Title: Stumbling Block
Author: Ster Julie
Series: TOS
Characters: Spock, Sarek, Amanda
Rating: G
Part 1/1
A/N: Fourth in the New Bride series
Oh, and Sarek and Amanda also have a home in the capital city of Shani'kahr as well as the mountain villa outside
Shi'kahr. My story, my rules. (=^P
--ooOoo--
To: Sarek cha Skon cha Solkar,
Amanda Grayson aduna Sarek
Shanai'kahr, Vulcan
Epsilon Erdani 40
Alpha quadrant
From: Spock cha Sarek cha Skon
Aboard the U.S.S.
Mother, Father,
I will be on duty during Alpha watch tomorrow. Please call me after
1700 hours ship time.
Mene sakkhet
ur-seveh.
Spock.
--
Amanda smiled as she read Spock's message.
"Well," she breathed, "it's about time."
Sarek raised his head at her seeming non sequitur. "About time for what, my wife?" he
replied.
"Spock sent a message," she reported. "He wants us to call
him at 1700 hours ship time tomorrow. You can calculate the time
difference much more easily than I can. When will that be?"
Sarek looked to the ceiling for less than two seconds. "That will be
at endmeal," he answered.
"Tomorrow?"
Sarek put down the padd he was reading.
"Tonight," he replied. "I shall report to the office now
so that I may leave early. Would it be a hardship to have endmeal earlier than usual?"
Amanda smirked. "We may want to wait until after our chat with
Spock," she said hopefully. "He may be making a declaration
tonight."
Sarek stopped in his tracks and looked back at his wife. "Do you
think that Christine and he…?"
"Well, it's been nearly a year since our visit and all those little talks
we had with the two of them," Amanda reasoned. "Surely,
something has come of that!"
"Speculation is illogical," Sarek commented.
"So is hope," Amanda responded, "but that's okay. I have
enough for all of us!"
-*-
Seventeen hundred hours couldn't come fast enough for Amanda. She happily
anticipated the call to Spock, one that she was just sure would tell her that a
new daughter was added to her family. Amanda smiled at the memories of
that sweet Nurse Chapel who cared for her men so devotedly during their stay on
the
Amanda was surprised when only Spock's face appeared on the comm. screen.
Her happy, hopeful smile deflated like an old balloon. "What happened, Baby?" she crooned
before a word could leave Spock's lips.
Spock's eyes were haunted. At his mother's words, he had to turn from the
screen lest he shame himself further before both his parents.
"Christine has been attacked," he said bleakly.
"Attacked in what way?" Sarek asked.
"Is she all right?" Amanda interjected.
Spock heaved a great sigh. "Her body is healed."
"How was Christine attacked?" Sarek repeated gently.
"Much of this is classified," Spock whispered, disconsolate.
"Suffice it to say that an alien entity exchanged katras
with me on a noble venture, but he took advantage of the situation. He
took advantage of my Christine."
Amanda watched her son's profile
intently. When she saw Spock's chin begin to quiver, she wanted to crawl
through the screen to her son. "How
badly was Christine hurt?" Amanda said tremulously.
"Her physical injuries were healed quickly," Spock began, "but…"
He dropped his head in a futile attempt to hide his misery. "But the
psychological damage will be much harder to heal. She…" Spock
lowered his head into his hands as he tried to stifle the sobs that threatened
to overwhelm him.
"Breathe, my son," Sarek intoned. "One breath
for peace." (Spock took a shaky breath.) "A second one for calm." (Spock took another
breath.) "A third one for serenity.
(Spock took a deep breath that he exhaled, oh so slowly.) Sarek waited
until Spock was ready to speak.
"Christine cannot look at me without remembering Henoch,"
Spock said woodenly. "He used my body, my face to hurt
her." Spock's words came quickly as he poured out his anguish.
"How he demeaned her! How he made ugly all that should be beautiful
and fulfilling between mates!" Spock paused for a moment as he tried
futilely to master his anger. "I do not expect her to want to
continue our relationship."
"Why?" Sarek breathed.
Spock turned his misery-streaked face fully to the screen. "Because she cannot stand the sight of me!" he exploded.
"She blames you?" Amanda concluded.
Spock shook his head. "She says that she does not," he
answered, "and perhaps time will bring Christine healing, but I cannot
proceed from such an illogical assumption." Spock drew a ragged
breath. "What will happen during my Time? What if she has a
flashback and rejects me? How will I stop myself from hurting her when my
control is ripped away from me? What if I kill her?"
Sarek watched the image of his tortured son, listened to the quiet sobs of his
wife beside him, and sought a solution. "Would
Christine be amenable to the services of a healer, my son?" Sarek asked
quietly. "Perhaps a female healer would be best."
"That is very kind of you, Father," Spock replied, "but perhaps
the offer should come from someone other than me."
Amanda wiped her face dry with her hands. "I can do that, she said
shakily. "As soon as we have things arranged, I'll give Christine a
call." Amanda peered at her soon. "Had you two… been…
together yet?"
Spock looked at his mother in confusion.
"Been intimate, my son," Sarek translated gently.
Spock flashed his eyebrows in response. "We
had only begun courting," Spock whispered.
"Don't give up on her, sweetie," Amanda cooed.
Spock shook his head. "No," he said bleakly, "no, I have
to 'give up' the thought of having her for a mate. It would be dangerous
to us both…"
"Speculation is illogical!" Sarek retorted. "You are
proceeding from mere conjecture. I have never known you to concede defeat
so quickly, Spock, ever. No one will make any decisions until we have all
the facts, until your mother has spoken with Christine, until a healer has
examined you both, and all of us have meditated sufficiently on the subject at
hand. Have I made myself clear?"
"Understood, Father," Spock yielded meekly.
Sarek took the span of three breaths to allow his orders to sink in, as well as
to calm himself. "Very well,"
he announced, "I will call the healers. As soon as I have a suitable
candidate, Amanda, you will call Christine. In the meantime, Spock, you
will check your ship's orders and see what blocks of time will be available to
this endeavor." Sarek allowed some warmth to permeate his purposeful
mien as he looked once again at Spock through the viewer. "Spock-kam, hope is illogical, but your mother assures me that she
has enough hope for all of us. Do not assume the worst."
A slight twinkle entered Spock's gaze. "Now that would be
illogical!" he teased.
Sarek nodded gravely. "Indeed."
End (TBC in New Bride #5)