Drama, Part III

"Are we going to get her?" asked Dana as she looked at Sarek with pleading eyes.

Sarek didn't know how to tell the young woman that if you've heard the desert predator, the victim was most likely within seconds of dying. He then saw Amanda's face turn to him with concern and refrained from nodding his head at her negatively. It is already too late, adun'a he said to her. But he knew what she wanted him to say, and he would do this for his wife. "I will go. And the agents will bring me there. Amanda, you must stay here. And I strongly advise you do the same, Dana."

"She's my cousin," protested Dana, eerily calm. "I should come with you."

"After all she's done?" asked Sarek almost softly, confused by her loyalty.

"She can't help being what she is," Dana said sadly as she looked up at him, true worry in her eyes.

"We will not bring the Terran female with us," began Sumar. "Her reactions will be too strong at the sight of-"

"It is her kinswoman. She will come with us," said Sarek, giving the final word.

Zymak, Shin and Sokam remained with Amanda and Maya as Sumar and Stilen went with Sarek, Zurel and Dana into the desert. His wife had seen it via their bond, he did not want Amanda to go with them. She could tell he was concerned for her given the horrible things she'd repeatedly stumbled upon in her youth. So she remained behind with the rest of the occupants of the property, for his sake.

By that point, Shin and Zymak were guarding the still-open front gate.

####

They flew into the desert in the shuttle the V'Shar had arrived in that evening. Sumar was aware of which direction the young woman fled since he was the one that had planted the suggestion in her mind. They came upon the macabre sight almost slowly and the light of T'Kuht lit the area more than well enough for it to be seen. Zurel and Sarek tried to shield Dana's vision by stepping in front of her, but the young woman's eyes were sharp. Sumar was already using his in-shuttle communications to call the hospital with a request to pick up what was left of the treacherous young woman's body.

They remained in hover mode over the deceased for the time being. The Vulcans on the shuttle could tell that the le-matya fled, mid-meal, when it heard them coming. The young lady's entrails were strewn about the desert in a red kaleidoscope of parts. And still, Dana said nothing. Not even a tear fell. The V'Shar agents could see into her and realized she was made of very strong material, but she was holding on by the edge of something. She would not allow herself to fall apart not only in front of strangers, but in front of anyone.

The hospital unit came to remove the body to their morgue section though they found it highly illogical to not simply leave the body there and allow it to nourish the occupants of the desert. But the ambassador insisted on them doing so. He wanted her body returned to her family on Terra Prime, if they wished to have it.

They all ventured to the hospital straight from the desert. Sarek alerted Amanda of all the goings-on via their bond. Amanda, in turn, felt it necessary to call Turan and let him know where Dana was and what had taken place.

####

Dana still had not spoken since they'd arrived at the hospital. The morgue personnel kept them waiting a short time and during it she only sat in the waiting area, looking dazed. Sarek was watching her closely. Amanda, she is still not behaving as herself. I am highly concerned.

She's in shock, adun. If it looked the way I think it looked, I don't blame her. I'd be positively catatonic if it were my relative that happened to.

When they finally called her, she walked into the morgue section flanked by Sarek and Zurel on both sides of her. "I do not think it prudent for you to do this now, Dana," Zurel found himself saying. "Perhaps you should first wait a day." He looked at Sarek but the ambassador said nothing.

"This is my duty," was all she whispered as she looked at neither of them but continued going forward, almost as if her legs were being powered by an outside force.

They all walked forward into the cold section that contained the deceased. They entered the room and a stasis chamber was keyed open by the morgue keeper, a female Vulcan of indeterminate age. The body was exposed as the chamber slid open gently. Someone had thought to at least cover her until only her face showed. There was a long wound across the top of the dead young woman's forehead as if she'd been sliced open by something very sharp. Dana looked up at the Vulcan who was the keeper of the morgue and met the woman's face with a slight, sad smile. "That's my cousin, Cassie- Hannah Cassandra Demetus," she said as if she were introducing her.

"She is deceased," the morgue attendant reminded her not understanding the reason for the Terran female's words. The word 'is' implied present tense as if the woman were still alive, though she obviously was not. The attendant had to admit, it was the first time she'd had a Terran in her section that did not shed tears over what they were seeing.

"It's my responsibility to make sure she stays out of trouble," Dana said almost to herself as she stared down into the face of her younger cousin.

