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Sarek woke with a start, a dying cry in his throat as he came back into contact with reality. He quickly ran a hand over his clammy forehead, a little surprised to see that it was trembling, and leaned against the head of the bed to regulate his breathing. He felt strangely feverish, anxious and numb and even logic could not get him out of this nervousness. It was a state highly unbecoming of a Vulcan and the frustration added to the general unease, preventing him from finding the peace necessary for meditation.
He sighed and pushed back the covers, ready to get up and settle into the living room for the rest of the night when the figure beside him stirred.
A small, thin, cool hand rested on his and a gentle wave of worry and comfort spread through him.
He looked down to meet Amanda's pale gray gaze.
“Sarek?”, she asked, sitting up without letting go of her husband’s hand, struggling to shake the sleep from her body, “Is everything okay my love?”
“Perfectly”, replied the ambassador, furious at the fragility of his hoarse voice, “go back to sleep Amanda.”
His wife ignored his response and ordered the light to turn on at fifteen percent, enough to see the Vulcan's face without hurting their eyes. She moved closer, her gaze scanning for any signs of unease. Sarek did his best to sit up and regulate his still somewhat erratic breathing:
“You look pale”, she noted, then added, placing a hand on his forehead, “luckily you don’t have a fever.”
Embarrassed by these attentions, the ambassador gently pushed the hand away:
“I’m fine Amanda! My rapid eye movement sleep was altered by a slight parasomnia, nothing to worry about. And I can master it easily”
Amanda blinked for a moment, confused. Then a little laugh crossed her lips as she intertwined her fingers with Sarek's and kissed his cheek:
“You had a nightmare”
“I think that’s the Terran term…”, the Vulcan admitted reluctantly.
“And now you feel anxious and restless”
“...this is just a temporary state, I was going to meditate before you wake up”
Amanda smiles :
“I know a much better remedy than meditation”
She quickly jumped out of bed and grabbed a blanket from the armchair in the bedroom before returning to Sarek's bedside who was looking at her with a slightly worried and doubtful look. Eyes sparkling with amusement, Amanda covered her husband's shoulders and adjusted the cushions behind his back. She tenderly forced him to get more comfortable, pulled the covers up to his waist and kissed his forehead:
“Try to relax, I’ll be back”
“Amanda what are you…?”
“Shh, my love. Leave it to me and relax”
She briefly tightened the blanket, kissed him again and disappeared. Sarek let a long sigh echo in the privacy of the room. He could have easily slipped into his office and locked himself there before Amanda came back with one of her new fancy. But he felt strangely good, wrapped up in the blankets and the blanket and leaning against the pillows. The anxiety was slowly leaving him and he was a little curious to know what his human wife had in mind.
He forced himself to relax a little and waited.
Amanda soon returned, a steaming, deliciously scented cup of tea in her hand. She handed the drink to Sarek who accepted it gratefully. The tea brought him a welcome warmth that drew another involuntary sigh from him as he felt his mind settle.
Satisfied, Amanda climbed back into bed and settled against her husband. She wrapped her arms around him and gently pressed his head so that it rested against her shoulder. She reached a hand behind his back and began rubbing carefully in a circle.
Sarek stiffened for a moment :
"What are you doing ?"
“I comfort you”
"I do not need…"
“I know, my love, I know”, she whispered in his ear, “there, there, everything is fine”
Sarek wanted to protest again but... damn... it felt good... He felt... so relaxed... Protected, safe...
The last tremors faded and disappeared before he was even aware of them. He closed his eyes, his breathing becoming calmer and more regular, adjusting to the slow rhythm of the hand on his back and Amanda's whispered words. He barely felt the teacup being taken from his hands.
And before he could even say a word, he slumped forward, asleep. A tender thank you hung on his lips, much more peaceful than he had ever been.
