little carried away with the confetti," he explains.
"Indeed," Spock says, hands clasped behind his back as he surveys the now extremely sparkly floor of the break room. He lifts his foot and finds confetti sticking to the sole of his shoe. "I'll remain hopeful that someone will assist me in clean-up duties, once the party has come to its end."
"Keenser will help," Pike says, patting his shoulder.
"I will help, too, Mr. Spock," Chekov assures him, smiling broadly. "If I am needed."
Spock nods, his expression falling somewhere between quietly impressed and pleased with Chekov's eagerness to help. It puts an amused smile on Pike's face.
"Oh, my god! It looks so good!" Gaila exclaims, walking in with Uhura and Rand. "You guys did a great job with the confetti! I want some for my hair!"
"That can be arranged," Chekov says, walking over and sprinkling some silver, pink and blue flecks over her curls. Rand sighs and goes to the fridge to procure one of the many Diet Cokes sitting in there, waiting for her. She pops the tab and takes a swig.
"Anyone wanna go out for a cig real quick?" she asks.
Sulu nods to her and crosses the room, patting Chekov's shoulder along the way. "I'll join you," he says. Gaila frowns and places her hands on her hips, staring after them as they leave with a disapproving look.
"Pavel, you have to talk Hikaru into quitting smoking. You're the only one he'd listen to, I think."
"I would try but I find the smoking rather sexy," he laments, shrugging his shoulders. Spock gives him a curious look from where he stands, between Pike and Uhura.
"I find it illogical to attach sexual attraction to an activity that is medically proven as harmful to one's health, Mr. Chekov. Could you explain?"
Chekov goes a little red in the face as Pike snorts into his palm. Gaila, naturally, is completely in her element. "It's the oral part of it, Spock," she says, grinning. "You know, the constant..." She mimes the act, pretending to hold an invisible cigarette between two fingers, lifting them to her mouth. "See?"
Spock doesn't appear to see, but then Uhura leans up to whisper in his ear and a light flush appears on his pointed ears. He clears his throat and nods. "I...understand the attraction aspect now. Thank you."
"Welcome!" Gaila chirps.
Just then, Scotty strolls into the room with Chapel and Riley trailing behind him. "All right, you fine lads and lasses," he declares, removing his chef's hat. "Just point me toward the liquor and I'll be ready to start the evening properly."
"We can't start yet," Pike says, though he nods at Chekov to go turn on the music. "Jim and Len aren't here."
"Well, where are they?" Riley asks. Chapel scoffs beside him and folds her arms over her chest. She's probably the closest person to McCoy on staff besides Kirk. They make each other laugh and McCoy seems to appreciate her spunk and the fact that she's never afraid to sass Kirk when he deserves it.
"Where do you think they are?" she says, her voice laden in sarcasm. "Probably feeling each other up in one the back rooms."
"Those two just can't control themselves," Uhura sighs. "Hopefully they won't scar poor Cupcake for life this time."
"Why do you all call him Cupcake?" Chekov asks, wandering back from the iPod.
"Jim's nickname," Pike explains, shrugging. Then he furrows his brow. "Pavel, what is this music?"
"Ghostface Killah," he replies innocently. Gaila giggles but everyone else stares blankly at him. Chekov throws up his hands. "He is one of my favorites! You don't like it?"
"Whoa, you guys started the party without the Fresh Prince?"
Everyone turns and there's Kirk and McCoy, coming in from the back entrance. Kirk's carrying a large piece of audio equipment and he puts it down to lift his arms and shimmy his hips around to the beat. Uhura rolls her eyes and makes a beeline for the booze.
"Jim, you look like a damn fool," McCoy tells him, but there's a fondness to his voice, the same one that's always reserved for Kirk.
"I look awesome," Jim says dismissively. "Check it out, everyone—we rented this sweet karaoke machine!"
Scotty goes over to inspect the machine with Gaila and Chekov, who both seem quite excited by the prospect of doing karaoke. Spock, Uhura and Pike seem fairly disinterested, to no one's surprise. Chapel steps up beside McCoy and pats his shoulder, smirking.
