A/N: A hurricane day. Hope the electricity doesn't go out.
Chapter Twelve
"I am concerned about Phlox, why was he even in the area of the blast?" Sighing deeply, I lowered my head to Jonathan's shoulder. "All I want is to go home, Jonathan, and to be with you. But, we don't even have a home to go to. I am so exhausted." I did not mean for so much emotion to come out of me, but I couldn't help myself.
"I'm really worried about you, T'Pol, we should just leave here and find somewhere safe where we can live in peace. I want our child to grow up with a mother and father, and, have a normal life."
"As do I, but, we must see this through, otherwise, Ral and his men will continue to rape and kill, ending many lives and many more dreams."
I inhaled Jonathan's scent deeply into my nostrils and nuzzled my head against his chest. "I desire you, Jonathan. Perhaps we should ask Malcolm to take us to our quarters, we can continue this talk again, tomorrow."
"We don't know if you can be intimate right now, T'Pol, it hasn't been long enough after your surgery."
"I believe it will do her more good than harm, Admiral." We both jerked around to see Dr. Sural standing in the doorway. "I just need a few minutes to examine her, then, I prescribe plenty of tender loving care. I believe that would be Phlox's prescription, too." I could not believe it, 'A Vulcan is using the words tender loving care.'
Regaining my composure, I straightened myself in my chair. "Dr. Sural, good evening. How is Phlox?" My anxiety was heavy as I waited, hoping he had good news, I suddenly realized I was holding my breath.
"He is sleeping comfortably, but he refused to take his pain medication until I agreed to check on you. He was quite adamant about that, made me give my word. He can be quite stubborn and very demanding. Did you know that Doctors do not make good patients, either, T'Pol?"
"He is a very caring, Doctor. How is he really? How serious are his wounds?" I had a dozen questions, but what I really wanted to know was if my friend was going to make a full recovery.
"He has some nasty burns, a punctured lung, his right hand is broken as well as several of his fingers. It took five hours of surgery, but I am confident that he will make a complete recovery."
I visibly relaxed. "Thank you, Doctor." I finally realized that Malcolm was standing directly behind him.
"Malcolm, I don't believe that I can answer any more questions tonight, I am extremely tired and Dr. Sural needs to examine me. Is the Medical Lab still intact?"
"Yes, but the Doctor has brought his bag with him, would you prefer to go to your quarters?" A grin spread across his face as he bowed to Jonathan, who was now turning red, Malcolm had overheard our entire conversation, too.
Clearing his throat, Jonathan looked at me and then at Dr. Sural. "Ah, Doctor, can you do that, or would you rather examine her in the Lab?"
"Your quarters will be fine, I'm not going to do an internal, I just want to take her vitals, do an external and listen to the baby's vital signs. A few minutes alone with her, anywhere, will be fine."
"Malcolm, lead the way, we want to go home." Jonathan slipped behind my wheelchair and indicated that we were ready. We proceeded down the hall first.
"Very good, Sir, can we meet in the morning for an hour or two to go over several ideas as how to proceed with the investigation?"
"Sure, just send someone for us, but call first, okay. Oh, and what about this mole? Shouldn't that be our first priority?"
"I agree, Sir, we will have all the camera tapes shortly. As soon as the explosion happened we went into a full lock down which means no one got out of here without going through our checkpoints.
"That includes everyone; staff, patients, MACO'S; everyone had to go through a retinal verification scan and thumb print scan. We've begun a personnel check, we picked up all guest lists; everything that needs to be done will be done before anyone is allowed to leave.
"We've begun a floor-by-floor search of this building, verifying patients and staff remaining. We will know everyone personally by the time we're done, Sir."
"What about the patient in the room next to T'Pol's?"
"He didn't make it, and what's really strange, he was in a coma, someone else placed the call from his room for his Doctor, who, just happened to be Phlox."
"Did they find two bodies?"
"No Sir, just one, another strange thing, the patient came in with T'Pol, he was one of the MACO'S injured at the same time T'Pol was."
