Title: During the Journey to Babel

"There will be payment for you slander Sarek." Ambassador Gav growled.

"Threats are illogical," Sarek responded to Ambassador Gav's threat. "And payment is usually expensive."

Gav glared at the Vulcan Ambassador before he exited the reception room. Captain Kirk looked at Sarek wanting an explanation but decided against pressing the issue. Kirk went to see how the other delegates were doing.

"Ambassador Sarek," Sarek turned around and saw Lord Christopher looking at him with a grim expression. "May I have a private word with you?"

Sarek nodded and they left the reception room to walk in the hallways.

"What is it you wish to speak with me about?" Sarek asked his friend.

"How's your heart?" Lord Christopher asked. The question caused Sarek to stop walking falling behind his friend.

"How do you know of that?"

Lord Christopher stopped walking when Sarek asked his question; sighing he turned around and faced the Vulcan.

"Sarek I'm a healer, not as good as my sister, but almost; I can sense illness in many life forms." Lord Christopher explained. "I've known for some time. I'm going to assume, by your reaction, that you have not told Amanda yet.

"Let's go where we can talk where the wall doesn't have so many ears." Lord Christopher suggested as a small crowd past them.

"Walls with ears?" Sarek asked confused.

"I think the observation deck will do." Lord Christopher said ignoring Sarek's ignorance at the Terran adage.

They arrived at the observation deck and fortunately there was an absence of other people. One wall of the room was nothing but windows that allowed one to look out in space and had chairs that lined the other walls. Lord Christopher walked over to the window and gazed contemplatively at the twinkling stars; Sarek set himself down in a chair that was near the window, giving in to his tiredness.

"Bensinsadrate is not going to help your condition very much." Lord Christopher said turning to Sarek.

Sarek nodded in acknowledgement and slowly walked to his friend. "Not completely, but it does lessen the symptoms."

"Why haven't you told Amanda?"

"There's nothing she can do." Sarek responded; that was a topic he did not wish to discuss.

"Or is it you don't want her to worry," Lord Christopher saw something flash in Sarek's eyes as he turned away. "It's a good intention Sarek, but she will want to know; she loves you very much. She is after all a Terran woman."

"I kn—" Sarek's response was cut off by pain that emulated from his heart. He clutched his heart as he fell to the ground; fortunately Sarek did not make contact with the floor because Lord Christopher caught him and sat him down in a chair.

"Easy Old Friend," Lord Christopher whispered. His face was covered with concern as he watched the Vulcan conceal his pain.

"I need to meditate," Sarek finally said hoarsely.

"You're in no condition to be walking about the ship. Meditate here; I'll keep watch so no one walks in on you." Lord Christopher offered. Sarek agreed and closed his eyes to meditate.

When Sarek was deep within his mind, Lord Christopher locked the observation deck's door. Lord Christopher walked over to his friend and placed his hands on Sarek's shoulders.

"Let's see if I can help you my friend," Lord Christopher whispered as he entered a trance of his own.

Among his people Lord Christopher was considered a very talented Healer as well as an Ambassador. Healing amongst his kind was done with the Healer's spirit; the Healer could either, depending on how well trained he was, could lend his own energy to aid the sick person's healing process or take on the illness itself and the Healer would heal it in his own body.

Because of the different physiology Lord Christopher could only lend some of his energy to help Sarek. It was not much, but it did aid in letting Sarek regain his composer. The Vulcan's heartbeat slowed and Lord Christopher redrew his energy from Sarek.

Lord Christopher could feel the dull pain from the spasm that Sarek experienced; feeling the pain of a wound one was healing was a common side effect amongst Healers. Lord Christopher sat on the floor near Sarek easing his own breathing. The effects of the healing was noticeable in Sarek; Lord Christopher had been among Vulcans long enough to notice the very subtle facial expressions they had.

"It's not enough," Lord Christopher whispered to himself. He knew that Sarek's condition would need medical attention from his own kind rather soon – sooner than he thought. When he first enlisted the help of Sarek he knew of the heart condition but calculated that it would not arise until the journey back to Vulcan; which would give an opportunity for Sarek and Spock to connect again as father and son. Ill health always seemed to draw a family close; Lord Christopher had seen it many times in many different races.

After an hour or so, Sarek was ending his meditation when Lord Christopher felt a disruption on the ship; it caused his heart to race and him to be a bit dazed. He immediately recognized the disruption – it was death. Not the death of natural caused like old age, it was murder.

Lord Christopher stood up too quickly giving him a head rush which he attempted to shake off.

"Sarek?"

"Yes," Sarek hid finished his meditation just as Lord Christopher stood. Lord Christopher concealed the shock of what he just felt.

"We should head back to your quarters before Amanda worries." Lord Christopher unlocked the observation deck's door with Sarek closed behind him.

As they walked back to Sarek's quarters neither one spoke to the other, Sarek because he had nothing to say and Lord Christopher because there was too much in his mind from him to get it out in words.

"Amanda would like to see you before you go." Sarek said when they reached his quarters.

"I better not come in right now," Lord Christopher said solemnly.

"Why?"

"Because the Captain, the Doctor and your Son are in there right now talking to your wife because they just found Ambassador Gav dead on deck 11 section A3 stuffed in a Jefferies Tube." Lord Christopher explained. "And suspicion has fallen on you."

"Illogical."

"Not really since the way he was killed – the killer used tal'shaya" Lord Christopher faced his friend. "There's someone aboard this ship that wants to cause a lot of problems for the Federation. Be careful my friend."

"Of course." Sarek opened his door and entered.

Lord Christopher turned to leave but something was nagging at him not to go. He slowly walked away but he had no intention of leaving just yet. He quickly became unseen and stayed near Sarek's quarters. After a few moments Lord Christopher was glad he did when a medical team came swarming into the Ambassador's quarters.

"It's worse than I thought." He said to himself as he watched the medical team carry Sarek out on a gurney followed by a worried wife, a concerned doctor, a grim captain and a very anxious son. The later of the group did not reveal his anxiety, he tried to keep his Vulcan composure and was surprisingly succeeding.

The Captain and the First Officer allowed the Doctor to do his work with the wife following, as they returned to the Bridge. Spock looked behind him and saw Lord Christopher; they both exchanged silent glances before Spock broke eye contact and followed his Captain.

Authoress' Note: Sorry it took so long to update but my muse suddenly dissappeared and left me hanging. Please enjoy and review; I need at least three reviews to know people are reading this. Thanks! :)