Sick of Being Sick [Holt/Kaya]

[Shoki]

Morning
78.02.10
Holt and Mau's Weyr

Mau was staring at the fabric in front of her with a tense expression. It was cream colored, and she had green thread running through it, and a needle she had between her fingers. But the needle didn’t’ move. She just stared at it. She wasn’t really dressed for the day. She felt awful. Well, she didn’t feel absolutely terrible anymore, but she still felt awful.

It had started about over a month ago. It had been a rough illness that had got her. Nausea, extreme fatigue, she basically couldn’t stand upright without leaning on something. It had taken a fortnight to get over it. Or, so she had thought? She was still getting nauseous at weird times and felt achy. This had been going on for seven day after seven day. The impulse to throw up was the worst part.

Which she was trying to ignore right now. There was a bucket nearby. Her unfortunate companion for this infirmity. With a clenched jaw she pushed the needle through the cloth again, making another small green line in the cloth. This was getting ridiculous. She would never get anything done. She could barely work on simple projects, never mind going out and doing any exercise. It burned her up to know she wasn’t able to practice with her wing, train, dance, even hang out with her friends. Burn this illness! Preferably all sickness in general. Hammer looked up from beside her, giving a sympathetic croon. He was missing his human’s lap. Unfortunately she would have to clear him off it in an emergency, and she was feeling bad enough as it was. She paused to give the Tiger a pet though. That was good enough.

[Kaya]

"Well, I'm off soon," Holt said, strolling back into the room. He was in loose clothes, hair wet and barely hanging onto a towel upon his head. He had assignments to deliver, but none sending his own Brown flitt to nudge him awake. Sonder had been able to sleep the night through in the mailroom, where he'd taken to sleeping since Mau had become ill. After one time an urgent wake up call had gotten Mau as well as Holt, he'd seen about changing arrangements.

"Probably a light schedule today. I might be able to be home early," Holt continued, leaning in close without touching the bed or Mau. It hurt not to be able to casually touch her. Blast this nausea. At least other times she had been sick they'd still been close. He considered ending the twinges and burying them in work. Later.

"How are you feeling today?" And still, what if it was poor? And what if something was really wrong? It was a tightness that pulled at his chest most mornings and most evenings. Dutifully he'd come home, and quietly he'd agonize. Not always, but often enough. It hurt. The occasional conversation outside of the weyr was helpful, but never lasting.

[Shoki]

Mau looked up, when Holt’s words reached her. At least Holt hadn’t caught anything from her. It would have been worse if they had both been miserable. She couldn’t hide the disappointment at his leaving. Still, work was work. She did peer back up when he said he might be back early though.

“That would be nice. Maybe we can play cards tonight?” Something, anything take her mind off being sick. Cards were better than nothing. She usually felt okay before she went to bed anyway.

When Holt asked her how she was feeling she sorta choked on the impulse to just say she was fine. That was a lie, for sure. She didn’t LIKE complaining to Holt. She didn’t really want to be honest but she couldn’t lie either. Her eyebrows knit together and she tried to have a response that could be both honest without being too bad. She settled on an answer after a few moments.

“Well, I haven’t actually thrown up today. So at least that’s good.” It wasn’t a complete answer, but she tried to force it to be cheerful. A wave of nausea threatened, and she pushed it back. Hammer croon sympathetically. “If I’m more stubborn then my stomach it should work out.” She teased lightly. She was still her, even when sick.

[Kaya]

"Yes, that's one good thing," Holt agreed, trying to share her mood. He could see the expressions that intruded on her forced cheeriness. Good thing for the bucket. If only she could stubborn herself better. She would have been well from the onset. He offered a mirrored smile and turned to dress in proper work clothes, shrugging off the light covers for traveling between weyr and baths.

"Cards'll do," he mused, digging through the drawer for his flight goggles. Buried under a shirt again. "Honest though, how's my butt?" he asked, turning as if to examine it. "All this sitting for work, riding here and riding there. I think it might not be holding up so well." She had shown a bit of spark, it was a good day then. One not to rush straight out the door. Not to mention riding gear in the Rainbow Mists summer was dreadfully hot on the ground.

[Shoki]

Mau looked up from trying another stitch. What was that? And invitation to stare at her weyrmate’s posterior and more opportunity to tease? Oh he always knew just the thing to cheer her up. It was a very cute butt after all.

