"It was of little inconvenience, Doctor. Am I correct that this is in relation to how Spock is doing? I have not had any reports from Healer T'Tonan other than his first one which indicated that Spock would not recover and we should prepare for him to be what you Humans would call institutionalized. We were becoming disquieted by the lack of information. As you will understand Amanda was most disturbed by not knowing."

"He is," McCoy looked at Spock and nodded his head, "improving by the day, Sir. In fact he is," Spock slowly stood where his father could see him and greeted his father in the Vulcan way and there was no mistaking the relief and pleasure in the older Vulcan.

"It is good to see you again, Father. You may tell Mother that there is no need for concern as my friends have taken great care of me under Doctor McCoy's guidance and instruction since the incident began."

"I, too, am pleased to see you have recovered as well as you have. I shall relay your message to your mother. Has Healer T'Tonan been of any assistance at all in your care and recovery?"

"I do not recall any real assistance from him. I believe that my recovery is due strictly to the unceasing great care and assistance I received from my friends, especially in the last three days when Healer T'Tonan did not come into Sickbay at all. He was a presence only."

A flicker of what Kirk knew was as far as a Vulcan would go to show anger in the presence of others crossed Sarek's face and Kirk realized more had been said between father and son than they heard. "Is he present at the moment?"

"I am here, Ambassador Sarek."

"How was it that you were able to make arrangements to have a special room in a special part of the science hospital prepared for the arrival of my son without once notifying myself or she who is my wife? You did notify us that you had arrived on the Enterprise and were in the process of analyzing your findings about his condition but that you held out little hope of any improvement and suggested we make arrangements to have him placed in that facility. I would like to know of your reasoning for not advising us as you assured us you would do on a regular basis in the presence of, if you recall, five other healers who have also attended to him over the years. It was only your assurances to she who is my wife that you would be in regular contact with us once you had arrived on the Enterprise that persuaded me to select you. We knew nothing of your plans to have our son sent back to Vulcan until we were asked by the Chief Administrator of the facility as when they might expect him. Your failure to do so has been noted and will be among the things I will mention tomorrow when I meet with the Vulcan Medical Council. You may have studied him as a child but you forget yourself, as he is no longer that child."

Spock was aware that he would have possibly have been the only one to have noticed the slight change in Healer T'Tonan's posture as well as his breathing when his father mentioned his assurance to them that he would keep in contact and his failure to do so. He was also aware of a momentary strange sensation of a immense satisfaction that not only was his father questioning Healer T'Tonan for his lack of action now as well as voicing his annoyance at how he had treated him as a child.

"Ambassador Sarek, I was able to perform a surface meld with him to find the true condition of his mind, something that Humans cannot do. During the meld I was awed by how it grown and I also saw he was becoming closer to certain Humans and I believed that the suggestion of a severance would be the best way to easier access his mind later."

An almost uncontrollable anger seemed to possess him and before he could stop the words or his actions Spock turned and glared at the healer, only Jim's touch stopped him from approaching the man, "YOU, you made me think of it. You knew I would consider it. You,"

"It was necessary for you to agree to a severance as it would complicate my studies if you had any connection to,"

"KROYKAH!" There was all Vulcan fury in Sarek's voice and, for a moment, Spock was pleased that his father was not in the room as he knew that, in that moment, his father would have killed Healer T'Tonan with his bare hands without hesitation. "We heard nothing from you despite you assuring us that we would be appraised of his condition on alternate days. Doctor McCoy was kind enough to, every five days since the incident occurred, let us know his condition and how, although there had been no vast improvement, they had not run out of treatment methods that would not be found on Vulcan. Doctor McCoy saying that let me know that he still believed that there may be a Human treatment. I believed that by "they" he meant a medical team. I am grateful that my son has such good friends who did not fail him as you, and many of the healers who used him a little more than an experiment, did."

"Ambassador Sarek, surely you must realize that he is a unique study. He is your son but he is,"

"Also a Starfleet officer and an individual in his own right. Using the meld to implant such a thought is beyond unconscionable. Such an action is against not only medical practice but also against Vulcan law. As soon as this communication ends I will contact the Vulcan Medical Council and inform them of your actions. I will ask Captain Kirk to restrict you to your quarters on the Enterprise and hold discussions about having the Enterprise transport you back to Vulcan to stand trial not only for malpractice but also procuring a service through false promises. It will also allow she who is my wife a chance to see that her son has not been harmed by your actions."

"But my studies, all those years of study, all my papers,""

"They will all be discredited for there is now question as to exactly how your results were really achieved, as to what your other patients experienced. I will,"

Spock could not remember ever seeing his father so close to losing control of his emotional control, "If I may, Father, I would ask that you tell Mother nothing of this. Just kindly inform her I am well and back to myself. You might tell her I have acquired a liking of other Earth foods."

There was six point seven seconds when Sarek and Spock looked at one another in the eyes and in that time Spock realized it was one of the very rare times when this father and this son were truly of one mind, and when both understood and appreciated what the other was doing and had done. Sarek nodded, "I shall inform your mother of that. She will no doubt question you about it when she is next in contact with you."

"I would expect nothing less from her as she does like to try other foods, a thing I had not realized could be not only fascinating but also be so beneficial to both mental and physical well-being. Could you also tell Mother I will contact her as soon as Doctor McCoy stops being what Humans refer to as a 'mother hen'."

As the others watched father and son almost acted as one as they raised their hands in farewell on there were no words exchanged, only the slightest of smiles and a nod of the head.

Almost immediately Sarek looked at Kirk and Kirk saw the man was back to being that Vulcan Ambassador he had met years before when all things Vulcan seemed so alien. "Captain Kirk, I trust you will have no objection if I ask for the Enterprise to transport T'Tonan back to Vulcan and offer you and the complement of your crew a three day stay at the special relaxation facility for Humans near to our home while you and those who cared for Spock stay at our home."

"No objection at all, Sir, and I am certain the crew would appreciate the time off. Three days leave off ship on rotation is just what they need. "

"Oh, there you misunderstand me, Captain." Kirk sat up and looked at the face on the screen. The man had said his crew could stay at the great facility close to their house that was designed to help Human crew members rest and relax. When he glanced at Spock he saw the slight arch in an eyebrow and suddenly wondered what the Ambassador had the influence within Starfleet to do with his ship and crew.

A/N Weather finally cooling down a bit - but then autumn starts this coming Tuesday. Enjoy, take care, and HAVE FUN!