CHAPTER 21
Cass quietly left their bedroom with dirty clothes in hand to set in the refresher. Turning the device on, she proceeded to the kitchen to cut up fruit and vegetables purchased yesterday afternoon at an outdoor market on the way home from the botanical gardens. The four of them had a good time making selections from things they recognized, things they were willing to try, and forgoing things they were not so willing to try. Spock had been semi-relaxed on that outing, often encouraging the party to expand their palettes. It had been a good day.
Finishing in the galley style kitchen, she sat down on her chair by the window where she watched a storm blow in off the ocean. It sent a cooler breeze through the silent bungalow. Cass got back up and went around shutting windows, when she realized the Captain and Doctor's windows were probably open as well. A quick check on Spock revealed he was deeply asleep so she left by the ocean side sliding glass door, across the expansive deck and down the stairs. Taking a left, she started a light jog through the trees, past the cabana they all shared, through more trees until she approached their residence. Knowing the passcode, she punched it in quickly, then proceeded to close windows followed by a quick walk through to make sure all was secure for an unexpected extended time away. She washed a few dishes in the sink, setting them to dry on a towel, then left as silently as she came.
Cass was just walking back through her own sliding glass doors when the sprinkle outside turned into a downpour. Cracking open the window by her chair and seeing no moisture coming in, she settled in, enjoying the smell of the rain. After a while of listening to the storm she turned on her PADD to resume the movie she had started earlier. Imagine her surprise during their slow ride into Starbase 24 when Lois had shown her how to access movies that advertised selections for all time. Sure enough, she found movies she liked from the 20th century. She was soon lost in the story.
Almost three hours from when Spock laid down, Cass heard his voice coming from the bedroom. He was making arrangements to meet the investigative team who was about to pursue a credible lead. By the time he entered the main living area, Cass had the previously sliced fruits and vegetables on a plate sitting at the bar waiting for him. As much as he really wanted to get going, the Vulcan knew he needed to refuel his body. He snacked while simultaneously responding to various messages on his PADD. One was from Dr. McCoy saying reparative surgery had been performed on some of the deepest cuts. All had gone well and the Captain was sleeping. It would be a few days before he was released therefore, they both would be at the hospital for the duration. There was also a final request for one of them to go shut windows just in case it rained. Being a good southern boy, McCoy would have been cognizant of regular rain showers Cass thought, listening to Spock read the message as she ate what she thought was a piece of papaya.
"I am going to see this investigation through so I am not able to say exactly when I will return to the bungalow." Spock said as he sat down to slip on a pair of comfortable walking boots. At that he gathered up a few things he needed, putting them in a travel satchel which he swung over his shoulder. He was halfway to the door when he realized he was leaving Cass without a second glance. Slowing down, he stopped at the door then turned to look at her as she stared back at him.
"I'll see you later" she acknowledged simply. At that she got up from the bar stool and gathered the remains of their snack to put away in the mini refrigerator. When she looked back, he was gone. Cass had no problem with being alone, after all, she lived alone for three years after her engagement was broken. It was just weird. Being on a Starship, she was rarely alone. Then she came to this tropical vacation with her husband and his best friends who were becoming good friends to her as well, especially Dr. McCoy. Now all of them were gone.
Going back to the mini fridge, she opened a bottle of Chardonnay, poured a generous glass for herself, then recorked the bottle and put it back for later. Taking a satisfying sip, she returned to her chair and her movie while the rain and the wind beat against the cottage. It was a peaceful afternoon.
As darkness fell, she turned lights on incase Spock came home though she was rather doubtful of that happening. Pouring the rest of the wine in her glass, she walked a semi-straight line to the couch to watch another movie on a bigger screen mounted to the wall, like on the Starbase. She decided today could be a movie day since she usually spent her time reading. The last thing she remembered was setting her half finished glass of wine on the end table before laying down on the couch and pulling a light blanket over her shoulders to finish the movie.
Sunlight filled the living room as she opened her eyes, disoriented until her last memories from the night before filled in the gaps. After a shower followed by fruit with cheese for breakfast, Cass grabbed her communicator to put in her back pocket then headed out the door for the beach. She walked for hours, thinking, praying, listening to the waves, just enjoying the silence and the solitude. Tomorrow she would go see Jim and Leonard she decided. Arriving back at the cabana she spent the day alone, reading and watching the waves crash on the shore. Not once did she take the wind in her hair, dappled sunlight on her skin, and all the sounds, smells and sensations of being outside for granted.