She made a point of staring and giving a long and serious, “Hmmm.” Then another “Hmm.” Then she looked up, in a faux daze. “Sorry, what was the question again?” She couldn’t hide her smile at the little joke before adding yet another joke. “Oh, right. Well I think I might see some blue areas. Is Korith’s hide color rubbing off on you?” She laughed at the lightness of the conversation. At least until a wave of nausea. Then a little cough. Oh SHARD IT ALL!

She pushed her work away and the bucket was pulled into her lap. Burn EVERYTHING! She kept her hair up these days. It helped. At least a little bit. After the episode her lifted her head and rested it on the bucket. So much for not throwing up this morning.

[Kaya]

What was the question? His smile tried to gather itself all on one side of his face. All turned into a startled single laugh, trying to crane his neck around further to see these blue patches. "Blue?!" He was going to roll into laugh and continue getting dressed for work, but neither of their little plans worked out. He held the joy of the previous moment with him as he moved to her side. Useless here, only standing. He touched her back but softly, he wasn't sure if that would help or make it worse. So after a short moment for him, and what he thought must be a long moment when sick, he moved to grab a clean rag off the little table and pour a cup of water.

With these new items he stood quietly, waiting for Mau to gather herself or surrender again to the bucket. She'd get better. And they'd have many more moments, and she'd make many more jokes about his butt, and they'd go differently. She'd laugh, he'd laugh, he'd hold her in his arms and they'd both laugh. And her hair would be down, and several strands would catch in her mouth, and that would be funny too. He'd do all he could, and gather the skills of others too, to make those sorts of days new.

[Shoki]

The faint touch of his fingertips was welcome. She was long since done feeling too gross for being in close proximity to Holt. She’d much rather have the contact. She missed it when it was gone. But when her head was up a clean towel and water greeted her. A smile flitted onto her face, the one that twitched up a little too much on one side. She took both, cleaning her face first. The usual post episode calm washed over her. Well, she’d feel fine for a bit. Certainly long enough to hydrate.

“Thank you.” She had a thought, on she didn’t like very much. But time had made it more and more palatable. “I think I will go to the healer’s today.” She had gone back when she had been hit hard, but not since. They had said rest was the cure. Clearly not. So she would give it another shot. Maybe she would get more needlework done while she waited there. It wasn’t like she would get any more done here, so she might as well.

“Maybe they’ll give me something and I’ll be right as rain for our card game.“ She tried to hide her dislike of her healer plan. She suspected she wasn’t a good liar in this instance.

[Kaya]

He was relieved she looked a little better, despite the smell. One more thing to take care of this morning. He might be late to work that day, but Mau was more important.

"The healers? You hate going," Holt thought aloud. Must be different today, or she'd finally reached the end of her waiting on rest. Holt was hopeful for her wanting to go, perhaps they'd find something new today. But Mau saying she wanted to go, that was more concerning. She hated being in the infirmary for how much time she had spent in it. "Would be nice to have a challenge at cards, though," he teased. Was she going to feel up to going in a few more minutes? Especially after he left? She could do it. Probably. "Qui going to take you?" he finally settled on asking.

[Shoki]

“Yes.” Mau said the single syllable with a clear distain. It was clear agreement with Holt, but plain she had not taken leave of her usual opinions of healers. Of course Holt followed it up with teasing and Mau stuck her tongue out in a childish way. It melted into a small smile quick enough.

“I should think so. Qui’s been itching to spend good time with me too. If I feel up to it she would love to take a scenic route there. Maybe the fresh air will do a little good.” She was more optimistic about getting to the healers then about her time with them. No offense to them, but she didn’t like being cooped up. She grabbed Holt’s hand and squeezed it for reassurance. “It’ll be good.”

[Kaya]

"Good," he echoed, feeling better about the whole plan. He kissed her forehead. She'd have Qui, not to mention Hammer, for summoning others if needed. She'd be outside, get some air, stretch her legs. If she felt good enough for all that, maybe she was already turning the corner. This could be the day. "I'll leave it to you then. Get some new air in your lungs. Now, I better be covering up this hide and off to make deliveries, so I can bring it back to you untanned, blue or otherwise."

He breathed in and freed himself, expediting the delayed dressing process. It heated up in the moments of wearing it.

Warm up those wings, Korith. I want to be in the air.

About time, Korith said. He gave his wings a good stretch. The Blue enjoyed their travels, the many ascents and descents to get everything where it was going. Unless it was bad news. Neither of them liked taking those messages. Ready to deliver you to the blessed coolness of the heights, banish the humidity, and overall provide the best ride. You are quite lucky to have me. Korith indulged a moment of self appreciation.

