Disclaimer: See Chapter 1. Thank you so much to einzel, CeliaSingsSongs, Icybay611, mintandtea, 2redbird, hikari-hime 01, gracefullyhandled and isfoss86 for reviewing.
Oratt marched quietly but purposefully through the halls of the Consulate, burying his anger with deep breathing. It would not do to appear in front of Sarek and his entourage as angry or emotional in any sense; he had to rise above such base urges and be stoic in his approach. As he pondered the current situation, he mused that Vekan, Sarek's chief aide, was indulging his emotional need to feel superior to humans, or else he would have no basis to feel offended at a Vulcan-human marriage, or Vulcan-human hybrids.
But how dare he call Bridget simple! He thought briefly of ancient times, of how this would resolve differently then: Oratt would be going to face this worthless worm with a lirpa, not cold logic, and Vekan's head would be placed outside the Consulate gate as a warning to others.
The thought disgusted him, but satisfied him in a strange, perverse sort of way, as if he needed further evidence that his mind was deteriorating. Another sign he had noticed was his crumbling mental barriers when he touched Bridget. He knew he had let his emotions get the better of him as he ascertained the cause of her distress, and she had felt it. While she did not shy away from it at first, it became a discomfort to her before he realized what he was doing. Not that he blamed her for pulling away when she did. Vulcan emotions were intense and overwhelming, which was precisely why they needed to curb them. Else Vekan would be dead and Oratt's hands henceforth stained with another's blood.
However, he could not have this man interacting with Bridget. All contact between them would cease, for her happiness and Vekan's safety.
He found the reception still in full swing, and instead of finding Vekan and making him grovel before Bridget and beg her forgiveness (which is what he wanted to do), he found the man he needed to make this reprimand hold true weight.
"Osu, may I have a word in private?" he asked Soval, who was speaking urgently to one of his aides.
"Now is not a good time, doctor. Have you seen my daughter?"
"Yes," he said with a nod, and Soval narrowed his eyes. "She is in my office."
The ambassador faced him fully and glared at him, his eyes like daggers as he took in the taller man. "And what, pray tell, is she doing there?"
"A word in private?" he repeated, and after dismissing the aide, the ambassador followed him out into the hallway and down a side corridor.
"Tell me, doctor, why my daughter is in your office and not where she is supposed to be," Soval began, glaring up at the Shi'Kahrian.
"She was distraught," he explained. "One of Sarek's aides, a man named Vekan, insulted your daughter, your family and all of your wife's people. He openly mocks all you have achieved with your a'duna; he holds contempt for your very way of life. Bridget felt intimidated and threatened by his presence, so instead of stay in the same room with him, she wisely fled."
"To you," Soval said coldly, "and not to her father."
"Her father was occupied with entertaining another ambassador, in the same room where Vekan still was, and instead of halt the reception to bring this man to your attention, she brought it to mine."
The ambassador narrowed his eyes again and stared coldly up at the doctor. "You have no personal quarrel with this man. Why involve yourself?"
"He insulted my assistant and upset her," Oratt replied. "He may have targeted your family by name, but he also insults my cousin, my cousin's children…and the children I hope to have one day."
This earned him a raised eyebrow of surprise, but before Soval could comment on his statement, the doctor explained it away. "You have been made whole by a human. You have three children, a fourth on the way. Your wife has made you the man you are today, so is it so wrong to want that contentment for myself?"
The ambassador sighed. "I suppose not. But you have not explained why Bridget came to you and not to me."
"Does the manner in which she brought this to our attention matter as much as resolving this issue on her behalf? This man is trusted by Sarek, who will most likely take your place when you retire, and his prejudice against humans has no place in this Consulate."
"So how would you resolve this?" the ambassador asked stiffly.
"Firstly, all contact between Vekan and Bridget must cease. Secondly, I think it prudent to bring Vekan's behavior to Sarek's attention. How can he adequately serve his people if he cannot dispense proper discipline?"
Soval nodded in reluctant agreement.
He stilled his concerns regarding Bridget for a moment and considered the man in front of him. He knew the ambassador had forbidden his language lesson with Bridget on this day because Sarek was here. Oratt was unbonded, unstable, and a danger to his young assistant if he was honest with himself. If Bridget had been allowed to attend her regular lesson and Sarek had asked why, Soval could be criticized for putting his daughter at risk. But tomorrow, he had heard, Sarek and his party were to meet with the Vulcans stationed at Bozeman, and he would be gone for at least three days, so things could resume as normal.