"Here we are, Sir, your own private love nest for the next few days at least, maybe even the duration of this investigation." I could hear Jonathan clear his throat, giving Malcolm a warning look. "We'll wait out here while you three go inside, Sir. When Dr. Sural is ready to leave we'll escort him safely back to the Compound."
"Before we go in, Malcolm; there were two MACO'S who were brought in with me, not one. Phlox said they were seriously wounded but that they would both make a full recovery. There was a young Corporal that came in to find out how they were doing, he talked to me for a few minutes before going on into the waiting area, he said that one of them was a friend."
"Really. We'll go back further in the surveillance tapes, see if we find him. Could be something, I guess. Now go on inside and get started on tonight's plans. Oh, and Sir, if you want something more to eat, just call for room service. They've got chocolate syrup, whip cream, and cherries in the cafeteria, could make the evening more interesting." He was grinning again.
'Human males.' I shook my head, 'I don't think I will ever understand them, that makes no sense, chocolate syrup, whip cream, cherries. Perhaps he's referring to an Ice Cream Sundae. '
Jonathan took the key from Malcolm and unlocked the door. Finally finding the light, he turned it on and we went inside followed by Dr. Sural. He closed the door. "Excuse me a minute, Doctor, while I find the bedroom, I guess that would be the best place to examine, T'Pol."
"That will be fine, I would prefer that she lie down for the examination, I'll get a more realistic reading. I also need to go over a few things with her. Phlox said he never finished her prenatal instructions. Also, Admiral, are you going to administer her daily intravenous feedings?"
Startled, Jonathan looked at him and then at me. "I never thought about it, is that what Phlox wants me to do? I guess that it must not be too difficult, or you wouldn't even be asking you just call me, Jon?"
"If you like, but that's not your name."
'T'Pol, he's so Vulcan.' "Humans often use nicknames. T'Pol usually calls me Jonathan, if you would feel better calling me that, that's fine too."
"Yes, that will suffice, thank you. Now if we could get on with the examination, Jonathan. I believe you said you would locate the bedroom. I can finish and leave you two alone."
"Oh, yeah, sure, I'll be right back." Upon returning, Jonathan led us into the back part of the apartment where light was coming from one of the rooms. He helped me out of the wheelchair onto the bed. "Do you need any of her clothing removed, Doc?"
Frowning, he looked at me and then answered. "It would be preferable, at least loosen her robes, so I may do an external examination."
"Oh, sure." Clumsily, Jonathan began to pull at the top of my robe. I could see from his arched brows that Dr. Sural was amused.
"Jonathan, please allow me." Sural stepped in front of Jonathan and easily opened my robe. "Now lets see how your stitches are doing." Jonathan leaned over his shoulder watching.
"Hey, Doc, Um, you said it wouldn't hurt her to well you know, be intimate, but she shouldn't have any pressure put against that should she?" He was pointing to my breasts.
At first confusion covered Sural's face, but soon it was obvious that the meaning of Jonathan's question registered. "Oh no, not at all, Jonathan. Stimulation is good for this type of surgery, excellent as a matter of fact. It would be a good idea to be gentle, but no you have nothing to be concerned about."
I was growing extremely irritated; they were talking about me as if I weren't even in the room. I could feel my aggravation surfacing. "I would prefer to be included in this conversation, instead of being ignored."
Dr. Sural pulled up a chair and sat next to me. "I was warned that you might bombard me with your emotions. Ambassador V'Lar says that you have exceptional control for someone so young and unable to suppress her emotions." I doubted that.
I watched as he examined me, taking various readings, poking and prodding around my shoulder wound, delicately working his way around my sutures, looking for any signs of infection. "I'm going to leave your intravenous feedings, enough for three days, four times a day. Your stomach can't handle cravings, T'Pol; you must be very faithful with your feeding regimen because it will curtail eating frenzies as well as morning sickness." I was shocked.
