Chapter 11: Adjustments
"Buenos Dios," Tony whispered.
Shara
stretched, grunted, eased her eyes open. She looked around, then groaned
unVulcan-like and slammed them shut again.
"Chica?
Are you alright," Tony whispered.
My head... it feels like it has been struck
by a photon torpedo, Shara thought
whispered back. And you are speaking much too loudly. She added.
Lo ciento. You're just dehydrated, Chica. Here,
drink some of this water, Tony thought as he
gently lifted her into a sitting position. With eyes still tightly closed she
grasped the mug he offered and carefully sipped its contents. She finished it
off with an uncharacteristic belch and flopped back on the bed.
Shara
laid so still for the next few minutes that Tony thought she had fallen asleep.
However, her eyes flew open and she dashed off the bed making a beeline to the
privy. Tony followed her expecting to hear retching sounds. Instead, he was
nearly run down as she exited fully dressed hopping on her right foot as she
attempted to pull on her left boot.
"Hing
training! I will be late...," Shara started breathlessly, then stopped abruptly
to stare at her cats. Kiki was fast asleep, sprawled on her back with her paws
in the air. The kits were equally insensate. If there was Hing training, they
would've been obediently waiting for her at the door. As for the Graya, they
dozed, curled together in their blanket bed.
"T'Shara,
are you alright," Tony asked, as she let the left boot drop with a thud
and abruptly sat on the bed.
"Aside
from the headache I am functioning within..." she started.
"Just
say yes or no, T'Shara. It's only us," Tony said.
"I
am fine," she replied, looking around their domicile as if seeing it for
the first time. "Tony, how did I get home?"
Aye, aye, aye! She had to ask that question, Tony thought. Shara frowned at him as she picked up the
stray thought.
"I
carried you because you were too tipsy to walk," Tony replied truthfully.
"I
was inebriated? Vulcans do not...," Shara began haughtily.
"I
don't know about other Vulcans but you certainly did. It may have been the
chemical compounds of the Ice Wine combined with your Vulcan physiology that...,"
Tony rushed to explain.
"I
pray I did not make an utter buffoon of myself," Shara cut in as she did
an uncharacteristic face palm.
"Actually,
you sang quite nicely," Tony replied.
"I
sang," Shara gasped in query, her mouth dropping
Tony
had never witnessed such an expression on a Vulcan before. On Shara it was
adorable.
"What
did I sing," Shara hazarded to ask.
"I
didn't know you were such a Beatles fan." Tony replied, as he gave her an
encouraging half grin. Shara seemed to instantly deflate before him.
"I
know I asked this a few minutes ago, but are you alright," Tony asked again
as he knelt before her and took her hands in his.
Being
raised by Humans, Shara had a distinct unVulcan-like veneer although she'd been
expertly tutored to act the Vulcan part. However, for the past few days she'd
been the most uncharacteristic Tony had ever seen her. Either she'd grown
exceeding comfortable living with the Alforians, or...
"Chica,
how long do we have" Tony asked. He watched as her Vulcan composure
instantly slipped back into place and engaged tighter than an airlock.
"Less
than a standard seven day week," she replied after a few seconds of mental
calculation. Alforian weeks are ten days long.
"What
do you need me to do," Tony asked.
The
penetrating gaze Shara gave him in reply was unmistakable.
"Perhaps
I should rephrase that," Tony
stated. "Are there any preparations that need to be made beforehand?"
"Please
inform Quan and the crew."
"Done.
Anything else?"
"During
the event, please make sure I am properly hydrated and consume the appropriate
amount of sustenance."
"Check."
"Finally,
do not allow me to injure you. I've grown too fond of you to allow any mishap
to befall you," Shara confided.
Tony
nearly laughed. After all she was 5'8 and ballerina slim, while he was 6'2,
rugged and outweighed her by perhaps fifty pounds of muscle. However, he'd
heard stories of Vulcans injuring, and even killing their mates while under the
effects of the Plaktow, or Blood Fever. Therefore this was a legitimate
concern. Tony prayed his black belts in judo and tae kwon do would help. With
Shara's superior Vulcan strength, he was certainly going to need the skills
they were awarded to him for.
"I
promise I will not Chica."
"Why
is there no hing training today?"
"To
give new couples time to settle in and enjoy their relationships. Many had to
move to new quarters. I'm here because my friend Toh and his new wife had
nowhere to go.
Shara
gazed at the neat stack of woven boxes which sat by the entrance door. The good
doctor was a slob. Shara on the other hand was an obsessive compulsive neat
freak. This relationship was shaping up to be very interesting.
"I
believe what I am experiencing are symptoms of a hangover," Shara said.
"You
are correct. In your case I recommend rest."
"I
trust you will not turn our shared space into a midden while I sleep,"
Shara said sternly.
"I
promise I won't." Tony replied, then smiled.