Sorry for the wait guys I was aiming for thanks giving but it's -17 and a half hour walk to the computer lab. This chapter is based largely upon one of my favorite episodes 'journey to Babel.'

Shameless plug, I've written two other star trek fics, what happened on Eli vii (slash), and of innocence and experience (which has a bit of Spock and Nyota in it but concentrates on Spock/Kirk friendship.)

Donor

Wednesday.

" Commander Spock, there's a message for you." An electronic voice came over the speakers. Spock looked up from the book he was translating, he thought he had finally found an answer. He stood and made his way to the nearest computer terminal. Doctor Puri's recorded face came on to the screen.

"Commander Spock, please report to my office at your nearest convenience."

This did not bode well, Spock quickly put all the books he had piled on the table onto one of the return shelves and headed towards the academy hospital. He knocked on Doctor Puri's door, Puri opened it slowly his face was stern. He opened the door wider , Spock looked into see that his mother was sat in the office. She gave him a weak smile, he could tell that she was close to tears.

"Commander Spock come in."

Spock walked in, there was that thing Nyota called an atmosphere in the room and it was not a good one. Spock sat in the extra chair, Puri went to sit back around the desk. He placed his hands on the desk his fingers joined and pointed upwards almost as if preying.

"I'm sorry to say that Sarek's health is fading fast. His physician is due to arrive here within the hour but it maybe too late to do anything. You should prepare yourselves for the worst. "

Spock nodded his head to show his understanding. He watched as his mother put her face in her hands and the tears finally came.

" Have you given him Medeotoxicrin?"

Doctor Puri's brow crinkled slightly.

" I can assure you commander Spock.."

" I was not asking for your assurances Doctor, I was asking if you had given Sarek Medeotoxrin."

" The benefits of that drug are extremely short lived."

"I am not looking for a long term solution, I am looking to explore all possible avenues, to do that I must keep my father alive until Sar'del arrives as he may have an insight into the condition that you lack."

" Commander!" Doctor Puri was clearly insulted but Spock did not have time to work around the human ego.

" Answer the question Doctor."

" No Commander."

" Do you not think it prudent.."

" Alright! I'm on it." Doctor Puri stormed out of the room.

Spock bent next to his mother placing his hand on her shoulder.

" Doctor Puri is right that you should prepare your self so Sarek's death mother, to do so is logical. But it is also logical not to give up until all avenues have been explored."

She looked up at him with the slightest trace of hope.

" Do you really think doctor Sar'del will be able to do something?"

"Doctor Sar'del knows more of fathers condition and more of Vulcan physiology as a whole."

"That wasn't what I asked Spokh."

" Perhaps living with humans has caused some transference."

" Why do you say that Spokh?"

" Because I can say that I have hope Doctor Sar'del will find a Cure for my father."

The shuttle seemed to take longer to land than usual, Spock watched it with some trepidation. His fathers physician had performed a lot of rather invasive testing on Spock when he had been younger, he had said he wished to test his limitation and had often pointed out to Spock his differences from a 'normal' Vulcan, his many weaknesses. Spock had hated him as much as his Vulcan half would allow for. When Spock had turned eight he had told his father that he refused to see Doctor Sar'del for any other tests unless he became ill. He was no longer going to be an experiment, a freak of nature that medical papers could be written about.

The steps clanged as they hit the concrete of the shuttle bay. The man who descended was tall and slim even by Vulcan standards, his face was gaunt and his skin had taken on a kind of grey tinge, he was about a hundred and seventy years old and his face had begun to develop thin little lines around the eyes and mouth.

"Doctor Sar'del, thank you for coming."

"The hybrid." His eyes travelled up and down Spock's body unashamedly, Spock once again felt like a specimen. "You are taller than I thought you would grow to be. If I have time after examining your father I will collect more data. Comparing it to that collected when you were a child will be of interest to me and my collogues." Spock felt his shoulders tense, he gave a sharp little nod, he was not agreeing but his father did not have the time it would take for him to dispute it.

"If you will follow me I will take you to my Father."

Sar'del nodded.

Sar'del started walking side by side with Spock but then as they passed one of the signposts for the hospital Sar'del moved to be two paces in front of Spock, the meaning of the gesture was not lost on him. In formal situations Vulcan's walk two paces behind their superiors, even on Earth and in a place where Spock held more authority Sar'del was showing him that as a half-breed he was inferior.

Amanda met them at the door to the hospital. Spock watched as Sar'del gracefully raised his hand in gesture.

" I will regret the loss of Sarek, he is a good asset to the science academy. Live long and prosper wife of Sarek."

" Pearce and long life. Thank you for making the journey Sar'del. My husbands condition is beyond the abilities of the doctors here and we are all grateful for your help."

" I was commanded to come here, it is my duty."

Amanda nodded.

