Chapter 5 "Feverish"

Sarek

My duties required me to extend my visit to Earth for another two months and only fueled my desire to see Amanda. I often dreamt of our warm and energy-charged embrace while I was on her home planet. Additionally, I missed having stimulating conversations with the enchanting female from Earth..

During this time, I discovered that I desired Amanda sexually, and curbing those feelings remained problematic although I did meditate more often. I would undergo Pon Farr in a year and a half. That was the only explanation that was logical; otherwise, why else would I be attracted to this lovely human woman, Amanda Grayson?

As I pondered the question, I thought about my short-lived marriage to T'Rea. Skon arranged for me to marry a Vulcan princess at age twenty-one, and she was an attractive female of a similar age. We only mated during pon farr mostly and as we felt the need. It ended when T'Rea wanted to begin the process of kolinahr.

Although T'Rea and I lacked sexual chemistry, we both grew to care or possibly even love the other. Nonetheless, I would never claim to know the feelings of love. I Knew that I cared for Amanda more than I had ever cared for T'Rea, which frightened me.

On the contrary, I felt electrified when Amanda was near me. Her intelligence, kind-heartedness, fantastic personality, and beauty stunned me. Amanda made me feel feverish.

I finally returned to the Embassy late one afternoon. When Amanda heard the news, she appeared in my office at my door, dressed in light blue. Her teeth were pearly white as she smiled at me, and her lips were a pretty shade of pink. The sweet smell of Amanda's perfume followed her as she entered my office, and I felt blissful about smelling it again. I stood behind my desk as she quickly crossed the room and stopped in front of me.

"Ambassador, welcome back. I am pleased to see you again. I hope your trip was productive," Amanda warmly announced, her hands clasped in front of her nervously. Perhaps she wanted to embrace me, but felt anxious. Truthfully, I would not mind another one.

"Thank you, Miss Grayson. It was," I replied, coughing a bit afterward. Though I felt invigorated when I saw her for a moment, I did not feel completely myself. My head ached, and both my nose and chest were congested. Consequently, I felt tired and worn out, so I sank into my chair.

I would not let that diminish my blissfulness in my reunion with Amanda, however.

"I found that I missed our conversations, Miss Grayson," I revealed with an eyebrow raise after we briefly gazed at each other wordlessly, and my heart skipped a beat. Amanda took a moment to scrutinize my appearance before she spoke,

"Me too, Ambassador. Are you well? You appear tired, and I know Vulcans do not need much sleep."

Coughing heartily, I excused myself and turned away from her. Next, I took a sip of water from the bottle on my desk.

"I may have caught an illness from your planet with its damp, cool climate," I slowly admitted, meeting her eyes. Amanda's face showed empathy at my admission, but she quickly advised with a sly grin on her pretty face,

"You need my Grandmother's chicken noodle soup and some rest."

"Peculiar. A query, Amanda, how does chicken noodle soup make one feel better?" I questioned, arching an eyebrow in confusion.

"It's a homemade recipe, and it is soothing. That and a bit of rest will do the trick," Amanda responded with a bright smile on her face.

"May I check your temperature, Sarek?" she inquired before coming around the desk towards me. The hairs on my arms stood up as Amanda strode closer to me despite my ill feeling.

Nodding, I expected Amanda to produce a thermometer, but instead, she put the back of her hand on my forehead. Next, her delicate skin felt almost cold to the area as her fingertips grazed my hair for a moment to move them out of my face.

"Ohh no! You are burning up, Sarek," Amanda exclaimed in horror, her face displaying concern. Her voice raised an octave as she spoke, and her concern gratified me.

"Vulcan bodies are different than human ones. My body's average temperature is higher than yours," I clarified.

"Yes, but this isn't normal. Your hair is wet with perspiration," Amanda fretfully countered, a frown forming on her face.

"Nevertheless you are correct," I wearily replied. She indicated that she would retrieve one of my assistants to find a doctor, and I cautiously rose from my chair when she was gone.

Upon her return, Amanda's brown eyes flashed angrily as she discovered me unpacking my bag instead of resting. Clearly she was displeased when she inquired,

"Sarek, please sit down while your assistant summons the physician. I will put your items away if you allow me?"

Amanda gave me a sharp expression that said it was a statement and not a question. As a result, I followed her instructions. I assisted her in putting the items in the back in the correct location. Then, I found myself closing my eyes for a moment, drained.

Indeed, Amanda was correct about her intuition. Dr. Nanyth, the on-hand physician at the Embassy, examined me when he arrived and took my temperature. The physician did a quick scan of my chest and upper body.

"Sir, you must go home and rest for four days. You have worked too hard on your journey to Earth and worn yourself out, plus the climate there has chilled you to the bone. It appears that you have some sort of flu," Dr. Nanyth stated.

