Disclaimer: See Chapter 1. Thank you so much to everyone who reviewed.
Sirak sat in on Oratt's lessons with Bridget several more times over the course of the next three months, and as February came to an end with a squall of rain and fog, plans were already in place for the Annual First Contact Ball. It would be held in Bozeman, Montana this year, to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the historic day when his people set foot on this planet.
And then over the summer would come another IME conference, this time hosted in his hometown of Shi'Kahr on Vulcan. It would coincide with a language conference (that his cousin would attend) and Sirak's eventual report to the Council of Education regarding his findings.
He wanted to take Bridget on the nearly month-long journey to Vulcan (he and his staff would take a few days after the conference to observe Surak's Day, a solemn ritual full of meditation and storytelling); however, what with his unbonded state, he doubted Soval would let him take his precious daughter away, unsupervised and vulnerable to unsavory overtures. Of course, he would never do anything to harm her, but with almost seventy-five years of loneliness behind him, he didn't blame her father if he were to refuse.
But his main motivation, he realized, was not just to spend time with her and foster her budding career. If he were to go to the summer conference (he had not attended one off-planet for nearly five years) and leave Bridget behind, he doubted Strom would take the initiative in protecting the young woman from the new doctors. They, being just assigned to a posting, would not be going to Vulcan, and if he took Bridget along, he could prevent something happening in his absence.
So, when he and Strom discussed who would be sent to the conference, he mentioned his plans to his colleague.
"Dr. T'Hin and Dr. So'nar would be an agreeable contingent, and perhaps Yuris as well. Also, I would like to take Bridget along as a medical assistant, and to further her education."
Strom frowned. "She is not seventeen, and several of the medical aides here in the infirmary would be better candidates for a medical assistant."
"I may take a few of them too," he conceded. All of the medical aides were bonded and content in their marriages.
"You may exceed eight individuals if you do so."
"Yet with all the doctors I have named, along with Bridget and three aides, and myself, that comes to eight. You may select the three aides you believe would be most helpful in the contingent."
"If Bridget goes," Strom continued. "where would she stay? I hardly think T'Hin's family would take her in, and she is far too young to stay alone in a hotel room on a planet that is not her own."
He briefly considered this and found it sound, even though he was certain she would be safe on his home planet. However, there were the other members of the conference to consider, and he could not vouch for their intentions.
With that in mind, he decided it would be best to implement an alternate plan, and for it to be successful, he needed an ally, someone who could reach Ambassador Soval and make him see the benefits of sending his daughter on this trip.
"I am not certain I understand."
Oratt sighed. His cousin V'Lar had always been more sensible than her brothers Sorak and Sirak, but she could be incredibly stubborn at times. Her position as ambassador to Mazar made her even more stubborn, though if Bridget was to go to the conference with him, he had to convince her father and Sorak that it was a good idea. And because he and Sorak did not get along (and he didn't want Sirak involved), V'Lar was his best option.
"You wish me to speak with Sorak, so he will convince the ambassador to let his daughter attend the conference?"
"Yes," Oratt replied. "Sirak is already attending, and if you mentioned you might make the trip, Sorak may wish to go as well. And so Bridget will have a chaperone the ambassador trusts. And Sorak would ensure I do not behave inappropriately, and Bridget could stay with him at his home."
V'Lar frowned. "In what way would you act inappropriately towards anyone?"
"T'Sai," he sighed, shaking his head, "I am unbonded."
"You have never expressed an interest in bonding," she said. "Every woman our clan mother sends, you reject."
"Times change," the doctor protested. "Please, T'Sai, speak to Sorak. But do not mention that I was the one to suggest this. He would not take kindly to it."
V'Lar was silent for a moment, but then he could have sworn he saw a tiny smile grace her lips. "You have changed, my cousin, and not for the worst, I think. I will speak to my brother, and if I do attend the conference, I insist on meeting this girl you are making such a fuss about."
And with that, she clicked off the comm, and he leaned back in his chair, eager to see if his plan would work.
…
Sorak packed up his things as the meeting with the senior staff came to a close. They were very close to closing negotiations with the humans, but the Andorian delegation for this new Federation had not yet come up with an answer to Soval's latest proposals. However, despite the setbacks with the Andorians and other species, he could almost taste this new treaty coming to a close, and the birth of a new era for all the species in this corner of the galaxy.
Before the ambassador could leave, Sorak called him back, setting down his PADDs. "Osu, I have a proposal for you."
Soval straightened and raised an eyebrow. "Proceed."
