Life and Weather Chapter 10

Disclaimer: I do not own Star Trek or any of the characters appearing in the Star Trek universe owned by Paramount Studios and the Roddenberry Estate. This fictional work is made for love, not made for profit.

Chapter 9- Good Kids

December 24th

Aron remained in his room for most of the morning, only coming out intermittently to stare furtively at Spock and Nyota. He gazed at each of them individually for what Spock determined to be an average duration of 3.2 seconds each, then the boy made his retreat to his bedroom. The research projects that they had given him as his studies for the day were simple enough that they could be completed without too much effort, so Spock expressed concern that the usually sociable boy did not join them. " Do you think that he is ill?" Spock asked. Spock's voice was measured as usual, but as he questioned Nyota about Aron his head inclined slightly to the right in a manner that was only discernible to someone who noted every detail of Spock's physical presentation.

Nyota smiled at Spock's concern over Aron's behavior realizing what Spock could not-that Spock's feelings about the young prince were deeper than he cared to admit. "It's not unusual to spend time locked away from other family members on Christmas Eve. It usually means that someone is planning some sort of gift or surprise that requires secrecy. Aren't you the least bit curious about what that fascinating little mind of his is plotting?"

"We shall ascertain that soon enough." Spock was not pleased with Nyota's choice of words which implied a familial relationship with Aron. He briefly considered advising her to be cautious about forming unrealistic attachments to the young prince. He immediately abandoned this idea, however, after realizing that this particular conversational detour could negatively impact their entire day. He had come to understand that Nyota's reactions were not entirely logical in matters involving Aron. Consequently, Spock chose to avoid that subject and instead decided to ask Nyota about her morning. "I thought that perhaps you also would be locked in your bedroom engaged in some clandestine activities in preparation for the holiday."

"Everything is done. I stayed up late last night wrapping presents so that I could have most of the day to prepare for our visit to Dove's church tonight." Nyota eagerly crossed over to the communications unit and sat down. "I've already started my research. This comm unit has access to a good number of language files, not what I would have at the Academy, but enough to do basic research. My PADD could do this in half the time, but I know that I can't use it."

"I am sorry," Spock said. "I regret that your linguistic work is made more difficult by our circumstances. I appreciate how important this endeavor is to you, but any use of our Starfleet equipment might draw undue attention to our location." Spock turned so that he faced away from Nyota. "Are you certain that your research requires use of this comm unit for the entire day?"

Nyota heard the probing tone in Spock's voice and noted the unfamiliar set to his shoulders. "Do you need the unit, Spock, or do you need me to help you with something? I can postpone this." She looked at him with an uncertain gaze.

"No. I do not require your assistance. Please spend as much time as you need on your research. I only sought the information necessary to efficiently organize our day until our evening appointment. Aron and I will find other activities to occupy our time."

The afternoon passed quickly for Aron and Nyota, but Spock was curiously at loose ends for most of the day, eying Nyota as she sat at the comm unit. When she had completed her work, Nyota gathered up her things and took them to her bedroom. Placing them on the bed she immediately returned to the living area to find Spock had already seated himself at the comm. unit. His head jerked up in surprise when he saw that Nyota had returned. "I just wanted to ask how much time we have before we have to leave?" Nyota stammered in explanation of her quick return to the room.

"I believe that 22.4 minutes should provide sufficient time for the three of us to prepare to leave," he said brusquely.

"Can we make that 25 minutes?"

"Of course. I will simply make the appropriate change in vehicle speed and our arrival time will be the same."

Nyota borrowed the small recording device that Aron used for recording his music lessons with Jesiah and practicing languages. She packed the recording device and her notes in a small satchel and went out to the living area to find Spock and Aron waiting for her. They arrived at Dove's within minutes and found her sitting on her porch waiting for them. They quickly exchanged the hover car for the black pick up truck. Nyota and Aron scrambled into the small back seat before Dove positioned herself in the passenger seat next to Spock. As they drove along the twisting dark country roads, Dove cleared her throat and turned to Spock. "If the religious significance of this service will make you uncomfortable Spock, I will not be offended if you chose to wait outside until that portion is over."