That night she kept a light on for Spock but went to bed and woke up alone. This was starting to get old. Deciding to definitely go to the hospital, she took a shower and dressed in light cotton slacks, sandals and a blouse. Putting her hair back in a low ponytail, she was just grabbing her purse to go to the main lodge to find out how to get where she wanted to go when Spock walked in. Surprised, she came to a sudden halt at his appearance.
Raising an eyebrow at her, he inquired dryly "Where are you going?"
"I thought I would go see the Captain and Dr. McCoy to see how they are doing." She replied evenly.
He nodded once then stated "I planned to go to the hospital today to give the Captain an update concerning his case. I need to go change clothes"
"Ok." she replied to his retreating back. Walking back to sit down, she thought 'something is off with him.' She just couldn't put her finger yet on what.
As they took a public shuttle for the hour ride inland to the hospital, she subtly shifted her attention to the Vulcan sitting next to her. It didn't take a poke to their bond to tell he was doing the oak tree shield thing. Quietly she sighed, turning to look out the window without really seeing the scenery. Though Cass was subtle, Spock being a Vulcan was aware of the attention directed at him. He looked straight ahead.
An hour later the shuttle let them off at the entry of a beautiful campus housing multiple medical buildings. The hospital was an older eight story structure, made from native red rock formed into large brick like material. It was the largest building, located in the center of the campus, towering over the smaller clinics like a mother hen guarding her chicks. The clinics were two or three stories in height but more modern with glass and steel. Entering the lobby, they found out Jim was on the top floor.
Finding his room to be on one of the corners, they entered quietly in case he was sleeping. He was awake, bored, and wanted out. Dr. McCoy saw Spock and Cass arrive and looking straight at Cass he commented "oh good, the cavalry is here." Cass burst out laughing at the memory of when she said that to them.
Cassandra's laughter alerted the Captain that his people had arrived. He looked good; all things considered. The cuts on his face were responding very well to treatment and it looked like there would be very minimal scarring. His chest and arms were bandaged but without a shirt as he reclined in bed. Wearing light bermuda type shorts, bare feet crossed at the ankle, Cass could see his legs had been spared.
"Spock, Cassandra. Come in." he said while indicating the two chairs in the room. Cass sat politely on one, Spock preferred to stand, arms behind his back.
"Captain. You are recovering well I take it?" Spock began professionally.
Jim just looked at him, then glanced over to Cass whose expression read 'don't ask me', then back to Spock. Deciding to start where the Vulcan would be the most comfortable, he inquired "what have you found out?"
His guess was right. Spock subtly relaxed his military posture to more of his standard parade rest and began to recite the information he came to deliver. "You were correct. It was the insectoid from the meeting and his fellow officer though there was some debate if it was his First Officer or Head of Security. They delivered what their culture deemed justice."
At Kirk's look of skepticism, Spock explained. "When rescuing Cassandra, I did not kill their officers but unfortunately by stunning them, they were left with minimal chance of survival. They returned the favor by not killing you, just leaving you for dead."
Kirk didn't miss a beat "which I have you to thank for the fact that I am not, dead. That was risky Spock. We both could have been lost in there. Had I died, what would have happened to you?"
Spock looked straight ahead, avoiding eye contact with everyone in the room. "It is uncertain at this time. A healer on Vulcan would have to be consulted to answer your question." He replied dryly.
"Yet you came anyway." Kirk pressed.
At that Spock looked down at his feet, like he was in trouble. "Yes." he replied quietly.
"Spock, look at me." replied Kirk in a quiet but commanding tone. The First Officer looked at him reflexively. "Thank you for coming to get me. We owe each other our lives many times over by now, but that one….that one, I will never forget or be able to repay."
Spock had no reply. To save him the uncomfortable task of trying to answer, Dr. McCoy stepped forward. "Cass, come take a look at this." With ease, he changed the topic to one of medical interest and Cass was quick to follow, coming alongside the doctor to see what he was showing her. They spent the next half hour discussing advanced laser protocol and how they would continue the treatment back at the bungalow. By the time the treatments were finished, Bones expected there to be little physical reminder of the incident. Cass was impressed and told them so as she next assisted the doctor in changing bandages on the surgical sites. The other cuts were doing so well, they could be left to heal in the open air.
After putting the last of the bandages away, Cass turned to the Captain. Sitting on the edge of his bed while straightening a micro fold in one of the bandages on his bicep, she asked "how are you feeling Jim?" This was the first time she had been brave enough to use his given name. It didn't go unnoticed by the other two men in the room as they watched. Jim smiled, looking up to see worried brown eyes staring back at him.
"Thank you for finding me Cass. I will be ok. And I believe I should be able to go home tomorrow" eyes glancing over to the doctor he said pointedly "right doctor!"
