Warning: This chapter talks about some of the side-effects of the cocktails being spiked, ie. total memory loss of the previous evening, loss of inhibitions etc. You may want to pass over if you are not happy with that. Skip to the bottom notes for the safe summary :-)
Thank you again for the reviews, any suggestions for improvements are welcome!
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Chapter 45 - The Morning After
Mimi was currently sleeping on a bed in the Vulcan Embassy. The room was small with crisp white interior walls. The exterior wall was curvilinear with syncopated oak fins and undulating two-way glass, which looked over the Embassy gardens. During the day the glass walls allowed a lot of natural light to come into the room, at night shutters could be used if the skyglow was too distracting for nocturnal rest. Currently the shutters were down. A small bathroom was situated to the right of the bed. Straight ahead was a door leading to the main living area and to the left of the door there was a closet with sliding doors. To the left of the closet there was the familiar Vulcan set up of a meditation mat, candles and incense burner. Everything in the room, apart from its current occupant, was neat and tidy.
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Mimi began to stir, she felt like she had been hit by a ton of bricks compounded by a pounding headache and an incredible thirst. Needing a drink of water she tentatively lifted her head off the pillow, the headache just got worse. Laying her head back on the pillow she decided she would get a drink later. She gave in to the weight of tiredness she was feeling and promptly fell back asleep...
A few hours later Mimi stirred again, still with the pounding headache and the thirst. When she eventually managed to open her eyes she was surprised to find that she was still wearing the clothes she had on the previous evening for the bachelorette party. Mimi sat bolt upright, the headache almost forgotten about. Light was streaming in through the windows and she could see the Embassy gardens outside. This was definitely not her apartment! How in all the world did she end up here?
She put her head on the pillow again and lay quietly for a few minutes trying to recall the events of the previous evening. She couldn't remember how she got here... she couldn't remember anything after the Italian restaurant. It was all a massive blur.
Desperately needing a drink Mimi gathered up enough energy to get herself out of the bed. She slowly made her way to the bathroom and poured herself a glass of water. She downed one glass, then two and then three before the thirst began to be assuaged. When she turned to go back into the bedroom she noticed one of Sordd's robes was hanging on the back of the bathroom door, she also noticed a robe neatly folded on a stool beside some fresh towels. Mimi smiled inwardly somehow knowing that they were for her use, Sordd was always so thoughtful that way. After a quick sonic shower she changed into the fresh garments and then returned to the bedroom looking for her handbag, she needed something for the pounding headache. The handbag was nowhere to be seen.
Mimi decided it would be best to see if Sordd was in the apartment. She stepped into the main living area and quickly took in the scene before her. The main living area was a lot larger than the bedroom. In the middle of the room there were two modern twin-seater couches with a traditional Vulcan tea table in between. The walls were decorated with a number of Vulcan tapestries. Her eyes continued to scan around the room until they fell on Sordd.
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Sordd had spent the entire night in much needed meditation after the episode in the nightclub, to say he had been jangled by the experience would be an understatement. Before meditating he had ensured that Mimi was in a place of safety. He had also checked that T'Shahel and Avarak were down for their nocturnal rest and that Amanda was making a recovery in the medical wing. He was currently sitting at his work table, which faced outwards towards the gardens. (The exterior wall design from the spare bedroom was continued into the living area, again taking utmost advantage of natural light from the outside.) On the table there was a tray of breakfast food and a carafe of water and two glasses.
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Sordd turned his head and looked towards Mimi, "Good morning T'Sai Mimi. How are you today?" he asked.
Mimi reached her hand to her forehead. "Hi, to be honest I don't feel too good..." She walked over and sat down on the seat beside him. "I don't know why I'm here and not at my apartment."
Sordd raised an eyebrow. "You cannot remember anything?" he asked.
Mimi shook her head, "Only the Italian meal, after that it's all blank."
Sordd tilted his head, it was logical that she could not remember anything, it was one of the know side effect of the drug that had been in her system. Sordd poured her a glass of water. "It would appear some cocktails were contaminated with 4-hydroxybutanoic acid. T'Vol and Senek are investigating. Do you have a headache?" he asked kindly while handing her the glass.
"Yes, its pounding," she replied. Sordd stood up and went over to his medical bag to remove a hypospray. He loaded it up then returned to Mimi's side and administered it. It was not his preferred course of action when dealing with headaches however under the circumstances it was logical.
Inwardly Mimi was starting to panic, she knew about 4-hydroxybutanoic acid and began to worry that she had maybe done something inappropriate. "I feel awful. I can't remember anything. What happened? Why am I here and not at my apartment? Where are Manda and Rachel and Kalina?" the questions tumbled out.
"We brought you all back to the Embassy for your safety," he replied.
Mimi frowned, "For our safety!" she sounded surprised.
"Amanda is currently in the medical wing, the dose she had was near fatal. Kalina and Rachel only had traces of alcohol in their system. They have returned to their residences. T'Vol also had traces of the drug in her system, it does not affect Vulcans in the same way as it effects humans."
"Will Amanda be ok?" Mimi asked with a worried look on her face.
"Yes, she is recovering well," he said.
"I need to go and see her." Mimi stood to go then felt light headed and sat down again.
"Amanda is in good hands," Sordd said reassuringly, "it would be logical for you to take some sustenance before you go and visit."