She patiently fell in behind Spock as they walked into the hospital, she quietly gave Sar'del directions to the ward where Sarek was.

Doctor Puri was bent over Sarek as they walked into the ward. As he straightened Spock saw his fathers face, draw and grey as if they were too late but he knew they weren't he could hear the slow bleeping of the monitor at each heartbeat. He counted steadily for a minute as they walked towards the bed, 34 beats barely enough to keep the brain from oxygen starvation.

" Ah, Doctor Sar'del I presume." Puri said wearily eyeing up his competition.

" You have been Sarek's physician?"

" Yes, would.."

" Bring me his charts."

Puri was clearly annoyed but he lifted the PADD of Sarek's bedside table and handed it to Sar'del.

He looked over the notes for 3.45 minutes. Then he looked up at Amanda.

" I will require a quite space to think."

" I have already made arrangements."

" Doctor Sar'del." Spock interrupted planning to tell Sar'del of a drug he had found during his research.

" I believe I said I was going to go think Spokh."

Spock bowed his head.

" Indeed."

Amanda shot her son a look as she walked with Sar'del out the ward. Spock sat on the chair next to his father, he did not like being unproductive at this time, it seemed that he felt more when he was unproductive and he did not like that. A little frustrated he got up and paced back and forth for a while and then went to pick up the PADD where he had stored his research. He was reading over it as Sar'del and his mother came back into the ward.

" The heart operation is unavoidable." Sar'del announced loudly as if to a whole room of people and not just to five, one of whom was comatosed. " I will order the blood, there maybe enough stored at the embassy but I cannot guarantee it will get here in time, it is impossible to give exact time frames in these situations."

" He's saying he doesn't know how much longer your husband will hang on for." Doctor Puri stated.

" I am aware of that Doctor Puri, I have lived with Vulcan's for thirty years." Amanda said in the calm voice that Spock recognized as being the one she used right before losing her temper.

" Doctor Sar'del." Spock said he approached him holding out the PADD, Sar'del took it and immediately started reading.

" What s it Spock?" His mother asked.

" It is a new drug that increases the bodies blood production between 230 and 412%."

" It has not been tested on Vulcan's." Sar'del noted.

" The test subjects anatomy is close to that of a Vulcan's, and I myself could manufacture the compound in less than ten minutes, we have all the required substances in the academies labs."

Sar'del nodded and carried on reading, after another two minutes he looked up.

" Your father is too weak to receive the drug, I estimate that in his current condition it would result in heart failure within 7.2603 minutes."

" You will give me the drug and then give my father a transfusion of my blood whilst you operate, the human factors can be filtered out during the transfusion process."

Sar'del Nodded.

" That has a 73.4% chance of succeeding I suggest we proceed in that manner."

" Now wait a minute Spock, that drug has never been tested on Vulcan's we have no idea how it could effect you. At the very least speeding up your blood production will put tremendous pressure on your heart and strain your kidneys and pancreas. "

" I am in good health doctor and willing to take the risk."

Doctor Puri turned to his mother.

" As Sarek's next of kin you have final say on his treatment. This cause of action would risk both their lives."

Spock stood looking at his mother, back straight and arms folded behind his back, as was his usual way. She hesitated; she bit her lip in a familiar manner he had not seen since childhood. It took her 1 minute 54 seconds to decide.

" I can't do it. I can't risk losing you as well Spokh."

" Then you condemn Sarek to death."

Spock started to walk away from the group. If the decision was made then there was nothing else to do but wait for the news of his father's death and all his hours of research and translating and his being on the point of arguing with Doctor Puri had been a waste. He had failed at the last hurdle. He would now go eat, mark some assignments and wait to be summoned again; it would not bee too long now, a matter of hours at most.

He heard the hurried footsteps behind him just as he reached the door to the ward. His mother ran in front of him and catching him of guard she slapped him hard across the face. The slap itself was of no consequence, it stung but nothing Spock couldn't block out. It was the fact that his mother, usually calm and caring and in control (by human standards) had raised her hand against him. He knew that a flicker of surprise crossed his face. He looked down at her small tense frame furious and upset and pushed further than her ability to endure.

" Don't say that, don't ever say that."

Spock nodded slowly, he did regret his words, knowing how much pain they'd caused. His mother raised her hand to his face where she had just hit him and stroked her fingers along his face; the tears were falling freely from her eyes.

" You are tired and emotionally compromised." He said softly. He reached out to hold her to him in a rare hug.

" I know thing's are bad when you hug me."

" Yes mother things are bad. Let me make the decision, let me take the responsibility off of you."

"Spokh." She shook her head as if confused. " I hope I do not live to regret this." She said in agreement.

"As do I."

Aware that there was a small chance that this would be the last time he saw his Mother he placed a kiss to her forehead hoping she understood what it meant and then turned to face the two doctors.