Leonard grumbled under his breath so low only the Vulcan head him but showed no response. Jim chuckled as he turned back to Cass, laying a hand on her arm. "I'm much better Cass and looking forward to getting back to the bungalow."
"Good" she replied as she stood up from sitting on the edge of his bed. "I am too. It's kind of boring around there without all of you." They visited a little longer, then left so Jim could get some sleep. He still tired easily after suffering from such blood loss.
Spock and Cassandra chose to go down the stairs instead of the elevator then proceeded out the front door. As they walked back across the campus, Cass thought over the conversation they had upstairs and how close she came to losing her husband. That put things in perspective on how much she loved him and wanted to get things back on track. That apparently wasn't to be.
They stopped to have dinner on the way home then wandered through another outdoor market. Spock spoke when spoken to but otherwise did not contribute much. Back at the bungalow, Cass got ready for bed as did he but still all was silent. She walked over, thinking to touch his arm in an effort to reach him. What she encountered made her pull back almost immediately. He was still in his oak tree mode but there was more. It was like there was an additional glass wall around him. She could barely sense their bond at all. Stunned, she stepped back completely unsure what to do with that. He just looked at her from behind his walls. Uncertain, she turned and walked to her side of the bed, getting in but facing away to look out the french doors at the rising ¾ moon.
The next morning after breakfast they received a message that Jim was being released. Hearing that, Cass decided to call in a nice lunch to be delivered to the cabana in early afternoon. Also, she requested more chaise lounge chairs so multiple people could recline with the Captain so he wouldn't feel like some invalid. By the time the two made an appearance at the cabana, lunch was being set out by hotel staff. Bones helped Jim sit at the table then took a seat for himself. Spock sat on Jim's other side. Realizing the set up was missing napkins, Cass jogged back to their kitchen to get some. Arriving back to the table, she unthinkingly placed a hand on Spock's right shoulder as she leaned forward to place them close to the Captain so he didn't have to reach as far. Spock flinched from her touch. Recovering quickly, Cass straightened up, taking a seat without looking at anyone. All conversation had stopped.
After a moment, she knew she had to get out of there so as to not embarrass herself by bursting into tears in front of people. Mumbling "I'll be back." she stood and walked down to the beach. Turning away from civilization, she headed south where there were a few more bungalows associated with the resort, before becoming just a beach. Swallowing back the sobs that were trying to escape, she made sure to be past the last of the dwellings before letting them escape. Walking briskly, she wiped away tears as fast as they came to be able to see where she was going. Finally, walking far enough down the beach where she was sure she was alone, she dropped to sit cross legged, elbows bent on her thighs, head in hand and completely lost it.
Back at the table, the Officers watched their time traveler walk quickly down the beach away from the resort activities. Shoulders hunched, she moved briskly until she was out of sight. All eyes turned back to each other as the silence stretched on, the lunch Cass had so thoughtfully ordered forgotten. It was Leonard who broke first. "You green blooded, inhuman VULCAN, what is WRONG with you?!" The doctor demanded. "Do you enjoy hurting her? What has she ever done to you but save your live, you pointed eared hobgoblin….."
"Bones, that's enough" Jim interjected quickly.
"Not hardly." Glaring at Spock, Leonard stood, tossing his napkin on the table. "You talk to him. I can't. I'll go check on her." At that he walked away to follow the steps Cassandra had taken moments ago.
The two friends, brothers really, sat silently at the table as the wind whistled through the treetops, the sound of the waves crashing against the shore. "Spock." Began Jim. Spock said nothing as he stared unseeing at the table in front of him. "What happened? I thought you had found some sort of acceptance in your relationship with Cassandra."
"I am a Vulcan. She knew that when she married me. It is what it is." Was his response but even Kirk could hear the emptiness of his voice. It was a rote answer.
Having lost his appetite, he couldn't think of what else to say to that. Finally, Jim had to get into a chaise style chair to rest again. "Help me move over there would you?" Immediately Spock stood to assist his Captain to the indicated chair. After getting the man settled, reclining the back to a comfortable 45-degree angle, Spock retreated to the table and began clearing food, bringing it to his bungalow to put away. While there he grabbed a light blanket in case Jim got cold. Silently placing it over his friend's legs, he stopped when Kirk reached for his wrist. Looking into concerned blue eyes, Jim said "don't let the circumstances of your past destroy your future Spock." At that he pulled the blanket up a little higher and turned his attention to the water. Spock sat nearby, contemplating the meaning of those words while the Captain drifted to sleep.