Five minutes passed before Nyota's heart slowed down from its frantic pumping after she, Allen, and Margaret discovered Spock missing. Nyota had torn through the house looking for him until Margaret suggested that she try calling him. As a communications officer, she felt stupid for not thinking of it first, and it was not like her to lose all coherent thought, even in an emergency.
"When are you coming back?" she had asked him.
His voice was even through the communicator speaker. "I will start back shortly. I am approximately 10.2 kilometers away. Assuming a pace of—"
She did not need to know exactly when. She was just relieved. "Spock, don't worry about calculating the time. Just get back safely, OK? We were worried sick!"
"I shall make it a priority," he said before closing the call.
The previous night had been difficult, and she was running on just a few hours' sleep and recovering from the emotional transference of a mind meld. After concentrating on being supportive to her grieving significant other over the last month, she had not realized how much of her own energy she had expended. The worry and stress, not just for him, but for starting a new job in a responsible position on the Federation's flagship soon after the traumatic encounter with Nero had finally caught up with her. She set down her own communicator, cradled her face into her palms, and rubbed her forehead with her fingers.
"Nyota, dear, what's wrong?" Margaret asked. She doubted that this capable woman would be so upset over Spock's brief disappearance for a workout. This was out of character.
Allen felt bad. "I'm sorry about the note," he said.
Nyota half-laughed. "It's not about the note. I'm just tired. I didn't sleep much last night. I'm sorry."
"What's got you going?" he asked. "There's nothing wrong between you two, is there?"
"No, no, no…nothing like that."
Margaret's intuition kicked in. "But you were really worried about him, and it was not for his physical safety, was it?" She was sympathetic, and her warm voice invited Nyota's confidence.
Nyota could not resist Margaret's comforting demeanor, which, as she had seen in Spock's thoughts, was so much like Amanda's. "It's a combination of things," she began. "You know all about the Battle of Vulcan and our battle with Nero. With half the fleet gone, it's been non-stop ever since. But I can handle that. I've always been good with time management, and I love my work."
Margaret reached over and squeezed her arm supportively.
"I've lost so many friends. My roommate, Gaila…" Nyota's voice caught at her Orion friend's name. "…most of my graduating class, my instructors…I saw the wreckage of their ships before Vulcan imploded. Lately, while we've been on break, I've been thinking about it—a lot. And then Spock, last night…"
Margaret and Allen listened attentively as Nyota continued.
"I heard noise from his room, and I had to check it out. He was having a nightmare of the last time he saw his mother. I never knew…" Tears sprung to her brown eyes—it was that mind meld emotional transference again. Margaret handed her a tissue. "He showed me the dream. I saw what he saw, and felt what he felt, when he saw her disappear into the planet, everything crumbling all around him. You don't want to know what it was like…"
Margaret's own eyes began to water, but she kept herself in check. "He shared it with you telepathically?"
Nyota nodded.
Allen swallowed. Spock had seen Amanda disappear before his eyes? Allen suddenly felt guilty for some of his own assumptions about his nephew's demeanor at Amanda's service. Spock's cold, distant disposition was probably more a defense mechanism than a facet of his Vulcan upbringing. He was amazed that Spock had been functional. Nyota, too. Plus all those officers, enlisted personnel, and cadets on all those starships. Nothing in Allen's life had ever approached the demands that Nyota and Spock had encountered during their short time in space. He was uncertain, in similar circumstances, how he would have measured up. He had a renewed respect for the people who served in Starfleet.
"I stayed with him until he fell asleep. So this morning, when he was gone, I was so worried, and it sent me over the edge…" Nyota shook her head. "I'm sorry. I'm not normally this flighty. Everything finally got to me."
Margaret got up from her chair, reached around Nyota, and hugged her hard. "You two have been through a lot, you poor kids."
"I think the two of you have more than earned the right to throw a few breakables against a wall somewhere," said Allen. "I may have a few ugly vases down in the basement, if you're interested."
Nyota laughed, sniffling between tears.
"I don't think I can picture our young man doing that," Margaret smirked, despite the tears she tried to keep out of her own eyes. "Too illogical."
"Don't make any assumptions," Nyota warned, appreciating Margaret and Allen's light humor. "He's been hanging around me too long."
"Seriously, is there anything we can do to help you?" Allen asked. He had grown to like the younger woman. His nephew was starting to grow on him as well.
Nyota looked tired. "I think I could use a soak in the tub and a nap later this afternoon." How long ago had it been since she had a good, long soak in a tub? Or a nap? She could not remember.
Margaret brightened. "Allen and I have a nice whirlpool tub in our master bathroom. I'll set you up there. Just let me know when you're ready."
"Really? Oh, that would be great!"
Margaret poured Nyota a cup of tea and set it before her. "And how can we help Spock?"
Nyota thought for a moment. "You're already doing it. You're honestly trying to get to know him, and you're letting him be himself."
"Of course. We're family."
"There are no guarantees, even for family. Except for Sarek, I think his Vulcan family barely tolerated him. He changes the topic whenever I've brought them up."
Margaret sighed. "You're right. Amanda used to talk about that. 'What is so logical about baseless xenophobia?' she would say. And then she'd say, 'My son can do no right as far as these people are concerned.' Did you know that she was secretly happy when Spock turned down the Vulcan Science Academy?"
"Hmm, so am I!" Nyota exclaimed. "Except it's no secret!"
