Chapter 3 - The Ways of Two Worlds

The Captain had returned to light duty. Nurse Chapel had served Sarek and Spock breakfast. She had been attentive to her Vulcan patients and found Vulcan food items that were soothing to Sarek's condition. Spock realized that she had likely done some research into Vulcan cuisine. He was a bit confused, however. Sarek had consistently allowed the nurses to serve him meals. It brought back one of his more shameful memories in his recent past. He also noticed that Nurse Chapel smiled upon his father and treated him with impassive distance. He didn't know why, but this bothered him. He was used to her kind and solicitous attentions when he was ill.

Chapel left for her early break and so the two Vulcans were alone again.

"Father, why do you allow the nursing staff to serve your meals?"

"I am not exactly in the position of being able to get it myself."

"That is not what I meant. It is an affront to Mother..."

"To allow a nurse, a professional, to bring me a meal when I'm ill and unable to do these things for myself? This is not the Vulcan cultural situation that you perceive it to be. I am unwell. I'm recovering from major surgery. The nursing staff bring me meals because I require sustenance. It is logical. Now, if we were in our home and had visitors and a female visitor made an overt attempt to serve me, it would be a different situation. Even then, your Mother would only be truly insulted if the woman in question had in mind to serve me something besides breakfast."

Spock turned green from his neck to his ears. "Father, this medication...it has made you most direct in expression."

"My son, the medication is a part of it, but while there are certain things that are still not discussed, we are family. You are an adult. Your mother and I have always celebrated our differences, between Human and Vulcan, between male and female, but there seems to be a universal truth among both of our species."

"Elucidate."

"I am sure you know that there is a difference between courtship rituals of different species. I had to take a different tactic with your mother. Subtle Vulcan courtship rituals between unbonded adults were not going to work. I had to take an admittedly more Human approach. While I still maintained much of Vulcan comportment in public, I escorted your mother to dinner, we attended symphonies, ballets, and different Terran theatrical entertainment." Sarek gave a wistful half-smile at those memories and saw his son's incredulous expression. "Neither Humans nor Vulcans want to contemplate their parents being anything to each other besides parents or amiable companions at most."

"So you engaged in this Terran entertainment to...court Mother?"

"I am an ambassador, Spock. The things I have learned about more emotional cultures was an unforeseen but most welcome gift courtesy of your Mother. It made me less culturally blind as a diplomat. I didn't realize this when I decided I wished to marry her, but as my successes came with more frequency and ease, the reason was clear. Besides, I happen to know that you enjoy a lot of Terran music, particularly that of the Baroque period."

"I have learned, particularly on the Enterprise, that there are some things that defy logic. Sometimes acts of desperation are the only course when there is only a slim hope of being saved. I have to confess, Father, that when I returned from our Marriage Grounds and discovered my captain, my friend, alive after believing I had killed him, I was overjoyed. I lost control, if only for an instant."

Sarek simply shook his head. "To kill is a most abhorrent thing to a Vulcan. Knowing you had killed a friend was far worse. Your reaction was not unexpected."

The sickbay doors swooshed open and Amanda swept in, soft gown swirling. Touching fingers with Sarek, she settled on a bench between her Vulcans. "How are my favorite Vulcans today?"

"I am well enough to return to duty, Mother. I am waiting for my last battery of tests before I can do so."

Christine entered the room, smiled at Amanda, and turned a stern eye to Spock. "Dr. McCoy said you could return to light duty if the test results permit it, Mr. Spock. You are still to be monitored for the next three days."

Spock couldn't suppress a most Human sigh. He usually picked up double shifts, being the only member of the crew who could do so on a regular basis.

Amanda rolled her eyes. "All work and no play makes Spock a dull boy indeed."

At this, Christine burst into laughter and eyed Amanda. "My apologies to you Mr. Spock, but what your mother said..." Chapel laughed until her sides hurt.

"Really, for the first time in years, I have both of my men on each side of me, and I get to be regaled about duty and logic. Really, Spock. Read, meditate, play your lyre. Your Human half will thank you."

Sarek regarded his wife with wry amusement. "I am to enter the trance today, my wife. I will need you to summon Spock when the time comes."

"How am I going to amuse myself for the next two days? Maybe I'll raid the ship's holovid library, watch some movies I haven't seen in years."

At this, Christine shyly interrupted. "Lady Amanda? I am off duty tomorrow. Perhaps I can join you for some entertainment. I can also take you to the ship's salon. They do much more than haircuts and pointy sideburns."

"That is so kind of you, Nurse Chapel! But it's your day to rest..."

"My name is Christine. This would be my pleasure. How do you feel about musicals?"

"Oh, I absolutely adore them! Sarek usually finds the story illogical, but often enjoys the music."

Christine beamed, "Then it's a girls' date! Facials at 0930 and then we can watch a couple of old holovids. I bet I can scrounge up some chocolate ice cream, too!"

Sarek and Spock exchanged glances, "Girls' date?"

"Oh, Sarek...it's when females get together and get beauty treatments, watch movies their men are probably not interested in, and gorge on sweets. On Earth, it usually involves commiserating about relationships as well."

"Very well, my wife. I wish you a pleasant time with Nurse Chapel. However, I would advise you not to...gorge. The last thing Dr. McCoy needs is our entire family residing here.

Christine looked at Spock, all business once again. "We can finish that final battery of tests if you are ready, Mr. Spock."

Spock followed Christine into the private cubicle and Sarek and Amanda were alone.

"Sarek, our son needs help. He can't stay unbonded forever. How can he hope to attract a bondmate when he is so..."

"Clueless?", ventured Sarek. "He seemed a bit irritated about his contention that Nurse Chapel has feelings for him."

"I knew it! I had almost convinced myself that it wasn't true because she seems angry with him."

"That's because she is angry with him, Amanda. She's discovered that a full-blooded Vulcan, married to a woman of his own choosing, experiences joy in his bond to a Human woman. She is Human and untrained, but not completely psi-null and my control is precarious as I've been recovering."

Amanda raised her hand and said, "Let me guess, our oh-so Vulcan son gave her that lematya litter hole about being incapable of giving her anything because he's a Vulcan. Perhaps we shouldn't have been so...circumspect about the nature of a true marriage bond while he was growing up. No wonder she's peeved at him."

"My Amanda, I have talked openly with Spock and I believe he will see his path in his own time. If not with Nurse Chapel, then with someone else. Now, before I have to enter the trance, check the room and see if anyone is in the room."

"All clear, Mr. Ambassador!"

Sarek gestured for his wife to lower her head, and crossing fingers, they embraced in the ways of two worlds.