NU2U: "Blood Ties", 25/26 (TOS/AU, S/Ch, Sa, Am, Vulcan OCs, K, Mc; h/c, anx [PG13])
Gamin
pregnant wife Christine back to Vulcan to be presented at a clan
gathering, where both run afoul of certain ultra-conservative clan-
members. This part: As the Enterprise is about to depart Vulcan,
tragedy strikes...
Disclaimers: Part 1A.
******
After Christine had changed T'Jaim's diaper (and checked T'Krystyn's),
she, Spock and Kirk lingered for a while, not really wanting to leave
right away. Christine let Amanda and Sarek spend time with the
babies, who immediately became the center of attention again, while
she and Spock talked alone on
the terrace and Kirk and T'Merit occupied themselves similarly
elsewhere in the house.
When Spock and Christine went back inside after a time to see what was
going on, they found the children still gathered around Sarek and
Amanda, who were still holding T'Jaim and T'Krystyn in their laps.
Savir and T'Shelya were looking on, talking quietly among themselves,
and Kirk was still deep in conversation with
T'Merit as Setek looked on with an expression that seemed to indicate
approval.
Christine found herself drawn toward Sarek and Amanda as she watched
Sarek with T'Jaim. Apparently, he was only slightly less uneasy
around babies than Spock was. T'Jaim, however, seemed quite content
to sit on his lap, half-laying against the crook of his arm, babbling
softly to herself and playing with her feet, pausing occasionally to
look around at the children watching her. Sarek studied T'Jaim
uncertainly, but she held his full attention, nonetheless. As
Christine reached his side, he briefly looked up at her. "I think I
must agree with you, Christine. T'Jaim *does* bear a strong
resemblance to Spock," he decided.
"Maybe we'd better trade now, so T'Krystyn won't think you're playing
favorites," Amanda suggested, smiling affectionately at Sarek.
With some difficulty, they switched the babies from one lap to the
other. Something about the process seemed to amuse T'Krystyn, for she
began to laugh and wave her arms as soon as she was settled into
Sarek's lap; T'Jaim laughed in response, then they both gradually
calmed themselves enough to settle into making their happy-sounding
baby noises. They laughed again when T'Seva and T'Saya tickled their
feet. "I trust you will not misinterpret this, but it must be
mentioned," Sarek began hesitantly. "They are not reacting as Vulcan
babies."
"I know," Christine admitted, sitting down on the sofa beside him.
"As far as Dr. McCoy has been able to tell so far, they have Spock's
hybrid anatomy and are physically as Vulcan as he is...but mentally,
emotionally and psychologically, they're Human," she explained.
"Three-fourths Human, to be precise," Sarek added, looking down at
T'Krystyn and touching her small hand with his finger. T'Krystyn
barely hesitated before grabbing onto it.
"I suppose so. I'm sorry if that's such a disappointment to you."
Sarek looked up in response to the Christine's slightly bitter tone,
then glanced over at Amanda and found her watching him expectantly.
"They are not the sort of grandchildren I would have preferred, but I
long ago realized it would be impossible to have fully Vulcan
grandchildren because of Spock's Human blood; I have no logical choice
but to accept them as they are."
Amanda averted her eyes in an attempt to hide her reaction to this,
and Christine got up, picking up T'Krystyn from Sarek's lap and
holding her protectively. "If you have to look for logical reasons to
accept your own grandchildren, don't bother. I'll keep the out of your
sight from now on, like I would keep them away from T'Pera, and you
can pretend they don't exist-just like you used to pretend *Spock*
didn't exist," she returned coldly, starting back toward Spock.
Sarek and Amanda both got up and went after her. "Perhaps that is the
difficulty, Christine," Sarek tried to elaborate, disturbed more than
he cared to admit by the comparison to T'Pera. "Old habits are the
most difficult to break--not an exclusively Human axiom--and I have
not yet fully reconciled with my son; it should be no surprise that I
have difficulty accepting my grandchildren."
