Chapter 25

Uhura was asleep. She was leaning forward from a bedside chair, her head resting on Spock's bed, next to his knees.

"You appear in need of sleep," a voice announced. She looked up and saw McCoy had come in to check on Spock. With him was a young woman, one of the Healing Center students. It was her voice that awakened her and she looked up, bleary-eyed, to see McCoy rolling his eyes and an expressionless Vulcan watching her as if she were some specimen under a microscope.

She raised her head to answer but before she could—yes, Queen of the Obvious—Spock stirred and they all gasped. McCoy was at his side in a nanosecond, running a scanner over him.

"This self-induced trance of his is starting to lighten up," he announced. He handed the scanner to the student who also ran it over Spock and stared at the readings over the bed.

"Would he recover as quickly if he were fully Vulcan?" she asked.

"No idea," McCoy answered. "He's an original—no earlier model to study. Anything he does, it's a first." The student nodded thoughtfully and turned her attention back to Uhura, who was now sitting up, blinking and looking anxiously at Spock. His coloring seemed to be returning and he twitched a little.

"Have you had any nourishment?" the student asked her.

"I—uh—yeah, yes I have," Uhura stuttered. Food had really been the last thing on her mind but she recalled Spock's parents had brought in a hamper of food. She gestured toward it. "This—I've had-whatever's in this. Fruit, I think, and bread."

The student nodded. "Please excuse me, Dr. McCoy," she said. "I shall be back shortly." She left the room. McCoy shrugged.

"She's one of the easier ones," he told Uhura.

"We should call Spock's parents," Uhura said, ignoring his comment. "They need to know, if they don't already sense something. His dad is really sensitive."

"That's what saved his life to begin with," McCoy agreed. His comm rang. "It's Sarek! Hello, sir," he said, answering it. He listened for a moment. "Yes, sir, he is definitely starting to come out of the trance. His heart rate is coming back up. I'll get a Healer in here ASAP." He stopped for a moment and swallowed a sigh. "As soon as possible. Yes, you're right—I should just say what I mean." He stopped speaking. "Well, he hung up."

Uhura gave him a tired smile. "I'm so relieved. I've never seen him so…still. He's always moving. I mean, I've hardly ever seen him even sleep."

"I didn't hear that," McCoy said. "As a fellow officer candidate I must say I have no idea what you're talking about."

She waved her hand at him. "Such a prude."

They heard a bang and turned to see the student struggling to get some kind of chair into the room. "What the devil are you doing?" McCoy demanded. "Have you robbed a furniture store?"

The student looked at him, confused. "That would be illogical, Doctor, since there are plenty of comfortable seating apparatus in the waiting areas. It seemed logical to me that the Cadet Wing Command Chief would rest more comfortably in this then she would leaning over Osu Spock." She gave a great heave and pushed a lounge chair through the doorway.

"Wow! Thanks!" Uhura said. "Leonard, go help her. That thing must weigh a ton."

"I'm a doctor, not a longshoreman," McCoy grumbled but he went over to help push the chair around the bed, parallel to Spock. "There. This way your honey can wake up to see your lovely face."

Uhura felt her face redden. "Shut up Leonard."

McCoy laughed. "So now who's the prude?"

Uhura turned to the student. "Thank you, Healer…I'm sorry, I don't know your name. McCoy isn't very good with introductions."

"There is no need to apologize. They call me Leh-reh."

"Leh-reh?" Uhura was puzzled. "They call you Thirteen?"

"Yes. Healer Skelek got tired of remembering everyone's name so he assigned us numbers. It does not matter. I do not believe you would be able to pronounce my name anyway, Leh-reh is fine."

"Well, um, I appreciate your thoughtfulness, Leh-reh."

"You are most welcome Cadet Wing Command Chief."

Sarek snapped his comm shut and went to check on Amanda. He debated whether it would be logical to awaken her and advise her of Spock's changing status or to let her continue to sleep. As he crept into their darkened bedroom, he thought he saw her stir.

"Adun?"

"Yes Aduna, it is I. I have news from McCoy at the Healing Center. He confirmed what I sensed and what you are no doubt sensing yourself."

"Spock's coming out of it." Amanda stated rather than asked.

"Yes."

"Let's go. Time's a-wasting."