You are a wonderful Blue. "See you tonight, Mau." Holt said, leaning in for a goodbye kiss.

[Shoki]

The gentle kiss on her forehead was reassuring, as she had to chuckle ever so slightly at Holt’s comment about keeping his hide untanned by getting to work. The kissed briefly and she waved. She hoped that tonight would come quickly.

---

The day had certainly been an interesting one. At least, it had been varied. Dragged on, sped by, been a whirlwind, been agonizingly slow. But she had FINALLY arrived at home, with a list scribbled on a paper. Of things to do, to not do.

Mau was honestly kinda dazed. She was having a hard time absorbing everything.

Hello? Mau? You there?

Maybe?

Holt will be back soon. Maybe you should tell him everything they told you.

Um, yes. Yes. Unfortunately her head was buzzing with stuff and she was having a hard time feeling strongly about anything. Hammer watched over his with a more protective gaze then usual. It seemed she would need it.

[Kaya]

For the last time that day, Holt slid down Korith's side. He pulled the riding goggles off and put them in the empty delivery satchel. He draped his thick riding coat over the top, and threw the bag over his shoulder. He was still too warm but he'd be back at the weyr soon enough and change into casual clothes. He gave Korith a hard pat on the shoulder and moved up to see the dragon's face.

"We did good today."

I'll say. Korith rumbled, stretching out one wing to the side again. I pushed that descent into Fort kind of hard. And the wind chill up at Ice Stone is just brutal.

Just thinking about it, I'd almost consider keeping these thick pants.

Let's both go for water and I'll meet you back at the weyr.

Sounds like a plan.

Holt stopped by the kitchens to take a full container of water. Never quite cool enough here in the hot lands, but it would do. He returned to the mailroom, hung up the satchel, scribbled something in the log and headed out.

---

He wandered into the weyr soon after, hung up his riding coat, and then struggled to unlace and remove his boots. "Evenin'. How was your day?" he asked Mau, happy for no news through the day. He wanted to put on still lighter clothes, but he stopped and looked at her to wait for an answer.

[Shoki]

Mau looked up, still looking a bit out of it. Holt’s entrance was normal. She dint’ feel normal. But he brought her back a little. When he asked, she had to pause for her answer.

“It was… something.” Honestly, best answer for such short notice she could give. But she continued to try and explain. “I got there fine, Qui and I took the long way. It was good. I, uh, got a list of things, different ways of eating that they think will help.” It took a moment but she got a spark back in her eyes and she tried to shake off the daze. This was important to say right and she was bungling it pretty well.

“Sorry, first things first, they are pretty sure it’s just morning sickness. So that means…Yes…”She looked up. He was a smart guy, he would figure out the rest. And probably why she was still feeling a bit overwhelmed.

[Kaya]

The eating comment seemed to come out of the blue. Mau had hardly been eating at all, what could she do different? It was a slow story to be told, so he stood there and listened best he could. When she listed the hallmark symptom his eyebrows rose abruptly, and then she finally arrived at her conclusion.

"You're pregnant!" he exclaimed. Holt was quickly at her side and pulled her into an embrace. They were going to be parents! And nothing serious was the matter with his weyrmate. It was a challenging start to a pregnancy, sure, but thank Faranth it wasn't anything serious. He kissed her by her ear and continued smiling at her. "Wow."

"We're...I gotta tell my parents." Pause. "How are you feeling about it all?"

Korith! I'm gunna be a dad!

Congratulations, Holt.

[Shoki]

Mau had noticed often, her Weyrmate had a magical way of turning things into just the way they should be. She was still kinda overwhelmed, but with a hug that she shifted into even more, it was all okay. Just like that she didn’t’ feel gross anymore. Well, she hadn’t been consciously thinking that, but it neatly dispelled ‘sick’ for ‘pregnant’. It was more real. Holt was excited, and she was glad. A faint smile touched her features. Not because she wasn’t happy, but more because she was enjoying letting Holt be the enthusiastic one here. When he asked her a question though, the smile turning into the lopsided smirk she had.

“I am happy, but I am going to be honest Holt, I’m still not excited to have a long stretch of healer visits in my future. Even if I was glad to get this last one in the books.” Because sometimes even if things had changed, certain things remained as firm and true as they ever were. So Holt remained her center and she still didn’t’ want to go to the healers. But now she was going to be a parent. Wow. She snuggled deeper into his arms and added, “But I will manage them.” A little bit of a spark got into her voice. If Healer visits were something to conquer, she would do just that.