Disclaimer: I do not own Star Trek.
Chapter 14: Acceptable Substitute
While Sarek and Amanda were discussing the relationship between Spock and Christine, Spock himself was very much against what his sister had suggested.
"I do not wish to have them along with me," He said, shutting the door behind his sister and taking the bed sheets and what not from her arms. "They should not have to accompany me as I pick out clothing."
"They did not object to it," T'Nyra said calmly, moving around the room to help him put his things away. Spock occupied himself by making his bed. The two of them shared a love of clean, neat, and organized rooms. But when it came to this...well, they were obviously in disagreement.
"They are being polite." Spock stated, his voice now cold. T'Nyra stood up and put a hand on her hip and gave her brother a glare. Spock noticed this, and stood to glare right back at her. He folded his arms and met her eyes, challenging her to argue with him. She gladly accepted the challenge.
"They said they had nothing better to do," T'Nyra stated, and her eyes grew to one of amusement. "Besides, mother and father deserve some time together. In their room. Alone."
"Ah," Spock said, realizing what his sister was hinting at. "I see now why you do not wish to take back the invitation."
"Precisely," T'Nyra agreed, as she started moving things around and placing everything where it had been before he had left. Spock nodded, and began to make his bed. T'Nyra glanced back at him as she placed his desk and shelves back in place. "I also do not wish to disappoint Christine."
At this remark, Spock visibly stiffened. Straightening up from folding his blanket over his bed, he looked over at his sister. She pretended not to notice his strange reaction, and went about organizing things. Clearing his throat, Spock waited until T'Nyra looked at him again.
"Do...do you think Ms. Chapel would be disappointed in not being able to accompany me - us?" Spock said uncertainty. His face was slightly green, and his ears a vivid shade of emerald. T'Nyra took note of this.
"Well, she did seem to have affection for you..." She replied mysteriously. "And if you take back the invitation now, I think it would hurt her feelings," She allowed a small smile as she looked at her brother. "Why do you ask, brother?"
"It is nothing for you to take concern in." Spock replied, bending back over his bed. One of the sheet corners was crooked, and he had to fix it. T'Nyra shrugged, and a stoic mask replaced her amused one as she finished placing everything back.
She stepped back to admire her work, and was fairly impressed. She had done well removing the furniture, cleaning the place it had been, cleaning the furniture in question, and then replacing it against the wall along with all the shelf items. She glanced back at her brother's empty closet, and realized there was something that had not been brought up yet. His luggage.
"Please excuse me, Spock," T'Nyra said, starting towards the door. Spock merely nodded, as he was trying hard, again, to control his emotions. Why did he have to lose control over his emotions at a time like this? For that matter, why did he have to lose control at all? He had always been good at controlling his emotions until the accident.
Sighing, Spock smoothed out the last wrinkle on the sheet, and relaxed on the bed. Was it just him, or did everything that had happened to him lead back to his family - specifically T'Laura.
T'Nyra stepped outside Spock's room quickly, wanting to get her task done as fast as possible. Vulcan's valued manners very highly, and not having Spock's luggage up in his room already...well, that would be very rude by most vulcan standards. Thankfully, they were not the average vulcan family.
Practically skipping down the steps, T'Nyra inevitably stumbled. But she did not fall, and continued on her way, being sure not to trip again. Amanda, who was watching from the couch, raised an eyebrow as she watched her daughter almost fall flat on her face.
"T'Nyra, honey," Amanda said, turning towards her daughter. "No running the -"
"Sorry, mother." T'Nyra replied as she sped walked down the hall towards the garage. Blinking, Amanda watched as her daughter went on her way. That had never happened before - T'Nyra had always been very polite and never brushed her off like that.
"That was odd…" Sarek said, mimicking her thoughts. Amanda turned back to her husband and guests and shrugged. She was unsure of what to say.
"Teenagers - you never know how hormones are going to affect them." Jim said, meaning it as a joke. Sarek raised both eyebrows and gave his head a slight shake.
"T'Nyra is only 10 years of age," Sarek said, his hand still touching Amanda's, but no longer massaging it. The moment they'd had was now gone. "And it is unlikely that she should be experiencing hormones this early on in age. Unless, of course it is caused because of her mixed heritage. In which case, you would be correct."
"I - uh -I meant it as a joke…" Jim said, his smile faltering. Beside him, Christine held back a smile and a laugh. This interaction reminded her of when Spock and Jim interacted. Spock often took the captain's jokes and comments literally, when he often meant them in jest.
"Ah, I see." Sarek said, his eyebrows returning to their proper place. He glanced at his wife, seeing and feeling that she was both highly confused at their daughter's behaviour, but also extremely amused by the conversation that just happened. "Jokes are not something that one hears often on Vulcan."
"So I see," Jim said, shifting his seating position. He ran a hand through his hair, and wondered what to say next. Christine smiled a little at the captain's discomfort - it wasn't often that he was upset by something like this. Usually he got people laughing by now.
"If I may make a comment…?" Christine asked, looking over at Sarek and Amanda. Sarek gave a small nod. "Maybe meeting with Spock has had an effect on her - I know that I'd probably be freaking out if I found out I had an older brother several years my senior. Especially if I was only 10 years old."
"Maybe," Amanda agreed, relaxing against the couch. She wanted very much to clutch Sarek's hand in comfort right now. Sensing this, Sarek did so before she could ask him. And immediately, Amanda felt that much more reassured.
"That is a logical assumption," Sarek agreed, glancing back over his shoulder as his daughter came back through the room. A small smile crossed his face as he realized why she was acting that way. "...Or perhaps she was worried about something else."
Jim watched as T'Nyra lugged Spock's bag up the stairs. He started to get up, but a quick glance from Sarek told him not to. Amanda watched as her daughter dragged the bag up the stairs and into Spock's room. Then her face lit up as Sarek told her what had happened.
"I don't mean to butt in, but I think I'm a little lost," Jim said, shifting positions again. This family was quite confusing, he had to admit. He thought vulcan families were a little bit more...strict. "Is T'Nyra alright?"
"Quite," Sarek replied, rubbing his thumb over Amanda's knuckles now. "I believe she acted in an attempt to show proper vulcan manners." Jim raised his eyebrows and shrugged, completely baffled. Sarek opened his mouth to explain, but Amanda shook her head slightly. Explaining would take entirely too long.
Sorry for the late update! I thought I posted this chapter after I uploaded it - and it turns out I hadn't. But I've uploaded it now, and I've started working on the next couple of chapters, so I'll be uploading more chapters.