" Prepare my father for surgery."

Spock pulled the strange blue garment over his head; it fell like a shift down to three inches above his knees. It was a little tight around his chest but due to the wide neck loose around his shoulders. He quickly ran through the checklist in his head, he had left a message with his department head detailing the current position he was at in his curriculum and details on where he stored his lecture notes. He asked that somebody take his lectures for the next week or till further Notice. He had sent a group message to his advanced combat and exercise students asking that they spend the time when their lessons were usually scheduled to work independently on the usual exercises covered. He had sent a message to Chris explaining why he would be missing their usual drink that evening. He had spent half an hour in meditation sectioning off and blocking the link between him and Nyota so that she would not experience any ill side effects of his operation, he recalled that when she had pinched his ear she had experienced pain and he did not want her to feel even a fraction of the pain the operation was going to cause him, especially as he would be under anesthesia and she would not. Finally, in the small chance of his death he had amended his will leaving all his books and a few other sentimental items to Nyota Uhura and programmed his computer to send her a message in a week if his death was recorded. He had allowed himself to pour feeling into the words he spoke into the small little screen, confident in the unlikeness that it would ever be sent and the fact that it was he would be dead. He spoke five simple sentences, that the message had been recorded in the case of his death, that he loved her, that she had made him happy and that he hoped that given time she would find another suitable partner. Live long and prosper.

Content that everything had been taken care of he laid back on the trolley bed. Doctor Puri moved in hyposprey in hand.

" Are you ready Mr. Spock?"

" Yes Doctor."

He thought of Nyota, he thought of her bright eyes, her wide smile, and her silken hair her long legs. He felt the coldness of metal against his skin heard the hiss of the hyposprey. He thought of her fingers running through his hair and her lips pressed against his and then he faded into oblivion.

" Steady now commander."

Spock had sat up and had felt a moment of dizziness not unlike that he had experienced when he had touched Nyota when drunk. He felt hands push him back down onto the softness he was lying on. He was aware of a period of unawareness but he didn't know how long, his body burned and ached and his head felt heavy as though filled with a sloshing fluid. His blurred vision began to focus and he saw a man before him, above him, the face was a familiar one but it took him a long moment to search through his memories to come up with the name that matched that face. Doctor McCoy, and all the bleeping and the coy medicinal scents meant he was in the hospital. Then slowly he came into the realization of why he was in hospital and all the various occurrences of the last few days. Nyota bare breasted and rubbing against him, his mother walking in on them, telling him that his father was ill. The strange sight of his father in the hospital bed and his delusional mutterings, hours spent in the library, the arrival of the strict Vulcan physician and Spock's presenting of the various materials he had found and offering himself up for the experimental procedure to save his fathers life.

" The operation?" Spock asked looking at McCoy who was staring at the monitor above the biobed and doing various things with a tricorder. Spock thought he could be more exact but words seemed to cost a great deal of energy and he was sure the doctor would understand his meaning.

" It was a success. " McCoy paused, he was looking at him as though he had never seen a Vulcan before, it was a look Spock knew but McCoy had met him on several occasions, he wondered if there was something about his appearance that was causing the strange expression. When McCoy spoke again there was softness to his voice that Spock had never heard there before and his Kansas accent seemed a lot stronger than before.

" Doctors aren't meant to say this due to fucked up liability claims and such forth but your fathers going to be fine."

" You are not his physician. "

" No, I over heard Puri and that other hobgoblin, the one with the six foot pole stuck up his arse talking. There were a lot of percentages mentioned but the bottom line is it's not likely he'll die. And it's all thanks to you, that was a brave thing you did, offering yourself up like that when you didn't know how the drugs would affect your anatomy. And I have to admit it was a brilliant idea I've read through the notes you made on how to alter the doses of the drugs and how to filter the human parts of your blood out whilst maintaining a steady transfusion and I have to say it's better than most Doctors could come up with."

Spock noted the hint of respect in McCoy voice but one statement had confused him.

"It was the only logical course of action. How did Doctor Sar'del get a six-foot pole stuck in that particular part of his anatomy? Vulcan's are not known for sexual deviancy."

McCoy started laughing so hard Spock noticed water in his eyes, the reaction irked him somewhat.

" That would be a metaphorical pole Commander."

" I see." Spock paused to think, thinking seemed to be a very time consuming and difficult to do at that particular time.

" And my current physical condition?"

" Your blood production rate is still off, which we're going to have to keep an eye on, expect somebody to draw more blood from you in a few hours."

Spock nodded.

" Your Kidneys have taken a Beating but it doesn't seem permanent, you're staying on the drip for two days and no food or drink till tomorrow evening. Your temperature and heartbeat are up but that's to do with the blood production. And, well, you're green."