Spock responded without revealing his surprise at Dove's well-intentioned candor. "Despite the decreasing influence of religion on Earth, my mother and her family still follow the traditions of Judaism and Christianity, so I have observed religious services in the past. Although I will view the rites and ceremony of your denomination from an anthropological rather than a religious perspective, I am grateful that you invited us. "

"Good," Dove said with relief as they pulled into the church's dirt parking lot. She closed her eyes for a moment. She had heard Spock's voice but when she closed her eyes she saw her own Vulcan sitting stiffly next to her in a small hospital chapel. Dove's eyes flew open when she heard Spock addressing her again.

"Is this an appropriate parking space?"

"This is a good space," Dove said. Spock pulled the hover car next to the 10 vehicles that were already there. He raised a quizzical eyebrow when he heard Dove exclaim that they had a big crowd. Obviously Dove's place worship served a small intimate group.

The church was small clapboard structure painted white with a white steeple of humble proportions. A peeling wooden signboard bore the legend Jenkins Chapel Church, Reverend Morris Henry, Pastor. Off to the left of the building sat a cemetery with modest headstones interspersed with graves that bore only simple wooden grave markers. Nyota wished that they had arrived earlier so that sunlight could have illuminated the grave markers. The inscriptions on the graves could have provided her with both a linguistic and genealogical history that could have give her more insight for her research. "Some of these graves go back to slavery times," Dove explained when she saw Nyota gazing at the cemetery.

While Spock was helping Dove out of the vehicle a teen-aged girl appeared in the church's doorway and rushed over to embrace her. "Aunt Dove, Mom said you are not coming over for Christmas dinner tomorrow." Dove responded by putting her arms around the girl's waist and whispering in her ear as they walked.

When they reached the steps leading into the church Dove released her hold on the girl and reached for Spock to help her. He held on to her arm and supported her labored climb up the steps. Once inside she pointed to a pew at the very back of the small church and motioned for Spock to slide in first. Aron sat next to him and then Nyota sat next to Aron with Dove taking the seat on the aisle. Once Dove had settled in, Nyota leaned over and whispered in the woman's ear. "I hope that you're not skipping your family dinner just to make Christmas dinner for us."

Dove put her finger to her lips to shush Nyota without answering her.

As they waited for the service to begin Spock made a methodical row-by-row inspection of the congregation. He scanned each face searching for any hint that anyone recognized Aron. Just as he had completed his examination and reassured himself that the environment was safe, the service began. He looked down at Aron and saw that the boy was watching enraptured by the Christmas pageant taking place in front of the pulpit. The children, dressed in makeshift costumes, haltingly said their lines with more enthusiasm than skill.

While Aron and Nyota concentrated on the play, Spock continued to shift his focus back and forth between the young actors and the audience seated in the simple wooden pews. He was able to identify the parents of each child as the look of pride flitted across their faces when their child correctly said a line. He also noticed the quick grimace of one well-dressed woman when her son, dressed as one of the wise men bringing gifts, identified his gift as "Franklin cents" instead of frankincense. Spock was pleased to observe that although several audience members smiled in good humor at the child's mistake, no one laughed or ridiculed him.

A few of the children spoke with a slight accent that was barely noticeable to an untrained ear. Nyota was beginning to be skeptical about her proposed research until the minister stood and began to speak in a heavily accented voice. The syntax was all perfect Federation standard, but the cadence and intonation were clearly associated with the Gullah speech pattern. Spock saw a smile began to play around the edges of Nyota's mouth as she quietly slid the recorder out of her satchel and began to capture his voice.

Reverend Henry and a slightly built older man who he called Brother Goodwyn retrieved several large boxes from the vestry. The minister lifted a brightly wrapped package out of the box and read the name. "Crystal Givhans.

