A/N: OK so I lied, you did get a chapter today ;)

Sabrina woke up early the next morning, padding down the hall she passed the open door of her former library and jumped. For a moment, she'd forgotten that Strom was actually in her house. At the moment, he was still asleep and in her house. She glanced in, meaning to only glance but ended up staring. He was sleeping in what looked like black sleeping pants, and no shirt. Curled on his neck was Tilly, who was resting her face on his angled cheek. It had to be one of the most angelic, peaceful, scenes she'd ever seen in her life.

Part of her wanted to get a camera, while another part of her just etched the image in her mind. The report she read on him said he was officious, petty, a medical beaurocrat who was ruthless in his application of logic and rules. She wished the person who wrote that could see him now, or see him as he watched the new experiences they had. Either the person who wrote the report didn't know what they were talking about-or-something had fundamentally changed him. She knew she might not ever know. For now, he was sweetly sleeping with a cat that clearly loved him. Her heart swelled a little as she pulled away from the scene.

She knew he was going to make breakfast, but she had to have some tea first.

Strom became aware of a hot presence breathing into his nose, and the smell of cat breath. His eyes parted and he looked down, Tilly's body was resting on his neck, and she had curled impossibly around so her mouth was practically in his nose. Felines, like their human caretakers, had no concept of personal space apparently. When he moved to touch the back of her neck she began purring and stroking his skin with her paws. At the moment, he was grateful that Tilly wasn't a sehlat.

As he rubbed her ears, he heard movement in the kitchen and he shot up, knocking Tilly onto his pillows, the feline barely moved. He grabbed a robe, tossing it on and rushed down stairs.

He saw Sabrina putting water into the tea kettle and then on the stove to boil. When she turned around she jumped, "Oh!" She gasped, "You startled the hell out of me." she chuckled clutching her chest.

"Forgive me, I have neglected my duty and frightened you." Strom said approaching.

"No, it's fine, just when I walked passed your room, you seemed to be sleeping deeply. I didn't expect you'd be up, for a little while at least."

"I didn't get to sleep as early as usual." He replied, knowing his thoughts on being sent back to Vulcan kept him up a large part of the night. Pursing his lips he looked away from her, "I am going to meet with Dr. Yuris today. My conversation with him is what kept me awake."

"I'm sorry. You should have woken me, I'd have made tea or listened."

Strom knew she would have too, she was kind to people, and admirable quality. "There was no need for two people to be up, Beena." he approached her, his thin lips pressed together keeping back the many things he wished he could say. "Do you wish me to make first meal?" he inquired.

"If you want, but if you want to be on time to work, I'd say probably not."

He frowned, "I will still make first meal."

"It's ok, really. Take my flitter to work, it will cut some time off the commute. I usually take public transport so I don't have to find a parking space, but all doctors have their own. Might as well use it." she smiled, and the tea kettle whistled behind her. "Can I make you some tea?"

"Please." He moved and gathered the cups out of the cupboards for them, "It is disagreeable to me that you won't be going to Vulcan with me."

"Me too." She confessed, "And I'm disappointed that our little trips and such are being cut short too. We have the next month though!" she said trying to be optimistic.

He couldn't get out of his mind that he'd be separated from her for two years. His pon farr was one year five months and three days away, approximately, which mean his family would see him bonded soon, or he'd have to enlist the aid of a priestess. Neither thing appealed to him, at the same time, he wasn't sure of her frail body could withstand the heat of the plak tow. It was illogical for him to assume she'd be able to accept such a shame….

"Strom?" Sabrina said, "You were fading out again….thinking?"

He nodded and handed her the cups. There was no delicate way to inquire about her thoughts on the matter. No matter how he framed or phrased it in his mind, it all sounded like him asking her how she felt about being sexually savaged by an illogical beast. Not a decent conversation to have over tea, or any time.

"Strom, are you ok? You've been weird since Yuris arrived."

He blinked slowly, "I did not wish to come to Earth, and now I do not wish to leave. Leaving, however, may be the better part of virtue and valor."

"I don't really want you to go either." Sabrina said earnestly, pouring the tea into both their cups, absently.

Strom took the cup from her hand, "I will speak with Yuris." he drank it in one swallow, "I must leave now, I will return this evening so we may go to experience snow." He nodded and padded off quickly to get ready.

Yuris was in Strom's office when he arrived, "Good morning, Strom. I've just been through your files, you've made good progress in a very short time. It's been commendable."

Strom nodded, "Which makes it illogical for me to be sent away now. I am making progress, and I have the respect of the staff."