Sarek was pleased to notice Amanda started to hum the familiar tune as she rose from their bed. "As you wish, Aduna."

Skelek bounded into Spock's room. He skidded to a halt as noted a young Human female stretched out in a lounge chair alongside the patient's bed.

Logical. Leh-reh, the student he put on the Maimonides Fellow's rounds, must have been there. She had observed his practice of "borrowing" items that Ek'zer routinely denied in his requisitions. For example, he felt that he meditated better by the light of an aquarium—he had seen a large, attractive one in a decorating magazine that showcased Amanda Grayson's office—and Ek'zer had denied his request for one. So he borrowed one from the children's ward.

A few days later, a horrified Ek'zer discovered the aquarium in his office and demanded he return it. In return for his cooperation, she agreed to purchase a smaller unit for him. A logical conclusion.

But here was a Human female, very young from her appearance, apparently ready to jump Osu Spock's bones the moment he awoke from his healing trance. Also logical if not particularly advisable from a healing point of view.

He did not think it would be wise to touch her, so he spoke.

"Awaken, Human!"

For the second time that afternoon, Uhura awoke with a start. This time, it was a very tall Vulcan male in a Healer's robes staring down at her. "You are new," he stated.

Uhura shook her head. Spock and even Sarek, she realized, were very unusual for Vulcans. They were more…human, and to her, normal. But here on Vulcan, she was the one who was strange. She would have to adjust to being spoken at, rather than to or with. You must remember this, she told herself.

"Yes," she answered. "I arrived here several hours ago."

"Were you on a transport with two Human males?"

"Yes."

"Ah," he said. "So you are a friend of Mr. Kirk and the mysterious Dr. Korby."

Uhura choked back a laugh. "Roger Korby? I wouldn't exactly call him mysterious. A jerk, or maybe a dork, but hardly mysterious."

"I brought Kirk here from the spaceport. By the time we reached the emergency call, Dr. Korby had been taken away. Because of idiots," he added.

"Idiots are everywhere," Uhura offered. "I guess even on Vulcan."

The Healer stared at her for several moments. "You are reasonably attractive for one so young. Your mother must be extraordinary."

Uhura cleared her throat. "I…I guess so. Are you also on Spock's case, Healer…ah, what is your name?"

"I am Healer Skelek. No I am not assigned to Osu Spock. I am here because I am curious. He was the first successful hybrid among our race and yours. Which goes to show that money can indeed buy you anything you wish." He walked over to Spock's bed and stood over him, gazing down. "He is attractive like his mother. He does have Sarek's huge head though. A pity."

He looked over at Uhura. "I could never understand those who objected to Sarek's bondmate. What business it is of theirs? Marrying Lady Amanda was the most logical thing he ever did. Maybe the only logical thing."

"I don't know what to say," Uhura said after a long moment. "I just know them as Spock's parents." She stood up. "Nyota Uhura."

"What?"

"My name. Nyota Uhura."

"I see. Well. You are quite a media star Nyota Uhura."

She sighed. "I know. McCoy told me. He's the one who arranged for me to come here, to be with Spock. And to explain to him all the craziness going on. But I don't understand it myself."

"It is illogical," Skelek agreed, "that some of the same people who hounded Spock off Vulcan ten years ago haven't been able to get enough of him since then."

"Healer Skelek" a voice announced.

They turned to see Sarek, Amanda, and Ek'zer enter the room.

"Uh-oh" Skelek said. He bowed his head to Amanda. "Lady Amanda," he said respectfully.

Amanda smiled at him. "Healer Skelek."

Sarek's eyes flashed for a moment. "Skelek," he said with a trace of warning in his voice.

"Healer Skelek, you have no reason to be in Osu Spock's room," Ek'zer stated.

"Actually, I do," Skelek replied. "One of my students is assigned to him on rounds. It is only logical that I observe the patient so I may properly review her notes."

Amanda went around him to greet Uhura and placed her hand on Spock's forehead. He seemed to shift a little toward her. "Sarek," she said. "He is coming out of it."

Sarek pushed past Skelek, bumping him more than just a little.

"Ouch," Skelek said. He turned to Ek'zer. "I know when I'm not wanted," he said as he left the room, Ek'zer trailing behind him.