Aron craned his neck to see the small girl of about four or five years of age who had played the part of the smallest angel shyly step forward. Her hands were already outstretched to receive her gift. She grabbed the gift from Reverend Henry without looking at him and clutching it to her chest, she turned to go back to her place among the other children. Reverend Henry scooped her up into his arms so that her face was next to his and intentionally banged his head on the foil-covered circle that formed her angel halo. "Ouch!" he cried loudly. The little girl giggled prompting the congregation to laugh lovingly along with her. "Miss Crystal," the cleric began, "What do we say when someone gives us a gift?"

The child hesitated for a moment, mouth open with uncertainty, but she did not speak. She furrowed her little brow with intensity and then said in a questioning tone "Thank you?"

"Yes," Reverend Henry said with emphasis as he laughed and kissed her cheek. "And you are welcome my little angel." He put her down gently and she ran back to the rest of the performers. Watching the little girl run back to her seat, Aron smiled broadly and glanced quickly and Dove and Nyota. The minister enthusiastically called the name of each of the other children who happily said a thank you as they received their gift. After all of the cast members had received a present the minister faced the congregation. "If there are any children visiting us tonight, would you please stand?"

The smile that had brightened Aron's face instantly disappeared. Nyota felt a shudder quickly pass through his body. He pressed against her, head turned downward as if to disappear, only looking up again when he noticed the movement of other children. Two children, a boy and a girl sitting with an elderly couple, stood. The man got up and introduced them as Carrie and Wilson, their grandchildren who would be visiting for the holidays. Brother Goodwyn looked in the box, selected two packages and then hurried down to hand them to the surprised children who murmured their thanks. Then a tall, sullen girl stood up after she was prodded by the stylishly dressed young woman next to her. The young woman stood up next to the girl and introduced her as Terri. "She's going to be staying with me for a few days." Spock observed that members of the congregation seemed to give a knowing look to the young woman. Brother Goodwyn handed the girl a gift. She wordlessly took it and sat down with her eyes cast down to the floor.

Reverend Henry did not wait for a thank you since it was obvious that none would be forthcoming from the girl. Instead he looked pointedly at Aron and asked, "Are there any more visitors?" Aron now had his face completely buried in Nyota's shoulder. Dove looked over at Spock whose unease seemed as great as Aron's. She reached out her hand and gently touched Aron before raising her hand to be acknowledged. "Will you introduce us to your visitors, Sister Anderson?" the reverend asked.

"This is my dear little Aron," Dove said. "Most of you have heard me speak of him and my gentleman friend. I'm so glad that Aron is finally getting the chance to meet all of you. I'd also like you to extend a welcome to Aron's family, Spock and Nyota." As a gesture of respect for Dove the minister came down from the pulpit to deliver Aron's gift himself. He strode down the aisle with a broad smile on his face. He stopped next to Dove's seat and reached over her and Nyota to hand the gift to Aron. "Here you are young man."

Nyota could feel Aron's heart pounding and the slight tremble of his body; yet without prodding from her the boy stood up and with a courtly nod said "Thank you sir," as he reached out to accept the gift.

The minister's smile extended across his entire face as he extended his hand to Aron for a handshake. Clutching the gift in his left hand, Aron accepted the minister's outstretched hand and shook it. "Such nice manners, Sister Anderson!" Reverend Henry said to Dove. As Aron settled back into his seat the minister returned to the pulpit and called for the final song of the evening. Within minutes the service was ended, prompting the members to drift out into the aisles to talk with friends, but Dove indicated to Spock and Nyota that they should remain seated.

Seeing all of the people with children in tow headed toward them, Aron lowered his gaze and again turned his face into Nyota's shoulder. She instinctively wrapped her arm around his shoulder and held him close, while over Aron's head she gave a puzzled look to Spock. He returned her gaze with a raised eyebrow, indicating that he was as confused by Aron's sudden timidity as she. Aron had spoken to Spock and Nyota several times about how much he enjoyed his people-watching expeditions with Jesiah. He enjoyed being in the crowds, watching families going here and there. Nyota imagined that these trips somehow eased the terrible isolation of their lives. But now the boy seemed to recoil from everyone.