Spock raised his hand to look at; his whole arm ached at the movement. His usually pale skin had taken on a light jade color with his vein showing up in darker green. He had remembered the same coloring from when he had had a severe fever as a child, and a similar but not so transparent coloring when he had gone through the blood fever during Pon Farr.

Spock rested his head back on the pillow and closed his eyes, he felt weary and tired from the conversation, drained of energy. He did not remember ever experiencing such a deep weariness.

" I'll call your mother in, she asked to see you when you awoke. She's been checking in on you ever since you were brought out of the operating room."

Spock gave a short nod but did not open his eyes until he had heard McCoy's retreating footsteps, the swish of a door and what may have been three minutes later the softer more hurried footsteps of his mother.

He opened them just in time to see his mother come round the curtain patrician. Her face showed something of the stress and worry she had experienced in the last few hours. She looked tired, too old, too serious an there were light red capillaries showing in her eyes indicating she had cried recently or been triggering not to cry for a long time. She stopped her Hand resting on the curtain as if she were afraid to come closer.

" Spokh. Son. Thank you." Her voice was emotional and broken.

" I only performed the most logical course of action. Logic never requires thanks."

She walked up to him then and sat in the chair by the bed. She laid her hand on top of his and too tired to block it he felt her emotional weariness and relief filter through to him.

" How do you feel?" She asked.

" Doctor McCoy tells me my kidneys have been 'battered' by which I believe he means they have had to."

" Spokh."

" I feel hot and tired." He admitted.

She nodded.

" Doctor Puri assures me you'll be back on your feet in a matter of days and your father is going to make a full recovery, he may even choose to return to work though I hope he takes a year off, he needs to rest."

Spock gave another slight nod.

" Spock! Are you dressed?" Captain Pikes voice came shouted from somewhere behind the small curtained space.

" Hello Captain Pike." Amanda replied.

Chris's hand then face appeared from behind the curtain.

" Thought I'd check in and see how the patient is doing." Chris's eyes moved around the space taking in Amanda, they widened slightly when they rested on Spock's face.

" Ha, I used to have an apartment painted that color. No Uhura?"

" Obviously." Spock answered dryly, part of him wanted her there, part of him just wanted to sleep.

" She left already?" Pike asked, rather obviously trying to hide the fact he was reading the screen above Spock to see how he was doing.

" She has not visited." Two curious pairs of eyes snapped to him and Spock sighed to tired to refrain from it.

" Though my relationship is not of either of yours concerns I realize that you will not leave me to rest unless I tell you that she has not visited because she does not know I am in the hospital."

" Spokh!" His mother said her tone scolding.

" I did not wish to cause her unnecessary worry."

" Spokh really.."

" Mother, I am to tired for this conversation."

She studied him for a moment and then sighed.

" Alright, but don't think you're getting off that easily."

She stood up, embarrassed him by placing a small kiss on his brow line and whispered to him.

" I am incredibly proud of you son."

She turned to leave; Chris raised his hand in a short goodbye.

" I am sorry that I am not fit for company."

" It's alright I was just checking you were still alive, wouldn't want to have to find a new first officer for the enterprise now that she's only a year from completion." He turned to leave and then as if he had forgotten something turned back round.

" Don't worry about your mother I'll keep an eye on her while you're in here, I'm taking her to dinner later."
" Thank you Chris."

Then Chris left and he was finally alone. He sunk back into the wielding pillows and fell straight asleep.

Thanks giving.

Spock woke suddenly, his drowsy drug addled mind took a moment, (he couldn't work out how long in seconds so the term moment would have to suffice) to work out what had woken him, he certainly did not feel as if he had had enough sleep though a part of him knew he had been asleep a lot longer than his usual four hours as his body shut down his conscious abilities to focus energy on mending his tired pancreas and kidneys.

" Miss Uhura." He heard Doctor Puri's voice say.

Yes, she was near; he felt it now, that slight brightening of the link in his mind.

" Finally come for your hypos I see."

" No."

" You're No longer covered by last years contraception or flu jabs, really a phobia of hypospreys is ridiculous."

" Where is commander Spock?" Nyota's voice had an edge of authority he had never heard her use before.

" Family only.."

" Where Is Commander Spock?"

Her voice was now more angry than commanding, Spock wondered what had lead to her anger an insubordination."

" Cadet.." Doctor Puri began.

Spock cut him off by leaning off the Bed and grabbing the curtains, a move that tired him a lot more than it should have done. He pulled them open a foot.

" Doctor Puri, let miss Uhura stay."

It surprised him to hear his Voice sounding slightly hoarse. The doctor and Nyota turned to him. Nyota's eyes were hard and angry but something softened in them a little as they came to rest on him.

" But.." Doctor Puri began to argue, then like a man who knows there's no point in fighting a battle you're going to lose sighed and walked back towards his office muttering as he went. " Does nobody in this place listen to their doctors."

