The Birthday Gift
by T'Pring (star7cyborgirl@lycosmail.com)

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Disclaimer:  It's just me!  I'm just playing Barbies again!  I'm
borrowing 'em from the Parengi, who get all the profit.  *Kaidith.*

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[Gift: 1. A thing given. 2. A natural talent.  Do you require an
extended definition?]
---

Had he not been Vulcan, he would have sighed in irritation. Being, of
course, Vulcan, (at least partially), the First Officer of the U. S.
S. Enterprise logically requested the extended definition, as well as
an explanation of the significance of gifts in traditional Terran
culture. For as his off-duty shift had begun, Spock had received a
cryptic message from Dr. McCoy.  It read:


****************************
 YOU ARE INVITED to a SURPRISE BIRTHDAY
PARTY for NURSE CHRISTINE CHAPEL Tell no one! Bring a gift to give her
Meet in Rec Room 4 at 2000 hours *****************************


And then, there had been a follow-up message in the doctor's
handwriting:


P. S.: Spock, I've already informed Jim of these procedings.  This
activity is perfectly legal -- unless sombody went and initiated a red
alert when I was'nt looking.  The secresy of this event is another of
our human customs -- go look it up under suprise party in that
computer of yours.  If the one you call your brain doesn't have it try
the library computer.  And if you coment on my speling I'll bob your
ears.
             -- Bones


After deciphering the references to surprise party and birthday party,
and deciding that the reference to his brain as a computer, the
comment involving red alert status, and the threat had been
rhetorical, he had set to work on 'gift'.  Social errors were not
logical under most circumstances, and he had no wish for such.  The
explanation flashed onto the screen, and he set about quickly
assimilating the information.  However, after reading the article, the
issue was even more difficult to deal with logically.

Spock knew that Nurse Chapel -- (Christine) -- had what was known as a
'crush' on him.  This was a ground where one had to tread lightly,
with or without logic.  If he did not attend the party, it would most
likely ruin her day.  For a human, he understood, this was extremely
undesirable.  Especially on the day of the anniversary of birth. Even
without emotion . . . the Vulcan did not wish to hurt anyone's
feelings.


Gift-giving, according to custom, usually included a small to medium
sacrifice on the part of the giver, often money or time.  If he
attended and brought a gift, she might misinterpret the observance of
custom as a gesture of affection.  The resultant misunderstanding
would be inappropriate and best avoided. If he came and did not bring
a gift, Christine would assume he was deliberately 'snubbing' her.
That, too, should definitely be avoided.

Spock pondered the problem -- which was of purely emotional origin,
making it difficult to deal with logically -- and slipped into a light
state of meditation.


Thoughts came and went. Emotion danced with Logic in the shadows of
the almost-perfectly organized mind.  The balance of those two
elements, like that of his being, was reached, and he knew what to do.
A single graceful eyebrow increased its slant by sixteen degrees.

---

"Here," Dr. Leonard McCoy drawled, "We know you'll love this."
Lieutenant Uhura handed a soundproofed, ventilated box to the head
nurse, who looked at it, surprised.

Soundproofed?  Ventilated?  "And what would this be?" she asked, not
expecting an answer.

"Well, that's your job to find out."

She opened the box -- to find a cooing, purring ball of fur.
"Oh no," she said, and almost everyone burst out laughing.

Uhura gladly assisted her friend with the tribble, as a
mischievous grin lit up her face.

"Now, now, everyone, stay calm, don't panic,"  Bones McCoy instructed
the hysterically laughing crowd.  "This tribble is . . . well, let's
say, it's in a way I wouldn't like to be.  And neither would hardly
anyone else here."  Another wave of laughter rippled through the
guests.

James T. Kirk quipped, "You're a comic, not a doctor."

Chris Chapel looked at McCoy, amused.  "Are you sure it's safe?" she
asked the doctor, with a grin.  "Who sterilized it?"

Bones replied, in a deadpan tone that invited no argument, "Me."

"Then perhaps I ought to have a starbase doctor look at it . . .." she
said, a mischievous twinkle in her eye.

The doctor started, "Why, you little . . ."

"Little tribble?"  she finished for him, and passably imitated its
purring.  By then Bones was laughing too hard to continue.

