Cousin Charlie (Part 5)
The captain took a deep breath as he left his quarters headed to the Officer's Dining Room. He hoped that all would go well as he had left the bridge an hour earlier and Spock was still at his station.
He hoped that Bones and Charlie would be in the dining room when he arrived and that their dinner would be a pleasant one.
He was surprised at the number of people seated at the table when he walked into the dining room. He noticed that the seat at the head of the table was empty and assumed that place was his. He glanced around and saw Bones and Charlie were seated to his left. Spock and Nyota were seated to his right. The young girl Hailey was seated next to Charlie with Chekov to her left and the two brothers Rory and Luke were seated to the left of Chekov. Scotty sat on the other side of Uhura and Charlene Masters sat to his left. Interesting.
"Good evening everyone" Kirk said as he walked to his seat.
"I appreciate your kind hospitality, captain" Charlie said as Kirk took his seat.
"Think nothing of it, Charlie" he replied. "So tell me about your band. How long have you all been together?"
Charlie gave a quick look at Spock whose face remained stoic and then glanced back at the captain.
"I have been a part of a band all of my adult life, captain. My band here is called 'Flawless'. We've been together a while now."
Charlene spoke up. "Will you play for us before you leave the ship?"
"Aye, I think I'd like that" Scotty said sipping his soup.
Charlie looked at the captain. "If your captain will allow it, I have no problem giving a concert. Tomorrow evening would be a good time."
"Dat would be perfect." Chekov said. "Ve vill not arrive at our destination until de following morning."
"We'll see what we can work out" Kirk said returning to his food and eying Spock.
"Charlie, I think that would be a grand idea" Bones said grinning. "What is the name of your band again?"
"Flawless." Charlie replied.
"Flawless?" Spock said raising an eyebrow. "Interesting."
Charlie looked at his cousin. "What's that supposed to mean?"
He had made up his mind to ignore Spock, but somehow he knew that would be hard to do.
"To be Flawless is to be without imperfections." Spock said raising an eyebrow.
Charlie ignored the comment and turned his attention back to the captain without responding to Spock's statement. "Do we have your permission to do a concert, captain?"
He sipped his water, ignoring Spock.
"Kirk looked from Spock to Charlie. "How long have you four been together?"
"For about five years" Charlie replied. "I've had different band members over the years. Some have come and gone, but things always work out."
"Hailey told me earlier today that she's been with you for ten years." Nyota said speaking up. "I gather that she was not always in your band?"
"No" Charlie said looking at Hailey.
Spock noted that Hailey seemed somewhat alarmed at Nyota's question, but quickly regained her composure once Charlie did not elaborate. He looked at Hailey.
"Hailey, where are your parents? I gather that they must have given Charlie custody of you at a young age since you have been with him for ten years." Spock's eyes bored into hers, not looking at Charlie.
"My father died when I was a baby." she replied absorbed in the food on her plate.
"And your mother?" Spock continued not willing to let the subject go.
"She wasn't around" Hailey mumbled.
"Where was she?" Spock pressed.
Hailey sipped her water and looked away. There was a pause as Spock waited for her response. She looked at Charlie her eyes pleading.
"That's enough, Spock! You will cease this line of questioning immediately! You will direct your inquiries to me and discontinue harassing Hailey!" Charlie hissed. "This is not a display of proper table conversation. Where are your manners?"
Spock's face remained stoic. "I gathered that she was of age, Charles. She should be able to answer my questions. What is there to hide? Or are you the one trying to hide something?"
Charlie turned red with anger. "And what the hell is that supposed to mean? This is supposed to be a friendly dinner, not an inquisition! If you have issues with me, so be it...but I will not allow you to use Hailey to get back at me. What is it you really want to know?"
Kirk raised his hand and Spock held his peace.
"Gentlemen, please. Let us continue with our dinner. Charlie, I am sure that Spock meant no harm. Let's just drop it."
"No, captain. I asked my cousin a question, and I demand an answer."
Spock wiped his mouth with the napkin. "I merely wished to ascertain the relationship you were having with a child while you ran around the universe playing in cathouses and bars."
"How dare you!" Charlie said standing. He was livid and his vow to not let Spock get under his skin went sailing out the window.
Spock looked at him, his face an emotionless mask. "I dare because I will not have you breaking my mother's heart further with your juvenile behavior. You have not changed in all these years, Charles. You are still overly emotional, illogical and immature."
"Charlie please, ignore him" Hailey said jumping up and putting her arms around his waist hugging him tightly. "I don't care what they think! I know what you are to me. It's none of their business!" She then reached up and kissed him on the cheek.
Spock raised an eyebrow at her actions.
Charlie looked at Hailey and smiled. "Don't get upset Hailey. Sit down and enjoy your meal." He turned to Kirk. "Captain, pardon our rude behavior. It appears that my cousin is showing his human half at a most inopportune moment." He then returned to his seat and began eating again, ignoring Spock.
Bones began to snicker and Kirk gave him a warning look.
