Here for You

Writers: Devin, Miriah
Date Posted: 9th March 2019

Characters: N'vanik, J'ackt, Urlene
Description: N'vanik checks on J'ackt the day after the attack.
Location: Dolphin Cove Weyr
Date: month 10, day 1 of Turn 9

N'vanik

J'ackt

Urlene

As Urlene closed the curtained area off and turned, she was not
surprised to see the Weyrleader waiting nearby. She had given him
twenty-four candlemarks to wait; she wondered if he had been watching
the time to be there at the exact instant he was ready. She walked to
him and spoke quietly. "He's very weak, Weyrleader. And he's sedated,
but he's awake for now." She held up a hand to forestall any questions
until she was finished. "He was very lucky. He's almost lost too much
blood." She glanced over her shoulder for just an instant before
turning back to N'vanik. "The wound on his side struck a rib and we're
sure it's cracked, but it didn't penetrate his lungs. The wound on his
shoulder is worse." She took a breath. "His left arm may never be back
to it's full strength even if the muscle heals completely. He'll need
a lot of help to ever get back to being able to throw firestone. As it
is, our main concern right now is infection. We will do what we can,
but there is a chance that right now, a severe infection could kill
him, Weyrleader."

She continued in a voice that was more gentle. "You may see him, but
don't tire him too much. He needs all the rest that he can get. Don't
upset him. If you do, Weyrleader or not, I will make you leave."

"I've got no intention of upsetting him." N'vanik swallowed back a
demand to keep J'ackt alive. Of course the healers were doing
everything they could, and a Weyr infirmary had the best level of care
outside the Healer Hall itself. Nothing vital had been damaged,
N'vanik tried to comfort himself with that.

The Weyrleader stepped inside, letting the curtain fall behind him.
Shards, the boy looked so frail. "Hey," N'vanik said as he moved up
next to the cot.

J'ackt's eyes fluttered open, hazy and confused. " 'vanik?" He blinked
and tried to focus on the familiar face. "Feel funny." He swallowed,
then licked his lips. A fuzzy thought came to mind, something
important. With an effort he latched on to it. "Didn't kill him." His
eyes finally focused, clearing just a little. "Coulda though." His
brow knit. "Wanted to. " It seemed very important to him that N'vanik
knew that he hadn't done that. "Didn't. Knew that you wouldn't like
it."

"He tried to kill you." N'vanik tried to keep his voice quiet, rage
crawling up his throat. "It was self defense. I wouldn't have blamed
you."

J'ackt blinked blearily up at the Weyrleader. "Make up bloody mind,
'Vanik." He tried to focus his gaze, but the fellis made it difficult.
"Wanna make you proud." His brows furrowed again, obviously confused.
"Why? Why did Cyradis..." He swallowed and winced as what felt like
gravel scratched his throat. "Don't understand..."

N'vanik reached for the table near the bed and poured J'ackt a drink
from the pitcher. "Here. Small sips."

J'ackt sipped the water as he was directed, though he needed
assistance to do so. When he was finished, he laid his head back down,
the movement tiring him. His eyes went back up to N'vanik. "Thanks.
Why'd this happen?"

"He wanted to kill you for what you did to his father. That man you
had an extremely public fight with in the Bowl a while ago." Which
people were still talking about, especially in the Holds.

J'ackt stared at N'vanik; though he was now a little more alert, it
still took a while for the words to really penetrate into his brain.
He had thought Cyradis had summoned him there. He'd had a note. It
didn't make sense. "The fight with that guard? When I was a weyrling?"
He frowned, still confused. "Thought that was taken care of." He
sighed wearily. "Told you I shoulda taken the lashes."

"I would never stand by and let you get beaten," N'vanik said fiercely.

His eyes closed. "Not the first time been beaten." He sniffed, trying
to adjust his position to put less pressure on his shoulder. "
M'da...he'd beat me around lots." The memory made him frown. "I can
take a beatin'. Don't bother me. " He opened his eyes again and spoke
softly. " 'vanik? I killed someone once. Ran m' sword right through
him. Didn't think nuthin of it...at the time." He sounded weary. "Not
no better than m'da, you know."

N'vanik put a gentle hand on J'ackt's good arm. "I know that you _are_
better. You did terrible things to survive, but that's not who you are
now." In so many ways J'ackt was like a distorted reflection of
N'vanik himself, the boy's life even harder than his own. N'vanik had
never killed to survive, but he'd been headed down that road. He'd
been a liar and a thief until a Search rider came along and changed
everything.

"You and Cyradis helped. And Zith." J'ackt murmured, growing steadily
more exhausted. "Terrible things. But y' gave me a second chance.
Needed that. Never thanked you for it."

"You can thank me by getting better. And that means listening to the
healers." He knew J'ackt would try to push things.

J'ackt nodded, feeling his eyes grow heavy and more difficult to keep
open. " 'Kay." He gave a weary breath and his body began to drag him
back to slumber. " 'vanik... wish you'd been m' da." He finally
surrendered to sleep, his breathing deep and steady.

N'vanik brushed his fingers through J'ackt's hair. "I'm here for you now."

Last updated on the March 11th 2019

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