Christine whirled toward him. "Oh, it's no surprise," she assured him,
unable to keep all the sarcasm out of her voice. "It's also not fair,
Sarek! They're good babies--sweet and loving. Why should they suffer
because of your...attitude problems?" she demanded.
Sarek took T'Jaim from Amanda and held her up in the air in front of
him before taking her on his shoulder. "They *are* well-behaved," he
admitted. "I would gather you and Spock have so far been good
parents."
"We've tried," Christine retorted sulkily.
"I was only trying to say that I need time. I know that you and your
children will need as many allies within this clan as possible, and I
really *would* regret not being allowed to see them again," he
continued gently.
"Are you sure?" Christine asked dubiously, but she could see her
answer in Sarek's eyes; he was clearly trying sincerely to make amends
for the misunderstanding. Across the parlor, she could see Kirk
giving T'Merit what she soon deduced to be a goodbye kiss as Spock
came toward her.
"Are you ready to leave, Christine?" he asked.
"*Very* ready," she replied gratefully, as Sarek passed T'Jaim to
Spock.
"Come say goodbye to your new cousins, children," Amanda called then,
turning toward them just as T'Merit began to help Kirk fold up the
playpen.
The children gathered quickly around Spock and Christine, who knelt
before them with the babies. "Christine, you *will* come back to see
us, won't you?" T'Seva asked.
Before Christine could answer, T'Syrith responded. "Of course, she
will. Mother says Christine 'loves' all the children in our clan,"
she told her cousins matter-of-factly.
Christine thought to herself that she would love to have listened in
on *that* discussion as she pictured T'Merit trying to explain the
emotion to T'Syrith.
"Will you bring T'Jaim and T'Krystyn?" T'Seva asked then.
"I sure will," Christine promised.
T'Syrith touched her fingers to the sides of T'Krystyn's head first,
then T'Jaim's. "Goodbye, cousins," she said softly, kissing each of
them on the forehead.
This was followed by T'Syla touching her fingers to the babies'
temples in the same mental farewell, an action repeated by T'Seva and
T'Saya. "Do not forget us, Christine," T'Syla urged then. "Father
said he would bring us here if you came back."
"We'll see each other again," Christine reiterated, fervently hoping
as she spoke that Spock's other little cousins would be there to see
T'Jaim and T'Krystyn for what would be their first time--though with
the attitude of some of their parents toward her, that might not be
likely or even possible.
She and Spock stood up then and said their goodbyes to Savir and
T'Shelya; inevitably, they lingered over their goodbyes to Sarek and
Amanda, leaving Kirk to say goodbye to T'Merit and Setek for them.
"T'Merit told me about the ring you gave her," Setek revealed
quietly. "From what she told me, I gather that this is...a sort of
commitment. You *have* indicated an interest in eventually marrying
her, have you not?"
Kirk nodded. "You still seemed awfully concerned," he noted warily.
"I do not mean to intrude into her personal life--or yours--but she is
family, and we do have something in common," Setek reminded him,
hoping Kirk would remember Christine's revelation
during their last goodbyes. "She has experienced much...guilt and
apprehension...which she does not share with anyone but me. Not since
Syrit died have I seen her so openly taken with any male."
"It *did* happen awfully fast, but that's why I only gave her a
promise ring. I know we need more time," Kirk assured him.
"But your emotions for her are genuine. You will return. You want
T'Merit to remain a part of your life." Setek still sounded
uncertain.
"If you don't believe me, ask Spock."
"You told Spock of this?"
"I don't keep too much from Spock. Besides--he saw us together, and
he was concerned, too. Neither of you need to be, you know. I care
about her and I wouldn't let her be hurt."
Setek seemed finally to accept this. "I do not consider it necessary
to discuss this with Spock," he decided, at last. "I have heard him
speak of you often enough to know that if he approves of your
relationship with her, I should find it acceptable and so should her
family. You are, after all, familiar with the difficulties involved in
a Vulcan/Human marriage."
