Another Paternal Interlude

U.S.S. Enterprise, 2281.137, 1920 hours. Leonard hadn't planned on being home this early but he got through most of his tests on the new Janova oriostrum microbe sample quicker than expected and he was grateful for the break; the crick in his neck from standing over that damn microscope for the last three hours was killing him. He knew Chris was off with her book club and he hoped that the girls were out with their friends so he could take a hot shower in peace (and maybe a shot or two of whiskey too while he was at—you know, for medicinal purposes).

The absolute last thing he expected to see when he walked through the front door was his teenage daughter standing half-naked in the middle of the living room with her half-naked boyfriend.

At first his brain just couldn't compute but it caught up fast enough when he saw that boy about to make another move toward his daughter.

"JUST WHAT IN THE HELL DO YOU TWO THINK YOU'RE DOING?!"

His baby girl shrieked and grabbed a pillow to try and cover herself. "DADDY!" She looked like she was about to cry. Had he…had that boy been about to force himself on his daughter?!

He'd kill him, simple as that. He'd brought that boy into the world and now he'd take him out with nothing but his own bare hands. Maybe he'd hang, draw, and quarter him first, just to prolong the agony a little.

Yeah, that sounded good.

Whatever he ended up doing it was going to hurt like the fiery blazes of Hell, he'd make sure of that, but right now Leonard knew he had more important things to tend to. He stalked off toward that boy who stood frozen in horror by the coffee table and almost as if she could read his homicidal thoughts Tabitha tried to insert herself bodily between them. "Daddy, don't hurt him, we didn't do anything, honest! And it was all my idea!"

Had she really just said that? His eyes bugged out of his head even further while that boy simply stood behind her looking like he was about to shit himself. They might not have done anything but they sure as hell were about to do somethin' if he hadn't walked in when he did. Well he'd put an end to that notion once and for all, that's for damn sure.

"Tabitha Susanne." The menacing rage he was working so hard to keep in check seeped into his voice and he clenched and unclenched his fists while taking a deep breath; he didn't want to end up saying something to his baby girl in the heat of the moment that he'd later regret. "You pick up your clothes and go straight to your room this instant! We'll discuss—this—once I get a hold of your mother!"

She didn't budge and the tears were slipping hard and fast down her cheeks like twin rivers. "But Daddy…"

"MOVE, TABBY!"

She jumped but stood there a split second longer before doing as she was told; once she was safely tucked away he pounced on the boy. "YOU!" He grabbed the boy sharply by the ear. Leonard had the pleasure of watching him wince as he dug his nails deep into the meaty tip; he was pretty sure he drew blood. "You're comin' with me!"

He dragged him out into the hall, the boy tripping over his feet and trying vainly to stay upright while covering himself with his hands. It was usually a quick jaunt to Spock and Nyota's quarters but time seemed to drag out and the few people they encountered on the way took one look at his face and backed the hell off, becoming one with the wall. When they arrived Leonard didn't even bother with the chime, he just punched in the medical override code and flung the boy inside before following hot on his heels.

Spock had been sitting at the dinner table finishing his plomeek soup when the front doors opened and Se'tak stumbled inside wearing nothing but his underwear. Curious as to the meaning of this he rose and moved toward his sa-fu only to be accosted by the Doctor.

"YOU!" the man screamed, "From now on I want you to keep your boys away from my daughters or else! Do you hear me?!"

He looked toward his sa-fu once more. Aside from being half-naked he was also pale and trembling, with a light sheen of sweat on his skin; Se'tak was also gripping the back of the armchair for support in remaining upright. Whatever was amiss, Spock did not yet possess all the facts. "What has transpired?"

Leonard spluttered, his face growing ever redder while he gestured obscenely at Se'tak. "What happened?! Isn't it obvious?! I caught your g-ddamn, green-blooded, can't-keep-it-in-his-pants, hobgoblin-junior bastard over here about to—about to—" he could not bring himself to say the actual words, "…and with MY daughter!"

"Sa-mekh, I…"

"Oh no you don't!" The Doctor got right into Se'tak's face and prodded him hard in the chest. "I don't wanna hear one word out of you or I'll fix you with a rusty scalpel myself so that this—" he gestured toward Se'tak's genitals "—never has a chance to happen again!"

Now he understood; his sa-fu had almost been caught en flagrante with Tabitha. For 0.17 seconds he illogically wished that Nyota were here to counsel him on how best to handle the situation. "Leonard, if you will permit me I will speak with my son; I would also suggest that you speak with your daughter. Let me assure you that appropriate action will be taken, however, I do not believe that total banishment is the best approach to handling this situation."

Spock thought that this advice would help diffuse the situation; instead it caused Leonard to become even more irate. "Talk to my daughter?!" he spluttered. "Talk to my daughter?! Just what in the blue blazes makes you think that she's responsible for any of this?!" Without warning he began jabbing Se'tak again, this time in the shoulder. "I was fifteen once too, I know how they think—and it's not with the big head, let me tell you!"

He resisted the urge to sigh. Spock could see no way to make the Doctor see reason and he was beginning to grow resentful of his treatment toward Se'tak. The situation only escalated when he said, "If I may, to borrow one of your own axioms, Doctor, it does 'take two to tango'. It was not my son alone who acted on his hormonal urges this evening."

Leonard turned sharply on his heel, his face now entirely crimson, and fixed his narrow gaze on him. Their noses were 1.8 millimeters apart and were so close, in fact, that Spock could smell the spicy brown mustard from his evening sandwich on the Doctor's breath. "There will be no tangoing, Spock," he declared in a cold, calculating tone, "Not now, not ever. I even see so much as a hint of a pointed ear near either of my girls ever again and I'll ship 'em off to a Deltan Prison planet myself, so help me G-d!"

Spock was not allowed the opportunity to rebuff these threats as the Doctor quickly left. The instant the door closed behind Leonard he turned his eyes on his elder sa-fu. "Explain yourself."

Se'tak wavered before him, unsteady on his own two feet. "Sa-mekh, I…I...I think I'm gonna be sick!" His face went completely ashen as he threw both hands over his mouth and dashed down the hall. He did not even bother to close the bathroom door and the sound and scent of his retching drifted down into the living room.

Cinnamon poisoning. It was, at least, a partial explanation for his sa-fu's very amorous and unwise behavior. Se'tak did not know about it's aphrodisiacal qualities and therefore could not be held entirely accountable for his actions. The cinnamon combined with his own rampant, adolescent hormones would have been too difficult to control, perhaps even impossible.

However, in the irrational state the Doctor was in this new fact would be difficult to convey, and would likely do little to alter his current mindset.

At that thought Spock did let loose one small, soft, sigh before pulling out his comm and contacting Nyota. If only Se'tak had chosen another time, place or partner to explore his sexuality with than this whole business could have been avoided.

A/N: This chapter was a bit short so I might post another one later on. Either way, if you feel so inclined, please let me know what you think! Thanks!