"Dr. Oratt has petitioned for your position, he has excellent qualifications, as you know. He has twice the knowledge of interspecies medicine. There is not logical reason why he should not take this position, and the place on Vulcan is a prime spot for advancement." Yuris countered, "Is there a logical reason why I should rethink the move?"

"The assignment I was given, is not complete. The cultural assignment is in its infancy. I have not yet begun the cultural understanding I was given to undertake. The diversity of this planet will require at least the two year term." Strom said firmly.

"And what of this engulfment you have developed with your nurse?" Yuris said bluntly, "Is that the true reason for your perceived need for more time?" He cleared his throat, "Is she even aware that you are already behaving as if she belongs to you? Your posturing was noted."

Strom pressed his lips together, "To quote you, there is no simple definition of intimacy."

Yuris raised both his eyebrows, surprised Strom remembered his words the day he got charged with being an undesirable member of society. "You did not answer."

"To the best of my knowledge, she is unaware. I have not been inappropriate. I have not initiated a bond, nor have I physically indulged in her. You know me, Yuris, I am not going to break the rules of our society, but it is not against the rules of our society to seek a mate. It is in fact an intrinsic part of our society that we find mates." Strom said even more firmly than before.

"She is human, Strom." Yuris said softly, "And ignorant of the shame we carry. Your fixation on her could cause her serious mental and physical harm. There is also the fact that you could come to harm, if she were unwilling or able to meet your need. I think you are too emotionally compromised to utilize logical judgement on this matter. "

Strom's jaw flexed, and then Yuris looked as if he had an idea.

"If Sabrina no longer worked here, we may be able to come to some arrangement. We could see to it that she is let go. You would be able to stay here then, perhaps."

Strom frowned, "Unacceptable, she is a very competent nurse. Her career here, being in this hospital with the interspecies medical exchange is important to her."

"You have the options." Yuris said apologetically.

"I'll leave." he did not hesitate, "I will not see her life ruined."

"So, you choose her contentment over your own?" Yuris questioned softly.

"Yes. The needs of the many outweigh the few or the one. "He said, his clipped tone dulled in defeat, "She will help many people, save many lives, and teach those who would save more, that would cease to be if I were to do as you suggested."

"Very well." Yuris said, "You'll leave Monday at noon."

"Monday? You said seven weeks."

"Given your compromised nature, I will take over until Dr. Oratt arrives. I think it's best."

Strom closed his eyes, taking a deep breath in and out, "Very well."

From outside the door, Jon heard everything. He knew this whole thing was big, but he didn't know what to do next. He had to get ahold of Sabrina and let her know what was going on...didn't he? He quickly walked away before Strom and Yuris left the office.

Strom left the office, in his mind, he had just endured the revenge of Yuris for the part he had played when it was discovered he was a melder. It was illogical to think, perhaps, but he did now have an understanding of the spot he had been in.

Jon wasn't even supposed to be in the hospital, but he had left paperwork on his desk he needed. He was so glad for his absent mind that day, because now he'd overheard EVERYTHING. He grabbed his paperwork and made his way out of the hospital swiftly. When he got in the flitter with Alma, who was waiting on him, he pulled out his communicator. Typing in Sabrina's private line he sat tensely until she could answer.

Hello, Jon, how are you doing today?

"Listen, I have a lot to say, and not much time to say it, because Strom is headed back to your place." Alma was looking at him confused, "I have a little story to tell, and you are going to want to listen carefully….." he began telling her all he knew, the conversations he and Strom had in private, and then what he had overheard just a few minutes ago in the office. He was grateful beyond measure he could do that without all his stuttering and stammering.

Sabrina had cleaned the house from top to bottom, by the time Strom got home three hours later. She was sitting on the couch with Tilly in her lap, and the moment Strom hit the door Tilly was up and padding toward him. He bent and picked her up, "I am home early." he said stating the obvious.

"Mhm. Everything is ready for us to go to Big Bear for your snow excursion, when you are ready." She had, in her cleaning frenzy, decided not to say anything until he said something-if he said something. She did not know what to do about all the information Jon had given her. Some of it confirmed some suspicions she had, while parts of it were completely blindsiding.

"I am agreeable to go any time you wish. I have not yet eaten today, so it may be prudent to eat either before we go, or on the way." Strom was a little distant, and a lot defeated, but he believed he was hiding it effectively. Had Sabrina not already known there was trouble, his mask would have worked.

"I ended up not eating either, so let's have some leftover pizza before we go."

