The Desert Saga Continues
Chapter Twenty-six
After they had returned to the Herald's parking lot, and said their 'good-byes S'nass questioned,
"My Laura, where would you like me to take you?"
"Would you mind taking me to my apartment? Perhaps we can have some tea before you return to the embassy."
Of course, in actuality, S'nass knew that tea was not what he really needed, but those feelings must be smothered, it was not yet the time for plathau, perfection, and he would desire it only within the bounds of The Vulcan Way. Her door would remain opened while he was present. He felt he was completely capable of protecting her if an unwelcome presence attempted to enter while the apartment entry was vulnerable.
He settled the vehicle and removed her items from the rear. Carrying them he followed her lead to her apartment and they entered the rooms and S'nass' eyes took in the full scope of her living quarters—much smaller then he had envisioned,but certainly enough room for two for short periods of time.
He said to Laura,
"My Laura, isolation and privacy is valuable to bonded couples, which we are not. In places where compromise might prove to be a temptation, K'nau advised that these two physical situations must be avoided while we are here within these walls. Please grant me the permission to apply K'nau's instruction."
She nodded.
The entry door was propped open.
Once his hands were free she came and put her head on his chest. He lightly embraced her clothed back and whispered into her hair,
"I cherish thee."
Reaching down he lifted her chin and observed quivering lips and a lone tear tracing its way down her left cheek.
"Beloved, it is a painful situation that we will be able to resolve shortly. After our tea I shall leave you to rest.
Leaving her he said, "I will make the tea for you.
Laura closed her eyes and put her head back on the couch and was startled to hear a male voice. It was not S'nass'.
"Peggy, Peggy Smith are you in there?"
Her stomach clutched and she felt sick. There was then a slight rap on the door.
"Does a Peggy Smith live here?"
She beat down the sob that was threatening to rise from her narrowing throat. She breathed deeply. As she rose from a chair out of the corner of her eye she saw S'nass coming toward her. She placed her hand up so as to halt his approach and walked toward to door.
She looked at him, his hair was the 'right' color but that was the only similarity. He Looked quite a bit unkempt, bearded, with a look of dispair in his hazel eyes.
"I am Peggy Smith. How may I help you?"
Running his hand through his hair he responded,
"Don't you recognize me Peggy? Do I look that different? It has not been that long?"
Rubbing his chin he continued,
"You look as beautiful as ever. I…I'm Jerry. I just came back from a trip and thought I would look you up because I know you would not have destroyed our child… the baby…I wanted to see my child."
Feeling weak in her knees Laura gestured for him to enter.
In the kitchen S'nass could hear her sharp intake of breath and he waited. This would be her test...this would be his answer…
Attempting to control her voice she stated,
"A few years have passed, changes are to be expected…"
With her invitation he picked up his backpack and followed her into the apartment.
As she proceeded him into her living space she said,
"Please leave the door open. Could I get you something to eat or drink?"
"I would appreciate both."
Coming into the kitchen she went to S'nass and he stroked her hair and nodded.
"S'nass. please, would you go in with me and bring him in some tea?"
She went to the food storage area and made two sandwiches, one for her visitor to
eat and she wrapped one for him to take. Then they both entered the living area
together,
"Jerry, please allow me to introduce my fiancé, S'nass of Vulcan."
Nothing registered upon the visitor's face—no surprise, shock, remorse, grief, no contrition. His comment to S'nass was,
"I hope that you know you have a treasure."
S'nass reply answered the visitor's inquiry,
"Laura is half my soul, half my heart."
"As she should have been to me," was the other male's summation.
"Where is my…our child. Is it a girl or boy?"
Laura arose from her seat and proceeded into her bedroom. She came out with two items, one a sonogram, the other a small box.
"The sonogram indicated I was pregnant with a son, this small box contains his ashes. I miscarried but could not bring myself to dispose of him as if he was a piece of garbage, as if he was unloved. The box is small, perhaps you would like to keep it."
Now the look on the visitor's face changed. He stood up and said,
"I was hoping that there would be a little part of me left somewhere that could and would amount to something. I am terminal. My lifestyle has caught up with me.
Would you permit me to take these ashes to bury my son with me?"
Laura nodded and S'nass embraced her shoulder.
"Man, take good care of her. He reached into his bag and said,
"Look at this after I leave. I have advised the person who will handle my final wishes to contact you when…, you know."
Laura nodded.
Of course S'nass, based on the visitor's revelation, could not voice either the initial Vulcan greeting or farewell. He just nodded. The visitor looked again at Laura and said to S'nass,
"I envy you," and quietly left.
As he walked back through the entry Laura exhaled.
"I feel sorry for him. All the negatives I harbored have vanished."
S'nass said,
"In one of Terran's holy books a wise men said,
"If your enemy is hungry, feed him…" I am sure that he realized that the preparation of food for said person and serving that person would give an individual time to let in a forgiving spirit.*
`0`0`0`0`0`0`0`0`0`0`
There was no hindrance, no reason why they could not be bonded. She was free of whatever encumbrance would have prevented it before. These had been totally removed by the visitor's appearance and her treatment of him.S'nass' heart felt grateful for the stranger's visit.
Laura picked up the envelope and fingered it. She then put it down. "We will read this when we return to my office I would prefer whatever the message is to read it at a happy place.
S'nass repeated his tea-making activity and brought their tea into the living area and sat her mug down in front of her.
"If tea was the only sustenance you would require, you would be in capable hands. However, on the ship, the male's lives were not in any way caught up in domesticity of any sort, but I will be your willing student."
She rose from her chair and he stood,
"We will learn from each other."
She kissed him and he knew that a hasty retreat would be wise.
"Beloved, may your rest be productive."
He stared intently at her face for five seconds and left her. His last view was of her with her hand to her lips.