This story takes place in the late movie era, between "The Final Frontier" and "The Undiscovered Country", and I imagine Doctor Christine Chapel as having rejoined the crew at that point.
Hope you have fun reading this! There's a reference to events in my story "This Side of Angeleyes", but don't worry, this works on its own if you want it to! You are more than welcome to check that other one out, though. But now, without further ado, let's boldly go...
Note at the beginning: Spock's rank is captain because this is set at least after "The Final Frontier", by which time Spock has had the rank of captain for years. But the captain of the Enterprise is still Jim Kirk! So don't worry, it's all in order!
The Bonds That Bind Us
Captain Spock returned to his quarters from a busy day in sickbay. That is to say, he had not spent his whole day in medbay, but after his standard shift, the conference concerning the diplomatic visit in two weeks, and the conversations with Jim about their upcoming shore leave with Drs Chapel and McCoy, the routine physical had seemed like an unnecessary burden.
He could not argue with medical orders, however, even though he had not missed an opportunity to assure McCoy that he was perfectly fine and they could wait with the examination until after shore leave.
As expected, this hadn't worked and Drs McCoy and Chapel had subjected him to the obligatory sequence of checkups and examinations.
While waiting for lab results, Dr McCoy had done the physical examination, including but not limited to having Spock run on a treadmill on the highest setting without the slightest sign of sweat for an outrageously long time.
"Well, I don't think I have to say anything to that," McCoy had said as he had shooed Spock off the instrument.
"I concur," Spock had answered smugly, although he had been breathing slightly heavier than before.
As expected, the lab results Dr Chapel had brought in a moment later had been within normal parameters as well.
"You could use additional vitamin supplements, but it's all within the normal range for now," she had said, "I'll make a note for your next checkup to have an extra look at them, though."
"Anything else I should keep in mind?"
"Take care of your back," McCoy had said, "it's those damned consoles, they make you hunch forward. So just keep an eye on that. Nutrition seems to be fine, but do me a favour and don't lose weight. You don't need to restrict your diet."
Having been thoroughly prodded by the two doctors, and being declared fit for duty, Spock had returned to his quarters.
When he sat down at his desk, his computer terminal notified him that he had a new subspace message. The sender: Vulcan High Command.
Spock opened the message with some feeling of surprise. He wasn't aware of any issue High Command could have with him, or he with them.
The initial message was characteristically short, notifying him that during the last routine update of their database, Spock's file had received an update as well. 'Update to your personal file,' he read. 'In the process of routine updates to our database we have added information concerning your person from the newest mission reports of your assigned vessel to your existing file, a copy of which is attached. We hereby verify and confirm the legal change to your file, and send the formal document acknowledging your bond.'
Spock furrowed his brow at the screen and read the message again. Bond? Official document? Then he accessed the next portion of the message, the mysterious 'formal document'.
The Vulcan writing began to materialise from the top of the screen as the sigil of High Priestess T'Lar appeared. The text was in Old Vulcan, emphasizing the official nature of the document.
Spock read, 'In accordance to the old and holy customs of Vulcan, we honour and follow the path of our ancestors, and recognise the linking of thy minds. We hereby acknowledge thee fully and legally bonded, forever touching and touched, forever together. As prescribed by our tradition and the bond that binds thee, thou, Spock and…'. He broke off, reading the name that came after his. He skipped to his file that was attached, finding the same name there.
Spock stared at the name for a second, a moment of uncharacteristically long bafflement for him. Then, he copied the entire message to a data PADD and swiftly left his cabin again. He needed to see his doctor.
On the way to his destination, he wondered how he could breach the subject. Of course, Jim would have an opinion, if he asked him, and his advice would be well-meant, maybe even helpful. But the fastest way was to confront the other person this message concerned and 'get it over with', so to speak. Spock stopped at the doctor's quarters and pressed the buzzer.
"Come in," he heard Christine Chapel answer.
She rose from her desk as he entered, evidently surprised at his visit at such an hour.
"Is there something I can help you with, Mr Spock?"
"This is a personal matter," he began, acknowledging that she had used the formal address because he was still wearing his uniform.
"Alright then. What is it, Spock?" she asked, cocking her head as her features displayed subtle signs of concern.
"There's been a development."
There was no doubt about her being concerned now.
"Do we need to go to sickbay?" she asked.
"We may in a minute," Spock said with a downward glance and pressed his lips together tightly.
He was attempting to use humour to ease the tension. Christine could see that there was something on his mind, something he wanted, or needed, to tell her and that he had no idea how.
"Well, what is it?" she prodded. "Is there an emergency?"
