Amanda sighed slightly. “Long ago my son did as he pleased with no regard to what either myself or my husband said.”
“Still…wouldn’t it bother you? Never to see him again?”
“Whatever the circumstances my son finds himself in, what matters to me is his contentment. I can see, as I said, that my son values his bond with you very much. He isn’t going to find it easy to part from you.”
“And if this healer decides he’s wrong, what then?”
“Do you think Spock cares for you only because he believes you have the T’hy’la bond?”
Jim frowned. Thought about it. “No.”
She smiled. “I believe you have your answer regarding what my son intends to do.”
“Your husband would fight it.”
“Most certainly. But the thing is, Sarek doesn’t always get his way.” She leaned back in her chair. “And what about you, Jim? Would you consider staying here on Vulcan in your future?”
“I don’t know,” Jim replied. “My family is very important to me. If I came here, I’d not be able to see them again, right?”
She hesitated. “Probably not.”
“I can’t put them through thinking I just disappeared one day and never know what happened to me. I’ve seen that happen to families on the news and stuff, and I couldn’t let that hurt them like that. But on the other hand, having Spock stay with me in my time would hurt him.”
“There’s no easy answer, I agree.”
Just then Spock and Sarek returned with a Vulcan woman.
Jim stood up. “Have they figured out how to help my dad yet?”
“Not yet, Jim. They are working hard at it though. This is T’Pau, sh is an elder here, and trained in healing and an expert at bonds.”
Jim glanced at her. She was studying him with barely disguised derision.
“You name this outworlder T’hy’la?” She turned to Spock.
“I do.”
T’Pau looked at Jim again. “You are from ancient Earth.”
“It’s not ancient to me. It’s just home.”
Apparently, she didn’t like that as she made an even more pronounced prune face.
“”If you will step forward with Spock, I will examine your minds.”
Jim’s gaze went to Spock, who gave a slight nod.
He blew out a breath. He’d rather deal with all this after finding out about his dad, but apparently that wasn’t going to happen.
So he stepped over to where Spock stood and let the Vulcan approach, with her hands extended toward each of them.
Her left hand landed on his face while her right hand was on Spock’s. Spock closed his eyes, so Jim did the same.
T’Pau said nothing, but Jim did feel a bit of pressure in his head, like having a sinus infection or something. It could have lasted a minute or thirty, he wasn’t sure because he sort of lost awareness.
“Jim.”
Spock spoke softly and Jim opened his eyes. She no longer had her hand on his face and the pressure was gone. He blinked rapidly.
“Well?”
“There is no mistake,” she declared. “They are bonded. They have the ancient warrior bond.”