This is the last chapter for this story. I'll post a sequel in a few weeks so keep your eye out. Please review, especially if you see any glaring mistakes or want the sequel sooner than end of Sept ^_^

Chapter 6

Amanda smirked as she watched Jim try to navigate the silverware offered to him by his plate. She had needed several days of coaching before any of them made sense and nearly a month of exposure, before it came natural. She had been helping Jim for the last five days and he was good-naturedly trying and laughing at himself again.

Sarek was reading the latest report on the politic situation of Helgog III and steadfastly ignoring the two humans in their silliness. Amanda could feel his amusement through their now permanent bond. Whatever had happened between him and Spock had allowed him to reach her and for them to form the T'hy'la bond. It was so deep that neither could stop being aware of each other. She found it mildly distracting sometimes.

She knew that Sarek was only staying with them until Spock imerged to make sure their son and his bondmate were fine. The Isolation Room was shielded from Telepathic contact naturally so no one could know how they were doing until they deigned to show themselves. Generally three days was all that was needed for a Vulcan Pon Farr, though seven were allowed before someone went to check on the couple. She had reminded Sarek yesterday that due to her Human need both to be with him and to recover they had used four days every time but one. The Time that Spock was conceived they were in Pon farr nearly six days. Still she could tell that Sarek wan't getting very far in his reading between his concern over his sons and his amusement over her and Jim's antics.

"Well, look who's up." Both males turned as she rose to greet her son. Spock was escorting a rather sore looking Leonard onto the terrace. She gently placed three fingers on his cheek in parental greeting, feeling with relief their bond flare back into existence. He was fine. His discipline were stable and in place. He nodded in greeting, but she could tell that like her Adun's preoccupation with their health, his attention was mostly on his mate.

Turning she greeted Leonard as a human mother, with a gentle hug. He looked sore and a bit wan, but his eyes sparkled as one arm returned her hug. She could feel the slight tremble in his muscles as Spock supported much of his weight and balance. A smile graced her lips, she could relate to the feeling.

"Welcome to the family Leo." His smirk widened into a very content and happy smile.

"Why thank you My Lady." She chuckled lightly as she felt her Adun's presence behind her. Stepping slightly to Leonard's side, she let Sarek look them over. Although she saw the tensing of Spock's shoulders and a protective grip on his mate, she wasn't worried. Sarek truly accepted them both.

"Our family is gained in your joining, my sons." The traditional Vulcan greeting of acceptance was delivered without any hesitation on Sarek's part and Amanda could tell it startled Spock. Leonard seemed to be looking between the two Vulcans, not quite sure how to respond. It was Spock who finally responded.

"I bring my T'hy'la home." She felt Sarek relax as Spock replied with the words of acceptance and gratitude towards his father. They may never like each other much, but now they at least supported each other. She felt the tension in the room dissipate and Jim stepped forward at this time.

"How are you guys feeling?" Spock merely raised his eyebrow, but Amanda guessed her new sons understood the gesture. Leonard was the one who responded vocally.

"I don't know about the rest of you, but I'm hungry. When's the dinner bell?" Jim laughed out loud as Sarek mimicked Spock's eyebrow raise. Chuckling Amanda gestured to the table.

"we were about to have an early meal. I even have some ham for you." She saw both sets of Vulcan eyes narrow at the mention of meat. "I always needed some afterwards and Vulcan protein doesn't metabolize as well in our systems I've found." Leonard chuckled.

"That and I'm actually not terribly found of Hermistic Juglo." They moved slowly over to the table. Dispite Leonard mood and tone of voice, he wasn't moving that fast and Spock was supporting him most of the way. Amanda watched, thoroughly amused as Spock made up a plate for his bondmate and placed it in front of him. He might have even fed him had they both not known that Leonard would have protested vehemently.

"So, want to fill us in?" Sarek looked at them blankly, but Jim seemed to understand the question.

"Well, Bones, you guys still have three days of medical leave until the enterprise arrives and then three days of shore leave with the rest of the crew while the computers are being redone. The ship is fine, no additional problems during the mission. Sulu finialize the report Spock was working on for you and that matter is all set to start when the ship docks. I expect you'll be needed for a few hours, but you know the drill." Leonard nodded. Amanda frowned as Spock's grip on his lover's hand tightened and shook.

"I expect you to take advantage of at least two fo those days of shore leave, Jim." Jim started shaking his head.

"Now Bones, I don't need-"

"I could make that an order, Captain." Jim scowled at his CMO. Amanda hid her smirk and schooled her mouth before speaking.

"Effectively you've been adopted into our family, Jim. That alone gives you several days on Vulcan to acclimate. You and Leo have family to meet." Sarek was nodding with her.

"Yes, quite logical to get it done while you are here." She saw Leonard send Jim a triumphant smile as the Captain stabbed his fruit, sulking. She rather thought her sons were very good balances for each other.