"I have a speech to give..." I argued until I saw Amanda giving me a severe glare that declared that I should be quiet, not unlike a protective mother with a child.

"With all due respect, Ambassador, I will speak to Voruc to inform him that I am recommending four days of rest without work or your health will become worse," the doctor countered, "It is illogical to argue."

"Miss Grayson," a deep male voice called behind us as Amanda disquietly observed me.

Ben Walker materialized, knocking on the door as the doctor wrote a prescription for me, and inquired if he might come in. Immediately, I felt annoyed by him.

"Yes, Mr. Walker," I coldly responded.

"Amanda, we must leave if we are going to make our reservation," Ben impatiently warned as she uneasily glanced at him and then back at me.

"Miss Grayson, please feel free to go. Thank you for securing the doctor and assisting me with unpacking from my trip," I stated, ending the uneasy tension of the situation.

"I hope you feel well soon, Ambassador," Amanda remarked with a slight grin on her face as she reluctantly followed Ben. I wished she would have stayed.

Meanwhile, my assistant offered to drive me to my apartment and fill my prescription. Thanking him, I wondered where Ben Walker was taking Amanda tonight. There were rumors around the Embassy that he desired to marry her soon. I found that fact to be disheartening, and I found myself feeling jealous—an illogical emotion.

—

Since Vulcans had trouble staying still without working on some project or problem, I could only stay in bed for one half day before succumbing to boredom. Then I not only got out of bed, but I tried to work. I neglected to sleep or eat that day until the following one. T'Pau checked on me the third day with a doctor to find me in a worsened condition. She reprimanded me for not following the doctor's orders, and I was now forced to stay in bed for the next week. My aunt made arrangements for people to sit with me each day to ensure I was not overextending myself.

Cheerfully, Amanda, armed with a steaming silver cooking pot, showed up on the fourth day.

"I have heard you didn't follow the Doctor's order, Sarek," she gently scolded, "That wasn't a good idea. Let me put this homemade pot of soup on the stove first, and I will sit with you."

True to her word, Amanda sat in a chair next to my bed as I sat in my blue pajama pants and a white t-shirt. It felt intimate with her in my bedroom, and I found that I enjoyed it. A dangerous thought of Amanda and I engaged in other activities crossed my thoughts, but I swiftly removed it.

We discussed Opera, classical music, her teaching career at the Academy, our mutual interest in the love of learning, Surak, and multiple topics for eight hours. Amanda also read to me, and I found her presence soothing. My spirits were buoyed considerably.

"Regrettably, I must go, Sarek, as my replacement will be here soon. However, I want you to try my Grandmother's chicken noodle soup, don't worry, it is purely vegetarian," she informed, emphasizing the word vegetarian.

Although I was downhearted with Amanda's impending departure, I was immensely grateful for her company and told her so.

"You are welcome, Sarek. I do not like seeing you ill," she admitted with a sheepish smile then caringly instructed, "Here, you have to have at least six spoonfuls of the soup before I can leave."

Again, her attention and care gratified me.

Wanting to please Amanda, I did as she requested. The soup was consoling, and I was grateful for her making it for me. Afterward I thanked Amanda and added "it is quite flavorful."

Happily, she giggled then took my bowl to the kitchen to wash. I felt another sweat break out on my forehead.

"Please sit with me until your replacement arrives," I requested upon her return, and without a word, Amanda sat down next to me.

"You look worn out still, Sarek," she observed in an affectionate voice. Amanda felt my forehead with the back of her right hand, and declared that it felt torrid. She rose from her chair and left the room for a while. When Amanda returned, she pressed the damp washcloth on my forehead to decrease my temperature. The caring manner in which she took care of me made her even more endearing.

"Thank you, Amanda. Your efforts have not gone unnoticed or unappreciated," I stated after she put the washcloth down. Amanda beamed at me and I observed her in all of her beauty. She was a kind person and gorgeous on the inside and outside, I felt in awe of her.

Amanda's hands laid on her lap, and I gently moved my hand towards her. I was still weak so they were shaking until I touched my index and middle fingers on my right hand to hers. Gradually, I allowed my fingers to explore Amanda's silky skin. We made eye contact and she lifted her fingers closer to mine so I could caress them up and down. Intentionally, I moved slowly but with care and Amanda breathlessly exclaimed,

"Oh, Sarek."

Fortunately, T'Pau or someone informed her that it was a gesture of affection. Amanda did the same to my fingers, and I enjoyed the sensation as my cheeks heated to a light green color. Gradually, my eyelids felt so heavy until I could no longer keep them open.

"I thought Vulcans didn't smile, Ambassador Sarek," Amanda flirtatiously whispered as she rested her fingers on top of mine. I could feel the upturn of my lips on my face but felt powerless to stop it.

"Your observation is illogical, Miss Grayson," I murmured, then blissfully fell asleep.