Not Recommended

Writers: AL, Jane
Date Posted: 16th March 2009

Characters: K'hetah, Zelle
Description: K'hetah makes his own visit to Zelle.
Location: Dolphin Cove Weyr
Date: month 2, day 2 of Turn 5

"What _have_ you done to yourself this time, Zelle?" K'hetah asked under his breath as he entered the small one patient room in the infirmary complex.

The response was soft, not really audible, but Zelle managed a small smile. She lay upon her side, back and hip bandaged and covered with a blanket. There were cuts and scrapes on her arms and bruises upon her face which were already beginning to darken. Her eyes were only half open but the pain that was reflected in her green-blue depths was sharp, almost tangible. "Hey." She managed, a second attempt at speaking. Other than that, she didn't move, though whether it was by choice or because she couldn't wasn't quite clear.

"Hey, yourself, little greenrider. You're looking like you took a fall," he teased, knowing perfectly well what had happened since the news had spread around the Weyr in moments. He pulled the chair near the bed closer to her and settled down on it, lifting his hand to brush her hair out of her eyes. "Big fall ... Not recommended."

"Coulda told me that...before." Zelle would have liked to have writhed against the pain, but she just didn't have the energy. Instead she was forced to lie there, letting it bite and throb and unable to do anything about it. The fellis was wearing off as was the numbweed. She was getting more and more awake and more and more she was simply wishing she could sleep through it. The greenrider sighed, the sound shallow despite the effort. "I'll be up and about...soon."

"Not soon enough for me. Are you comfortable there?" She didn't look it. "I've checked Rillith and she's all right."

"Better than me...anyway." It was easier to talk when she wasn't feeling the pain, though even then it was difficult, as if her muscles weren't working on full power. Zelle winced as she managed to gather enough motivation, the pain cutting out any motivation to move further.

"I think Rillith's calm enough that you could have something more for the pain if you needed it. Would you like me to talk to the healers for you?"

She thought about saying no, but frankly, Zelle was tired of saying no and simply trying to deal with the pain. It wasn't the sort of pain that really liked being dealt with. "Yeah." She stated, then a moment later, "Please."

"Hang on then. I'll be back in a moment." He got out of the chair and leaned forward, kissing her temple, before heading out of the room in search of somebody who could help her.

By the time Zelle had been settled after having to move to take the pain relief he was becoming from battling himself into silence. This was his kind of healing, the nursing, the basic care of the ill and the injured, and he couldn't help but feel he could have done a far better job for Zelle than ... than anybody. Certainly than the young journeyman and his apprentice assistant. By the time they left him and Zelle alone again he pulled the chair back to the bed and sought out Zelle's hand.

"How are you feeling now?" It wouldn't be long before sleep came for her, he thought, and asked Loeth to reassure Rillith.

}:I am, constantly.:{

Zelle let her hand tighten in K'hetah's and managed a small smile. "Better with you here." She whispered, though she knew those weren't words K'hetah necessarily wanted to hear. She didn't care - she did feel a little better knowing he was there, knowing that despite the fact it wasn't in the way she necessarily wanted, he did care. "And tired."

"Sleeping is the best thing for you now. Sleeping to heal." It was going to take a long time, from what the healers had told him before he had come in to see his friend and of all things that could make it longer and more difficult was a tired and unhappy patient. He didn't know how he was going to manage it but he was determined that Zelle wouldn't become either.

The greenrider wasn't going to argue with that. Sleep was certainly preferable to being awake, particularly with the constant, unrelenting stabs of pain that would assault her whenever she was awake. If she had been able to, she would have grabbed the nearest jar of numbweed and taken a bath in it. As it was, some was lathered on when K'hetah had fetched a healer. The pain was better, but somehow the numbweed couldn't dull it all. It didn't penetrate deep enough, a wound that stretched out of its reach. Still, it was a lot better and after only a few moments, she could feel the fellis beginning to take effect. "Sleep." She muttered, letting her eyes close.

"I'll stay with you until you're sound asleep," the bronzerider promised gently.

It wouldn't take long with the way she was feeling. Fellis was a potent ally and it helped to dull the pain that the numbweed couldn't reach. It helped her body to relax as well, allowing sleep to finally come and overtake her once more.

K'hetah heard the change in Zelle's breathing as the fellis induced sleep eased her pain in the best possible way. He studied her expression as the lines of pain disappeared and then leaned forward to kiss her again.

Poor Zelle.

Poor, darling, Zelle,

Last updated on the March 16th 2009

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