And now Soval saw firsthand the trust his daughter had placed in another man, and not he who was her father. His little girl would rather bring her troubles to a friend than to a parent, and perhaps the ambassador was saddened by this fact. It was only natural, though, that a girl Bridget's age would start pulling away from her family and forge her own path.
Nevertheless, Oratt needed Soval as an ally in this matter. He had to bridge the silent rift between them and take down Vekan with the Raalian's help.
"I know you do not trust me, that you resent this turn of events, but Bridget trusted me enough to resolve this matter. And I cannot accomplish that without you."
"My daughter is naïve and does not realize the danger you pose to her. I almost believe she would be safer in Vekan's hands than in yours," the ambassador said, his voice cutting through the silence like ice.
Oratt felt a strange wave of tightness grip his stomach and his vision swam with a green haze. "No!" he growled. "That disgusting, pompous worm will not go near her again!"
Though his beastly side felt perfectly justified in this outburst, his logic was taken aback, appalled at his tone and intensity. The look on the ambassador's face told him tonight's meditation would take a long while.
"Forgive me," he said, bowing his head in shame. "I…forgot myself."
Soval stared at him incredulously before softening ever so slightly. "I too must ask forgiveness. It was wrong of me to suggest Bridget would be safer with Vekan than you. For all these years, you have never once harmed her, even when you might have, and you are a better man than most for it. You are a better man than Vekan. Let us put this quarrel behind us."
But then his expression hardened again, and Oratt knew he was not quite through this lecture just yet. "Have a care not to forget yourself in front of my daughter, Oratt of Shi'Kahr, or else I will take up my lirpa against you. I remind you that I was a soldier for many years before taking up diplomacy, and I have not forgotten my skills."
Oratt nodded in understanding, and then Soval sighed. "I will speak to Sarek." He glanced up at the doctor. "And having a ranking member of the Council of Physicians behind me does carry clout. Come; let us put this matter to rest, for Bridget's sake."
They found Sarek speaking to one of Soval's aides, and it seemed the reception was drawing to a close. "Sarek, son of Skon," Soval stated, his voice stern, his posture straightening as he drew himself to full height, "I must speak to you on a grave matter that has come to my attention. Where is the man among your aides called Vekan?"
The man in question stepped forward, his expression blank, and though Oratt searched the man's eyes for any sign of emotion, he could find none at the moment.
"You were just now speaking with my daughter, Bridget, were you not?"
Oratt noticed out of the corner of his eye Soval's wife edging into the circle of aides around Sarek. She hung back behind her husband as he confronted the two men, and the doctor redirected his attention to the culprit in front of him.
Vekan nodded in acknowledgment. "Yes, ambassador. But she departed this reception, and if you are under the impression that I know her whereabouts, you are mistaken."
"Why did she depart this reception, Vekan?"
The man raised an eyebrow. "I do not know, Osu. I am not an expert on human adolescent behavior."
"Understandable, as humans do require some getting used to," Soval replied smoothly. "But until you can grasp the very basics of interacting with humans, until you can make it through a conversation without insulting humanity, I must limit your contact with my family. Prove your worth; erase the bigotry from your thoughts, and you may make something of yourself."
Vekan looked openly surprised, perhaps even offended. "I do not understand, Osu. What-"
"You understand perfectly, but you refuse to acknowledge your wrongdoing. Doctor, if you would escort our guest to his quarters?"
"Very well, ambassador," Oratt replied, and he gestured for Vekan to lead the way out.
The culprit glanced at Sarek, who nodded robotically, and as they were leaving, he heard Soval dismiss everyone but Sarek and Genevieve.
They walked in silence for a few minutes before Vekan spoke. "She ran to you," he said. "The human girl. Soval did not leave the reception, and you were not there previously."
"Flawless logical deduction and observation on your part," the doctor replied, his tone sarcastic. "I should warn you now, Vekan of Shi'Kahr, that if I so much as see you near Bridget Forrest, I will not wait for Soval or Sarek to dispense the proper discipline. I will expel you from this Consulate myself."
Vekan raised an eyebrow. "What is she to you?"
"She is my assistant, and she has many friends here. If you speak to her again, it may be the last time you speak."
