Busom Buddies

Writers: Eimi, Nici
Date Posted: 9th September 2005

Characters: Jaela, U'kaiah
Description: Jaela and U'kaiah make peace and can actually talk without ruining it
Location: Dragonsfall Weyr
Date: month 7, day 22 of Turn 3

Jaela shoved the curtain aside and walked into the area U'kaiah had been given before setting down a stack of hides next to his bed. "You complained of boredom so I figured I'd drop these off. Have a good day."

"Wait! Where are you going?" U'kaiah asked as he eyed the stack of hides.

"Back to my office. After all I'm sure you've got some busom buddy, new or old who you'd rather spend time with."

"Jaela, I really don't want to make you more angry by having to run after you." The bronzerider pointed to the chair beside him. "Will you please sit with me?"

She walked back over and perched on the chair next to his bed. "You could have said something to me. About wanting to see Kalamath. I'd have cleared it with the healers and made sure you saw him myself."

"And if the healers had said no you would have denied me permission like any good Weyrwoman would," he replied gently.

"No, but I'd have had the good sense to make you use one of those rolling chairs with wheels. I bet your busom buddy Traelyn made you walk or probably half carried you."

"You know, we didn't even think of one of those wheeling chairs. I guess that's why _you're_ the Weyrwoman." He gave her a wink and the hint of a grin.

"Of course that's why I'm the Weyrwoman," Jaela snapped, still not mollified. "And don't argue with me in front of another rider, regardless of whether they're your buddy or not. Ever."

An eyebrow said as he said, "Does that mean I have your permission to argue with you when there aren't other rider's around?"

Finally, she smiled, just a little. "Don't you do that already, permission or not?"

"Well, yes. But I like to think I have a bit of provocation," his lips curved into a hopeful smile. So far things were going all right, better than he could have hoped for.

Jaela propped her foot on the side of his bed. "You? You hardly need provocation to annoy me, bronzerider. You seem to come naturally to that gift I'm afraid. And I'm still annoyed at you. I've just not decided how I'm going to get you back for your transgression."

U'kaiah could think of a few pleasant ways, but he figured he'd better not mention those... "Well, as long as I don't get a full bed pan dumped over my head, I think we're making progress."

She wrinkled her nose and set her foot down, leaning forward, her elbows on the bed, her chin tucked in her hands. "Now, that would hardly be healthy and the main reason I'm so mad is because you're obviously too stubborn to take care of yourself."

"Well, I assure you, I won't be making that mistake again," he said with a sigh as he settled himself on his side to get comfortable - and to get a better view of the goldrider.

"Of course you will. You can't help it. It's like your habit of defending your friends before seeing reason when I'm disagreeing with you. Habit."

He looked at her curiously for a moment. Could that be why she get's so angry? "I defend you too, you know."

"I'm sure...in between bitching about how bossy and unreasonable I am!"
She shook her head. "It's all right...I don't expect anyone to like me, really. My entire life has been about duty, first to family, then to the Weyr. Being liked is all very well...but not nearly as important as knowing I've done what I've needed to do, U'kaiah."

"I like you, Jaela," U'kaiah said gently as he reached out and touched her arm lightly. "I like you very much."

"I know...you just like everyone else a lot more..."

"Jaela, there is no one I like quite like I like you," U'kaiah whispered, his face for once completely serious and earnest.

She reached out and touched his tousled hair. "Except when you're trying to tell me I'm too prideful to be a bed partner!" She laughed. "If that's 'like' then I'm sure all the other men in my life have been doing _something_ wrong!"

"Well, I have to agree there. None of the other men in your life could possibly be as right as me, after all," he said with his best cocky bronzerider grin. It soon turn to a look of sincerity. "I don't mind that you have pride, Jaela. You should be proud. I just want to know that, if I ever do get the chance to share my bed with you, that I will be sharing it with _you_, and not the image of you that you want the world to see."

"Why?" It was a valid question. As far as she knew, he wasn't all the discriminating about bed partners. "Why should it matter to you what image of me you're bedding? I'm just a woman, that's all...and yes, it matters to me that someone I like finds me attractive, but I'm not going to over analyze the feeling either."

The bronzerider closed his eyes for a moment. It was a valid question.
Why should it matter to him what side of Jaela he was sleeping with as long as he had her in his bed? And yet, he knew that just having her in his bed was not enough for some reason.

Opening his eyes he said, "Maybe it's because I have seen two sides of you. I always knew the Weyrwoman. She is strong and wise, and I have respected her as long as I can remember. But sometimes I see small glimpses of someone else. When you were with your brother, or when you are talking to my son, you are just... softer, even vulnerable, as much as you hate for me to say that." He couldn't help tracing his fingers up her arm to softly touch her cheek. "I see that woman and I just wish she would come out for me too. I would follow the Weyrwoman anywhere, but there is a woman deeper inside you, Jaela, that I just ache to touch."

