A/N: I'm so sorry it took me so long. Midterms are coming up. Besides that, I have a potential boyfriend right now so I'm working on that. I'm so excited that we're going on a date this weekend. And "Lower Decks" is one of his favorite episdoes too. He's awsome. He actaully owns a starfleet uniform. Major yummy! Anyway, presenting, the last chapter of my fic. Hope you like.
HEART BEAT by Lina Shay
Chapter Eight: Feelings
Taurik was shocked into awareness the moment the hypospray hit his bloodstream. Taurik's eyes shot open to see Dr. Crusher standing above him, smiling pleasantly.
"Good to have you back, ensign," Dr. Crusher said.
Taurik was a little confused. He had lost the Kunat Talifay. He was supposed to be dead.
"Doctor, I was poisoned," Taurik announced as if this would convince her that he was indeed dead.
"It was a nasty poison, too," Crusher began, taking some scans. "It first shuts down your nervous system, then your respiratory and pulmonary systems. Luckily, you still had brain activity when Lt. Lavelle ordered an emergency beam to sickbay. A few more moments and I might not have had the ability to keep your brain functioning long enough to remove the poison."
Taurik sat up and let it all sink in. He had lost the Kunat Talifay which meant he was no longer bound to Silara.
"Want to hear some more good news?" Doctor Crusher asked. "Your adrenal levels are back to normal. The affects of the poison seems to have cured the pon farr. You're pretty much back to your old self. Still, I would take it easy for a few days. Stay off active duty and no strenuous activity."
"Yes, doctor," Taurik said, sitting up.
As Taurik walked down the corridors of the Enterprise, he pondered the most logical use of these leisure days. Since his orders were to rest and recuperate, meditation was the most practical use of his time. Still, Taurik had been without nourishment for the past few days. Therefore, it seemed a prudent idea to visit ten-forward for some Vulcan root soup.
When Taurik entered Ten-forward, he ordered some Vulcan root soup, and then looked around. There were officers from his department, but no on he was all that inclined to sit with. Guinen set his soup on the counter for him. Taurik took the bowl and sat at an empty table near the large windows. Taurik scooped up a spoonful of the insipid soup, but lowered the spoon again when he caught sight of Sito entering ten-forward. She was back in uniform and looking more lovely than ever. It was illogical to fin her attractive. Attraction was merely a lack of mental discipline. A few people went up to her and shook her hand. She smiled at each of them, but Taurik could somehow tell that she was really uncomfortable with all the attention.
Sito must have felt Taurik watching hr, because she turned to him. Their eyes met in an intense gaze. Taurik broke eye contact. He wasn't sure why. He had this illogical discomfort at the sight of her and at the idea of talking to her. Sito either did not feel the same discomfort, or she could suppress emotion better than he could, because she start heading in his direction.
Taurik stood as she approached his table.
"Good day, ensign," Taurik said in his old Vulcan drone.
"Hey, Taurik," she said, slightly breathless. "Could we talk?"
"Of course," Taurik replied, motioning her to sit opposite him.
Sito sat, and then Taurik did. Sito's eyes dropped to the table top. For wanting to have a talk, she wasn't saying much. If her current emotions were anything like his, he could understand her hesitance. It had been an awkward few days in Bajoran standards, as well as Vulcan. Still, Taurik was a man of logic. Therefore, emotions would, no matter how uneasy would not rule his actions.
"Are you back on duty, ensign?" Taurik asked in an attempt to change the mood.
"Yes," Sito responded, still looking at the table. "The captain conducted a full debriefing and I am back to my old position. The captain wants to recommend me to receive the Medal of Honor. I told him it wasn't necessary, but he's the captain."
Sito smiled briefly, and continued, "What about you. You're looking better. Are you back on duty?"
"Unfortunately, no," Taurik muttered. "The doctor feels that I need rest for I return to duty."
"How do you feel?" Sito asked kindly.
"Feelings are illogical," Taurik told her. "Still, I understand what you are asking. I am in good health and mental condition."
"So, I guess we have the old Taurik back," Sito stated with a smile, but it quickly faded. "Taurik, there's something I've been curious about and I was wondering if it was... all right if I asked you about it."