"I think I get *more* familiar with them every day," Kirk acknowledged
dryly.
".And that has not dissuaded you from involving yourself with
T'Merit."
"Obviously not."
"Then that is sufficient," Setek concluded.
As Kirk was about to respond, T'Syrith came to say goodbye to him.
Kirk knelt to speak to her. "Well, T'Syrith, it's time for me to go
again," he told her.
"You gave my mother a ring. That means you have to come back, does it
not?" she questioned.
"More than that. It means I *want* to come back," Kirk assured her
gently.
T'Syrith studied him for a long moment with uncertainty and hope in
her dark eyes. "Are you going to be my father?" she asked finally.
"I could only be your step-father, T'Syrith-and I'd be gone a lot,"
Kirk pointed out anxiously. "Are you sure you could handle that?"
"If Mother can, I can," T'Syrith asserted. "As long as you remember
to come back to us."
"I'd never forget that," Kirk promised her, smiling.
"I am certain that he will return as soon as duty permits," T'Merit
informed her evenly, coming to join her daughter. She looked at Kirk
as he stood up again. "Goodbye, Jim," she said softly.
"For now," Kirk responded, surprising and pleasing T'Merit by taking
her in his arms and kissing her tenderly. She found herself not
wanting it to end, but it did, all too soon.
T'Merit watched him return to Spock and Christine's side with a
vaguely apprehensive expression in her eyes, for suddenly, she was
seized with an illogical "feeling" that she would never see him,
Christine or Spock again. She hurried atypically after Kirk, going to
say goodbye to T'Jaim and T'Krystyn, touching their temples as the
children had in a similar mental blessing.
"Farewell, little ones...grow strong and wise, and live in peace and
happiness," she whispered, embracing Christine quickly but sincerely
before withdrawing.
"Are we ready to go?" Kirk asked finally.
"I believe so, Captain," Spock returned.
Kirk activated his communicator. "Kirk to Enterprise. Ready to beam
up."
T'Merit and T'Syrith watched with the other Vulcans as they faded from
sight, each reflecting on their own memories of Kirk and Christine,
and the different ways in which these two Humans
had touched their lives.
******
An hour or so later, after Spock and Christine had gone back to their
cabin and gotten the babies settled down for a nap, just before the
Enterprise was about to leave orbit, Kirk came to their cabin. "I've
just been contacted by Sarek," he told them, as Spock admitted him.
"He wants to come aboard--wouldn't tell me why. I thought one of you
might want to go with me to meet him."
Spock raised an eyebrow at him curiously in startlement, wondering why
Sarek would insist on such a thing without any explanation. "I will
go. It is undoubtedly me he wants to see, though I have no idea why,"
Spock decided, glancing over at Christine, who was still by the
cribs. "Stay here with the children, Christine," he instructed, and
she nodded in acknowledgement, equally puzzled by Kirk's news.
Spock followed Kirk down to the Transporter Room, where Sarek
was just materializing on the transporter platform as they walked
in. He met them at the bottom of the steps as they approached.
"Spock...Captain...there has been an accident," Sarek began, with
difficulty. "An aircar accident just outside ShiKahr, as T'Merit was
on her way home. Some sort of equipment malfunction within the
aircar...it went off the road and crashed into one of the rock
formations that line our desert roads. T'Merit
was killed instantly."
Only Spock was able to respond. "What of T'Syrith?"
"Hospitalized locally, in critical condition when I left...Satik is
caring for her," Sarek told him, his voice still unusually hushed.