"There is an IME conference this year on Vulcan, and V'Lar suggested I attend, and bring Bridget along, so she might continue her education in the medical sciences. Also, my sister is eager to meet her."
The ambassador raised an eyebrow. "I believe Dr. Oratt is in charge of choosing the delegates for the conference. If he is not opposed to it, and if you are there to supervise her...then I am agreeable to her going. A trip would do her good. The conference is in the summertime, is it not?"
"It is, Osu, and I thank thee for allowing us this. She has never met V'Lar, and since Sirak is attending as well, it will be a pleasant reunion for us all."
For a few moments, the ambassador was silent, then he raised an eyebrow. "Are you agreeable to having Bridget stay in your home with you? Or are you perhaps going to stay in a hotel nearer to the conference?"
"No, Osu, my home will suffice, and Bridget may have one of the guest rooms. I know our planet will be taxing on her body when she first arrives, so I will not hold her to the guest rites if you do not wish it."
"That, I think, is a wise choice," Soval said with a nod. "I will speak to my wife to see if she has any objection, and you must speak to Dr. Oratt. If the two of them agree, then Bridget may go."
…
V'Lar had made good on her promise to keep Oratt's part in the plan a secret, and he acted surprised to see Sorak when he came to visit the next week. He offered him tea, but the aide refused, instead taking the visitor's seat and folding his hands as if for meditation.
"I know we have not been on the best terms these last few years," he finally admitted, and Oratt raised an eyebrow, "but I would appreciate if you would consider a proposal I have."
"Go on."
"I would like to join you on your journey to Vulcan for the IME conference, not as an official member of your contingent, just a fellow traveler and chaperone."
The doctor frowned. "Who would need to be chaperoned?"
"Bridget," he said, and Oratt suppressed a smirk. "If you allowed her to have a pass into the conference, I'm sure she would find the experience very educational, even exciting. And it has been a while since she was off the planet, and even that was not by choice."
He frowned. "You are referring to her kidnapping?"
"You were not here when it happened. How do you know about it?"
"Strom informed me," he replied, and he bowed his head. "Bridget should be arriving in a few minutes for our language lesson, and I am sure Sirak will be right behind her. Would you like to stay and give her the good news herself?"
"Then you approve?"
"I believe that should be obvious. It would be agreeable to have her there in the Vulcan section with us, taking care of the everyday duties she performs in the infirmary here. Perhaps she could even be a part of the contingent."
Sorak nodded. "She would be pleased to help you. She has always been fond of you, and even if I do not understand why, you are her friend. She will be glad to be of service. Her mother and father have already agreed to it, and all there is left to do is to ask if she would like to go."
It was obvious Sorak was trying to be diplomatic, and Oratt bowed his head. "Then by all means, stay until she arrives. You should be the one to deliver the news, since this was your idea."
The aide stood and bowed his head in reply, pacing slightly as they waited in silence for Bridget's arrival. He made a mental note to thank V'Lar for making this possible, because for all he knew, Sorak wouldn't have been nearly as agreeable to the arrangement coming from him. Despite this meager olive branch, Sorak still distrusted him, and would continue to distrust him until Bridget was married to someone, be it Skel or some other man. The aide still thought of her as chosen daughter, even if they had drifted apart these last few years, and if Sorak was not the one to chaperone Bridget, he knew Sirak would have been tasked with the responsibility, and that was unacceptable. As much as Sorak distrusted Oratt, the doctor distrusted Sorak's twin even more. Whether the teacher had his eye on Bridget as a potential mate, or was simply a spy for his clan mother, he wasn't sure, but either way, Sirak was unwelcome company. When this report was finished, he hoped that would be the end of supervised language lessons; he wanted to teach his assistant in peace.
Sirak was a few minutes early, and Oratt made certain to block out his conversation with his brother, as his ears were strained towards the door. His plan had worked, and now it was time to reap the reward.
Bridget strode in a few moments later, catching his eye before the twins pulled themselves from their conversation to greet her. She smiled politely to Sirak and waved at Sorak, but when she made to sit in the visitor's chair, Oratt held up his hand.
"We have some good news for you, Bridget-am," he said gently, then nodded to Sorak. Bridget looked confused, but turned expectantly to her uncle, and Sorak smirked down at her.
"My chosen daughter," he said slowly. "Would you like to accompany me and the medical contingent to Vulcan for this summer's IME conference?"
Her brows furrowed as she considered it, and Sorak waited patiently for an answer. "Who all is going to the conference?" she asked finally, and Sorak turned to him.
"We are allowed to take eight individuals in our contingent. Sorak is not medical personnel and would go simply as a visitor," Oratt said. "So'nar, T'Hin, Yuris, V'Nir, Boran, and N'Vak have been chosen so far. And you would go as a medical assistant."