"And here we all thought you two were off necking somewhere."
"Necking?" McCoy repeats, giving her a sly smirk. "Like teenagers at the drive-in?"
"Okay, fucking," she corrects herself, grinning. Kirk gapes at her.
"Hey, don't besmirch my honor, Christine! We thought it'd be fun, since Checkers isn't old enough to get into a real karaoke bar."
"That's true," Chekov says, looking sad as he peers up from his crouch on the floor, in front of the karaoke machine. "I can get in, but I cannot drink alcohol. They kick me and my friends out if we try to bring in drinks of our own."
"And that's just un-American." Jim shakes his head. "Your family didn't come to the land of milk and honey to be kept out of our country's finest karaoke establishments, after all."
McCoy laughs and kisses Kirk's temple. "I think the land of milk and honey is Israel, actually."
"Spock, is that true?" Kirk asks. Spock ignores him and drinks red wine, leaving him to shrug haplessly. "Oh, well, you know...streets paved with gold. Whatever."
"Hey, what's going on?" Sulu asks, walking back into the break room with Rand, an invisible cloud of cigarette smoke trailing behind them. "Oh, hey, Jim. Done making out in the supply room?"
"We were not making out!" Jim exclaims, huffing. He gestures to the karaoke machine. "Look! We can do karaoke now! I bet you're probably awesome at it, Sulu, being Japanese and all."
"While I resent the slightly racist implications of your assumption," Sulu drawls, then smiles smugly, nodding, "I actually am. Totally awesome."
And because Kirk and Sulu can't resist challenging each other when they're not on shift, Kirk takes Sulu's declaration as an opportunity to step forward and point a finger at him. "Karaoke throwdown, Sulu. You in?"
Sulu arches a brow and puffs out his chest. "Pssh. You know it. You're going down, Kirk."
Behind them, Chekov sips from a glass of vodka and leans over to whisper to Gaila. "This is a side of Hikaru I've never seen."
"It's his stupid testosterone side," she whispers back. "Spend enough time with him and Jim and you'll see it more often." Chekov tilts his head in a way that suggests he'll consider it.
After a few drinks and the initial Kirk vs. Sulu competition, everyone else completely falls in love with the idea of the karaoke machine. Sulu impresses everyone with a soulful rendition of "Learn to Fly" by the Foo Fighters and Kirk tries to best him with "Born to Run" by Bruce Springsteen; Kirk has difficulty hiding his pouts when the majority of the room votes for Sulu as the winner of the face-off. He sits down next to McCoy and watches the others moodily, pulling from a beer as his sous chef rubs soothing circles over his back.
When the others get a chance to perform, Gaila goes first, doing her best impersonation of a risqué mid-'80s Madonna as she sings "Like a Virgin," during which Scotty can't seem to take his eyes off her. Janice Rand goes next, regaling everyone with a rendition of "Womanizer," mic in one hand and a rum and Diet Coke in the other. Somehow, then, Uhura convinces Spock to do a duet of "Don't Go Breaking My Heart," during which the maitre d' attempts not to appear as awkward and robotic as he usually does; he fails spectacularly and Kirk nearly busts a gut laughing at the entire display, falling off his chair completely after his third beer.
Shaking his head at Kirk's antics, Sulu takes an opportunity to pull Chekov off to the side, whispering to him. "Hey."
"Hi," Chekov whispers back, grinning. He steals a kiss, assured that no one's looking when Spock is giving them such a show. "You were right; you were very good up there."
"Thanks." Sulu waves him off but he smiles brightly anyway, obviously pleased to have his boyfriend's admiration. "You know, I never really got a chance to say...well, for one, thank you...for convincing me to be proactive with my life." He shrugs and brushes his dark hair back. "Now that I know Pike's behind me one-hundred percent, I'm actually kind of excited about trying this whole management thing...seeing how it goes."
"Hikaru, you will be great," Chekov says, kissing him tenderly. Sulu makes a small sound that he's glad no one else can hear over the music. "What else did you want to tell me?"