She couldn't help it. She started laughing.

**Typical,** U'kaiah thought as his eyes rolled towards the sky. What could he really expect. **Oh well. I doubt the healers would have approved anyway.**

"Oh shards..." Jaela swiped at a tear. "I'm sorry, U'kaiah, but really.
That's the corniest crackdust I've heard in ages. You'll bed any slut you can find but because I've got a personality and a sense of self, I'm supposed to open _up_ to you?!" She reached out and tousled his hair.
"And people call _me_ cute!"

He gave her a sarcastic smile as pulled his hand back and sat up.
**Find a woman I'm actually willing to _work_ for and its all laughs and giggles. Sharding frustrating woman!** U'kaiah sighed. "All right Jaela, so what are these hides you brought me? Harper's romances to put me to sleep?"

"Don't be ridiculous...you know me better than that..." She pulled the first one from the stack. "One's a flight formation from turns and turns ago that I thought you'd find interesting...the other...well, now I'm not sure you deserve to see it, really..." she teased.

"Is it a medical text with graphic pictures?" he asked hopefully. "Food for my fertile mind?"

"Your fertile mind doesn't need any help!" She shook her head and unrolled it carefully. "It's a couple of records salvaged from Topaz Sea Hold. They were kind enough to send them here for safekeeping when they started excavating the mess. I thought you'd like to take a look at them. I'm amazed they survived personally!"

"That's incredible!" U'kaiah said as he leaned a little closer to get a better look. He was rather touched that she would share them with him.
"Are these from the Record Room there?"

She shook her head. "Topaz has a four tower design that's unique to the South. These were found in the Lord's Tower. The benefit of being Lord Holder meant that he had private stashes of records that probably _should_ have been in the Record Room!" She smiled. "But if they had been, they might have been destroyed with that tower."

He nodded appreciatively. "Are these all that were salvaged?"

She bit her lip and nodded, her thoughts suddenly miles away. "Thus far..."

The bronzerider could see the change in her. He gently took her hand.
"They will rebuild it. Topaz will flurish again."

She smiled. "I suppose...it just chafes that it won't be by my hand. It should be those of Jaryd's true blood recreating it...but something is better than nothing in the grand scheme of things. And I don't think he'd have been picky about _how_ it got done as long as it did get done."

"That sure fits the image of your brother that I have gotten from you,"
he said with a nod. "But I have a feeling that when they break ground for the new Topaz Sea Hold, you will be right there with a shovel in hand."

"Two shovels!"

"And I suppose I will have to clear it with the healers if I want to help?" he asked with a teasing smile.

"You won't be bedridden that long..." She smiled, then her features turned somber. "You scared me."

The bronzerider turned serious when he saw the look on her face. "I'm so sorry, Jaela. I wish... If I had even _thought_ that this would happen I wouldn't have even mentioned the timing idea."

"I think we all agreed at the time that it was the best solution. It was pretty much the _only_ solution. When Topaz Sea Hold fell, it was T'moran and Kalina who helped me dig through the wreckage and find my brother and who orchestrated the saving of so many other lives there. I felt compelled to help Dolphin Cove and I don't think D'wrayt or I regret our decision. It's just...the cost was high..."

U'kaiah nodded. He had lost T'em, and he felt it acutely. And suddenly he found himself effectively out of action. Who would lead the wings in Dolphin Cove now? Not to mention his own wing. The bronzerider's own future was a bit questionable. "You know, the healers have said that I might... well, that because of the strain that it could be that I..."
He didn't know how to say it. He didn't want to believe it was even possible.

She frowned and her voice came out a whisper. "Say it..." The healer had taken to avoiding her very pointed questions on just _why_ they'd recommended U'kaiah stay in bed.

"They said it's possible that I have damaged my heart," the bronzerider finally said. Saying it outloud, especially to Jaela, suddenly made it real. He could feel his heart beating harder in his chest as he considered the possibilities.

She shook her head. "I refuse to believe that. You're going to get better and be on Kalamath and fighting Thread soon." She never gave up.
She'd believed Jaryd was going to live until the day he'd finally succombed. It wasn't in her nature to believe anything else. Leaning forward, she kissed him on the mouth, the barest touch of lips. "If you promise to get better, I might even consider taking you to one of my favorite sunbathing spots to celebrate when you get the all clear. So now you _have_ to..." She stood. "And I have to go. Now that the Hatching is over, I'm actually expect to get my arse off the ground and starting flying again.."

U'kaiah nodded. "Yes, you should fly," his voice waivered a little, and there was a hint of true fear in his eyes. He looked away quickly.
What if he could never fly Thread again? What would he _do_ with himself? What kind of life could he have? He was a dragonrider, and he didn't know how to be anything else.

She reached out and turned his face toward her. "You're _going_ to fly again, Wingleader." That said, she turned on her heel and left before she made a complete fool of herself.

Last updated on the September 9th 2005

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Busom Buddies