"Look Charlie. I didn't ask you here for any arguments. Let's just enjoy our meal." Kirk replied.
"I am sure that you and Mr. Spock will be able to discuss later things that are on your minds."
"I think I know what's on my cousin's mind, captain." Charlie snapped. "He wants to find some way to discredit me and thereby justify his rude behavior!"
"Actually Charles, there is only one word that comes to mind now when I look at you." Spock replied.
"What's that?" Bones asked when Charlie refused to take the bait.
Spock looked at Hailey and then at Charlie. "Pedophile"
Bones began to cough and everyone at the table gasped in shock. Charlie jumped up from the table. He had heard enough! He threw his napkin on the table and walked out of the dining room with Rory and Luke quickly following him.
Hailey burst out crying. "How dare you!" she sobbed pointing at Spock. "I can't wait to get away from you...all of you if that's how you feel!" She looked at Spock, shaking an accusatory finger at him. "All Charlie wanted from you was for you to accept him and the choices he's made! He looks up to you! He's told us how proud he is of you and all you have accomplished and now you just show him contempt! You're his flesh and blood, and if you can think something like that about him, then you don't know him at all!"
She stood up and started to run out of the dining hall, but the captain quickly got up and grabbed her.
"Hold on a minute, young lady." he said. "Now Spock is just concerned-"
"He's not concerned about me! He doesn't even know me! He's just trying to hurt Charlie!"
She continued to sob and Chekov walked over to her. The captain gave him a stern look.
"I think I can handle this, Mr. Chekov" he said pointing back to his seat for him to sit down.
"Yes sir" he replied and returned to his seat.
Kirk looked at Hailey. "Young lady, now I know you're upset, but we have some questions to ask you. If things are as you say, then I am sure that Mr. Spock will try to make amends with his cousin."
He gave Spock a long hard look, but Spock didn't respond.
Spock silently chastised himself for allowing himself to behave inappropriately and for saying what he did. He did not know why he had said it. It wasn't logical to speculate. His cousin always seemed to bring out the worse in him and he could feel his head begin to hurt. He felt Nyota pat him on the arm. He looked around the table, and saw that all eyes were on Hailey and the captain.
"Now come over here and sit down." Kirk said. He led her to her seat and she wiped her eyes with the napkin that Checkov handed her.
The captain raised her face to be level with his and gave her his best smile. "Look we mean you or Charlie no harm. I like Charlie. He seems to be a nice guy. However you are on a Federation vessel. I need to be sure that no laws have been broken. Do you have proof of your age?"
"Yes, it's in my bags." she said returning his smile.
"Good. Now tell me how you met Charlie."
She looked at her hands as she sat there. "I really don't want to talk about it."
Kirk pulled his chair close to hers. "Hailey, you must tell us. It will help us understand what is going on. If Charlie is the great guy you say he is, then we need to clear the air."
She looked at Spock. "He's not like that! He saved me.."
"From what did he save you, Hailey?" Spock asked. She looked at him and then at Kirk. "I'm not answering any of his questions.
"Alright, Hailey. Talk to me." Kirk said. "We're all your friends here. What did Charlie save you from?"
Hailey paused and looked around. Her eyes stopped at Chekov.
"Is he telling the truth? Are all of you just concerned for me and for Charlie?"
"De captain is not lying. Ve are all concerned. You look younger than twenty three, dat's all."
Hailey was silent a moment as if contemplating her next words. She looked around the room and then lowered her head not willing to look anyone in the eye.
"My mom is a drug addict. She would give me to men for drugs..ever since I was twelve...she said I had to help with the bills." Her voice was barely a whisper.
She would clean up this club sometimes...that's where she met Charlie. "I'd come there with her...to help her when she was so high she couldn't do her work.."
She wiped her eyes again with the napkin. "When she didn't have enough money...she'd offer me to guys for a night. She offered me to Charlie. He tried to help my mom...but she didn't change...she didn't want to change. He wasn't like the other men...he didn't want anything from her...or me. I still remember that night that she came up to him. He was so shocked by her offer...and then he just looked like he was going to throw up or something...He pleaded with my mom to get help. My mom told him that he was a bleeding heart patsy."
Kirk looked at Spock for a moment and then turned his attention back to Hailey.
"Hailey, did you then come and live with Charlie?" the captain asked.
"No, my Mom told him he couldn't have me more than one night at a time and then he'd have to pay. He kept after her and he even paid her not to give me to anyone else, but she wouldn't relent. When he realized that she wasn't going to change, he told her that he had called the authorities and that she was going to jail. He said he had evidence. She got mad, but she believed him and did what he wanted. He sent me away to school and made my mom go to rehab. When she came out she still went back to the drugs though. By then Charlie helped me to become emancipated and I didn't have to live with her anymore."
She looked at Spock. "He's a good person."
Uhura reached out and squeezed her hand. "I'm sorry that we misunderstood your relationship, Hailey."