Nyota didn't Meet his eyes a she walked over, pulled the Curtains closed again so they'd have some privacy and then sat in the chair next to his bed. Spock rearranged himself so he was sitting in a shyly more dignified fashion. He tried to look at Nyota who was sat with her head hung low but her hair, void of its usual band fell in sheets hiding her face.

" Hypospreys?" He asked after another long moment waiting for her to speak or look at him. He was finding it difficult to assess her mood and he realized that in partly blocking his link to her so she would not experience any of his discomfort he had also blocked her emotions coming through to him.

" Williams." She answered quietly. Spock watched as her hand went up to wipe at her hidden eyes and came away wet. He felt a sudden pain in the vicinity of his heart that had nothing to do with the medications the drip was slowly pumping into his system.

" Why are you crying?" He asked, the thought distressing him more than it usually would as the drugs were making him less able to control his emotions.

She looked up at him, tears were running down her cheeks but her eyes didn't hold any of the softness he had spotted there minutes before. Her mouth was set into a stubborn frown. When she spoke her voice was shrill and angry but quiet as if she did not wish to be over heard.

" Why didn't you tell me?"

Spock considered the question for a moment then decided it was most likely she was referring to the operation.

" You mean that I was acting as a blood donor for my father?"

" Of course that's what I mean, what else haven't you told me?"

" Nothing of any value."

" Spock!"

"Yes? "

He was beginning to feel very tired again. He wished she would just lie next to him and sleep with him but he knew that wasn't possible, he would settle for her holding his hand or kissing his cheek, anything but being angry at him, he really didn't like her being angry with him even if it was rather beautiful how her bottom lip pouted out a little.

She sighed and looked down, it seemed her anger was starting to run out, but when she looked up again and she looked sad rather than angry he changed his mind and wanted the anger to come back.

" Why didn't you tell me Spock? I know things happened rather quickly and I know you had a lot on your mind but did you not think of me for a second, just to send me a message."'

" I thought of you, do not doubt that you occupied my thoughts."

" Then why didn't you tell me?" Her voice was now soft.

" I did not want you to worry."

" You could have died and you didn't want me to worry."

" The chances of me dying Nyota were only thirteen point one percent."

" If you weren't in hospital I'd slap you."

Spock shifted uncomfortably.

" Does the situation really warrant violence?"

She gave a little laugh through her tears.

" Yes Spock it does."

She took his hand and Spock felt a flood of warmth.

" New relationship rule, if there is ever more than a one percent chance of something killing you then you tell me about it."

" How would you like the calculations presented?"

" Spock!"

Her tone was warning.

" As you wish."

She smiled and wiped her eyes before bending over and kissing him lightly above his left eyebrow and he felt more than a little relieved.

" Just out of curiosity, how did you find out?"

" Captain Pike."

" I shall be having words with him when I have recovered enough to leave the hospital."

She wiped her eyes again.

" When will that be? Captain Pike told me you were going to make a full recovery but.."

"Doctor Puri expects I will be out of the hospital in another two days and well enough to return to my teaching duties a week after that."

Nyota Nodded.

" And your father?"

" The operation was a success but he is likely to be in hospital for another two weeks, I believe Puri's estimates are incorrect though, my father is a full Vulcan and his recovery time should be relatively fast."

Nyota nodded slightly. Spock felt his eyes close of there own accord for a moment, he fought to open them again.

" Are you still angry at me?"

Nyota nodded slowly.

" A little."

" I do not like you being angry at me."

" You deserve it. " She sighed. " But I'll forgive you." Her hand Brushed lightly through his hair. " I can't stay angry at you when you're this ill."

" I am sorry Nyota." He said, and he was, seeing her reaction had shown him how misjudged keeping it from Nyota had been.

" Okay." She gave a weak smile. " Now I do forgive you." She bent over and kissed him on the forehead again, when she leaned back her fingers continued to stroke his hair, Spock found it somehow comforting.

" You look tired."

" My body is trying to go into a healing trance to speed up my recovery."

She nodded.

" Do you want me to leave?"

" No, but I must rest now."

" Okay, I'll stay and watch over you as you sleep."

Spock thought of saying that it was unnecessary but he felt that even in his sleep Nyota's presence would be a comfort to him.

" Thank you Nyota."

Spock looked at her beloved face for a few moments before closing his eyes, feeling more at peace than he had since he had learnt of his father's illness. Just on the edges of his consciousness before he fell asleep he thought he heard softly whispered Vulcan.

"I love you Spock, I love you so much."

Friday

Spock leaned on his friends arm as he sat back down on the bed. Chris had come to help him 'clean up' for his 'surprise Birthday." His mother and Nyota were planning to visit him in hospital in half an hour, Chris in his infinite wisdom had brought Spock proper clothes so that he could avoid the apparently necessary quarter of a century birthday pictures being of him in the way to short blue hospital gown. Spock had felt a warmth towards his friend at the gesture that was reminiscent of his feelings when he had first meet Nyota, he decided it was caused from coming down off the multiple drugs he had been on over the last few days and put the confusing emotion to the back of his mind.