"I chose to deliver this news in person because...Setek tells me that
T'Merit altered her will two months ago, making Christine T'Syrith's
Fuahn-shanah. Setek was, originally, but T'Syrith's bond with
Christine--something she had never had with anyone else--was more
important than either family kinship or Vulcan
environment in T'Merit's mind, and Setek seems to understand that. I
realize this is quite sudden and perhaps too inconvenient to be
feasible, in which case the responsibility will remain Setek's...but
he asked me to at least relay the request that you take T'Syrith
aboard the Enterprise, if and when she recovers, for Christine to care
for her as T'Merit would have preferred."
Spock spoke with his eyes closed. "How long does Satik think T'Syrith
will be in the hospital?"
"He is not certain yet, except that it will be an extended period-
weeks, possibly months," Sarek responded quietly.
Spock bowed his head now in a deliberate effort to hide his emotions.
"I am certain that Christine will wish to fulfill T'Merit's final
request," he managed to say finally.
"Then I will convey that message to Setek," Sarek acknowledged.
Belatedly, Kirk finally found his voice. "Is there anything more we
can do to help?" he asked faintly, still stunned.
Sarek shook his head, hesitated, then stepped closer to Kirk and said
cautiously, "T'Merit told me of your...relationship...with her.
Perhaps it is not my place, but it seems appropriate that I offer you
my condolences."
Kirk nodded numbly in acceptance of this. "Keep in touch, Sarek. If
T'Syrith needs *anything*..."
"I will notify you if...when...she is able to leave the hospital,"
Sarek promised him, then turned to Spock, studying him anxiously.
They both knew that T'Merit was one of a handful of relatives who had
tried to accept Spock--a group that seemed to fluctuate and dwindle in
number as T'Pau's influence spread and could not afford to lose
another member. Spock could not meet his eyes, however, and retreated
from Sarek as the latter tried to
repeat his offer of condolences.
At last, Sarek returned to the transporter platform and Spock beamed
him back down to Vulcan. Then he went to Kirk's side, aware of the
agony and grief that would surely overwhelm his Captain when the truth
set in. "Come, Jim," he urged gently. "I will accompany you back to
your cabin."
******
Kirk followed him silently, stopping Spock at the door with
instructions that he be left alone until further notice, then he went
into his cabin, called orbital departure orders in to the Bridge, and
collapsed across his bed, trying vainly to sleep.
Spock entered his own cabin and found Christine walking around the
area that had been converted into a nursery, rocking T'Jaim in her
arms and singing softly to her. He slid quietly into a chair across
the room and watched her in spellbound silence until she had finished,
sometime later, thinking to himself that this must be what Kirk had
described as a "lullaby".
When Christine was sure T'Jaim was asleep, she put the baby in her
crib, covering her with a pink blanket and studying her for a time to
be certain she was going to remain asleep. Then Christine turned
finally to leave the nursery, saw Spock, and went to join him.
"T'Jaim didn't want to go to sleep," she explained, studying Spock
worriedly; there was something in the
Vulcan's eyes that hadn't been there before he and Kirk went to the
Transporter Room--a profound sadness evident nowhere except within
their brown depths--almost as if, despite Spock's otherwise careful
control, he was considering the option of crying.
"Spock, what is it? What did Sarek want?" she asked, instinctively
alarmed.
Spock took her hand hesitantly as she knelt next to him, lowering his
eyes uneasily. "He told us of an aircar accident...
involving T'Merit and T'Syrith," he revealed, fighting to keep his
voice steady. "T'Merit...is dead. T'Syrith has been hospitalized,
apparently with serious injuries, though Sarek was not specific."
"Oh, dear God." Christine was visibly shaken.
"There is more," Spock continued cautiously. "Apparently T'Merit
attached such significance to your bond with T'Syrith that during the
past year, she altered her will to make *you* T'Syrith's Fuahn-
shanah. I gather she was aware that we would not raise the child in
the traditional Vulcan manner but would be more likely to raise her as
we will raise T'Jaim and T'Krystyn.
Setek is the one originally chosen, but he has given his consent.
I...assumed...that you would not object, since T'Syrith would not
joined us for several weeks, after she has been released from the
hospital."
