Good Night, Da

Writers: Eimi, Nici
Date Posted: 7th September 2005

Characters: Jaela, U'kaiah, Kaiafel
Description: Jaela brings U'kaiah's son to see him in the infirmary
Location: Dragonsfall Weyr
Date: month 7, day 19 of Turn 3

U'kaiah stared up at the stone ceiling listening to the breathing of the rider in the next bed over. It was quiet and faint, but perfectly rhythmic, he had found. He used the man's breathing as a measure as his fingers tapped out the rhythm exercises he had learned as a harper's apprentice. The bronzerider found it rather ironic that the exercises he had loathed as an apprentice had suddenly become his best friend as the candlemarks crawled by in the infirmary.

The rhythm was suddenly broken by a loud 'shhh...' and the sound of a child's low giggle.

"Behave...and remember you can't just jump on him or they'll chase me out, no matter _who_ I am!"

"Did you see that rider? He had a big canine bite on his bum!" Kaiafel giggled in childish glee. "It was right on his bum! Did you see it, Jaela?"

The Weyrwoman actually giggled. "You're not supposed to be _looking_ at bums, young man." Giving up the element of surprise, she shook her head and pulled the curtain aside, sticking U'kaiah's son behind her.

"Bronzerider, I understand that you have been complaining about boredom.
While I do not wish to indulge such behaviour, I did decide that a little visit from someone might be in order." She laughed in surprise when Kaiafel jumped from behind her and loudly greeted his father. This brought a loud 'Shhhh..." from her once again but she had to admit it was worth it to see the look the Wingleader's face.

U'kaiah laughed and reached a hand towards the boy, his face glowing.
He had never been so happy to see his son, not only for the promise of a relief from the monotony, but also because he had surprisingly missed the boy the last sevenday. The bronzerider wrapped an arm around the child as he came closer and gave Jaela a grateful smile.
"Where did you find him?"

"Well, it wasn't easy. Children lead such busy lives, you know," she replied, smiling. "But it wasn't too hard...I just asked around until I found the correct foster mother."

"Jaela came to get me this morning to come see you." The boy's face suddenly turned grave and his forehead wrinkled slightly. He turned to the Weyrwoman. "He's going to die, isn't he."

U'kaiah smiled reassuringly and rubbed the boy's head affectionately.
"No, son. I'll be fine. I just need to rest."

"Jaela, is he going to die?" Tears were starting to fill the boys brown eyes as he looked up at the Weyrwoman.

"N-no! At least he'd better not. He's just really tired because he's very stubborn and refuses to listen to the fact that his body is _very_
tired. But he's not going to let that happen again." She gave U'kaiah a 'look' as she moved forward to put her hand on the little boy's shoulder. "Are you bronzerider?"

U'kaiah smiled sweetly. "No, Kaiafel, of course not. I am going to take good care of myself because if I don't I have a feeling that the Weyrwoman will kill me."

Kaiafel was not comforted by the reassurance, however, and buried his tear-streaked face into Jaela's stomach. "But Markem was brought here to see his father and the next day his father died. I don't want my father to die too," he sobbed.

Jaela was not used to comforting children or tears, but she put her arms around him anyway. "Now Kaiafel, what would Kalamath think! If your Papa was even _close_ to death you know he'd be upset, now wouldn't he?
And he's not...and future riders simply can't act this way. Trust me, your father is not even close to death or we'd tell you." She knelt down--not that she really needed to--and looked the boy directly in the eye, wiping at a few tears. "I'm the Weyrwoman. Would I lie to you?"

The little boy shook his head and wiped at his face with his sleeve.
"No," he finally answered. "Weyrwomen don't lie."

"That's right son. Jaela wouldn't lie." U'kaiah knew he son could bring out a side in Jaela that few people knew. She had always put on a strong and brave face in front of her riders. But with Kaiafel her rough exterior gave way a bit. He wished he knew how to bring the softer side out of the Weyrwoman as easily as his son seemed to.

Jaela nodded and stood. "Now, go talk to your father and dry your tears so you don't get him all wet!" She tousled his hair and tried to be reassuring. Honestly, she was worried about U'kaiah herself, but she had to trust the healers and that the stubborn runner's ass would stay put and allow his body to recover fully.

U'kaiah patted the bed beside him. "Come sit up here with me, son. Can you get up here by yourself?"