"Just...congrats on surviving your first month." Sulu licks his lips and kisses him one more time. "I'm glad you came back for me."
"It was not my intention, but my hope," Chekov whispers, touching his chest.
Across the room, Chapel tears her gaze away from the start of Pike's performance of "Uptown Girl" to take a gander at Sulu and Chekov, fawning over each other like kids in a schoolyard. She lightly nudges Rand beside her, causing her to look up from her bag, in which she's digging for another cigarette.
"Look at those two," she murmurs. Rand looks in the direction Chapel points out, smirking when she sees Sulu playing with the buttons on Chekov's shirt. Chapel scoffs. "They've been going out...what? Three weeks? And they can't keep their mitts off each other."
"Young love," Rand mutters. She finds a cigarette and tucks it behind her ear. "It's enough to make you sick."
"Honestly." Chapel sighs and then smiles to her, flicking a blond strand of her hair back from her face. "I thought you did a great job with your song, by the way. You have a really nice voice."
"You think so? Thanks. I really only sing in the shower." Rand smiles shyly and then reaches into her bag, pulling out another cigarette, holding it out to Chapel, who doesn't smoke. "I was thinking of going outside. Wanna join me?"
"Sure," Chapel says, quirking a grin as she gets to her feet.
A few seats away, Kirk jolts upright and elbows McCoy's side.
"Goddamn it, Jim! You almost made me spill my drink..."
"Bones, look: Christine and Jan," Kirk whispers harshly in his ear, willing McCoy to turn and see for himself. "Christine and Jan."
McCoy blinks and tries to glance over at them inconspicuously. He catches sight of the two women as they leave the room, their hands lightly brushing together.
"Well, I'll be damned," he murmurs. "I had a feeling about those two." Kirk looks at him imploringly and whimpers.
"Oh, god. I'm cursed with the hottest kitchen staff ever." He squeaks when McCoy flicks his ear. "Ow! You're included!"
"Damn right I am."
Uhura watches Kirk from the makeshift bar as he leers after Chapel and Rand, shaking her head in displeasure. Spock approaches her as she pours herself another glass of white wine, sliding his fingertips over her back. Uhura turns to him and smiles softly, pressing against his side; she feels a relieved sense of freedom in knowing they can act like a couple now, without worrying what everyone else will think. Plus, they're not nearly as bad as Sulu and Chekov, who are practically climbing all over each other in the corner.
"Nyota, you seem distressed," Spock says. He reaches up and traces the path of her ponytail with a single fingertip, a gesture she finds oddly intimate. "Is everything satisfactory?"
"Quite. I was just watching Jim ogling Christine and Janice."
Spock nods, drinking his merlot. "He seems surprised by their flirtation. I, myself, have noticed their mutual attraction for quite some time, now."
Uhura gasps, giving him a look of mock offense. "And you didn't tell me?" Spock tilts his head and appears highly amused.
"I...did not feel it was wise to encourage speculation about the evolution of their relationship, when Chef Chapel and Ms. Rand themselves seemed unaware of the logical course of nature."
Uhura grins at that. "You think Christine and Janice make a logical pair?"
"They're both headstrong women," Spock says, "each with their vices. Their personalities seem to mesh well together."
"You've got a point there." Uhura leans up to kiss the corner of his mouth. "Thanks for singing with me, by the way. I know you didn't really want to."
"I was reticent at first, but I found the experience quite fascinating."
"You can't knock karaoke until you try it," she says, nodding sagely. Spock quirks the faintest of smiles and leans down to lick her lower lip gently.
"I'll remember this advice in similar situations, Nyota," he whispers. "It's most logical."
"Like all good things," she says. She nips at his mouth and he curls his hand at the small of her back.
"Generally speaking, yes."