Nyota had noticed Spock's careful observation of the crowd. If there had been anyone whose presence caused him concern, he would have taken action or at least indicated his concern to her. But after his initial perusal Spock had allowed himself to relax. Nyota had to conclude that, like her, Spock saw no reason for Aron to feel threatened.

Now as well-wishers pressed closer, extending their hands and offering greetings, Aron tried to shrink further. From nowhere a deep bass voice seemed to fill the small church and the big body that housed the voice filled the aisle, blocking others from approaching Dove and her guests. Aron looked up and offered an easy smile. Dove's cousin Sonny who had joined them at the mall now towered over them in a protective stance. He put out his hand to Aron with his palm facing up and the boy gave him a quick exuberant high five.

Dove was visibly happy to see her cousin. "Would you take Aron with you to get my boxes out of your car?" She asked "You and Aron can hand out my gifts to the children and leave the box with the trinkets for the adults in the vestibule so they can help themselves. We'll meet you in the Fellowship Hall."

"That sounds good. So you want to be my assistant, Big Man?" After Aron nodded yes, Sonny crossed behind the back of the pew and with one quick motion easily lifted Aron up and over. He set Aron down and took the child's small hand into his large one. "I'll take good care of him, Nyota." Aron looked back at Spock and Nyota to confirm their approval as he followed Sonny out of the church.

Once Aron was gone, Dove lifted herself up from her seat and began to chat with the people who had come over to greet her. In between handshakes and hugs and kisses on the cheeks Dove instructed her friends to speak with Nyota about Gullah and to avoid touching Spock because he was Vulcan. Apparently accustomed to following Dove's orders, no one was offended when she told everyone to move on to the hall without her. Finally, given a moment alone, Dove turned to Spock and Nyota. " We'll spend some time in the hall. The children will want to open their gifts and play and the adults can have a chance to socialize a little. I called several people and told them about your research, Nyota, so they are waiting to talk to you."

Nyota hesitated. "I appreciate all you have done to arrange this, Dove, but Aron's behavior is so odd, I'm not sure that it would be wise for us to stay."

"Everything will be fine, Nyota," Dove said but she could tell that the young woman was not reassured.

"I share Nyota's concern over the uncharacteristic withdrawn and clinging behavior that Aron has displayed since our arrival at your church." Spock put a supportive hand on Nyota's shoulder.

Nyota glanced at Spock before speaking. "We are worried, Dove. We have not known Aron as long as you have, but something is wrong. He was looking forward to coming here and at first he seemed so happy, especially when the children were performing, but as soon as it was over, he seemed very upset." Nyota did not share with Dove what she and Spock were thinking- that perhaps Aron felt fear for his life. If she and Spock had the opportunity to speak with the child in private, perhaps they could put his fears to rest. No one here recognized him or wanted to harm him.

Shifting her body so that she faced both Spock and Nyota, Dove tried to calm the anxious pair. "The world of children is a strange place that Aron does not visit often. He spends all of his time in the world of adults and now he realizes that in this place tonight, he will have to be a child among other children. He can enjoy watching other children from a distance, but he is afraid to be close, to try to be one of them. These are nice, friendly children. Things may be a little rough, but it'll be good for him."

Spock felt his respiration increase slightly as he spoke. "I am not convinced. Many times during my childhood my father thrust me into situations that he thought would be 'good for me'. I have yet to ascertain the beneficial aspects of those unpleasant circumstances."

"Parents must do that occasionally," Dove said tactfully. "And what about your mother, Spock? Did she ever encourage you to do difficult things that she thought would be good for you?"

"Yes," answered Spock with a restrained nod.

"Can you remember any of them?" Nyota's question was a euphemistic way of asking Spock to share one of them since she had no doubt that his eidetic memory recalled every single time that his mother told him something would be good for him.

"If one were to consider leaving Vulcan and enrolling in Starfleet Academy to be a difficult thing, then I would have to admit that at least one thing that my mother described as 'good for me' actually resulted in what I believe to be a positive outcome."

"Then I think we should give it a try with Aron," Nyota said with an audible sigh. " But if he asks to go home, then we are leaving."