Chris left twenty-two minutes before Nyota and His mother were due to arrive. Apparently he had to 'maintain the surprise for the ladies', he had told Spock to look surprised when they arrived, Spock had raised his eyebrow and Chris said 'that'll do'.

Spock tried to clear his head whilst he waited, he still felt slightly groggy but he found his sleeping patterns were starting to return to normal and he was more able to control his emotions than he had been since the operation.

Twenty-two minutes later he heard footsteps, there was the whiff of raspberries and perfume and the little light in the back of his mind tingled.

His mother whipped the curtain open rather enthusiastically, Nyota and Christopher hung behind, and Nyota was holding three balloons red, blue and yellow, his mother was holding a large shopping bag.

" Oh good you're awake." His mother said.

" Surprise." Nyota said with a sheepish smile, he could tell that she was uncertain whether he would appreciate them celebrating his birthday.

" Brightly colored rubber matrixes filled with helium? As I was not expecting them I guess it is a surprise."

Nyota gave a small smile she walked over to the side of the bed, bent and brushed her lips in a light kiss against his jaw line.

" You're cute when you're drugged."

Chris's eyebrows shot up . Spock's mother busily straightened her skirt and sat on the chair placed next to the biobed.

" Am I right in assuming that this is in celebration of the anniversary of my birth?"

Chris gave a little nod of approval.

" Of course Spock." Amanda said gently.

" We have not celebrated the anniversary of my birth in fifteen years."

" Yes, well, when you were eleven you said that it was frivolous. But quarter of a century of life is worth a drink and a couple of balloons."

" If you wish mother."

Amanda reached down into the bag, she began to being out three packages of different sizes all wrapped in different decorative paper. She handed one to Nyota, and one to Chris, then she brought out four cups and a bottle. Spock looked at it curiously.

" Neewa fruit juice?"

" Your favorite."

His mother answered, Neewa was a type of fruit that was grown in orchards on Vulcan. The juice made from it had been a sort of favorite of Spock's when he was a child it was a little bitter and citrus and tangy. His mother poured the purple juice into four cups, she handed the first one to Spock and he took a sip of the familiar liquid triggering memories of reading in his mother's garden.

He watched Chris hold his hand up to refuse the second cup, Nyota took it, and she sipped it cautiously and winkled her nose.

" Now, don't complain." His mother said handing him a large cylinder shaped package in plain green paper. She handed it to Spock, it felt plush under the cracker ling paper. He looked at it for a moment, he felt slightly uncomfortable.

" Open it Spock."

" Yes mother."

Spock found the tape holding the paper together and carefully removing it, revealing red fabric underneath. He pulled off the paper and carefully folded it and placed it at the end of the bed before looking down at the red cylinder, it was a rolled up meditation mat a meter squared in diameter and an inch and a half thick, it was secured with black straps. He looked up at his mother.

" I know you still have the one you came to earth with."

" It is quite worn." Spock admitted pleased that the gift was something he would have attained for himself within a year or so.

" Thank you mother."

Nyota shifted uncomfortably, she did not look at him as she stretched her hand out holding a thin rectangular package in silver paper. Spock brushed his fingers quickly against hers to reassure her as he took it from her. He methodically removed the paper, itching to rip it when he recognized the item enclosed as a very old looking book. Finally divulged of it's wrapping Spock turned the little brown book over In his hands taking in the eighty or so fragile yellowing pages and ruined spine. He looked over it's cover and read the faded black Vulcan script ''Expression of bonding" rare Vulcan love poetry. Spock set his face to it's usual stoic expression, the gift was perfect, something he would enjoy reading, something that would make him think of Nyota when she was not close to him and he knew that it must have been difficult to find and Nyota had looked hard for it making it all the more precious, which was strange in it's own right, most thing Spock owned were useful in someway but held no personal connection to him, but this book he would treasure.

" Thank you Nyota." He said carefully laying it at the side of him. Nyota's eyes meet his for a second, uncertainty expressed in them.

I shall enjoy reading it, I shall treasure it.

She gave her wide beautiful smile.

" They're at it again." Chris commented. Spock looked at him his eyebrow raised he wondered if it was clear to everybody when he and Nyota were conversing telepathically. Out of the corner of his eye he noticed his Mother give a small fond smile.

" Go easy on them Chris, it's strange yet wonderful when you're first able to hold secret conversations with your bond," she hesitated knowing that he and Nyota were not bondmates, not quite, the link between them did not fit into the normal parameters of the Vulcan stages of bonding but it was not yet a full bonding. "With the person you're linked too."

