Disclaimer: See Chapter 1. Thank you to Fameanon for helping me write this.
"You dare show your face in my office," Hester hissed as Strom entered.
"Dr. Cardwell, please allow me to show you something," he replied calmly, handing her a PADD.
She checked the PADD and scoffed. "What is this? The data is completely wrong."
"It is. You and I both know it, but whoever is taking our information for themselves does not. I made it a very tempting piece of bait." Strom took a rigid seat across from his fellow doctor even though she did not invite him to it. "I did not do this," he stated firmly. "I can understand why you thought so: I checked all the log-ins and they are all mine, but if you check my schedule thoroughly you will see that each time they were accessed, I was in surgery or aiding you here."
Hester blustered under her breath, but he continued on. "Watch that information, and allow me to take your brother to a scan. I will do it publicly, and you will know exactly where I am and what I am doing. If the information is taken we know it's not me. Give me this chance to prove my innocence," Strom said, not begging but firm in his resolve.
"Do you have this information on another PADD?" Hester asked, leaning forward ever so slightly.
"Yes, it is sitting on Shija's desk, my desk, and now yours. The other two PADDs have tracking."
"Very well," she replied, not entirely convinced. "I will even page you to the scanning rooms."
Strom nodded. "Then we will discover who our thief is," he said placidly, standing up.
She nodded in dismissal, but his voice came closer, and she looked up from the PADD to see he was right in front of her desk. "Hester." He called her by her first name for the first time ever. "I would never betray your trust. There is no logic to it, and I would have everything to lose by doing so. I find your company…admirable."
He nodded to her and departed, and waited for her page; once it sounded overhead, he placed her brother on a gurney and took him down to the scanning room.
…
Hester felt torn watching him leave. On the one hand, she felt even more foolish than ever for having made such a mess of their relationship; if only his accusations could have been true. If she were born a Vulcan, she would have never found herself heartbroken over a man who could never love her back.
And yet...the way he had said her name made chills run down her spine. He had always used her title, more recently in a stiff, detached voice, but his insistence that he was not to blame was made in the soft, gentle tone he used with patients to calm them.
The same tone that finally tore Desmond from a months-long stupor.
She calmed herself and shoved away any romantic notion; she dared not jump to conclusions.
Perhaps, though, they might at least go back to the cordiality they had shared before her botched confession. It was too soon to tell, but she disliked being at odds with one of the few men who treated her with respect on principle.
…
Strom had his patient sedated before he ran him in the scanner. It was best that way, since the brain scanner did cause headaches at the best of times, and with patients so disturbed it could cause a feeling of panic. Strom was leaving the room so the tech could take over when Shija's assistant Lucy ran up to him.
"Sir," she panted, pressing a data crystal into his hand. "It is there. Everything. I watched it, and everything you need is there, and the tracking is also active."
Strom nodded in gratitude. "Good, thank you." He made his way out of the dungeon of scanners toward the psych ward. Dr. Cardwell sat pensively at her desk when he approached her, and he cleared his throat. When she looked up he held up the data crystal. "As humans have said, the mouse has bitten on the cheese."
She raised her eyebrow. "So soon?"
"I did make the cheese appealing," he confirmed, and laid the crystal before her on her desk. "I believe this will clear up any confusion you might have over the identity of your thief." He turned to walk away, but she stood up, frowning in obvious confusion.
"Hey," she called after him, unsure as to why he was leaving. "Don't you want to see or do you already know?"
Strom stood with his back straight and his hands folded neatly in front of him, regarding her with his calm gaze. "We are a team, and as such, I have given you the information and trust you will do what is right with that information. I don't care about publishing our findings, but you do as this is your life's work and personal mission. My job is to support you." He turned around again, but paused at the door. "When you have what you need, and know what you want to do with it, I will be in my office."
Hester cocked her head, silently watching the enigmatic Vulcan walk away from her, and with a sigh she pushed the crystal into her desk outlet to watch the security footage.
Her expression twisted in anger as the culprit clearly entered Strom's office and took the unguarded data PADD. "Dr. Reese," she hissed under her breath, and she put her head in her hands. This was firmly her screw-up for having accused the wrong person. She had been so sure Strom took their findings and jumped the gun publishing it to take all the credit. But her preemptive theory was completely wrong, and to top it all off, she had made a complete spectacle of herself, throwing PADDs everywhere. If Vulcans could hate, he would surely hate her.