The man was genuinely surprised at his admission, but he did not seem frightened. He was more self-satisfied than anything else, but Oratt did not let anything but coldness show as he stepped to the right of Vekan's door, allowing the Vulcan to enter.
Vekan stopped just before stepping into his quarters. "I had heard rumors that you had changed, Dr. Oratt. I did not believe a Vulcan with your reputation could ever taint himself with human companionship, yet here you are, slave to a girl who does not even know our ways, could never know what it is to be Vulcan. And it seems you have forgotten what that means. She cannot even stand the simple truth that her species is emotional, yet you defend her all the same. So tell me, has she discovered some dark secret about you, or have you allowed yourself to be the humans' pet sehlat already?"
"I am no one's pet," he growled in reply. "Nor has she discovered anything. I have no dark secrets to reveal."
Vekan smirked. "And if the ambassador hopes to pawn her off to a Vulcan male, I doubt he'll have many volunteers."
"On the contrary, many of the males in this Consulate have expressed interest in her. When she turns eighteen, she will have many suitors. I have already restricted my staff in the infirmary from fraternizing with her, for her own safety."
The man was too mired in his prejudice to acknowledge this possibility. "You are mistaken, doctor. Perhaps you feel the need to defend your little assistant. That is endearing, in a pathetic sort of way."
"What is truly pathetic," Oratt countered, "is that you will die alone and in agony, because no woman, Vulcan or human, would tolerate your repulsive personality."
And at last, it seemed the doctor had hit a soft spot. Vekan's expression soured and his voice became a low growl. "You go too far."
"I haven't gone nearly far enough," he said smoothly. "Perhaps this will teach you to hold your tongue. You are a poor excuse for a diplomat, and you must be truly desperate if you feel the need to bully adolescent humans and small children. I have nothing further to say to you, except to reiterate my previous warning. If I see you so much as look at Bridget Forrest again, it will be your last hour on this planet. Do I make myself abundantly clear?"
Vekan simply stared at him, his eyes dark as they flicked up and down the doctor's body, as if sizing him up. And then he turned his back on Oratt and marched into his quarters, in a huff as the humans called it.
With that stumbling block removed, his thoughts turned to Bridget, and he hurried down to his office so he could reassure her that the problem had been remedied.
…
Soval paced in front of Sarek, keeping his gaze fixed on the younger ambassador even though he would rather be staring at the much lovelier sight of Genevieve plump with his child.
"Who is this man, son of Skon?" he asked, his voice icy and harsh. "Of all the qualified candidates to choose from, you choose a man who harbors an obvious prejudice against humans. What possessed you to believe he would be of use when visiting this planet?"
"He came highly recommended," Sarek replied blandly. "In the time I have known him, he has served me well."
"By feeding you his bigotry and lies?" Soval flared his nostrils in the only frustration he could display. "You are young and inexperienced, Sarek, but this is beyond naiveté. It is foolishness."
For the first time since arriving, Sarek's expression faltered, and he looked upset as he glared at Soval. "I am not a child, ambassador; I would think you would show me more respect."
"At this Consulate, you must earn it. You have done nothing to earn the admiration you think you deserve. You are not a child, no; you are a petulant young man who has not seen anything of the universe."
Sarek made to protest, but Soval continued. "As an ambassador, you are responsible for your staff and their behavior. If Vekan disrespects my family again, I will remove him from this planet, but I will also hold you personally responsible. If I were you, I would dismiss him now and find another aide, one who is not a tasteless bigot."
"We have already established a professional relationship," the younger man said. "It would not do to replace him now."
"It was merely a suggestion, but if you insist on keeping him here, my original orders stand. You are responsible for him and will face the consequences should he disobey me."
"Understood," Sarek replied icily. "Is there anything else, Osu?"
"No," the ambassador said, already turning to speak to his wife. "You are dismissed."
Sarek paused before leaving the room, and Soval turned to see him looking at Genevieve, his gaze flicking down to her rounded stomach.
"I rejoice with thee, Ms. Forrest, on the increase of your house," he said quickly, then strode from the room before Soval's wrath could catch up with him.
Genevieve waited until the door was closed before speaking. "Well, that was awkward. Do you think he left you out of the congratulations on purpose?"
"I have no doubt he did. He does not appreciate hearing the truth, but the truth must be told or all we have worked for is lost."