Dove nodded. "Agreed!" So lets go see how things are going."

Spock stood with his arms folded across his chest. He did not move as Nyota and Dove started to step forward. "I do not agree with this decision. I believe it would be best if we were to ascertain Aron's current location and leave now."

Dove stared at the rigid stance that Spock had assumed aware that further insistence by her would not be effective. "Perhaps you two should discuss this without me," she suggested. " I'll go make sure that Aron is okay right now. If you decide to leave, I'll understand. Don't worry about your research. I had some of my friends make some recordings for you, Nyota. I can collect them for you and give them to you tomorrow. Just let me know what you decide."

"Thank you, Dove," Nyota said. "Spock and I are going to go out to your truck to talk, if that's okay with you."

"Sure honey," she said patting Nyota on the arm. As she turned to leave she stared at Spock with a quick probing look, but she left without saying anything else to the couple..

The walk to the truck was tense and silent. Spock walked slightly ahead of Nyota with his eyes focused straight ahead and his hands locked behind his back. Nyota inhaled a deep breath of the cold, crisp air and looked up at the sky. The beauty of the stars always calmed her, restored her sense of who she was and what her course in life would be. Now she sought to steer a calm, logical course because only calmness and logic would help her sway Spock's opinion.

Inside the truck Nyota waited for Spock to speak. Even in the darkness Nyota could see the rigid set to Spock's jaw. "You value Dove's opinion on this matter over mine?" He stared directly at her as he asked this.

"I would not put it exactly that way," Nyota said.

"Exactly how would you put it?"

"I value her opinion over ours-yours and mine. You and I are new at this, Spock. When I was growing up, I did some babysitting for my cousins and a few family friends, but that hardly qualifies me as a childcare expert. Dove seems to have a way with children. She seems to understand them—well, adults too actually."

"I do not dispute that. But we are the ones who are charged with Aron's well-being. I consider that charge to include his emotional well-being, as well as his physical safety. Do you agree?"

"I do. But Spock, Dove and Aron had established a wonderful relationship before we met him. I have to believe that she has genuine affection for him and that she has his best interests in mind when she suggests this."

Spock folded his hands together on his knee and looked down. "I see much of myself in Aron. He may present every outward appearance of being a human boy, but he is not. He is different, just as I was growing up on Vulcan. No matter how Vulcan I perceived my appearance and demeanor to be, others-both children and adults-had a different perception."

This was new information concerning parts of Spock's life he had never discussed with her before. Nyota sensed that an indelicate word or misplaced inflection might cause him to withdraw and become more intransigent. "Was it difficult for you?"

"Yes. That is the reason that I do not want Aron to experience the traumatic encounters with other children that I did. It is somewhat unsettling to me that incidents in my own childhood that I thought were long forgotten immediately came rushing back to me when Dove explained Aron's difficulties."

Nyota said nothing allowing Spock to finish expressing what was on his mind. "When I was Aron's age my parents and I attended a social event at the home of a junior diplomat. While my parents were inside with the adults, I remained outside with the other children. A group of older boys were engaging in a Vulcan game of balance and agility called sahris vo'ektau. It is similar to what you would call 'follow the leader' except in this game children follow the tveshik (the one to be copied) across a pole suspended several inches off the ground as a tightrope walker would do. Each turn requires the child to do as the tveshik does at increasing levels of speed, causing a loss of balance until the last child to lose balance is proclaimed the winner—the new tveshik. It is a game intended to hone balance, agility and grace of movement. I had spent many hours alone in my yard practicing, so I believed myself to be sufficiently proficient to play with the older children."

Nyota smiled realizing that Spock's bland description of his skill probably meant that Spock was one of the best.

"Of course, they could not openly refuse my request to play. The host and the guests were all lower ranking diplomats who were quite pleased that my father had chosen to socialize with them. Consequently, these children understood that an outright insult to Ambassador Sarek's son might bring unpleasant repercussions to the offending child, as well as his parents."

