K'hat'n'dlawa

The Aftermath

The sun was hot, beating mercilessly down on Sarek as he traversed the desert, the sand burning his bare feet as they kicked up small clouds of dust behind him. He had been traveling for two hours and fourteen minutes now- jogging at times, but forced to slow down by the combination of the heat and his tiredness. Her weight was slight in his arms, but after the last two days of physical exertion, even that slowed him.

He walked through a naturally-formed stone archway, rounded a pile of boulders, and then climbed a tall sand dune. The mansion was in sight now- not even ten minutes away. Amanda's breathing was still uneven, her heart still sluggish- but she was alive. He held her unconscious form closer against him as he forged on, stumbling slightly as he made his way down the dune. He was almost there...so close...she must survive. If she didn't...his heart thudded sickeningly in his side at the thought, and fear rose within him.

At long last, he approached the gate, which opened automatically to admit him. He adjusted the woman in his arms, Amanda's head resting against his shoulder as he continued toward the double doors. She let out a moan, and stirred. He glanced down in time to see her eyes briefly open, and then close again. He quickened his pace, heart pounding faster. She was becoming weaker every moment, he could sense it...

The doors slid open as he neared them, and he crossed the threshold.

"T'Shan!" he yelled out as soon as he was in the entrance hall. His voice bounced off the expansive walls- but there had been no need. She was already there, undoubtedly seeing his approach from a window. He clutched Amanda tightly to his chest. His voice rose, dark with grief. "You must call for-"

"I have already contacted a physician, osu Sarek," T'Shan replied before he could finish. "She will be here soon."

He was grateful for T'Shan at that moment. He thought, despite no outward indications, that she may be as concerned about Amanda as he was. The Vulcan woman was looking at her now, brow slightly furrowed- as if she wanted to do something, but did not know what.

Other servants were gathering to look at their master- naked, and carrying his new wife, who was wrapped in a blanket. He had no patience for it. He was oblivious to his current state of undress and the sight of his staff observing the scene caused his own fury to rise to the surface.

"Go!" he barked angrily, and they scattered. He turned back to T'Shan, jaw clenched in anger. "I will take her to her chamber."

T'Shan nodded once, and he strode past her- through the gathering room, down the corridor and up the stairs until he reached her quarters. He laid her gently on the bed, stroking her cheek. Her eyes opened halfway.

"Sarek...is it over?" she mumbled.

"Yes, my adun'a. It is over," he whispered softly, a pain that was not physical shooting through him.

"Good..." she said weakly, and then drifted off again.

He was afraid. "Amanda..." he said, but she did not wake this time. He pressed his forehead against hers, which was hotter than it should be- she was running a fever due to dehydration and the harsh sun. He accessed the bond...but there was nothing but blackness in her mind. He kissed her tenderly, and then drew away. "I am sorry." he whispered.

"Sorry" was not a word used by Vulcans. At the moment, he couldn't care less what was Vulcan and what was not- or what was logical. What mattered was that his wife was injured and dehydrated- near death.

He did not move from the bed until the door opened with a hiss, and a Vulcan woman entered. He recognized her- her name was T'Ren, and they had attended the Vulcan Science Academy together- she specialized in xenomedicine. She carried a medical bag, a tricorder at the ready.