She nodded and made to exit the room, but a wince stopped her in her tracks. Soval felt an ache in his lower back and in his ankles, and he quickly fetched a chair from one of the tables so she could sit down for a minute.
"Thank you, a'dun," she whispered, leaning back in the chair. He knelt before her and carefully removed her shoes, taking in her swollen ankles with a wince.
"I don't know what it is about this baby, but my feet hurt more now than they ever did with Sokal or Sekir. Maybe I'm just getting old."
He took one of her feet in his hands and gently massaged it, alternating between Earth techniques and Vulcan neuropressure. "You are hardly old, Genevieve," he chided, but his tone was soft.
"Mm…" She sighed, closing her eyes. "Whatever you say, ashayam, just keep that up."
He smirked to himself and pressed harder, and her hand found his hair, gently scratching his scalp as he worked. He purred for her, lengthening his finger strokes over her ankles, and she sighed in relief.
"So what are you going to say to Bridget?"
He pondered his response carefully before answering. "I will ask her why she took this issue up with the doctor and not with me."
"She's at an age where she prefers her friends over her family," Genie replied, her eyes still closed as she enjoyed the work of his hands.
"Her 'friend' is an unbonded male."
She smiled. "I once made an unbonded male my best friend. He was very kind to me and never hurt me, despite being alone for nearly four decades. I'm carrying his child now, no worse for wear."
"I was alone for nearly forty years, yes, but Oratt has been alone for longer. When explaining to me why Bridget had left the reception, he became highly agitated. I fear what he might do if Bridget is alone with him for too long."
He could feel through their bond that her feet were feeling much better, and she was almost ready to go back to their quarters. She considered his argument, then finally conceded to his point.
"You have every right to be concerned about her, and if I'm honest, I worry about her too. Not as much as I worry about the boys…is that wrong of me?"
"Our sons are younger, less experienced, and subject to more criticism than Bridget. In a way, she is stronger than either of them. But she is far too kind for her own good, and she pays far too much attention to these unbonded males."
"Take it as a compliment to our parenting, sweetheart," Genevieve said, "not to mention a testament to her character. And as for the doctor…do you really think he has it in him to hurt her? She cares for him, you know. From what I understand about unbonded males, he most likely won't hurt her, right? I mean, if he's been alone for so long, and she's his friend, he's not going to hurt his only friend. Besides, she's sixteen."
"A'duna, unbonded men are dangerous and unpredictable. I do not know what possessed me to agree to those language lessons in the first place."
She leaned forward and lifted his chin, and she lightly kissed his lips. "You were never dangerous when you were unbonded. And you agreed to those lessons because you saw how happy they would make her, and because she needed them anyway, and Sykor wasn't available."
"I know he's her friend, and I know those lessons please her so," he said, his voice no louder than a whisper, "but for me, who knows the danger she braves every day…if Oratt were to violate her in any way, how could I forgive myself?" He looked up to her, searching for an answer in her bright blue eyes.
"A'dun, ashayam," she murmured, kissing him again, "no Vulcan currently stationed at this Consulate is going to violate a sixteen-year-old girl. They will not violate a seventeen-year-old. She is a minor, and they know it, perhaps not instinctually, but they know she's completely off-limits. And they know one slip-up means heads will roll. So trust your staff, and trust that if your daughter needs your help, she'll tell you."
"She did not tell me today. She told him. My daughter trusts Oratt over me, her own father." He could not hide the bitterness in his tone, and his wife's gaze softened.
"Ask her why, then," she replied. "You know she loves you, and she didn't bypass you on purpose today. She was upset, probably not thinking too clearly, as humans are so prone to do in a tight spot, and she did the first thing to came to mind: flee the scene, not hang awkwardly around her father and take him out of the reception to tell him about the big bad Vulcan who was mean to her."
He shook his head and cupped her cheek, sharing with her his core thoughts on the matter. "For all my attempts to teach her our ways, she has a very poor understanding of what is within the bounds of propriety and what is not. It appears I have more work to do."
"It seems so," she agreed, and sensing that she was ready to move, he quickly stood and helped her to her feet.
"Trust your daughter's instincts, Soval," she continued, pressing herself as close to him as she could manage with her rounded belly. "She has a good example on how to act, and she's more propriety-conscious than you think."