Taurik shifted in his seat. This was it. She was going to ask about his recent illogical behavior. He would have to explain the pon farr to her and his motional attachment. He may be able to suppress what he felt for Sito, but he could not deny it if she specifically asked.
"I will try to answer any question you have," Taurik insisted.
"Do you have to fight at every Vulcan wedding?" Sito asked in curiosity.
"No," Taurik replied, slightly amused. "Silara, my intended, refused me. The mate she chose was the Vulcan who... killed me."
"How funny," Sito chuckled.
"I fail to see the humor in the situation," Taurik declared.
"I think it's funny that we've both been dead," Sito began, smiling, "in a manner of speaking."
When Sito smiled at him, Taurik felt his heart pounding and warmth around his face and neck. This was illogical since the doctor diagnosed him as being free of the blood fever. This feeling for Sito may be harder to control than Taurik speculated. It was then that Taurik realized that the feeling he had for Sito was not just pon farr. He thought it had been. But he was truly in love with her. This wasn't a first in Vulcan history. What was the logic in Sarek marrying a human? With all that had happened recently, though, how could Sito possibly consider being his mate?
"Ensign," Taurik began in a very serious manner. "I must apologize for my many illogical actions in the past few days. I believe you deserve an explanation for my behavior. As you will not ask, I will explain nonetheless."
"Taurik," Sito interrupted somberly "I know you were sick and you weren't yourself. You don't owe me anything."
"With all due respect, I must contradict you," Taurik said, then took a breath. "The nature of my condition was a chemical imbalance which caused a loss of emotional and mental control."
Sito looked surprised and a little confused. "Are you saying that you did those things because you didn't have the 'Vulcan discipline' to stop yourself?"
"You could put it like that," Taurik said in a low voice.
"The things you... said," Sito pause for a moment. "You actually meant them?"
Taurik sat stiffly and answered with a very staunch, "Yes."
Sito put her hand to her mouth and leaned forward on the table pensively, staring at the table top.
"Ensign Sito," Taurik addressed in a very formal manner.
She looked at him.
"I declare Kunat Sunic," Taurik went on. "I desire to be your mate."
Sito broke into a fit of giggles. Taurik raised an eyebrow at her.
"I again fail to see the humor in the situation," Taurik said.
"It's just the way you said it, Taurik," Sito laughed, her eyes shining with delight. "I guess I shouldn't expect a romantic proposal from you."
"Was that you accepting or declining?" Taurik queried.
"I accept!" Sito said loudly with a smile.
Before Taurik could react, Sito leaned across the table, threw her arms around his neck and kissed him (the bajoran way). She pulled away, still smiling.
"Very well," Taurik said, containing his pleasure at her response. "The ceremony will be on Vulcan-"
"Vulcan?" Sito repeated. "No way, Taurik. My only trip to Vulcan ever was to watch you die. That's not particularly the kind of relationship I want with the place where I'm getting married. Besides, Vulcan is hot and not very pretty."
"Whether or not Vulcan is pretty is irrelevant," Taurik insisted. "It's tradition for a Vulcan wedding to be on Vulcan."
"I hate to tell you, but I'm not Vulcan," Sito shot at him. "Why can't we have the ceremony in the gardens of Bajor? It would be so lovely."
Taurik watched her face brighten at the idea. He could not refuse her something that meant so much to her.
"A Bajoran ceremony will be acceptable," Taurik told her.
"You're wonderful!" Sito cried, kissing him yet again.
Taurik had a feeling that this was going to be a marriage full of arguments. Bajorans were very passionate, much different from Vulcans. Tradition would butt against tradition. Many compromises would have to be made, most of which on Taurik's side. Somehow, Taurik didn't mind this inevitable future. He had a strong desire to make Sito happy, something he would endeavor to do for the rest of her life.
The End
A/N: I have ideas for a sequel, but I'm not sure if it will actually take flight. I am just so busy. I'm actually doing pretty well on my novel. That will take up a lot of my time. If you don't want to wait for my sequel, but want to know what eventually happens, I have the storyline- spoiling the ending- on my website at http/linashay. Please forgive my gross misspellings on my site and I've been having some format issues as well. I haven't had time to correct them.