Spock sighed almost imperceptibly. "I don't know," he said and procured a data PADD, which he extended hesitantly, looking at her with a mixture of apprehension, wonder, and…shame?
"Some science experiment you need help with?" she asked and took the PADD from him as he remained silent, ignoring her attempt at humour.
She threw him a last glance of bemused exasperation as she sat on her bed and turned her attention to the text in front of her, whispering as she read, "'…forever together. As prescribed by our tradition and the bond that binds thee…'". She stopped and stared at Spock who had not moved one bit but was standing stiffly, with his hands behind his back. "You got married? Why, congratulations, Spock! I'm happy for you. Who's the lucky one?" she blurted out.
To say that she wasn't surprised would have been a blatant lie, but she was truly happy for him, even if there was a part of her that felt weirdly betrayed and honoured at the same time that he was sharing these kinds of news with her.
Spock looked at her with a strangely intense look, and what he said next was even more of a surprise.
"It's you."
"Excuse me?" She must have heard wrong. These were the remnants of her youthful fantasies speaking, not Spock.
But Spock sighed for the second time that evening and indicated the PADD. "Please read on," he said.
Christine scrolled down and continued reading. "'…As prescribed by our tradition and the bond that binds thee, thou, Spock and Christine, will lead thy life as bonded mates from here on out.'"
When she looked up at Spock, he nodded grimly, dispelling her feeble idea that this was an elaborate joke. If it was, Spock wasn't in on it.
"Why, of all the things that could have happened," she laughed as she found her voice again.
"Technically, nothing did happen."
"But the Vulcans just married us off."
"Not quite. They acknowledged our pre-existing bond."
"How? What did we do? I thought there were ceremonies for that."
"There usually are."
"Usually? Spock, I think I don't know too much about Vulcan bonds. Please, sit down and explain," she said and patted the bed next to her.
Spock obliged and gingerly sat on the edge of her bed. He had planned to give her all the answers she needed, but that was turning out to be difficult as he had nearly as little information as she.
He averted his eyes again and started to explain as well as he could, "Traditionally, Vulcans are telepathically linked during a betrothal ceremony when they are children. That bond then draws them together when…the time comes."
"The time?" Christine asked.
She evidently knew even less than the average Vulcan about this topic.
"Pon farr," Spock murmured, stubbornly addressing the floor. "The mating urge that grips us every seven years."
"Oh. Like you had with T'Pring?" she asked.
Evidently, she knew more about the topic than she had needed to.
"Yes. Had. After an official marriage ceremony, this bond then deepens and manifests itself."
"But we didn't have any of that, Spock."
"There are other possibilities," Spock continued, pushing down his embarrassment as he talked about topics not even Vulcans among themselves mentioned. "The bond can be formed without a Vulcan high priestess, for instance when two unmarried people mate."
"We also didn't do that. I'd know," Christine stated, smirking mischievously as Spock looked up at her.
It was clear to her that he was only informing her on the usual proceedings and, apart from that, had no idea how they had gotten themselves into this situation.
"We did share consciousness, for instance," he supplied as if answering her thoughts.
"A prolonged intense telepathic contact does sound like an explanation," she agreed tentatively. There must be something more to this than sharing a mind for a day, though.
"It's the best explanation I have at the moment," Spock admitted. "In any case, it must have played a role. The Vulcans referred to several of our official mission reports of the last months by stardate. According to them, they were all strongly indicative of a full bond." Then he met her questioning glance with an apologetic raise of his eyebrows. "I am sorry, I should have thought of that possibility."
"Why should you have? It's not like you automatically link yourself to any person you mind-meld with. There must be something more to this than that. Perhaps just us growing closer," she wondered. At this point, her hunch seemed at least as likely as Spock's hypothesis.
He nodded as he thought about her idea. "Possible. I have experienced a certain telepathic affinity for some people I am close to, a certain connection. For instance, the Vulcans called what Jim and I have a touching of minds that could not be rivalled even by the pon farr. But you and I creating a proper bond by ourselves is not something I expected to happen. I cannot explain how this came to be."
Spock looked at her still apologetically, but she could see his scientific curiosity flickering through.
As much as she was still wrapping her head around the unexpected news, she appreciated his unusual openness about such a vulnerable topic. As to the reason for their bond, Christine had a creeping feeling that she could explain it better than he, but she didn't dare overwhelm him now.
To be continued...
Vulcan bureaucracy...quite efficient, right? We'll see what they make of this situation, what they think - Or dare I say 'feel'? - about this development. Hope you liked it so far. Stick around! Feel free to review and/or send a message on how you liked it.