He sighed and bowed his head. "I hope you are correct, wife. Otherwise…I do not know how I will handle such failure."
"You will not fail," she insisted. "We've made it this far without too many bumps in the road. Everything will be all right. I know it."
…
Just as Bridget's tears dried and she decided to drink some water, she heard a knock at the door. Strom was there, and he didn't even look up as he shuffled through some PADDs in his arms.
"Osu," he murmured, then spoke rapidly in Vulcan, and she was too tired to listen very carefully to what he said.
"Doctor," she replied softly, and he looked up, surprised and confused.
"Where is Oratt?"
She sighed. "Off to…well, defend my honor, I guess. It's a long story. Are some of these for him?"
"Yes," he said, and she let him come inside.
"Now, why would Oratt need to defend your honor, Bridget? Has someone hurt you?"
"No, not physically. I'd rather not talk about it."
Strom set the PADDs meant for Oratt on the desk and sat down in the visitor's chair. "Are you all right?" he asked gently, and she fought a fresh onslaught of tears. While she felt comfortable enough around Oratt to cry in front of him, Strom did not have that trust from her.
"No," she said, her voice no louder than a whisper, "but I'll be ok."
"Is there anything I can do to help you?"
"No. But I appreciate you offering. That's very kind of you."
"You are a good assistant. It's the least I could do."
"Thanks." She leaned back into the couch, sipping gingerly at her water. "I'd offer you some water, but somehow I don't think you'd take it."
"You are correct," he said, his tone light and teasing. "You are far too young to be thinking of such things." He paused. "Do you know when Oratt will return?"
She shook her head.
"Well," he continued, "I hope you get to feeling better. Please direct his attention to those PADDs."
"I will," she promised, and then Strom was out the door, leaving her alone with her thoughts.
She did not have to wait five minutes before Oratt slipped back in, and she stood, wiping her eyes of any residual tears.
"Strom came by and left those PADDs for you," she said, pointing to his desk. He didn't even look, but instead stepped up to her and gently brushed his thumb across her cheeks, clearing them of the tears she may have missed.
"He will not bother you again," he said darkly. "If he does, inform your father first, and then tell me. Understood?"
She nodded. "What did you say to him?"
"I told him that such a pathetic excuse for a diplomat will not be tolerated around the ambassador's daughter. I gave him clear instructions and a clear warning should he disobey said instructions. But enough about him. Are you feeling better?"
She sighed and leaned into him, nuzzling his chest and closing her eyes as he wrapped his arms around her. His fingertips trailed lightly down her spine, then up again, and oh…that feels nice…
With a sharp intake of breath, her eyes snapped open. Guilt followed his fingertips down her back; she hadn't felt sensations like that in a very long time, and never with Oratt. But no, that wasn't right…she remembered the darkened room and the heat of his skin, and his ramblings as he fought the madness of fever, a light sheen of sweat all over him as he held her close. She remembered the wild, wicked wish the darker half of her brain had whispered then, and it stirred from its sleep for a half a moment to remind her of her shameful thoughts.
But then the moment was gone and Oratt was pulling away, frowning down at her.
"Bridget?" he muttered. "You did not answer my question."
"I'm much better now that you're here with me," she said truthfully. "I'm so glad to know you."
And, again hardly believing her daring (how many times had she pushed his boundaries?), she cupped his face in her hands and tenderly kissed his forehead.
"Thank you for this," she said. "Thank you for everything."
She thought she spied a smile on his face, and that wicked feeling gnawed her gut for a moment before she pushed it back into the dark recesses from which it came. She loved Oratt dearly and told him so often, but that was no way to think of him. It just wasn't right.
"My dad's probably wondering where I am," she said, shrugging her shoulders. "I'd better go. So…I'll see you tomorrow, usual time?"
"Yes," he said, gently lifting her chin a millimeter. "I look forward to it, sweetling. Remember, if you so much as see Vekan…"
"Tell dad, then you. Got it." She kissed him again. "I love you, Oratt. I hope you have a good afternoon."
"And you, precious one. I will see you tomorrow."
She nodded, backing away a few steps before leaving his presence, and she couldn't seem to stop her heart from racing.
A/N: 100,000 words, you guys! Man, I can't believe I've written so much for this story! Thanks so much to all of you for being along for the ride, no matter where you got on. It's far from over, so hold on tight!