"Amanda, do you still have the medical scanner I left you?" She looked at him quizzically.

"Of course. Just a moment." She knew where it was in her room. She wasn't entirely sure why the Doctor wanted it though. She was pretty sure he was simply tired.

000

Leonard smiled tiredly when she returned with the device. Both his doctor's side and his bondmate wanted to see for themselves that she was doing better. Her surprised expression was delightful when he started scanning her. Sarek's abrupt rise from his seat was not.

"You're count is back down, but I'm still unhappy with your salt intake. You're not retaining salt as you should and its effecting you immune system heavily." Amanda frowned at him as he studied the readings, Spock's gaze hot over his shoulder. Spock was enough of a biologist to be able to at least read the scan, but Leonard could tell he couldn't understand what was wrong.

"I have been taking my medicine. I feel much better." Sarek's hands were on her shoulders at this point.

"Good, the Blood Fever is nearly gone. Now that it is, I can see the low ion count." He thought for a moment. Something about this ratio worried him, but he couldn't bring the memory to mind. His thoughts were still a bit fragmented from the five day marathon he had just completed. "You do have your medical history file here?" She frowned.

"Leo I think you should rest before going back to work." He shook his head. He knew that if he didn't figure this out, it would frustrate him to no end. He also could sense the growing unease in his mate over his mother. She sighed and glanced at Sarek, who nodded.

While she was gone, Jim moved over so he was sitting next to Leonard across from Spock. His supporting hand on his arm was welcome and he felt Spock relax some as a similar hand was placed on Spock's shoulder.

"Here it is. My history and back three generations." He scanned her history briefly to assure himself that this was indeed an aberration. Moving to her parents he scanned through their medical histories and her siblings to find no such correlated drop in ion count. "Could it be my diet. You know Vulcan foods have a very different vitamin blend."

"No. I have scans back since we met that I've done and the scans by other doctors since your birth. You've adjusted to Vulcan well. A slight protein deficiency, but that's not unusual and you seem to be okay with it." He closed his eyes, rubbing them. They were burning slightly, as if he'd been awake twenty hours, not two.

"You are exhausted, Leo." Spock's quiet suggestion to rest was a good one, but he couldn't shake the feeling that this was important. He turned to look at Amanda, drawing to mind the last in person physical he gave her. Her color was paler and her skin more dry. Both evidence that she wasn't retaining enough salt to stay hydrated.

He held out a hand for hers. The strong muscles were still there under the thin skin. He turned the hand over and looked at her palm and stopped. Her palm was more brown than her arm. She wasn't a tan human, but a rather white one, but her palm had more color. He looked her over. She always favored the light-weight but full garbs common to the sandy planet's population.

"Amanda, Darling, lets see your tongue." She glared at him humorously.

"My dear Leo, I haven't stuck my tongue at someone since I was eight." He chuckled with her before she opened her mouth. The inside was pale, almost the same color as her face. He looked at her palms again.

"Do your hands itch?" She blinked at him in surprise.

"Why yes, now that you mention it, they have been itchy the last few weeks." He saw Spock's jerk as his mind raced. Habernet powder would cause all this. But he would have noticed her ingesting it, but if absorbed through the skin or mucus membranes, it could build up over the course of several weeks without anyone knowing. There was a way to find out.

"Do you have my medical kit from the shuttle?" Jim handed it to him. Leonard hadn't even realized he'd left to get it. He took out a dose of Hydromine. "If I'm right, this should turn your blood purple for a few hours. If I'm wrong then it'll absorb just fine." She glanced at Sarek and nodded.

He gave her the dose and they waited to the count of ten before drawing her blood. Spock's grip on his wrist became painful as they looked at it.

Purple.

"Leo, what does purple mean." He looked at Sarek a moment and then back at Spock. He could feel Spock's anger boiling inside him right now.

"Bones, what does it mean?" He didn't look at Jim.

"It means someone is poisoning her." The silence after that was expected. He turned to Sarek and held out the Hydromine. He knew Sarek would be able to inject himself and though his blood would turn blue instead of purple, the theory held.

"Why? Who? When? HOW?!" Amanda's near hysterical questions came on the heels of Sarek's blue blood. Both couple were being poisoned.

"Habernet Podwer can be absorbed through the skin or inhaled if dissolved in certain oils. It shows up under certain UV light." He felt Spock give him an injection and then himself one. He thought it unlikely that they were poisoned, but he wouldn't deny any of them the comfort in knowing they were all right. They sighed as Jim's, his and Spock's blood all came up Christmas colors.

"I shall pursue this." Sarek's face was grim for a Vulcan. Leonard felt Spock reach forward for his mother, only to stop, glancing at his father. Amanda was holding her husband's hand in a death grip and looked like she could use the support from her son.

