Subj: DARK FRONTIER, DS/TOS Crossover, Pt 10
Date: 4/22/01 5:25:18 PM Central Daylight Time
From: JM Lane

At 1200 the next day, after both she and Leonard had looked in on Lani and checked her progress, to see that the transfusion was taking and this time, it actually seemed to be working. Lani was sitting up in bed and had actually been able to take solid food for a change, which was when McCoy had decided to accompany Christine to lunch.

They hadn't done that in a long time, for obvious reasons, so it was high time they did it again. Besides, he was curious to learn about her relationship with Barnabas Collins anyway.

Up to this point, Lani had claimed she was too nauseated to eat, so McCoy had put her on IV nutrients, but encouraged her to eat at the first opportunity once she felt up to it…and she seemed so much better today that she might actually eat an entire meal. Still, he was all too aware that people often showed signs of improvement shortly before death, so he put Dickerson on guard in her room, a crucifix around his neck to accompany his phaser, to be on the safe side, before daring to leave with Christine. Even then, the CMO admonished him to contact Jim and/or Spock if something happened and their services were needed, because the senior officers would be able to page them in case of necessity.

As far as either McCoy or Christine (apparently) knew, the Captain and Spock planned to remain in their room to study the additional information she and Lt. Holloway had uncovered…and as far as that went, would be discussing it with her at length. But even though Spock was planning to go down to the Inn's dining room, ostensibly to obtain something to eat, about half an hour after the Medical Officers' departure, in reality he intended to eavesdrop on the conversation between them and hopefully learn whether he still had a chance with Christine or if he had lost her to Barnabas Collins.

What Spock was unaware of was that she was setting up the whole thing to satisfy her own curiosity about how the Vulcan truly regarded her, intending to make sure she gave as many intimate details of her relationship with Barnabas Collins, even if she had to manufacture some.

Of course, when he did actually go, Spock expected Jim to ask him to bring him back something since the Captain had awakened late and had therefore not eaten anything since dinner the previous evening.

He was also supposed to bring back something for Lt. Holloway too, if she wanted anything. They would reimburse him as soon as possible for the cost of the food.

The Vulcan nodded in their direction with a half-smile after taking their orders, but knew that if he was to pull off his plan, he
would have to have one of the wait staff deliver the food up to them.

That was the only way he would be able to eavesdrop on McCoy and Christine's conversation long enough.

He knew what close friends they were, and although he felt guilty about invading both her and possibly McCoy's privacy, it was unlikely that either would be willing to discuss what they had talked about with him…and Spock had a very unVulcan curiosity about the ACMO's new romance with the charming yet very mysterious Mr. Barnabas Collins— and was definitely very much interested in what his intentions might be regarding Christine.

Technically it was none of his business, since Christine was a grown woman and didn't need to answer to anyone for her private conduct (especially not him), but it was his rapidly growing feelings for her which had prompted him to come up with this atypical plan. Still, despite how she might feel toward him because of it, Spock could not allow her to become one of Barnabas' victims should he take it into his head to do so—-that is, if he actually proved to be what Spock now suspected that he was.

Of course, Spock had discussed it with Kirk, but although the Captain privately didn't think it was a good idea, since it could backfire drastically if Christine found out that Spock had been spying on her, the Vulcan could not see any logical alternative…no other way to find out what he wanted to know. So Kirk warned him to be careful and not let them know he was there if he could help it--and get as close to them as possible. The Vulcan assured his Human friend that he would do so…and told both Kirk and Lt. Holloway to expect their meals shortly before he made his departure.