The two turn to watch the assigned stage area of the room again when Chekov drags McCoy there to do the Run DMC and Aerosmith collaboration of "Walk This Way." McCoy grumbles and rolls his eyes so much that it seems they might fall right out of his skull, but then the music gets going and he and everyone else in the room are completely taken aback by the sound of Chekov rapping in that strong Russian accent—and rapping well. Sure, his pronunciation is a little different than what they're used to, but the looks on everyone's faces are enough to convey that the curly-haired commis is very, very good. McCoy gets a little caught up in the moment and sings along with Steven Tyler's wail, begrudgingly at first, until he really gets into it, hip-thrusting and all. Kirk wolf whistles from his seat, leaning forward and resting his chin on his fists, obviously enjoying the show. Sulu sits beside him and watches Chekov, legs crossed lazily and head cocked, smiling like he's won the biggest prize in the room—one that's even better than the satisfaction of besting Kirk.
Another hour goes by and most of the staff is completely inebriated, resulting in heightened public displays of affection—even between Chapel and Rand, at whom Kirk keeps openly staring; he's distracted occasionally by McCoy poking his side or pulling him into rough kisses. No one even notices at first when Scotty shyly goes up to the karaoke machine and chooses a song, not until "Come on Eileen" starts to blare from the speaker and he launches into it. Then everyone perks up, especially Gaila. Scotty walks over and takes her hand when he gets to the chorus, pulling her out of her chair and spinning her around.
"Come on, Gaila! Oh, I swear..."
"Well, he means!" Sulu, Rand and Kirk drunkenly chime in.
"At this moment, you mean everything... With you in that dress, my thoughts, I confess, verge on dirty... Ah, come on, Gaila!"
Gaila's curls are down, as she turns and turns, as if she really is wearing a gorgeous, slinky cocktail dress instead of her plainclothes and chef's jacket. And when she laughs, it sounds like a thousand small diamonds spilling onto a floor made of glass. People start singing along with Scotty—Bones, with his arm around Jim, both of them raising their drinks in the air, Sulu and Chekov huddled together, and even Uhura, belting out the words as Spock looks down fondly at her. And when the song comes to an end, everyone claps and cheers for the vocalist and his lovely dancer, who he encourages to take a sweeping bow; she does, blowing a kiss as she adds a curtsy for good measure.
"Ah, Gaila," Scotty says when the applause dies down. He looks a little timid as he puts down the microphone and takes hold of her hand, stepping closer. His expression makes everyone in the break room quiet down until it's so silent that the quiet drip of a faucet can be heard, all the way from the kitchen. "I reckon this might not be the kind of thing you're looking for, but...I've been gone on you for ages, and I thought—maybe—a grand gesture, here with all of our friends, would be the best way to get your attention."
Scotty shoots a small smile at Sulu before he continues and Sulu goes still, suddenly all too aware of what's coming. He considers throwing himself at Scotty, envisioning himself charging at him in slow motion, but all he does is sit there, blinking rapidly as Chekov squeezes his thigh.
"Gaila," the pastry chef goes on, and when he bends to one knee in front of the rotisseur, a few audible gasps echo through the break room. He reaches into his pocket and presents her with a box that holds a large, sparkling diamond. "It's not quite as bright as your eyes or your smile, but it'll do. I love you, Gaila. Will you marry me, lass?"
Gaila's red mouth falls into a quiet O as the entire room hangs on her very next utterance. Sulu exchanges a quick look of despair with Uhura and he shuts his eyes, running a hand over his face. This isn't what he meant, not at all—okay, grand gesture, sure, but something like taking her to meet his parents or going out for an expensive dinner; maybe throwing in a pair of gold earrings for show. But now Gaila's going to break his heart in front of everyone because she's just not the marriage type, and it's awful and a shame because Sulu really likes Scotty and he doesn't want to see his face fall when Gaila tries to avoid any awkwardness and just brings down the hammer on him and says—
"YES!"
Sulu drops his glass right on the floor, spilling vodka and soda everywhere. Chekov laughs into his palm, his eyes wide. Gaila and Scotty, however, don't even notice; he lets out a large gust of breath in happy surprise and she bounces up and down excitedly as he slides the ring onto her finger. The cheers are thunderous when they embrace.