She let her hands drop from her face and jumped in surprise; one of the long haired priestesses stood silently before her desk, causing her to flinch.
"She who is a Vulcan not born of Vulcan," the priestess said without context. "Your katra is in chaos." She blinked slowly at Hester, her face unreadable. "You yearn for what does not yet belong to you. You desire a bond and mating."
Hester recoiled. "How dare you," she said flatly, suppressing the urge to growl.
"If you do not wish our aid, it is logical to state that. We dare because we can hear the yearning of your heart. It is disruptive to our work and yours, so it is logical to aid you."
Hester blinked, then narrowed her eyes, still suspicious. "Firstly, I am a human, and you should remember that fact. I see no logic in attributing qualities to me that I do not possess. That being said, it is not my intention to disturb you. What advice would you impart to me?"
The priestess raised an eyebrow. "Some Vulcan men can be incredibly unaware of their surroundings, of those in their lives who would have them as mates. Strom is one such man. He buries himself in his work and does not sense your feelings towards him."
Hester forced herself not to flinch. "So how would you suggest I remedy this? Is there any hope if, hypothetically, I wished to have him?"
"I see no hypothetical, Dr. Cardwell. You may deny your emotions, but they are obvious to any Vulcan who is not preoccupied with his work." She could have sworn the woman's lips twitched upward. "You should not take his lack of response as a personal slight. He legitimately does not realize that you are inclined towards him in this way. If you would pursue this relationship, you must be far more obvious in your affections, and consistent in applying them. I ask, on behalf of all the priestesses currently aiding your patients, that you do this. It is disagreeable to work alongside you in your current state."
"If I attempt to flirt with a Vulcan man, I will do so because I wish to. I mean no offense in saying this, but I do not pursue relationships solely to make your life easier." She sighed. "And, if I were to hypothetically pursue Strom...is it your belief that he would reciprocate?"
The priestess cocked her head, "If you were to make your intentions plainer to him in a way he would understand, then you should speak to those who know him well. I do not know the doctor well enough to speak on such things." She took a deep breath. "I will give you a grave warning about taking on any Vulcan mate." She blinked and seemed to lean in closer. "There comes a time in Vulcan's life when they are afflicted with an uncontrollable urge and need to mate. It is the fulfillment of what you could call love. They will not take no for an answer, and they must mate over and over until the fire is quenched out of their blood, or they may die. This is why your flirtations must be consistent. If a Vulcan feels that at that time you will leave them, then it is illogical to continue their pursuit." She calmly raised the ta'al. "Think long and hard, Dr. Cardwell. Will you be able to endure days of unfettered sexual congress?"
Hester leaned back and watched as the priestess walked out of the office. What on earth was that all about? There was nothing in the Vulcan physiology file about a need for unbridled sex. That seemed like a logical thing to put in a file, especially if a lack could kill them.
Going to her information console, she saw that Shija had left for the day; since she would not see the nurse today, she made a mental note and put a meeting with hee on the calendar for tomorrow. In the meantime, she opened the rest of the files for review. It was most definitely Dr. Reese who stole their work. This was beyond mere anger. Dr. Reese was guilty of theft and an ethics violation of the highest regard. She copied the files twice and sent them on to the board and CEO of the hospital with all the appropriate information, including the publications that denied her because of the theft. She then set it to the ethics review board. Though she had been angry at Strom when she thought he had taken the information, it was nothing to her current wrath. Now that she knew who did it, she was going to have his medical license. She was about to teach the medical board, ethics board, and hospital that you don't mess with Dr. Hester Cardwell, or her patients.
She took a deep breath once the notifications had been sent, and she mentally braced herself for this next conversation. Strom's office door was open, but she knocked anyway and waited for a summons.
"An open door is an indication that I am available for...Dr. Cardwell."
He stopped his speech at the sight of her, and she stood silently for a moment, trying not to get emotional again.
"Are you currently busy?" she asked quietly, and upon him shaking his head no, she closed the door behind her. "May I sit?"
He gestured to the visitor's chair, and she sunk into it, avoiding his piercing blue gaze.
"Have you decided what you will do with the information I left for you?"
She nodded. "It's already on its way to the board, the CEO, the ethics committee and the Inter-Species Medical Exchange. Redundancy copies are filed on two separate locations."
"Excellent," he replied, and she tried not to shiver at how closely his voice sounded like a growl. "Then we will soon see the culprit brought to justice, and you will receive proper credit."
She nodded numbly, then took a deep breath. "Also...I owe you an apology."