The three laughed, then Margaret continued. "Oh, she was so mad when she finally got Sarek to tell her what they said. She said that if the Vulcan Science Academy was too stupid to appreciate his mind and his talents for what they were, they did not deserve him. She was proud when he chose to come to Earth, and she knew he would do well in Starfleet. She hoped that he would find her half of him here. Do you think he has?"
Nyota considered. "That's a work-in-progress, I think. This visit with you may be helping him more than any of us knows."
-o0o-
The front door flew open as Spock, breathing heavily from his run back, stumbled in. He paused in the foyer as he quickly deposited his cap and gloves on the small valet table there, tried to catch his breath, and scanned the various doorways and entryways to the other rooms. The study was empty. The living room was empty. At the far end of the hallway was Margaret and Allen's bedroom—no one should be in there this time of day. Perhaps the kitchen…
He did not have to look further. Nyota heard him enter and ran out to greet him, followed by Allen and Margaret. But before she could say anything, he grabbed both of her hands and pressed his forehead to hers. His thoughts flowed to her mind.
I apologize.
He knew that she had been distressed, and he knew that he was the cause. Many times throughout their relationship, he missed Nyota's cues that indicated that he had upset her, especially when he had done so inadvertently. Most times she was understanding, accepting these episodes as endemic in a human-Vulcan relationship, patiently explaining to him the source of her discontent. Sometimes her hurt was founded, sometimes it was another cultural misunderstanding that they resolved. And then they would move on.
But he endeavored to learn from each episode, analyze its elements—whether logical or not—and improve his ability to avoid future situations, or at least understand them better. Even now, as he caught his breath from his 10-kilometer sprint back, he observed the remnants of her previous worry. She looked tired, and she looked like she had been crying.
His urgency surprised her. "No-no-no…," she said aloud, her voice trailing to a whisper. You've done nothing wrong, she said in her thoughts.
His mind bumped back. Concern.
I'm OK.
Doubt.
I'll be OK. I'm happy you're safe. It's OK.
The scene before them intrigued Allen and Margaret. The two younger people stood in silent communion. Although neither moved, and their eyes were closed, clearly they were deep in conversation.
Margaret wondered how many conversations Amanda and Sarek had this way and what it was like. How many levels of thought, information, and emotion did they exchange? In describing her bond with Sarek, Amanda said that she could always feel him in the back of her mind, and he could feel her in the back of his. Margaret had seen a demonstration of that bond once when a squirrel in the yard surprised Amanda when it ran across her toes, and Sarek came from inside the house to see what had surprised her.
As Spock and Nyota continued their silent conversation, Allen amused himself as he reflected on his marriage into the Grayson family. Surprise after surprise—he was used to them by now. Howard and Jeanne Grayson had been accomplished professionals in their day, each well-respected in their fields with kilometer-long lists of achievements and interests. Margaret, though somewhat of a free spirit, had also been focused on her portraiture, winning her own acclaim throughout Federation art circles. The Grayson cousins, aunts, uncles, and other relations were just as lively, and conversations never went flat at a Grayson family gathering.
And then there was Amanda. Once his sister-in-law married Sarek of Vulcan, all bets were off. He had been thrown within the sphere of celebrity and high diplomacy, and he had to admit that he enjoyed being an observer with a front row seat and few formal obligations. "Boring" long ago ceased being an adjective he could use to describe his life.
He also had to admit how much he had come to care for and respect the people behind the fame. Amanda, of course, had the same warmth, depth, and intelligence that Margaret had, enough to win the heart of a Vulcan and nearly everyone else she met. No one could describe Sarek as being warm, but he was approachable and seemed eager to acquaint himself with Allen on multiple levels. Unfailingly he had been respectful to his in-laws, despite his own status and prominence. Spock was an overachiever, even by Grayson standards. He and Nyota were dedicated to their service and, Allen could see before him, to one another. The more Allen learned about them, the more loyalty he felt toward them. They were good kids.
Nyota smiled as she and Spock parted. "You had an interesting morning."
"What happened?" Margaret asked.
"Mr. 'Davey' Swenson sends his regards," Spock answered. "He asked me to relay that he will be calling you soon."
"You met Davey!? Where?"
"He was tending a garden dedicated to Mother."
Allen knew the garden. "You ran all the way down there and back? Geesh, Spock, you're fast."
"We haven't seen him in about a year," Margaret said. "I'm so glad that you met him. Did he tell you how he knew Amanda?"
"Yes."
"Did he also tell you about how he encouraged her to begin her relationship with your father?" Davey Swenson was modest. Margaret doubted that he would have told Spock about this.
Spock tilted his head. "No…."
"Davey knew about your mother and father before anyone else did. Amanda was back home for a prep school reunion, and she confided to Davey that she was interested in pursuing a relationship with a colleague, but there could be serious complications if she did so. Well, she had told Davey so much about Sarek already that he knew who she was talking about even though Amanda never told him outright.
"She and Sarek were considering a romantic relationship, but as she already valued Sarek's friendship, she was afraid of risking that. But Davey encouraged her to take a leap of faith, as she had encouraged Davey to do in his own life. Davey told me once that he knew Amanda was destined for great things, and he felt that Sarek was part of her destiny."
Margaret sighed. "Isn't it funny how Amanda helped Davey find his destiny, then Davey helped Amanda find hers? And, perhaps, because of that, you're here, Spock. And now you've met Davey. We're all connected somehow."
Allen smirked at his wife's romanticism. "Deep, Margaret, really deep…"
"That is deep, actually," Nyota said.
But Spock found it interesting. He had never considered the depth of his own connection to this part of Earth. He had something to think about as he walked up the stairs on his way to the shower.