Spock stood up and walked around the table facing Hailey.
"I sincerely regret this misunderstanding. I will attempt to repair things with my cousin." He looked at Kirk. "Captain, if you will excuse me."
"Of course, Spock"
Kirk nodded and smiled at Hailey. "Let's try to finish our dinner, shall we?"
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Charlie was more hurt than angry. He berated himself for letting Spock get to him. Spock was right in some ways. He hadn't changed. He still was seeking his cousin's acceptance and he hated himself for it. By feeling that way, he was leaving himself open for rejection and pain and he had just been dealt both in one blow.
Rory and Luke both followed him out of the dining room and he assured him that he was fine and asked them both to return to their dinner, but the refused.
"You couldn't pay me to go back there, the bunch of snooty hypocrites they are!" Rory said sounding indignant.
"Me neither!" Luke responded.
They returned to their quarters leaving Charlie alone. He figured that Hailey only stayed behind because she was with Chekov. He hoped that she would end up having a better time than he did. He was sure that Spock would be on good behavior now that he had left.
There was nothing else to do at this point but to stay out of Spock's way. A pedophile indeed! He wasn't about to explain anything to him. Let him think what he wanted to think. He would be off of this ship soon. He wasn't going to do any concert either. He doubted if they wanted it now anyway.
He thought about when he was young and how excited he was when his Aunt Amanda paid them a visit. Spock did not say much and he was constantly asking him questions. He wanted to touch his hair and ears much to Spock's dismay. He ended up with a headache before the day was over. His mother ended up banishing him to his room in order for Spock to recover. Charlie smiled at the memory.
He then thought about his time on Vulcan. He had hoped that perhaps that he could spend some time with Spock talk to him about the rejection and ridicule he received from his peers. He thought that Spock could give him some 'logical' answers to his problems.
When he received the invitation from Sarek, he had thought that it would not only be a good experience, but that he and Spock would be able to spend some time together. The trip was a social disaster. While he had been able to impress the faculty at the university, he could not adjust to the ways of the people of Vulcan. He longed for someone to laugh with which was how he released stress and there was plenty of that on Vulcan. However there was no one there he could relate to, except for his Aunt Amanda.
He didn't want to, but he realized that he disappointed both Spock and his father by not being able to adjust. Once again, he wasn't able to fit in and he was disappointed in himself.
After he came home, he found that playing the saxophone was somewhat comforting, and it was only by chance that he found the band he first played with. He eagerly joined them and decided not to continue his education. They accepted him. They didn't care that he was a genius. They treated him like he belonged and for the first time in his life Charlie felt like he fit in. He wasn't about to give that up. He knew that his family thought that he was crazy, but they weren't there when he was ridiculed. They didn't even notice that he had no friends. He had never had a girlfriend. All everyone cared about was the fact that he was a genius. That wasn't enough to satisfy him. He needed more.
His thoughts were interrupted by the chime of the doorbell. Why was Hailey ringing the doorbell, he wondered.
"Come" he replied curiously. Perhaps it was the captain coming to apologize for Spock's bad behavior.
Charlie was surprised when Spock walked in with his hands behind his back.
"Cousin, we need to talk." Spock said walking up to him.
"Why on earth would you want to talk to an accused pedophile?" Charlie asked sarcastically.
"I regret my previous statement, Charles." Spock said. "It appears that I have misjudged you."
Charlie looked at him. "How could you even think such a thing, Spock?"
"I have already stated my apology, Charles. What more do you wish for me to say?" Spock replied.
Charlie stared at him. "You seemed ready to believe the worse about me, that's what hurts me so much Spock. I know you don't have feelings, but I do. Yes, I know I'm too emotional and all that, but that's just how I am. I don't expect you to like me. Hell, I know you don't even respect me or my choices. I don't know why I still want your approval. I'm not twelve anymore, but you always seem to reduce me to the child I once was when I am in your presence and I must confess that I hate myself for it."
Charles turned away from Spock, clearly embarrassed by his own confession.
"You can leave now. I accept your apology, but I don't want to see you anymore. I'll stay out of you way and I hope you'll stay out of mine."
Spock walked over to him.
"Your assumption that I do not have feelings is incorrect Charles. If in fact I did not have feelings, then I would be able to control my responses to you which is something I seem to fail at continually. You are able, it seems, to elicit responses from me; and at times I cannot seem to control myself even with meditation. It is a fact I am not proud of. It appears that when it comes to family relationships, emotional control is something that is difficult for me to maintain."
Charlie turned and looked at him, his face solemn. He was struggling, the pain he was feeling at that moment threatening to overtake him.
"All the more reason for us to stay away from each other" he said refusing to meet Spock's eyes.
Spock placed his hand on Charlie's shoulder.
"I believe that would be the coward's way out, Charles. Neither one of us, I believe are cowards."
Charlie then met his cousin's stare, willing himself to keep his own emotions in check.
"What are we then, Spock?" he whispered, his voice choking.
"Family" Spock replied.