"At first they merely suggested that I was too young to play with them and that I might injure myself, but I prevailed upon them with information about my competence. They challenged me to demonstrate my level of skill before they would allow me to play. I walked back and forth over the fek (pole) several times. Each time the boys insisted that I perform again, faster and faster each time. They then proffered objects for me to balance on my head as I walked – a rock, a branch, even a ball, all of which I mastered. This represented a level of skill usually achieved by much older children. Instead of being impressed with my skills they seemed to grow increasingly irritated.

"Did they say anything to you while you were doing this?" Nyota asked.

"No. Vulcan children are not noisy at play the way humans are; however, even by Vulcan standards the silence was oppressive. Finally Tenik, the son of Starn, our host, went into the house and returned with a large glass pitcher filled with water. He thrust it at me and said 'If you balance this while you walk to the end and back, then we will permit you to play with us."

"Were you able to do it?"

"I will never know if I could have accomplished this task. The pitcher was an antique crafted in the ancient tradition, fragile glass etched with images of Vulcans gathering water from Lake Yuron. Undoubtedly, such a beautiful vessel was a prized family possession. If I had accepted the challenge and broken the vessel, my father would have been humiliated. If I had accepted the challenge and been successful, my father would have been humiliated because I risked such a valuable possession in an illogical display of self-aggrandizement. I had no option other than to refuse the challenge."

"After my refusal they simply walked away. They wrested the pitcher from my hands, turned their backs and went inside the house. That was the last time that I played the game for several years."

Nyota felt the growing constriction of a lump forming in her throat as she listened to Spock talk. The dispassionate tone in his voice did not disguise the depth of the pain that she saw in his eyes. "But eventually you did play again?"

"Yes, when my brother Sybok came to live with us. Sahris vo'ektau was one of many frivolous activities Sybok insisted upon. In Sybok's version even a pole of the smallest diameter became a stage. Instead of walking across, Sybok made twists and turns, performed pirouettes like a dancer and did somersaults like an acrobat." The edges of Spock's eyes crinkled upwards, as close to a smile as Nyota had ever seen. "It is odd. As an adult when I think of the game I usually think only of Sybok's antics. Apparently, Aron's presence in my life has somehow caused me to retrieve the unpleasant memories."

"Perhaps, Spock, if something unpleasant does occur with Aron tonight, together we can replace his bad memories with good ones, just as Sybok did for you."

Spock nodded. "Perhaps."

On impulse she put her fingers on his clasped hands. Her mind was suddenly flooded with the image of two young Vulcan males—one a thin stoic looking boy of around 13 who Nyota immediately knew to be Spock. The other was an older male in his late teens or early twenties. A roguish smile played about his lips and a look of deep affection shone in his eyes as he looked at the younger boy. Nyota quickly removed her hand when she sensed Spock's embarrassment at allowing her to glimpse his thoughts.

Spock lifted his hands from his knees. "Perhaps we should return to the church. Aron has been without us for too long." They walked side-by-side as the made their way back to the church.

When they reached the social hall they found Aron kneeling on the floor playing animatedly in a circle with several other boys. Sonny sat in a chair nearby, casually watching the boys while he balanced a plate of food on his lap. Each boy held in his hand a remote control device which he used to make a toy jungle animal move across the floor. As Spock and Nyota stood behind Aron, the exact replicas of a lion, giraffe, rhinoceros, hippopotamus and elephant all galloped around the circle controlled by the young boys. "Which are you, Aron?" Nyota asked.

"I'm the giraffe," Aron explained without turning around to look at them. He was intent on guiding his animal safely past the others. Apparently the object of the chase was to run to the area designated the watering hole and back without getting knocked over.

"I will be over here if you need me," Nyota said to Aron. He nodded in acknowledgement, but continued to stay focused on the toys. As she started to walk away Nyota slowed, waiting for Spock to walk next to her, but he remained standing behind Aron.

Nyota continued over to Dove and the small group of men and women who sat with her. As soon as Nyota joined them they all began to hand her small information disks. "I told every one to record one of the old tales in the old language for you. That way you can have them as a resource when you leave."