He frowned at her and opened his mouth to reply, but she held up her hand. "Please, let me say this before you reply. I have treated you abysmally, with no evidence to justify said treatment, and I am deeply ashamed of myself. Please do not take my actions as reflection of this hospital, or humanity's ability to resolve conflicts in a civilized manner. I am heartily sorry for having thrown things at you. If you would like to report me to the ethics committee for my actions, I will not argue. I can offer no defense for myself, and I will support whatever actions you wish to take against me."
Strom pursed his lips a moment and replied in a calm voice. "Did you know Shija used to be a Catholic nun?"
After everything she had just said, that was the last response she expected. "I had read that she was a member of a religious order, but I don't understand how that applies to our current situation."
"She taught me something a few months ago. It is a quote from her religion, which states he who is forgiven much also forgives much." He nodded as he said it over and over again in his head. "A long time ago, mind melds were forbidden in our culture. What is seen now as a normal part of Vulcan life was once an ostracizable offense. Whether you were actual guilty, or the guilt was implied, a Vulcan would lose everything if that particular light was shone on them." He sighed and looked away. "I had a chosen brother at the time, his name you have heard me speak many times. He was who taught me the skills you see me apply now. Yuris was brave enough to stand against stereotyping and social stigma. He confessed to his abilities in front of everyone to save the career of a Vulcan he did not know." He frowned at her. "I did not stand up for him, and he was well known to me, and my chosen family. I stayed silent, which is worse, I believe, than if I had outright rejected him." Strom picked up some water and sipped it, regarding her over the rim of the glass. "Much later when things changed, I met with him and, like you, I said my apologies. With great grace, he forgave me much that day, and our friendship became even closer."
He looked at her, his blue eyes slightly glittering from tears he would never shed. "So again, I found wisdom in Shija's phrase. He who has been forgiven much," he pointed to himself, "forgives much. We all can be wrong from time to time, for innumerable reasons. Consider this matter closed."
"You…" she paused, "are an interesting man."
Strom ignored what she said and held up the PADD with her brother's scan. "I did a different value of scan on your brother's brain, as I said I would, and the shadow we had been seeing – which we assumed was a benign artifact shadow – is a small cloaked piece of technology. Your brother is unable to be healed by our normal methods, not because he is too far gone, but because his neural pathways are being blocked by technology. This is good news for us."
"It means if we can discern the power supply, we can turn it off and remove it," she realized aloud, in awe of the findings. "You did a scan for tetrion particles, what made you think of that?"
"Sopek." Strom supplied, refusing to take the credit. "He spoke of Romulan ships and their use of cloaking devices, which led me to research the Jem'Hadar and their cloaking technology. It is the same."
She sunk back into the visitor's chair, marveling at how these two Vulcans had drastically changed her life, and her brother's chances at recovery. "If it weren't immeasurably inappropriate, I'd kiss Sopek the next time I see him," she said, trying to make it obvious that she was joking.
Strom frowned. "That would be wildly inappropriate. I can tell you are trying to make light of such a statement, but I fail to see the humor." He looked rather disgruntled, and she mentally kicked herself for disturbing her tenuous truce with him.
"I did not mean it, doctor." He tilted his head. "A joke that did not land because you lack the context to understand the humor of it - that is not your fault. Forgive me for saying it."
She stood and pocketed the report. "Besides, considering he spends all of his time with you and Shija, I'm not sure Sopek even knows my name." She coughed in an effort to hide how awkward she felt. "But...thank you. For all of this. You are a far better man than I initially gave you credit for."
Strom was immeasurably confused by her. One minute she was more logical than the most logical Vulcan he knew, and others she made statements that threw him completely off. He opened his mouth to speak, and his friend appeared in the doorway and frowned at her. "Of course I know your name. Dr. Hester Cardwell." Sopek raised his eyebrow, clearly confused. "Why would I not? Strom and Shija speak highly of you."
Strom stood. "Your talk the other day on cloaking devices has aided in our research. Dr. Cardwell is pleased enough to kiss you."
Sopek's frown deepened. "It is basic science, but please do not attempt physical intimacy. I have secured an arranged marriage, and am no longer as humans say…on the market."
Hester folded her arms across her chest. "Did you just…make a joke?"
"I obviously did not do it well, because you did not laugh." Sopek blinked, then turned his gaze to his friend. "Where is Shija?"
"She went home for the day. She will return tomorrow."
