[video]/[action]

[sf_girl_friday]

[The feed clicks on to the strange image of Jan dressed in sweats and running shoes, her hair pulled back in a tight ponytail. At her hip is the heavy pistol that Conan had left for her. Her expression is carefully neutral as she speaks.]  Jim's been sent home again.

[With that simple statement, she throws the watch as hard as she can at the wall of

Comments

[vulcancommander]

[And Mr. Spock does recognize those few languages, and knows that if they were on corresponding planets, Janice probably would've been slapped for using such words. He had his watch open, watching the visual feed before she threw the watch and it impacted against a wall. He knew that area... but he would have to be quick. Spock knew he wouldn't be able to do much in the area of comfort, but he knew as the only other person from Starfleet, he had to help somehow.

Getting up from his chair in his personal room in the library, Spock raced down the steps, through the main library area and out into the streets, trying to calculate the best way to find her. He looked at the feed on the face of his watch before he took off in a jog, trying to figure out which way she had gone before he heard running footsteps he was closing in on.]

Yeoman Rand?

[No, this wasn't the Enterprise.]

Janice?

[sf_girl_friday]

[Jan wasn't sure if she should slow down so Spock could talk to her or speed up so she could try to run away from reality for just a little while. Undecided, she maintains her pace, ignoring how the world was blurring around the edges as she fought back tears.] He's gone.

[vulcancommander]

[He could barely hear her words, but he followed her steps, tracking the echoing steps through the city as she continued to run. He wondered why he was doing this - it wasn't logical. What would he do when he caught up to her? Saying that running from an emotional reaction wasn't logical? No, that would make things worse and he knew it. He pushed the logic aside to the back of his mind and continued after her.]

Janice, please refrain from running any further. This will not help the situation any.

[sf_girl_friday]

[That causes her to slow, but not stop completely. Her pace gradually slows to a walk. She's too agitated to not move in some way.] It's how I stop thinking. I run until there's no thoughts. Sometimes meditation or yoga works, but sometimes I just run until it quits hurting.

[vulcancommander]

[And when she slows, it allows the Commander to catch up with her until he's beside her, matching her pace.] You...use forms of exercise to keep your mind off of negative thoughts such as this.

[Obvious statement is obvious, but it was sometimes how he makes certain he's understanding people, especially females, correctly. Women could be confusing sometimes.] I will admit to the feeling of remorse that the Captain has been returned to the Enterprise.

[sf_girl_friday]

Yes. I do. I used to run on my off shifts... [Mentioning the Enterprise, even indirectly, is enough to make Jan stop. She doesn't bother wiping away the tears, letting out a shuddering sigh.]

It's the third time it's happened, Spock. It's the third time they decided to send him home but I have to stay. If you weren't still here I'd think I'm too useless to be needed on the ship. {Her voice drops to a whisper.] Least this time, Jim told me my family was safe before he was sent back.

[vulcancommander]

[For a fleeting moment Spock wondered if there was a gym in the city. Maybe she could make use of it when she had moments like these. He stops next to her, watching the tears roll down her face.]

You are not useless on the ship, Janice. Everyone has a duty to help the ship run like a well oiled machine. Every job is important, no matter the number of tasks. [It was both true and his attempt to help 'comfort' her.]

[sf_girl_friday]

I know. I keep telling myself that. I figure that they keep me here either because I'm not needed back home or... [Taking a deep breath, she tries to get control of her tears. She shouldn't be crying while out in public, especially not in front of Spock.] Or because they have plans for me. I'm not sure which is worse.

[vulcancommander]

[He's not sure what to do with her crying, or how to comfort her. His mother had done the same thing from time to time when he was little, but Spock had been the cold, logical Vulcan his father had wanted him to be. There was, however, no sense in regretting that which could not be changed at this point. What he said next, was said before he could really think about it, and change it.] Perhaps they wished for me to have a friend here within the chaos of this city.

[sf_girl_friday]

[That is something she hadn't thought of, especially not after everything that had happened to her since arriving here. And, she hadn't been certain if she was Spock's friend since they both tried to maintain some sense of the propriety that was necessary aboard the ship. It probably does more to comfort her than Spock expects. She manages a weak smile and wipes the tears from her cheeks.] I never considered that. I - Thank you, Spock. That's a better reason than the ones I've been thinking of lately.

[vulcancommander]

[Well, things had changed since they weren't on the ship anymore, hell, weren't even in the same damn dimension as it at this point in time. Ranks didn't work here - neither did logic, in that case - so he couldn't exactly hold her to Starfleet Regulations when there was no Starfleet here.]

You are welcome, Janice. [There's no physical reaction like a Human's face shows to indicate a smile, save for that milisecond of a lip twitch and a slight light in his eyes. It was satisfactory to know he had cheered Janice up, even if it was a little bit.]

[sf_girl_friday]

I'm sorry I - [She gestures behind her, where her watch was probably sitting waiting for her, completely unscathed by her tantrum.] I shouldn't have done that, no matter how emotional I was.

[vulcancommander]

[He holds up his hand to stop her from apologizing.] If it is one thing I have learned is that Humans are highly emotional, and such reactions are generally part of the normal, every day life for a Human. Your response, though not to myself, was a logical one based on comparison to other Humans. You have no need to apologize, Janice.

[sf_girl_friday]

[To Janice, whether that had been a human reaction or not, it was still an improper one. At least improper to have it seen by anyone watching the network. But at least Spock understood why and didn’t seem to think less of her for it.]

So maybe I'm here to be your friend and help the newest arrivals?

[vulcancommander]

That would be a logical assumption, as you are adaptable and gain information of your various surroundings easily. [Yes, he was trying to help her feel better, but it was also the truth. She was efficient with her clerical and administrative duties to the Captain. She was a hard worker and from what Spock had seen in various encounters with other crew members a good friend.]

[sf_girl_friday]

And a better one than I'm here so that our hosts can see if they can break me.