"Thank you so much, Dove." As she began her work she kept an eye on Spock as he kept an eye on Aron. Within an hour Nyota had completed her brief interviews with Dove's friends. For the entire time that she was working Spock had hovered no more than a few feet away from Aron. Spock's surveillance had been made more difficult by the fact that the boys alternated between being totally immersed in play and intrigued by the numerous plates of cookies and cakes that were set out for them to enjoy at the other end of the hall. Spock had dutifully followed Aron from place to place without intruding upon his play with the other boys, but he had maintained a careful observation of his interaction with them.

The boys had played and laughed easily with Aron, calling him by name to take a turn. They all laughed raucously when his long-legged giraffe had been pursued relentlessly by the short, squat hippopotamus.

Now, as they prepared to leave Nyota and Aron gathered the research materials, the gifts and some food that Dove insisted that they take and placed everything in a box. Nyota lifted the box and began to carry it out. Spock held out his hands to carry it for her, but Aron seeing Spock's outstretched hand took it in his own and began to pull Spock along. Spock allowed the boy to continue holding his hand as they made their way out to the parking area. At first, Aron closed his thoughts off to Spock as he always did, but then for a brief moment when they stepped out into the cold night air, the young prince lowered his shields to quickly reach out to Spock's mind. Spock felt the child's buoyant happiness flow into him. The telepathic signature of Aron's joy stayed with Spock as he began the drive home.

Pinopolis, South Carolina

Officer Leo Kendrick sat in a small black sedan parked on the left side of a secluded lane that crossed Ruddick Road. On the other side of the narrow unpaved road, called Jenkins Chapel Lane, the hard, packed dirt ran with twists and bends until it reached a dead-end at Jenkins Chapel, where Dove Anderson attended church. Leo was glad that there were no street lights on the quiet country road. With his car's lights turned off no one could see his black car nestled near a stand of trees. From his location he had a clear view of all traffic on the smaller road and in either direction on Ruddick. He hoped that the Christmas Eve services at the little church would end soon because he was late for his other appointments. Ms. Anderson's big pick-up would be easy to spot when it came to the intersection.

This trip to the Christmas Eve Service was the last thing that he really had to worry about. He figured that after the services, Aron, Spock and Nyota would be tucked away in their home for the rest of the night. Hopefully, it would be less than 24 hours until he could make his move. Spock had accepted his offer to build a play set for Aron, so that would give him the opportunity to get a close-up look at the layout and terrain of their property. He had planned the construction crew's schedule to make Aron's play set the last installation for the night. If he was lucky and the hour late enough, Spock might be asleep when the crew arrived and he would be able to walk around the entire property; however, he would definitely not make any questionable moves if Spock happened to be awake. All of their planning would be for nothing if Spock's suspicions became aroused and he refused to accept the invitation to Christmas brunch.

Most of the other guests would be his fellow officers and their families-good guys who he truly liked. The guilt he felt about deceiving them gnawed at him on a daily basis, but his presence on the small police force was an unpleasant necessity that had worked out better than he had originally hoped. Sgt. Dillard's consistent inability to be anything other than his obnoxious, racist, xenophobic self had given him the opening that he needed to befriend Spock. Good cop, bad cop just fell into his lap. It suddenly occurred to him that he sincerely hoped that Dillard would not be coming to his house tomorrow. He could not avoid inviting him; the insult of inviting all of the other officers and excluding the sergeant would have exploded through their precinct like a matter/antimatter reaction. But the sergeant's presence might send Spock and Nyota bolting out of the door, dragging Prince Aron with them.

He was still considering how to control that situation when he saw a silver sedan turn off of Ruddick Road onto the road leading to Jenkins Chapel. It was too dark for him to be certain of the driver's identity, but his gut told him that the faintly discernible profile was that of Sergeant Dillard. Kendrick slammed his fist into the dashboard. "Damn!" The word was not strong enough for what he was feeling. Every plan always had a "y" factor—the "why" in hell is this happening now factor. Unless he found some way to control this idiot every thing would be lost. Sergeant Dillard was stalking Spock.

.