Snippet 5d

"No not then," Sam said, pointing to the mug. "I meant before. You smiled."

Sybok looked at the mug, then looked back at Sam with a rather suspicious look. "My back was turned."

"Then how could I have seen it?" Sam challenged. "You gave me a small smile. To my face."

"I did not. Perhaps you are aging more rapidly than expected and are now in need of eyeglasses," Sybok said, giving him a rather airy look before turning to fetch another bag of tea.

Sam coughed up his tea, laughing.

Sybok looked back at him. His face remained composed - but his mouth began to twitch again after a moment - as it often did when Sam would begin to laugh like that. "What is so funny?"

"I got a mouthful of sugar." Sam said, making a face at his tea cup. "Blech."

"That is entirely your own fault," Sybok said - but the smile was beginning to re-appear on his face. "Perhaps you should consider seeing a specialist about your sweet tooth. Or, at the very least, have it surgically removed."

"Yeah, but," Sam started running his tongue over his teeth. "Wish woh es et?"

"Perhaps the orthodontist shall have to remove all of your teeth to find out," Sybok said, watching him with a look of quiet entertainment on his face now. "I shall accompany you to the procedure."

Sam gave him a look before looking back at his tea.

The door opened, and Spock stepped in with a glance at the two of them. "Hello Sam, Sybok."

"Hey Spock," Sam greeted with a smile. "We were waiting for you to show up."

"I have tea for you," Sybok said, his expression back to completely blank as he set out the mug for his brother. "Did you find the text you required?"

Spock nodded, putting down his bag. "I did."

"Well good for you." Sam said, patting the place next to him. "What book is it?"

"Marrian Loe's version of Kerry's Quantum Mechanics. Her equations have errors but potential."

Sam stared at him with a smile. "That's great."

Sybok gave Sam a look before stepping forward and taking the books from Spock, putting a cup of tea in his hands and then turning away. "Sam is going to have his teeth removed, Spock."

Spock raised an eyebrow at Sam. "Why would you wish that?"

"I don't." Sam said, looking over at Sybok. "Where'd you get that idea? I like my pearly whites."

"He agreed that it is in his best interest to have his sweet tooth removed," Sybok said, shelving the books near some others in the living room. "However, seeing as we do not know which tooth that is, the logical option we are left with is to remove every tooth in order to find it."

Spock raised an eyebrow at Sam. "A sweet tooth is not an actual tooth, Sam. It is a figure of speech."

Sam gave him an incredulous look. "Why did you ruin it? I totally had him going!"

"I am quite aware that it is not an actual tooth," Sybok told him as he came around into the living room again. "In your case, I believe it is a case of actual teeth. Your craving for sweet things is worthy of nutritional concern."

Sam's smile immediately faded. "Am I getting fat?"

"Not yet. But I would not eliminate the possibility."

Sam laughed. "Yeah you wouldn't."

Sybok gave him a look, before turning back toward Spock. "You remember what I told you about humans and their senses of humor, Spock."

Spock nodded, looking back toward Sam. "Highly illogical."

"That's the reason humor's funny, you know." Sam said, pointing to Spock. "It's either that or the opposite. Look at any comedian."

Spock frowned curiously at the word. "A comedian?"

A smile grew over Sam's face, and he quickly looked over at Sybok. "You didn't tell him what a comedian is?"

"I did not see the need to," Sybok said loftily. "They are not amusing."

Sam rolled his eyes, looking back at Spock. "Their career is making people laugh."

Spock raised an eyebrow, looking at Sybok.