Consequences for a Chance Taken Pt 2

Writers: Miriah, Heather
Date Posted: 11th November 2015

Characters: Bahji, K'lvin, Reicel
Description: K'lvin learns what the consequences are.
Location: River Bluff Weyr
Date: month 2, day 2 of Turn 8
Notes: Pt 2 of 2

The Healers worked as fast as they could, desperate to get the unborn child out of the unforgiving cradle of Bahji's hips. Reicel's face was pale as he worked, letting another journeyman press downward on the bulging stomach even as Bahji gave a soft moan, the pain intruding even through her fellis dosed stupor.

"Reicel, her pulse is dropping. We have to hurry." The journeyman keeping track of the woman's pulse and breathing looked worried.

"I know." He spoke calmly, forcing control over his own spiking adrenaline. "More towels and get needles ready."

More long moments passed. There was a grunt, a soft smacking sound and then the high pitched, lusty wail of an infant exposed to cold air. There was evidence of hurried motion behind the concealing privacy curtain. Within a few moments, a young journeyman hurried out with a bundle.

At first K'lvin looked past the healer, and the bundle in his arms.

"How is Bahji? Can I go see her? Is she okay?" His eyes shone with worry.

"Sir, sir, you can't go back yet. Here, your daughter is waiting for you."

The word "daughter" froze K'lvin in his tracks as a tiny bit of happiness begin to peek through the worry. "A daughter?" He looked down at the bundle in the journeyman's arms and took the tiny, fragile life in his arms.

With one look at the face of his daughter, K'lvin knew that he was a goner. Instant love flooded through him, and the gruff Wingleader found hot tears pressing to the backs of his eyes.

The infant peered up at K'lvin, snuffling softly. Her eyes were large and blinked slowly, but it was evident that she did not have her mother's disability. Feeling secure and swaddled, she did nothing but return K'lvin's gaze. There was a light dusting of reddish hair on her crown and the newborn blue of the eyes never wavered even as the brows crinkled.

Behind the screens was far less peaceful. "Apply pressure here. Now." Reicel's voice had become more brusque.

"There's so much..." An junior journeyman was speaking as though sickened.

"Reicel, her breathing..."

"I'm working as fast as I can." There was a grunt. "Keep pressure, shaffit. Don't let up. "

Back on his side of the curtain K'lvin had taken a seat, admiring his daughter's tiny fingers and toes. Every few seconds his eyes would flick up toward the curtain and the shadows he could see moving on the other side. **Come on, Bahji.**

"Reicel, I'm not getting a pulse." The journeyman's voice was alarmed.

Master Reicel's voice remained steady but was clearly tense. "Start compression. You." He nodded to another. "Help him." His attention went back to the woman and her still open wound. "Come on now, Bahji. You have a little girl to take care of. Stay with us."

"No pulse!"

"Keep going, shaffit!"

The alarmed voices of the healers carried over the curtain and sent K'lvin to his feet. With his daughter tucked safely in the crook of his arm, K'lvin swept the curtain back with the other. "What's going on? Bahji?!"

Reicel looked up immediately, even as he was trying to help the other healers get Bahji to breathing again. "Get him out!" He snapped.

A Junior Journeyman rush to K'lvin and tried to push him gently out of the line of sight. "Rider, you can't be in here!"

Compressions on Bahji's chest were being done, her body jerking slightly with each press down on her heart. Another journeyman was breathing into her mouth, trying to encourage her to continue breathing. They all looked concerned but determined to continue in spite of the interruption.

There was a flutter of activity as other Healers surrounded K'lvin, trying to pull him back and out of the way, even as the curtain was jerked back into place.

K'lvin could have easily swatted the man out of the way with one arm, but his new daughter decided to start wailing at that moment. Glaring at the healer, K'lvin growled, "Now look at what you've done!" Although his heart was torn with worry about Bahji, another little
life was tugging at his heart as well. The Wingleader retreated a step, his body automatically swaying to soothe the crying baby, but his eyes were boring a hole at the flower patterned curtain.

Eyes looked at him with sympathy as he snapped back, silently understanding his words and offering no condemnation or judgement about his temper. But the assembled Healers never moved, making sure to keep the man away from the sight that no family member should have
to see.

"I've got a pulse!" There was triumph in the voice and the shadows moved quickly around from behind the curtain. "And she's breathing, but she's weak. We've got to hurry."

Reicel grimly finished his work, stitching as quickly as he could. "Keep an eye on her temperature. Watch for further shock and get warm blankets."

After what seemed like ages, Reicel finally came out from behind the curtain and waved off the assembled Healers. "She's to be under constant watch for the next twenty-four candlemarks. " He turned to K'lvin. "I'll need to speak to you before you see her. They're cleaning her up."

K'lvin's face was slightly ashen. He hadn't realized he had been holding his breath until he exhaled in relief. "What is it?" he asked anxiously of the healer.

Speaking quietly, he led K'lvin away to some semblance of privacy. "I will be perfectly honest with you, K'lvin. Bahji may not last the night. She is very weak and she bled heavily." He glanced at the child in K'lvin's arms before continuing. "If she does, she will have to be in the infirmary for several sevendays to watch for infection. You will have to find a milk mother for the child until she is strong enough to nurse, but we will try to manually stimulate Bahji's milk to be sure she doesn't loose it. She may anyway. I know of several milk mothers will be willing to immediately assist you. Your daughter will need to eat as soon as possible." He took a breath, then met K'lvin's eyes. "K'lvin, this cannot happen again. She can never again safely give birth. Her hips simply will not give and after taking your child directly..." He shook his head. "She will die if she attempts it. It's not a maybe. It's a certainty."

Fear made K'lvin's heart pound as he listened to the healer's warning. "It won't happen again." He vowed. There was nothing he would not do to ensure Bahji's safety. The movement of the baby in his arms made him look down, "Call in a wet nurse."

Reicel nodded. "I'll do that. I'm going to go check on Bahji and then, if she's cleaned up, you may see her."

"Thank you, Master Reicel, thank you." K'lvin breathed. He couldn't wait to see Bahji's eyes open and see her holding their daughter.

Last updated on the February 12th 2016

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Consequences for a Chance Taken Pt 2