"You should have allowed me to fix first meal, then you would have taken in the proper nutrition for the day." Strom said with a frown, carrying Tilly into the room.

"It's ok, Strom." she said forcing a smile.

She got up and they went into the kitchen, she began warming up the pizza for them as she watched him gently scratch Tilly's ears. She was purring gently, loving Strom even more intensely than normal, almost like the little kitty was trying to heal his pain with a purr.

When she plated the pizza she finally broke, "How was your meeting with Yuris?"

He put Tilly down, and washed his hands, "It did not go as I wanted, but it is for the best."

"Why do you think it's for the best? You've done some good things in a short time."

"My service is required elsewhere, and Dr. Oratt is a much more experienced physician."

Sabrina nodded once, "Ok. So you aren't going to fight to stay?"

Strom sat and shifted, he could not make eye contact with her, "I would if I believed it was in the best interests of all concerned that I remain, but all the evidence supports that might leaving is for the greater good of the people in the project and the project itself."

Sabrina frowned. He protected her, her position in the project, and now he won't even tell her what he had done and why. "Pardon me for saying, but I think that is complete shit."

He looked at her, shocked, "Excuse me?"

"It's shit, Strom. I don't believe that at all. I don't think your leaving is in the best interests of this project, or the people in this project. You haven't even been here long enough for me...err...or us, the project to determine what's the best yet." She pushed away her pizza, "Can I talk to Yuris? Can I tell him my thoughts on this, I mean it's humans you are working with, and the humans you are working with should have a say, right?"

"No, that is not advisable." he looked at her, "Please, Sabrina, understand Yuris has done this for the benefit of all. He is not wrong."

She stood, "Well, I think you are BOTH wrong and I want a chance to tell Yuris how wrong he really is!"

Strom blinked, he'd never seen her so boldly emotional, and she wanted to fight for him. Deep within himself, where things were not as orderly a pang of longing shot through his katra like lightning. He could not act on it as he wished, so instead he stood, "You are being emotional, and illogical, I will not sit here and listen to this." he said raising his shields.

"Where are you going to go, running back to Vulcan?" She said in defiance of his sudden rebuff.

"Yes, on Monday." he said in his clipped thin way.

"Good! Maybe that is where you really do belong, since you don't have what it takes to fight to stay here!" She ground out in frustration, but instantly regretted it since his face moved away like she'd slapped him.

"If that is what you think, it's for the best that I go." Strom said, and he began to walk out of the kitchen.

She bit her lip to keep from crying and following him, when she heard the front door shut she sobbed out so painfully Tilly ran and hid.

Monday just before noon Jon, Yuris, and Strom were standing on top of the hospital roof waiting for the shuttle to arrive. Yuris had tried to engage Strom, but Strom had coldly ignored the overture. As the shuttle appeared in the distance Strom heard his name from behind him and he turned. Sabrina was half running toward him, and he found himself moving to meet her half way. He had not returned to her house all weekend, thinking he had destroyed their new budding relationship. "Beena?"

"Strom. I am...sorry." she said blinking back tears, "This is for you." She lifted the large soft pet carrier from around her neck and handed it to Strom.

His eyes widened, "Tilly?"

"She loves you more." when she blinked a tear escaped her eye and ran down her cheek, "I got her the Vulcan shots this morning."

Strom reached up and touched her face, gently wiping her tear, "Do not weep, this is for the best." to his surprise she gently leaned into his touch, and it shook his resolve, but only for a moment. He could feel the shuttle getting closer, and there were so many things he wanted to say, "You love, Tilly, can you bear to be parted from her?"

"I will manage, somehow, but you need her more. She has a message for you." she reached up and touched the hand that was lingering on her face. She saw the shuttle landing, and quickly stroked two fingers down the back of his hand causing him to gasp slightly, "I've got to go…"

He nodded, and watched her as she turned and walked away. With as much resolve as he could muster he turned around, shouldering the feline pack and walked the few paces to board the shuttle.

888

Once aboard the Surak, and in his quarters, Strom placed the carrier holding Tilly on his bed and he carefully unzipped the top. Tilly was curled up asleep, exhausted from the vet, shots, and travel. Gently, he picked her up and placed her on his pillow. Under her was a small note with Sabrina's handwriting.

Dear Strom,

I'm sorry we fought. I never meant for it to end this way, I simply wanted you to say what you weren't saying. Jon told me everything he had heard when you met with Yuris. I don't know what shame you have, but it's nothing to the nobility of sacrifice you performed. Wait for me, Strom, I want to give us a chance.

With love,

Beena