"It is ill-advised for anyone to venture into the desert at night. Most Terrans who do not heed this warning find themselves in this predicament," said the woman, oblivious to how her words might be construed.

Sarek found himself gearing up to diffuse a bad situation when Dana simply shrugged it off. "She never listens anyway. And it's done now, isn't it? It's going to take a lot to fix this one." She turned and began walking out, the two Vulcan men behind her, wondering when she was going to show the effects of the evening. They were both gravely concerned about her speaking of Cassie as if she were still alive, as if the situation were still repairable.

She held it together and they made it out of the morgue section. Dana found herself forcing one foot in front of the other as she thought of the mischievous things the two had done when they were younger. She found herself wanting to smile at one incident from their early teens when her cousin had come to her crying because Billy Quinn had taken her new bag, smashed it up against a soiled doorway and dirtied it on purpose. They had gone that afternoon and hunted down his location. They'd found him at the swimming hole, of all places. They immediately stole his clothing and threw them up into a tree, all within his view. They ran away laughing at his angry threats since he refused to leave the water. Judging from the underwear they'd found among his possessions, he was most certainly naked! That was one funny afternoon. They'd laughed about it for hours afterward, imagining him climbing the tree with nothing on to retrieve all of his clothing.

She almost laughed, then, at the errant memory as spots began to appear and dance in her vision. Dana didn't understand what was going on as the lights went out on her. Her eyes rolled in her head and she went straight down.

Turan was there in the waiting section as well as the V'Shar agents. He saw Dana, Sarek and Zurel walking out of the stairway coming from the morgue section but realized she had not yet seen him. She looked as if she were lost in thought. He began to walk toward her and then she was going down. He rushed to catch her, some unidentifiable emotion rising up into his throat, but he didn't get there in time. Sarek stepped forward, though, and caught her body before it could hit the floor. The ambassador was not at all surprised by her reaction.

"I will take her now," said Turan with a straight face as he walked up to them. He put his arms out, waiting. Sarek handed her over to the man who had obviously decided that this woman was his responsibility.

The very tall Vulcan with pitch black hair carried her over to the first available privacy screen. Sarek asked Zurel to go and find out what had happened with Demek since they were all still there at the hospital. He also called the only Healer on staff he trusted with any Terrans in his household, T'Niye, and requested she come and take a look at Dana at her earliest convenience. She let him know she was available and would be there immediately.

Dana's senses began to return, little by little. She was confused. There was something strong under her face, but she was in a reclined sitting position. Was that a chest under her face and strong arms holding her up? And his scent was so alluring… Turan? Her eyes fluttered open. She was fighting to sit up on her own but his arms held her back.

"Do not attempt to move," he said, his face expressionless. He maintained his control but his eyes were worried. "I have worked at the prison for Terran females long enough to know that you are suffering the effects of psychological shock. It is imperative that you do not strain yourself at this time."

She found herself inhaling him again when hearing his voice confirmed it was indeed Turan holding her up. He was sitting with her on a gurney behind a privacy screen. "I take it that's not the first time you've seen someone faint?" she found herself asking as she relaxed into his warmth. She was disgusted with herself for such a public display, but figured if this were the reward maybe she should faint more often. Since he wouldn't let her move she figured she might as well enjoy it.

"No. I noticed your eyes were not wet and deduced you have not allowed yourself an emotional reaction to the situation. In actuality I believe that if you would have allowed yourself a release you may not have lost consciousness. Why have you not yet done so?"

"I don't do tears in public."

"That vanity has proven detrimental to you. You could have experienced harm from your fall." He seemed confused. "You are Terran and there are no cultural taboos against your doing so."

"Not every Terran is the same. We each have our own particular idiosyncrasies. Some find it beneath them to beg, some won't speak openly about love. Here's my hang-up. I don't do tears in public."

He nodded in acknowledgement. His opinion of her rose substantially and his arms pulled her in closer. He was no longer simply holding her up as he had been when he initially sat down, he was now holding her. They were alone and he knew that if they were not, he would not be touching her at all. She smelled alluringly different from anything he had ever experienced, but he could not help but notice the smell of two other males emanating from her clothing. Even laundered, he could smell their opposing scents. "Whose clothing is this?" he asked as his fingers stroked her pants lightly.

