DISCLAIMER: (see Part I)

The story so far: Spock has had a nervous breakdown. Sarek, Amanda, and the "Enterprise Seven" have tried to help Spock this, but he still calls for one more person.

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Part VI - Christine & Sarek

Dr. Chapel stood outside monastery gates that had seen more action in the past few days that it had in the last ten years. As she waited for the door chime to be answered, Christine wondered why Spock would be asking for her. He scarcely gave her the time of day while they served on board the Enterprise. And she did NOT want to even think of the debacle of Psi 2000 or Platonius.

The large door of the monastery opened and one of the monks gestured silently for the doctor to enter and follow.

Christine was led to a darkened room at the end of a long side corridor. She heard a rustling beside her and turned to find Amanda stepping out of the shadows.

"Doctor Chapel, it is so good of you to come," she whispered. Christine took the woman's outstretched hands and squeezed then gently.

"Lady Amanda, it is good to see you again." She turned her head to peek at Spock, huddled on the far wall of the room. His hands clutched at his ears as he rocked back and forth. Turning back to the older woman, she asked, "How is he?"

Amanda put her hands to her mouth to hide her quivering chin. She tried, unsuccessfully, to blink back tears.

"It has been so very difficult for Spock," she began quietly. "The stress that he has been under to sort through his jumbled memories has been his undoing." Amanda turned to wipe an escaping tear from her cheek. Christine stirred uncomfortably.

"Amanda, why am I here?" she asked in a low voice. "I was not on the ship when Spock died. We haven't served together for years."

"Your crewmates have each been coming to Spock and that has helped him with some of the memories, but he has indicated that it has not been enough." Amanda met the doctor's gaze. "We think he has been asking for you." Christine's eyebrows flew up.

"You _think_?" Amanda shrugged.

"He keeps asking 'Is there no more?' When we ask him who is missing, all he says is, 'Fair, the fair healer'. And he tells us that McCoy knows." Christine was quiet a moment.

"So, he is fairly talkative. That's a good sign, isn't it?" Amanda shrugged, then shook her head.

"Who knows, really." Amanda pulled herself to her full height, and patted Christine's hand. "We'll just go on faith." Amanda led Christine closer to Spock. "Don't touch Spock or speak to him unless he addresses you first. He might pull out a bit of conversation he once had with you. If you remember the occasion, try to respond as you did then. If you find that you are uncomfortable with whatever is occurring, let the healer know. He will stay with you the whole time, and will stop the session whenever you ask."

Christine quietly absorbed all that Amanda was telling her. She found herself fighting back fear as she looked at the pitiful creature Spock had become. Taking a deep breath she stepped even closer and crouched near him. She was vaguely aware of Amanda withdrawing from the room.

"Spock?" Christine called quietly. "It's Christine Chapel." Spock paused briefly in his rocking and flashed a glance at her. He withdrew his hands slowly from his ears and clasped them at his waist. "Welcome to the Enterprise. Lieutenant Chapel," he said. Then he shook his head. "Nurse? . . . I'm sorry. I _am_ sorry." Christine watched as Spock's face screwed up in anger. "What is this?" he shouted. "If I want anything from you I would _ask_ for it!" Then Spock's face looked tired, bewildered. "I had the most startling dream. Your were trying to tell me something but I couldn't hear you. . . It would be illogical for us to protest against our natures, don't you think?" Spock stretched out his hand to remembered tears on Christine's cheek. "Your face is wet." She had nearly forgotten the tenderness of his touch that day. Fresh tears filled her eyes. Spock clasped his hands together. "Christine ... would you make me some of that plomeek soup?" Then Spock's face showed a deep struggle. "We have tried. . . I haven't the power. I am deeply sorry. I have failed you." Suddenly, Christine noticed that Spock was leaning forward to kiss her, as the Platonians had forced him to that awful day years ago. She pulled back from Spock, but he put a gentle hand behind her head and drew her near. Christine closed her eyes as his lips touched hers gently, sweetly. That wasn't how she remembered it happening!

"Christine." She opened her eyes to Spock's clear, steady gaze.

"Spock?" she breathed. He smiled gently and fingered the hair at the back of her neck.

"You _are_ here!" he whispered in delight. She nodded.

"I heard that you were asking for me," she said, suddenly shy. Spock's eyes twinkled.

"It is good that you are here." Christine was puzzled.

"Why me, Spock? We haven't served together for years. You had all the Bridge officers here. Why weren't they enough?" Spock stroked her cheek with his thumb.