" I'm just worried that if it's obvious to me then it'll be obvious to everybody."

" You know Spock better than most, too most people it'll just look like he's daydreaming."

Chris gave his deep throaty chortle.

" I doubt anybody would believe that Vulcan's daydream."

" But they do, admittedly it's usually about large complex equations but they do daydream."

" Mother." Spock said trying to move the conversation away from Vulcan minds, it was a rather private topic that most Vulcan's did not like revealing to the universe at large. Spock had to wonder over the freeness of his mother's conversation with Christopher Pike. As an ambassadors wife she had learnt to stay clear of the topics that Vulcan's found vulgar, especially vulgar to reveal to other species. He wondered just how much time they had spent together over the last few days and whether his mother worried for her husband and starved of Human company had form some kind of friendship with Chris, they were the same age and they had both travelled around numerous federation planets. He could not begrudge his mother any comfort at this time but he had to wonder if they had talked about him. The idea made him uncomfortable.

" Yes Spock?"

"Is there anything else I must do to fulfill the requirements of this tradition?"

" Yes Spock, Captain Pike still hasn't given you his gift and I thought we could go visit your father as he's having periods of consciousness."

" I do not see how my visit will increase his recovery."

" You're going Spock."

" But.."

" You're going Spock."

" Yes mother."

Chris turned away but not before Spock saw the wide smile on his face. Nyota covered her mouth with her hand but her eyes danced with mirth.

Chris handed him an unwrapped plain black box and PADD that he turned on to find that the assignments he had meant to mark on Wednesday had been uploaded onto it.

" I know you hate to be unproductive for some very logical reason I never understood."

Spock thanked him and opened the lid of the box to find it was filled with twenty different shaped chocolates, all of different shades of drown, a few white, some topped with nuts others colored swirls or crystallized fruit. Spock felt the tips of his ears begin to warm. His mother averted her eyes, it was a well-known Vulcan secret that not only did the sucrose and other elements of chocolate cause a lack of inhibitions similar to drunkenness but was also a powerful aphrodisiac.

" Use them wisely." Chris said.

" Mother, Nyota would you care for a chocolate?"

" Oh Yes!" His mother said excitedly, chocolate was a rarity on Vulcan and like most human women she found it more enjoyable than most other foods.

" I would say that was a wise use of them." Chris said. Amanda took the box off of him and took a chocolate when he handed it to Nyota he watched her looking over them, picked up a dark looking circle then lifted it to her lips to bite it in half. His eyes met hers and she blushed seeming to know of his close examination and swift flair of arousal at her consumption of the dark chocolate, an arousal that was quickly pushed away.

" Your color seems a lot better today, less flushed." Nyota commented when she had swallowed the chocolate.

" I am recovering quickly. I still find myself fatigued by activity but much less so than yesterday."

Nyota nodded and for a moment Spock wished it was just the two of them there and that they could speak and act freely with one another and he could take her into his arms and hold her cool body close to his and bury his nose in that soft scented skin of her neck.

" If you're growing fatigued perhaps we should go see your father now before you're to tired."

Spock nodded in agreement.

" Nyota, Christopher, thank you for your visit, I apologize for its shortness."

"I understand." Chris clapped his hand briefly on Spock's shoulder. He turned to leave.

Spock glanced quickly at his mother, she seemed to understand his desire.

" I'm going to go check your father's ready to receive you."

Spock waited till she left before turning to Nyota ,he felt his lips twitch in the slightest of smiles, and he held his hand up, two fingers raised. Nyota's smile widened and he felt his heart beat faster, the beeping computer screen registered it. Nyota gave a small laugh.

" Careful." She said as she placed a hand on his cheek and joined her fingers with his sending him a flood of warm tingling affection.

" You wouldn't want to alert the doctors, would you?" Her tone was teasing.

" No, Nyota, most definitely not." She bent down and captured his lips in a demure and subtle kiss that despite its gentleness made him feel like his blood was boiling with desire for her. She pulled away after only a few seconds and Spock had let her, he was already remembering the feel of the plump flesh of her breasts against his mouth. Which was an entirely unsuitable thing to think about in a hospital bed with a monitor recording his every physical reaction.

" You do like the book then?" She asked perching on the edge of his bed fingers still working up and down his in a distracting fashion.

" I do, when I am well I will sit with you on my lap and I will read them to you."

She smiled and brushed her free hand lazily through his hair.

" I'd like that. I was so unsure how you'd react, I mean you only told me when your birthday was because I asked, and I thought that you'd be okay with just the three of us, and with you being in hospital on your birthday.." She broke off waiting for him to reply.

" I do not mind it. " He took her hand and kissed her fingertips she gave a little shudder.

" I only hope that whilst I have been detained here my mother has not been teaching you how to coerce me."

Nyota gave her deep little laugh.

