K'hat'n'dlawa

Vindication

Amanda glanced over at T'Shan. The Vulcan had spoken very little since her discussion with Sarek the night before. Although she knew it wasn't her place to pry, she wondered what had been said- and whether or not it was about her. She was beginning to suspicion that it had been...why else would T'Shan suddenly be silent around her? Normally she spoke at least some...but today, hardly a word.

She doubted T'Shan would divulge the details even if she did ask.

Yesterday she'd been too tired to even wonder about it- simply going home and straight to bed in a sleepy haze. The rest had definitely been needed, as she had not woken up until well into the afternoon. After a quick lunch- which T'Shan insisted that she eat and watched to make sure she did so- they were now on their way back to the hospital.

Amanda leaned back, resting her head on the back of the seat and watching unseeingly as the hover-car sped through the city. She'd felt nothing from Sarek all day- and she realized, with a pang of sadness, that he had closed the link completely. It was the first time since she'd asked him to keep it open that it had been closed, and she felt strangely alone without his presence buzzing in her mind.

She wondered why he had chosen now- of all times- to close it. If he was concerned that something might happen to her, why close the link so he would not know unless she reached out to him- when it might be too late? It made no sense...

Was it possible that he was still angry with her for coming, and didn't want her to feel it? She'd thought he was over that...he hadn't mentioned it again after first telling her of his disapproval, and he hadn't seemed angry...but then again, Sarek was Vulcan. He was very good at concealing his emotions from her- and from himself too, for that matter.

She didn't like the fact that he was displeased with her decision- but she would never regret coming. She couldn't. She knew she'd acted in the only way she could have. She couldn't imagine waiting around on Vulcan for someone to contact her, all the while feeling that burn in her chest...she wasn't Vulcan, for crying out loud. He shouldn't have expected her to act logically- not in this instance, and it still angered her somewhat that he'd dared reprimand her for it. It was like being punished for being human.

Amanda knew she was supposedly "in danger" even though she hadn't seen any evidence to support that fact. She had been told so by Sarek, and his warning was reinforced by the fact that she now had her own three guards- two more had joined her the night before. She really didn't think they were necessary. The protesters had disbanded, and they'd been the main threat. But even if danger was present, there still was no reason for him to treat her like a child who had done something naughty.

"T'Shan..." Amanda called, unable to restrain herself any longer. If anyone knew whether or not Sarek was angry, it was T'Shan. She had spoken to him last, and her continuing silence seemed to indicate that something had been said the night before that was...unpleasant.

"Yes, Lady Amanda?" T'Shan was looking out the tinted window of the hover-car at the buildings of downtown as they blurred past. There really wasn't much to see, which told her that T'Shan wasn't paying any attention to the view.

"Did Sarek indicate to you in any way that he's...angry?" she asked. T'Shan turned her head to look at her.

"Sarek is not 'angry'. He is disappointed in the both of us."

"Why would he be disappointed in you? He has no need to be. It was my decision to come, and I dragged you along," Amanda said, frowning.

"He has every reason to be disappointed in me," T'Shan corrected. "His orders were very clear. I was to prevent you from leaving Vulcan. I did not do so- nor did I try particularly hard, even though I knew the dangers you faced. He does have reasons for not wanting you here, my Lady. I should have heeded his orders. He cares about your safety more than you know, and after his words to me last night this fact has been made more clear to me than ever before."