The former admiral raised the ta'al to them both. "Then I will return at another time. I have much to do to prepare to meet my bride."
Strom nodded, the ghost of a smile on his lips. "I celebrate your good fortune," he said, his voice surprisingly warm. He then turned to Hester. "It seems you will witness a Vulcan wedding soon."
"Your people are complex. You…arrange marriages?" She wanted to say that it sounded archaic, even barbaric, but she had stuck her foot in her mouth too many times in very short order to do it again.
"It is the most common marriage practice on my world. It aids in bolstering mental disciplines. For instance, were you to take on a base marital bond with a Vulcan, you would find yourself able to focus and think even better than you already do. Emotional times would stabilize. Most are bonded from a very young age, so we are never truly alone in our minds."
"Wow, that's not something I would have guessed." Hester said, shocked by all the information she had learned over just a few short hours. She'd worked with them over a year now, and all this was just coming out, "You mean, you live with your mates in your heads? How does that work and are….are you married?"
Strom raised an eyebrow at her. "The vast majority of Vulcans you meet are bonded in this way." Her demeanor immediately changed, and he could feel a potent wave of disappointment from her. She crossed her arms across her chest and offered him a smile that did not reach her eyes.
"Well, doctor, your wife is a very fortunate woman."
"I have no wife," he said blandly. Her expression changed again, and he could hear her heart pounding in her chest. "Your pulse has increased significantly, Dr. Cardwell, are you quite alright?"
"Yes, I am quite alright," she insisted, and she took a deep breath. "So...Sopek is off the market, huh?" The man in question had slipped away while they were distracted. "I'm sure he must have told you everything about it. Who's the lucky woman?"
"Off the market," Strom parroted back, his head cocked slightly, "Did you know that euphemism confused early Vulcans? In the files about humans, it stated that you purchased your mates as Orions often did." He smirked ever so slightly, then sobered. "Yes, I do know. He has spoken of it at length. The object of his affection is Shija. She is unaware of his intentions but has an appointment to meet him tomorrow, though she believes she does not know the man who her father has chosen for her."
"Wait, what?! They've been friends for a while now, but she doesn't even know he has asked for her hand in marriage?" Hester felt slightly better about herself and her situation. If an actual Vulcan didn't get romantic cues, then she didn't feel so bad about not understanding Vulcan courtship rituals.
"No, he has not. I would say it is…somewhat complicated. She is a Vulcan, and one who seems to place importance in her clan and her place in that clan. Sopek would have committed an offense if he directly courted her without her father's permission, especially since she had been connected to a religious order. Her father would likely have rejected the union, and she would have lost her place in the family."
"What if she doesn't want Sopek? Doesn't she have a say?" Hester asked, retaking her seat; information about all this strange information and unfamiliar customs was flying at her a mile a minute.
"She has the final say," Strom replied gravely. "He is…" He paused, not knowing how far he should go with the information. "It is complicated, but Sopek is at her mercy now. If she rejects him, which has happened before in other pairings, myself for instance…things get complex."
Now she was really interested. "I hate to be intrusive, but…you were rejected?"
Strom swallowed thickly and nodded once. "I had a basebond with another, arranged when we were children. On the year of my twenty-first birthday, she chose another. We were more than engaged, and less than married, but I had to fight to the death because of her rejection."
Her eyes widened, realizing that Strom was still alive…so that meant he had to kill the other man.
"Oh my goodness…I am so sorry."
"It is…illogical, but what was necessary is not unwise. Even after the fight I was rejected." Strom's eyes were distant in recalling the memory.
"Again, I am very sorry…and you've been single ever since?"
He nodded curtly, still seemingly lost in thought.
She gave him a few minutes before speaking again. "This is all fascinating," she confessed quietly. "So if she rejects him, it could be bad for him."
"I do not believe she will reject him for another mate. However, she may reject him to return to her old life as a nun. Which is not unheard of in Vulcan society. Many of the priestesses under our employ rejected their mates to pursue a life of study, logic, and service."
He put his PADDs in his desk and turned to her. "I trust all that I have told you remains with us. Shija must be allowed to make her choice without interference. Sopek would want her not to be influenced."
"You have my word," Hester promised. "But, wouldn't you want her to remain with you doing the work here? Wouldn't you want to influence her to take the path of marriage, or at least not return to the convent?"
Strom shook his head. "No, I would want her to take the logical path for her enrichment. Where her katra is pulled is where she will do the most good. She already has the needs of the many in her mind, but how she serves those needs, only she can know."