" Oh, I don't think she needs too. I'm pretty sure I'll come up with my own methods given time."

Spock was about to answer when there was a little clearing of the throat sound from outside the curtain walls.

" It appears it is time for me to visit my father. I shall talk to you at greater length tomorrow. "

"Okay." Her tone was sad and he too felt regret at having to part from her so soon. She bent down and kissed him lightly then turned to leave. Spock watched her go as his mother came back round the curtain.

" I would bring you a wheelchair but I know you'd refuse it."

" I can walk mother." Spock said swinging his bare feet down onto the cold floor. He swayed slightly as he stood but managed to keep upright and take a few slow careful steps to reach his mother. She linked her arm with his and he felt a light embarrassment at the thought that she felt he needed her support despite her being over a foot shorter than him and eight times weaker physically.

They walked down the middle of the ward, his father had been kept in a smaller and empty ward that adjoined it, it was kept for overfill purposes and in Sareks case had been used so that the doctors would have plenty of space to maneuver if there was an emergency.

As they walked his mother seemed to be mulling something over, Spock had always been able to tell when she wanted to say something but was thinking carefully about the wording.

" Speak your mind mother."

" She's a nice girl."

" If you are talking of Nyota then I'd agree with you."

" Spock, Don't screw it up, I want grandkids someday."

Spock felt his eyebrows shoot up without his willing them to.

" Don't be proud or stubborn and don't try to protect her from thing's she doesn't need protecting from."

They went through the door to the small wing, Spock immediately saw his father. Sarek was sat up in bed though he looked pale and gaunt and was hooked up to far more monitors and medicinal drips than Spock had been. His face was still as stern as ever, Spock felt himself straighten, and he walked with a lot more confidence and pride as if he were escorting his mother somewhere. He almost declined when Amanda offered him the seat next to the bed but seeing the stony look in her eyes decided it would be pointless. He meet his fathers eyes and tried to draw in all ridicule emotions and squash them.

" Hello Father."

" Son."

"Sarek, It's the anniversary of Spokh's birth to day."

" Indeed, twenty-five years standard, is it not."

" Indeed, mother has provided me with a new meditation mat in celebration of the occasion."

There was a softening around Sarek's eyes as he looked at his wife. Spock wondered if it had always been there, how could he have missed it?

" Your mother has always enjoyed the giving of gifts even when there seems to be no reason for them."

" Isn't to make me happy reason enough?"

His father let out a little out take of breath not quite a sigh.

" You are a most illogical woman."

" I know dear." Spock looked away, if before there was softness to his fathers face now there was an open affection between his parents. It was almost intimate in its intensity and Spock felt quite uncomfortable.

"Spock's partner gave him a book of Vulcan poetry." His mother said bringing the conversation back on track.

His father's eyebrow twitched though he did not show any other outwards signs of shock or curiosity.

" You have found a replacement for T'pring?"

" I believe so, we have an engagement bond though it did not occur in the traditional way and I have not yet asked her to fulfill the bonding ceremony. I believe that given sufficient time to..'date' she will accept a proposal."

Sarek nodded slowly.

"She is human then."

"A lovely girl Sarek." His Mother answered. " Very clever and as logical as any human can be, she speaks our dialect perfectly and she told me that she's read the teachings of Surek."

Sarek, turned his attention back to Spock.

" It was the same with your mother and I. The bonding between a Human and Vulcan seems to occur naturally if both are open to it and given prolonged contact. "

Spock was curious, he had never heard his parents talk of how they had met or any indication that the bond between them was not created in the traditional ceremony. The knowledge made him feel somewhat more comfortable in his relationship with Nyota, he was not treading completely new ground. He was also relatively pleased that his father was not totally against him pairing with a human. As a child his father had spent a lot of time making arrangements between their family and T'pring's, he had lectured Spock a great deal on the unifying of two great bloodlines and how he had to work hard to appear fully Vulcan if he wanted full acceptance by T'pring's family.

" I was not aware of that your and mothers bond was not made in the usual ceremony."

His mother gave a short laugh and looked down.

" Oh, our bond happened in the most humanly way possible."

Spock watched the slight coloring come back to his fathers face, he was a little surprised, and he could not recall ever seeing his father blush before. Realization drawing on him he felt his own ears go hot.

" Amanda, I am not comfortable with this conversation and I feel wearied by it."

" I think I shall leave the both of you now, I need to rest if I plan to return to my duties on Monday." He stood to leave and held his hand up.

" Live long and prosper."

" Peace and long life Spokh."

" Sarek! Aren't you going to thank your son for saving your life."

" Mother it was the most logical course of action."

Sarek shifted uncomfortably in the bed.

" I was impressed with the solution you found."

" Thank you."

Spock walked away, he couldn't be a hundred percent positive but he had the distinct feeling that his father was proud of him.

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