Kaiafel nodded and wiped his face one more time on his sleeve. "But Jaela said I shouldn't jump on you."

The bronzerider stiffled a laugh. "I'm pretty sure she will let you make one big jump onto the bed if you're careful."

Kaiafel turned his brown eyes towards the Weyrwoman. "Can I make _one_
big jump?"

Jaela shook her head. "No, you can let me help you up there!" Men...and boys--they never thought of the practical! She took Kaiafel's waist and helped him up next to his father, backing up a bit once he'd settled and she was reasonably sure he wasn't going to bounce too much. Suddenly she felt out of place--U'kaiah and she weren't on the best of turns most of the time. Surely he'd want to spend time alone with his son without here there.

"I can wait outside if you two wish to visit. Just not too long, Kaiafel!"

"Jaela you don't have to go," U'kaiah quickly reassured her, though he could see she was not entirely comfortable suddenly. Did he do something again?

"Yeah, Jaela, you're pretty small," Kaiafel said helpfully. "You can fit on the bed too."

She grinned. "And risk squashing your father?" She shook her head and reached for the nearby chair, sitting in it and watching them both.
This marked, without a doubt, the longest period of time she and the Wingleader had ever gone without annoying each other. She might be pushing her luck, but it felt good to see them together.

Kaiafel turned to his father. "Da, when can you leave your bed?"

The bronzerider glanced at Jaela out of the corner of his eye. "When the healers and the Weyrwoman let me. A few more days at least."

"Won't you get bored?" the boy asked.

U'kaiah chuckled quietly. "Yes, I will get very bored. So I hope you will visit me again." He then smiled towards Jaela. "And I hope the Weyrwoman will too, when she's not too busy."

"I'll bring him by tomorrow," Jaela said. "I've become adept enough at juggling my schedule to fit things in, trust me!"

"I appreciate you're taking the time Jaela. This has been the best part of my stay in here." U'kaiah gave her a genuine smile before leaning back into the pillows. He sighed. Of course it was too much to hope that Jaela would come and see him on her own. But he did truly enjoy her company - when they were not fighting. And sometimes even when they were...

"U'kaiah?" Jaela moved forward, wondering why he'd suddenly become so quiet. "Are you all right?" Her fingers brushed his brow and she didn't feel any fever or anything--then again, she had absolutely no healing abilities. Perhaps she should have waited to bring his son...

Even as he lay there he could feel the energy leave him, but he didn't want to admit it. If he fell asleep now they would be gone when he woke up. He reached up to take her hand in his. "Yes, I'm fine. Just settling into a more comfortable position." U'kaiah did not release her hand as he turned his eyes to his son. "Why don't you show me what you have been learning in your harper's classes. Can you sing me a teaching ballad?"

Jaela relaxed into the chair, but didn't release his hand, and listened with more indulgence than she'd have given herself credit for as Kaiafel launched into a rather squeaky ballad to entertain them both.

U'kaiah turned his head towards Jaela's and gave her a little wink as Kaiafel's rousing rendition came to an end. "Give him a couple of turns and that voice of his should settle. Or maybe we can get him to pick up an instrument..." He turned back to his boy and gave him a broad grin.
His voice was begining to betray his fatigue as he said, "Well done, Kaiafel. Very well done."

"I know another one!" the boy chimed, glowing from the praise.

"All right then. One more," the bronzerider nodded as he rested his head back on the pillow. His thumb unconsciously carressed Jaela's as his eyes slowly began to drift close.

Jaela squeezed his hand and let him drift off, even the sound of Kaifel's song wasn't going to help him stay awake--although the boy was so intent on entertainment that he hardly noticed!

When Kaiafel's song was done he looked at his father for praise for his excellent rendition of the teaching ballad he had just learned but instead found him slightly snoring. He turned to the Weyrwoman and said in a whisper loud enough to be heard by his father's nieghbors, "I think he's sleeping, Jaela. Maybe we shouldn't wake him." The boy leaned over and gently kissed his father's cheek. "Good night, Da. I'll sing it again for you tomorrow."

Jaela helped the boy off the bed carefully so as not to wake U'kaiah and ruffled his hair as she lead him out. "Back to your fostermother...and I'll take you to visit tomorrow as long as you promise not to laugh at any canine-bitten bums, young man!"

Last updated on the September 7th 2005

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Good Night, Da