"Zurel's pants, Shin's shirt. I can't wear Shin's pants. I'm too tall. What, would you have preferred I go naked? You're the one who thinks I should 'dress appropriately'," she said, imitating him with a little smile. "Don't you remember why I'm not wearing my own clothes? I didn't want to go home tonight because-" her emotions got caught in her throat. She cleared her chest and swallowed hard. "She was home and I didn't even want to see her face since-" her emotions were stuck again and she couldn't speak. Dana decided to change the subject. "You're so very…Vulcan! How in the hell do you know so much about feelings?"

"I work in a prison full of mostly nonviolent Terran females. It is only logical that eventually I would deduce much from observation alone."

She sniffled, still being careful of showing too much. "Touché," she gave him credit. "What were you doing at the hospital?"

"Amanda messaged me. She saw the possibility that I may wish to be available to you. It was a most wise decision on her part since I wish very much to be available to you in your times of need." He pulled her up even further so that her forehead rested against his. It was the most intimate he had ever allowed himself to become with any female. "Please, allow yourself an emotional release. Perhaps by denying yourself one, you are becoming further damaged."

She swallowed back her tears. It felt so good to be this close to him. "I can't do that…not here."

"We are no longer in a public space," he said. "To release tears is natural for your people, is it not?"

She felt the dam about to break and it was becoming too strong an effort to hold it back. "This isn't fair to you, Turan. I don't even know who we are to one another yet. I can't use you, let you comfort me like-"

"You are mine. I am yours," was all he said in a low voice.

Her fingers brushed lightly against the skin of his jaw. And even through her pain, she was in awe of him, his versatility. She was hurting and he was there for her. It wasn't at all what she'd expected to receive from him…ever. Would it always be this way? First one, then two tears broke free. The pain of losing her cousin mixed with the disappointment of her betrayal mated itself with her uncertainty of how things could be between herself and Turan. She found herself leaning down into his chest and burying her face against it, hands clutching at his shirt, pulling it to cover up both sides of her face so he couldn't see her crying. Her shoulders shook as she finally let the pain out in hot tears. Even then, she made not one sound.

"I grieve with thee, Dana," he whispered into her ear. "I grieve with thee."

She found herself putting her arms directly around him as his warmth flooded into her.

####

Zurel saw a tired Mariana walking toward him with a tiny smile. "Hey," she said, glad to see him. "What are you doing here?"

He'd never seen her in this capacity. She was in hospital scrubs, her hair secured in a tight knot at the back of her head. "Sarek asked me to come and determine the status of Demek since we were here at the hospital concerning Cassie."

"Cassie?" asked Mariana. "What's happened with her?"

"She is dead," he said as he watched for her reaction.

She frowned. "Wait. What? How in the world did that happen?"

He saw she was not at all upset, simply confused. He wondered if it was because she was in 'career mode'. "She ran out into the desert and was attacked, they suspect, by a le-matya. She was already partially consumed when we happened upon her body."

Mariana had taken it upon herself to do careful research about the local animals her first week there and shuddered at what she'd found out about the desert predator. "I don't care who you are, that is an honestly terrible way to go. I wish she didn't have to go like that."

"She was never a friend toward you," he observed. "She was persistent in her opinion of you as beneath her simply because of your differing statuses of birth. Why does her death disturb you?"

She shrugged. "Like I said, that's a horrible way to go. And poor Dana-"

"Dana has only just now identified her body at the morgue."

Mariana's eyes flashed at him. "You let her do that?" she said, accusatory. She still held her voice quite low, given her surroundings.

Zurel found this was an unpleasant sensation. "Please do not become angry with me. I tried to dissuade her. She insisted and Ambassador Sarek allowed it."

She sighed and relaxed. "I'm sorry, Zurel. That was uncalled for. I don't blame you. One thing about Dana, she's going to do what she's going to do regardless of what anyone has to say. How's she holding up?"

"As soon as we departed the morgue section, she lost consciousness."

Mariana began to move as if trying to go and see to her, but she found Zurel blocking her path, holding onto her arms. "What are you doing?" she asked. "I need to see if she's all right!"

"Turan is here and he is with her now. I doubt they wish to be disturbed."