He waited for a response, and she stared at him mournfully. She looked disappointed, and it wasn't until Sirak spoke that he began to understand why.
"That only comes to seven individuals, if you count Bridget. Are you not going to take a full contingent?"
"I am going as head of the contingent. Forgive me, I thought that was obvious."
Immediately, Bridget brightened. "You're going too?"
"Yes, Bridget-am, I am going to the conference. Would you like to accompany us?"
Her eyes shone with excitement as she broke into a gleeful grin, and a rush of pleasure swept through him at the sight. "If you're going," she said immediately, "then I'm on board. Count me in."
He allowed a smirk to touch his lips as she grinned at him, and he could not deny the satisfaction of knowing she only wanted to go because he was going too. She would rather spend time with him than seize a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, and he had to fight against telling her this was his plan from the beginning. It wouldn't have come to fruition without Sorak, so he let the aide have a moment in the spotlight.
"It was Sorak's idea to invite you, and he convinced your father to let you go. You'll be staying with him at his home in Shi'Kahr, since it might not be safe for you to stay in a hotel room on your own."
He anticipated her to react positively to the news, and he was not disappointed. Indeed, the young woman threw her arms around Sorak and squeezed him in a loving embrace, and Oratt could tell the aide was surprised at the gesture, but not disgusted; it had probably been a long while since Bridget had touched him like this, like she would a beloved uncle, and he obviously missed her affections. He wrapped his arms gently around her and sighed into her hair.
"Thank you so much, Sorak!" she exclaimed. "Thank you, thank you, thank you! Oh, this is going to be so much fun!"
The aide wince slightly as she squeezed him one last time, but he looked content when she pulled back a moment later. "You are most welcome," he replied. "Maybe Skel can join us at the conference, or even before if you like."
She deflated for a second (and Oratt suppressed the urge to roll his eyes), but she rallied, he supposed for Sorak's sake. "All right," she said, and Sorak nodded, taking his leave.
After the lesson, once Sirak was out the door, she rushed around his desk and pulled him into her arms.
"Thank you so much for this," she murmured. "I can't wait to go to the conference, and I can't wait to see Vulcan again. It's been so long since I was there last, so I hardly remember anything. But hopefully we can take lots of holoimages this time."
"I too am looking forward to this experience, especially if I can share it with you. I don't know how much time I will have to show you the more interesting highlights of the capital, but hopefully after the conference, we might take a day to see a few sights, hm?"
She leaned forward and pressed her soft lips to his forehead. "I would love that," she said breathlessly, then, with an excited squeal, she pressed him urgently to her collarbone, crushing him in her embrace. His nose was crushed against her shirt, and his hands wavered for a moment before settling in the middle of her back. But her soft cheek pressing to the top of his head and her gentle fingers trailing lazily down his back made him falter, her proximity railing against his meticulously crafted control. Like a vine slithering into the cracks of an old stone wall, he felt his mental barriers cracking, allowing her excitement and affection to seep into his mind.
"Bridget," he sighed, gently pushing her away. He could not compromise her privacy, and would not allow himself to be the thing he was trying to protect her from. She deserved much more than that, but for a moment, he relished what he had glimpsed as his mind grazed hers. Unlike every other woman he knew, she wanted to show him physical affection and receive it in return. No other female had given him affection so willingly; his former wife was repulsed by him, and Reldai only touched him out of a sense of obligation. Bridget was restraining herself from showing more physical affection than she was allowed to give now, and felt no sense of repulsion in giving it. It pleased her when he was pleased, and the thought filled him with warmth and hope.
"I am very pleased that you are happy," he said gently, cupping her cheek, "but you should be going, before your father becomes concerned. I will send the finalized list of candidates to the conference committee. We leave at the end of June and will be back by mid-July, so plan and pack your things accordingly. It will be a good experience, for both of us, I think."
"I think so too." And she kissed his forehead one last time, waving a lazy goodbye as she sauntered out the door. He could have sworn she was humming to herself, and she was practically skipping as she left his office.
He had brought her joy, and his plan to keep her safe from Mevik and the others had succeeded. He smirked to himself and turned back to his paperwork, privately congratulating himself for such a seamless operation. The thought crossed his mind that if he had not become a doctor, he may have found success as a spy, but he dismissed the notion and continued through the pile of PADDs in front of him. No matter...Bridget was safe with him, and Mevik and Adenkar and all the other men who lusted after her like wild sehlats would never get to lay a hand on her, not while he resided in this Consulate.