Chapter 14: Baroque
Silence reigned as everyone in the room stopped and stared at Sarek in shock. Everyone except Spock. Jim stood between them, hands held out in supplication. He shot Spock a quick look; fast enough to see his face change from open to closed. The warm thread of the bond didn't completely disappear but it felt like it was running against cold steel.
Spock quirked an eyebrow. "Your presence is illogical. I believe I have made myself clear. I will not be tied to a Vulcan."
"Then you will die. I am not blind. I know you are in pon farr. It was obvious when you came to the Embassy. T'Lara can ease you and tradition will be satisfied."
Jim laughed then. "Hardly, and I think you are a bit late. Spock is eased and has bonded with me."
Jim had the unique experience of watching a Vulcan become enraged. He didn't appreciate the danger he was in but Spock did. He grabbed Jim and shoved him against the counter behind him. Everyone else in the room became motionless as Sarek lunged for Jim.
Spock caught him by the shoulders and was momentarily surprised at his father's weakness. Giving him a shove, Sarek fell backward into the kitchen table, which gave under his weight. As the table collapsed into kindling, Anza and Alhamisi scurried out of the way and Panda yelped, caught briefly beneath.
Sarek fell hard and lay on the broken remains of the table, eyes closed, gripping his left arm in pain. Spock's face was no longer emotionless; his eyes were wide with surprise and shock as he knelt to help his father up. He was pushed roughly aside by McCoy who'd grabbed his tricorder and immediately began scanning.
Spock stepped back and stood beside Jim. Jim reached for his wrist, gripping it hard. Jim could feel pain radiating from his lover, pouring through his skin. Spock was so focused on his father, he didn't notice the tall Vulcan woman entering the room and joining McCoy on the floor.
Spock's intended had the cool beauty typical of Vulcan women, pale with large dark eyes. Those eyes surprised Jim; they were bright, shining with concern. So, an emotive Vulcan.
She brushed McCoy aside, straightened Sarek's limbs and said softly, "He has Bendii's Syndrome. He cannot control his emotions at the moment. Please do not touch him. Allow me." She placed her fingers against Sarek's psi points, something Jim was now quite familiar with.
Her eyes closed in concentration as McCoy sat back on his heels, giving her a clear field. Silence fell over the kitchen and everyone watched as Sarek's face relaxed and cleared. After a moment, she removed her hand and sat back, eyes never leaving his face.
Sarek opened his eyes and made to stand. When McCoy reached out to help him, T'Lara shook her head. After a moment, Sarek found his feet. He stared at nothing for a moment before his eyes snapped to Spock, standing beside Jim at the counter. His eyes dropped to their clasped hands.
Sarek took a deep, steadying breath. He looked up at Spock. "Is this true? Have you bonded with a human? A male?"
Spock stepped forward, still clasping Jim's hand. "It is true. We are one, together. I shall take no other."
"I should expect no more from you. You should expect nothing further from me. You are not my son."
"Now, wait a god damned minute!" McCoy was furious. "The bond already existed. It's a Thi la bond, or whatever you computerized morons call it. You have no . . ."
"A T'hy'la bond?" T'Lara turned her attention to McCoy. "How can you be sure? Who verified this?"
Anza stepped away from the kitchen wall, her dark eyes flashing. "I did."
T'Lara examined Anza closely. "A Betazoid. What would you know of such a thing?"
"I studied with the monks at Kir." Anza's Vulcan was colloquial and accurate.
T'Lara raised an elegant brow dismissively. "How does a Betazoid earn such a privilege?"
Anza bowed her head, in respect to the ancient discipline. "I am of the Fourth House on Betazed. I had some small skill."
"Some small skill . . ." Alhamisi laughed, translating Anza's words with long ease.
T'Lara turned her attention back to Jim and Spock. "Then, my congratulations are in order. And my thanks, I never thought to see such a bonding."
She turned to Sarek. "You speak from emotion, not logic, Sarek. A true bonding is. If you wish to correct Spock, that is your prerogative, of course, but not on this issue, I would think."
Sarek bristled. "Spock is my son. He will be obedient."