"Everyone give it up for Scotty and Gaila!" Kirk exclaims, jumping to his feet. Spock lurches forward, thrusting his near-empty glass of wine in the air.
"Mazel tov!" he yells, and the uncharacteristic shout has Kirk grinning like a beast.
Everyone gets up and crowds around the happy couple to congratulate them. Sulu just blinks, unable to believe what just happened. Eventually, he pulls himself up and musters the energy to shake Scotty's hand. The ecstatic Scotsman hugs him eagerly and whispers in his ear.
"Thanks for the advice, Mr. Sulu. You were exactly right!"
"I...I'm glad," he says, patting Scotty's back. "Congratulations. Wow."
When he finally gets to hug Gaila, she's all but squealing, kissing his face off. "Oh, my god, Karu! He finally asked me! Can you believe it?"
"Gaila, I..." He looks at her in wonder and laughs despite himself. "I thought you didn't want to get married."
"I didn't think I wanted to, either, but...I really do love Scotty. I guess I had that connection I was looking for all along." She smiles, and if Sulu didn't know any better, he would say she's blushing. Then she lifts a finger in warning, her eyes fierce and bright. "But this doesn't make me any less of an independent woman! Got it?"
Sulu grins crookedly and nods. If anything, he'd wager that getting engaged to Enterprise's animated, comically inclined pastry chef is the most independent thing that Gaila's ever done.
Once all the excitement dies down, Enterprise's couples all go their separate ways, nicely sloshed after the evening's host of festivities. Scotty and Gaila decide to go back to his place in Brooklyn and the Scot waves goodbye to everyone properly as Gaila admires the new bauble on her ring finger. Chapel and Rand quietly arrange for a first date and exchange a light kiss on the lips before they part ways. Uhura hugs everyone goodbye before wrapping an arm around an unusually intoxicated Spock and leading the way back to her apartment, now their apartment. Sulu and Chekov leave the restaurant and walk together, hand in hand, toward the closest N stop on Broadway.
"Well, it's just us old men," Pike says, when it's just him, Riley, Kirk and McCoy left in the restaurant.
"Speak for yourself," Kirk protests. Riley just puts his coat on and sighs, grumbling to himself.
"I can't believe Chapel and Rand are going out now," he grouses, shooting Kirk and Pike an annoyed look as he leaves. "Next time you hire someone new, make it a woman—a straight woman. I've got needs, too."
Kirk giggles as he pulls on his own jacket, motioning to the karaoke machine. "Bones and I are gonna leave the karaoke thingy here overnight, if that's cool."
"Sure, that's fine." Pike pats each of them on the back. "I can't believe you two are moving. I remember the day you moved into that place in Inwood like it was yesterday."
"Good ol' Seaman and Cumming," Kirk says mournfully. Then he laughs. "Ha. Seaman and Cumming. It's still good."
"No, Jim, it was never good." McCoy sighs and slings an arm around Kirk's shoulders. "Come on, darlin'. We gotta pack in the morning. Thanks for the shindig, Chris." He shakes Pike's hand and Kirk does the same, smiling.
"Yeah, thanks. It was a blast. We'll see you tomorrow, yeah?"
"As always, Jim. See you tomorrow."
Pike stands by the glass doors of Enterprise as he watches two of the most talented young chefs he knows walk out onto the sidewalk. They exchange a quick kiss before they hail a cab and drive off toward home. Pike smiles as he heads to his office and fetches his coat. He likes to think that somehow, he played a big part in tonight's events—culminating in all those happy, loving friends and couples working together under one roof, sharing in each other's lives. But really, all he ever did was get lost on a dark road in Iowa, put James Tiberius Kirk on a plane to New York City and let him crash for a while on his sofa. Getting him here was the hard part; after that, the rest all just fell into place.
The lights turned off and the ovens at rest, Pike says goodnight to Enterprise, his pride and joy, second home to all of them. He gives the old girl one last pat on her sturdy wall as he makes his way out, the doors locking behind him with a soft, satisfying click.
Previous: Chapter 17