"Correction my Son. Our family shall pursue it." They looked over to see T'Pau coming over. She looked down at Leonard. "Doctor, do you know the antidote?"

"Yes, ma'am. Time. A humanoid system will clear the stuff out on its own." She frowned at him momentarily before nodding.

"Since our family has gathered to meet this season's new members, the family shall also protect its own." Leonard looked at Spock in confusion.

The family couldn't meet you and the captain before our bonding, but they will now before we all return to our ship. As many as possible have traveled to meet you. He raised an eyebrow.

Why?

They want to meet the bondmate of the heir to the clan. Leonard spit out the drink he was taking.

"WHAT?!" Everyone turned to look at him, startled. Spock and Amanda looked vaguely amused. He gathered Amanda had done this before when thinking to Sarek. You're the heir to the clan?! Spock's eyebrow went up in amusement. Leonard felt like the planet had just moved from under him. Many things made more sense now. Too much sense now. He felt a headache coming on.

"If you will excuse us. Leoneard needs to get some rest." Spock patiently coaxed him to his feet and they walked out of the room towards the west of the house.

"You never said you were the heir to the family!" His furious whisper seemed to amuse Spock.

"Would that have effected your decision?" Leonard blinked.

"Well, no."

"Then I fail to see the relevence."

"Relevance! Listen here, you green blooded Vulcan my decision may stand, but I like to know what I'm signing up for before I engage all engines."

"I had assumed you'd take it with the same emotional exuberance you exhibit at all Vulcan traditions." Leonard sputtered as Spock led him into a suite of rooms decorated in tasteful browns and reds.

"Now where are we?"

"My rooms. They have been large enough for two since I left for the Academy. It was assumed I would only return to take a mate, who would live here." The mention of the failed marriage sobered Leonard slightly. To tell the truth, the banter had relaxed him. It was nice to know that they could still banter and now he truly knew Spock found it mentally stimulating to use Vulcan terms.

He swayed as the room doubled in front of him. Maybe it was time to stop thinking. Of course Spock sweeping him into his arms did nothing to help the equilibrium problem exhaustion had brought upon him. He could barely remember leaving the rest of the group.

"Sleep T'hy'la." Leo sighed as Spock set him on a soft bed. It wasn't until Spock moved to leave that he actually protested. He wanted his mate.

I am simply removing my clothing, T'hy'la. And yours. He had to admit the bare skin felt good. He felt the flow of sensation between them again and let his own lassitude swamp them both.

000

He wondered if everyone was staring at him or if it was just him. Two weeks on Vulcan and he was ready to get back to work. Christine was working well with Sharon and the trial had gone off without a hitch. Vulcan was disgusted with the facts Spock had collected about Tom Jordan's past and had ruled against him. His pleas to his parents and Aunt had proved of little use. His father and Aunt were horrified and refused to even speak with him. His mother was talking to him and offering assistance, but through all legal channels. Apparently they hadn't known what he had been using their names to get away with.

After some rest, Leonard was able to trace the Habernet Powder to the same time as when Amanda came down with the Blood Fever and it turned out that the incense in their quarters was the perpetrator. Sarek's persecution of the party responsible was swift and quite devastating. No one had any doubts the Ambassador was more peeved than a Vulcan generally became.

Luckily for him and Amanda, Sarek and Spock had bonded somewhat over the experience and seemed to be conversing on a limited basis. It looked like Amanda was right, without orders it took a disaster to get them speaking. Still it had given the family a chance to bond with their wayward heir. No longer a misfit, Spock was highly regarded in the family and probably had been for quite some time. Still Leonard could tell he was getting an itch for home.

When they finally reported for duty on the Enterprise, Spock didn't even go to his quarters, but headed straight for the bridge. Likewise, Leonard headed straight for Sick Bay for an update from Christine and M'Benga. By the time Leonard let himself leave for the night it was well past midnight and Spock had been off duty and off the bridge for two hours.

Breifly Leonard wondered if he should still head to Spock's quarters. They hadn't yet figured out their living situation yet so they still had separate quarters. Partially because there would be no formal announcement to the crew or starfleet. Leonard bet there would be very few people on the ship left completely in the dark though. The rumors had been moving quite fast so that most had already congradulated him, or wished him luck.

He took a breath outside the Vulcan's quarters. His message had said to meet him here. Truth be told, he wasn't sure what to expect from Spock now. With his disciplines intact now and emotions under control, what did that mean for them. They really hadn't much time to discuss this.

He stepped in the room as the door slid open. He swore that eventually he'd memorize the layout of the room so he could move better in the dark.

"You should head to bed, Leo." Spock's calm voice drifted from the computer consol. He was reading, probably reports.

"Will you be in said bed?" Spock glanced at him a moment, before flicking off the monitor leaving the room in total darkness. Leo barely heard him rise before his hand was on the Doctor's face.

"I shall also make use of my bed."