Then, Hikaru Sulu came up with a rather heavy package.  She
opened it to find an old-fashioned hardbound paper-book.  It was
obviously a very old and well-kept copy of "The Tale of Genji"..  Her
eyes widened. "Oh, Mr. Sulu!  You didn't have to!"

"Chris, yes I did," he replied.  "You asked me where my name came from
. . ."

"Thank you .. . Shining One." She said playfully, and Sulu grimaced,
and sat down.

In the corner of the room, where he had been sitting hardly noticed by
anyone but Christine, a lone Vulcan stood up and walked to the center
of the rec room.

Nurse Chapel slowly let out a breath, willing herself to stop staring.
Spock began to speak. "I have studied the custom of gift-giving, and
it seems that an appropriate gift involves a thing the recipient
desires, as well as an element of minor personal sacrifice.  From the
gifts preceding mine, it seems my interpretation of the tradition is
correct.  Feel free to respond, but please act with restraint."  She
looked at him, puzzled.

Without further hesitation, Spock enveloped her in a gentle hug.

At first Christine was shocked, then she desperately tried to control
her emotions, knowing this had to be extremely uncomfortable for the
Vulcan to endure, seeing in his face the stiff concentration of
reinforcing the mental shields his years with humans had necessitated.
Then, remembering what he had said just before, she hesitantly wrapped
her arms around the person she had always wanted to.

Spock felt the barrage of emotions against his barriers lessen -- or
be lessened, he realized.  Nurse Chapel was making an effort for him
-- and he carefully formed a small gap in his mental shields.  He
could sense her shock at this, but there was a logical reason.
[Christine], he projected through the breach.

[Spock . . . ??] And the hopelessly illogical love for him came
through, uncontrollable, unrequited, exceedingly uncomfortable. And
yet . . . Spock felt compassion for her.  He did not let her see it.
[Christine . . . I cannot love you.  It is not in my nature. You know
this.  I will help you understand.]  And he showed her a little bit of
why he could never love her, not as he was, not as she was, and she
understood.  And then Spock drew back from the hug, which had taken
only brief seconds, instantly regaining whatever infinitesimal measure
of composure he had lost.

Christine Chapel had tears in her eyes, and quickly wiped them,
feeling quite silly.  She found speech again. "Spock . . ." She was
smiling radiantly now. "Thank you.  That was a wonderful birthday
gift."

Jim Kirk was gaping, and Dr. McCoy was making a big show of sitting
down.  "Really, Spock!" he said, sipping his drink, "I've saved your
life so many times, and now you try to give me a heart attack!"

"I assure you, Doctor," the imperturbable Vulcan replied, "that was
not my intention.  However, I assure you, if that were the intended
effect, I would have chosen a more efficient method . . ."

"Oh, and *is* that your intention, you green-blooded . . ."

"Are you requesting that I consider it, Dr. McCoy?  If you do not
become silent soon I may be forced to . . ."

The good doctor shut up.

A couple minutes later, though, curiosity won out, and he persisted in
questioning Spock. "Why *did* you do that?  I never thought of you as
the sentimental type."

"It was only logical.  According to my research, the human custom
of the birthday gift is something desired by the recipient; it also
usually indicates a minor self-sacrifice, such as time, like the gift
given by Lieutenant Uhura and yourself, expense, such as that involved
in Lieutenant Sulu's, or, in my case, comfort."

"Spock, you green-blooded overgrown elf.  You never cease to amaze
me."

"Thank you, Doctor.  I shall ignore the false information; it seems to
be rhetorical."  He walked away from the doctor, taking with him the
coveted last word.

"Spock?" Christine walked towards him hesitantly.  "I didn't want to
say this in front of Nyota, Hikaru, and all the others, but . .. .
that was the best birthday gift I was ever given."

"Thank you."

"Oh,no, I'm the one who says thank you."  She smiled, then told
herself to quit bothering him, and walked back into the middle of the
festivities, where Uhura had started singing "Beyond Antares," so she
sat down at the piano and improvised a lovely accompaniment.  Moments
Moments later, the gossamer tones of a Vulcan lute had skillfully
woven itself into the music.

Henceforth Spock came to expect a bowl of homemade plomeek soup every
year on his birthday.  It was quite superior to the synthesized
variety.

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The End