"You promise that she is ok?" she asked him, still with a worried look on her face.
"Vulcans do not lie. I promise she is ok," he replied. "Let me run a quick scan to ensure that you are also on the road to recovery."
He took out his tri-corder and ran it over Mimi. By this time the drug had been flushed out of her system, "It would appear that you are slightly dehydrated. It is easily rectified." He topped up her glass of water.
Mimi shook her head, still confused with everything. She had never before woken up not knowing what she had done the night before and it frightened her. Mimi looked him straight in the eye, "Did I do anything regrettable last night?"
Sordd blushed slightly but quickly schooled it away, even after the evening's meditation Mimi's behaviour from the previous evening was still having an embarrassing effect on him, kissing in public is not something a Vulcan does. "No." He said quietly. "You did not do anything 'regrettable.'" he paused for a moment trying to decide what to say next, "However, your behaviour was out of character."
Mimi's eyes nearly popped out her head. "What kind of out of character?" she asked.
Sordd blushed again, "It is of no consequence, the behaviour was due to the drug in your system."
Mimi reached out and touched his hand, "What kind of out of character Sordd?" she asked. They both simultaneously looked to where their hands were touching, feeling a tingling sensation where they were making skin contact.
Mimi started to blush then drew back her hand. She had caught a glimpse of how she had behaved, "I'm sorry, that must have been very embarrassing for you... How is that possible? How did I see that?" she asked him.
Sordd looked at her, "You need to clarify. How did you see what?" he asked.
"It was like I was seeing me through your eyes." she replied, while still blushing, he must have been humiliated when she kept trying to kiss him in such a public venue.
Sordd raised an eyebrow. "Fascinating!" he replied. He looked intently at her again, analysing the data as quickly as he could. "It is possible that a base bond has formed between us which means that you are able to pick up my thoughts telepathically." This was indeed an interesting and encouraging development.
Mimi looked at him mesmerised, she knew that on occasion he had read her thoughts but this was the first time she had picked up his. There was something comforting about it, it made her feel less vulnerable. "How do I get better at it?"
"With practice the bond will become stronger," he replied matter-of-factly.
Mimi reached out her hand again to touch his. "Think of something..." she said while trying to concentrate... A broad smile appeared on Mimi's face. "Roses!" she exclaimed.
"It is logical for me to think about that which you find agreeable," he replied.
Mimi tilted her head and smiled at him. Shortly afterwards she put her hand to her head again.
"Are you ok?" Sordd asked. Although he already knew the answer he had learned in his dealings with Mimi that she needed to verbalise things.
"My head is sore again," she said.
"Your mind is not used to telepathic communication. It may be best that we continue verbally." removing his hand from hers.
Sordd handed her some fruit. "Please eat something Mimi."
"So what happened after the Italian?" Mimi asked in a more serious tone.
"You all went to 'The Bridge' the details of how the drinks were contaminated need to be clarified. T'Vol is currently questioning the waiter and the bartender," he replied. "Apparently you taught the waiter, his name is Lincoln."
Mimi shook her head, "It wouldn't have been Lincoln," she replied.
"That much has been determined. They are both cooperating with the investigation. A number of people were buying you 'rounds' in order to celebrate your up and coming marriage."
Mimi looked at Sordd while he was saying this, suddenly wondering if he would still want to marry her after this mess.
"Senek is reviewing security footage from the club." Sordd took a deep breath. "The evidence so far points towards Michael."
Mimi's face went chalk white. "Why would he want to hurt Amanda?" she whispered.
"Amanda was not his intended target. The drinks were intended for your consumption. If you had not shared them among the party the quantities would have overwhelmed your system." His cheek twitched as he said this.
"But Amanda was hurt!" Mimi started to panic inwardly. "What if she had taken all the contaminated drinks? I'm so sorry…" Every where she went she caused chaos and now Amanda was suffering because of her. Michael was maybe right after all. She was nothing but trouble, a waste of space, her mind began to be bombarded with negative thoughts...
Sordd, who since the first time they had melded was more aware of Mimi's emotions and thoughts even without physical contact could sense the turmoil. He had learned that one of the ways to counteract this kind of thing was with an embrace, which was not a natural thing for a Vulcan to do. He moved from his seat and knelt down beside Mimi and embraced her. "It is not your fault ashayam." he spoke in a soft gentle voice endeavouring to calm her emotions...
When Mimi had settled again Sordd spoke, "You must report your surfing accident to the authorities." while looking into her eyes.
"It can't be proved it wasn't an accident though. People are hurt all the time when surfing," she replied with a defeated tone in her voice.
"There is sufficient evidence Mimi. The messages on your PADD. The eyewitnesses at the beach. The developments of last night. There is enough to press charges."
"That's if he can be caught," she counteracted.
Sordd kissed her gently on the lips, "He will be caught ashayam. Sarek and I are quite determined about it."
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Notes
So basically, if you have skipped the previous chapters, Mimi's drinks were spiked, the evidence points to Michael. Amanda, who also drank some of the drinks was more seriously /
Of course both Sarek and Sordd are now on Michaels case.
Coming up soon
Sordd meets the future in-laws
The Wedding of Ms Margaret Scott and S'chn T'gai Sordd - Through Avarak's eyes.
p.s You are all invited!
