Have We Been Here Before?

Chapter Thirty-six - I Have Questions

Enterprise

Early May 2269

Kurik

He hesitated in front of their door. Spock had been home from sick bay for four days now. Surely he was well enough to visit? He knew that Nyota would tell him if he was not. He straightened up and rang the chime. Nyota opened the door almost immediately.

"Kurik! Oh, great! You can come and sit with Spock and keep him from getting out of bed while I go work out." She was smiling widely.

"I would be glad to do you that service. I did hope that he would be able to converse with me."

"Yes, yes, come on in. He's getting very restless, now that he's healing. But McCoy doesn't want him exercising at all yet. Muscles just take longer to heal than bones do." She led the way into the bedroom. "Hey, grumpy, look who's here to see you."

Spock turned his head, and the slightly pouty look on his face disappeared. "Kurik. It is pleasing to see you. Please be seated." He waved his hand at the chair that was positioned so that he would be able to see whoever was seated there without craning his neck.

As Kurik seated himself, Nyota rummaged in the closet, pulling out her small carrybag and stuffing her workout clothes into it. "I'm off to the gym. Don't you dare do anything you're not supposed to while I'm gone." She bent down and brushed a light kiss on his forehead. Then she turned to Kurik. "He is not allowed to get out of bed, or to sit up. Be sure that you do lot allow him to do either."

Kurik looked at her solemnly. "I shall enforce the doctor's rules. You need not fear."

Nyota grinned and looked down at Spock. "See, everyone but you knows how to follow doctor's orders." And then, before he could think of a reply, she was gone.

Kurik looked about a bit uneasily. "Where is your son?"

"He is napping. If he should awake before Nyota returns, you will have to get him out of bed and change his diaper." There was just a hint of smugness on his face.

Kurik was alarmed. He had never changed a diaper before. "I?"

"There is no one else here who is allowed to walk about. It will be your responsibility."

Kurik swallowed hard. He had not anticipated this. "I shall do my best. I will, however, require direction."

Spock nodded. "This I am capable of giving."

Kurik settled back. Perhaps the need would not arise. Then he had a thought. "Is there anything I can get for you? Any needs which should be attended to?"

Spock shook his head slightly. "I am fine. Only tired of staying flat on my back in bed. I cannot even play chess, because there is no way to situate the board so that I can see it properly." There was just the faintest tinge of irritation in his voice.

Kurik would distract him then. Cause him to think of something other than his discomfort. "Perhaps you would answer a few questions for me then, if they would not be too personal."

Spock looked at him, one eyebrow rising slowly. "What sort of questions?"

Kurik almost squirmed in his seat. He cleared his throat, and then spoke. "There are things I need to know about forming a bond between a Vulcan and a human." The tips of his ears blushed green.

"Ah. It has progressed that far, then."

"I believe so. I can feel her, even when we are not together. It is not strong, but it is there. And when I touch her, there is something …. Bright and shining, silver … that connects us."

"Yes, it is beginning then. I did not recognize this when it begun between Nyota and I. My father, however, observed it. The bond between a human and a Vulcan does not form instantly, but takes many months of slow growth. The silver spark that you perceive will grow, and turn into a heavy cord that binds the two of you together." He tilted his head slightly. "And you should know that the human female is the one who initiates it."

Kurik's eyes widened. "She initiated it?"

"Indeed."

Kurik's focus turned inward then, and he was silent for several moments. "Then there is great … feeling … on her part."

"It cannot be otherwise."

A great feeling of contentment settled over Kurik. Most of his apprehensions simply disappeared. Eventually, he lifted his head and spoke again. "Will you be my formal witness?"

Spock knew exactly what he meant. "I should be most happy to serve in that capacity. Can you wait until I am able to be up and about?"

"I do not see any reason why I can not."

"Then when I am recovered, I shall have Nyota plan a dinner for the four of us, if that would suit your purposes."

"Very much so. I am indebted to you for this service."

"This is one of the things that friends are for."

"I am much enhanced by your friendship."

"And I yours. I have not had a full-Vulcan friend before. I find it amazing and enriching."

Kurik did not know how to reply to that, and simply nodded, filled to the brim with emotions he was not sure how to express.

It was at that moment that there was an ear-piercing squall from the other end of the apartment. Grayson was awake. Kurik sprang from his chair and hurried into the small child's room, carefully lifting him from the bed. He was no stranger to Grayson, but he had not held him very often. Grayson looked at him with wide eyes, not sure what to do. Kurik carried the boy back into his parents' bedroom, along with a dry diaper from the stack on the boy's dresser. He laid him on the foot of the bed, and listened carefully to Spock's instructions, especially the warning about not leaving the boy uncovered. He certainly did not wish to be soaked with urine!

When Grayson was dry once again, he carried the wet diaper to the container in the child's bathroom, as directed. Then he went back once again, and seated himself in the chair, with Grayson on his lap. Spock told him how to balance the boy on one knee and bounce him. This would never have occurred to Kurik, but it was obvious how much the small boy enjoyed this activity. The two men continued to talk, Kurik filling Spock in on happenings on the ship, until Nyota arrived back home, pleasantly tired from her workout. When Grayson saw her, he began to babble and hold out his arms, and she picked him up, standing there and talking to him while Kurik watched.

The way that human women interacted with their children was different than what he had seen on Vulcan. And the children seemed to thrive on it. They were lively and happy. He thought perhaps this was better than the severe control that was taught to very young Vulcan children. He hoped that in the future, there would be a child that Chris would hold in such a manner.

Kurik rose, and took his leave, promising to come again, to speak with Spock, to help relieve the tedium. And he walked back to his own quarters, much relieved, and content with the plan that had been made.

"***"

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