Ignoring Spock's tightened grip on his hand, Jim responded, sarcasm staining his voice. "Spock is your son, yes. But he is now my bond mate. Any obedience owed is mine."
"Insolent human! You have no comprehension of what it is to be with a Vulcan. You cannot imagine what is required. When you demand love and it cannot be returned, will you leave him? When he cannot conform to your society's paradigms, will you scorn him? I will not allow my son to be tossed aside when you tire of him."
Jim threw both hands in the air. "You don't know me, sir. I may not be the best example of mankind but I am the best choice for Spock, because the bond makes it so. We can argue all day long, but the bond chose, Spock chose."
"What is done can be undone. If you do not release him from this travesty . . ."
Alhamisi had had enough. Stepping forward and around the ruined table, he said, "Sarek, leave it, please. This is an opportunity. You have wished for Spock to find his place. He has. This man . . ." Alhamisi gestured at Jim, "he is honorable and worthy of a place by Spock's side."
"You will not lecture me, President Uhura. I have had enough interference from you. You would take my son from me as you once tried to take my wife."
Oh shit! Jim did not have to be a telepath to read the shock and dismay from virtually every being in the room.
To Alhamisi's eternal credit, he merely swallowed a couple of times and gathered himself. "You speak of things resolved long ago. May I remind you, you had the honor of marrying Amanda, not I. If you think I took Spock from you, you are mistaken. I looked after him after you cast him away for, what was it? Oh, disobedience, you are hardly . . ." His voice began to rise until T'Lara's calm tones interrupted.
"This argument is illogical and moot. Although I would have been satisfied to join with Spock, it is no longer possible." She glanced at Jim. "I believe his mate is fortunate and I for one, would not desire to come between them. Sarek, let us leave them to their joining. There is nothing more to be done."
Sarek tore his eyes away from Alhamisi and left without even a glance at Spock and Jim. T'Lara hesitated at the door.
"I will see that he returns to the Embassy and consults with a Healer. Do not be concerned." She turned to leave but looked back over her shoulder.
"Spock, your mother will be pleased to hear of this." T'Lara swept out of the room and next sound they heard was an air car departing the house.
Everyone turned as one and stared at Alhamisi who shrugged and smiled weakly. "Okay, everyone stop looking at me that way. It was a long time ago. A long time ago."
"So, who wants waffles?"
After a hearty breakfast, Jim felt a mounting pressure, a discomfiture brought on by too much surprise and emotional display. As quickly as he could, he packed Spock up and dragged him back to their room.
Jim watched Spock arrange himself in front of the fire and close his eyes. He was meditating and Jim was unwilling to disturb him. As much as he would like to return downstairs and get more details from Alhamisi, he knew Spock needed his steadying presence.
Jim took a seat by the tall windows and looked out at the cold wintry afternoon. Gray clouds rushed across the sky allowing weak sunlight to skim the tree branches in the yard. Someone had let Panda out and he was racing across the yard, barking joyfully at squirrels. Jim sat back against the cushions and thought about what it would be like to live like this, in a real home, with someone who loved him.
Who loved him. Jim didn't know if Spock actually loved him. He knew Spock needed him like he needed air. He knew Spock was warmed by him, opening slowly from within like a bloom. But love? What would a Vulcan know of love?
Ultimately, it didn't matter. Jim loved enough for both of them. That would be sufficient.
Jim felt Spock coming out of his meditation and left his reflection for another time. When Spock opened his eyes, his first sight was Jim kneeling beside him. He reached out a hand and took Jim's chin in long fingers, his thumb grazing his lower lip.
Spock watched Jim's changeable eyes warm with affection. Jim loved him, he knew. With Nyota, he'd felt something similar but it was a pale compared to the depth and complexity of Jim's emotions. This was something he could sink into, bask in. As a Vulcan, he shouldn't crave this but he couldn't help himself.
Spock wondered if Sarek was right. Would Jim tire of a Vulcan mate? Would Jim eventually cast him aside for someone who could love him with the same intensity? Spock found he didn't care. What time they had together would be sufficient.