She smirked then. "I see." She realized the Vulcan was holding her arms and found herself stepping back so he didn't think he had to any longer. "You came to find out about Demek." She finally smiled fully. "It looks like he's going to live. He came through surgery all right, but he's still in Healing Trance."

"I am certain the ambassador would wish to hear this news straight from you."

"They don't need me anymore tonight, anyway." She turned and looked at the V'Shar agent who was still shadowing her. What was his name again? Ah, that's right! "Mr. Toven," she called him.

The agent walked over to the both of them. He could sense the mutual attraction between the two standing in front of him though neither one had done anything about it. "You are ready to depart?"

"The other two agents are downstairs," said Zurel.

"We're going down now so I can give Sarek the news about Demek," said Mariana.

"I am to stay in the vicinity of Demek and continue to watch over him," he told them. "You may depart without me."

####

Sarek was gratified to see Zurel approaching with Mariana. His face was still impassively guarded, but he saw her smile and knew she had good news. "He is well?"

"Demek made it through surgery. They say he will most likely make it, but he's still in Healing Trance for now. Mr. Toven has stayed behind to keep an eye on him." She yawned as she covered her mouth. "My goodness, I haven't done this in a while. I forgot how tired it makes me."

"Perhaps I should bring her home?" Zurel said.

"T'Niye is in with Dana," said Sarek. "I believe she will be done shortly."

Almost on cue the aged Healer stepped out from behind the privacy screen. "She is well enough to return home."

Turan accompanied them to their vehicle but found that leaving Dana's side was an action he did not wish to carry out. She was walking well away from him at that point. He knew he would need to meditate twice as long that evening to put himself back together after having been so close to her, physically, experiencing her emotions. What would he do?

He had to confront a fact about himself that was not a pleasant realization. He was almost willing to stoop to anything to keep her in his life, including bonding her to him against her will. That, he knew, was purely wrong. He would have to wrestle with himself to give her the freedom to choose that path…or not. The thought pained his inmost mind. Should she choose to not remain with him…no, he would not allow it. She was his. He would find a way.

The two remaining V'Shar agents waited for the two Terran females, Zurel and then Sarek to enter the shuttle before they climbed in and took off.

Turan went to his own ground vehicle. He needed to go home and contend with the territorial beast that was attempting to break free. It was necessary to shackle it in the bonds of logic.

They landed just outside Sarek's compound wall. Dana's eyes were distinctly pink though no one had seen her cry. Being held by Turan as she released her tears was something she'd never allowed herself to do with anyone. Even in her youth she didn't want anyone touching her while she cried. But he…he felt good to her senses in more way than one. She knew their relationship needed to be based on more than just that. No, she wasn't going to make a decision about the two of them simply because she liked the way he held her in private.

They all departed the vehicle of the agents, but Sarek stayed behind for a minute longer to confer with Sumar.

Dana, Mariana and Zurel walked into the house gate and saw Shin and Zymak standing there. "Well?" asked the Terran male.

Dana kept walking as Mariana walked up to him and whispered, "Cassie is dead."

"Damn," Shin muttered. "That's terrible for Dana."

Zurel then walked up to the two and gently urged Mariana onward to the house. "You are overly fatigued. Deliver the news to the other females about Demek and then you must take nourishment and rest."

She agreed. "I do feel like I'm going to lie out on this pavement and knock out right now."

They arrived at the house and sat in Sarek's Common Room. Dana still hadn't heard the news, either. "Demek looks like he's going to live," announced Mariana abruptly.

Dana gasped. "When you didn't say anything-"

"He's fine," said Mariana.

Amanda grabbed their friends into a big group hug and the four ladies were grinning. "I didn't need anymore bad news tonight!" she exclaimed as tears of relief ran down her face.

"Oh, yeah, my cousin," said Dana. "I don't understand. What was she thinking, running out into the desert like that?"

The rest of them said nothing and the room grew quiet. Sokam who had been standing off to the side, found it in himself to step forward then. "I grieve with thee, Dana."

Dana almost did cry in front of everyone. She had a flashback of Turan whispering that to her as she cried in his arms. She couldn't help but wonder when she would see him again. That was when she realized she really did want to see him again. And she would.

(I rewrote this chapter so many times, I was editing it IN MY SLEEP. I'm up here, at my computer, tap dancing for reviews! Please? Pretty please? I ain't too proud to beg!) - J.S.