"I have already had two eating incidents, Doctor. Should I be concerned?" I had already been thinking about that Ice Cream Sundae.
"No, but take your first feeding before going to sleep. Refrain from eating anything heavy tonight. Beginning tomorrow morning, eat light meals and be sure to space your feedings out so that they supplement your meals, again, I stress keep your meals light." I was disappointed.
"T'Pol, your emotions are near the surface. Do you know what to expect during your pregnancy, concerning your emotions?"
"No, not really. Phlox said that my emotions would be hard to control. But, no I don't honestly know."
"I'm not concerned with you becoming violent, you've been fighting with them long enough to know how to manage them. I don't want you to try to suppress your feelings. Work through them." I was reminded of what Jonathan had told me numerous times before, 'Work through them'. I realized Dr. Sural had stopped talking.
"I'm sorry Doctor, I was just thinking, Jonathan has given me the same advice numerous times when I have been fighting to suppress my temper."
"Yes, of course. Your child is part Human T'Pol; your relationship with her is going to be different than if she were all Vulcan. A Vulcan child is taught to suppress emotions, for them it is a healthy thing, for your child that isn't necessarily going to be the case. Her father is Human, he will be her foundation and her reinforcement, but you are going to bond with her. You are going to be bombarded day in and day out by her emotions as well as your own."
I nodded. "I know and I am afraid of what kind of mother I will be."
"You will do fine, T'Pol." He turned around to see if Jonathan was out of hearing range. Dropping his voice, "I understand that Human males are sexually prolific, Denobulans too; Phlox I understand, has three wives and many children. I find it very curious. Do you find it inconvenient and demanding on your time?"
My mouth gaped open. I honestly did not know how to respond; thankfully, Jonathan was approaching. "Perhaps this can wait for another time, Doctor."
"Yes, of course. Well, I will leave you two then, remember to rest, and take your intravenous feeding when you retire tonight. Jonathan, I can show both of you how to administer this if you will bring me that small package I brought with me."
'Finally alone.' I inhaled deeply and held Jonathan's hand to my lips, kissing his fingers.
"T'Pol, you look completely exhausted." He pulled free, knelt beside the bed and slowly began undressing me. I watched as he lowered his head and nibbled on my bare neck as he exposed it, I shivered uncontrollably. Thinking that I was cold, he looked around for the thermostat and found it near the door, he increased the temperature and then continued with his ministrations. "Raise up and I'll help you out of your robe."
"It would be easier for me to stand, Jonathan." I tried to set up; finally, with Jonathan's help I hung my legs over the edge and he continued undressing me. My skin tingled sending warm sensations up and down my spine as he kissed and caressed exposed parts of my body. I gasped trying to catch my breath. My vulnerability was as exposed as my skin.
It hadn't taken Jonathan long in the beginning to realize why I did not like being touched in public. My skin is so sensitive, that when he barely touches me it brings forth an erotic response.
Vulcans are touch telepaths; and as he touched me now, I could feel and experience his arousal and he mine.
Touching me had been the most difficult thing I had ever allowed him to do. Going back to the beginning, back to the Island after Salanacon, trusting him, being completely honest with him.
We had touched numerous times before, but I could always control the sensations by shielding against his emotions and his touch. But after the attack I was no longer able to hide my vulnerability from him, I realized I didn't want too. I couldn't hide my disgust either, my disgust at seeing the scars and marks that marred my body. I was completely splayed open for him to see.
Jonathan never once flinched, nor did he ever let his eyes fall away from my body in disgust. He shed tears, yes, but he never turned away. He succeeded in making me feel like a woman again.
I pulled his head down towards me, searching out his mouth with mine. The sensations flowing between us electrified every part of my body. I wanted him.
As my fingers caressed his mind I was reminded of something Phlox had said about my sexual appetite. My hormones were going to run rampant, he had said, and that I should enjoy the perks of my condition. My needs would become quite demanding on Jonathan, but that I should find them quite pleasurable. I smiled as I continued with the seduction of my husband.
TBC