"Yes, of course-anything to help," Christine agreed eagerly, still
unable to believe it. Belatedly, she thought of the effect this might
have on Kirk. "How's the Captain taking it?" she asked.
"He seems to be in some degree of shock. He asked to be left alone in
his cabin, so I am complying with his wishes," Spock replied, barely
audibly.
"Well, don't leave him alone *too* long," Christine recommended
gently. "If he loved her enough to give her a promise ring, he's
probably going to need you now."
Spock nodded understandingly. "I will go to him after he has had some
time to himself," he assured her. "For now, I must go tell Dr.
McCoy...then I have duties to attend to on the Bridge." But he did not
move from his seat.
"Are you sure you're up to that?" Christine asked him dubiously.
"I would prefer to stay here with you and the children," Spock
admitted slowly, "but I must resume my duties. And perhaps it is best
that I do not think of T'Merit...until I can do so without feeling
grief."
Christine raised herself on her knees, drawing closer to Spock and
taking his face in her hands. "If you feel grief, Spock, let yourself
grieve," she urged him softly. "Sulu can handle things on the Bridge
for a while longer without you."
Spock looked at her uncertainly, torn between the logical knowledge
that he should be on the Bridge and his emotional need for
consolation. A compromise seemed to be in order.
"Perhaps I could delay departure for a short time..."
"Good." Christine lowered her hands and slowly slipped her arms
around him, drawing him against her; Spock let her hold him,
responding hesitantly and awkwardly, wanting to feel the warmth and
sincerity of the emotions within her, which he knew mirrored his own.
For the time being, there were no tears. Christine wanted to be strong
for him, and he wanted to be strong for Kirk. Later, perhaps, after he
had talked to Kirk and done his best to comfort his Human friend, the
three of them would share their tears-if Spock could permit himself
such an open emotional display in front of them and if Jim and
Christine were willing.
"It happened so suddenly...but did you see the way she said goodbye to
T'Jaim and T'Krystyn? It was...as if she knew she would never see
them again," Christine reflected.
"Yes...it *did* seem a strange thing to say," Spock agreed, almost
whispering.
"At least, T'Syrith is still alive," Christine noted.
"For the time being. *If* she recovers from her injuries, she will
still need....special care," Spock pointed out, still speaking
softly. "Even for full-blooded Vulcans, there is a period of...
adjustment...after the death of a close relative, especially for
children. And T'Syrith has been closer to her mother than is usual
for a Vulcan child of her age, out of necessity...plus the adjustment
she would have to make to life on the Enterprise. But you would help
her and take care of her, and she would
trust you. T'Merit knew that."
They parted finally. "Do you think she also wanted T'Syrith to be
with Captain Kirk?" Christine wondered.
"Possibly. Certainly that thought occurred to the Captain when we
were in the Transporter Room," Spock recalled, as they both stood up.
Christine put her arms around him again, hugging him affectionately
one last time, and Spock found himself illogically (but not
unexpectedly) longing for several hours to spend in Christine's
embrace, allowing himself to enjoy her touch..."I must go now," he
told her regretfully. "Perhaps you should take this opportunity to
get some rest, yourself," he suggested then.
"All right," Christine agreed reluctantly.
"I should be off-duty at approximately 0800, and I intend to check on
Jim on my way back--I am not certain how long that will take," he
added.
"Take all the time you need. If the babies wake up early, I think
I'll take them to the Officers' Lounge before I go on duty," she
informed him.
"Very well, I will look for you there if I do not find you here."
They exchanged a gentle kiss before Spock released her finally and
went on his way.
END PART 25
My ST:TOS Fan-Fiction can be found here:
GAMIN DAVIS' SPOCK TREKS
http://spocktreks.bravehost.com
(Kirk & Spock Friendship, Spock/Christine
and pre-TOS Spock fan-fic, plus Art, Poetry,
Filks and a Listing of my Available Zines)