Disclaimer: Ruanek belongs to Josepha Sherman and Susan Shwartz from Vulcan's Heart.

Being undercover in Romulan territory and in a non-sanctioned, even if tolerated, crusade of his own, Spock hardly could risk contacting her. He only did in few occasions, and with many precautions. He had created his own communication system and the code he now used was only known by Saavik and himself.

The moment she saw the message sparkling in her screen, she forgot her boots, and placing always carefully her uniform jacket over the bed, she went swiftly for the computer. As she did, inwardly she checked for her bond. Spock's faint living presence was there. It was all the long void distance separating them could tell her. For the moment, it was reassuring enough. If something had gone wrong, at least he was still alive.

She sat in front of the computer. Her heart wanted to race, but her Vulcan discipline controlled it. She was not expecting Spock to talk to her then. Saavik checked the data: four attempted calls; she had not been there to answer any of them. That was odd. The time of the contacts was also a matter of concern: all of them have been made late at night on his Romulan location.

Saavik strained to reach Spock immediately, but Spock's precautions only allowed him to start the communications; she could only let a signal that she was finally back.

There was another call, she realized that moment, another private one but that has followed the usual Starfleet protocols. It was from their home in Vulcan, from the early morning. Curiosity, and certain apprehension, drove her. She ordered a line opened with her house at the double. Not surprisingly, Vulcan answered the moment the call was done.

Saavik studied the face in front of her the instant the computer showed it, before any greetings were shared. She could read Vulcans, but the man before her was even easier to read. He struggled to restrain his emotions, but still they were very much on the surface.

What she saw alleviated her tension. There was no pain, no sorrow in the trusted Romulan's features: Spock was safe. Or he was unaware, came the afterthought.

"Ruanek," she simply said.

"Live long and prosper, Saavik," the man solemnly answered in Vulcan.

The sentence was said with an accent that was clearly foreign, but for a non-Vulcan not paying closely attention, the man dressed in typical robes was as native as T'Pau. They could have noticed the hardened features of the warrior he had been in what now seemed another lifetime, but they would have never suspected that the man who was part of Vulcan's most honored House was actually a former Romulan officer in forced exile. For Ruanek was not a traitor, and he was still very much a Romulan, even if the circumstances have left him no other option than living on the other side of the Neutral Zone for the rest of his life. Besides, Vulcan was not such a bad new home; he had good friends there, Spock and Saavik, they were like a second family to him; and he had had the chance to study without restriction what have been denied to him in the Empire, and more importantly, he had found love.

Saavik returned the formal greeting, "Peace and long life," and immediately turned to ask for what she really cared, "You called me this morning. Do you have news from home? Are the children well?"

"They are," Ruanek did not smile, but his eyes gleamed with affection.

"And T'Selis?"

That was his wife, the one that almost made him forget the pains of being away from Romulus, the one that every day lighted his life. His eyes turned brighter at her mention, "She's fine," a very brief pause, "and so is Spock," he did not wait for her question; he knew very well that was what she really meant to ask first.

"He attempted to contact me, several times."

"I know, he contacted me after that. You don't have to worry."

"Vulcans don't worry, Ruanek," Saavik reminded him.

However, the Romulan man almost chuckled in answer, "So I heard, but you don't fool me, I know better than that."

Saavik frowned, but went on with her questioning, "What did he say?"

This time, Ruanek let a smile play in his lips, "So Vulcans don't worry…" he mocked her again.

However, Saavik was not in the mood of humoring him; tiredness was making her patience run short. "Ruanek..." she warned.

The smile drop, and Ruanek nodded to acknowledge her. He took a moment to compose himself. "Spock is well," he said, but his tone had turned somber, " but he reached me with a grave matter." He turned for a single moment to look at his controls, "Is this line secure?" Outside from Saavik's view, he checked his computer.

Saavik immediately did the same. "Safe," she confirmed.

He sighed loudly, "It's better if you speak with him," his hand caressed his hair an instant before being placed again on his foreleg. "I really don't know how to address this matter. It's too private."

The words only made Saavik drew herself tall, every muscle in tension. She hardly noticed how some of them ached asking for the rest she had looked for. Her eyes widened waiting for the explanation.

"Please, tell me, Ruanek."

But the man was still feeling very much uncomfortable; he shifted on his chair before shyly whispering, "It's about your childhood; I don't want to intrude."

Indeed, it was a matter Saavik did not appreciate talking with anyone; she herself bristled at the mention. But if Spock had considered acceptable to share with Ruanek, she did not doubt his judgment. It had to be very urgent and important. The Romulan's reticence only made her spur him, "What did he tell you, Ruanek?" She wondered then if her voice had sounded too harsh.

Ruanek looked up at her, a mixture of sorrow and fury lighting his dark eyes, "He told me about Thieurrul… He told me about one who wants it all happening again."

At hearing the words, Saavik froze, and next raw Romulan anger also appeared in her eyes. Ruanek, used only to see her Vulcan controlled side, was thrown back.

"It is not happening again," her now steely voice answered him, and he knew then there was no power in the whole universe capable of matching her determination, that there was no chance the otherwise impressive Koval could prevail over her.

Ruanek had been doubtful about their possibilities of stopping Koval when Spock had explained him his terrible plans, but now, in front of the enraged Saavik, he realized she would find a way, and if her long learnt control did not resurface soon, as he assumed it would, she would actually utterly destroy him.

It was time to explain, and meeting her intimidating glare, he went on.