"Christine, who was it that stood by my side whenever I was sick or injured? Who always nursed me back to health?" Christine drew her head back.

"Well, Dr. McCoy would want to claim credit for some of that," she smiled. The corners of Spock's eyes crinkled with mischief.

"That he would!" Christine caressed Spock's cheek as she chuckled. She looked deeply into his eyes.

"Are you better now?" Spock nodded.

"Thanks to you," he murmured. Christine shook her head.

"So quickly?" she asked, puzzled. Spock took her head in his hands.

"You were my catalyst, Christine," he breathed. "All the others brought me closer, but it took you, _our_ memories to lead me back." A confused look passed over her face.

"So, then, are you healed? Are you your old self?" Spock shook his head.

"I doubt that I will ever be my 'old self,'" he said sadly. "But, now that I am more settled, and more open to retraining, I can concentrate on building a new self." Spock pulled her even closer. "And I want _you_ to be part of that new self."

Christine pulled back. Oh, how easy it would be to throw herself into Spock's arms and cry, "Yes! Yes, a thousand times, yes!" like some sappy melodrama. Disengaging herself from Spock's embrace, she stood and paced away from him.

Christine knew that she had to choose her words carefully. She did not want to throw Spock into a relapse. She turned to meet his expectant gaze.

"Will you be returning to Earth once your training is complete?" Spock nodded.

"Yes," he replied. "I must give witness at the court-martial." Christine nodded.

"Well then, you need to concentrate on your classes now, Spock," she answered, "and on getting well. I must return to my duties on Earth. I will see you at the trial. We can talk more about _us_ then." Spock's face fell. After a moment, he nodded.

"I remember the demands of duty," he replied. "I understand." Then he turned miserable eyes up to Christine. "But I don't have to like it," he said in a small voice. Christine gasped softly in response. She chuckled softly as she moved closer and took Spock's face in her hands.

"No, Spock, you don't have to like it one bit!"

Amanda looked up as Christine left the room and noticed the pleased look on the doctor's face.

"I take it that everything went well." Christine smiled.

"It did indeed." She squeezed Amanda's outstretched hands. "He is asking to see Sarek again. Amanda frantically fished for her communicator.

"Oh, dear. I hope he hasn't left for Earth yet," she said, flipping the device open and initiating the link.

"Sarek here," came the reply.

"Sarek, are you able to return to the monastery, or have you already left?" she asked.

"I was about to board the shuttle. What has happened?" Amanda smiled.

"Our son is asking for you." There was a long pause. "Sarek?"

"No doubt he has remembered other painful events between us," the Vulcan said quietly. Amanda's heart ached for her husband.

"Not at all, Sarek," she said gently. "Spock's crisis seems to have passed. He is doing so much better. Come and see for yourself." Another long moment elapsed. Amanda heard footsteps, quiet orders, and the rustle of heavy fabric.

"Very well. I will be there shortly. Sarek out."

Amanda met husband at the gates and touched hands with him briefly. Sarek held his breath at the hopeful look in her eyes.

"Come and see for yourself," she repeated, her smile lighting up the dim entrance to the monastery. Sarek strode purposely down the corridor to Spock's cell. He stopped abruptly at the doorway.

Spock stood in the center of the room. He had taken the time between Christine's exit and Sarek's arrival to bathe, shave, trim and groom his hair. The clean cream robe he wore gave him an ethereal look in the torchlight. Sarek slowly drew near.

"Cha'i?" Spock took a shaky breath and gradually closed the distance between them.

"I remember," he began quietly, "when I was small, you would hold me whenever I was sick until I got better." Sarek's eyes grew bright. "There was one time when you held me for three straight days." Spock stopped at arm's distance to his father and waited.

Sarek unclasped his hands and stepped forward, drawing his son gently into his arms. Spock leaned forward and rested his head on his father's shoulder.

"I'm sorry, A'Nirih," he whispered. Sarek blinked.

"For what, Cha'i?" he replied.

"For the hurtful things I said earlier," Spock answered in a small voice. "I know that we are more than the sum of our arguments." Sarek shook his head.

"There is nothing to forgive. You were not yourself." Sarek pulled back so that he could look into Spock's eyes. "Are you recovered?" Spock looked deeply into his father's eyes.

"No. But I am better." Sarek gestured toward the door with his head.

"Thanks to your friends?" Spock shook his head.

"Thanks to my _family_ and my friends. I shall resume my training now." Sarek pressed his forehead to Spock's own.

"Success, Cha'i, and much peace."

"Mene sakkhet ur-sevah, A'Nirih!"

FIN